After going through all the hoohah in putting together a new conference paper (more like copying & pasting from my own previous papers... ) and being told I SHOULD tag along to the Gold Coast conference for a few days, I'm now told they actually don't have enough funding to pay for my trip. Conference registration + return air fare + hotel fees add up to over $2000 and there's no way I'll be paying for even half of that out of my own pocket at my current financial state. And for $2000 I could really have an oversea trip instead, or have the money saved for next year's BotCon.

I got all excited thinking I could go visit bossbot and others in Brisbane then fly to see Melb + Syd fans with cheap Jetstar air fares. Will see what my boss says on Monday now. With me and another 2 girls not going, his entourage is now down from 4 to 1. It'll be a record if he ends up presenting 4 papers by himself at a single conference. I guess there's still a very "slim" chance he'll pay for my trip but I wouldn't count on it.