It's the participation that counts - Saturday

Normally I'd be getting up at 1000 (ish) on a Saturday. Instead today I was up at 0750 for the footie match. By 0915 everybody was at the train station and ready to go. We got our tickets and got onto the train. We had to make a switch over but it wasn't too bad, we got off one train and walked right onto the next. Once we arrived the squad went into the changing room and had a very short team talk (people kept on comming and going because they needed the loo). We got onto the pitch and saw a complete lack of supporters. This wasn't a good sign, we'd brought loads with us, luckily they showed up very quickly. We did some warm-ups, Southhampton decided to copy us and do exactly the same warm-ups, just 5 minutes behind us. The plan (I thought) was to put me on the pitch after 30 minutes when most of their strikers would be worn down and I'd be able to out-run them very easily, just providing this small, fast and annoying thing in their way. Hedley had changed his plan and put me on right at the end, I sadly only got 10 minutes of play in. I didn't like it, but Hedley is captain and I respect that he knows more than me about football (a lot more) so I'll be okay with it. We lost 7-2 but our team was thrown together from random people and they play so many football matches that they actually have a 1st and 2nd team. Southampton, despite having a CU of 300 and having two football teams in said CU. Had only 5 supporters at most. We had close to 30 (I think) along with banners and lots of cheering, it was very good. After the match we went to the pub, talked to people, sadly most of the Southampton people didn't come up there, phhhp, what wimps. On the train back I was very tired, but as soon as we started talking about people stealing food from Brierley's cupboards it got more interesting. After getting back to my room I had a lovely Tuna Sandwhich and then did a load of WoA and PHP stuff. My Forum now has a slightly snazzier look (I was a bit tired and it's something easy to do, just takes time). Tomorrow, it's a birthday BBQ at Eastney church, should be great fun :) Forming a team The footie lads at the CU want to form a team and play more games. I doubt I'll join in any game unless it's at Langstone. I just don't really fancy travelling much, heck, I probably wouldn't turn up to practices, I only did this time because it's a one-off.

Lazy Friday - Friday

I got up very very late, about 1200 or so. Had breakfast and did standard WoA stuff. I then decided I should get some stuff from Tesco. I got the 1330 bus in, and then, 15-20 minutes after getting off, got it on it's return journey. This did involve sprinting back from Tesco. Dinner was quite nice, though the rice pudding wasn't up to scratch. it was the first time, and probably last time, that I try it. I've also gotten my hands on "V for Vendetta" and it looks like it'll be really really cool. Here is the main site and here is the trailers section. Trailer 1 I have, trailer 2 doesn't fully download with me which is a shame as it looks really good. The Superbowl trailer is very short. This evening I had two choices, go to a dinner with the football team, most of whom I don't know. OR, go and make banners for the match tomorrow. I walked to Joe and Lizzie's house, couldn't find the way in for 15 minutes and so waited around until I came up with an idea. Sarah, Brierly, Colin, Sam and Andrew (This one does Computer Game technology). We made some cool banners and good fun was had by all but Lizzie who was doing work. Now, for a bit of worry. I've passed all modules, except one. But even with that mark I average a 53% which is not too bad, I've got two firsts as well so I'm hoping that I can get away with it somehow. The first year results don't even apply to your final final degree so I doubt they'll have too much of a problem with it. Random thought of the day Why is a cobweb called a cobweb?

Othello for the Win - Thursday

Yes, another 0900 start to the day. This time David and Myself started on our clock project. I'm feeling confident that we'll actually get it finnished before the assessment. After the lab I went and found the hard way that there is no 1100 bus (that's when my lab finnishes). This meant I had to hang around some people advertising the Sabatical positions vote thingie. I got back at 1200 and had a nice, big, tuna fish sandwhich. It was most enjoyable. More Marathon (it's a really good game, go download it) and a little WoA as per usual. After that I went and turned up half an hour before the C practical. I used this time wisely to download trailers for X Men 3 and also V for Vendetta. Both look very good and I'll be wanting to see them if any of the CU go. During the practical, something happened, Chi accepted the challenge of a game of Othello against me. The game started off with me taking the early-game positions of power. Chi quickly saw my strategy and started playing a much better game by denying my attempt to take the sides. Towards the end of the game the rest of the class came over to watch, for some reason there wasn't much support for Chi. I managed to get the first corner, after that it quickly got worse for Chi. He only kept 1 corner and I managed to win the game 41 to 23. To be fair to Chi, he was worried about the practical he was supposed to be teaching, 50 minutes after we started we finnished. It was a tough game but very challenging. After the practical I had two choices. Get the bus back to Langstone, wait 5 minutes and get it back in again, OR, sit outside the room the CU would be in for a while, reading HWFIP. I chose the latter, without waiting long Lizzie and then Greg arrived and so we chatted a bit. Not long after that Sam, Emma and Chris also arrived. Christianity Explored was very interesting today, I asked some tough questions but sadly couldn't get an answer to them. Lizzie wrote them down so I'll borrow her notebook on Sunday and ask Johnanthan on Sunday. I walked back with Brierley and Lizzie as we'd missed the bus. It wasn't very cold and it was a nice walk. It took in total 40-50 minutes but it seemed so much less with social company. I went to make myself a lovely snack of a Tuna sandwhich and found to my horror someone had eaten about half of my loaf of bread. I'm not sure who it was yet, chances are it'll be someone that didn't realise that I'd be offended and we'll solve it without resorting to knives. Why oh why? Matt (a research student) asked me why I didn't just email my parents rather than use a blog. To be honest, I've no idea. But I'm rather happy with the blog.

I'm invted to a Wedding! - Wednessday

I got up for an 0900 lecture. It would have been the Internet Apps lecture but I decided that I would turn up to a math lecture that someone was doing (the people without Internet Apps have their maths at different times). It learnt a lot more there and will be turning up to this lecturer's lectures more often. After the maths I had two lovely hours of mind numbing maths. I've managed to forget almost everything already which isn't a good sign. After that I walked to Tesco with Gareth and we got some food. By jogging half the way back from Tesco we managed to catch the bus which was rather handy. Getting back I played some more Marathon and then did a lot of Economics sort of stuff in WoA. Tonight's hall group was quite good. We had a good time and I got another hint. They're veering away from getting a Girl Friend to Keeping one. Still, if people offer advice I do try to accept it. Also, today's title is true, I've been invited to Sarah and Lawrence's Wedding. Two things that'll be a slight impedance to me. 1 - It's on a Saturday. 2 - It's in Portsmouth 7 days after I have to vacate my room in Langstone. Still, I'm going to try and go. I also learnt how to make a form of Napalm today (Graham and Lawrence have had childhoods somewhat more explosive than mine). Once again, I find myself going to bed at a time far later than I'd like, yet having to get up in the middle of the morning (early for me is 0600, not 07something). Ah well, no math test this Friday means I get a lie in there. Sarah's Tip of the week Do not blame anything on 'that time of the month', it will not help the situation in any way, shape or form.

Strike! - Tuesday

Today wasn't as cool and exciting as the title would lead you to believe. It started with me realising that if I wanted to get breakfast at 0800 I would have only 10 minutes to wash, dress and pack the bag. 12 minutes later I was at breakfast, I'm impressed with myself (but not as much as yesterday with the bottle and the bin). I got the bus in for the 0900 math lecture and learnt some stuff about Integration. I didn't have any questions and so went and sat down, chatted to people, played Marathon and found out that I should have gone back to halls because Chi wasn't turning up to the C lecture (he's on stike, but smart enough to not picket in the rain). After Branislav's lecture we had more maths. When leaving my row in maths, in an attempt to be 'cool' I tried hopping over the seat. Now, I know I can do this and know not to make the school-boy error of tripping over the seat. Hence I went for a method where you swing your feet, one at a time, over the row of chairs. Unfortunatly I didn't take into account the desk of the chair I was hopping over. After spending some time picking up the pens I'd kicked across the room I went and got the bus. I would have turned up to the B102 lecture, but I was tired and he was not even teaching the syllabus. I almost stayed, Rick was going to have a go at the guy about it but I couldn't be bothered. I got back to my room and played some Marathon. Did some WoA stuff then more Marathon. Dinner was very tasty (Chickein and Mushroom pies). That evening I finnished off that lot of WoA stuff, did some more (I made a coolish map for the players) WoA stuff. Then I realised it was 0044 and I went to bed. Request of the Day All those that vote for the Sabbatical Officers this week, vote for Lynsey Hayward, she's running for the position again and she has done an excellent job this year. I think you'll find most course rep's are voting for her and we'd appriciate it (well, I would at any rate) if you voted for her.

Tired and Apathetic - Monday

I got up and in for my 0900 lab. Stage 1 was to solder stuff, due to experiance in GCSE I found this easy and quite interesting. After the three hours of lab we had a break. I spent that time playing a little Marathon and chatting (about Marathon and the oldness of it). After the break there was a lecture on programming in a new langauge called VHDL. It's completely different to any other and I'm not very good at explaining why. On another note, at the start of the class, I threw my bottle at the bin and missed. I was a good 15m away, it landed half a meter short, bounced perfectly off the floor into the bin. I was impressed (I was going to get up and put it in properly if I missed). The afternoon lab was not nearly as good, we had to analyse the stuff we'd soldered. I couldn't do all of it and so haven't got as many marks as I'd like. I got back in time for dinner (though I had to queue for a while). I rushed dinner and sprinted to the bus (just about got it). Sam arrived a good half an hour late for the CU meeting and the whole thing was just singing, no talk so it was rather boring. Next week should be better as we've got about 3 other CUs comming down. By the end of the meeting I was tired and got the bus straight back to Langstone. I feel very tired and unbothered by anything, but I'll mention how the situation with Duane is going. Having realised exactly what my position was he's taken it in a very mature manner and though he didn't actually say he wouldn't, I got the idea that he's going to try to take my wishes into consideration more if I take his into consideration more. Tip of the day Normally, when feeling tired when you shouldn't be (such as at 6 in the evening), try doing something that you really like, it normally wakes you up.

My Cold isn't getting much better - Sunday

I got up bright and early and found a massive 8 comments on the blog. It appears that Duane doesn't like being woken up at 0700 when he does the same at 0200. Well, that's not really important so I'll move on. The morning service was for the children and was quite interesting (they should do more like it). After the service I brought out my 'surprise'. It wasn't what Sarah or Lorna thoguht (for some reason they thought it was a card :D ). It was an Othello board and approximatly 75 counters. I taught Mathew how to play, he's five and learnt very fast. Aftewards we went the Bold Forrester for lunch (Sarah, Brierley, Lorna, Lizzie, Siän, Lawrence, Andy and Steve). It was a nice meal and afterwards we went to play football. I'm not much better, I have a cold and it was chilly. Though I think I'll be okay for the match next saturday. I wasn't as violent this time, but apparently am rather good at marking people. After the match we went over to Andy, Steve, Colin and Eds house. They wouldn't let us in (might be because I knocked on the door) and generally chatted. The Evening service was very good. The message that I've decided to follow up on from it is "Put others first". This doesn't mean I'm going to do nothing but serve people, but it does mean I'll try to think of other people more often. I've already found a better way to put my speaker and knocked the bass down a little. After the evening service we went over to the Hackers where we had a cup of tea and chat before going home. Despite it being a very bust day not a lot of it actually translates into Blog stuff :( Tip of the day When someone feels that they've been in some way wronged or insulted, they'll defend themselves with passion, even if they are wrong or were not wronged.