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.

Comments (1)

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.

Comments (2)

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?

Comments (0)

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!

Comments (0)

Although Superhuman, sometimes even I buckle under the load. Today has been incredibly drawn out but also unbelievably pressured. I had an absolute nightmare with the electronics circuitry earlier, and it took near on eight hours to rectify. Understandably I am craving for sleep; in fact writing this blog entry is an effort. In order to illustate this point the photo included was taken by whoever was sitting behind me in the lecture today. As you can see that is not the face of a happy-go-lucky chirpy IDT student (like they exist anyway).

Design Practice 4 (The Ribeena Widget) seems pretty much wrapped up now, leaving me free tonight. Well, when I say free I actually mean doing the 30 page electronics report, surfacing CAD assignment and the MicroGraphics logo, but it's hardly worth mentioning that stuff. I don't think you quite comprehend how appealing my bed is right now, but unfortunately the incredibly talented and good looking can never stop. Maybe I shall sleep tomorrow?

I text Sister One who informed me her driving test didn't entirely go to plan. Although sparing with the minors, running a red light at a pedestrian crossing is considered a major. Sorry sis, maybe next time.

I will sum up this entry with a famous quote. I think it was Winston Churchill who once said "F**k electronics coursework for a laugh". Or something like that.

Comments (0)

This is the third night in a row that I'm going to be hitting the sack post-three o'clock. Not the most suitable time to go to bed, but unfortunately having a life on my course is workload permitting and at the moment my engines are going at full tilt, with afterburners burning brightly.

Achievement has been steady today. The boards have been printed, and masterfully done at that. I had no idea that Ed was going to be printing them on proper photo canvas, and I was therefore so pleased to see the final result. It looks awesome now all mounted up on the foamboard.

I spent most of the day in the electronics lab again (much like I will tomorrow). Jim and I are making progress, but there is a considerable gap to breach between here and project completion. This time I would like my circuit to work (unlike last submission).

Following an exciting day at the oscilloscope, the night was equally exciting. I have just got back from the Bridgeman where for the past 5 hours I have pursued the G1 curvature grail. Meaning nothing to the lay-man, G1 is the technical term for a perfect curved surface on a CAD model. I might have even completed the project if the whole damn system hadn't gone down at ten to midnight. Instead, I spent the next couple of hours sorting out my Micrographics lineart and the mini materials assignment in for tomorrow.

I'm not the only one working. Sean and Flash are both in the 'all night crew', and when I left the Bridgeman, it was still teeming with Industrial Designers.

Only one last thing remains to be said; Happy Birthday Sammi!

Comments (0)

For some reason with no prior warning everything has slowed down to a pace which can only be described as dead. For hours today I sat, nose pressed up against the CNC machine down in the labs watching the words Ribeena engrave onto our mould blocks. The final process.

This was all very well except I should have been doing better things like my electronics (which is shockingly behind schedule). To add to my frustration I woke an hour late (my alarm went off but I dozed to the radio - oblivious to the time passing), I therefore missed breakfast, and totally unrelated, managed to miss lunch too. I was gutted, not to mention hungry.

The thought of the StudentXtra Subway deal dawned on me. For a while there was a glimmer of hope; Buy one sub get one free! Oh the thought. But it didn't happen. By the time I was finally able to contemplate food it was 5pm, meaning that Towers canteen was opening in quarter of an hour and that all the people in town whom I needed to see were no longer about. Totally anti-climatic, rubbed in by the fact that the towers macaroni cheese, carrots and potatoes couldn't have repulsed me more.

On the brighter side, Devito kindly sorted my washing (although he did sabotage my messenger name, prompting questions from some of my contacts) but that mostly went well. Worryingly if it hadn't been done boxers would have started an 'inside-out' cycle the day after tomorrow.

Also today I managed to speak to Nick about business amongst other things. Looks like there could be more work coming through and from a notable client, but as nothing has been discussed, I'm not going to elaborate yet.

I'm currently trying to get the final renders together for the presentation boards. Its hard work. Alias ImageStudio is playing up, and I can only think it's to do with the complexity or size of the file. Just this second I have checked, and am quite pleased to find the render queue has chucked out a half-decent rendering (can't be bothered to fiddle around with the settings like I normally do; this has taken long enough). Looks like it's a Photoshop job. Incidentally I have posted a question about upgrading on Product Design Forums. I haven't decided if I'm going to spend the dollar yet, but The Webmaster's World Domination Machine needs a bit of a kick up the arse at the moment.

As a final note, mother phoned me earlier. Apparently Sister One is taking her driving test tomorrow. I hope she passes. I'm expecting a text at about 11am letting me know she is consigned to a life of chauffeuring me about, that is until manage to get my licence.

Comments (0)