Harriet's Adventures Up North

Half-past Midnight

2010-11-09T00:30:00.003Z

And I'm still awake.

The bag of chocolate fingers is out.

The Gossip Girl has been watched.

The blogs have (partly) been written.

I'm in a very positive place right now.

Today I got my first procedural essay back for this term. I thought it was awful. I got a 62. I thought my tutor was going to decimate me. She liked the work.

I am terribly confused - but happy.

I am now less stressed about work - well, about everything. I think this essay tutorial, in which my tutor told me she thought I had a "great fibre for literature", was exactly what I needed to boost my confidence in myself. I'm not going to lie; in the grip of my essay panic last weekend I did question my wisdom in choosing this degree. I did have a "what the hell am I doing this for???" moment and hated myself for it. It think part of my recent stress had been worry about my degree and my future.

Now that's gone. Or at least alleviated; and life is great. I believe in myself again. I believe I can do this - I can win at anything right now.

Although probably not if I don't get some more sleep tonight.

on the other hand, I can't believe it's Week 5 already! having just begun assessed work, I'm still caught in that beginning of term feeling in which I keep thinking that things will calm down eventually, once I settle back into the swing of things. Well, technically, I should be back in the swing of things now.

And maybe I am. Maybe this is it, that wonderful moment when I realise that actually being at University is the greatest and I don't need to be stressed out of my head all the time. I have time to breathe.

I should do it.

Orð

2010-11-02T17:59:00.003Z

Well, what do you know? I seem to be up to my old tricks again! This time with a really annoying keyboard in a computer room that may or may not be being used for a class.

Whoops.

Ah, well. What have I been getting up to since last sunday?

Well. Work. Essay in particular. And yorker stuff. And fencing stuff. And trying to stop my housemate from killing me for never being home.

But that's the same as every week pretty much.

So what have I learned?

Well, I love my degree. I love the fact that I can write an essay on whatever interests me. I love that I have just enough contact time to feel valued, but also enough free time to do the other things I want.

I also love my opportunity to learn Old Norse.

And that's the crux of this blog. Two years ago the prospect of learning noun paradigms would not have been attractive. Indeed, vokab and grammer tests in A level German would regularly send me into panic-mode.

Not so at university. Not so with Old Norse. This morning I had a test I actually enjoyed.

A. Test. I. Enjoyed.

I know, I know, but it's true. I enjoyed working things out, getting the answer right and having learned something useful. In English, we don't often get that.

So why am I enjoying this so much more than A Level German?

Maybe it's because I only have an hour a week. Maybe it's because my teacher has a lovely voice. Maybe it's because I've learned grammer before and so it's easier this time.

Or maybe it's just because Old Norse is just a cool language.

hestr hestar
hest hesta
hests hesta
hesti hestum

Sunny, but cold

2010-10-24T15:08:00.003+01:00

Well, what do you know, I'm updating again ridiculously soon!

Well, I'm about to have my first Sunday Roast dinner of term (cooked for me by an excellent friend, which is just going to make it taste soo much better) and even though there are many things that I should be worried about right now, I'm feeling pretty chilled out.

It's good sometimes, to simply sit back and chill out with some splendid jazz and lots and lots of food and catch up.

I've also discovered that things turn out for the best, even if you can't see how they will at the time. Today, on walking to Osbaldwick and deciding to take a cycle path instead of the obvious bus route, I thought I'd get hideously lost.

I didn't.

And not only did I not get lost, but I had a pretty walk. And the time and solitude to get some perspective on things.

Sometimes it's good to diverge from the main path at times.

I think I should do it more often.

Meh. That's it for now.

New year, new start

2010-10-22T11:38:00.009+01:00

And the award for the world's worst blogger is awarded to...

Yes, that's right, I am officially rubbish at updating. In fact, I'm more than rubbish; I am persistently, remarkably and ridiculously diabolical at updating.

And so, as I have found myself in a practically empty Langwith computer room at 11.40 in the morning with far too much to do than I can cope with, I decided this would be a perfect time to start blogging again.

Because, as someone once said (and this someone was, indeed, myself) one can never have too much blogging to do. There's nothing quite like it for coming across as horrifyingly pretentious. The idea that someone else would even want to read what you write...

I'm a contradiction really: I hate pretension, and yet I'm one of the worst at it - you have to be, don't you, if you want to succeed as a writer in this society. You get nothing for nothing; you have to literally shove your work in the faces of potential readers in order to get coverage and attention. We're all attention-seekers, that's it. Only some of us are better at it than others.

Anyway, that's a bit of a rant for my other blog (harriet-jean.blogspot.com which also has not been updated for a disgustingly long time).

What have I been up to since I last posted? Well, to be honest, my life is pretty damn different. And, to be more honest, my life is pretty damn good.

Second term was a bit of a crazy time, ups and downs, major roller-coasters and minor leaps in experience, and this carried over into third term with all those lazy summers days that meant my degree may have suffered along with my hay fever. But I don't regret a thing, and even getting glandular fever over the summer holidays couldn't depress me. Life has turned out well, and I returned to the north a little over a month ago, determined that this term I would work hard, live well and generally have a good time of things. I have an amazing boyfriend, legendary friends and am actually incredibly interested in my course this year.

Things are going pretty well.

It's week 2 and I've just had my first seminar of the term. Despite doing a module that should be renamed "the most difficult literature you may ever have to read and write about", the class went okay, with only a bit of the usual beginning of term awkwardness. I have promptly forgotten everybodys name, but that's my usual way of working so I'm not too bothered.

Fencing hasn't been getting off to a great start for various reasons, but as yesterday I am Membership Secretary of the Club, and so I have pretty much forced myself to keep involved. With regards to the yorker (http://www.theyorker.co.uk/), I am still Comment Editor, and feeling a lot happier about this now I have an awesome deputy and more than three writers! It seems I'm not the only second-year wanting to do more with her university time, and constant bombardment of my friends' Facebook newsfeeds seems to have paid off, recruitment-wise. Although they may now hate me, but ah well - we can't have everything.

Anyway! I should probably sign off now and actually do some degree work (always useful eventually). And I guess, apologise for the amount of pretension I am subsequently going to spew out onto the Internet in the coming weeks.

I'm an English student.

I'm a writer.

I can't help it!

Forgive me?

£25.61

2010-01-31T15:22:00.002Z

that's how much I've spent this week. Good, eh? It turns out that going out very little and living off soup has its advantages.

This past week (I know it's been longer than that since I've written, but I can only remember back so far!) has been rather roller-coaster like. Monday was an amazing day... Tuesday was rubbish (sustained a HUGE bruise in fencing) and the week pretty much followed in that same vein: amazing, awful, fantastic, hell etc.

Good points? I really enjoy fencing epee, despite the bruises. We were taught a move called "envelopment" which our coach explained as basically what makes peoples swords go flying out of their hands in films like PotC. It's really hard to do, but fun to learn. One day, I'd love to do it in a fight! Would feel amazing.
Jousting with foam tubes and porter's trolleys is also something that EVERY student should do. Thinking about it, I'm really not sure whether YUSU health and safety regulations would have covered us there...
Ah well, it was epic.

And, I have written my first essay of the term! Whay! Mirroring Reality: Truth and Realism in Oliver Twist. Yeah, I know, I know it sounds ridiculously pretentious. But not as bad as my next one -

"Behind the Veil" - dealing with the Unknown in In Memoriam AHH. I need to stop being such a snob I guess.

I can't believe it is week 4 starting already! Where is this time going?!?!?!

So, week 1?

2010-01-16T16:10:00.015Z

I've been back for a week now, and I can tell you without any hesitation, that this has been one of the longest weeks.

Lots has happened, yet nothing I can quantify really.

Well, I took the advantage of having less society things and no lectures/seminars to go out more than I would usually, discovering that Reflex, the '80s club, is one of my favourite places and not only because it's free!

I'm a little disappointed in myself in that I have slept an awful lot this week without seminars to get me out of bed: consequently I haven't much been inclined to do any work. I have done the reading required of me, but nothing much extra for a couple of days. Novels and articles are therefore taking a bit of a hit - hopefully I'll get my ethic back next week. I need to, if I want to impress my new tutor, which I do very much: after all, I'm still me.

Fencing was the only club on this week, but I had a relaxed session on Tuesday night - mainly because of a glove shortage, but then had "advanced foil" this morning/afternoon, which was very good. Not only was there very few people around in the nice warm dance studio, but I also managed to win a fencing match! 5:3 I think. My opponent was not happy: he's normally able to beat me. I think the electrics were working in my favour somehow. Whatever happened, I liked it - but felt bad for beating him! Winning is out of my comfort zone in fencing!

Oh, I saw Avatar in 3D yesterday! And I have to say, I wasn't disappointed. Okay, so the plot can literally be translated to Pocahontas with Dances with Wolves with Aliens - but so? Every plot steals from existing plots! That doesn't make it any less poignant. It made me think a lot - and not about the over-pushed Eco message - I saw it more in terms of human character than anything else.

And the 3D was AMAZING.

Literally, for the rest of the night I was really spaced out after so long in such a vivid world.

Crazy stuff.

Anyway, I need to go now so I have time to do stuff before getting ready for Chav D tonight.

H

New Term, New Start... New Fears?

2010-01-09T22:41:00.004Z

Well, here I am, back in Derwent College with a broken shower (but a surprisingly clean kitchen) having struggled against the snow and cancelled trains. Was it worth it?

Everyone's been asking me whether I'm glad to get up to York, and I guess the expected answer is yes, of course I am: but I think I'm going to reserve judgement until I've gotten back into the swing of things.

I could have done that tonight actually - as I was invited to a house party as soon as I got it: but for some reason, the idea of the trek to Goodricke on my own, in the dark, in the snow, wasn't that appealing, regardless of how much of a ledge the host is.

So I satisfied myself with a trip to Costcutters, some good music and some deep and meaningful chats with friends from home and Uni alike. And biscuits, of course, the essential component of any night in.

There are about four or five of us here now in the flat, which is nice; but I can't wait for everyone else to come back tomorrow! Then the party can really get started...

Waiting...

2009-12-17T09:17:00.008Z

Talk about epic fail on my part with regards to this blogging business. My excuse at home was that I had too little to say - this time I have too much! Or at least have been so busy over the last few weeks to be able to write. Christmas socials, birthdays, articles and essays have left me absolutely exhausted (but happy)!

Actually, that's a bit of a lie. I have played rather too many games of spider solitaire and freecell to warrant being worked off my feet.

But anyway, here I am: bagged packed and ready to go - characteristically ridiculously early for my 12.45 train. But hey, that's me, and that's all fine.

Or would be, if I didn't have a headache...

Now I think there are several reasons for this headache.

1. I have been staring at a computer screen for approximately half of my time at University.
2. I have a day full of travel ahead of me, and lugging a stupidly heavy suitcase around in the rain is just not a fun prospect.
3. I had about 5 hours sleep due to a combination of excited-ness at going home and a late-night text conversation
4. but most of all, I think, I'm going to really, really miss my new friends. For the last 10 weeks we have been shoved into each other's company and forced to get along. Now, just as we're really starting to actually get along, we're going home. The little goodbye note on my door this morning really made me smile sadly.

So, now my head hurts too much to even play freecell - bad times!

Up Note: HOME in about 7 hours!

And boy, am I looking forward to my mum's cooking: I like spag bol, soup and JPs - but after 10 weeks, they do tend to get a bit dull.

Bring on Christmas... so long as this bloody headache goes away!

Hmmm... tired?

2009-12-06T11:29:00.007Z

Very much so. And everybody else in the block seems to be getting so as well. I think we have finally reached the point in the first term where the novelty is beginning to wear off; we're beginning to realise we can't do so much stuff without having time to refuel - and that is why I'm looking forward to going home for Christmas!

But first things first, I've got the last two weeks to get through! I say get through, I don't mean it will be hard - I suspect they're going to be amazing, although I do fear for my bank balance rather.

Last week? I still have my vicious bruises from a fierce fencing tournament that took far more out of me than it should have. Ice skating, on the other hand, was lovely and non-painful. I still can't quite believe I am a member of a Sports Club. Can you?

My final essay is written! Well, not perfected, but written at least. I discovered this morning that there is a reason for everything - I slept through my alarm and so didn't get up until 9... but then the library wasn't open till 10 so I avoided huge embarrassment! There is someone out there who cares, evidently.

Maybe.

Gah! Writing this essay on Beckett is messing with my head, at least reading Dickens over Christmas won't be this mind-boggling!

Anyway, today = first "Sunday Lunch" of Uni... well, hopefully...

3 Weeks Later...

2009-11-28T16:44:00.006Z

Woah! Talk about abandonment! I do apologise.

So, three weeks. A lot can happen in three weeks... and, of course, almost everything can't; but whatever happened, however crazily busy I've been, this has been one of the best three weeks of my life to date methinks.

Birthday.

Amazing.

Socials.

Amazing.

House Parties.

AMAZING.

This is very good: useful to stop me from thinking about home and Christmas too much, and thus getting homesick.

I have also found the time to read a few books closer to my interests. Well, partly read anyway. I am pretty tired today from going out last night, and looking forward to a lovely night in tonight.

But the most important thing that has happened in the last three weeks, is that I have gotten closer to people. Whether in watching sports matches for three hours (American football I can understand... but fencing?!?), or shooting flaming arrows at bonfires, or just going out for a meal, and then sitting with a good film: it's all helped bring me closer to people. Oh, and the mutual amusement that certain situations bring: that never fails to forge friendships, whether walking back in the rain from Morrison's with ridiculous amounts of shopping (because we don't want to call a taxi on principle), or sitting at 4am in a house filled mostly with people you don't know.

Despite having just handed in an essay that I am really not sure about; despite the prospect of another three hours in the cold again tomorrow; despite a lot of things: at the moment, life is damn good.

Happy, happy, happy!

2009-11-07T14:04:00.018Z

Life is getting interesting and I'm remembering why I came to University.

That's got to be good, right?

Ah! i haven't written since last Saturday! This is getting to be a bit of a joke, each time I write I end up just giving a rundown of what I did that week. I don't want to do that today; I'd rather talk about impressions. Medieval Soc on Monday was good, but not because it was Mediv Soc, but because it showed me that I can have fun , not only without drinking, but acting in a way that most people would laugh at. It's good to know that there is most definitely a place for that here. Plus, some very lovely people, which is always encouraging. Again, Tuesday was made memorable by the people, rather than anything I actually did. Weds and Thursday likewise. I'm noticing a pattern here; a signal of who I should count my friends.

I have far too much to do this weekend. Washing, cleaning, writing... but most importantly: talking. it is through our communication that we discover who we are.

Friday was a great night. It got off to an interesting start, what with our bus hitting a car, and then still getting to York St John's an hour early (necessitating chips). But when the gig started, I have to say, Rival Proof were by far my favourite band... although given that their guitarist is one of our STYC reps, I may be a little biased.

I made good soup.

We got the last bus home and I must remember to dress warmly for our Mediv Soc bar crawl (dressed as twats) on Monday. It was COLD. Well, being a southerner, I guess it felt cold to me.

It is quiet today; I was meant to be going to a memorial service today for a story, but got pulled off it and onto a different one; so I can stay in the warm. It is quiet because quite a few people have gone away/home for the weekend. I'm thinking it will be good nonetheless.

That's the impression I get.

But where do we draw the line?
What does tomorrow want from me?

(Poet's Of The Fall=good band)

Washing Woes

2009-10-31T14:02:00.011Z

Well, okay, not so much mine but a flatmate's. i went down to help her put her washing on... only to find three machines that had finished their cycles but people hadn't collected their things! Probably one of the most annoying things at University.

So, today i got up at the reasonable time of 10; well, when I say got up, I meant I lay in bed being awake. Had a night in last night, which involved Efe's takeaway, guitar hero, ventures into D block to reclaim our toaster (never happened anyway) and some (really interesting) singing. But I was really ill and my throat was so painful I thought I might cry. What does tonsillitis feel like? I literally felt like my throat had decided to stab me every time I swallowed (which i swear you don't need to to do so much until it hurts like hell to do so!).

Shall I give you a rundown of this week?

Monday - the Yorker, Nouse and Medieval Soc

Got given my first news story for the Yorker (which I submitted this morning), and then attended a Nouse news meeting that didn't really inspire me - I have decided not to write for Nouse now; not only does the news editor remind me of Boris Johnson (which is not a bad thing don't worry) but I am so ill and busy at the moment, I just don't know if it will be worth the fiver to join. I can't really be bothered to get into that clique.

Medieval Soc was awesome as usual; we learnt the basic moves of swordplay, which was amazingly surreal as we were in Derwent college quiet room at the time. i could say so much more about it; the way the swords sounded when they clashed together. It was great.

Tuesday - fencing; Charles

And in fencing on Tuesday... we did the same thing! Literally, the parries were the same, just more stylised! It was good and I am now a fully paid member of the fencing club... wish me luck? We went to the Charles afterward; it was nice to socialise without spending huge amounts of money and we do have a lovely group of guys and gals. Many a good night will be spent thus I feel.

Weds - went into town; found the best bookshop in the world

I walked into town on my own to get a few things. One thing I hadn't intended on getting was a boo, but I found the best bookshop in York (fossgate I think). I got a book about Shelley and Byron and I love it. It it my weakness.

Ah, also, walking home I saw two guys sat on a sofa in the middle of the pavement. I need to put that into a film if I ever write one.

Thursday - English Social!

Ahhh, weird night, but amazing! So many weird and wonderful things happened - maybe I should wear a cat in the hat hat more often? Random conversations with locals, post grads and other freshers = good night. I was possibly still drunk when I woke up at 6.30 the next morning. Not to self: the Lowther does strong cocktails!

Friday - lectures apparently; night in

Consequently... my lectures on Friday passed in a blur of trying not to fall asleep in them. But they weren't that exciting anyway... punctuation was dull. Sonnets was okay, if only for the interesting (and for me, hilarious) choices the lecturer made.

Plans for today?

Umm, going to town later with a couple of guys I think. Then out for Halloween? Well, why not? Last time I dressed up was a good night, why shouldn't this be?

I will have to reread Beowulf at some point though, and finish my article for the Zahir. I will find the time.

After all, we shouldn't count the hours in the weekend, but make every hour count. And I intend to.

Week 3!

2009-10-26T12:29:00.007Z

Gosh, can't believe I'm in my third week of university already.. and yet it feels like I've been here months and months somehow.

So, what have I actually been up to?

Monday was most notable for my first Medieval Soc meeting, which was great, and definitely the one society I know I'm going to stick with (unless something horrendous happens tonight).
Tuesday was Nouse and Fencing, and I'm still not wholly sure about either, but I'm going to both this week, so we shall see. Fencing was a bit of a letdown really, but I think maybe because it's going to be very hard work before I can do anything vaguely exciting with it. I will stick with it, I've paid my YorkSport fees now, but I only hope I get used to it - the "armour" and helmets etc, are very strange at first. Tuesday was also the day that I discovered that my dressing gown is possibly the most comfortable item of clothing I have brought with me.
Wednesday... actually, I'm not really sure what I did with my free day. Washing and cooking maybe, I honestly can't remember. I know I did go to choir in the evening, which, again, was a very surreal experience.
Thursday, again, a very nondescript day, followed by a Friday that was filled with bizarre films and interesting/not so interesting lecture, and a good visit to the Charles pub in Heslington... note to self, don't attempt to drink practically a whole pitcher of cocktail within an hour again. Incidentally, I have no idea who the Charles is named after... since when has England had a Charles XII???

Saturday was actually, probably the weirdest day so far... I only woke up at 1 in the afternoon! I felt so bad about it; but we had a good half day in York anyway, despite the rain, and ate 50% discounted food, which is always good. I had been craving steak and potatoes the entire week.

Most notable thing about yesterday? I got up early, maybe? Although, it probably has to be the momentous occasion that was our first online shop. Four of us spent about £100... and I only spent £17! I wonder how long it will last me... I'm still learning quantities etc. I am thinking it will take me a while before I'm thoroughly used to buying things for myself.

Tonight I have a million things to do; meetings to attend/fun to have. I don't know if it's all going to work. I have signed up for too many things I think now, three papers/magazines already, and somebody just emailed me about starting up a creative writing magazine... ahh!

Okay, here's my confession. I brought a novel with me. And I have read it in two days between lectures/seminars. It was so amazing to read uncritically again. On the plus side, it was a really good book (Requiem by Robyn Young - part 3 of the Brethren trilogy). On the negative side as far as work goes, it's inspired me to write my novels.

Ah, well, I shouldn't think of such inspiration as an inconvenience. As GK Chesterton said, "an inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered".

And what is life if not an adventure?

Actual work!

2009-10-19T16:21:00.005+01:00

So, here it is, actual work for the first time in months... and it's great! Well, when I say great, what I Really mean is that it's inspiring, uplifting, encouraging, challenging... most of the time. Having just read an essay on 'Apostrophe' that I probably understood about 50% of, I have a feeling that for the first few weeks, university level work will take a lot of getting used to. Nonetheless, my first seminar, despite being at 9.15 this morning, was much better than expected. And I was even told by someone that I sounded really intelligent, which is always nice!

Freshers Fair on Saturday was manic, but we managed to sneak in and avoid the queue; i know have a ridiculous amount of free stuff and discount books, but what is important is that I have signed up to the societies I wanted to.

A newspaper/magazine was a given; and the fencing club were giving out lush biscuits, so there was really no doubt about that; but what did surprise me was that I have seemed to join two of the nerdiest societies on campus: DougSoc and Medieval society. Although Dougsoc clashes with choir a bit, so not sure whether I will be able to go.

On Sunday, I braved the small, but surprisingly complex for a newbie, city that is York. A friend and I walked in and lost ourselves in the pretty streets, but I thoroughly believe that next time I will know where I am going. Maybe.

Anyway, only a quick post because I do have rather a bit of reading to do, plus a meeting, oh and a Medieval feast. Because that's normal.

Early night?

2009-10-16T15:57:00.001+01:00

So, Friday at last. On the one hand it seems to have gone really quickly... on the other, time has just flown by! Well, they do say it happens when you're having fun.

Which I am. I think. Or at least two/thirds of the time. Yesterday I met my seminar group, which seems to be filled with lovely and interesting people, all of whom I will probably forget the names of by our Monday morning seminar.

And that brings me to my next point. Aah! Work! I have a list of things to read by 9.15 monday, and I am ill and knackered (last night = first time in a nightclub!! And sambuca and baileys... not sure about that one). I don't think it's really "freshers flu", but I am still looking forward to getting plenty of sleep tonight, although if there's a party in B-block as rumoured...

Uh oh.

My room is now tidy again, having spent the best part of an hour putting things away that had built up over the last few days. I still have things in boxes, but ah well.

Oh, met my supervisor as well today, which was good; he seems nice; but I hope I don't have to see him until Christmas as that would mean something had gone wrong!

Three nights in...

2009-10-14T09:39:00.015+01:00

I am KNACKERED!

Monday night=Fresher's Ball and sleep at 4
Last night=out in town and sleep at 4.30
Today=welcome talk for my course that I should probably need to stay awake for. Aah!

I'll just have to sleep later...

Anyway, um, yeah. What is interesting about the good times that I've had, is that on both evenings, it's when I do something I totally did not expect/plan to, that I have such a great time. Both evenings were, I'll admit, rather boring/awkward at the beginning of the night, and yet managed to transform themselves into first class outings ending with party in our kitchen (because it's blatantly the best place to be at 2 in the morning).

So why did Fresher's Ball turn out so well in the end? Well, I enjoyed, eventually, getting to speak to people from other colleges, especially Vanbrugh, and although hanging out with someone who'd had quite a few pints resulted in beer down my dress, it was enlightening. Sometimes people speak the most truth when they're drunk, if only you're sober enough to listen. Of course, sometimes they just talk a load of bullsh*t and the trick is to learn when they're doing which. Otherwise you could base some friendships on a load of nonsense. Not sure if I've done that yet.

Going out tonight was begun by some stirring renditions of "I love you Derwent"; "Where are you from?" and "If you hate Langwith clap your hands", on the bus, which was hilarious, but also made me feel so sorry for the non-university people on the bus!

My entire evening, only came to £10.50, which I was happy with, especially as it covered cocktails, bus and pizza for a "magician" (:p) when I lost a bet. I managed to avoid the nightclubs, which was awesome; and instead found a nice bar called The Stone Roses (if you are ever in York - go there), with some lovely third years, and felt really gullible at the end of some card tricks, many of which I still have no idea how he did.

Party in the kitchen consisted of a few random A-blockers, one of which is doing English and History of Art - just when someone was saying he'd never found a guy who did either subject. I shall now be known in A-Block as "the lush brownie girl", which is fine by me.

Anyway, breakfast beckons and while I am looking forward to SlagnDrag tonight, I'm fearing for my 9.45 library tour in the morning. I'm also hoping that something goes awry tonight, and I get another unexpectedly amazing night.

Finger's crossed

Morning after the night before...

2009-10-12T08:07:00.007+01:00

Okay, so after a night in Derwent Bar and raving in the kitchen (which has now turned into the number one social area in the block!), I am, predictably the only one up at 8 in the morning.

Impressions? It's hard to say at this point. Everyone I've met SEEMS nice, but then when you meet people for about 10 minutes and only find out they've killed a kangaroo with a knife, it's hard to tell. Derwent college seems nice and small and sociable, which is what I wanted; although it's difficult not to be jealous of better looking colleges.

But, my room is HUGE, and at the moment, fairly tidy, and the toilet/shower situation has yet to become a problem. In fact, the shower is one of the best I've ever used, which is good (I tend to get grumpy if I don't get a nice, powerful hot shower in the morning... hence why getting up first has it's clear advantages).

We seem a right mix of people on the floor, and on the block, but I think it's going to be fine. Hopefully. There's a lot of English lit students; I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not... I was having a surreal shouted conversation in Derwent bar last night about how "Mrs Dalloway" could improve immensely as a book... so long as they took Mrs Dalloway out of it.

Anyway, to get toast or not to get toast. That is the question. Whether 'tis nobler to suffer the slings and arrows of hunger, or to accidentally wake someone up by walking into a door or something.

Ah, they've got to get up sometime.

Last Night in the Shire

2009-10-10T17:53:00.004+01:00

Well, everything's packed and I'm actually beginning to get seriously excited now. My only fear is that it's not going to fit into the car...

Well, we'll see.

Anyway, so, I have a busy week ahead of me, and I know what this is what I should be thinking off, but I can't help feel bad that this is my last evening at home for two months (unlike some of my peers, I am determined not to come home before then). It's been a strange day, of cake at the GNC and chatting to old friends (who haven't already abandoned me) and trying to fit my life into several boxes. I feel guilty at leaving my parents (if only at leaving my dad to cope with mum's constant focus on her job; and mum with dad's general dissatisfaction with his).

But I should think of University. What do I expect? What do I want?

I want to be confident, and sociable and make friends. I want to say "yes" to things (providing they don't cost too much money). I want to enjoy myself, but also to do well in my course and make my degree worth the huge amount of debt I will be incurring. I want to take up choir and fencing, while continuing my writing. I want to join the enigmatic DougSoc and embrace life the way only a uni student seems to be able to do.

I want to be me.

Is that too much to ask?

Next time I write I will be probably sitting in my room after a night in Derwent bar. Sounds good to me.

Just a little introduction...

2009-09-25T10:34:00.006+01:00

Okay, so I have two weeks still until I actually leave for the snowy and frozen wastes of Yorkshire, but I just couldn't wait to get started on this.

So, am I prepared for Uni? Nope, in fact I have just about all my books, and that's as prepared as I am. And I didn't find it particularly encouraging that when I told my old English teacher today which books I was doing, he informed me that they're all really challenging! Cheers!

But seriously, I'm mightily looking forward to going, especially as most of my friends have already left; and I'm hoping that the wait is just going to make it seem so much better when I get there!

What do I know about York already?

1) it's a lovely city
2) the lake on campus is one of the biggest man-made lakes!
3) nobody of note comes from Langwith? (don't shoot me, I'm only repeating what someone told me!)
4) one mustn't kill a duck

Number four is particularly important. If you kill a fellow student, or even a lecturer at the university, you'll come off lightly with expulsion and prison. But if you kill a duck; that's it. On the one hand, you won't have to worry about police... on the other, that'll be because they'll never find your body...

So, yes, that's my impressions of York so far. Oh, and that the Evil Eye is the most awesome place in the world!