Quick Trip to Sydney and Melissa's Dilemmas

 

This was a brilliant musical! The lead female was one of the best actors I've ever seen. The theme was how the main character rejected traditional roles for women. Written in the late 1800s. Amazing how the same issues still plague women!

24/03/2026 Walsh Bay, Sydney

I'm writing this from Ventuno, a lovely Italian restaurant, down by the wharf in Sydney. Having a quick dinner before I head across to the Roslyn Theatre for the musical My Brilliant Career. I am here for work tomorrow and Thursday. Normally I'd reach out to one of my friends or colleagues to catch up for dinner, but I opted instead to self-indulge in a quiet meal and night out. A few years ago, I started doing this  - that is, going to plays or musicals when travelling interstate for work - but I havent been able to fit much of these in over the last couple of years.

As a PhD student in the UK, I used to travel from Sheffield down to Wales or up to the north to collect data, and I used to really enjoy having a fancy meal all by myself with a nice glass of wine, and just reading, doing a bit of work, or people watching (this was in the days before i-phones).  I still love to do this, even though these days fancy meals are a bit less of a treat - or perhaps what I define these days as fancy is a bit more fancy! Ideally, I like to be somewhere beautiful, or trendy with a good vibe, or both, like tonight. 

At the wharf where I had dinner

My Brilliant Career - written by Miles Franklin, which I knew. But I didnt know Miles Franklin was actually Sarah Miles Franklin, and she wrote the book at 19yrs of age!

Shocking photo of me at the musical, with the set in the background. What was cool was that all the actors also played musical instruments all the way through. 

As for Melissa's dilemma, we attempted to have a conversation with her the other day because she is planning to go to do her Masters in Org. Psych. in the Netherlands from August/Sept this year if she gets in. 

But she has also promised her friend Charlie to travel to Europe in June- July. Her crazy plan means she a) will spend all her savings on her trip with Charlie instead of saving them to use when in the Netherlands; b) she will have two flights to Europe in 2 months, doubling her travel costs; c) she can't work whilst she is travelling with Charlie, meaning less savings before she relocates to Europe. The Masters in the Netherlands will be expensive! The fees are $30K per year and she will need at least that to live off, so $60k all up, with us funding it!! We tried to talk to her about moving her trip with Charlie to when she is settled in Europe, postponing it (leaving 3 weeks later would save her $2500 in airfares), or even shortening it (so she can at least spend less money whilst away). 

Well the conversation did not go well.... She got upset, and just didn't seem able to see that its acceptable for her to negotiate with Charlie, especially given that the whole plan is scheduled around Charlie's needs. She also couldn't understand why we believe we have a right to intervene (since we are funding her $60k!!). There's more to the story than I've shared (involving her boyfriend and trying to meet his needs also), but this is the gist.

To be fair on Melissa, as depicted in her drawing below, she was feeling very pulled in different directions by all of us.

Melissa' drawing - perfect depiction of role conflict

I've been away so I am not quite sure what she's worked out since our big discussion. I think she's shortening her trip, which is still an expensive option, but it is definitely better than the prior plan....

Two days later 

Now, here I am squashed in economy, returning back home. My trip to Sydney was very successful but I am mad at myself for not arranging/ negotiating to book at least an exit row seat.  I can barely type in this seat and it is  hurting my back so will stop now.... 

View from the very fancy icare building where we had our meeting. We are trying to get another $2million of funding from icare (we have already have had $5M)

Presenting, Sydney Town Hall,  big audience

Answering audience questions

Word cloud generated at the session where I did a keynote talk. This is 800 + people's answer to the question "What is the biggest issue you are dealing with at work right now?" Interesting how prominent work load is!

Another two days later

And now its Saturday night. I have just had a great catch up with Carol, am watching a movie, and heading to bed early.  We have Didi and Matilda to dinner tomorrow night for cousin catch up, then Tuesday is last day of work for a week, and then we head to Albany on Wednesday....

A new style of bird I am working on, in the kiln. Bit hard to envision it when seen like this. Will show how it ends up next time!