New Experiences

So this week I thought I'd write about new things I'd tried since being at Uni after talking about never having seen Russell Howard's programme in my previous post. I guess that just got me thinking and inspired me to write this one.

There has been lots in the way of food that I have tried since coming to Uni such as fajitas which had never really appealed to me before as I thought they'd be too spicy and I don't like spicy food. We had a Mexican night one night where everyone chipped in a bit of money and one of my flatmates cooked everyone fajitas. I couldn't believe what I was missing out on. They are so nice and flavoured but not overly spicy. I would definitely have them again so maybe I'll try making them this time. Someone also cooked me enchilada's which I had never had before. I'm not sure why I hadn't tasted these either but I think I'd filed them under the same category as fajitas and thought they'd be too spicy for me. I liked the enchiladas too but I think I preferred the fajitas.

Another thing I tried was pasties which were cooked for me yet again. I think these had to be my favourite of all. My friend who made them is from Cornwall but said they weren't quite like traditional Cornish pasties the way she made them. Having been to Cornwall before, I've no idea why I haven't tried them but I've always been a bit afraid of trying new things.

I've also been introduced to a lot of new TV and films (not good when you have assignment deadlines looming.) Russell Howard was one who I've never seen before and his stuff is quite funny. It is something just a bit different to what other comedians do as he picks out funny stories from the news. Can't wait to see him next month! I'd also never seen Fresh Prince of Bel Air (I know, where have I been? What have I been doing with my life?)

Uni is a place for trying new things and so far I think I've done pretty well (food wise anyway).

Happy Thoughts

I'm not exactly the most optimistic person in the world but I was thinking (like you do) that I've got a lot to look forward to in the next month or so. I put down the start of a deposit for a house the other day with a couple of my friends and the rest is being finalised this week. It means I need to watch my money though and start budgeting a bit better because I seem to have spent quite a lot recently.

That was exciting though, knowing we've secured a house. It's only a small 3 bedroom property but we all loved it as soon as we looked round; it's so cosy. I managed to volunteer for the smallest bedroom as well which at least is bigger than the bedrooms in halls and has a double bed! I've never had a double bed in my life. It's in a nice area as well near the shops and a few of the clubs but it is further away from the Uni which means getting up earlier if it's an early start. It's not too expensive either, probably about what I'm paying now to live in halls and the bills are an extra £12 on top for as much heating and electric as we want as long as we don't use an excessive amount.

I've got my Birthday to look forward to as well which isn't far off (11th February just in case anyone was wondering :D.) I'm not particularly excited about it though since they just aren't the same when you get older. Also it will be at Uni for the first time instead of home which will be strange but good hopefully. A couple of my friends from home are coming up to stay in a hotel for the weekend though and we are going out for my birthday so that will be cool.

Then about a week later I'm going to see Russell Howard! I'd never really watched his stand up show before Uni and then a friend introduced me to it and it's pretty funny so we booked tickets to see him. Really looking forward to that actually, I've never seen a comedian live before. Next post will be about new things I have done/ learnt at Uni so far as the Russell Howard thing reminded me of it. Watch this space!

First Week Back

It's the first week back and it feels like I never left. I seemed to come back with twice the amount I left with somehow which was not fun to unpack at all. It was nice to be back to catch up with everyone again and I think most people were ready to come back as the general answer to Good Christmas? was "Meh". Also being back at home guarantees no Uni work gets done. There are way too many distractions and it's Christmas break which lecturers don't seem to understand as I had 4 assignments to do, 3 of which were due in the first week.

I'll try my best not to make this a blog where I rant about Uni work, can't promise anything though. It's all just about done now and handed in until the next load is piled on. I've literally spent most of the week doing that since my timetable hasn't started properly and I've barely been at Uni. It will be the same next week really except we get some feedback on assignments (agh!) not sure how well I've done at all.

There was a welcome back party on Monday night at one of the clubs which was pretty good considering it was at the small club down the road which normally isn't very good. We managed to sneak into VIP too which really isn't that exciting since it's just somewhere to sit but there we go. It was packed and literally our whole floor went out which was cool but the queue for drinks was so long that I seemed to spent a lot of the night there. Also one of the bar guys was new and didn't know what he was doing. Not the best idea to put him on for their busiest night of students.

Made a last minute decision to go out on Wednesday which was also quite a good night except the fact I forgot my bank card, ID and student card. So I had to re order a taxi and luckily one of my friends came back with me while I legged it back upstairs and the taxi waited outside. Lesson learnt for this week: you won't be able to get in a club without them so don't be a clutz and have to pay extra for a taxi to go back and get them! It's just embarrassing.

The week ended with a flat party that I was going to join in with but I was so tired in the end that I just went to see my boyfriend. It was a crazy party, so many people turned up they could barely fit in the corridor. Came back this morning to a guy passed out in the corridor, sick in the kitchen sink and empty cans all over the floor.That wasn't the worst of it. 

Good week overall, next week it is my mission to get a job. 

Realistic Resolutions

Every year we all make New Years resolutions (well most people) and break them within the first few weeks. In an article I read online, only 8% of people achieve their New Years resolutions. So where does that leave the rest of us? The other 92% who vow to make changes in our lives; to create a 'new me'? We aren't failures we just have to set goals that are more realistic which is why I will never achieve to be more organised because it's too vague. That and the fact I think I need to accept I'm just not an organised sort of person. However, this year I am only making one resolution which is to update this blog every week to two weeks which isn't too vague but doesn't put me under so much pressure to have something to write. How hard can it be?

I was looking at an article on New Years resolutions for students and found myself agreeing with most of them. Number one was to go to lectures and seminars. Now this one doesn't apply to me so much as I've always had pretty good attendance and want to do well but I will admit that there have been a few mornings (especially as it's been getting colder and I'm not a morning person) that I haven't wanted to get out of bed. Most of the time I have been able to drag myself to Uni but other times the thought of sitting in a stuffy lecture room with the boring lecturer who drones on whilst we all try to make sense of it all, isn't worth waking up for. 

Number 2 was to pick your nights out. Also a valid point which doesn't apply during freshers where I went out almost every night.It seems fun at the time but a bit of a killer when you can barely keep your eyes open through the 2 hour seminar where the overly bright power point seems like a method of torture on your poor eyes. I have managed to start saying no to nights out though which saves money and hangovers. Win, win.

Number 3 was limit the shows you watch. I don't think I was too bad on this but getting into Misfits and Breaking Bad was definitely not a good idea with deadlines coming up. Luckily I don't have the luxury of a TV in my room which helps with motivation. I personally don't think I'd be able to be a guy and have the distraction of an x box. The main distraction for me though has got to be Facebook. If I could just not be tempted to look at it while doing my work, I'd get a lot more done. Maybe I do need to make more than one resolution. 

Number 4 was about saving energy which I don't have to worry about since I'm in student residences but I will next year when I move into a house. I'll just keep it in mind as a handy tip so I don't have to live in the dark and the cold.

Number 5 was to do the housework. I'm not too bad on this except for letting my room get so disorganised that I can't find anything but that's my own space and I normally get sick of it so end up cleaning eventually. Our kitchen was pretty messy last term so hopefully we can keep it cleaner this term, it just takes everybody to do their bit, but what do you expect? It's a student flat.

So that's it and I'm back at Uni on Monday. These three weeks at home have been good, catching up with family and friends, stressing over work (not so good) and welcoming in the New Year at the dingy, little club in my home town which makes me appreciate how good the clubs are back at Uni. Here's to a great 2014!