with Flat 62 last nite.
We had curry chicken, brussel sprouts, prawn crackers, fried wanton, sausage appetiser, pavlova...but more memorable is the fellowship. The jokes and laughter!
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Piggy day today!
1st farm prac and we get to be upclose with grunty, squealy,wriggly pigs and piglets.
I can imagine how many people may be anxious or uncertain around pigs, especially when some female pigs can get as big as 200kg and boars 300kg! That's a whole load of bacon.
The pigs we have are generally friendly and used to human contact, though some can be naughtier and try all means to make you look bad and clumsy when you wanna show the demonstrator you know how to move a pig and weigh them on the scales.
My pig was supposed to be Number 6 - but when I open the gate, Number 7 came out first so I stayed with her.
Number 7 is a very friendly female pig. Loves to sniff and nibble. I was supposed to guide and move her down the path and towards the scales. Easy job cos she knows her way! Willingly through the small gate and up onto the scales - 45kg. Pretty young about 12 weeks we were told. But they sure pile on the pounds very quickly.
Later on, we tried our hands at restraining them around their upper jaw, just behind their back teeth, with soft wire snares. Number 7 was so easy cos she's a nibbler and comes right up to mouth the wire and it was easy to just loop it over her jaw and tighten gently. Once you do that, the pig is then restrained and will generally stand for you to do your examination.
After that, we crossed over to the other pen to meet the little piglets. Before we went through the door, we could already hear them - they were loud! We learnt how to carry them, place them on their backs for health check and locate the point at their jugular vein to draw blood. They squeal as if we were about to slaughter them, ha!
I do enjoy my time at the farm, hands on and up close with the animals. It's kinda unreal after we stepped out of the piggery and get back into the concrete world so called. It is easy to forget about the pigs behind the walls as we go on with our life. But the reality is they are in actual fact still there, right now. As with all the farm animals out there.
I find myself thinking about the farm animals. Now and then.
I can imagine how many people may be anxious or uncertain around pigs, especially when some female pigs can get as big as 200kg and boars 300kg! That's a whole load of bacon.
The pigs we have are generally friendly and used to human contact, though some can be naughtier and try all means to make you look bad and clumsy when you wanna show the demonstrator you know how to move a pig and weigh them on the scales.
My pig was supposed to be Number 6 - but when I open the gate, Number 7 came out first so I stayed with her.
Number 7 is a very friendly female pig. Loves to sniff and nibble. I was supposed to guide and move her down the path and towards the scales. Easy job cos she knows her way! Willingly through the small gate and up onto the scales - 45kg. Pretty young about 12 weeks we were told. But they sure pile on the pounds very quickly.
Later on, we tried our hands at restraining them around their upper jaw, just behind their back teeth, with soft wire snares. Number 7 was so easy cos she's a nibbler and comes right up to mouth the wire and it was easy to just loop it over her jaw and tighten gently. Once you do that, the pig is then restrained and will generally stand for you to do your examination.
After that, we crossed over to the other pen to meet the little piglets. Before we went through the door, we could already hear them - they were loud! We learnt how to carry them, place them on their backs for health check and locate the point at their jugular vein to draw blood. They squeal as if we were about to slaughter them, ha!
I do enjoy my time at the farm, hands on and up close with the animals. It's kinda unreal after we stepped out of the piggery and get back into the concrete world so called. It is easy to forget about the pigs behind the walls as we go on with our life. But the reality is they are in actual fact still there, right now. As with all the farm animals out there.
I find myself thinking about the farm animals. Now and then.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Erratic weather for the past few days,
rain one moment, and sunshine the next.
Yesterday, just after we brought out the laundry into the noon sun, suddenly we hear a swoosh but unlike the normal wind - to our amazement....hailstones!!
Thousands of little teeny icy pebbles flew right out from the dark skies and filled up our garden. I managed to take a few shots in the open and ended up with hailstones in my hair, ha! Will share the pix later.
Lovely peaceful Sabbath. Off to church now!
Yesterday, just after we brought out the laundry into the noon sun, suddenly we hear a swoosh but unlike the normal wind - to our amazement....hailstones!!
Thousands of little teeny icy pebbles flew right out from the dark skies and filled up our garden. I managed to take a few shots in the open and ended up with hailstones in my hair, ha! Will share the pix later.
Lovely peaceful Sabbath. Off to church now!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Writing after more than
2 months!
Lots have happened since my Semester 1 exams in June - searching for a house to rent after staying in the Student Village for one semester, making applications, looking at furniture, going back home to visit family and pals, coming back to Perth again, moving into our new rental house, getting more furniture, setting up the furniture, getting readers, settling my mind into lectures and practicals....that has been a whole load of fun!
Rosemary
Lavender
Lilies
2nd week of school now. Today is a free day cos my farm prac starts next Wed - 1st stop at the piggery! Should be quite an adventure having taken a sneak peek (smell) at their quarters last Wed. I sure will be taking a whiff of them home with me!
Gonna have dinner now and later to caregroup with hot homecooked ginger chicken soup. Then our second dissection tomorrow as we continue to look deep into the dog's head and brain.
Lots have happened since my Semester 1 exams in June - searching for a house to rent after staying in the Student Village for one semester, making applications, looking at furniture, going back home to visit family and pals, coming back to Perth again, moving into our new rental house, getting more furniture, setting up the furniture, getting readers, settling my mind into lectures and practicals....that has been a whole load of fun!
We're now in a lovely neighbourhood called Canning Vale, about 15 mins drive from Uni. My fav place in the house is the garden. Lovely in the cool winter air - to just laze on the ground and enjoy the freshness, the blueness, the sweetness of the lavendar, rosemary and lilies.
Rosemary
Lavender
Lilies
Little sunbursts
2nd week of school now. Today is a free day cos my farm prac starts next Wed - 1st stop at the piggery! Should be quite an adventure having taken a sneak peek (smell) at their quarters last Wed. I sure will be taking a whiff of them home with me!
Gonna have dinner now and later to caregroup with hot homecooked ginger chicken soup. Then our second dissection tomorrow as we continue to look deep into the dog's head and brain.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Hot green tea
weans off Nutella...and Tim Tams....
Physio is over! Anatomy practical tomorrow and then we'll breathe a bit easier with 1 week to our last paper Biochem. Then it's down south here we come....!
Physio is over! Anatomy practical tomorrow and then we'll breathe a bit easier with 1 week to our last paper Biochem. Then it's down south here we come....!
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Run towards the Sun
One of my study places out in the big green, beneath the gentle sun of the late noon and early evening. The smell of grass and the wide, open space. Anatomy gets digested easier this way.
"One down, 3 more to go!
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
"You see,
if the words you confess in faith for yourself or over your loved ones are God’s own words, He says, “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”
Because what is promised to you is God’s Word, you will see the manifestation of His promise. He will certainly watch over His Word to perform it! (Numbers 23:19)"
Because what is promised to you is God’s Word, you will see the manifestation of His promise. He will certainly watch over His Word to perform it! (Numbers 23:19)"
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Had a good half day
at the Anatomy Museum. Nothing beats holding and fiddling with real bones. Anatomy cannot be taught in 2D.
The night is quiet now. 17 degrees of freshness.
The night is quiet now. 17 degrees of freshness.
"The twists and turns
in your life, the challenges, are making you into the person God created you to be...so that you can do what He's called you to do."
Your purpose in life, everything in your heart, will become a reality. Your life is significant.
Your purpose in life, everything in your heart, will become a reality. Your life is significant.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
It has been amazing
to leave the hustle and bustle behind. The crowds. The traffic. The countless faces and senseless places of no significance in my life. Except for dear family and friends I wish to have here with us. And the animal friends I miss.
Freedom, to me, is wide open space.
From The Message bible:
"...bring them to a good land with wide-open spaces, a land lush with milk and honey.." (Exodus 3:7)
"...I'll turn you loose in wide open spaces, with more than enough fertile and productive land for everyone..." (Isaiah 36:16)
"...We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand—out in the wide open spaces of God's grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise..." (Romans 5:1)
"..I called to God; from the wide open spaces, he answered. God's now at my side and I'm not afraid; who would dare lay a hand on me? God's my strong champion.." (Psalms 118:5)
Freedom. Wide open space. More will join us here.
Freedom, to me, is wide open space.
From The Message bible:
"...bring them to a good land with wide-open spaces, a land lush with milk and honey.." (Exodus 3:7)
"...I'll turn you loose in wide open spaces, with more than enough fertile and productive land for everyone..." (Isaiah 36:16)
"...We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand—out in the wide open spaces of God's grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise..." (Romans 5:1)
"..I called to God; from the wide open spaces, he answered. God's now at my side and I'm not afraid; who would dare lay a hand on me? God's my strong champion.." (Psalms 118:5)
Freedom. Wide open space. More will join us here.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Today, we had a lecture
on "How To Deal With Grief", in terms of a loss of a pet.
One thing that stayed with me was this point by the vet: she spoke about the varying personal attitudes towards euthanasia. On how it is a good choice to prevent an animal from suffering, when all treatment has failed. However, vets also face the unpleasant task of euthanasing perfectly healthy animals, due to behavioural issues like biting, barking.
In her opinion, when faced with putting down a dog with a biting issue versus subjecting it to 10 years living in a dog shelter - she will choose to put it to sleep.
10 years living in a small dog shelter. That, to her, is not life.
It got me thinking again of our dogs back home.
One thing that stayed with me was this point by the vet: she spoke about the varying personal attitudes towards euthanasia. On how it is a good choice to prevent an animal from suffering, when all treatment has failed. However, vets also face the unpleasant task of euthanasing perfectly healthy animals, due to behavioural issues like biting, barking.
In her opinion, when faced with putting down a dog with a biting issue versus subjecting it to 10 years living in a dog shelter - she will choose to put it to sleep.
10 years living in a small dog shelter. That, to her, is not life.
It got me thinking again of our dogs back home.
The wind has been
amazing for the past 2 days.
Last night, it howled for most of the dark hours. You can hear the trees, leaves, shrubs all rustling loudly and whooshes and howls through little grooves. Today, it rained sporadically again. The wind is still up to its mission to chill the air and drive us indoors.
But despite the inconvenience of wetness, especially if you have walks/runs/treks in mind, this chill is invigorating!!
We ended of today with the final groups of presentation and a few hours of study in the Anatomy museum. Now back in the cosy comfort of my room, ready to prepare a hot bowl of fishball noodle soup! Then....back to study! :)
An early morning walk tomorrow is sounding good .... :)
Last night, it howled for most of the dark hours. You can hear the trees, leaves, shrubs all rustling loudly and whooshes and howls through little grooves. Today, it rained sporadically again. The wind is still up to its mission to chill the air and drive us indoors.
But despite the inconvenience of wetness, especially if you have walks/runs/treks in mind, this chill is invigorating!!
We ended of today with the final groups of presentation and a few hours of study in the Anatomy museum. Now back in the cosy comfort of my room, ready to prepare a hot bowl of fishball noodle soup! Then....back to study! :)
An early morning walk tomorrow is sounding good .... :)
Thursday, May 21, 2009
3 minutes
can feel so short when you're rushing to catch that train. 3 minutes can fly by when you're chatting with a loved one.
3 minutes can feel pretty long. When you're standing in front of an audience, delivering a speech.
Oh well, it is over! We did our presentation on Horse Monensin Poisoning to our cohort this morning. The thumping of the heart as you await your turn sounds almost audibly. The initial first few seconds set the pace, and then you're on a roll. All went well. And now we're into our LAST day of lectures tomorrow, followed by our last study week.
Final Anatomy theory exam on 30 May, followed by Physiology, Anatomy Practical and ending off with Biochemistry on 10 June ... and we're done for Year 1 Semester 1!!
The weather has started to change since yesterday.
Passing showers started yesterday morn, came back again last nite and again this noon. Sky was cloudy and dark. Winds blowing. Temperature of 18degrees now.
A preview of winter in Perth.
3 minutes can feel pretty long. When you're standing in front of an audience, delivering a speech.
Oh well, it is over! We did our presentation on Horse Monensin Poisoning to our cohort this morning. The thumping of the heart as you await your turn sounds almost audibly. The initial first few seconds set the pace, and then you're on a roll. All went well. And now we're into our LAST day of lectures tomorrow, followed by our last study week.
Final Anatomy theory exam on 30 May, followed by Physiology, Anatomy Practical and ending off with Biochemistry on 10 June ... and we're done for Year 1 Semester 1!!
The weather has started to change since yesterday.
Passing showers started yesterday morn, came back again last nite and again this noon. Sky was cloudy and dark. Winds blowing. Temperature of 18degrees now.
A preview of winter in Perth.
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