whycamel

A picture tells...

2007-03-04T23:40:00.000+11:00

I got rebuked today by Lunch. So i am back. With a VERY serious post.

Found these signs in a Bottle O the other day. Were a classic.

1000 words indeed.

...something...

2007-01-18T23:50:00.000+11:00

Llamas or Alpaccas...taken by me

Well hey everyone. I forgot i even had this. I got the job...5 months ago. How up to date am i? Now to choose a picture of relevance. Will post a more thorough and thoughtout post in the next few weeks (months).

Nope

2006-09-05T15:25:00.001+10:00

Well i tried out for that job.
Suited up.
Had the interview.
Saw Marson at Central.
Didn't get the job.

I suppose it doesn't really matter. It just felt a bit like an only option for me. Back to the drawing boards i guess. I have a job lined up for 4th term at the school i worked at last year but will leave me in the same place come Christmas time. Just sick of feeling like i have no goals or career aspirations. Being tested here bigtime.

My First Interview

2006-08-30T16:13:00.000+10:00

Well i just got a phone call.
I have my first ever proper job interview.
At a music business.
This Friday.
At 3:30pm.

All the jobs i have had before were just study uni kinda jobs or all my teaching is word of mouth. Now i have to make up crap about myself and sell my self to be better than everyone else. Just the thought of this scares me quite a bit as i really don't like doing the big 'talk myself up' kinda deal.

Anyone have any tips?

...quitter

2006-08-18T10:58:00.000+10:00

Long time since my last post...

The last two weeks have been quite significant in my life. I have made a big decision that leaves me in a very unsure place. I quit uni.

For those that don't know, i have been doing a Masters of Teaching (Secondary Music) at Sydney Uni for the last 6 months. I haven't really enjoyed it a huge amount and if you spoke to me you would probably have heard me whinging about it. Increasingly this semester as prac loomed i felt more and more like i didn't want to be doing what i was doing. Then last week i found out i failed an assignment last semester and that meant i failed the whole subject. So i was going to have to fight to stay in my course anyway. So...i jumped ship.

I really don't know where i am heading now. Don't have any strong desires for this job or that career. I want to do something musical, but that could easily be a hobby type thing as well. I need to pay the bills somehow, so finding a job is a large priority at the moment.

Was speaking to a wise, older friend last night, who said he was in a similar place at my age. He said he wanted an answer on a piece of paper to where life was leading for him. An older friend of his (this is getting complicated to follow) told him that if you got this piece of paper, you wouldn't trust God as you wouldn't need to. So now i am challenging myself to not want an all encompassing answer, but to rely on God. A real challenge when there seems to be no real security in anything in the world.

'Blogs are Evil'

2006-07-10T21:11:00.000+10:00

Well the World Cup is over.

Australia out about 2 weeks ago.

It seems that since Australia got booted from the World Cup that those that blog in our community haven't written many/any blogs. Me included in that.

My theorem:

Blogs have EVERYTHING to do with the World Cup.

Ok, maybe not. Just a random post about a fact i noticed. I might write something properly after Treestump.

Oh and the title. Someone at church told me blogs were evil last night. He/she shall remain nameless.

Time is...

2006-06-06T23:25:00.000+10:00

Was listening to radio in car on way home from bible Study tonight. An ad came on about.

Time is Money: Do you have enough money now? Save for the future....

Obviously i don't agree with this statement. Time is cheapened to be about one thing, the gaining of wealth which will die.

My question here is....

Time is...(insert word/s here)!

Serious or not.

You non posting readers, this is the time to have a say!

PS. yes i am avoiding an assignment!

Hello Winter!

2006-06-02T17:17:00.000+10:00

Well it's only the second day of Winter and its FREEZING. There is no real moral to this story. Just feel like telling the people who already know beacause everyone who reads my blog lives in Sydney anyway.

Walking through the city this afternoon just before it started to rain. Freezing wind. And now with the rain. Very miserable indeed.

BUT

Year 7 Guys and Girls are combined tonight in an effort to build up numbers and after Bible Study we are having a prayer meeting for TC. So should be good. As long as there is warmth.

Why oh WHY? Rant time!

2006-05-21T23:07:00.000+10:00

OK.

1. This is like not long since my last post.

2. My Jeep is still broken and its making me mad.

3. TC was awesome today, as was church today.

4. RANT TIME.

So i have another rant. This doesn't relate to any of the above at all. It's just something that annoys me. But i never really noticed till Friday. Lets set the scene.

It was a dark and stormy night.....well, actually it was just after 6 and was kinda clear night but it WAS dark. I had just gotten off the train at Epping and had started to stroll to my (mum's) car which was parked in a nearby street where a lot of commuters park.
About 10 metres in front of me was a female of a similar age to me. She was obviously walking to her car too. Once the shops stopped there isn't much light in the street. So what happens next is what my rant is on. She was constantly (every 15 seconds) looking over her shoulder to see where i was as if i was a threat and about to attack her or something. Maybe i was reading into it too much. I didn't choose to be walking just behind her. It's just where i was. So i don't have a big problem with her personally. In fact i have no problem with her at all. It's what she was doing and what society (and the facts of it) had turned me into. Because i was a young guy walking behind a girl, i was assumed to be the bad guy.

What a tradgedy that that is what the world is like eh? It was good that she was checking i guess, but the fact that i was assumed bad guy. NOT COOL!

RANT OFF.

I found the Wiktionary (Wiki Dictionary) definition of "Rant" very interesting. Click here...

Koosh

2006-05-17T22:22:00.001+10:00

So...i haven't written here in ages. And i am coming back with an utterly serious posting. I was reading Time today, and there was a mention of a Koosh Ball. Now i had totally forgotten these existed. They were those weird smelling rubber kinda things. I used to have one. No idea what colour. All i remember is that they were really good for pegging at people coz they didn't really hurt. A stupid pointless toy (is it a toy?) that i remembered today. So i am now sharing that deep thought with you all.

What toys did you love? Any insignificant ones like the Koosh?

A Week Ago...

2006-04-26T21:21:00.000+10:00

Ok well i meant to write a blog on this last week but i didn't. I just kinda forgot or when i remembered i was too busy. So i am doing it now. A week (and a little bit) later.

The long weekend was approaching. I was undecided. There was talked of sailing adventures on the high seas and weekends away at houses of holidays but these fell through. Last year i spent the weekend up at Coffs Harbour for a Jeep weekend called Camp Coffs. Upon thinking about it, it was hard to refuse another weekend up in the warmth and scenery of the north coast. So the Jeep was packed, the co driver was chosen (Sam) and we were off. The ever increasing petrol prices started to make me doubt going but Sam and I decided the weekend was going to be one of adventure and how could measly money stop us!

We arrive in Coffs Harbour 1.5 tanks of fuel later to choose a site and set up camp. For those of you unsure on what this event was etc, it is called Camp Coffs (creative). There are a bunch of Jeep owners based around Coffs who host the event and the magazine Jeep Action Australia is also based there so they put the event on. Basically think, 100 Jeeps, Mountain tracks, beautiful beaches and some good ole campin fun.

Our Camp

The Jeeps

Well our choice of tent location wasn't great with some "pirates" behind us who talked till 130am and then seemed to wake at 530am vomiting each morning. Not great for sleep.

Saturday and Sunday involved drives which started at 9am and went till shortly after lunch. Sam and I dined finely on delicacies like bread and a jar of peanut butter (thanks to our friend Shyam at Coles, Moonee Beach). The drives were quite fun with my Jeep remaining carnage free, however a few others had some issues. I seemed to lift a wheel all day and felt like i was going to roll too often. I wasn't particularly happy with how i was driving. Luckily there was one climb (i.e. bit of track) that i drove really well at the end of the day so that made me feel better. Click here if you want to watch a short video of it (right click/save as on camera thing)

Meals included some RSL fare, some BBQed burgers (really good or i was really hungry) and some quality Thai (Lots of takeaway rubbish on the drive there and back)

Sunday was Easter Sunday. And rather than spend the evening with people at the camp site we decided to hot Coffs Harbour and search for a church. We had no idea of where the churches would be or what we'd find. The hunt was on. Lots of driving. Not much finding. Then we came across the Baptist Church. We were half an hour late though. Not ideal. A bit further down the road though we stumbled on the Presbyterian Church. Coffs Presbyterian or Harbourside Evangelical Church was a great little church. We slipped in the back and joined in their service. There were probably about 70 people there. At the end Scott, the Assistant Minister came and chatted to us. He was an SMBC graduate from Sydney who moved up there with his family a few years ago. Seems like a great place to work. Was a great church and exciting to see the Gospel working in Coffs.

Monday saw us trying to drive a hill called "Impossible". No one has ever made it up (hence the name). 4 Jeeps gave it a try and i was chuffed that i got the furthest up. Only a few metres to go. Oh well. A reason to go next year.

Driving up impossible

Each morning we went down to the beach for our shower (ie swim). The water was really warm and the waves were generally good.

This is turning into an essay...so i am going to try and finish quickly.

Basically we decided to drive half way back on Monday (to avoid traffic) and go the rest of the way on Tuesday. So we stopped in Coffs Harbour. Set up our tent, got some great Fish n Chips and a Beer and then........and then......we were bored. It was 7pm and nothing to do. So we saw March of the Penguins. It was ok. Kinda. And then it was morning and we packed up and drove back to Sydney.

Good times indeed. An adventure indeed. Probably slightly different too. I know my hobby is strange. But it's what i do. Not sure what the purpose here was. Just to tell a tale.

Comment on your thoughts on my strange hobby if you want.

The Motherland

2006-04-11T17:43:00.000+10:00

Well...Most people know my parents are South African. They still seem to have an accent after being here for about 27 years. I am an Aussie. But if my mother was born there (SA) does that mean that its my motherland? I don't think so.

Well my folks have just spent a month in SA. Was great to have a month of freedom at home (and free petrol in the Astra) but it prooved to be quite difficult as well. I felt a bit lonely, i ate ordinarily and i had some clashes with one sibling. But it appears that my folks had a great time. I would LOVE to go to SA sometime in the next year or two and meet some of my family who i either havent met or havent seen for about 15 years. I thought I'd throw up some pics of mainly Cape Town. It looks like an incredible place. Which makes it even more of a tragedy that it is such a messed up place. It should be one of the #1 tourist destinations in the world but the crime and other issues scare so many people away. The economy is a mess (but does mean you can get a fancy pants meal for equivalent of $AUD4-5) There are still many grudges held on all sides of the community. But life goes on doesn't it. My rellies are used to the inconveniences and the hassles which we see. It's just how life is. How lucky we are eh?

Joy > Tragedy

2006-04-10T23:26:00.000+10:00

A little bit of a different post for today.

Today for uni, one of my classes went to Sydney Jewish Museum in Darlinghurst. Other classes were going to places like the Zoo and Powerhouse Museum so i felt a little bummed at first, but then thought it could actually be quite interesting.

Interesting it was.

Our tour guide for the 2 hours we spent there was a survivor from the Holocaust. A German Jew called Eddie. He was a pretty incredible guy. The stories he had were chilling and truly disturbing. He spent time in about 3 or 4 concentration camps including Aushwitz. Some of the displays in the museum really made you feel ill and many people in our group were deeply moved. It just highlighted how massively fallen our world is. Truly horrifying.

However what amazed me was our guide. He had a life that i am sure will be much harder than mine ever will be yet he was possibly one of the most joyful persons i have ever met. His love for people, and care for people was amazing considering what people had done to him. He swore to never step foot on German soil again, so he still holds deep feelings against what happened to him, but his message of love and acceptance and care was very powerful. I'm rambling a bit here but it was just incredible to see a man who went through true terror and to now be overflowing with happiness even though he relives the horrors of his past every day telling his story at the museum. What brought him happiness was his family and the love that is encapsulated in that.

Just something to ponder perhaps.

If family can give us such joy then how much joy should the fact that our heavenly father has given us life through Christ. Our hope is sure. This sure hope should bring us joy.

Say yes.

2006-04-02T22:15:00.000+10:00

Was in EU Public Meeting last week listening to one Ian Powell speaking. One thing he said kinda struck a chord with me.

You say no to God, if you don't say yes!

Is this something just straight forward and self explanatory or is it something worth us thinking about?

Camel's Friday Rant #1

2006-03-31T15:24:00.000+11:00

Well this is another rant from me. I believe Friday, being the last day of the week, is a time to reflect on stuff you learnt in the week.

This week it really hit home to me how terribly under-funded our government schools are in NSW. This isn't meant to be a political argument because it has been happening since the 50's with both sides of government being the ruling parties. Most of you reading this probably went to private schools as I did so it isn't something we will understand. I went on an observation visit to a High School down near the airport on Monday and was shocked at the lack of resources for teachers (teachers had to fund raise themselves to get resources), the crap and rundown facilities (haven't been modified since the 50's basically) and the overloading on staff. I spoke to the music teacher and she was teaching two yr 11 classes at the same time. Two totally different courses with different material. She was totally frazzled and over worked.

So what can we do about it? Nothing really. Be aware maybe. I will probably look for a job in a private school when I go job hunting in two years as well. But it is something that we in our 'very nice' part of the world should be aware of. By no means does that mean we should look down at schools like this. But realise that they are doing incredible things with no resources and no backing. I just can't understand how the future of our nation ( and therefore economy, something we value greatly) can be compromised so blatantly. People who are not Catholic are starting to send their kids to low fee Catholic schools, and low fee Christian, Jewish, Muslim etc schools are thriving as well.

This isn't the rule for all schools I am sure but I do believe that it is a fair representation. Disclaimer Disclaimer Disclaimer

Public education...it's (not going to be there in) the future

I need...

2006-03-25T14:17:00.000+11:00

I have been getting headaches for ages.

Never thought about it more than Panadol time.

Now i am back at uni i can't read half of the stuff on the projector screens.

I believe i NEED glasses.

Now the dilema is what style do i get. Because they kinda become part of you. So any advice or pointers? I think they will be park timers, not all the time, YET!

I'm back....and ranting!!!

2006-03-23T23:14:00.000+11:00

Ok, i decided that i need to get back to this blog thing. After being made fun of on a friends blog it was time for me to get into this bloggin again.

To set the scene, i have just undertaken a Masters to train me to teach High School kids music. I haven't been to uni for a while so its all a bit of a culture shock. And i've never been to a 'proper' uni before. So this leads me to...

...why do uni readings, and lecturers have to be so over the top academic that no one understands what they are saying? Like honestly, i think i am a reasonably bright person and should be able to understand stuff. But noooo. It's all waffle and filler. What is the philosophy behind the effect of pop culture on the widely preconceieved view on public education and the social divide it creates blah blah blah...

That's a bit negative though. I'll post something more positive soon

So what's in a name?

2006-01-12T17:26:00.000+11:00

Well I named my blog "whycamel" because I am really not sure why people call me it. Well I do but it really is a strange nickname. A giant humped beast.

It was yr 8 or 9 German class with Frau Williams that it all started. As I went to an all boys school (till yr 11) we used to muck around a lot and call each other all sorts of names. Well someone in the class called me Camel because I think I was poking my tongue out for some reason and it kind of stuck. By the end of year 9 everyone in the year at school was calling me Camel. And now I have this nickname which EVERYONE asks why and I can't really give an answer coz there is no real story.

First Entry

2006-01-12T11:41:00.000+11:00

So everyone has a blog. Well a lot of people have a blog. Well a few people have a blog. So i thought the bandwagon was going past so i jumped on. I still have no idea why people have these. Enlighten me people.