Quicky from Vic-y

Hi there peeps. I found out that a few people actually check this blog so I thought I'd better keep things interesting. So here are the top 5 places to eat food in Victoria:

1. The East Brunswick Club for "chicken" parma

2. La Panella bakery in Preston for pies, sausage rolls, apple scrolls, jam donuts and more!

3. Mystery secret locations that only hip people know about, I can't tell you their names because I don't know them. My hip pal C takes me to new places every time I visit and I eat amazing things. Like french toast with poached pears in Balaclava. Marinated coconut bagels in Brunswick. The list goes on.

4. Lord of the Fries in various locations but usually at Northlands, the burgers rock okay and I'm a sucker for tacky shopping complexes.

5. Thooft in Bendigo. Because I'm always visiting family in Benders and this place makes a mean vegan breakfast called "Vegan is not a dirty word". Also they make good juices and coffee. 

There are more. There are dumplings and many more treasures but these are all the things that I can't get in shitty Armidale. Burgers, pies, fancy food. I miss this stuff. I bet there are way more places that I don't even know about because I've been away so long. OH SHIT! I almost forgot. I love to eat some good quality hand made potato cakes while in Vic because apparently in NSW they don't know how to whip up a simple batter, slice some potatoes, dip, fry and serve. They get pre-made frozen things and call them potato scallops. Freaks. Anyway, I am having a gay old time and my jeans don't fit anymore. I Love VIC!

Anx-i-et-ea

I have a new theory. Actually, I'm pretty sure this aint new. Caffeine makes me panicky. Green tea gives me "anx-i-et-ea". Does everyone have anxiety these days? Seems like it. For me, it's all about the coffee and tea. And today, I had a coffee AND a tea. Stupid stupid little lady. 

So, I just had a little episode at a little party. I just had to get the fuck out of there! Didn't even say goodbye to anyone. Now I feel guilt. Not just any old guilt, anxious guilt. Ick. Anyway, I decided to just go with it. I know that's probably not what the shrinks would suggest. I think "going with it" leads to agoraphobia, but for now, it's all I can do. Anyway, this is a bit deep, but I just thought I would share because I'm sure every single one of you has felt this way before.

My big conundrum is the coffee/tea consumption vs productivity trade-off. Without the coffee I'm a blob of useless goop but with the coffee I'm a ball of nervous energy.  With coffee I do get more work done, in short bursts, but I follow that up with a few hours of wanting to squeeze something really tight until it bursts. I almost feel like collecting data on my productivity with and without coffee. If only there was a way to measure how destructive those panicky times are to my general sense of well being. I think they are pretty bad. Okay, now I've hit the wall. Time for bed. I'm sure I'll sleep like a baby. Not a good baby though; one of those bad babies that scream all night. Poor N. Poor Dougy.

Ecology and my social life

Well, it's been a while. I've neglected you. I've been busy though, so get off my case. Things have been going pretty well since the sun arrived in Armidale, like, mental health-wise. Although, around eastern Australia there is extensive flooding, so yeah, it's also been a bit wet. Perhaps I am so resilient I haven't noticed the rain, or perhaps I have a short memory and it's sunny right now. Anyway, we've been swell.

N and I have really cranked up our productivity now that we only have 6 months of PhD left. I might look back on this post in 6 months and think "wow, who was she kidding, there was no way she'd get that thesis finished in 6 months", but I'm really hoping that's not the case. I REEEEEEAAALLLLLYYY just want it to be over. There are days, like yesterday, where I think I've got it in the bag. Then there are days, like today, where I fuck around with a graph for hours and suddenly it's dinner time. If you are a PhD student, you will understand this. It's just like trying to create a beautiful statue out of a slimy turd. 

We've just returned to Armidale from Canberra where we attended the 50th anniversary conference for the Ecological Society of Australia. Canberra: our nations capital. It's a really ugly city, but it provided some very fun and pleasant opportunities. 1) Lots of mock meat; 2) Lots of beer and fun ecologists to hang out with; and 3) a pool. The combination of these factors, every day, made for a memorable week. I lost my voice. My talk went well. N's talk went well. All of our friends also smashed their talks. We danced and drank lots of wine at the conference dinner. I have a bruised knee. 

I didn't get a chance to photograph anything other than food. Here it is (all from a vegan restaurant in Dickson, Canberra!)...

deep fried sweet potato coated in nuts

Roast "duck" with buk choy. Effing yum!

Yummy spicey "chicken" and veg

Pineapple fritter with soy ice-cream and choc topping, anyone? HEAVEN.