The number of forms I have to fill in is rubbish. Why can't these systems be telepathic already?

This morning was more free than normal, so I had a bit of a lie in before my portfolio presentation at 11am. Then lunch, now my room, workshops in a few minutes. My day is planned and organised, totally unlike the rest of this week. I have this impending feeling of dread about something, but I'm not sure what it is yet. Hopefully I am just been a paranoid fool, and infact I am on the cusp of a lottery win or something instead.

Hall photo tonight. We are trying to organise something to wear, but this is proving difficult to say the least. When your mates have about as much creative talent as, well, a bunch of sport scientists, then you're well and truly screwed. I'm sure we'll sort something out in time.

I watched Team America World Police last night. To be honest I wasn't that impressed, and struggled to see the point of the movie. Was it meant to be cynical about everything? Could they not have put some more good humour in it? One or two lines and some subliminal meanings were good, but on the whole I didn't think it was worth watching again.

It's Fiona's party at the Medicine Bar tomorrow night and I'm going down there with Jono who has been asked to DJ for the evening. I'm not entirely sure how sane my sister is; as far as I'm aware asking a single DJ to produce a seven and a half hour set is, even by the most generous of standards, a little... erm... heavy. I think we have negotiated something a lot more civilised now, but I am still unsure how the night will pan out as Jono has still not found out whether he can use his laptop kit or not. We are assuming yes for the moment (Groove Armada are playing next week and we can't believe there isn't going to be some decent kit about) but if not, there will be a minor problem/heart attack.

Q: Do I go out tonight? A: To be decided.

Comments (0)

Picture the scene. Its 4am and me, "Mr Workaholic on a Saturday night only got to bed two hours earlier" finds himself ambushed by two noisy little baskets; Swan and Rufio. Although I love having a chat, the wee small hours of the morning isn't my favourite time. What I can't understand is why I got out of bed to open the door. Apparently my expression was totally priceless as I pried it open and was bundled into my room. Yeh I bet it was.

Something else has also caught my attention. Yesterday, while I was dressed up for Leon's birthday pub golf (although I didn't go, I entered into the spirit of things), Dizzy asked to all around "Doesn't Andy look sweet?".

Sweet? What? Since when have I been sweet? This echoes two days ago when I was working in my room, head down slicing up some card with a scalpel and Amz walked past the door. The next sound she made was unbelievable. She 'Ahhhhhhed' me. Like 'Ahhhhhh', look at the little baby squirrels rearranging acorns into the words 'I Wuv You'. What's happened? Have I suddenly turned into a fluffy bunny rabbit? Even with a scalpel in my hand do I truly deserve to be patronised like this? WTF?

And it's not even like I have been reading Enid Blyton books or buying pink objects. Just to reiterate, I am a bloke and I do blokey things like drinking beer and watching rugby, not Marvin the Happy Hamster. This better stop before I do something undesirable with that knife.

Yesterday I cracked on with getting some of the CAD work out of the way, but unfortunately it's slow progress. Maybe I'll do some more this afternoon. I have a meeting I'll have to work around where the Materials Crew are coming up at 1pm, but that's the only constraint.

I was well chuffed last night to catch up on three more episodes of The OC. I bloody love that programme.

It's 11.47am. I really need to get up.

Comments (2)

I spent yesterday afternoon in the electronics labs working my way through the latest project, and was pleased to find that I am on track. This new found ability to work has inspired me and, once again, I'm motivated to get on with stuff.

I finally posted my Creative Class application (for some extortionate price due to Special Delivery rates) and that is a weight off my mind and a item ticked off my list of things to do. However this doesn't solve the problems I'm having getting my business finances in order. I want it all squared up by the end of next week.

Naturally being a Friday I headed down to the Union last night. It was Jim's 21st birthday (even though his birthday had been last week) and we had a pre-party/course social in Cognito bar before FND. Jim was given a dirty pint, which took it's toll very quickly, and he was home by 9pm, with the promise of a return later on in the night. I wrote him off at this stage, but in fact I was completely surprised to see him back in the piazza a couple of hours later. Good effort.

I got boozed (that's what a 7 hour stint in the bar does to you) but had a good night all round. Lucy was wondering around dressed as a cow, collecting for her India trip, and the lads turned up later in the night after the usual drinksies around at Broomys.

The worst thing is that tonight is Leon's pub golf, which naturally is going to be messy. It's always hilarious and a good night, so in that respect I'm looking forward to it, but with the number of birthdays/nights out in the next two or three weeks I'm going to be dead.

Fiona's sixth form party at the Medicine Bar, Tuesday. Sean's birthday celebrations, Wednesday.Emma text me yesterday - her party next Saturday. An I know there are more. There is definitely going to be burnout before my birthday in three weeks time, which nicely coincides with exams again. I see the declaration of another Birthweek as a viable solution.

Comments (0)

My printer has been throwing out copies of my portfolio pieces for the Ideasfactory Creative Class competition all day, but still I haven't got a full set of decent prints. Damn paper feed. I really need to pack it all off tomorrow in order for it to arrive by the deadline on Monday. Tony gave me the all clear so at least that's one less thing to follow up before it can all go off.

Apart from this minor hiccough with hardware - everything else concerning things electrical is much better. The new kit turned up last night and I can now confirm exactly what I got (it was a bit of a mystery until I opened the box). Neil has sorted me out with a Radeon 9800 XT 256MB which is awesome with a capital AWESOME. The thing makes Photoshop fly and I have been able to replace my two old cards with this one new one. Well chuffed.

The second item was a 200GB external Seagate hard drive. I have been so sloppy with backups in the past, but this gives me no excuse now as it's as simple as the press of a button. I still haven't quite got the hang of the settings yet, but it looks cool anyway.

Tim won The Apprentice as I had hoped, and the final episode made for compulsive viewing. The talk show after was also good, and I got the impression that Sir Alan was genuinely pleased to have hired him. Also good news with the revelation of a second series already on the cards - and 'Shugsy' is doing it.

Voted today. I got nabbed by the Lib Dem candidate as I was going into lunch (I didn't realise it was him until I picked up one of the leaflets he had been handing out which were abandoned all over the tables in the dining hall). It's funny, I would not honestly be surprised if their claim (on the leaflet) that 44% of all students will be voting for them is true or is exceeded. General consensus has been very pro-them, not only from Lufbra, but from mates elsewhere. I for one would be pleased if they got this seat.

I spent over 20 minutes on the phone today trying to sort out the Echos domain name, only to be told to phone another number. I was absolutely over-the-moon about this of course. My expenses really are adding up considerably doing this; it is taking far longer than I had hoped and/or expected.

This is why I'm looking forward to tomorrow, I haven't had a decent night out since the Monday before last. Wow. That really is a ridiculously long time.

Comments (0)

Yahoo! have given me a whole Gig of e-mail space, and finally the chance to search through all the crap that has accumulated in my inbox over the years, so woo yay for my e-mail and virals.

Today is the final of The Apprentice and so Broomy has invited us all down for the highlight of my week so far. It will hopefully make up for the three hours I sat down in my department this afternoon, waiting for a bit of copper to drop off a sheet of plastic. Sounds boring? It was. And what's more, I'm still waiting. It will also compensate for the rapid prototype which we sent in to be made and which came back a few tessellations short of a widget, plus the poor progress that has been made in getting my money for the Echos domain purchase. This is why I need an enjoyable evening.

Before the night is out I hope to have sorted some more web-stuff out for Mike and met up with Nick regarding StudentXtra, which means my new harddrive and graphics card will be showing up with any luck. It looks promising so far.

Swan is back. I found out that he has double booked Rufio's birthday celebrations with his and Zoe's 18 month anniversary, which also is the day before she goes to NYC for week. Good timing.

Finally, I have laid off Justin. I feel sorry for him. Well, not really. Dizzy Jo broke into my room, changed my MSN name and I haven't changed it back. He got off lightly I feel.

Comments (0)

I love Ribena, which makes our latest DT project all the more bearable. We are making an injection moulded 'widget' (promotional giveaway) that replaces the current Ribena bottle caps with a more exciting item. The next few weeks look like they are going to be busy. I've added up today that I've got the Ribena project, CAD surfacing/logo assignment, electronics PCB construction, circuit completion and materials major project all to do in the space of four weeks. Then exams.

Plus today I spoke to Flash who is keen for me to help out with his Team Tan(zania) t-shirt designs for this summer and Mike needs a website for his art, so it's time management central here.

That's why I spent two hours designing a poster for Jim's party.

To be fair on myself I have done some 'proper' work too, so I can't be too hard on myself. I'm still wanting to get this Creative Class entry in the post. If Tony doesn't get back to me tomorrow, I think I will send it regardless. Mike came up earlier and helped me with my selection of submissions, which is really useful. I've come to realise out of all my hall-mates, only Mike has any vague hint of being art-savvy. It's good to have a second opinion.

Justin isn't too pleased with me. Last night I went to Echos I found out that he had offered to pay Sammi to look like his girlfriend to fend off another girl. Of course, this isn't the exact truth, but who cares. It's really funny watching him react to my MSN name - earlier his was "Higgs, You'll pay for this", but now it's even better, with "If there is one thing I can't stand.... it's Andy Higgs".

There is so much love in Lufbra. I'm sure he'll figure out some way of getting back at me, but until then, the taunting continues.

Comments (0)

So today was Freefest, which is a giant music festival organised by the union each year. Tongy was playing on the balcony at Bocca so Sean and I headed over for his set. It was really good, with the sun out and large number of mates out, it was a good way to spend the Bank Holiday afternoon.

Devito and Swan were both away today, the former is on a road trip down to Cornwall with some of the Spanish lads (that boy, he couldn't want to be more wannabe-Iberian if he tried) and the latter is back home for the weekend, so it's all quiet here. Rufio and Bromley (Devito's mate) accompanied me to Mugie's for a curry (sooo good) and then we headed back to the Tower.

I caught half an hours sleep then went out with Chris and Rob. Echos wasn't great. Although there were a load of people out both from the course and some from Towers I wasn't really picking up the vibe. I had a couple of drinks then headed back home via 35 York Road where I was entertained by DDS, Rich and Psycho for half an hour. I'd never seen naked female wrestling before, but it turns out it's quite good. Not particularly the most educational piece of TV I've ever seen, but it somehow made the night worthwhile.

I can't believe the weekend is out already. Tommorow (today) it's back to the grind stone. Lovely.

Comments (0)