Well what do you know?

I won popular choice in the UCS 2007 competition!

Hungry Demons

I actually liked my other picture better but who am I to argue with popular choice?

Second year slump.

I tried to fight it. I said it wouldn't happen. But what do you know? This ambivalent feeling I've been having towards the PhD despite all the desire to get it over and done with has finally been diagnosed by other PhD students as Second Year Slump.

Second Year Slump basically arrives when First Year Excitement ends due to ENW-D (Experiments Not Working-Dammit) leading to disenchantment with the deal. I have been assured everything will be fine when Third Year Panic sets in and you realise you have only 12 months to bring out three papers.

The suggested treatment is to do easy experiments, relieve myself of Presidency as soon as possible, and for god's sake, just keep thinking of finishing so I can accept that position in Paris! (People apparently want somewhere to crash).

I am now an Asian female

Pooey said I lost so much weight for Nance's wedding that my face changed.

Well I put that weight back on but people keep looking at me and saying I've lost weight so I decided to hop back onto MyHeritage.com to see if I really changed that much. Unfortunately I don't have any recent pics so here's me from Paris.



Well what do you know? I'm no longer a German supermodel or Hongkie comedian, I'm 90% Japanese actress! Or 83% Joey Yung.

Delta Goodrem, 40yo woman

The media here have been talking about Delta Goodrem's *sexy new look*. What's basically happened is that they've stopped styling her in pastel colours - instead they've mussed up her hair and piled on the makeup. This is the picture on the cover of her current album *Delta*

(Source)

I wouldn't call this sexy. In fact if someone showed me this and asked me to pick the age, I'd say in the early forties rather than early twenties.

The picture made me think it looked more like

Olivia Newton-John circa Xanadu (Source)

Or Celine Dion trying to be glam (Source).

Either way, I don't understand what the fuss is about considering how unflattering it is.

I can't think of anything to write about

You've probably noticed a significant drop-off in the number of blogs posted. I think I must either
a. Completely blogged myself out after Europe and kicking out all those blogs in 2 days
b. Too much lab work to make up for the month off
c. Not enough Big Nights Out with crazy photos
d. By saving money for next year's trip, I'm doing less shopping.
e. I'm becoming less opinionated?!
f. Less books, more journals?
g. Need to spend more procrastinating on youtube
h. There hasn't been any celebrity issue I've cared enough about to comment on.
i. No food has made a big enough impression on me to post a big entry on it
j. Same old stuff on TV
k. I haven't seen any new movies.

But in other news, I watched Transformers again...but this time it was at IMAX. It made all the giant robot fights even better!

Damn I want pancakes

...and another thing

Maybe I'm still suffering European withdrawal, but what the hell is with all the shops being shut by 2am on a Saturday night?!?!?! We go out for a night of karaoke, get kicked out of the room around 1:30am (booking ended), and there's bloody nothing to eat and hardly anywhere else to go unless you wanted to get drunk and beaten up!!!

And with Stalactites Fight Club closed for renovations, the choices are down to Chinatown (which is not a bad thing, just not what we were wanting at the time), Dirty Maccas, Dirty Jacks, and Dirty KFC. Sometimes you just need a big ugly plate of carbs and you're damn right we walked all the way to the Cashino only to find the kitchen at Greco's was closed.

International city my ass. More nighttime activities!

Karaoke champs

Well last night the Path-Micro-Immuno group went out and we had karaoke. I think we kinda needed a separate room for the chicks and another for the guys. Music saddled the extremes - cheesy pop from the gals, bogan rock for the guys!

Crimes against Fashion

Number 12 - Unfortunately this post does not come with a picture of the offender as there was absolutely no way I could get it without them noticing, but I knew just the person who could demonstrate what I wanted to show.

Tammy Faye Baker. (Pardon me for speaking ill of the dead)

Yes, application of mascara can and will make your lashes look longer and thicker and, by extension, your eyes will look more attractive. But excessive application will make you look like...err...yeah. The girl I saw had very long lashes (real or fake, I don't know and it doesn't matter) and with all that mascara, it looked like she had huntsmen spiders around her eyes. I could see the mascara clumps despite sitting a row away from her on the bus! Don't do it!

Under the Coverslip 2007 - advertisement!

This is not the final poster, but it's good enough! Entries close next week! Get your entries in!

Oh, the disappointment

Normally, I don't read fantasy themed books. Dislike David Eddings, found Lord of the Rings boring, unimpressed by ...(insert fantasy-themed book here). There is however, one exception to the rule. I absolutely Love Anne Bishop's Black Jewels Trilogy (image from here). They were so twisted - they had two of my favourite heroes in fiction-dom, Daemon Sadi and his father, Saetan (yes that Saetan) SaDiablo. And they rocked! On the negative is that while I think they rock, a lot of people I've recommended them to refuse to read them as somethings in them go a bit far beyond the pale. Let me just say sex and violence occur a lot and often together against many people of different backgrounds and ages.

Anyway, knowing how much I enjoyed these, someone recommend Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel's Legacy series. While the premise was intriguing - an alternative mediaeval world where Terre d'Ange (France) worships Elua (essentially son of Jesus but hard to explain here). While I recognise it as quite good, the description of the world was especially nice, I dunno. I was disappointed. But I recommend them to everyone else anyway.

By request - Euro shopping

I wasn't planning on doing this again, but Nickylou keeps asking when I'm going to do it. So here are some of the items of clothing I purchased overseas!

Shoes from Zara (Paris).

Apparently Amandine and Lydia went to Zara London, saw these shoes and said *They're Mallymoodle-type shoes*. And they are!

Red shoes from Galeries Lafayette (Paris).
Black shoes from Jonak (Paris).

Me and Pooey bought these shoes after a really hard day. She got them in black and grey stripes. I was wearing the red shoes when I visited the lab and one of the students there commented on them! Miss Amandine really likes the Jonak shoes - so soft and comfy.

Smock dress from Primark (London), beret from Primark, gloves from Galeries Lafayette. Jumper/dress thingy from Primark, singlet and scarf from home.

Shift dress from Zara, top from Primark, pashmina from San Lorenzo Market (Florence). Cropped cardi from Primark (donated by Pooey), dress from San Lorenzo Market.

Five euros for the SLM dress! Asian people seem to have cornered the *cheap clothes* market in Florence. The stall I bought this from was run by a Chinese guy and after I spoke to him in my crappy crappy italian, he asked me *Ni shuo zhongwen ma?*

Duffle coat from Gap (London - donated by Pooey), jumper from Primark.
Jumper from Deane & White, Shirt from Hawes & Curtis, scarf from Burberry (donated by Amandine).

What I like to call these the schoolboy combos! I still think orange is not my colour. It's a comfy coat though.

Sparkly jumper from Reiss (Bicester).

This one is slightly devastating - while it was an absolute bargain, after I washed it when I got home, some threads came out and I don't know if it can be mended.

Jumper from Primark, boob tube from home. Striped tshirt from Primark.

Argyle jumper from Zara.

Spuey enjoys wearing the Optimus Prime shirt from FCUK.

Oh yay

Life in the lab has been slowly (quickly?) going back into normal mode. I managed to generate this slightly psychedelic photo today!

I also had my first session back in the gym and energy levels have bounced right up! I feel almost ready to wrestle someone right! Almost. The only blot is that That Yoga Instructor is still taking the pilates class instead of Nazi Glen. Me no like.

Back to work

Yes, the holiday is over. I'm back in the lab *sniff*

And that sniffing is from the cold I picked up on the plane - damn recycled air!

Otherwise life is pretty much back to normal. I'll post all those other photos online sometime soon. I don't know if I can be bothered taking pics of the things i bought and posting them - too many things! Unless I get requests for special purchases. Like shoes, of which I bought 6 pairs - 2 of which were the same ones from Primark!

But it's good to be back and sleeping in my own bed.

The Great European Adventure Food Awards part 2

Jet lag is a bitch but here we go!

Individual Awards:
Best Gelati Flavour
No question for me - Caramel and Meringue from that Gelateria near Piazza Navona. I really liked the cinnamon and ginger, but I still cant get over the pleasant surprise of finding those chunks of meringue in the gelati. Mmmmm, crunchy. As a general flavour, peach or pear is usually a good bet.

Best Cheese
The name says it all. When we went to the market in Faubourg St. Antoine, as we were waiting for the fromager to return with the change for our camembert, I pointed out a wonderfully oozing gooey looking cheese called "L'Exstase de....." we couldn't decipher the last word on the label. Davaillos? Darallous? Anyway, it was covered in something that looked like breadcrumbs and pepper and it had a wonderfully smooth texture, it had a sweetish creamy flavour with a mild nose rush. Lubbly.

Best Source for Cheap Food
Markets. There's no bargain like walking into a market and getting a cup of fresh fruit combination for 1.5 euros or lots of really fresh gourmet salad for 2 euros. Or any boulangerie in Paris - I think Spuey just lived off bread and he said the French was definitely the best. Or BILA supermarket in Venice.

Best National Cuisine
I think it's pretty obvious. The French win, hands down. Even the *crappy* lemon tuiles cookies were delicious. As much as I love Italian food, the variation in quality could really wreck a meal. That and Italian bread was a huge disappointment to me and Lydia. English food? Borough Market was great but I tired quickly of all the pre-made food that is sold everywhere else.

Best Overall Meal
In term of flavour, it has to go to Le Gavroche. However, I simply cannot recommend it as the *best* meal given that the main course alone cost about $AUD75 at the current exchange rates.

In term of value, it was Five Euro Lunch. But even though me and Pooey technically ordered the same baguette, there was a big variation between the two - mine was better, it had more veggies in it. That and I can't remember where the cafe is.

But for the meal that stuck with me and reminded me of what I really love, Lunch in Place de Vosges with food from street stores. A baguette, some cheese, pate and berries...bliss.

The Great European Trip 2007 Food Awards part 1

Unlike Spuey who came home looking like a brown skeleton, I've come home looking like a brown butterball. In fact, Lydia and I joked that our trip was more like a gastronomic tour. So here they are, the results of the Great European Trip 2007 Food Awards!

By City:
London
Best Restaurant - Le Gavroche
I have already written about how awesome my dinner at Le Gavroche was. I'm kinda curious as to why it was downgraded from three to two Michelin stars, but hey, I'm still happy with what I got. Even better is that we seemed able to get a reservation at relatively short notice (that morning). So although he's a skinny chef, Michel Roux runs a tight ship. So if you've got a spare £60+ burning a hole in your wallet, go get some!
Le Gavroche - 43 Upper Brook St. Mayfair. London, W1K 7QR.
http://www.le-gavroche.co.uk/main.html

Highlight Meal - Lunch at Borough Markets, with Honourable Mention to Smee's cooking.
Pooey and Spuey have been talking quite a bit about how they enjoyed lunch at Borough Market (although his favourite meal was some ribs place with cousins), and I've got to admit, I enjoyed it too. I probably could have had a lunch on free samples alone, but alas, at the first stall I enjoyed the gourmet sausage so much, I bought a bap that contained three different sausages. I also nearly bought a jar of truffle honey until it was pointed out that it would never get past Customs. Dammit.

Smee's malaysian food also gets an honourable mention for providing good asian food in what is otherwise a veritable desert. He made Assam laksa, Curry laksa, and pipi noodles. Yum!

Paris
Best Restaurant - tie between Le Trumilou and Moroccan Restaurant
If you want traditional French cooking, go to Le Trumilou. It's decently priced (especially if you get the menu du jour), and it's where locals go. I didn't even find out if the people who worked there spoke English, although they probably do. I had the caviar d'avocat (a kind of avocado salad), the bunny fricassee, and cheese platter. I can't remember what else was on the menu, but I remember looking at the table of the people next to us and going *oh yum!*
Le Trumilou - 84 Quai de l'Hotel de Ville - 75004 Paris

The Moroccan restaurant, I can't remember the name and address but Lydia has it. I had a duck tagine which was awwwwwwwwwwwwweeeeeeesome!!!!!!!!!! So soft and tender and spicy yet sweet...I could do with some now. If there was a drawback to the meal that makes it the standout, it was that tagine is to be eaten by itself, so I had to eat some of Lydia's couscous to get some fibre. I remember also enjoying their dessert and mint tea and their traditional cocktail which was pretty much a mojito. Le 404 - 69 rue des Gravilliers, 75003 Paris

Highlight Meal - Five Euro Lunch, with Honourable Mention to Boulevard St. Antoine.
I've already spokent about Five Euro Lunch. I still can't believe it's awesomeness. And as the exchange rate gets better, it gets even cheaper!!!
Five Euro Lunch was bought from a boulangerie near Pont de l'Alma, Paris. Believe me, I wish I took better notes of it's location.

Boulevard St. Antoine had a lot of little stores where you can buy a selection of breads, cakes, meats, pates, fruits, vegetables, you get the drift, all items of very high quality and providing you with a cheap meal. Maybe it's a French thing but there are plenty of streets like it around, this was just the closest one to us.
Boulevard St. Antoine is in the 4th arrondissement.

Venice
Best Restaurant - Vino Vino
The problem with Venice is that it's essentially a tourist city - the people who live there eat at home. Despite this, we had a pretty good meal at Vino Vino. It was so popular that there was a queue of people outside waiting to get in. I recommend the seafood risotto. The tiramisu is apparently quite good too (according to Lydia). The waiters were a bit effusive and insisted on kissing both of us on the cheeks before we left.
Vino Vino - Ponte delle Veste, 2007/A, 30124, Venezia

Highlight Meal - Spaghetti with Squid Ink
This is apparently a Venetian specialty. I don't know who came up with the idea, but its entertaining. I don't know if the ink had a flavour, the dish just tasted like butter to me.
Problem is, it tended to turn some things black. And not just my teeth.

Florence
Best Restaurant - Trattoria Mario, Honourable Mention Za-Za.
You can tell just by looking at Marios that the place is good. For one, it's crowded inside. Secondly, there's a huge crowd of people waiting outside to get in. And then the front window of Marios is filled with cut out reviews in at least four different languages. I don't doubt that they were all glowing. Mario's is only open for lunch.
Trattoria Mario - Via Rosina, 2/R - Firenze

Za-Za is around the corner from Mario's. It's pretty good and the menu is very extensive although we did find that there can be substantial difference in quality of the same dish between days. Lydia had a tomato soup one day that was fantastic. We went back the next day to get it again but it was a lot saltier and less tasty.
Za-Za - Piazza del Mercato Centrale, 26r - Firenze
http://www.trattoriazaza.it/

Highlight Meal - Bistecca alla Fiorentina from Mario's
Man, I just want a T-bone thinking of that steak!

Rome
Best Restaurant - Edy
Until we got to Edy, food in Rome had been a bit of a disappointment. Edy totally made up for it. We shared a chicken salad that had really good homemade mayo on it and and I had gnocchi which was just the way it should be - soft, chewy and smooth, and the strudel. I really hated watching the others in the restaurant eat cos they all looked and smelled so good. Down a side alley and near many popular sites, either get in early (like we did) or book.
Edy - Vicolo del Babuino, 4, Roma

Highlight Meal - Gelati at some gelateria near the Trevi Fountain
I don't remember the place's name (St. Crispiano or something?) or the exact location (I think it's Via Pannetteria? Lydia knows it) but while the servings are small, the gelati is awesome. I had ginger and cinnamon and caramel and meringue. Awesome. And the server was from India and believe it or not, he gave me a discount for being an Aussie! And while I'm aware that some of you may not consider gelati a meal. Trust me, it is.

Coming soon - Individual prizes!