Monday 29 June 2009

No puedo suportarlo!

Well, home has been most eventful so far. Eventful insofar as that nothing of any great importance has happened. Well, I have finally watched the fifth Harry Potter film. I was actually quite impressed, simply for Imelda Staunton's portrayal of Umbridge.

We appear to be in the midst of a heatwave. I have reduced myself to wearing as little clothes as is accepted by society (as it happens, it's just shorts and t-shirts), and sitting with the (incredibly noisy) fan on full. Moving creates problems. Any movement that is too strenuous leads to excessive sweating, so I have given up movement altogether, and only move for essential movements.

In other, terrible, terrible, news, I have discovered that after a few days complacently thinking "hurrah! my hayfever has gone! Yorkshire has cured me!", my hayfever has returned. Either that or I have Swine Flu (I think that's what the current flu is...)

I went to see Ice Age 3D last night. The film was good. I quite liked the film. What I didn't like was the fact that it cost £6.80 to go and see it in 3D. It didn't really play to the fact that it was in 3D. There was little screen-jumping. I was let-down. But, having said that, I spent a pleasant evening catching up with people, which was good.

In other news (again), gay sex has been decriminalised in India. After we set up the law that criminalised it 148years ago. Huzzah!

Sunday 28 June 2009

Over-surprised guy!


Well, this shall be my first blogg of the summer. I have returned home, thus making it officially the holidays.

The past few days have been really weird. Frantically cleaning the house, so LUSU don't fine us. I dared to move the fridge. I regretted it soon after doing it. I don't know what it was, but I'm pretty sure it was alive. 5 bin bags, and 3 full recycling boxes later it was complete. My car was crammed full of my stuff, full of stuff I'm pretty sure I didn't bring with me in September.

I'm pretty sure I've ranted about this before, but I don't care. It's enraging. What is so hard about indicating? On the motorway home, I began to wonder how long people have not been indicating. It's just so enraging when people drift in and out of lanes. Argh! It's not rocket science! Or, maybe it is.

Anyway, the crusade against my home-room continues...

Friday 26 June 2009

I suppose...

I suppose I should mention something about Wacko dying. Okay, so he had some good music, but he was a weirdo. He will be just like Elvis. Now, Elvis is a legend, but I imagine at the time he was on drugs, and there was scandal surrounding him etc... In about 10 years time, people will have forgotten that Wacko touched kids (allegedly) and that he held his child over a balcony. In the distant future, people will even have forgotten that he used to be black. Probably.

Michael Jackson is died!

Well, bloguettes, I feel I should blogg. I've neglected blogging lately, but unfortunately, it's not been for bigger and better things. I returned home yesterday, to pick up my car, and then return to Lancaster today. As such, I have been exploring the local area with my brum brum. I have been to a mysterious place called "Glasson Dock". Which is just a docks. But it is pleasant.

The mother is in pot, after her endoscopy on her ankle. Someone gave her a bell. I'm all for helping, but she knows when to ring it, just so it annoys me. Just as I'm finishing a chapter: "Martin, come and put my shoe on. I need to go toilet." "Fetch me a cuppa". She insists on getting dressed, even though she just sits in bed all day. She might as well stay in her nighty. She says its so she feels like she's done something. Tut.

Tuesday was Extrav, which for those not in the know, was "Bowland Children's TV" themed. I, naturally, went as Noddy. I shall be modest: my outfit kicked ass. I made the hat out of felt and a bell, and I made his neckerchief out of 3 dusters sewn together. Seriously, kicked ass. The night wasn't too bad. I expected more, but it was fine as it was. It was a nice way to end Second Year. I leave Lancaster 'til Final Year on Sunday. *sobs*

Sunday 21 June 2009

Mi piacionno i tavoli.

For those not in the know (Woaaaah. Déjà vu!) that means "I like tables".

Last night I decided that enough was enough, and that the living room needed cleaning. It was actually the worst it's been. Ever. I managed to fill a bin bag of rubbish, and the recycling in the front room (think of the penguins!) was quite hefty too. I washed up the pots in the kitchen (also alot of them too). Alas, no vacuuming was done, as, well, it was late, and I couldn't be bothered. I'll do it later.

I have had another day, well morning, of Italian, and it's still pretty awesome. Mi piace la grammatica :)

And now I shall read "The Observer". Ciao!

Saturday 20 June 2009

You english, you always do this....


Well, it is day three of my Italian course, and still the love hasn't died. We're doing grammar and all sorts, so it's keeping me happy :) The numbers are slowly dwindling, as one dropped out last Saturday, and now one hasn't turned up today because they are ill. Another one isn't coming back tomorrow, so that will leave us with 4, if the one who didn't turn up today, doesn't turn up again tomorrow.

Well, in other news, I went to Manchester yesterday, with Lauren. It was the biggest shock of my life. Like Durham. I spent the day going "I cannot believe how NICE it is here!" We paid £18 for 2 mains and 2 puddings, plus unlimited drinks in Frankie and Benny's, and £3 in "Urbis" to go into an exhibition about video games, in which we got to play on video games! It was an actual steal! Then, in "Urbis" we also saw some Modern Art. I'll be honest, it was fucking weird. But, it was free. So all is good. Having said that, we also saw some amazing art, which was photos from obscure places around Manchester: of the sewers, from a balcony etc. Just really awesome. The wheel was also quite good. Considering. Primark = actually huge! There could have been a nuclear war whilst we were inside, and we'd have been nonethewiser. Having said that, people who reserve seats on trains ruined the day. And a small child who came round Costa Coffee, an actual inside begger, begging for money. I didn't feel bad that I turned her away, cos I thought her rude. They do it abroad, but I was just shocked to see it happen in my own country.

I went on a rather impromptu campus bar crawl last night. Mainly for the badges. I got them all. Sono cool.

Thursday 18 June 2009

I do, I do, I do, I do, I do


Well, these past few days have been a bit hit and miss. I really haven't been that bothered to blog lately. As such, you're gonna be lucky if you get one every other day.

On tuesday it was the anniversary of Jessica's day of birth. She turned the big 20, joining the rest of us. As one would expect, we all went to the park dressed up at 3pm. I had been attacked with some facepaint and had become a cat, koala, panda and finally a skeleton. Infact, I was a Mexican skeleton. It was most pleasant. We played ball-in-a-cup (Mexico's favourite toy for over 340 years!) and "bunnies" and wink-murder. Me and ruth were killed off more than everyone else. Not amused.

Wednesday involved returning to Leeds to meet Laura, who I've not seen in a while. It involved a trip to Primark, in which I bought many things. Bugger. Then, as it was raining and Primark had given me only a paper bag, I had to purchase a rucksack in which to put my purchases from Primark. Then, of course, it stopped raining.

Today was equally nothingy, as it merely involved a trip to campus (which lasted no more than 10minutes) for LUSU housing to write down our estimated usage, according to our bills. I'm pretty sure they wrote it off the wrong bill. Idiots.

Sunday 14 June 2009

P.s.

I also finished Angels and Demons. The film was NOTHING like the book. So now I've started on A Clockwork Orange. It might as well be in Dutch.

"Che lavoro fai?" or How I grew to detest Cineworld.

Well, today has been another morning of Italian. I have to say, despite everyone constantly whittering, mainly because I imagine it's their way of learning, I'm really enjoying it. I can now ask people what they work as "Che cosa fai?/Che lavoro fai?" And ask where they work "dove lavori?". Admittedly, most of the people in the class are retired, so this topic became quite exhaustive after 10 minutes. However, "sono studente e lavoro in la universita". Okay, so that sentence lacked a few accents, but the point still remains. We also learned verbs today. It made me happy. Lavoro, lavori, lavora, lavoriamo, lavorata, lavorano. Pride. :D

If I didn't mention before, I applied for a job at Cineworld the other day. Well, Friday night to be precise. Below is their response:-

Dear Martin,

Re: Multifunctional Staff Member

Thank you for your interest in the above vacancy with Cineworld Cinemas.

We have reviewed your application and unfortunately, you have not been selected to attend an interview on this occasion.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the time and effort that you have put into your application.

We wish you all the best in your future endeavours.

Kind Regards,


Recruitment Team
Cineworld Cinemas

*Please do not reply to this email as we will be unable to view your response.


Bastards.

Saturday 13 June 2009

Di dov'è Lei?

Well, recently has been a bit busy. Well, not that busy. I learnt alot about France (not to wear a skirt, or make eye-contact) and about Spain too (if I don't have ID on me at all times, I will probably be arrested). I learnt that I can last until about 3 o'clock without food. I learnt I'm actually quite kick-ass at Spanish (I got an 80 in my speaking, and 68 in my CCP (1000 words of pure Spanish)). I also learnt that I'm not that bad at French either (I got my highest French mark to date! A 70!) And now, to fill the empty void left by completed forms, and stuff-to-do, I have started learning Italian. I have spent the morning learning Italian in a class with an average age of about 50. And that's being kind. They all seem nice enough though, so I can't complain. Plus, I actually don't mind that I've been learning since half past 9 this morning. It's, dare I say it, fun.

I have it again tomorrow, and then I dunno what to do with myself in the week. I fear it will just be drinking. Oh well.

Wednesday 10 June 2009

Damn you, Tom Hanks!

Well, I have been busy lately, and my laptop has persisted in it's one-machine crusade against my existence. Well, not against my existence. It still hates me, I guess is what I'm trying to say. Anyway, yesterday I finished reading "The Suspicions of Mr Whicher". It was good, and I won't spoil it and say "whodunnit", but I will say that the eponymous Mr Whicher was right. I have now moved on to reading "Angels and Demons". I have spent the entire book, well the 37 chapters I've read this morning, picking fault at what the movie left out. I also cannot help but read the entire thing in the voice of Tom Hanks. It is most annoying! Damn Hollywood!

This week has been "Year Abroad Week". So far, I have learnt to avoid saunas in Germany, and to be analytical with my journal. I spent most of Monday bored shitless in seminars about dissertations and YA Projects. As I'm doing neither, I thought it all pretty pointless, but obligatory. 2h45 later, after an hour and a bit on footnoting, half an hour on something that I forget but whose general message was "The Internet is EVIL!", I was informed that it was all "optional". OPTIONAL! Not amused in the slightest. Yesterday was marginally better. Not. I spent most of the morning weeping "I just want my free monies". Today is all about French and Spanish bureaucracy. Bureaucracy is one of my most hated words as a language student. The 'eau' sound that is so prevalent in Bureau is lost in bureaucracy. This, I see no point in it. I do wish English would stop stealing French words and beating them beyond recognition. Beaulieu is another example. It is a place in the South. Pronounced "Bewley".

Sunday 7 June 2009

Back in the USSR.

Well, I'm back in fair Lancaster. Although, it's not very fair. It's cold and windy. Although, touch-wood, not raining. Yet. I came back last night cos Jen asked me if I wanted to go out. And I said yes. I'm sure that "Yes Man" has had quite a substantial subconscious effect on me. I also told a man the time when he asked, although it was one of the biggest challenges of the night. In the sense that I couldn't tell the time. It was a complicated time: 10.35. Still.

Wednesday 3 June 2009

C'est si belle, la lune...

Seriously, I had a revelation a few weeks back about how easy it is to make rhymes in foreign. Obviously, now I come to tell you all about it, I can't think of anything decent. But still. The point stands.

These past few days have gone so quickly. I had my spanish speaking the other day (I refuse to call it oral, simply because of the giggles that generally ensue), my epic last exam, or 231 as it's known to us - something about French politics. This last exam day involved general group panicking with Becca and Charlotte, and then a final panic after the exam trying to sort out all my coursework to hand in. Palarver is the word.

But, all is good, I got home. I got on trains with leg room, and didn't have to sit next to anyone, which is the way I like it. There was a snoring lady on my train from Manchester, and she was sat next to a man who was getting off before her. Unfortunately, the man was sat by the window, so after establishing 'no, I probably can't traverse her' he politely shook her to wake her up. It was funny. So naturally, I returned home to find that my room had become somewhat of a storeroom, with 2 dining room chairs stored there. Now, for those of you not in the know, there is barely room to swing a bee in my room, let alone a cat, so these chairs made it nigh on impossible to swing anything smaller than a bee. An ant, let's say.

Yesterday, well, last night mainly, we went to a restaurant called "Bella Roma", and in true style, there was a real Italian to greet you as you walked in. However, he had clearly lived in Yorkshire quite a while as he had developed a somewhat interesting mix of the Yorkshire dialect and his heavy native Italian accent. He's been on 'Deal or No Deal?', don't you know. There was a picture of him with Noel and everything. In true 'birthday meal' style, my mother had arranged for a cake (no less than a quality Sainsbury's cake) to be brought with coffee. So I had to find room after an epic meal of both a starter and a pudding either side of the main, for a cappuccino and tiny Ammarretto biscuit. Plus the cake. God, I hate ammarretto. It's just so marzipan-y. Ugh. But, my grandad responded to the cake with the typical 'You crafty thing, you Karen!'. Not so much as fake shock, more embarrassment. He got a kiss off one of the waitresses, so he seemed content.

I have also finished 'Yes Man' by Danny Wallace. I recommend it. It's funny and thinkative.

What the hell?!

Well, yesterday, me and Katie went to the beach, again. We purchased a barbecue and a knife (something Katie needed ID for cos she didn't look 24...). It was most fun. Until we ventured out to the sea. The tide was out. Like, really far out. So we ventured towards it, abandoning our stuff. After finally getting past the rocks and shit, we got out to the boggy sand. Which was a bit like mud, and very sinky. It hurt the arches of my feets. Once I got the sea, I thought I'd put my flip flops back on. I regretted it as soon as I put them in the sea. I nearly lost them! To some minging black tar thing. Needless to say, I shan't be venturing out that far again. Ever. Aside from that, I tanned, so all is good.

Today, I have been revising since 9, with Becca and Charlotte, ready for my final exam today! Well, final until resits no doubt. And then I am returning to the Shire for the weekend, as it is my Grandad's 80th birthday. We are going for a meal to an Italian restaurant, I think, plus on Friday I get to go to the cinema (not for my Grandad's 80th). So all is good.

Anywho, wish me luck!