I stopped doing this ages ago, due to boredom, or not enough time, or something. Either way, since my last post I have spend a month at summer camp, been to Paris, been to Devon, Been to IOW Festival, been to Glastonbury Festival, been to Hartlepool, turned 21, moved house, lacked sleep, had the need to utilise crutches. I have been a Golden Snitch, a cursed professor, a leprechaun, spoke more French than English at points of the summer, rediscovered my love for meringue, exams, essays, A SUNTAN, obtained a clarinet, had black eyes, bust lips, illnesses, I’ll probably never be able to exhaust the list.

University is about to kick off again, with Freshers alongside it, and I must say I am quite excited. I am now back in London for an indefinite amount of time, which is the first time this summer that I have been somewhere solid; 3 months of travelling all over the country and further have taken their toll on me, however, I still wish that I had made more plans.

I’m already looking at stuff to do for next summer, camps will be a certainty if I can, but maybe Camp America’s something I should consider. I also have the offer of a 45-day road trip across America which would be quite interesting, but then again I want to go backpacking in Cambodia. I don’t even know why I’m talking about it, this summer isn’t even over yet (well it is, I wore a scarf yesterday).

I’ve spent too much of my time listening to Baroque music recently.

It’s been over 3 weeks since I last stuck anything on this, as, simply, I could not be arsed. I’ve been so very busy doing absolutely nothing (again), which means that I will write about a lot of things, yet none of it will be very interesting; apologies. The timeline of events will go only on the order in which pictures appear on my phone, as I can’t remember most of it. Last post was en route home, so I’ll start there. After that post, I spent another 6 hours entertaining myself thus;

It was good! I saw loads of people who I haven’t seen since Christmas, and some who I haven’t seen since before I moved, in September. Not being able to drink was a bit of a pain, but I’m used to it now, I think. In essence; I saw Ginger Tom, who took me on a marvellous day out, which involved the beach, the park and his house;  of my favourite places in the entire world. His mum also had the most incredible sunglasses;

I spent a lot of time with Shaun, which was wicked. We went to a pub to watch him play darts, Bob came along too which was good. He had a BBQ (‘braai’) at his house later in the week which was good fun, was nice to see other people. I ended up bed-bound for 3 days with some unidentifiable illness which was a bit shit, I was so bored. Spent time with family, friends and everything inbetween, basically, and ended up staying there 10 days, I had a really good time. Was good to get back to London though! I got the coach back with Sammi which made it more ideal, as I had someone to talk to hah. We were shattered, as we both needed to be up before 6am.

Staaaaate.

During the journey to Paragon we caused a riot. Nearly started a bomb scare in Victoria Station when I had to leave my bag behind, we spilt everything everywhere, ate too many toffee bon-bons and I went wild and stole an espresso cup.

The night we got back we headed to The Globe with a couple of people for a catch-up which was good, I headed home early though as I was the only sober one hah.

So, since I’ve got back I’ve been fine-tuning plans for the summer, I’d love to say it’s all shaping up nicely but it’s not, I have bits of paper stuck all over my walls so I can remember everything, and I’m sending a zillion emails a day to various parts of the globe, and it’s all nightmarish. Like I’ve said though, if it all works out, then it’s going to be a wicked few months! May and June are so ridiculously busy, things are already happening! I spent pretty much all last week in the park as the weather has been divine, with various people, which has been good :)

Last Thursday, Sammi left for Ibiza for the next few months which is weird, I’ll miss her! Friday, went to Westfields and all around West London, all I came out with was a smoothie which I was proud of. went to Dan’s gig, saw their band for the first time, he thinks I wasn’t impressed but I was really. Saturday, fun fair then to Craig’s for his birthday, I had a really good day/night! Apart from me & Dan going on a ridiculous ride or two, and having to sleep it off afterwards hahah. And apart from the arcade machine that handed out cigarettes;

Sunday, lazed about a while at Craig’s then headed back to Paragon and spent the day in bed, basically. Monday, exam, then lazing around the SU, then choir, then hometime after Ev had spent 2 hours teaching me about rugby. When I got home I discovered that my jersey had arrived, FINALLY found one online. Comfiest thing ever ever.

Please excuse my bong-eye.

Yesterday, I finally made the pilgrimage to Thorpe Park! Me, Rory, Steptoe, Truffle, Des, Hannah, Amy & Ariela all got up really early and met at the park at about half ten, and we all left at about half 5, and it was such a good day! The weather was brilliant, the tickets were half-price and the company was good; perfection.

High points;

• The weather.
• The 2-for-1 system we put to great use.
• The fact that transport there & back cost less than 8 quid!
• Truffle’s traumatic (but hilarious) experience on a ride where the bloke couldn’t quite close the seat’s harness thing around Truffle’s prop legs. It was the one ride where all other people could see, and it was hysterical. After a bigger, burlier attendant finally closed it, everyone else on the ride burst into applause, and it was fucking brilliant.
• Truffle shouting “THIS ISN’T NORMAL” on most rides.
• Going on a day where the park was practically empty, and we hardly queued.
• 4 boys and 4 girls; perfect amounts for most rides.
• Racing on the Depth Charge and me winning.
• Fiver for more pick&mix than I can shake a stick at.
• Avoiding the second wave of the Tidal Wave by less than an inch after Steptoe saved me.
• Truffle trying to read a map that had been soaked and ripped on the Tidal Wave ahahahaaa!
• The photos! We got an excellent photo of all 8 of us on the Rumba Rapids; we’re sat in pairs and, unintentionally, each pair are doing the same thing - me & Des are thumbs-up, Rory & Hannah are pouting, Truffle & Ariela are being a bit odd, and Steptoe & Amy are just smiling nicely. We bought it between us, smashing plan.
• Yelling ‘CHICKEN SPOTTTTT!” top note on a ride whilst Amy filmed us; best advertising ever.
• Saw Ride - fucking amazing.

Low points;

• Looking like a drowned rat for the rest of the day after Tidal Wave.
• Screaming like a maniac at a loud noise whilst waiting for Saw.
• The Saw Maze being closed.
• Waiting for aaages for Samurai after someone had been sick on it.
• Getting worryingly stuck in The Detonator; all the people queueing had sheer panic on their faces, though not as much as mine when the woman who was meant to be getting me out started worrying. I thought I was doomed to going up & down on the thing for the rest of my life.
• Truffle not getting the photo from the first ride we went on (Stealth), he looked like he was actually crying, I nearly wet myself laughing.
• X No Way Out, running around the corridors like our lives depended on it.
• Making it all the way through the day with no injuries, then getting my arm jammed in the bus door on the way home.
• Sunburnt nose!

(I just realised that a lot of these points are Truffle-related).

Brilliant day.

And today is VARSITY.

TVU versus Westminster. I’ve been roped into playing 5-a-side which can only end badly. It’s not a very sunny day which is a shame, but also probably a good thing at the same time. I’ll let you know how it goes!

Gonna try posting from my phone, see how that works out. If it doesn’t, then my belief that my phone is shit will have been proven. If, however, it does work, then I now love my BlackBerry. Currently, I’m on the worst coach in the world, partaking in the worst journey on the planet. I swore to myself that I’d never do it again, however, these things cannot be helped, sometimes. There’s a 20-something woman sat across from me, who keeps staring at me. I think my red hair offends her. Saying that, I do look a lot like Animal. Hmm. Just heading past Wembley Stadium now, which is annoying, having travelled half-way across the city, just to come back again. We’re already behind time as the stupid coach route takes us past Hyde Park, along Park Lane for a bit, down Oxford St then onto Baker St, past the Lords cricket ground. Only 5 of the busiest places in the world; traffic jams were not on my agenda today. Got a bit sad when we went past Hyde Park and saw it in all it’s sunny glory; gonna miss this place. However, I have friends and (for the most part) family to look forward to for a few days which should be really good. Gonna head into college at some point to say hello, too. Maybe spend a night in Middlesbrough, maybe one in Newcastle. Not really sure of my itinerary, it’ll work itself out somehow. But, for now, just gonna settle in and look forward to getting home (which, by my reckoning, should be about half ten), and make my way through all the terrible food I’ve brought along, whilst listening to Biffy’s Only Revolutions and reading my favourite book. Goodbye capital, hello parmo!

Good news: I’m going home tomorrow.

Bad news: I can’t stay at Karen’s.

Good news: I can stay at my dad’s.

Bad news: He has to work all week.

Good news: I can stay at mine.

Bad news: Parents aren’t back ‘til Tuesday, so I’m just gonna have to hope that my house key works (it’s never worked before, ever!).

Good news: Dad paid for my travel.

Bad news: I have to go by coach ‘cause the person travelling by train has to be the one who books it, which is STUPID.

Good news: I can get all my washing done at home.

Bad news: I need to find it and pack it first.

Good news: I just had the most incredible fish finger sandwich.

Bad news: It’s the only constructive thing I’ve done all day, and it’s not even that constructive at all.

Good news: I found my fountain pen; it’s whereabouts has been annoying me for ages.

Bad news: It showed it’s happiness at being reunited with me by exploding, and the ink tastes terrible;

Went for my interview thingy today, Royal Festival Hall, South Bank. After staying awake ‘til a stupid time, talking to people, it was a major struggle getting up this morning. Got there just in time, found the woman in the pink teeshirt (Karen), sat with about 10 other people who were obviously there for the same reason I was. Basically, filled out a 2-week workshop timetable (I need to prepare classes - argh!), said a bit about ourselves. I prepared myself beforehand for the shocked faces when my accent became apparent - wasn’t let down.

I can’t be bothered to write in prose, so I shall now revert to bullet points.

GOOD THINGS ABOUT TODAY.

1. The nice easy journey; half of which, I had Ev as company.
2. Getting to my destination first attempt.
3. The decision to go home.
4. Being Inappropriately Sarcastic To People I Only Met Ten Minutes Ago; all the others had travelled from places like Bristol, Wales, Somerset etc just to be at the meeting. When they heard my Northern accent, one of the girls, who had travelled from Wales, said “Woah, you must have travelled a long way!” and I just COULD NOT HELP saying “Yeah, about half an hour. Scandalous, isn’t it?”
5. Finding out that I have ‘Weekend in Paris’ to add to my summer itinerary (training for camp!)
6. Seeing a woman fall over trying to get off the London Eye.
7. Coffee.
8. Tokyo Police Club.
9. Bit of sunshine.
10. Burger King.
11. Nicking Dan’s keyboard off him.
12. Timing things perfectly so that I wasn’t stood at a platform waiting for a train for more than a minute, both times.
13. The fact that half-way through the meeting, 300 children piled into the hall for some reason and started singing, and we couldn’t hear Miss Camp Leader over the racket, it was hysterical.

BAD THINGS ABOUT TODAY.

1. Weather, for the most part.
2. Getting up early and being stupidly tired.
3. Dan never answering his phone.
4. Everyone being asleep at key moments in my life.
5. Changing my mind about a zillion different things, every five minutes, and being generally indecisive.
6. The fact that the weekender in Paris on my 21st birthday.
7. Falling off a wall and into a puddle, right next to the queue for the London Eye (which was huge, Bank Holiday Weekends).
8. My pen running out and refusing to work for about ten minutes, so I felt really inadequate.
9. The fact that my Burger King was super-size, I’m such a fatty.
10. Awkward situations as far as the eye can see.
11. I stood on something sharp in my room and now have a hole in my foot.
12. Whilst draining a tin of tuna, it sprayed all over me and now I smell like cat food.
13. Rediscovering my love for cream crackers.

It has been a very strange day.

If all goes to plan, I have to somehow fit 2 festivals, a weekend in Paris and my 21st birthday, plus all the travelling time, into 18 days. Oh my God.

For the sheer size of that last post, I do talk shit.

…Literally.

I appear to have created an account on something called ‘formspring.me’, whereby people ask me questions (anonymously if they so wish)… and I answer them. It appears to be the world’s worst social networking site (although I did say that about Twitter… and I was right until this thing came about). I’m signing up to social networking sites like it’s going out of fashion (which it is).

Everyone’s gone/going home for Easter! All of my flatmates have left, apart from the new guy (who, from what I can hear, has shut himself in his room and plans to play keyboard [terribly] for 2 weeks). Everyone else has buggered off too, so I’ve decided that I’m gonna call my stepdad and see about him booking me a train home next week. My financial situation is completely dire, but I miss people! And being in the flat by myself will be like the first week I was here; the day I moved in, I was in bed by 19:30! Cup of tea in one hand and Dawn French’s ‘Dear Fatty’ in the other, looking around my new room miserably, thinking “So, this is university life? Smashing.”

In other news, everyone’s come back from Sports Tour this morning which is good, even if they are all going home over the next 2 days. I’m furious with myself that I didn’t go! I’m sat staring at my Facebook news feed in despair, as photos upon photos and countless ‘tired-but-happy’ statuses appear, detailing everyone’s antics, and it looked pretty fun! I might just Photoshop myself into everyone’s photos, and pretend. Obviously they’re all proud to be part of the Tour that hit headlines, for all the wrong reasons; I was watching the news last night and, far from being disgusted (as a lot of people will have been), I was just insaaanely jealous, all from the comfort of my miserable night in with Lucy (see previous post).

On the bright side, Dan kindly took me to Starbucks today, filled me with Caramel Créme latte, presented me with an Easter egg, took me to Wetherspoons, filled me with burger and chips and made me laugh ‘til I choked. However, half-way through food, a family of 6 sat next to us. Now, I’m not one to mock those who are overweight (let’s face it, I’m not exactly Miss England). BUT, this family (from what I can gather, it was Mum, Dad, 2 daughters, Granny & Grandad) must have weighed in at about 120 stone between them. Their BMI could do serious collateral damage, in the wrong hands. The father DID cause collateral damage, when (I kid you not) his stomach (clearly out of his control) hit our table as he shuffled round, and nearly knocked my drink all over my food. I, of course, howled with laughter. I don’t even think he noticed. They seemed like a typical argumentative family, always a bit of banter; I thought it was just joking, until, as we left the pub, I witnessed the youngest daughter hitting the father with her handbag, and saying “Ow! why do you have to be such an idiot, that really hurtttt!” and he nearly went for her throat. It was alarming. I was alarmed. I’d say, for comedy value, there should be more people such as these in the world, but there really shouldn’t be. At the table to our left, an old couple sat down, the husband moved the table back a bit so he could fit into the chair, and pinned his poor wife/mistress/cleaner to the wall, and my oh my, how she panicked. I always seem to encounter these happenings, I do hope I’m nothing like either of these two examples when I’m older.

Odd people you get these days though, I love it when I overhear something absolutely hilarious. On the Tube the other day, in-between songs on my iPod, I discovered, to my absolute amazement, that the couple next to me were talking about moving house because they were worried that the people next-door were spying on them, and could hear them having sex. If it wasn’t for Joy Division providing an excellent distraction, I would have sat there, astounded, all the way to Leicester Square. Sheer brilliance.

I think tonight, seeing as nobody is anywhere, will be given over to demolishing this Easter Egg, having a nap, then watching films and crying at all the happy bits. As an interesting point, I never cry at sad bits; when Jack died, didn’t bat an eyelid. When they show you the pictures of Rose having actually lived her life, and then when she sees everyone at the end and they all clap, I dissolve into a blubbering mess. I cried my eyes out at Con Air the other week, for God’s sake. Unfortunately, Mr. Whittal was there to bear witness and I felt like a right knob. Ah well, what can I say, it’s heart-rendering when he finally gives his daughter the bunny rabbit that dominated half the fucking film.

Toodles for now.

Ask me anything http://formspring.me/SadieHigham

This is the next installment of The Life & Times… currently sat in the kitchen with Lucy.

It’s late, we’re both miserable, and we’re sat here doing nothing at all except listening to the weird and (sometimes) wonderful music that Spotify throws at us. We have a packet of Crunchies and some Clubs and we’re smoking like mad. I can hear a jar of Nutella yelling my name from my cupboard. We’ve clicked onto the irony of my ‘ashtray’.

(I realise that the hood on the hoodie is ridiculously oversized)

We’ve both got damaged necks, and are therefore both wandering around the flat like Thunderbirds, unable to straighten hair, pick things up off the floor, carry things, and other menial tasks. We’re the only ones left in the flat too, out of 8 people, so it’s looking a bit dismal. I mean, it could be worse. I don’t forget this kitchen escapade a few months back;

Back in the days of History A: Classical era, when I had relatively normal hair, the kitchen was a horrendous mess, and we stayed up until 8am doing work. At 8, we got on the first bus to the library, continued ‘til 3, handed in work then went to the pub and got smashed. Worst day ever. Funny, though. We were delirious. It hurt.

However, today, we have achieved practically nothing. Today includes (but is not limited to);

- Lucy being introduced to the wonder that is codeine.

- Andre losing Lucy’s bank card, then spending 3 hours searching, only to find it in   her bin (this is where mine should be; I might not be in as much debt then).

- Realising that, whilst Spongebob Squarepants spaghetti looks happy and delightful, it actually tastes horrific.

- Skype. Lots and lots of Skype (as an interesting tangent, Lucy has just called me on Skype. She’s sat right there. —> is this what we’ve been reduced to?)

- Moaning. Oh my word, we can moan. It’s been a highly ‘moany’ day, with plenty of things to boot off about.

- Lightning storms, they were pretty cool. Bit scary though, when you live on tenth floor.

- Neck-related problems.

- Listening to ridiculous songs, such as the one which had the honour of being the title to this blog chapter.

- Texting. Now, as some of you may or may not know, I text like it’s going out of fashion, and I barely have thumbprints. However, the first 3-4 hours of today were practically given over to texting, alongside taking over Lucy’s bedroom and stuffing prescription drugs down her throat. Now, I know what you’re all thinking, the last part sounds pretty rock & roll? Add a coffee to the equation (I can’t drink enough coffee) and suddenly, the whole situation just seems a bit tame. It was.

That’s all really. God knows how long we’ll be sat here. I’ll keep you posted.

Eventful few days! After my last post, me, Craig and Dan (who, by the way, are the loveliest people ever to grace the planet) went to the SU for a few pints. Won £5 on the IT box, playing my beloved Monopoly, which is probably the last time I will ever win anything in my life. Anyway, long story short, after a few hours, I ended up looking like this;

Not cool. Spent a good 7 hours in this position, legs, arms, head, neck & waist strapped down, it was the worst thing ever. Can now safely say though, after seeing me cry, wee in a box, throw up and be unconscious for a total of around half an hour, me & the boys have no secrets hahah. Got home about half 6-ish, and we all stayed round Dan’s, where I promptly fell asleep. I have the most ridiculous neck pain, and can’t move at all, so if I want to look in a particular direction, I have to do so in true Thunderbird fashion. Plus side though; they’ve given me a 2-week prescription of codeine, silver lining.

Saw them both again the next night which was fun, we got a bit worse for wear and watched ridiculous things, which is always good.

In other news, I’ve applied for a French summer camp! My summer plans are now amended, and, if I nail this interview on Saturday (half ten in The Festival Hall on Embankment, where I’m supposed to search the ground floor for a French woman called Karen wearing a brigh pink teeshirt, nightmare), then my summer will be thus;

9th June - Go to Isle of Wight festival with the lovely Lucy & Andre.

14th June - return home.

17th June - turn 21, oh my God. Dunno whether I’ll be in Hartlepool or in the capital; just heard that Wheatus are playing The Crown in Boro so that might be a worthwhile expedition hahah.

23rd June - Glastonbury Festival.

26th June - Still be at Glasto, but be gutted that I’m missing out on Stevie Wonder & Jamiroquai at Hard Rock Calling in Hyde Park.

27th June - feel slightly happier, as I’ll be seeing Stevie on this night but still - no Jamiroquai.

28th - Return to Hartlepool? Or London? Who knows.

4th/5th July - Head to Francey camp (there’s a Harry Potter-themed one - quite exciting).

11th/12th August - Return from camp, and, if he’s still there, buy a plane ticket to the USA, straight into Matt’s open arms. If not, I might just go travel for a month, as I should theoretically have made loads of money from camp. Then, half-way through September, return to London in time to sort out accommodation and things, and start 2nd year. How exciting!

In other other news, everyone should be returning from tour in the next 24 hours, which will be good, it’s been quite boring. Well, that’s a lie, it’s been the busiest few days, what with hospitals and French people and God knows what else.

I miss home though! Well, I miss the people. If my bank balance lets me, I might see about heading home for a week, to catch up with people and eat chips & gravy. I love London with all my heart but I’m sick of the way that people look at me if I request chips & gravy. You’d think I’d asked for their first-born child?! However, more pressing topics are at hand. That’s all for now, to whoever reads this shit, I bid you adieu.