Secrets I tell Doug: 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!)...