In a year

I had a birthday recently. A colleague asked what I had learned in the last year. Here are a few things.

1. I learned where to buy doughnuts in Portland, Oregon.
2. I learned where to get a haircut in Melbourne, Australia.
3. I learned where to see the longest wool sheared at one time from a single sheep. In Canberra. The poor sheep.
4. I learned where to find kangaroos in the wild in Creswick, Australia. Just walk around the back of the old forestry campus at dusk.
5. I learned that cockatoos live in huge groups on their own. Really huge, really loud groups.
6. I learned what it is like to have an aura with a migraine. I did not like it. I hope I never have one ever again.
7. I learned how to take public transit to the beach. There are lots of options, but I'd probably recommend the Frankston line.
8. I learned that "gaol" is pronounced "jail".
9. I learned that the oldest running roller coaster in the world is actually pretty fun, although built for short people. It has a hand brake in the middle of the car, and a staff member has to ride it and operate the brake all day long.
10. I learned that January is not a good month for penguins.
11. I learned how to pronounce "Yarra". But still not sure about "Tarra-Bulga".
12. I learned that going to Adelaide and returning the same day is not a good idea.
13. But going to Sydney and returning a couple of days later can be fun.
14. Same for Brisbane.
15. I learned that the Dubai airport is not as scary as it sounds. But it is awfully far away.
16. I learned that when I stop writing blog posts for a while, it becomes much more difficult to write later. I will try to write more regularly in the next year.