maximizing utility

Been hanging out all the Actuarial students for too long now and some of their work is rubbing off on me... Here is me attempting to maximize utility of a fixed cost item...
I decided to get myself a travel weekly as a treat to myself after all the hard work and an excuses to explore Sydney... Got the travel weekly with the train function as well as the price difference was not that great... But in so doing, I had to use it everyday and go out everyday! He he he any excuse to get out of the house... I used the bus to get everywhere and hence I did not get my usual dose of exercise between MUV and Macquarie Center...
As for the train sector, I decided at the spur of the moment to go from Town Hall Station to Chatswood to pick up a can of Hot and Spicy SPAM. Well had to do so isn't it as I had to get value for money from the card! Then of course, it was 545 from Chatswood to Macquarie followed by 292 from Macquarie to MUV...
Ferries were another adventure, Natalie and I decided to explore Taronga Zoo which was great as there was a nice strong breeze but the sun was another story- I came back looking burnt and red!

By the way, I inserted my Travel weekly so many times that the dates are all faded at the back of it... But I feel really good as I think I have really maximized the utility of the card and have gotten as much out of it as possible!

Well it is just about the end of my adventure of being a Master student in Sydney... Wonder where to next... And have to utilize the last few weeks of being able to travel around as a student on concession here...

crispy

Hmm... what can I say? I feel like a really crispy, crunchy piece of skin at the moment! Guess the only person I can really blame is myself- why do I attempt to go out wandering around when the UV is extreme or very high... Oh well I cant be cooped up the whole day in the house and the UV warning starts from 0900 till at least 1530 so it is rather challenging to avoid it! Just use lots and lots of sunblock and walk in the shade as much as possible... Oh before I forget, the wonderful flies are another adventure all to thyself... They stick to just about everywhere and anywhere...the flies have a great infinity for the lips and they stick like super glue! But hey the price to pay for living here at the moment!














A different view of the Harbor Bridge... Well at least the underside of it looks rather impressive!

end of the road....

Well I have been busy enjoying myself... Lectures and assignments ended last wednesday... And I have a new flatmate... But the best thing was that I had a surprise visit from someone whom I had not seen in ages- Martha! It was so good to see her happy smiling face...

Have been really busy with other things as well... A new flatmate arrived on Wednesday too... She is from Guangzhou in China... the good thing is that she is not a "typical" mainlander... phew! So I have been busy playing tourist guide and all... It has been good having another being in the house though for such a short time...

Martin Place... never really noticed this sculpture.... It is so amazing how we tend to rush though life and not stop and ponder... I guess now that the course is over, I seem to see things in a different light...

It is going to be a really full on week for me- here there and everywhere... watch this space

things that make me smile

• watching a young bunny hopping around in the grass- carefree and alive...
• the smell of mangoes at this time of the year
• the stars in the night sky
• catching up with friends
• spring flowers- love the smell and the vibrant colors
• rain that cools the weather down- especially the wonderful sound of it!
• the end of all the assignments
• deserts- especially chocolate éclairs
  

food

Somehow this seems to be one of the best things to blog about... But well one has to eat whether we like it or not... So might as well enjoy the experience and the wonderful food... Meat and Wine Co at Darling Harbor or to be more exact at the Imax center has some rather interesting food... The skewers were really good- chicken, beef in various cuts and salmon... always good when accompanied by a nice bottle of wine...
This was at Jordons seafood at Darling Harbor... It is their famous seafood platter for 2. One would definitely eat till one pops... But it is a really good feed... a crab, morton bay bugs, lobster, oysters, muscles, squid, octopus and of course fish and chips... think i still prefer prawns to lobsters as there is more flavor in them and it doesn't feel like I am just chewing on a big tasteless prawn... Oh well might as well enjoy them all when there is the chance...

Leadership

Sigh... been staring at this subject for the past semester and it has suddenly made a lot more sense to me! I have been watching and reflecting on all that goes on around me... Some people seem to be "natural" leaders and do a really great job of it... Others think that they are leaders but the reality is that they do not have the presence or the ability to do so... While others know their short comings are able to create leadership type qualities... Somehow I believe in shared leadership where each person comes with their own strengths to contribute to the better good and a shared vision...

Why are people so hung up with politics and power? The more people try and grab the worse it becomes... Don't they know that the good old saying actions speak louder than words is ever so true? Politics complicates the issues and instead of focusing on the problem at hand, it just makes it into a power struggle. It is as if things would fail if one doesn't appear to be making a mark or living up to some imagined expectation. People play the political gain to no end and they end up having a struggle and one- up -manship at the end of the day.

At the end of the day, one needs to be true to oneself and realize that there would be a ditch some time and to surround oneself with people who would be able to compliment each other and to draw out the strengths in each other... It is no point to be a one man band or a person who can't let go of power. Life is too short to play stupid games...

heat is back again

Well... it is back to the heat... Pure blue skies and the sun beating down... The bright morning sun to greet me every morning... I guess summer is really here now... The only reprieve are the slightly cooler nights...

Back to university and the last few weeks of being a student... Have started to "donate" my stuff and all... weird feeling...