A Year To Review

2012 has been a pretty big year for me. It was the Diamond Jubilee, the Olympics, my 21st birthday, I started my book blog, I joined twitter and thus made a load of new online friends. I had two summer holidays, Pottermore came out and I started my third and final year of university.

So yeah, big year.

I'm not quite sure where to begin! My year started at my boyfriends and is actually going to end at my boyfriends, because I'm staying for another new year party after we watch The Hobbit on Monday. Anyway, I attended lectures, bitched about my tutors a little, felt rubbish for a while after realising I hadn't accomplished much, spent Valentines Day ill with a cold - how romantic - struggled through my two exams in May and finally finished second year. Oh and I wrote quite possibly my favourite blog post from one of the funniest classes I've ever had right here about ultimate classmates.

Over the summer, I watched loads of great new movies, like Ice Age 4 and Ted and Dark Shadows. The Olympic Torch went through my town the morning of my final exam! My family and I spent the day in London getting absolutely drenched to watch the Jubilee Pageant. At the end of July, the family packed up the car and drove down to the Dordogne for a week, which was really fun. Then a month later I went to Cornwall with my boyfriend and his family.

I remember I spent September buying all my new books for university and trying to get a head start on reading - that didn't work as well as planned! The final week of September I sneakily moved around my timetable so that I had classes with my friends. Then it was back to work - thrown right in the deep end with essays and reading and prep work. Not to mention my dissertation - eeep!

Then it was my 21st birthday. We went to see The Lion King, which was epic; went clubbing for the first time which was cool and a little scary; got proper drunk which was hilarious. And got a kindle!

I've also read some really cool books this year, which I summarised rather nicely on my book blog, if you're interested.

So that's where I stand now, about to start the new year worrying about how little work I've done over Christmas and how much I've got to do these next few months. How about you? Had a good year or can you not wait until 2013? Until next time!

King of Lions and Reaching Adulthood

Apologises for, once again, abandoning this blog to live life and breathe air and... hang on, have I stolen that from something?

Anyway, I wanted to do a write up last week because my family and I went to see The Lion King at Bristol Hippodrome - it was awesome! I'm sure most of the English-speaking world has seen that play but if not? Go see it! Right now! It is incredible! The puppets and the songs and the dances - oh wow. Seriously, I have so many great things to say about this show but do not have the time to list them all.

In other news, I have started my third and final year of university - scary or what? As it's only the third week, the work load isn't too bad, just a crap-load of reading and prep to do. Plus my dissertation. Eeeep! So, I'm sure you'll forgive me when I say that this blog is taking a back seat, even more than usual, for the foreseeable future.

And, finally, it is my 21st birthday next week. I'm really excited, even though I'm getting old. Last night, some of my uni friends took me out clubbing, admittedly for the first time, which was really fun. I got just a little drunk, also for the first time - I know, I've led such a sheltered life! - which Sophie in particular found hilarious, apparently. We went dancing, collapsed in bed around 2 with seriously aching feet, and I slept awful, considering how exhausted I was! I have a cold, you see. Mother thinks I 'caught a chill'. I, meanwhile, was not aware that I had been transported back to 1856 without my shawl.

Anyway, I am recovering from my "wild" night out by watching QI on iplayer and eating chocolate fingers in bed. I have a ton of reading to do for next week; even though it's my birthday I still have to work. How unfair is that!

Until next time!

Daleks and Dinosaurs

Oh, hey. This is awkward. So! I've been a bit busy. Not that anyone really pays much attention to me. I've been wanting to write about Brave, went to see that a few weeks ago - it was epic! Should also have written about the new series of Doctor Who... actually, I might do that now!

Asylum of the Daleks premièred last week - it was an amazingly fresh Dalek episode. I practically had enough of them after the Power Ranger Dalek episode last year. Know what I'm talking about? I shall find you a picture!

There, see? Wubbish! Anyway, what was I talking about? Oh yeah - I spent a lot of the episode confused as to whether Oswin was the new companion or not. Turns out she is! Spoiler alert, I think the Doctor's going to save her before she crashes. Not much of a spoiler, is it? That's how it's going to have to happen, because he sure as hell ain't travelling with a confused Dalek-girl! I did love her though. 'You guys could fence!'

It was a really good episode, funny and new and sweet and a little sad, but come on. The Doctor was going to fix Amy and Rory. Duh.

Onto Dinosaurs on a Spaceship. This had to be a great episode. I didn't want any messing around, not with Mark Williams and Rupert Graves guest-staring. And luckily, it was! Full of flirting and weird father/son moments and awesome Amy moments. Plus a pet dinosaur and an Egyptian queen! A great filler episode, just a random one-off adventure that we don't see very often anymore.

What else is new? I've read about 20 books this summer, been reviewing quite frequently, pretty proud of myself actually! Even got some books straight from the publisher! Oh yeah.

I'm not going back to university for another few weeks, so am getting pretty bored lately. I've started reading some books for uni - oh! Want to know what I'm studying this year? Of course you do. Right, four modules, entitled: In Search of America, Women's Writing, Gothic Revivals, and Literary London. First three focus on quite modern novels and poetry, so that's good. Literary London looks at 16th/17th century stuff that I can't always understand but I really like the teacher, so I'll manage.

I think I've bored you all enough for the time being. Sorry I'm losing focus on this blog, I'm really getting into my book-blogging and don't really have much to say on my personal one anymore. Or least, nothing that would be appropriate or entertaining. So, I'll just leave it with: until next time!



Holy crap this is my 100th post! I had to come back and edit this in, I hadn't noticed! Don't really know what to say, it's not like I need to write an acceptance speech. Bit of a crappy 100th post though, huh? Ah well. At least I've got this Indiana Jones hat my boyfriend just put on my head.

Vampires and Hell

Hey guys.

So this will be a quick one, just to let you know I'm still alive, if anyone was missing me which they probably weren't.

I have an exam tomorrow. My last of two for this year. Thank God I picked modules without too many exams! My first exam last week went pretty good. It was seen, which means we had the question a week beforehand, but we were not allowed to take any notes in so I had to memorise my essay plan, which surprisingly I managed to do! I am only half confident on tomorrow's exam. Seen again and able to take notes in but I think I will only be able to be properly coherent and argumentative on one of the questions, not both. Want to know what I'm writing about? I thought so.

One question is about vampire fiction's criticism - I am looking at Carmilla ( from In A Glass Darkly) and Dracula, discussing erotic language and vampirism. The second question is about remote regions of the UK being just as fearful as the exotic Orient. Here, I will argue that neither are fearful but both draw on exotic description and horrific elements such as Hell. Pretty good, huh?

In other news, it's boiling hot in England right now. Probably not helping that I am not moving from the bed or the laptop, but meh. Too tired. After tomorrow, I will have the whole summer to relax and read all the books I've being putting off til after university's finished.

Apologises for the ramble. Any exams or final essays to submit before you can enjoy the sun? Until next time.

To tweet or not to tweet?

Hey guys, it's been a while and my internet is buffering '2 Broke Girls' so I thought I'd do an update. By the way, anyone else been watching that? It is hilarious!

Apart from all the drama of trying to finish 2 essays this week - done one, by the way, nearly finished the second - I've been thinking about The Future! Imagine that in the booming voice that normally comes with things like Star Wars and you're good. My well-meaning but occasionally annoying mother wants me to start looking for work, volunteer or otherwise. I know I finish at the end of the month, but right now, I'm just trying to survive these essays and the impending exams!

The other thing I've been thinking about - and my friend Sophie has been nagging me about - is getting Twitter. I honestly don't see the appeal but according to Sophie it's a great way to get the attention of authors and publishers and reviewers, which would be perfect with my less-than-popular book review blog and my aspiration to get into publishing.

So. I looked it up earlier, even starting signing up. But the username I wanted to use (AwfulLofOfReading) is too long apparently. So now I don't know what to call myself. I don't want to officially go by my real name, I want to be known by my blog. So, any suggestions?

What else is new? I finished all lectures last week, which is apparently surprising to most people. Yeah, it is only May and I will have a long summer - that's the great thing about university! I have one more essay to finish, hand in one tomorrow and then next Tuesday. Actually, I have a few things to do up on campus next Tuesday - hand in my last essay, tutorial and pick up my exam. Ahh, the joys of seen exams!

Ok, I think that's about it. A lot shorter than I thought but seriously - twitter name! Until next time.

Employability, or Depress Us With Adulthood

Yesterday, we had an Employability seminar. We have had a few of these this year and they mainly serve to teach us to plan for the future. Content ranges from CV's to networking. In fact, yesterday was our second lecture on networking.

This never fails to depress me. I am a naturally shy person - I feel better typing than talking, unless I genuinely know the person - so when we are forced to practice our 'Elevator Pitch', I die a little inside. For those of you who do not know, an Elevator Pitch is a hypothetical situation when you have roughly 30 seconds to sell yourself to your ideal employer. And I mean "sell yourself" in the most innocent sense!

Anyway, networking. This means using social or professional contacts to further your career. I want to go into publishing. The best contacts, I've got is my dad who works in roofing and my uncle who's a postman! my current network sucks!

And so, I am not above asking random strangers, anyone got any idea how to get into publishing/ editing? Considering I am a complete newbie?

In other news, I dyed my hair purple over the weekend. My hair is so dark, you can only really tell in direct sunlight!

Wow, this turned out a lot shorter than I thought it would - oh well, I've said all I wanted to. Until next time (when hopefully I'll have a better story to tell)!

Ultimate Classmates

My friend Sarah and I were feeling lonely yesterday in our seminar class. On a table of six, we were the only one's sat there. So, while we were waiting for our tutor to turn up, Sarah turned to me and said 'We don't need people to sit there, we can make some up!' And, pointing to the seat opposite her, she asked 'Who should sit there?' Without a moment's hesitation, I said 'Alan Rickman'. I have no idea what he could contribute to our seminar on 'The Woman in White' but I wanted him to sit with us.

This went on for a few minutes, getting funnier and more pathetic by the second, until we had a full table. Going anti-clockwise, starting with Sarah and then me, we had:
- Mary Shelley - we thought, as we were discussing the Gothic novel, we needed a Gothic author. Plus, we didn't want Horace Walpole, who kind of creeps me out
- Alan Rickman - for no other immediate reason then because I like him. Plus, we believe he would have something intelligent to say (more intelligent than us at least)
- Benedict Cumberbatch - I think he came up because we are currently obsessed with Sherlock and also because he has the most amazing voice. We both fantasised of him reading passages aloud from the novel
- Stephen King had to replace John Barrowman, as we felt John would not get on with Mary Shelley, due to his "extreme" personality. I originally wanted him to join us because with our tutor, we end up talking about sex or grave-diggers or other random topics that he thinks are relevant... anyway, I think John would find our talks hilarious.

And that's it. As the late-comers arrived, we actually found ourselves not wanting anyone to sit with us, as thy would take one of our imaginary guests away. During the hour's class, we did occasionally whisper to each other things like 'Imagine Benedict reading this out loud' or 'I don't think Mary Shelley would agree with that'.

Yeah, that is how sad and pathetic we are. Have any ideas who you would want to sit with you in class?

Anyway, I am spending this extra day of the year at university. I am currently in between classes and trying to write an essay on Joseph Andrews but failing miserably. Maybe that's because it's lunchtime? Hmm. Until next time!

or a Young Lady's Entrance into the World

I'm feeling the urge to write, even though I cannot spell, because I haven't in over a week. But to be honest, nothing that extraordinary has happened in the last week. If you will remember, I mentioned last time that I had a presentation. Well, that happened on Tuesday. It went alright, actually! Even though my hands shook, I didn't speak really fast and whiz through my part like I did in History last year!

Right now, I should probably be working on my essay, or at least reading the novel I need to finish by Monday, but I'm not. I am in fact at The Boyfriend's house. And apparently I am "tempting" him by lying on my stomach on the bed, typing this.

He wants me to add that he thinks I make a nice pillow. As he is currently drifting off on my back. Yes, before you ask, we are a very weird couple.

Yes, Cazz, last week's title was from Samuel Richardson - it's the alternate title to his first novel Pamela. See if anyone knows this one! Gosh, I am so imaginative with title's at the moment, aren't I?

Ok, I think that is enough rambling for now. I haven't written a very good post but I have at least let you guys know that I'm still around. So, until next time!

Fail of an adult?

The nerds out there reading this will probably be aware of a YouTuber called Charlieissocoollike. Yes? I feel like I need to warn you, or something, that I don't actually know him, I just watch his videos. It would be awesome to know him and Alex but unfortunately, I don't.

So, he has recently moved into a house with Alex Day. They are, what, 22 years old or something? Not entirely sure, but my point is, I am only a year or two younger than them. I still live with my parents and little brother. I have not moved away for university. I have not even moved house at all. The fact that most, if not all, of my friends and people I know my age have moved out in some form or another kind of makes me feel like a fail of an adult.

Yes, I am only 20, which does mean that technically, I've been an adult for two years, one of which I was still in sixth form. So, I'm not sure where this sudden feeling of fail has come from, but hit me it did. Hard.

To be honest, I'm not entirely sure where I'm going with this post. I don't want sympathy, or pity, or bitchiness over my so-called "sob stories". Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining about my life; I don't have to pay rent, I don't have to fuss over the washing machine, half the time I don't even worry about what I'm eating for dinner! Yet, I do get the feeling that I am missing out on this little thing called "independence". I can take care of myself, I can dress myself and everything, but that feels somewhat redundant when you are still living with your parents.

I apologise for this random rambling of a post. Hopefully I will make more sense when I have recovered my brainpower after writing two essays in the last few weeks. Until next time. 

You want to stear but I'm shifting gears

Holy crap it's October! Double holy crap, university has started in full swing! You know what that means? Probably not. To me, that means that the pressure is on, the work load will start to mount up, reading is already something I am beginning to dread and student services screw us over.

Seriously, the timetable is something that surely they would have organised by now, seeing as we are technically two weeks into the term. I mean, come on, they had all summer! But no! They have to completely bugger it up and split some modules in half when they shouldn't be, give some students two tutors instead of the normal one, and then, give some of us completely new timetables just when we had wrapped our head around the first one.

Oh yeah, I got a new timetable this afternoon. Even though I knew where I was this morning, I went into my classroom knowing I was supposed to be there and after all the confusion of different seminars timetabled, I was ok. Because I was supposed to be there. So when my tutor emailed us all to check and see if student services had updated our timetable, I didn't think I had anything to worry about.

NO! I was moved! They took my day off, where I would have had a long weekend and put my seminars there instead!

Ok, so really, I don't have much to complain about. Yeah, it's confusing because now I need to remember different rooms and times but, as The Boyfriend pointed out, I now have the same day off as him now, which is nice. Also, I come in later than originally timetabled, which is awesome. The only thing, well two things actually, is I now don't know who my teacher will be or who will be in my class. And I am no longer with my best friend anymore :( That sucks.

Anyway, with that out the way, let's move on. First week back at uni going well apart from that little hiccup. I've only had two of my five new classes so far. I have two brand new modules tomorrow which I am looking forward to but am also kind of nervous: I don't know who else will be there. Plus, it's my longest day tomorrow: 9 until 6, with a 5 hour gap in between. Yeah, student services, why couldn't you change that around a bit?

I believe you are due a Doctor Who finale post, which I had kind of forgotten about until now (sorry about that). I will get right on that. And by that I mean, you will be lucky to get one at the weekend. So until then, goodbye and wish me luck! <3

The Poor Student's Life

Before I get too far into this, I think it would be fair to warn you this post will be a bitch and whine about money and university. So, feel free to leave - I can't promise this will interest you but I'm sure I'll manage to entertain you, if only due to be my childish moaning. 

Still with me? Oh, thank you!

I haven't started my second year of university yet, I have another two weeks before I have to go to register and sit through induction talks. However, you would not believe how much money I have forked out* for the start of this year! Trust me to pick what is most likely one of the most expensive courses in higher education! 

You may recall me telling you about the modules I took last year? And did I tell you about the one's this year? I can't remember so I am just going to say that last year I took four modules and this year I am taking five. Not by choice, I may add: each module counts for a certain amount of credits and you need a certain amount of credits to pass the year, thus five modules. Anyway, five modules, yes? And for each module, I have to buy at least four new books. Averaged out, each book probably cost about a fiver, yes? So, five times four times five...? I don't know, maths wasn't and still isn't my strong point. My point is I have only bought about half of the books I need for this year and I spent over one hundred pounds! Get that? £100! And I still need to spend more on the rest of my books! Excuse me while I just mourn for any chance of a social life this year. 

That is not even the end! I also need another student rail card, which is £26 and a bus pass which is £90! Seriously, do they think we are made of money? Add that to the tuition fee and train tickets and food and drinks and clothes and I don't even have to pay rent! 

*Screams into a pillow* Ooh, ok. I'm done. I know I am lucky to have generous parents willing to let me stay at home and feed me (most of the time) but it does not stop it from being frustrating to watch your money slip steadily out of your hands and  not being able to do anything about it. 

So, some advice? If you're planning on attending university or collage, I'm not going to talk you out of it, but definitely listen to financial advice and save your money! Even if you get a loan, you will need to pay it back!   Just, stay money conscious and hopefully you will never have to watch your bank account go into the red... 

Ok, I'm going to stop myself from getting preachy and just thank you if you managed to read all of that.  

*For those unfamiliar with this phrase, 'forking out' means spending money when you don't necessarily want to. 

Timetables and train woes

Good day Blog! It has been another uneventful few days here. But, in the last few hours, something, if not exciting than definitely important, happened: I found my timetable for next year. This means I now know when I will be dragging my lazy butt onto campus for what is most likely to be more difficult seminars and lectures than last year. At least hopefully they will be more exciting next year than last, if only because they were more to choose from; last year, it was more the case of 'Well, that one doesn't look too bad, but that one has this one book that I like. Oh and that one? No, just no.'

The only down side to my new timetable is that I have two 9:00 starts and a 10:00 start. Which means I will have to get the train at half 7 three times a week. This in itself is not that bad - I'm an early riser, so I would be awake anyway. What makes it horrible is that half 7 is the time all the commuters and posh school kids catch the train to work and boarding school.

The scene: the train station. The train still ten minutes away, the platform is already packed with loud teenagers with sports bags and half-awake men and women in suits, carrying briefcases and folders.
Enter our heroine: halfway down the stairs onto the platform, I realise that a) I will never get a seat on the train and b) that I have to squeeze through at least two dozen people before I can even stand on the platform comfortably.
The situation: jostled on the platform, squished even worse in the effort to get onto the train when it does arrive and cramped up to strangers in the gangway on the train because it is that full.
The conclusion? Major awkwardness, as I can't figure out where to look without appearing to be staring, I can't move away from the bag poking me in the back because there is another backpack right in front of me, and I can't even reach into my pocket to get my iPod because I have some real rubbish stuff on there and I am - stupidly - afraid someone will notice me listening to Glee or Britney Spears in a public place. Or even worse, humming along with it without realising!

Imagine my joy of realising I have that to look forward three times a week next year! God, why didn't I just move out? Oh yeah, because I don't know how to work a washing machine!

Life at University

So, I have finished first year! Isn't that amazing? I suppose I shouldn't boast too much until I actually find out how well I did in exams. Anyway, I have written quite a few things over the last few months about how university is for me but now it's time for something different. Last week, I took my camera in and filmed some parts of my campus, mashed them together and voila! YouTue video! Yeah, bet you didn't know I was also on YouTube! Oh, you did? Have I already mentioned that on here? I can't remember.

Anyway! Here is my video. And you know, feel free to make fun - I am already aware that I make crappy videos and am not very comfortable in front of a camera.

Wednesday Thirteenth - numerous fails

I am extremely tired. It's been one of those days where nothing seems to go right and it makes you think that you shouldn't have bothered getting out of bed in the morning. In summary, I had a lecture and two seminars today. The lecture wasn't that bad, just a little boring as I have minimal interest in the play we are studying. I snuck out the back early for a tutorial to get an essay back. I shouldn't have bothered. My tutor didn't have my essay, another tutor has probably got it in his lot of essays. Fail number one.

Fail number two was getting a chicken caesar wrap with bacon in it. I hate bacon. It tasted disgusting. On the plus side, I did also get a bag of giant chocolate buttons. Yummy.

I then had a seminar. In those two hours, all we did was discuss the six units we have already studied. Fail number three.

Last seminar of the day was only an hour long but it didn't finish until 6. Four of us, including me, turned up. It was a complete waste of time, hardly anyone talked, our tutor refused to let us go early. Fail number four.

Universal fail was the weather, as it has been raining all afternoon. This, along with the bitterly cold wind, has not helped my mood.

It has not been the best of days and I am incredibly glad I am home now and can go to bed. Good night.

Tuesday Twelfth - do you know what feedback is?

Hello there Blog. I am sat on the bed, eating apple crumble and custard, so you will have to excuse for a minute.

*five minutes later*

Still here? Awesome. Ok, today's blog is going to be about the lecture I had this afternoon. As my history seminar was cancelled because my tutor is in Rome (how dare she!), I had a late start and was only on campus for an hour. That hour was spent being lectured about feedback. Yes, feedback, you know the comments on a marked essay. Apparently, we all needed to be told to read and actually take on board the comments our tutors give us. Well, duh! But that wasn't enough. The lecturer this afternoon talked to us like we were five and completely stupid. I mean, I know some people don't, or at least appear not to, take the tutor's advice but usually, it's because we can't read their bloody handwriting! Seriously, you teach English! Surely you should be able to write it legibly! You let me know if I'm expecting too much!

In some respects, it was good that the lecturer treated us like idiots, because a lot of us (or them, I try not to associate myself with them) are a little thick to not write essays properly in the first place. At the beginning, she gave us some objectives and they all trickled down to this: to improve essay writing and knowledge. No sh*t, Sherlock! What else could we possibly expect from a lecture entitled "Using feedback to improve your essays"?

One comment she said reminded me of A-level when I studied psychology. She said it was difficult for a person to change their minds. Well, in psychology, we learned that was because people are stupid and stubborn. Yeah, I mean people, not a person - you know, like at the beginning of Men in Black.

One last thing she taught us was a phrase circulating between our university's tutors. If a quote has not been explained and just left hanging, it is called 'a dead kitten'. Yeah, don't really know why. But she tried the guilt trip: "If you leave a quotation hanging in your essay, you just killed a kitten." Well thanks for that!

OK, guys, this has been all for today. I'm feeling in the mood for Ice Age 3 so I'll see you tomorrow!

Friday Eighth - scandal

Good evening, Blog. It has been another warm and sunny day, hence the denim shorts and tank top I am currently sporting. The subject of today's BEDA entry is my lecture this afternoon.

One of my module's for this year is entitled 'Scandal and Sobriety: the Enlightenment to the Victorians' and that is what I had today. As it is ending the year, we are on our last text (The Importance of Being Earnest, if anyone is interested) and we have been discussing Fin de Siecle, or end of the century. Bill, my tutor and lecturer on the subject, spent the hour this afternoon telling us about 19th century medicine, gender and how it relates to the play. It was mostly a background knowledge kind of lecture, so I was zoning in and out (I know, bad student!). But I did learn about 19th century medicine and their preconceptions on the human body, particularly the differences between male and female. Apparently, "self-abuse" (and I think we all know what I'm talking about here - if you don't, you are probably too young to be reading this) was not only scandalous that it was morally wrong, it was pleasure for pleasures sake. Doctors in the 1890's thought that the blood went through some kind of conversion in the body that turned it into semen. There was also a kind of ratio that 7 ounces of blood made about 3 ounces of semen. Bill's phrase was 'an armful gives a handful'. Therefore, when a man was ... self-abusing, he was wasting blood. They also thought that if a man did this too much, he would lose too much blood and make him feel like a woman on her period.

Yeah ... this is the fun stuff we learn at my university.

Good night and see you tomorrow.

Thursday Seventh - chocolate and ice lollies

Good evening Blog! It has been a gloriously sunny day in my part of the country, which means I walked around today in shorts, tank top and dolly shoes. Good stuff.

As I only had a lecture in the afternoon, my Mummy took me shopping in our Outlet Village. It was really nice to spend the morning with her, as I even though I still live at home, I don't spend that much time with my family due to my workload. I didn't buy anything, as I have no money to spend, but Mum did. We went to Costa, a coffe shop, for elevenses and Mum automatically asked for a chocolate twist. She has given up chocolate for lent. It took her moment, then she requested a blueberry muffin instead. I sighed at her forgetfulness but it has made me realise how I don't really think about what I eat. I really should pay attention to what food goes in my mouth, whether or not it's healthy or it will kill me quicker, but I don't. As a faily slim girl without any effort, I have grown lazy. (I'm going to stop myself here, otherwise I will go into a full blown healthy-eating rant) However, no matter how many times Dad has a go at me for not exercising enough, I will never give up my chocolate like my mother foolishly has.

To other news, my lecture this afternoon on the Cable Street Riot wasn't that fun. Not many people turned up and considering the lecture hall seats just over a hundred, it was entertaining to say that least to see only about 20 of us who actually bothered to show up. I can't really blame the people who didn't; the weather has been beautiful today around here and given the choice, I would have much rather been sunbathing.

To end a lovely day of out-of-season weather, my friend Sarah and I went into town after the lecture and got an ice lolly each. I got a few funny looks as I licked it on the train but it was worth it!

Wednesday Sixth - fruit pastels

Short post today, as I am tired. I have been on campus all afternoon, although I didn't do anything too strenuous. I had a tutorial to get an essay back and I got 53%. It's still a pass but I knew I hadn't done well when I was writing it. Oh well, thank God first year doesn't count!

We had our seminar outside today. That was nice, apart fom getting attacked by flies. The sun was out, the wind was strong (which did not agree with my skirt) and it could not be more different than yesterday. As my friend Charlotte said "It just shows what a difference a day makes." She could not be more right.

...

I literally have nothing else to say. I'm sorry, Blog. I am still getting the hang of BEDA, so hopefully I will think of some more interesting topics to write about rather than my day.

One thing I do want to say though: Sophie, enjoy your fruit pastels! Love you and am extremely jealous of your sweets.

See you tomorrow, Blog!

Tuesday Fifth - university life

Just the fact that I am here writing, when I had university today, says something about my dedication. Or at least it says something about my stubbornness.

Yes, anyway, I had university today. I had to be on campus for nine, which of course means I will be there at twenty to. I don't mind Tuesdays because I finish quite early but I also start early. I don't live on campus. I don't even live in the same city. I catch a fifeteen minute train from my town one stop over, then wait ten minutes, get on the bus and then half an hour later, I am finally on campus. Explaining this makes me realise how much of my time I spend travelling. And it's not even the fun kind, where I get to look forward to a new and/or exotic place to visit. No, I just arrive in the middle of no where, where our campus is located between fields. Fun times, huh?

Now, because I have nothing else to talk about, I am going to go through my day. Interesting stuff ahead, guys! Not.

From 9 til 11, I had a history seminar (I take history in this first year as a secondary subject - I'm droping it next year to focus on English) in which I sat and took notes while the third group in our class presented their presentation. This week it was the East End. On the plus, I did learn alot about organised crime and realised i can't do a cockney accent. Then I had a two hour break, in which my friend Sarah and I did random quiz's on facebook and then had lunch. At 1, I had an English lecture, in which I nearly fell asleep because they blabbed on about Ulysses which is quite possibly the world's most boring yet enlightening book. To summerise, it is about one day in Dublin. Yes, one day, where some guy talks to another guy who's wife is having an affair. And that is the most interesting plot line. The rest is just some people shaving and walking to work and sitting in an outhouse. Gripping stuff, clearly.

Right now, it is only ten past 4, I've been home for an hour and I am already bored enough to think about dinner time. Nah, I will sit on my bed, snacking on Dolly Mix and go play Minecraft. See you tomorrow!

First of April - introduction

B.E.D.A - Blog Every Day in April.

I have decided to try BEDA for the first time. This sort of thing, just like NaNoWriMo, has appealed to me for the last few years but I have never planned far enough ahead or been incredibly aware of it to be able to do anything about it.

So for the first of April, you, Blog, have not an April Fool, but a promise. As this is my first BEDA, I really want to do it well. However, this first one will be really short, as I only have half an hour before I have to leave for university. Instead, you have a hastily complied blog post of random ramblings because I have nothing to talk about as my day has only just begun.

It's Friday. For many, this is TGIF and this includes me. I do have university on a Friday but it's not that bad. I have a one hour seminar at 11 and a one hour lecture at 2. For the very observant among you, you may notice (or not, because I am running on English time and many of you are American) that I have to leave an hour and a half before I am due on campus. Why is this, you may ask? This is because I don't live on campus, I still live at home because my house is within a 30 mile radius of the university. While it does mean I don't have to worry about fending for myself, rent and searching for accomodation, it does mean that I live so far away from campus and my friends, which makes it annoying to travel and to go out. However, I have grown accustomed to it - mum still makes me a packed lunch, I don't have to pay rent and I don't get homesick, like a lot of my friends.

Anyway, this ends the first blog of BEDA. I wish everyone luck who is trying this year and I hope you can all do the same for me. See you tomorrow!