so my new job is keeping me plenty tuckered out. that and the fact that i developed a fantastic new inability to sleep properly. i'm having many a weird and vivid dream, which are tending to wake me up part way through the night, and generally give me the feeling that i'be been doing something stressful rather than resting. this morning i got up at 8.30 ON A SUNDAY. and called my mother to ask her a work related question. disturbing stuff.
on the one hand i really am grateful to have a job that is interesting, stimulating, and uses my brain. on the other hand i feel like this job is sucking up my life, and while i dont know what i'd rather be spending my energy on, i get the feeling that this isnt something i want to define me. as bonnie says, i need to give it time, settle in, get accustomed to the work load. and you know, getting a hobby or learning to relax wouldnt go astray either.
i've been thinking this weekend about how sure i was when i was in cambodia and vietnam that that was what i wanted. And while i'm still sure about it, that i at least want to try it, where as when i was there i felt like there was no insurmountable barrier, now i feel completely caged in by obstacles. which is why i wanted to do something as soon as i got back, because i knew this would happen... but at the same time, if i dont want it enough to make it happen, maybe i dont want it enough. I dont know. the stupid thing is, that out of sheer laziness i've failed to pursue the best and most likely method i had of making it happen. and now i dont know if i've left it too late... i seem to be afraid to try but i'm trying not to beat myself up about it all.
so now its a choice, between the deep end option and the path of least resistance. well, less resistance. I can throw myself at the feet of the agency i was visiting in january, who seemed optimistic about the idea of making something happen... or i can tell myself that *next year* i'll finally get around to studying international development. that would mean sticking at my job, which would be good, doing things the slow way. which would probably be the sure way, if i trusted myself to stay focussed. which frankly i dont. i know my own laziness too well.
so i guess i should write the letter. at least see if anything comes of it. and if does, take a deep breath, and jump.
Sunday, May 6, 2007
Saturday, April 7, 2007
leaves leaves leaves
this one bonnie sent me from a window display in japan
this one was in christchurch botanic gardens
this one was in christchurch botanic gardens
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
my new job
i started a new job this week. i will get to make spreadsheets in this job. something that was sorely lacking from my last job. it also appears that I'm going to be busy. which will also be a change. i also get to have powers, like some kind of superhero.
Monday, April 2, 2007
Sunday, April 1, 2007
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Ashley's cullinary tour of adelaide
I've been thinking alot lately about what adelaide has to offer. mostly because i seem to be seeing alot of interstate number plates on the roads, and also because the majority of my friends are no longer live in adelaide. so i feel like i need to come up with reasons to get people to come here to visit me. consequently i've been working on an itinerary of where i would take someone on a guided tour of adelaide. and i've realised that pretty much everywhere i would go involves food. not really surprising, given a. i like food, and b. its one of adelaide's better features.
so here is my itinerary:
1. Breakfast at duthy st deli. probably my favourite place in adelaide. i love the way it looks, i love the way they have newspapers and magazines, i love the poached eggs and i love the chocolate drop next to my cup of tea.
2. Lunch at the stirling organic cafe, preferably on a day when the stirling markets are on. and then maybe followed by a drive through the hills out towards meadows, because i like driving around the country.
3. dinner at vietnam star city. salad, salt and pepper squid and the sizzling bean curd vietnamese style. preferably with vietnamese beer, but failing that ice tea will do.
next day:
1. breakfast at queen st - the sister of duthy st, even though the menus the same i find queen st is not usually quite as good as duthy st with the food, but i do like the green couches, and queen st has the added advantage of being on adelaide's street of hip. possibly the smalles street of hip ever invented, but you gotta go with what you've got.
2. lunch at lipson st cafe at port adelaide, preferably on a sunday so its then on to the pt adelaide market, even though its not great, its a way to fill in half an hour, and gives you a chance to marvel at the abandoned city feel of ye olde port adelaide.
3. onwards to semaphore for a walk along the beach and up and around the area to marvel at the beautiful beachside home of adelaides lesbian community.
4. dinner at the prince albert, one of the few pubs in adelaide i actually like.
day three:
okay so probably eating out breakfast three days in a row is ridiculous.
but lets start with the central markets, at least for coffee... and a wonder around the glorious fresh food goodness.
lunch at vego and lovin it. because really, you cant explain it, you can only take people there.
perhaps the art gallery in the afternoon, one of my preferred free cultural venues, although last time i was there they seemed to have ditched the giant fluro yello rhino.
and finally dinner at ying chow. or if its full and you cant get a table, east taste. i think i do still like ying chow better, but the never being able to get a table makes east taste so much more appealing.
thats my probably covering off the bulk of my highlights right there. additionals that could be added in would be jasmine for inidian, budget permitting... lucias although i've only ever been there once myself... maybe amalfi for the almost rundle st experience... thea for a lunch... the botanic gardens for a wander... ikea! because i love it... maya for more indian... what have i missed???? oh a stroll along the torrens to experience the filthiest river around
the other thing i would like to propose is as adelaide BBC challenge. i've eaten BBC (Broadbeans, beancurd and chinese chutney) from an array of restaurants in adelaide, and each has its own good points, but i'd like to officially declare an official ulimate BBC. theres ying chow, which i consider the original, east taste (more gingery), kowloon (more goopy but with peanuts) ky chow (from memory similar to kowloon, do love the peanuts) ding hao (cant quite recall the particulars)... ok and now silk on rundle st have it on offer as well, although they've cleverly renamed it. mind you they're still claiming its "broadbeans" although i'm pretty sure you'll find its soy beans... but never the less...
so. who would like to participate in the official bbc challenge? and whose for running a salt and pepper squid challenge along side this??
so here is my itinerary:
1. Breakfast at duthy st deli. probably my favourite place in adelaide. i love the way it looks, i love the way they have newspapers and magazines, i love the poached eggs and i love the chocolate drop next to my cup of tea.
2. Lunch at the stirling organic cafe, preferably on a day when the stirling markets are on. and then maybe followed by a drive through the hills out towards meadows, because i like driving around the country.
3. dinner at vietnam star city. salad, salt and pepper squid and the sizzling bean curd vietnamese style. preferably with vietnamese beer, but failing that ice tea will do.
next day:
1. breakfast at queen st - the sister of duthy st, even though the menus the same i find queen st is not usually quite as good as duthy st with the food, but i do like the green couches, and queen st has the added advantage of being on adelaide's street of hip. possibly the smalles street of hip ever invented, but you gotta go with what you've got.
2. lunch at lipson st cafe at port adelaide, preferably on a sunday so its then on to the pt adelaide market, even though its not great, its a way to fill in half an hour, and gives you a chance to marvel at the abandoned city feel of ye olde port adelaide.
3. onwards to semaphore for a walk along the beach and up and around the area to marvel at the beautiful beachside home of adelaides lesbian community.
4. dinner at the prince albert, one of the few pubs in adelaide i actually like.
day three:
okay so probably eating out breakfast three days in a row is ridiculous.
but lets start with the central markets, at least for coffee... and a wonder around the glorious fresh food goodness.
lunch at vego and lovin it. because really, you cant explain it, you can only take people there.
perhaps the art gallery in the afternoon, one of my preferred free cultural venues, although last time i was there they seemed to have ditched the giant fluro yello rhino.
and finally dinner at ying chow. or if its full and you cant get a table, east taste. i think i do still like ying chow better, but the never being able to get a table makes east taste so much more appealing.
thats my probably covering off the bulk of my highlights right there. additionals that could be added in would be jasmine for inidian, budget permitting... lucias although i've only ever been there once myself... maybe amalfi for the almost rundle st experience... thea for a lunch... the botanic gardens for a wander... ikea! because i love it... maya for more indian... what have i missed???? oh a stroll along the torrens to experience the filthiest river around
the other thing i would like to propose is as adelaide BBC challenge. i've eaten BBC (Broadbeans, beancurd and chinese chutney) from an array of restaurants in adelaide, and each has its own good points, but i'd like to officially declare an official ulimate BBC. theres ying chow, which i consider the original, east taste (more gingery), kowloon (more goopy but with peanuts) ky chow (from memory similar to kowloon, do love the peanuts) ding hao (cant quite recall the particulars)... ok and now silk on rundle st have it on offer as well, although they've cleverly renamed it. mind you they're still claiming its "broadbeans" although i'm pretty sure you'll find its soy beans... but never the less...
so. who would like to participate in the official bbc challenge? and whose for running a salt and pepper squid challenge along side this??
Monday, March 26, 2007
health kick o rama
i just went a week without chocolate. and then about 5 minutes after the week mark, i caved and bought some gross chocolate bar out the RDNS box at work. I like the RDNS's tactics - make money by selling chocolate bars, thus sustaining their current finances, while keeping us fat and unhealthy and so we'll need more nursing in the future, thus securing their financial future. If only all businesses planned so well.
So the chocolate was gross, this is one of the good things about taking time off from chocolate, you get a bit of perspective back on how much chocolate is too much, and what's good chocolate, and that you only need a little bit to really enjoy it.
meanwhile i have recommenced riding my bike to and from work, which is really my only form of regular exercise. soon i plan to recommence riding for "fun" to places like outer harbour.
i'm also eating a scarily large amount of my new favourite food, which i like to call vietnamese salad. The salad consists of: finely shredded chinese cabbage and finely shredded carrot, mixed with lots of chopped coriander and chopped mint, finely chopped red onion, sliced cucumber, and my latest addition, vermecilli noodles. Then i sprinkle it with chopped peanuts, and deepfried shallots... oh and then dressing - i've found this awesome "vietnamese dipping sauce" in coles, which i'm consuming by the bucketload, its kind of like watered down sweet chilli sauce. i'm eating this for lunch with prawns (frozen prawns are another of my new favourite foods) and then more of it for dinner, with fish or dumplings.
its awesome and everyone should try it. also if you're lazy and in adelaide, you should go to vietnam star city and have their salad - and their salt and pepper squid which currently wins the best salt and pepper squid in adelaide award. If youre lazy and in sydney you should go to saigon bay on oxford st. all their food is awesome. or at least all their food that i've had... fish cakes were awesome!
anyway, thats all i have to say about food today.
So the chocolate was gross, this is one of the good things about taking time off from chocolate, you get a bit of perspective back on how much chocolate is too much, and what's good chocolate, and that you only need a little bit to really enjoy it.
meanwhile i have recommenced riding my bike to and from work, which is really my only form of regular exercise. soon i plan to recommence riding for "fun" to places like outer harbour.
i'm also eating a scarily large amount of my new favourite food, which i like to call vietnamese salad. The salad consists of: finely shredded chinese cabbage and finely shredded carrot, mixed with lots of chopped coriander and chopped mint, finely chopped red onion, sliced cucumber, and my latest addition, vermecilli noodles. Then i sprinkle it with chopped peanuts, and deepfried shallots... oh and then dressing - i've found this awesome "vietnamese dipping sauce" in coles, which i'm consuming by the bucketload, its kind of like watered down sweet chilli sauce. i'm eating this for lunch with prawns (frozen prawns are another of my new favourite foods) and then more of it for dinner, with fish or dumplings.
its awesome and everyone should try it. also if you're lazy and in adelaide, you should go to vietnam star city and have their salad - and their salt and pepper squid which currently wins the best salt and pepper squid in adelaide award. If youre lazy and in sydney you should go to saigon bay on oxford st. all their food is awesome. or at least all their food that i've had... fish cakes were awesome!
anyway, thats all i have to say about food today.
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