Meanwhile, Back in Southampton...

Last weekend I headed back to Southampton, the city of my university days, for a housewarming. It was awesome to see everyone again and see Sina and Al's new flat, which is super sexy (I am most jealous), but it was very odd to see Southampton again. When I was in Soton, I knew a lot of people, and chances were good that I'd recognise most of the faces I'd see walking down the road. the student areas where pretty small places, y'see. 3 years have passed since I was there, so people have started and finished their degrees in the time that I've been away. What really grates is that the people still essentially look the same - students never change - the crowds look the same, but all of the people are different. It's unnerving. Seeing my friends was the same as it's always been though, which is wonderful. I live in fear of meeting up with old friends and finding that what brought us together has faded but our bunch always seems to hang together. We're all doing different things and we'll often go months without seeing each other but when we do it's always awesome. I have massive love for all those folks for not changing too much and keeping it all together. I also bought some running shoes last weekend. Let the getting fit commence. Maybe.

Gradunation

It's easy to be cynical about graduation ceremonies, and at times I've been tempted to avoid the whole thing and dismiss it as needless traditional junk, but I did go (excited at the prospect of wearing a robe) and I had a really good day. My family were well behaved, there was a lot of Pimms and champagne, and the robes were every bit as fun to wear as I had imagined. The ceremony did a great job of making me feel proud of the piece of paper I was being presented with and no doubt made my parents very proud too. During the champagne reception afterwards it occurred to me that I would never see the majority of the people on my course again, which is an unusual thing to think about. I won't miss them, as such, but the way in which people rush in and out of our lives always gets me thinking. I still don't have internet access at home. BT, it seems that even I am better trained to deal with customer service issues than the majority of your staff, and I clearly know a damn sight more about internet connection issues than they do. Sort it out.

Degree

I swore to myself that I'd stop making rubbish short posts about my life but I've never been one to keep promises, so here's a quick one. I got a 2:1 in my degree (4 year combined MEng Computer Science) and I feel absolutely fantastic. I found out on Friday, when I was in a field in Shropshire at Play Festival and there aren't many better ways to celebrate. I'm tired, elated, and euphoric, and I just don't have the gorgeous words to describe it all. Pictures will follow when I've sorted them: I think that a picture of 300 happy people in a field on a sunny day should sum it up for you all.

24 Hour Stupid People

Tomorrow, to further celebrate the end of my degree, I will be stepping into the breach once more to attempt the 24 hour pinty people. This challenge involves drinking a pint an hour for 24 hours. It hurts. Our previous attempt's journal can be found here, whereas this attempt will be blogged here. I'm scared. I'm so very, very afraid. We've got about 7 people competing this time around, but it remains to be seen who'll make it through the first few pints. Getting up at 6am to down a pint of beer is not for everyone.

My Last Exam Experience

Last Friday I faced the final exam of my university career. It was the kind of exam that creeps up on you, hiding in the shadows until a week before it happens and then revealing itself in all of it's 60%-of-a-double-module glory. I was prepared in the way students often are: as long as three of the four questions I had revised for came up I would be fine. This, however, was my final exam, I had nothing to fear. Even if it was the worst I ever had to sit, it would be the last I'd ever sit. I was invincible. That's what I kept telling myself. Everything was going to be fine.

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