Spring is nearly here! We have had quite enough wind and rain, and although I'm sure there will be more of that before summer arrives it is wonderful to see a little green on the trees and tiny new lambs in the paddocks (fields). The year is going fast! Last week we booked our tickets to Honduras- leaving November 14, returning to New Zealand February 16. Very exciting- except that I have so much study to do between now and then. But it gives us a goal, a focus. I should be able to get into the work knowing we will be going!
However Luis has been struggling with terrible headaches over the past few months, and it's becoming a concern. It makes it very hard for him to concentrate on his studies. He has a week break next week so hopefully he'll be able to catch up on some rest and relaxation- in between assignments! Such is our life these days.

I got a scholarship! A university masterate scholarship which will be sufficient to cover all the costs of my research- including airfares to Honduras!! We are, as you might imagine, very excited! We plan to leave in mid-November and return to New Zealand in February 05.
Other than that life has setted into a routine- study, work, study some more. Mostly study really. Oh well, November isn't far away!!

I am typing this on my new (well, new to me) thinkpad computer... thanks Dad! It was bought for thesis-writing but a very good toy all the same! I really feel like a postgraduate student now.Which doesn't mean to say I'm getting very far with the thesis. The other day my supervisor told me it was time to stop revising my research proposal and start writing the thesis. Hmmm. Easier said than done really. However I have to say, in my defense, that I am a little more focused now. At present I am concentrating on my "methodology"- that is, how I'm actually going to do this. If I can start to get that sorted I can start to make some contact with agencies in Honduras- really start making plans. Of course it would also help if we had some money to book tickets (the thinkpad was cheap...!)- I'm still waiting on scholarship applications. I guess if it doesn't work out there's always night duty at Palmerston North hospital... but thats not a particularily favoured option!
Luis is already up to his eyeballs in study- we expected the workload to be heavy this semester and it is, but he seems to be enjoying most of it and is certainly leaning heaps. We also expected some interesting conversations and we have had some- from feminist critique of TV advertising to the role of the UN. On a more prosaic note his team won thier first indoor soccer match of the year 3-nil (Luis got 2 of the goals), which made him very happy.
Anyway it is now nearly midnight and this is second time I've typed this (not my new computer I'm sure, the post seemed to get lost somewhere between here and the Paradise server)... so I think it's time to put my new baby computer and myself to bed. 'Night all.