University DiariesUniversity Diaries
Tuesday 1st
The same sort of up and down day as yesterday
but probably more up than down. First thing that might conceivably be called a
lecture, though it was basically just an introductory talk, to Class &
Gender Since 1750. It is on the syllabus and everything but it was also a load
of boring bollocks. Possibly, or possibly not, also on the syllabus was a talk
I went to earlier in the main hall which was three people wittering on and one
of them, Jim Beckford, almost totally inaudible. Met a very forceful girl at
the second lecture who I shall try and avoid because she frightens me. A nice memorable
name though, Jas. That's Jas, Alison and Chris whose names I can remember out
of all the people I've met. Operating on the friend-for-a-night basis I found
another one this evening. Quite a good person but I also got involved with his
rather curious bars of the Student Union building looking for discos until I
got tired of it. Went to join my kitchen at the Airport Lounge - so-called
because it really does look like an airport lounge - and we talked about the
collapse of capitalism, which was much better. Have I mentioned yet that my
radiator's leaking? This is getting more incoherent than my letters home.
Anyway, my radiator's dripping out water from the bottom and filling my room
with a disgusting and possibly poisonous metallic stench, basically. Highlight
of the day was probably a walk into Coventry. Didn't quite get all the way
because it was so flipping weird, first across the A45 and then a distance
across this large, grassy expanse with the wind blasting across it and the
tower blocks of Coventry in the distance. Go all the way on Saturday, maybe
Friday, keep both days free. Joined the Badminton Soc at the sports freshers
fair, god knows why, it cost me a fortune as well. Have to get to grips with my
spending but not yet, I've other things to worry about. Have to start buying
some books as well but I'm not quite sure which ones to get really. Starting to
get my appetite back. The free university newspaper is surprisingly good, one
very accurate article about the stock questions all newcomers ask each other.
Apparently every corridor has a corridor weirdo. A post I want for myself but
you need to say something extraordinary weirdo at one stage in the kitchen and
I can't think of anything up to scratch. Should have stayed in touch with
Hamilton, he could have helped me out. Bought a Guardian but not much has
happened. The miners have gone home from Bucharest claiming victory, so I don't
know if it means President What's-His-Name has resigned.
Quote of the week again:
"I can think of a lot worst places to be,
Like down in the streets, Or down in the sewers, Or even on the end of a
skewer"
- The Stranglers
Wednesday 2nd
My room is getting to be a very depressing place
to be. It stinks like drying room. Someone barged in this afternoon while I was
listening to Sonic Youth, turned the music up, had a ten second conversation
with me about them and left. I was confused. Wrote to my sister. Registered for
Sociology and all the various seminars which was just as annoying as general registration.
Went to the first moderately interesting lecture I've been to since getting
here, an overview of the Research course, actually made a few notes and all
that. Not sure whether I should be doing any reading or anything yet so started
a rather indigestible looking Cicourel book I got from Oxfam a while ago. The
other Freshers Fair today and I joined the Green Society and the Drama Society.
And the Drama Society can fuck off after the meeting I went to this evening.
After a moderately amusing introductory talk they held auditions for a
production of Tom Stoppard's Dogs Hamlet & Cahoots Macbeth. This involved
doing a mime pretending an object is really something else and making
expressive gestures, and of course I failed because I'm no good at that sort of
stuff. Especially annoying because it was no test at all of how good you
actually would be in the play and I've always wanted to be in a Tom Stoppard.
Apparently the kid called Kevin who's next door to me is the corridor
scapegoat. Nasty that there should be one but nice that it's not me. Also
discovered the corridor hermit by mistake tonight. I was a bit bored in the
kitchen and heard music and voices from a room so kind of just I barged in.
Only discovered later that it was the corridor hermit's room, because I
expected him to be a repressed introvert but what confronted me was a small,
strange but friendly heavy metal crowd. Also tonight I spent some time at the
Student Union with several people who were such extraordinary losers that they
made me feel more positive about myself than I have since getting here.
Thursday 3rd
Um, a little hazy about the details of today's
doubtless packed and fascinated schedule as I'm writing several days later. It's
having to go out and quite a lot every night that's doing it. The sooner I get
settled the better because it's also doing serious damage to my bank balance
and probably my body too. Today I was at the over-priced and over-rated but not
all that packed Freshers Ball. Didn't stay inordinately long but saw The Paris
Angels who were excellent. I mean, crap music but it sounded really good and I
was dancing manically for most of the time. Saw a bit of a couple of mediocre
bands, left before The Primitives and The Mock Turtles came on and stayed up
rather late in first Alison' and then my own kitchen. Turning up drunk to
Alison's kitchen is something I must more often. Now, what happened today? Oh
yes, missed a probably quite important Research lecture this morning because I
couldn't find the fucking room. I decided it was like the Holy Grail, only the
true of heart can find it, but that still leaves the question: where is SO16?
Gave up after about twenty minutes and read a Max Weber book or a portion of
it, in the coffee lounge. Walked into Coventry as well, which is not worth the
effort, a very dull place from what I saw of it. Nice walk in like I've already
said, but apart from that etc. Even the cathedral didn't have much of an impact
but I wasn't in much of a mood for it, at least not after the half-long
conversation with a rather mystical old man who accosted me at the entrance.
Before the Ball tonight I went to the Christian Union meeting which wasn't
particularly wonderful. Too much emphasis on hey, we're really cool here and
not enough on God. I know it's necessary to get a big turnout but, well, not
what I need to get converted, basically. Bought an Ann Oakley book in Coventry
and the two books I bought today cost nearly £20. A fifth of the check Grandma
gave me and I've no real idea how important either of them actually are. Peter
Ratcliffe is bloody impossible to track down as well. Apparently the head of
the DPP has resigned because he was arrested curb-crawling. "Stupid
bastard" is the general consensus here.
Quote of the week:
"I'm going to make seven new friends on my
first week at university. One for each day."
- Johnny Woolley
Friday 4th
First day since I got here that has gone by at a
reasonable speed. Largely because I didn't really do anything, just wandered
about in a trance feeling tired from last night. It's hard to sleep in at this
place. Went for quite a good walk in the afternoon, down a country lane
eventually, but you appear to have to walk down a depressingly long stretch of
main road to get to any country lanes around here. Found a monster conker; and
it's annoying how anecdotes like my monster conker anecdote now get lost
because I'm too shy to use them. Not a bad night out tonight, went with my
kitchen to an indie disco. A bit empty but some good music nonetheless. A lot
of fun with everyone taking the piss out of Mike and Julie though the
atmosphere got a bit frigid afterwards. To be honest, there's been too much
piss-taking going on since we all got here. Especially of Kevin, who everyone
except me victimised over the past few days. Now he's gone home, apparently for
the weekend but there's a chance he won't be coming back, basically. It was
quite good talking to our representative from The Lads, Mike, Dave and Sean.
They were talking about sex for over an hour and then asked me who I fancy. I
started saying all this shit about how I've got no sexual urges, I can only
fancy people in a vague way, and got some very odd looks off them. First stage
in my campaign.
Saturday 5th
Fallen behind again so bear with me. Walked into
Coventry again today though I've more or less given up on it. Really, really
boring. Only the squalor is semi-interesting and squalor seems semi-interesting
wherever you go. There's a good bit at the mini spaghetti junction type place
on the way in but that's it. Oh yes, and a record shop that does student
discounts. What else did I do today? Read a bit, I hope, no doubt tried to doze
off mid-afternoon like usual. There was some sort of pizza-or-Chinese-takeaway
'evening' this evening for our kitchen which was OK. Apparently Sean is going
to get some drugs at some stage so I'll have to keep in with him. Went to see
the Moonflowers at the Whipround - a regular voluntary-contributions gig for
various tiny bands at the Union - but they were crap. It was especially
annoying as I had to endure a crap support band and about an hour of crap disco
before them. So I was in a very bad mood when coming back, which wasn't helped
by everyone sitting in the corridor outside my door and talking very loudly
until very late. It's a pain in the arse being opposite the kitchen sometimes.
Sunday 6th
Hey, Sundays are going to be really boring here
I can tell. Didn't really do anything today, couldn't be arsed to do any work,
so read the paper, listened to the football, wrote to mum etc. Everyone else
was really bored as well. Wales lost to Western Samoa in the rugby. Stayed in
this evening and read Marx. This weekend has gone by rather fast at least
partly, I think, because I sleep all the way through the mornings.
Monday 7th
It's quite annoying really, I seem to have gone
almost straight from being really confused and lost at university to the
opposite pole of being really bored by it. Good God, it was dull tonight. I sat
in the Airport Lounge with a lot of my kitchen and just thought, there's no
point in me talking to any of these people, I already know everything I could
possibly want to know about any of them. Doubtless untrue of course, but what I
thought nonetheless. I don't seem to be able to get to sleep any earlier than 2
in the morning either, that's a bit vexing. Went to two lectures and a seminar
today and, hey, one of the lectures and the seminar was a total waste of time,
yet more fucking outlining the nature of the course. Just start the damn thing.
The Analysis one was OK though, about industrial theory and all that. My room's
a total mess and getting very depressing. Some men came to fix my radiator and
ended up actually removing it. Which is one solution, I suppose, though they
have promised me a new one tomorrow. Got a letter from mum, the first letter
I've had from anyone since getting here. Very entertaining document it was too,
she told me I shouldn't be spending so much on drink and some people have to
bring up families on less.
Sunday 13th
Oh, sod off. I can't be bothered to catch up
properly on the last week. My hectic and frantic social life in the evenings
makes it hard to keep up, really, and anyway I'm sure I go into more detail
than necessary these days. It'll end up reading like Josie Howland's
masterpiece. I wonder what she's doing these days? Anyway, my feelings of
boredom and depression had almost vanished by Tuesday, returned with a
vengeance on Friday night when I got in a stupendously foul mood, and went
again on Saturday night. Today was OK I thought. Slept through the morning as
usual, wandered around vainly looking for somewhere to eat, finally settled
down to some work and then went to church. The cause of the latter was quite
amusing. I'd just been reading the Bible and then bumped into Petra, an
extremely nice and pretty girl, in the corridor and she asked me to go to
church. And kept going into hysterical giggles later by thinking, wa-hay, God's
rewarding me for reading the Bible by giving me a 'chance' with Petra. Glad to
say, though, that it was nothing like that at all. The service, held at a
church a short way down the lane, was quite good. I felt really weird during it
but that was probably a lack of food or something, even thought I'd had quite a
weighty lunch. Anyway, if it was a religious experience it wasn't backed up
with any conscious thought. Interesting walking there and back, listening to
Petra and her friend having massive doubts about baptism and demonstration of
faith. Saturday was crap but picked up in the evening. First went to see The
Unbelievable Truth which was OK, a bit too much of a piss-take of itself, then
to the Whipround to watch Anastasia Screamed and Catherine Wheel. Both were
quite good noisy pop bands, not terrifically imaginative but enjoyable enough.
Friday, as I said, was crap, all of it in fact. The people downstairs are by
and large a bunch of twats. Having said that, we had a good game of football
with them late last night where no-one could really see the ball or anything.
This last week I've had more conversations with sex than for the last few years
combined. All late at night, all with the Mike-Dave-Sean-Sophie-Isabel-Katie et
al group who form the largest and noisiest crowd in the kitchen. The
discussions have ranged from giving, or rather listening to, some very explicit
details on Thursday to drawing up a Top Five Fittest Lasses In Our Kitchen
during the Lads' Night Out on Tuesday. And have incorporated them trying to egg
me on into asking Alison out after I was fool enough to admit a vague fancying
for her. Though I saw her on Saturday night entwined with a boy which is rather
a relief. Have to ask her about that tomorrow if I see or talk to her. Um.
Started going to the Green Soc. and I'll probably carry on going. There's a
main meeting on Wednesday and a discussion group on Thursday, both of which
look promising. Walked to Kenilworth on Thursday after a really fucking boring
Research lecture. It's a pleasant place a few miles down the road, a bit
touristy but nice and whimsical at times and the castle was good. One moment
was excellent, when I was walking down the street and all these white doves
suddenly flew up. er, on the work side of things there was a really annoying
seminar on Tuesday which I had to get up early for and was really tired and it
was just the biggest fucking waste of time ever. Have had to read some Rousseau
who is a total twat but also read some other good things; the Communist
Manifesto a notable example. Erm, best anecdote so far is that Steve got drunk
on Wednesday night and, according to several reliable witnesses, ate a live
baby frog. Anything else that has happened has vanished from my brain.
Quote of the week:
"Capitalism… is a system where man exploits
man. And communism is vice versa."
- Polish intellectual quoted by Daniel Bell.
Monday 14th
Good god, Rousseau is getting me down. Les
annoying than previously but far more confusing. Got a letter from my mum but
she didn't say much of consequence. Can't really remember what actually
happened today, largely because nothing did really happen. My busiest day
though, two lectures and a seminar. Which is rather paltry compared to someone
like Chris who has about seven hours every day, but there you go. He doesn't
have to try and understand Rousseau. Went to the Market Place disco, held in
the main room of the Union, but it was shit. I never really enjoy actually
being out, just the hanging around for hours that we do afterwards. Though the
Milking Parlour, an odd little bar stuck on its own near Cryfield Hall, was
better.
Tuesday 15th
Now then. What oh what happened today? Erm, I'm
sure I went out in the evening and probably stayed up quite late afterwards
either in someone's room or the kitchen. I definitely had a Theories of Modern
Society seminar and discovered that, because all my seminars are in the
morning, rambling incoherently is all I'm capable of in terms of oral
contribution. Er, I had a Class & Gender seminar too which I think was
bearable. And more than likely I also hung about my room, read, got bored and
went to the library to totally find any of the books I was looking for.
Wednesday 16th
Went on a really weird walk this afternoon. Started
on a footpath across a field but then there was a really frightening bit where
I was totally overshadowed by this dead high crop, corn I think, and on the
other by an equally tall hedge which kept rustling mysteriously. To be honest I
haven't felt totally safe since we had a conversation about psychopaths late
last Thursday night, and I don't think I'm the only one. The walk improved,
though, up a country lane and down a short road past all these amazingly
expensive looking houses. Have to 'check out' the woods at the other side of
the campus some time. Well, you don't expect work, do you? For a Sociology
degree? I am doing a fair bit of reading actually but most of it is shit
boring. Went to a really crap indie disco tonight. The night life here is bollocks.
Thursday 17th
Oh look, all right, so it's perfectly obvious I
aren't writing this on Thursday. The perfectly reasonable explanation is that I
spent the evening getting amazingly drunk, largely on other people's alcohol,
at a Wham! party held in Mike's room, which also lurched to the Union and back
to the kitchen. I'm afraid I got to the
babbling-incoherently-before-vomiting-in-my-sink stage. Also phoned up my
parents at quite a late hour so God knows what I said to them. Not that they're
not used to me in similar conditions, I've certainly got drunk with them enough
times. A lot of people's parents seem far more strict or conventional from what
they say, even more than other people's back home. Hey, I 'wagged' a Research
seminar this afternoon because the corresponding lecture in the morning was so
fucking boring. Our lecturer, Wyn Lewis, really gets on my nerves. Not entirely
sure I can be bothered to do a sod of reading for Research, I'll try to
improvise all the essays because it's just what I've already done.
Friday 18th
Hey, guess what, man? I smoked some dope. Some
gear, some weed, some ganja etc. Hey, and it didn't really have any effect,
man. Though I gather I was inhaling wrong or something and drinking a fair
amount is supposed to be better as well. It was Sean who got it, though a lot
of us chipped in. And we smoked it in Sophie's room while keeping a look-out
for Crispin, the halls warden, who's always prowling about and was tonight as
well, apparently. He really gets on my nerves, Crispin, and I gather that's a
general effect. Walking quickly down corridors after smoking the stuff felt
slightly weird but that got a bit monotonous after a while. Actually, a more
vivid experience came this lunchtime came this lunchtime when I had the most
disgusting lunch of my life, peanut butter on a jacket potato. I thought it
would be really nice but was so fucking awful it made me feel ill for the rest of
the day. Particularly annoying because up to then I'd avoided any negative
feelings from the night before. But I persevered and read most of 'Common Fate
Common Bond' by Swasti Mitter; started off good but then trailed off. Like most
of Sociology really. Got a letter from CB which was nice of him. Immediately
wrote one back, which might seem a bit over-friendly but I was bored and want
to make sure there's some sort of trip out when I go home next week. His letter
didn't make much sense, to be honest, and he sent this ridiculous photograph of
a few of us taken back in the Fifth Year. I showed it to Sophie tonight when,
partly due to drugs and alcohol, she demanded to see pictures of all my friends
and started saying I'll probably find out who I really am at university. She
also asked in what specific ways my old friends are weird, a question I can
never answer. They just are. CB was saying he wanted to visit me and I might
let him just so my kitchen can have it straight between the eyes. Mind you, he
can be a bit creepy too. Hamilton would be best but God knows if I'll see him
again. Wonder how he's finding Garstang and his mental nurse job? Alex has gone
to London apparently, probably to get a job with his father. The old school
subculture fragments further. From what I can gather Josie Howland has joined
the army, which is a bit desperate.
Saturday 19th
Another posthumously written entry, as it were,
because tonight was the first time cannabis had an effect on me. It's really
nice actually. Nothing too spectacular, a bit like having breathed deeply a
lot, but it lasts longer and eventually you get very happy and tired. Except
that you never want to go to bed, I was up till well past 4. The best bit was
when we were all in Isabel's room and I kept giggling about how ludicrous
everything was. There were some fun practical jokes later too, though we were
invaded by some of the dickheads from downstairs. Hate them lot, the wonders of
partisanship. Actually had quite a good time in Coventry today. Found some very
interesting streets between the station and the football ground and also a
weird little square surrounded by office blocks. It was quite overgrown and had
a pond and a fountain of an almost naked girl. I rather enjoyed the Lady Godiva
statue too which is proof that I'm getting corrupted here. Bought a Daddy
Longhead album but it's on record, so either I befriend Steve (the only one
with a record player) or wait till next week to hear it. Guess which. A really
shit band at the Whipround, Bigmouth I think they were called. If they ever
have a decent band at these Whiprounds I'll probably donate my whole fortune in
shock. Bumped into that what's-his-face I met on the second night here, haven't
seen him for a while. Both my knowledge of and enthusiasm for current affairs
has crumbled somewhat but it appears a date has been set for the Middle East
peace talks. We'll see etc., but at least it's something. England beat France
in the rugby and are through to the semi finals. All right, so it doesn't count
as current affairs, but I spent a lot of the afternoon listening to the match
on the radio.
Sunday 21st
Didn't have a morning today, as I slept through
it, and had a dull-ish afternoon. But the evening was fun. Petra asked me to
the Westwood church again. It was a more participatory service this time,
however, and I embarrassed myself in three ways:
1. When, out of the blue, the vicar asked everyone
to show people around them a token of their love, or something, and they all
started shaking hands and saying "God be with you" to each other. (My
first answer: "Er, right.")
2. When they passed the donation bag around and
I had to spend some time emptying all the small change out of my pockets
because I had nothing else.
3. When everyone started taking Holy Communion.
I fled the church.
I hope God can take a joke. I was laughing with
him not at him, sniggering all my way home and almost during the sermon as
well. Luckily Petra assured me afterwards that my gaffs weren't all that bad.
After church I went to the Arts Centre to see Angelique Kidgo, a singer from
Benin. She was rather excellent, quite a modern sound but not too much so, and
a lively, diverse set. God knows what she thought of us lot. There was hardly
anyone there and we weren't the most receptive crowd ever, but that's the
English for you. Have to say I enjoyed the second half more than the first
because I wasn't stuck behind the repulsive turds I always seem to get stuck
behind, the sort who can't leave their egos at home. Spilt washing powder on my
carpet today, a nice white stain to offset the massive black one caused by
spilling coffee on Friday. I feel massive fines looming.
Wednesday 24th
Slipped again, I see. Must start writing diary
entries on the day no matter how pissed or high I get, which could lead to some
remarkably embarrassing statements. An especially sodden night tonight. For no
particular reason a lot of my kitchen decided to drink a lot before going to a
disco tonight. Sally especially drank far too much, vomited all over Mike,
passed out and had to be carried home. Mike got his revenge in a sense by
urinating in the corner of the disco. Student living, eh? It wasn't
particularly pleasant, in fact, went on for far too long and left me with some
rather unpleasant feelings. Which was a shame. Because I'd spent much of the
afternoon tramping the fields in a 'nobody here gives a shit about me' mood
sparked off by none of them asking me onto their badminton trip, wounding even
though I didn't want to go on it, a mood dispelled when I returned by several
people in rapid succession asking if I was going to the disco tonight. At times
my sensitivity can reach quite farcical levels. If truth be told, nobody here
does give a shit about me but it's nice when they hide the fact. Liverpool got
pissed on in the UEFA cup.
Thursday 25th
Totally, totally depressing day today. Research
lecture was typically ghastly, the few hours following it were pretty grim. And
in the Research seminar this afternoon I found myself crowded in a small room
with ten people I'd never ever seen before, which really freaked me out. Seemed
quite an interesting seminar, but I couldn't concentrate on it because by that
time I'd decided to flee home so all I was doing was waiting until I was flee.
Ten minutes after it ended I packed an extremely hasty suitcase and fled,
basically, catching the first trains I could to Birmingham and then York. Read
a large chunk of a Social Class book on the train then talked to a lass sitting
next to me who, surprise surprise, tried to give me advice on how to cope with
university. Rather shocked my parents, who weren't expecting me until tomorrow.
Seems predictably strange to be home but not inordinately so. Bloody quiet
though, I shall look forward to a good night's sleep. Rang up CB but he's going
to the Lake District this weekend, so I had to fix up a very small trip out
tonight with the remnants of the subculture.
Friday 26th
Twelve hours sleep last night. Had my first
proper meal for god knows how long this evening. It's ace, this 'at home' lark.
Wandered into York this afternoon which was largely a waste of time but first
saw David Clark, who's at teacher training college, then David Graham, who
after enduring two years of first CPVE and then Lower Sixth has given up on
school and is unemployed. A total waste is the appropriate phrase here. There's
worst things than Warwick University after all. Failed to work for the rest of the
day. It always was harder to work at home, though no picnic anywhere.
Apparently Israel for the 'peace' talks has named a delegation of hardliners,
including old Yitzak himself. Why do I feel these are going to have about as
much impact as the Northern Ireland talks?
Saturday 27th
One good thing about university is you don't get
fucking cats waking you up at 7 in the morning waking you up wanting to come
into your room. I can't believe they still do that. I haven't been here for
weeks, for God's sake. Did as much reading as I could bear, which wasn't much,
in between watching England beat Scotland in the rugby semi-finals. Leeds top
of the First Division, apparently, though not by much. Out with the 'lads' tonight
i.e. Jonathans Woolley and Hall. The former is working at General Accident at
the start of his year out, the latter at YCAT, neither liking it very much and
having not accumulated many anecdotes. JKW did have the rather grim one that
Clair Harrison is apparently taking ecstasy all the time. I'm not sure what
that does to you but the fact that she keeps taking it says something about the
sort of state she must be in. Quite a good night out apart from that, nice to
have somewhere I fit in of course. Not enough weirdness though, have to wait
until Christmas when more people are home. Some big showdown looming on Europe
once again. It's hard to view these things as a chance for more inter-Tory
squabbling and thus to be welcomed. Some doctor has been rewarded with record
libel damages against his former partners. Why do juries always want to go for
the record these days? A very strange phenomenon.
Sunday 28th
Here I am in Warwick again, four weeks since
arriving and hardly settled in at all. Felt that particularly upon arriving
tonight, with one or two minor events giving especial reason for being
insecure. But at least I seem to have had a better weekend then most here.
Certainly better than Debbie, who I heard was thrown from someone's motorbike
or something like that; I didn't want to enquire too closely. She doesn't seem
that badly hurt though. Rather more oddly, Kate apparently sprained her neck
yawning. Got here about 6.30 after another long train journey and attempts to
plough through the Social Class book. Actually bumped into Old Git when I was
staggering down to the station so I had a drink with him at the Magnet. Was
glad about that as I hadn't seen him all weekend. Brought down my duvet,
amongst other things. I think I've actually got rather too many things down
here now, fuck knows how I'm going to get it back. Especially my TV which I can
barely watch anyway because of the reception. Hate the way my new radiator
pings with particular malice. Australia beat New Zealand in the other rugby
semi-final. Knew they would and am pretty sure they'll beat England too.
Quote of the week:
"Two possums in one tree? That's too many
possums in one tree."
- Jimmy Rodgers
Monday 29th
An amazing crowd, my kitchen. I started off
tonight by saying I didn't fancy anyone, they somehow twisted this round so it
said that I actually fancied Rachel, and finally they all trooped off to
doubtless tell her and embarrass me. And Dave started threatening me with a
carving knife when I ws defending my celibacy. Quite enjoyable at the Market
Place Disco tonight - well, comparatively enjoyable at least. Surprisingly good
Analysis seminar as well, the first decent one I've had, probably because I was
in the mood for it. Learnt fuck all but there you go. The library here is
starting to seriously piss me off.
Sunday 10th
Ulp. I'm coming to the conclusion that
university life is not necessarily conducive for the writing of diaries. I
wrote tons the first week as well, didn't I? Never mind, press on as best as I
can. Vague summery time: two essays done, two still to go for Friday, the
hardest two of course. This weekend has been shit boring, nothing happened last
night or indeed tonight. Though on Friday was Sophie's party, which was very
amusing if not necessarily enjoyable. Everyone got very drunk very early on and
put on silly clothes. I wore a skirt and, though for the life of me I know not
why, wandered into Alison's kitchen wearing it. Alison wasn't there, luckily,
but did see another girl I know who appeared rather nonplussed. Thursday I had
a brain scan at the Psychology department - purely for money and, I suppose,
the advancement of scientific knowledge. Afterwards saw Citizen Kane and got
drunk with that Lakbir kid (finally remembered his name). Wednesday nowt,
Tuesday was a Bonfire Night disco, one of the best discos I've been to since
getting here. Monday I can't remember and last weekend my sister was here from
midday Friday to midday Sunday. Very glad to see here, she lifted what would
have been a totally shit weekend into something quite enjoyable. There was also
a slightly morose mood though, largely caused her constantly asking me if I'm
happy and me wittering on about my social arrangements to try and prove I am.
We got drunk together Friday and Saturday and she got a guest entry on the Cryfield
Chunder Chart - a tragic graph my kitchen keeps of who's been sick, when and
how much. Though I maintain that wasn't deserved. The Chunder Chart is supposed
to record vomit solely caused by alcohol whilst hers was largely prompted by
her recent 24 hour fast and simultaneous cold. Oh yes, we all went to see Kev
in hospital on Sunday night, he'd come off his bike the day before and
fractured something in his shoulder. For no apparent reason James fainted and
had to go down to casualty. The only memorable incident from the week before
was a trip to the Westwood Bop. An amazing experience - the bar was full of
rugby players singing drinking songs and the disco like something held in a
church hall. Main news event was that Robert Maxwell was found dead in the
Atlantic. Vaguely suspicious circumstances too given all that selling secrets
to the Israelis and/or Arabs thing recently. Other events that spring to mind,
Imelda Marcos returning to the Philippines accompanied by a lot of storms and
floods, everything as bad if not worst in Yugoslavia, Kaunda getting thrashed
in the Zambian elections, George Clinton dying and civil war starting in Zaire.
And Australia beat England in the Rugby World Cup but Liverpool thrashed
Auxerre to reach the next round of the UEFA Cup.
Quote of the week:
"No names have been changed to protect the
innocent since God Almighty protects the innocent as a matter of Heavenly
routine."
- Kurt Vonnegut
Another one:
"We are tied down… to a language that makes
up for in obscurity what it lacks in style"
- Tom Stoppard
Monday 11th
Have to get down to some good, solid British
work some time. Still got one and a lot essays to write and haven't got a
fucking clue how to do my Research one at all. Good night tonight actually,
well from 10 o'clock onwards when I stopped working and went to the Marketplace
Disco. Mike, Sean and Dave have decided to make up some totally false rumours
about me but, honestly, the only bad behaviour I got up to tonight was getting
cheese stuck in the toaster which is going to smell horrible for the next week.
Didn't do much today, and missed my Analysis lecture, because I was feeling
drugged out after taking some Night Nurse last night. Dangerous stuff, that is.
Better get some sleep now, lots to do tomorrow!
Tuesday 12th
Absolutely tons of work done today, I'm proud to
announce. Up to past 1 in the morning doing it. Bloody noisy here this evening
but all is quiet now. Thank god Shawn Next Door has finally stopped playing his
music. I can't believe that boy, all he ever listens to is light rock. For
obvious reasons, not much happened today.
Wednesday 13th
Essays, essays. Or not. But I did try, sort of.
Supposed to have a Word Processing class today but, of course, missed it. It
was run by fucking Ian Proctor again, I've got him for everything and I detest
the man. Though he did do a good Class & Gender lecture yesterday, EPP
Thompson is really interesting. Quite like all my Sociology courses at the
moment, despite having to write essays for them, with the obvious exception of
Research. Apparently there's a production of Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are
Dead in Kenilworth next week so I'll have to try and get to see that. Had a
letter from CB today which was a bit depressing as it reminded me that I'm
slightly out of the pail in York as well. Him, Hamilton and Dan Povey went to
visit Oliver in Bradford but, of course, nobody's visiting me. Doubt I could,
or would, fit three in them in here but that's beside the point. Hey ho. I've
managed to get a kind of status here which I want to maintain. CB would only
call me 'Tron' if he visited me and I'm fucked if I'm letting anyone find that
nickname out.
Thursday 14th
The 'great' essay race is hotting up. Deadline
4pm tomorrow and I've still to write a conclusion and last draft for the final
one, Research. Innit exciting? No. Got really pissed off tonight and went to
see Close My Eyes, the film about an older sister and younger brother
committing incest. Decent stuff, though a bit close to the bones, but the best
bits weren't the sex scenes but the shots of modern London. They had some great
visions of all the ghastly new developments and of some of those huge houses by
the Thames. The ending scene outside one of the latter in late summer at
twilight was really impressive. All right, so the sex scenes were quite good
too. That reminds me, though it probably shouldn't, still haven't bought my
sister her birthday present yet. The day she said she wanted a poster seemed to
coincide exactly with the day they stopped having poster sales at Rolfs Bar.
Student Union elections today. Memorable because a) they're the closest to
proper elections I've voted in yet and b) I nearly got my finger stuck in the
ballot box. Getting very cold these days, by the way. Definitely Autumnal. A
brownness around the edges etc.
Friday 15th
Found all sorts of old junk rooting around in my
spare paper file. Found an essay plan on the troubles Maximilian I had in
ruling the Holy Roman Empire during Research yesterday. A damn sight more
interesting than Research too. I may have missed my way. Finished my last essay
today, about two hours before the deadline. Rewarded myself to a walk to
Coventry and back. The walk was nice and atmospheric though Coventry itself
was, as ever, a bit of a downer. Nice to see the Christmas decorations though.
Got pissed with Lakbir tonight. He can be a bit irritating at times, especially
when he's drunk, but a good bloke most of the time. Shit music taste, mind you.
Not seeing enough of my kitchen at the moment. Have to try harder again now
that I've less of an excuse.
Saturday 16th
The amazing happened today: there was actually a
good band at the Whipround. Called The Cranberries, and whilst they weren't
really brimming full of ideas they did put a lot of variety into their songs
and were especially good at moody, bass-heavy numbers. For about the first time
nobody danced and just sat and watched them, which was good. Everyone else
liked them too, everyone with taste at least. Got pissed again with Lakbir,
surprise surprise, though I wasn't too bad. Oh yes, just to compensate: Top
were the main act tonight and boy, were they shit.
Sunday 17th
Memory a little woozy about today. Tried to go
to Westwood Church again but without Petra, which meant I couldn't find the
bloody thing for the life of me. Ended up wandering darkened country lanes in
the pouring rain for about half an hour before giving up. Me and churches are
not meant to be, I think. Maybe it was like the Holy Grail and Room SO16, only
detectable by the true of heart. Did bits of work and watched a rather
excellent West Ham v Liverpool game. Nobody scored but it was nice to see
Liverpool actually playing well for once.
Tuesday 19th
Now I do have a legitimate excuse for missing
yesterday's entry. It was my sister's birthday celebration. And being a good
little brother, I was simply obliged to visit her in Leicester and get totally
pissed. Good fun all in all. Dived out at 3pm after a Theor. Mod. Soc. lecture
which I entirely failed to concentrate on, missed the first coach to Leicester so
had to hang around the seedy parts of Coventry for half an hour. Once in
Leicester I had to work through Christine's extremely convoluted directions to
her halls of residence, plus detour for some money and chips. Got there about 6
then loitered around her room while she went for dinner (a very nice balcony to
her room but couldn't see the view as it was pitch black by then). Loitered
there a bit longer with her and we were joined by her current boyfriend,
Conrad, who seems a good enough bloke. We drank too much wine, then met some of
her friends in a trendy student house and some more in a decidedly untrendy and
shite college bar. Caught the bus into town, irritated the driver by singing Do
They Know It's Christmas far too loud and finally went to a night club, the
first proper one I've been to all year. Most enjoyable in there, though I
rather panicked Christine by going on one of my characteristic rambles around
the club for about half an hour. But the best part of the whole trip was
getting up at quarter past seven the next morning, after four hours sleep, in
the pitch black, pouring rain and howling rain to desperately try and find a
bus in a strange town which would let me catch the 7.30 coach back to Coventry
to get back in time for a 10 o'clock seminar which pride and stupidity forbade
me from missing. And a particular high spot was sitting in a freezing Coventry
bus stop trying to write a talk on Marx which I had to do at the seminar. Just
made it through the Class and Gender lecture this afternoon and slept for quite
a few hours afterwards. The trip cost me about £30 all told, including
Christine's present, a Dali poster, and a £10 I left in her room because she'd
lost the money last night and is apparently totally skint. Money well spent
though. Terry Waite has been released, they say, but in gloomier news Vucovar
has finally surrendered to Yugoslav federal forces.
Wednesday 20th
Second seminar missed this week, I'm afraid,
Class & Gender. For the same reasons as I missed Analysis, I'd done sod all
work for it. But I did go to the Green Society for the first time in God knows
how long. Hardly anyone else did, rather depressingly, though I saw Alison
there. Not a bad meeting, about Warwick Conservation Trust. And finally forced
myself to go to a Word Processing class which was surprisingly painless, a bit
like GCSE Typing really. Went to one of those DecaDance things tonight, an 80's
theme disco at Rolfs Bar in the Union. The trouble with going out with my
kitchen is that I have to get very drunk to be on even remotely the same
wavelength as them. And that costs me on both financial and health terms, both
of which are rather shaky these days. Julie was saying afterwards that the
kitchen hasn't split into groups, which is absolute bollocks. Not especially
acrimonious or clear-cut splits, but by God etc.
Thursday 21st
Out at the theatre tonight. Well, sort of; it
was a rather ragged and cheap affair in Kenilworth. But they were showing
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, a script I idolise but have never
actually seen staged before. Considering that it was an amateur production it
was quite good. The acting was suspect in places but they held up generally,
especially the man playing Guildenstern which must be a fucking hard part to
play. A few bits were cocked up but the ending was handled well. Went with
Lakbir who says he's never been to any sort of theatre before. A right working
class hero, that one. Got drunk with him afterwards, naturally. Missed a
Research seminar this afternoon because I refused to do the work for it,
basically. It was all Maths and I put down to do Sociology; and this stuff and
very little to do with research, let alone society.
Friday 22nd
One of those days when I couldn't stop moving
for too long or I'd get depressed. First went to Leamington which was OK, not
sure I saw it in its best light. The river was a bit scummy but the bridges
nice at least, and I found The World According To Garp in an Oxfam. Did some
work then out to see Truly Madly Deeply. A really good film, a bit like Ghost
only not shite. Juliet Stevenson was brilliant, especially at the start was
mourning her dead husband, and Alan Rickman impressive too as said husband who
came back as a sort of ghost. Really funny in places too. Phoned my parents,
went back to my room, avoided the party that was going on upstairs, got
depressed because I was avoiding it, drank a whole bottle of sherry very
quickly and went to the Children in Need disco. Pretty good fun though some of
my kitchen went a trifle over the top. Mike got totally wrecked and got Dave
into a fight, which Dave lost and had to have several stitches in his head as a
result. Although from what he says, Dave didn't exactly try to avoid the fight.
All in a good cause, as they say.
Sunday 24th
I've just heard on the radio that Freddie
Mercury has died. Now it's stupid saying "that's tragic" because
every death is tragic, but this one hit me especially. I mean, whatever the
quality of his songs actually is¸ they bring a hell of a of pleasure to a lot
of people. His singing was really original, he was an amazing performer and he
used to be just about my biggest hero. He was just one of the figures of rock,
and from what I can gather one of the nicest personally as well. He had AIDS. I
don't know for how long but they only announced it yesterday after a lot of
rumours. And I may have gone off Queen, but I've just listened to My Fairy King
and March of the Black Queen and they are still fantastic. And Bohemian
Rhapsody really can't be topped. I'm not going to attempt some clumsy sort of
obituary here. It's hard to write anything to follow on from this so I don't
think I will. A fair bit happened today and yesterday, but.
Quote of the week:
"Mama, just killed a man, Put a gun up to
his head, Pulled my trigger, now he's dead."
- Freddie Mercury
Monday 25th
Quiet sort of day staggering about trying not to
fall asleep or spend too much money. Then an evening also trying not to spend
too much money but now trying to fall asleep. Can't do much work. Had a really
odd Marx lecture which lapsed into mathematics towards the end. Quite a
worrying trend on my course these days. Apparently both Foreheads In A Fishtank
and 70 Gwen Party are playing in Zippy's Bar on Thursday which got me excited,
though there's no guarantee either of them will be any good. Try not to go out
before then, I think. Got a letter from mum as usual, nowt too interesting
there except for an invitation for a Sixth Form reunion at Christmas, which was
nice.
Tuesday 26th
Can't remember what the fuck happened today.
Wednesday 27th
Was going to stay in tonight as promised, but
got bored. So went to an Underground disco with Lakbir and Kev and got bored
there instead. Got a leaflet about accommodation next year. Apparently if you
want a university house you've got to apply by the end of January, which is
grim. It's not so much of a problem of where but who with. Lakbir, fine, but
beyond that? Not going to Coventry, that's the one clear idea in my mind.
Thursday 29th
Good grief, November is nearly beyond us. Though
for once I can't say that this year has gone by all that fast. Missed my
Research lecture without any twinge of guilt whatsoever because it's the first
thing I've missed all week, and because Research lectures are a total waste of
time. Research seminars are too but my absence in them is more conspicuous. Got
low 60's for my Research essay, much the same for my Class & Gender one.
The equivalent of a 2/1 grade and rather uninteresting, but it'll do. Better,
really, than an interesting failing grade. Saw two of the best bands I've seen
all year, even EVER!!, in Zippy's tonight. 70 Gwen Party and Foreheads In A
Fishtank. Both were utterly weird, the former were often just pure noise, the
microphone deliberately turned up to horribly distort, so much so that it kept
electrifying the singer. Foreheads did have tunes but horribly perverse ones.
The band were also total spacs, the guitarist playing most of the set lying
down on the dance floor. Their rendition of Happy Shopper was probably the
night's highlight, though 70 Gwen Party's Devilling Hour ran it close. Another
band called Greenhouse were playing as well but weren't too hot. And like
nearly everything good, hardly anyone watched it. There were only about twenty
people in the audience and, as it turned out, about half were from the other
bands. I remember staring at one group and thinking what total headcases they
looked, and then they got on the stage and turned out to be Foreheads. There's a
really bizarre thing going on at the moment with Sunday trading. All the big
chains have announced that they're going to break the law and open on Sundays
up till Christmas. The government is actually going to allow them and it'll
probably end in the law being changed. I've no real opinions on whether Sunday
trading is wrong or not but it's such a blatant demonstration on who really has
the power in this country. Why can't the government get the police out to stop
it happening, like they would in an illegal strike or demonstration? On a more
cheery note, Kenneth Baker has been found guilty of contempt of court.
Friday 30th
Virtually no work today but who's going to
notice? Wandered down to Coventry and got in a festive mood after hearing some carols
in Dillons. Was sufficiently moved to visit the cathedral, got even more
emotional after visiting the old, bombed out section. Then got up in an
impromptu prayer session which I coughed my way through. Gary Linneker's son
has leukaemia, apparently. Drunken and rather too ubiquitous and annoying night
out-ish tonight but I have to be sociable sometimes. Virtually no sleep either.
December
Sunday 5th
Well, here I am,
back t the massive insecurity and paranoia, the promises of interesting times
balanced against the terrors of loneliness, the ascetic, companiable living,
heavy drinking, erratic eating, irritating crowds and long moments of
'meditation.' What an appalling summary of university life but they don't mark
for artistry in Sociology essays, at least not openly, and that's all I seem to
be writing these days. Yes, back at uni for another ten weeks and typically for
university, though atypically for Sundays I must add, I got quite drunk tonight.
Went out with Lakbir, though Kev was there some of the time and was even drunker
than me. Totally annoying trip down really. Got a lift to York station with all
my masses of junk but the train was stuck for about one and a half hours in
Sheffield station, for the usual BR-is-falling-apart reasons. Tescos was shut by
the time I got here, for all its flouting of Sunday trading laws, so I've got
nothing to eat except Christmas cake. Arsenal got knocked out of the FA Cup by
Wrexham which was quite funny. I remember when York beat Arsenal a few years
back, and should have beaten Liverpool in the next round too. Happy
days.
Monday 6th
Back to school,
so to speak. Amazingly repetitive Analysis lecture which had about one idea in
it. Dull Modern Society lecture by a very strange woman who just went on and on.
Bearable Analysis seminar. Was reminded how irritating the library can be (but
what lovely views!) The inevitable Market Place Disco this evening, OK in itself
and very funny afterwards. Kev did the most stupid thing possible and let Mike
and Sean, both drunk, ride on his mopehead. First Mike rode straight for CH3,
swerved about a yard from the doors and fell off. Then they both 'went for a
spin' and only returned several hours later. Something else happened but I'm not
sure what, find out tomorrow.
Tuesday
7th
Falling apart
today. First I felt sick and dizzy, then had a rapid heartbeat, then my teeth
hurt, then my back. Sometimes got all at once. Any my balls keep itching. Stayed
in tonight and worked. I wonder if I'm becoming an alcoholic actually, I find it
hard here to get through a night without getting at least tipsy. My ability to
avoid hangovers most of the time doesn't help much. Mike and Sean were stopped
by the police last night, apparently, though got off after Sean passed a
breathalyser test. God knows how he managed that.
Friday
10th
Ill. I'm ill.
Sort of. Not all that bad today, which was just as well as I had to finish my
Soviet Union essay. But still can't eat anything without feeling sick and I was
very dodgy yesterday. Spent most of the day curled up in a foetal position
though did, inexplicably, force myself to attend the Research seminar. Wednesday
night was when it all started. An evening worth detailing in its own right as
that was when I promised to try and cop off with someone at the
appropriately-named Decadance disco. My attempts basically entailed me talking
to and dancing with some German lass, and then everyone pushing me towards her
chanting "Go on Andy!" and so forth. To be honest, while I was talking with her
I was only really interested in carrying on talking to her. In retrospect it's
also lucky I didn't cop off with her, since I spent most of the night being sick
a ridiculous number of times, even long after my stomach was totally empty. And
that doesn't always impress the ladies. Well, that's the two themes of the past
few days. Illness and attempted copulation. And Man Utd knocked Leeds out of the
Rumbelows Cup. Bastards.
Saturday
11th
Felt better for
most of today, though had one pint of John Smiths this evening and just made it
to the toilets in time before bringing it up again. I guess a few days recovery
from any illness are necessary, and it was actually nice to go home on a
Saturday night clear headed for once. Quite fun at the Whipround actually, a
Caribbean steel band were playing. They were a total joke and mainly did Boney M
songs, but were at least a change and everyone enjoyed themselves. Went
exploring this afternoon, turned left at the crossroads where one normally turns
right for Tescos or the city centre. Some interesting sights as well, a quaint
little stone bridge, some really horrible industrial cityscapes, a vile road
with loads of chemical works and so on. Coventry seems to go on for miles and
miles, thought I lost my bearings somewhat and may not have been walking to the
edge as I presumed. Everyone seems to have fixed up accommodation except for
me.
Sunday
12th
Normal-ish
Sunday; work, church, football and listening to John Peel the most rewarding
activities. Especially, if I may be so profane, the third, Leeds absolutely
slaughtered Sheff Wed 6:1, especially convincing as the Sheff Wed goal was from
a penalty they didn't deserve.
Monday
13th
Some
developments regarding accommodation, a rather vague offer for me and Lakbir to
share with her and two friends of hers who I don't know at all. But bloody Matt,
Lakbir's 'pal', has more or less left us in the lurch, saying he's moving in
with two people from his corridor with no certainty of a place for us. Very
underhand business this. I wish I'd started to plotting earlier but think I've
got us sorted out now. That's especially important after tonight when I talked
to one of Matt's friends without knowing who he was and started on a drunken,
embarrassing ramble about the virtues of stage diving. Well, bloody Lakbir could
have warned me. Bit boring at the disco on the whole actually. My kitchen were
being massively cliquey for some reason so I loitered about with Lakbir most of
the time. Incredibly dull lecture on Durkheim, though worth attending for the
moment five minutes after it should have ended when another lecturer strode in
and threw Margaret Archer out. That woman just doesn't know when to shut up. Nor
did Durkheim though.
Tuesday
14th
Chris and
Matthew Sergeant down tonight as Matthew, still in the Sixth Form, has an open
day here tomorrow. So they're sleeping on the floor and hopefully not getting
caught by any cleaners in the morning. Actually went into Coventry tonight, at
their insistence. Ended up at quite a good place called the Dog and Trumpet, a
pub I think though one with a dance floor. They played lots of indie music and
the place was full of students, amusing as the main reason for going into
Coventry was to get away from students. Though another reason is that Warwick's
always dead on a Tuesday. Left at about midnight as Chris was sick after about
two drinks, got a taxi back at my expense (the whole evening cost around £15)
and took Matthew to meet Dave, Sean and Rachel who he was profoundly unimpressed
by. Quite comical time trying to meet them this afternoon. They were driving by
and I told them to meet me by the cone outside the Arts Centre, except for some
reason they thought I would meet them in Coventry rather than the university,
and also thought I said dome. So they somehow found a newsagents called The Dome
to wait outside for an hour. We did laugh. P.S. if anyone noticed them calling
me 'Tron' in the kitchen, I'll kill them.
Thursday
16th
Good grief,
last night was a rough one. Apparently Sean and Mike sort of urinated on
Isabel's door. She promptly went berserk and reported them, and now they could
get kicked out. For an encore they tried kicking Kev's door down too. They woke
me up at about 2.30, put a Gypsy Kings song on very loud, did a silly dance and
then left, none of which I minded too much. Boundaries definitely overstepped
with the others though. Surprised Sean was actually still standing by then
actually. It was his birthday yesterday so we all went for a drink at about 4.
From what I can gather, he was drinking from then onwards. We went to the
Westwood Bop later which was, well, Westwood Bop-ish. Tried to keep out of
people's way today which is always an easy task. Went to the Christian Union
this evening but only after pressure from Petra. The usual mixture of pop tunes
and stand-up comedians pretending to be telling a sermon left me yearning for
the relatively puritanical Westwood Church. Though I did manage to get in the
usual mental foragings for God at times and was somewhat miffed when Kev
interrupted me mid-prayer to whisper that two men were hugging each other. Man
Utd beat Leeds in the FA Cup last night but it was a bloody fluke. The EC have
recognised Croatia and Slovenia and two extreme right parties have pulled out of
Shamir's government, probably leaving him facing an election unless he backs
down on peace talks. If all this levers Labour back into power it would help
Middle East peace prospects. But if this was an ideal world there wouldn't need
to be any bloody talks in the first place.
Friday
17th
Could well have
seen a ghost tonight. Me and Lakbir got rather pissed. Wandered around campus
around 1 in the morning climbing up a few things we shouldn't have been climbing
on. Then we went to the lake, where I'm sure I spied a mysterious grey shape
moving on the other side. When you're pissed you panic rather easily so we
scarpered. We went back again a bit later, though, and saw it again, which could
disprove any cyclist/dog walker explanations. This time I also thought I saw two
lights near the top of it. So we scarpered again. And when I asked Lorraine if
she'd heard any haunted lake rumours she didn't know any, but added later that
one night she and Chris went to the lake and Chris said he saw somebody when
they were on the bridge. Lorraine didn't see anything, even though they were
quite close up. So who knows. This supernatural diversion aside, not much
happened today. Worked an awful lot and almost went to a UGM, but it seemed a
sad affair so I left early.
Sunday
26th
The trouble
with writing a lot of letters is that you tell your anecdotes so often you get
fucking sick of them. So when you fall behind with writing your diaries, you
can't be arsed to retell them once more. Basically we've failed to find a house
in Leamington so far, despite three trips there. One place had a woodlouse
infestation, one was crap, one was about to fall down, one was good but had a
conning estate agent attacked. Now Lakbir's probably jumping ship and none of it
is likely to work out. I went on the pull unsuccessfully on Thursday, have
stayed in the last three nights, done lots of interesting things and am now
watching the Superbowl.
Monday
27th
Typical Monday
really. A really funny moment in our Theor. Mod. Soc. lecture when that horrible
Archer woman said "Society A is really confirming it's A-Ness." After taking an
awfully long time to understand the joke, I spent the rest of the lecture
sniggering childishly. Everyone was getting seriously paranoid about Rupert
Murdock in the Analysis seminar, one student claimed he owned 99% of the
country's papers. Tired to write a Durkheim talk which was dumped on me without
warning last week. I can't help thinking how much happier I'd be if Durkheim had
never bothered putting quill to parchment. Marketplace Disco as usual tonight,
though rather empty. As late as 10 o'clock I was able to walk in a straight line
to the bar and get served immediately, which seemed very odd. Got pretty drunk
anyway so had quite a good time. Pogoed to Kim Wilde and actually 'entertained'
Mike, Sean, Kev and Lakbir in my room till about 4. Though Mike and Sean totally
pissed me off by listening at my door when just me and Kev were talking. As if I
needed a further reason for paranoia.
Tuesday
28th
Ha. Lakbir is
somewhat regretting ditching us now, as he's decided the people he's living with
are gits. Well, he can sort it out if he wants. Our forms go in tomorrow so he'd
better be bloody quick. Stable as water, that one. Walked into Coventry to get a
rail card, stayed in tonight and tried to work. I wonder if all Spanish people
are excessively loud or just Paco's friends. Bought some lucky heather but it
hasn't been noticeably influential yet. Armenia and Azerbaijan appear to have
started to fight again. A strange affair.
Wednesday
29th
Handed in our
accommodation application forms today. Or at least, me and Lakbir gave ours to
Alison, who assures us that Nick will give them in. It's quite good having Nick,
someone with at least an inkling of organisational talent, in the group.
Spending flipping loads of money this week. Bang goes another resolution.
Another two, really, as I was out at the Decadance tonight and got rather
hammered there. It was ridiculous actually because I didn't get back from this
Christian meeting till quarter to ten, the time I was supposed to be meeting
Lakbir. So I had to drink my pre-disco bottle of wine virtually in one. Sad, sad
person but 'twould have been a waste of money not to. The meeting was a hoot
thought. The normal Christian Union bloke chose to intersperse his speech,
allegedly on the topic of lies, with various video clips, one by Phil Collins.
The finest moment was at the end, a cartoon of the Crucifixion shown to the
soundtrack of Bryan Adams' Everything I Do I Do It For You. Quite a good debate
this lunchtime between a Christian and a Socialist Worker. Marxism rather poorly
represented there, and accordingly all the SWP man did was quote obscure
passages of the Bible and miss the entire point of what the Christian was
saying. Though the Christian in turn did rather skate around the Bible
entirely.
Thursday
30th
Home today. My
customary long weekend sojourn to the land of my upbringing. This house is
bloody cold compared to Cryfield Hall, that's all I've got to say. Realised the
questions I've drawn up for my regional affinities project for Research overlook
the possibility that the subject may dislike where they come from. A notion that
never actually occurred to me before probably, as Proctor said, because I'm a
Yorkshireman. Stayed in bed rather than go to my Research lecture and was
accordingly punished with a huge fine for getting a book back late to the short
loan library. That always bloody happens. Drew a massive laugh in the seminar,
with one of the Lucies in stitches for ages, simply by saying "Er, go away,
please," rather than "Go away" to an unwanted caller. That always seems to
happen as well. Various obvious lies circulating about Kinnock having links to
the Kremlin, all published in the Sun and the Times. Now ain't that a
coincidence.
Friday
31st
A short month,
that as. Town today to take back library book, buy some jeans and have hair cut,
followed by a dash of work. Derwent Arms with my parents in the evening. Lots of
fog. Horrible weather.
February
Saturday 1st
Absolutely no
work whatsoever today. More or less. Not exactly sure, thinking back, what I
actually did do. Slept all morning at least, though more or less
unintentionally. Out tonight with CB and Matthew. Not an especially inspiring
affair but we did go to the Spotted Cow, a pub I've never visited before and
which seems very curious. We hung about in the passageway most of the time and
it was exactly like being at a house party, especially as the clientele were
exclusively student/bohemian types. The Tree Creepers were playing in the next
room, which was a surprise, but they weren't very good. That Haughey bloke has
quit in Ireland. Hopefully the next one will be slightly less of a git. Mary
Robinson doesn't seem to have flexed her muscles as much as we hoped as Prime
Minister, though I can't say I've been following Irish politics too
closely.
Sunday
2nd
Back at uni. My
jeans, which my kitchen were nagging at me for ages to buy, have caused quite a
sensation. Very strange affair. Reading Tristam Shandy and The Condition of
Muzak at the same time, so it's double doses of shaking my head incredulously,
saying "This is fucking weird" to myself and anyone in earshot, and sniggering a
great deal. Um. Guess who had an uneventful day
today.
Friday
14th
Oops a daisy, as
I probably shouldn't say, behind once more. Well I have been pretty busy, so
just a brief summery of events here. Me and Lakbir got pissed last week and,
while walking down a country lane, were stopped by a police car. The police
thought we were shouting nasty things at them, which shows how paranoid and
insecure they must be. Eventually we managed to explain that we were just
generally shouting. Ironically enough I had broken the law earlier on in the
night, by climbing onto the roof of Senate House. Paddy Ashdown admitted to
having an affair five years ago: The Sun headline: "It's Paddy Pantsdown!" I'm
trying and failing to do essays on labour aristocracy and sexuality. I bought
some hash but realised I'm almost incapable of rolling a decent joint, even when
not stoned. Lakbir might have Martha, a well fit girl on our Sociology course,
after him but he keeps running away. I got a Valentine's card 'From all the
girls you've ever loved and all those out there waiting to be discovered,' which
narrows the field somewhat. An exploration on Wednesday uncovered a weird posh
suburb past Tescos and another country lane where, if you peer through a hedge,
you see a vast amount of gravestones. I saw a production of Shaw's Arms and the
Man at the Arts Centre on Tuesday which was extremely good. And Leeds are doing
crap. I suspect rather more happened the last fortnight but the old memory's not
what it once was.
Saturday
15th
I'm fucked as
far as this sexuality essay is concerned. Unless Phizacklea gives me some help
I'll sod it and churn out some Sixth Form notes on development, as only pride is
stopping me from doing anyway. Went to see Fantasia again (cue various broody
nostalgia trips as the last time I saw it was during the build-up to A Levels),
which still seems very good. Stayed in tonight apart from that. I gather some of
my floor are getting high on acid but they never invited me, so there you go.
Kev's going out with a girl who, in our devastatingly funny student fashion, we
have christened Undertall. (I.e. she's quite short.) Chelsea through to the FA
Cup quarter finals. My tip to win it actually, though I want to be proved wrong
as most have crap haircuts and obnoxious personalities. Norwich and Notts Forest
through as well.
Quote of the
week:
"I stopped
getting Valentines cards the year Guy the Gorilla died. A coincidence, I'm
sure."
- John
Peel
Sunday
16th
This is a real
corker of a John Peel programme tonight. Just what I want from him: lots of
extremely good bands I'll never hear of again. Speaking of good music, went to
see my old friend Kathryn Tickell at the Arts Centre tonight. Excellent stuff of
course, though the rapport between her and her band has now reached the level of
matiness. Once this is passed, it'll start getting very annoying. They sounded
even better in a larger venue than in York Arts Centre, where I've seen them
before. The place was packed out too, a pleasant change from the twenty people
who went to see Anjelique Kidjo, though I think I was the only student there.
Struggled through work today and watched Aston Villa fumble their way past
Swindon in the FA Cup.
Monday
17th
Student
elections may get on my nerves soon. The Marketplace Disco was called off
because of hustings, which means I got stoned beforehand for no real reason. Was
quite fun watching the debates for CAO though. A girl calling herself Becci did
the best song and was the best looking but the Conservative man was very
strange, saying lots of silly things in a mock-fascist joke. Analysis seminars
are getting beyond a fucking joke. So sick of Phizacklea gossiping with the
irritating mature students about the weather while the rest of us sit around
looking bored. The Israelis have blown up the leader of Hizbullah. There's no
fucking way at all any peace is going to happen until that Israeli government is
kicked out.
Tuesday
18th
Stayed in
tonight and did fucking tons of work. Well, sort of. I've actually started all
three essays that are due but seem unable to finish any of them. Plate juggling
isn't the best way to write essays, I know, but seems to be the way I write
these days. None of them are anything easier than impossible either. I've
probably shited up all my brain cells with drink. Bit of a depressing day
actually. Or was it?
Wednesday
19th
Well, that was
an interesting night. Somehow my staying in and working night was deviated
through various mediums into a going to the Westwood Bop and getting pissed
night. The interesting part largely stemmed from being the only boy in a party
of seven, so was made an Honorary Woman for the night. It tended to make me the
centre of attention, so my neurosis was the main topic of conversation
beforehand. And also meant that at the disco I couldn't sit on my own and watch
everyone else, as I like to do from time to time, without being constantly
dragged back onto the dance floor. Which was a bit annoying but, let's be honest
here, rather flattering to the ego in retrospect. As was the constant
reassurances that they all liked me, even if I didn't believe them. Watched a
bit of the hustings for President after wandering back. The SWP bloke made
himself look a dick by getting all pompous and refusing to sing a song. Haven't
missed a single seminar or lecture this week - is a record about to be
set?
Thursday
20th
It's official -
done the full 8 hours of lectures and seminars this week. Well chuffed about
that. Voting today for those curious student elections. Resorted to my usual
policy of automatically voting for all the Labour candidates as I'd forgotten
who everyone was. If Simon Shirley, the Tory, becomes President, I'm leaving.
His poster may look funny, with his suit and his smile, but the thought of
giving him even a crumb of power is frightening. The Conservatives are a weird
slate actually, a mixture of smug, posh types like Shirley and the Angry
Northern Working Class. They're also scary, however. Went to a disco in Rolf's
tonight with Lakbir and Matt but twas crap, alas. Except for this one kid who
was the most amazing dancer I've ever seen, lost in a whirling world of his own.
Going to Bradford tomorrow, with all the 'possee' from home also converging
there. There should be about six of us crammed into a tiny university room,
which will be fun.
Sunday
23rd
Well, that was
a fun weekend. This isn't exactly hot off the press, so to speak, but I'll do my
best. Went to Bradford, place of my birth, on Friday to see Oliver at the
university there. The journey lasted about six and a half hours; mainly my fault
for setting off at 11 for a 6.30 rendezvous, which meant a lot of dawdling about
in Birmingham. That was OK for a bit but I was reminded of how essentially dull
Birmingham is. I also learned not to sit down in a square where beggars are
operating. A lesson which me cost about four pounds but they'll probably put it
to better use than I would. The normal weird train ride through South Yorkshire,
seeing all the relics of the dying industrial era. Dawdled around Bradford
station for a bit and finally met up with Oliver, Hamilton, Chris, Nick - all
the lads, more or less. Friday night we went to an alleged stag party which
wasn't really one. Instead we just sat in a rather good pub taking the piss out
of Nick for being in the Territorial Army, played a game of snooker extremely
badly and went back to Oliver's room to get stoned. I think a walk came after
that though details are rather hazy, though I somehow remember a dead cat.
Saturday it pissed it down. Bradford at it's - well, maybe not best but most
enhanced light. The middle of winter, freezing cold and chucking it down. I
couldn't decide whether or not it was depressing seeing all the terraced houses,
deserted mills and general grey gloom. Although it somehow achieved a type of
beauty, the squalor and poverty were real, not just details on a bloody Lowry
painting. Anyway, we lounged around Oliver's room most of the day with a brief
trip into town. Dan showed up at some time having hitched his way up here. Got
up to assorted silly antics involving sticking keys up noses and setting light
to fingers, antics which by 11 o'clock at night led the rest of Oliver's kitchen
to get so pissed off with us (the Blind Man's Bluff in the kitchen was the final
straw) that one particularly obnoxious character pinned Hamilton to a wall and
threatened him for a while. It's a pity Hamilton didn't just flatten him really.
This lad deserved it, Hamilton probably could have and he clearly wanted to.
After they all went out, he waited for ages in the kitchen for this kid to come
back so he could flatten him then. Fortunately Hamilton's patience didn't last
and he finally went to bed; twatting him at the time would be one thing, waiting
in ambush a bit extreme. Oh yes, earlier on we tried to have a camp fire near to
a cemetery but the wood wouldn't light, rather a relief to me personally. I left
pretty early Sunday morning and got back in time to see Leeds drawing in a
thoroughly unimpressive fashion with Everton. Like I said, a good weekend. Nice
to see the old school crowd again and got a surprisingly large amount of sleep,
considering that I was on the floor with just a blanket and a very small space
between Oliver on one side, a book case on the other. Ah, student
days.
Monday
24th
Well, I was
going to stay in and work tonight. But I popped to the Union for a quick round
of Toobin', a video game I've become addicted to of late. And I bumped into Mike
et al there who invited me to go to Coventry Poly with them. It was Mike's
birthday, so what could I say? We all got pissed in Sean's room and listened to
Status Quo, and went briefly to the Union. Then sat on the bus for half an hour
which refused to move because we were all drinking and Sean had tried sneaking
on without paying; it eventually set off after security men came on to check our
tickets. They didn't complain because Sean and Mike urinated on the floor,
though that happened as well. When we finally got there the disco was pretty
good, a lot of excellent indie music. The Poly Student Union building is even
worst than ours, though, and after I went for a wander upstairs they almost
didn't let me back into the disco for some reason. Still a good night. Didn't
get back till about half past one; and as I'm patently writing this several days
in the future, I can say the evening was somewhat marred by Sean and Mike
breaking two windows. They're definitely out of Cryfield Halls now and possibly
out of uni entirely, which would be a shame. It's a pity they don't throw people
out for being obnoxious rather than damage to property, but anyway. Sod all work
done today. A pointless Analysis seminar as usual, missed by Theor. Mod. Soc.
lecture, still got my essays to finish off by tomorrow and
Wednesday.
Tuesday
25th
Housing for
next year rears its ugly head again. The ballot appears to be totally useless so
it's back to the conning bloody private sector tomorrow. Started my Research
project, sort of. Interviewed Lakbir but it only lasted 25 minutes, which must
be the shortest in-depth interviews. But I found a few things I can bullshit
about with reasonable conviction. Went to see an Anthony Giddens lecture which
left me feeling extremely humbled. That man is just so clever it's sickening. I
wanted to ambush him afterwards and kick him in the head until he had brain
damage to stop him being so clever. He arrived half an hour late and, without
any note or cue cards, rattled off all this amazing stuff about modernity. I
can't remember most of it thought think I understood it at the time, about
bridging the gap between the self and the world, making each have a stronger and
stronger effect on the other, and also some things about addictions and
anorexia. The really annoying thing is it was the sort of things I'd say, if
only I was clever enough. And he looked like a Cold War spy. Some people have
all the luck. At least my Class & Gender lecturer earlier was a total
brainless prat.
Wednesday
26th
I'm not sure
I'm going to talk about house-hunting. We haven't got a house yet. Almost did,
but haven't. Leamington park is nice though, and there were some nice views when
we were climbing up a hill. Went to see the Mel Gibson Hamlet tonight which
cheered me up; many, many faults but still good fun, especially Ian Holm as
Polonious. Gibson has his moments too, notably when doing his fake-madness bit.
And some bits were funny just because they were done so craply, like his 'sigh
so piteous and profound.' When Hamlet killed Polonious, the whole cinema winced
with a single inhaled breath. Another nostalgia trip for me too, as it's the
first time I've seen the play since A Levels.
Quote of the
week:
"Let the devil
wear black, for I'll have a suit of sables"
- Hamlet,
rather stupidly cut from the film by Zefferelli
Thursday
27th
May have a
house now. Went to see Alison part-way through rather half-heartedly drowning my
sorrows and she said she'd found a reasonable one on Tatchbrook Road. I'll go
for that if only to end the damn hassle. This term's a real bugger at the
moment, hardly got a moment to myself or at least I wouldn't if I ever did any
work. Got to finish that fucking, fucking Research project (though did interview
Kev tonight) and start a whole load of assessed essays as well. Aargh. That new
Fall single is excellent. That's my good news.
Friday
28th
Woe, woe. Feel
like Atlas with the world on his shoulders. Though I've this advantage over
Atlas: I can go out and get pissed at a lacklustre Underground disco, discuss
the upcoming revolution, in a manner, with Sean and Mike and get repeatedly
accused of not being a proper Yorkshireman by Steve. A good night really. Not a
good day.
Saturday
29th
Leap year day
today, I see. The day when girls are traditionally allowed to propose to boys. I
waited and waited, but was there a single 'Darling, I've got something to ask
you' in my direction? Bush isn't doing too hot in the rather curious run-up to
the American elections but even he's better than that fucking Buchanan idiot. If
only the Democrats were slightly less hopeless, things might be looking
optimistic.
March
Sunday 1st
A bomb at White Hart Lane today but it didn't
blow up. Rather a good match after they'd got it sorted out, Forest winning so
through to the Rumbelows Cup final. Didn't do much today. Is it obvious? Apparently
the IRA who planted the bomb are planning to disrupt the upcoming elections. No
doubt by drugging all the leading politicians, making them avoid all serious
issues and turn the whole thing into a pathetic ego contest. Actually, forgot
to mention the results of the elections at Warwick. Ian Corfield, the Labour
bloke, won president, Labour won half the Sabs though the annoying apolitical
Commitments slate got most of the non-Sabs. That Becci girl won CAO. The
Conservatives won one post out of about twenty and a really trivial one at
that, so fairly good stuff really.
Monday 2nd
Spooky experience of the term number two. Went
to the Marketplace disco and got pissed, not very pissed though it was almost
supernaturally dull. Afterwards we were all sat in Rachel's room when James
came in and invited us to a séance in the TV room. And while, like all other
séances I've been to, the glass was moving a fair bit, six or seven spirits
were allegedly contacted. Including one who said he knew me from school from
about 1985, though I didn't recognise the name. Bloody typical really. Not only
have you got to keep a massive record of names and faces of people you keep
bumping into in the natural world, you've got to do it for the supernatural one
too. Maybe I should have apologised for not remembering him. Ghosts are very
tetchy by repute. Though the main question is, was it really spirits or not?
Well, it could have been BUT the glass was very easy to subtly move with one's
finger. And only James and his friend got messages from people they'd actually
heard of. Plus it was rather convenient that nearly all of us got a spirit who
said they knew us, a suspiciously equitable distribution of social relations.
But who knows? At the time I really tried to believe in it because I wanted to
speak to Grannie again, that's all I kept thinking about. I don't know what I'd
have done if the Oeji board spelled out 'Muriel.' Very heretical for a
quasi-Christian, I know, but even David strayed in a similar way and he was
sober at the time. Slept through my Analysis seminar, actually rather than
metaphorically for once, though sadly not for my Theor. Mod. Soc. lecture. Is
our tutor, Jim Beckford, more boring than the star of Research, Wyn Lewis?
That's the question on everyone's lips. Wyn's lectures are the least bearable
but Jim makes Weber tedious, for fuck's sake, and that's no mean feat. I want
Anthony Giddens for all my lectures. Maybe I should have tried to go to
Cambridge after all. Nice weather these days. Haven't done any work for ages.
Tuesday 3rd
We've got a house! Hurrah! Cue broad smiles and
relief that I won't have to even attempt to make tentative conversation with
Martin and Nick for the rest of the year. Let them sit in a fucking cave with
naught but their annoying smiles until September if they want to. That place on
Tatchbrook Road, a bit of a shite-hole. The only other drawback was having to
fork out £115 as a deposit, which pretty much wrecks my finances. Have to find
out approximately where the rest of my kitchen are, with, of course, the
proviso that they don't have to give me their exact addresses if they don't
want to. Went to see Barton Fink this evening. Pretty good all told, very
strange in parts, especially the direction, and doesn't entirely hold together.
But some very good moments, especially when the hero finds out the woman's he's
sleeping with has been murdered. The ending is also about the best to any film
I've seen - he's sitting on a beach watching a girl, a seagull suddenly squawks
and dives into the ocean and the film just ends. Had me laughing for ages.
Shrove Tuesday today but I was a gentleman and didn't steal any of Petra's
pancakes, despite being sorely tempted.
Wednesday 4th
The one consolation I can think of regarding my
total inability to work is that I was probably doing less this time last term.
As against that, my attempts to prepare for my assessed essays are laughable,
plus I've done three interviews for my Research project with at least six more
needed and then the report needs writing. Hey ho. Bought Melody Maker today and
actually quite enjoyed it. At least they mete out deserved kickings to crappy
bands like Thousand Yard Stare and The Charlatans, though some equally dodgy
ones have slipped through the net.
Thursday 5th
My last Research lecture ever, I think. We
probably don't have any next term and I've no intention whatsoever of showing
up next week. Can't avoid good ol' Wyn Lewis, though, as he's taking over the
seminars from Ian Proctor. A shame as I've finally stopped disliking Ian
Proctor. Talked to this journalist mate of his who's trying to scrape together
a story about accommodation woes though I didn't do much talking. My whinges
about estate agents and the Accommodation Office were totally overshadowed by
Martha, who came out with this massively complicated tale of multiple betrayal
by 'friends.' Basically, all her corridor decided that they hated her and told
her so. It was really bad, I didn't know she was having it so rough. And bloody
hell, if someone like her has no friends, what chance do the rest of us have?
Though I admit, I don't know her that well. Fuck all work today but at least I interviewed
Alison for my project in my usual penetrative and precise manner. Liverpool got
pissed on by Genoa, that happened yesterday but I forgot to mention it. Spurs
lost to Feyenoord but only 1:0 so they've got more of a chance in the second
leg. Drank a whole bottle of wine by myself tonight, what an alchy, though also
popped to the Union and saw Gary and Craig, then Dave and Debbie. All for no
reason other than to make myself happy. Possibly the most beautiful reason of
all.
Friday 6th
Out tripping the high wire over destruction
again tonight. Everyone was going to a night club in Coventry and as I'd just
got an extra grant cheque for £70 I thought, shucks, only young once and so on.
Not a bad place really, some good music, though rather small and drinks cost a
fortune. And quite nice toilets, where I spent a lot of the time being sick.
Got totally pissed, which was odd because I don't think I drank more than
normal. Walked home as well for some reason, but can't remember much of that
except singing to myself a lot. A good night, though Coventry Poly was better
if more raucous. Went into Coventry twice actually, because the nice weather
this afternoon inspired me to walk in. Bought that new Madness compilation and
a Gallon Drunk album, both very good and Gallon Drunk totally weird. Got a book
out of the library which, if the stamps are to be believed, was last checked
out in 1976. I couldn't believe that, I kept thinking of all the world leaders
who would have been in power when that book last left the building; Carter and
Brezhnev, Mrs Gandhi and the Shah of Iran, Mao Tse-Tung and maybe even Wilson.
Totally useless book as well, and it really shows how bloody useless our
library is.
Saturday 7th
Felt rather dodgy from last night so I found
myself giving the Cryfield Fancy Dress Disco a miss. Wasn't even moved by the
vague promise of Dave having some acid or the chance to wheel out my normal
fancy dress joke. (Dress normally and say "I've come as a git."). My
slight headache was also a sufficient excuse to do bugger all work. Ah, what
the hell. Leave it to the holidays - though I do have to interview about 5 more
people here for my project. Portsmouth knocked Notts Forest out of the FA Cup
which was a bit of a surprise. Half-decent band at the Whipround, Max, though
they didn't seem very popular. Probably because they were half-decent.
Sunday 8th
Miniscule amount of work. Interview with Sophie
which lasted ten minutes, and I'm sure that must be the record for the shortest
Sociology interview ever. God knows how I'm going to get anything out of these.
Went to church but it was sort of an Election Special thing, the three local
candidates for MP answering questions. The Conservative bloke was really weird,
a sort of insane Chris Pattern type, but I didn't stick around for too long.
Labour ahead in the polls overall but all that really means is that the
Conservatives will be ahead again by the same margin next week. I suppose a
hung parliament might be quite fun for a while, and it certainly couldn't be
worst than the current one. If no legislation gets passed, at least nothing
horrible will. Hey, some great political analyst, me. Liverpool knocked Aston
Villa out of the FA Cup.
Monday 9th
Last Analysis seminar today, thank God. It may
have been the last ever even if some were scheduled for next term, because I
would probably have brought in a machine gun and mowed down everyone except
Annie Phizaklea. Missed my Mod. Soc. lecture in revenge for the Analysis
lecture being a waste of time. Did nothing else and had nothing else done to me
during the day that I can recall. Went out to the crappo Marketplace Disco, got
pissed and bumped into Martha. Annoyingly, we were about to go up to the
Mandela Bar for a (hopefully) cosy chat when she saw some of her friends, I saw
Matt and our ways parted. Not fully sure what I feel about her, actually. I
think I just want to get to know her better rather than actually go out with
her, and I'm sure she feels the same way about me. Let's hope so. Or shall we?
Tuesday 10th
The customary end-of-term winding down period,
it seems. Kev's leaving tomorrow for good which is a shame, of sorts. He's a
good lad, if one to be avoided at certain times. Went out on his leaving drink
tonight. Considering that it was with the half of the kitchen who normally bore
me to death, people like Lee and Chris and Craig, and considering that most of
the time we were hanging about the pool table or arcade machines, it was very
enjoyable. The five or six pints I drank may have helped this but I held them
down pretty well, for me at least. Popped up to Zippy's as Mike said he might
have some acid, but alas no. Quite funny afterwards; all of us were in Kev's
room doing silly dances to Status Quo except Kev wasn't actually there as
Undertall, his girlfriend, refuses to be in the same room as Mike and Sean.
They're out of Cryfield at the end of the term as well, the place is emptying.
Wednesday 11th
Managed to get two more interviews done. Craig,
like getting blood out of a stone, lasted about half an hour with most of it
dramatic pauses; and Julie, one of the best I've done yet, thank god for the
garrulous. Out at the Decadance tonight, the standard drunken fun. Had lunch
with Martha which made a nice change, talked about religion most of the time.
She's a born-again Baptist type but born again out of the Greek Orthodox
church, which I don't think counts.
Thursday 12th
Last night and full day of the term. A bit of a
shame but I'll shed no tears. The Easter Ball tonight, so I simply had to get
pissed out of my head. This had the happy effect of making me totally fail to
notice the Manic Street Preachers, even though they must have been playing very
loud in the same building for at least an hour. Adrian Juste did a DJ set for a
while too. That man is such a nob it's unbelievable and kind of blew me away at
the time. I kept standing at the front screaming "Adrian! Adrian!"
and even attempted a stage invasion with Mike. Got his autograph too, written
on a picture taken at least twenty years ago. Only up till 4.45am though, a
poxy figure compared to last term's 5.30. Missed the last of the legendary Wyn Lewis
Research lectures this morning. Deeply distraught about that.
Friday 13th
Home once more, for a full six weeks this time.
Some bloody holiday this is going to be though, with a job to find and four
essays and a project report to write. Two thirds of the first year gone, which
is a bit of a shame. I think I'll miss Cryfield Hall, though not excessively.
Certainly not a place I'd like to be in the Third Years, when hopefully I'll
actually be concentrating on my course. Bugger of a journey back home today,
mainly because of the need to lug an excessive amount of luggage from place to
place. Got back about 6.30 and went to the local pub with my parents in the
evening. Mike and Sean haven't been chucked out of uni, just Cryfield, they had
their hearing this morning. So hopefully they'll be hanging around almost as
much.
April
Saturday 25th
Back at uni, in good old CH2/213, minus half a
million things I forgot to pack and also all my coathangers here which seem to
have been nicked. Nightmare journey down. Went with my sister as far as Derby,
which wasn't in itself a nightmare, but being crowded in a train with barely
enough space to even sit in corridor and with several tons of baggage to boot
definitely was. Didn't get my desire of being the first only one into Cryfield
Hall tonight as about half my kitchen are back. So as the afternoon drew on I
started absolutely shitting myself about having to socialise again, a fear not
even relieved by Rachel and Mike actually coming unannounced into my room for a
bit. Therefore I was left with no option but to get to absolutely pissed with
them and go to a crap disco. Well, it was the only way to conquer my nerves so
what could I do? Had a good chat with Alison as well but Lakbir doesn't seem to
be back yet.
Sunday 26th
Leeds have won the First Division! Excellent,
excellent news. They beat Sheff Utd today and Man Utd lost against Liverpool,
leaving Man Utd four points behind with only a game to go. I'm really happy
now. It has been a pretty hapless 'race', with both teams falling constantly
over their feet. But what the fuck, Leeds won! All the sports writers and,
well, nearly everyone in the world wanted Man Utd to win which only made it
better. Labour lost the election but Leeds won the championship; much the same
in terms of initial emotional reaction, though not when I think about it more
of course. Made a cracking start to my revision, relatively at least. Also
popped round to see Lakbir and went on a little stroll in the country because
it was such a nice evening. Good day today.
Quote of the week:
"Infusion. A blend of news and views about
tea."
- Cover of, well, a tea magazine
Monday 27th
Rather vague about what I should or shouldn't be
turning up to this week. Definitely missed a Mod. Soc. lecture and may have
missed an Analysis lecture too, though there may not have been one to miss.
Nice not having much formal work, though also got a shameful amount of revision
done. Must stop wittering on about how much revision I'm not doing. Got pissed
at the Market Place Disco. Last time I'll go out this week and hopefully the
last time I'll ever go to a Market Place disco, though it was quite fun in it's
own way. Major strikes looming, or may have already arrived, in Germany. Things
are definitely slipping out of control there, probably the most serious
disturbances since the Cold War. Najibullah's out in Afghanistan, have I
mentioned that already? Anyway, nobody's managed to get in yet, so to speak.
Quote of the week:
"Papal greed? A seventeen mile tailback at
Junction 14"
- Fry & Lawrie
Wednesday 6th
Another leap through time and space, in
accordance with the new Star Wars book I just bought for reasons that have yet
to come to me. Well, the main event in terms of personal anecdotes was taking
acid on Friday night. I only popped out to the Union with the aim of getting a
couple of drinks but found that Mike and Dave had managed to get hold of some
tablets from God knows where. So I succumbed, without any persuasion needed
whatsoever. Not an experience I'd want to repeat, actually, not for a while at
least. It's really strange that what looks like a small piece of cardboard can
do so much to your head. You don't seem to have full hallucinations but do see
an awful lot of things out of the corners of your eyes. I mainly got galleries
of people I know passing by, especially when I was walking down corridors, but
there was also my hand pulsating and various bits of weirdness involving wine
glasses and Beatles posters. I got pretty scared at one stage, when talking to
Sean and Dave in the corridor. They were taking the piss out of me and for the
first time it mattered that they were doing it. Plus Dave seemed to have
satanic staring eyes which was unnerving. Fled to see Lakbir a bit,