Dogs and Views.

The holiday is nearly over; it's only one day until I go back to Cambridge, and I'm surprised. My second summer holiday has essentially flown by and now I'm starting my graduation year (yeah I have 3 more after that, but it still feels a little significant). My bedroom is a pit, owing to the first attempts at packing I tried yesterday. It's surprisingly hard to take only select stuff; when I pack to come home from Cambridge it's much easier as EVERYTHING needs packing! I have finally thrown away my filthy sauce pan (ruined in Castle End by some unidentifiable tomato burnage, and non-stick scrapage, perpetrator technically unknown), and have bought some shiny new ones from Ikea.

I arrived back from Leeds on Wednesday; I only went up for a few days to say hello (and to keep Alex and her brother entertained while their parents were away enjoying the sun, sea and sand of the Devon coast. We visited Mary, which was great fun - she showed us many photos of her amazing trip to Kenya - Giraffes, zebras, lions, tigers, leopards, buffallo, antelope, impala... everything you'd expect! We also walked the dogs to the top of the hill and took stock of the amazing view. Just one of many discoverable in the foothills of the pennines. Both Alex (Yorks) and Mary (Lancs) have views everywhere - within a few steps of their front-doors, something that I miss in the Kingston Basin, and in the Cambridge pancake. They seemed confused at my almost constant "Wow! Another view!" as we walked round. I also discovered that I like walking dogs. Thus two things for me to attain when I grow up are dogs, and views. You can see the amazingness of the landscape, Alex and Mary and the Dogs in the three photos I have uploaded for your viewing pleasure.

We also had a bonfire with a load of paper shreddings. There's something about fire that just fascinates me, and if I think correctly, every other human being on this planet. Maybe it's hardwired into our brains so that we can actually cook our food (and thus enable us to have lazy digestive systems(?)). We toasted marshmallows in the papery flames, and were merry.

• Films watched: 2. Some like it hot (v.good), and This Boy's Life (a bit dull and drawn out, but it finished well).
• Books read: 1. The Blind Watchmaker. Read it on the trains, and well worth reading. Just ignore the chapter about taxonomy because it's dull.
• Miles Travelled: ~500 including Alex's first venture onto a motorway behind the wheel (and very well she did too).
• Packed: 60%
• Kisses from drunk 30something's on tube trains: 1. My hand I hasten to add.

Wow - so it's been a while. "What have I been up to over this Christmas period", I imagine is something you are not running through your heads at the moment. If you are, stop, because I am not on a Jamie Frost level of fame yet, and any comparisons are not fair.

Righteo. So, 6 Weeks of holiday, what have I filled them with

The first 3 weeks, from the 5th to the 23rd of December I spent working. I got the job selling Christmas Trees, and spent up to 12 hours a day at a small bowling green in Richmond flogging Norway Spruces, Nordmann Firs and Fraser Firs amongst others. It was a good job - a little cold at times, but I quite liked being outside and £7/hr is not to be sniffed at. Somehow I managed to mix in some Xmas shopping in my 3 days off.

After Christmas I went and visited Alex au Leeds, and trundled across the pennines to celebrate new year at Mary's. We played trivial pursuit (Alex and me got about 8 questions in a row correct - at least 2 of which I knew the answer to!), and I drank a massive glass of Champagne. Woke up the next morning with a hangover (obviously), but luckily managed to shake it off on the train (sorry Halifax) so I was well enough to enjoy Alex's mum's 3 course new years meal (using the 2nd best cutlery! I was honoured!). It was great fun :)

Upon returnerising I have realised that I only have a week to get all my work done for uni. This includes two pathology essays and a researchy thing, plus revising for exams (PfVP next term and a path mock)... arses! Back to the grindstone

My apologies for not keeping this up!

Tom
xxxx