Its Been Over a Month

Its now well over a month having arrived in Sydney. Its too fast. 1/12 of a year, or 1/36th of my intended program of study... theoretically, that translates to 2.8% of a thesis. The heat is on, and things are stewing. I'd definitely be needing divine brainpower and understanding, and thats something you could keep me in prayer for!

But that aside, its been really really quite exciting so far. New place, new people, exciting times. I've been meeting heaps of 2nd degree friends - friends of friends. Additionally, these aren't just casual acquaintances but really close mutual friends. So, yay! Haha. (Anyone keen to work out the statistical probability of meeting some 20-odd strangers, who, upon chatting, turn out to be the cousin, classmate, church mate, of a close friend? How's about another handful who're great pals of pple i've met while travelling in the last 6 months?) I guess if you consider how small singapore is, the number of pple +/-5 years of my age isn't that many (20% perhaps?). Toss in music (10%) and church (16%) filters - that really does narrow down the pool doesn't it? Mmmm statistically, it doesnt beat this: two sundays ago after church, I had lunch w the OCF-ers to celebrate two birthdays (my housemate's and a double-bass music student - again more mutual friends): so we are seated at a dimsum restaurant (we had two tables), with 12 people at my table, of which I knew five. Sitting on my right was Daniel, a trumpeter friend from secondary school (we accidentally met in church just earlier - we didn't know the other was in town, nor did we know we'd be going to the same b'day lunch! He's a friend of the double-bass music student); sitting on my left is a dear chap I got to meet the week before, only to find out later thru lunch that he's my good friend Lennie's 1st cousin (Sheryl, are you reading this??). The last straw was this girl sitting across the table who asks me if I might know her sister, who, as it turns out is my music junior from RJ! (Other happy socio-statistical happenings would include the fact that we've had several "friends from TuesdayGroup" gatherings already, coinciding w Tracy's visit!)

(jm, chernwen, tracy, dale - each person here are related to the other in 3 or more ways)

A couple of highlights
- Went for a Hillsongs Live Worship recording concert (which really was just an excellent worship session) with the TuesdayGroupers.

(a tad fuzzy, but you get the idea: coupla thousand gathered in worship)

- World-renowned Physicist and Acoustician Neville Fletcher made a visit to my lab, and I had the opportunity to present him my intended research plans.

(from left: Joe Wolfe, John Tann, Clément, John Smith, Neville Fletcher, Elaine)

- Visited the Sydney Powerhouse Museum on errand from the acoustics lab, and given a personal tour by the Curator of Musical Instruments through the museum displays, and most excitingly, a tour through the museum's storage vaults, where hundreds and hundreds of musical instruments are kept, some dating as early as the 1600s. The collection includes quite a few 'extinct' instruments, and historic predecessors of modern flutes, violins, trumpets, pianos, as well as a modest collection of non-western instruments, including a set of historic chinese orchestral instruments presented to Sydney in the mid-1800s. A rather delightful side note: the storage shelves immediately next to the flutes is the Toys collection, with RACKS and RACKS of VINTAGE MATCHBOX model toycars! Simply amazing! Needless to say, I was a happy kid in a sweetshop.

(Michael Lea holds up a Serpent, an extinct brass instrument used a few centuries ago)

- Somtam/khao kha mu gathering at Judy's; a delightful confluence of thai food, friends and fun!

(Judy, Dawn, Sueann, Paul, Chernwen)

- whilst in the Lab, jamming efforts with my colleague (on exchange from france) has led to a modest 20 minute guitar-and-bass gig at the Coogee Bay Hotel! It was a simple, fun affair... =)

(Clément on fretless bass, me on my taylor)

- saw two more rainbows yesterday - one in the morning about 10am, and another at 6pm. Is it just me??


- I cut my hair...

(too short... hence)

- caught the Kransky Sisters at the Opera House... they're oddball, morbidly insane and downright funny. Toss in a virtuosic tuba and saw!

- And one last link: http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/music/