Week 4

It's been a while (again) but freshers flu caught up with me and looking at a computer to type was the last thing I wanted to do with a pounding headache. Our whole floor were like zombies and I think we were all just passing it to each other. Now the worst of it seems to be over and I just have a bit of a cold instead. It probably didn't help that I walked to Asda the other night in the freezing cold without a coat... I need to stop moaning about it though and use a bit more common sense (or just take more paracetamol.)

I had a day off today which normally means sitting at my laptop trying to do work but instead I got persuaded to join the gym. My flatmates have been nagging me for weeks about joining since most of them already have and I'd been umming and ahhing over whether I should or not. I'm glad I did though, it didn't take long to sign up (once I'd figured out the touch screen...damn things) and you can cancel your membership whenever. I don't know how much I'm going to go but as long as I go with someone I should be more motivated. Today I went on the bikes and the cross trainer and although I wasn't on it for long, I still felt like I'd achieved something (even if my legs were a bit like jelly afterwards.) So now I know what to do with at least some of my free time and I hope I can keep it up like this blog. It will be my two challenges on top of numerous assignments, learning to cook and just staying alive in general...

Not much else interesting has happened except the fire alarm keeps going off in our building.It's so annoying especially as I had just cooked my dinner. At least I wasn't in the middle of cooking like one of my friends who had to leave all their pans on the hob. I only grabbed my phone and keys because it never strikes me that it could actually be a real fire. (I'm going to get a real shock one day when my laptop and iPod go up in flames.) You can't really grab all your valuables every time it goes off though otherwise you might as well just leave them outside. I'm just glad it didn't go off at three in the morning like one of the other residences. I would not be in a good mood. Now I've said it it probably will...

Food and Freshers

This week I started lectures which are quite full on but interesting. There aren't many of them but a lot of it is for independent study (I have work already). We have lectures, seminars and IT sessions.The lectures are in lecture theatres, the seminars in classrooms and IT in computer rooms. I'm even getting the hang of the macs which I thought would be really hard to use but aren't actually that different to my laptop. We have to use software called In Design though to create magazines which I haven't used before.

In my breaks at uni we always seem to end up in the food dock. I've already had curly fries, jacket potato, pizza and lasagne and veg. I never realised how much of my money was going on food; I can see why people use the phrase student budget now. I've also been to a restaurant in West Quay called Ed's diner which was all old fashioned American style and played music from the 60s. I had an amazing burger with cheese and bacon.

West Quay also has some good shops and we went to the student lock in the other night which was fun but packed. There was so much going on like Capital FM hosting a music quiz, TOWIE actors signing books and free pretzels (so good). I bought a few tops as well and got some good discounts. I went again today but need to stop spending money before I run out!

Last night we went to a really good club called Myth. At first it wasn't very busy but as it got later more people were there and the music was good too. They played Artic Monkeys, The Killers, Vampire Weekend and even some older ones like Stevie Wonder and Queen. It made a change from Oceana where we seem to go a lot but I did see Pendulum do a DJ set there on Thursday which was cool. It's also the freshers ball tomorrow which is the last event of freshers. It's a dressier event which people are saying is more formal with smart dresses and suits. There are even fairground rides (should be interesting in dresses!) and Sub Focus and Loveable Rogues are playing so should be a good night.

On a more random note, I thought I'd take a picture of my small but comfortable room for people to see. (I even hoovered and tidied it earlier)

Power Cut

So it's been a few days since I've posted but a lot has happened since then. I think the strangest was a power cut one night that affected the whole city but luckily a few of us were in the common room so there was emergency lighting. One minute we were watching the TV and then everything went off including my friend's washing which was half done so we had to wait even longer for it to dry. Some of my flat mates had gone out to Oceana to the foam party and were in the club in the dark but it wasn't for long luckily and I think they all found it pretty funny anyway!

Another night one of my flat mates made everyone fajitas and we had a big fajita night. We even managed to dress up a bit by drawing on moustaches with my eye liner. I really wish I had some pictures but we were so busy scoffing food that we didn't really think about it haha. That's probably one of the best meals I've had at uni so far considering my skills are mostly limited to pizza and pasta! I am determined that by the end of the year I will be able to cook at least 5 (okay so maybe 3) decent meals. Some of the others can cook really well so maybe there will be more nights like that (fingers crossed.)

After that we weren't sure what to do because we were all staying in. We were all too tired from going out most nights so it was good to have a night in. We ended up playing hide and seek with the whole corridor which was funny as everyone was rushing in and out of rooms trying to find somewhere to hide. There were some pretty inventive hiding spaces like on top of wardrobes and behind fridges. I managed to squeeze under someone's bed and in the shower. I don't think any other halls have played hide and seek haha just us.

I'm managing to find my way round a bit better now too. We walk to West Quay shopping centre a lot or "West Qway" as one of them thought it was called ( you know who you are haha) for some shopping as there is an Asda right outside. I'm trying to be really careful with my money but it's hard to plan meals for yourself when you've never had to before. I'm sure I'll get the hang of things eventually.

In between all that I've been watching random YouTube videos (always fun), cutting tops for The Big Night Out (which I did wrong and had to staple together) and took a trip to London yesterday to a photography and fashion museum. Also I started my lectures on Monday which are quite full on already but I've met some nice people and it all sounds exciting.

I've gone home for the weekend now and it's really nice to see all my family again and hopefully a few friends tomorrow. Then it will be back at uni tomorrow evening and out again for more clubbing. Next post I hope to include some pictures :)

Tiredness and Early Mornings

It's only been a few days but I'm already tired. My sleeping patterns have completely changed and everything seems like effort! I didn't go out last night which I'm glad about now because I started my course today at 9. Nearly everyone else seemed hungover and it seemed strange having to get up before 11.

Once I got there it was fine except for a bit of trouble finding the room I was meant to be in. It's all so big! Everyone else was having trouble too though so I managed to find someone on my course and we stuck together the whole day. I got given a timetable but I think they change every week (confusing!) and I only have one 9:30 start which is nice. They told us so much that I can't remember most of it and enrolment is tomorrow but if I just take everything I should be fine! There is even a trip to London on Friday which sounds really good.

Done a bit more shopping in Asda and hopefully going out tonight if I can cope with getting up in the morning.

Moving Day

So I'm finally here. After weeks of waiting, I am now officially a Uni student. I have unpacked most of my stuff which took ages and it's still not done :( It is also already a mess much like everyone else's I'm sure and one of the cupboard doors falls off every time I open it. (Should probably get that sorted.) Apart from that the room is actually pretty good and I'm not so worried about having an en-suite now. The showers are literally round the corner from me so I can just roll out of bed and go haha.

Our floor seems to be the place to be which is good. Everyone is so friendly and there's always something going on like music or ring of fire. It was quite overwhelming at first especially trying to learn everyone's name when they all say it at once but I know most of them now.

People were debating whether to go out last night as most had been out Tuesday and Wednesday and were still hungover when I got there. A guy on my corridor invited us all to a house party his friend was having so we all took a taxi over there. Then we moved onto the clubs which were packed but so good. Got home about 2:30 after walking back in the dark because we couldn't be bothered to get a taxi but I still don't really know my way round.

Enjoying it so far and  I'll keep everyone updated.

Last Day At Home

I can't quite believe I leave for Uni tomorrow. The past week seems to have gone so quickly and this time tomorrow I will be in my new bedroom (or most likely out haha!) around new people who will be sharing exactly the same experience. I cannot count the number of times I've heard the phrase 'everyone's in the same boat!' and I have to admit, I've used it a fair few times myself but it's true.

Today has been full of last minute shopping, packing and goodbyes to family which has been exhausting but really nice at the same time. I finally feel ready to 'embark' on my journey (not sure whether that's the right word) and I seriously don't know how it's all going to fit in the car! I ended up buying lots of food, chopping boards (nearly forgot those!) tights (can never have too many) and various other bits that I probably wont need but I'm starting to think that's the point of Uni packing. Once I actually started packing, I ended up taking nearly everything but the hardest decision is when you don't have enough room and you have to decide whether you really need that extra scarf or top that is more suited for the summer.

So that was shopping and packing done, it was just goodbyes left, most of which will be done tomorrow but it was nice to get together for a big meal to celebrate. After more presents, (I didn't think this was possible after loads of presents from work and friends) I now have enough food to last me a lifetime and a bottle of wine! (Essential for students). I also seem to have ended up with 3 packets of paracetamol from various people who have warned me about hangovers so I think I'll be fine in that department! (Thanks guys)

Oh and thank you to everyone who has wished me good luck, I will try and update soon :)

9 Days Left

It's little over a week before I leave for University and it comes with a mixture of excitement and apprehension which I guess is normal. I have tried writing blogs before which haven't really panned out but this time it just feels right (as cliché as that might sound) to track three years which are said to be the best years of your life. I can honestly say I have no idea what the future holds but it will be good to share it here and look back on as a memoir of my time at University.

I keep getting asked if I'm prepared and I say yes but the truth is no, I'm not! Looking over at the clutter of boxes lined up at the end of my bed, it assures me that I am at least a little bit prepared for the big move but it doesn't seem enough to take away for a week let alone up until Christmas holidays (that's right no October half term :( ). Oh well, that isn't including all my clothes which no doubt will take up most of the room.

To be honest, packing hasn't been at the forefront of my mind although it seems to be all I'm thinking about now. I've been concentrating on having the best summer of my life before I have to leave my friends, family and boyfriend which is it too dramatic to say that it will be the hardest thing I've ever had to do? I will miss everyone a lot but they can come and visit it's more the cooking and cleaning I'm not looking forward to!

I haven't really made much of an attempt to learn to cook which I am now regretting and I know how to work our washing machine but it probably wont be anything like the ones at Uni. Good start to being more independent haha but I'm hoping there will be others like me who have never taken much of an interest and are just pretty hopeless at these skills so we can all have a laugh over it together. One rule I am making though is to not rely on pot noodle for three years no matter how hungry I get.

The longest I've lived away from home was a week and that was around friends where I didn't have to do the cooking or worry about cleaning.I hope I don't get homesick but with all the events planned in the two weeks of freshers I'm not sure it's possible.It really does look amazing and I have the freshers wristband so I can get in free to every event. I cannot wait to check out the clubs! What I could do without is the hangover the next morning but on the upside I guess it could be a good way to make friends!

Bring on Student Life!