Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Housing

Well. Next year this student is going to be poor. P.O.O.R... Now, "wait", one might think, "students are supposed to be poor." They most definately are poorer in real terms after uni thanks to student loans and huge tuition fees nowadays.

However I am going to be poor because I am going to be paying an extra £10 a week in rent. Yea gods I need a job.

The thing is, the rent we pay here is very low. Admittedly we paid a heft agency fee, but it's very low rent. The house is very good for what we pay, but its definately not perfect. We have mould and condensation problems, fairly normal for a student house, but horrible to live with nevertheless, especially when the living room carpet and the sofa feels constantly damp/wet. Its also falling apart a little, probably from years of being a student house. As the landlord has now sold it, and we had to look for something else we were always going to go upmarket. A friend of ours was also looking for house so it's gone from 4 to 5 people in next years house.

Next years house if we get it is something else. All double rooms. Modern appliances. The house was only actually built two years ago. Leather or at least leather look sofas. Wooden or at least laminate flooring. Two bathrooms. A huge modern kitchen with a breakfast bar. It's a 5 bed flat on the first floor, and the people living on the ground floor in the 4 bed flat include a fellow historian, and if not friends yet, then lets say good aquaintences. It's two min walk to campus.

The downside of all this not damp and mouldy and lovliness is that £10 extra a month. It doens't sound alot. But really it is. So job hunting it is.

If you are recruiting in the Soton area, please do drop me a line... I'll happily send my cv. Available evenings, weekends and all holidays.



Housing

Well. Next year this student is going to be poor. P.O.O.R... Now, "wait", one might think, "students are supposed to be poor." They most definately are poorer in real terms after uni thanks to student loans and huge tuition fees nowadays.

However I am going to be poor because I am going to be paying an extra £10 a week in rent. Yea gods I need a job.

The thing is, the rent we pay here is very low. Admittedly we paid a heft agency fee, but it's very low rent. The house is very good for what we pay, but its definately not perfect. We have mould and condensation problems, fairly normal for a student house, but horrible to live with nevertheless, especially when the living room carpet and the sofa feels constantly damp/wet. Its also falling apart a little, probably from years of being a student house. As the landlord has now sold it, and we had to look for something else we were always going to go upmarket. A friend of ours was also looking for house so it's gone from 4 to 5 people in next years house.

Next years house if we get it is something else. All double rooms. Modern appliances. The house was only actually built two years ago. Leather or at least leather look sofas. Wooden or at least laminate flooring. Two bathrooms. A huge modern kitchen with a breakfast bar. It's a 5 bed flat on the first floor, and the people living on the ground floor in the 4 bed flat include a fellow historian, and if not friends yet, then lets say good aquaintences. It's two min walk to campus.

The downside of all this not damp and mouldy and lovliness is that £10 extra a month. It doens't sound alot. But really it is. So job hunting it is.

If you are recruiting in the Soton area, please do drop me a line... I'll happily send my cv. Available evenings, weekends and all holidays.



Friday, January 26, 2007

All the things...

Firstly, isn't this a nice photo? It's the prelude to a very public thank you to Chris for coming to my family party immediately after getting home from his family holiday in Austria. Also to his dad for driving him there. They are both lovely.

Much fun was had at the family party. (This was pre the exams btw) I invited my housemates and assorted friends to come as my family, and they fitted in very well, playing the party games, eating the food and dancing like idiots. They are very lovely too... It's nice to share with them one of my favourite things about my family. I'm very lucky in that my huge extended family on my mum's side meet up twice a year for a get together. Over the winter festive period, we have a party, and in the summer a picnic in the New Forest. Though I may not know all the names of my 30 second cousins, I appreciate the lovely sense of togetherness and tradition.

I have finished my exams now thank goodness and I am enjoying a week off before the start of the new semester. I am moderately lucky in that my exams were early in the exam period, and whislt that left less tome for revision, I do get a bit of a break. That has meant knitting. I am currently working on my Amsterdam socks and a new project!


This was the start of a scarf for Chris. He had a lovely scarf for xmas and lost it, so I'm making a version of it. He wanted a manly scarf in a dark colour. I say was, because it's now 2 foot long. I began in basketweave stitch, then changed to sugarcube stitch. I'm now filtering out the sugar cubes to plain stocking stitch for a graduated effect. I really like it. I think he does too. Or at least he's impressed with the speed of my knitting.

This is the huge ball of wool! It was £5 for 800m/400g, compared to 100g balls for £2, so I think I got myself a bargain.


And a gratuitous basketweave shot because it's such a lovely texture!

All the things...

Firstly, isn't this a nice photo? It's the prelude to a very public thank you to Chris for coming to my family party immediately after getting home from his family holiday in Austria. Also to his dad for driving him there. They are both lovely.

Much fun was had at the family party. (This was pre the exams btw) I invited my housemates and assorted friends to come as my family, and they fitted in very well, playing the party games, eating the food and dancing like idiots. They are very lovely too... It's nice to share with them one of my favourite things about my family. I'm very lucky in that my huge extended family on my mum's side meet up twice a year for a get together. Over the winter festive period, we have a party, and in the summer a picnic in the New Forest. Though I may not know all the names of my 30 second cousins, I appreciate the lovely sense of togetherness and tradition.

I have finished my exams now thank goodness and I am enjoying a week off before the start of the new semester. I am moderately lucky in that my exams were early in the exam period, and whislt that left less tome for revision, I do get a bit of a break. That has meant knitting. I am currently working on my Amsterdam socks and a new project!


This was the start of a scarf for Chris. He had a lovely scarf for xmas and lost it, so I'm making a version of it. He wanted a manly scarf in a dark colour. I say was, because it's now 2 foot long. I began in basketweave stitch, then changed to sugarcube stitch. I'm now filtering out the sugar cubes to plain stocking stitch for a graduated effect. I really like it. I think he does too. Or at least he's impressed with the speed of my knitting.

This is the huge ball of wool! It was £5 for 800m/400g, compared to 100g balls for £2, so I think I got myself a bargain.


And a gratuitous basketweave shot because it's such a lovely texture!

Saturday, January 20, 2007

ARGH! Noooo!

Please visualise me running around in small circles screaming and muttering in turn.

Revision is upon me as the first exam is on Tuesday. I am in the process of rewriting my notes for the third time, using yet another way of capturing information on the tortuous prison of paper. I would say lined, but this year I'm using squared as I ran out of paper, and pinched a pad of it from Chris. Being a Digital Systems Engineering student, he only has squared paper because *shock horror* he does things like maths and writing out code.. yuk!

I am also having to re write my revision notes into something clear and legible because I need Chris or any other willing volunteer to test me. I find that I can only tell if my revision is working if someone asks me questions. Asking myself questions and writing down the answers never seems to work. Chris kindly said he'd test me, but then spent the half hour in between playing Street Fighter on his mate's Wii complaining about my handwriting. It's probably a good thing he did, as it's forced me to add as much info into my notes as possible.

I am not panicking as much about my Latin exam as it's open book, but my Old Testament is all tiny facts and big concepts so that's making me feel a bit sick.

I've not been doing much else besides revising. A bit of sock knitting, a bit of scarf crocheting. Lots of sleeping. I am student after all. After exams I have to go househunting. The house we're renting atm has been sold, and we have a new mate coming to live with us, so we need a 5 bed instead of a 4. That's going to be fun. I also need to find a job. I want to save up to go away in the summer.

Atm I'm eating yummy marmite toast made for me by my darling, and watching a musical episode of Scrubs. This is making me feel much better, and I'm certain today will be a productive day.

ARGH! Noooo!

Please visualise me running around in small circles screaming and muttering in turn.

Revision is upon me as the first exam is on Tuesday. I am in the process of rewriting my notes for the third time, using yet another way of capturing information on the tortuous prison of paper. I would say lined, but this year I'm using squared as I ran out of paper, and pinched a pad of it from Chris. Being a Digital Systems Engineering student, he only has squared paper because *shock horror* he does things like maths and writing out code.. yuk!

I am also having to re write my revision notes into something clear and legible because I need Chris or any other willing volunteer to test me. I find that I can only tell if my revision is working if someone asks me questions. Asking myself questions and writing down the answers never seems to work. Chris kindly said he'd test me, but then spent the half hour in between playing Street Fighter on his mate's Wii complaining about my handwriting. It's probably a good thing he did, as it's forced me to add as much info into my notes as possible.

I am not panicking as much about my Latin exam as it's open book, but my Old Testament is all tiny facts and big concepts so that's making me feel a bit sick.

I've not been doing much else besides revising. A bit of sock knitting, a bit of scarf crocheting. Lots of sleeping. I am student after all. After exams I have to go househunting. The house we're renting atm has been sold, and we have a new mate coming to live with us, so we need a 5 bed instead of a 4. That's going to be fun. I also need to find a job. I want to save up to go away in the summer.

Atm I'm eating yummy marmite toast made for me by my darling, and watching a musical episode of Scrubs. This is making me feel much better, and I'm certain today will be a productive day.

Sunday, January 07, 2007

Time wasting

Please have a go at filling in my johari window.

I'd be very interested to see what people really think about me. I'm nosy and selfconcious that way.


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My Weight Ticker

Time wasting

Please have a go at filling in my johari window.

I'd be very interested to see what people really think about me. I'm nosy and selfconcious that way.


------------------


My Weight Ticker

Thursday, January 04, 2007

Its done its done its done

The Blinking Essay is done.

Let us all dance around with joy. If anyone feels like tearing it to shreds for me, please leave a comment, and I'll email it to you.

I feel like I can breathe a little easier now, that's for sure! Thanks to John proofreading my latin as well, both assessments are now finished ready for readrafting. I am having the weekend off and will go through them both with a fine tooth comb next week. I shall draw up my revision plan tomorrow, go to the gym, and enjoy having some people back in the house.

It's been a tad lonely over the last week. If I ever have to live on my own on my own I am getting a cat. It's been decided.

Its done its done its done

The Blinking Essay is done.

Let us all dance around with joy. If anyone feels like tearing it to shreds for me, please leave a comment, and I'll email it to you.

I feel like I can breathe a little easier now, that's for sure! Thanks to John proofreading my latin as well, both assessments are now finished ready for readrafting. I am having the weekend off and will go through them both with a fine tooth comb next week. I shall draw up my revision plan tomorrow, go to the gym, and enjoy having some people back in the house.

It's been a tad lonely over the last week. If I ever have to live on my own on my own I am getting a cat. It's been decided.

Wednesday, January 03, 2007

I am...


the Wit


(66% dark, 34% spontaneous, 26% vulgar)


your humor style:
CLEAN | COMPLEX | DARK





You like things edgy, subtle, and smart. I guess that means you're probably an intellectual, but don't take that to mean pretentious. You realize 'dumb' can be witty--after all isn't that the Simpsons' philosophy?--but rudeness for its own sake, 'gross-out' humor and most other things found in a fraternity leave you totally flat.

I guess you just have a more cerebral approach than most. You have the perfect mindset for a joke writer or staff writer.

Your sense of humor takes the most thought to appreciate, but it's also the best, in my opinion.



You probably loved the Office. If you don't know what I'm
talking about, check it out here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/theoffice/.



PEOPLE LIKE YOU: Jon Stewart - Woody Allen - Ricky Gervais




Link: The 3 Variable Funny Test written by jason_bateman on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test
My test tracked 3 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:

free online datingfree online dating
You scored higher than 99% on darkness
free online datingfree online dating
You scored higher than 99% on spontaneity
free online datingfree online dating
You scored higher than 99% on vulgarity

I am...


the Wit


(66% dark, 34% spontaneous, 26% vulgar)


your humor style:
CLEAN | COMPLEX | DARK





You like things edgy, subtle, and smart. I guess that means you're probably an intellectual, but don't take that to mean pretentious. You realize 'dumb' can be witty--after all isn't that the Simpsons' philosophy?--but rudeness for its own sake, 'gross-out' humor and most other things found in a fraternity leave you totally flat.

I guess you just have a more cerebral approach than most. You have the perfect mindset for a joke writer or staff writer.

Your sense of humor takes the most thought to appreciate, but it's also the best, in my opinion.



You probably loved the Office. If you don't know what I'm
talking about, check it out here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/theoffice/.



PEOPLE LIKE YOU: Jon Stewart - Woody Allen - Ricky Gervais




Link: The 3 Variable Funny Test written by jason_bateman on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test

My test tracked 3 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:
free online datingfree online dating
You scored higher than 99% on darkness
free online datingfree online dating
You scored higher than 99% on spontaneity
free online datingfree online dating
You scored higher than 99% on vulgarity

Monday, January 01, 2007

Borrowed

I've been spoiled.

After a family Christmas in N.I. with the paternal side, I arrived back in Soton to be greeted by a flooded kitchen.
I will not lie. I cried. A train journey and wind and rain and floods were more than my recently airport addled self could cope with. I did find out my mop and did the best I could. Chatting to Chris on Gtalk whilst waiting for the mop to dry, he said he ought to come and cheer me up. I thought he was joking, as he was in Worthing with his family. But no. He was not. He asked his Dad for a lift, and they bought a mop as well, which fortuanetly wasn't needed by the time he arrived. When he said he was coming, I cried some more. Though of relief this time.

I have a knight in shining armour. It's a lovely feeling. I feel greatful and unworthy and happy all at once.

When we had tidied up the house a bit, we spent the evening snuggled up in blankets on the sofa, watched the Dead Poets Society and ate soup, pizza and cinnamon dough sticks. The next day we people watched shoppers in the town centre and had greek food. And then I had to leave him at the station.

It hurt. Sometimes a taste of what you love best, in this case, being free to enjoy time with a special person, to be able to talk freely and to be looked after, is worse than nothing at all.

I wouldn't swap those two days for the world though. Especially as he's now off skiing in Austria with his family.

I saw the New Year in with friends, playing the Wii and then dancing in the Dungeon. I did enjoy myself, discovering that I wasn't as bad at pool as I thought. There was however that sense of missing, as Chris wasn't there to share it. Filth put it well when he said that Chris being there would have made it a perfect evening, rather than a very good one. So my love if you read this, even your mates wanted you there. I rang Chris when we got in, and I hope he got my New Year wishes of Love through the haze of poor phone reception and my tipsy state. I can't wait to hear his firework stories. I felt like I was on Borrwed time. Small seconds of what's not really yours.

I have three resolutions this year, to get serious about my health, about my uni work and about worrying less about insignificant things. Tell me yours, and I hope that this year, you keep them and have a happy and exciting year.



------------------


My Weight Ticker

Borrowed

I've been spoiled.

After a family Christmas in N.I. with the paternal side, I arrived back in Soton to be greeted by a flooded kitchen.
I will not lie. I cried. A train journey and wind and rain and floods were more than my recently airport addled self could cope with. I did find out my mop and did the best I could. Chatting to Chris on Gtalk whilst waiting for the mop to dry, he said he ought to come and cheer me up. I thought he was joking, as he was in Worthing with his family. But no. He was not. He asked his Dad for a lift, and they bought a mop as well, which fortuanetly wasn't needed by the time he arrived. When he said he was coming, I cried some more. Though of relief this time.

I have a knight in shining armour. It's a lovely feeling. I feel greatful and unworthy and happy all at once.

When we had tidied up the house a bit, we spent the evening snuggled up in blankets on the sofa, watched the Dead Poets Society and ate soup, pizza and cinnamon dough sticks. The next day we people watched shoppers in the town centre and had greek food. And then I had to leave him at the station.

It hurt. Sometimes a taste of what you love best, in this case, being free to enjoy time with a special person, to be able to talk freely and to be looked after, is worse than nothing at all.

I wouldn't swap those two days for the world though. Especially as he's now off skiing in Austria with his family.

I saw the New Year in with friends, playing the Wii and then dancing in the Dungeon. I did enjoy myself, discovering that I wasn't as bad at pool as I thought. There was however that sense of missing, as Chris wasn't there to share it. Filth put it well when he said that Chris being there would have made it a perfect evening, rather than a very good one. So my love if you read this, even your mates wanted you there. I rang Chris when we got in, and I hope he got my New Year wishes of Love through the haze of poor phone reception and my tipsy state. I can't wait to hear his firework stories. I felt like I was on Borrwed time. Small seconds of what's not really yours.

I have three resolutions this year, to get serious about my health, about my uni work and about worrying less about insignificant things. Tell me yours, and I hope that this year, you keep them and have a happy and exciting year.



------------------


My Weight Ticker