University of Plymouth 2013

So a week has passed since I moved to Plymouth! I have to apologise now that I haven't yet written a post about it all because I've been either waaaaay too busy, or seriously tired. It's so funny how messed up my sleeping pattern is!

It's weird to think that by this time yesterday I had just gotten to Mary Newman Halls & got up to my flat. I'd seen Emma in the kitchen unpacking her shopping, been left alone to sort through my things and then go for a food shop myself. That was odd for me, I actually had to do a full shop myself and sign up for a nectar card AND use a card for my new student account. I would say that it was a little overwhelming, which is partly true, but I honestly think that I've settled in better than I thought I would.

Now that I've got everything up and running, like the internet (shout out to Min, our HC, for giving me an ethernet cable!) and my university email, I'm feeling like things are running a bit more smoothly. Mind you, I may not be saying that when I try to copy out my timetable later... there's a lot of different groups that I'll need to write down. So basically, I need to stop being lazy and buy myself a calendar!

In case any of you were wondering, my room's pretty awesome. It has a killer view out across Plymouth and it may be the smallest room in the flat, but I have two wardrobes (which I wouldn't dream of having at home) and it's bigger than my room at home too! Coincidentally, it's turned out looking properly girly - floral everything.

This week has been seriously helpful. We've had a lot of half an hour lectures explaining how to use the student portal, how to get eBooks (which is a system meaning that I don't have to buy all my textbooks, they can stay on my laptop & phone) and tours round the campus. We've had two welcome parties for my faculty, one at the aquarium on the Barbican and one in the graduation marquee on the Hoe. As of yet, I don't really know many people on my course, but I do at least know the 12 other people from my school who have come here and I know one boy from my tutor. Oh, that's another thing to mention... I met my tutor. He's a neuropsychologist and so far I think he's pretty damn cool.

We've also already had a birthday on our floor - so HAPPY BIRTHDAY GEORGE! We all decorated his flat and hid in the kitchen waiting for him... I think it was a good surprise actually, he seemed shocked that so much effort was put in for a person we'd known less than a week!

I realise I haven't actually shown you what any of my flatmates or floor look like...

These lovely people are my flat. From the left you've got me, Chloe, Riks, Emma & Sam. (Please, please, please though, ignore the fact that there's a balloon penis in the corner... Chelsie got creative when they were decorating for George's birthday).

Then you've got this lot...

From the left again: Sam, Emma, Enya, Riks, George, Chloe, Amy, Elvin, Monica & Jess (our twins!), Henry, Chelsie and I. Harry was taking the photo, if I remember right... so sorry he's not in the photo! 

We're all good at the moment, just having a lazy Saturday. Hopefully getting some washing done at some point (uni life is so exciting!) and then Wheatus are playing in the main hall tonight!

I'll try to write more when I've actually started my course and there's yet more interesting things to write about, so be patient with me.

All Things Bright & Beautiful

So, here I am on a Sunday morning (the first of the month, may I add) trying to write my DSA cover letter and failing miserably when I realise that I have something much more wonderful to write!

On Friday evening, I went to a wedding dress preview at the church. I was invited earlier in the week and even asked to be one of the models (!) but my mumma didn't keep her wedding dress which they wanted for the show, and it wouldn't have fitted me either. I was asked if I wanted to wear one of the dresses that was there when I got to St Mary's, but I didn't want to disrupt the whole system that was clearly already in progress (plus, I'm the clumsiest person ever and I was dreading the fact that I might rip one of these beautiful pieces), so I was a merry little button do-er upper!

It was simply stunning, there were dresses from as early as the 20's and 30's which had been put on handmade mannequins, they'd set up flowers and written little cards about who wore the dress and how much they enjoyed their wedding day - along with photos of the darling brides in their little white pieces of heaven. Lots of lace, lots of buttons and lots of detail! 

I apologise now that I didn't think to write down any of the information about the dresses, I tried taking photos of the little information frames but they were all blurry! This last dress is my absolute favourite though... it has a little leaf pattern all over it and the most adorable tiara to wear with it. Just an absolute dream. Mary was a lucky lady to wear something like this, and compared to today's prices, it was cheap! She bought it for only £7. 

So, Sophie, Rhiannon and Mel were the most beautiful models... they got so many compliments about how beautiful they are, how graceful, how thin... which were totally well deserved because they carried these dresses off without a single worry in the world. The dress Mel (middle photo) was wearing is her grandmother's, which she was told she could wear when she got married... so that's her sorted!

The last part of the evening was spent listening to wedding music sung beautifully by Alison, then Jack & Marielle. I thought Alison was absolutely breathtaking, no lie. One of the pieces she did I knew very well because I had done it for my Grade 4. Apparently I was singing along which amused her quite a bit! What was even more amazing about her was that she was singing with such power, even though she'd given blood that afternoon and still felt faint. 

Jack and Marielle are both half Mexican, so they sang some more traditional folk songs. His guitar playing was, not distracting - that's the wrong word, but very captivating. If I hadn't given up playing the guitar then I might have had hope to be half as good! Marielle's voice was soft and sweet, she played the castanets as well. It was just adorable to see that even though they had done a short little practise of their songs beforehand, they had these spontaneous little moments where they'd look at each other, one would nod and keep on playing/ singing whilst the other did an extra melody underneath. 

Everyone was so lovely there and I got a couple of compliments, which were very much appreciated! It's the sort of thing I'd love to help out with again, and I absolutely love knowing that clothes, jewellery or anything of the sort have a magical, unique story behind them. It's mysterious and enchanting and it plays very well to the romantic in me. 

On a side note, I have two other things to mention. Firstly, my mumma finally finished knitting me the most beautiful Arran jumper! And, I was quite fond of the new blouse and skirt I got from the Covered Market in Oxford, so I wore them to the show! 

So, there's two final photos for you. Not wedding related, but still beloved as anything. I think I'm slowly gathering enough clothes for university! Two weeks to go!