Brunch Withdrawal Symptoms

Brunch withdrawal syndromes are real. Someone should add that into a medical dictionary lol.

I may be at the point when I am sick of my junk food even though I have at least 15 varieties to alternate from. Maybe I should do a post on exam junk food after exams...

Pablo opened today and can't wait to try the one in Sydney, hopefully it's just as good as the Jap ones. Also once again, glad I haven't visited LA yet since Dominique Ansel also opened up a new bakery and restaurant which does brunch with no proper menus and seems super creative, which I will visit one day once I do the West Coast. So many other cafes to visit, not enough time...Even restricting myself on not checking my Insta so much so don't see people having fun exploring new places and get too distracted from studying, which obviously doesn't really work.

Quay is also doing renos next yr in March, and cutting down seats from 100 to 80, which obviously means menu price increase...a 20% reduction in table numbers will defs have to be at least 20% increase in menu price...So glad I've had the iconic Snow Egg, since apparently they don't know if they'll keep it next year in the new menus.

I don't mind being stuck at home studying, and it probably is a good thing to have exams now when petrol prices are crazy expensive. Like around $1.80 or unleaded 95 or even $1.50 for cheap quality E10 is pretty steep, so I guess best to stay home and not drive around.

Once again, typical G8s missing each other by a day...You can't have a meet up without people literally unintentionally booking holidays or having exams a day before or after someone else isn't free. One day/night we will have a date which all matches up...

I have given up of trying to wake up early to study. I need at least 9 hours of sleep to not have random 5pm naps and not feel tired when studying throughout the day.

I want Saturday to come sooner, but then that also means I don't want exams to come as soon. 

Marrickville Pork Roll

First time coming to this side of Sydney, so of course I had to drop by for some of these pork rolls. Even in the morning at around 7:30am, there was a tiny queue which started to form behind us, so I can only imagine how long the lines are at around lunch time. 

Pork roll-$5

inside

I hardly ever have this sort of stuff so I can't really comapre-I think maybe 2nd one this year? According to a Viet friend, it's pretty decent. I though it was quite nice and loaded with heaps of fresh veggies and toppings, and not overly salty with the liver pate/added salt etc. Roll still had a slight crunch/crust and wasn't tough to bite into either. It's probably one of the bigger ones I've had, since in my area, there are non authentic Banh Mi's which are smaller and cost more.

super tiny shop

 

look at all those ingredients

Deja Vu

The deja vu was all too real this week.

I don't normally remember the questions they ask in exams over a year ago, but for pracs they somehow stick in my memory. All the feels from last year to this year...and trying to continue to study for theory and not going over everything I did wrong and potentially failing again...Technically should be doing well in this subject since it is take 2, but with pracs, one minor slip and it's literally game over, see you again next year. Ahh, I hate this hopeless feeling of thinking why didn't I say this or write that extra thing, but too late to change...and there are the theory exams but re-studying stuff just makes me think of the stuff I did do wrong...I feel like I'm at the stage where I don't want to study but still need to study. Apparently there are no supps this year either...I really, really hope everyone just passes.

Low key jealous every semester during exams when I see friends graduation pics or just randoms graduating on campus. Always wonder if or when I would ever graduate at this stage...I know work would have it's own challenges, but right now uni (actually, optom exams really) still remains the biggest challenge.

The past day and a half remains my most unproductive study days, which is not good...I know stuff, but the question always remains if I know stuff good enough.

So what have I been procrastinating on?

Tay Tay released her new album 30mins before midnight in NY time. Too cheap to purchase it, so just listened to the previews on iTunes, or I'll wait for it to come play on radio. It's definitely different, but vocals still on point. I think I'll come to like her new album even though it's more 'dark'. Only she still has the influence of not releasing her music to streaming sites, or even Apple Music (hopefully just for now...), and make people purchase music through old school CD or on iTunes.

Tiffany & Co also launched a new homewares/accessories collection, and it's crazy expensive. Would anyone actually buy a $1000 sterling silver tin which looks very similar to a shinier version of a  condensed can soup tin with the labels removed? Like you can't even carry a tin around with you. Jewellery/handbags you can wear out, but sterling silver homeware? Really? Other ridiculous things like a $1000+ leather table tennis paddles. Well, if they make it, I'm sure some rich people would buy it.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think my phone is a bit bugged. Whenever I press the home button just to check the time or something without unlocking my phone, the screen doesn't dim for over 5mins, even though it's set to auto lock of 1min or should just dim and turn off the screen. It just remains on and I have to turn off the screen using the lock button. I dunno if updating to 11.1.1 would help. And can't connect to uni wifi even though my password is correct...

Yayoi

I didn't even know there was a Yayoi in Chatswood until a friend recommended. There was a 24/7 one in the neighbourhood I stayed in Tokyo but ironically, I never had the time (or stomach space) to go there even though it opened throughout the night. It's a good place to go if you want your own meal since this sort of stuff is hard to share.

Udon-$15.50

I didn't feel like the whole set meal even though it's probably more value for money compared to the udon as I was still full from earlier in the day. I think it is a bit pricey for a bowl of udon, and not that much meat. The soup wasn't overly salty that you're reaching for water all the time. The actual udon was average, nothing special in terms of texture.

Supp Thoughts

Pretty sure most optom kids have/had these thoughts:

- Blocking out the week after supp list is released on Friday after exams
- Making sure you can access the supp list on the Friday it comes out
- I'm not on the supp list, can actually relax
- Ahh, I'm not on the supp list, so really I failed so badly to even get a second chance
- Argh, I'm on the supp list, have to restudy everything in 2-5 days
- This then leaves only 1 day to do the poster/research presentation
- Posters take about 1 day to print...hello all nighter
- But please still offer non rigged supps this year rather than cutting more people...
- If I just study hard and do well don't have to worry about supps in the first place, and enjoy my holidays, but we all know we'll get called in to work because it's end off the year...
- Goodbye holidays

I think I'm at the stage where I just want exams to be over, even though I haven't started. Then at the same time, I don't want exams to start so I'll have more time to study. Yes, contraindicating myself.

Celsius Coffee Co

Let's just take a moment to admire the food and views

Not going to lie, came here for the views. These cafes are one of those places where you have to make an effort to get to, since you won't pass by it on your commute to uni or work (unless you're filthy rich and actually live in Kirribilli or catch a ferry to Circular Quay). I knew there was going to be a wait, even on a Thursday got there at around 12pm and waited around 45mins for the coveted window table seats. There are only 3 of them, or there are other bar seats with views, but not as expansive. I mean, if you already made an effort to come here, might as well wait a bit longer for the nicer table. If we didn't wait for the window seat, it was still roughly a 30min wait since they don't have many seats to begin with. Yeah, I may have taken one too many photos...

  

Food arrived pretty quickly, just need patience waiting for the nicer table.

Capp-$4

 Celsius waffle with berries, maple syrup, toasted nuts and peanut butter cream-$19

Edible flowers just makes the whole dish so pretty! The waffles were soft the soft type, would have preferred a bit of a crunch, but the peanut butter cream went so well with the waffles. Not as thick or salty as normal peanut butter. Loved the berries on top as well, and maple syrup wasn't too sweet here. 

 “The Benedict”: Braised lamb, Japanese Yuzu hollandaise, raw almond dukkah, poached eggs on sourdough-$19.50

#yolkporn

I think I've had one too many eggs benedict these days, but they are all so different! Gone are the days of the normal hollandaise sauce over eggs on toast with some ham. You could taste the slight acidity in this hollandaise sauce, but I would've liked more yuzu in it. The lamb portions were quite big, but parts of it were dry, so wished there was more sauce as well. The dukkah helped give the dish some crunch. It's the first time I've been to a cafe where they cut up the toast before they serve it to you. The sourdough crust was a bit tough to cut through with the normal knives they give you.

 

Highly recommend this cafe if you're looking for decent food with super nice views. It's just so peaceful out here eating food on a wharf by the water.

where the rich people live

Kirribilli Wharf

iOS 11 and iPhone 8

I have been waiting for 11 iOS to finally have a shortcut to turn off mobile data. Finally is an understatement.

Yes I know, Android peeps can customise their phones, but I generally don't like customising stuff (personalising stuff is a bit different concept), so I know they could make a shortcut to do that ages ago. Even know that you can customise control centre, I don't do it. I love Apple, but that was probably the one thing that annoyed me. Now I can swipe up from control centre and turn off mobile data, rather than press: 'settings, mobile data, then toggle tab off'. 1 button vs 3. Even though my iPhone has enough battery and I've upgraded to enough data to allow me to leave my data on and battery will last, it's really just habits turning mobile data off.

iOS 11 initial impressions:

- Yess, shortcut for mobile data!

- Everything looks so much bigger and bolder. This will take some getting used to, especially the bolded date on the calendar app on the home screen.

- Do I really need bolded text once I enter the app at the top to tell me what the app is? Another thing to get used to

- iMessage is so fancy with sharing stuff within apps. Not sure if I would use this function though, and again, all those app icons at the bottom of iMessage feels a bit weird at the moment. 

- When you exit an app, it has what I call a 'slow genie' effect and the home screen zooms in a bit then out. iOS 10 exited it directly, where as iOS 9 did a nice smooth genie effect, I think I still like that way of exiting apps.

- When I turn wifi and bluetooth off, it now doesn't say off, but says 'not connected.' It makes me feel like it's still searching for a source, even though it is off. Wonder why they got rid of the 'off' option when it actually is off...

- Turning off 'automatically adjusts brightness' setting is not under display and brightness, and under some weird setting that I had to google and turn off.

- Also, turning off fetch mail was also under some weird setting.

- They got rid of the 5 dots of reception, now replaced by 4 bars so back to a more 'old school' look. I wonder what they thought way wrong with the dots...

The battery icon is fatter and shorter, and again more bolded. I'm actually not a big fan of bolding, but looks like iOS 11 is.

- They got rid of the name of apps at the bottom, again why..?

- It sounds like I hate iOS 11 but I don't lol

- It's pretty nifty now with the whole Apple pay becoming more prominent in Aus. Still won't jump to use it though, but cool how you can share payments on iMessage, and send a text and then it pays from the card you store

- Also stuff like Woolies reward card can store in Wallet, since I've been using 3rd party apps before, but now you can tap to get those points. Will discover if I can add my other loyalty cards to Wallet after exams...Then again, there is more chance to drop your phone if you're using it to tap etc...

I finally did all my phone back ups and switched to my iPhone 8 and backed up my mum's 4s to upgrade to a 7 before the 4s breaks down, although still useable, just quite heavy compared to the 7...

iPhone 8 initial impressions:

- I've only used my 8 a few days, but really can't tell any difference, and sometimes forget it's a new phone

- 64gb is amazing, cause I ran out in 32gb and I don't store any music, hardly any apps and minimum videos. I've already mentioned it, but still ok value for money compared to 7 where base model is same price but half the internal storage.

- I'm like I haven't charged my phone for over 2 days yet there's still battery, so yay for new battery in new phone

- Can't tell the difference in terms of performance with the A11 chip, probably cause I don't game, but might try some augmented reality apps after exams. Like what is a neural engine?

- Tru tone is nice, but I dunno if it really is essential. 

- Camera has 'Quad-LED True Tone flash with Slow Sync', umm, what is slow sync? 7 didn't have it, but I don't like using flash to begin with...

- You can wirelessly connect and sync 2 iPhones, and transfer the data from one to the other by taking a photo of a special code which looked like a moving sphere looking sort of code... I ended up just doing it from iTunes since I thought cables are faster than wireless. 

- The major difference is the weight, yes you can really feel the 10g difference and the slight thickness between the 8 and 7. 8 vs 6s and you can really tell even the 5g difference between the 2 phones. 

- Did not realise how useful wireless charging is until you actually use it (thanks again BW!). I know it's QI charging isn't new, but wow, it's actually really useful. Don't have to worry about my chair rolling over my precious lightening cable, tripping over it, or someone stepping on it when they come up to my desk.

I think cause it's exams I hardly use my phone to appreciate the changes (although there aren't many to begin with).

iPhone 7 case

I have a habit of not changing phone cases/screen protectors unless I really have to. Used my 7 case for over a year, and it's been to many countries/places, and has changed from clear to this gross colour...Although when it's on a rose gold phone, it's just less pink and more yellow/orange tone, so in a way sort of acts as a coloured yet non coloured case. I do need a new screen protector since I used the tempered glass one I stored for over a year and it's not very adhesive at the edges...again, after exams.

I'm too OG and just go for clear cases. Especially with the 8, the gold colour is on point, and that's what you want to see right? 

#flatlay

Ahh, care packages for exams! Can also appreciate wireless charging now (: It wasn't the right lighting/too many shadows, and also not the right background colour, but good enough for the blog where I don't bother editing photos.