Midnight. Had just finished watching Family Guy in my flatmate's room, come back to mine, and got into my jimjams, when a shrill ringing reverberated around our building. The entirety of our block was raised from slumber/other activities to stand outside in a chilly autumn night (myself cleverly dressed-up in a massive coat) because somebody had clearly fancied a midnight snack. But was too pants at cooking to operate a toaster. (We weren't actually told what set the alarm off but I'm guessing it was a drunkard with some bread). I gave a shoe to a bare-footed friend, penguin-cuddled my flatmates, and considered a pyjama party down the bar. Roger the Halls Cat even came to watch us in our misery.

And now I'm back inside, warming my toes. And my cough is even worse.
I will kill someone if it goes off again because I am quite tired now after a full day of classes and study, with added walking.
I am a wuss. An ill wuss.
(Who admits she does like excitement really, from time to time.)

Thursday was a wonderful unexpectedly brilliant sort of day. The Job Centre was a doddle; signed on and informed them of my upcoming holiday. I had planned to then meet up with my friend L, which was great because I was remembered by someone, and then became even greater when her twin K turned up too. What I thought would be a quick café lunch evolved into three hours of people watching, making a tally of decent looking guys walking past. It is a very shallow thing to do, and not something I would do unless with them, but at least it was a chance to catch up and gossip too (and I have to admit some of them were bordering on fiiine). I even got to wear a pair of Versace sunglasses as I'd left the house in the rain and hadn't thought to bring mine. BUT even more EXCELLENT is the safe return of my hat. THE hat. It is made of wool and was purchased in the Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, and has plaited tassels down either side. I had lent it to K two years ago to wear to a rugby match in Scotland and they finally returned it to me. Of course, I put it on in public. In summer. Because I'm like that.

We then met up with their friend G and had a late real lunch at Pizza Hut. How wonderful it was; lovely, golden, tasty pizza. I hadn’t eaten cheese or real bread for almost a month, and I know I shouldn’t have, but the salads offered in the deal were just rabbit food with a bit of chicken. Turns out I can “cheat the system” occasionally according to my ‘aunt’; a bit of dairy or wheat won’t hurt, but I can’t have a diet full of it D:

We parted company and I tried to catch a bus that doesn’t exist. So I visited the charity shops by the bus stop while I waited half an hour, and during my browsing of the shelves I came across an amazing book. The title is “This book will save your life” by A. M. Holmes, but it’s not a life therapy book or guru guide. It is a thought-provoking story about a man who is woken from his monotonous lonely life and starts really living and feeling, and struggles with it. I’m half way through, though I was trying to save it for the flight, and a better review will come when I finish it.

Tomorrow, after several frantic days of arranging cat sitters, cleaning the house, packing, buying essentials etc. we are finally going on holiday. The family and I are off to Las Vegas for ten days, and we’re ready to see the sights and take a thousand photographs. I’d love to just sit down somewhere beautiful and relax for a while, but that is definitely not going to happen until after Thursday. I’m so worried about my results because I know I could have done better. I also missed the chance to be entered for special consideration deserved due to personal and family illness and so miss out on the few percent I was probably entitled to. Fingers crossed (not that luck can change anything now) that I get the grades for Southampton.

Anyway, I shall not be around until the 28^th. We may have internet access occasionally as it is pay by the day and I need it for Track, but I probably won’t be allowed to hog K’s laptop to do anything like emails or lj. Will I survive? Who knows. All I do is that I have to get up in less than six hours, so I really should go to bed now. À bientôt, mes amies! Wish me bon voyage!