Literacy overload!!

Today was work, work and work. I planned to get up early, setting my alarm for 7:15, some how managed to make that 8:15. Wasn't in the plan, but not deterred. This holiday got to complete a creative writing project and today I set myself the task of writing a short story. I stormed the day and completed one despite constant sneaky Facebook checks, the occasional weather update, why I'd need to know if the weather changed as I was stuck inside all day I'll never know, and blankly staring out of the window at an old couple across the road, creepy!!! And I carried on my literary roll by watching the bbc adaptation of great expectations. Soooo good!! I love when I can pretend to say I've read a book when I have just watched the bbc adaptations. That's how you get through a English literature degree folks:) today was a literary success. Update on running is non existent. Eaten so much from Xmas I can't move though I have collected £10 sponsorship so far so I'm still super keen:) xx

Back and Buzzing for Xmas

EEEEKKKK!! Sorry guys I'm back. Had a whirlwind of a month. Heres a quick up date
1. Finished a proper essay!!!! brownie points,
2. went to a ball that required wearing underwear in the freezing cold to raise money for aids charities. You'll be pleased to here I arrived in a respectable state, being relativly clothed and semi-sober, unlike two of my friends who I hasten to add were taken to the 'drunk room' yes it had a reputation already, and were ordered to go home after passing out by st john's ambulance!!!!
3. signed up to run Bath Half Marathon!! eeek, umm firstly I'm pretty terrible at running, kind of like Phoebe on Friends, but kind of worse!!?? seen a girl with legs and arms and head flayling in the air in a wild crase, yep that be me. But it is for a really good charity, the forever friends appeal, raising money for the cancer ward at Bath Royal United Hospital. Soooo stay with me and I'll update you all on my training or.. lack of it :)
4. Various xmas meals with my uni mates. Been carrying a food baby for the last two weeks.
5. Finished uni for the xmas break. Back home loving the food and cleanliness of the house:) only trouble is I am forcing myself to finish this creative writing project I have to get done for January, as yes I left it to the last minute. So thats me basically up to date, listening to wham, eating mince pies, thinking about running, well not really, and trying to get my creative writing juices flowing in the run up to xmas :) I hope you have a wonderful xmas and I look forward to keeping you up to date on all my adventures :) xxx

Anything that glitters IS Gold!!

I'm going to start with an apology. Sorry I haven't been blogging much I've just been so caught up in work. We have an essay deadline coming up so in a way thats kind of a good thing I haven't had time seeing as I'm actually getting something done. I say this but if you asked me to show you any evidence I literally would not be able to show you a thing. Instead of being able to write the essay I have researched everything but the actual topic...in my mind its going well... I'm trying not to think about it. With Christmas looming its getting harder and harder to concentrate on anything but glittering baubles and George Michael singing "Last Christmas." Last week I spent the whole afternoon at my friends house playing on a Christmas ap on her ipad that consisted of watching a pretend log fire burn with classic xmas tunes singing out. No word of a lie, I spent 3 hours staring in glee. Tonight, after a heavy day of the essay writing, cough cough, me and my housemates set off, fully hatted and gloved in pure winter fashion, to watch the christmas lights being turning on in town. The walk towards the lights consisted of my housemate loudly sushing me and pulling me away from the glittering window displays and trying to calm me down, I was not deterred. People were staring at me, parents were praising their children at how well they were behaved in comparison, a policeman even came up to me thinking I was drunk. I'm jolly around Christmas, thats all, I don't need a reason, it's a jolly time of year. So apart from embarrassing my house mate and missing the official light turning on ceremony, it was a good evening. Do you know why? Because its on the count down to Christmas, I'm almost officially allowed to play Christmas songs and I didn't feel guilty for not doing my essay, because I had a valid reason.

Taking One for the Team

Ok so I'm going to admit to something that I'm not super proud of. It wasn't my finest moment by a long shot but I was doing my duty as a good housemate. I took one for the team, sacrificed my dignity, boosting my brownie points in the house. I can't stall this any longer so here goes.... I stole some toilet rolls from the theatre toilets...(pause).... There I said it, alright? We were running low on toilet rolls and the shops were closed. Me and a mate had gone to the theatre and I saw my opportunity and took it. Go on say it!! I've hit an all time low havent I? Forget about a degree, the BBC are never going to hire me when they find out about this. I might aswell just quit uni straight away, no one will have me when they find out I'm a toilet roll stealer, I'll never be trusted alone in the loos again. Lock up the toilets, she's coming past. I thought I was being civilised, gaining posh points in going to the theatre but no, as always, I somehow managed to lose them, sabatage myself in my quest to become slightly more la-di-da. So there we go, its been decided, I wont be getting my dream career because I stole toilet rolls from the toilets of a theatre. Yes you may say it was trivial and in the scheme of things completely not worth it but I disagree, I may have lost my dignity but least I gained an applause from my housemates as I entered the house holding toilet roll above my head and singing "we will survive."

Superwoman?

Is that a bird, is that a plane, is that superwoman? No its me on a mission!! People were cheering, waving flags, shoating my name because today I could have even beaten Usain Bolt I was that fast. Today was the ultimate day, I was pacing up and down campus so much in super productivity mode my heels were on fire. I'll be suprised if my future employer doesn't just hire me on the spot after the day I had. Got up, raced to campus for the first seminar of the day, then ran to a meeting, rushed back to do some charity work, sprinted to the campus radio to complete my presenter training, ran back to the library dashing up and down the aisle in search of all the books with the name 'rhetoric' in for an essay that not due for ages, because I'm that prepared, before shooting my way to a careers talk. Casual day I think :)

Stalker in the Coffee Shop

I like to think its better than it sounds, but who am I kidding? Yesterday I officailly became that stalker in the coffee shop. I'm not proud of myself but I did have a reason, it was all for the greatness of my career. Not convincing you? I'll start from the beginning. Well, as part of my course I am doing a creative writing module, and me being a little too committed thought I'd march out into town to find some first hand inspiration. I ended up in a coffee shop, awkwardly placed between an odd couple and a group of working students, with my cranberry juice. Yeh, my love of coffee is not going well. So there I was with my juice and my notebook trying to spot a victim to watch and make observations. There, spotted my guy, hunched in the corner, fidgeting and shuffling in his chair. If anyone could see us they would think us crazy, a middle aged man with an earring and a nose piercing churning in his seat and me an awkwardly placed student staring at him from across the room. Great! He turned out to be quite interesting to watch, eek does that make me sound creepy? From spilling coffee down himself to chucking his pencil on the table in frustration I had quite a lot to take notes about. I could have remained dignified and called it a day when he got up and started to pack his things away but for some unknown reason to man I found myself getting up with him and following him out of the coffee shop, ahhhhhhhh, whats wrong with me???? I reassure you I'm completely sane but I did have to physically stop myself from following him any further, wow I think my commitment to the course has gone a little too far. I've now baned myself from coffee shops... and looking at people for more than five seconds. Think I may need help!

Flosso and his Philosophy

Last year there was a program on tv called Flash Forward. Although axed after the first series, not a good look, I learnt a valuable lesson, from a character aptly named Flosso, that has stuck with me since, "all villains smoke, we know this." Well I thought some did but I didn't know that it was a universal fact, thanks for that Flosso. I was obviously behind the times. It moves me on to my main point that all writers drink coffee, right? Each stereotypical character in life has to have one defining feature and for writers it has to be coffee. As such since I absolutly detested coffee I felt I couldn't be seen in the real working world as a true writer. Something had to be done, I felt it was necessary for me to continually drink coffee until I had learnt to stomach it for the good of my future career. I began cautiously with a iced coffee latte. I was unsure of the lingo in starbucks but about 10 minutes and some wierd  looks from the staff later I had my latte. I must admit it wasnt the best experience, but I drank it and I was proud. Next I became a bit too full of myself and thought I could stomach actual coffee, I was wrong and had to add about 3 heaped spoonfuls of hot chocolate in to change the taste. It turned out well and I thought I had pioneered a new drink in the coffee world. I was devastated when I found it was named a mocha. But for now I'm sticking to the mochas. Its not as far as I wanted to get but at least I feel a little bit more like a writer.

The Bread Winner

If only CV's were like writing a blog. Employers now a days are just not interested that you managed to have a four way skype conversation with your mates or cook a meal, unload the washing machine and speak to your mum at the same time. I mean, come on, these things obviously demonstrate the desirable key skills needed in the work place. Back me up here!! But no, according to careers advice, its 'just not quite what they're looking for.' So back to the drawing board it is, to find something else to stick in that dreaded document. Apart from finishing reading 'Richard III,' which unfortunately I don't think is CV worthy, I haven't exactly achieved much today that can count towards it. I did on the other hand earn some easy cash through doing a psychological experiment, no fear I can assure you all was legitimate. My task was to answer simple maths questions for about half an hour and yes I use the word 'simple' very loosly for as maths isn't my strong suit, my head was pounding by the time I left. It was worth it though, for with my cash in hand nothing beats the satisfaction of knowing you're the bread winner of the house. Thank you psychology.

Hair Dye and Everything in Between

There comes a time when you just get fed up with the same boring thing, work, clothes and today, for me, it was my hair. When I was young I had my hair cut, against my will may I add, extremely short by this male hairdresser and ever since I have been fending hairdressers off with a barge pole, allowing them to cut the minimalist amount off only on special occasions, or just when my mum literally forced me into the salon for fear birds would nest in my hair. I've always wanted to change my look in someway yet since this freak episode been too scared... until recently. I needed a change, and dying my hair; semi-permanently of course, I'm certainly not going to compromise my ability to walk out of the house, I went ahead with it. No with a head of hair I can be proud of I'm feeling certain I can tackle the next challenge that comes my way. Next book on the reading list is Shakespeare's Richard III, ok so maybe not, but least I have nice hair. xxx

Electric Skies

So after the slip up from the night before, I resolved to have a good day. Off I headed to campus, bright and bushy tailed, how I'm not sure, off to sign up to do volunteering in the local area. All in my quest to be more socially awarh!! I dont know what it is about this quest, but some force is against me, not only did I not have the correct documents to sign up but I won't be able to get them for several weeks!! Never the less only a slight dent. I continued on my resolution and marched straight back home, where I put on about another 5 layers, as I swear it's warmer outside than in my own room, and got straight down to reading Nashe's The Unfortunate Traveller. After spending about three hours pretending to read I felt justfied in my decision to have a break. This break consisted of actually going out to a gig, but I had worked hard, I had 'concentrated' for over three hours to be fair. This gig turned out to be really good fun and I really liked the band called 'Electric Skies' that played there. The only trouble is I spent the whole of today listening to their music instead of doing what I was supposed to be doing. Oh why do I never learn?!

Devil Vs Angel

I completely don’t understand how it manages to do it but somehow this club called Arena in my town continues to draw me away from my work. It's like that cartoon sketch where there’s a miniature version of a devil and angel on your shoulders-just in my case the angel has fallen off and lays concuss on the floor. It niggles away-well I say niggles; it told me once and didn't have to convince me any longer. I had work planned- did it not realise that!!?? Apparently not because off I trekked to the local club as pur u with the housemates. Its not even a great club, mostly because it stinks of sweat and regurgitated alcohol and most of the guys there think a chat up line consists of pointing at you for 5 minutes. To be fair I've seen it work on the majority. I even promised myself I wouldn't go out last night as I had already gone shopping in the day, oh yeh, another slip up but to be frank there was a sale at River Island. Just doing my market research. Ok well not the best of days for my rise to graduate glory, but today’s a new day....hopefully Arena's closed tonight. xxx

The lesson of leaving it late

Despite my resolution to be a super keen student in my yearn to become the ultimate graduate, today I learnt that leaving your essay until the last minute is perhaps not the best thing. Ok so I've leant my first lessson, be punctual! A trait I did not enforce when I was too late to hand in my essay, so back I must trek tomorrow. So apart from filling my entire day with essay writing, I managed to check facebook about a thousand times, another great thing to put on my CV, win the world record for the number of clothes items I could put on, just to feel that little bit less numb from the polar caps that is my student house and find the myspace page for this really cool band-The Good Natured. Overall today=success:) xxx

And so it begins

Everyone who comes to uni has a goal, to achieve something apart from a degree.  Probably for most it’s the first time away from the family nest and we feel  we have achieved a good day’s work if we even manage to dress semi-appropriately for lectures or cook a reasonably edible meal (in the microwave, but still.)  Personally I believe a little fanfare would be a nice touch.

Yet now being in second year I feel managing to go to the local club every night for two weeks isn’t exactly CV material. So it’s this year that I embark on my escapade to become the perfect graduate student, from actually doing some kind of work, committing (yes that dreaded word) to the societies that I randomly joined in a fit of excitement, to trying to be more social awarh (despite not going on that gap yah,) and perhaps casually climbing Kilimanjaro for charity, added in just for good measure.  Although Fresher’s week may have put a very slight dent in my plan, let’s just say I may now be getting a Christmas card or two from the bouncers of an aforementioned club; I’m fully committed and ready to roll. So it’s probably not a great start to mention that while I write I’m engrossed in an episode of ‘The Only Way is Essex’, but I assure you it’s my flatmate who’s to blame. Ok, so tomorrow is the new beginning, let’s just hope the telly is switched off!