April 2015 - Chik's Crib

30 April 2015

My Sick Leave

April 30, 2015 0
My Sick Leave
Whew. It’s been a while since I have posted, but time has gotten away from me these past few weeks. The end of a school week is always a struggle. By Friday night, my to-do lists are overflowing with tasks, and there’s just so little time to work with. People tell me that studying in Australia is easy, but Monash here didn’t apparently get the memo. Between juggling my studies, handling my own finances and groceries, planning and cooking for myself every meal, life isn’t the breeze it should be, and I have a new-found appreciation for my family back in Singapore.

In all honesty, I probably enjoyed groceries shopping more than the next college student. Deep-down, I am a penny-pinching ah ma who loves doing groceries and comparing prices. Groceries runs are what we do for fun around here. What’s this? Peanut butter for half price? I’ll take two, and make twice the savings. Woolworth has a special on Twining’s tea this week? We are so going there instead of our usual Coles. But just look at the price of a chicken in Woolworth. It’s outrageous. We’ll just swing by Aldi on the way out. Yes, it’s on the way. Of course. As long as we take the long way around.  

Because I have the working memory span of a goldfish, I developed a recent habit of keeping lists of everything that is going on in my life, and crossing each one off as I go about my week. It’s a relief to write out all the tasks nigging at me from the back of my brain onto a physical list, and to free up some much-needed working memory. But several times, I have a suspicion that that I’m spending more time organising my lists than doing actual work. And crossing one task off the list isn’t as fulfilling as I would have thought it would be when I simultaneously add three more.

Between the studies and the administrative tasks to keep life going, I’m bushed. Every Sunday night leaves me with a lingering sense of concern, that I’ve not studied enough, that I’ve not relaxed enough, that I’ve not blogged enough, or done much of anything at all.

Drip drip. You should be studying. Drip drip. 

02 April 2015

NYT Plum Torte Recipe

April 02, 2015 2
NYT Plum Torte Recipe
As the last of the autumn fruits start to dwindle in March, and before winter comes around and all that's left to eat are oranges and apples, I frequently find myself down in Dandenong Market on Fridays riffling through the many plums, nectarines and strawberries that are on sale. After all, one does not move to another continent just to eat fruits commonly found back home. Even after 3 years, it's still a novelty to find seasonal fruits at a fraction of the price back in Singapore.