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Two days for the price of one
Today was an odd day. It was split into two parts and each one felt as long as a full normal day so in effect I had two Friday's, neither of which very exciting. First was a day at uni, which was really just one 3 hour lecture (an awful guest lecturer) but felt like a whole day, after this I returned back to the flat to do a few hours studying and covering lots of contract law stuff and lastly was a trip across to Mayfair to get to work. So really it was a day at uni followed by a day at work and I am still 2 weeks away from going home. That just doesn't seem fair does it!!  21:02

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Clear as mud
My English teacher, yes my the woman who taught me Higher English and who I assume has some kind of degree in English Literature, used to use the phrase "clear as mud" a lot. Now at the time this was probably the first time I had heard it and to be honest not exactly a hard saying to understand, unless of course your English teacher uses it in the wrong context. We were studying poems by Phillip Larkin and were finding it rather challenging to read behind the words and understand the meaning of some of them. She used to say, after explaining what he meant by certain things, "now don't worry class as you get closer to the exams all this revision will be worth it and it will become clear as mud". Now I'm pretty sure she wasn't being sarcastic therefore I could never understand why anyone would think mud was clear. Having never really thought more about it until the other day I suddenly realised that she was in fact talking nonsense and when someone pointed out what the correct use of the saying was. It's not like I had been thinking about this constantly since Higher english and it had kept me up at night but it's only when someone pointed it out I thought "ah ok". I know this seems incredibly trivial but it made me question my intelligence but now makes my B in Higher English seem way more of an accomplishment considering the teaching I had to overcome. So really well done me. 20:36

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Long day
I have nothing to note other than today was a long long day. Two classes, both of which were very difficult, one overran by about half an hour which meant not a lot of time in between them for a breather. So all in all almost 7 hours straight of intense learning. All of this was followed by a quick trip across London to get to work. I spent the remainder of the night in the shop until it closed and I left just after 10pm. Got home about 11pm, spoke to Richard for a bit as I hate going a day without talking to him and now it's time for bed. Jeez I'm pooped. Oh well up tomorrow to do more revision and also working in the shop in the evening, woohoo! What keeps me going is my countdown - it is 15 days, 16 hours, 40 minutes and 42 seconds till I'm home for Christmas! 23:44

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Brick wall
I sat down and started making notes, reading books and generally revising around 11.30am. I stopped around 10.30pm as I simply couldn't take in anymore. I figured seeing as I had the day off, both from uni and work, that it was the ideal day to get caught up on some Basic Principals lectures seeing as the exam is fast approaching. I was fine all day, I'd go so far as to say I enjoyed my day spent just me and my books. That was until I got to 10.30pm and I just seemed to hit a wall. I don't know whether it was tiredness or whether my brain has just had enough, was in a huff and wasn't playing anymore. I was trying to understand the concept of consideration in relation to Contract Law and it just seemed completely beyond me. I really don't imagine that is the case and no doubt I will look at it tomorrow and it will be as clear as day.

Yes so generally a good day coursework wise and a lesson learned about how much my brain can handle in one day. 23:38

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Lecturer
We have this great lecturer, Phillip Johnson, and I am completely fascinated by him. He is a Barrister and part time lecturer at Queen Marys and his knowledge just astounds me. I get the feeling there is nothing this guy doesn't know. I enjoy his classes a lot as he gives them with such ease and brings a lot of humour to an otherwise humourless subject which is a feat in itself. He taught us through our Basic Principals of English Law and he is also taking our Patents class for the first semester. So how can he know everything about the English legal system in depth and also everything you could possibly know about Intellectual Property. He is quite a young guy too considering how far he has come. He was talking about when he obtained his pupilage and was asked onto the bar and I just don't know how he could have done all this already. So yeah there is nothing that makes you feel more inadequate that sitting in his class where on the other hand you can't help but be impressed. 18:30

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Long Way Down
I've been watching Long Way Down with Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman as I enjoy the last one they did so much. It's also something Richard and I sit to watch together so it feels a little like we are hanging out like normal when really I am 400 miles away. Anyway I have been quite disappointed this time around to be honest. I feel like they skip through it so fast and would rather they took more time and we got to see a bit more of each place instead of them just on the bikes. I don't think there is as much humour this time either. Last episode next week I think so I'll watch that of course and reserve full judgement until then. Still worth watching though, I think Ewan is such a great guy.  12:00

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Old
Flatmates were going out last night to some rock club, which actually sounded quite good and I was tempted. One tried to convince me, he did quite well actually because I was counting how many hours sleep I would get should I get home at 4am and have to get up for work the next day. Then I fully thought about it, being in London at 4am and having to find a bus to get home and the loud music and the drunk people and the lack of sleep and the feeling rough the next day at work and decided pfft so not worth it.

OK when did this happen? When did I get old? I've always been quite sensible but then I've never really been one to look out for future Andrea, normally I only care about present Andrea. Future Andrea normally hates this but when it comes to things like that I can act on a urge and present Andrea loves me for it. So this being said when did I become this person who thinks staying at home on a Friday night and getting to bed early is more appealing than going out and painting the town red? Although had it have been Jen doing the persuading and we were going to, I don't know, The Buff club maybe, I reckon it would have been a different story. Or at least that's what I am telling myself. 23:21

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Weather
I find myself being somewhat conrolled, mood wise, by the weather more so now than ever before. I wonder whether this is because I use public transport to get anywhere and the idea of going out in miserable weather to fight the elements is less appealing then when it's sunny and dry. Is it more fundemental than that I am suffering from SAD and when it's dark and miserable I feel depressed more so than when I am at home because there I don't think about it as much because I get to be indoors snuggled up on the sofa? I just know that my sunny disposition is directly proportional to the days where Mr Sunshine has his hat on. On saying that as I get closer and closer to the end of term, thus my flight home, I have noticed my general happiness increase. Maybe it's just homesickness and London at least seems bearable when the sun is out. Hmm I'm not sure whether I answered my question or made myself more confused but at least I put it out there. 14:16

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Thanksgiving
This time last year I was in a job I hated, working horrible hours, (albeit with some of the nicest people I have ever worked with), and at a turning point having decided to leave and find what I really wanted to do.

A year later I am in London studying to become a Patent Attorney sitting down with some lovely American people who were celebrating Thanksgiving. What a difference a year makes. When I am going about my day to day stuff, lectures, work, study etc it never really occurs to me but then all of a sudden I'm on the London Underground or walking to Mayfair nearby Buckingham Palace and realise "oh yeah I live in London". Surreal.  20:00

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Workmen
Are workmen, you know the ones who shout stuff at women in the street, a different breed of men? I never understand where they get their patter from or whether they teach it at some school for labourers or perhaps it's more an on the job learning kind of thing? Are they like this in all situations in their life? Do they shout things at the lady who brings the Betterware catalogue to their house? Do they use the same language with their mother in law? Or is it just when they are on site with fellow 'workies'?

We walked passed some today which, to be fair, were generally a nice bunch. They chose not to go with the obvious "awight dawling" and went for a more amusing line. It came out almost heartfelt and pleading. At first I didn't really understand what he had said and then laughed at the sweetness and innocence of it. I can only imagine it was due to the cold weather and the fact he was only wearing a T shirt, and the slight shiver when speaking, but he said "any spare cuddles going?". Isn't that the sweetest thing you've ever heard from a rough East London builder? I shall start keeping a list but I don't think I'll hear anything to top that. Bless him I feel kinda bad that I didn't stop and hug him, maybe next time. 21:35

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Music
Having a day off, no lectures or work today, meant I was able to stay in the flat and get some reading done. I like to break it up a little so for some of the time I put iTunes on and listened to an odd mix of music. I'm listening to some Jack Johnson just now. I always find it fascinating how one piece of music can instantly remind you or a time in your life and transport you back there if you just close your eyes. For me Jack Johnson, In Between Dreams is Jen and I moving into the flat the summer before last. The red carpet, yellow walls, gold cornicing, red door, ugly furniture and 'Jack' our big sofa are some things I really miss. The dinner parties, the unplanned nights out after work, Christmas, the spontaneous trip to the coast at 3am, late nights at our bay window and meeting our boys. What a great year, thanks Jen. 22:08

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Flatmates
I got chatting to my flatmates over dinner this evening and they were asking if there were any more free cakes going from the shop. I didn't have the heart to tell them I didn't really want to bring them home anymore as I don't imagine eating them for my dinner is very good for me. I even went so far as to give one away to a nice homeless guy on the way home the other night. He seemed so appreciative and it felt like a good deed. That and it seemed poetic to be giving this expensive pretentious dessert to a homeless guy who would eat it out the box on the street.
 22:12

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Flirting
Today I found myself flirting with male customers who came into the shop (sorry Richard you know I only have eyes for you), but it's funny how much more they buy! Or how you can get the waiters across the road to come and lift heavy stuff for you when you flash the old knashers and laugh at their lame jokes oh yeah and offer them free cakes. Today was kinda fun in the shop even though it was deadly quiet. We sampled a lot of the stock, you know just to make sure it was all ok of course not that it was yummy or anything. Although I got home and didn't have an appetite for dinner at all and have eaten so much chocolate I feel a little ill.

On a completely separate thread I was thinking today of how I was such a pain as a little sister. I remember I used to be scared of the dark and how I wouldn't like to go upstairs by myself so whenever I needed the toilet my parents would make my sister get up and sit outside the door and talk to me to make sure I was OK. Haha she must have hated me back then. But she did it dutifully and that's why she is the best sister in the world. I do love you even though you told me I was adopted. 22:52

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Book
I've started to read this really interesting book by Mil Millington, a book recommended by Richard. It's about this guy who escapes death, not like a magician more that he was supposed to be in a situation where he would certainly have been killed had he not been forced, by his girlfriend, to return towels that he had bought the previous day (he tells it much better than I do hence why he is a famous writer and I am writing this and boring all of you). Anyway as he is held up and doesn't make it to the place he is supposed to be he is saved by coincidence, fate, god or the choices he makes. After this event his life has become a series of extremely tough choices i.e. does he leave the supermarket now or in another minute his thinking being if he leaves now will he set in motion a series of events that will lead to a catastrophe or if he leaves in one more minute will he avoid said catastrophe. Should he have coffee from the coffee machine or tea or nothing at all. If he has nothing will that make the water machine fail and will it tip over and cause the electrical appliance to start a fire or should he take the coffee as he might need it later to give him the edge when he is crossing the road which will alert him to the passing car which would otherwise have hit him. So instead of making these decisions he ends up standing at the exit of the supermarket or in front of the coffee machine simply unable to determine which action is the right one. I found this idea fascinating how much thought you could put into each and every thing you do and how this would eventually make you insane. I know I can over think things but this really is the extreme. I also started to wonder whether my life would be completely different if say I was always 10 minutes late for everything, well lets say 10 minutes early as that seems more unlikely, would I be where I am now? Anyway it's quite a thought provoking read and I do enjoy reading it on the tube as it passes the time. I just wish people would keep it down when I am trying to read, tsk. 23:23

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Strange beings
We humans are odd. On a normal morning, or actually anytime throughout the day that isn't a Friday or Saturday night, the tube is generally quite a quiet place (apart from the train itself obviously). Even though it can be mobbed like a football crowd or crammed like sardines busy it still remains quite a quiet place which in itself is odd. This is until, like I say, it gets to a Friday or Saturday night. I guess it's the alcohol but it's amazing how noisy people get when they have been drinking. People who ordinarily would speak quietly to their companion muttering only a few words, or nothing at all most of the time, now are loud, obnoxious and generally not fun to be around. Hmmm I wonder whether this is jealousy on my part as I am normally on the tube with them due to working late rather than joining in making the noise. Or worse still do you think I am getting old and am starting to complain about loud noises and will be asking my flatmates to keep it down? Deary me I think it might be the latter.  22:41

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Hmm
This writing something every day is getting tough. Normally I would make something up but seeing as I want this to be accurate I guess I've got nothing. Just imagine I did something worth writing about and whatever you imagined let me know and I can use it another day. 22:11

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Lecture marathon
Today, due to a rescheduling of an important tutorial and the fact we had two sets of lectures to catch up on, I ended up with a marathon 7 hours straight of learning. Yes it was as exciting as it sounds. I swear the last hour I tried so hard to concentrate and not start singing la la la la la in my head while staring out the window. This also has to do with the fact that our last lecture, which itself lasted 3 hours, was taken by our Competition Law professor who is about 80 odds and tends to leave sentences which trail off into nothingness as though he were talking about bunny rabbits and not important facts we are all required to learn for our exam. Lovely little man but OMG it's a struggle trying to sit there and take anything from it. Anyway when that was over and we were set free I came home and we went to Oxford Street for a wander. It's started to get really christmassy complete with a creepy window display with teddybears strung up like puppets in a christmassy scene with eerie music to accompany it. Not exactly the displays you see at Macys in New York but at least they are trying. Although I do find it quite disturbing but then I have a thing about stuffed toys coming to life so maybe it's really cute and adorable.  23:12

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Into The Wild
As today was wet and miserable and because I had to go to work in the evening my guest and I decided a trip to the cinema would be a better way to spend the afternoon and with this we headed off to the Cineworld. Chad's choice I might add was Into The Wild a film about one man's quest to shun society, go into the wilderness to live from the land and, I guess, find. A large part of the film shows him getting from place to place, climbing things, searching for things and generally not a whole lot else. He meets some random people along the way as he sets off on his training before going "into the wild". It really was quite a strange film and not one I would recommend or watch again. Chad thought it was awful and so suggested we leave early, partly due to the fact I was going to be later for work but I think it was probably more the lack of decent storyline. Anyway as we left before the end I checked out the ending online and was thoroughly glad we left. It really was a non event of a film and one I am advising you to avoid and thus saving 2 and a half hours of your life. You are welcome. 22:30

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Sightseeing
Sightseeing is much more fun when you aren't there by yourself going oooh look there's...oh wait there's nobody here. Haha how sorry for myself do I sound. Nah it's just nicer when you have someone to point things out with. Chad came down for a visit and we did a whistlestop tour of London. He had been here once before for a day and didn't see anything other than the inside of a train, a tube and an office building I would imagine so it was good to show him some sights. We did Westmister, The London Eye, Buckingham Palace, (his reaction being "Is that it?!", Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square and went for some dinner in Victoria. It was a good day and really weird having someone to talk to on the tube. That's the thing though nobody talks on the tube so it was nice to be rebellious and have people look at us. A good day was had by all, well I think so anyway. He did complain about the weather a lot but hey that's not my fault.  23:02

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Helpful Information Guy
Today I got out of work early and thought woohoo home early to get some work done before Chad arrives tomorrow but that wasn't to be the case. It was the stop before mine, Mile End, and as they were closing the doors they announced that they wouldn't be stopping at Mile End this evening due to maintenance. My option was to get off at the next one Stratford even though I had no idea where this was. So I got off and asked the helpful information guy who is employed by TFL and by helpful I mean as useful as a chocolate fire guard. He told me just to get off at the nearest one and walk. I told him this was the nearest one and that I had no idea where I was, and his reply? "What do you want me to do?" Can you believe that?!! I gave him my opinion on this information followed by a slightly whispered swear word, (I mean he is from London afterall), and walked away quickly feeling anger that I didn't think was possible considering I was having a nice day before this. Anyway I wandered outside and had a look around and saw a bus station nearby so headed for that. I saw a number 25 which I knew went through Mile End so I got on the phone to my dad and he helped with directions and stuff. The bus passed without stopping as it was so full. At this we decided it was probably a better idea to walk. So with Dad keeping me company I walked about a mile and a half before I saw a number 25 and jumped on that. As you can imagine I arrived home in a foul mood hating London, hating the tube, hating buses and hating people. I was home an hour and 45 mins later and having not eaten since breakfast I was hungry and annoyed at the world. Then I switched on the TV to keep me company as I did some work and it was Top Gear that was on and they had a special segment where each of them was given a mode of transport in London and they were testing which one was more efficient. Ha!! Save your time and stay at home is what I say, or better still live in a city with a half decent transport system. If I ever see that information guy again I'll, I'll, I'll.....tut really loudly and walk the other way. 22:41

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American Celeb
Today in the shop a couple of American tourists came in. One older in her late 50s and a younger woman in her 20s. The older woman was so familiar to me I almost said hello as in 'do I know you from somewhere?'. Thankfully I realised I knew her from the big screen before I made a fool of myself, well I say knew but we shall come to that. Turns out she lives in LA but was here to visit her friend and was out with her friend's daughter, (said 20s woman she was with), was in London for a few days but had to go back to LA for work on Sunday. Yes I did have quite a long chat with this woman and for the life of me I can't quite place what I've seen her in or what she is known for. I know I've seen her in a film, various films even and although she isn't a huge star I would still consider her a famous face. Now this has been annoying me since then and will probably continue to annoy me until one day, possibly 6 months from now maybe 2 years from now but one day I will be watching a film and it will suddenly come to me. I am looking forward to this day as I'm sure you are now too. 22:37

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Irish
Practically everyone I have met here who has asked about my accent has asked where about in Ireland am I from. It doesn't bother me in the slightest but people become very apologetic when I tell them where I am from. I've never really been mistaken for being Irish before so to have it happen this regularly is making me wonder whether the way I talk has morphed into some kind of Scottish/London therefore Irish weird accent. But I do find myself speaking more clearly and slowly in the hope that people can understand me better.  00:01

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Americans
I served a group of American tourists tonight in the shop. They were just lovely people. They were from New Jersey and we chatted about how expensive London is and how the dollar is so rubbish for them just now. Anyway as we were chatting I starting to think about our trip to New York next month. NEXT MONTH! I can't believe it's come around so quick. I was reading the other day that the pound is the strongest it's been against the dollar in over 25 years, not since 1981 has it reached this rate. OK I won't have any money to spend over there as I'm now a poor student living in the most expensive city but hey if I had money I could buy things really cheaply! I really can't wait.  22:33

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Sleep
Those who know me well, actually those who know me very little too probably, know about my relationship with my bed. I would say sleep was a very good friend of mine, in fact, (sorry Jennifer), sleep is my best friend. I love all different forms from sunday morning snoozing, mid afternoon naps in the summer to going to bed early after a nice hot bath and freshly laundered bed linen. Jeez I'm looking forward to it already. OK so that being said you will now fully understand how much I love the fire alarm going off in the middle of the night. Last night, or this morning rather, it was a treat to get out of my warm bed grab a jacket and go stand outside for 20 minutes at quarter to three while we waited for the fire brigade. I just don't understand what you could be doing at 3 in the morning to set it off? I also don't understand that when standing outside waiting you hear groups of people laughing and having a joke. It's not a joke! You would think lazy students wouldn't like being disturbed but a lot of them found this amusing. Therefore this serves as my reason and excuse should the police need evidence to know why I went mad at said people. 20:24

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Grand Opening
Tonight was the opening of the new store in Shepherds Market. Oh I got a job working for this amazing patissier and chocolatier, in fact he's so awesome he won this years chocolatier of the year award. Anyway his new shop (the one I will be working in) opened tonight with a champagne invite only gathering. It was a trendy affair with press and journalists so Monique and I (flatmate) decided to go along for the free chocolates. Some guy asked if I was a journalist and was disappointed when I said I wasn't because he wanted me to take his photo. I said "I have a camera in my bag if you're really desperate" he laughed and said maybe later wink wink. Soon after this I left.

I'm afraid that was pretty much the most exciting part of my day seeing as it was lecture free and I spend the morning and afternoon in my room studying. It's amazing how you can read and re-read the same paragraph 3 times and have your mind wander and still not take it in. I'm very impressed with my brain's ability to not concentrate when reading I think it's a gift. 22:03

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The London Paper
At the tube stations each day they give out free papers and yes I mean papers plural. I reckon there are 3 daily ones and maybe 2 weekly magazines. I always find this odd as it must mean nobody buys newspapers anymore? I mean I'm sure it's not exactly highbrow or anything but really these people stand there all day so they must give out hundreds and they are at every station on every line (well every station I have been at). Anyway the reason I bring this up is that my favourite is The London Paper as opposed to the London Lite or the Metro. The London Paper has a section in it called 'Lovestruck'. It's basically a 'If you have seen someone you fancy in London but were too shy to talk to them text us and we will print your message so you can find them and live happily ever after'. I love this idea and quite often sit on the tube watching to see if I can spot people looking at each other and try to remember what they are wearing etc and check the paper the next day to see if I spotted a budding romance.

I must admit that besides people watching I really am starting to hate the tube. Sometimes when I am going to work first thing in the morning we are all so cramped into the carriages it's quite claustrophobic and people are just so rude that they barge right passed you without any pangs of guilt, it's really quite impressive when you get passed the shocking bad manners of it all. I often wonder whether it's rubbing off on me and soon I will be scowling like the rest of them and pushing my way onto the train before old ladies while running to steal the last seat from her too.

I'm also getting really sick of coming home to find my flatmates have been using my kitchen stuff and not cleaning it afterwards. I mean by all means use my things, I really don't mind I brought everything but the kitchen sink so I am the kitchen utensil queen but the least you can do is clean it afterwards. So not only do I have to clean it before I use it but I clean it again and put it away. I know this sounds incredibly petty but I don't think it's asking too much.

Other than that things are just peachy. I'm enjoying the course and learning about how as long as you argue in the right way and support your argument you can be right about anything when it comes to the Law. Now the idea that I can ALWAYS be right has got to be a good thing yes? I think I'm going to like this Law malarky. I have a job in a lovely luxury chocolate shop where they make me try the products as the only way to learn is to try, boy it's a hard life but someone has to do it I guess. It's not long until I'm home for Christmas where my lovely boyfriend is taking me to New York, I get to see everyone and I'm off uni for almost a month. Things are good :)

 23:18

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Greetings
I've finally gotten round to starting this, (albeit nearly two months late) Better late than never I suppose or some might think never would be preferable.

I thought this would be a good idea to keep anyone who cares up to date with what I'm doing down here, how I'm surviving and generally what my feelings are each day. Haha nobody is going to read this are they? Oh well at least I will be able to look back and remember what I was like and how much I complained about London and how I must have been a joy to be around when I went back to Uni. Those who remember the good old days of exam stress Andrea should be glad I'm far far away where I can freak out without inflicting anyone else with it! Anyway just a quick note to remind myself why I'm doing this and also to explain to anyone bored enough to read it. I shall start fresh tomorrow with a more to the point post telling you what I've done, ooh the excitement can you contain yourself??  22:37

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