Just 1 more week

of lessons and we'll get into our last study break week, after which ... yup, the finals. Amazing how time flies.

A sense of familiarity with the people, surrounding, sights and smells have set in. Each day opens up fresh and sunshiney. In fact, I don't have any recollection of any mornings so far that started off in rain.

We've just walk Peppin and Kyler from our vet lawn back to a friend's hostel. Peppin is J's fiesty little Papillon and Kyler his lanky, growing-up Border Collie. Funny boys. They love each other and even along the walk, Peppin will find any opportunity to tease Kyler by scooching up to him and nudging his face - teasing Kyler to nudge back too - but considering Kyler's size, his nudge is enough to bowl Peppin over ha!

We played catch-and-dash on the vet lawn, walk around the vet hospital, along the horse farm, pause to let the boys say hello to a friendly horse, and the ooh-ing humans along the way who stopped to cuddle their cuteness.

Well, as I said, 1 more week of school next week. Ending off with some excitement of a final Physio quiz, Physio group presentation (where we'll be presenting on Monensin poisoning in horses) and our Anatomy dissection project presentation (on injury to the dog's suprascapular nerve).

Mighty interesting stuff so far! I have thoroughly enjoyed my learning. And getting to accept the fact that for now in this semester, I am a 'mediocre' student. Like my flatmate, a vet from East Timor shared, whenever he gets overloaded with so much information, he says his 'little brain' can only take that much! In our cohort of 92 students, I'm somewhere just above the median now. I know I will do better as my 'little brain' grows to accept and digest the gushing stream of knowledge!

Should be back to S'pore for a break sometime end June till late July. Will look forward to catching up with you all then. And take time to collect our thoughts on the future of Project JK and the animals we have taken under our care, along the way. The longterm road ahead with them, with us.

For now, some random shots of pretty Perth to share. Some taken during Anzac Day.

A common scene along the highway

Perth Wheel


Waiting for the march-pass to start

Horsey decided to poo before the parade, and the soldiers had to look stoic and brave and march right on the horse-poop! Some of them were even marching on the spot for a full minute, stomping and stomping on the poop. Quite hilarious! But well, we learnt today that horses do not have the striated muscles of the outer anal sphincter that dogs/cats have that can help them keep the sphincter closed till an appropriate time. That is, you cannot ever toilet-train a horse. They have no muscles for that. When they have to go, they just gotta go!

Champion Lakes - a new development

Excited about how the next few months will turn out. Follow the Shepherd.

Bibbulmun Track

was awesome. The freshness of nature. The simplicity of walking. Catch a glimpse here!

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

"The next stage of your growth

comes not from you doing more. The next stage of your growth comes from retreating. With Him."

Retreat to advance.

Heading off to the great

outdoors today! Bibbulmun Track here we come.

Setting off at 3pm for a 1-hour 100km drive down to the town of Dwellingup, hop onto a group van to reach Swamp Oak Campsite around 5pm tp pitch our tents before sunset. Campfire till late night and an early morning 13km trek from Swamp Oak back to Dwellingup.

The faithful Cane Toad



Toasty Black Wolf for the cold night out!

Easy walk. Take time to smell the flowers and immerse in the beauty of green. And share for a night and day, the home of Western Australia's birds and fauna.

Dwellingup


Some last minute stuff to get now. Will share pix when we're back!

Saw a brightly blue-feathered bird

this morning in the village gardens.

Simply lovely! He's a small, robin-sized fellow, flitting among the low bushes with a Honeyeater. Beautiful blue in the morning sun.

Didn't have my cam with me but managed to search for his breed online, I'm pretty sure he is a Splendid Fairy Wren, or the Blue Wren. He is a breeding male. With such an awesome colour, he sure will win hearts!



Image from "yelvertonbrook wordpress" - Splendid fairy wren (Malurus splendens)

[Breeding Male – mostly dark blue , narrow black band on upper breast extending to black collar on neck. Non breeding male – wings partly and tail wholly dull blue; rest of upper parts greyish brown ; under parts whitish.Female – tail dull blue ; rest of body greyish brown with whitish under parts.]

Morning walk at

John Forrest National Park. Always good to be out in nature.

1 more biochemistry test next Monday to complete the 2nd round of tests. As one of my classmates said, he has never been a mediocre student, but thanks to vet school he now is with the 1st round test results. I totally understand that sentiment. It is the amount of information to juggle between 4 core areas of anatomy, biochemistry, physiology and histology and to truly understand and also remember the facts.

But no worries mate! I know it will get better as we get used to this pace, remembering again that there is no competition, except to enjoy the learning and better oneself!

Through the railway tunnel

Accordingly to D, this is the preview to our overnight trek along one stretch of the Bilbbulmun Trek next weekend, where we'll start off with a 3km night walk, chill out at an overnight campsite then a steady 15km trek the next day. Nothing strenuous. Just a good time out in nature - looking forward!

Roos down the valley

Blackboy (Common name for the Xanthorrhoea, as it looks like an Aboriginal boy holding an upright spear.)

"Our deepest fear

is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually who are you not to be? You are a child of God.

You playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.

It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone .And as we let our light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

-Marianne Williamson

Reminded of these words by CP. Shine forth.

There's Northbridge

in Perth. It's both a party nightspot and a chinatown of sorts. You'll find loads of Chinese and other asian eateries and grocery stores carrying a huge variety of chinese produce under one roof.

Yummy duck!

Further off, you'll get to the Perth Library and art museum and a small area called The Markets.

Art galleries

Library

The Markets

Had a wonderful

dinner and fellowship at P and D's home, together with J and ES (and the little one in the tummy) who are on holiday, and even with P who is here on pilot training.


Amazing how we are all brought together at this time, at this place.



Max!

In Him, all things hold together.

Interesting how God seems to drop us reminders now and then.

It was exactly 1 year ago, in Palmy, NZ, that I first saw the DVD Indescribable - Astronomical Grace. It was a gift from M before we departed.

I enjoyed Chris Tomlin's CD much but kinda forgot about the accompanying DVD till about 2 months later, when I took it out and saw it for the first time, end March last year.

Was awed by it. Searched for an online version and shared with my OCF pals. Shared on my blog with family and pals back home. Then interestingly, few weeks later, New Life Church (which I was attending back then in NZ) shared the same DVD to the congregation. Then it got around OCF and they showed it during one caregroup. Many were amazed. And somehow, when I left NZ, I left my DVD behind too with my caregroup leader. I hope it has amazed many since then.

And now, exactly 1 year later, in Perth - Zion Praise Harvest showed that exact DVD to the congregation couple weeks back. And just now, in caregroup, our leader shared the DVD to the group. The DVD seems to follow me around! God must be really speaking to us. About His astronomical Grace.

Here I am now reminded again of the other video. As we look far out....there He is. As we look deep within....there He is also.

He holds us together. Everything will be alright.

http://ronsworld.wordpress.com/2007/06/20/in-him-all-things-hold-together/

We all have

a purpose in our life. Right where we are now.

We each have a destiny. And the wonders of fulfilling our destiny is seldom, if ever, just for ourselves. It is far greater than that. It reaches far out.

For if my dream is only for me and me alone, that dream is too small. Our destiny takes us far beyond ourselves.

The splendidly

colourful Rainbow Lorikeet came avisiting at my window this morning. He stayed for just abit. I'm sure he'll come again soon.



From my window - scientific name: Trichoglossus haematodus

"The Rainbow Lorikeet is a brightly coloured bird. Head a dark blackish-brown with violet-blue feather shafts, giving a purplish blue streaked appearance. Breast reddish-yellow to orange, with some feathers having dark blue tips giving a barred effect. Lower abdomen a deep violet-blue. Side of the abdomen orange-barred with dark blue. Under the tail and flank area green with yellow marking. The nape band a bright yellowish-green. Back and wings bright green. Under the wing reddish-orange with yellow on underside of flight feathers. Bill red, eye bright orange-red and legs, feet a dark greyish-green."

I'm simply amazed at this bright array of colours.

(This pix is from Nagle Road Aviaries)