Look at me, just blogging away...I must be procrastinating.

I had gotten used to my morning tea and chats with Kathy and Ross outside at the table in the back.  I was up earlier than usual today to get into work early, and it was strange to have no one else there!  I'm glad they have gotten back safely and got to sleep in their own bed at the farm - but we miss them a bit! This is what they have escaped from...and what I need to get through this week (see below).  My coworkers and I were so sluggish today - I know I've said this before, but it's just not right to force people to work in 39 degree weather in a stuffy portable with no air conditioning!!!  Jeremy and I are escaping this crazy heat on Friday when we head off to Tasmania - YAY!!  I've already packed, which shows how enthusiastic I am!

Ipswich 7-day Weather Forecast

Summary	Mon Dec 17		Tue Dec 18		Wed Dec 19		Thu Dec 20		Fri Dec 21		Sat Dec 22		Sun Dec 23
	Mostly sunny		Thunder- storms		Possible thunderstorm		Possible thunderstorm		Possible thunderstorm		Possible shower		Possible shower
Maximum	39°C		36°C		34°C		33°C		33°C		31°C		32°C
Minimum	19°C		19°C		20°C		20°C		19°C		19°C		19°C
Chance of Rain	50%		80%		80%		90%		90%		60%		60%
Rain Amount	5-10mm		5-10mm		5-10mm		1-5mm		1-5mm		1-5mm		1-5mm
UV Index	Extreme		Extreme		Extreme		Extreme		Extreme
Frost Risk	Nil		Nil		Nil		Nil		Nil		Nil		Nil

Productive

I feel that it has been a most productive day so far!  I got up at 5 am to drive Kath and Ross to the airport.  We said a quick goodbye and then I came home and slept for a few more hours.  I woke up and tried to call my parents, but they weren't around.  I found Ronan, though, and had a good chat with him.  I ordered some boxes to pack up for our upcoming move - hopefully they will be delivered tomorrow or Tuesday at the latest!  I applied for two jobs - one with aged care and another in paediatrics.  Both are community health, which I think would be a cool field to work in.  I don't have super high hopes about being contacted, but fingers are crossed anyway!  We went out to lunch at a delicious Mexican place with a big group of great people (awesome bargain too, since we had vouchers!!!) and then I had an afternoon hangout with my friend Kayleigh.  All in all - just a good day!

Last Thursday we took Ross and Kathy out for a craaaaaaaaaaaazy night out in Fortitude Valley.  Well, okay, not quite.  We DID go see our friend Alastair's band Inland Sea play what may be their very last show.  It's a shame, since they are quite the talented group of people.

This is a picture taken at the show.  It's a bit small, but there are 10 people in the band which includes a cellist, violinist, ukelele, etc.  Alastair in on the far right - the tall guy with the ukelele.  I think Kath and Ross really enjoyed it and it was really a wonderful evening. 

Friday night we had a dinner out with Sean and his family to celebrate their graduation.  It was a bit of a comedy of errors.  Maybe I'll go into it another day.  Such a shame...but the company was the most important thing!

Finally...yesterday was the official graduation.  This day has been a long time coming!  There are random pictures on quite a few cameras...here are a few of my favourites!

 I caught Jeremy coming around after he walked across the stage.

 I love this picture!  Such happy, proud, bearded doctors!  (and a cute Tomas)

 That's what all this work has been for!

 Doctor Nichol and his proud parents :)

 I obviously had to get in there at some point!

 I love these girls!!! (and Jeremy)

1st year PBL mates - who i am now lucky enough to call my good friends!

It's finally happened!!!!!

Not a good thing.  After 13 years of being a licensed driver, I have finally managed to get a speeding ticket.  I feel rather deprived of an interesting interaction, since I didn't even get pulled over and was in fact caught by one of those horrendous speed cameras.  The worst part is that I was in the midst of doing a good deed and would never have normally been in that area.  GRRRRRRRRRR.  It was when I was giving Jeremy a ride to his big exam at 7:30 am on a Saturday - caught me going 73 in a 60 zone.  Seriously, i wasn't even in a hurry/trying to get somewhere quickly - my mind just wandered and I wasn't paying as much attention as I should have been.  For that, I get a $220 fine.  Anyone cringing?  Ah well.  I guess it's been 13 years...it's due time.

Other things.  Well, We are still hosting the Nichols who are taking advantage of what Brisbane has to offer.  I have been at work during the week days, so I'm not much help most of the time, but we are keeping busy in the evenings!  We had a delicious Kenyan curry Monday night at Chantal & Karen's (I mostly hung out with Eloise, my new best friend), Tuesday we ventured VEEEEEEEEEEEEEERY FAR across the road to Mike and Annette's who put on their usual famed spread, and then tonight we had a large group (10 people) up at the Muddy Farmer for trivia - and emerged victorious!!! 

Jeremy and I are coming very close to the end of our Brisbane adventures.  On that note, I should let y'all know - as of the first week of January 2013, we will no longer be at Sydney Street, Fairfield (in fact, we had some work men in here today pretty much saying the house should be condemned...eeeep).  Our new address will be:

3 James St
Woodville West, SA
5011

Doctor Jeremy (Dokta Jemmy!)

I think I may have somehow missed this important fact - my husband is now (almost, officially, in less than a week) a doctor!  I mean, he's passed everything and stuff...but he hasn't had the official all important conferring of the degree.  Next Saturday is the big day!

Kathy and Ross returned from Stradbroke Island this afternoon.  Wendy and Jim brought back our car and then stayed for dinner (delicious delicious leg of lamb).  I am thoroughly jealous that they got to spend the entire week in paradise, but also very happy for them.  I quite like my in-laws...and I'm not just sucking up because they read this!  They have been in the country for about a month now and they are finally settling in Brisbane for a week after all their travels.  Tomorrow we have an exciting day planned - Advent Skype with D'Arcy, Hayley & co in the morning, walk over to the University of Queensland campus afterwards, and then we are dividing into boy and girls groups...Kathy will be coming with me to my annual Christmas card making tradition with my beautiful girlfriends - Jen, Jess and Louise (and baby Tomas!!!) and Jeremy is taking Ross out for a drink at the Yardbird (an apparently really awesome pub, which I've never even been to). 

We have HEAPS of plans for the week ahead - Monday is dinner at Wendy and Jim's daughter's house, Tuesday...nothing as of yet, Wednesday we are introducing them to our weekly trivia, Thursday we see our friend Alastair's band Inland Sea, and Friday is a pre-grad dinner with the Dwyers (Sean, Louise, Tomas, and Sean's parents) and the Nichols.  Saturday, of course, is J's graduation and then we have plans for a post-grad celebration at the Bunker household with Jess and her awesome family.  Sunday, we see Ross and Kathy off...which is unbelievable, considering it feels like they've just arrived!  I'm sure they will also fill their days with lots of fun stuff, including the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA), South Bank, City Cat rides...etc.  i will be.....................working.  Dammit.

I do hope everyone is having a lovely December so far.  We looked up Ottawa temperatures and apparently the low tomorrow is -6.  Ross says I'm not allowed to complain about the heat here because that is what they'll be returning to in 10 days!

Here I am again!  Forgive me, I've been a bit busy with several things lately.  I was fortunate enough to spend Sunday & Monday on Stradbroke Island - what an AMAZING place!  I've been dying to go back there since 2009 when J and I went camping with Tracee and Sean.  Finally, I had the chance and jumped at it.  I spent as much time as I could in the ocean - the water was crystal clear and the perfect temperature.  The sun was shining and it was HOT outside.  It was like a tropical paradise.  I highly, HIGHLY recommend this beautiful place to anyone visiting Queensland.  We stayed in a beach house with the in-laws (Ross and Kathy) and their friends Wendy and Jim.  Monday night, Wendy and Jim's daughter Chantal was also there with her 9 year old daughter, Eloise.  Eloise was a very lucky girl - she got to miss a couple of days of school and they were good days to miss, considering the temperature was 39 degrees celsius...even getting to over 40 in Ipswich...and most schools are NOT air conditioned.  Anyhow, what else can I say besides it was fantastic and I really wish I had taken more advantage of it over the past four years.

School/work is really wrapping up - there's the rest of this week and then next week is the last week of school.  After that, only one more work week until I am...well...unemployed.  I'm trying not to worry and I should have some good references so here's to something great in the New Year!

This Friday is Jeremy's graduation ball.  We opted out, as it is a bazillion jillion kabillion dollars.  Instead, we're going to treat ourselves to a nice dinner at a restaurant with Sean, Louise and their lovely baby Tomas.  We just need to find a restaurant before Friday...