Well that was a while…

…between updates, that is. Hmm, quite a lot has happened since I last got online and typed some unread stuff, but since I’m alone and have nothing better to do, may as well do some random typing now!

So, things that have happened since last time I did a blog post. Well, I suppose I turned 21, which was pretty good. I can’t say that being 21 feels a whole lot different to being 20. Even if I were in America it wouldn’t be remarkably different, because I don’t drink anyway. So yeah, I’m 21. I’m also in Townsville, which is pretty cool. Well, not really cool at all – I have a drop of sweat running down my forehead as I type. It’s damned sticky at the moment!

Anyway, I’ll explain each thing in a little detail with nice headings after the break…

21st Birthday

Well, as much as it’s momentous and everything, my 21st was pretty understated. It sort of lasted a while, though, and it’s still going up here in Townsville beacause I keep seeing people. I didn’t have a big party or anything though, a. because I was too busy and b. because I’m not really one for parties – although I’m sure other people would have liked me to have a proper party.

I have to make a shout-out to my parents, however, for their gifting me an iPhone. Best. Technology. Ever.

I’m sure there’re other phones that do awesome stuff, and I freely admit that although I’m all computer savvy and such that when it comes to telecommunications I’ve effectively had my head in the sand. My excuse (and believe me, it’s a compelling one) is that Mt Evelyn is a mobile phone black hole, and since that’s where I spend much of my time, the usefulness of having a phone there is highly questionable. However, since I got my iPhone and came to Townsville almost immediately afterwards I have to say it is quite awesome. I’m going to miss my decent reception when I get back to Melbourne. Optus’s technical support told us on the phone that their new tower (which I discovered on a site I found on Whirlpool which I’ll link to when I can find the link again) will be switched on in March. Or is scheduled to be. Or something. Long story short, I should have some reception and general iPhone love in March, but until I get back from Townsville all is awesome anyway.

I’m sure I’ll have much to say about the iPhone in blog posts to come, especially when a certain project about which I am unable to talk at this point happens. When that happens I’m sure there’ll be much talk of the iPhone in this blog.

Townsville

Well, as I mentioned above, I’m in Townsville now. It’s good to see everyone, and my niece and nephew are both growing (especially my niece – I haven’t seen her since January!) After two days of being relatively tormented by her, I dropped her and her mum off at the airport this morning for their holiday in Darwin. I’m now looking after their house, and taking care of their internet connection (even though I’m logged on under my home account at the moment so I’m using my own quota).

The city itself isn’t bad. I have to say it lacks some of the charm of Darwin, if only because the city sprawls very effectively out not unlike Melbourne (on a much, much smaller scale). Darwin has a nice buffer between the city and everything else. I’ve never seen so many separate little shopping centres everywhere in my life – they’re everywhere!

In terms of weather, it’s not quite as hot or humid here as it is in Darwin, although I can’t really compare directly because I haven’t been to Darwin in nearly a year. I know this much: It’s still hot and humid enough to be uncomfortable, especially during the day. At the moment it’s dark and much cooler (albeit even more humid) but I think the nights are actually nicer than the days. The nights also have the free perk of no sun, which is pretty harsh up here.

Anyway, I’ll talk more about Townsville once I have a proper look around (probably tomorrow, now that I have a car to myself for a week!)

Honours

Well, I’m getting a bit tired of typing now, so I’ll move right along to the business end of the post. My honours offer has arrived in Melbourne, so once I sign that and send it off to Monash I’ll be in the honours program. Yay!

I haven’t actually started my reading up here yet, I might do some of that now, because I’m not really doing anything constructive other than this blog post – and some smart person decided that a chair with arms is perfect for a computer. It’s not. My arms hurt.