Countryfile eat your heart out

Been doing a spot of foraging since my return to the countryside last week. Check out the goodies I've collected...

I would have collected more blackberries but the dog wouldn't let me linger for long before she decided to run off. I ate a walnut, but it was pretty rubbish, figured maybe they have to mature or dry out or something before I start nibbling them. Crushing the shells is satisfying nonetheless. Like popping bubblewrap.

Check out this blighter of a blackberry as well (pictured in between a normal sized blackberry and a walnut to emphasise its greatness).

I realise I may have to get back to uni soon before this countryside behaviour advances to become anything more serious. Like being able to identify the poo of a lesser spotted badger or wearing tweed.

Ahem. May?

Just as I start blogging about beautiful sunshine look what happens:

This is meant to be May and that is a proper black, black cloud. Luckily I was inside before it chucked it down and, yes, that is part of my university. Swish eh? Well, sadly most of us students aren't allowed in there. The majority of our buildings are run down, architecturally crazy buildings from the 60s.

On the subject of university, everyone is bored and highly strung at the moment, what with exams 'n' all! So, using the house blackboard I decided to pay tribute to the one thing keeping me going:

A piece of advice to all those students out there - in these times of strife, don't neglect your cup of tea. It won't let you down.

And that's why I love warm weather...

The shorts are out, the sunnies are on and everyone's just feeling generally jolly!

After those long, dreary (and snowy) winter months the sun is definitely more welcome than it's been in a long time... well, probably since last summer! But I just thought I'd blog my own personal appreciation to that big flaming ball in the sky. And, with the days feeling a bit warmer it's inspired me to grab life by the haunchbones (revising medieval literature permits me the odd archaic expression) and go for everything that's chucked at me.

So... in the last 5 days I've pretty much maxed out my overdraft and signed off every last penny of my student loan to a kick-ass summer. I now have an officially awesome reason to get through my exams - South Africa! 3 weeks in September will see me travelling across the country with my housemate taking us from Johannesburg to Durban and hopefully even Cape Town - that means my friend has plenty of travelling hours in which to trick/convince me into doing something life-threatening. On the agenda so far is bungee-jumping, swimming with sharks (er.. no thank you!) and deep-sea diving.

Ok, so maybe I don't want to grab everything by the haunchbones - but that's only because it carries the risk of being either mauled or splattered across a rock 100ft below me.

But it will be my last student summer and I want it to be a belter, so I fully intend to have fun. A lot. Plus, I saw the movie Cemetery Junction last night and there is no better inspiration for travelling (stayed tuned for the review). Brace yourself world, the warm weather's gone to my head and the fun times begin today.

Right, I'm off to do a Step, Butts and Guts class and then to watch the final leaders' debate in the pub. Mmmm... politics and beer.

Just an Update

Well, the summer's just begun; days almost rain-free, parents dragging bored kids round supermarkets just to keep them quiet, and the depressing sight of white socks and sandals. As a student, I have work to keep me occupied over the period. As a student, I just can't be bothered to do it. But, if there is one thing to enjoy about the summer, it's the lie ins.

Today, for the first time in about seven years, I slept past midday. It's quite a memorable day for me because I'm generally an early riser - but everybody has an off-day. I had to check about three different clocks just to make sure that it actually was 12:15 pm. I don't know how people can do it; I feel like I've missed half the day - well, yes I did, but that's besides the point. How on earth am I going to fit in all the important things that I have to do into my day? Stroking my dog, reading, adding to my blog, watching a film... I just don't know how I'll manage it.

Anyway, to the point of the post; Harry Potter. I might have mentioned that my brother kindly offered the fifth novel (Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix) to me and that I wanted to read and review it sometime soon. However, I returned home the other day to find my sister tucked up in bed, her nose stuck right in the pages. "Well, I haven't read it yet and I wanted to see what all the fuss is about" was her reply to "Er... what do you think you're doing?" So it seems I'm not the only one. Only, now I'll be left to wallow in my curiosity for more weeks to come until my sister finally surrenders the book to me (probably half-read). I suppose, this is an update just to let you know that I haven't forgotten about this important topic. Just hang in there, the review is on its way.

While I'm at it, I may as well let you know that I will be jetting off to sunny Montenegro on Friday 3rd and probably won't be offered the luxury of the Internet whilst I'm there. In which case, this spot might go cold for a couple of weeks. However, never fear, for holidays are the best time for reading. Therefore, upon my return I will have more reviews in my head than you can shake a stick at - enough to keep you satisfied and entertained for all the days you've missed.

I will also return 17 years of age. I expect birthday comments (12th August) but I also expect that this blog will become a bit of progress diary for either how much or how little I improve as I attempt to learn to drive. It might cost a bit of money to start with - but why else would I slog my guts out at work three days a week? (Only three days!) I'm a student, I'm allowed to be part time. It'll certainly save me money in the long run in comparison to the extortionate fares of trains and buses. The only way I managed to get a discount on rail fares was by giving them twenty quid first!

Anyway, I'm side-tracking, I'll save it for my letter to Gordon Brown.

Enjoy your day.