And so it continues...

I am not so happy to report that after about 2 weeks of having functional indoor heating, our heating has once again stopped working. We will be without heat for at least another week and are negotiating (or trying to) with our landlord for a reduction in rent so we can purchase firewood. And things were going so well.

The bugs continue to take residence in our home. I believe I've now seen 3 separate species of cochroaches, and several scary looking spiders. I've also seen a large centipede and a bug that can only be described as what I imagine the devil would look like if the devil was a smallish insect. Not that this bug was particularly devilish in behaviour. It was too high up for me to do anything about and then it was gone.

Joining the bugs are some furry friends. Mice, possums, rats, who knows. I'm not going to be the one to open the cupboard while I can hear them violently trying to chew through the tupperware container the dog food is in.

Aside from the continuing adventure that is my housing situation, things have been going pretty smoothly. I've been making progress with this whole PhD thing and am not, at this moment, feeling particularly lost. I may even know what I'm doing. Maybe.

The weather here hasn't been too bad, although now that our heating is gone unless it's over 20 I'm probably going to bitch about it. We're getting a bit of rain, which is good considering the water crisis. I got laughed at today because I am wearing a warm sweater, a scarf, and a wool hat. Our office tends to get chilly, especially since I'm sitting right by a window, and I'm fighting off a cold so I feel totally justified dressing like it's -10 instead of +16.

I have officially gotten my work visa and will be starting my 7 hour a week job as a Research Assistant to Dr. Gary Dowsett (who is largely responsible for my being here, so it seems fitting that I should be working for him) next week. I am looking forward to having the extra money and actually being able to get ahead a bit.

Mostly it's business as usually for me right now. I don't have anything special or exciting happening at the moment, though, like most days, I am planning vacations. I'm hoping to go to Tasmania in the summer (whenever it gets too hot in Melbourne) for like a week, and I am planning a trip to India with my friends Laura and Jeff for next year. I promise nothing, but I may also be planning a trip home. You will all have to wait until, oh, October, to find out more about that! Mwahahahaha!

ALSO ***I have posted my Melbourne pictures on Flickr now*** so if you click on the "Travel Pictures" hyperlink on the side of the page it will take you to my pictures. There's an album called "Melbourne" and that's got all my Melbourne pictures in it. I will keep updating that as me and my camera keep exploring the city.