Back from Oz

Hi all, long time no post I know. Been flat out with work and just got back from a 2 week stint in Oz. Apologies to those I missed out on catching up on!! Flew to Brisbane first where I stayed with the family for the weekend. Timed it so I could attend Kel & Dan's engagement party. It was awesome to see them so happy, and also to catch up with Matene & Mel (and her partner Bear) at the same time. After many Toohey's Olds, we ended back at Kel & Dan's house playing bocce from the light of the moon in their backyard. Somehow I managed to step in dog poo (this was no easy feat - as far as I know they don't even have a dog?!), I can't even manage to be a lady-like for one night!! Thanks to mum for cleaning my heels in the morning (while I was still in bed) and to Matene for bringing the bocce set!

The happy couple.

Marine Biology reunion.

Why does my brother have better hair than me?!

A not-so-dignified Oscar sporting his collar after nasty run in with the fence (?!).

After Brissie I flew on to Adelaide to complete a gruelling 2 weeks of parasite counting. Lizzie kindly let me camp at her place. Honestly, I don't know how I would've got it done without her - many thanks for running around after me, keeping me motivated, helping me out in the lab, keeping me well fed and taking me out diving!! She made sure I was in at uni by 8am every day (except Good Friday when we got in at 9!) and because of that I managed to squeeze 2 dives in with my favourite dive club. It was awesome to go down to Marion Bay on the Yorke Peninsula, camp out with the club (I'd forgotten how much I like camping!) and dive with the NZ fur seals (ironic I was diving with NZ fur seals in Australia...?!).

I really enjoyed being back in Adelaide and catching up with people and generally slotting right back into the university lifestyle. I felt like a real tourist, gawking at the emu's at Innes National Park and the various parrots (rosellas, galahs, lorikeets and corellas) in the parklands on the way to uni! The cute little ringtail possums were a welcome change to the feral brushtails NZ has to deal with. All in all it was an refreshing if hectic visit and I'm looking forward to heading back in the near future, hopefully for the final draft and hand in!