I have decided to make Christmas presents this year.

I am the proud owner of a Totara (Podocarpus totara) which I will keep potted until we find a home to settle.

I have planted my first batch of veges: kale and zucchini

I can still see my floor.

New signs of a world in peril

Today I saw the blood vessels in my eyes through the very eye who is feed by them. They are plenty and free flowing.

I love to wonder the streets with little direction or purpose. Thinking, observing and jigging to the music hitting my ears. So many interesting people surround us.

I love to carry odd objects home from town, whether it be by foot or bus. I have transport a fork, computer chair and now a compost bin. I was even called Oscar.

People can't help but smile when you walk by with home cooking. I guess they are relieved that at least some people don't rely on prepackaged, non-loved, mass produced food or just want to know what's in it.

Yesterday I gave my first talk since Honours. My Honours talk is a bad memory of nerves and mumbling. However, yesterday's talks were more informal and relaxed. I still motored through my talk but the people I asked at least said they could understand me. Hopefully by the end of my PhD I will be a confident speaker ready for lecturing/teaching or whatever comes my way.

Without a thought

Last week I experienced one of the most bizarre moments I can remember. After recording a measurement on the NMR machine, I printed out the results and began to analyse them to decide what the graph was telling me. After a minute or two I proceeded to eject my sample. However, to my surprise it was already ejected and sitting before me. I rewound my mind and could remember hearing the sound of my sample being ejected and removed but associated that with looking at my print out. I could not and still cannot remember putting down the graph and removing my sample before returning to my print out. But I was the only one in the room! Very weird indeed!

I was shocked to read of the death of the Green Party co-leader Rod Donald at only 48. He always seemed to be a real sensible green. He will be sadly missed. May his legacy not be lost.