Archive for October, 2006

Yet another week has passed me by in my life, and I’ve achieved next to nothing. But I guess that’s what comes from being a serial procrastinator, and always finding something less important to do with my time. I mean, that’s half the reason I pay for web hosting, and have a WordPress blog which I bothered to theme myself, as well as update fairly regularly. I even downloaded and installed Microsoft Office Accounting 2007 as a way of passing the time today - when would I ever have a use for it? It’s things like these which just show me how badly I procrastinate. However, despite knowing that I’m such a person, I don’t actually do anything about it - the same goes for a lot of other habits I have which I could do without.

On a positive note, I’ve had a reply from each of the universities I’ve applied to, with the exception of Warwick who seem to be slower than the others. I’m surprised (pleasantly) as to the responses I received - last week I received a phone call from the admissions officer at Imperial offering me the chance to go to interview, then later a letter from York saying a similar thing. I also today received such a letter from Bristol, and Churchill college (Cambridge) sent me a questionnaire gathering yet more information about me, as if the UCAS application and CAF I filled out weren’t enough. But I’m very pleased so far, and if I can add Warwick to the list of universities who said that they were ‘very impressed’ with my application, then I shall be an extremely happy Jim.

With or without these responses, I’ve been a happy Jim anyway. It’s Caley’s birthday on Friday, and we’re going to be celebrating it properly. I’ve also been cheered by the almost fluid lyrics of Akira The Don - a rapper who creates ’sexual flows’ (as described by Dodge). His single, Oh! What a Glorious Thing, from his forthcoming album, is one of the happiest songs in existance, and has been buzzing around my subconcious twitchings for the past couple of days. And frankly, any man whose blog is banned in US educational institutions must be onto something. Check him out.

On the driving front, I’m doing pretty well. I’ve mastered my mum’s car finally, and apparently am better at driving it than my Dad, who accompanies me when I go out for a practice. According to my instructor I should be at a pass standard after another 15 lessons, presuming I carry on learning/improving at the same rate. I can’t wait to be able to drive solo - it opens up so many possibilities to me, and being able to go where I want, when I want strikes me as being one of the best changes that’ll happen in my life.

For anybody who was watching just then (and now too), I’m rearranging stuff on my blog and it’s gone a bit belly up - if you see a huge list of pages that you weren’t expecting, it’s because I’m fiddling with the theming and some of the pages. Sorry!

‘Tis conkering season once more, and all over the country, people or all ages are fighting to the death trying to pick up the best conkers from under trees, soaking them in vinegar, baking them in the oven, and then drilling holes in them. Quite why, I’m not sure, that sort of thing never really appealed to me.

In actual fact I’ve spent the past day or two in a zombie-like stupor as usual, although numerous people have said to me that I look perhaps slightly more pale than normal. Somewhere in the region of #FEFDFD. I guess that’s not healthy. But through the magic of highly-caffeinated, sugary drinks, and jittering a lot, I’ve managed to last from Monday morning right through until Tuesday lunchtime.

I’ve also started learning to drive. Despite my complete lack of foot coordination, I’m doing alright. I’ve had two lessons, and on Sunday morning my Dad took me out for a drive in my Mum’s car, where I managed to lose an L plate. It’s quite worrying that they sell these L plates, which have two magnetic strips on the back, and don’t stick on anything but a perfectly flat surface of metal. My Mum’s car is curvy, and thus they don’t stick well - so somewhere in the vicinity of Tring, I lost an L plate.

But the thing about driving is it’s great fun, and when I eventually get good enough and pass my test, I’ll be spending a lot more time out and about, most likely with Caley, which can only be a good thing. However, in order to past my test I have to take a theory test too, which ensures that I know the laws and rules that apply to driving, as listed in the Highway Code. The problem with the Highway Code is that when you read it, you often wonder why certain things need to be said. It worries me that there are people out there so stupid that they have to be told: “You MUST NOT drive dangerously.” It actually says that in the Highway Code. Number 122. Look it up.

Still, I’m glad I’ve finally started lessons, after having wasted a hell of a lot of time trying to get my provisional license, and I’m glad I’ve found something new that amuses me greatly in life. By the way, go over and check out Caley’s new blog, powered by Magic!