ProEngineer is rubbish in the strongest sense of the word. I have been sat in front of that friggin' computer all day and still the result is 'nil point'; that means it's even worse than Germany's 2005 entry in Eurovision.

To make things duller, the weather is nasty and that list of things I was moaning about yesterday is still being moaned at. Following a disastrous start this morning (my alarm clock failed to go off leaving me three hours behind schedule), I managed to miss Flash's trial run out on Beacon Hill and have yet to receive any more cheques which means I'm knocking on doors tonight (Yes, me. Do I look like a bailiff?).

But that's my rant over and done with. No more negativity in the blog tonight. I am going to convince myself that I am in a positive mood and can achieve anything - including the degree show bits and wading through six foot of post-it notes - fun. Ok, I tried and failed. You are just going to have to cope with cynicism of Malthusian proportions.

The strangest thing for me at the moment is that I'm caught in limbo between reality and something else. It doesn't feel like all these exams and things are around the corner, but I know they are. The worst thing is the 'something else', as I'm not entirely sure what it is. Have I forgot to do something? Is it just the disbelief that in a couple of weeks the Towers Era is going to be over? Maybe I'm just going mad slowly, provoked by all that CAD I'm failing at. Answers on a postcard please.

Right, back to the rockface.

Today has been mixed. I've done Comedy Club, some CAD and sent out several emails. Really just tying up loose ends.

Despite this I still have a mountain of things to sort out, including chasing up cheques from the FC committee, buying a copy of New Design magazine (my degree show logo has been printed) and sifting through a list the length of my arm.

One other reason why today has been a bit unpleasant, is that my eye is red and swollen. Not sure why, but I reckon I've got some oil or swarf caught in it. The sooner it clears up the better; I hate stuff to do with eyes.

Just done a wide scale tidy-up as my room was a state. Despite the attempt, there are still considerable 'washing issues'. Clean socks are harder to find by the day; boxers are in short supply, but there are still provisions for a couple more days and everything... well everything else is on at least its second cycle. It either means a call to the parents (who I have alluded all day today despite my best attempts to be contactable) or I have to face The Machines myself. Only time will tell whether I'm still smelling of Fabreeze by my birthday.

Nick came over again today. This time I was the client. I picked out the shirts for French Cricket and Pedalo and although there maybe issues in membership numbers (which actually are increasing by the day) the stash will be superb (providing we can afford it).

Looks like I could be going off up Beacon Hill tomorrow to help Flash with his major project. It's looking fairly nice and tomorrow is D-Day for his open fire stove - we're BBQing. I hope we get some decent sausages.

Today has been a good day. Good in every single way. The only pitfall is that I am writing this blog entry now, when I should be out and about in Lufbra on a Friday night.

The morning started with a lecture that never happened, and so Jon and I spent our time in the workshops continuing with the injection moulding project. We injected for the first time and it's looking good, although we are going to have to resolve some issues with the tooling - like bits of it won't come out of the moulding, but we're getting there.

I learnt how to create ProNC code for the CNC machines. We also had a group meeting where we posed for photos for the log book and made some headway with the boards, although there is still some way to go, hence me being in on a Friday (which coincidently, does not feel like a Friday).

Good things unrelated to work include Nick paying me the outstanding on the StudentXtra account and also supplied me with more free Diet Coke. Not a particularly huge fan most of the time, but when you get a free consignment of 24 cans, then you can't help but like the stuff.

I spoke to Tongy a few days back and he outlined what direction his website is going to take. I am well excited about it - I love getting my teeth into something with such a creative licence. I can't wait.

Besty spoke to me yesterday. I got an email informing me that my trip to the top of the tower has been sanctioned. I feel really privileged - as far as I know, no one has been up for years, not even Besty. I had to fill out a risk assessment but it looks set to happen sometime in the next few weeks. The only reason permission has been granted is so that I can take the official photos. I really hope we have some more sunny days coming...

I have noticed I have started having MSN conversations in (very poor) French. I don't know what has caused this continental urge, but I will try and restrain myself from now on as it is starting to worry people (especially the French).

Finally, and definitely the most epic-like event of today was OC 24. Some hysteria was building at lunch when rumours spread that Cardboard Tom might have seen it and by 8pm I was fully satisfied and had completed the whole of Season 2. Wow. What an ending. There are only four American programs worth anything in this world and they rank in this order:

• The O.C. - Queen of teen drama, yummy girls and yummy mummies.
• Judge Judy - This woman is a legend. The young should be forced to watch this until they have similar moral values to the new Iron Lady.
• Malcolm In The Middle - Another FOX show, this show provides the perfect mix of comedy, family and anarchy. Reminds me of home (too much).
• Futurama - Unfortunately prematurely curtailed, Futurama provided some of the best 3D cartoon work, satirical comedy and quotes of the era like:
  • "It's like that drug trip in that movie I saw when I was on that drug trip."
  • "Valentine's Day's coming? Aw crap! I forgot to get a girlfriend again!"
  • "Oh wait, you're serious. Let me laugh even harder."
  • "At the risk of sounding negative, no."

I should get out more.

Fresh back from the Union (and still reeking of stale beer); Rufio, Devito and myself just witnessed legendary 90s band, Supergrass. This is probably the biggest gig that Lufbra have hosted in years. The only other band of note that I know played here (albeit before the fame came along) is U2.

The gig was good. Small, hot, lively and good. There were quite a large Towers massive down there - Jojo, Ben, Flash (plus sister & mate from home), Rich and various others from last year and my course - Holty (Happy 20th Mate!), Jack, Ellie & Tom, Pippa.

Devito jumped (literally) on the crowd surf bandwagon. I really considered it, but I tried to weigh up the advantages and disadvantages; my un-insured phone prevailed. I will be trying it at a future date though.

My photos were pretty shocking. The image with this post is either going to be one off my phone or if Leon gets his ass into gear, one of his.

The point of sale for the DP4 is coming on well. I have tried to persuade the others that we should apply same finishing touches with as much care as the mould block, but no one concurs. I'm sure I can find some way of ensuring that they remove those ugly drawing pins and replace them with glue. Saying that, on the whole, I am well impressed with it.

This morning was beyond a failure. Although in good spirits, the world conspired against me. Things didn't fit, meetings didn't happen, lectures got in the way but the tutor didn't turn up.

Why do I always feel hungry at about this time of night?

This entry is going to be my shortest yet. The day has been so long - 9am until 10pm pure work. At least I am feeling like I'm achieving, even if that achievement is purely the satisfaction of ordering Domino's.

Roll on Supergrass and tomorrow...

Because he was working his little socks off. Or something like that.

Towers Hall Summer Formal is going on as I type and despite the fact I bought a ticket, I'm not there. I have decided to take a raincheck and stay in. I realised I really wasn't up for it, not even one bit.

Back tracking over the past two years, I'd have thought I'd have noticed it, but until Dizzy Jo made her reasons for not going clear, the penny had never dropped. To put it simply - I don't like these events. I don't like dressing in a suit to go out and get drunk, let alone a DJ. I can put up with a reception, or a meal, but club visits are ruined. I spent too much time trying to keep things spill-free. Also, I get queasy. I don't know why, but dressing up like that for a ball physically makes me feel uneasy and sick. Now, don't get me wrong, I love to socialise, and I love boats, but this just does not appeal.

I could make other excuses as well; like I have to operate heavy machinery tomorrow at 9am and can't afford to be drunk, or that 25 quid is fine, but when four-fifths of that is directly paying for the open-bar (which I can't use too heavily due to aforementioned reason), the cost is too much.

I have been conned before, but it is only now I have woken up to the real reason why I don't have a good night. It's the same at every ball I have ever been to. My leaver's ball, my fresher's ball, the two Christmas balls, last year's summer formal. It's not even like I'm surrounded by people I don't know, it's purely my distaste of these events.

Well a least I finally got that out of my system (and retrieved my ticket money before it got banked).

So now instead I am here, still in the tower, still working away. I am contemplating an early night. My sister MSN'd me earlier. Am I coming home for my birthday?

My birthday? I'd forgotten. It's just over a week away and I haven't even had a chance to think what I'm going to do for it let alone to let anyone else around here know. Maybe I could stay in and do some electronics or stick pins in my eyes. I don't even know which I'd prefer.

I've just stumbled upon this. As you probably know, six month's ago one of the icon's of the British music scene tragically passed away. I am of course talking about John Peel.

I have to say I was never a particular fan of his show or his music choice, but I did listen occasionally and understood how well respected then man was. I even expressed sorrow at his death. So it was strange today to come across this blog entry by Stodge.

How strange it must have been to firstly witness a death; something which I hope I never have to endure, and secondly to realise it is a man for whom you have great respect for. It made for thought-provoking reading.

In a similar vein, one of my close friends last night lost his granddad. He had travelled home on Saturday, then come back after saying his goodbyes. I find the thought of doing that so hard to comprehend, but am glad that for my mate's sake the painful waiting is over.

On a far more mundane front; I have made considerable progress with the mould blocks for the Ribena widget, however I am not allowed to utter a word about it as I will be fined under a new system that the Swan, Devito, Rufio and myself introduced last night after our (mediocre) curry. To be explicit, Rufio didn't actually agree to it, but we have decided he has to obey it anyway.

I, am no longer allowed to be either vague or talk about my course in front of my friends. If I do, I will we fined 50 English New Pence. The same applies if Swanny misses one of his lectures. If DeVito hits anyone when unprovoked he pays up or if Rufio says anything that is outside of the boundaries of taste and decency, the sound of rattling change can be heard.

As a late addition, Mike must not be Cheesy or face the same penalty. It is good fun, but Rufio reckons it is 'Ruining the dynamic'. The whole point was to reign him in a bit. Recently his comments have been becoming so grossly inappropriate, and we really are making an effort to piss on his bonfire, but unfortunately, he can still make it sound funny, even if it isn't.

I currently owe about £2.50, Swanny £1.50, Devito is doing pretty well, but Sean... well Sean has had to take out a second student loan.

Tomorrow is the Towers Summer Formal. I am unsure if I am truly looking forward to the event, but it is one of those things you feel obliged to do. This week is so packed with work that I shouldn't even be contemplating going, let alone the Supergrass concert on Thursday.

I did my materials presentation this morning. I was very worried before I went in. Early reports were fed back detailing the use of PowerPoint presentations, the weaing of suits etc etc. All I had was some footnotes and a hoody. This did not promise to go well, especially when upon trying do my 'Recital to Lufbra', I faulted repeatedly with just woolly clouds floating through between my ears. Glad that all cleared when I got up there. Plus I had the bonus happiness that PowerPoint made no difference to the marks and our boards were one of the best set they had seen so far.

Even if DDS did run off with my keys and leave me stranded outside my room for two hours, all in all it has been a good day.