Latest update:

I finally have somewhere to live (well for a few more months anyway).

Working at a Christian bookshop and enjoying it.

Still seeing the boyf.

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Sorry I haven't been updating this as often as I would like. I haven't had much internet access since I got here to Australia (but will soon). Also various life changes involved with emigrating have been incredibly stressful. I should be back online on a more regular basis in the near future. Watch this space.

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Have you ever tried composting?  Any tips you can share?

My parents used to do it for our veggie garden in New Zealand back in the 80s and I am living with some people who do it now - but I have to profess ignorance in this area. I need some education. I am not really a gardener - in spite of the fact that my parents both seemed to enjoy gardening, my paternal grandfather was an extremely good and keen gardener and my uncle has a PHD in horticultural science. Go figure. But I've always been living in city environments with small gardens or no garden. So I have not yet been bitten by the gardening bug. Maybe it will kick in in my 40s - or if I'm married with kids or something.

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Been battling the nastiest sinus pain and cold for the last week. First two days I was really feverish and weak - as I am a casual worker at my charity job here in Melbourne I didn't get paid for those days off either.

Took horseradish and garlic capsules today for the first time as boss suggested this might help and the symptoms do seem to havev reduced already. Difficult to tell if it's just a placebo, I was getting better anyway or whether they actually work.

Reading about Borderline Personality Disorder as part of preparation for the kind of work I do. I personally believe every single person in the world has these traits to a greater or lesser extent - it's just that some people seem to have them real bad and some people just get away with it (because of wealth or position or whatever). No doubt I will have further thoughts on this subject.

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Two Turkish friends who are Christians sent me an email with these links about what is going on in their country at the moment - they are published on a Christian website - so, of course, they come from that perspective. But I provide for interests sake anyway. Turkey is currently 98% Muslim (I think?) but also has a fascinating connection with Christianity as many of the early churches were in that country.

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How are you spending New Year's Eve?

Hanging out with some acquaintances in a dry hot wooden house in central Melbourne - drinking Coca Cola and admiring the visuals on the Mac monitor belonging to my host. Now at home chilling out. Just cooked some gnocchi mixed with pesto for a late supper. Got a text message from my dad in New Zealand. Happy New Year everyone!

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I tried to copy and paste from this Canadian website with info about culture shock - but you can take a look at the website yourself if you are interested. For various reasons, which I don't want to go into openly on this blog, its been an incredibly, painful, difficult and scary time.

But slowly I am adjusting and I feel blessed to be in such a beautiful city as Melbourne at this time of year - 2007 has been a toughie overall and I wonder sometimes 'What will happen next?' Let's see I guess.

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What treats do the kids in your family leave out for Santa?  What treats did you leave for him as a child?

I didn't spend this Christmas with any children so of course I can't answer the first question.

When we were kids mum would make Father Christmas these green, mint flavoured marshmallow biscuits (we called these 'oobleck bikkies' after the green gunk in a Dr Seuss story which I listened to on a vinyl record as a child).We would also leave Santa some milk by the fireplace - because of course Santa in our house wouldn't touch booze.

Funnily enough dad and mum did pretty good on scoffing these treats and sorting out the present side of things - I  honestly never heard them make a sound.

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What was the last good movie you watched?

The Wedding Singer

I still love this movie - I watched it on DVD on Saturday with a friend - but I must have seen it about 20 something times now? So time to find a new one.

Erm - the last thing that I saw at the cinema which I really enjoyed was this one...

Blades of Glory (2007)

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Share your favorite holiday song.

A Charlie Brown Christmas - Christmas Time is Here Song

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