Day 3

Today almost got off to a false start but was saved by the miraculous reappearance of Andrew and CC. We had breakfast chez Andrew. I had a pecan pastry. They're the best kind. Omnomnomnom. And also strawberries, and crucially, also, TEA. I am alarmingly dependent on it. As soon as I overcome my inherent Jewish hatred of spending 'unnecessary' money and go and buy a kettle I will be a lot happier, I think. 


The library was unusually empty today, so even though I turned up around half 9 there was still a whole empty desk at the back. Also, am I the only one who sits cross-legged in the library? Or indeed, on any chair? I just don't understand how it is comfortable to sit with feet dangling. Perhaps that's because my legs are too short and I dislike flailing around trying to reach the floor in vain. I nearly had to do that today in any case because yesterday I practically crippled myself by smashing my knee into my desk chair. These dilemmas aside, however, I managed to sit down and actually do some useful work on my reception essay. I attribute this largely to the fact that I knew someone whose opinion I value was going to look at it and this spurred me on to actually sort out the problems in my first draft. I think I am happy with it now. It has a conclusion of more than about five lines, so that's a start. 


I went to WHSmiths on a revision-materials-buying excursion and bumped into Adam. I bought exciting (well, exciting for me) pens and a huuuuuuuuuge roll of paper which I have been putting to good use this afternoon by making a timeline. I started at 49BC at around 1.30 - it's now 9.30 and I have only got to 5BC. I've got the rest of Augustus to finish and then Tiberius, Caligula AND Claudius, ugh. I think I will save them for tomorrow because I am getting a bit bored of them now. Maybe I'll even treat you to a picture. I'll have practically repapered my room by the time I'm done. 


I also remembered to buy a Mothers' Day card, because I am an exemplary daughter. I bet my brother (at uni in Leeds) will not remember. Might be a long shot to say my sister at home will remember, tbh. On my way to post it at the Lodge, I was startled by a procession of twits in gowns. No, but actually. Helen Spencer, fellow in English and all round clever person (of whom a friend once said 'I can't believe I just got blanked by someone wearing ORANGE TIGHTS') has joined the proctors' office, or something. Anyway, for some reason this required a strange ceremony involving full (I want to say triumphal but that's not what it is) regalia on behalf of all the usual suspects; Rector, Bursar, Chaplain, etc, etc, mincing around the quad in various shades of embarrassed, while a skeleton choir sang madrigals. Most odd. Paul, the porter (he's my fave) shared my confusion with me and also let me into a little tidbit of information which is supposed to remain a secret but y'know what, now that I've told Andrew it won't be secret for long so I have compunction in posting it on t'internet - trashings might be banned this year. THE OUTRAGE. I have not slaved away for nearly four years only to be NOT doused with water on my arrival back in College at the end of it all. How can it be that trashings are going to be banned, and yet a LAWN PLAY is going to be allowed to happen in Trinity term? HOW?! It is very important that we are all given the opportunity to look like this:

and also this:

Andrew said we should write to our tutors. I suggested that my tutor may be ineffectual in accomplishing much. Farha enjoyed my description of her as 'the biggest wet blanket since the invention of fire safety' (I quite enjoyed it too. Sometimes I surprise myself). 


Other than that, it's been a very quiet day. I went for another walk around Christchurch meadow and I think I freaked out a guy in a Teddy Hall splash jacket, because we were going in the same direction and I was walking behind him all the way from the top of Rose Lane to the bridge at Boathouse Island. 


I've also decided that owning a jar of nutella is a really bad idea, because all it means is that I eat nutella out of the jar. Some day I will learn some acceptable eating habits, but I doubt it's going to be any time soon. 


Also, self-pity alert - I'm pretty sure that whatever it is I've been nearly coming down with for about two weeks now is on the brink of making itself known. Having said that, I thought that a week ago as well. Maybe I'm just getting lurgy by stages. 


Oooh and finally... I <3 Drusus. Have you seen the first episode of I, Claudius? No? Well, watch it for Drusus. He's an all-round nice guy and a bit of a fittie, too. And bloody awesome at campaigning.  


Join me again tomorrow for more BANTER.