Blogs

I suppose I should blog, but tbh I have no idea what to write. Life hasn't been that interesting, I haven't really done anything. If anything, apart from a good Christmas Day, lifes not been that great. I've been feeling down quite alot reacently, and stuffs happened here that hasn't helped. I miss Pompey and the people there... I just want to go "home", back to Pompey.

Sorry to be depressing

Ruth x

Christmas Pic

Thought you guys might like this. Its a Christmas picture I made reacently and like, hope you do to!


Ruth xxx

Merry Christmas!!

Just a quick message wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas!!! Hope you all have a great day!!!

Ruth xxx

Urgent Prayer Request

Right now that I've finally got on blogger (it was being a pain) I would like to ask for your prayers.

My dad has his Hazard Perception test tomorrow. He is a Driving Instructor and all instructors have to take it and pass it by 31st December (I think!) or they will loose their licence. This is the 5/6th time he will have taken it, as he failed the others. This is also the last time he can take it. It is really stressing him (well all of us...) out. We would like it if he passed, but if not, then we will need guidence as to the future...it's a scary prospect...! Thank you in advance!

Will give a general update on things later...

Bye for now

Brian xxx

(just for Toni!!)

*Edit* update on the situation: my dad took the test and unfortunatly failed again...however, there is good news! They have exteneded the deadline for the test to march, or maybe even June, which means there is still more time. We would still appreciate your prayers for the situation but, at least for the time being, my dad has a job!!
Thanks for all your prayers!!

Clare x

Is it Clare or Ruth?

Hi, me again...

I'm afraid that at the moment, I am going through a slight confusion over my name, so depending on my mood depends on the name I finsh my blog with....

Just thought I'd let you know..!!!

Clare/Ruth xxx

P.S. what do people think I should sign my posts with?

Rant

Just to forwarn you I am now stood on my soap box. I am not trying to cause offence, just get a few things off my chest. Let the rant begin...

It really gets on my nerves at the unfairity of lie...How is it that I can stay on the straight and narrow, do what I'm told and advance in life, and get nothing, yet you can go off the rails, end up being arrested and sent to a young offenders institute, and get a nice cell, with a tv and freeview, a games consol and free access to a gym, yet I can pay over £3000 a year for my university accomodation, have a shared tv, and have to pay an arm and a leg for gym access (that tbh I wouldn't use).

I also know someone who has been on drugs and is now in rehab for young people where they get free activities, such as paintballing and rock climbing, and had a Christmas meal with some very nice presents.


Where have I gone wrong? Or should I say right? I know that these people need help, and that's fine. But it also happened in school, reward the bad, ignoor the good...!

Argh....ok rant over..., I'm now going to climb off my soap box and calm down.

Catch you later

Ruth x

Why am I the one who has to wrap the presents?

Just finished the last of the wrapping...I hope. I don't like wrapping, it frustrates me, and then I have to do the wrapping for my brother and dad.....

But never mind...!!

I'm now writing out all the amino acids I need to know (20), the sugars, the nucleotides in DNA, and some how I have to learn it...any tips??

I'v also watching Lord of the Dance...for some reason it and Riverdance remind me of Christmas...how random....

Whilst I was shopping in town (Bristol incase you were wondering! Oh and I'm home btw!!!), there was a group of people with big signs saying, Free Hug! I thought that was cool, as, if you've read one of my previous posts, you know my feelings on hugs...

I suppose I should get back to my sugars...

Bye folks!!

Clare xxx

Christmas 2

Today, we had a present exchange, Ben, Inkek, Kita, Dan and I, Steve also came with us. We all went to Jamocha's where Dan was working, had some lunch then swapped pressies. I gave mine to the others and I got a tiny Toby and a stationary set and bookmarks from Kita and Dan :D, cute and useful!! Ben and Ineke gave me a sleeping cow, it moves..!!! and the nightmare before Christmas sound track..well almost :D. They're all so awsome!!

Steve was down for the weekend. I hope he had a good time. We didn't do much on Friday due to the early start, caught up, met with Ben and Dan at various points and spent most of the day with them. Dan, Steve, Sarah and I had pizza and watched Nightmare before Christmas in Dan's flat. That was cool. Today, we met with Kita this morning, went to Gunwarf and saw Spinnaker, then went back to Traffalgar where we were picked up by Ben and Ineke to go to Jamocha's. We went back to Gunwarf after the pressie swap to book a table for the guy's meal tonight then played pool. I'm definatly getting better at spectating!!! :D Then we went back to Bens flat to get a few things....and mine to drop pressies and give Ben the advent calendar I got from the Cadbury outlet....!! Then met Dan, went back to Trafalgar, they got changed, then we said our good bye's :(, I'm going to miss them, even if it's only three weeks. I hope they had a good evening. I walked Steve to the station, then came back, chatted to Sammy, the only flat mate remaining, and I am now trying to work out how I get all I need back to Bristol...ah!!

Oh well, I've put it off for long enough...back to packing.

And Ben and Ink, the cd is helping, Dan and Kita, Toby is making himself useful!!!

Bye for now,

Ruth xxx

Wow!!!!! :D:D:D

Right, the essay is finished and my pressie wrapping is done :D!
So, as its also the end of term, well it is for me tomorrow, I thought that called for a celebration!! And what better way to celebrate than to go to the Reg and hear a really good big band. The bass player was quite good too!!! I had an awsome night, if you exculde fights to the bar to get drinks and cue balls!! I was kind of dancing and had sooo much fun, I'm buzing now!!! :D hence the blog!! I'm sure Ben may give you a more detailed account of tonight. The band were really good, the only problem I noticed was one of the strings breaking on the bass...that made things a little more exciting. I must ask Ben for a set list...!!
Right, need to have a shower to get rid of the cigarette smell incase I oversleep tomorrow!!

Nite all

Clare xxx

Still very excited!!

Who decided essay's were a good idea?

Things are looking bad. I can't do my maths, my essay is driving me to tears, and, right now, I can't wait for Thursday, when term finishes, and Friday when Steve comes down!! (as he mentioned me in his blog, I thought I should mention him!!). I go home next Sunday!! Three weeks without seeing anyone here tho... :(!
Enough moaning, back to my essay!

Bye

Clare xxx

How do I feel?

Right now, I don't know really. I've had a really good evening, we had a nice, fun Christmas dinner. But now, I kinda feel like I want to cry, for no appartant reason, just pent up emotion, but I can't. I have an essay to write, but would much rather curl up and read or watch a film. Everyone else is busy, and I also kinda feel alone.
Sorry this is a miserable blog...

Clare xx

Merry Christmas!

Today is the day of the flat christmas dinner, Christmas Day 1! So Merry Christmas!! :D

Clare xx

Three films and three chocolate bars

So today, and technically yeaterday, we watched Nightmare Before Christmas, Bruce Almighty and were now watching East is East. Ben is making really random comments about the film, whilst lying on the bed behind me and Dan is sat on the chair in front of me.

I bought a pack of nine mini chocolate bars today, and made the mistake of taking them up to Dan's flat. I don't have any left. I also bough a chocolate orange that vinished in less than five minutes...! Oh well...

Other than film watching and chocolate eating, I did washing, bought food and tidied up! Also my tickets home have been bought.

Not much else happened. Spoke to my parents and brother.

That's all!

Bye

Clare xx

That was random....

...and so's this!! Welcome once again to my blog. I was realising that I have no idea who reads this...but never mind!
So what did I do today? My response to that is...I have no idea, give me a sec.....ok, right, I got up, was running late (again!!!!!), made it in to the workshop just on time!!! Then had time for toast, before tutorial, ran out of tutorial to my couselling. That was ok, bit random and all over the place really. Back to my flat after getting change for washing machines, then I went to Batson to pay for my share of the microwave. Ben was working so I said hi, and ended up staying for two and a half hours...oops!! But then I had no motivation to go back to my flat!! I had some tea, did my washing, went to Dan's where I watched Torchwood, then came back here, and I have just made myself a cup of tea!!

Hehe, randomness!!

I have no lectures tomorrow, so I can do lots of useful stuff..I hope!!

Take care,

Clare xxx

Friends

Right, after I blogged last night, I rang one of my friends. It had been ages since we had last spoken. It was great to catch up with him and all that sort of stuff, even if Ben was making random comments at one point during the conversation. There are so many people that I can't wait to see, either that are visitng me, or I will see at home. You don't realise how much you will miss people until you haven't spoken to them for a bit, and something comes up, something they would say, or a memory, or just because your mind has wondered. I am also really bad at keeping in contact with people. Terrible, I know.

I now have some awsome friends down here, people that I can trust, that I can talk to...most of the time, if I can tear them away from the internet etc...!!! I know that I will miss them over christmas, but I am also so excited to be going home!!

Anyway, back to my day, um...well...I had a very good lecture on DNA and RNA, then time for a Subway, I don't really like them but its food! Then I had a Toxicology lecture, it was interesting if slightly disturbing. Then I came back to my flat, did some stuff, went to cell then came back to Dan's flat.

Argh, I really need to talk and can't!!!! Argh!!

Photo's from Alice in Wonderland are available here.

Ruth xx

Today...(need to think of different titles!!)

I discovered...well was told by my dad, that he reads this, so hi to my parents!!!
Apart from that it was you fairly typical day, I nearly over slept and missed a biodiversity test, oops!! Then had a two hour break during which I did some coursework I had forgotten about...oops again! Then two more lectures, one about spiders and the like (shudders), then an hour break, when I helped some of my friends with their coursework, its due in the morning...!! then more spiders, and some maths...when I did the test coursework thing we had just been given. I'm stuck on it tho!! Then back to my flat, where I chatted in the kitchen, had some tea, chatted to Nick for a bit, then came up to Dan's.
Bit boring now I think about it...!!
Time for a weather report....its rubbish, stay in doors!! There is a severe weather warning out at the moment...exciting!!!
I think that's it for now...!!

Clare x

Alice in a very wierd Wonderland

I was in two minds as to what to post about the weekend just gone. The best option, as I'm slowly finding out, is to be honest.
Let's start Friday morning- I had a 9am practical for biodiversity, looking at the devlopment of limbs and jaws throughout evolution. I overslept, partly because I was woken up by my flatmates at 3:30am....and only woke up again at 9:10am...oops!! Unfortunatly, that put me in a really bad mood....so sorry if I upset or offened any one, it was nothing you did. Got to the practical half an hour late. It wasn't too bad, more boring really. I was still tired, and had to pack to be ready to visit Karen, so missed the next lecture. Oh well... I then pack, sorted out a few things, got Karen's card and present, visited Ben briefly in Bateson, who hugged the present for Karen... then grabbed my bag from my room and headed for the train station. Lesson one learned last weekend was: never travel on the train to Cardif Central on a Friday afternoon. It was a horrible journey, really packed for half of the journey :(. I eventually arrived in Southampton, only took about 40 mins so not to bad, then had to find Karen. Once Karen was found we got a taxi to her house (I still havn't learned to pack light!!!). I saw Sam and Louise again, from home and met Liam. Ditch was a bit more elusive, appearing for about five minutes durring the whole evening. Karen was busy making her costume, so I read the latest edition of Saiyuki Reload. After the day I had, I ended up going to Karen's room to cry for a bit, that way annoying! We had pasta for tea, then watched MI 3 whilst sewing cards onto thread to make decorations for the party. There was still plenty of time for a few games of micromachines, Liam is really good at it!! Then time for bed.

Got up at about 11 next morning, would have liked longer but Karen and I had to go shopping to get parts of my costume. First place to visit was, Forbidden Planet. I hadn't been in there sooo long!! Unfortunatly for me, they had a couple of dvd's that I wanted reduced, and I gave in to temptation an bought them!! When we managed to drag each other out of the shop we wandered along to the costume shop to get cat ears and a tail for the party that evening. We then grabbed some lunch and tried to find Sam and Louise. That meant wading through the millions of people who were shopping in Southampton... :(. When we found them, they were yet to get the end of their costumes, so we went back to the costume shop, the two charity shops and Forbidden Planet. We still needed some material for a bow tie so went to the material shop, then met Liam and Ditch, and went to Asda for supplies...i.e. lots of alcohol...!!! We wondered back to the flat and realised we had been out nearly 5 hours and still had tea to eat, Karen's costume to finish and cakes to cook. I wasn't feeling to good, emotionally of physically so I went to my room for a bit, read and rang Dan, who cheered me up. Then it was time to get really...that was funny. I was the most bizarre looking cat known, in jeans, shirt (not black), with a black cardigan, ears and tail. We drew wiskars on with liquid eye liner, and my costume was finished!!! I went down stairs to see a wierd green thing in the kitchen, then I realised that it was actually Ditch in his caterpillar costume. I was given the task of writing 'Eat Me' on half of the cakes. Then people started arriving. A punch was made and the party had started. The music was very odd in places but there were the usual classics to sing along to as well as alot I didn't know!! I was talking to the animation students for most of the night! I was also steering clear of the alcohol. I ended up sat talking to Jacs and Karen (different one to my friend). It was nice to chat about all sorts. There were some serious subject discussed, but people kept walking through the middle of the conversation......... At around 1 o'clock, we started watching Alice in Wonderland, and things starting getting weird. Anyway, the party started wrapping up at the end of Alice, at around 2:30 ish, but the last person left at around 3:30. Then I sat chatting to Karen about the evenings events, and we decided that it might be best for me to stay in the same room as her for that night.

I woke up this morning at 8, 10 and finally 12, noticing that it was darker at 12 than at 10!! Why?? We got up, I packed then we chilled out until my taxi came, then we got to the station and I boarded the train away from Southampton and the weird weekend. The journey took just over an hour. I got back to my flat and had only been in for a bit when Dan asked to borrow 50p. and then a short while later I got a call from him asking if I had and 20ps...the washer and dryer is tempremental. We met for church, and then James, Ben and I all came back to Dan's flat, where I am now, writing this while listening to Christmas songs and listening to the guys play cricket..inside. I've only been hit twice...!!!!

The Passion of the Christ

I finally watched it, I've been meaning to watch it for ages and I finally did. Dan, Ben and I all gathered in Dan's room and, after what can only be described as delaying tactics (food, drink, web type things), we finally put the disk in and pressed play. The film bought up a lot of questions, and I think we all decided that it wasn't a film you could be quiet in or watch alone. Having Ben and Dan joke about stuff helped lighten the mood when the horrible stuff happened. It was a really good film, but one I'm not sure that I would want to watch again.
Last night we said that one of the reasons it was so hard to watch, was that it wasn't a fiction story, sprung from the mind of a writer some where, but it happened, it really happened, and it happened because of me, He died for me!! There are many times when its still a really hard concept to cope with. The reality of the suffering is very clear in the film. Sometimes, the only image you see of Christ on the cross is a man with a few scratches and a hole in his side, not the image presented in the film, the more accurate version.

I also agree with what Ben put in his blog. You can read it here.

Thats all for now folks!

Clare x

Today...

Today was uneventful at best. I got up, stuff happened, I went places, saw some people, chatted for a bit, bought stuff, went back to the flat, went to Dan's. The end!
Need I say more?

Clare xx

Another Day Another Blog

ok, so I only posted a few hours ago, but i felt like blogging again!! Already....!

I'm still sat in Dan's flat, with Ben as we have been chatting and just chilling for the past, however many hours its been! It's been good though, we talked about a load of stuff, and I've got steadily confused by Dan and Ben talking web design stuff.....argh!!!

Its been an interesting past few days. I had to tidy my room for a room inspection, which was fun. Once I'd started it wasn't too bad. I had a chilled out day today (yesterday) and watched Thunderbirds.......don't judge me for it....please!

Now it gets random....now ben is finding out what can turn the lamp on in Dan's room...don't ask!!!
On a totally unrealted topic, I'm going to Southampton on Friday or Saturday for Karen's Birthday!!!! Yay!!! It does mean another trip away from here tho!!

Hmmm...how come when I want to blog I can't think of anything to write...how random..........chickens!!

I'm going to use this space to attempt to explain the Clare thing...Ben started calling me Clare because I look so similar to someone else he knows called Clare and I just kinda stuck! It is also my middle name...the worrying thing is that I'm getting used to it.

Oh well...enough randomness for now...

Night all!!

Clare xx

Hugs

I though it was time for a random post about something related to my life: hugs. I love hugs, they are amazing things and can make everything feel better. When I got a little stressed out one day (I'd lost my butter!) it was lovely to get a hug from a flat mate. Plus, seeing friends, and to get a hug, really can make my day so much better. Also, to get 'virtual' hugs from msn, texts or blog comments.

I googled hugs out of interest and came across this blog post here, I found it really interesting and wanted to share it with you. There are many time when I just want to run into my Heavenly Fathers arms and just get the biggest hug ever from Him.
Anyway, hope this makes sence!

Big hug to everyone reading this, whether I know you or not!

*hug*

Clare xxx

Fusion

Right, I'm far to tired to write this, but I know that if I don't write it people will moan that I haven't blogged!!! So here it is, my view on the Fusion weekend.

We, Ben, Adam, Adam and I, travelled to Oxford Friday night, Dan had travelled down on Thursday and Sam was coming down later. Adam (Blade) had bought some cards, sensible idea!! So we had something to do. Most of us had a seat for most of the journey and eventually arrived in Oxford, to be collected by Dan. We drove back to his house, abandoned our bags in the kitchen and had time for a drink and PS2 playing before leaving for Fusion. Arrived at about 6:30, was still really quiet, but we had cards so we were alrite!! The first session was really good, we stayed for the after hours stuff, then went to leave at around 11:30. Sam had to drop some friends off at the Park and Ride, easy...right? Um...no. There are quite a few in Oxford, and we had got lost. So after a lengthy phone conversation with Ben, trying to give him and the others some idea where we were, they found us and led us to the right Park and Ride!! We got back at around 12:30 i think, plenty of time for tea and PS2!!!!!! We eventually got to bed at 3ish, Dan, Adam and Adam in Dans room, and Ben and I in the living room. Ben borrowed this massive blow up bed, it was taller than the sofas and took up the entire spare space in the living room. Fun!!!

We had set my alarm for 7:30, the time Dan said we should be up to get us there in good time. So, at 7:30 my alarm went off, and Ben and I dragged our selves out of ur sleeping bags and got up. We were kind enough to wake the others up. It only took three attempts and was well past nine by the time they were up, so we had missed half of the first session, oh well!! We had a good, if busy day. Two main sessions, then lunch, of rolls and stuff, then three seminars, tea (McDonalds...) then back for the main evening session. The speaker was really good and inspiring! We got back earlier, after staying to play cards eat cake and listen to the jazz band, and managed to make it to bed at around 1.

The alarm was set for the same time, and once again, Ben and I were up, with a bit more effort this time. We decided not to poke the others until 9, the time the first session started...so we missed that one!!! We got there with time to spare before the main and final session. So, guess what...we played cards...you seeing a pattern here? Then it was time for the main service. We were all still half asleep, but some how only Ben managed to fall asleep during the talk!!! We were sat on the floor, and he had lay down with a cushion under his head, so it wasn't that surprising. At the end of the service, we had to rush off because Chris, Dan's brother needed his drum sticks, which were in the car we had. So back to Dan's house briefly before go to meet Toni and Chris. It was great to finally meet them after hearing so much about them and reading Toni's blog for a while. We had lunch there, before deciding, well Dan decided and the rest of us just sat there, to visit Dan's church. It was a good service there, but we had to rush off again to get our bags from Dan's house before catching the train home again. It was a fairly uneventful journey home, I was sooo tired!! Then back to my flat.

I ended up going to Dan's flat where I watched two episodes of Torchwood. Then I went back to my room, and failed to get the early night I planned!! Oh well....

Today and Monday were fairly uneventful. Only one lcture yesterday, then worship training in the evening, and I didn't feel well today so I only went to one lecture today...oops!!
Now sat in Dan's flat, with ben, all three of us on computers....who said people don't talk anymore...???

That's it for now...you can stop moaning about a lack of blogging for at least a day of two...can't you?

Clare (or is it Ruth again?) xx

What is it with bad days???

Well, to put all those many people who want to know about the game out of their misery, here it is: Pub Quiz!! We, Ben, Dan and I, chose 20 songs, and cut them down to 10 second intros (well Ben did that bit!!). We had some brilliant tunes!!! There were three teams, and the aim was for them to guess the song from the intros, apparently not as easy as it sounds!!! I was going to list the songs, but I didn't think it was that important!!

Well tuesday was yet another bad day. We had a Forensic Biology lab to do with the lecture topic. I lasted about 15 mins before I left. I felt guilty for leaving and letting people down, horrible because of the subject, and just generally miserable...:(. But at least I had cell to look forward to! It was a really great group. We started meeting at around 7 but didn't finish til 11:50pm, some of us not leaving til 12:10!!! I was so glad I didnt have any lectures on Wednesday.

Wednesday was fairly uneventful...I got up, went to Dans flat, left to go somewhere else, came back, watched Torchwood, left again, had tea, met up with Ben, Dan, James and Sam to go see Bond!! It was awesome!! I loved it!!!

Today...well, after not getting much sleep again, I had to drag myself out of bed in order to get to the Chemistry test in time. It wasn't to bad. Then a gap, SSS1, tutorial then home, where I didnt do much. Sam invited me on another photo shoot, this time with Ben stood under a lamp post. Interesting! We went back t Sams flat for a bit, I came back here, and now I am up to date!!
Woo!!

Thats all for now folks!!!

Clare xxx

Maggots and Bad Days

Well, I've had a bit of a bad day really. Had a nasty, greusome (sorry about the spelling!!!) on maggots and decomposition...I made the mistake of very briefly glancing at the photos...big mistake!! The first two lectures were a bit boring really, struggled to stay awake, then the third one was good. We had an interesting lecturer, we laughed a bit and had an - dare i say it..- exciting lecture... big shock :O. It kinda went down hill from there...when we had our introductory forensic biology lecture...a subject I usually enjoy! Unfortunatly, the topic to day was...MAGGOTS, eugh! But not just maggots...oh no...it got worse...we also looked at decomposition and maggots on bodies...ARGH!!! I felt odd for an hour after...and my skin creaps...I felt sick! Got back, was in a bit of a bad mood...oh dear! Then as I was starting to cook, I lost my butter...how??? Still haven't found it... :(! I think I looked obviously stressed...over butter...oh dear!! Then went to Dans, got confused...Sam's flat mates were in Dan's flat...how odd!! (nearly said ood!! hehe!!) Then Dan, Ben and I prepared the Ice Breaker for tomorrows Cell. Can't post any details on here yet incase the wrong people read it...oooo....but its very exciting!!! Then chatted for a bit, joined in or ignoored some random conversations, then back to my flat. Now planning to go to bed...at some point!

Ben - I've finished Rebus 1!!!


That was a random blog brought to you by me, Clare. Sorry about the spelling, I can't spell at the best of times!! And that's reminded me of a bad joke I won't share with you!!!

Bye,
Sleep well, Have a good Day!

Clare xx

Lost

I was going to post this last night, but unfortunatly the internet went down yesterday and only came back up at aroud 2:30am, while we were stood outside, in the pouring rain!! The fire alarm had gone off!!!! Not good!

Anyway, back to yesterday! I had a meeting with my tutor, followed by a tutorial, in which we had a test, then we had a lab at the Marine centre...which is out near Langstone Student Village, and we had never been to before!! So...we got lost!! I take most of the blame. We were relying on a map, which we found out later, was wrong!! So, there we were. Mervyn drove us down, then according to the map we had to get to the other island...so we boarded the ferry. After wandering around for a bit and asking a few people, we finally found someone who knew where we should be...back on the other island!!! We then had to wait for the ferry, and all in all was an hour late!!! But we made it, and the lecturer didnt shout at us!!!

As I mentioned earlier, the internet went down. Its strange to notice how much we miss the interent when it's gone!! There are things we can't do, like blogging, and looking up who was in the Incredibles while we're watching the film. So, that, the fact the Ineke was down, and my flat mates planning a heavy night, led to me meeting with Dan, Ben and Ineke. We met at Wetherspoons, for a meal. As I had already eaten, I only joined in with the pudding. Mmmmmm!! We then went back to Ben's flat to watch the video they had made earlier, which can be seen here...and then decided to make two more...here...and here... That was fun!! Then hunger stuck, so time for toasties in Ben's kitchen. Its huge, much bigger than the one in my flat!! Then we watch the incredibles, and Dan and I went home at around 1. And then the dreaded fire alarm!!! And that was it!!

Sorry for the delay, yes, I've tampered with the time!!

Clare x

Gangsters and Tigers

Today was the day of the photoshoot. Sam, one of the girls from cell, is taking photography. She had the brilliant idea of getting people to dress up in gangstery type clothes, and go to a local atmospheric pub, to take some black and white photos! We had already spoken to one of the guys behind the bar, who said that it was ok. So Sam gathered a bunch of people together who were willing. It was then decided at 5:35, that more guys were needed. So back to my flat, where somehow, I persuaded Lewis and Nick to come, nice of them!! We seemed to have a good time, and I hope all the photos come out well!

Then some of us went to a social at Tiger Tiger, and bar and nightclub in Gunwarf. It was arranged by Solent Community Church, and was a great evening. There was a live duo, a magician, walking around, loads of friendly people and a quiz! The quiz was fun! Even if we didn't win! I was on the "Three suits + 1" team, for obvious reasons if you'd seen us!! There was Dan, Ben and James in suits, and me...not in a suit!! I have also decided that to aviod confusion, and probably cause more, it is easier to introduce myself as Clare. I suppose I will have to explain that at some point!! But not now.

Tis bedtime now!!


Night!

Clare x

Sieves...

Due to the seive that has replaced my brain, I forgot to mention something in my previous blog, until Ben mentioned it just now!!! Ooops!!!

On Thursday, I became the proud owner of a one pound note from The State of Guernsey. To most people, they would see no point in it, as its not like I can use it, but I collect them...is that sad?

So there you go, a whole blog dedicated to the fact that I now have a pound note!!

Hehe!!

Clare x

p.s. can anyone tell me how to spell seive?

Up to Date (kind of)

I suppose its time to blog...I'm rubbish at regular blogging!!
So...alot to get through!

As I said in my previous post, I went home for the weekend! It was a great weekend, lovely to see everyone, but interesting how easy it is to slip back in to bad habits!! Friday night I had a lovely home cooked chilli con carnie, cooked by my brother, how sweet!!! And it was his birthday! Saturday was shopping day, first Ikea for some lovely cushions and a fleecy blanket, then to PC World for ink cartridges. We went out for a family meal for Tim's birthday in the evening, then rounded off the day with Torchwood re runs, so I now know whats been going on!! Sunday I went to Salem, my "home" church. It was good to see everyone again, but wierd as well!!! I also seemed to notice peoples accents more. Then had a HUGE Sunday roast, my forst in 5 weeks!!! Then packed, boarded a train, and came back to Portsmouth!!

Got home, said hi, gave some Christmas decorations to Sam, ready to decorate the flat in a few weeks, and a magazine to Lewis, then left again for church. It was really good, finally left at about 9 ish, got back, put my tea in the oven. Our microwave stopped working over the weekend, smoke isn't a good thing!!! Then went to my room, kind of unpacked and went to bed.

Had a 9 o'clock lecture to start the day on Monday, and lectures through out the day. My flat is a good place for tea and biscuits!!! Saw the chaplain in the afternoon, went back to my flat, sat around, tidied, went to the kitchen, got blamed for anything that went wrong durring the cookie making process...!! Didn't do much else!!

Today, started wuth a test!!! Joy!! Then biochem workshop! Then a break, bacon baguette, not doing much, the SSS1. Met up with Sam, and took some photos near where we live, went to student cell, that was awsome. Read Ben and Dan's blogs. Back to Sams flat for soup, that needed a microwave, stayed there for a bit. Had a bit of drama when Sam cut her hand whilst cleaning a glass, so we called First Aid! Then sat around, came back here, got a drink, typed my blog.....and we are up to date!! Yay!!

Well...I'm soooo tired so I'm going to bed now!

See you later!!

Clare x

Home

I'm at home!! Yay! I came back for my brothers birthday, which was yesterday, and going back to Portsmouth on Sunday evening.
This is the blog I wrote on the back of an envelope yesterday, during the journey home:
I'm so excited to see everyone again, but I've also realised that I've reached a place where I feel settled in Portsmouth! I am going to miss everyone. Being able to go to sleep and not be woken up again in the middle of the night! Knowing the there won't be people in the kitchen, no visitors, knowing that I can't just go up a few floors for a chat! Don't get me wrong, I am sooooo looking forward to seeing my family, people from church and Bristol. But Bristol doesn't have the Spinnaker Tower, I can't go to the beach or get lost with friends. If anything I feel more settled in Portsmouth than in Bristol! I know more people, just walking to the train station I saw someone I knew from Kings. That never happened in Bristol! I also go out more, see more films, go out for coffee...! Despite everything, I really am loving my life.
As I mentioned, I am going home. I arrived 5 weeks tomorrow, in Portsmouth. I woke up at 8 this morning, I didn't have a lecture until 1!! I eventually got up, assembled my packing, went to King Henry building, got a maths test that is due on monday, but I did it in half an hour and have handed it back in, went to the chaplaincy for a chat, went to my lecture, bought lunch, ate lunch, packed, washed up, left! normality really.

We're now sat at Southampton Central, must visit Karen at some point.
Is it just a British thing that means we don't talk on trains. We have books, music, food, conversation seems meaningless, so we just sit. Wierd!
Everyone seems to be going home this weekend: Ben, Stu, Sam, Dan (not planned tho!), Joe and Clare, in some ways I'm glad to be going home aswell. Its going to be so quiet.

So there are my thoughts, my blog, from the back, and front, of an envelope. And at some point there was a beautiful view!
Have fun!!

Ruth x

p.s. I might start signing this Clare (no i!!)

Clare x

When Tears Fall...

Ain't friends great! I am surrounded by a great bunch of people! Yay!

Ok, now it gets serious. I have had one of the worst days in a long time. I only cried three times...nearly four! Life hurts so much at the moment. Woke up, had an essay to write. Then get a text from Sam, she comes to my flat at about 9, then on with the essay writing and...the tears fall...why??? There was no reason. Then on to meet my tutor, blinking back the tears while we spoke...I don't know how I can cope with this...then the counsellor, more tears, but then that was hardly surprising...difficult stuff can make you cry. Then to top it off...was chatting with my flat mats, and we got on to the strange subject of overdoses...I've been too close for comfort to that subject...then someone said something, and that was it...I couldn't get to my room quick enough...it still hurts far too much at times...I can't even write this without crying...Help me!! Luckily, when I called Ben, he was in Dan's room so they came to see me, that got some strange comments from my flat mates...then we went back to Dans room, where we listened to music and chatted...can't really talk about it...not at the moment...

This is depressing...sorry...

Ruth x

Why am I still awake?????

Well, that clears that up then!

I'm still awake, as you can tell. I have a lecture at 9, in about 6 hours, and right now I couldn't care less!! Why does it often feel like every time things are moving forward, everything shifts backwards? And why do some things hurt so much?

Anyhow, tonight was a good night. We had the first King's midweek service. It was more Spirit lead, less structured than the Sunday services. It also got its new name "The Boiler Room" tonight. There was alot of prayer, a short 'talk' from the pastors dad, and some worship. It was great, I found it hard at times, partly the praying, partly the feelings stired up inside. I, as usual, bottled them up...again! I really need to stop doing that! We then got some chips and went back to Adams house to chill, chat, play table football and Xbox. The Xbox is becoming a bit of a habit. Came home, remembered the book that Ben has lent me, that I put in my letterbox...and came back to my room to sleep, or at least that was the idea. Taken that it is now nearly 3 hours later and I'm still awake...hmmm... oh well, I'll cope, I hope!

As usual this is a random post. Oh, I also went to Tesco today, and had a few lectures...but thats about it...

So, night, or should it be, morning??

Ruth x

It's been a while...

Ok, only four days but...where to start...
I am pleased to report that at the moment, things are feeling really good. I've come to a few realisations over my relationship with God, that I wqas a bit slow realising, which is good.
Its been a few good, random crazy days!!
Friday was, well, fridayish!! Not much happened, i had a quiet night in and watched a film, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, whilst tidying my room! Shocking I know. Was woken up at 12:30am by a random noise, which i quickly worked out was my message tone on my phone, then couldn't get back to sleep because my lovely (i really mean this! no sarcasm involved!!!) flatmates were chatting in the kitchen and the walls are paper thin!! Got back to sleep relatively quickly and work up next morning at a not to bad hour, but only got out of bed at about 11:30am to swich on my laptop, very important!!! Started chatting to Dan who invited me down to the beach with him and Kita. Great idea...or so i thought!!! We left halls at 1:45pm and only got back about 6pm!! That was after making our was to the beach, wandering and taking photos for a bit, then deciding to find Jamocha's for coffee. Easy...right? Um...no!! Kita and I later worked out we had walked a total of 9 and a half miles that day!! Completly by accident!! You know you've got lost when you end up by Portsmouth football stadium, which was no where near our origional destination!!! We did FINALLY make it to Jamocha's, at about 5! But it was fun, all the same, if you discount Dan's squeeky shoe..... Later, I was also invited to see World Trade Center with Kita and Dan, again! I was a bit unsure as to whether to go or not, but I decided that I might as well...and I was no where near as bad, traumatic or badly made as I had feared!! In face, I would even go so far as to recommend seeing it. It was a very moving film, but well made.
Sunday...well, as usual I went to church, walking with Kita and Dan. It was a really good service, as always. Then I can back to my flat, had a light lunch and then watched The Nightmare Before Christmas, immediatly followed by Princess Diaries 2. Sam came round later, and we went to the Christianity Explored launch evening. I was a really good eveing. Well lead, plus they had Linvoy Primus, defender for Portsmouth football club, and a Christian, speaking and giving his testamony. Oh, and then there was the free food!!!!
And finally, we reach today, in this update on my life. Well, I had three lectures on Biodiversity, and a Study Support Skills. Had abreak at lunch so I came home, microwaved a microwave meal, ate it, did my bible study, then prayed for a bit. It was great really. Some stuff had been laying heavy on my heart, so it was great to sit down and deal with it, give it to God. I also went to the Worship Training at King's which was really good. To be honest, I didn't really want to go. It's been over a year since I properly picked and played my clarinet. But I had fun, and worshiped God!
And thats about it folks. Other stuff did happen, but I thought I would just give you the exciting stuff!!!
Hopefully it wont be so long until the next post!!
Oh well...

Nite all!

Ruth x

Today I have mainly....

I thought that it was about time I posted again! Things have been going ok. Those who see me every day, can see how I am at the moment. But things will get better.
I had a chat with my personal tutor today, Darren Gowers. He is a lovely guy, easy to talk to and a christian, which is a huge bonus!!
Today has been fairly boring, loads of lectures and a tutorial...but there was one highlight. I went to a Friendship lunch at the chaplincy, which I found yesterday!!, which was really good. The idea is that people from different faiths can get together and have lunch and chat, ask, questions, whatever...as well as the free food, it allows freedom. I also managed to spend two hours in the laundry room!!! I had to wait for a washer, then there were two loads and i decided to put my jeans in the dryer so I can wear then sometime this week!!! haven't done much else, bt of tidying, watching telly, writing a letter, which I will finish to night...I hope!!!
Last night I went to see The Last Kiss with Sam and Dan. That was fun. It was a really good film, not overly predictable and chick flicky..(is that a word...?), but good. Would probably try to see it again on dvd. Then came back to my flat and had a good chat with Sam for a bit.
Next Tuesday's going to be interested, Halloween!!! My flat has already been decorated!! Has been properly decorated since Tuesday, and just had the spiders for about two weeks. Hmmm...so glad I have a Kings event to get me out of the flat!!!
This blog has been mainly randomness...not thinking straigh...lack of coffee i think!!
Hope you enjoyed it!!!

Ruth x

Why?

Do you ever wish that you could erase a moment in time, wish that something had never happened? You know, take back a word said or an action done that you wished you hadn't...
Why was life not built with a rewind or delete button. I suppose that we have to learn from these mistakes we've made, but sometimes it's so hard. Particularly if it involves someone you see regualy or are close to.......
I know that with time it gets easier, people forget, you can try to undo actions or make up in some way, but it's the peroid of time until then that's the hardest...
I suppose it's the mistakes that we make now, that can help us further on in life. I mean, what would be the point of living if there was nothing to learn.
Ok, so there's not much point in this post, but something that happened reacently triggered my thinking, and this is the result....random....

Three Weeks

I can't believe that it has been nearly three weeks since I moved down here to Portsmouth from Bristol. The first few days were, to be honest, horrible. I had fun when I saw friends or was at church, but it was when I was alone, only my thoughts and everything, that the homesickness crept in...I couldn't eat, I struggled to sleep, I wondered for the life of me why on earth I was even here in Portsmouth. Things did slowly start to get better, I started getting to know my flat mates and going out with them, even tho I decided to stay in tonight, aren't I sensible...and settling in on my course and in a church. I still miss home, but it's not so bad anymore.
There are still the "why am I here?" moments, but I think they can happen any where in life. I also sometime experience a "lost" sort of feeling...hard to explain.
Things seem to keep creaping up on me, and before I know it, they're inside my head, I can't shift them, they almost seem to overtake me....ok...that doesn't really make sence...
How did this turn into such a depressing entry???
There was more drinking again in our flat tonight...great fun, as usual I didn't participate, but had fun all the same.
Last night was good. Some of us from the cell group, Dan, Ben, Sam, James and myself met up at the Isambard Kingdom Brunell (why can't I escape that man???) for a meal before deciding to go see a film. The film of choice was The Departed, which I realised fairly early on wasn't a film I would usually see...oops!! It was quite good, but a bit confusing in places, and bloody, violent and horrid at times. But hey...it was still a good night out!!
I think I stopped making sence a while ago, so I'll stop writing this before I write something really stupid!!! Hehe!
Thanks for reading...

Ruth x

Four days...

Wow, has it really been four days since I last posted??? Doesn't time fly.
So Sunday...well Sunday is the main day of the week for me. This Sunday I went to King's Church in the morning and evening and got a free lunch. The morning service was really good, it was a family service, so aimed at the children, but contained alot of good teaching for everyone else as well.
Monday - had a 9 o'clock start for a three hour "Forensic Biology" lecture on "Hairs and Fibres", which was rediced to two hours, then back to my flat for coffee and biscuits before biodiversity and Study Support Skills 1! Fun!! didn't do much else....well except stay up to watch princess diaries when the rest of my flat had gone out...made me feel much better!!!!
Tuesday - it was Criag's birthday, and Kimi Raikkonen's (but noone cared about that!!!) Had an 11 o'clock lecture on Biological Chemistry, stuck around the flat for a bit, had a kitchen meeting thing at 5:40pm, which started late, so Sam came round and cooked in my flat, so that when the meeting finished we could go straight to cell group, and set up our plan......didn't manage our trip to the beach tho....arrived about an hour early for cell, so time for coffee, smoothies, chocolate cake and a chat before everyone else arrived. We chilled for a bit at cell before playing a few games, and looking at what it meant to be a witness, our hopes and dreams for uni and beyond and a prayer time for the people we witness to in our lives, like our flat mates... We left the coffee shop at about 10:30, with most people, well all but me, wanting to go to the pub. So Stu volunteered to walk me home, which was kind and we got chatting and sat in my kitchen chatting untill about 11:30 before he left to find the others!! It was really good to chat and sort some things out in my mind. Everyone has been really friendly and supportive. It's been great. Stayed up for a bit watching Princess Diaries 2 before finally deciding that it was time to sleep....
Wednesday - I have no lectures to go to so I had a lie in today. I feel soooo lazy!!! Only got up about an hour ago. Watched the end of Princess diaries 2. I have loads of printing to do, plus I need to go shopping...What a fun day....

Ruth x

Is it really Saturday...?

I really should be in bed, but I thought that I would take the time to update you on my day. Yesterday evening, I went out to celebrate Denise's birthday with her and some of her friends. At about 10pm I decide it was time to join the party happening at my flat. I arrived in time for the last of the punch and met to of Clare's friends who she knows from back home in Wales but who are studying in Southampton. Then it was time to hit the clubs, where I was incredibly sensible and stuck to soft drinks...!! We started at V Bar, had a couple of drinks, danced for a while and took some crazy photos!! We moved on, or by that point stumbled on to Yates's for more dancing, more drinking, and more photos!! When Yates's closed at just past one, it was time to find another club. The only problem being...there weren't any open... we did however bump into a group of people who we got chatting to for a bit. When the whole group had been dragged away from their interesting conversations, like learning Polish..., we made it back to the flat, for food and, in the case of a few people who I won't name here, more drinking. By three o'clock, I was falling asleep, so it was off to bed for me... So, as you can probably imagine, I woke up today to a flat full of people who were feeling a bit worse for wear, or in some cases, still drunk!! Sam had got up for an interview for a job at 9, but the rest of us were still half asleep for hours. We had to say goodbye to Clare's friends at about 12, and then, for the rest of the day, the flat was a bit quiet. I printed out some notes for a friend, then watched most of Pirates of the Caribbean, and had tea. As usual at the moment, my plans for a quiet night in, a good book, and an early night fell through...again!! Instead, we walked to Gunwarf Quays, had a game of bowling and played a few arcade games, then got some chips and came back to the flat...virtually no drinking involved!! And now its time for bed...
And, just incase you were interested...the Spinaker Tower does look nice at night!!!!
I'll sign off now, and hope that when I read this back in the morning it all makes sence...
Nite,

Ruth x

Joe Day

If your running short of time, I will give you a quick overview of my day, with the hope that it'll be really interesting and you will read the rest of the post as well!! Today I have had a biological chemistry lecture, a biodiversity lecture, a sausage baguette, some mushroom soup, printed off a birth certificate and been tortured.
Not very exciting really...
Ok, so maybe I should explain the whole tortured comment....I haven't actually been tortured but a character in CDX a BBC game that I've been playing was. Rather nasty it was, too. I'm on part three of a four part game, where you are playing the part of Adam, who has been in an accident and has got himself mixed up in a nasty business about a rare knife. Its a really good game, at least I enjoy playing it.
Actually, the quick overview is probably all that happened in my not very exciting day. I didn't have my first lecture until 1pm today, so I could have a nice slow morning of getting up when I was ready and not have to rush around. It also gave me a chance to catch up on tidying my room.
Later I'm going out to a birthday drinks thing, then maybe meeting up with some other people after, or just get the early night I've been promising my self for the last week!!
I'm now hiding in my room...
Hope you all had a good day...

Ruth x

My first post!!

So...I've finally given in and have started writing a blog. Isn't it exciting!!
I have no idea if any one is going to read this, but I might as well use it.
Right...introduction....I'm at Portsmouth Uni studying biochemistry. I moved in nearly two weeks ago now!! Seems much longer. I'm staying in a flat type thing in halls with five other people. It's great fun. I'm orgionally from Norfolk, but have lived in Bristol for most of my life. Thats a very brief overview about who I am...
I've had a fairly quiet day today. Had a maths lecture at 9 this morning...argh! I followed it for about the first five minutes, realised it was something that I had done before but didn't understand and then preceded to get more and more confussed as the lecture when on, so I now have helpful messages in my notes saying "help, I'm confused". So if anyone reading this has any idea how to work with normal distribution curves, and z-values and that kind of thing, can you leave me a message, because I don't get it, and I have a feeling that it may be reeeeeeaallllllly important for my course!!
I then when back to my flat for coffee and biscuits with Mervyn and Diane, from my course and tutor group, before heading back for a tutorial session at 11:30. We had an hour of chatting and doing some biological type things, like naming parts of a cell and their functions, before I came back to my flat, had an egg sandwich, not very healthy but easy to cook, and tasty, then I wrote a shopping list, put on some music, and started writing this!!!! We went shoppong to the supermarket, then Nick and Lewis decided to buy coconuts so we then spent an hour in the kitchen watching them try to eat them...sooo funny! Havn't got much planned for tonight. Apparently theres a hypnotist at the union that people may be going to, and a foam party at Route 66. But I may be boring and stay in...! So that was my day...not very exciting...but hey...!
I'd be interested to hear peoples comments on my not very interesting day!!
Hope you haven't fallen asleep reading this. Keep checking back for updates on my life....I might also write a few posts retrospectivly...

Ruth x