I'm having an amazing day. I got up this morning and wasn't tired... (Miracle in itself.) My room's almost done and is beginning to feel like home thanks to the furniture I bought at the weekend. Soon it shall be painted and, therefore, completely mine. :)

For those of you who don't know, I'm living in my aunt and uncle's back yard cottage and practically have my own place. Awesome is. I have keys and things to get in and out and the bus station is mere minutes from the house. Also, I have access to the main house and ultimately to free food. My life ROCKS right now.

Anyway, I went in to an early (early being 9a.m. in Adelaide) Chinese lecture and we started with the Pinyin (basic spelling of Chinese sounds and pronunciations) and the first greetings. We learned all of the tones for Chinese and began with the initials and finals, basically consonant and vowels that are frequently used. It was awesome and, I have to say, Chinese is a remarkably easy language. Whatever you heard about the most difficult language in the world to learn? It's not Mandarin. There are no tenses, no real conjugation, no plural and singular words... it's awesome!

After that, I had about four hours to kill, so I slipped out of uni (there are no security measures and the university faces directly onto Adelaide's main street, so this is remarkably easy) and I walked to Rundle Mall to have lunch and read. It's a less-than-five minute walk from uni to this awesome organic restaurant. There, I watched people amble by and read the last of Atonement all complete with the soundtrack from Amelie. I know, I know.

I'm in a surprisingly poetic mood now and have several ideas bumping around in my brain which I will put to paper in a minute. I'm heading over to a History lecture now to learn about 'The Importance of China in the 14th Century' I love living in an Asian-Pacific country. :) My degree is made of awesome.

As for Atonement, WOW. What a great novel. I loved every bit of it. Even if my every picture of Cecilia is haunted by Keira Knightley. The writing is exquisite and the story compelling. McEwan writes with uncanny insight into the mind of an thirteen-year-old girl and similarly an eighteen-year-old nurse and the tormented, love-struck youth at the harrowing shores of Dunkirk. Truly amazing. Genius in fact. The ending? I'll let you read it and understand the pure brilliance of McEwan's masterpiece.

Talking of those, I can't believe I haven't posted since, but I saw Sweeney Todd! It hardly needs my addition, but what a sensational piece! It was both terrifying and tragic. It wasn't as comical as I expected, accustomed as I am to Tim Burton's taste for the macabre. Although, 'A Little Priest' and 'By the Sea' were superbly done.

In the acting department, I'm not at all surprised. We all know what legends Depp, Bonham Carter and Rickman are so successes in all three parts (despite the brevity of Alan Rickman's appearances) was expected. I only have these things to say:

1.) Daniel Day Lewis's performance in 'There Will Be Blood' must have been AMAZING to have ousted Depp for the Oscar.

2.) I cried like a baby during 'Not While I'm Around' and it made me truly question myself. I always assumed that Mrs Lovett was crazy. That scene makes me think otherwise because the sheer agony in her eyes when she realises that something has to be done about Toby could never have existed in a crazed sociopath. Perhaps my belief that she was crazy was simply a rationalisation on my part to help me accept that someone could do such things?

3.) I have never truly hated a villain before Professor Umbridge and never since. Until I saw Alan Rickman's Judge Turpin. What a complete scumbag. Superbly brought to life of course. :) (I still love AR though.)

All in all, a disturbing and amazing film. The horror was surprisingly not found in the gory murders (as disturbing as the pretty tune of Joanna being noisily interrupted by spurting 'blood'/paint was) but rather in the understanding that all people have the frightening ability to be that black inside. Really scary. Especially Todd's eyes as he closes the oven on a screaming Mrs Lovett and the pure ecstasy can be seen in his slightly-glowing stare.

Ok, enough. It's time for me to vanish!
Au revoir.

Well kids, it's official... Today I opened a bank account and applied for my Tax File Number, yes, I'll eventually have to pay taxes. I even looked at cell-phone contracts!

After many doubts about my acceptance to the University of Adelaide (it's extremely hard to get into law school at Adelaide) and much wondering about the translation of my matric into the Australian TER (I ended up getting a surprising 96/100 in Aussie terms), I was finally offered my first choice of Law and International Relations at Adelaide University, the uni both my grandfather and father attended. Also, I was offered a Common Wealth Supported place which means that the government will pay most of my fees! :)

So, much as I'm pained to say, I will be leaving beautiful sunny, South Africa for the Land Down Under in the middle of February... I am certain to miss you all, but I hope that you will all keep in touch and come to the MASSIVE farewell I'm going to throw. :P

It's so amazing to finally have plans after so much uncertainty and yet, it's extremely scary now that it's actually happening. I feel weird more than anything, it's dizzying...