Call me!

I was catching up with a few friends last night--watching a bit of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and this (surprisingly good) film, The Final. Anyway, as we were watching the guys were playing with their iPhones. Yeah, I'm a little jealous. My poor phone is still full of sand from my year at the beach and although it is a very pretty colour of pink, its no iPhone and it doesn't check facebook or send me my e-mail (upgrade time!).


I currently have no phone and now basically lack all forms of communication from 9-5- that is, until I can hop on a computer and facebook, e-mail, tweet etc.  I'm pretty sure texting is basically my (our) generations answer to the home phone (do people have home phones anymore?) 


So, I've been back in this glorious (I say this because it's currently summer) country for 2 1/2 weeks and have yet to start up my cell phone plan. This basically means I need to... get this... CALL PEOPLE! Seriously. I had to pick up the phone this evening and DIAL and wait until they answered then... TALK! 


Yes, I had an entire conversation making plans for this evening via a real conversation. Can you imagine? 

Tea All Live In A Yellow Submarine

I often find myself finding random things online that I love. Things for around the house, clothing, shoes... you name it! (Have you checked out Fred Flare ? or ModCloth?  You really should! They make for excellent gifts.)

So while I was away in Australia, I got one of my new favourite home accessories in a care package. Combining my favourite music (THE BEATLES!) and TEA! May I introduce you to the Yellow Submarine Tea Infuser:

                                                                            picture found here 

Cute, practical, amazing!

3 Places I Love: Memories in the Form of Pillows

I don't have a place to decorate just yet. But I will soon and these pillows will be apart of the collection!

Paris                                  London                      New York

Fantastic, aren't they? I'm dying to get my hands on them! 

B.A. M.A.

I didn't attend the grad ceremony, but if I did, I reckon it'd look a little like this (picture found here)

Apparently the marks from Uni were supposed to be released July 9th. Everyday since that day I have been signing onto the University website, typing in my user I.D and password and checking my transcript. Everyday it said, "Continuing Marking". AHHHHH!!!!!

I handed in my dissertation (which was 70+ pages) on June 4th and have played the waiting game ever since. The worry quickly set in-- I knew I'd pass but I had no idea if it was good or just ok. In my mind, I totally rocked my Twitter topic dissertation. But when it comes to completely unknown markers, who really knows?

Well, nearly 2 months later I get an e-mail from the program convener:

Dear S

I'm delighted to let you know that you have achieved the Grade of Distinction on your 40CP Dissertation in the Master of Arts and Media.  Your two examiners were within one mark - which makes your result not only excellent but consistently excellent, I'd say. Well done! ...


Amazing, right? And most definitely worth the wait! I have a MASTERS! So now comes the next game-- the job hunt! 

Highly educated girl for hire! 

Paychecks have to LEAVE the store...

This is nothing like where I work-- I just love everything on the shelves (found here )

It really sounded like a good idea. A friend (that I haven't seen in years due to Australia and it's luring power on both of our behalves) got me a job at a shoe store. Me in a shoe store... with a discount. This can really only lead to bad things.

I mean, it sounds wonderful-- I get to see all the new shoes that come in PLUS I get a discount at my favourite shoe store... bad. bad. bad. (good? good? good?) So really, I have to keep my pay cheque AWAY from the store and leave my bank card at home. Must save!

Then today I went for an interview at a chocolate shop. What am I doing to myself? Will I have any money left after this summer? Fingers crossed on that front-- need to save for first & last and potentially a plane ticket out of here (London calling?) or a one way ticket to Toronto for my dream job in the media... anyone?

Do you have any wonderful summer plans?

"Your hair makes me want to brush my hair"

During my travels, my hair sort of turned into a rat's-nest-like-dread that was impossible to get a comb, brush or anything through. Gross, I know. The sun mixed with salt water and previous hair dyes really killed the look for me... and the lack of access to running hot water over the past several weeks didn't help either. 

Well, I fixed that. 

Last Night                                                          Today 

Gone are the ratty ends (seriously, look at that first picture, splitendville). Now, beach curls and slightly darker! 

I wonder how long being able to get a brush through my hair will last? 

Can't stay in one place

I only touched down a few days ago and after catching up with a few people, I'm off to the good ol' USA! More pictures and updates soon!

The last 2 weeks

I was pretty confident in my packing- 23 kg for each bag and a carry on. Ok, so it turns out I had more like 3 bags of 23 kg than 2, so in a frantic panic at about 2am, I purged half of my clothing, a pair of shoes, a purse and a broken bag leaving me with an impressive 23kg bag , 22.9kg bag and a 7.4 kg carry on + a laptop bag jammed packed with books, macbook, camera, cords, glasses, etc weighing likely another 7 or 8 kg but shh…

I must admit after the last two weeks I’m pretty exhausted and sort of wish I had the 10+ grand a first class ticket costs for the 12 hour leg of the trip. I've always envied those that walk UP the stairs and go into that second level which I've only ever seen outside the plane. Must be nice.

Here’s what happened while you were sleeping (and working):

I jetted off to Melbourne. I initially stayed in St. Kilda at Habitat HQ (as per G’s suggestion) and it turned out to be a fantastic place. An easy walk to the beach and the area is full of great shops, cafes, restaurants etc. and PENGUINS!

This is at the end of the pier where the penguins live. 

Then it was off to the Great Ocean Road- a great 2 day, 1 night bus tour stopping at some great places along the way.

At Bells Beach- a famous Surfing Beach along the Great Ocean Road

Back to Melbourne (this time the city) for the Tim Burton exhibition and some great museums—and a horrific hostel. No hot water. Eww.

At the Tim Burton Exhibition- The Bat Mobile!

A 6 hour sleep in the airport as to avoid the terrible hostel and I boarded a plane for Alice Springs, questionably to dirtiest town I’ve ever been to. Nothing to do, lots of yelling in the streets and rain. Lots and lots of rain. Spent night one in the hotel watching Fight Club and going to bed early in anticipation of my Ayres Rock tour the following day.

Was up and ready for 6am. Boarded a 21 person bus and we were on our way. Ended up playing some kind of ‘musical chair, get to know you’ game and chatted with Triston. 

The back of the bus

 First stop: Kings Canyon. Ended up getting lost with 10 people half way through the walk and did a little off roading to the end point. Highly illegal in those parts.

Kings Canyon. Lots of rocks (the theme for this part of the trip)

Slept in a swag bag. Outside. No facilities. -5. Birr. I’ve never seen more stars in my life.

yeah yeah, 3 days and no shower + no one looks good in a swag bag wearing a Magpie's hat! 

Day 2: Ayres Rock base walk. 10.6km of dirt situated around the bottom. Interesting walk, lots of rock. 2hrs.  Caught the sunset- what a sight!

Ayres Rock changing colour with the sun setting. 

Day 3: The Olgas walk. Far more interesting than the others and slightly more strenuous, even though some of us opted for the no shoes option. (Oh, T). On the way back we got stranded on the side of the road with a flat tire—I’m pretty sure this is how people die in the outback.

Fantastic walk around the Olgas.

Back to YHA Alice Springs for the longest hot shower of my life; off to the Rock bar for dinner and drinks. Then Bo Jangles. Then Casino. Then the hotel.

The final day to pop around (the still raining) Alice Springs. Lunch with W, C, T & P at Tea Shrine (or something like that) and then coffee. Later on dinner at Bo Jangles.

T, P & W at Bo Jangles. 

Met up with P & T at the airport in the morning and caught a flight to Sydney via Melbourne.

The guy learning the ways of using rocks as war paint. 

Wandered Sydney, had dinner at the Opera House café, dodged the rain (it was seriously raining everywhere!) and went to bed semi early (somehow through the party happening in the room)

View from the train 

Spent my final day wandering about. Buying a few Australia specific gifts and attempting to stay out of the rain. Another night, this time at Side Bar. Great live band, lots of dancing. Bed.

Disco balls at Side Bar

Sydney to the Gold Coast: fetched my belonging from my old place, said some temporary goodbyes to T & B, caught a shuttle to Brisbane airport. Comfy sleep on the fantastic couches with my blanket in the airport and braced myself for the next 26 hours. 3 more flights…

14 days, 8 planes, 5 hostels, 4 states, 2 airport sleeps, 1trip.