Folks. If any of you are still reading this - thanks. I know I've been worse than useless about keeping you updated. The fact is that the internet/library/computer situation only continued long into term time (for which fact I probably owe a significant proportion of my - as yet unknown - marks). Whenever I wasn't in the library I was invariably watching the Big Bang Theory with Leila. Or sometimes Lewis. Or Morse. There was more than one occasion where it got to 11pm and I couldn't sleep - and while I could have got out my pooter and told you all about it, I preferred to retreat to the alternative reality of cinema. I watched a LOT of films at 1am this term. They ranged from the exceedingly silly - Captain America - to the pleasingly frivolous - Water for Elephants - to the absolute classic - The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. As I say, I watched a lot of films.
The first episode of this season's Lewis was exciting - it was filmed in part at Exeter, under the pseudonym 'Carlisle College'. I saw it being filmed last year when I was commuting to Reading but still living in Oxford - as I also saw part of the episode that they filmed on Holywell Street (cycled past that on more than one occasion!). However the excitement of the Exeter - based Lewis episode was the fleeting side shot of our 2011 blades chalking. And the side in view? The side with my name on. Thanks very much. They're currently filming the last ever season of Lewis in Oxford right now. It's odd to think that I won't walk past Laurence Fox or Kevin Whately just randomly again. Unless they're still there when I go back to Oxford for a wedding, and then again for graduation, in July. Probably for the best as my love for James Hathaway has reached unprecedented levels..
So - sorry for not keeping you all up to date with my revision. You would probably have been bored by it anyway. I really enjoyed some parts of it - I did have a bit of a meltdown about 2 weeks in to term, mind - and FINGERS CROSSED I've done as well as other people seem to think I'm going to. Exams were mostly alright. I had a fortune cookie at the end of 5th week that said 'all your hard work will soon pay off'. I'm really hoping that's true. After exams - well, it was throwing it down with rain at mine and Jess' trashing, which was sad. I think I made a bit of a fool of myself at schools dinner with a speech about pineapples but that was because I was drinking away the disappointment of Robin Lane Fox, my tutor and hero, forgetting to turn up. 8th week was fun, if damp - daytimes tended to be quiet but evenings were good. I went to the last Formal and Park End on Wednesday which was absolutely brilliant, because evenings involving Michael (drunk) and cheesy music are really where it's at. Thursday a group of lovely ladies had extravagant cocktails on the roof of the Ashmolean. We didn't shimmy up there illegally, you understand - they've got a rooftop cafe. We also had afternoon tea at the Old Parsonage and we spent Friday drinking champagne in the Botanic Gardens, followed by drinks with RLF and more drinking, ExCac etc. I was very very drunk on Friday. But then it was the last day of term. Lots of people left on the rainy Saturday that followed. I couldn't really believe I was saying goodbye to people for what could be the last time. I still can't, as it happens. I went out to Banbury on Sunday to have lunch with Alison and her husband Jonathon. They're great. I love their house, their attitude, their relationship and their interest in me - it's not like I'm a special case and yet I feel like Alison has taken me under her wing. Despite leaving for Banbury at midday (after a cheeky trip around the Ashmolean) I came back on the last train home.
I had a job interview on Monday of 9th week and had to dash back and get ready for the Leaver's Ball. I naturally drank a considerable amount of wine but had a lovely evening, dancing like a crazy person with Laura and talking to lots of people who I don't know when I'll see again. Hassans on the way back and ensconcement in the MCR courtesy of Tom completed the experience. I also did something which I still can't decide whether it was a responsible thing to do or not. It's possible I may have done harm where I was intending to do good.
Tuesday I met Chris in Uni Parks. It was just like old times. He told me some excellent news - well, gossip, really - about his housemates. It was nice to leave Oxford on that note. And leave it I did - on the X5, with my poor abused bike and all my remaining worldly goods. Bye bye Oxford.
I've been back in Cambridge just over a week, now. Mostly I'm on call for making my mum cups of tea and accompanying her on car journeys so I can take over if she gets tired (she's recovering from surgery she had over my exams). I've done a lot of baking and applying for jobs - I didn't get the school one - and I think I might try and spend some time in Israel this coming year. I've also bought a bikini (my first one) and a gorgeous dress for the wedding.
Funny what people consider newsworthy, isn't it?
The wait for results continues. I don't know whether I'll post them in a blog. Seems a bit .. self-publicising? I guess that's what a blog is, but still. Anyway. I'll know in a week. Til then...
