Steamboat Update

This update is going to be a hodgepodge update - just like the steamboat.

Firstly, I need to apologise for the post that popped up - I set the time, and forgot I did. It wasn’t meant to pop up until I got the approval of all the people involved to include them in the pictures, and to put them up on my blog.

Anyway I invited a couple of my favourite friends over for steamboat last Friday. Andrew brought white wine, Patrick brought Glenfiddich, and I still have a couple of bottles of Vodka, so we had steamboat, drinks and watched the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony. It was impressive and a really great night too! Patrick and the girls did all the cooking, Andrew and Patrick did the washing and I did nothing - I felt bad but oh wells, I was so knackered I could hardly move.

Jean, Andrew, Ayumi and Takeshi

Takeshi and Sharon

We had left-overs so Sharon, Ayumi and Patrick came over again for lunch. Lol. And on Sunday, they went grocery shopping with me, to help me carry bags (how nice!!) and then we went to Jetty Road and hung around there, had dinner, and headed home at 10pm.

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I’ll be in Melbourne next month from the 9th - 15th because I will be speaking at the 5th World Conference on the Promotion of Mental Health and the Prevention of Mental and Behavioral Disorders. Honestly, this is going to be a highlight of my entire life!

Every researchers, scientists, health professionals or doctors dream is to attend an international conference especially if its a major one, and I, not only get to attend the AUD700 conference for free, I am presenting too! My lecturer doesn’t even believe that I am presenting at a world conference, because it is probably impossible for an undergraduate to be presenting at any conferences. I had to show him the website and read my name to get approval to skip lectures. He asked me heaps of questions after that.

If you click on the link above, you’ll see that all the speakers are doctors, professors, experts, CEOs, and people from the World Health Organisation - every doctors and scientists’ God - and on Thursday, 4.30pm, you see your friend, Ehon Chan!

And what are the odds that the previous time I went down to Melbourne, a friend of mine who I haven’t spoken to in ages was having a party (I didn’t find out until  a few days before I was due to leave)! And this time around, another friend is also having a birthday party, and I also didn’t find out until just now!

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I also just got an invitation to sit with Preston Garrison, CEO of the World Federation for Mental Health, and someone from Koori Occupational Therapy Scheme as a panel at the Occupational Therapists Australia 23rd National Conference and Exhibition 2008.

I get to attend, and speak at not one but TWO conferences! This is a dream come true times two!

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Some might remember Anna who used to be my part-time girlfriend. She’s probably one of the happiest girls I have met, and this morning I received a horrible horrible news. Her dad passed away in a sudden death incident. I don’t know much details. It would be incredibly hard for her and her family, so please do send her as many encouraging messages as you guys probably can. No one deserves to go through the death of someone so close, especially a father, at this age.

Anna, I know this will be so hard for you it will probably suffocate you and send you into a dark hole. I feel you and I truly do. The burning pain in the heart, the short of breath, the shivers and all the vulnerabilities. I feel you. I’m here for you if you ever need anything at all - although I am a bit too far physically. My sincerest heartfelt condolences to you and your family. Stay strong!

(((((((((((((((((((((ANNNA)))))))))))))))))))))

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