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?

Stuff

Next week I will have been dating Nick for two months. Anyone that knows me well knows this is phenomenal. It's actually my longest relationship since I dated Greg back in....oh god, 2003? 2002? A long time ago anyway. And so far so good. I don't want to kill him {always a good sign} and he makes me laugh and smile {more good signs}. I'm not taking it too seriously, just gonna see what happens. Only time will tell I guess.

Last night was the Winter Ball. It was amazing! I'm so impressed with the committee. We ended up doing all the decorating minus the lighting ourselves. We had free sparkling wine on entry, a buffet, chocolate fountain, polaroid photos, and loads of decorations. Had a good turnout as well, about 200 people in total. Which is pretty good all considering.

TWO WEEKS!!!! I'll be home in two weeks!! With Susan in tow, she got the visa yesterday!!!

Flying Home For Christmas

It's officially December so it's finally okay to talk about these sorts of things. I've booked my flights!! Flying into Dublin on the 2oth of December, hopefully with Susan in tow. I know it's less than three weeks away but it can't get here fast enough. Little things lately have been pulling at the heart strings and I'm missing home alot. And it's effecting my everyday persona. I'm quiet and distracted and 'off' is the most common term. A few people have said it to me. And all it is is that I need to come home. It's Christmas, it does it to me every year. And because the promotions and displays and lights are all happening earlier and earlier every year, I get homesick that little bit earlier every year. But, on the plus side, Susan is very very excited about spending Christmas with my family. It will be totally different for her I'm sure. She's never had a stocking before, or really knew the reason for them. Tried to explain it today while we were walking around the Christmas markets in Manchester, but don't think I did a wonderful job of it.

Oh yeah, Went to Manchester today for an ISA trip, it was nice. Bit cold, but five different Christmas Markets around the city, so we just wandered around them for most of the day and ate a lot of European food - the European Market was my favourite, and the biggest. It even had a singing moose head. Yeah, odd I know.

Rants

It's a bit peculiar, I have been really really busy for the past two weeks, and yet I have nothing to write about. I've been reading, trying to keep up with everything that needs to be read for class. I've been doing stuff with the ISA, trying to organise a festival, a winter ball and trips. I've been trying to still be sociable, my nights out though have dropped back to one {occasionally two} a week, and it's generally still karaoke. An ISA party if there is one. Have not been to Asylum since Halloween, and even then I left early as was just too tired to enjoy it. Invited there tonight but just could not pluck up the energy to go, even though it's Hillbilly night. Which could be really funny.

FINALLY saw Stardust!! It's a fabulous film! Well worth going to see! Two or three times! Possibly one of the best fantasy films that's come out in the twenty years since The Princess Bride was released. Yes, it is twenty years this year since The Princess Bride was released into theatres. How scary is that?? But yeah, anyway, back to Stardust. Robert Di Niro is amazing. I knew this before this film but it just adds to his awesomeness!!

It was a month with Nick the other day. Seems a little strange to me. I generally get to a couple of weeks with guys and want rid of them, but it hasn't happened. Even a friend of mine commented, saying "Isn't a week about normal for you?" and he's right.

Anyway, if I don't stop now I'll end up rambling about absolute nonsense. Such as the fact that Westlife have been allowed - yet again - to disfigure and demolish an amazing song. They have gotten their grubby mitts on Michael Bublé's 'Home' and destroyed it. And yet the general public seem to love it. Why are people so stupid? Why do they follow the crowd, liking what they are told to like? They should think for themselves and realise that Westlife only do covers, and all of the songs they have ruined were in fact once amazing.

News 'n' Stuff

Haven't written in a while, but that's mostly because I've been very busy with different things. Firstly, on Thursday, a really good friend of mine came back to Hull for the night, and it was so good to see him. He's based in London this year because of his course {Politics} and doesn't get to come to Hull often, so it was a special night. Even if he did take my new boyfriend aside and give him the 'hurt her and I'll hunt you down' talk.

Then Friday saw the November ISA party. It was a ball. We had it in Asylum for probably the first time ever, and it worked! We had a theme too, a 60's, 70's and 80's night, which was a lot of fun. I went for the preppy 60's look. Supposedly I looked like I just stepped out of Hairspray. I wouldn't know, haven't seen the show or the film. But it was a really good night. A lot of fun.

Sunday {Yesterday} we went to the fireworks display in Hull City Centre for Guy Fawkes day. They held them a day early for convenience and it was a lot of fun. Today however, the actually Guy Fawkes day, has kinda got me scared. I guess I'm used to fireworks being illegal, aside from actual fireworks display companies and pyrotechnic companies and the like, so I'm not used to seeing them often. So walking home and having fireworks flaring on all sides of me freaks me out a bit. I think its also the thought of the potential dangers. I like that they're illegal at home. makes me feel safer or something. Had a few offers to go with people and celebrate Guy Fawkes Day by them setting off fireworks in their gardens or whatever, I declined on all counts. I just can't stand there and watch my friends light potentially fatal devices. They are explosives after all.

Not a lot else is going on. Kinda homesick at the moment if truth be told. It's finally hit me that this is my final year and it's scaring me. I handed in my first piece of coursework this morning and it was right then that I realised this is it. This is year three! The past two years and this one will mean nothing if I don't do well in June. I also worked out that between the four papers I have due in December and January I have an approximate 18,000 words to write. Woopee!! Anyone want to write them for me?
I also think the homesickness is coming from the fireworks. When I'm scared or nervous I want to be at home. And I was very nervous walking home this evening. I walk those streets every day practically, during day and night, on my own and with others, and I rarely feel scared or nervous, but with all the explosions I did tonight.

York Trip

I can't believe it's been a whole week and I have totally forgotten to talk about this. The ISA went to York last Saturday for a day trip. We took three busloads of students there at 9am, and brought them back to Hull about 8pm. We got there about 10.10 and realised we had about 8 hours to kill in York. Never thought we'd find enough things to fill in the hours but we managed. Actually want to go back to do things I didn't get done. Most of the committee spent the day together, which was nice. It gave us a chance to bond a bit. We went to the Jorvik centre, which is really well laid out. It's a museum and calm theme park ride all in one. Then we went to the river where we rented a small motor boat - £15 between 8 people for 30 mins - and we sailed up the river for a while. Then we went to the National Railway Museum which was definately worth the visit. Found out something new about one of the guys on the committee - he's a train geek! Loves trains! Was as excited as a little school boy! All in all had a really good day.

The ISA's social in scarborough however wasn't quite so successful. We tried to organise a party on campus for the scarborough students, but seems like they weren't as keen as we were. The committee, which is 13 people, and our two drivers made up the majority of the people there. I think in total we got about 20 people turning up, but not a lot of them were there at the same time. The committee had a great night though, it really was like our first social. Gave us a chance to chat - the bus trip was a hour and a half each way.