I heard some lyrics this morning that are possibly the best I have heard in a long time. The song is by Joshua Radin, I'm unsure of the title though. He's describing his girlfriend as famous women. These are just some of the lines I like.
You're Sylvia Plath, as you drift from the bath
I hand you a robe and so it goes, the moment has passed
You're Simone de Beauvoir, as you get out the car
The way you read me, no one can see me, its who you are
You're Nina Simone, when you talk on the phone
You sing to me then I'm truly no longer along.
Tuesday 29 January 2008
Poor Old Michael Finnegan....Begin Again
I'm not sure where that came from ^^ but it seemed appropriate. Classes start back this week. About time too! I've been back about a month now, and yes I've gotta quite a lot done, but I'm getting bored now, I want something to do every day!
I booked flights on Sunday morning to come home on Friday evening. It's literally a flying visit, arriving Friday night and leaving Monday morning, but I do have classes to get back for. Bringing my friend Mike to visit. The big, loudmouth, Irish English mix. He's a fantastic guy and I just hope my friends see that when they meet him. He can be a bit....off-putting at first. Intimidating and in your face. He has promised he'll behave however. And I have seen him on good behaviour and I know he can do it, so it should all be good. Initially he was coming over because he wanted to surf. Now though it seems he'd rather just chill out for the weekend, sit in a pub, read, go walking, see the sights - his words, not mine. So I've promised walks on the beach and the cliffs. Might take him to the dolmen too. Could be cool. Looking forward to seeing the boys when they're not sick too. Hopefully they'll both be in much better form this time round.
Have some photos from recent nights out to add, but not gonna do it now, have to head to uni for my first class of the week - and it's a screening, so all I have to do is sit and watch documentaries about Australian Literature and Film! Fun fun fun!
Slán!
I booked flights on Sunday morning to come home on Friday evening. It's literally a flying visit, arriving Friday night and leaving Monday morning, but I do have classes to get back for. Bringing my friend Mike to visit. The big, loudmouth, Irish English mix. He's a fantastic guy and I just hope my friends see that when they meet him. He can be a bit....off-putting at first. Intimidating and in your face. He has promised he'll behave however. And I have seen him on good behaviour and I know he can do it, so it should all be good. Initially he was coming over because he wanted to surf. Now though it seems he'd rather just chill out for the weekend, sit in a pub, read, go walking, see the sights - his words, not mine. So I've promised walks on the beach and the cliffs. Might take him to the dolmen too. Could be cool. Looking forward to seeing the boys when they're not sick too. Hopefully they'll both be in much better form this time round.
Have some photos from recent nights out to add, but not gonna do it now, have to head to uni for my first class of the week - and it's a screening, so all I have to do is sit and watch documentaries about Australian Literature and Film! Fun fun fun!
Slán!
Saturday 19 January 2008
Lacking title topics
I don't really have anything to talk about today.
My writer's block disappeared shortly after I stopped putting things off, funnily enough, and I am now officially finished the first semester of my final year at university. That's a lot scarier than it sounds, believe me. So I now have a week entirely to myself. Well, almost. As always I have plans and meetings and volunteering and this, that and the other. But wouldn't be a week for me without all the above.
This last week I've been very stressed, what with three essays due in three days in succession. They're all done. They may not be up to the best standard but they're done. And what with the registering for sabbatical elections coming up soon. I have until, early feb to officially decide. I think the final date for application submission is Feb 12th - though I'm not entirely positive. But it doesn't end there!! Once the application is in I have to go through election campaign stuff. Like going to hustings, answering questions thrown at me but students. Having my face and name plastered across the uni!! It's gonna be an interesting few weeks. And in the midst of it all I'm heading off to Paris for a weekend on the 21st. The ISA are organising it, and am going as a trip leader, so it'll be work of sorts, but only if I'm needed that way. I can't wait to go. I've not been in years, and just love the place.
Speaking of, had an interesting discussion with Nick the other night. He doesn't like Paris. Doesn't see the appeal or the charm and doesn't want to go. I'll admit I was in a state of something akin to shock for a while after he said this. I mean I can understand not wanting to go somewhere famous, but its PARIS!!! Or is it just me that thinks this city is a must on the list of things to do before you die?
My writer's block disappeared shortly after I stopped putting things off, funnily enough, and I am now officially finished the first semester of my final year at university. That's a lot scarier than it sounds, believe me. So I now have a week entirely to myself. Well, almost. As always I have plans and meetings and volunteering and this, that and the other. But wouldn't be a week for me without all the above.
This last week I've been very stressed, what with three essays due in three days in succession. They're all done. They may not be up to the best standard but they're done. And what with the registering for sabbatical elections coming up soon. I have until, early feb to officially decide. I think the final date for application submission is Feb 12th - though I'm not entirely positive. But it doesn't end there!! Once the application is in I have to go through election campaign stuff. Like going to hustings, answering questions thrown at me but students. Having my face and name plastered across the uni!! It's gonna be an interesting few weeks. And in the midst of it all I'm heading off to Paris for a weekend on the 21st. The ISA are organising it, and am going as a trip leader, so it'll be work of sorts, but only if I'm needed that way. I can't wait to go. I've not been in years, and just love the place.
Speaking of, had an interesting discussion with Nick the other night. He doesn't like Paris. Doesn't see the appeal or the charm and doesn't want to go. I'll admit I was in a state of something akin to shock for a while after he said this. I mean I can understand not wanting to go somewhere famous, but its PARIS!!! Or is it just me that thinks this city is a must on the list of things to do before you die?
Sunday 13 January 2008
Change
I mentioned I liked change - thought it was about time I changed the look of the page. The dots thing was getting boring. I like this!!
Writer's Block
I always seem to suffer from writer's block when I have an assignment due. Any other time I can write and write and write, and come up with some good ideas, but when I have something that needs to be written for a specific time I get stuck. I have a 4,500 word piece due on Wednesday and I currently have just shy of 2,000 words written for it. I cannot seem to expand. It has to be either a complete short story or a section of one. So I wrote a scene between two people to throw into the middle of a short story that I have in my head, but that scene doesn't go beyond the 2,000 mark. So now I need to expand upon that, or write another scene, or the opening of the story or something to make it hit the word count.
Of course the fact that I'm slowly but surely driving myself insane thinking about the future doesn't help my writer's block. I know I shouldn't be worrying about it right now, and focusing on the papers that are going to shape my future, but I can't help it. With every essay I hand in I think I'm a grade closer to graduating. I'm terrified. I have no idea what to do. I have plenty of options - I think.
1: Run for a sabbatical position and if I succeed in getting it, stay in Hull for an extra year and work at that job. Pro's and Con's are fairly obvious. I get to stay in Hull, I get a fantastic criteria to put on my cv for the future, and I get to do something I think I would enjoy. On the other hand, the job does seem really difficult and taxing, it's very low pay and it's a very busy position. I'd have to forego the majority of the social side of my life to do this job to the degree it deserves to be done.
2: Stay in Hull. I've spent a while tonight looking at jobs online in places I know of. Looked at Hull, home, Edinburgh, High Wycombe and a few others. Even went so far as to looking at jobs in Australia. I'd like to be able to stay in Hull once I graduate for another year, six months minimum. But I know from talking to friends who have graduated before me that there is a very small amount of jobs in this city, unless you like factory work or bakeries. And I've done both in my time, and don't feel the urge to repeat either just yet.
3: Move home. It's an option, but one I don't feel ready for. I've built a life here, my friends are here, and despite it's drawbacks and bad reputation I love this city. It's quirky, it's odd, but I love it. If I move home yes it's a cheaper option, yes it means I get to be with my family more - which I really really miss - and yes I know I could find a job easily. But the chances of me finding a job I would enjoy are slim. I know I'd end up working back somewhere like Euro 2. Had enough of that thank you! I didn't go do an English degree so I could go back to being a supervisor in a discount store.
Option 4: Move and start again. As I said, I was looking at jobs all over, and I know I could move and start again, if I found a dream job. But I don't know what my dream job is. I'd like to go into a job that at least has some connection to my degree, otherwise whats the point? But that's limiting. I'm going to send cv's to every newspaper in the country I think, and every publishing house and every magazine HQ - anyone, anywhere, that might employ me because I can write fast and spell properly and have an opinion on literature.
It doesn't help that I keep hearing friends discussing applying for jobs, how bad the job market is in Hull, filling in masters applications, talking about housing. If I want to stay in Hull I need to decide, I need to find somewhere to live.
Jobs and housing is just one thing freaking me out about the future. I'm dating a guy I like, a lot, and I've been with him longer than I thought I'd be. But - and I know there are people who will kill me for saying this - I doubt it'll go anywhere. I know, I know, I'm young, I should just enjoy it while it lasts and not think about the future etc., etc. But the thing is, that's what I do. I think about how things are going, and where they are going, and as much as I like him I can't see us being together outside of university. University is a funny thing, people are all the same. Older, younger. Local, foreign. Widely travelled, never left home. Doesn't matter. People are just people. But outside that little world, people are not just people. People become things, instead of humans. Those labels that you managed to shake off for the three or four years you studied come back to haunt you. Who you are. Where you're from. What colour skin you have.
I can see myself leaving uni and travelling. I can see myself in the future moving alot. It's in my blood. I like to change the scenery from time to time. He was born and bred near Hull, and I can see him staying in the area. There's nothing wrong with that, don't get me wrong, but it's not me. I've a gypsy, he's a home boy.
BUT, for now, all is still good. It's three months and I'm still happy. He makes me smile, he's good to me and I like being with him. So, I will do what I know I would be told to do, and enjoy it while it lasts, and just wait and see what happens.
Of course the fact that I'm slowly but surely driving myself insane thinking about the future doesn't help my writer's block. I know I shouldn't be worrying about it right now, and focusing on the papers that are going to shape my future, but I can't help it. With every essay I hand in I think I'm a grade closer to graduating. I'm terrified. I have no idea what to do. I have plenty of options - I think.
1: Run for a sabbatical position and if I succeed in getting it, stay in Hull for an extra year and work at that job. Pro's and Con's are fairly obvious. I get to stay in Hull, I get a fantastic criteria to put on my cv for the future, and I get to do something I think I would enjoy. On the other hand, the job does seem really difficult and taxing, it's very low pay and it's a very busy position. I'd have to forego the majority of the social side of my life to do this job to the degree it deserves to be done.
2: Stay in Hull. I've spent a while tonight looking at jobs online in places I know of. Looked at Hull, home, Edinburgh, High Wycombe and a few others. Even went so far as to looking at jobs in Australia. I'd like to be able to stay in Hull once I graduate for another year, six months minimum. But I know from talking to friends who have graduated before me that there is a very small amount of jobs in this city, unless you like factory work or bakeries. And I've done both in my time, and don't feel the urge to repeat either just yet.
3: Move home. It's an option, but one I don't feel ready for. I've built a life here, my friends are here, and despite it's drawbacks and bad reputation I love this city. It's quirky, it's odd, but I love it. If I move home yes it's a cheaper option, yes it means I get to be with my family more - which I really really miss - and yes I know I could find a job easily. But the chances of me finding a job I would enjoy are slim. I know I'd end up working back somewhere like Euro 2. Had enough of that thank you! I didn't go do an English degree so I could go back to being a supervisor in a discount store.
Option 4: Move and start again. As I said, I was looking at jobs all over, and I know I could move and start again, if I found a dream job. But I don't know what my dream job is. I'd like to go into a job that at least has some connection to my degree, otherwise whats the point? But that's limiting. I'm going to send cv's to every newspaper in the country I think, and every publishing house and every magazine HQ - anyone, anywhere, that might employ me because I can write fast and spell properly and have an opinion on literature.
It doesn't help that I keep hearing friends discussing applying for jobs, how bad the job market is in Hull, filling in masters applications, talking about housing. If I want to stay in Hull I need to decide, I need to find somewhere to live.
Jobs and housing is just one thing freaking me out about the future. I'm dating a guy I like, a lot, and I've been with him longer than I thought I'd be. But - and I know there are people who will kill me for saying this - I doubt it'll go anywhere. I know, I know, I'm young, I should just enjoy it while it lasts and not think about the future etc., etc. But the thing is, that's what I do. I think about how things are going, and where they are going, and as much as I like him I can't see us being together outside of university. University is a funny thing, people are all the same. Older, younger. Local, foreign. Widely travelled, never left home. Doesn't matter. People are just people. But outside that little world, people are not just people. People become things, instead of humans. Those labels that you managed to shake off for the three or four years you studied come back to haunt you. Who you are. Where you're from. What colour skin you have.
I can see myself leaving uni and travelling. I can see myself in the future moving alot. It's in my blood. I like to change the scenery from time to time. He was born and bred near Hull, and I can see him staying in the area. There's nothing wrong with that, don't get me wrong, but it's not me. I've a gypsy, he's a home boy.
BUT, for now, all is still good. It's three months and I'm still happy. He makes me smile, he's good to me and I like being with him. So, I will do what I know I would be told to do, and enjoy it while it lasts, and just wait and see what happens.
Friday 11 January 2008
Happy New Year!!!!
I thought I'd best write a new year's message before it gets too late into the month and becomes a bit redundant! I've been back in Hull for two weeks now, and the work is going slow and....well, slow! But getting there. I cannot wait until these three essays have been handed in. I am going to relax and read gothic novels to my heart's content, followed by Wilde. I treated myself the other day to a copy of The Picture Of Dorian Gray. It's one I've never read and would love to. So why not she says.
I finished the book version of Stardust over the weekend, and it was really really enjoyable. Different to the film, but very well written and with the same storyline. Though Robert Di Niro's character is nowhere to be found in the book, which is a shame. I was waiting for him the entire time. Oh well.
I've spent the last two nights in the Van Steen residence in Hickleton, just outside Doncaster. It was Alex's 21st and to celebrate a few of his university friends went along for an amazing dinner. I don't think I have ever sat at a dinner table for four hours and been eating for most of the time. It was a mixture of Polish {in recognition of his roots - his grandfather is polish}, Chinese and Indian dishes, all cooked by his aunt and mother on the day.
I finished the book version of Stardust over the weekend, and it was really really enjoyable. Different to the film, but very well written and with the same storyline. Though Robert Di Niro's character is nowhere to be found in the book, which is a shame. I was waiting for him the entire time. Oh well.
I've spent the last two nights in the Van Steen residence in Hickleton, just outside Doncaster. It was Alex's 21st and to celebrate a few of his university friends went along for an amazing dinner. I don't think I have ever sat at a dinner table for four hours and been eating for most of the time. It was a mixture of Polish {in recognition of his roots - his grandfather is polish}, Chinese and Indian dishes, all cooked by his aunt and mother on the day.
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