I officially started work at the Australia Telescope yesterday. Very pleasant experience meeting lots of nice people. Had a few long scientific discussions already.
Tomorrow we take a second look at a house we like in Thornleigh. This one has an asking price in the $500K's which is considerably better than others we had looked at. It's a multi-level house built on a hillside, lots of wood floors and balconies. We'd need to fence in the land for the dogs. The area around is leafy and green with lots of bush within a short walk. The drive to work would be about 30 minutes.
I've been reading the sale contract for the house. This is pretty standard legalese but I enjoyed the following clause:
"The time for one thing to be done or happen does not extend the time for another thing to be done or happen"
Buddhists would recognize this as the opposite of the Law of Dependent Origination.
This weekend is a long one. Monday is a holiday in Australia - Anzac day. The date is the anniversary of Gallipoli. For those of you without a British Commonwealth history education, Gallipoli was an attempt by the Allies to aid Russia by taking the entrance into the Black Sea, the Dardenelles. By dint of bad planning and general ineptitude, the campaign failed and many people died. It wasn't the worst day of carnage in WWI but it was really bad for the Australia and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC). It's strange that Australia remembers its soldiers by commemorating such a disaster but on reflection it's probably more appropriate than to celebrate a victory.
We'll let you know how it goes with the house.
Tim
Friday, April 22, 2005
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2 comments:
Nice looking house. Very nice. Are you guys seriously considering it? It looks and sounds almost ideal.
Zoe
That's a beautiful house, you're very lucky to have found it for such a good price. Hope you get it! :-)
It's strange that Australia remembers its soldiers by commemorating such a disaster but on reflection it's probably more appropriate than to celebrate a victory.
The significance of ANZAC Day goes far beyond that fateful day in 1915 -- it commemorates Australia's first 'national tragedy' (having only become a separate country in 1901) and the birth of "ANZAC spirit": mateship, courage, sacrifice. Nowadays it has grown to honor all the ANZAC soldiers who fought (and especially those who fell) in every war since then, as well.
Since you're in Sydney, you should check out the ANZAC Day parade in the CBD.
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