Millennium Hand and Shrimp

Endings and beginnings and things inbetween...

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 17:30:54 GMT

The sudden urge to read back entries from this journal came over me today, and I realised that I haven't updated in a more than a year, and that I should probably just make some sort of entry to let my flist (or who ever is actually left of it) know that I aint ded (as Granny Weatherwax would say). I've just grown and moved on. I've changed a lot over the past year, and needed a new journal that could change with me.

<3 y'all, and drop me a message if you're still alive, and if you're interested in still being friends/chatting/being added to my (not so) new journal.

HP Deathly Hallows Meme

Mon, 23 Jul 2007 12:19:53 GMT

From nimnod

Questions
What was your favourite part?
What was the part that ripped your heart out of your chest?
What death made you cry the hardest?
What part can't you wait to see on the big screen (other than the final battle)?
What rating do you think the movie will have if it includes all the really violent parts?

Plus, a few questions of my own:
Which parts did you not like?
Who do you wish you'd seen more of?

What was your favourite part?

My favourite part was where Harry sees Snape’s memories in Pensieve. I’ve always hoped that Snape would be a good guy, and as the book progressed I thought that I had been wrong, that after he disappeared from Hogwarts he would not be mentioned again and be evil Snape forever. But then, *sigh*, he was redeemed. I love the doe-patronus and the “look at me Harry” bit. (Also I jumped up and down in flat yelling “Harry is a Horcrux, I knew it I knew it!!!”).

What was the part that ripped your heart out of your chest?

When Harry realised that everything Dumbledore had done for him, helped him with and protected him from was so that he could die at the right time.

What death made you cry the hardest?

All of them! Dobby…Fred!!! Tonks and Lupin that made me reread the previous pages to see if I had missed something.

What part can't you wait to see on the big screen (other than the final battle)?

Based on the previous movies, I don’t think I want to see this book on the big screen. It would spoil the sadness, beauty and darkness of the book.

Which parts did you not like?

No particular bit, just thought that first bit moved a bit slow and then everything happens in last few chapters.

Who do you wish you'd seen more of?

Draco didn’t really feature much, would have liked to know what he had been thinking near the end. Also I know epilogue was just there to give us the hint that all is well and everyone is happy, but what do Harry and Ginny do? Where do they live? Five children!!! Same with others. Did Hermoine’s parents come back from Australia? What happened with Hogwarts? I’m sure there will be quite a few post-DH fanfics that will try to answer these questions though.

Costume party

Wed, 23 May 2007 17:58:10 GMT

So next friday is the annual honours class party and as always its a costume party. The theme is "If i wasnt a scientist what would i be?" any ideas? i need something clever cool original and unexpected.and not too difficult or expensive. anything! please! my creative juices have run out!

Fri, 18 May 2007 05:50:00 GMT

Oprah Winfrey. Oprah. Or, the name she probably calls herself in her head "the saviour of the 3rd world".

Okay, so she does do a lot of good things. But have you noticed that the angle these good deeds take is not in the direction of the receivers ie "our lives are better", etc, but in that of the giver ie "Oprah (yes I'm actually sure she talks about herself in the third person in the manner of the Queen) is god".

Now it seems she really has gone a bit far. (Thanks

miss_tibbles

for the links).

Here and here.

Wow.

A riddle

Wed, 09 May 2007 05:59:56 GMT

Ok so I know this is a bit gruesome, but all I want to know - is how on earth would you go about doing this?

Man cuts off head with chainsaw
08/05/2007 20:45 - (SA)

Cologne - A man cut off his own head with a chainsaw after stabbing his 70-year-old father to death in their apartment in the German city of Cologne, police said on Tuesday.

The body of the offender, 24, was found headless when police raced to the apartment on Monday after an emergency call, apparently from the dying father, had been broken off in mid-sentence.

Alf Willwacher, a senior prosecutor, said an electric chain-saw was next to the son's body.

"We do not believe any third party was involved," he said.

Neighbours said the father and son had been reclusive since the death of the mother, allegedly by suicide, several years ago.

Meeting

Wed, 09 May 2007 05:01:51 GMT

Have meeting with supervisor this morning after labmeeting to discuss writing up my MSc this year. Wish me luck!

Various

Tue, 08 May 2007 14:52:13 GMT

So with my new laptop I can finally watch DVDs. At first I thought this was cool, no more crappy SABC programming, so I copied some movies and series from one of my friends.

Big mistake.

I watched the whole first season of Prison Break. In two days.

I dreamt about it last night.

And I need to see the second season.

Now!

I have also listened to Billy Talent so many times that I know the lyrics by heart already.

I think I need help.

Thoughts

Wed, 02 May 2007 06:57:42 GMT

I've been on holiday at home (Boksburg home not Cape Town home) since last Thursday evening. Like always, it feels like I never left. And, like always, the moment I arrive I start feeling depressed about having to leave. But then I start missing friends, going out etc which makes me feel a bit better.

Anyways, have been thinking about this for a while and speaking to parents about it helped me decide. My project has been rubbish since the beginning, hasn't worked properly and I really don't know if I will actually be able to show anything positive. So I've decided that it's probably best to write it up as a technical Masters (basically "did this and that, didn't work and this is why and how in future will fix it) rather than upgrading to PhD and not being able to write up anything (for a PhD you actually need to prove something novel). Then at least I will have a degree behind my name.

Now the scary part starts. This means I have to start writing up by August to submit in December. I also have to start looking for a new supervisor (I'm not staying with this one and starting another failed project). Have been thinking of returning to Biochemistry roots, or doing some medical biochemistry PhD - that is if I can convince another supervisor to take me on. Hopefully my undergrad and honours marks impress them :).

Also, having the whole upgrading to PhD thing gave me a plan for the next 2 to 3 years, and now everything must happen in the next 6 months. Wow, it's so damn scary. I try not to think about it. Think I will be a diligent girl and start writing up in the evenings, doing things that take time like methods and results and stuff. Will also spend a lot of time praying I think :).

With the wonderfulness of iBurst (wireless internet) at my disposal at home, I have discovered (through the wonderfulness of last.fm) some great new (okay new to me cause I never new bout them) punky/rocky/emo bands - and downloaded like masses of songs onto my (yays) new laptop. Any suggestions of other similiar bands? I know I like the stuff but don't know who to listen to :).

[Edit] Have some of these:

+44
Billy Talent
Blink-182
New Found Glory
My Chemical Romance
Green Day
The Used
The Cure
Taking Back Sunday
Taking

Okays, that's it for now. Off to friend's page.

Ssshhuuuunnnnn...

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 07:38:54 GMT

Shun the non-believer! Ssshhhuuuunnnnn.....

Random Bits

Thu, 19 Apr 2007 06:33:33 GMT

So this post is basically an excuse to use a new icon (which I must admit I stole from someone and can't remember who they are :)).

Weekend gonna be nice I think. It's my birthday Sunday, so hopefully going out on Saturday eve, and invited friends for coffee Sunday afternoon (so that I don't get too depressed all alone in my cold flat on my birthday). lol.

Anyways, work went well this week, stuff worked, labmeeting was fine (probably because stuff worked which always puts supervisor in good mood). Weather also seems to be a bit better than it was last week - seems like summer is still trying to hang on to the ends of April.

Emm, what else? Oh I'm going home next week Thursday for a week. That gonna be nice. Not going to have car and everyone at work, but will be good to just hang out at home, have tea with gran, and watch loads of DSTV. Oh and download stuff I don't get to at varsity.

Ok, work time.

Cricket (not the chirping kind)

Wed, 18 Apr 2007 05:44:30 GMT

So after much drama South Africa actually made it othe semi-finals of the Cricket World Cup. Which is cool. What I would just like to know is why can't we just do something easily for once? Do we have do lose spectaculary and just scrape through? And now we think we are the king of the world, just to face Australia in the semi's, and everyone knows SA has a mental block against the Aussies. Don't know if my nerves will actually be able to stand watching it. (or my annoyance levels).

Check list

Mon, 16 Apr 2007 14:32:32 GMT

1. Read HP 1-6 in 5 days
CHECK!
2. Read Shoebox_project in 1 afternoon
CHECK!
3. Already missing Harry and Co.
CHECK!

Leaky Cauldren HP Predictions

Fri, 13 Apr 2007 06:46:22 GMT

Did this very fast, if you don't agree just take it as HP-novice-ness. It's more for me then anyone else. Would be nice to see other peoples predictions though...

Edit: Some of these things I chose more out of wanting them to happen than actually thinking they will happen

The Ultimate Deathly Hallows Predictions Exam, part 1

by Leaky Staff

Well done Marike! Here are a list of your predictions:

Will Harry live? Yes
Will Voldemort live? No
Will Harry time travel? No
Will Ron live? Yes
Will Hermione live? Yes
Will Snape live? Yes
Is Snape loyal to Dumbledore and the Order? Yes
Did Dumbledore tell anyone why he trusted Snape? No
Was Snape in love with Lily? Yes
Will Dudley be the one to perform magic later in life? Yes
Will Percy return to his family and realise the error of his ways? No
Who was the "awful boy" Petunia referred to in book 5? James
Will love play a part in Harry conquering Voldemort as opposed to him using an Avada Kedavra? Yes
Will we/Harry learn more about love in the Department of Mysteries? Yes
Will Harry sacrifice himself because of love/friendship? Yes
Will Harry tell someone he loves them in book 7? Yes
Will Neville find love? Yes
Will Ron and Hermione get married? No
Will Harry and Ginny get married? No
Will Tonks and Lupin get married? No
Did Dumbledore have a spouse? Yes
Are Pince and Filch a couple? No
Will we learn about the little witch or wizarding babies that the trio might have? No
Will we see any new ships? Yes
Will Hogwarts reopen? Yes
Is there a Horcrux hidden in Hogwarts? Yes
Will Harry return to Hogwarts as a student? No
Will Voldemort try to take over Hogwarts? No
Will a battle take place at Hogwarts again? Yes
Will the Hogwarts ghosts play a role in the war against Voldemort? Yes
Will we visit the Chamber of Secrets again? No
Will we see the Mirror of Erised again? Yes
Will we hear the Hogwarts students sing the school song again? Yes
Will we see a new Transfiguration teacher now that Professor McGonagall is filling in for Dumbledore? No
Have all the Hogwarts founders created a secret room in Hogwarts, (like the Chamber of Secrets)? Yes
Will we find out why Peeves listens to and slightly scared of the Bloody Baron? Yes
Will The Order of Phoenix continue meeting in secrecy? No
Who will be the leader of The Order now? Someone Else
Will Dumbledore have left instructions or insight of some kind to the Order? Yes
Will the Dursleys join The Order to help fight against Voldemort? No
Is the “more than meets the eye” thing about Petunia related to contact with the Order? Yes
Is there still a traitor to be revealed in the Order? Yes
Will Fred and George join the Order? Yes
Will Percy join the order? No
Will the Minsistry and the Order combine forces and unite against Lord Voldemort? No
Will we learn more about what James, Lily or Sirius did for the Order during 1st war? Yes
Will Grimmauld Place still be the Order's head quarters in book 7? Yes
Who is the member of the Order that we will get to know more? Tonks
Will Voldemort learn the entire Prophecy? No
Will Lord Voldemort discover that Dumbledore found out about and told Harry about the Horcruxes? No
Do the Death Eaters have a head quarters like the Order? Yes
Has Voldemort in fact recruited Draco Malfoy as a Death Eater? Yes
Do one or more of the Death Eaters know about Lord Voldemort’s Horcruxes? No
Do you think Regulus Black was murdered by Lord Voldemort himself? No
Will Bella sacrifice herself for Lord Voldemort? Yes
Is there a spy from the Order among the Death Eaters yet to be revealed? Yes
Is Narcissa a Death Eater? No
Will any of the Death Eaters turn good? No
Will Wormtail pay his life debt to Harry? Yes
Will Voldemort try to recruit more types of creatures than those he has? Yes
Why did Voldemort send Wormtail to Snape? To keep an eye on Snape
Will the centaurs play an important role in Deathly Hallows? Yes
Will the house elves be free? No
Will Dobby be of further help to Harry in his Horcrux hunt? Yes
Will the goblins choose to fight on the good side and help them win? No
Will we see Griphook again? Yes
Will Lupin convince any of the werewolves to join the good side? No
Will we learn the 12 uses of dragons blood? No
Will we see Norbert again? Yes
Will we learn that some of the creatures that Luna talks about are real? No
Will there be peace and cooperation between all creatures and wizards? No
Will we see Fawkes again? Yes
Will Hedwig help Harry in the fight against Voldemort? Yes
Will we find out who owns the Riddle house now? Yes
Will we visit Azkaban prison in book 7? Yes
Will the wizarding bank Gringotts play an important part in book 7? No
Will Albania play a role in book 7 as Voldemort spent so much time there? No
Is there a Horcrux at Tom Riddle's orphanage in London? Yes
Will Durmstrang play a role in book 7? No
Will Harry take a stroll into the Forbidden Forest again? Yes
Will we visit Grimmaulds Place again? Yes
Bill is working as a curse breaker in Egypt, and all the Weaslys have been there. Will Egypt play a role in book 7? No
Did Snape, Lily and Petunia grow up in the area around Spinner’s End? Yes
Will we see what's beyond the veil? Yes
Will the Horcrux hunt bring Harry out of Britain? No
Will we find out what any of the whirring silver instruments in Dumbledore’s office do? No
Will we see any new spells used in book 7? Yes
Was there another person at Godric's Hollow? Yes
Is there going to be an attack at Bill and Fleur's wedding? No
Will Harry's potion book be seen or used again? No
Will the fact that Ginny’s patronus is a phoenix be of importance in book 7? Yes
Will the fact that Ron’s watch is similar to Dumbledore’s be of significance in book 7? Yes
Ollivander... ...went voluntarily
Will the draught of the living death play a role in book 7? No
Do the tasks the trio went through at the end of Philosopher’s Stone/ Sorcerer’s Stone foreshadow some of the plot in book 7? Yes
Will Harry talk to Sirius again? Yes
Will Harry inherit Dumbledore’s pensieve? Yes
Will Halloween be an important day/night in book 7? Yes
Where is Sirius' bike? Hagrid flew it to the cabin where he met Harry and the Dursleys. It’s still there.
Is Harry a Horcrux? Yes

Pterry vs JKR

Thu, 12 Apr 2007 18:23:32 GMT

"Magicians and scientists are, on the face of it, poles apart. Certainly, a group of people who often dress strangely, live in a world of their own, speak a specialized language and frequently make statements that appear to be in flagrant breach of common sense have nothing in common with a group of people who often dress strangely, speak a specialized language, live in ... er ... " Terry Pratchett, Science of Discworld

Thought this was appropriate in relation to my recent HP orgy... (don't worry Pterry, you're still number 1) :)

24

Thu, 12 Apr 2007 01:55:52 GMT

It is now 4am. Which means I have been awake for 24 hours. I feel very odd. Like everything is happening in slow motion.... and still at least 3 to 4 hours to go...then home, shower sleep!!

Vraag: Is Riaan Cruywagen mens of robot?

Thu, 12 Apr 2007 01:00:12 GMT

Found on Facebook:

Vraag: Is Riaan Cruywagen mens of robot?

Nie een van die twee nie.

Riaan Cruywagen het nie vaste vorm nie. Hy's 'n idee, 'n doel, 'n strewe, 'n droom en 'n visie. Die beeld van Die Riaan manifesteer spontaan op die kassie as sigbare simbool van hierdie kollektiewe soeke na Riaanheid.

Need to sleep....

Wed, 11 Apr 2007 23:30:06 GMT

*yawn* Busy with 48 hour experiment. This means we have to draw blood from our abalone every 6 hours. Just back from 12 pm time point. Now have to sit around at varsity till 6 am.

In other news, just finished reading all 6 HP books in like 5 days. I can tell that this has had some adverse effect on me, seeing that think of the spell that I would for everyday things. (ie wanting to say "lumos" or "accio remote").

And I've been a major nerd and gone and written down lines and small things I see as clues or hints of things that will happen in book 7. Lots of them I read and thing "wow, I'm sure no one and thought of this!" and then I google it and see that there are like a million sites based on that one theory...oh dear...well, can't wait for when book comes out.

Have also had a look at images from movie 5 and I really hope that it does the book justice. When seeing movies from books (ie LOR) I try to just take it as a movie and not compare to book, but sometimes you just walk out of theatre thinking - "I would have done it SO much better!"

Went to watch 300 on Sunday (not really Easter Sunday viewing but anyways) and was really surprised. I had seen a short "making of" and knew that it was from a graphic novel by Frank Miller, and knowing this made the movie all the more enjoyable cause it really kept the look and style of a graphic novel. A bit violent, but very cool.

Also wanted to go see Ghostrider (I have a weakness for comic book movies) but heard that it not really worth seeing on big screen so will probably wait for DVD.

Oh yes, going home 27 April to 6 May and can't wait. Am having trouble (again - what's new) with project so getting away from it and just being at home in a familiar and safe space is going to be so nice. And my birthday is coming up next Sunday so there are belated presents to look forward to :) (and presents, as we all know, are always good).

How am I going to entertain myself for 6 hours? Have already watched the Llama song (numerous times - as if I actually needed to watch it to know the words and pictures) and the Badger song (which was very amusingly referred to as the "house" version by D, the guy who is also helping with experiment - okay things are much more amusing when you have been awake for more that 18 hours).

Em, what else can I say (seeing I am really rambling on now in an attempt to keep myself awake)...

MySpace is really damn annoying and I am really considering just deleting my account. All I get is bloody spam of people who want to "friend me" and then turn out to want to recruit me to do marketing or something - aargh. Facebook has trapped me in its web and I check it like 10 times a day to see if anyone I know has joined. Unfortunately Boksburg does not seem to be very heavily represented.

Okay this is interesting - the I-am-so-tired-I-am-having-a-out-of-body-experience is happening. cool....

Duh...

Thu, 29 Mar 2007 15:33:59 GMT

What Be Your Nerd Type? Your Result: Science/Math Nerd (Absolute Insane Laughter as you pour toxic chemicals into a foaming tub of death!) Well, maybe you aren't this extreme, but you're in league with the crazy scientists/mathmeticians of today. Very few people have the talent of math and science is something takes a lot of brains as well. Thank whosever God you worship, or don't worship, so thank no deity whatsoever in your case, for you people! Most of us would have died off without your help.
Literature Nerd
Drama Nerd
Gamer/Computer Nerd
Social Nerd
Anime Nerd
Artistic Nerd
Musician
What Be Your Nerd Type? Quizzes for MySpace

Counting Cells

Thu, 29 Mar 2007 10:54:57 GMT

Fact: Sitting in the EM Unit in a tiny dark room waiting for someone else to count fluorescent bacteria is not fun
Fact: Being hungry while doing this is even less fun
Fact: Having to go demonstrate in 30 minutes....there are no words

Labmeetings...

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 10:52:26 GMT

Oh my word. Just came out of a 4 hour labmeeting. Yes, you heard right, FOUR HOURS! With 15 minutes for tea. My brain is mush and all I want to do is go home and sleep...ZZZZZZ....or maybe just right here is a good place *naps quietly*

MySpace

Tue, 27 Mar 2007 15:14:55 GMT

Still trying to figure this out, and dunno if I'll ever use it, but here is it:

Vampire Watermelons

Please someone help me - Do I have layout choices? And how do I change them?

Anyways, gotta go, traffic going to be crazy!

(Edit 12 April: I got so sick and tired of being spammed that I deleted this account)

[LJ2ME] Mini weekend fun

Wed, 21 Mar 2007 17:24:36 GMT

Happy Human Rights Day. Had the best day ever. Had supper last night at place on beach at Houtbay. Saw beautiful sunset. Then went to Fish hoek beach today. Was perfect day for it too. Even ventured into water but was just tiny bit too arctic to actually swim. And walked around new townhouse complex lolif and I might be moving into next year. Wow! Its so pretty! Actually a proper house and not one room flat. So am happy. Just wish could have days like this everyday!

Letting Go

Mon, 19 Mar 2007 05:17:36 GMT

I didn’t mention this in my previous post, but a assay I’ve been trying to get to work, and that’s quite an integral part of my experiment, failed yet again this week. I had been hoping to tell my supervisor that I’ve managed to get this to work at least. But to no avail.

So today I had an epiphany. Here’s the background:

In cell group (like church home group) we have been doing the bible study book of Bruce Wilkenson’s Prayer of Jabez. And the main message that seems to jump out at me over and over again is TRUST GOD. Give yourself over to Him. Let Him do with your life what He wants to and not what you want Him to do. This started me thinking, but obviously not enough. Then, I started reading the novel Faith like Potatoes, based on the life of Angus Buchan. It basically says that if you open yourself up to God, give yourself fully to Him, let Him do what he wants with your life and TRUST Him in what he does, you will lead the life that He wants you to live. It might not be easy, it might not be what you expected, but you will have peace, because you are following God’s will.

And, as if that was not enough, in church today the minister read from 2 Cor 5. While he was ready guess to what verse my eye strayed?

“Hy se: “Op die regte tyd het Ek jou gebed verhoor, en op die dag van redding het Ek jou gehelp”. Kyk, nou is dit die regte tyd, nou is dit die dag van redding”

Which roughly translates to: “I heard your prayer at the right time, on the day of deliverance I helped you. Look. NOW is the right time, NOW is the day of deliverance.”

That blew me away. I was literally breathless. God is so great, sometimes he makes me feel so insignificant. How could I ever have doubted Him? How do I dare worry about anything, nevermind a stupid thing like a MSc project?

If God can heal the sick, make the blind see, wake the dead, create a universe, how can He not help me?

I went for a bike ride at sunset, and promised God that I give my project into His hands. I will unclench my fists and give Him everything. I will open up myself to the help He is willing to give me. I also asked Him if He was trying to teach me something. Patience? That all in life does not come easy? (This is another story – basically, without sounding conceited, academics have never really been a problem to me, I flew through school and varsity without much effort, this is the first time I’ve really struggled with anything this much). Does He want me to change my life? Does He want me to stop doing something? (This I do think includes to stop taking part in the internal fighting, gossiping etc going on in lab). I asked Him to show me what these things are. I asked Him to show me what He is teaching me, and how I can learn from Him.

I feel quite weird at this moment. I am quite a control freak, have OCD tendencies when it comes to planning, and giving everything over to the power of another is extremely scary.

I will pray for strength, for help and for guidance. This is all that I can do. I am trusting God for the rest.

Randomness

Fri, 16 Mar 2007 10:15:44 GMT

This is so random I'm not sure I really get it...

It's been a long while...

Fri, 16 Mar 2007 06:39:55 GMT

So. Wow, I have to apologise for not updating in such a long while. I see the last time I had a proper entry was like 30 January. Just been crazy busy I think, I and when I do have time to sit down and write I don’t know where to begin. Let me think…

So since last time, I finally managed to get my registration stuff in order. Needed to write MOU (memorandum of understanding) outlining what I expect from supervisor this year and vice versa. Had a long meeting with my supervisor, where we eventually managed to figure out a proper work flow for me for this year, hopefully enabling me to have enough results by the end of the year to upgrade my project to PhD level.

Regarding my project, I feel like I am making some progress at least, but some things just don’t want to work. I managed to do 5’RACE on one of my two genes (already had 3’ end in clone from cDNA library). Cloned the PCR product last week and sent of for sequencing on Wednesday. The plasmids are sent to Korea where they do the most beautiful sequencing, so I am hoping to get nice sequencing back and will hopefully have the full length of my gene! This means that I can express it in bacteria and produce a pure protein for proteomic work. Yeah, quite exciting.

Our supervisor and two other students are at the International Marine Biotechnology Conference in Eliat Israel this week, so I am trying to get as much done before they come back (yes yes I am seeking some form of “well done good student” *pat on the head* from my supervisor).

The abalone are still doing well) if you call being sampled for a 10 th of your body weight in blood once a week doing well) but also here starts the issues…

A PhD student, R, works on an protein degrading enzyme from a probiotic (good) bacteria that is supposed to help the abalone digest their food. So he is doing growth trials and the aquarium as the last part of his thesis to see if this enzyme is really necessary for better growth. (He basically made a mutant bacteria that doesn’t have the abalone). This means that he now also shares in the cleaning and feeding of the abalone, and has to go to the aquarium three times a week to feed and clean his tanks. So the Tuesday after the day he had to clean, me and another guy, D, went to sample and lo and behold, the tanks are so dirty it is quite evident that no cleaning took place. This means that the abalone are basically living in their own waste, which is, obviously, not very good for their health.

When we got back we talked to our supervisor about it, telling him that R will probably have some form of excuse (he is one of those smooth talkers and can make people think he is the nicest, most honest person ever). Supervisor had a talk with him and other guy who were “cleaning” and guess what???? I am getting worked up just writing this. They told him the tanks were clean and that D was just stirring (he and R had had confrontations in the past – alpha male type conflict if you ask me). And, here comes the worst bit, that I had been convinced by D to make it seem worse than it was to get R into trouble.

Obviously our supervisor is not a fool, but he didn’t actually see the tanks so he just said that he couldn’t take anyone’s side. AAARRRRGGGGHHHHH!!!! Needless to say I was a bit annoyed.

From that day I have started noticing more and more how R manipulates people, takes completely over when you ask him for help and manages to make you look like a dumb fool when you ask him the simplest of questions.

But I have decided that the best would be is just to try and ignore it, not think about it, and spend time with the people in the lab who are actually normal. Which is also starting to be a problem cause now our supervisor thinks that there are “factions” in the lab who work against each other trying to make each other look stupid, sabotaging each others work etc. Well sorry to say if there are fifteen people in a lab and all but 3 think one thing is true, then who is the “faction”?.

Okay, enough ranting. Am demonstrating for second year microbiology this year and it is turning out to be great fun. Especially because I didn’t do much micro in undergrad myself, so now I get to play with all sorts of cool bugs and pretend that I know what I’m doing. (lol, now I sound mad).

Recently I also went to a House music club, and to my surprise I actually enjoyed it so much. Once I got into the style of dancing (yes there is actually a particular way to dance to House) it was so much fun and I actually appreciated the music. The guy I went with now teases me by asking me if I’m a true House Head now lol. And yes, I have to admit, yesterday I listened to a whole iPod Shuffle’s worth of House. Good stuff.

This is extremely random, but I also recently decided to go from very blonde to very dark brunette, and I actually like it a lot. My real colour hair is mousy brown, but I am liking this new dark haired blue eyed girl who I see when I look in the mirror J . Think will stay with this look for a way. I looked at some pics of myself from last year this time and wow have I changed. I knew that I had definitely changed on the inside, but I never thought that the outside had also changed so much…