Still alive

I'm still alive! Gosh, there's a lot that's been happening recently - spotting wild penguins in Manly, spending an evening at Rob's house, giving a talk on the Northern Beaches, going to a conference in the Blue Mountains, working with Rick, Xiaopeng ...., cooking Kate + family a meal, having Marta to stay, hiking with Christine ... One day, I'll find some time to write this all up ...

Lantana

I'm writing this blog basically to distract myself from the film that I'm currently watching: Lantana. It's powerful and I can't switch it off, but don't really want to keep watching. I've just looked up "key-words" for the film which are: homosexuality, salsa, adultery, psychiatrist, car trouble, dance class, death of daughter, jealousy, police, marriage, sex, confession, divorce, family relationships ... Why the hell did I pick this film? Anyway, it's Australian!

By the way, I had a great day hiking with Christine and Heike. More later ...

Good day

Had a good, but tiring day today. First I got through the annual review of my work. Everybody seemed pleased with me, so that's okay! I also finished off all the forms for my permanent residency VISA, but got stuck at the end when the pharmacist (who I was using as a J.P. to certify my photocopies) was busy. I have to pick up the signed forms tomorrow and then it's all done.

I've just discovered that my pulsar/tempo2 website had 55612 hits during December 2007 and was the most popular ATNF website. That sounds extremely unlikely! TEMPO2 isn't __that__ exciting, although I've just had an email from someone wanting to use it for "quantum astronomy" where they are measuring the arrival times of pulses from the Crab pulsar to 100ps. That also sounds very unlikely!

I also have discovered that people from 27 different countries have looked at this blog with someone from Switzerland spending an average of 17 minutes on the site (that's better than Canada which only gives an average of 2 minutes)!

Wonderful music

I've just been playing through the Rachmaninov cello sonata with Maureen. It's wonderful. We also had a go at the Beethoven trio for orchestra, piano, violin and cello (with Maureen simultaneously playing the orchestra, piano and violin parts!). We're considering playing it in concert one day - although it would take ages to learn.

I also had a fun evening last night with Tiffany. We stayed up eating, playing piano duets and watching dvds until about 1am! I've just finished up eating the stunning dessert that she brought around - I like guests who bring food!

Back at work now. I have to finish off filling in all my residency forms before I get thrown out the country. Only another five forms to go ...

What do I get myself into?

I've just been to rehearsal where we were playing the Saint-Saens 'cello concerto. I somehow ended up sight-reading the solo part! First time I've played with an orchestra! That was fun!

We did it

We got through our concert of Strauss and Mahler to a packed hall at Macquarie University. It's hard music! Kate and I later had an enjoyable meal with Katrina and Michael (? - I think that was his name) at the Ranch to discuss more chamber music and to watch Australia beat Iraq at the football.

I'm tired and considering whether to work tonight or simply to fall asleep and hope that I'll get up early tomorrow.