Lev Lafayette's journal

The past several days have been an almost novel experience; no study and taking a few days leave from work coupled with public holidays. I know that I recharge quickly in the right circumstances, and given that a few of these days were spent near Apollo Bay on the Otway's coastline in the company of Ruby M., this was exactly the right environment. The Otways coastline this time of year is certainly to my taste with a forested topology that rises sharply from a wild ocean and overcast skies. In many ways, it reminds me of the stark beauty that I find in much of the South Island of Aotearoa New Zealand, and home is where the heart is. The human company added to the healing experience, regaling with tales of their adolescence in these lands, coupled with coastal exploration, lazing by the marina, a memorable luncheon at the local Fisherman's Cooperative, and a local art show featuring pieces by my old friend Kirsten D.

Returning to the city on Friday, I made my way to Erica H's belated birthday party at her Footscray apartment. It was almost entirely a Perth goth reunion from the early 90s with James N., Liana F., Julie A., Rob M., Chiari and Adrian C. and myself in attendance. Leaving in the early hours of the morning I was confronted by a strange individual at the train station who attempted to cast spells on me; your cantrips have no effect on me, prestidigitator. The local scurrying rats were far more pleasant company. The following day I returned with Mel S., for an opshopping run with Erica, and the day after I was in the company of Rama F., Liana F., Balaram M., Carla L., and Isobel for another evening Moroccan food and viewing of Casablanca. The experience was sufficiently enjoyable that there is now talk of a regular themed "dinner and movie" evenings.

But today I am back at work and my mental focus has shifted back into that gear, not the least reviewing recent articles that have been published that made use of the Spartan supercomputer (the solution to the Zodiac 340 cipher has finally made to a formal paper). Another matter that has weighed lightly on my mind in recent weeks is whether to continue further doctoral studies. I have chosen in the affirmative, and have made initial inquiries at two different institutions and on two different topics, one of which provided an almost immediate acceptance of my application. Soon enough, I imagine, I will be back into my regular experience of full-time work and full-time study; if only I could scale beyond that.