Uni is finally over for the year - what a relief. I really feel satisfied with my dedication to uni work this semester. I've managed to pull three Distinctions out of my hat and quite a few credits. But gosh I am glad for the break. I am sick of reading and thinking!

So what am I doing with myself in the break? well I have spent the last week relaxing and sitting in our pool trying to escape the heat. Its been a nice change. No deadlines to worry about, and nothing but relaxing on my mind. Lovely.

I also signed up at a youth organisation as one of their volunteers. I'm looking forward to starting. I get to do a suicide prevention course as part of the gig (two days) and its at their expense which is wonderful. I've got the opportunity to help out in a lot of different areas too, from event support right through to helping out with case management. Not sure when I'll be starting but hopefully over the next few weeks. Nice for the resume as well as great experience. Very exciting!

I'm back (again). Who wants to place bets on how long for?

It's November, you guys! I can't believe the year has passed by so quickly. So what's new with me?

- I have been given the opportunity to upgrade to a Masters in Social Work (professional qualifying). I have accepted and am happy with my decision to do so. I still finish at the end of 2010 like originally planned, its just that the assignments have just gotten a whole lot bigger and there is a whole lot more of them to cope with! But that's okay because I get to come out with a Masters instead of another Bachelors degree.

- We have moved. I'm not sure if I mentioned it? but it has finally happened. My Nan sold her house and bought on the other side of town. Thank goodness I came home because it was an absolute nightmare (the move that is). Electrical checks are not mandatory or even an option when buying a new home, so guess what? we moved into a death trap. In the shed/garage there were LIVE WIRES hanging out of the walls. Then there is the extension part of the house - was running on a whole heap of extension leads instead of proper electrical wire.

- And on top of that my uncle has had an undiagnosed ankle for the past eight months and now needs an operation to correct it because of some incapable/incompetent Emergency staff.  On top of this he is STILL waiting for his hernia to be operated on.

- The above lead me to join a private health fund

- We got a pool installed. It's coming along nicely. 

- I am totally and utterly addicted to the new Melrose Place. Violate is the new crazy chick, except they are kicking her out so i'm mighty mad. Excited to see Amanda come back - I was a true fangirl of the original. In saying that I just have to exclaim that I LOVE SYDNEY and its fan-freaking-tastic that she did not die the first time round, and it sucks arse that she is dead the second time around. Hang the person who killed her! (unless it was violet!!!)

Bad thing....

- My cat Spock has been missing for the past month.


And so that's my life up until this very moment. I will be back sooner rather than later next time. 

 It's been so long between proper updates that I don't even know where to start. So much has happened that I would have liked to have documented...

I guess the main thing is that I am on field placement. There was a big struggle to get this organised though, and I started close to two months after everyone else had. But anyway, it is going really well. It would probably have been my last choice of agencies because it's not in an area I would like to work in, and its outreach work (meaning you need to drive to get to the clients). But in saying that, I am very grateful to be there because I have learned a lot. Theories used to confuse the hell out of me, but now, thanks to my supervisor I am able to recognise them when they are in use as well as apply them to situations myself. The fact that it isn't a traditional social work agency (its multidisciplinary, and my supervisor is the only social worker on staff) has really worked well for me too, which is a big surprise. I feel like I am getting this big one-on-one lesson, which I am I guess...I don't know if I would have gotten that elsewhere.

And I had this epiphany. I am absolutely sure I am in the right job. I was brooding over something that I'd seen on placement. It was only on the third day that I realised, yes, I am definitely in the right career. I mean, I had been upset by things before, but not ever to this extent. I've been pretty good at leaving things at work, so all this anger over this issue was a bit of a shock. But gee, I am finally at the place in my life where I know what I want to do with my life, and it isn't just made up of logical decisions--its a feeling, i just KNOW now. It's something I never thought I would get....

In terms of my personal well-being, I was really sick for a long time. I got sick with the flu and then got this really bad infection or something on top of it. I'd been feeling unmotivated and drained and all the rest of it for a while too and I just thought it was medication, and it was, but it was because I was allergic to it! I had an allergy reading of 8 when I went into the doctors. And now that I am off my medication I am functioning so much better than I ever did emotionally, if you can believe that? but yeah, it was a hard couple of months there where I couldn't get too much done.  

I feel really good now though. I've got myself a great bunch of friends here who have been very supportive of everything, and I feel like I am going in the right direction in my life. For the first time I am just happy. Happy with my life and the way its working out. I've never really felt that before, I've always felt as if I was on a constant expedition, trying to find out where I fit. But I think I have found that place now. You guys have no idea how different it makes me.

 Far out. This uni thing is impossible.

In order to gain entry into the graduate entry Social Work course, I need to show that I am eligible to graduate. The thing is, I might miss the main offer round because I don't have anything 'official' to show this yet. Missing out on the course offer round doesn't upset me too much because their are other rounds and I know I'll get in... the thing that worries me is, I can't get an accommodation offer until they see that I've been offered a course place.

So its this big cycle of uncertainty. I mean I can live at my Mum's for a semester if I have to, but like I want to live on campus. 

I hate all this crap.