Springtime in Coogee

Long time no hear - or something like that. My apologies about that. I have been living a fairly boring life lately and was also lacking motivation to add new entries. However, why not write briefly about the upcoming events, past times and the approaching southern summer!

Finally the long winter seems to be over. It has been quite rainy and chilly here combined with strong winds - all the elements that make the Australian spring quite distinguishable; I've heard. Nonetheless, it has been extremely enjoyable as the days are also getting longer and the temperatures have not yet reached unbearable highs. The country also changed to daylight savings time a couple of weeks ago. Coogee is a great place to be at this time of year.

School is almost over! I have two more assignments and one (open book) final exam. This means that I will start having much more free time to enjoy the summer. As far as the results are concerned, no complaints either. Despite having some tough classes this semester, it looks as if I am able to reach a distinction (75 %) average also for this semester. That would secure a merit-remark in my diploma, which would naturally be nice to have. The final ceremony will probably take place next May (!), and so far it is not sure if anyone of us is able to attend it.

While school is slowly coming to an end, work is getting busier as we're approaching the holiday season and people start piling up liquor. Our warehouse is literally beginning to overflow and we are also under a process of relocating it to Botany at the moment - something that also keeps things busy for everyone involved. Personally, I am starting to get a hang of it, which makes it all the more meaningful and interesting. The big decision is still to be made. Whether to pursue a career back in Finland or stay here at least for a while. Unlike previously stated, I may now be able to come back to Helsinki before making the final call. This would be great as it enables me to see how I feel when back home and briefly analyze the opportunities in the European side.

In the near future here, some awesome parties are coming up. It pretty much starts in two weeks time with Halloween frenzy at Bondi and then the following weekend we'll go to Andrew's (my flatmate) ranch three hours south of Sydney…in the bush of Braidwood. This time there won't be any noise restrictions nor whining British neighbors…or cops either for that matter. After that a few friends from Finland will (literally) stop by. We are also planning on a short trip to Tasmania in the mid-November but we'll see how that goes a bit later.

I added a few inspirational pics from my neighborhood on a beautiful, sunny spring Sunday. Coogee at its best. That's just about it for now. I will report back after Halloween at the latest. Cheers guys.

PS. I almost forgot to mention the nerve-wrecking exhibition match between Australia and Holland in soccer here at Moore Park. Nerve-wrecking because of its incredible dullness. 0-0 result and two lazy sides in a drizzle. The Aussie guy sitting next to me summarized the whole game in the second half by standing up and yelling: "80 DOLLARS WORTH OF s***!" I have nothing to add.