Chris’ Blog

Got egged walking home from the Imperial, a local pub, wasn’t just me a few in our group did but not nice all the same; bastards…

… I have got to wash my coat now its covered in egg. *grumble*

Ahh the wonders of British weather, lovely morning very mild nice refreshing breeze (woke me up,) became very overcast around lunchtime and from about 2200 it has been pouring it down with rain with the odd flash and rumble mixed in for added excitement. Walked back from the Ram bar in the torrents of rain in only a t-shirt and trousers, I was totally drenched by the time I got back to the block (still wet now!)

Found a letter poked under my door today, it appears we didn’t follow the emergency instructions when the fire alarm went off last week, whoops. It also informed us that we would be having a drill sometime, but when? Best not be tonight in the rain.

Spent the watched Cinderella for the first time in donkey years tonight, most amusing. We have a whole collection of Disney films in the flat, how sad.

So I discover that the clock on my box has drifted really badly so I synced it with the Exeter time server, next thing I know is this wailing noise is filling the room. I am thinking wow, thats not supposed to happen. I realised that it was the fire alarm and this was not a drill, grabbed my coat, and keys and left.

Stood outside guy from the universities hospitality services turns up going rather quickly along the one way road, okay, no visible signs of fire, no smoke nothing really. Not long after I notice blue lights flashing against a window of a car, next thing I know is two fire engines had pulled up outside and guys were getting out and getting ready to go in. We saw them go in, looking through the windows, they concentrated on the bottom floor flat which has 4 mature post graduates living in it, I can only deduce they set it off as their stove looked rather full plus stuff grilling. Bastards. I come back to find my hot chocolate cold.

Whats more is I feel ill.

So. I have been at university for over a week now, I moved in on Sunday 24^th September, to put it in one sentence. I have loved every minute of it, people are correct when they say its an experience you will never forget.

I shall en devour to explain whats gone on in the last week etc. and why it has been so much fun. Arrived on the Sunday morning after a series of turnings in the road and generally getting lost, got onto campus and was greeted with traffic hell (okay maybe this wasn’t much fun.) Once I got my keys and stuff I parked the car up outside the block I was to be living in and began to unload, up 6 flights of stairs, curses! Met two of the girls that were living with me, I have come to learn apparently a third was already unpacked but hiding (you know who you are,) thats nice I was slightly too engrossed in emptying my car than chatting at that point. With the car unloaded mum learned that the supermarket closed at 1600 it was about 1500, bolted back to the car and tore up the tarmac doing some more U-turns as we worked our way to the supermarket. Got in, and out within 45 minutes, damn good if you ask me (most of that was queuing and admiring the alcohol.) We got back to the campus and unloaded the car again.

Back in the car this time into the centre of Exeter for something to eat. We found the Pizza Express only to be told they were closing for an hour, thats twice I have had useless service there. Poor guy/gal who’s pizza was sat on the side for the entire 15 minutes we were stood by the door. We wondered a little more and found a pub, walked in died (possible fib) of passive smoking, walked back out again. Little wonder more down the road and we found another pub the Ship Inn it was called, and very pretty. One yummy meal later I arrived back on campus said goodbye to mother and waved at her driving off with my car *sobs*.

Looked at the little booklet in my information pack and realised I was missing an important meeting, oops, ran downstairs and quick walked over to the great hall where it was taking place. Met 3 of the freshers welcome team who were also late, they decided they didn’t want to walk in as the entrance was at the front of the hall. We decided it would be better to head to the bar and lie low, that we did (utilising a secret entrance because it wasn’t fully open yet.)

Came back up to the flat the same time the others finished their meeting met them all, they were all worried I would not like them because they ran off, meh, I am not that sort of person. Twelve flat mates in total, wide range of personalities and disciplines studied but its all good. We all get on really well and generally nearly all of us go out together, to clubs, pubs, shopping, etc.. The only thing we are collectively useless at is being tidy and actually leaving the flat, it will take about two hours to get everybody ready and out the door. The kitchen I am sure if it was a restaurant health and safety would shut it down immediately, it does get that bad!

I really am finding it hard to keep going at this, it makes my brain hurt. I am going to leave it at that, I don’t think a complete rendition of what has happened is quite required. This should certainly remind me of that first day and the ~2 miles out of our way trek to the Impy.

… to University this morning. Bye.

Kinda need to get last stuff minute stuff for university my memory is terrible so here it is:

• Laptop Bag
• Laptop Battery
• Mouse
• New keyboard - possible this one is a bit stinky
• Blu-Tac
• Some new posters (dig some spares out of my cupboard)
• Speakers - current ones will not stand the battering of traveling

Must be stuff I have forgotten, I also need to purchase a TV card and setup MythTV before next Sunday, eek.