Yesterday at the University of Southampton we had our annual Peview Day, which despite several thousand more people than were booked turning up, and over-filling the car park and buses, went pretty well. I did 3 talks on UCAS Applications, to about 100 people at a time, and they went really well - and I enjoyed it! I really miss talking to people as part of my job (obviously other than those in my office) and I think in the long term I'm going to be happier in a career when I regularly interact with people. I'm a people person.

So, after the craziness of yesterday, I am now thoroughly knackered. I've got a full day at work tomorrow, and then am spending most of tomorrow at a Higher Education Fair at Havant College.... it's going to be a bit of a logistical nightmare... I am getting the train there, whilst the prospectuses and display stands are freighted there, and then have to get back to campus via taxi and train, carrying 2 large stands! Fun fun. Ah well, it's a day out of the office, and I much prefer being out and about than sitting in front of my computer for 8 hours solid.

And then.... it's the weekend! I can't wait, as usual. Why can't we have 3 day weekends?!

Ben and I had a lovely weekend. On Saturday we were having a lovely time doing very little, when we got a knock on the door... and it was Ben's sister Gene and her fiance Paul, who has just decided to "pop down for a visit!" It was a really nice surprise, and we had a nice time wandering around Southampton, buying random things like bathroom scales and electric fans, and eating Boots meal deals.

Yesterday we just chilled - we've had some busy weekends lately, so we took this chance to stay in bed for aaaages, and get the flat ship shape again. it'd got a bit messy, so we had a good clean/hoover/tidy of everywhere, and it's so much nicer now. Who would've thought that a 1 bedroom flat could get in such a mess!

I also gave Sammie a clean out, and put her new 'chew' in her cage.... after which she proceeded to completely demolish it. It was a wiiden stick with nuts/wheat etc stuck all over it with some sort of honey mixture... and after 10 minutes in the cage, there was only the wood left! We've got a hungry little hammie. :)

Well, I walked home from work last night (didn't quite make it on Wednesday), so I'm quite proud of myself - it's about 3 miles! Half of it is a really nice walk along a footpath and across Southampton Common, but the other half is a long trek down our road (which is very long, and we live right at the bottom) which wasn't particularly pleasant, what with all the car fumes.

Today the Southampton Rose Bowl hosts its first one day international game involving England, so Ben's very excited.... although unfortunately he's 'watching' it (i.e. following the scores) on the net, as opposed to actually being there. However, Richard, a cool guy who I work with, is actually there, so I'm getting live text updated from him too!

Anyone would think I was turning into a cricket fan! ;)

Just a quickie:

Please can anyone who thinks about turning my weblog into an arsey comment-fest on barefacts, read my long entry below properly. Nowhere in it was I saying anything bad about the 'new barefacts' (other than the lack of the great bf logo!!) so please don't try turning it into some sort of competition between 03/04 and 04/05.

The nature of being involved in a Students' Union is that it changes every year - the change of sabbs/execs as well as students makes that inevitable. It is impossible for anything to stay exactly the same year on year, and since barefacts is headed by a different person each year, that person will obviously put their own mark on it when they come into office.

I was simply commenting on the change from weekly to bi-weekly, and newspaper to magazine. I put my heart and soul into that publication last year, so I am very interested to see how it progresses; not just this year, but in the years to come...

Yesterday I had my second orchestra rehearsal, which went pretty well. I've talked to more people, which is good - everyone's very friendly. I've got to have an audition at some point - no idea what that'll involve, but it should be fine.

I really can't wait for the weekend; feeling a little tired out at the moment. We've spent the last few weekends doing all sorts of things, so it'll be great to have a bit of a rest.

I think I'm going to walk home from work today. It's about 3 miles from campus to our flat, but I'm trying to get some exercise (even ordered my pedometer!) so it'll do me good.

That, or completely tire me out!!

WARNING: LONG USSU RELATED ENTRY (sorry guys, but if you don't want to read it i'm not holding you down and forcing you to!!)

Well, my last entry was a relative comment-fest (for me)! I find it rather bizarre that someone reads my weblog who obviously doesn't like me/bf 03-04, but thanks to the other commenters for sticking up for barefacts 2003-4! I know the paper wasn't perfact last year, but over the past few years, barefacts really improved a huge amount, and loads more people were involved. Look back in the archives to see the changes over the years. As with everything, there would always be something someone didn't like, but.... noone forced you to read it!!

But it is not a competition - it was inevitable that this year's barefacts would be different to mine, as mine was to the year before. Some people will like it less, some people will like it more... human nature.

I guess it's good that people get passionate about Union things, but remember that I'm a normal person, and snide comments about something I put my blood sweat and tears into hurt me just as much as they would anyone else.

I do find it a pity that barefacts has gone bi-weekly, but i understand the reasoning behind it, being the person who was under pressure to produce it as a weekly paper for the last year. However, it's a real pity that the Union has cut what i believe was generally a good publication, rather than looking at giving more support to the people who work on it. I campaigned hugely for a Communications/Media support member of staff last year, but comms is a traditionally undersupported area, and it's such a pity it'll continue to be so. Other unions have 1, and generally 2 or 3 comms/marketing (i'm not talking about sales/advertising) support members of staff. USSU has none.

But what i really find sad is that the distinctive logo is no more! Andy once told me that was the design thing he was most proud of, and I really don't think there was a need to lose it. Trying to change too much at once is dangerous...

Blimey, I feel like I'm back at USSU, having a periodic rant, as I was occasionally forced to do. I'm glad to have moved away from Guildford, and started afresh in Southampton. Guildford/UniS/USSU will always hold a very special place in my heart, but i was not going to be a hanger-on-sabb, and it was a good thing to move on. I'm sure my stress levels have gone down by about 90%!

Plus, Southampton is bloody miles cheaper to live in! :)

My weekly newspaper is now a fortnightly magazine.

Blimey, how things change.

Awww - aren't they cute! (borrowed from hamster-cam). :)

It's weird to think that the first semester has started at Surrey without me. For the first time since 1999 I am somewhere other than Guildford for the start of term. It feels very strange, especially since term at Soton doesn't start for another month.

My beloved barefacts is apparently changing, so I will be the last VP Comms to have produced a weekly newspaper at Surrey. It's kinda sad, but I'm glad I managed to stick it out - it's absolutely amazing to be able to look at all those papers I did.

Ben's enjoying his job with the city council - it seems to be really varied and interesting, and the difference between him now and when he started temping at Cox is amazing - he's really happy about work!

We're still looking at houses, although we need to wait for Ben to get a permanent job before we can get a mortgage offer... but it seems the market in Southampton is quite slow - the houses we like have been on the market for a while now, and there seems to be very little movement on all my favourites. So, there's hope for us yet!

Apparently keeping hamsters is illegal in Hawaii! Boy, am I glad I don't live there!

Sammie's doing really well. She spent our Derby week in Porton with Ben's family, and seemed to have a great time. They have a lot more space than us in our little flat, so she could run around in the hall and even climb the stairs.

Can't wait til we have a house with loads of space. :)

Anyone want a Gmail account? I've several invitations, so if you want one, just drop me a line and i'll send you one!

had a great time up in Derbyshire - went far too fast though; don't wanna go back to work!

ooh yes, and I've just had an email inviting me to join the Southampton City Orchestra from this Tuesday - exciting stuff. Looking forward to getting the old violin out again. :)