Three years...what now?

Thursday morning I handed in my essay on the works of Samuel Beckett, and once that green acceptance slip was in my hands I knew I had come to the end. My final essay. My final Third year essay. The end of my degree. Three years of living in Hull, three years of getting to know the people, the campus, the city and now it's all over. Put it in a box marked memories and put it on a shelf, to be peeked into sporadically over the rest of my life. It's a little bit sad really. But it hasn't really sunk in either. Give it a few weeks, when I have to start saying goodbye to people, then it'll sink in. Although, I did have to say goodbye to someone already. I was in Spiders last night and I met a friend who was leaving today. He finished on Wednesday and having no job, no money and nothing to do made the decision to go home. That was a little strange.

On a brighter note, my sister is coming to visit in just over a week. Can't wait to see her, and can't wait to have her here. Have a lot planned for the week she's here, we'll both be knackered by the end of it but what harm!

Geekfest & Essays....more essays.....

I'm sure I have nothing interesting to write about, but I'm gonna give it a go anyway! It'll kill some time.

Over the past few days I have done research for two of my essays. Granted, the two shortest ones, but still, it's a start. The third one is the one I'm dreading. 5,000 words on Samuel Beckett. Where do I begin? I can't even read his books, let alone write on them. I've gotten half way through a couple of the novels and plays on this module, and thankfully that's enough to get me through the seminars, but my god!! Trying to pick an essay topic? Can I not just write about how un-accesible his writing is? I'm not sure my lecturer would be keen on that, since he's an avid Beckett fan. But hey, I'll get there. I always do. The essay might end up being complete and utter....well, you know! But I'm not that bothered. As long as my other essays are up to scratch I should be fine. The fourth one is not going to be fun though, it's a creative writing piece that I've barely began to scratch the surface on. I have a basic plot in my head, but I know myself that it will change as soon as it leaves my mind and hits paper. The original idea will be a puff of smoke. And if its as good as my last few creative pieces, it will probably deserve to be thrown on the fire and become smoke itself.

My phone, my NEW phone, only two months old, has developed some interesting extra features I didn't ask for. Among them, if I go into certain folders it switches itself off, it won't recognise names and half my contact list seems to be invisable unless called upon. Finally got around to going into the shop and asking about it, seems I have to take it to a Nokia Service Centre in Hessle to get it fixed, so guess what I'm doing Saturday? Never been to Hessle before. Never really wanted to. But hey, first time for everything!

Saturday night, assuming I get back from Hessle in one piece, is going to be interesting - to say the least. It's Geekfest. And yes, it is exactly what it sounds like. A night of debauchery for geeks. Basically, it's a party where people come dressed as a character from their favourite show or movie or - never let me get this bad - their favourite game. Yes I'm serious! Anyway, I dropped my head round the door at the last one, back in Oct/Nov and it did seem like a bit of a laugh. Granted I didn't recognise any of the costumes or characters, but I'm still a newbie when it comes to sci-fi and fantasy. I've decided to go as Kaylee from Firefly {she's a mechanic on a spaceship}, mostly because its a fairly simple outfit to throw together - dungarees, flowery shirt, docs and loose hair - but partly cause I love her. She's a fabulous character. Yes, I'm falling deeper into their world, I know...I know. Hopefully will take loads of photos. Assuming I remember to buy batteries - still haven't!

Random

I haven't got an awful lot to talk about. Essays are weighing me down, I'm getting ill again I think and I am constantly tired. I know I've been doing too much since I got back from Ireland, but I can't help it. I get to Hull and immediately start making plans. Then I have work to do on top of everything. I know it should come first, and I am slowly changing the order of my priorities, but getting there is difficult. I'm like my mother, I find it hard to say no to people.

Last night I went to my friend Ali's house for a get together. It was his birthday a couple of weeks ago so he invited a bunch of us round for food and drinks and fun. And what fun! I haven't had such a good night in in a very long time. And I haven't danced quite so much or so vigourously in a long time either. I have photos but the battery has died in my camera, and I'm too lazy to try revive it. As soon as I do I'll post a couple of pics. UPDATE: Some shots from the party at Ali's. First one is Vicky, Heiko and Adonis, and the second one is an action shot of Heiko and Idris dancing!

I've found a couple of wonderful blogs that I wanted to share. The first is PDP - Paris Daily Photo. I love this city and this guy makes me miss it and fall in love with it even more every time I look at the site. The second is PostSecret - weekly updated with new secrets, if you haven't seen it before, check it out. And lastly, cause both my sister and sister in law read this and go through the same things, I believe, its Bottles, Barbies & Boys. Its the day to day life of a mother of 3. Enjoy.

Sunshine....On my window....

....makes me happy, like I should be. We have had some absolutely beautiful days this week. The sun has been shining, its been almost cloudless skies, squirrels are starting to move about again and everything is green and bright. I love Spring! But, if I believe all I hear, we are due about 2 or 3 cms of snow over the weekend. How nuts is that? There goes my plan for sitting in the park with my book on Sunday. I have been taking some nice shots of the park and ducks and such, once I have them loaded I'll add some.
I got the essay done, not the best I've ever written but not the worst, so we'll see how it goes. One down, four to go. I think very shortly I will have no life outside of these four essays and classes. I know I need to keep a balance or I'll go mad, as it is I haven't gotten that balance right yet. I keep making social dates...coffee or drinks or meals....just things to keep me away from my work. So that has got to change.
Oh, and I'm adding another guy to the list. Another guy with a girlfriend has decided he likes me. Flattered. But....why is it always the taken ones I attract? Can't I find a single guy who likes me? Just once, that'd be nice.

Time for a Proper Post

Day four back in Hull and what a busy few days its been. I got back Wednesday and was hounded {!!} to go out, so I went and actually had a really good night. We went to Sharkeys, and there ended up being quite a lot of us - especially if you include the three bar staff that I knew.

Thursday I went to the library, did work, met up with a friend for coffee and then that night a friend of mine came over, we had dinner and watched some movies and ended up talking until almost 3am. It was a really nice day. Yesterday I went to see the new Katherine Heigl movie, 27 Dresses. Definately worth a visit. Her and James Marsden work well on screen together and the movie is funny and entertaining.

Then went to Spiders last night with my housemate, a friend of his that's visiting and another crowd of people. The place was pretty empty, most students not being back yet, but it was still quite a good night. So today I am a little bit tired. But it's been fun. And, I've managed to get half way through my essay at the same time, which is a shock to me but there it is, over 1000 words written. Not sure when they got written, but they did. Just another 1,200 or so to go and it's done. That's the plan for the rest of today, since I don't think I have the energy to go partying again, as much as I'd like to.

Easter at home was fun. It was quiet but I liked it. Gave me a chance to relax and think through some things, future options, current predicaments, things of that nature. I don't think I've come to any set decision as yet, but it was a chance to sit without any of the normal distractions.

Speaking of distractions, it was so good to see my nephews this holiday. Eoin took some time to get used to me, but that's not surprising. And Conor was, as always, hilarious without intention to be. And I am quite jealous of him, he got to have his first ever ride on a motorbike. A friend of my father's came to call on his bike, and offered Conor a spin. Why didn't I get one??

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?

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.