A long ramble because I'm bored

I have been staying at home most of the times for the entire day since the past 2 months, ever since we shifted into our new home. I prefer working from home as I am now in my final year of my PhD and am currently writing up my thesis. And there's no surprise (from the title of this post) that I'm absolutely bored being at home, especially since Chin Fei is so tied up with his work recently. He comes back home only for lunch (sometimes) and dinner and whisk off to the office right after his meal. All I can say is that the only time he comes back home is to eat or sleep. Boo! I'm left to do the household chores in the middle of my thesis-writing, which I'm not really complaining because I can't be just sitting at home at the computer all day. So far, I have given my supervisor my introduction and methods section and am planning to submit my first results chapter before I fly to Canberra end of this month to give a talk on my work. You know, I'm just so bored to the extent of googling "What to do when you're bored"! LOL!!

The weather in Perth now is also driving me insane. It is supposed to be autumn now but it still feels like summer and I think it's even hotter than in Malaysia! As I am blogging now, the current temperature is 39 degrees Celcius. Yes, 39! It's way over the maximum expected temperature of 36 degrees! What kind of autumn is this?! Oh boy, I miss the weather in Melbourne although it always rains there. At least it's cold and windy. Thank God, my house doesn't feel like 39 even though the fans are not switched on. So because of this weather, it makes me hate going out too, hence I've been staying indoors the entire time! I don't even go out to check my letter box! I'm just so restless and frustrated.

Just yesterday, Chin Fei asked me if I wanted to go out cycling. And I heaved a loud sigh and declined his offer. He knew I was feeling annoyed and restless, not at him, but at the entire situation. Haha. I think he is beginning to feel worried that I don't have enough exposure to the outdoor world. LOL. I told him that last time when I was studying in Melbourne, whenever I was bored, I would just walk all the way from Carlton down to Federation Square and back. Sometimes I would buy something, but most of the times, I just come back empty-handed. But somehow, I felt contented. I didn't need any companion at all. But walking in Perth city in this stinking hot weather will drive me nuts. Besides, since we have invested a huge sum of money (without anyone's help besides the bank, of course) in this property, it pains my heart if I were to spend it on something lavishly. Oh, gone are those days when I didn't need to worry that much about money. Now, I have to not only consider about the loan repayments, but we also need to save up some money for our wedding (I hope it'll be next year!!) and kids in the future. :(

Anyway, below are some pictures of my "garden patch". I drove my parents out to a nursery when they came to visit us in Perth, to pick some potted plants for us. Ever since, we have been so engrossed in gardening. Everyday, I would go out and check if there are any new shoots sprouting. Oh, so exciting. I think that's how I'm keeping myself sane in this enclosure. LOL. I'm now thinking of rearing some fish, those colourful neon-like ones, e.g. clownfish etc. I actually wanted a dog because I miss playing with Dino in Malaysia but I obviously do not have the time and commitment and the space to have keep a huge animal. I was thinking of rabbits or hamsters because they are cute little creatures and their poo don't stink but after being in the lab and watching scientists doing animal experiments, I don't think I can ever rear one without thinking of those awful memories happening in the lab. And tortoise poo stinks like hell (because I have one in Malaysia) and some species are actually illegal in Australia! So that's left with fish! I'm so excited and I hope we can go find one this weekend! Tee hee hee.

We have spring onions, buk choy, pak choi, tat soi, coriander and chilli

We also have lots of indoor pots and this is one of them, our lotus cactus

Ok, enough of rambles. I'm now sleepy. What should I do? Hmm.....

Perth

Perth. You'll feel safer seeing this, not only at nights but in the daytime.

 

Thank you, WA police! You make Perth a safe and nice place to live in! 

Reminds me of the time when we were hanging out on a Friday night and saw a drunk or drugged woman behind the wheel who abruptly stopped at a bus stop and ignored all the cars behind her while she just rested. We saw a police car nearby and reported to the police who quickly drove to the spot to investigate the incident and eventually arrested her. Bravo!

I realise that I rarely see policemen patrolling in Melbourne, after having lived there for 4 years. And I won't believe that Melbourne is safer than Perth and so, they don't need police patrols around. Melbourne has too many tourists every day. Even the migrants would prefer living a bustling city rather than a small town. I would. So it wouldn't surprise me if there are more cases in Melbourne than in Perth.

After staying in Perth for 3 years now, I am beginning to love this city boomed from the mining industry. There's a Perth waterfront development project which will make Perth comparable to Melbourne's Federation Square and better than Brisbane's South Bank Parklands. I am so excited to see this small town developing to a proper city! I like how the idea of how they are now putting free Wi-Fi in Perth CBD and extending the trading hours on Sundays. They are now sinking the railways underground to make way for development. Oh, how exciting! Chin Fei has been following this project very closely, by taking pictures of its development. I will compile them and post them up next time. I am not regretting that I packed my bags and left Melbourne for good 3 years ago...although it certainly would be nice to visit Melbourne and meet my friends there. Soon. It'll be soon. :)

A bad leap year

People say that 29th February is a good and special date, simply because it comes once every 4 years. Well, there wasn't any good events happening on this special occasion this year. And to make it worse, I was overwhelmed with so many down-feelings. Too personal to vent them out here. I'm just glad that the day has past! It's just funny how my parents called me yesterday to ask why I was so silent the entire day - no whatsapps or making the next move on Words Free. Haha. Parents really understand their children so well - even though they are just so far away. :) It was nice to talk to my parents and Chin Fei to vent all my frustrations and disappointments. I'm looking forward to a bright and cheerful day today! Cheers! :)

Busselton and Margaret River

Our road trip didn't end in Albany. The next day, we did a day-trip to Busselton and Margaret River as my parents have never been there before. So while everyone was working on Monday, Chin Fei and I took a day off to bring my parents down south again, in another direction, that is. :)

 Busselton Jetty

 Ahh, crystal clear water and white sandy beach! We were fortunate to see a stingray swimming very close to the beach too!! :)

The last time we went there, Busselton was still undergoing its refurbishment. It's great that the works have completed and we are now allowed to walk out to the jetty and all the way til the end of it too! We didn't buy the passes to the underwater observatory though because they were quite expensive. So we only paid $2 each for an entrance fee to walk all the way til the end of the jetty, although there was a train that could bring you there. When we walked to the middle of the the long stretch, there were very strong gusts of winds and I was quite afraid looking at those big waves in the sea.

People queuing up to board the train

We had to hold onto our hats so that they won't be blown away by the wind

Still a long way to go to the end of the jetty!!

Can you see the end of the jetty?? There were also people fishing off the jetty

After walking so much, we had to rest in the shade due to the hot summer heat. Tee hee hee

An anenometer??

On our way back to Perth, we stopped by Margaret River for my parents to visit the vineyard and buy some wine to enjoy at home. :)

Place des Anges

It's the Perth International Art Festival and the French based Les Studio de Cirque had an aerial view performance called Place des Anges last weekend. This act was performed by circus acrobatics suspending high in the sky and flying from one rooftop to another with just ropes, much like flying fox, while throwing tonnes of feathers down to the ground. I thought it was quite a great idea to organise such a free event in the city but I failed to see the consequence of that - neck pain (after looking up for 30 minutes to watch the performance) and a very dirty city with feathers littering everywhere. Nevertheless, it was quite pretty because watching the feathers fall down in the night looked like as if it was snowing. And it was really nice to think for once, that it was snowing in Perth during summer. Haha. Anyway, here is just one short recording of the event.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day. 

 

What other best way than to cuddle with the other couples and enjoy a free movie at Northbridge Piazza with free bean bags provided. :)

 

It was a really great movie! Funny and absolutely interesting!

3 Days 2 Nights in Albany

After Denmark, we went to Albany and visited the same places we did April last year (read here, here, here, here, here and here).

 

 Dog Rock

As I've blogged about the places, before, this post will mainly consist of pictures. :)


1. The Brig Armity

Spot the tiny us. Hehe.

2. The Whale World

Listening to the free guided tour

Dad and mum standing in front of the lower jaw of a whale

The view from Cheynes IV

On board the Cheynes IV ship

A kangaroo licking its paw, in the animal sanctuary

3. Salmon Holes

4. Blowhole

Walking down to see the Blowhole

Only dad and Chin Fei dared to walk closer to the blowhole. Mum and I were afraid of the sound that we stood from afar. It was loud! Like a roaring thunder!!

5. The Gap and Natural Bridge

Spot us!

Can you find me?

Natural Bridge

We walked over the other side to stand on the Natural Bridge, while Chin Fei waited at the opposite to take pictures of us

Spot us!

Can you see us?

6. Albany Wind Farm

It was a better clear blue day compared to the cold misty day we went last April

The Great Southern Ocean

7. Emu Point

Breakfast at Emu Point Cafe. It was really cold that morning

It was very cold and windy that morning

8. Mount Clarence