Return to the City

I am returning once again to the city. Thankfully not for good – just a few days, a brief trip to hand in my dissertation and see some old friends. But it feels odd. That back to school feeling remains, partly due I suppose to the prospect of handing in my dissertation and also the long journey. 

In many ways, it has been a blissful summer, pottering around, writing, enjoying the sunshine, reading, fresh fruit and veg, and all that. Even the dissertation has been enjoyable (most of the time). So it does very much feel like that has come to an end, not helped by the rainy, gloomy days, and the oncoming cold, which make it seem very autumnal and wintery. Despite that, I am still in shorts. 

It is strange to be in the city again. 

Everything moves much faster here, and there are lots of people, milling around. I like that I can walk to cages and shops, but it doesn’t feel right anymore somehow. It is time to say goodbye to five years in this place, time to start afresh, a new life, something different. 

It’s certainly time to return to the country. My dissertation is all handed in now, goodbyes have been said, and that part of my life is over. It's mad to think that it's been five years there. And now, the unknown waits...

End of an Era

"I'm going back to a time when we owned this town
Down Powdermill lane and the Battle grounds
We were friends and lovers and clueless clowns

I didn't know I was finding out how I'd be torn from you
When we talked about things we were gonna do
We were wide-eyed dreamers and wiser too"

Sovereign Light Cafe - Keane
 
And so, my last few days living in Exeter are coming to an end (for now). I'm leaving soon, heading back to the countryside after five years, and I can't wait. I'm ready to leave this city, although I love it here and have so many happy memories. I'm ready to get back to the country and enjoy the summer (while writing my disseration...).

Over the last few days however, of course I've grown nostalgic, and there are going to be many things I'll miss.

Of course I'll miss the wonderful people, and my wonderful friends.

I'll miss being able to walk to the Boston Tea Party and hanging out there and writing, and being able to walk to the library and Waterstones when I fancy it.

I'll miss walking down to the river and the quay, and up to campus.

I'll miss only being two hours from Fowey.

But it's been a wonderful five years, with it's ups and downs, and it'll be tough to leave. I've got my dissertation still to write, and then it'll be the end of my university career (for now anyway). I can't believe it's been a whole five years - so nearly there now. I'll be glad to finish, but I'm so glad I've done it. I wouldn't change anything in the world.

In the last few days, I've said lots of goodbyes and gone over lots of happy memories, many of which seem to have happened a long time ago! But they're good memories to have. It's hard to leave, but it's the right thing to do.

So, in the slightly changed words of Darren Criss/Harry Potter/Starkid:

"take it easy Exeter... it's been totally awesome." 

See you soon Exeter! It's not goodbye, just.... see you soon*.

*That's totally a quote from something, but I'm not sure what. Anyone know?

And here's some bonus nostalgic Starkid lyrics:

"You can't hold on to what's gone
Don't try to fix it, just move on
Only then you'll see the world
All brand new"

Everything Ends 

2I don't wanna see you go
But it's not forever, not forever!
Even it was, you know that
I would never let it get me down

'Cause you're the part of me
That makes me better, wherever I go!
So I will try, not to cry
But no one needs to say goodbye... "

Days of Summer 

McBusted thoughts

I've been meaning, as always to blog for a while now. Im now back in Exeter after a month back in Sussex, and as always I have mixed feelings. It's good to be back in Exeter, but I miss Sussex! I love being in the countryside and - well, that's another post. Even this one has been sat in my drafts for a while waiting to be pushed. I don't know where the time has gone, or what's been going on, but I'm hoping to get back into a blogging schedule - but we'll see!

Anyway, a couple of weeks ago now I saw the McBusted tour arriving in Bournemouth and London. It came around rather suddenly, and unexpectedly and I wasn't really prepared for it, despite having brought tickets so many months ago! Despite my apprehensions and annoyance at Mcfly (please release the sixth album boys), all that was blown away by the shows, which were  EPIC.

It was the most surreal thing ever, and kind of emotional, for a show to start with a BUSTED song. Like never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd see that. I've been waiting for ten years, and it finally happened! The boys were on top form, so full of energy, and just wonderful. It did make me REALLY REALLY miss Mcfly though. I just want to see them again now!

It was so awesome to hear all the Busted hits live, and there was so much awesome stuff going on on stage. It was something I never thought I'd see - ever.  And it was a brilliant night.

But now, I  just want my boys back. My four boys, as they have always been, galaxy defenders, funny, brilliant, talented, the four boys I know and love. I just want them back now please. Enough of this.

Everyone to Platform 9 3/4...

The Hogwarts Express is about to leave.

I've opened blogger several times int he last couple of weeks to write a new post, started writng something and then been distracted by SUNSHINE and summer things. I was going to write about the fact that I felt like I hadn't done all the reading I wanted to do this summer, and how it has just zoomed by, and then I had another idea for a post yesterday, but of course I can't remember at all what I wanted to post about.

But now, as it is the beginning of September, and summer is gradually fading away (I refuse to let that happen yet, I mean we're not going on holiday till next week and it's still SUNNY AND NICE and there are still summery things to do, 'kay?), I figure it is time to reflect and consider that whole going back to school thing. Today, as twitter, tumblr and probably facebook are aware is the day the Hogwart's express traditionally leaves (don't tell me it's ficitional, OKAY?!) and it is back to school season. Even though I left school ages ago now, September still brings the back to school feelings and thoughts always turn to school. Although this year the summer just seems to have absolutely flown by, I don't know where it has gone and I still feel like there are so many things I meant to do this summer - trips and baking and writing and reading. I have read quite a lot, but somehow I don't feel like I read everything I wanted to. I hate that feeling. It's the same with writing. All summer I have been torn between editing, writing my new story, writing short stories, and poems, and therefore I probably haven't done enough of either, becuase I have been so unfocused. Typical. As always of course there are previous summers to compare to, previous months and that's not good. It's always when you have more time to do things that they don't really happen, right? Always happens. It's the kind of things I should be used to by now, but I'm not.

I still feel like there are things that should happen summerwise, and I suppose because we're not going away until next week (FOWEY!) that doesn't help. Yet, I have been swimming, windsurfing, on trips, done lots of cooking and eating courgettes (and trying to come up with inventive ways to use them!) and watched and played lots of tennis and other summery things like that. I have done lots of writing and lots of reading too, despite what I think. It has been a wondefully hot summer too, which has been amazing. And the harvest has been happening this week, one of my favourite times of the year, and that is always very nostalgic with the strawbales and everything, and I suppose that is tinged too with the expectation of going back to school. It's a strange feeling really. There is that thought of summer beginning to come to an end, and the looking forward to the next academic year, and all that. It's a strange time.

It is blackberry picking time too, something that is so associated with going back to school.

The end of summer is always sad for me. I love the summer, and all that it entails, but at the same time I am looking forward to getting back to Exeter and getting on with things again.  

For now, I refuse to believe that it is the end of summer, quite yet. Even if the Hogwarts Express is leaving today....

First Day

You know how anxious I was about the MA and stuff? Well we had a college day today, where we found stuff out, and got to meet the other people on the course. It almost felt like first day back to school! I met some really lovely, and saw some familar faces too, people on the general English course, and got to hang out with some cool people (including my wonderful friends who are doing this with me) and also to meet the few people on the Creative Writing MA. Which was awesome. Everyone was really nice and they were all awesome. The tutor, who I had come across, but he had never taught me, was awesome too and so encouraging. I'm so excited to start it now! And so glad I get to do it with awesome, friendly people.

It was weird because before today I hadn't really realised that I would be a postgraduate, a master's student, and it was weird when it hit. A postgraduate. Me! Ha! It seems crazy. I never thought I would be, and yet here I am.

It's hard to describe just how I feel about it, and how excited I am and enthuastic about this. I can't quite explain, I'm sorry! I hope you get what I mean from this babble.

Anyway, I'm even more excited about getting started. I don't even mind that I'm doing poetry now. Although I may start moaning in a few weeks... I'm so glad I'm doing this though. It seems so right.

And I got to finish off the day by doing some awesome arty screen printing with some cool kids.

Back and happy.

Back in Exeter! And, hey, it's fine. I'm glad to be back. What did I say? I always hate that inbetween bit, when you're packing up to leave one place, but haven't arrived back yet. And moving into a new place is always difficult.

I love it though.

I love my new house and new housemates and I'm so excited about this coming year. Looking forward to my course again now, although I think I might not get to do the module I want to do which sucks (I might end up doing poetry after all :( ) but it's fantastic to be back. Revisited my favourite coffee shop again, and its always nice to find things how you remember. Oh and I love this place so much. I forgot how much. So good to be back. Yay!

Short post because going to go help my housemate with some supper. Yay! :)

August Madness

The Olympics have absoutely flown by; I can't believe it's the last day tomorrow! I have got so into it, I have become totally absorbed by it all and have loved every minute, particuarly the tennis, sailing, swimming, diving... and so much more! So over the moon that Murray won a gold, and a silver. That was amazing!

And it's August, how did that happen? The last few weeks seem to have gone incredibly quickly, and I haven't been blogging as much as I would have liked. Oh well, life happens. I have been busy reading, writing and making lots of braclets (fantastic while watching olympics). Writing has been going well; I wrote most of a short story yesterday, which I was pleased with, and most of a chapter of something else. I really need to do some editing however, and I am clearly putting that off. I will get down to it. I will.

I am also trying to sort out all the details for my MA starting next month (next month?! That's awful scary really). I need to choose my modules and everything, and I'm also beginning to work out when to move back and all of that stuff. Where did the last few weeks go?

I'm excited, but things are becoming very real and I'm relucant to let go of the summer yet. I know I still have a month or so to go but still.

Also, over the summer I have been making lots of bracelets and I'm thinking of trying to sell them. Any ideas/tips?

It's all over!

I've handed my dissertation and my last essay in. And that's it. It's all over. Done. I don't think that it's quite sunk in yet and that I don't have anything else left to do regarding my undergraduate degree. I hadn't really thought about the after (when do I ever?) and so now a long period of time stretches out in front of me. What next?

I have just applied for a masters course in creative writing, here in Exeter, which hopefully I'll get onto, so that's something for the next two years (I'm going to do it part time I think, and then I can work as well. I feel that that would be a good thing to do....) and I'm excited about moving onto this next step, and being able to stay here in Exeter. Yay!

I'm looking forward to being able to focus on some proper writing in the next few weeks, and months, and be able to sort out everything that I've abandoned since focusing on my dissertation and stuff. Lots of editing to do! I suppose in many ways, I don't feel finished, or like I have nothing left to do, because all those things that I want to do, like ediitng and writing and all of that, have now just moved to the front of the queue, if you get what I mean and so in that respect I still have lots of stuff to do. Which I like. It's kind of scary to have finished this stage in my life... it's a very weird feeling. I'm kinda glad that I'm hopefully staying on.

Lots of the Glee kids are about to graduate high school (in the TV show) and although I got annoyed with how ridiculous it got, and only kept watching because of Blaine/Darren Criss, it's weird how the last few episodes have really made me think about the fact that I'm going to be graduating soon.. it's strange how it ties in and kind of corresponds to me... as many of them are uncertain about their futures or not sure what they want to do, I feel in kind of the same place, although not at the same time. It's made me quite emotional recently actually... oh dear.

On an unrelated note, but sort of related because this happened after I handed all my work in yesterday, I saw the Queen! And Philip! She came to open a new university building. It was very very exciting, and she even waved at us. Very exciting to actually see her in real life! It was wonderful. And it turned out to be such a warm day which was lovely, and I spent it with a lovely group of friends, which was all very unplanned, but worked out so well. Yay!!

Finally - I've reached the end of this academic year |(sort of ) and kept a blog the whole time - yay! Go me!

Exciting Things

Woah. I haven't blogged in over a week. I apologise.

I have been busy trying to finish my dissertation and essay, and getting ready to head back to Exeter next week (yay!). Just over two weeks until it's all handed in. That's a little bit scary... Writing wise things have slowed down a bit, although I have been doing a little bit of editing when I can and when I'm not too tired to look at the screen, another reason for not blogging. I have been getting horrible headaches with all this staring at the screen. Which is why I was not going to work on my computer this morning, but print things out instead... well, anyway.....

Things I have been excited about this week:

1. Holy Musical B@tman. I was very excited about the fact there was going to be a new Starkid musical. Of course, not knowing ANYTHING about Batman (I do now) I was a little unsure, and I didn't know if I would get it. But I did. Most of it. I think. And I now know stuff about Batman that well, I never thought I would. It was a very slick performance and you can tell they've become more professional which was really great. The costumes, set, script, actors and everything were wonderful. I was a little unsure about the music to begin with. On the first watch it wasn't particuarly catchy, and it lacked that Disney quality that Daren always brings to the songs he writes, and as this musical only had Starkid's who lived in Chicago Darren was not involved. Yet, the music has grown on me, and it is now catchy. They did a great job, as always. And there were a couple of new members of the team who were awesome. Most notably Jeff Blim who played Sweet Tooth. He was AMAZING. His perfomance was so slick, the way he was able to do what he did was quite spectacular (I won't be specific). While it was very different from their other musicals, it reminded me just why I love these guys so much. They're TOTALLY AWESOME.

That was not meant to turn into a musical review - I apologise.

2. Secondly, something that I meant to mention ages ago but have been reminded of, as I'm so excited about it again is GLOW. Set up by four of the girls from Starkid, who are all wonderful in their own right, this is a website and blog set up to help girls 'glow'. It's a really inspiring community and I love it. It really makes me think, its encouraging and it gives me a place to belong. Girls, check it out. Its at www.knowyourglow.com Its awesome.

3. This website: www.ukyabooks.wordpress.com I want to write a post about YA books, which I've half started, anyway part of my point is that there is nothing about UK YA out there, but well, now there is. Awesome!

4. Heading back to Exeter next week!

And now I really need to get on with this essay. Apologies for the post that turned into a promotional post... I didn't mean to do that. But they're exciting things! :)