Research research

Another week (conveniently, Australians consider the week running Monday-Sunday) is in the books, meaning it's time for another update from Sydney!

As with most of my updates, work and research consumed a large part of my week. Which, considering why I moved here, that's probably a good thing.

With more than two months of reading and gaining a general knowledge of my PhD topic, I decided it was time to take the first major step toward rationalising my research. While I have researched before (Masters thesis, conference papers, etc.), this is the first time I have really delved deeply into literature and journals.

Turns out the first step is really researching how to do all the research I need to do. After plowing through a fair amount of books, I set up a meeting with my research librarian to learn the ins and outs of things like tracking citations, accessing journals, and the like.

On Thursday morning, I met up with my research librarian and got a ton of information, setting me up to push forward with my PhD work. That evening, my Melbournian friend Alex was in town to close out the exhibition she had opened at Sydney Uni back in May. We had a nice dinner with Soph at a dumpling shop Candice had introduced me to when Ash and Brant were in town.

After work on Friday, I went down to Circular Quay to see the Vivid lights one last time before the event ended for the year. It was a good night down by the water and a great way to start the weekend. I didn't stay out all that late as the wind picked up a bit, and I was ready to be inside where it was warm!

Saturday the weather was gorgeous, and I spent time running a few errands and popped by to help a friend settle into a new place. After an early dinner, I enjoyed another early evening at home doing some reading as I knew I wanted to be up early on Sunday.

Sunday morning the weather was still great—warm and sunny, though a bit windy—and perfect for a long run. Since I have gotten back into running, I tend to do 5k runs during the week and a 10k run on the weekend. I don't have a set path I run, but enjoy checking out new places every time I go out.

On Sunday, I ran east from my house toward Moore Park and Centennial Parklands—two large greenspaces in the city. I ran past the large rugby and cricket stadiums and around an area known as the "Entertainment Quarter," which I didn't even know existed.

The CBD skyline from a bridge in Moore Park across Anzac Parade.

Running through Centennial Parklands.

After I got home and cleaned up, I went up to Circular Quay to meet up with my friend Nathan and catch a ferry to Manly—a suburb on the north shore famous for its Pacific-facing beach. With the gorgeous sunshine offering a respite from the cold winter winds, there were quite a few others with the same idea, and we joined hundreds of others on the half-hour ferry ride, enjoying the spectacular views of the harbour as we went.

The trip to Manly from Circular Quay, with dozens of sailboats out in the harbour.

Once we disembarked at Manly, we made our way along the Corso, which connects the harbourside ferry wharf to the Pacific ocean. Along the walk, we stopped for lunch at Chica Bonita, which had been written up for having the best burritos in Sydney. While I wasn't sold on the distinction, it may be accurate, as there really aren't that many places to get Mexican food in Sydney!

Manly Beach.

Shelly Beach, just east of Manly Beach.

From Manly beach, we (along with hundreds of others) walked along the coast and up the cliffs overlooking the ocean. A large group of onlookers had gathered at the top of the cliffs, eyes trained out to where a large cluster of boats had gathered. After a few minutes of intent watching, we were able to see a whale spout about a half-dozen times before going back below the surface.

Boats clustered around the whale off in the distance.

By the time I got home last night, the wind had picked up considerably, and after the sun went down it got quite wintery. All through the night, the wind howled, and while it seems to have calmed for the moment, the weather service indicates that next few days won't be all that pleasant.

The joys of winter in Sydney.

Good news is, it is a perfect day to stay in the house, do some laundry, and read for my PhD.