November 2003

Wednesday 5 November, 2003
Hi Emma,
Welcome to November 2003! I hope you are well.
I took Lulu to the vet after work today. She had been fighting with another cat and had two bites on her. One bite was on her front left leg and the other was near her left ear. I had wanted to take Lulu to the vet on Monday night but as soon as she saw me coming with the cat box she just ran away. She really hates being in the cat box.
The vet checked Lulu's bites and said that they were not too serious. So that was good. I put Lulu back in the cat box and starting taking Lulu back home. Suddenly there was the most terrible smell in the car. I was almost choking. Poor Lulu was so unhappy in the cat box that she had done a pooh out of fright. Poor Lulu (and my poor nose too). At home Lulu got out of the box looking very cross. She didn't look at me but just stalked away angrily. Later in the evening she stopped being cross with me and came back for a pat and some dinner.
Hope you are really well whereever you are. I am really missing seeing you and am always thinking about you.
Lots and lots of love,
Aaron xxx ooo

Sunday 9 November, 2003
Hi Em,
Hope you are well. I'm writing this in the computer labs at Deakin University. I am studying for my exam on this coming Wednesday (12 Nov, 2003). I'm a bit nervous about it, so wish me luck!
This morning I went to church and then afterwards came here to study. Church was good as usual. Chris took the service (with some help from Cuddles, the puppet).
Yesterday I was doing study as well but I also finished a book called "Smith" by Leon Garfield. It was a story about a boy called Smith living in England in the 1800s. He was very poor and had to steal to make a living. In the story he makes friends with a blind Magistrate and learns to read. It was a really nice story :-)
Love you heaps and heaps,
Aaron

Saturday 15 November, 2003
Hi Emma,
Hope you are well. I had my exam on Wednesday (12 Nov, 2003) and I found it pretty tough so I wasn't too happy about how it went. Oh well. At least it is over (and I don't think I can improve my result by fretting over it :-).
My friend Victor invited me to dinner last Thursday. It was really nice to see Victor and his family. The food was very yummy too! Fortuna, his wife is a great cook. The rice had been cooked with cardommon and the vegetable dishes were all really tasty. I'm sure you would have enjoyed it!
I had Chinese class this morning. We were revising for the final test in two weeks time. Our teacher, Zhao Lao Shi, is a very good teacher and is very encouraging to everyone. I want to write a short computer program to help me learn my characters. Hopefully I can make some progress on it this weekend.
Sending you all my love and best wishes.
Lots and lots of love,
Aaron xxx ooo

Thursday 21 November, 2003
Hello little Em,
Hope you are well. Things are OK here. Yesterday I went for a nice bike ride after work along the track by the freeway. It had been a hot day but it was cooling down when I went in the evening. I thought about you a lot while I was riding along, so that was nice.
Tonight I went with my friend Victor and his family to the airport. They are going on a holiday to Sri Lanka. Victor drove the car there and I drove it back to his place so it will be safe while they are away. The car is a big powerful automatic, so it's a bit different from driving my little yellow Golf! When I got home I had a small parcel in the mail from Grandma. She sent some photos taken last Christmas on our Adelaide holiday together. They brought back lovely memories of the trip we had together. That was one of the nicest holidays I have ever had. I hope you liked it too!
Lots and lots of love,
Aaron xxx ooo

Sunday 23 November, 2003
Hi Em,
Hope you are well. I wrote a while back that I would start including some photos to brighten this diary up a bit, but I haven't included many photos so far, have I. This is a photo of the cactus in the sunroom a few days ago. It had a lovely bright orange flower. Do you think the colour is nice? This photo is not really very clear, but the flower only lasted a few days so now I have lost my chance to take a nicer one. Oh dear!
Tomorrow night there is a dinner for the English Conversation Group people. It will be at Alex's house (Alex is the man from church who is 94 years old and still going fine!) . Everyone is going to bring along some food to share. I'm going to cook a vegetable casserole and a chickpea curry. Hopefully they will be nice!
Love you heaps,
Aaron xxx ooo

Saturday 29 November, 2003
Hi Emma,
Hope you are well. Last Monday we had the English Conversation Group dinner at Alex's house. It was a nice occasion plus my cooking wasn't too bad so that was a relief!
On Wednesday my yellow car started making a terrible rattling noise. Oh dear. It was the exhaust under the car which had come loose. I caught the bus to work on Thurday and got the car back from the garage on Friday. My poor yellow car has been having a few problems lately. I hope she will be feeling better now for quite a while!
This morning we had the last Chinese test for the year. I studied quite hard for this test so I think I did reasonably well. If I didn't do well, I'll have to eat my words the next time I write to you in this diary, won't I! Anyway I have enjoyed the Chinese classes this year. The teacher and the class are nice and it is good fun.
I hope you are having fun too, where ever you are now. I miss you a lot but at least I can write this diary to you. So that is good.
Lots and lots of love,
Aaron xxx ooo