My Amazing Life of Work and Study

Riding has been put on hold as a priority while I work through yet another subject of my post-graduate studies.  I still managed a couple of great rides around Creswick after lectures and on the weekends, but they were casual and fun 'brain down time' rather than anything that would be considered training.  Any serious riding will have to wait until June when I have finished my final subject.

Casual ride at Creswick with my awesome 80mm Scalpel

The new year of study brought a whole new group of students starting the Masters program, with most of them international students - Indonesia, China, Equador, and the usual suspects (from last year) from Botswana, Ghana, Indonesia, and the a few of the Aussies.  Charles form Ghana pulled an absolute ripper of a laugh, intentionally taking the mickey out of the very pale blondes being myself, Shauna, Luba. While we were plastering on the 30+ sunscreen for our field day ahead, Charles reached out to grab some (which caused a good laugh in us all), and then proceeded to put it on the palest part of him - the palms of his hands !!!!!  Thanks Charles, just rubbing it in that African's have it all over us when it comes to melanin !!  Charles, you're gorgeous, and we all take our hats off to yourself and fellow international students who leave their young families for 2 years to undertake studies in Australia that will help progress forestry, fire and climate change initiatives in your own countries, as well as you being able to provide a good education for your children.  

And then there was the lecturers....  What a cocktail of personalities they were - Dr Chris Weston and Dr Luba Volkova.  Between the small group of mature, working students and these 2 lecturers, the 2 weeks flew by with laughter that got everybody through field trips, lectures and forest net primary productivity calculations.  

The Russian peasants - Luba, Richard & Gus (who'd have thought Luba's KGB background would bring her to this?)

Some usual suspects (Mark, Dave & myself) and the great fun students from Indonesia & China

Then back to Bendigo for another week of work.  And a few easy but great rides, including an early morning roll with old friend Roz.  Our legs did a bit of (easy) work, but our mouths went non-stop!!!  

The weekend brought sleep, washing, house duties ready for another week in Bendigo and the Otways, before the return of my babies on the weekend.  I miss them so much - my house isn't the same without them.  But they have been very well behaved for mum and Tegan, and provided them with great laughs and company for Pippa.