I revised on Wednesday for the whole day (yay finally some productivity) and met a marketing man which made me think of doing an MBa (I’m really going to be a student for the rest of my life). Tom came round yesterday and we spent the day revising, then went to the allotment with mum to plant some potatoes. We watched “The Time Travellers Wife”, which Tom bought for me – it’s one of my favourite books, and apart from missing out quite a lot of the book, the film didn’t disappoint. It also has Rachael McAdams in it, and she’s one of my fave actresses, so that was cool. He stayed the night and got taken off by my parents to drop him home, talking about Stieg Larssen’s books, which was fine by me. I stayed in my slippers and did some work, then Casey came round and we took the dogs for a walk.

I leave for London on Sunday, and I can honestly say I’ve never been more unenthusiastic about it. My last few weeks in college were frankly rubbish last term, and I’m worried that the minute I get back things will go back to how they were. This is partly a work concern, but also a “I’m a student but cannot wait to start living real life” thing. I’m not your typical student (as my incredibly embarassing blurb states in the animation on the Blogging homepage). I don’t actually like drinking that much (although apparently being able to drink good wine is a life skill, not a drinking skill) and I’m up early every morning except Saturday. I cook good meals, I don’t skimp on food so that I can go out partying and I go to sleep at a sensible time. I can’t wait to be financially independent (maybe that is quite typical!).

The thing is, it’s quite hard to balance studying with real-people stuff. Cooking dinner seems such a chore when you have a piece of coursework to write up, or an exam to revise for. It seems so easy to stay up late watching Friends/Skins/drinking with the housemates/doing nothing except wasting time. I know that if I for any reason over-indulge in anything, my mum and dad will help me out financially (though I haven’t had to ask for very much help except for last term in first year, and I hope I will keep up the good work!) which probably makes me a bit incautious.

I’m working on balance, and will hopefully manage to keep my head straight when I get back to the Lond!

This isn’t my typical style, so I’m sorry it’s a bit doom and gloom and nastiness. It’s a side to being a student that nobody warned me about when they were telling me that “student days are the best days of your life”. Consider this a preparation.

I don’t know if I let anyone know that I’ve put up a brief page about Materials careers - I did it about a month ago, sorry for not saying!

Kerry came round yesterday to make a bug hotel! Tobes was supposed to come too, but he was ill, oh nooo! If anyone is in any doubt as to what a bug hotel is, just Google it. It was amazing. We found a load of rubbish around the back of the house that got turned into mayfly hideouts, bee holes, toad retreats and a hedgehog home. We lugged it down to the allotment and assembled. Look!

Making our bug hotel!

The bug hotel, with soil on top for butterfly bushes to grow!

We then got home and made cookies, getting distracted and doing calamari halfway through. It looks a lot like six year olds decorated the cookies. I would say this is a pretty accurate description of our mental capabilities by the end of the four hour mad cooking sesh. They taste amazing though!

Calamari, yaaay!

Cookies decorated by 6 year olds.

Today I went to the Eden Project with Tom and his family. It was awesome. If you are in England for any reason, you should make your way down to Cornwall and have a look around. It’s a good place to go for other attractions, such as the Lost Gardens of Heligan, little port towns like Fowey, surfers hangouts (Newquay!) and a variety of more environmentally friendly and wildlife oriented places to look around.

A pretty flower

A pineapple growing in the Tropical biome.

Flower in the Tropical Biome.

Pond in the Tropical Biome.

The Tropical Biome looking towards the sky from the furthest point from the entrance.

Ritual thing from the Mediterranean Biome.

Piggies in the Mediterranean Biome.

Aloes in the Mediterranean Biome.

Bulbs in the Mediterranean Biome.

View from the Visitors Centre.

Horse sculpture in the entrance of the Eden Project.

Still no revision…John Sandall’s amazing risotto recipe is up as well, by the way!

It’s been a few more days than I would like since I last blogged. I did do a video-blog, which I tried to upload (three times) but it took more than four hours and then failed anyway. I shall endeavour (sp?!) to upload it for your viewing pleasure but I won’t wait anymore.

Jackdaws building their nest at the office.

On Thursday I went to the office to ‘work’ with the parents. It didn’t really happen. I was so distracted to be somewhere new that I didn’t do basically anything. We had salmon for dinner which was AMAZING, thanks Daddy!

Friday we spent all day cleaning the house. I spent four hours on a ladder cleaning the ceiling of the conservatory, then another few hours painting the bathroom white. I then spent a while cooking John’s amazing Risotto recipe with dad, teaching him the ropes, which was cool. The parents really enjoyed it, which was cool.

Cleaning the ceiling of the conservatory, looking ultra stylish.

Yesterday, Saturday, I finished off the bathroom, then mum and I went to the Ashburton farmers market where we bought poles, clematis, rabbit proofing fencing and new purple jodhpurs (woot!). When we got home, I went down to the allotment with mum. We then came back and went out to a very late dinner, where I took a stew I’d made and ate cos I wasn’t up for more salmon, which was probably a bit rude but hey.

Today we’ve been up and about eating boiled eggs for breakfast, making lunch and eating lunch with Tom and his family, cousin Julie and Casey. It was very pleasant, and they’ve all left now, either to go home or to visit the allotment.

Risotto prep!

You may have noticed I haven’t written a lot about revision, and this is probably the most clipped and to the point blog post I’ve ever done. That’s because I haven’t done any revision for days and am now in panic mode. So, adios, hope everyone who wanted chocolate got chocolate, and perhaps write something more lovely and Corrie-blabberingy another time!

The coolest flag I've ever seen.

Awwww, Digger!

Best chocolate ever.

Luncheon.