Kathryn's 21st, T4 on the beach, and viva worries!
Righty-ho, that was quite a weekend so think this is going to be a long entry...
Friday then, caught the train to Weston, managed to catch one that ran from Birmingham straight down through to Weston, saving me having to change at Bristol, which was some stroke of luck as they hardly ever go straight down through. So got back by about seven, had some tea, then a bit later went round to Dave's and then onto the Summerhouse. As I was so broke, I only had a coke with money borrowed from my parents, and a pint then which Dave bought me. It was a nice evening though and we were sat out in the chairs.
Saturday was a bit more hectic, had no idea what to get Kathryn for her birthday, or my Dad for father's day. Asked my mum then for ideas, and we eventually managed to find something for both. I got an England football shirt too - for £12 which is an absolute bargain given the fact the World Cup's still on at the moment. Walked out to Sainsbury's in the evening to get the alcohol part of the prezzies, and then on my way back, walking past the Summerhouse, I heard my name being called - Rachel and her new guy were both there. Having not seen her or even really spoken to her in ages, I sat with them for a bit, and even got a pint in while we caught up, so that was pretty cool.
Got back at about half-eight, then realising Kathryn's thing started at eight not nine 'O clock like I thought - oops! So I hurried to get ready, then Dad dropped me round at the address it said on the invitation, which turned out to be her Aunty's, although I had no idea what it was before I went. That was really nice, great to see Kathryn, and was a good evening there at the house - there was plenty of wine that I very much appreciated! Didn't really know many of the people there though, a lot of her friends that were there last year weren't this year. But didn't feel quite ao out of place as I usually have done, maybe I'm getting better at these social events?! lol, maybe..!
So yeah, spoke to a few people there, then we all got lifts to the cabot in town. They all went pretty much straight to the dancefloor; I tried to dance there but I was still very sober and I just felt stupid, as I do, so bought some pretty strong drinks from the bar to loosen me up a little. And it did work, enough so I could join the others. But we didn't stay there long really, and went on to Sands; I needed some money so went via the cashpoint. Had another in there, and was beginning to get a bit tipsy, which was cool. Kathryn wasn't in such a good shape though, in fact she seemed really ill, so I escorted her toward the toilet. After waiting a while I worried a little, at which point one of her uni friends came by so I told her. When they came out, Kathryn was very bad and could hardly walk, so we took her outside where she slumped herself outside against the building wall. It took a threat from the staff there to get her to move, saying if she didn't move she could be jailed, at which point she got up and walked to the outer wall and sat there. Then she kinda slept for about an hour and a half while I talked with the other girl - Kathryn's Welsh friend, I can't remember her name I'm afraid, but it was Welsh and not one I'd heard before. She was really nice though, it was really nice of her looking after her the way she was, while the others were still inside the club, not emerging til much later in the night. Kathryn eventually appeared to sober up, we tried to get her into the taxi, but when she was about to throw up, we got her out quick. Apparently the taxi drivers then got word round not to pick up the drunk girl outside Sands, which put us in a dilemma, as we just had to get her home. After another sleep, and when her brother had come out, we got her to her feet, and managed to walk her a little. Got in a taxi then outside tesco way, and then made it back to hers. That was somewhat of a relief really, probably about 2 hours after having come out of Sands. I was feeling pretty sobered up by then, well, I was while I was sat outside really. I said goodbye to the girls, knowing Kathryn would be fine then, and walked to 2 minutes round the block to mine. Went straight to be pretty much, knowing I'd be up again in a few hours...!
Wasn't feeling too bad the next day, I had fretted that a night out in town before T4 On The Beach would leave me hungover all day, and probably pass out from the heat. It was probably lucky I had to leave Sands with Kathryn when I did, so I couldn't go on to get too drunk, but I guess I didn't have much money left anyway. It was pretty cloudy when I got up, but looking like it'd clear to be a nice sunny day which was cool. Dave drove us - me, Wes and Amy - into town and parked right near the seafront at his grandparents' home. After Wes had been to Tesco, went pretty much straight down to que. We didn't have to que that long at all compared to last year, got in soon after the gates had opened at 10:30. After a wander, we set down to the beach and found ourselves a space, the same side as we were last year but a little further back. We could've got much nearer, but we didn't feel so inclined to get right near the front. That's probably the main difference between this year and last year - none of us were really up for it; I was really tired from the lack of sleep in recent months, Wes hadn't slept much at all that night as he'd got a lift straight back from Birmingham after having worked at the bar in the city centre. Amy didn't seem to be fairing much better either.
Another thing that seemed to take the edge off it, was that it wasn't going out live like it did last year. Last year we could follow it as it was being seen on telly - they showed us the backstage interviews and that all on a big screen, and we were told when they were going for ad breaks so we knew when to cheer and that. We got much more music this time, but given the fact none of them played live that didn't really matter so much - what we lost instead was the fun. It was good to see Embrace, and Feeder went down as well as usual, and Basement Jaxx were good, and Hard-Fi and Boy Kill Boy. Loved the Pet Shop Boys too, although the first songs were far too base-heavy through the speakers, and I reckon It's A Sin would've gone down better than West End Girls. But the lineup this year was pretty average really, not a fan at all of Orson or The Ordinary Boys. Didn't even get any tan this year either! - The sun only came out literally ten minutes after the whole thing had finished. In a way it was good that it wasn't sunny all day, I was burnt badly enough last year and there was no direct sun, but it's been sunny since Friday, and it would've been nice to just have had an hour or so of sun. But oh well, it was a nice enough day in the end. My legs seem to be getting used to these events too, was able to stand out the whole 8 hours in the same place in what was still a very warm atmosphere.
Today then, caught the train back to Leam this afternoon. Went fine, except coming into Birmingham our train stopped for a while outside the station. Turned out some idiot had thrown a brick at our train, and it had shattered one of the panes of glass. Luckily nobody was injured - Got to see the damage when I got off at New Street, there was only a small hole in the window, but the rest was all shattered. This was in the carriage behind the one I was in, and on the other side - I could've seen those that did it otherwise. But such a stupid, stupid thing to do, it would so easily have hurt someone, and anyway the train had to wait at Birmingham for a while afterward so they could knock out the pane of glass and sort it out. And the delay coming into Birmingham made me miss a train to Leam that left just as I got down to the platform. But I got here ok in the end!
Now, other people have gone to Top B for the last ever time, I'd loved to have gone - but obviously I haven't the money, and I have to be on campus for 9am tomorrow to find out whether I'm to have a viva or not. I'm really not looking forward to that, I can hardly remember anything now, even stuff for my project seems a bit hazy! I really kinda hope I don't have to have one, but then if I'm borderline 2i/2ii then maybe it would represent one last chance to up that grade? Ideally I'd like to have solidy got into the 2i grade boundary, but that's wishful thinking! We'll have to see though, I should glance through notes and stuff - but there's no way in hell I can remember 3 years of stuff in a couple of hours, I don't think I'd be very good at a viva :(.
Not looking forward one bit, but I'm probably most scared about results day on Wednesday.
Friday then, caught the train to Weston, managed to catch one that ran from Birmingham straight down through to Weston, saving me having to change at Bristol, which was some stroke of luck as they hardly ever go straight down through. So got back by about seven, had some tea, then a bit later went round to Dave's and then onto the Summerhouse. As I was so broke, I only had a coke with money borrowed from my parents, and a pint then which Dave bought me. It was a nice evening though and we were sat out in the chairs.
Saturday was a bit more hectic, had no idea what to get Kathryn for her birthday, or my Dad for father's day. Asked my mum then for ideas, and we eventually managed to find something for both. I got an England football shirt too - for £12 which is an absolute bargain given the fact the World Cup's still on at the moment. Walked out to Sainsbury's in the evening to get the alcohol part of the prezzies, and then on my way back, walking past the Summerhouse, I heard my name being called - Rachel and her new guy were both there. Having not seen her or even really spoken to her in ages, I sat with them for a bit, and even got a pint in while we caught up, so that was pretty cool.
Got back at about half-eight, then realising Kathryn's thing started at eight not nine 'O clock like I thought - oops! So I hurried to get ready, then Dad dropped me round at the address it said on the invitation, which turned out to be her Aunty's, although I had no idea what it was before I went. That was really nice, great to see Kathryn, and was a good evening there at the house - there was plenty of wine that I very much appreciated! Didn't really know many of the people there though, a lot of her friends that were there last year weren't this year. But didn't feel quite ao out of place as I usually have done, maybe I'm getting better at these social events?! lol, maybe..!
So yeah, spoke to a few people there, then we all got lifts to the cabot in town. They all went pretty much straight to the dancefloor; I tried to dance there but I was still very sober and I just felt stupid, as I do, so bought some pretty strong drinks from the bar to loosen me up a little. And it did work, enough so I could join the others. But we didn't stay there long really, and went on to Sands; I needed some money so went via the cashpoint. Had another in there, and was beginning to get a bit tipsy, which was cool. Kathryn wasn't in such a good shape though, in fact she seemed really ill, so I escorted her toward the toilet. After waiting a while I worried a little, at which point one of her uni friends came by so I told her. When they came out, Kathryn was very bad and could hardly walk, so we took her outside where she slumped herself outside against the building wall. It took a threat from the staff there to get her to move, saying if she didn't move she could be jailed, at which point she got up and walked to the outer wall and sat there. Then she kinda slept for about an hour and a half while I talked with the other girl - Kathryn's Welsh friend, I can't remember her name I'm afraid, but it was Welsh and not one I'd heard before. She was really nice though, it was really nice of her looking after her the way she was, while the others were still inside the club, not emerging til much later in the night. Kathryn eventually appeared to sober up, we tried to get her into the taxi, but when she was about to throw up, we got her out quick. Apparently the taxi drivers then got word round not to pick up the drunk girl outside Sands, which put us in a dilemma, as we just had to get her home. After another sleep, and when her brother had come out, we got her to her feet, and managed to walk her a little. Got in a taxi then outside tesco way, and then made it back to hers. That was somewhat of a relief really, probably about 2 hours after having come out of Sands. I was feeling pretty sobered up by then, well, I was while I was sat outside really. I said goodbye to the girls, knowing Kathryn would be fine then, and walked to 2 minutes round the block to mine. Went straight to be pretty much, knowing I'd be up again in a few hours...!
Wasn't feeling too bad the next day, I had fretted that a night out in town before T4 On The Beach would leave me hungover all day, and probably pass out from the heat. It was probably lucky I had to leave Sands with Kathryn when I did, so I couldn't go on to get too drunk, but I guess I didn't have much money left anyway. It was pretty cloudy when I got up, but looking like it'd clear to be a nice sunny day which was cool. Dave drove us - me, Wes and Amy - into town and parked right near the seafront at his grandparents' home. After Wes had been to Tesco, went pretty much straight down to que. We didn't have to que that long at all compared to last year, got in soon after the gates had opened at 10:30. After a wander, we set down to the beach and found ourselves a space, the same side as we were last year but a little further back. We could've got much nearer, but we didn't feel so inclined to get right near the front. That's probably the main difference between this year and last year - none of us were really up for it; I was really tired from the lack of sleep in recent months, Wes hadn't slept much at all that night as he'd got a lift straight back from Birmingham after having worked at the bar in the city centre. Amy didn't seem to be fairing much better either.
Another thing that seemed to take the edge off it, was that it wasn't going out live like it did last year. Last year we could follow it as it was being seen on telly - they showed us the backstage interviews and that all on a big screen, and we were told when they were going for ad breaks so we knew when to cheer and that. We got much more music this time, but given the fact none of them played live that didn't really matter so much - what we lost instead was the fun. It was good to see Embrace, and Feeder went down as well as usual, and Basement Jaxx were good, and Hard-Fi and Boy Kill Boy. Loved the Pet Shop Boys too, although the first songs were far too base-heavy through the speakers, and I reckon It's A Sin would've gone down better than West End Girls. But the lineup this year was pretty average really, not a fan at all of Orson or The Ordinary Boys. Didn't even get any tan this year either! - The sun only came out literally ten minutes after the whole thing had finished. In a way it was good that it wasn't sunny all day, I was burnt badly enough last year and there was no direct sun, but it's been sunny since Friday, and it would've been nice to just have had an hour or so of sun. But oh well, it was a nice enough day in the end. My legs seem to be getting used to these events too, was able to stand out the whole 8 hours in the same place in what was still a very warm atmosphere.
Today then, caught the train back to Leam this afternoon. Went fine, except coming into Birmingham our train stopped for a while outside the station. Turned out some idiot had thrown a brick at our train, and it had shattered one of the panes of glass. Luckily nobody was injured - Got to see the damage when I got off at New Street, there was only a small hole in the window, but the rest was all shattered. This was in the carriage behind the one I was in, and on the other side - I could've seen those that did it otherwise. But such a stupid, stupid thing to do, it would so easily have hurt someone, and anyway the train had to wait at Birmingham for a while afterward so they could knock out the pane of glass and sort it out. And the delay coming into Birmingham made me miss a train to Leam that left just as I got down to the platform. But I got here ok in the end!
Now, other people have gone to Top B for the last ever time, I'd loved to have gone - but obviously I haven't the money, and I have to be on campus for 9am tomorrow to find out whether I'm to have a viva or not. I'm really not looking forward to that, I can hardly remember anything now, even stuff for my project seems a bit hazy! I really kinda hope I don't have to have one, but then if I'm borderline 2i/2ii then maybe it would represent one last chance to up that grade? Ideally I'd like to have solidy got into the 2i grade boundary, but that's wishful thinking! We'll have to see though, I should glance through notes and stuff - but there's no way in hell I can remember 3 years of stuff in a couple of hours, I don't think I'd be very good at a viva :(.
Not looking forward one bit, but I'm probably most scared about results day on Wednesday.