h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hey Mini, you've got lots of mates here. We don't go anywhere.

Dundee ain't the most beautiful place in the world but believe me there are a lot worse. Hang on in, Summer is round the corner, honest.

Don't let anybody bully you into staying somewhere you don't want to stay. Get the Uni people on board to advice you.

*s Mini.*

Mini, a big hug from me. Hopefully you've talked to Mags. WA has a great point. The Universities are good at advising and helping with this sort of circumstance. Believe me, they'll have seen it all and nothing will surprise them.

Summer is just round he corner, after a bit more snow! By then I'm sure you'll be sorted, with a smile on your face more often.

I echo what they all said Mini.

mini.

Ti, I'm totally shocked.

Mini!

All your real pals are here!


Give the big bully a kick where it hurts..........................................as you walk out with your bags.....................................



GT

What they said, mini! And of course you can share your feelings here.

I've just come through a brief depression myself, of about three days' duration, and wrought by a course of Cipro. I was feeling more cheery within 24 hours of finishing the stuff. Don't you hate being dominated by chemicals and proteins!

Taking a break in confection production, because I have to let some more chocolate melt before coating more centers. Mr. Nerd is helping me with the decoration; I dip the lavender centers and he drops a couple of dried lavender flowers on top.

~~~

Mini, definitely get in touch with the student support people at the uni, as they can offer all sorts of advice and help.

I'd better get ready for the interview. Chose my clothes last night to avoid a tie-related panic this morning, but couldn't decide which pair of shoes to go with, so polished three different pairs ready for this morning. How silly.

Found this to take my mind off recent happenings, at least momentarily (what with newspapers and reporters milking the maximum out of it) - more carved veggies and fruits, and I love their facial looks! Nicked this link from Icy North:

http://www.funzug.com/index.php/artwork/even-vegetables-can-be-interesting.html

Gnomon linked to that on his FaceBook thingie. Most of them are seriously

Mini -

But I am going to say something that you might not want to hear.

It sounds like you're in an awful situation, and need a hug. I spent 6 years in student like-accomodation, so I've seen it from both sides. I've seen people who had to move out half way through a lease, and people who had problems when a housemate moved out. I have to admit that I can see your flatmate's point of view.

You've probably all signed a joint lease, which means that you have a legal obligation to pay the rent as group until the end of the year. If one of you moves out and isn't paying the rent the others will either have to find the extra money or find someone else. Having a stranger move into your house is stressful, living with someone is very intimate, and they could cause all sorts of problems. They could be a judgemental rabid Christian, a drunk who has loud parties until 5am every morning, someone who shags strangers every night, and then steals your things. When they took the flat/house it was with the expectation that they'd live with you, not some random stranger.

Now paying a bit of a extra rent is do-able if you're all working and have spare overdrafts, but if your're a student who's living from week to week it's not a an option. So if someone walks out and just stops paying rent you have an angry landlord knocking on the door, through no fault of your own. That could mean that you can't get a reference from a landlord the next time you want to rent somewhere.

If the extra person isn't a student they'd have to find the money to pay full council tax which is quite expensive. £100 a month if I remember rightly(though if you all filed council tax excemptions at the begining of the year they probably won't send you a bill).In may day most students signed 1 year leases in September, so it was really difficult to find a student during the academic year. The people who moved mid-year were often people who had fallen out with their previous flat mates. And often it was because they were terrible at living with other people, either they were very messy, or had no social skills, or serious mental health problems. Either way they were often a nightmare to live with.

Perhaps you would be able to help by finding someone for them, who wants to move in and take your place. Your tutor may know people in that situation, or so might the student advice service. Or you could advertise around the university. Either way I think you have to pay the rent until you have found someone else that your friends are comfortable with living in their home. Because it is their home.

Half way through my final year my flatmate (who I used to call A on h2) moved out of our flat. I asked him to continue to pay the rent because I didn't want someone to move in through my final year who could mess up my revision. Because he was moving for a job his new employers paid his rent on my flat as part of his relocation package. If they hadn't done that then I would have asked him to continue paying the rent until we found someone I was comfortable living with, and I would have been really stressed out about the whole situation!



Do watch that you're not getting into a situation where all your social life is with your partner. That's so common, and it's really damaging, particulary if that relationship ends, or just when they have intensive revision to do.

Those fruit and veg are fab. I think this year, instead of melon boats for our Christmas Day starter, I may do something with wobbly eyes. Have any of you seen Ooglies - the fruit and veg animation series? It's one of our family favourites.

Mol

lml


my phone alarm went off just as i opened the window... i thought there was something new...

Hi guys, thans for the hugs.

I have spoken to the landlord and if I were to break the lease I would be required to pay £100 plus continue paying the rent on my current flat £225 per month until a replament flatmate is found or the lease runs out in July.
I will admit to being somewhaty lacking in social skills, basic common sense and yes I do have some mental health problems. I am the difficult to live with flatmate. I also find it hard to make friends, and so only have S and L who are both very dear to me.
D and F my current flatmates are just some people that i live with. I used to be quite close with D but for various reasons we have drifted apare the past few months. He has hurt a few of my friends and I no longer want to associate with him.
I wish i were a little more socialy adept, or knew soeone who is looking for a flat. But it seems I am pretty much stuck where I am, bullies or not.

mini

[GDZ]

It's horrible being stuck living with people you don't get along with. I think it would be worth asking around, and speaking to student advice, you could also see if there is anywhere you can advertise.

I was the difficult to live with flatmate for the first four years, til I finally found A who I just clicked with. I guess I used to find it difficult to make friends as well, though it's much easier as half of a couple..

Also just because it isn't Freshers doesn't mean that you can't join a student society of some sort. Most societies get a bit short of people at this time of year, and when you come back in Janurary you could decide what you want to get involved in. Join because it's doing something that you want to do, not because you think you'll meet people. If it gets you out of the flat it'll improve your mood and if you make new friends that's an added bonus.

When I logged on this morning, I had 42 new posts.

The veggie animals are great.

Mini, I agree with Dr Zen about finding a new society to join, but if you need some legal advice re your position, especially if the others in the house might be harassing you, try Shelter Scotland.

Coming home from Kent last night we had an 'I've seen it all now' moment: passing the M6 junction, the overhead gantries started reading 20mph limit 'Oncoming Vehicle'. We went a bit further on, having reduced our speed, and there were several police cars haring down the other carriageway. We kept on going and eventually along came a car going very slowly in the wrong direction in the outside lane (just after we got overtaken by someone doing 60!) with a police car tailing it on the other side of the crash barrier.

I mean ... there's nothing more to say really! How on *earth* could anybody end up going the wrong way on a motorway?

Mind you - I suppose once you've done it, it's not easy to turn round again ...

Mol

It's a pretty common occurrence here in Germany. They're called 'Geisterfahrer' which translates as ghost drivers.