my research is

sexy. Apparently. I have acquired a secret-ish admirer who discovered me through some research I was doing last year. We are to meet at the end of the week. Remember kids, there's a fine line between stalking and romance...

In other news my holiday taking abilities seem to have improved. I ran away to the big city and had big city fun. Saw J and S's completed renovations. The house looks extraordinarily beautiful, and would be way too house and garden for me if they hadn't incorporated S's kooky interest in industrial lighting. Also saw Dot'n'Ben for the first time in five years. She has has stopped dyeing her hair, and is kinda blond! Who knew? Well I guess EMO isn't big in Perth. Had dinner with them and J and J' sister and partner. I have to admit I sometimes feel like my Czech students used to feel. These people are unashamedly materialistic, and oh Bourdieu how right you were about symbolic violence, and the mean-ness and aggression that is bourgeois taste. I also ran into Marty and Matty. I got a big hug and a kiss from both of them, and they both seem more evenly keeled than they have been for a while. Marty especially was back to his charming self. Now this sounds creepy, but what I love about that city is that walking around, I occasionally get the glad eye. That never happens here. I feel invisible, or tolerated at best.

So Dr L's wife has gone south again, and suddenly he wants to socialise. That's okay I guess, but thanks for disappearing on me for a year ... and also please note, not every one loves surprise visits...

And thanks to Bryan's suggestion the panels are hung and are covering up the deep dark red of the lounge walls. I did though have to translate the term 'drywall'. We call it 'gib' though it may be spelled j-i- b. My next project - washing the windows ... Okay so maybe my holiday skills aren't all that great ...

Still no photos ... I keep leaving my camera at work.