Ten reasons to be thankful this weekend
by prudence on 06-Sep-2010
There were certainly lots of reasons not to be CHEERful this weekend. It was always slated as a working weekend -- not only PhD-type work, but also cleaning-the-oven-after-the-great-beef-bourgignon-disaster-type work.
And then there was a massive earthquake in New Zealand, plus serious flooding in the north of Victoria. Which puts the nasty weather that got us wet on Saturday morning, and kept us awake on Saturday night, into some perspective.
Over the weekend, however, I felt thankful for:
1. Building codes that prepare for earthquakes. It's a tragedy in Christchurch, but it could have been so, so much worse.
2. Emergency services.
3. Little corellas, swans with cygnets, moorhens, pukeko, and coots at Albert Park.
4. South Melbourne Market, which I am thankful for every single week.
5. South Melbourne in spring. OK, it's rainy and blustery at the moment, but the temperatures are on the climb, and there's nothing like a blossoming magnolia or cherry tree to set off the lacy wrought iron trimmings of South Melbourne's beautiful old houses.
6. Tamatar murghi, or Indian tomato chicken, for Saturday dinner. Dead easy, hyper-delicious, and it doesn't need an oven, for those of us who have still not quite got the damn thing clean.
7. OK, I will blow all pretence of taste or discernment here, but I ENJOYED Alvin and the Chipmunks on TV. I know this is a sign of PhD brain fever, but I think they're CUTE.
8. Pancakes with lemon and sugar for Sunday breakfast.
9. Sandwiches made from really nice tomatoes (you know how difficult they are to find these days) and just a little mayo for Sunday tea.
10. I mostly don't feel thankful for my PhD study. Most of the time it feels like a ball and chain. It's actually starting to feel more and more like Frodo's Ring, which gets heavier and heavier, and more and more oppressive, as it's carried towards Mount Doom... But I SHOULD feel thankful for it. Millions of people on the planet don't have this chance, and I do. Onwards and upwards, Prudence...
And then there was a massive earthquake in New Zealand, plus serious flooding in the north of Victoria. Which puts the nasty weather that got us wet on Saturday morning, and kept us awake on Saturday night, into some perspective.
Over the weekend, however, I felt thankful for:
1. Building codes that prepare for earthquakes. It's a tragedy in Christchurch, but it could have been so, so much worse.
2. Emergency services.
3. Little corellas, swans with cygnets, moorhens, pukeko, and coots at Albert Park.
4. South Melbourne Market, which I am thankful for every single week.
5. South Melbourne in spring. OK, it's rainy and blustery at the moment, but the temperatures are on the climb, and there's nothing like a blossoming magnolia or cherry tree to set off the lacy wrought iron trimmings of South Melbourne's beautiful old houses.
6. Tamatar murghi, or Indian tomato chicken, for Saturday dinner. Dead easy, hyper-delicious, and it doesn't need an oven, for those of us who have still not quite got the damn thing clean.
7. OK, I will blow all pretence of taste or discernment here, but I ENJOYED Alvin and the Chipmunks on TV. I know this is a sign of PhD brain fever, but I think they're CUTE.
8. Pancakes with lemon and sugar for Sunday breakfast.
9. Sandwiches made from really nice tomatoes (you know how difficult they are to find these days) and just a little mayo for Sunday tea.
10. I mostly don't feel thankful for my PhD study. Most of the time it feels like a ball and chain. It's actually starting to feel more and more like Frodo's Ring, which gets heavier and heavier, and more and more oppressive, as it's carried towards Mount Doom... But I SHOULD feel thankful for it. Millions of people on the planet don't have this chance, and I do. Onwards and upwards, Prudence...