Where do I belong?
I have decided that now I left university for good, I will keep my Live Journal updated regularly, starting from now!
The rain is pouring down outside, Oasis is on the stereo, and I as much as I love being at home with my family, their home isn't my home anymore. My home for four years was in St.Andrews, and now that blissfully wonderful chapter of my life is over. Which leaves me currently "homeless". It is a weird feeling, which will hopefully be resolved when my friend Claire and I sort out a flat together in either the Manchester, Preston or Bolton area. It might take a wee while though, and we both need to get jobs sorted out too! I've been shoved off the end of the education treadmill and am at a crumpled heap in the bottom, struggling to stand up. Have no fear- I am very optimistic about the future, I just feel there is so much I need to learn about the world outside before I can launch myself out there. For example, my mum reminded me that when I move I need to register with the local doctor/dentist/optician...it is little things like that that I feel like I am not prepared for!
The last few days of St.Andrews were filled with fantastic memories, sadness, happiness, reflection and bittersweetness. Saying goodbye to people who I knew I would not see for a long time was heartbreaking...especially Steph, Sara, Nancy, Elyse, Kristie and Beth, who are a £200 plane journey across the Atlantic Ocean away from me. As soon as I start earning, I am going to have an "America fund" so I can save for my plane tickets. Even for my friends who live in the UK, it is still going to be expensive to catch trains all over the country. However, I am going to remain very optimistic and know I am going to see the people who matter as soon as I can. The last ever Hamilton BBQ on Thursday night was amazing, good burgers, lots of booze, and Roddy brought his guitar along for a sing-song. We let a bonfire on the beach and sat around chatting about life and the universe and everything. It my mind the bonfire was a Hamilton vigil. Even though it was a tiny little fire, when I left the bonfire for a while to say goodbye to Nancy, I looked out of my window in Hamilton I could still see the fire on the beach from a long distance away. To me, it was representitive of the Hamilton spirit, we are are small, but boy do we burn brightly! We watched the sun rise on the beach...it was truely magical, and to a me a sign that even though I have had the 4 best years of my life, there is more yet to come. The sky was filled with orange, pink and purple, and the sea looked pink. Me and Steph walked back to Hamilton in this beautiful glow, and then I saw her off at the union. I'm so glad our last moments at St.Andrews together were observing such a beautiful sight. I got very little sleep that night, but it was worth it.
On Friday evening, we had our last hall dinner, with wine, bubbly (provided by me) and absinthe (provided by Harry). Some of us went up the the Hamilton dome tower and on the roof, then we had the last ever games of Hamilton sardines. Pints of Erdinger were drunk at Aikmans, and me and my 4th year buddies enjoyed our last ever St.Andrews bop. Even Clair Linzey was there, who hasn't been to a bop since 1st year! Breakfast on saturday was so happy and memorable, it made me cry for a bit. Then I said goodbye to everyone, promised I'd be back, and then took a last tour of the building, including visiting my old (now empty) rooms. At 9:05am, the "mother of Hamilton" finally left, and I kissed the cornerstone as I went, and said thankyou for 4 wonderful years. As I walked down Golf Place, I looked back at Hamilton and grinned my face off! As I write now, Hamilton is no more...all the furniture will have been removed, and the walls will be knocked out in a few weeks time. At least the outside will remain the same, the glorious red-brick building that dominates so many pictures of St.Andrews.
St.Andrews. I miss you, and all the people that live in you. And I promise I'll be back!
"I could take out of my life everything except my experiences at St. Andrews, and I would still have had a rich and full life." -Bobby Jones
All my love,
Richey
XXXXXX
The rain is pouring down outside, Oasis is on the stereo, and I as much as I love being at home with my family, their home isn't my home anymore. My home for four years was in St.Andrews, and now that blissfully wonderful chapter of my life is over. Which leaves me currently "homeless". It is a weird feeling, which will hopefully be resolved when my friend Claire and I sort out a flat together in either the Manchester, Preston or Bolton area. It might take a wee while though, and we both need to get jobs sorted out too! I've been shoved off the end of the education treadmill and am at a crumpled heap in the bottom, struggling to stand up. Have no fear- I am very optimistic about the future, I just feel there is so much I need to learn about the world outside before I can launch myself out there. For example, my mum reminded me that when I move I need to register with the local doctor/dentist/optician...it is little things like that that I feel like I am not prepared for!
The last few days of St.Andrews were filled with fantastic memories, sadness, happiness, reflection and bittersweetness. Saying goodbye to people who I knew I would not see for a long time was heartbreaking...especially Steph, Sara, Nancy, Elyse, Kristie and Beth, who are a £200 plane journey across the Atlantic Ocean away from me. As soon as I start earning, I am going to have an "America fund" so I can save for my plane tickets. Even for my friends who live in the UK, it is still going to be expensive to catch trains all over the country. However, I am going to remain very optimistic and know I am going to see the people who matter as soon as I can. The last ever Hamilton BBQ on Thursday night was amazing, good burgers, lots of booze, and Roddy brought his guitar along for a sing-song. We let a bonfire on the beach and sat around chatting about life and the universe and everything. It my mind the bonfire was a Hamilton vigil. Even though it was a tiny little fire, when I left the bonfire for a while to say goodbye to Nancy, I looked out of my window in Hamilton I could still see the fire on the beach from a long distance away. To me, it was representitive of the Hamilton spirit, we are are small, but boy do we burn brightly! We watched the sun rise on the beach...it was truely magical, and to a me a sign that even though I have had the 4 best years of my life, there is more yet to come. The sky was filled with orange, pink and purple, and the sea looked pink. Me and Steph walked back to Hamilton in this beautiful glow, and then I saw her off at the union. I'm so glad our last moments at St.Andrews together were observing such a beautiful sight. I got very little sleep that night, but it was worth it.
On Friday evening, we had our last hall dinner, with wine, bubbly (provided by me) and absinthe (provided by Harry). Some of us went up the the Hamilton dome tower and on the roof, then we had the last ever games of Hamilton sardines. Pints of Erdinger were drunk at Aikmans, and me and my 4th year buddies enjoyed our last ever St.Andrews bop. Even Clair Linzey was there, who hasn't been to a bop since 1st year! Breakfast on saturday was so happy and memorable, it made me cry for a bit. Then I said goodbye to everyone, promised I'd be back, and then took a last tour of the building, including visiting my old (now empty) rooms. At 9:05am, the "mother of Hamilton" finally left, and I kissed the cornerstone as I went, and said thankyou for 4 wonderful years. As I walked down Golf Place, I looked back at Hamilton and grinned my face off! As I write now, Hamilton is no more...all the furniture will have been removed, and the walls will be knocked out in a few weeks time. At least the outside will remain the same, the glorious red-brick building that dominates so many pictures of St.Andrews.
St.Andrews. I miss you, and all the people that live in you. And I promise I'll be back!
"I could take out of my life everything except my experiences at St. Andrews, and I would still have had a rich and full life." -Bobby Jones
All my love,
Richey
XXXXXX