Today has been full of variety. After taking my fire alarm free shower (makes a change) and getting some brunch inside me, I paid a visit to Emily to sort out fresher t-shirts for next year. Although I told myself I wouldn't be doing them, unfortunately graphic projects just have this little hook about them and so I'm providing the artwork for the second year running. Usually, nothing disturbs my concentration, but unfortunately the temptation of cutting my way through another lump of Lost managed to pry me away from getting it finished. I aim to complete both projects tomorrow.

Flash took me and DDS to the degree show. I was impressed on the whole; maybe it's the new posh venue this year that's showing off things in their best light, but I reckon the quality of work is definitely higher. There are some interesting concepts; female urinals and treadmill bikes and it made for a good couple of hours browsing and left me scratching my head on how I would avoid making 'speaker stands' or 'a piece of furniture' for my major project next year. I think if you're going to spend a year of your degree/life on a project, you have to love what you're doing. It also helps if you think it might have made a contribution to life, unlike another bloody iPod holder or desk. Going to have to start getting some ideas together soon.

One Good Idea I bumped into today was being brandished by Richbrown who we tracked down at the degree show. He was sporting one of those new-fangled PDAs. Well, when I say PDA, it probably isn't quite what you're thinking. It's officially called a Hipster PDA and is a new little craze spreading from here. It consists of a slab of index cards all held together with a bulldog clip and a nifty piece of kit called a 'pen'. The thing fits in your pocket, and with a bit of wizardry, you can use it to help manage your life.

Modern technology. Isn't it wonderful? You can even 'Beam' stuff to other people, or 'mod' it. I might even consider getting one at some point. There's the bandwagon, and there's me thinking of jumping on it.

Had a play around with that new bit of kit by Microsoft, Codenamed Acrylic. It's only a beta version at the moment, but it's fully functional for 180 days and the closest thing I can compare it too is a cross between Illustrator and Painter. I don't know how it will fare (I don't ever see a MS product becoming the product of choice for artists/designers) but it's quite interesting this emerged and I'd like to know what gaps in the Adobe/Macromedia vacuum it's going to attempt to fill.

This evening Flash, Butts, Richbrown and myself all ended up at Chan's for an impromptu Chinese meal. The decision was made partially on the basis that we found out that Rufio was taking Caz there for a romantic meal (Sean? On a date? Have I been overdoing it on the Fabreeze? No it's true). We found out he had booked a table for 6.15pm, and so quickly booked our own table at the same time. The food was good (I can't get enough of Chinese), but the service was pretty bad and we opted to skip the tip. The one-coke-one-tap water rule didn't impress, but hey, their loss.

The Foo's new double album is out tomorrow and I'm on pre order. I can't wait to see that 20cm sq. envelope show up. I've listened to the tracks I have on repeat for four days now and it's awesome in every single way.

This weekend has been the most relaxing in a long while.

I started a blog entry last night, but the end of exams celebration ended up getting in the way, and when I arrived back to my computer it wasn't exactly capable of witty script and so closed the window and went to bed.

Yesterday I rose early to get some last minute revision done before 'going over the top'. After breakfast I headed over to the exam hall, took my seat and wrapped up a whole year's worth of electronics in pretty much 3 hours flat. And how good it felt to finish. I think the actual paper went as well as could be expected, but trying to pin even a ballpark percentage on it is impossible. Absolutely no idea.

We headed over to a packed JC's bar and I had a swift pint before lunch. The rest of the afternoon I spent in my room chain-watching episodes of 'Lost'. The storytelling is a little patchy in places, and the plot a little slow at times, but it's making for compulsive viewing.

I've got an awesome little java program on my phone that uses Bluetooth to send IM messages (like MSN Messenger). Unfortunately most people still fall into two categories, the first one being they don't have Bluetooth, the second one being they don't know how to use it. This has great practical uses for when in lectures as not only is the service free, it also will bring a whole new level of communication to the aforementioned 'rooms of boredom'.

This morning I woke up at my usual time for a Saturday (far too late) and jumped (I say jumped, but it was more like falling into) the shower. Twenty seconds on I'm reaching for the towel and making an exit at a speed not usually permitted at this time on a weekend. Frigging fire alarm. I quickly threw on some clothes and headed downstairs. Fire alarm switches off. Head back up. Fire alarm sounds off again. Back down. Off. Up. On. Down. Eventually I admitted defeat and went down to brunch which was brimming with other evictees, which meant that I had to wait half an hour for food as I was at the back of the queue.

Last night was pretty good. A fair whack of IDT were out, and I spent most of the evening with Swanny at DeVito's bar socialising. I managed to spend pretty much everything I took out with me, which wasn't the highlight of the evening, but it was amusing to prop up the bar for such a length of time. Rufio managed to get himself chucked out of the Union (admittedly it wasn't his fault; apparently a clerical error), Flash spent most of the night moaning (in an amusing way) and Tongy made an appearance for the first time in a long while.

This afternoon we headed into town to get a sub (The Swan hadn't had brunch) and planned on going for a drink with Jo for her birthday, but upon arriving at Lloyds, found she was no longer there. We headed home via Tongy's pad and much amusement was had over the cassette-powered talking bear he has brought back to uni. After that we bumped into Mockney and Ralph in the park kicking a ball about with Fat Dave. It's good to catch up with both of them as since graduating last year we haven't seen to much in the way of the finalists. Richbrown and Manky are also meant to be about somewhere, but they weren't about today.

I'm hoping to visit the degree show tomorrow. The plan had been to go today, but the visit to town changed things. It's really funny comparing this stuff to the products my department was churning out 10 years ago. I love the back-vac, shame it never caught on. I hopefully will also get a chance to go around the one at the art college too.

Comedy Club tonight was a mixed bag. The compere and first act were pretty shocking. Flash and Butts were so appalled they left at this point, which is a shame, because the headliner was really good. The one saving grace of the night.

Twenty minutes ago I was sitting in Bridgeman, flopped over a chair blissfully drifting off into a deep sleep during our last-minute-but-trying-to-look-like-we're-not panicking revision session. One can of Red Devil later (Towers vending machines are devoid of the proper red stuff) and I'm positively awake and ready for anything. Well, anything apart from electronics.

The exam this morning went well. An early rise, and an early breakfast allowed me to do some last minute scanning through the reams of second edition abridged and paraphrased re-notes. I got in there and made my way to my seat. Four hours later (exaggeration) I made it to the back of the hall where my seat was, dumped myself into my seat and got underway with two hours of Materials Processing fun.

Now it may just be me, but does using a fog horn to signal the start or end of an exam ever come across as being a little... erm... extreme? I spotted it today; the invigilators all give each other a secret wink and then chuckle under their breath while they watch the guy with the air horn (who hides at the back so no one can see him) lift the cannister and administer the most annoying, unholy noise to the entire hall. It's quite a feat of choreography to get 2000 already nervous students to jump out of their skins in unision.

As far as I am concerned it went well. Three out of five questions were completely straight forward, and as that is the required number which constitutes a full paper, I think I have that one in the bag. I would be disappointed with a low grade as I felt I was fairly thorough. However, my breath is held, as I said the same thing to myself after the last materials paper and low and behold a poo-grade.

The parents were on a mission this morning to try and contact me with wishings of good luck. Short from mobilising the entire fifth battalion to bring my good luck message, I received a multitude of electronic signals (albeit after the exam) including voicemail, a text (only the second one I have ever received off The Father) an email from The Mother and a phonecall. It may even have paid off.

Tomorrow marks the end of an era I will only be too glad to see the back of. I am of course refering to my 9-12am engagement in the New Sports Hall, where I will finally meet and hopefully destroy my current nemesis. Electronics has for too long been my enemy and the sooner it comes to the end the better. It's strange that when I was at school, electronics had such appeal, and at A-Level (where I took it as one of my subjects) I enjoyed it. This year however has been an uphill struggle, and it's not even as if it's particularly new stuff - we seem to have covered the same content, just in slightly deeper depth. I can't help feeling that I am now going to have to spend next year digging myself out of this pit I've got myself into in order to salvage what I can of this degree. And only if I had decided not to do the BSc this time last year. As Goody says, "Hindsight is 20/20, gentlemen."

Evening food was once again in Linford today, and god it was nice. I looked at the chicken with digust - the same green face I give in Towers canteen when I see their equivalent dish, but the major difference today was that this chicken tasted like... well... chicken. And the rice was soft.

Compare this to lunch today where I opted for half of a vegetarian pizza (there was no meat option) and some watery, sludge of a salad. On approaching the salad bar I was once again amazed at the selection of pre-made assortments before me. I don't know if they are having a good old laugh behind the kitchen doors, but spot the odd one out in this combo: Ham, Pasta, Mayonnaise, Peas. I'll give you a clue; it's not the pasta. Who the friggin' hell comes up with this? Some other nice selections that have featured in recent times include:

• Sultanas and carrot shavings
• Potato and onion
• Cucumber in mint sauce

Now I don't often have a rave about Towers food. In fact, most of the time I'm fairly content with my saliva-laced jacket potatoes, but this takes the biscuit. I'm still in anticipation of one day receiving my personal favourite; noodles and broccoli, or that all-time classic; porridge and celery.

Come on Friday.

While on my break today (which I spent down at the union shop, posting letters and speaking to Ginger Rich) I looked up and noticed that there were pure blue skies, with the most pathetic attempts at clouds possible every so often. How is it that this good weather continues to tease me while I sit inside absorbing the best parts of Differential Scanning Calorimetry? It should be miserable. The minute I get done you know it's going to start snowing or something. Reverse pathetic fallacy. Hopeless.

I've just discovered that this module I have an exam in at 9am tomorrow morning will account for 80% of my final mark. It's not a great concern; in fact I would go as far as to say I'm waiting in anticipation of the paper as the sooner it arrives and goes, the closer I am to wrapping up what remains of my second year of university.

DDS came over earlier and quizzed me on various metal-processing-related topics which helped me gauge my ability and I think I'm doing ok. I've just got to ensure that I don't mix up polymer methods with metallurgical ones. I bet this is exciting for you.

The StudentXtra.com domain is playing up and I have no idea why. I've had a tinker with a few of the settings but to little avail. I'm now waiting to see if it makes any difference (it'll take a few hours to propagate the changes). Also on the web-front, I've gone and spent some dollar on securing AndrewHiggs.co.uk. It's a bit strange it never crossed my mind before (considering it's my proper name), but it's all sorted now.

Just because I am in a miserable mood, I am feeling particularly happy for this guy. Good effort; automated phone lines really annoy me.

Once again I have ridden into Revision Central determined for some revision related action, but found that my horse (which I am sitting on) has other ideas and has walked off, taking me with it. Clearly wein networks and continuous casting bore him and he'd much rather browse the internet for random rubbish.

I did actually manage some studious activity earlier, attending the 3-5pm electronics revision session. It wasn't much use early on, but both the lecturers dropped some useful pointers and I am now much happier with the way my revision will pan out. With only one full day until the first exam, the pressure is on, but I'm playing it cool.

Paul dropped a copy of the degree show booklet on my desk and it's looking rather swish. They have changed the orientation of it this year to make it portrait and it's sporting my logo in beautiful spot colour and varnish. I need to make sure I pick up another couple of copies at the show which will be starting in a matter of days. I'm really looking forward to seeing all the projects; I think the standard is much higher this year and so it'll make for some interesting viewing.

Swan played me at pool earlier. I lost 3-1 which means that

a) Swan has been practising in all that time he spends not working
b) I've lost my touch
c) I've lost money (50p)

Roll on 12pm Friday.

Teenwolf sent me a file earlier and I can only believe it may prove to be the next bad thing for me. 'Lost' is yet another American drama series and it happens to be running right now while the O.C. takes it's summer break. From the first episode it's looking good, if not a little contrived and sci-fi, but I could get into it.

The immediate objective for the next few days is to stop myself being sucked into another TV vortex; exams are already hurtling around and I can't afford to take my eye of the ball.

I spent most of today locked inside Bridgeman, exposing myself to dangerous levels of polymer processing, metal forming and oscillator building revision. This slog is clearly taking effect on me and keeping my eyes open is becoming an ever more difficult task. Yawn.

Devito, The Swan and myself ate in Linford today. A first occurrence for me, but Towers food has become almost inedible in the past two weeks (to everyone's annoyance) and so we swapped our usual diner venue for the luxuries of our other option, located over the EHB. It's strange, but this dining hall has always been seen as a 'punishment' if you ever abused the Towers dining hall, however, for the extra two minutes it takes to walk there, the supersized portions, speed of service with a clean, new and calm atmosphere easily outweighs eating in the Tower. I think we may do it again.

Someone set the fire alarm off today, and according to reports, the fullscale evacuation of the Tower began with an incident on West 19, which means that it probably has something to do with Neil or Little Dave, the Rodney and Delboy of the hall. Although I have had no confirmation, from what I have pieced together it looks like someone set off a smoke bomb, and the screams we heard through the floor briefly before the sirens sounded were related to the incident.

Tomorrow I aim to conclude the first round of materials revision before lunch, and then in the afternoon present John McCardle with a comprehensive list of things 'I don't understand' at the electronics revision session. If no-one else turns up me and Tim might even get them all answered.

It worked! Apparently if you drink enough black coffee on a Sunday morning you can actually get up before 10am! After finding it excruciatingly painful to get into revision, the perseverance has paid off and I have managed to chug my way through a semester's worth of electronics and a barrel load of polymer science today.

Although these topics could bore a fat kid out of a sweetshop, progress is progress and it has put me in a much more lively mood and given me a new passion for all things stress related.

Following my lack of Good Ideas yesterday, today I found myself not encountering a few Good Discoveries. For example a Good Discovery would be looking for my Towers hoody in my pile of clothes and finding the pocket stuffed with fifties (cash). On the other hand, a Bad Discovery would be (just picking a totally random situation from the top of my head) looking for my Towers hoody and finding it laced with vomit from the other night. What a treat - it went straight in the clothes basket where it will rot until I have another chance to get to a washing machine, which unfortunately will probably be after exams. At least the smell may cover up the rest of my socks.

Swanny got his letter today. I sent it a few days back, but due to his laid back nature he didn't realise he had any post until someone else picked it out of his pigeon hole for him. I basically made up a company called Farquois Medical and dressed it up like a proper business - envelope and all. The first line was designed to make it look like he was receiving some bad news,

" I unfortunately have to inform you of some bad news following the tests on the samples you provided a few weeks back. "

Swan of course fell for these first words, but was confused by the samples part. The next line gave it away, but it all went to good effect,

"We ran extensive checks on the two samples and the results were conclusive; you have less than 0.02% bant.

We realise this may have affects on your future wellbeing and employability. For example I wouldn't employ anyone who didn't have more than 4% bant (and that would only be in exceptional circumstances).

We realise this news will probably be quite distressing, and so we provide a 24hr hotline where you can speak in total confidence that the entire office will be listening in on the conversation for an extortionate rate of �2.50 per min. The number is supplied above.

If you would like to know more about bant deficiency or meet other people who haven't got a life, feel free to go f**k yourself.

Yours sincerely,

Dr. Damien Farquois, MHPD, FRSA."

Although fast and easy, it went down well, plus the extra effort I'd gone to in posting it in a real letter box added to the effect. No one was meant to believe it (even if it is true).

The other thing is that I've managed to snap The Swan's mattress in two during a drunken fight the other night. How the hell that's possible I don't know (the room got turned upside down in the process), but it won't lie flat now. Poor old Zoe. I don't think she'll mind too much though as she's not that tall. Alternatively he could swap it with Devito's.