The Wylderness

2004-01-20T12:56:00.000Z

Meh....exams, job applications, essays....that's where I've been.

Happy days.

2003-12-15T01:09:00.000Z

Not long till christmas now. As usual, i've spent far too much on presents. Not only that, 'party' season has started, and i've spent quite a bit on various nights out (just home from my work's night out, was pretty mince as soberish)

It was on the news that they caught saddam hussein last night. Already there are crazy conspiracy theories being batted about in work etc. I'm choosing to believe that they have him though. It will be interesting to see what they do with him now that they do have him...

I really need to get a start on these damn job applications for next year. It's a horrible task, i've been doing so much other random crap (eg putting up the christmas tree) in order to avoid it, but I can't put it off forever. I'll be having a fun fun fun christmas holiday this year. Oh yay!

Hmph. Anyhoo, move along...

2003-11-26T22:26:00.000Z

Eek. Only a month till christmas. Panicked and bought a few presents online today. Just in case one of the recipients reads this, I won't go into too much detail. Suffice to say, check this site out if you're stuck for a quirky present for someone:

www.FramedShare.co.uk

You can buy a single share of a whole host of different companies!!! The ideal gift! Well...I thought so anyhoo. Bought some miscellaneous pressies off of Amazon as well, as they were giving free delivery. I'm so lazy...Whatever happened to going to actual shops? Oh, wait, I know. I don't have the bloody time.

2003-11-18T21:29:00.000Z

Getting my car checked out on thursday. Yay! My dad still doesn't know i trashed the bumper (goodie!!!) and if he did, i'd never hear the end of it (despite the fact that he did the very same thing a few months ago to his new car!!!

I've been totally tired the past couple of days, which is strange cos i didn't do anything at the weekend. (having to save money for car and all, grrr) It's a constant battle to keep up with uni work, ikea work, diving stuff, seeing friends, keeping an eye out for traineeships/vacation schemes, investigating funding options for last year. And gahhhhhhhhness, tis christmas soon, so need to do shopping for that. I seriously think i'm going to pick an afternoon soon and just go and get everything the one day (well, that's the plan, but it ain't EVER going to happen - meh!)

On a fantastically geeky note, i'm writing this right now whilst watching my Extended Edition The Two Towers DVD with the cast audio commentary on. Hehe...Sort it out girl!

2003-11-13T16:17:00.000Z

Oopsie. I totally scratched the paint off the back bumper on my car. Such a bad driver i am!!!! I could do without paying £100 to get it fixed as well...grrrrrr.

Ah well, shit happens.

Hehe, check out these sites if you're bored at any point today:

RATHER GOOD.COM
GRRL.COM

That's all, move along.

2003-11-02T19:53:00.000Z

Wow. I haven't updated this thing in ages, been very busy and more than a little lazy. However, nothing much noteworthy, just a mixture of uni and ikea. Meh...

Did however go to st andrews last weekend on a diving course and i am now a qualified diving instructor - go me! However i've got a long way to go, as i still require supervision in the Open Water.

Went out to a halloween party last night, then went up to Glasgow with the intention of going to a club, but it was pissing with rain and the taxi cue was huge, so we all went to the 24/7 for dinner at 1am. Nice... ;o) Brings back memories anyhoo....

In other news, I really need a haircut as it's getting hard to see from under my fringe. Also, I have a seminar presentation to give on tuesday that i've not really finished preparing yet, ack. So that's where i'm off to now...

a+

2003-10-13T14:28:00.000+01:00

It's monday, the start of a new week. Rejoice and be glad....

And on that out of character note, i'll revert to being whiney. There are more bloody roadworks going on near my house (for the next seven weeks apparently, gah!) so it's 'get up 10 minutes earlier than usual' time for me during oct/nov. Nice.

Went to that dress up party on saturday night. Would have been pretty shite except for YAY! emily sarah and christophe came up from leeds/london for it, and some of us took them up the town (yes, dressed in our costumes, vuh!) It was fabbbbbbulous to see them again, and em brought up the oil painting she did of me jen beth and fi on my birthday last year. I'll need to go out and find a frame for it, I can't wait to hang up my first ever piece of 'original' art work. Yay!

Hmmm, i've done sweet F.A preparation for seminars this week, given the bender of a weekend it turned out to be. (we were all sitting in a pre-coma state watching videos at half 5 on saturday morning - we had to queue for nearly an hour for a taxi to get home as well!!!!) Was a bit hungover yesterday when we went to the pub for sunday pints. Ah well, hair of the dog and all that :)

2003-10-09T14:37:00.000+01:00

What a morning I've had! First of all, I accidentally dinged this car's bumper on the Kelvin Way whilst parking. There was no damage to either car, but unluckily for me, the owner of the other car was still in her car at the time, so i didn't get away with it. She went absolutely mental, despite me saying 'sorry' and offering to pay for any damage about 20 times. I felt like a 5 year old getting into trouble from a teacher! Then, when i got to class, my friend told me that another girl we know was raging because I was dressing up as Audrey Hepburn as well as her at this dressup party on saturday. Apparently she was livid that she wouldn't be the only one going as Hepburn. Hmmm. Bizarre. But now I think she's going as Hermione from HP so all is well. Except of course the daggers she gave me earlier. Talk about a fruitloop. I couldn't give a flying monkey what we all wear. Anyway...Hmph. Bad morning.

...

I'm sitting in the faculty computing lab trying to avoid going back to the library to do any work...Meh.

I started my new job in Ikea last night, and I'm working tonight and friday too. Eek! Talk about getting thrown in the deep end. I'm not used to doing anything productive with my day! It's bad enough being back at uni! heh.

I'm starting to get 'The Panic' concerning my life after this year (which is of course my last at uni, aaaaaaaah!) Loads of people I know have got traineeships sorted out, and although I decided not to apply in this session, I'm still worried that I'm Doing The Right Thing. Worst case scenario, I apply again next year, but it's a scary time none the less.

2003-09-29T22:55:00.000+01:00

Mmmm, I think I've got a LOT to do this coming year, what with uni, new job and diving club commitments. I'll need to fit socialising in there somewhere too :S
It's the calm before the storm this week now. I know as of the 6th october, there will be no looking back till next June.

I had a quiet holiday weekend, went diving up at loch long, and saw my first ever conger eel!!! (the spot we were diving at is called Conger Alley, but until now I have never seen one) It was just lurking under a rock at about 13.5metres - not even that deep! So random. It beats the hell out of seeing one behind glass at DeepSeaWorld.

I downloaded the Return of the King trailer today from the official Lord Of The Rings movie site - it looks like it's going to be a corker. I hope some cinemas in Scotland will be doing the special screenings of the other two movies in december before the new film - that would make a cracking birthday present. :)

2003-09-25T23:31:00.000+01:00

Ugh. Went to the Shack last night with all the student helpers after the cheese and wine thing for the freshers. We weren't allowed into the student union which was pretty unfair, given that we were letting the board members drink out of our free bar. But still had great night everyone was gassed and happy. Suffered miserably today though. Had to go into uni in the morning to enrol for french for this year. Shouldn't have driven but i did. Tsk Tsk. I came home and went back to bed in the afternoon.
My net stopped working so i phoned up tech support, who discovered that i didn't have an IP address, whoops, i'd been using a temporary one since i got broadband! They fixed it, but i was on the phone for an hour all in. Ack. Phone bill will be tasty.
Tis the september weekend this weekend, so nothing to do uni/work wise. I'm probably going to go up to Loch Long on sunday for a dive. yay!

2003-09-23T15:05:00.000+01:00

Ack, I was up at 8am this morning. I know, I know, that's not that early, but it's the first time in a long time I've had to do that! :p

I helped out at the fresher's sport fair today, trying to recruit new members for GUSAC. We got a few interested, but once they find out the cost, they usually disappear sadly...I also got to meet some of the people who joined last year whilst I was in France, and they seem pretty cool. One of them was wearing a SW tshirt, but I didn't have the nerve to ask him just how dedicated a fan he is (haha, I bet he couldn't tell from looking at me that i've read all the EU books ;o))
I get the funny feeling he was just trying to look retro.

Anyway, I matriculate tomorrow, and have to be at the Stair building for 8.45am to help out with the new first years (Gah!!! That means i need to leave the house at 8am. Shock. Horror!)

2003-09-19T17:07:00.000+01:00

I'm slowing but surely coming to terms with my status as a technical nOObie. ;o)

I've managed to clean out a bit of my system:

- No spyware thanks to Spybot, Search and Destroy
- No Kazaalite, one of the main causes of my spyware problem ;o)
- Newly installed Soulseek, a spy-free P2P program that looks fantastic so far (it has way more obscure tracks than kazaa, heh ;o))
- Newly installed OfficeXP - not actually used it yet, nasty essays etc won't commence for a while yet ;o)
- New Lexmark X1150 All in one printer/fax/scanner/copier - vuh nice, expect some photos scanned onto the blog in the near future as i experiment with my new toy ;o)

And i did all this with next to no help!!!! Go me!!!! Now let's hope the system doesn't crash under all this new weight ;o)

On the job front, i got a call from Ikea yesterday offering me the job - yayness! I'll be in the black again soon :o)

And on the scary front, uni starts back next week - eek! Tis the last official year, I'm going to be lost when I finish, I can just tell. Ah well, I can always work in Ikea, hehe....

OOOOooh, got my rollerblades back from Fiona yesterday - will probably go down to Largs this weekend with Susan for a little skate down the Promenade. :o)

2003-09-16T17:23:00.000+01:00

Ok, big update time. I forgot all about my blog till this afternoon when i was reading someone elses...Anyway...

First off, my computer has been very sick recently. (for background, see previous entry) After Win2000 was installed, I started to update it and put back on all my old programs, which was fine....for about 7 days. Then the whole system died and refused to cooperate. In an act of either lunacy or stupidity, I installed another Win2000 leaving me with 2 operating systems (stop laughing please) - One that did not work at all, and one that was kinda dodgy. Cue the hysterical phonecall to my younger cousin, who jeered and mocked, but helped me in the end by installing WinXP over the dodgy Win2000. We couldn't quite figure out how to get rid of the other Win2000, so it's still there, lurking somewhere, in my machine. Anyhoo, so here I am with WinXP, only my laptop, with it's 750mhz processor and 56MB RAM, doesn't fancy XP much. Cue a purchase of more RAM from kingston, and hey presto, I"m back in business. And the whole process only took 15 days.

In the meantime, I went to Dunoon with Jem and Susie for a few days to chill out before the inevitable Uni starts back - fyi it's the 24th September. Ack. I've forgotten what the world is like at 8am in the morning - i'll find out soon enough.

Re: the job in Ikea, i got called back for a second interview last thursday, so here's hoping they give me the damn thing - talk about alot of work, and i ain't even got the job yet! Safeway also phoned me asking me to come in for an interview, i've told them yes, but if ikea offer me a job, i think i'll pass on the Safeway interview.

I'm in the process of decorating my parents room (why can't they do it their bloody selves?!? Oh, because I'm an unemployed student hangin around the house doing nothing, that's why) I'm bloody shattered. The old wallpaper is stuck on with fricking superglue it seems. I've been taking chunks out of the plasterwork all day, and probably have asbestos poisoning by now. Hmph.

Anyhoo, I'll stop rambling and go read a few chapters of 'The Count of Monte Cristo' (in french, i must be mad....)

2003-08-29T18:52:00.000+01:00

Eeeeek, i gave my computer to a guy in susan's work to change my ME to Win2000 and he's completely wiped the memory off my computer, sob! I have nothing now, nothing!!!!!!!!!!! Grrr, i'm so mad. I'm trying to repair what damage i can, but it's proving tuff given i'm useless with technology...

2003-08-25T15:23:00.000+01:00

Can you believe I was at another funeral today? I'm turning into a professional mourner. This time it was our priest's mum. I swear there were at least 25 priests on the altar, plus the archbishop (who is about 92 btw!) Perks of having a priest in the family I suppose.

I've got an interview on thursday for a part time job in Ikea. Ya, Ikea. ;o) We'll see how it goes, I think it's only a temporary contract. But it should save my sanity.

Went to the 'Big Day Out' at Glasgow Green yesterday, it was a great day. The Red Hot Chili Peppers were vuh vuh good, and energetic considering they must all be in their late 30s by now. What a bizarre job to do when you're 'grown' up with kids and stuff. Heh.

2003-08-21T17:09:00.000+01:00

I've put in a couple of applications for jobs, I wish they'd hurry and get back to me, I'm going insane with nothing to do.

Terri's funeral was yesterday. It was lovely, the church was really packed, and the hymns were beautiful. David looked so sad, it made me nearly cry just to look at him. But I don't really want to talk at great length about all that stuff.

I've become hooked on 'The West Wing'. Susan lent me series one DVD set. It's entertaining, don't know why i never tuned into it on TV before. Too many channels i guess. But I've got rid of my cable now to make room for broadband (make room in the figurative sense of the word). I'm thinking of trying to procure a CDwriter, possibly for christmas off of some kind soul (ie. the parents, hehe).

Gawd I'm bored...

2003-08-18T23:18:00.000+01:00

Hmmmm....

A family friend died last friday of pneumonia after 7 months of fighting (and losing) against throat cancer. Her body is being brought into church tomorrow night, not looking forward to tomorrow...

God help her family.

2003-08-15T02:18:00.000+01:00

Well, what's been happening?

*tap tap tap*

Not much. My room is still in a state of unfinishedness. My brother, who was supposed to come and fit the new laminate flooring, has broken up with his girlfriend of 5 years, and is therefore using it as an excuse not to do anything remotely useful.
I still don't have a job. But I do have a car. Yayness.

*tap tap tap*

Saw peeps from the diving club last week actually, and am trying to sort out a place for myself on the Instructor foundation course this september, but there is as usual a mountain of administration. What else did i do? Saw pirates of the caribbean on sunday, it was actually surprisingly good, largely thanks to Johnny Depp's funny turn as the pirate guy. But the film has just cemented the fact that Orlando Bloom is a pretty dumb actor.

I have seriously shlepped around this week though. I'm so lazy...I did manage to go out and buy an outfit for the two weddings i've been invited to in September, plus two totally unecessary pairs of shoes to add to the ever burgeoning collection. Went to furies tonight with Jem, was bizarre as felt vuuuuh old and tired with the place. Oh, and got new broadband internet installed this week. Vuuuh fast, vuuuuh nice :o)

2003-08-04T20:29:00.000+01:00

EEEEEEEeekkkkkkkkk, i finally bought my new car, yayness!!!!!! It's a 1.2 metallic blue corsa '52 plate, i am sooooooo chuffed! I pick it up on thursday.
I'm in the middle of redecorating my room at the moment, so the whole house smells of emulsion. Yeuch...but it's keeping me busy whilst I wait in hope for the job i've applied for.

I've also started to look into what the hell I'm going to do with myself when I leave uni next year. Some of the deadlines for training contracts are up very very soon, and I need to get cracking on them.

Other than that, a pretty quiet time i've been having. I've caught up with loads of people i haven't seen because i was away in france. Very cool, everyone's well.

Hmmm, that's it for now...

2003-07-20T23:59:00.000+01:00

Ok, to add to that list: Forgot to put the wheelie bin out friday morning; Forgot to go to the Post Office on tuesday; Skipped mass this morning so I could stay in bed and watch DVDs at Susan's house. I am a totally useless bum.

On a higher note, looks like I may get a permanent contract out of that temp work I'm doing: Clearly a good thing, as if I don't get a job soon I'm going to have to get 'bum' officially branded onto my forehead.

2003-07-18T00:35:00.000+01:00

I need permanent employment. And a liver transplant. Oh, and i've killed all my mum's houseplants.

2003-07-10T21:54:00.000+01:00

Well.

I'm sitting writing this in my house in Scotland. I'm back. I was back, then away again to Ibiza, but now, I'm back back. And how depressing is that? Meh.

Ibiza was amazing. Enough said. Although I still walk around going, 'Oh my God, I was actually in Pacha, I can't believe it!' and 'Aghhhh! It's Paul Van Dyk, look look!' and stuff of that ilk. Only bad thing about holiday was saying goodbye to Em at Luton airport on the way home. It was hard :o(

I've got some temp work lined up starting next week, which is good cos I'm skint skint skint. Ibiza ain't cheap: eight euros for a 330ml bottle of water is just hilarity really. The rents are away to Spain themselves this saturday, so I'll have the house to myself for a fortnight, nice. When they get back dad is going to help me car shop, nicer.

Anyhoo, that's all my thoughts for the mo.

2003-06-24T23:22:00.000+01:00

I can't believe as I'm sitting here writing this that I've only got one more day left here. My room is in complete disarray. My suitcase is half packed, there are clothes all over the floor, and boxes of stuff to give to others that I don't need anymore. I've been so busy the past few days that I've not really had time to sit down and think it all through. Tomorrow is going to be hectic again, so I probably won't have time to feel sad until I get home. About half the Erasmus have left in the course of the last week. It's so bizarre saying goodbye to people: I prefer to say 'see you later' even though I doubt I'll see most of them ever again. It was really hard to say goodbye to Maarten and Helen on Saturday, and Em left this morning. However I know I'll see her next week for IBIZA (YAY!)
Ugh...I just don't want to think about it all really.

2003-06-19T11:34:00.000+01:00

At last the exams are over! I've got a week left in Strasbourg before I fly home. The thought of packing is a scary one, but I'll think about it tomorrow (or the day after that, or the day after that!) Tonight there's a reception in the Fac for all the Erasmus students. Free beer, yay! But I think some of us are going to precede that with an extended liquid lunch shortly. I am going to enjoy my day today :o)

2003-06-14T00:08:00.000+01:00

Ummmmm...I'm in a weird state of mind. I have one exam left, and my time in Strasbourg is coming to an end. I guess a word to describe my mood would be 'sad' but it's not even that...I don't really know what my mood is. I'm trying not to think about saying bye to people. But i know it's not far off. But I should really be concentrating on this last exam...Ack.

Hmm...I shouldn't drink bacardi on my own late at night...

2003-06-10T10:48:00.000+01:00

Eek! Just had my 'Histoire des idees politique +1789' exam (oh yes, it's as horrible as it sounds). Luckily, the professor was an absolute dear, so even if I've failed, I don't feel just as bad as I could right now. However, I suspect he may have passed me, you can usually tell with oral exams.

Got Droit Int. Public on thursday, but I feel slightly more confident about that one. I'll probably take my notes down to the river this afternoon, as its yet again another gorgeous day, and I may as well sweat outside than inside, as it were.

Said my first proper goodbye yesterday, to Claire who is going home tomorrow. The strange thing is, I know I'll see her when I go home, but it was still sad. I think because I know this year is coming to an end. It'll be awful to say bye to those I know I won't see (either for a long time or never again). Exams are keeping me too busy to think about it though...Eek. It's funny to think I'll be home for good in just over 2 weeks!

2003-06-06T20:32:00.000+01:00

Hmmm, so that was my last week at the internship this week. I'm glad it's over, because of exams, but glad I did it, as it'll look good on the old C.V. Nicer still, I got a 'bonus'. It was only 50 euros, but that's enough for me and Beth to go out and have a meal to celebrate, as it was to share with her.
As for studying, it's just not happening. Because I've been stuck in air conditioned offices all week, I have'nt fully appreciated the heat, so I don't have a clue how the others have been managing to study. I would've melted into the ground by now. This afternoon, I basically sat IN FRONT of my fan whilst reading my notes. I couldn't put them down or they'd blow away! D'oh! And all the fan was doing was recirculating the hot air!!! Haha!

Ah well, although I don't feel superconfident about the two exams next week, I think I'll manage to pass them if I just keep up the sluggish studying I've been doing so far. So very lazy I am!

Think I might just go and finish off the bottle of red wine I opened last night...Maybes watch a DVD (gawd, that's all I do now!!!! Noone wants to go out cos of damn exams!!!!)

2003-06-03T20:07:00.000+01:00

Ack, how cack is this internship?!?!?!?

I don't feel like I'm getting any further forward on the whole studying thing, but I guess we already established that I don't really care about that any more. At least, not until they knock 10c off the weather and I can concentrate...

Hehe, I rented Goldmember last night, it was very funny. I can't remember why I didn't go see it at the cinema? Anyhoo, I'm sorely tempted just to put on another DVD tonight instead of studying...We'll see!

2003-06-01T22:56:00.000+01:00

Ack. I'm being eaten alive by little flies at the moment. It's been stiflingly hot since wednesday (high 20s, but close with it), so studying has been even harder than it would have been. First exam was on friday: Pretty sure I passed, although how well remains to be seen. Still, positive start. I've got that damn internship this week, which will take up valuable study time, but I may just take my notes into the office and read them when it's quiet.

It was Fiona's 21st on friday. We surprised her by flying in a friend from Scotland and some others came up from the south of France and Germany. She was so shocked, it was hilarious. We had a lovely meal then me and Em proceeded to get a little too drunk later on at the Marché Gayot (Really trendy square with street cafés etc) Emily got really stoatious actually and fell in the middle of the square (!) so I had to take her home at the shameful time of half 12 whilst the rest of them went on to Le Trou. But it was funny. Still, the bank card got hit pretty hard. I've got to remember I don't have a job anymore for the time being!!!

Last night, me and Em (after spending the day recovering!) went to Andrew from the pub's birthday theme party. It was 'Animal Wars', which meant we all had to come in costume (cue hasty costume making an hour before we go with a few pairs of old tights and a coat hanger). I was a kangaroo and Em an African Killer Bee (do they even exist?) Anyhoo, we figured we had to be vicious animals as the whole point is the animals 'fight' each other in a series of rounds in either a land, sea or air environment to see what animal is the king of all beasts. Wasn't actual fighting though - you just had to put forward arguments as to how your animal would win. Anyhoo, to cut a long story short, I lost to a cow. What the heck?!?!? A kangaroo would beat the CRAP out of a cow! Crazy...I think it was rigged! STill, the costumes were hilarious...

Went to Sylvie's for lunch after church this morning, which was nice as I haven't seen her for a while. She gave me a loan of their huge encyclopoedia for help with studying for Histoire Des Idées. Funny feeling I'm beyond hope for that one though...

Anyhoo, was another roaster today, so went to the park at République to study only to be told to get off the grass by a warden, as it would get damaged...And the point of having a park is?!?!? Ah well...

2003-05-26T21:03:00.000+01:00

Hmmm, didn't actually get up till 2pm today, and then proceeded to fart about trying to fix Kazaalite and do laundry till 5pm, then did one, yes, ONE hour of studying before dinner. Oh dear. After dinner, I couldn't face going back to it. I'm sitting here now wondering if my laziness is genetic? (Well, I'm not going to blame myself, am i?!?!?) My first exam is on friday afternoon, I'm surprised panic hasn't set in yet, because I really couldn't care less. I wasn't like this last year. God help me next year....

2003-05-24T23:39:00.000+01:00

OOOOOOOOOHHHHHH mYYYYYYYYY GGGGGGGGOOOOOOODDDDDDDDDDDD!!!!! The UK just came LAST, last with NIL POINTS!!!!! in the eurovision song contest. The shame! The absolute shame!!!!!!

2003-05-23T23:55:00.000+01:00

What have I been doing recently? Nothing. Absolutely nothing! hmph.
I hate exam time. It's like every second of your life stretches on infinately to one finality: more exams. I get cross for no reason, physically cannot get out of bed till after noon for fear of a day that lasts too long, and don't want to talk to anyone. It's a sad state of affairs.
However, on brighter note, it's the Eurovision song contest tomorrow night, so me Em and Helen are going down the pub to take part in the sweepstakes and generally have a laugh. My money is on Bosnia-Herzegovina! (hehe...)

2003-05-22T01:26:00.000+01:00

Finally caved in and went to see X2 at the cinema today - by myself!!! That's the first time I've been to the cinema by myself since 5th year at school when I went to see 'Life Is Beautiful' (that Roberto Begnini film) for italian class. I felt so self conscious, but I wasn't the only person who was there by myself I noticed. Film was good. High points: action was good and it moved along at a good pace. Low points: dubbed into french (meh) and it was a pretty small screen they were showing it on. And being that I live in pop cultural exile in this godforsaken country, I didn't know anything about the plot before I went to see it, so I didn't expect the pheonix storyline.

As for studying, did a bit today, but I don't feel I'm making as good a progress as I could be. But then, do I ever? Why start now?

2003-05-17T23:49:00.000+01:00

Hmmmm, managed to do quite a bit of studying today, although I am behind the vaguely loose target I set myself. Classes officially finished on friday, so now I have the full days to work with (thank the maker I don't work in the pub now too!!) My exams are well spread out which is nice (30th May, 10th June, 12th June, 19th June) and I figure I can majorly fail one of them with the exception of Histoire Des Idees....

Apart from school, I did one other productive thing yesterday - booked a holiday!!!! YAYNESS!!!! Me Em Beth and Em's friend Pogga are all going to Ibiza for a week at the start of July. I'd kind of given up hope of ever convincing Jem/Susan/Uni girls from going in that direction, so I'm glad I met such great people this year that I could go there with. Beth's been before, but we all want to go to the same clubs, which is cool. Yayness, I can't believe that in 7 weeks time I could be in Pacha *faintsdies* I'm a very happy bunny...And it takes the sting of the fact that I'll be glued to my books for the next month.

Anyhoo, off to surf the net for a wee while before bed...

2003-05-15T23:53:00.000+01:00

Just back from the cinema. Saw Matrix: Reloaded, it was amazing! The fighting was even better than in The Matrix: they've definately improved on their effects technology and are making their best use of it. It finished with a 'to be concluded...' which had me going 'arrrrrrrgh!!!!!' in the cinema. Ah well, at least it's not 3 years like the last time!

Hmm, didn't do much studying today cos I had class. Last classes tomorrow actually, so I should be heads down thumbs up after that...*uncomfortable silence*

2003-05-13T01:15:00.000+01:00

Oh my god, words can't express my joy! I've just finished my last ever shift in the pub. I feel...elated, which sounds like an exaggeration, but if you worked there, you'd understand!
Anyway, I'm sure It'll take at least a week to get rid of that 'Oh! I'll be late for work tonight!' feeling, but I don't mind!
Now I've got to get my head down and start studying properly for these exams at the start of june...

Oh, got tickets for the Matrix sequeal on thursday night, yayness!

2003-05-10T03:51:00.000+01:00

Hmm, got in from work at 4am, but wen t via le Divan. Ugh, My head is spining from beer. Just made my self a heaving bowl of pasta as well, which probably wont' help. I REALLY have to stuay tomorrow. Note to self: STUDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDYYYYY!

We're having a 'dress like trailer trash' poker party for fred's birthday tonight, i have my costume ready (a mini skirt that used to fit me before i started working in that darn pub and drank more and didn't do any exercies) well, ain' the point of it to look trashhy?

Gahhh, it's starting to rain agian....

2003-05-08T23:43:00.000+01:00

Hmmm, still undecided about what to do workwise. It's fred's birthday on saturday night, for which there's a surprise 'come dressed as white trash' poker party (my suggestion actually) at Sara's appartement. I'll probably be down to work, but I really want to go to the party. So what I've done is texted the other Claire to see if she'll swap shifts with me. If she can't, then I'm just going to not go into work. I know it's shitty of me (not to boss, NEVER to her, but to the others) but I've had it up to here, and missed out on so much ERASMUS stuff because of that job. I'd rather not leave on bad terms, but there it is...

On a lighter note, that 27c weather broke big time this evening. THere was a heeeeeeeeeeuge storm, and me Em and Beth went out in our skirts and vests in the rain. We ran all the way to Maarten's and he made us tea, bless. There's still the odd bit of lightning outside now actually...Sooo cool.

Anyway, I'll probably wake up with a cold tomorrow, so maybe I can use that as an excuse not to go to work! Hehehe...

2003-05-07T23:42:00.000+01:00

Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!
I really hate my boss right now. If murder wasn't illegal in ever country in the world (well, except for some of those African states with no laws etc) I'd kill her. And I don't hate people lightly. Grrrrrrrrrrr.
Anyway, the basics are: Her post new-year 'I've given up drinking and I'm losing weight' good mood has evaporated over the past two months (reason: 3 out of of 4 staff quit in the space of one weekend. 2 of these because of her); I tried to hand in my notice a couple of months back, when she ended up convincing me to stay on (reason: guilt trip); I've been working 5 day weeks since the end of february, on what was originally a 3 day contract (reason: guilt trip); Since I got back from home where I was for easter, she's been in a foul mood (more so than usual) and taking it out on me and the other Claire (reason: resentful that we're both leaving soon); Tonight, she sent me home at half 8 after half an hour's work telling me to phone the pub at half ten to see if she needed me to come back in (ME PHONE HER?!?!? WHAT THE HELL?!?!? FOR A START, SHE SHOULD BE PHONING ME. SECONDLY, SHE SHOULDN'T SEND HER STAFF HOME WHEN SHE ASKS THEM TO WORK. THIRDLY, SHE MADE IT OUT LIKE SHE WAS DOING ME A FAVOUR) Needless to say, I didn't bloody phone. She has however just sent me a text telling me to go to bed (well, that's nice of her) and that she'll see me at 8pm on friday. What's this? Am I to work 6 nights my last week? It would seem like it. I'm contemplating just not turning up, as I got my paycheck for last month when I went in this evening. So I'll only lose out on about thirty euros or so, which is looking worth it from where I'm standing...Advice?

2003-05-06T00:19:00.000+01:00

Hmmm, the post i just wrote just disappeared off the face of the planet *confused face* Did I hallucinate myself writing it?!?
Anyhoo, gist was:

Work was fine. Quiet. Boss still recovering from weekend (haha!) We were trying to change a lightbulb earlier but it wasn't working for some reason, so we got another bulb. It was only on inspecting the seemingly faulty bulb that we noticed on it's box the 'used' written in biro. Oops. So the question of 'how many staff does it take to change a lightbulb?' is an embarassing one from now on...

Did quite alot of studying today (yesterday) - most proud of oneself. Less proud of my dinner plans - a bag of tortilla chips does not make a meal...

Anyhoo, i'm away to procrastinate...

2003-05-05T00:07:00.000+01:00

I'm going to do a Gav:

Mood: Cranky
Song: 'Save a Prayer' Duran Duran

I think I got too much sun today. I feel cross for no explanation...

Went up the Vosges with Sylvie, Jean Marc and their kids for a picnic after mass. It was 27C or thereabouts today - very nice for the start of May. When I got home the others were at the boats having sunday pints, so I joined them for a perrier (a perrier?!? What's wrong with me - must be the sun). Then i came inside with every intention of studying. Didn't happen. Ended up going for a rollerblade with the girls for an hour, farted about in my room cleaning, then went to the cinema to see 'the importance of being earnest with the delectable Colin Firth (see 'Gratuities' You need it in your life, hah!)

Talking about the cinema, absolutely nowhere in Strasbourg is showing X2 in VOST, what the hell is that about?!? Surely even some french people don't want to see it butchered, sorry, dubbed into french. Subtitles people! It's the way forward! Hmph. I'll probs drag myself to an afternoon showing as a break from studying this week, but I'm not happy about it.

Oh, and I still can't get bloody registered on empireonline. I'm losing my patience steph, sorry...

I think that's it...Oh, except to note that I clearly haven't done any studying at all this weekend. Good job, I should say...

2003-05-04T01:57:00.000+01:00

Just in from work. My feet are killing me, it was a busy night, and the boss was out of her face (since before I started at 9pm so you can imagine what she's like when she shoos me out the door at 2.30am saying "Ach, go on go on! Meself and Damien will finish up here! whilst (a) the pub is still full of regulars who have no intention of leaving even though last orders was 'officially' at 1am and (b) She's so shitfaced she'll be no use to Damien, who's only been working there 3 weeks and doesn't really know all the stuff for closing up. I'm soooooo glad I'm finishing in a week)
THat was a big parenthesis...
Anyhoo, I'm actually going to go try sleep and try and get a solid 6 hours before I need to get up at 10 for mass (inhumane hour *shudders*)
Ooooooh, not working tomorrow, which is nice. Probably going to Sylvie's for lunch after church, so can finally give her that crystal my mum sent over. Don't forget it!!!!!

2003-05-03T03:47:00.000+01:00

Just got in from le clubbing at la laiterie (drum n' bass and jungle - a bit too hardcore for me, my wee feet got tired at 3am. Still, fun night) I found out yesterday afternoon that I have rattrapage at 9am till noon today (in about 4 hours time *gasp*) for droit fiscal. I'm gonna go, but god help anyone who meets me afterwards - I will be one cross cookie. Then there's supposedly some picnic going on in the park at Baggersee at 2pm. I would rather go to bed, but it's Jen's birthday so I feel I should go. Then I've got work at 8pm. When oh when am I going to get 8 hours of uninterrupted shuteye?!?!? *thinks* Sunday night? Oh goodie...

2003-05-02T18:04:00.000+01:00

2003-05-02T17:48:00.000+01:00

Wow, my mum just sent me my grandpa's old war logs on CDrom. I haven't had time to look through everything yet, but it's really amazing stuff. It got me a bit weepy too. I'm going to try and upload some stuff on to the weblog via a very roundabout route...

Edit: Well, what i tried to do didn't really work, so i'll try a different route...

2003-05-02T00:44:00.000+01:00

Have just had a great Labour Day. After sunday pints by the river, me and Em had lunch (also by river), then I went rollerblading in the park whilst the girls jogged, then we made a big mexican feast of a dinner and watched the Royal Tenenbaums (funny film that).

Anyway, I'm gonna write a wee story, it's called The History of the Sunday Pint

*ahem* The Sunday Pint is traditionally drank on a sunday. But not any sunday - it is the sunday after a saturday night out. What is better than getting in at 5am, sleeping the sleep of the dead until midday, then strolling down to your local pub in search of that swift pint to make you feel grand?

The Sunday Pint was made popular in Strasbourg by a certain Claire and Emily, who would partake often, and sometimes not even on sunday. They blame work, as it is infinately impossible to turn down a free beer at the end of a shift, and then infinitely more impossible not to swing by the Trou on the way home. Thus leading to that hair of the dog feeling the next morning.

Sunday Pints are increasingly popular in the summertime, as the weather is fine and practically begs for you to find a beergarden in which to appreciate the sunshine. Such was the case on Labour day this year, a thursday, but a sunday in our hearts.

Hope this explains things for ya gav!

2003-05-01T12:51:00.000+01:00

What a beautiful day! So bizarre not to hear the trams running by outside. Fiona went out earlier and said that practicallly nothing is open. The boats, however, are, so we're heading off down there at half 2 for sunday pints. Yayness! Studying can wait...

2003-05-01T02:01:00.000+01:00

Well, not going to Vosges tomorrow (today really). Got email from Sylvie whilst at work. I'll go round to theirs on sunday instead. (NB remember whisky and crystal!!!)

Not bothered really, I can get up whenever I want and not feel guilty now. I may do some studying in the evening, but it's a holiday...I'll see what the girls are up to - maybe we can have dinner together.

Mmm, just had fried egg sandwich, it was jolly nice...

2003-04-30T16:58:00.000+01:00

OK, went to supermarket, and the walk got rid of the headache. Put laundry in (I am just too good!) and read quite a bit. There seems to be stuff missing somewhere, but none the other girls are in just now (where the heck are they at 6pm????) so I'll try and catch them before I go to work later...

Waiting on dinner (well, breakfast/lunch/dinner really). Discovered that pork chops are less than a euro each - not bad considering I am skint. This will be the third time since last wednesday I'll have had them, hehe...

I can tell my mood is better, I don't feel sick at the thought of going to work. Just a kind of...resigned resignation. Maybe cos I know its a HOLIDAY tomorrow! Yay for labour day!!! I may go to the Vosges with Sylvie and family, but she hasn't got back to me yet.

Better go check on potatoes I suppose.

2003-04-30T13:54:00.000+01:00

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit! It's quarter to 3, I slept in majorly considering class was at 12. Now I have a headache from oversleeping. Idiot.

Not much I can do about it now, my own fault for the cheese and beer.

I was right about the weather, its raining like la vache qui piss...and I need to go to the supermarket. Hmmmph. And I'm not even going to look at that big pile of laundry.

I'm in an officially bad mood.

2003-04-30T02:33:00.000+01:00

Ugh, tis 3.19am and just had a beer and cheese on crackers with Emily. I can't wait till I give up work then I won't eat/drink at such crazy hours every other night. I won't be able to sleep now because of that cheese.

Work was work. We spent a good hour trying to remember who sang that 80s song 'Wouldn't it be good'. Noone in the pub knew so I looked online when I got home an hour ago - Nik Kershaw. Haha! Texted Bernie to tell her. If she didn't think I'm mad already she does now...I'vefinally come to arrangement whereby my last night should be the 12th May...Here's hoping.

I have 5 hours break tomorrow inbetween class and work, and if I don't manage to finish the second part of the DIP reading then I'm in dire need of some help with this motivation to study malarky...Apparently there's going to be a storm tomorrow, hope so, at least the nice weather won't distract me that way.

Note to self: Must go shopping tomorrow at some point for scran for thursday!!!! Or survive on pistachio nuts and crackers I will...Still, there's that half crate of lager left.

2003-04-29T03:06:00.000+01:00

Hehe, funny link http://orlando.glittering-deception.net/main.php?x=blog.php

Reminds me of the LOTR Very Secret Diaries parody. Now where did i put the link to that? *puzzled face*

ANyhoo, it seems the blogout thing is working now...Or maybe thats just on the preview screen. *shrugs*

I really need to go and study...

...

...

2003-04-29T01:30:00.000+01:00

Hmmm, back from work. Was dead, as usual. I wish they'd just bloody close the place down. And I knew, i just knew that she'd make me work extra shifts now that she knows I'm leaving. Bytch. *sighs*

Now, am I going to sleep tonight or what?

I'll think about it...I'm going to need to take a look at that 'blogout' thing, i think i put the code in the wrong way, gah! And I need to email Nuria (actually feel guilty about that *blush*)

So so tired though....

2003-04-28T19:35:00.000+01:00

Right, before I go to work, I'm going to post my thoughts:

(1) The novelty of this is going to wear off in approximately 2 weeks after some conscientious effort on my part to keep the journal going

(2) My spelling is getting worse as i get older

(3) I wish Emily would stop fretting about her unresolved ex issues

(4) I can and I will learn to master technology. The fact that I set this thing up in a day gives me great pride :P

(5) Not looking forward to work. It's my first day back after being at home for the easter holidays...*shudders* Oooooh, good song! *turns up volume*

(6) I really need to start studying properly, perhaps need to do it away from my room and the lure of the 'net/DVDs/books...Maybe i should study on the bench outside on the boulevard.......Nah, I'll just sit and watch the skaters. Gaaaaaaaaaah... :(

*turns down volume* Stupid neighbourr

2003-04-28T18:08:00.000+01:00

Ok, am losing will to live. This was supposed to be a distraction from studying, but is more goddam stressful than bloody international public law...grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr....