Guess I will have to write about the walk next week, just not in the mood to do it right at the moment and the weekend is for relaxing in the sun. You have the photos at least (here).

Started working through [final] comments on thesis at last. Procrastinated on these for a couple of days and decided yesterday (Thursday) that I needed to actually start work on them. The first step was to work through the list of changes to be made and consider them briefly, drawing a sort of mental map and assessing how much work is required. Having done this I realise that there is still a couple of weeks work remaining, but is actually less than I expected. Main challenge is finding the energy and motivation to work through these changes. Levels are very low.

Anyway, the reason I am writing this post right now (will be quick) is because of music. I used to listen to music a lot when I was working, always had something playing in the background, but have gotten into the habit of listening to news and current affairs podcasts lately. Since I am writing/revising today I was listening to podcasts, but then ran out and switched to music. Rather than choosing a restricted playlist of recent music I just put the whole library on shuffle. Have been a bit of a seagull over the last couple of years and accumulated a bit of stuff, so never sure what is going to pop out (got a research interview 4 tracks in…). Song 7 (approx) was by a NZ group that I have not listened to for some time (Trinity Roots) and caught me, so I switched to listening to them.

The thing about that particular music is that it is strongly associated with a particular time in my life. I am sure that you will have experienced this yourself (as I have previously), but this was really strong. I actually felt for a brief second like I was walking through the bit of bush on the side of the hill just past the War Memorial in Wellington, coming down to the steps leading to Tasman st. Also got a rush of memories about favourite cafe and the feeling of the house I was living in at the time (with Dingle the cat). Could almost taste the coffee from Malo and smell the smell of Wellington in spring (that may just be my cold going though). Really blew me away how strongly associated that music is with that four or five month period. Another song from an album that I purchased at the same time came up in the shuffle just before, but there was no such association.

It was a nice feeling. There were some good memories back then and it was a nice time as the weather began to improve and I was preparing to leave NZ and head off on big PhD adventure. Really is a strong feeling, if I closed my eyes and listened to the music I could imagine opening them and seeing that I was sitting in my room in the old house with Dingle looking at me, waiting for food… Does raise questions though, such as when and if I will visit Wellington next, whether Dingle will still be around when I visit NZ next (would hope and expect so), and whether any of the music I have acquired recently will have such strong associations in the future.

Thinking back to that time also raises questions about the future from here. Back then I was carefree and excited about the next big step. On the verge of passing in the thesis I guess I am in the same position. P and I are awaiting some development (mainly me getting a job) to help determine where we are going to be for the next while and what we will be doing. Perhaps I will look back from where we are in four years time and remember being in the final throes of thesis writing and rediscovering Trinity Roots.

Those are issues for another day though, right now I need to just focus on finding employment and finishing the thesis (will be resubmitted by end of May!!!!).

The future will be there when I am ready.