Its strange, but I would've thought that by now, 6 months into a PhD, that I would've settled into some kind of routine. For example, I thought my days would follow this kind of pattern:

Get up after sleeping through my alarm
Go to the lab
Do experiments
Those experiments would work, and get meaningful results
Take up mediation
Have lower stress levels (I discovered my ability to stress out during honours...)

Instead, its been hectic, stressful (its been scholarship applications at the moment, amongst other things) and I've been more reactive to what's been happening around me rather than proactive ie. being able to plan ahead. That's strange to me, as I'm used to being able to plan things, and expecting them to turn out the way I'd expect them to. However, despite all that, I'm having a heap of fun, and I wouldn't change anything. I think, hmmm except the fact my experiments are working the way I want to :P

That reminds me of a conversation I was having with Caroline and Mariam. We talked about many things, but one of the things that stuck in my mind was that you never know what's going to happen in life, and when things are lousy, you think you won't get through it, but nine times out of ten, you do, and it actually turns out better than you think :) I remember thinking to myself, that's so true. Its all part of that journey.

But there are some things that don't change, and you treasure them because they're there, and offer comfort when you're having those lousy moments. One perfect example of this was dinner with my family tonight. A typical dinner with my family has the following elements:

My dad making a dish with unknown ingredients. Today was quite nice, a lotus and water chestnut soup. One that sticks in my mind was an omelet with chicken tendons. None of us realised until we had finished it...

My mum complaining that we never finish what is on the table. It happens without fail. And the number of times where we have actually finished everything on the table (its single figures), she complains that she doesn't cook enough...there HAS to be a happy medium somewhere...

It starts at a previously arranged time...which actually worked today as we were all there. If we are not planning to be present at that particular time, we must inform the others and make alternative arrangements...

The lame joke. The serial offenders are my brother and my mum. Usually a disgusting one that shouldn't really be spoken when eating. Although I think my brother needs some new material - he's been on vacation for too long.

The left over discussion. At the moment, its no contest, any left over are mine. However, when both my brother and I are going to uni, tense negociations are carried out to determine who gets them. Tonight we avoided this, but the problem was that we ran out of rice, so I added pasta instead. Hmmm, chinese and italian, this will taste interesting...but the great thing about leftovers is that there's no rules.

Who exactly is going to clean up and wash the dishes. Now, we have a schedule for this, but often due to alternative arrangements, people (usually me) are not present to wash the dishes. And with the dishes, only one rule applies - it must be done within 15 minutes of the conclusion of the meal, or my mum will begin to show clear signs of agitation, which may well progress to a very vocal outburst (or a nervous breakdown, we've never found out). This often involves sneaky negociation and blackmail.

That's a typical dinner. Different dinners will have different elements, but that's basically it. And today had a bonus - strawberries! Yum....with cream as well :)