1st January - The end of Trav’s new years party, and then the cycle home with Camilla and John.
12th January - Kate’s party.
19th January - Drum and Basement session
21st January - Trip to Oxford
27th January - Cookie Club
January - The Jackie’s Poster Game
2nd February - Sophie’s Media Coursework Rave
10th February - Briony’s Party (Rachel the Dyke)
19th - 22nd February - Camilla and JJB visit
23rd Feb - Umbrellas at Gav’s
24th Feb - Long Blondes
1st March - Sky Larkin and Los Campesinos!
2nd March - Reb’s Party (Glyn is drunk and tries to leave my house in the morning and ends up getting into bed with my mother!)
3rd March - Glyn’s Birthday Town Trip (Camilla, Nye, Gummin’ it)
10th March - Retro Party
22nd March - My Birthday (Brooke the Music Pixie)
23rd March - LoveShack for my Birthday (Started badly, ended well. Glyn and Lauren)
24th March - Town for Teresa’s Birthday (Laughing Gas, Glyn getting smashed and dancing with that girl, then sending a text saying “Help me”)
31st March - Alan’s Bed
1st April - Final Fantasy Adventure
4th April - Underage Gig with Callum (Lauren getting abducted)
5th April - The Arb (Bonding with Tom and John)
5th April - BBQ (20p per BBQ)
6th April - Hamas Beads at Sophie’s
8th April - Jack Carter’s Party (Bad end…)
9th April - Fake Summer in the Arb
10th April - Abandoned Fouls Gig
11th April - BBQ for Camilla (Which she slept through)
5th May - Linear Again! (Orchestra, Fire, Circle of Noise)
11th May - Hollygirt Girls Party (Briony and Glyn, On the street after, John breaking a window)
25th May - Year 13s Last Day (LoveShack)
27th May - Dot2Dot
30th May - Carson’s Party (Gav’s dodgy dealings)
2nd June - Schmitt is a joke aty Glyn’s (Oochy Coochy)
8th June - Callum’s Surprise Party
16th June - Versailles
21st - 25th June - Glastonbury (You’re fit - safe, Mika, at the front for The Who, Bjork, Hay)
28th June - Brooke’s Party
July - Girls in Ibiza, Boys in Car park
4th - 11th August - Newquay (Enter Shikari, “Lampost”, Seal Point, “I HEART ALAN not”, Campsite Party, Bassist from Shikari, Racist boys on last night)
12th August - Team Wicked at Charley and Becky’s party
16th August - Results Day at Rock City
17th August - John and Trav’s Birthday party, and John’s leaving party (Both of you like me more than each other)
19th - 21st August - Amsterdam (Vondel Park, “Home is in your head”, RAGE)
22nd - 27th August - Leeds Festival (Night with Paul and Kirstie, Night with Paul and Gav, “Fuck you I won’t do what you tell me”, Paul Pots, Comedy Rap, ROFLcopter, Food fight, meeting Seasick Steve, Patrick Wolf)
30th August - Tea Bar and then Simon Shaw’s party with Sam (Idiot girl’s views on child porn)
4th September - Cassie’s Party
21st September - Monopoly at Rescue Rooms
22nd September - Paul’s Wicked Party (Felix’s driving impression, Nakedness, various exciting new people)
29th September - Hard Rock Cafe for Dave’s birthday, followed by Stealh vs Rescued for Pete and Gab’s birthdays
5th October - France with School
October - Glyn’s Drinking Game Night
3rd November - John’s Awesome Party
4th November - Adventure in the Woods
15th Nov - Emily Higg’s Birthday Town Trip
17th Nov - Meeting one of Dad’s Students at Rescue Rooms
29th Nov - Social for Brooke’s Birthday
1st December - Ring of Fire to prepare me for Oxford
2nd - 5th December - Interviews at Oxford (Bookshop, Mulled Wine, Eleanor)
7th December - Visiting Paul in York (Jenna’s house for Ring of Fire, Jumping the bar, General embarrassment, Town)
8th December - Special Tea
11th + 12th December - Panto Rehearsals
12th and 13th December - Panto
13th December - After Party (Driving to Aslo in Sarah’s car)
18th December - Oxford Offer
21st December - My Party (First guest to arrive, Gatecrashed, Truffle, Pool, Glyn, Mae, Hannah, J+F)
27th December - Hannah, Lauren and Jackie (Wondershowsen)
29th December - Rescue Rooms (Mental girl at Rescue Rooms with her Brother, Mother and Mother’s girlfriend - all on pills)
Recurring Event - The Awesome Foursome
Recurring Event - Nights at Johns
At this time of year it’s interesting to think about a year ago. There are some people who it would have been easy to lose contact/friendship with but that hasn’t happened. I’ve also picked up some new friends along the way, most notably Tom, Gav and Emily, but also my sister.
On a more individual basis, I have also proved myself. My AS Levels were better than expected, I’ve recieved an offer for a place from Balliol, and my biggest project (although by no means a solo one) the panto, was fantastic.
Friendships have strengthened, new relationships have formed, I have achieved in various respects. 2007 has been a good year.
Onwards to 2008.
…had best watch out as of next October.
Here I fucking come.
It was a success!
Well, there were some mishaps. Some lines were mislaid and there were one or two technical issues but hey. The actors blagged it and the audience seemed to love it.
Afterwards loads of the actors and the audience came to congratulate me, which was awesome.
There have been moments over the last couple of months when I’ve wondered if all the work was worth it. I found out last night that it definitely was.
And then of course there was the after party.
We all headed down to the Horse and Plough but it was dead full. We were apprehensive about going to the Wheatsheaf because the previous night we’d been kicked out for not buying drinks. Which is fair enough.
But it was fine. Everyone bought drinks. Quite a lot in fact. And I didn’t have to pay for any of them.
It was awesome, I was surrounded by people I like, many of whom were giving me drinks. Hurray!
A few people got incredibly drunk, which was rather funny I must say.
It was also brilliant to see all the year 12s and year 13s getting on together so well. I realised that after the panto I’d still like to see quite a few of the people I met through it.
New friends?
Possibly so.
We all got kicked out of the ‘Sheaf at 11 (closing time) so we headed to the Crown. A few drinks later they too had kicked us out so it was wander time. Everyone started heading to Glyn’s house but on the way Sarah and Lauren appeared in Sarah’s car. Only myself and Hannah were around so we both jumped in and headed to Aslockton.
The next hour was euphoric. We just drove around, the car becoming increasingly smoky, as we sang along to Sarah’s album of cheesy hits (Wham etc). At one point we picked John up, who was stopping at my house, and at another we went to the petrol station for munchies.
I also found a pair of sunglasses and threw them on.
The sun can be rather uncomfortable at 3 o clock in a December morning.
Sarah dropped Lauren off at her house and then the rest of us at mine. I can’t remember why Hannah didn’t go home but she didn’t.
We went into my sisters room and woke her up asking if Hannah could sleep with her. The two are friends so we expected the answer to be yes. It was no. I checked to see if she was being serious and she said “Take her away!”
Someone clearly isn’t a 3 o clock in the morning person.
We all went into my room and got a mattress out for Hannah, and after watching Hannah knock over a load of glass bottles with a pillow we all fell asleep.
Mission accomplished, I feel.
Here is Part 1.
After dinner we all headed down to the bar for a pub quiz. I made myself seem like quite the loser by having such an extensive knowledge of Oxford colleges. Oh well. In the rankings our team name wasn’t read out. We must have come last. I went to bed at 10, to be up at 730 for my interview at 9. I was asleep by about 12.
730.
Snooze.
735.
Snooze.
740.
Snooze.
745.
Wake.
I wander to the shower and wash my hair. It’s nicer than I expected. Good stuff.
I go to breakfast and eat a danish. I’m quite nervous.
I go to my interview.
The door’s locked.
I head to the JCR to see if the code’s written down anywhere.
I walk past my interviewer.
I realise who it is and try to catch him up.
Door slams behind him.
I knock.
Nothing.
Back to JCR.
Interview postponed until 1130.
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1120: go back to interview room.
Interviewers are leaving for a fag.
They tell me the code.
It’s the same as for my room.
Wait.
Wait.
Wait.
Interview time! 45 hours after I arrived.
I was surprised at how unintimidating the interview was. I was asked to talk about something that interests me relating to PPE, and then I my view was attacked and I had to defend it. We then moved onto more subjects and repeated the same thing.
At the end I was asked if I had any questions. I asked how confident they were in the application process: how sure are they that they’re choosing the best candidates.
The answer is ‘not very’.
Hmm. Interesting.
I texted my mum and dad to say I’ve done it and they can ring me. I was feeling a bit tense so I decided to listen to Abbey Road. ‘Here Comes the Sun’ was nice but it didn’t quite cut it. My mum rang up and I told her all about the interview. After this I texted Suzi to ask if she was free. She was, so we agreed to meet up after dinner. We head straight to the pub we went to on Sunday. She had an interview quite soon so decided not to drink any alcohol. My glass of mulled wine relaxed me somewhat. I wish her good luck and we part our separate ways.
I then headed back to the JCR to play giant Connect 4. During this my dad rang and I told him about my interview. After this, and regardless of the wine and Abbey Road, I was still feeling tense, so I texted Tabs to see if she fancied a walk. She did, and so did the people she’d met at St John’s. So that was that. We went to Boots and then met up with another girl, Zoe, who Tabs knew from Warwick (NAGTY) and then we headed to G+B (ice cream). We were intending on going in but there were steps which Zoe couldn’t get up in her wheelchair. I thought it was silly that there was no ramp, it’d have been so simple to install. I will look at for stairs more often I think.
After a long wander, it was back to Balliol for dinner. One of the prospective PPEists (an Eton boy) was on the phone and speaking loudly, and rudely, about various people. He was quite funny with it, but the fact that he was trying to be amusingly arrogant made it less effective. Strange how motivation destroys effect. I ate up and then headed to the JCR for Facebook fun.
A girl sat down next to me and made a joke about how everyone just uses the computers for Facebook. She then typed her name into my search box and told me to add her. “So I can stalk you.”
An hour later we were drinking wine together at one of the local pubs. She was a very interesting girl, who’d been on a TV show called “Fuck off! I’m a hairy woman” or something like that. Not that she’s hairy or anything. She was just told to model underwear woven from celebrity’s pubic hair. I don’t think I’ve ever met someone like her, she told me all about her drug addict father, and asked me how big my penis was, without a single moment of hesitation, so I answered in the same manner. It’s strange how these things pan out isn’t it?
When we separated ways she told me that “I actually do hope you get in now,”. For the first time since I got here, I truly felt the same way about her. Lots of people here have been really nice - but no one has been anywhere near as enjoyable to spend time with.
Then it was this blog.
G’night.
I’ve been here for around 28 hours now, and done very very little.
Suzi’s parent’s drove us here and while they helped her with her stuff at Lincoln (her college) I set off for Balliol (mine). I went into the Admissions Room, where a number of students said hello whilst one gave me my room key. I was then shown by room. It has burn marks on the notice board, the word “Buller” written on the wall, and my pillowcase appears to have been stolen from New College. Nice.
I’d been told that there was a notice board in the JCR (Junior Common Room) that I should check, so that is where I went.
I entered the JCR and looked around. There were a group of people chatting on the sofas. I wasn’t sure whether they were students or applicants, but with hindsight I’m certain they were the former. When they noticed my arrival they all fell silent and looked at me.
“Hallo,” a girl said.
“Hallo,” I replied. “Where’s this noticeboard I’ve been told to find?”
“It’s over there.” She points to a corner.
I mutter my thanks and walk over to inspect it.
One of the boys in the group commences to sing. It wasn’t a song I recognised, and I doubt it would have much mass appeal, so I’m guessing it was made up on the spot.
“Look at the lonely applicant,
Who arrived far too early,
He’s all on his own,
How very awkward.”
Hmm. Nice welcome. I decided it was time to refind Suzi.
I met up with her and her parents, and we all had lunch in a little cafe. Oxford does seem to be the capital of the cafe. I’ve already been to numberous coffe shops, cafes and tea rooms. Each serving the most delicious of cakes. If my application is successful expect a dramatic increase in my weight, and circumference.
We left Suzi’s parents and went to meet Lizzy Gunstone. She had supposed to have left her room by 10 that morning, it was now around 4 and her room was far from empty. We went for a drink at a local pub, whose name escapes me. Apparently it’s the place to go after Matriculation (the ceremony where first years officially join the university) at around 10 o clock, for heavy drinking. It could easily be five hundred years old. We had a glass of mulled wine each (delicious) and sat down. The three of us chatted for a bit before we all left to return to Balliol (Lizzy’s college, and the college I’m applying to). I agreed to take a bag of her things with me back to Nottingham, because she was going to London and then Paris, and it’s unlikely that she’d need her psychology notes at either place. She wished us both good luck and we left so she could get ready for her trip.
We then went to meet up with Patrick (a friend of mine from NAGTY - Canterbury) and his friend David (who comments on Tilou Milou) and another friend who I’ve not heard of before. Ed I believe.
Patrick was eager to show me the basement of Blackwell’s bookshop, and David seemed similarily so, so that was decided. He spoke of how amazed I’d be when I saw what was there, so I was quite excited. Unfortunately, it was just a bunch of books. What a let down.
We then set off for Starbucks to meet one Patrick and David’s friends, Andy, and his girlfriend Candy. Candy and Andy. Fantastic.
We mooched around for a bit, rearranging the seats so we could fit all of us around a table, and then set off to meet Tabs (another NAGTYer from Canterbury). We met her, but by that time it was pretty much time for dinner. We all returned to our various colleges for food.
Dinner was good but not as good as I was expecting from previous experience. I was surrounded by people from 3 continents. Quite the international college it seems. After dinner, all the prospective Balliol PPEists set off for ice cream, before returning to the college to watch Shaun of the Dead. Not a bad evening considering I didn’t know anyone. I then discovered that I wouldn’t have an interview until Tuesday morning at 9. It became hard to work out why they asked me to arrive on Sunday evening.
After a length bout on Facebook, I went to bed.
I forced myself out of bed 8 hours later. I wandered down to one of the lecture rooms where we were to be introduced to all the PPE tutors. They all seemed very nice, and a couple were very funny too. One said that he’d be asking about a book we’ve read recently. He told us to choose one we chose to read for fun, not one that someone told you to read because you’re applying for PPE. “Let’s face it, no one reads Andrew Heywood on political ideologies for fun.” That very book was sat in my suitcase, and who gave it me? JT (head teacher). And why? PPE interview. They’re clever, these Oxford fellows. Sounds good. One was a bit of a hippy, whom on previous trips to Oxford I had seen smoking a joint in the Quad. Nice.
I then went back to bed, waking again at 1230. Since then I have met up with Suzi twice for drinks and lunch, spent hours on the internet, read the Economist, and considered buying some shoes.
I’ve done less in a day. Ooh, 1830. Dinner time I think.
