Last week finished off without to much excitement really, I've now settled on History of Women, Spanish Dialectology, Linguistics of Teaching Foreign Languages and Introduction to Latin, so long as I can register for them all this week then that's me set for the year. I'm finding them all interesting and actually enjoying what I am learning which is more than I can say for the courses I did in Brussels. That's the advantage of being here, I've got so much choice!
This week I have also written an article for Third Year Abroad about Granada which is intended to help people that want to come here next year, I did one about Brussels too and they can be found here.
For those of you that don't know what a puente is it's basically an excuse for the Spanish to take another day off of work/class etc! Puente literally means bridge, and that is because if a holiday falls on a Tuesday they generally choose to take Monday off too. Today is Andalucia day, not that you'd know it, in a very un-Spanish style nothing has actually happened to mark the day other than everything being closed.
What have I done with this lovely 5 day weekend then? I have to be honest and tell you I've not actually done all that much! On Friday after having spent the morning inside I went for a wander with Jack, we didn't go anywhere in particular but we did stop for a drink and end up with one of the stranger tapas dishes I've had, literally a fish. I have no objections to fish at all, in fact I really like sea food so the fact that my food was looking at me didn't really bother me, I just can't help but think it was a bit of a strange tapas dish though!
On Saturday I went out with Aimee, Michael and Jack for another walk, this time up into the hills of the Albyzin where Aimee lives to appreciate the great views as well as while away a couple of hours at a bar where we once again were provided with whole fish for tapas, maybe it's not as unusual as I'd thought it was.
Sunday was a nothing day, I went through my notes from all my classes this week to try and get some sort of understanding of what I had supposedly learnt! I think it helped... I hope it did because one of my classes is split into 4 parts which means I actually have a test next week that counts towards my end result for that course, bit scary this early on!
Monday was, to be honest, a fail of epic proportions... we had decided to make the most of the weekend and do something worthwhile and thought we should head up into the Sierra Nevada to appreciate the views. This would've been a great idea, if we had booked our bus tickets. Unfortunately we turned up at 9.30am just to find there was only one seat left on the bus, and for 6 of us that wasn't going to work. We decided to make the most of actually being up and getting there by having a coffee in the bus station cafe, how exciting are we?! After going back to the flat and realising nothing productive was going to get done I went to the shop to stock up on food etc and then went out for a wander again. We went up to the monastry near the uni as well as up a hill that seemed to head to no where (it didn't, we just turned around and went back down) and then a lap around part of the city. Tapas called yet again, but this time it was bread and meat followed by fried squid.
Which leaves me with today, and if I'm honest I'm not really sure what on earth I have spent my day doing! I've read through my French essay for Lancaster and marked on the corrections I want to make but that can't have taken me all this time surely?!
Well, it's a hard life for an Erasmus student so tomorrow I have to head back to classes again, but don't feel too sorry for me now will you, I may have 6 straight hours of classes tomorrow from 8.30am but I only have 1 class on Thursday and then I'm done for the weekend again! Maybe next weekend I'll actually get some of my dissertation done like I'd intended to do today...?
Tuesday, 28 February 2012
Monday, 27 February 2012
Vote Bex Nobes for LULANGS President
Firstly, sorry to anyone reading this blog that is not interested in this at all, it seemed the best platform for me to post this on.
(Apologies if the Italian/German words are wrong, at least I tried eh?!)
Hi to all you LULangS members reading this, firstly to the
majority of you that don’t know me; I’m Bex, currently in my third year
studying out in Granada for the second semester of my year abroad and I’m
running to be the next President of the Languages society. I’ve had the chance to watch the society as
it goes through its first year whilst I’ve been abroad and I know it is
something I’d love to get involved with and I think I really have something to
bring to the exec.
So what are my ideas for the society?
·
Strengthening the links with other languages and
culture societies with a view to forming more links with other groups.
·
Helping second years with their preparations for
their year abroad by helping them make contact with third and final years that
study their languages, for example we have a group of YA students this year
writing blogs that students may find helpful when making their decisions.
·
Creating a link between the society and LUSU
involve to help out with their current languages based activities and possibly
help them to extend this further, to the benefit of the community, LUSU involve
and importantly the LULangS members.
·
Continuing the success that the society has had
this year and growing it into the next.
Why do I think you should vote for me?
·
As a third year I think I have got the
experience and knowledge that is key to taking the society that next step
further into its second year:
o
Secretary of Lancaster University Glee Club from
the creation of the society and throughout the duration of its first year with
successful performances and socials as well as charity fundraising. This means I’ve got a good understanding of
the way societies can work together with LUSU in order to get the most out of
it for everyone.
o
LUSU Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Officer
from January to June 2011, involving representing all the students of one of
the largest faculties at the University.
Attending meetings with senior staff, and gaining a wide understanding
not only of LUSU but of the University and the academic side of things.
·
I’ve been through my first few years at
Lancaster, being part of DELC, part of LUSU, part of the wider university
community and I think this puts me in a great position to understand the best
way forward for the society.
·
I’ve worked in teams with a variety of people
and am ready to listen to all members of the society and try my best to
implement their ideas. I would allow
each member of the exec to carry out their job independently but with whatever
support they may need.
·
Most importantly I’m ready for the challenge!
Any questions just ask me!
Addition as of 29/02/12
Hi All,
I was going to wait until the weekend to post this but seeing as YA students have already got the opportunity to vote I thought it better to post it now.
I have spent some time this week researching other societies, some at Lancaster and going as far as seeing what Languages societies at other universities get up to. From this I have taken away three particular ideas as well as a better understanding of what is achievable.
-Lancaster Uni Maths society runs a MASS cafe each week in which the members can drop in and do their work together in Fylde common room. This is a great chance for people to get together, do their work, help each other out and just chat in an informal setting. This would also be a good way for first and second years to meet up and discuss the year abroad and share their experiences. If this was something the members wanted I would look into when the best time for this would be and getting a suitable room booked. It would probably be once a week, or every other, and the room would be available for a few hours for people to drop in and out as they please.
-The University of Sheffield ran an International Languages festival, although on a lot larger scale than we should be initially aiming for a think the aims of the event:
raise awareness about huge linguistic variety present at Sheffield University
stimulate interest in languages
promote understanding for different cultures and countries through language
make people aware that Sheffield is a culturally diverse city
celebrate the fact that Sheffield University is an international institution
are certainly something we could be basing our own event upon. There are other societies here at Lancaster that we could be working with to achieve this as well as a whole wealth of international students. Seeing as international student involvement is something LUSU is constantly trying to improve I am almost sure we could count on their support too.
-I would also suggest that one of the first things the new exec focuses on is a review of the society and its constitution. Find out what works/what doesn’t and what you as the members are expecting of us in the coming year. I feel that for a new society coming to the end of its first year this is important in order to change and improve.
Thanks again,
Bex :)
Addition as of 29/02/12
Hi All,
I was going to wait until the weekend to post this but seeing as YA students have already got the opportunity to vote I thought it better to post it now.
I have spent some time this week researching other societies, some at Lancaster and going as far as seeing what Languages societies at other universities get up to. From this I have taken away three particular ideas as well as a better understanding of what is achievable.
-Lancaster Uni Maths society runs a MASS cafe each week in which the members can drop in and do their work together in Fylde common room. This is a great chance for people to get together, do their work, help each other out and just chat in an informal setting. This would also be a good way for first and second years to meet up and discuss the year abroad and share their experiences. If this was something the members wanted I would look into when the best time for this would be and getting a suitable room booked. It would probably be once a week, or every other, and the room would be available for a few hours for people to drop in and out as they please.
-The University of Sheffield ran an International Languages festival, although on a lot larger scale than we should be initially aiming for a think the aims of the event:
raise awareness about huge linguistic variety present at Sheffield University
stimulate interest in languages
promote understanding for different cultures and countries through language
make people aware that Sheffield is a culturally diverse city
celebrate the fact that Sheffield University is an international institution
are certainly something we could be basing our own event upon. There are other societies here at Lancaster that we could be working with to achieve this as well as a whole wealth of international students. Seeing as international student involvement is something LUSU is constantly trying to improve I am almost sure we could count on their support too.
-I would also suggest that one of the first things the new exec focuses on is a review of the society and its constitution. Find out what works/what doesn’t and what you as the members are expecting of us in the coming year. I feel that for a new society coming to the end of its first year this is important in order to change and improve.
Thanks again,
Bex :)
Tuesday, 21 February 2012
I have a feeling Granada is going to be hard work...
So over the last 2 days I've been to the first lesson of all my courses, the way the Granada timetable works it means that Monday and Wednesday are the same and Tuesday and Thursday are the same. I'm taking History of Women, Universal History of the Modern World, Introduction to Latin and a course on Spanish Dialect. They all look like they are going to be pretty hard work and unlike in Brussels where I was in classes for just Erasmus students, except for my Law class, I am in classes with Spanish students studying for their degree in the subject, so it's harder to understand and certainly of a higher level. I don't have to do well for Lancaster but I'd like to do OK so I think some effort is going to be required. Mental effort isn't the only sort kind of effort I'm having to put in though, exercise features fairly high on the list. Yes, I am living only 10-15 minutes away from the University, but the problem is the walk is entirely uphill, we're not talking a small hill either by any means. Walking this at 8.30 in the morning twice a week is certainly not a pleasure, especially as on 2 days I have to descend said hill and re-mount (is that a word...?) it about an hour later. Currently my legs are screaming out at me to stop, but seeing as I really don't have another option I am going to have to "man up" and get used to it, pronto! At least I only have a 4 day week, so Fridays will be spent with the intention of moving as little as possible!
Next Tuesday is Andalucia Day, I'm not sure if anything special happens around here, other than everything grinding to a halt I presume, but what I do know is that the Spanish love their puentes (which means bridges) meaning that no only do we get Tuesday off but to bridge the gap between the weekend and the festival we get Monday off too! I'm not really sure what I'm going to do with a 5 day weekend though, it's not as great as it seems, at home I'd happily do nothing for a few days but here I get easily bored and that just makes me miss home even more. Shall have to try and make some plans for the time I guess!
I know I shouldn't wish away time, but now she has booked her flights I am really looking forward to Erin visiting in March, it's the first of the list of things that I'm up to and it gives me something to look forward to. Especially as 3 or 4 of my best friends in Lancaster are celebrating 21st birthdays in March so I know I'll be missing out on all of that. Everything I've planned basically happens in the middle of my time here, I've got nothing for the first month-ish and nothing in the last 6 weeks other than my exams. Anyone fancy a holiday in Granada in March or May/June?!
In some ways it is fairly depressing and in others quite exciting that I'm already having to think about next year. The depressing one is that I've started my translation for my dissertation, in the hopes that it'll give me a good start when I get back in September. The exciting one is that I'm running for President of the Languages society at Uni, I've had to send a video of my speech though, I'm not going back to England for that funnily enough! I'll let you know how that goes when I know, I think it's a good few weeks away yet though.
I think I've probably bored you with enough of my updates now, time to go and cook something at least vaguely edible for tea and probably have a shower to avoid getting up at 6.30 tomorrow morning! Adios :)
Next Tuesday is Andalucia Day, I'm not sure if anything special happens around here, other than everything grinding to a halt I presume, but what I do know is that the Spanish love their puentes (which means bridges) meaning that no only do we get Tuesday off but to bridge the gap between the weekend and the festival we get Monday off too! I'm not really sure what I'm going to do with a 5 day weekend though, it's not as great as it seems, at home I'd happily do nothing for a few days but here I get easily bored and that just makes me miss home even more. Shall have to try and make some plans for the time I guess!
I know I shouldn't wish away time, but now she has booked her flights I am really looking forward to Erin visiting in March, it's the first of the list of things that I'm up to and it gives me something to look forward to. Especially as 3 or 4 of my best friends in Lancaster are celebrating 21st birthdays in March so I know I'll be missing out on all of that. Everything I've planned basically happens in the middle of my time here, I've got nothing for the first month-ish and nothing in the last 6 weeks other than my exams. Anyone fancy a holiday in Granada in March or May/June?!
In some ways it is fairly depressing and in others quite exciting that I'm already having to think about next year. The depressing one is that I've started my translation for my dissertation, in the hopes that it'll give me a good start when I get back in September. The exciting one is that I'm running for President of the Languages society at Uni, I've had to send a video of my speech though, I'm not going back to England for that funnily enough! I'll let you know how that goes when I know, I think it's a good few weeks away yet though.
I think I've probably bored you with enough of my updates now, time to go and cook something at least vaguely edible for tea and probably have a shower to avoid getting up at 6.30 tomorrow morning! Adios :)
Friday, 17 February 2012
Lots of walking, lovely tapas and a new French flatmate.
After arriving on Monday and getting moved into my flat nice and quickly I have spent the last few days getting to know Granada as well as shopping for bits and pieces and making my room feel more homely. Mum and I have done loads of walking and I reckon I've pretty much got to grips with where things are, I've put up a map of Granada on my wall in the hopes that I'll some how just magically absorb it and instantly know where I am, if only things worked like that, a bit like the theory of sleeping with a dictionary under the pillow, although I must say I have been tempted to try it!
Mum left yesterday after we'd spent our last day doing yet more walking (we decided to go up the hill to the Uni, no need for a gym membership with that walk every day, usually more than once...) as well as having a nice meal up by the Alhambra. Saying goodbye was hard as it always is but I know she'll be back out again in less than 3 months and I have plenty of other things to look forward to before then.
Today I had a meeting at the Uni in the morning, it wasn't particularly exciting so I won't bore you with any details. Later in the afternoon I met with Jack, Aimee and Michael for a wander around the city. This short wander turned into a rather long walk when we decided to head up to Albyzin to some tapas bars. We never did find them, to cut a long story short we walked up hill a long way and then back down again but it was through a very pretty part of the city so I'm not complaining. When we got back to the bottom we had a drink, tapas and some more food in a street literally off of one of the main streets we'd started on! We may not have achieved quite what we'd intended but it was a nice walk and a good way of using up a few hours whilst we can, this time next week we will have started classes. We've decided that we'll try again next week and head up for a wander round where near Amiee lives as apparently there are some really good views, which there should be considering the climb to get there!
When I got back tonight I discovered that I have a new flat mate, and she is French. I think I have already spoken more French with her than I did with my flat mate in Brussels the whole time I was there! She doesn't speak much Spanish or English so this is the best way for us to communicate, good for me as I really need the practise, I shall make the most of it before she realises she is in Spain and so should really have a go at Spanish a bit more!
Tomorrow brings another wander in town and then we are going out for tapas in the evening so we can say we have been nice and cultural. Maybe on Sunday I'll get around to looking at my translation for my dissertation?
Mum left yesterday after we'd spent our last day doing yet more walking (we decided to go up the hill to the Uni, no need for a gym membership with that walk every day, usually more than once...) as well as having a nice meal up by the Alhambra. Saying goodbye was hard as it always is but I know she'll be back out again in less than 3 months and I have plenty of other things to look forward to before then.
Today I had a meeting at the Uni in the morning, it wasn't particularly exciting so I won't bore you with any details. Later in the afternoon I met with Jack, Aimee and Michael for a wander around the city. This short wander turned into a rather long walk when we decided to head up to Albyzin to some tapas bars. We never did find them, to cut a long story short we walked up hill a long way and then back down again but it was through a very pretty part of the city so I'm not complaining. When we got back to the bottom we had a drink, tapas and some more food in a street literally off of one of the main streets we'd started on! We may not have achieved quite what we'd intended but it was a nice walk and a good way of using up a few hours whilst we can, this time next week we will have started classes. We've decided that we'll try again next week and head up for a wander round where near Amiee lives as apparently there are some really good views, which there should be considering the climb to get there!
When I got back tonight I discovered that I have a new flat mate, and she is French. I think I have already spoken more French with her than I did with my flat mate in Brussels the whole time I was there! She doesn't speak much Spanish or English so this is the best way for us to communicate, good for me as I really need the practise, I shall make the most of it before she realises she is in Spain and so should really have a go at Spanish a bit more!
Tomorrow brings another wander in town and then we are going out for tapas in the evening so we can say we have been nice and cultural. Maybe on Sunday I'll get around to looking at my translation for my dissertation?
Tuesday, 14 February 2012
¡Me encanta Granada!
I know I said it would probably be a few days before my next blog post but sitting here watching the Simpsons dubbed in Spanish (I'm sure I'll never get used to it along with Friends, Two and a Half Men and Sex and the City) with my Spanish flat mate I thought it was maybe time to update you all about how I'm getting on!
I left home yesterday at 3.45am so as you can imagine it was an early start! All went well, the snow stayed away and we got to the airport without an issue, the bags weren't overweight and there were no delays to the flight, in fact the winds were so favourable that we we 30 minutes early. When we arrived in Malaga we were early for the bus so went and had a coffee and bought our expensive lunch, but what else do you expect from the only bar/cafe at the arrivals of a busy airport? The bus ride to Granada is 2.5 hours because it makes a stop at a few little towns on the way there, it was a pretty journey- at least for the portion of it I managed to keep my eyes open for! I managed my first conversation on the phone in Spanish when we arrived and arranged with my landlady-to-be that we would meet her at the flat when she was ready, this involved more waiting around than intended but luckily it was warm outside so it wasn't really a problem. By the time I'd got unpacked and sorted everything out there wasn't really much time to do anything else so we headed over to Mums hotel to drop off her stuff and then out to find some food. As it was a long day I had an early night, at least I'd intended to but by the time I'd actually got in bed I'm not sure it was that early after all. The nights here are really cold in the flat so layering up is 100% necessary, hopefully now as we're heading out of the winter and into the Spring the weather is going to improve.
Today was my first full day here and what better way to start than by getting up at 6.20, meeting Jack and Aimee and heading off to our first "event" (just a welcome meeting) at the Uni! It is quite convenient for me with Jack living in the flat literally below mine as it meant I didn't have to struggle with finding the building today as we could go together. The meeting wasn't exactly life changing but it was nice to actually go to something to do with the Uni and I even got to meet someone that knows a friend of mine from home that goes to her uni, it really is a small world after all!
After the meeting and a trip to Mercadona I met up with Mum and we spent the day food shopping and getting various other bits and pieces that I need to make my room feel a little more like home. I'm holding off putting up all my photos and things yet though because I might be moving rooms when one becomes available in a week or so and if I put up my photos there is no way I will bother going anywhere, even if it is a better room!
Tonight Mum and I had a great meal in a restaurant near her hotel, basically it was a huge plate of grilled vegetables and then a bowl of really strong garlic prawns but it was a lot nicer than I am making it sound. It was all washed down rather nicely with a jug of Sangria between us too. We even had a dessert that we really didn't need, and I'm not even sure I particularly wanted it, we made a good team though because it was crepes with chocolate sauce, bananas and cream- I ate the banana and Mum dealt with the crepes.
I'm really pleased with how my Spanish is going so far, and it really proves to me how much better my Spanish is when compared with my French, unfortunately for me in Brussels I really didn't have ample opportunity to speak French and in fact here I have probably already spoken more Spanish in less than 48 hours than I did in a week, or possibly a month in Brussels!
That's all for now, the next couple of days I'll spend exploring with Mum before I head off to the Uni again on Friday and classes start on Monday. There will be another blog from me again soon I'm sure. Adios!
I left home yesterday at 3.45am so as you can imagine it was an early start! All went well, the snow stayed away and we got to the airport without an issue, the bags weren't overweight and there were no delays to the flight, in fact the winds were so favourable that we we 30 minutes early. When we arrived in Malaga we were early for the bus so went and had a coffee and bought our expensive lunch, but what else do you expect from the only bar/cafe at the arrivals of a busy airport? The bus ride to Granada is 2.5 hours because it makes a stop at a few little towns on the way there, it was a pretty journey- at least for the portion of it I managed to keep my eyes open for! I managed my first conversation on the phone in Spanish when we arrived and arranged with my landlady-to-be that we would meet her at the flat when she was ready, this involved more waiting around than intended but luckily it was warm outside so it wasn't really a problem. By the time I'd got unpacked and sorted everything out there wasn't really much time to do anything else so we headed over to Mums hotel to drop off her stuff and then out to find some food. As it was a long day I had an early night, at least I'd intended to but by the time I'd actually got in bed I'm not sure it was that early after all. The nights here are really cold in the flat so layering up is 100% necessary, hopefully now as we're heading out of the winter and into the Spring the weather is going to improve.
Today was my first full day here and what better way to start than by getting up at 6.20, meeting Jack and Aimee and heading off to our first "event" (just a welcome meeting) at the Uni! It is quite convenient for me with Jack living in the flat literally below mine as it meant I didn't have to struggle with finding the building today as we could go together. The meeting wasn't exactly life changing but it was nice to actually go to something to do with the Uni and I even got to meet someone that knows a friend of mine from home that goes to her uni, it really is a small world after all!
After the meeting and a trip to Mercadona I met up with Mum and we spent the day food shopping and getting various other bits and pieces that I need to make my room feel a little more like home. I'm holding off putting up all my photos and things yet though because I might be moving rooms when one becomes available in a week or so and if I put up my photos there is no way I will bother going anywhere, even if it is a better room!
Tonight Mum and I had a great meal in a restaurant near her hotel, basically it was a huge plate of grilled vegetables and then a bowl of really strong garlic prawns but it was a lot nicer than I am making it sound. It was all washed down rather nicely with a jug of Sangria between us too. We even had a dessert that we really didn't need, and I'm not even sure I particularly wanted it, we made a good team though because it was crepes with chocolate sauce, bananas and cream- I ate the banana and Mum dealt with the crepes.
I'm really pleased with how my Spanish is going so far, and it really proves to me how much better my Spanish is when compared with my French, unfortunately for me in Brussels I really didn't have ample opportunity to speak French and in fact here I have probably already spoken more Spanish in less than 48 hours than I did in a week, or possibly a month in Brussels!
That's all for now, the next couple of days I'll spend exploring with Mum before I head off to the Uni again on Friday and classes start on Monday. There will be another blog from me again soon I'm sure. Adios!
Sunday, 12 February 2012
Adios Inglaterra, hasta el fin de Junio!
Here we are again, the night before I leave. It's been great to be home for a few weeks but the only problem is now that I've got used to being here I'm off again. Tomorrow morning at silly o'clock my grandparents will be here to take Mum and I to Stansted for our flight to Malaga. We have spent the majority of today packing and unpacking and weighing and measuring... we got there in the end, partly thanks to Easy Jet and the fact they let you have an unlimited weight hand baggage as long as it is the right size to fit in the over head locker. Result= My hand luggage weighs a tonne but I've got everything I want with me. When it comes to getting it all back in June things aren't quite so certain, but I'll just have to cross that bridge when it comes to it in 4.5 months time I guess!
I guess I won't be writing for a few more days now, tomorrow will be spent travelling and getting myself moved into my room and working out what I need to go and buy from the shops as well as stocking up on food and going to a couple of meetings at the uni. Getting the last minute worries about it now, but I know that once I've got there and into my room, met the girls I'm living with, been to the uni for the first time and my Mum has gone home I'll get settled into it just like I did in Brussels. As I keep repeating this should be an easier term as it is my stronger language. No matter what I tell myself though, I know the first week or two is going to be hard, it always is, but this time I know I've done it all before and it'll be fine.
This is the last time that I'll be doing this, once I come back from Spain I'll be working for the summer and then off to Lancaster for final year, and leaving to go there is a hell of a lot easier than this. I'm already looking forward to living off campus next year, I think the changes and independence living abroad gives you it would be hard to go back to living in the bubble that is the Bailrigg campus!
So this is it I guess, Spain- here I come!
I guess I won't be writing for a few more days now, tomorrow will be spent travelling and getting myself moved into my room and working out what I need to go and buy from the shops as well as stocking up on food and going to a couple of meetings at the uni. Getting the last minute worries about it now, but I know that once I've got there and into my room, met the girls I'm living with, been to the uni for the first time and my Mum has gone home I'll get settled into it just like I did in Brussels. As I keep repeating this should be an easier term as it is my stronger language. No matter what I tell myself though, I know the first week or two is going to be hard, it always is, but this time I know I've done it all before and it'll be fine.
This is the last time that I'll be doing this, once I come back from Spain I'll be working for the summer and then off to Lancaster for final year, and leaving to go there is a hell of a lot easier than this. I'm already looking forward to living off campus next year, I think the changes and independence living abroad gives you it would be hard to go back to living in the bubble that is the Bailrigg campus!
So this is it I guess, Spain- here I come!
Monday, 6 February 2012
A series of unfortunate events. Cancelled trains, flat car batteries and Danbury Hill...
Let me say, first of all, that despite everything I am about to tell you we had a really good weekend, just a few hiccups along the way shall we say?
Bad thing number 1: On Friday afternoon I get a phone call from Katy My train has been cancelled...luckily this was followed by an explanation of her plans for alternative trains via here there and everywhere it seemed, but she arrived with us, all be it about an hour and a half later than she should've done.
Satuday afternoon after lunch we headed off to London, we went in the car so that we could leave any bags from our retail therapy at Westfield Stratford in the car whilst we were at the 02 Arena seeing Olly Murs. Good idea you'd think? I bet you think you know what is coming next don't you? I bet it's not what you think, well...not immediately anyway! We headed back to the car before the show to drop off the one bag we had managed to acquire (disappointing shopping trip!) and [Bad thing number 2 coming up...]the boot wouldn't open. This wouldn't have been too much of a worry at that moment in time if we could've got into the rest of the car, but the remote was having no effect at all. After my genius suggestion of trying to get into the car the old fashioned way and actually using the key we were in, but now came the task of working out what was going on, was it just the remote? One quick glance at the dash and it's flashing lights told us that wasn't the case, it looked like the alarm had been going off. I hopped out of the car to take a look to see if there was any damage to the car, but there was nothing. Meanwhile Mum had attempted to start up the car and all that did set off the alarm again, and you could only stop it by keeping your foot on the brake...Brilliant! Time to call the AA out now then? Whilst Mum was on the phone to the AA the realisation hit her of what had happened, she'd left the headlights on for the last 3 hours and the battery had run flat...(On hearing this news my Dads first reaction was didn't you hear the beeping?...) We were very lucky though, after first being told that the AA were very busy in the area and it could take up to two hours the man arrived with us within 20 minutes, telling us that the roads were dead and there was nothing going on- interesting! So after sitting in the car running it for a while we headed back into the 02.
We had a great time, Olly even came right out into the audience and walked right past the row in front of where we were sitting (I have a video but it's really not worth posting it!). At about 10.30 we headed out of the arena into a good few inches of snow... fantastic. Bad thing number 3, not too helpful when you've come in the car I'm sure you'd agree. Thankfully when we got back to the car it unlocked and started up fine so there was no issue there. The thing is the M11, M25 and A12 didn't appear to have seen any grit, despite the overhead signs that were telling us other wise "Salt Spreading" they said, but bearing in mind the road was totally covered I really fail to see how we were meant to believe that one! There were cars slipping and sliding everywhere, and as usual the idiots who over take you thinking they can do better and then are inevitably the ones that cause you problems up ahead. The real issue comes when you want to get back to Maldon, given the choice between the back roads or going through Danbury you're not really left with a suitable option! In hindsight we'd have gone for the back roads though I think! After already having been stuck and pushed once near the start of the hill we had to slow down after the car in front got stuck, predictably leaving us stuck too. We struggled for quite some time, but we eventually saved by a lovely couple that live in one of the houses on the hill. They had been going out for the past 2 hours helping people and we were just one of the cars they'd helped on their way that night. With 4 of us pushing the car we eventually made it to the top and were on the way home once more. It wasn't until we were turning into our own road that we got stuck again, but we dug ourselves out with the shovel Dad had sent us off with earlier on and got Dad to come and give us a hand and we eventually made it home. From all the news reports we were the lucky ones, there were people stuck on the M25 for 6 or 7 hours that night, and people stuck in the 02 overnight because the underground had ground to a halt. The extra hats, gloves, scarves and socks I'd taken with us don't seem so silly now, we may have needed them!
On Sunday Katy headed to Witham with her brother, she was meant to be seeing all of her family, but the roads were just too bad for them to be able to head down from Norfolk. Once she'd gone we had a lovely walk down to the Prom in the snow and I think now our series of unfortunate events is over. They do say things come in threes don't they?
Scarily enough this time next week I'll be in Granada! Mum is coming with me for the first few days whilst I get settled in, but by Thursday I'll be on my own again and truly starting the second half of my year abroad. I'll be out there until the end of June, and unlike when I was in Brussels and could easily hop on the plane or the Eurostar I don't plan to come home, it would take too long for it to be worth it bearing in mind I'd have to leave on a Friday and be back for classes on Monday morning. I've already got plenty of weekend plans though so the time should fly, I've hopefully got a friend coming out to visit in March, and then I'm planning on going to Gibraltar, after that I've got a holiday booked in Majorca with some of the girls from Uni, following that 2 trips to Cordoba and Seville before my parents and my Nana come out for the week that covers my Mums birthday and my 21st! After that it's just something like 6 weeks to go and I know at least 1 or 2 more people that want to visit Granada as well as having exams to do. I've not even gone anywhere yet and I have planned out most of my time right up until the end!
Sorry for the long post and that some of it may have bored you to death! But to be honest...lets think about what sparked you to read this in the first place? Is it your boundless interest for what I'm up to or just mindless procrastination any way?!
Bad thing number 1: On Friday afternoon I get a phone call from Katy My train has been cancelled...luckily this was followed by an explanation of her plans for alternative trains via here there and everywhere it seemed, but she arrived with us, all be it about an hour and a half later than she should've done.
Satuday afternoon after lunch we headed off to London, we went in the car so that we could leave any bags from our retail therapy at Westfield Stratford in the car whilst we were at the 02 Arena seeing Olly Murs. Good idea you'd think? I bet you think you know what is coming next don't you? I bet it's not what you think, well...not immediately anyway! We headed back to the car before the show to drop off the one bag we had managed to acquire (disappointing shopping trip!) and [Bad thing number 2 coming up...]the boot wouldn't open. This wouldn't have been too much of a worry at that moment in time if we could've got into the rest of the car, but the remote was having no effect at all. After my genius suggestion of trying to get into the car the old fashioned way and actually using the key we were in, but now came the task of working out what was going on, was it just the remote? One quick glance at the dash and it's flashing lights told us that wasn't the case, it looked like the alarm had been going off. I hopped out of the car to take a look to see if there was any damage to the car, but there was nothing. Meanwhile Mum had attempted to start up the car and all that did set off the alarm again, and you could only stop it by keeping your foot on the brake...Brilliant! Time to call the AA out now then? Whilst Mum was on the phone to the AA the realisation hit her of what had happened, she'd left the headlights on for the last 3 hours and the battery had run flat...(On hearing this news my Dads first reaction was didn't you hear the beeping?...) We were very lucky though, after first being told that the AA were very busy in the area and it could take up to two hours the man arrived with us within 20 minutes, telling us that the roads were dead and there was nothing going on- interesting! So after sitting in the car running it for a while we headed back into the 02.
We had a great time, Olly even came right out into the audience and walked right past the row in front of where we were sitting (I have a video but it's really not worth posting it!). At about 10.30 we headed out of the arena into a good few inches of snow... fantastic. Bad thing number 3, not too helpful when you've come in the car I'm sure you'd agree. Thankfully when we got back to the car it unlocked and started up fine so there was no issue there. The thing is the M11, M25 and A12 didn't appear to have seen any grit, despite the overhead signs that were telling us other wise "Salt Spreading" they said, but bearing in mind the road was totally covered I really fail to see how we were meant to believe that one! There were cars slipping and sliding everywhere, and as usual the idiots who over take you thinking they can do better and then are inevitably the ones that cause you problems up ahead. The real issue comes when you want to get back to Maldon, given the choice between the back roads or going through Danbury you're not really left with a suitable option! In hindsight we'd have gone for the back roads though I think! After already having been stuck and pushed once near the start of the hill we had to slow down after the car in front got stuck, predictably leaving us stuck too. We struggled for quite some time, but we eventually saved by a lovely couple that live in one of the houses on the hill. They had been going out for the past 2 hours helping people and we were just one of the cars they'd helped on their way that night. With 4 of us pushing the car we eventually made it to the top and were on the way home once more. It wasn't until we were turning into our own road that we got stuck again, but we dug ourselves out with the shovel Dad had sent us off with earlier on and got Dad to come and give us a hand and we eventually made it home. From all the news reports we were the lucky ones, there were people stuck on the M25 for 6 or 7 hours that night, and people stuck in the 02 overnight because the underground had ground to a halt. The extra hats, gloves, scarves and socks I'd taken with us don't seem so silly now, we may have needed them!
On Sunday Katy headed to Witham with her brother, she was meant to be seeing all of her family, but the roads were just too bad for them to be able to head down from Norfolk. Once she'd gone we had a lovely walk down to the Prom in the snow and I think now our series of unfortunate events is over. They do say things come in threes don't they?
Scarily enough this time next week I'll be in Granada! Mum is coming with me for the first few days whilst I get settled in, but by Thursday I'll be on my own again and truly starting the second half of my year abroad. I'll be out there until the end of June, and unlike when I was in Brussels and could easily hop on the plane or the Eurostar I don't plan to come home, it would take too long for it to be worth it bearing in mind I'd have to leave on a Friday and be back for classes on Monday morning. I've already got plenty of weekend plans though so the time should fly, I've hopefully got a friend coming out to visit in March, and then I'm planning on going to Gibraltar, after that I've got a holiday booked in Majorca with some of the girls from Uni, following that 2 trips to Cordoba and Seville before my parents and my Nana come out for the week that covers my Mums birthday and my 21st! After that it's just something like 6 weeks to go and I know at least 1 or 2 more people that want to visit Granada as well as having exams to do. I've not even gone anywhere yet and I have planned out most of my time right up until the end!
Sorry for the long post and that some of it may have bored you to death! But to be honest...lets think about what sparked you to read this in the first place? Is it your boundless interest for what I'm up to or just mindless procrastination any way?!
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