Blog of a Stockham Student

The Flat

2006-10-24T09:44:00.000Z

I promised myself i would not let things get to me, they will not get to me. But am i living with 2 or 4 people? It seems that the world has gone mad and yes i know we are all entitled to have our respective partners but when I'm trying to sleep at goodness knows what time, i do not want to have to hear giggling, loud music (maybe it's being used to cover up some other noises) and when one person realises I'm in, why do they then feel the need to make as much noise as possible. Just because I'm in does not mean I'm actually awake at midnight. Maybe i should just let my alarm go off every morning instead of disabling it. I'm not that vindictive though. On another note, i'm missing Chris like mad, its really affecting me, but i'm trying to stay positive about it, i mean come on i'm going to see him roughly every couple of weeks but i get a very sad feeling in my stomach when i see other couples practically living together when at uni. I'm just jealous thats all i guess.

Oh well better get home and actually do some work, got some cleaning to do as well before the BT engineer comes to fix the internet tomorrow, problem is that i won't have it still because of the crappy landlord haven't contacted me to have a box fitted in my room so i can have a phone line. Hope you all have a happy day.

Long time no see

2006-10-07T11:10:00.000Z

Well it's been an awfully long time since i've updated this blog, but now i'm back at uni i suppose i shall be writing it in more to cure the intense boredom that i often feel.

I'm back in Stockton in case you couldn't tell and i'm not enjoying it. Well I went to Prague with Mr Spencer 2 weeks ago and it was the best holiday ever. Not only is it really cheap out there, but it's such a beautiful city. We managed to cram a lot into the 3 days, but we still didn't see all that we wanted to so i think a return trip is on the cards at some point. The most magical part of the trip was probably the last night, we got all dressed up, had dinner in the Cafe Louvre ( a must to visit if you go, it's such a nice traditional cafe restaurant, and it's cheap!) and then walked across Charles Bridge which is probably the most famous part of Prague. It's a medievel bridge with lots of religious statues along it. The way it's lit up is fantastic and there were a couple of guys playing an interesting raw yet tribal beat ona some drums just under the east tower. After walking across there we walked the 3 miles or so back to our hotel in the dark through the back strreets of Prague where we discovered that you can buy Pilsner lager in McDonalds! Another memorable part of the trip was probably visiting the Jewish Quarter. Not only did we find Hoegarden Lager for about £0.90p per half litre but it was so moving. One of the synagogues has been transformed into a memorial for the victims of the holocaust that came from the ghettos in and around Prague. All the names are painted on all the available wall space with the dates of birth and death along side. I was obviously moved but nothing could prepare me for the sight of the number of children that died there. One girl, with the name Ema, wasn't even 3 years old when she was killed. When i saw that, i just burst into tears. I urge everyone to go, because until you see something like that, you don't quite realise just how important an event it was in the history of the human race and nothing like that must ever happen again.

On a lighter note (slightly) I've had about 3 lectures and already have 3 research papers to read and a presentation to write in addition to the compulsory reading for the course. It's all a little disheartening really. Plus the living situation is getting me down because now I'm torn between living with my best friends at uni and the flat. However I am going home on Friday to see Mr Spencer and pick up some books so all is not lost. Then I'm going home on the 17th November as well because Steve and Kat (Chris' friends) are getting married and apparently I have to go to the wedding. Think it will be a lot of fun, just hope I don't get too drunk like Thursday at Dubliners.

Anyway I hope you all have a great weekend and keep smiling everyone!

I'm H-A-P-P-Y

2006-08-29T11:46:00.000Z

A lot has happened in the past month and a bit. An awful lot.

I've been to the land of sheep (aka Wales) even though i didn't particularly want to go. The parental units were ok, it pissed it down (we even had a thunder storm directly overhead) and I missed home.

Apart from that my life has revolved around work and seeing Chris. I only have 3 weeks left in Grays before I head back to Stockton (although i may not be staying there) and in those 3 weeks i have so much to do and so many people to catch up with.

I really don't know what to write here, i'm so so tired after a long day yesterday, that I really can't think straight today. All I know is that this is the happiest I've ever been and I don't want it to end.

Wow

2006-07-13T20:21:00.000Z

Well it's been almost a month since i last updated this thing. I apologise for the lack of updates but i have managed to find myself employment in the form of a sales associate in H Samuel. It's a pretty good job, the people are interesting to say the least and it's not too difficult. It's probably the first job where i've actually enjoyed going to work.

My life now revolves around work (for more than one reason) but i did manage to find time to go and see Over the Hedge and Pirates of the Carribean yesterday. The first was good the second was bad, but it was a good day out and away from work for the most part. Now we have an inspection by the area manager tomorrow and i'm shitting myself about it as not only will i get questionned about my job, i could get the sack if i'm not careful about my behaviour at work!

Hope you're all having a good summer!

What a difference a year makes!

2006-06-26T16:07:00.000Z

Well I'm now at home in Grays (where it rains all the time it seems), facing the prospect of 3 months of working ahead of me. I have also finished my first year at The University of Durham, and I'm awaiting the results of it with anticipation. So without much further ado, I present my round up of the year 2005-2006:

Accommodation: After being informed that I would be sharing a room in Halls, I was quite apprehensive. Although we had a minor disagreement at the very beginning (over what, I can't remember), Sharing with Kat has not been too bad. I thinI i got on the best with Mr Biggs, but also feel that i can talk to Mish about pretty much anything (even though I do snap at him sometimes, sorry!) So all in all living arrangements worked out quite well! Living in the block that doesn't exist does have it's advantages, it means you are less likely to be stalked (plus it adds a sense of mystery to you when your asked about where you live) but it's also rather annoying when you have to go outside and physically drag guests to the Fairbridge Drawbridge (Nat's phrase) because they have no idea where you're talking about on the phone. College dining wasn't too bad, it was still awful though, but I'm going to miss it!

The Course: Psychology (Applied) hasn't been too bad. My previous knowledge was put to good use and I feel that I managed to learn an awful lot more. At the beginning I was regretting taking Psychology and felt like switching to something else, but in the end I'm glad I stuck at what I did (even though I am slightly fed up of people asking me to tell then what they're thinking when I first meet them in a bar) All I have to hope is that I've actually managed to pass the year!

Friends: Where to start! Well firstly I have to thank Nat for putting up with me all year. Not only in lectures but also I found myself at her flat quite a bit! Her and Vickiiiii are probably my best friends at uni and I love them to bits! The Backhouse Penthouse crew provided much entertainment (usually involving alcohol) and I love Bryan for his ability to get so wrapped up in something and let it control his life (I'm talking about LOST here...) Then of course there's the Rokeby crew, which we met through Mish's attraction to Kwan (but I think we would have met them anyway, Ryan seems to just go out and meet new people all the time) Jess, Emma and Danielle are great girls, that know how to have fun! After that we have to course friends such as JD, Jo, Kirsty, Luke, Laura etc who provide much entertainment in lectures and also at the beloved Rocket. Bring on Year 2 people! Then of course there are the random people, known through friends, who you get to know gradually and make life far more interesting: Henry and Co (also known as the Biomed lot), Ben and his older friends, Daggy and the rest of the Snow football team (I randomly find them standing outside my room waiting for Mr Biggs), Ant and Dav (one of whom tries to kill me most of the time and randomly sleeps on my kitchen floor), Mo, Rob, Nicki, James and Tim who have put up with my drunken ramblings the past few weeks, James Fountain (who I met before we came to uni, but didn't actually talk to him properly till the second term and he was good friends with Vicki by then), Miss Sarah Chape (the Grape, that I am going to miss dearly next year when she's at Butler, which I will of course gatecrash from time to time) and finally, last but not least, you, the reader of this blog, you've really made my year. To all those who are not mentioned by name, you know I love you a lot and want to give you a big thanks for making my year!

This year has been full of lots of new experiences for me: living away from home with people I'd never met before being the main biggie. I've had some laughs and some cries, loved and lost, been annoyed at some people and been annoying myself. Mish asked me not too long ago, if you could go back to the start of the year, would you change it? At the time I didn't answer him, but now, looking back, I can definitely say, I wouldn't change it for anything else.

2006-06-22T12:31:00.000Z

Here's a song that sums up something perfectly for me:

Good Day by Angels and Airwaves

We don't need to whisper

I should have turned back
I should have known better
Than to walk away defeated
I'll say it tonight, I'll say it forever
And this time I really swear I mean it

Oh I need you now
The Earth fell fast asleep
This room is safe and sound
Will you lay here with me
And feel it..

I think I like today
I think its good
Its something I can't get my head around

True love is something that comes easy
Just one kiss god I swear I want to...
I heard a pin drop and a nervous heartbeat
Have you ever heard me scream I love you

Oh I need you now
The Earth fell fast asleep
This room is safe and sound
Will you lay here with me
And feel it..

I think I like today
I think it's good
Its something I can't get my head around [x2]

dadah da dah dah dadadah [x8]

I think I like today
I think it's good
Its something I can't get my head around [x6]

"I think I like today..."

2006-06-22T09:11:00.000Z

Ok i'm never going to drink alcohol ever again. Monday night, Connie had a lot of fun i hope, in the company of me and my friends, however i only think so as i was rather drunk that night. So much so that i woke up on the kitchen floor and then proceeded to spend the whole day in bed, then walked to Tees Barrage in the rain with Vicki (and still in a drunken state i think as it was chucking it down, absolutely freezing and i didn't have a coat and didn't care about it either!) I'm now covered in bruises and scratches and i don't know why...Oh well!

Yesterday, Nat came back and we decided to go out and celebrate at the Coc-Soc garden party and then on to Lava in 'Boro. All in all it was a very good night. Jess wasn't very well, so i ended up taking her home and putting her to bed. Hope she's feelin better this morning! I'm off into town later, and i have to actually pack today, it's going to be so weird leaving this place, but it's been a lot of fun this year! A proper round up will be posted at a later date.

"They think it's all over...Well not quite yet!"

2006-06-18T10:14:00.000Z

Just as i was starting to moan and complain that there is no one around here anymore, cue most of the inhabitants of John Snow returning. You see we have to come back to register for next year, and most people are returning to the land of the north tomorrow. This also includes Connie.

After a very nice trip to Coventry/Warwick, seeing most of it by bus, and walking a fair bit, she decided that she wanted to see what Stockton has to offer her...don't know if that's a wise decision or not! I really enjoyed my time down south with eh Birthday girl, her friends are really nice (cue adding them on facebook!) and they even organised a surprise celebration in honor of her in their common room. It's so weird being in halls that aren't separated into flats like ours, to be honest i can't decide which is best. Anyway, so Connie is coming to stay tomorrow night and I'm trying to drag together a group of people willing to visit The Crown tomorrow night with us, this is an open invitation if you would like to join.

Not much else has been done with my time the past week or so. Applied for an awful lot of jobs and watched an equal amount of football i think! The plan today is to basically clean the flat in preparation of Connie's visit and to try and pack a bit. I can't believe that this time next week i shall be waking up in my own room in my own flat. It's a scary thought that I'm now so independent, but i shall leave the so called slushy end of year round-up till next week and i return home.

I still have no means of monetary gain for the duration of the summer, but i do have an interview on the 27th June, so hopefully if all goes well i shall be selling my soul to Lakeside for 3 months.

Have a happy Sunday everybody!

"There's no one in town I know..."

2006-06-13T10:00:00.000Z

Things are so weird around here. I'm starting to think that I should have perhaps headed home for a few weeks to really hunt for a job, but then I wouldn't be having all this fun would I? Hmmm maybe not.

The weather has taken a turn and it is now unbearably hot all the time. So hot that you can't sleep, can't do anything! It's ridiculous! Still, i'm getting a bit of a tan now, so I'm pleased.

In my quest to find something, anything to do, I am heading to Warwick for a couple of days to see Connie, a friend from college for those of you who don't know, that i haven't managed to see for a year! So after 4 hours on the train i shall be in catch up mode. I can't wait, i don't think i've ever been to Coventry/Warwick before, so it will certainly be an adventure. Might see if I can meet up with Kenny as well before i leave the place.

The plan for today is that i might drag Mish and other people into town later, and then i'm going to make a pizza from scratch with the guys, for want of something better to do! Perhaps I should actually get out of bed at some point today...

Job Hunting

2006-06-06T20:06:00.000Z

That's right people, I'm in Sunny Grays (a rare thing I know) searching for a job to last for over the summer. So far it looks like I'll be returning to the wonder that was Boots, but that doesn't bother me much, as long as i get a job somewhere.

Just to brief you up on the events of the past week:

Snow Day was great! I beat Nat on the assault course, which in turn assaulted my knee. Had a few drinks, lazed in the sun watching the bands and strutted my funky stuff at the Rocket later on that evening. Returned to Harewood block for some more vodka and returned to my dwelling at approximately 5 am.

Nat left on Saturday (i blame Rory for taking her away from me) and I have to say that i do miss her! Still i get to see her in 2 weeks, and then i'm sure i shall see her over the summer many times.

I think we've managed to exhaust everybody's entire dvd collection in Snow, that's how bored the population of Fairbridge and Backhouse have been! Still, i think i may have something to take back with me that will cheer someone up...

So now i'm off to drink the Koppaberg that i left here after Easter and pay some attention to Pebbles before I leave. To all in Stockton, I shall be back at 4 pm tomorrow, so if you need me, come and meet me at the station! See you all soon!

"I'm Starving." "I'm Jess."

2006-06-01T10:40:00.000Z

Yesterday was an interesting day. Laying in bed till 12 pm and then heading to the astro-turf to watch the College Cup. The thing with having 2 colleges on the same campus, and only 2, means incresed rivalry between them. Therefore any sporting event held between Snow and Stevo equals a very interesting time. Sadly, Snow didn't seem to do too well and Stevo won the cup once again. There are some photos from the football which shall be on Facebook. After a disappointing afternoon, it was decided to go to the last Hush of term.

Emma, Jess and Nicola went to Lava first while, Mish, Scott, Kwan, James, Rob, Nikki, Tim, Mo and myself headed straight for Hush. A few shots of Black sambuca later and the place was looking a bit full. 45 minutes standing at the bar annoyed me slightly, but i was even more annoyed by the absence of air conditioning. This meant that everyone was sweating even more than you would usually in a club! Scott and Mish were dressed as twins practically (i'll post a photo later) but i don't know how some of the guys could keep their jackets on! At the end of the night i headed home with Tim, James and Mo, back to Harewood for a brief period, before going back to Rokeby. There we stayed till about 4:30, inventing names for people (Keith, Ralph and Mark ring a bell?) and generally having fun! It was Kwan's last night, and i'll probably not see Emma or Jess again for a while so it was a good way to say goodbye for the next few weeks.

It made me realise that the summer is going to be so weird, not actually seeing all these people that i'm really good friends with now. Also made me realise that this year has gone so fast and brought me so many new experiences. What a difference a year makes.

"Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous"

2006-05-30T20:11:00.000Z

Today was X Factor audition day and even though I was in Newcastle, i didn't witness the days events. Sadly Mr Biggs didn't get through, but I'd like to congratulate Miss Black for getting through to the next round. We'll just have to see what happens come July 10th!

After a day of shopping, i'm off to Spoons to meet the Biomed's for a few jugs of cocktails to celebrate the end of their exams. Then it's all back to the flat for a continued drinking session and maybe some poker. Although i'm not really in the mood to drink tonight. I have no idea what's wrong with me lately. But I do know that i've been drinking way too much so I'm not going to get totally pissed, that's what tomorrow is for!

Hope you are all enjoying the summer (those of you that have finished exams) and to those of you that haven't i wish you the best of luck.

All Finished!

2006-05-29T00:15:00.000Z

Exams are over and have been for a while now! Cognitive was definitely the hardest. Let's just say that:

1 mediocre essay + 1 extremely crap essay + 1 list of words = Emma resitting Cognitive.

So to you all who are resitting, i shall see you around in August!

After the nightmare of an exam, Nat, Bryan, JD and myself headed to Teeside park to see X-Men 3, the best film i've seen recently! We got into it so much that we couldn't talk of anything else while sitting in the pub or on the long walk back to campus for college dining. That evening, i once again found myself on a long walk, this time to Thornaby to pick up a copy of Episode 23 of Season 2 of Lost. That's how desperate i was to watch it! Nat and I polished off a bottle of wine to celebrate the end of exams and joined the nuts of Bry for the spectacular event. After discussing the merits of the series and episode for a good few hours, it was time for bed.

Luckily i managed to wake up in time for lunch at Spoons with a few of the Business girls who had just had their last exam. A few pints of cider and black later, we were wandering down Stockton High Street trying our best to not get arrested for drunk and disorderly behaviour. We bought more alcohol and of course pizza in preparation for the Backhouse party later that night. Many people joined us for the party, and i slept on Nat's floor to save myself any embarassment upon returning home. All i can say that it was a great night!

Yesterday involved a trip to the retail park to help Mr Biggs find an outfit for his up and coming audition. I purchased a few books for myself including Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk (the guy who wrote Fight CLub) and i have to say that the first chapter has caused a riot in my flat as it is quite disgusting in nature! The evening was occupied with a visit to the Rocket to celebrate Clare's last weekend in the UK as she will soon be jetting off to the big old US of A. Much fun was had, just want to apologise to Clare herself for walking off early without saying goodbye, still i shall see her tuesday no doubt, when the bio-meds have finished their exams (finally!)

Today has been a day of catching up on sleep (I realise it is now officially Monday, but hey!) and a trip to Riley's for a few rounds of pool, one of which i won by default and the rest i lost dramatically, especially my final bout against Mish.

Well i guess i should head for bed since even the hardcore among us retired to the land of nod a good while ago.

"Its the final countdown..."

2006-05-24T12:28:00.000Z

One more exam to go...Cognitive. Yes that's right it's Cognitive tomorrow, not Tuesday as we all thought. I am forever indebted to Bryan for actually checking his exam timetable at 1am on Monday morning. So after a night spent on Vicki's floor, it was a tough 12 hours of straight revision. It ended with Nat, Bryan and myself reading to each other in order to drum the notes into our brains. I think it went well considering that we had less time than most for cramming!

Now there is only Cognitive to do, which is by no doubt the hardest exam (and the one which i will fail). Then, it will all be over and plans have been made to keep us occipied for the first few days of the holiday. Might make a surprise trip home for a few days at some point, but i want to travel. I want to go to exciting places and do exciting things!

The msn problems at the moment are annoying the hell out of me because it just keeps logging in and out and now that i dont have messenger plus, it doesn't let me know that people have logged out. So many conversations have been blocked by the incompetence of Microsoft.

Procrastination is a wonderful thing....

Never again

2006-05-21T13:06:00.000Z

The wild west night on Friday was very interesting. After a whole bottle of wine to myself, i made a total arse of myself. With multiple people. I'm not going into details, but i feel like an idiot. I aplogise to everyone that i saw that night, because i did some really stupid things...I'm so embarassed. However i can't remember much of what happened.

"Little girl you're in the middle of the ride"

2006-05-19T09:27:00.000Z

I know, I know, I haven't updated in almost a week, but that's because of very important things known as exams occurring. Tuesday was Statistics, during which I forgot what a parametric test was and therefore did one whole question wrong and also couldn't remember the parameters of any of the obscure distributions. So that's 40% down the drain already.

Then came the panic of revising for Social and Developmental (two modules in one). An all nighter was attempted and only 3 hours sleep had before I had to have a nap in the morning before the exam and arrived at campus with a sense of dread. I knew that Nat and Bryan had done way more revision than me and I only knew about 3 topics really well (Aggression, Attraction and Autism). It seems that luck was on my side and those 3 topics were on the paper. This then made me feel really bad about Nat as I knew how much she had worked and she was hoping that Attribution would come up and it didn't. So being the kind and generous friend that I am, I managed to get Episode 22 of Lost season 2 for her to watch to cheer her up. I'm grateful indeed to the person that gave it to me, it did the trick. It's so good! But episode 23 is the last in the series, what are we going to do?

Now I am sitting on campus waiting around for an IT exam which I'm probably going to fail as I haven't looked at Authorware for about 3 months and can't remember anything about it. Also can't find any notes on how to use it so I'm a bit stuffed really. Now my supposed god like genius with computers is going to come into disrepute if I fail this....Wish me luck!

Tonight I have the Da Vinci code to look forward to and also the Wild West night in the Rocket, but if you think that I'm going to be dressing up, you must be joking.

UPDATE: Finished the IT exam in about 20 minutes, stayed for the first hour though and just made myself look busy. Quite easy when they tell you exactly what to do...
Now i am off to listen to music and do nothing for an hour or so...

2006-05-15T10:51:00.000Z

Well a great weight seems to have gone from the flat. After his first exam, Mish seems to be in a more chippper mood as now he knows that it's not impossible to do. I am however rapidly descending into a pit of oblivion as i realise how little i know. Revision has been halted till the afternoon so i can get a long run in when i've woken up. Afterall there is no point in trying to do revision when you're half asleep, it just doesn't work.

I probably should go and have a shower at some point today...

By the way, Jimmy Carr was excellent on Friday, especially when confronted with the stranger inhabitants of 'Boro. Thanks to Jess and Emma for a wonderful night!

Now about that shower...

MUSHY PEAS!

2006-05-14T10:30:00.000Z

Last night was the set in of the great depression. People were busy revising because lets face it, most of the people around here have been outside every night playing in the courtyard. Therefore, for those of us who's brains have turned to mush, we were completely bored. In the end it was decided that we would have a mini-party in the Backhouse Penthouse. Nat, Vicki and myself were the only participants but it was a wild night to say the least...

Cocktails were made that resembled Mushy Peas (in colour, not taste or texture). Carrots were thrown at me by Bryan, with the help of Mike (think i have a bruise there now). We found ourselves unable to leave Vicki's room due to the door being taped up. The word "whore" found itself magically appear on Nat's wall. Bryan, Mike and Pete all showed us various parts of their bums (i said i wouldn't post pictures, i didn't say i woudn't mention it). We all got rather tipsy.

Now i face a day of stats revision when all i want to do is go back to bed after only 6 hours sleep.

"We're going down , down"

2006-05-12T10:50:00.000Z

Today i realise that i know nothing. All previous knowledge of psychology has left my brain and floated out into the ether. Therefore i am going to lock myself away in the flat till Tuesday (apart from a quick trip to Morrison's) revising like crazy. You will be amazed the amount i will learn in that time. I will astound you all. Or i will fail. However on the plus side, Grays Athletic are doing quite well in the football at the moment, just one more match against Woking in the FA Trophy Final! Just think i could be there, i have the tickets, just no money to get there!

Dubliners was the place to be last night. I think there were only 5 people in the pub apart from Scott, Kwan, Emma, Jess and myself. There was no karaoke per say but upon returning to Rokeby, the two X Factor hopefulls serenaded us with their chosen audition songs. It looks like the competition is hotting up already!

Tonight is Jimmy Carr night, and the quotes have been flying around the place all day. But in order to justify my trip to see the great man (what is a girl to wear?) revision must be done. So i leave you all with the knowledge that I am off to make some essay plans to learn. If you need me, then contact me. If you want me then you know where i am, but above all, someone please save me from my insanity!

"We be Burning"

2006-05-11T15:57:00.000Z

I'm a lot less stressed today since discovering that i can just read my IB revsion guide and know more or less what i need for these exams. So cue a fairly mellow Emma, almost back to her usual self.

Today has been spenton the Barrage avec Vicki and Nat, enjoying the sun, getting a bit burnt (or a lot in Nat's case) and watching the flying fish. If you don't believe me go down there and have a look! It seems that we have the ability to attract rather strange men after the whole "Have you been to the gym?" comment yesterday on the way back, today was filled with "You just relax there girls" and "Are you doing your lessons?". What is it with the randy old men of Stockton? Much fun was had, albeit interspersed with the enjoyment sucking revision.

I was very pleased to discover last night that the Badger (Ruth that is) lost out to Michelle on The Apprentice. Sir Alan can make some good decisions then. It was very hard to restrain from telling Bozz the result, but i didn't spoil it for you did i? Now there is no enjoyment left to my Wednesday nights except for Desperate Housewives.

Now it is time to try and digest the muck that is College dining with a Nat who matches the colour of her bag (very VERY pink) and a very very brown Vicki (it's not fair!).

"Under Pressure!"

2006-05-10T10:08:00.000Z

My mood seems to fluctuate recently. With the obvious stress of exams, there's also the influx, it seems, of hormones racing around my body in conjunction with the heat and lack of sleep which would make anyone grumpy. Plus this time of year doesn't hold the greatest of memories for me.

I know i get paranoid, but that's based on past experience. I've been hurt a lot and until someone shows me that things don't have to be filled with pain, then of course i'm going to be wary.

All i ask is for 15 minutes of your time to talk. You asked me to be honest, well i'm being honest. I just want to get things sorted so i have a clear head for the next few weeks.

Don't dwell on the past, live for the present but think of the future.

"Get Your Tits Out"

2006-05-09T18:34:00.000Z

Finally managed to finish watching the wonder that is Lee Evans today! I've been gearing myself up for Jimmy Carr already (thanks to Emma and Jess for inviting me). I'm really looking forward to it on Friday, should be a good evening out.

Last night i admitted something that not many people know and i surprised myself with how easy it was. But now i think that things may have gone tits up (hence the title partly). Why can't things ever work out? It's probably because i wait for ages before doing something about how i feel and then by that time everything else has fizzled out. Or i come on too strong for some people and freak them out. I can't win. No wonder i end up hurt.

"Falling over backwards for you"

2006-05-08T19:35:00.000Z

What an interesting weekend it's been. Full of revision and a lot of fun. I didn't manage to resist the temptation of Dilbert on Saturday afternoon and so watched as much as i could, including my favourite episode ever (The Return).

Saturday night started at La Roche (The Rocket) for a few quick drinks with Vicki, Nat, Rory and a few other people before James and Vicki literally dragged me to The Crown in 'Boro against my will. I really wanted to stay to talk to various people including the one who doesn't look good on the dancefloor (that was only to through a drunken insult his way). However after a few drinks at the crown, it was time to head to Empire to see Sarah. After trailing around for a bit and having a few compliments thrown my way due to the hat, we found James and Sarah outside in a bit of a mess really. Upon calming Sarah down and reassuring her that things would be ok and that there was nothing to worry about anymore, we headed back to the haven of Old Halls.

To You: I'm sorry i went off. I really didn't want to leave you.

Yesterday was spent revising and getting stressed over stupid things which wasn't helped by Mr Biggs (just you wait, i'll get you back for all of this). I acted on a few big decisions today but it hasn't come to anything just yet so we'll just have to wait and see what happens. I've probably blown it once again like i always do.

"I just wave at them as they pass by"

2006-05-06T12:52:00.000Z

I can't remember when i last updated this so i aplogise if i repeat myself.

I didn't go to Moby's Grapes on Thursday as I was too tired after playing football with the guys. Ok i admit that i sat out for most of the game and only came on when Mr Biggs injured Mish by accident. Well that's what happens when you have one "professional" football player wearing his boots and a whole load of people runnign around in jeans and trainers because we're there for the fun aspect... I was quite impressed that i actually remembered how to play football after all those years with rugby, although i did a handball once of twice out of habit. All in all it was a fun time and it will certainly be repeated at some point. After that we headed to Dubliners for Karaoke, how i've missed the place! Scott and Emma spent most of the time singing in preparation for the X-Factor auditions. Mr Biggs has changed his mind every day it seems as to what song he is singing...Let's hope he decides tomorrow finally!

After getting up for a rather boring and pointless 9 am lecture yesterday it was decided that the Friday Night Cinema Project would still be going ahead. Vicki, Nat and myself left it to the gods of fate (a Bell's bag and some pieces of paper) to decide which film to see. Mission Impossible 3 was picked and so we headed to Teeside Park with Skittles and Jelly Tots. The film wasn't too bad, although the romantic story line did kind of intrude on the action (yes i like all the explosions and stuff). Became slightly freaked at the sight of a internal explosive charge going off in one of the agent's heads.

After a trip to the heaven that is Bells to pick up some alcohol, a party was in full swing in the Backhouse penthouse. After sharing a few stories and secrets with the girls from the past few weeks, i manage to drag myself across the courtyard to my own flat to simply crash into bed.

Now i have Dilbert on dvd (courtesy of Mo) and i'm so tempted to watch it, but i haven't done any revision in a while so i may just watch a few episodes which wont hurt...Who am i kidding, i'll watch the whole thing!

"That's GCSE maths!"

2006-05-04T09:01:00.000Z

For those of you i actually know in real life, i have a new mobile number. For those of you i don't, please don't ask me for it, because you wont get it.

Revision has grinded to a halt really over the past few days, but i don't want to fail so i guess i should start again today... However upon viewing Mr Biggs' Maths exam paper, i'm starting to think that maybe i should have done Primary Education as the Maths is about GCSE level...I don't think i need to go into details about how that feels, but the Business students also fail to have a management exam whereas i have all my exams intact. It's not fair.

Tonight is "Get Your Kit On" at Moby, raising money for something, i'm not sure what exactly. The idea is you turn up in some for of kit or stash and get drunk. The general consensus is that its come at the wrong time and people are too busy working or sleeping to go. Hmmm i'm torn between the looming exams or the chance to go out with the Coc-Soc.

Lack of sleep is really catching up with me, i find it so difficult to stay awake now in any situation whatsoever. Even when Mr Sach is texting me from Croydon because he's "bored". Normally i stay awake for our late night conversations because he makes me so angry! Anytime i'm sitting down or near my bed, i'm overcome with an urge to sleep. So apologies if you've been trying to get hold of me while i've been asleep, i know i'm usually the one to text you lot late at night.

Life is pretty boring at the moment to be honest. Actually it's starting to get more interesting but things are getting in the way. Namely other people, possibly acting out of jealousy, trying to invade my life at the moment. I think that after the exams, things will get a lot better/easier, just have to get the stress out of the way.

"Perhaps Vampires is a bit strong but..."

2006-05-01T09:54:00.000Z

I'm in pain, so much pain today and I don't know why. My neck hurts (if you've seen it you'll know why) and my stomach muscles have been in agony since late yesterday afternoon. Plus my stomach won't stop making rather strange noises. It's all rather worrying.

Saturday night was certainly interesting. After the previous outburst, nothing really happened at La Roche. Went to Spoons first with Nat, Kat, Clare, Simon, Lizzy and Henry (oh and of course Ben) but they all decided to leave the Rocket to just me and Nat for the evening. Upon arriving, we met Jo (coc-Soc), Laura (coc-Soc) and Jo (psychology) in the queue, and later created a bond between my flat and Nat's by bringing the Fairbridge and Backhouse groups together at the same table. After a moderate (yes 2 pitchers and a few other alcoholic beverages are considered moderate) amount of alcohol was consumed, much dancing was enjoyed. Shame Mish and Kwan can't take a hint a move when i tell them too so as it doesn't look like I'm stalking people. Much embarrassment was encountered as James proceeded to tell me that he needed to talk to Scott, and then dragged (literally) Nat and I back to Fairbridge. Not only was he dragging us and telling people we were his bitches, he spent the entire journey back screaming "SCOTT" really loudly and asking random people if they knew where Mr Biggs lived. After locking myself in the kitchen in order to avoid listening to the embarrassing tales James was conveying to Scott, I ended up finding myself standing in the stairway in my pj's and a rather uncompromising position when Kwan left the flat. This information was then duly relayed to Mish and Scott probably along with a well timed phone call to Scott from an alternative source the next morning. I have now earned myself the nickname of Vampire (even though there was no blood involved). However the fact I shall be wearing a scarf for the foreseeable future (about 2 weeks minimum I'm guessing) is an indication of how much of a victim I really am...

Lack of sleep meant that I was actually dozing during episodes 18 and 19 of Lost Series 2 that Brynuts actually managed to find eventually. However I was soon awoken by Trainspotting (an essential 90's classic, although not as good as Shallow Grave in my opinion) but regretfully had to depart during Finding Nemo, one of the best films ever. As soon as my head hit the pillow, I was out like a light and only just managed to hear Kat's alarm this morning and actually wake up realising that I had to go to lectures today even though it is a bank holiday in the rest of the country!

Happy May Day to all, may (there is no other word that fits) you all riot against work and up the ante on the social revolution that is secretly at work. Now that you are all updated on the weekends events, I shall depart back to the stack of books awaiting me in the corner...

P.S: James, I am not a hussy.

That's It, I've had enough (ATTN ALL AT STOCKTON)

2006-04-29T16:44:00.000Z

Ok, all of you who know me, you have my permission to kick the arse of a certain person, and very hard too. Some people are cowardly, others are just stupid. But some take the biscuit and hurt others feelings by leading them on.

Why couldn't you just tell me?

So if you are at La Roche (The Rocket) tonight, then you will hopefully be a friend and do me a favor.

In case you can't tell i'm fucking pissed off, and that doesn't happen very often.

"Bang Bang, you're dead"

2006-04-27T10:05:00.000Z

Right people, listen up. If you would like to go to see Dirty Pretty Things at Middlesbrough or if you are already going then please let me know.

On a different note, revision is plodding along slowly yet surely with a possible trip to Empire or Dubliners tonight to stop my brain cells from dying completely from boredom. However if last night was anythign to go by, i'm not sure if i'll be able to handle my usual volume of alcohol before ending up on the floor. 5 shots making me drunk, thats rubbish!

Revision Pt 1

2006-04-25T23:01:00.000Z

Over the next few weeks i can see many of my posts tackling a similar theme, that of revision and exams. So far i'm concertrating on Social and Developmental Psychology and it's really doing my brain in. Don't expect many updates over the coming month, just a lot of late nights in the library. Oh and Ryan had to go to hospital today after having a widom tooth extraction...I'm really not looking forward to mine now.

Interesting (Pt 2)....

2006-04-23T11:30:00.000Z

In case you can't tell I'm back in Stockton, currently waiting for the library to open so I can do some revision (shock horror). Trip back was ok, no major disasters, went to the Rocket last night but to be honest it was a bit rubbish because hardly anyone was there.

Went to see "Smaller" on Friday, now I've finally remembered what the play was called. I love Maria having contacts as we ended up sitting in a Box all on our own and we felt very important with all these people staring up at us. I mean when I go to the theatre, I usually spend ages trying to work out how the hell people got into the boxes, now I know: have friends that work at the theatre! The play was very moving in some parts and hilarious in others. Alison Moyet can't act to save her life but her character was meant for her I think. Who else can sing a Robbie Williams medley dressed in a chicken costume and not crack up laughing at the absurdity of it all? Dawn French was perfect, mixing comedy with tragedy and it was a part I've never seen her play before but it suited her very well.

Now it's back to the monotony of work and revision. Do you think 942 words is enough to write for something that was supposed to be 1500 word limit? Maybe I should get back to it....

Packing, packing and more packing

2006-04-21T10:42:00.000Z

It's that time of the holiday again when I pack up all my worldly possessions and haul my arse back up to Stockton. This holiday has been overshadowed by the looming exams when I get back and I think most people just kind of forgot and are now panicking about the huge amount of revision we have to do. I have left the impossible essay and will not look at it till Sunday afternoon, where you will probably find me in the library tearing my hair out (quite reminiscent of yesterday actually).

Still I have tonight to look forward to as Miss Maria Wright and I are partaking in a little culture courtesy of Carrie and her free tickets. That's right, I'm finally getting to see Dawn French and Alison Moyet in that play that I've been wanting to see for ages, but for the life of me cannot remember the name! This is preceded by food and cocktails in our favorite Leicester Square haunt (TGI's).

I feel that I've somewhat neglected some people this holiday (Elyse especially *hug*) but then again I neglected everyone at Christmas! I've just had so much work to do and revision and trips to see people and working that I've left my friends alone. Well I'm playing catch up because I saw Maria once at Christmas and I didn't see Karen since last summer, so that's been rectified now. Plus I'm opening up my flat (both current and new) to anyone who wants to come and stay at any point after the 26th May (if you wish to visit over the next 3 weeks as well, I'm sure we can come to some arrangement). Over the summer I have no real plans apart from getting a job to try and kill my overdraft. So if you need a traveling companion or just want to hang out, give me a buzz!

Congratulations!

2006-04-20T11:29:00.000Z

Congratulations to Mr Biggs and Ms Black for both getting through to the X Factor Auditions! I'm sure they will both do great, and Scott, if you're worried about being on TV, then why are you auditioning in the first place? Hehe only joking!

We apologise for this disruption to our broadcast, now it's back to our regularly scheduled programming (e.g. Neuroscience essays)

"Where's my gun?"

2006-04-18T21:22:00.000Z

I managed to drag myself back to the glorious Grays branch of W H Smiths today to see who was in. Well of course Simple Simon was there and we had a long chat about what we've both been up to. I'm so proud of him, he's growing up and even buying a flat with his girlfriend. However I don't think all is happy there as he made clear they'd been having a few "issues". He was asking about my own relationships and the phrase "it's complicated" doesn't satisfy someone like Si, so off we went outside for his break and a good old chat. He speaks sense and I feel a lot better about things thanks to him. Perhaps I should phone him from time to time like he tells me too, then he wouldn't feel the need to murder everyone who comes into contact with me. He's like the older brother I never had and I'm the sister he never had, guess that's what you get when you put 2 only children together. Plans have been made for the exchange of money for alcohol when I go back at the end of May which I look forward to, as I've seen Si hungover and tipsy but never drunk, and I feel the need to see this event before the end of the year.

Following on from my chat with Si, I realise that I've been slightly angry lately, well lets put it down to randomness and now I'm "better" for my return to Stockton on Tees. Thanks to people like Clare who have to put up with my random moaning about random crap all the time. Next term will be different in more ways than one.

Oh and Daggy, I admit defeat to the drinking competition in advance, but I will not lose the war.

867-5309

2006-04-18T11:34:00.000Z

It's the last week of the Easter Holiday and well there is much to do. My plan is to do nothing today (since I've just got up...) and write my final essay tomorrow. After that it's 2 manic days of packing and catching up with people, culminating in a trip to London on Friday night to see the play who's name escapes me now but it has Dawn French and Alison Moyet in it. After that it's back to jolly Stockton on Tees and the thrills of revision, with a few good nights out thrown in for good measure before the exams start. Who's up for the Rocket Quiz on Sunday?

I'd also like to point out that despite what you may have heard, I will not be returning to uni with black hair, it's disappearing today much to the disappointment of some and the joy of many.

Oh and for those of you who are observant, yes the title of this post is also that of a Less Than Jake song.

I hate the Student Loan Company

2006-04-17T16:40:00.000Z

I hate, hate. HATE filling in forms. The most stupid of which has to be the Student Loan form. I've already told you that I normally live avec the parental units chez Essex, so why do I have to then tell you where my parents live 3 times after that? And why change the loan from just a simple loan to a Maintenance loan and a tuition fees loan? Do I need to apply for both or will it put me in even more debt? If I end up with less loan next year, I will not be happy.

Then there comes the NHS claims form for my dental work. How many benefits are there to claim? I'm amazed. And since I've told you that I'm English and live in England, why do I then have to make it clear that I'm not an international student? Can these people not read? Sorry I'm in a grumpy young student mood today, realising that I have no time to do all the things I need to do before Saturday. Still a meeting with an old friend will make it all so much better I think.

Happy Easter!

2006-04-16T13:21:00.000Z

Happy Easter everyone! Hope you all get lots of chocolate to eat. Instead of an egg I got the most wonderful bar of Lindt chocolate: it has a creme brulee filling!

Oh My God, I'm in heaven!

It's Craaaaazzzzyyy!

2006-04-15T21:38:00.000Z

Yep that's right people, today Elyse, Andy, Tom and I went to Brentwood to play Crazy Golf. You know, golf that is crazy. Much fun was had by all, and I narrowly lost to Andy by 1 shot. I could have tied with him, but alas I was not used to the wet weather conditions. We also regressed back to childhood by playing on the swings, roundabout and of course who can forget the Fort! Now I'm sat at home with the unit's and a case (yes a whole case) of Kopparberg, the greatest think to come out of Sweden after those green marzipan cake things that I like so much, and of course the musical genius of ABBA. I joke about the last one. So with only 20 cans left (I may have had a couple last night upon returning home...) I am well on my way to not having to pay over the odds Spoon's prices. Sorry Daggy, I know you work there and everything but I prefer 95p a can to £1.99 a bottle.

Happy Birthday Shaun!

2006-04-14T16:27:00.000Z

Yesterday was Shaun's Birthday, he's really old now, only 3 years till he's 30! Since he had to work yesterday there was no celebrating, so tonight he is going out, but I already have plans so alas I can't join him and his friends (who scare me a little I have to say). So I just thought I'd say happy birthday to the main man and hope that tonight he has lots of fun and I shall catch up with him tomorrow for lunch and that trip he promised me! Oh and I apologise for releasing your age to the whole of the internet but hey, you really don't look that old!

We are all set for a weekend of decorating in my house. The living room currently has patches of paint all over it because no one can make a decision as to what colour goes best with the awful carpet. I also have been given permission (that's how we do things in his house) to re-decorate my room, which has been the same since we moved here 5 years ago, and was probably looking the same 20 years ago. So it's out with the wallpaper and in with a really nice bluey/grey/purpley paint and wooden floor. Now I just need to persuade the unit's to let me get a new bed and we're all set!

"Do you have one of those jackets that does up at the back?"

2006-04-12T22:03:00.000Z

After i managed to finally get to sleep last night, i had a rather normal dream where i was doing normal things, until i dreamt that i was woken by a text message from a friend that said:

"Nirest x"

Upon further investigation, it appears that Nirest or NIREST stands for:

Nulling Infrared Exo-solar Survey for TPF

Thanks to Google more information can be found here.

What on Earth (or even in the universe) is wrong with me?

"I must be emo"

2006-04-12T13:58:00.000Z

Something that definitely brightened up my rather boring day....

"I'm sick and tired, of always being sick and tired"

2006-04-12T00:23:00.000Z

It's late (well not really but most people I know are in bed by now) and I can't sleep and it's partly due to all the thoughts going through my head. I'm trying so hard to be positive at the moment but to tell the truth I feel crushed and I'm not sure why. It's probably partly due to hormones which have been ravaging me quite ferociously lately for reasons unknown and this is leaving me feeling a bit unbalanced. I'm also feeling a bit fragile, partly because I've put myself out there on the line and I'm not getting much back in return. But most importantly I'm feeling angry. Angry at myself for letting me get like this. Angry at other people who obviously have a problem with me and therefore are causing things with my closest friend to become awkward. Angry at letting myself get caught up in something yet again for the second time this year and not learning from my mistakes. Angry at being indecisive most of the time. Angry at pretending to be blase about things to please other people. Angry at telling people exactly what they want to hear. Angry at not being able to read people sometimes. Angry at having to always second guess people and establish the double meanings to what they say in order to keep me sane. Angry at always believing the worst. Angry at not seeing what other people like in me. Angry at making just being with me hard work for other people. Angry at doubting everything and everyone. Angry at snapping at people all the time. Angry at making things hard for myself. Angry at people for not telling me the truth, or being too cowardly to admit it. I just want honesty, that's all I ask. From previous experience it's obvious that the male of the species have a problem with honesty in all forms.

I'm talking directly to 2 people in particular, both of which will never read this probably but it's here for them in case they feel the need to.

To you: If you find it weird seeing me then tell me, don't let me find out from other people. Ok so things are a lot different now than at Christmas but that doesn't mean we can't be friends. I accepted things before you did obviously, I just asked for your help that was all I was seeking, nothing more, but you had other ideas. I guess I never let myself grieve for things (yes, grieve that's what you do when things come to an end) and that's why I'm angry now, I never hated you though, never. I understand and I hope you understand too.

To you: Be honest with me. Where do you see things going? I'm too fragile to put up with much crap from anyone, let alone you. I've told you kind of how I feel, but how do you feel about things? I find myself reeling from things that you say to me every single day. But then I'm foolish, I think we established that earlier. Perhaps it's just the distance at the moment, maybe things will be different when I next see you. Will things be different when we get back to uni? I guess I'm just scared of being used and thrown away, discarded like some chew toy. By all means use me, but within a stable environment.

I find it easier to type when I have someone to direct my writing to. I think its rather therapeutic also. I'd just like to point out to everyone that I'm not really depressed at the moment, I may merely come across like that sometimes but I don't mean to be. I'm rather pessimistic by default.

Alcohol is bad

2006-04-11T18:41:00.000Z

Can someone remind me to never drink an alcoholic beverage again.

By the way it's not because I suffer the morning after, it's to spare me embarrassment during the night in question.

Dear Mr Cadbury...

2006-04-10T23:23:00.000Z

Recently I've been a little strange to say the least and the parental units really don't know how to deal with me. So they've taken to buying me chocolate, and lots of it. It's no wonder I'm getting fatter. So working my way through a 250g bar of Dairy Milk with Biscuit, I find a raisin in it. Then upon starting the next row, I find 2 more raisins, until I get to the third row and this is full of raisins. This really annoyed me because in my head I was eating dairy milk with biscuit and the presence of these rogue dried fruits made me feel slightly sick. So I'm sending the remaining bar back to the factory to complain. In compensation unit XY came home from work today with two 400g bars. There's only 1 left...

"You Bitch!"

2006-04-10T12:30:00.000Z

I was kindly greeted yesterday by the above remark at Charing Cross station by the wonderful Maria. It just so happened that we both had the same bag, although her's was slightly cheaper than mine. Well you can't beat good fashion sense. The really strange thing was that when i bought the bag i though that it was the kind of thing Maria would want and then yesterday upon walking out of my house, i thought that if she did in fact have that bag then she would probably be using it on that day. How right i was.

The ever more wonderful Karen was also dragged along on our little IB meetup in the heart of our beloved capital city. Coffee was had in Starbucks, Cocktails in TGI's (many fond memories of that place) and then more alcoholic beverages were consumed at O'neil's (surprise surprise, it was an Irish pub that Maria directed us to). Much gossip was exchanged between our little coven including the tales of Michael and Maria (oh how i wish that saga hadn't ended) and how dull a place Hull is. It was good to see the college girls again and it made me realise that i've managed to loose touch with a majority of people that i've been to school with. I only talk to 1 person from primary school (Matty) a handful of people from the Convent and the same number of people from College. I just hope the same doesn't happen at uni! Friends are important to everyone. Never lose site of your true friends.

Bounce

2006-04-08T12:31:00.000Z

I now have in my possession Red Dwarf series 8 on DVD (along with a rather fetching scutter). This is an achievement for me, as now I can have my Red Dwarf marathon that I've always wanted! You can't say it's not a good TV program, it's hilarious! I'm going to force people to watch it at uni when revision gets too much.

Also you can tell I'm in a more chipper mood today, well that's because I managed to talk to a certain person that has been avoiding me for months. University seems to have mellowed her and I think we're on tack to stay friends for a bit longer. Also a chat with Brynuts resulted in me evaluating my place in the world and I now feel a lot better about things. Maybe life isn't quite so bad after all...

I'm so stupid

2006-04-07T21:55:00.000Z

I feel like a total twat. I really do. This always happens. I get excited about something, tell a few people about it and how happy it's making me and then it all goes wrong. And this time i was even warned about it happening. I was so stupid to get my hopes up as well that something may develop from the current situation. Obviously not. How can i compete against other people? It shouldn't even be a competition anyway. I just wish people would be honest with me from the beginning, I hate feeling like this.

"Where the shock sets in, and the stomach acid finds a new way to make you get sick"

2006-04-06T19:18:00.000Z

So bird flu has finally reached British shores. It was inevitable that something like this would eventually happen. What with all the biological warfare out there, I would have thought that a major pandemic would come in the form of a man made problem rather than a natural mutation. I'm reminded of the film 28 days later, among others, where panic sets in and the whole nation goes mad. Namely today I've had my Nan phone to ask if the parental unit's can help her stock up on tinned food so she doesn't have to leave the house for a while. Unit XX has even said that my beloved pet Pebbles has to now stay in the house in case she picks up something from the birds in the garden. *rolls eyes*

With the way my parents and the rest of my family are known to react to extreme circumstances, heaven help me if it actually crosses over to humans here, even then I won't be allowed to leave the house!

"SOS Please someone come and rescue me..."

2006-04-03T16:56:00.000Z

It seems that the cure of my insomnia was only temporary, and now it is back with a vengeance. In the past 2 days I've had less than 5 hours sleep, and it's starting to take it's toll on my body. I can't actually move at the moment, typing is a big effort as is merely breathing. Last night I found myself doing those old breathing exercises that I used to do on the many occasions that I found myself lying on the sick bench at the Convent: breathe in the white energy and breath out the black. It calmed me for a moment but didn't help me sleep. I usually feel tired when I can't sleep, but this time I'm awake and mentally willing to go out and do things, my body will just collapse on the way. If anyone has any good remedies that I haven't tried yet, then please send them my way.

Now I'm off to watch repeats of Lost, maybe it will distract me for an hour or two...

200th Post!

2006-04-02T14:29:00.000Z

Yay! I'm now up to 200 posts of rubbish (which would have been achieved by now if I hadn't had to delete a few *ahem*).

Before we start I have to point out that April Fool's jokes are horrible. Especially when you're half asleep and can't quite work out where the person is coming from most of the time anyway.

Yesterday was spent in the company of a few old friends namely Wren and Dan whoIi haven't seen for ages and will not be known by most of the people who read this. We went for a brief visit to a band day at the Civic hall hosted by the Fat Surfer crew. After being surrounded by 14 year olds who think it's cool to all dress EXACTLY THE SAME, it was time to leave that place and head on to London, namely Camden, and indulge in a little retail therapy. Wren walked away with a large number of items from David and Goliath in Carnaby Street, while Dan perused the many skate shops, seeming to know just as many people as I did. My bank account didn't suffer too much and I returned with a new belt and a few books and things to help with revision. After dinner in Yo Sushi (oh how I've missed the place), I headed to the Metro club off Oxford Street to meet some people from college. The band we were expecting didn't turn up so instead it was a usual club night. At around 11, I started to let people buy me drinks since I'm owed so many, which wasn't really a good idea. Cue a very drunk Emma trying to explain to Dave (of musictek fame) why I needed him to pick me up from Dagenham station and take me home so I wouldn't have to bother my parents.

It proved a highly eventful day, which allowed me to catch up with a few people and also show me how much I miss London, nothing will ever compare to it, even though the trains don't work, you get attacked by Hare Krishna people everywhere you go, I know of at least 12 different people who have "connections" (if you know what I mean) and I do fear for my life sometimes. There really is no place like home.

Now it's time to go and support Cambridge in the boat race! (Sorry Stu!)

Eurgh

2006-03-31T18:12:00.000Z

Revision has to be started in earnest in preparation for the many weeks of toiling left to do. However instead, today was spent getting my hair cut. It's not too bad i suppose but it could have been better. Now i just have to figure out what colour i want it now. The general consensus seems to be black with an additional colour...

Hmmm maybe....

Honey I'm Home Pt 2

2006-03-29T21:07:00.000Z

Well I'm finally home after the trek to Newcastle. Much fun was had there however I did not relish the fact that the journey there was far from simple. The C2C trains were held up for no apparent reason, the underground refused to actually take me where I wanted to go and then my tickets got messed up at Kings Cross.

Although I didn't get to see much of Newcastle itself, I did get to see V for Vendetta which although being a very good film, was also a bit hard to describe. It's slightly confusing towards the end but overall very very good. Although Natalie Portman's accent is hard to place. It's not quite English but it's not really anything to be honest, sometimes she is rather Cockney-esqe at the beginning but then it fades as she meets V. A film I'd highly recommend to all. Also it was good to enjoy a proper Ska night courtesy of Northumbria University, even though there was a high proportion of R'n'B played at the beginning of the night.

Thanks to Dav and his parents for letting me stay, the break was definitely appreciated. Now I just have to do the large amounts of work that have been piling up and waiting for me...:o(

Hello

2006-03-28T20:09:00.000Z

Hello from Newcastle! I'm still alive despite Dav's best attempts to kill me. I might end up killing him first though...

After the football i shall be heading out to Skates, whether i make it back alive is another matter...

Speak to you all soon!

Ummm...

2006-03-27T06:43:00.000Z

It's raining, does that mean I don't have to go? It's not that I don't want to go now, it's just that I can't be bothered with all the hassle of getting to London and then getting across it and finally standing around for ages. And since the trains are playing up round here, I have to leave at 9 in order to ensure that I won't miss my King's Cross connection. Goodbye all, I'm off to pack. See you in a few days!

"Making my escape..."

2006-03-26T16:35:00.000Z

I've played the dutiful daughter all weekend (well it is mother's day after all) but it appears that it's not enough for some people. After a blazing row with parental unit XY this morning over the fact I wasn't up before 10am (it's a SUNDAY), he has been laying into me all day. I've offered to cook dinner, make lunch, do all the washing and ironing but unit XX has refused my help saying that I'm incapable of doing anything for myself. How does she think I manage to keep myself alive while at uni?

Therefore my escape couldn't come quickly enough. This till means that I will probably be hounded while away with a barrage of phonecalls at inappropriate times. Oh well, the joys of being the sole focus of parental worrying.

Apart from that I've been used as a source of knowledge this weekend. As the result of the 'Boro vs Charlton match was inconclusive, a replay must be undertaken in the (not so) wonderful city near my adopted home. This means that a certain Charlton fan who I no longer speak to, has been asking me what 'Boro is like for night life etc. And with one fell swoop I have told her to go to the most rubbish places on earth while she's there. I don't even feel bad about sending her out into the city which she thinks is amazing when it really isn't. Oh well it will give her even more of a reason to not talk to me (which makes me rather happy).

And so begins my adventure around the country for the next week or so. Look out for me, I may be coming to a town or city near you, those poor few that are still at University, I laugh at your 3 week holiday and instead present you with my 5 weeks of fun and revision....

Hmmm

2006-03-24T16:32:00.000Z

Following an uneventful day, I've been catching up with The Apprentice online. Bozz is obsessed with it, poor thing, not having access to a TV at uni, and I have to say it's starting to rub off on me. I enjoyed the last series immensely and was excited by the prospect of the new one. So when reading through the B3ta newsletter this week, I was overjoyed to read about someone who's emailed all the contestants asking them:

Who would win in a fight: a gorilla or a bear?

You can read more about it here.

Gracenote, how I love thee

2006-03-24T13:12:00.000Z

For once in my life, Gracenote is actually working on my computer so I don't have to keep typing track listings out.

In my excitement of actually managing to get out of Essex for at least a few days, I forgot to mention that yesterday was spent in the pleasant company of Miss Quinn. We sojourned to Lakeside for coffee and cake and the odd bit of retail therapy (I now have a new hat!) It was great to catch up and gossip as women generally do, and since we're both going away next week, it wont be so bad.

Now I'm off to write an essay and do numerous mcq's online if I'm going to pass my course this year.

Booked

2006-03-23T22:46:00.000Z

Well that's it, i have booked my tickets to Newcastle for Monday so you shall not hear from me for 3 days! What are you going to do to entertain yourselves while i'm gone? Well you can visit my links down the side. Or even do some work *shock horror*.

Trips

2006-03-22T12:58:00.000Z

Easter was supposed to be a time of relaxing and also cramming for exams but it's looking ever more likely that i'll be travelling around the country. First stop Plymouth, then Newcastle, oh and Cardiff and then finally there is the chance of going to Peterborough. Great. Just what i wanted. Still, at least i get to see people and some more of the country. Anyone else feel like seeing me over easter,just provide a floor for me and i'll be there! Many people can vouch that i don't take up much space and i don't demand anything from my hosts. I even bring presents with me!

Numb

2006-03-20T14:06:00.000Z

Please don't try and phone me now as I won't be able to talk to you. This is due to half my mouth being numb and consequently i have no control over my tongue whatsoever. I now have yet another filling in my mouth and can't eat for about 4 hours. I'm going off to try and grind the filling into place, i was in such a rush to get out that i didn't bite down hard enough.

And what kind of sadist do you have to be to want to show your patients exactly what you're doing? To be honest i do not want to see a massive hole being drilled into my tooth with all the blood and stuff...

OOhhh Shiny!

2006-03-19T18:30:00.000Z

After a mammoth 18 hours sleep, I'm feeling fully refreshed and ready to face the day. Well evening now. Dinner is cooking away and I'm sitting here downloading music to my birthday present. That's right, I've finally entered the modern age and have a rather snazzy mp3 player. It's this one and I would add a photo of it, but the home computer is being stupid as always and I can't connect my laptop to the internet here.

I am very very pleased with such a birthday present but I have to agree with other reviewers that the software is crap. Other than that I'm really pleased with it. Just have to find a case for it now before I can actually take it out with me! I'm currently ripping VHS or Beta to it and also ripping a large number of albums from my laptop to CD in order to load them up later.

Hopefully I'll be allowed to take it with me to the dentist tomorrow so I don't have to listen to the drill while I'm having my filling done...

"He's a Scumbag don't you know..."

2006-03-18T23:48:00.000Z

After practically dying on Friday trying to get things sorted for the reflective journal, I headed off to Stats on Friday to discover that it was cancelled. Great, yet another 9 o'clock lecture cancelled just like that. So Nattyboo and I spent a large amount of time sitting at computer's surfing the net until Biological, which lasted an hour due to it being rushed. I'm not complaining. Met up with parental unit XY who took me for coffee in town. Showed him where we are living next year and he seemed mightily impressed by it all. Upon returning to the flat packing was completed bar my clothing and we headed to Joe Rigatoni's yet again for dinner. Feeling satiated we departed and I returned to college in time to help Kat's dad load all her stuff up.

After a few frantic text messages, Dav came to drag me to the Rocket, after all it was St. Patrick's Day. Fighting off Henry, we managed to get there eventually where I promptly found myself alone as Dav had gone to finish his Guinness. Heading for the bar I was on a mission to get a Guinness hat after drinking 4 pints of the stuff. My plan was thwarted by the absence of the Irish stout and I returned to the dancefloor with merely a bottle of lager. I randomly found Dr Dias and then found Dav standing behind him, who very nicely, swapped his Guinness for my random lager and everything was good in the world. After much dancing and singing, we headed back to Harewood avec Laura, Terran, Ant and Luke. Food was ordered, which I did not partake in, and a bottle of red wine was opened. This was perhaps the biggest mistake of the night, as Luke nearly downed a whole glass of it (after encouragement from Dav). This made him rather tipsy to say the least, which proved amusing until the red wine found itself on the kitchen floor, having decided that it didn't like being in Luke's stomach. Cue Laura and I running out after almost throwing up ourselves, and hiding behind Dav. Terran kindly cleaned up while Laura took Luke back to Stevo and Dav and I hid in the corridor. After things had been sorted and Laura had returned back to her own flat, Dav and I headed back to Fairbridge with it being about 6 am. We sat around for a few hours chatting before it was time for parental unit XY to come and pick me up. For those of you who have been keeping up with the story, you will remember that I have yet to pack my clothes by this point. After explaining who the guy with the Guinness hat was (Dav), we packed stuff into the car with some help from Mr Biggs, while I ran around furiously stuffing clothes into bags.

Soon we were heading homeward bound and after a very good few hours sleep I found myself in Grays. After an Indian feast, I am off to bed now, to recover from last night.

If you actually know me, I haven't got access to MSN at the moment, but will do soon. If you want to chat give me a ring or a text or drop me an email.

Oh and thanks to Dav for the title of this post, that song is stuck in my head now, grrr....

"She's still out to get me..."

2006-03-16T19:49:00.000Z

I know that I should be writing a Reflective journal for Study Skills tomorrow but I just had to post this. I don't know if this is a wise idea but I'm in a "throw caution to the wind" mood today.

If you haven't heard of Howie Day, then I urge you to get hold of a copy of his album Stop All The World Now. When you do (and you will because you listen to my music recomendations because i have such a cool taste in music apparently) you will immediately listen to the song "Collide". I am about to re-print the lyrics here as this is the song that I have been searching for the past few months. It expresses exactly how I have felt and still feel.

Howie Day - Collide

The dawn is breaking
A light shining through
You're barely waking
And I'm tangled up in you
Yeah

I'm open, you're closed
Where I follow, you'll go
I worry I won't see your face
Light up again

Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the wrong words seem to rhyme
Out of the doubt that fills my mind
I somehow find
You and I collide

I'm quiet you know
You make a first impression
I've found I'm scared to know I'm always on your mind

Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the stars refuse to shine
Out of the back, you fall in time
I somehow find
You and I collide

Dont stop here
I lost my place
I'm close behind

Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the wrong words seem to ryhme
Out of the doubt that fills your mind
You finally find
You and I collide

You finally find
You and I collide
You finally find
You and I collide

I still don't know if this is a good idea but it's such a beautiful song and I want someone to read/hear it. If anyone else wants a copy just let me know and I'll email it to you.

Sniff

2006-03-16T13:15:00.000Z

Oh a high note my lctures today have been cancelled so yay for that, wish i'd have known before i actually got myself ready to go, then i could have just collapsed back into bed for the rest of the day.

Last night was one of the best nights i think i've had so far this term. It was off for chinese with the Rokeby massive: Jess, Emma, Danielle, Byron, Kwan and Ellie. After forgetting one of our party (I blame you Kwan!) we eventually had food and kind of made a little bit of a mess of the restuarant. Heading back to Rokeby, the girls beat the guys int he driving challenge, by a long shot. A centurian was attempted by Byron and Jess (with some of my help) but Byron dropped out and the girls won. Since Bells was still open, we headed over to get some wine and ice cream, which was proptly consumed. The next few hours are a bit hazy; food was ordered, my phone was used as a weapon and Jess was playing with everyone's drinks. I did get to meet Bailey though (all will be revealed) who is just the cutest thing ever! Ryan moved Byron's car and displyed why his such a bad driver with his awful parking. And i think that's about it, i can't remember much else apart from spilling some secrets which weren't so secret apparently and letting Mish and Kwan take my sleeping bag. I have no idea why.

Oh and Kwan, have a good Easter mate, thanks for arranging last night too!

"Red Light Blinking In The Twilight..."

2006-03-15T16:08:00.000Z

Finally, after many months, I have managed to get Opera to work on the network. For those of you who don't know what Opera is, it's a browser, much like Firefox but I prefer it for some reason. Which is perfect since I won't be here for the next 5 weeks and then i'm only here for 4 weeks when I get back. I've also worked out how to get Firefox to work so I might interchange them both, but don't tell anyone otherwise i'll be forced to teach them all how to do it.

Another game of Piss artist and Who am I? was played last night in Rokeby, however this time there was a forfeit for the loser: having to drink a mug of vodkat. Now before you say anything, vodkat is not vodka, in any form whatsoever. It has more in common with lighter fluid than consumable alcohol. It was down to Mish and Scott for the privaledge of drinking the beverage and it was Mish's turn to ask a question. He was getting increasingly stressed, however Scott knew who he was and was getting impatient. Eventually after about 45 minutes Mish finally guessed who he was supposed to be (Kelly Jones from the Stereophonics) which meant that Scott had to drink the vodkat. Like a man he just picked up the mug and chugged it down while we all looked on in disbelief. Good on him I say.

Tonight we are heading for Chinese at the Peking Garden along with the Rokeby massive. Let's see how much we can stuff into Dr Dias this time...

Birthday Celebrations

2006-03-14T14:18:00.000Z

I would like to thank EVERYONE who sent me a card, gave me a present or even wished me a happy birthday! I had such a great day in all and thank you all for making it special! The day started by getting rudely awoken by Mr Biggs who informed Kat that she had overslept and Clare was waiting for her outside. After she left I opened my presents that had been sent to me by the parental units. Soon lectures had to be attended so I collected may cards on the way out. After ridding myself of the Developmental Essay I spent all weekend writing and attending the lecture to go with it, I headed on home making a quick stop at Bells to buy alcohol for the night's festivities. Kat helped me to get ready by curling my hair and Scott's present provided much hilarity and definitely brought out the assassin in me. Clare, Nat and Vicki arrived and it was time to make a rather impromptu version of Sex on the Beach with Archer's, Buck's Fizz and Cranberry as Mish drank all the vodka the night before. We headed out on the train to 'Boro and aimed for The Dicken's. After singing on Cannonball by Damien Rice (the modern God of music! I tell you it did feel like sacralidge, but what's a girl to do?) Ben took it upon himself to get the whole bar to sing Happy Birthday to me. Cue a really rather embarrassed Emma and a sharp exit to the Crown. On the way we stopped at the Bite Inn as everyone was starving by this point. Nat tried to kill me with a Chilli covered Kebab while people had sex in a box and a close contender for the title. A few posters were taken from the establishment as they were so pretty and Sarah had been wanting one for ages from there.

Soon we were in the Crown drinking shots from test tubes (many of which found there way somehow into my bag...) and dancing to the music. I was feeling rather tired and so left at 1:30 am with Nat and Vicki. When we reached halls, I collapsed into bed and only woke up at 12:30 pm today. I'm still in my pj's, think I should go and have a shower and get dressed just in time for dining later.

Once again thank you so very much for making it a great night, it was one of the best birthday's ever, it was just a shame that not more people could come out or up to see me, I did offer people, just remember that when you feel jealous of missing out on the fun. If you're on Facebook then look at the photos from last night, there are some rather amusing ones there that you may want to see, but I can't be bothered to post here.

Happy Birthday to me!!

2006-03-13T00:51:00.000Z

That is all.

Huh?

2006-03-12T17:29:00.000Z

For some reason i'm not allowed to access the main page of my site on the uni network...

I wonder why?

"I am the ONE and ONLY"

2006-03-12T14:27:00.000Z

I would like to say thank you to all, especially Kwan for getting this song dedicated to me last night in the Rocket. The Birthday clebrations started a bit early as not everyone can make tomorrow. The evening got off to a great start with Mish and Scott attempting to tie my corset after i had to explain that you just tie it in a bow at the bottom, but it seems that men cannot understand this concept. We headed off at about 9 along with the Rokeby people and started drinking. Byron showed us many magic tricks which certainly impressed me, but puzzled Jess, you could see the look of concentration on her face as she tried to work out how you can make one coin appear in a different hand to the one it started in.

Then it was time to head to the back room, where things started to go a bit wrong...

Due to a slight argument, a few of my friends who shall remain nameless, were not talking to each other. This caused a slight problem when i all of a sudden found myself standing on my own. Through the crowd i spotted one of the people involved in the split and said that i was annoyed at them for ruining the night. When they proved themselves to be quite stubborn on the issue, i decided that it was time to get properly wasted and go home. Heading to the bar, i started to cry which made a few people look. Regaining my composure, i ordered a drink and downed it. Then i ordered another and found myself feeling slightly better. I then headed back to the dancefloor to tell people that i was going home, but to my suprise, people were apologising to each other and everything was back to normal. Mish even got his groove back! I would like to thank that person for behaving like and adult and putting an end to the sillyness. It was one of the best birthday presents i could ask for.

So after the unpleasentness, we all danced on the stage and i was scared by the sight of Daggy running towards me as "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" was played. Kwan and i had a bonding moment over a few Queen tracks (i think you shouldn't drink any more Vodka and Shark Stimulation, or even Vodkat for that matter, it makes you really hyper) and everyone left on a high. Once again we headed for Rokeby and food was ordered due to lack of dinner earlier in the evening. After making Byron think he was drowning in his sleep and then in his drunken state, confusing him by waking up in Ryan's room rather than Emma's where he originally passed out, it was time to head home. Scott had already left but i am reliably informed that Mish and Ryan spent the night in Kwan's room. There are so many jokes i could make right about now, but i shall leave those for the privacy of the flat.

All that's left to do now is a creative journal, which has to be done in under an hour as books must be taken back to the library. Have a happy Sunday everybody!

"Am I Gay?"

2006-03-12T14:15:00.000Z

Well if you don't that by now Scott, I don't think we can help you with that one.

For those of you who weren't present at Jess' birthday extravaganza on Friday, then allow me to explain. the evening started at Joe Rigatoni's in Stockton for a wonderful Italian meal, with many cocktails being sampled and delicious food eaten. Then after free lemon drops (the vodka kind), we headed back to Rokeby, with Byron stealing a pepper grinder (and a rather large one i might add, which was hidden down his jeans, and apparently he wasn't wearing any boxers either...) and Kwan stealing that student favorite: a traffic cone. Upon returning to Rock-er-by or Roke-bee (there is much debate as to the correct pronounciation) Scott made a dash to get Piss Artist from Fairbridge and we decided to play party games. For those of you who don't know, Piss Artist is a drunken and rather rude version of Pictionary. It was played twice, with my team losing both times (how do you draw carnivore?). Charades was attempted but we gave up in favour of "Who am i?", you know the game where you have the name of a famous (or not so famous) person on your head and you have to guess who you are by asking the other players questions about you. Kwan gave me Bjorn Borg and Roy Walker, neither of which i got, but the funniest was Scott who was given himself at one point and the first question he asked was the title of this post. Cue much hysterics from the group and a rather confused Mr Biggs. Aww bless.

3 days...

2006-03-10T09:56:00.000Z

3 days people, time is running out...

Last night was spent perusing the emo scene at Club NME in association with Empire. The 2 bands were both equally as good but also quite different. We're still not quite sure which band was which but the first lot were definitely the better. They had a bit of a Radiohead vibe going on but with a bit more edge and less depressing lyrics. The second band were quite funny with their between song banter, but we're a bit too mad for my liking, although I did like their Waltz song. Photo's shall appear when I get home.

Anyway it was basically a bio-med social and me, which was kind of weird, sitting in Lizzie's kitchen and only knowing about 3 people out of the 20 or so that were there. We managed to get the train to 'Boro for free being the cheap students we are, which gave me a chance to bond with Chester over the wonders of growing up in such an amazing (Huh?) town.

The night was rather strange as I felt left out yet again upon reaching the empire as everyone (and I mean everyone) there was wearing black. So you're bound to get noticed in a bright pink top, denim skirt and fishnet tights... Everyone appeared to just stand around and do nothing, whereas I let the beat carry me throughout both the sets. It was quite sad to see 2 girls (probably underage) leaning against a wall at the back all night not even getting involved with the mass shouting that was occurring. You could tell that we were different to the rest of the people there, being from Stockton and all as upon entering the disco room upstairs, we were the only group of people actually dancing. The famous Bo Rap (Bohemian Rhapsody for those of you who remain uneducated) came on and we were singing along and doing the funny moves that only students can do, when I looked around and saw the emo kids just staring at us. We even got stared at when we started moshing. I was very disappointed.

The night ended with a minibus somehow being acquired (even though it was there to pick up people other than ourselves, who had taken the sensible route and booked one in advance) and a trip first to Stevo to drop all the bio-meds off and then onto Snow to take me and Clare (yet another bio-med) home. They're lucky they have the day off today. Instead I have a full day starting at 9, although my IT exam has just been cancelled...

I think sleep is called for before tonight's activities.

4 Days...

2006-03-09T15:02:00.000Z

Recently I've been really sleepy and I'm not sure why... I hope that I can shake it off before Empire tonight and the great club NME for the wonders of Dead Dead Dead and SomaHigh. Sounds interesting definitely.

I have to say that I love parental unit XX, not only has she sent me birthday presents to open with the promise of more when I get home, she also sent a box of French Fancies (God's own confectionery and the best cake in the world) , a HUGE pack of kit kats and a mars egg for each of my flat mates. Don't you wish you lived in Fairbridge now? I also have a card from Maggie, my mum's best friend which I don't want to open yet, so it's sitting tempting me on the side of my bed. I wasn't really that excited about my birthday last week, but as it gets closer, I'm feeling it.

Jess, if you're reading this, I've ordered your birthday present and it won't get here till next week, so don't be disappointed tomorrow!

I'm also contmeplating buying a cheap phone from ebay for about £30 to tide me over till the end of my contract because i'm fed up of having to turn my phone off every time i get a text message, and the thought of using my old phone freaks me out when i consider that a good friend has exactly the same phone, it's just too creepy for words to me...

5 Days...

2006-03-08T14:19:00.000Z

Only 5 days to go people...

I came back from lectures this afternoon to find a note from our cleaner (Linda) saying that we should take our own rubbish out at the weekends and not leave it for her to do on Monday morning. Well yes we would do this if it wasn't for the fact that both sets of oven gloves (including mine) have gone missing in addition to 3 of my 4 glasses being broken as well as Mish's and Scotts, and my measuring jusg being chipped and having a massive crack in it. The broken glassware is due to the cleaner throwing (believe me, i've heard her in the mornings) anything thats left near the sink into the washing up bowl without any consideration. Therefore we will not be considerate towards her.

The water out of the tap is pure chlorine apparently, so i've moved back to the cheap fruit juice from Bell's.

The heating on First floor of Ebsworth is broken so we all had to strip before SPSS this morning so that we could at least survive till the end of the lesson.

I'd also like to take this opportunity to apologise to Mish for snapping at him yesterday, it's not a good time at the moment, and whe you have 3 hours sleep one night and then can't get to sleep because of a certain person, you aren't in the best of moods. Sorry!

My social life has rocketed recently: I've been invited to Hush tonight but Desperate Housewives is luring me back, Thursday is good old Club NME, Friday is Jess' birthday/formal dinner/last Coc-Soc which will result in a trip to Klute/Planet of Sound, Saturday is the last but one Rocket (who's actually going to go to the last one on Friday?) then Sunday is Quiz Night and Monday is mybirthday and a trip to 'Boro. Then Wednesday is the last Hush and finally Thursday is club NME again. Somewhere we have to fit in film night, but I think my overdraft had better look out...

Hello

2006-03-07T10:41:00.000Z

I'm Emma.

I'm disgusting.

I go on a girls night out with the intention of being the sensible one but drink just as much as everyone else (possibly more):

1 pint of Calsberg
1 shot of sour apple Corky's
1 bottle of Grolsch
1 pint of Strongbow and Blackcurrant
1 pint of Stella
4 Archer's and Lemonade

According to my nifty little calculating device, i've consumed 15.1 units of alcohol in that list alone, which doesn't take into account the 3 rather large mugs of sparkling wine that were consumed before we left Backhouse...

The reason why i'm so alcohol concious is because Liz has just got back from an alcohol course after she got caught drink driving, and so last night was filled with little bits of information for all you drivers out there, such as if you go out drinking and leave your car at a friend's house, when you drive home the next morning you may well still be over the limit. Bet you didn't think about that did you?

So as you might have guessed, last night was quite "involved" shall we say. Sarah, Liz, Vicki and I left for good old 'Boro at 8, heading for the Walkabout first (what night out in 'Boro doesn't start there?). Here, Sarah decided that she was going to be an angel for the night and went about constructing a halo from glow sticks. Did you know that you have to be 18 to buy glow sticks? This caused a guy from Wales and a guy from Leeds to comment on her being an angel and she then set about telling them that he first deed as one was to make me beautiful because i used to be damn ugly. Thanks for that Chape.

After afew swift-ish drinks and the amazement of how i can fit my jacket in my bag, we headed steadfast into the cold towards The Dicken's. I have to say i was mightily impressed by the place. It was a really nice bar with lots of seating and being open mic night, there was good acoustic music. I was even more impressed by one guy who sang "Billy Davy's Daughter" by the Stereophonics, which is such a moving song and one that you don't hear ever, not even at their gigs do they play it anymore. Yay for people liking obscure songs. Things now get a bit hazy but one thing i do remember is that someone took my phone and started calling people quite randomly. I now have no free minutes left, so if you got a call, you won't be getting a proper one for a while yet. Also if you text me, i apologise for not replying as my brain couldn't quite work out how to text back.

Anyway after the Dickens, we headed once again out into the freezing night air and walked to The Crown. This is going to be a new haunt for me. I mean come on, it's the only Indie disco for miles around and it plays really good music. The people there are really friendly and the drinks are also quite cheap.

Another discovery of the night was Sex in a Box which consists of Chips, Bolognase and Cheese, pure heaven after a night out! All these strange yet yummy concoctions the 'Boro people have gives more of a post alcoholic binge variety than just a kebab.

It's strike day today, and i had the day off anyway, so the psychologist's just aren't happy. I should be writing a developmental essay but somehow i don't think it's going to happen...

7 Days...

2006-03-06T10:44:00.000Z

If you don't know what's happening in 7 days, then shame on you!

Weekend has been quite mixed, Saturday was spent in the Rocket as usual after finishing my SPSS assignment (finally!) However this time, Mish was being very generous and buying everyone a drink (or 5 shots in my case). Not quite sure why he chose this weekend to get smashed. I had to go and buy him vodka from the savior that is Bells since I was the only one with ID, however didn't get asked to show it. I don't know whether that's a good thing or not, as they only ask if you look under 21...do I look that old now? I always thought I looked younger than other people my age, obviously not anymore. Lots of dancing was undertaken and there are some questionable photos on facebook which I don't really remember. Around 1:30 am the power was cut and the fire alarm started going off. This freaked a few people out until Scott started telling everyone that it was a drill. Apparently he had told Kwan in advance who failed to pass on this valuable piece of information as he thought it was a joke on Mr Biggs' part. There were no bio-meds in sight for once due to copious amounts of work to be done. The psychologists also have copious amounts of work but alas we don't care and would rather party the night away with the business students. Upon returning back to the social hub that is Fairbridge, food was ordered from the Bite Centre, who have failed to get any order right. The theory was again tested on Sunday night, and there was a discrepancy over garlic bread this time.

Sunday brought with it a nice new day, crisp fresh air and ice, but no snow unlike Saturday morning. I've become a regular at the library these past few weeks on a Saturday but how depressing is it when you end up spending every available opportunity over the weekend in the house of books. It's even more depressing when you're listening to Radio 1 and you can count how many times you've heard the same songs in a day. Still the day was broken up with the viewing of The Matrix Reloaded in the said quiet place, and I'm extremely surprised that we didn't get caught. Apologies should go to Scott who let us use his laptop and then forced him to sit with his fingers in his ears for about 20 minutes.

All there is to do now is a social essay and creative/reflective journal...

Apologies if this is full of incoherent babble but I'm slightly delirious at the moment.

SNOW!!!!

2006-03-04T12:05:00.000Z

Not only is it the name of possibly the greatest college at Queen's Campus at least (and you know it), it's also covering everything in sight. While watching The Matrix Reloaded for experimental purposes, I just happened to look out the window and see a large flurry of snow whirling around. Cue many people taking photos of the rare site and much waving to people in the other buildings. If you live on the second floor in Craggs, why did you not wave back to the 2 rather crazy girls hanging out the window on top floor Backhouse? It's still all there this morning, and now all the canal's have frozen over in Toy Town which I noticed on my way to campus this morning.

On a slightly related note, can anyone help me with motivation? I need to finish my SPSS assignment, but there are so many more interesting things happening like the snow, the rugby later (which I may sneak off and watch without Scott knowing).

Tonight it is planned to go to the Rocket once again but with a twist. Mish has decided that he will get wasted tonight. Don't ask me why or how but he shall be falling out of bed yet again tonight for only the second time in is life. Maybe he's trying to balance the cosmos as I have rather limited my drinking over the past few weeks.

Finally, before I go and have some lunch and eventually carry on with my work, it seems that people are getting jealous of the attention I lavished on Mish the other day. So it's now time to give Scott some attention:

He's one of my best mates at uni. We share the same interests and taste in music (apart from Smelly) and we can have a laugh about pretty much anything. He's another person I know that I can say anything to and I know that he won't tell anyone else. I look forward to our trips to home bargains on a Monday and our washing up sessions on a Wednesday. I'm going to miss not living with him next year, he makes things seem more bearable when I go stir crazy, and I think he's going to make an excellent teacher.

Right back to work...

The Trolls Are Back!!!

2006-03-03T16:35:00.000Z

And they've brought with them a chavtastic friend! I could hardly believe my eyes when walking around town today. Firstly i was surprised at the mere thought that those weird little creatures had made a return to the world of the living (I'm sure you can all remember how crazy you went over trying to get a troll doll) and secondly upon closer inspection, that they now have a Chav Troll complete with burberry clothing, gold cap and rather large mobile phone.

After a fairly eventful college dining last night, it was decided to go swimming at Thornaby pool. It was supposed to be ladies night (well hour anyway) but i felt slightly creeped out by the fact that all the lifeguards there were male. Surely the idea of going for a ladies only session is so you don't have guys looking at you? Perhaps this idea seems to have escaped those that work at Active Life. Still a fun time was had by all and i felt so much fitter and healthier after it.

This good work was then negated by a trip to Dubliners which lasted all of 20 minutes due to the actions of some people who we'd rather not associate with anymore, and then upon returning to Rokeby, an innocent comment by myself led to the last minute mad dash to Teeside Park for food. It was orginally intended to get KFC but this plan was thwarted by said fast food outlet being closed, so off to McDonalds it was. It took 2 people to carry all of our order out to the car and i think that our group of hungry students on a mission for many more back at the flat, may have been their best customers all week! Some prank phonecalls were made (how i love the internal phone lines here) which resulted in some confused people exiting their buildings under the impression that the caretaker wanted to speak to them. This was however taken in good faith as we only phoned those that we are actually good friends with such as my own Fairbridge flat.

A trip into town today has provided Nat and I with many rich delights and films galore, so a night in is planned before the mad night planned for next friday. Forget double booking, try triple booking! Let's see how i can get out of that...

Happy World Book Day!

2006-03-02T16:09:00.000Z

Also in addition to music, today should be devoted to books, what with it being World Book Day and all. So I've been asked what my favorite book ever is. This is a tough decision as my taste when I was a child (or younger at least) was much different to today. So rather than a favorite book period, I think that there are favorite books for different periods of my life.

One would be Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Recently I seem to have seen the new film quite a bit, but that is nothing compared to the number of times that I've read the book. The first time was when I was in infant school and my teacher, Miss Harris, decided that I should probably push my reading ability and lead me into the staff room to take a look at the selection she had brought over from the junior school. Among them was Charlie boy, and I was immediately drawn by the fantastic yet mystical purple and green cover (covers of books have always appealed to me just as much as the contents, that's how I discover new authors, on the looks alone). I took it home ad read it in over the weekend, absorbed by the images that the words created in my head. For a 6 year old, this was a big book, and I may not have understood the hidden messages contained within the pages, but I did enjoy it. When I eventually arrived at the junior school, I sought out the book again, and when reaching home with it in my book bag, was greeted with groans from parental unit XX who once again had to listen to it all over again. This process was repeated about 5 times over the next 4 years, and it is still a book that I look for when I want to remember a more innocent time.

My time at Grays Convent is marked by 2 great literary discoveries. One of these can be attributed to a certain female English teacher who made a comment about stout to Elyse and I. We had this teacher in year 9 and she further instilled a great appreciation for literature in me. I can remember that we used to have reading periods in the library once a week, and they were one of the best bits about English, when I could read what I wanted to read. During one such period I forgot to bring my book from home (it was probably a Discworld novel of some kind) and so had to run to the nearest bookcase and grab something to make it look like I had previously finished my current read and was merely looking for something for the lesson. The nearest case to the door was the 'H' case and the first novel I found was 'Tess of the D'Urbervilles' by that great man, Thomas Hardy. I was reading the first chapter and it wasn't really grabbing my interest, it was merely a stop-gap for that particular lesson. That was until I reached the end of the first chapter. If you've read it you'll know what I mean. Anyway that particular part is rather confusing when you first read it, and this must have been displayed on my face as the teacher in question came over and grabbed the book to see what I was reading. Presently she began to explain how Hardy is her favorite author ever and that she was glad I was reading such a book. To keep in her good books, I carried on reading it and greatly enjoyed it. Cue much hidden conversations between Elyse and myself between the stacks as she began reading the wonderful book as well, just to compare notes and make sure we did actually understand what was happening!

Another great Convent find, and probably my favorite book ever has to be 'Wild Swans' by Jung Chang. It was a random book find while on librarian duty (yes I was a librarian at school). It is a beautifully crafted book, but it isn't a story. It is in fact an autobiography of 3 generations of women growing up in China under the various regimes that have occupied it since the 19th Century. It is a book that I urge all women to read, it will teach you a lot about what it is to be part of the XX race.

At college my love for reading was hampered by the enormous workload I had (no where near as much as uni is though). But this didn't kill my love of literature and I started to read more for pure entertainment rather than pleasure. This is where I discovered Dave Gorman. The man is crazy, he decides to travel round the world to find people that have the same name as him for a bet that gives him nothing. This then inspires the great novel 'Are you Dave Gorman?' and other such adventures.

Now I'm at uni, my life revolves around textbooks and not much else. However I am attempting to work my way through the top 200 books, and already being about a quarter of the way through is kind of impressive without really trying. So everyone go out and try to read something today!

"Is it just me?" (11 days!)

2006-03-02T15:28:00.000Z

Sorry I'm, listening to those modern rock gods, The Darkness while I should be completing my SPSS assignment but hey, that's what the weekend is for.

To all those Welsh people out there: Happy St David's Day for yesterday. I would be writing it in welsh but it would screw up my system to enable the welsh language here, sorry!

A little warning to some people that actually know me: if I consider you special and I have your address, then you may be receiving a little gift soon. I'm in a generous mood at the moment, full of cheer (in addition to paranoia).

The great post monkey is back after some absence, and is bringing me music once again (see I do actually buy music rather than just downloading it.) I prefer to have the actual CD anyway, I'm rather pedantic with things like that. Anyway this weeks band of choice is Bright Eyes, who use guest artist's quite a bit, for example my name sake Emmy-Lou Harris. They produced two albums at the same time: Digital Ash in a Digital Urn and I'm Wide Awake and It's Morning. DADU is more electronic and modern and my personal favorite out of the two whereas IWAIM is more mellow (hence the presence of Emmy-Lou). Now I'm on a collecting binge to get the back catalogue now in addition to so many other great albums that are coming out soon. My Amazon wish list can be distributed to anyone who requests it, I should warn you that it has over 250 items on it, most of which are musical items.

And before I forget, I've been ordered to inform the world (well those that read this) that Mish is a wonderful person. Not only am I saying this because he asked me to mention him, he is a really nice guy who I know will sit there and listen to me bitch, moan and cry and still be able to talk to me the next day without getting fed up with it. And he's so generous (thanks for the hat).

If n = x then d = jake gyllenhaal

2006-02-28T22:43:00.000Z

It's Pancake day today and soon we shall be gorging on pancakes a pleanty!

Nat has been in a rather strange mood all day, which seems to have rubbed off on me. Her, Vicki and I went to see "Proof" starring Anthony Hopkins, Gwyenth Paltrow and the gorgeous Jake of course. It was such a film that appealed to my inner geek and also touched me in a rather strange way. Gwyneth's mental brakedown was well executed and the film had a rather Tarentino-esque feel to it, with the bouncing back and forward between various time states. And the proof in question just invovled differential equations, that's not so difficult really is it? Maybe it is...

Now we're currently planning birthday events as i'm eager to see a band. In order to tide me over i'm going to see Paul Smith from Maximo Park, DJ tomorrow night (aren't you jealous?).

Censorship

2006-02-27T20:39:00.000Z

I often get asked, "What is the point in having a blog?"

Well I would say that it is a way of expressing my creativity and thoughts in addition to general events in my day to day life. It is not subject to censorship as how can you censor your own thoughts? Plus i get the chance to record all those things that make me smile in this rather terrible world, to remind me that things aren't always so bad. Those are my reasons and if you don't agree with them or anything else that is said here then please email me or leave a comment here (if it's anonymous, i will hunt you down, it can be done) and i will address your thoughts and queries. I apologise if things are a bit quiet around here now.

On a brighter note Nat is attempting to kill me through tickling and general scaring tactics. Someone come and save me from Backhouse!

Strike 6

2006-02-26T13:12:00.000Z

After reporting that i didn't feel well, i was promptly sick for most of the night. When you haven't thrown up since you were 8, it's definitely a strange experience to empty the contents of your stomach. This was interrupted by the early arrival home of Mish, which lead to us both being locked out of the building until he could get up the courage to go and speak to security and get them to let us in. Shortly afterwards, Scott and Kwan returned home and since we were all awake it was decided to play Piss Artist, which for those of you who don't know, is exactly like pictionary except you are supposed to drink a fair bit and it has "Dirty Draws" some of which were easier to draw and guess than others. As the game was finishing, i treated the guys to a view of me being sick, nice for them i know, and then Kat came home, but not before Mish and Kwan beat Scott and I after we'd been leading the whole game. Now i've seen her pissed before, but this was something else. Let's just say that when i started throwing up againg during the night, she took it upon herself to clean the entire bathroom...practically naked. Since we were both up, we watched a bit of Friends and then managed to get a few hours sleep. I'm going back to bed to lie down, hope all your weekends were much better than mine.

Bleugh

2006-02-25T23:38:00.000Z

20 minutes ago i was sitting in The Rocket Union. Now i'm sitting in my room, on my own, in pj's and hoodie feeling shit. I was suddenly overcome with an attack of nausea and glad that i live less than 5 minutes away from there. It's the perfect end to a perfect day really, a day spent with Mish and Scott shopping. This has taught me that men are worse than women at shopping. It's too painful an experience to recount...

Although i feel shit (i'm not ashamed to admit it), i've just discovered a very funny program on BBC 2...

Paper Plates and Paper ceilings

2006-02-23T18:50:00.000Z

College dining was more than intersting tonight due to the roof caving in where food is served in the Waterside room. Thus we had to eat off paper plates and it didn't add to the general atmosphere that we usually have at dining. Would have been funnier if more of the roof had actually caved in while we were there.

Stupendiously Twattish

2006-02-22T17:23:00.000Z

Well Stat's problems was so boring today that Nat managed to take a very unflattering photo of me wrapped in my scarf with Bryan looking very studious in the background. Little does she know, but i'm going to embarass her later in this entry. If she had been clever, then she would have managed to get the stupendiously twattish one behind me as well. I'll let you guess who we mean...

Mish is still going on about the miraculous win last night, during which all could be heard was Ryan going "Take his legs!" After that, Mish did go slightly crazy when Henry scored and apologies had to be made to those around us.

Tonight is going to be spent on the Hush bar crawl to celebrate Clare's birthday, lets see if anyone can actually make it to Hush before we've run out of money! And now for Nat's embarassing moment: From the Rocket on Saturday (after all that traveling), Vicki took this picture after Nat licked my face. She's a strange one that girl, but she's a really good friend! So dear, here's your embarassing moment, look at your face! He he he!

I'm a Prisoner

2006-02-19T20:44:00.000Z

Well it's got to the stage where Mish, Kwan and I are complaining about uni. Being in Stockton is different from being in Durham. We really are just University College of Stockton on Tees. I think Mish summed it up perfectly by likening this to an open prison. After going away for a day i don't want to be back. I was unhappy before that but now I'm even more depressed and i don't know why. The course is annoying me, it doesn't interest me, and even though the people are nice, there really is nothing to do here other than the same things week in week out. So give me reasons to stay here, otherwise i may not be here next year.

28 Days

2006-02-19T18:12:00.000Z

Work has fallen by the wayside today and so films have been watched: 28 Days Later being one of them. It's a rather typical disaster film: Animal rights protesters free chimps that have been infected with pure rage, infection spreads, man wakes from coma to find London deserted, gets chased by infected, is rescued, goes to Manchester, finds army, army lead by nutcase, realises the rest of the world is ok, gets saved in the end. The highlight of the film has to be when Jim, the main character, walks into a church to find salvation but instead is confronted with the following message in huge letters on a wall:

Repent, the end is fucking nigh.

Pure genius i thought. Christopher Eccleston plays the mad (ginger) army major who comes across as gay in the film. This is because he says to Jim, "I promised women for the rest of the men" quite a few times, and affectionately brushes Jim's face and plays with his hair.

Still it's nice to know that if there ever is a major infection breakout in the UK, the rest of the world will leave us to it because we are just an Island that can be quarantined easily.

"The whole world is turning lesbian!"

2006-02-19T02:21:00.000Z

Or that's what it seemed like tonight. Once again another Rocket has passed and we commit it to memory in the form of photos which will appear later on no doubt today. I was forced by Nat to only take money with me and a camera and so fretted all night that i had forgotten my keys or phone, only to remember he wrestling both items out of my hands before we left. The cheerleaders were on top form with one or two performing a few tricks for us although no sign of the Rugby team left us disappointed.

The trip back was equally as eventful as the trip there, with the threat of diverting via Sheffield yet again as there was no available room on the 10:00 am train from King's Cross to York, not even standing room. The next one was at 11:00, but before that there was another via Sheffield, which would have been easier to get on but apparently a ticket that says "Any available route" means the most direct (in theory) not the quickest, and since i wanted to leave the perils of London and it's guitarists and amps behind, the world seemed to be against me.

Since i haven't really slept in 48 hours (or maybe more) I'm now going to collapse into bed and not wake up till very late tomorrow. Have a great rest of the weekend y'all and someone better give me a ring before 3pm to make sure I'm up because i have to do work *sob*.

"Please mind the gap when getting off at the next station"

2006-02-17T16:09:00.000Z

I swear that if i have to hear that phrase one more time this week i will scream. Oh wait, I've got it all to do again tomorrow.

You see at about 7 last night it was decided by Kat that i would in fact have to go home and go to the dentist for fear that my teeth would spill over the floor in our room. So a brief stop in Sheffield and a few hundred miles later, here i am back home in Essex. I have been reliably informed by my dentist that i do not have a gum infection (yay!) but i do have to have a filling and one of my wisdom teeth extracted. So if you don't see me at Easter, it's because I'm in some hospital having all my wisdom forcibly taken from me.

I was looking forward to the prospect of actually being able to sleep on the train to London but alas my plan was thwarted by the woman sitting across the aisle from me as every time i was just drifting off, she received a text message with the loudest ringtone ever known to exist.

To all those in Durham, I shall be there tomorrow night in the Rocket, about 10ish? Till then I'm going to catch up on some much needed sleep.

Emergency

2006-02-16T12:21:00.000Z

It's starting to look like i might not be alone this weekend after all. I may not even be here at all. Overnight my recurring jaw problem has decided to return with a vengeance and this time I'm worried that my teeth are going to fall out on one side of my mouth. Since i just about trust my own dentist and i hate going there anyway, i may have to go home if i can get an appointment. So this time tomorrow i could be on the long (very long) coach journey home. Please think of me and my incredibly painful jaw.

My Good Deed

2006-02-15T15:25:00.000Z

I feel more energised after doing a good deed today: I broke up a fight with some girls from Stockton Riverside College. This would normally be a really crazy idea as the girls from there are very very bitchy. But Nat and I were walking past and felt extremely guilty to see this girl on the floor, struggling for breath, having the crap beat out of her. So being the escort girls we are, we walked her to the bridge making sure that her attackers didn't follow her. Now i feel really good about myself in addition to dying over everyone.

Obligatory Photo Post

2006-02-14T23:58:00.000Z

It seems that not only have i been drowning under books recently, so have all my cables which would explain the lack of photos here. So since i have a few free minutes and have managed to half sort out my stuff, here are some photos from Friday, Saturday and Yesterday:

This first one is an example of people ACTUALLY DANCING TO S CLUB 7. I was stunned by this sight and thought that it would be a good idea to record the moment for posterity. And they are from Durham city so it's to be expected really...

Here we have two girls enjoying a night out. We're not drunk, (honest!) and I know that I can't smile properly without exposing my fangs and that my eyes are closed. Still you can see my pretty top and eyeshadow for once!

Another photo from POS on Friday: They've errected an homage to the Rocket in Stockton. Or we stole our image from them...(that's more likely to be honest)

The King of Cheese:

Electric, moshing away to Bryan Adams possibly...

Andy and his friend who thought it was fun to make fun of the fact that Clare and I are rather short. They were very fun to hang around with and hopefully we'll see them at POS again soon.

We found this car on the way to Patrick's Pizza, I took great offence to the sentiment. In case you can't quite read it, it says: "Wales Sucks" *shocked*

Moving onto Saturday night at the good old Rocket, this is the only picture you're going to get. (There are lots from POS that have been missed out also.) I personally think that this is a rather nice photo of myself, regardelss of the fact that i'm not wearing a bra which meant that Henry took it upon himself to openly stare at my clevage all night. By the way, Kat was rather drunk by this time and about 30 seconds after this picture was taken, she spilt half her pint of skittles over Clare.

It's Monday now and here's one of the Girls (Vicki, myself, Nat and Sarah) in the obligatory corridor shot (in Backhouse of course). The theme was "Loved Up" hence all the pink and red going on. Sarah was happy to inform us that her dress was pinned to her bra to keep things in place. That reminds me, Vicki still has my jacket...

Last photo i swear! Here's one of some Love heart's that were at Moby on Monday. Perhaps one of them was a pill which made Bryan not feel too good, but anyway i got given a few "Be Mine" ones from Vicki and Mike, which made me feel a bit loved.

Happy Valentines Day!

2006-02-14T09:03:00.000Z

Last night it was the ACS (Afro-Caribbean Society) Valentine's Ball. The only good thing about it were the cocktails on sale. The only reason we went was to celebrate Nat's birthday but i don't think she enjoyed it. Instead she, Bryan and I left early as Brynuts wasn't feeling too well for no reason what so ever. I think he enjoyed being escorted home by two gorgeous women through the streets of Stockton. So after making his bed for him and tucking him in, it was time to collapse into bed myself because i was quite tired.

Now i wake up this morning with the flu bug that I've been trying to avoid for ages. I'm off to have a lemsip and stay in bed all day, yay for days off!

Happy Valentines Day everyone!

Open Invitation

2006-02-13T11:59:00.000Z

You (yes you reading this) are cordially invited to Ground Floor, Fairbridge, John Snow College, University of Durham for the weekend beginning the 17th February as I shall be the only one here and well it's not much fun being on your own. All I ask is that you RSVP either here, or give me a little bit of warning such as indicating when you are at Darlington Station. If I find myself on my own still after I've been so kind and invited you all (I will even pay for either the cost of your travel or everything you want while you are here) then you can expect some late night bored phone calls. That is all.

Interesting Experiment

2006-02-12T11:57:00.000Z

I have discovered that it is possible to enjoy a night at the Rocket without the use of alcohol to numb the pain of actually having nowhere better to go on a Saturday night. However without alcohol, my dancing ability kind of goes downhill as the night wears on due to becoming more than a bit tired.

I do however resent being told by someone who shall be known as "H", to look after Kat because "she's pretty wasted, guys are eyeing her up and after all you are the only one who's sober and you're her room mate." Now it's not my problem that she can't actually walk, but it is my problem when I want to enjoy myself yet am forced every minutes to check where she is. I'm not a heartless or callous bitch but I didn't drink last night for a reason and it showed me that when you're pissed out of your head, you can really embarrass yourself and those around you.

I did end up coming home early and watching the end of the Shawshank redemption with some people, and eventually headed to bed at 3:30, long after Kat. Now I'm the one who's on campus in a lab doing work while a few other people stay in bed with headaches. I think I like this no drinking thing...

"Don't stop Moving!"

2006-02-11T11:41:00.000Z

After making the best chocolate brownies in the world, it was time to go to my first Mixology Meeting of the new year last night. Through this i discovered the very nice and strangely christmassy Scarlet Pimpernel, whcih shall be made for my birthday bash. Yes that's right, Clare persuaded me to have a cocktail party for my birthday, so dress elegently people! Anyway back to last night...

After Coc-Soc it was decided to head to the centre of our current universe: Durham. The 45 minute (free) bus ride proved fairly uneventful with us only being threatened with being chucked off once due to the presence of alcohol in the confinement. On the way it was a tough decision whether to go to Klute (reputedly the worst nightclub in Europe) or Planet of Sound at DSU (Durham Student Union for those of you uninitiated with the acronyms here). In the end, POS (Planet of Sound) won and Clare and I parted ways with Jo, the illustrious president of Coc-Soc. Now I don't think it really is a good idea to wear a top with "Coc-Soc-er" on the back when around students, it poses so many questions with very wrong answers, but that is what happened. I'd nver been to a proper night out in DSU before and I was actually suprised. Not only was there a Cheese room, but Dance/Trance and supposedly an Indie room that remained empty for most of the night.

Much dancing happened, some of which occurred on tables (lets not go there) but something i did notice was that the city people dance differently to us down here. They are more into the whole "Lets stand in a circle and not really do much." Well they were in for a shock with 2 girls from Stockton around! We seemed to be the only ones who cared that DJ Robin (the Cheese King) was playing a large amount of Ska: old No Doubt, Dropkick Murphy's, Madness, The Specials etc. Our dancing attracted much attention: firstly from Ed "Electric" Harris from a Grey College sports team (Rugby i think) who took it upon himself to direct his mad rocker anticks on the stage, at us. Then a group of guys (one of which was called Andy, that much I know) decided to "protect" us due to our small size and it resulted in us being sandwiched between all of them. Actually managed to bump into Mike, Pete and Paul briefly to say "Hey it's another Stocktonite" and then they promptly disappeared into the night to the dance room i think.

As the last bus was approaching, we left early and headed to find a takeaway so I could get some food as I was stupid and had not really eaten all day. Patricks Pizza was happy to help me satisfy my cravings with waht has to be the nicest cheese burger ever as it was freshly cooked for me with loads of salad, just as i like it. Practically teh whole of Stevo and Snow were in there eating. Including Jo who informed me in a drunken state that Klute was actually quite good. I put it down to it's only good if you drink a lot.

The bus eventually turned up late which made everyone panic thinking that we'd missed it due to the delicious pizzas and would therefore be stranded in Durham or faced with a very expensive taxi fare. The crush for the bus was painful to say the least but being small helps in one way and we managed to get a seat with the fear hanging over us that someone nearby would take it upon themselves to empty the contents of their stomach over us...

Luckily the only thing emptied was Olivia's voice after a chanting match happend between Stevo and Snow with some old favorites such as "We hate Snow", "I'm Stevo till I die" and "Sit Down Shut Up" ringing out from the back of the bus by the Stevo crowd including JD, and the mighty Snow just singing "If I had the wings of a sparrow" much louder and with more vigour than anything Stevo could think of.

Eventually the bus arrived at Campus and then it was time for me and Clare to say goodbye to Mike, Pete, Paul, Bina, Jane and any other Snow people and run home due to the coldness. We did however stop momentarily to observe the ice forming on the canals in Toy Town, but this was short lived due to my batteries not working in the camera (it was so pretty too). Much sleep was then had and now today I'm faced with the prospect of doing it all again, though this time at the good old Rocket.

Still it's nice to see that Durham like to pay homage to us in their own small way:

Remind me to take a bag

2006-02-09T20:00:00.000Z

To those who live in Snow, here's a reminder to take a bag with you when you go to the library, as i can no longer lift my arms more than about 5 centimetres after carrying 3 out of the 5 huge books that i found in the library for my social essay and biological reading. And they all have to be back on the same day...I think i should start lifting weights in preparation. (Thanks to Clare for carrying the other 2) I hadn't realised just how far away from campus i lived.

Snickers Pie

2006-02-08T14:18:00.000Z

I was just reading the Guardian, and found a receipe for Snickers Pie:

Place puff pastry in the bottom of a baking tin
Toss on 5 Snickers bars, in chunks
Cook for 30 minutes
Cover in msacapone and grill lightly

And there you have it: something that gives you a day's calorie intake in just one slice...

Now where did I put that cake tin?

Achievement

2006-02-08T13:27:00.000Z

I actually managed to answer a question today in SPSS.

I'm a mushroom

2006-02-07T20:58:00.000Z

After spending the evening listening to Hallam fm in Vicki's room (yep that's right, HALLAM fm) we spent some time looking at crazy facts online.

Next time someone calls you a mushroom, don't take offence...

2006

2006-02-07T16:00:00.000Z

Well today is the day when nothing much happens, yes it's that time of the fortnight, it's the alternative methods Tuesday! So after a random morning it is time to crack on with the work, which isn't really happening. Now I know that a lot of people are reading this thing now, probably through facebook, so I had better keep it updated. I just wish some of you would comment in a while. Anyway today I leave you with some facts that will happen this coming year:

One person in 5 will have less than $1 a day to live on
20 billion rolls of toilet paper will be used
292 billion cans and bottles of Coke will be sold
One person in 5 will be Chinese
The average Briton will spend more than 400 hours shopping
The sea will rise by 2 mm
Over 100,000 new book titles will be published in the UK
More than 1 million working computers will be thrown away
2.7 trillion insects will be accidently eaten by humans
More than 1 billion people will watch the final of the World Cup on the 9th July

Hope you've learnt something today.

Blog of a Stockham Student

The Flat

Long time no see

I'm H-A-P-P-Y

Wow

What a difference a year makes!

"I think I like today..."

"They think it's all over...Well not quite yet!"

"There's no one in town I know..."

Job Hunting

"I'm Starving." "I'm Jess."

"Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous"

All Finished!

"Its the final countdown..."

Never again

"Little girl you're in the middle of the ride"

MUSHY PEAS!

"We're going down , down"

"We be Burning"

"Under Pressure!"

"Get Your Tits Out"

"Falling over backwards for you"

"I just wave at them as they pass by"

"That's GCSE maths!"

"Perhaps Vampires is a bit strong but..."

That's It, I've had enough (ATTN ALL AT STOCKTON)

"Bang Bang, you're dead"

Revision Pt 1

Interesting (Pt 2)....

Packing, packing and more packing

Congratulations!

"Where's my gun?"

867-5309

I hate the Student Loan Company

Happy Easter!

It's Craaaaazzzzyyy!

Happy Birthday Shaun!

"Do you have one of those jackets that does up at the back?"

"I must be emo"

"I'm sick and tired, of always being sick and tired"

Alcohol is bad

Dear Mr Cadbury...

"You Bitch!"

*Bounce*

I'm so stupid

"Where the shock sets in, and the stomach acid finds a new way to make you get sick"

"SOS Please someone come and rescue me..."

200th Post!

Eurgh

Honey I'm Home Pt 2

Hello

Ummm...

"Making my escape..."

Hmmm

Gracenote, how I love thee

Booked

Trips

Numb

OOhhh Shiny!

"He's a Scumbag don't you know..."

"She's still out to get me..."

*Sniff*

"Red Light Blinking In The Twilight..."

Birthday Celebrations

Happy Birthday to me!!

Huh?

"I am the ONE and ONLY"

"Am I Gay?"

3 days...

4 Days...

5 Days...

Hello

7 Days...

SNOW!!!!

The Trolls Are Back!!!

Happy World Book Day!

"Is it just me?" (11 days!)

If n = x then d = jake gyllenhaal

Censorship

Strike 6

Bounce

Sniff