Hello all! It's been a few days and as such I have many stories and updates to report…For starters, things at the US consulate seemed to go well, and they told me on the day that they had decided to grant me the US visa. I looked through the glass at the man with pleading eyes and said "So…I don't spose you could just stamp it then, and you know, just give it to me now…?" but it seems that's not the way "their system" works (and my, what an effective system it is!). So once again, my newly acquired passport and visa are at the hand of the US consulate/Australia postal service. Interestingly enough, I've heard from the Post Office, and the Australian Passport Office now very little surprise at all about it getting lost, seems it's a fairly common occurrence! So please everybody cross your fingers super tight for me and with any luck it will arrive tomorrow…

Last Friday night I went to see Bri's performance again, and it's amazing to see the subtle changes in the performances from night to night. Needless to say she was fabulous, again! And afterward, we rushed back to her house in the freezing cold to get ready to go out. A bunch of NIDA students came round to her apartment and we got to know one another over an interesting game of Circle of Death before realising it was already 11:00pm and we hadn't even left the house! We headed out in Darling Harbour and I mostly stood there gob smacked by the amazing view, and the amazing amount of random craziness these people possess! Haha I think the photo of Michelle sitting in Bri's teeny tiny laundry sink really highlights this…I was like "woah…and I thought we were bad being the 'drama crew' in high school!"

Next morning I flew up to Brisbane and after an intensive afternoon nanna nap during which I tried to cram 8 hours of sleep into only 1½ I headed over to my cousin Caitlin's house for a housewarming (6 months belated)/Caitlin's 21st (round 2)/yay! Liv's in Brisbane (even though most people here don't know me) party! Good times…we sat around and enjoyed party pies and Moet - a fabulous combination! Though I'm sad to admit that both Caitlin and I had to try really quite hard to enjoy that Moet as much as one should enjoy a $100 bottle of champagne…frankly I just don't think my palate is sophisticated enough! I fell onto a mattress on the floor at around 2:00am and slowly the other bodies began piling up til everyone was asleep at around 4. A couple of Canadian guys came along and we were all complaining about the cold until they told us that they'd experienced -58 degree weather in their home town…I'm feeling very, very happy right now that I'll be on the West Coast of Canada, where the 'mild climate' means the temperature only gets down to about -10. Positively balmy really!

On Sunday we caught up with most of Mum's rellies for a big family BBQ in the park and in the evening Mum and I went to see Dad's brother and his family as well as my grandparents. It was so nice to see everyone and I was so well fed by the end of the day that I was fast asleep by 9:30 that night…

Today I've just found out that my class schedule for Simon Fraser University is up and I've been allocated to all the classes I was hoping for which is awesome. The deposit on the housing has been paid and things are starting to feel like they're falling into place at last. I have classes on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (none on Friday!) and mostly in the afternoons, which will leave a little room for sleep-ins now and then =D This arvo we're heading down the coast (to Currumbin) for the night to stay at the family beach house so I best be off to get ready to make the trip down!

Love to all,

LIVxo