While surfing the net this morning was reminded of my first website, made by my good friend Glenn before I went to the Philippines in 1999. I checked, it's still there. So I thought I'd post the link so you can have a look before Dad reclaims the webspace (it's on his account!) and it's gone forever. It really is a very cool site, Glenn did the pictures himself, and theres plenty of photos from the Philippines as well as some from the Caribbean Mercy. Check it out at http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/mclennan .

I really was loving using blogger.com to update these pages... much less fuss with html and so on. But having just lost a beautiful update to the whims of the web I'm a little less enamoured of it right now. Suffice to say I think this time I might make use of the "safe draft" button!

I had thought I would update these pages more often... but between fulltime work, a university paper, trying to start a research proposal and Spanish classes I don't have too many free moments. Or at least free moments when I actually want to sit in frount of a computer. But here I am, second time lucky....

I finally changed to parttime work two weeks ago, so should have more time. I say should, as these past two weeks have still been hectic. This may be because I have spent copious amounts of time running between StudyLink (the government agency that handles student loans and allowances), the bank and the university. This is because the original quote I got for my allowance was wrong, and I have based all my budgeting plans on the wring amount (yes, this time I had actually sat down and crunched the numbers before leaping into study). But I think I have it worked out... we may end up a little more in debt but we'll be able to do it.

All this has made me reconsider though... should I really do this. Should I just find another job? Can I survive a year without good lattes and chardonnay? (ok... with cheap coffee and wine!?) But the disappointment I felt when I thought I was not going to be able to afford to do the research convivced me that I really did want to do it (and that I really am mad). I still have a couple of months before the point of no return... I can back out if I need to, but I think I will perservere.

On a different note... this afternoon I came across a box of old letters and cards I've kept over the years and spend a very pleasant hour or so reading through them. So many memories so nearly forgotten. I love the immediacy of email and webpages but an email- even a print out- does not seem to have the capacity to generate memories and emotions like an old, well-worn letter can. So my resolution today is to start writing letters again. When I can find the time...