Papers papers papers

I have been working late these past two weeks to get a couple of papers ready for submission. They're two papers which will make up half of my PhD thesis and I've been working on them for some time now. I finally submitted one last Wednesday (this one had previously been rejected and needed some further polishing). And I'm about to submit the second. Well, I was until I realised I'd need a particular form emailed to me prior to submission. Bit of an anti-climax! I'm hopeful the American editors are on the ball and respond overnight. 

My reward to myself is a visit to Sydney this weekend, hopefully with sunshine. I had also planned to have my thesis review (a university required "milestone") completed by then - but alas, not to be. So I don't get to go to Sydney with an entirely guilt-free conscience. Then back to finish the next two papers...


I think that's the part I look forward to most in finishing this PhD - the removal of guilt. No matter what I'm doing, I'm always guilty that I'm not working on the PhD. It will be odd not to have that feeling!

Looking forward to some op shopping while in Sydney. Stay tuned for that when I return next week. I'll likely appear here to post during one of my bouts of procrastination.

Guest posting excitement

I was recently invited to do a guest post for one of my favourite blogs, Oliver and Abraham's while McKenzie was off getting married and enjoying post-wedding bliss with her husband Jamie. I was so excited when she asked me. But then panic set in. What would I write? It's one thing writing for your own blog (with your own very small set of followers), it's another thing entirely to write for a 'famous' blog like McKenzie's! 


I managed to put something together, with a few of my favourite pictures and emailed it through. And then it appeared! Have a look!

Thanks McKenzie, and big congratulations to you and Jamie. May you have a life filled with joy and love!

Out West

I arrived home last night after spending five days out west. It was both inspiring and exhausting. A few times a year I visit a state school in a small town called Cunnamulla with some other researchers to take science to the kids. Our goals are to: 1) get the kids to come to school, 2) get the kids to finish school, 3) get the kids to consider university as an option, and, 4) get them to consider science as a degree.

Cunnamulla State School is considered by Education Queensland as a disadvantaged school. There's a large percentage of indigenous students (86%) and attendance and compulsory test scores are lower than average. These kids are smart though, really smart. Sometimes I think they teach me more than I teach them. I only wish I could show you photos of the kids.

A fresh water turtle the kids found trapped between rocks at the Weir. We released him back into the Warrego.

The local flock of geese at the Weir.

Lovely times

I've been attempting to be gentle with myself lately. It means I'm doing little work on the PhD. But I'm also happier. 

I'm baking...

And op shopping...

And gardening more.

And that has to be a good thing. Right?

India - revisit

I miss India.

Back home again

I got back from Fraser Island last weekend but the work that naturally piles up while you're out of town kept me busy all week. This is the first chance I've had to post...the mid Friday procrastination has kicked in! Time for some tea and toast.

Fraser was beautiful as usual. Great weather (mostly), great students (mostly) and beautiful midnight and dawn swims (the only time I could sneak away). Rejuvenating. I always come back from these trips feeling like science is the right path for me. Only trouble is when I spend the next three weeks stuck at a desk...then the dreams of the country return. 

One of my favourite quotes comes from Jonathan Safran Foer. "Sometimes I can hear my bones straining under the weight of all the lives I'm not living”. How are you meant to pick just one life when there are so many amazing options out there? How do you stay satisfied with what you choose? How do you not get overwhelmed by all the things you want to do? I'm ok with minimising my want for 'stuff' but I struggle with the 'wanting to do too much  stuff' bit. Where is the balance?

Cookie time

I'm heading off to tutor a field course on Fraser Island tomorrow, so I made a batch of choc chip cookies for some sustenance while tromping through the mangroves. I like trying new choc chip recipes, it's one of those baked goods which leads to an endless search for the 'best' cookie. I think I'll never find the 'best' because I like different styles of cookies...and I enjoy the search too much!

This recipe came from the Rose Bakery's Breakfast, Lunch, Tea cookbook. This book has never let me down. Mel recently made the shortcrust pastry and the muesli from it and loved both. And these cookies are no exception. They involve refrigerating the dough in a log and then cutting slices for baking. This is perfect for warm Queensland kitchens where butter melts as you shape your cookies. They're also not too sweet which I love. Perfect with a cup of tea. Or mangrove mud covered fingers.