Journal Entries
Braindead
Posted Mar 28, 2003
Gaaah! I cleverly agreed to let a friend use my computer to finish a dissertation (due in today) last night... thus didn't get to bed until gone four; the FE software I need for my MRes project keeps crashing every three runs with only a polite message wishing me luck for next time; some of the meshes seem to be shot to b*gg*ry anyway, with nodes shoving through what's supopsed to be a solid metal die; I still haven't a clue what to do for my literature review; it's the end of term and everyone's up for going out and getting p*ss*d or ancing with loud music, and I just want to go nurse a pint n a proper pub somewhere quiet; and I just CAN'T BE A**ED ANY MORE!!!!!!
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Latest reply: Mar 28, 2003
Hypocritical intestines, recalcitrant mountains and
Posted Mar 12, 2003
My stomach is such a hypocrite. First it sends the best part of Monday night forcibly evicting any trace of substance from itself and associated tubey bits 
; then it positively refuses to let me eat or drink for a whole day; and now this morning has the nerve to complain that it's hungry 
This following a weekend in Snowdonia, where the weather on Cadair Idris was once again bloomin' awful. In fact, it was as bad as I've ever seen it: wind by the shedload, rain by the bucketload and.. and it was just nasty. We couldn't be bothered to climb more than a third of the way up it, quite apart from the safety aspect it was just too miserable. So we went back to our appartments, dried off then went to watch the rugby in a very grey Welsh seaside town. The weather on Sunday morning was slightly improved so we managed to get something of a walk in before the rain started again. All in all though, the weekend was a bit of a washout.
Rather more successful was my trip to Budapest the weekend before last. Despite the hotel we were booked in not being open when we arrived (we managed to get a room in the hottest hotel in the world for our first night) and apart from the fact that I kept losing stuff (my glasses, our Lonely Planet guidebook, and, ultimately, an entire rucksack...) we had a fantastic time out there, taking lots of pictures of lots of buildings and views across the Danube and stuff. It was all very nice and relaxing and a real shame that we couldn't stay longer than we did.
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Latest reply: Mar 12, 2003
What an odd week!
Posted Feb 21, 2003
This time last week I was on a minibus heading for Exmoor, and one of the coldest bunkbarns I've ever stayed in. A luxurious cast-iron wood burning stove in the main living area was unfortunately not quite hot enough to heat the sleeping area above. The only insulation was provided by cobwebs in the rafters, and their effect was negated by the three-inch gap below the fire exit. The waliing was good, though Saturday was blighted by a simmering disagreement between the walk leader and a couple of others. Sunday was spent in Lynmouth, clambering around the Vale of Rocks and eating clotted cream ice-cream despite the chill.
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday I spent worrying about Saturday's feud. which I do believe is has the potential to carry on for at least the remainder of this year. On Wednesday about six squillion people came to look round our house which, being a student house, is/was up for rent next academic year. My housemate cooked me a meal, for the first time in four years of living together. Meanwhile, our landlord was also showing another zillion people round some other properties, then came back to ours absolutely pooped, and promptly took me and Andy to a local pub and bought us both a drink out of the £900 deposits he'd collected that nigth (mostly in cash).
Last night (Thursday) was the Hiking Club AGM, which was as dull as AGMs usually are. The most interesting (and worrisome) outcome is that the main antagonists of Saturday's row are now both on the Committee...
Also last night, following the AGM, I met up with a friend who said "I have to get away from here!! Where shall we go?" Unable to resist the enthusiasm, this morning we went to the student travel shop; this time next week I'll be in Budapest.
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Latest reply: Feb 21, 2003
Reflections
Posted Feb 6, 2003
Walking back home this evening in the drizzle, passing through a narrow alley, I noticed a shadowy figure walking next to me. Only out of the corner of my eye; when I looked it wasn't there. Me, illuminated by the yellow sodium light, reflected in the shining wet leaves and wire of the fence by my side. Only on a short stretch of the passage, just time enough to realise what it was before the phenomenon vanished.
And for some reason, I've got Dean Martin's Sway in my head...
When marimba rhythms start to play
Dance with me, make me sway
Like a lazy ocean hugs the shore
Hold me close, sway me more...
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Latest reply: Feb 6, 2003
Not just me...
Posted Feb 5, 2003
Feeling compelled to write something in this 'ere journal...
The Project's a bit static at the moment, so I can't really write about that, though I'm sure I will at some point in the future.
Maybe I should mention the jazz performance Jen dragged me to at the theatre last week. We didn't have any idea what to expect, though it actually was quite entertaining. However, I did get the distinct impression we were the youngest people there...
I could talk about the lovely rib-eye steak and chips I made for Jen and me last Friday... of course, then I'd be compelled to mention the wonderful liver and onions that she made, which we had on Saturday... and then for completeness's sake, I'd have to mention the treacle sponge I made for dessert; it was nearly a disaster, but eventually came out right 
I could try and explain the "psychoanalysis, semiotics and structuralism" adjunct that's been adorning my nickname for the past few days. Trouble is, I'm not entirely sure myself why I'm reading about the aforementioned subjects; I think it's something to do with volunteering to help Jen out with her project on French feminism. Whatever the reason, it's proving quite interesting.
I should certainly mention that the Hiking Club started up its activities again last Sunday. Just a short stroll up the Wye Valley from Chepstow to Tintern, a lovely route that would be even better if we did it in spring or summer. And to add to the nicety, an ex-chairman of the club and my immediate my predecessor in the job came up to visit. Although, not many people knew who he was, since he graduated the year before I did and there are only about two people still in the club and on the walk who actually remember him - me and... Jen.
I could comment that in four of the six paragraphs above I've contrived to mention a certain other besides myself; any guesses as to what that's about?
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Latest reply: Feb 5, 2003
Dolt
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