3 hour return hike to The Tofu Rock.
It was great.
Lunch picnic with best wraps ever, courtesy of Dom.
2 hours kayaking under the direction of Dom and Jan.
So awesome.
But so struggle.
Especially towards the end, where me and Jess were legit...struggling.
Then we had some really nice warm showers before second picnic.
When The Burn occurred (see video evidence).

Overall, a success!

&

So Janice's birthday was coming up and every year, without fail, she would get an idea to surprise one of the PhD peeps.
This year, we thought we would turn the tables on her instead.
I can't remember exactly whose idea it was - Dom's? Michelle's?
Anyway the seeds were sown and we told Jan that we were all headed towards Cabramatta for a food day.

The secret almost leaked multiple times, but thanks to quick thinking and the obliviousness of our target, it never came to light.
Mission: to kidnap The Target and take her on a 3 hour hike and 2 hour kayaking session in Bundeena, Royal National Park

Everyone had slept late the night before, and had to wake up early - it wasn't the greatest lol. In addition, our team leaders kept stressing over things so we kept wondering whether we'd be able to pull it off.
Regardless, I woke at 6:30am. Took my time packing and getting everything ready.
I had told Jan that I would pick her up at 8am, in actual fact, I had organized with her family days in advance to drop by slightly earlier to pick up her outdoor gear, so she wouldn't suspect anything.

As I left my house, I sent her a message to tell her I had "just woken up".
Halfway to her house, I sent another message to say that I was "on my way".
BAM! INCEPTION!

At around 7:30 I parked a little bit down to street, just in case she spotted my inconspicuous red beetle. It took a few tumbles and low level walking to grab her bag (which had been placed perfectly outside the front door as her family had said it would be) but I legged it out of there without being caught, despite a wide open window.

After some final checks with the main group, I called Jan after checking I had waited the appropriate amount of time to reach her place since "leaving my house".
She came down into the car, not suspecting a thing.
My first task was complete.

We drove about 45 minutes to Dom's place and when we got there he was flying around like a headless chicken. My second task was to move everything from my boot to Dom's boot without Jan noticing. We went inside the house and met the Fam, all the while Dom and I kept exchanging silent looks. How were we going to make this work?
Dom managed to sneak me his keys, I just had to figure out a way to get outside again.
To this end, I tried to fake going to the bathroom, but Jan kept standing in the doorway so it would have been clear that I was sneaking out, instead, I gave the good ol' "I left something outside" line and went outside in the hopes Dom could keep her inside.
Task two complete.

Then the "Google maps" fiasco happened with Jade, Michelle and Jess being "lost".
Jan got really Agro at this section, and we feared she would figure something out.
But nope :P

Then Dom came up with this situation where we would run an errand for his dad, and pick up something from his dad's friend???
We ran with it anyway.
So in we packed into Dom's car and onwards to the Royal National Park we went.
At this point, Jan was just like....okay.

Minutes passed and we entered some pretty bushy roads.
At one point, we stopped right at the entrance of the RNP with a huge street sign pointing, but Dom and I got Jan playing word associations and she was completely entranced in the game.
Justin...timberlake.

It wasn't until we reached the ranger station that Jan became suspicious.
What are we doing at the RNP?

And thus begins the next portion of our mission.

&

Just got back from org masters road trip and its been awhile since this type of blog entry but I don't want to forget
Not quite sure how much to private yet lol

Woke up early at 8am to pack
Messaging Tab and Bel about last minute plans...at the last minute. Finally decided to drive the 4wd
Packed in about 15 minutes - whoot!
Left house relatively promptly at ten past and first stop was Tab's, where Joyce was also relatively on time. Had to park in the garage but that was okay. Also, accidentally left their car door open -.-
Coffee times!
Then took a wrong turn so ended up going pretty much home to get onto the Pacific Highway?

Listened to Taylor Swift and James Morrison from Tabs iPhone and had interesting conversations about love and life

Got to The Entrance around 12:30 after a couple more wrong turns. Tried to park on the first level of the free carpark but...couldn't. So went to second level and drove into a space instead.
Met peeps for fish'n'chips and sat on the grass. It was pretty alright. Adam brought his sandwich lol.
Apparently, the red-player was so law abiding even hui was trying to get him to speed xD.

Then it started to rain so we ran for it.
Police cut off the road, falling wall from one of the apartments. Biggest drama to hit the entrance since...the last drama.

Drove in the rain to quay west, magenta shores.
Checked in, and unloaded stuff. Great place to stay, though a bit pricey.
Everyone unloaded stuff (who is sleeping with who?) and we kind of sat around for a little bit before deciding to go to the -private beach- for a bit. Crashing waves, Dan the seal, awkward wet patches and incoming tide.
Bel and Kevin disappeared into the mist and we thought two people were them but it was a tanned old man in speedos and his companion.
The tide began to come in and Adam Bove would warn us every time there was threat of water. Lol at the anxiety.
Eventually we gave up on bel and Kevin and walked back to our lovely villas.
Can't remember what we did but I eventually ended up napping on me and hui's bed. Woke up to the arrival of makdo & co and the triumphant return of bel and Kevin.

We stood and sat around, chatting for a bit. Skies darkened.
Couldn't figure out dinner plans, and eventually we all got a bit too comfy so ended up ordering pizza. Learnt new way of saving on a pizza order via Tab.
Towards the end of dinner, we began to crack open the alcohol. Started off with cider and ended up in trouble...
I think we were all a bit quite until Adam Bove left and then...mayhem! Trololol.
Completely wasted opportunity with an empty villa. Dangit lol.
Kiss goodbye~

The more mature peeps began to play cranium.
Tab, Kevin, bel, mark and me ended up playing a drinking game with vodka mixers. I think we started off with sprite, but it was like...1/5 vodka in a big glass. Thanks Kevin!
Drinking game - sip every time mark laughed at his own jokes, every time we couldn't see his eyes, every time he acted 85, etc.
Got drunk pretty damn quick.
Lots of drunken texts.
Truth and dare - money and coitus. Lol. Mark and his agenda, his sucky questions and lol at him being the only one that enjoyed the game. So inappropriate.
Think this was around the time he asked bel to consider moving in with him.
Tab and bel hid his car keys so he felt everyone up.
lots of hugs.
I think random peeps were joining us a fair bit - Leigh, Joyce, Aine, etc

I know I'm talking about mark way too much but he was so cute when he was drunk lol
Like a little kid, but like more inappropriate and needing validation. Wouldn't answer how many partners he'd had hahhahah
What a gentlemen xD
Around this time, I reached my limit and couldn't drink anymore. Felt sick. Ew.

At some point we went up to make sure he'd showered. Me and tab ended up sitting in front of the bathroom. he was so cute with his faux nakedness.
Then he came back out and announced he wasn't wearing anything and showed way too much skin lol
He starts jumping in everyone's beds, mostly tab and bels and Joyce's air bed
Brushed his teeth with his fingers.
Then his own but refused to stay with hui cos...it's hui haha oh! Hui went to bed around 1?

Some time we ended up in tab and bels room in the dark
Where we ended up playing murder in the dark, I was standing around when Dan kind of tackled me in th dark. Freaked us the hell out. Hint of thunderstorms. Hiding in cupboards.

Ended up on the bed, just chilling in the dark.
And then Leigh came in, and I was hungry so he got me pizza. So sweet. I ate it in the bath tub and they said they'd turn the water in but I didn't let them.
Then other people came up and ruined the spell. But then they quickly went back downstairs cos tab said she wanted to sleep. I think Kevin was dying at this point - I.e. puking.
But then we just ended up with the five of us on the bed. Bel, me, tab, Joyce and mark. Lots of inappropriate groping. I think bels face, was like in my crotch or at least upper thigh.
Joyce confirmed that mark wasn't wearing any undies. And used her hair clip to -bite- him. Lol.
Bel kept trying to kick him off. We started talking about menopause and I can't even remember what.
He wouldn't leave for ages and we almost all fell asleep together on the king bed. Finally around 3, he left and we all got up one by one to eventually brush out teth and go to sleep.
Ended up waking hui and was scared to move.

Slept alright but...pain waking up.
Awful pain and parched mouth.

second day was not as exciting
left central coast around 2:30pm, and didn't get home until 7:30 (via eastern suburbs and wynnie's place)

...roadtrips & reunions!
went on a lovely roadtrip with the 2012 cohort.
(actual entry private)
mix of relaxing moments and raucous shenanigans :)

 

donna.

we so excited.

nothing happening. 

and then off to jump off the middle of mountains and hunt me some hobbits. 

eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!

donna.

Had one of those epic days yesterday that i'll remember for a long time <3
After days and days of going back and forth, we finally decided to go ahead with the road tripping anyway...
despite an invitation to dozens of people, ended up fitting into one small car xD 
janice picked up michelle and wynnie and arrived at my house around 11am
we gps-ed it to palm beach and were pretty sure we were following wrong directions for about 10 minutes
no matter, we eventually arrived with a background soundtrack of mariah carey and justin bieber
lol.
  
Part 1: Palm Beach 
first real stop was at palm beach fish and chips where i'm pretty sure i ate one of the best fish'n'chips ever
just, wow. who knew you could actually taste the difference, eh? 

then after lunch, we drove up the road to palm beach, where you guess it! it started raining.

and of course the two softies (read: michelle and wynnie) decided to stay in the car

while me and janice went off to frolic in the rain

it was awesome!

 

 

eventually our frolicking convinced the power-that-be to give up on the rain so we called the other two out to frolick with us xD

spent a long time taking photos and running around and generally exhausting ourselves in a very good way.

 

after that, we were supposed to go coffee at some random cafe i'd spotted on the drive up

but WE NEVER FOUND IT!

(one day!)

everyone was pretty tired...one little person in particular (lol)

Part 2: 28 Days Later and Boardgames
When we got back to castle hill, first matter of business was to go grocery shopping
which we did after we spent half an hour at lincraft buying thread for friendship bracelets (lol)
then it was back to the house to watch a movie while we recharged before cooking dinner

Ended up watching 28 days later which was super lolsy to watch with these guys
(for which i'm super glad xDDD)
lots of screaming and hiding under pillows and swearing at how stupid the main character was
love it!
we were so immersed, we didn't even care that lily was about to arrive, despite the fact she thought she'd be arriving after dinner xD

Eventually the movie ended and we cooked dinner (neopolitan spaghetti + roasted chicken + baby spinach 'chips') and talked about the essentials of surviving a zombie attack

Then...
...Boardgame time!


Scattergories highlights (mostly courtesy of Janice Liew)

• excuses for being late ('e'): An elephant squished my car
• ice cream flavours ('e'): Egg-plant ice cream (googled to double check and...lol!)
• colours ('j'): Jaundice (LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL NEVER LAUGHED SO HARD IN MY LIFE AT JANICE'S DESPARATION: come on wynnie! come on! jaundice is a pigment! pigment is colour! come on! come on!!!!!!)
• halloween costumes ('f'): Freaky pumpkins
• desserts ('j'): Jello and jelly are totally DIFFERENT things!
• sports equipment ('r'): Racquet - squash (me and michelle had racquet, then janice and lily both had racquet and specified squash, thinking they were super smart xdddd)
• types of dance ('a'): Appropriate and advanced dance
• things to save up for (r'): radish (must once again reiterate to janice liew that a radish is probably the only thing in the world you don't have to save up for)
• hidden things ('r'): Rainbows and unicorns
• sports team ('t'): Tigers (LOOOOOL both lily and janice put tigers, even though they were talking about different teams)

Taboo highlights

• Janice and Wynnie: When you expunge bad records, you something the something something! Immediately after: Cleaning the slate?
• Michelle: Janice always talks about this! ...It has those...those things! Umm...Light sarbars?
• Janice and Wynnie: The word was "Detour". Janice gave a clue. Wynnie guessed Alternate Route. Then Janice clued France bike riding. Wynnie got Tour de France. Janice motioned for more. Wynnie said: Indirect tour?
• Random popping up of Floriade and Palm Beach related words (spooky!)
• The race was so close, we decided to show our collected cards one by one to see who had one. SO EPIC! Janice and Wynnie won by ONE WHOLE CARD. 

The girls didn't end up leaving until past 12:33am.
SO AWESOME.
contented sigh.

donna.

 

donna.

lazy post:  

first day: drive to uni, ultimate traffic. parking on alison road. starving to death. unsw research team meeting. pick up jenny and hui yih and chatime. eating honey crumpets while driving. driving to janice's house. setting out from janice's house. taking 5 minutes to enter the address of the resort into mio, and hence giving the other car (michelle, janice and jess) a 5 minute head start. speeding all the way to the F1 to overtake the other car. getting to the mercure rafferty's resort right on time to check-in. the loft cottage smelt like an old house that just got sold. really awesome loft level that turned out to be a nightmare to sleep on, lol. after unloading the food, set out for caves beach because the brochure made it look awesome. it wasn't. biggest hole ever. we bought fish'n'chips from one of the only food outlets there and went to the beach to eat. worse chips ever. then we almost got attacked by seagulls but later found out they were only protecting michelle from dogs. took heaps of photos as the sun set. returned home to cook dinner. was a lazy pig while everyone helped out michelle with her mystery box challenge. lol at michelle's masterchef entrance. had super awesome asian dinner. everyone made tong yuen for dessert and they were pretty much perfect. can't remember what we did after that. oh! the shower ran out of hot water. drove to the pool to check out the showers there and killed my car's bumper as a consequence. me and jenny got the loft level with separate beds and my feet were towards the banister, with the drop to the ground floor. we talked about burglars and demons crawling over the edge and it took me ages to sleep. ended up sleeping around 1-2am. not smart.

second day: got woken up around 7am, because my whole mattress slipped out of its frame. make up on the bench in front of the mirror with michelle and jess. jaffles for brekkie. juice spilt. setting out for hunter valley. visiting the visitor centre. first creek winery and tour, dogs included. drinking up a storm on the first stop. audrey wilkinson, photos photos photos. lots of jumping, lots of jenny failing at jumping. pole dancing, lots of pole dancing. insert forgotten wintery. rosemount, re-attempting the floor photo and still failing. tempus two, cheese factory to the winery and then back to the cheese factory. hunter valley gardens, getting locked out of the lake but experienced epic sunset light. drive back to lake macquarie, another 2 hours. almost killed everyone driving in the dark in very low light and bad contacts and the opposing lane's floodlights. half kidding. napping once we get home because i was soooooooooo knackered. getting janice and michelle to take photos and do the rain dance on the loft level and then making everyone die so i could take pictures from the loft level. too cold, too cold, original bbq night turned into pan fry & oven bake meat night. cedric diggory! janice's not-so-subtle look to see if i reacted to seeing cedric diggory (i did -.-). lovely jess' panna cotta. pictionary highlights (on the loft level): game rules changed to everyone drawing and first person to guess wins, janice pwned everyone, jenny's metal detector, donna making everyone draw difficult things and not knowing if factory is two or three syllables, some other stuff that i've forgotten already, somebody remind me. sleep time.

third day: got woken up around 8am, by the sounds of people packing. continental breakfast for breakfast, really salty meat and scrambled eggs with milk in them. pack, pack, packing up to go. hui yih watching as a reverse the car from the pathway because the kerb is horrendous for my car. playing table tennis with jenny for 5 minutes, sucky bat and balls but we rallied for the longest time ever, i.e. 5 minutes. locking up the house for the last time and then driving to the reception to check out. playing around on the jetty and jess chasing away the pelicans. more photos: jump shots, run shots, timed shots, the stiffest mexican waves ever. driving to werner's bay. bowling: janice pwning everyone. everyone else kind of sucking and trying to get as many gutter balls as possible. esplanade picnic lunch and everyone being sus about the sandwiches packed for lunch after they'd been in the car for awhile. throwing grainwaves in everyone's faces. hippo espresso fail. driving back to sydney and missing the pennant hills exit AGAIN (possibly because i've never heard huiyih talk so much in my life). making it back to janice's place in one piece and stalking her dad with hui and jenny. hui tricking me into taking the sandwiches and bacon, by not specifying what food it was. goodbye hugs. saying bye to everyone and then talking to everyone on whatsapp. yes.

donna.