Interesting question really. Time has flown by since my last blog post. So fast. I feel like I blinked once and then time sped up by a month and a half.

Last time I blogged I was out at the Silwood Campus of Imperial doing my final year project, time maintaining a respectful pace. Then as a week or two went by, the reality of the project set in. The final year project was the name itself, final, stressful, HUGE! And the word limit was 8000 words…

I ended up doing a bit of a commute every weekend back to London from Silwood, after discovering that I could get an overground train to Clapham Junction and then change to another overground train that took me directly to Shepherds Bush. This was instead of my long winded change to a tube train at Richmond and then a bus at Hammersmith to complete my journey to Shepherds Bush.

The remainder of my time working on the project was spent either in Imperial’s Library or out in the Silwood Computer room, glued to a computer. I doubt I’d ever spent so much time concentrating on one piece of work before. All usual procrastinative tasks ceased. I forgot about the internet, TV, facebook…you name it. Meals merged into one. Dinner became breakfast most days, and  each day became one eternal fusion of night. And then I got flu. Why do I always get ill when I have the biggest deadlines? Why?

I was so relieved to finally hand in the copies of my work, although not without the stress of using the binding machines and completely messing the binding up on two copies! As my total project was saved as five separate files at the time, and in several different formats this did not help the stress at the time!

Everyone had their Viva this thursday where we had half an hour of questioning on our respective projects. Next week all of the final year biologists get their projects and degree marks! How scary! I just can’t believe my degree is finally, completely, finished!! As a youthful and optimistic first year, I never saw how fast the years at uni would go by. Biology, however, if you don’t take a year to work in industry or work abroad, is one of the shortest degree courses at Imperial, which explains why I am finishing ahead of most of my friends in other subjects!

Despite the stress of the project I did manage to have some extremely fun times this term. The Silwood Campus is completely different to the London Campus, being in the country. Unlike the bustle of London, Silwood is very relaxing in some ways, in that it is very self contained and lacks the huge numbers of people that clutter London’s streets.

Silwood grounds with William Penny Halls in the distance

Friends enjoying a drink at the Silwood Bar

Table tennis!!

The Manor House

Twig-like caterpillar

Random wigwam type object I found one day!

After handing in my project, life has become even more hectic. I fly out in a week to the beautiful isle of Cyprus where I am spending 5 weeks doing an ecotourism placement. My itinery informs me that I will be visiting National Parks, working in a plant nursery, looking at recreational facilities and counting wildlife! All in a days work…or not! I am very much looking forward to it as I have never been to Cyprus before.

I have also spent some time catching up with friends since moving back to London which has involved various days and nights out! See photos below!

The Thames river at night

Night lights!!

Dodgem cars at the IC Ball

A trip to Fezz nightclub!

Disco floor in Fezz