It's probably not a Good Idea to go out the Friday night just a matter of days before an exam, especially when revision hasn't been going all that well. Unfortunately I have been lacking in Good Ideas recently. For example of a Good Idea I haven't had is a way of avoiding the exams, or how to get a 1st Class without doing any work. I still live in hope that one day I might wake up and find them in my head.

While I was avoiding work I was pleased to discover that Apple is currently being force to make a bit of an apology to 3G iPod owners. Apparently that shorter-than-expected battery life has resulted in a class action in the States, and it looks like they are going to be handing out repairs/vouchers/replacements in the next few weeks and months.

Awesome.

Only in this past week I have been browsing the net for a replacement battery for my ever failing (but beloved) MP3 player. Unfortunately in the UK it is very difficult to do much about it, but this scheme will solve my problem. Legitimately and for free. I love those words.

Today I managed to update my portfolio with the Ribeena [sic] project. At some stage it's going to need a total design overhaul, but it seems to be doing it's job at the moment. I'm getting quite itchy to get back into some sound webdesign.

Yet another Good Idea I failed to have was to take my Diner Card off the top off the printer paper stack before I sent something through. The card came out eventually, but sending 2mm worth of High Density Polystyrene, chip and all, through my print heads probably didn't do either item much good (established from the evil and loud complaints that the printer made).

Also I've been a little trigger happy recently (hence the mugshot of DeVito). Despite my attempts to conquer the art of portrait photography, I was met with a barrage of abuse from DeVito who said he reckoned he could do better. Bloody civil engineers (or whateverheis) can't just go marching around claiming they're good at this stuff. Actually he wasn't bad. We both have got a handful of really nice shots in the collection.

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.

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.

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.

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.