Hot air or hand wipes?

Ultra-violet radiation has numerous detrimental consequences including a significantly increased risk of cutaneous malignant melanoma - the most common and fastest growing prevalent cancer in developed nations.

In the past two weeks I've read similar such statements as that as the first sentence in countless journal articles (this is my new job). Why then did I let myself get sunburnt this weekend? Probably because I didn't think I would and an hour or so in (finally) warm Spring sunshine at the beach was a delight that I would happily pay for with a squamous cell carcinoma engulf my face in a few years.

Meanwhile I have a dilemma, several actually, but I'll stick to this one for now. Having been to a public bathroom, washed my hands and now about to dry them I have the option of a paper towel or the hot air blower. Which is better? Does the portion of lopped tree and energy used to produce the paper towel outweigh the fairly high energy use of a hot air blower? It probably wouldn't amount to much, just thinking is all.

Semester two is about three quarters finished, with about one third of the required work out of the way - with lots of assessment due soon and this new job consuming most of my weekly non-uni hours I am struggling to keep my head above water - but the end is in sight and a good challenge never killed anyone (probably did actually).

The new job is doing research for the Queensland Institute of Medical Research, I'm the second Health Economist (almost) working here as most people are Epidemiologists or lab-based research scientists (nine floors of laboratories and one floor of offices). Even though I feel like leaping in front of a bus every afternoon that I finish work, I start the day with enthusiasm and ideas and I try and to remember that there is only a couple of months to go before we go to Africa.

Africa?? Yep, Heather and I just found out the other day that we've been accepted to work in an orphanage near Mt Kilimanjaro. For 6-12 months, as of January, Heather will be the nurse and I'll be doing some book-keeping, and we'll both probably be feeding the goats, collecting eggs and harvesting produce from the crops. It's a self-sufficient orphanage co-founded by John Arneil's sister (Shona). It's the first project for a new NGO called Food Water Shelter (www.foodwatershelter.org.au) - it needs as many members as possible ($40 to join). So if you've ever thought of donating some money or joining a charity - please do.

Enough begging for money, sorry about that. Anyway, that is my lunch break over (there is nothing else to do during lunch).

Eat healthily and do some exercise - looking healthy on the outside does not mean you are healthy on the inside.