Isla Mujeres - damn, I'd like to be there now...
Thursday, September 29, 2005
Reconnected with world
I could probably quite easily create a rant for you all this evening, but I'm choosing not to. Firstly, look up to the rather nice photo of Isla Mujeres just above and you'll see that I really am genuinely in a good mood when I say that I'd love to be there right now, but am actually quite happy where I am and wouldn't necessarily change it.
I am living in a house surrounded by rowers. My future coxswain is two doors away (curses, no opportunity to miss those early morning outings by alarm, er, 'not going off, honest guv'), a world champion and future Oxford Blue rower is on the floor below me, and on the first floor I have the Linacre boatclub treasurer living with the Linacre boatclub president. Yesterday, I erged next to an Oxford Blue (who is a good two inches taller than me and about two stone lighter - how this is actually possible I can't quite imagine, plus just to add to the 'you really can't exist' element, I discovered she had a baby a few months ago. Wow). I am surrounded by rower-y goodness, the boathouses are all absolutely fantastic - I know, I walked down by them today.
In addition to this, I have my first 'drinks' invitation from my department, and also a formal dinner occasion at the college next Tuesday, gowns to be worn. My social life is starting off with a bang, it seems, and for the first time in years I am starting to feel as if I actually belong somewhere. My first few days here in Oxford were spent curled up in a quivering ball, thinking that I was making a huge mistake and trying to work out ways to back out; I'm now in what I hope is an ever-growing positive mood and can't wait to see what is going to happen next. I've been provided with my Bod card - granting me access to the finest places in Oxford - and a poncy new email address, and am beginning to think that maybe there wasn't some horrendous clerical error after all. Perhaps I am meant to be here. Maybe, just maybe, I do belong. Damn, I hope so.
I am living in a house surrounded by rowers. My future coxswain is two doors away (curses, no opportunity to miss those early morning outings by alarm, er, 'not going off, honest guv'), a world champion and future Oxford Blue rower is on the floor below me, and on the first floor I have the Linacre boatclub treasurer living with the Linacre boatclub president. Yesterday, I erged next to an Oxford Blue (who is a good two inches taller than me and about two stone lighter - how this is actually possible I can't quite imagine, plus just to add to the 'you really can't exist' element, I discovered she had a baby a few months ago. Wow). I am surrounded by rower-y goodness, the boathouses are all absolutely fantastic - I know, I walked down by them today.
In addition to this, I have my first 'drinks' invitation from my department, and also a formal dinner occasion at the college next Tuesday, gowns to be worn. My social life is starting off with a bang, it seems, and for the first time in years I am starting to feel as if I actually belong somewhere. My first few days here in Oxford were spent curled up in a quivering ball, thinking that I was making a huge mistake and trying to work out ways to back out; I'm now in what I hope is an ever-growing positive mood and can't wait to see what is going to happen next. I've been provided with my Bod card - granting me access to the finest places in Oxford - and a poncy new email address, and am beginning to think that maybe there wasn't some horrendous clerical error after all. Perhaps I am meant to be here. Maybe, just maybe, I do belong. Damn, I hope so.
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Dense Housemates
And I already have my second posting of the day... knew that living with people would give me endless opportunities to rant, but really didn't think would happen quite so quickly. Will keep this brief. Essentially, one of my male housemates has packed every item of clothing ever belonging to him and his extended family into the washing machine. Guys - why don't you understand this?? Nothing is going to be properly cleaned if you do this! And then, to just leave everything on in the morning and bugger off for a day in the college with all your washing still in machine - er, hello?? If I get even a sniff of a complaint from anyone for having dumped his clothes on the side, they can go boil their heads.
Courtesy of yesterday's incident involving a leaping bike chain, my jeans were covered in oil and thus I had a washing emergency. And needed washing machine.
Sigh, I knew I shouldn't have opted to live with people...
Courtesy of yesterday's incident involving a leaping bike chain, my jeans were covered in oil and thus I had a washing emergency. And needed washing machine.
Sigh, I knew I shouldn't have opted to live with people...
Noisy Housemates
Oh, there are so many topics for me to choose from today to rant about... but I shall adopt this one on the basis that I wouldn't be awake writing this at the moment if I had nice, quiet, sensitive-in-the-morning, housemates.
The trouble is partly that two of them are on the same course, and just my luck that one of those is right next door to me. So there was the whole, 'early wake up call - ha ha, you were late yesterday weren't you, ha ha, that wont happen again'. Then the unnecessary clattering about in the kitchen, which is on the other side of me, with - for added bonus this morning - an element of singing. Or something I believe was meant to emulate that action, anyhow.
The clumping up and down the stairs, the slamming of the doors (those cursedly heavy fire doors that go slow and then WHAM! slam loud enough to literally shake the entire building). In addition to all this, just to ensure I'm not let off from the noise once they leave the house, my window overlooks the bike-secure area. And I get all the rattle of chains, the squeaking of brakes, the merry conversation that all of this obviously entails...
So in a few weeks when I start rowing at 6am, I have no qualms whatsoever about crashing doors shut, coughing as I hammer my way up and down stairs, and generally ensuring the entire house is awake by being whatever the opposite is to 'silent as the grave.'
A positive thought to end this on: at least I finally have internet so I can rant once more.
The trouble is partly that two of them are on the same course, and just my luck that one of those is right next door to me. So there was the whole, 'early wake up call - ha ha, you were late yesterday weren't you, ha ha, that wont happen again'. Then the unnecessary clattering about in the kitchen, which is on the other side of me, with - for added bonus this morning - an element of singing. Or something I believe was meant to emulate that action, anyhow.
The clumping up and down the stairs, the slamming of the doors (those cursedly heavy fire doors that go slow and then WHAM! slam loud enough to literally shake the entire building). In addition to all this, just to ensure I'm not let off from the noise once they leave the house, my window overlooks the bike-secure area. And I get all the rattle of chains, the squeaking of brakes, the merry conversation that all of this obviously entails...
So in a few weeks when I start rowing at 6am, I have no qualms whatsoever about crashing doors shut, coughing as I hammer my way up and down stairs, and generally ensuring the entire house is awake by being whatever the opposite is to 'silent as the grave.'
A positive thought to end this on: at least I finally have internet so I can rant once more.
Thursday, September 22, 2005
A bone to pick...
Dear Somebody in the NHS,
could you please explain and subsequently justify the reasoning behind the following two facts:
1. If you live in Wales, you only pay £4 for a prescription. As oppose to over £6 in the rest of the United Kingdom.
2. If you live in Wales and are lucky enough to be under 25, you get a free prescription. In the rest of the United Kingdom, this is only true for those under 18 (oh, and in full time education).
Seriously - there is no logic to this. It is English-ist, Scottish-ist, and N.Ireland-ist. I am exceedingly cheesed off with the situation.
What is the point in having a democracy if people are going to be treated differently? HUH?
Please could you also confirm if, whenever I need a prescription, I can merely pop over the border into Wales and collect it, thus saving a noticeable sum of money.
Regards,
Ranting Jane.
could you please explain and subsequently justify the reasoning behind the following two facts:
1. If you live in Wales, you only pay £4 for a prescription. As oppose to over £6 in the rest of the United Kingdom.
2. If you live in Wales and are lucky enough to be under 25, you get a free prescription. In the rest of the United Kingdom, this is only true for those under 18 (oh, and in full time education).
Seriously - there is no logic to this. It is English-ist, Scottish-ist, and N.Ireland-ist. I am exceedingly cheesed off with the situation.
What is the point in having a democracy if people are going to be treated differently? HUH?
Please could you also confirm if, whenever I need a prescription, I can merely pop over the border into Wales and collect it, thus saving a noticeable sum of money.
Regards,
Ranting Jane.
Monday, September 19, 2005
Boredom has a use, then
Well - a brief post to accompany the photo that should be appearing beneath this. I finally decided that look, for goodness' sake, this adding pictures to a blog business couldn't be so hard as it had appeared on first attempt. So I devoted some time to work out how to put on here a fairly awful picture of me, taken a mere six hours ago in fact. Hot off the press. The dress is one I may have blathered on about to you, poor dear Reader, and is looking decidedly creased in this photo; accompanied with my eyebrows raised for no apparent reason and sun shining (yes, even in England) at a particularly annoying angle so you can't see the colour properly, I thought I'd add it despite all this. Well, it was considerably better than the photos taken earlier of me in full sub fusc - that would be the poncy gear you have to wear at Oxford on various occasions. And yes, I look like a total duffus, muppet and clod all rolled into one.
This is exciting - I can now add photos of 'around the world' to go with my posts! Oh, arent you oh so lucky to be living in this technological age!
P.S. And I'm not blocking your ability to post Comments in fear of evil remarks coming from anyone, rather because I seem to be getting 'Spam Comments'. Anyone have any ideas why, and how I can stop this?? Unless you'd LIKE to see random remarks on things such as renting limos in LA...
This is exciting - I can now add photos of 'around the world' to go with my posts! Oh, arent you oh so lucky to be living in this technological age!
P.S. And I'm not blocking your ability to post Comments in fear of evil remarks coming from anyone, rather because I seem to be getting 'Spam Comments'. Anyone have any ideas why, and how I can stop this?? Unless you'd LIKE to see random remarks on things such as renting limos in LA...
Sunday, September 18, 2005
Goodbye, Mini...
Yes - tomorrow, Mini and I shall part company. Mini is being replaced by a somewhat disturbing pillar box red VW Polo. Anybody who bothers to add comments saying, wow, fun car - go away. I am in mourning.
On another note, I was introduced to my residence for the next ten months. On the top floor of a three storey building (and that is a depressingly high number of stairs that I am going to be lugging boxes of books up shortly), thankfully with sloping ceilings to add some element of 'character', I have a very - er - 'yellow' room. With somewhat worn red carpet and faded blue curtains, but with a spot of my usual decorator-designer flair (add as many books as possible) it should be liveable inable. I'll be installed as of next Saturday, the 24th September, giving me a week to build myself up to anything work-related.
Speaking of which, I'm absolutely terrified. Had an email from a course convenor saying that we, the future Women's Studies people, have a meeting for an hour and a half the first day of Fresher's Week. Made the mistake of googling some of the names - some of which are darn obscure I can tell you and I seriously hope there are two bods wandering around with that title because otherwise I'm up against an Indian published author and a journalist who is the editor of a paper.
CRIKEY.
Any spelling mistakes, put down to the fact I'm only wearing one contact lens. Am squinting at the screen and doing my best here.
Tough life, eh.
On another note, I was introduced to my residence for the next ten months. On the top floor of a three storey building (and that is a depressingly high number of stairs that I am going to be lugging boxes of books up shortly), thankfully with sloping ceilings to add some element of 'character', I have a very - er - 'yellow' room. With somewhat worn red carpet and faded blue curtains, but with a spot of my usual decorator-designer flair (add as many books as possible) it should be liveable inable. I'll be installed as of next Saturday, the 24th September, giving me a week to build myself up to anything work-related.
Speaking of which, I'm absolutely terrified. Had an email from a course convenor saying that we, the future Women's Studies people, have a meeting for an hour and a half the first day of Fresher's Week. Made the mistake of googling some of the names - some of which are darn obscure I can tell you and I seriously hope there are two bods wandering around with that title because otherwise I'm up against an Indian published author and a journalist who is the editor of a paper.
CRIKEY.
Any spelling mistakes, put down to the fact I'm only wearing one contact lens. Am squinting at the screen and doing my best here.
Tough life, eh.
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
A quick recommendation...
Just thought I'd make use of blog space to recommend a movie to you all. Not for the faint-hearted or those in need of being cheered up, as advance warning. 'Hotel Rwanda' is one of the more incredible films to be produced in recent years (in my not so humble critic's opinion), and I defy any of you to watch it without at least coming close to tears.
Watch it, learn from it, maybe even do something about it. Check out the report published today by the UN on International Development if you're really interested. Use this link:
http://www.undp.org
Watch it, learn from it, maybe even do something about it. Check out the report published today by the UN on International Development if you're really interested. Use this link:
http://www.undp.org
Tuesday, September 06, 2005
I have a home!
A cheerful Jane logging in this evening to say, hey folks, I have a home! To clear up any possible confusion there - you can wipe out images of me curled up in a cardboard box for a start - I haven't actually been homeless, it was a potential issue in Oxford.
To cut a long, wittering story short: my college emailed me today and said that a room had come free (some poor sod had been unable to get the funding required and thus couldn't go. I will take full advantage of this and leap eagerly into their designated spot). I'll be living wonderfully close to the college boathouses - so close, in fact, I fear that I may be dragged for 'early morning runs' rather than sitting on my bike and letting it guide me in the right direction. Hmm, will have to put my foot down firmly from the start here.
I've never shared before (a brief, hellish experience in Australia I have attempted fairly successfully to block from my mind) but - being the total snob I have been accused so frequently of being - think this will be fine because it is a, with Oxford University students and b, more specifically, with Linacre students. Both factors coupled together mean I'll be co-habiting with graduate and postgrad students, who are forking out tidy sums to get a damn fine further degree and are therefore in the vicinity for one reason in particular: get that degree. I'm therefore fairly hopeful that requests to 'turn that music down, I have an essay due tomorrow' will be listened to and fully understood. Plus, and this is one of the best parts, because Oxford students are generally useless on practical levels, we have a housekeeper to look after us - clean the kitchen, bathroom, do our washing, that sort of thing. Wouldn't like such tedious chores to get in the way of our 'little grey cells' functioning, would we.
Anyhow, I'm remarkably happy - and on the money saved by NOT spending a fortune living on my own, I fully intend to take multiple short breaks. Plus, I now have the means to go to India for a month at Christmas: fantastic. Not only will this give me a much needed sun tan boost, I'll also be a darn interesting place work-wise. (University work - not 'real world' work. Heaven forbid).
Right, I'm off to plan a brief sojourn in Guernsey with Mum. We've both decided we need a break and deserve one so will pop over there. I'm intent on heading to the beach with a pile of books, and she can - I don't know, sit in a hammock. With a pile of books.
After a few days (dare I say weeks) of a life verging on pure hell, it seems I'm coming out the other side again. The Gods remembered me. Whoop whoop!
To cut a long, wittering story short: my college emailed me today and said that a room had come free (some poor sod had been unable to get the funding required and thus couldn't go. I will take full advantage of this and leap eagerly into their designated spot). I'll be living wonderfully close to the college boathouses - so close, in fact, I fear that I may be dragged for 'early morning runs' rather than sitting on my bike and letting it guide me in the right direction. Hmm, will have to put my foot down firmly from the start here.
I've never shared before (a brief, hellish experience in Australia I have attempted fairly successfully to block from my mind) but - being the total snob I have been accused so frequently of being - think this will be fine because it is a, with Oxford University students and b, more specifically, with Linacre students. Both factors coupled together mean I'll be co-habiting with graduate and postgrad students, who are forking out tidy sums to get a damn fine further degree and are therefore in the vicinity for one reason in particular: get that degree. I'm therefore fairly hopeful that requests to 'turn that music down, I have an essay due tomorrow' will be listened to and fully understood. Plus, and this is one of the best parts, because Oxford students are generally useless on practical levels, we have a housekeeper to look after us - clean the kitchen, bathroom, do our washing, that sort of thing. Wouldn't like such tedious chores to get in the way of our 'little grey cells' functioning, would we.
Anyhow, I'm remarkably happy - and on the money saved by NOT spending a fortune living on my own, I fully intend to take multiple short breaks. Plus, I now have the means to go to India for a month at Christmas: fantastic. Not only will this give me a much needed sun tan boost, I'll also be a darn interesting place work-wise. (University work - not 'real world' work. Heaven forbid).
Right, I'm off to plan a brief sojourn in Guernsey with Mum. We've both decided we need a break and deserve one so will pop over there. I'm intent on heading to the beach with a pile of books, and she can - I don't know, sit in a hammock. With a pile of books.
After a few days (dare I say weeks) of a life verging on pure hell, it seems I'm coming out the other side again. The Gods remembered me. Whoop whoop!
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