After a visit by the Mother, Sister One and Sister Two yesterday (the Father couldn't attend due to last minute illness) and a quick march up and down Beacon Hill, I settled down to what I would consider an early night. I think it must be the first night I've been to bed before 1am in weeks. Sleep wasn't good; clearly my odd waking patterns have messed up my body clock or something.

We had our DP4 Viva this morning. I am totally lost on how we did. On the face of it we answered all the questions, even if we did get caught out a couple of times. I'm trying to level up whether we managed to salvage enough to give us a good grade.

Everybody seems to be in the swing of this exam period malarkey, but I'm still all at sea. I spent most of this afternoon playing about on Photoshop, trying to get some portrait photos properly adjusted. Some of the new features of CS2 are fantastic; particularly liking the exposure control. Mother has asked me to finish up some photo's from Sister One's 18th birthday meal, so I've got that to think about too.

'Boring' might well sum up today. I really need to bite the bullet and pick up the electronics and materials revision yesterday or I'm going to screw myself over. Motivation would sincerely be appreciated.

The other thing is that tonight I'm going out. Not that I'm enthusiastic about it. This is my 'birthday celebration' - the planned one, but I am going to abstain from the drink as I simply can't do it and expect to get a day of work done tomorrow. It's just going to have to be a meet-and-greet event. Broomy is right, no one can (or really should) be forcing me to be having a big night tonight. That can wait.

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As my eyes adjusted to the light and I started to come about, two questions entered my mind. Why was I naked and why is my door unlocked?

I got up, put my boxers on and dawdled out onto the corridor where I encountered the toilet. Somebody had well and truly destroyed it, and as I was the only one out from my floor last night, I'm guessing it was me.

I wobbled into the shower, now totally aware of the extent of last night. The computer had been turned off at the socket and so had everything else in the room, hence my alarm hadn't woken me. Again.

A sticky mess was plastered onto my desk, which I can only assume is some more of my stomach liquids, except it didn't smell like or feel vomit, more like very alcoholic hot and sticky boiled sweets.

And so I phoned around to find out how I had gotten home, but no one seems to know, which I am assuming must mean that I did it alone and of my own accord. The last memory I have of the night is necking back some vile concoction of shots (which I since have been informed included gin, Bacardi, Malibu and whiskey). Devito was working behind the bar in Room One which meant I was always served 'well', and I do have recollections of enthusiastically ordering double vodka shandys earlier in the night.

We had started in Towers bar, a quiet event (as I had intended my unofficial birthday celebration to pan out) with a single pint. We then went to town; Spoonie's then Lloyds, finally back to campus and into the Union. Over the course of the evening I sampled Goldschlager for the first time. Tom had told me about the stuff a while back, but until now I'd not tried it. Quite nice really, and it also makes you look posh drinking bits of real gold and all.

Apparently I went at the drinking game with all vigour and enthusiasm, which didn't do me any good. Jon and I paraded around the different bars in the union suggesting what I might like to drink next, which only went to promote my later inebriated state.

The best thing about this morning was that (although I had managed to miss the group meeting at 11am) I awoke lacking in hangover, a nice little trick that I like to pull off occasionally. God must like me or something. However to say that I was sober would be a lie, and I prepared myself for the downfall with a Ibruprofen and small south American nation's annual rainfall worth of a drink.

Within half an hour my state had deteriorated and I sat through the postponed group meeting with a strong desire to lie down or eat something.

I had lunch then slept for a couple of hours. Second shower for the day, this time I was a bit more stable, and I think it's fair to say that I am now fairly clear of the roughest patch.

On a totally unrelated subject, I have been following this online exhibition from the Tate. Leading up to the Olympic decision day, it showcases some of the best of our home-grown (well known) talent. Everyday a new image/video is unveiled and it's been quite good so far.

I am a little concerned about Friday. I still haven't done any revision and I'm not wanting a similar ilk of night to the last one - once in a blue moon it's just about bearable, but twice in one week. Especially this week. I'm may have to abstain from the alcohol.

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After sacking off the DVD down at Broomy's (which wasn't what I wanted to do) I met Jim over at his and we walked into town. Most of The Course had been in JC's all afternoon and we were greeted with a swathe of positively deathly faces in Orange Tree.

Despite a fairly good turnout the vibe wasn't particularly lively, and although I knew everyone well, not all of the people I were hoping to see were there. After two drinks (and feeling totally stone cold sober) I wasn't really getting into the swing of the night (and by the looks of things I wasn't the only one). DDS, Benji and Psycho made an appearance for a quick one, but after that I decided to call it quits.

I was fairly sure it would be hard work to have a really good night and even after coming inside and seeing that more people had shown up, the last glimmer of hope flickered out when Psycho went to the bar to buy me a drink and found it was closed. After this it was fairly clear that next stop was going to be somewhere I didn't want to go e.g. Pulse, and considering that I was only contemplating going there originally was because I thought I was going to be drunk, the night lost all sense of appeal.

We went to 35 York Road.

Benji showed me the tape from Twickers (his infamous try) and then we had a social in Dave's room. It was at this point I realised that this is exactly what I wanted to be doing on my birthday, and I had an enjoyable night.

I headed back at about 2am and soon received a text from Mike instructing me that I was not allowed to go to sleep until he arrived back. Incidentally it's a good thing I ignored him as he didn't turn up until 5.30am when he bolted into my room and presented me with a bottle of JD's. A birthday present! Wow. That's how I'd like them all to be delivered - with some element of surprise and a story to tell as well.

Mike had bought the bottle earlier in the evening and had kept it in his back pocket all night, avoiding the bouncers as he went from place-to-place. He had txt me from a girl's house (where he had ended up), assuring me of the delivery of my present soon. At 5am he sacked of his night's conquest and proceeded to Towers where he ceremoniously presented me with my gift, explaining that JD's is not in fact a whiskey, but a liqueur. Not only a social passing, but also an academic visit.

This morning (once again) I arose shockingly late, woken only by the cleaner at 12.50pm. This was despite my clock being set for 10am. I stumbled through food, briefly was visited by DDS and Psycho and then after giving them their instructions for the day, gave Sammi a lecture on life.

And now there is the quandary of tonight. Apparently the lads think it would be really good for me to go out. Hmmm. A good concept and a good chance I'm going to feel hungover tomorrow.

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At about 5pm yesterday Jim told me that he was catching the train home, staying overnight and then coming back for today. I cleared up the last of my coursework, said brief goodbyes and then jumped on the New Street bandwagon (so to speak).

The thought of being at home for my 20th birthday hadn't occurred to me before, but it just seemed so easy considering. Using Currin as my courier, my hand in would be dealt with, so I could leave Lufbra and all it's coursework trapping behind me.

Lucy turned up just before I went clutching a box of home-made brownies and my card, which I munched on happily through the last few tasks before I went home (the brownies that is, not the card). Rich kindly became the taxi and we got on the train just before 7pm.

It was good to get home. I love travelling in good weather, and I love Chinese take-out, which mother had already ordered by the time Dad and I got back to the house. Sisters One and Two were both out early on but showed up later. We rounded off the day with the late film on BBC2, Drop Dead Gorgeous.

How long have I waited to see that again? Not only is it a deeply (darkly) funny film about a middle America beauty pageant, there is also plenty of Hot in it. Brilliant.

Twelve hours of blissfull sleep followed. Even nicer.

After getting up, receiving bits and pieces from the family and visiting Grandma, we went for food at the OK Diner. Club sandwich then back to Lufbra.

Although I wasn't expecting anything from my birthday, I still feel a little deflated. I think it isn't so much that nothing extraordinary has happened (hardly anybody knows it's my birthday anyway) as like I said previously, I'm not bothered by that. The reason I'm feeling deflated is that it still is my birthday and there still is this great pressure to do and organise stuff for the delight of everyone else. Tonight I am expected to attend the course social out at Pulse, which although I am now tempted by, not only conflicts with other arrangements I have already made involving DVD screenings etc., it also simply doesn't appeal. I don't think I have much choice in the matter though.

Aren't people meant to enjoy birthdays?

Actually there have been a couple of saving graces (other than going home). Number one was that Giles gave me a call earlier and said that if I send him my bank details he will sort out the money transfer that I've been waiting for for so long. It has been hell trying to sort it out off my own back (what with work and everything recently), but this has inadvertently ended up as a birthday present. Cheers mate, one less thing off my mind!

Same goes for Lee paying up some money he owed me and Nick informing me the French Cricket stuff is on the move. Funny thing about all of these thing is that they have occurred without the person realising that it is my birthday, which has actually put a bigger smile on my face.

The last thing I will say today is that Swanny has posted a 'lovely' photo of me (and several others) on Hot or Not. Cheers mate. Apparently I am hotter than 47% of men on the site, which is fantastic to know. No really. He has also made me vow that I won't change the photo - the sheer cheek considering he got to pick which ones went on. Anyway, it's bit him on the arse anyway as most people are now ranking higher than him and he deliberately picked bad photos for other people.

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It was 2pm before I got up this morning afternoon and I am totally amazed. Looking back over the past two years, I cannot recall a single time that I have woken up that late that I missed brunch. It's not even like I went out last night, but just goes to illustrate the level of tiredness encountered by the past weeks worth of overdrive. Hopefully it will also go some way towards alleviating my newly acquired 'zombie look' which as far as I am aware isn't really 'in' this season.

Butts has leant me his Graphire 2 as some kind compensation for me not having the opportunity to win one of the Intuous 3's due to my rubbish choice of modules. I am trying to decide whether I really should be contemplating buying one, it certainly has gone some way to providing me with an excuse to splash out, but at the same time I really need to spend some money on a decent upgrade, so it may just have to remain on my extensive digital shopping list for the time being.

Due to my late-rising today I managed to miss the best part of the day, namely Brunch. Therefore in an effort to make myself feel infinitely better/less hungry, I went to town with Rufio and Flash to pick up a StudentXtra Subway deal. Now, I'm not a mathematician, but buy one get one free and a free upgrade to a meal simply is beyond my comprehension, but I accepted it gratefully. Goddamn it, I frickin' love Subways.

On the way into town I bumped into Liam's parents, who had come up to see him. They plyed me and my two sidekicks with sweets while we chatted for a good ten minutes, and tried to assure them about the course and things. They are always concerned for our progress (me being an old OSH boy too) but I explained that things would be calming down over the coming weeks, and it is literally a matter of sticking it all out. I briefly talked business with Liam's dad and it looks like that project that was always mentioned but never pursued may now be on the cards for the summer. The only concern of mine is how much I'm already booked up with this sort of thing, but I can't say I'm not looking forward to getting stuck into my work again.

On the way back we dropped by at 35 York Road. Only Ginger Rich was in, but I was able to discuss the rugby club logo. Sound like a good little design to get my teeth into. I don't think there is any money in it, but it's a big gig and I'll get free stash, so suits me. It will make it look like I know something about sport. After that we encountered the rest of the house (Benji and DDS plus Bill Naylor) as we calked through the park back to the Tower.

Yesterday was considerably chilled out. I spent most of my day doing odds and ends, just catching up with the backlog of rubbish that has accumulated over the time I was on the IDT train. I got a new track list including some stuff I should have had ages ago but never got around to it. My current play list consists of some new Jack Johnson, some older Greenday, Basement Jaxx, Eva Cassidy, Chemical Brothers, Creed, Eskimo Joe, Alanis Morrisette and Zero 7. Also, I think I forgot to mention it here before, but you should really check out The Editors, especially their single, Munich. I love it (good video too).

Tomorrow is the bank holiday, which is also the day before my birthday. Although I had anticipated getting my work out the way today it looks like I might be doing tomorrow as I have spent a lot of the time working on this new bit for the blog. You may have noticed some names now are in green rather than red, which means they are a link. This is because I have started cataloguing people I know and words I use into a glossary so you know who/what I am rambling on about. If you are not already in there, hold fire on complaining; when your name gets mentioned in the blog may well be added, it just depends on the amount of time I have as it isn't automatically updatable and I haven't had time to put everyone I know in yet. Also some people I know aren't worth mentioning. You probably know who you are.

I can't believe it's nearly 6pm. Damn.

One last thing; Jim MSN'd me this morning to let me know he's started blogging too. Clearly I am starting to spread the love. Hopefully more of you will jump on the band wagon (I know you are out there) as if you have an MSN name you automatically have a blog. It's on that thing called My Space.

Chris has just come in. Now I thought I was a hardcore OC fan, but he has just informed me that he got up at 9am and watch the entire second series, including the final episdode three times. Wow. That's hardcore; Good effort.

I really should tidy up my room.

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Purile, immature and childish. It is hard to work out why this sort of thing brings out the juvenile side of people who really should know better at their age, but I really can't stop finding it hilarious that we parcel-taped DeVito to the wall last night.

Yesterday evening was totally misspent; with me just messing about and being sociable. The only thing I ate all day was Subway, which I think could quite possibly happen again today judging by the fact I have once again overslept lunch. All our plans for a Chinese last night were scrapped (unfortunately) but I'm hoping it may be resurrected for tonight.

The Swan came up last night and we ended up talking until the the wee small hours, which basically means until I looked out of my window, realised it was getting light, then talked for another half an hour before evicting him from the room.

It's really strange, but this time of year I start reminiscing about my travels previous. It is close on a year since I was in South East Asia, and I yearn to be back there. I flicked through some of Nick's pictures on an old website he gave me a link to, and I just want to be back in Taiwan. I think this has been triggered by the new Jack Johnson on my playlist and especially the live version of Mudfootball.

It's my birthday tommorow. This is exactly how I feel about it. There is no emotion or excitement attached to it at all. I can't truly celebrate it as everyone else (including me) is doing exams, but then again I'm caught in middle ground anyway as I was with the Towers Summer Ball, I have come to realise big organised events really don't float my boat that much. The main problem is that it falls on a Tuesday, and although it will coincide with a big course finishing date, that means Pulse and I'm not a big fan in the slightest. I will probably have a few quiet ones with the lads, then go out on Wednesday night, but the strangest thing about the whole affair is I really am not wanting any attention at the moment. In a way, I'd just like it to pass like any other day. I don't know why. Maybe I will feel more in the mood for Par-Tay when all the work is out the way. I am however looking forward to seeing the folks in a few days time. Surely I should have at least some enthusiasm for my own 20th?

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That was horrible. The whole of yesterday was the most weird sensation I have ever encountered in Lufbra. By five o'clock I had to complete four different sets of coursework and submit them and it was killing me. it's not even like I didn't put the groundwork in; I've been working full out all week - barely having had 12 hours sleep in the previous 4 nights, which screws you over.

Thankfully last night marked the end of the big pressure. After finishing in the (unbelievably hot and stuffy) electronics lab, I went to JC's with DDS, Justin and Jim for a pint. It was so refreshing. I haven't touch a drop of alcohol since... well, I can't remember when, and although I went to Supergrass (which wasn't a night out in the traditional sense of the phrase), I haven't gone out for literally weeks.

After my pint and the most spaced out dinner I have ever sat through I went to bed. I slept for hours. This is what I had been waiting for; simply the opportunity to close my eyes on my own terms. I awoke at about 10pm, grabbed a hot shower (lush) and then met up with the lads in Towers bar, and that is where the story changes tack.

It's Flash's birthday today so last night was celebration time. I looked violently tired still, but the atmosphere seemed to get me in the mood for a good evening. Rufio gave me something that he called white wine, but I satisfied myself with a Carling. I never drink that stuff if I can avoid it/am sober but tonight it seemed appropriate. Much was discussed before we headed out to the Union and FND.

The place was fairly empty for a Friday, but there were quite a few familiar faces about. Fred, Justin, Matt, Rosie, Sammi, but a distinct lack of Towers fresh, which is unusual. Looks like revision might have set in. Like I've even had a chance to think about doing any of that yet.

And so last night was awesome. I spoke to the guy running the degree show for the first time, and there were clearly alot of our other course finalists about (following Thursday's handin). This time next year and ours will all be over too. Flash pulled Beth(any?) which could be considered controversial, but I'll leave it at that and Rufio was being his usual sleazy self. This left me and Swanny to try and wrestle the drunken crap out of each other. Funnily enough it was Rufio who sustained the largest injury when Swanny sliced his arm open on his watch and it looked pretty awful. I don't really remember much about it. I eventually went to bed. Had some fun. Mission accomplished.

There are some other things of note that have occurred over the past two days, but it is only now that I've had the time to write about them. Number one, one of the tutors in our department went absolutely off the wall yesterday when he found someone has used the tables in the computer rooms as a cutting desk. He's blamed it on the second year (us) because we were working in there, but I know better. I'm not going to say who it is as chances are they'll get charged, but hobbits should certainly know better.

Number two is awesome and crap at the same time. The people who take the NPD module have been working on some confidential project for McCain this past semester. I still don't know what it's about which means it really is confidential, however what I do know is that as I was working feverishly away the labs yesterday afternoon, some news came through. McCain had picked the best work from all the groups and had handed out iPod Photos and Wacom Intuos 3 graphics tablets as prizes. I clearly do the wrong modules. Although really pleased that this sort of stuff can happen, I am at the same time annoyed that I do modules which are less fun and still have no rewards. We were jesting that in electronics that we might receive "a lifetimes supply of resistors" or a "length of wire beyond our wildest dreams" for our efforts, but even that is highly unlikely. iPod photos and Intuous tablets. Lucky sods.

Another thing is that Benji contacted me yesterday about a logo. The Loughborough Students RFU stash is being dealt with by Ginger Rich this coming year and they need a design to go on all the club clothing. This is great. I hope I get the job as although it may not pay much, it will mean good publicity and a mainstream sports team from Loughborough University isn't a mean feat. Plus I love this type of work. Bonus.

Finally I have to mention one thing which made my week. Although I may not have a new iPod, I did recieve something I was probably even more grateful for at the time.

On Thursday night I was slaving my ass off in my room when Nick MSN'd me. The words he typed were pure music to my ears (pure porn to my eyes). "Mate, I've ordered you a pizza, it'll be here in half an hour". Legend with a capital Legend. That is the type of client I like. Someone who can read my mind and occasionally tops up my beer fund. Cheers Nick!

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