EXAM time. This is the 2 or 3 weeks, where anyone that gets asked to do something, which they would rather not really do, has one of the best excuses ever: "Sorry, I've got exams" or "I can't, I have to revise". Basically what people are saying, is that they either don't want to do something, or just can't be bothered. Its ok to sit and watch Eastenders, or go out for dinner to Chancellors, or talk to your friend on the phone, but anything awkward requested of you - "sorry, exams".
  I have been asked to write something Christmassy. Well this year I think Christmas has skipped campus. People just don't seem to be up for it this year. My housemates decorated Rawons 3's kitchen about 2 weeks ago, and Rawson 2 followed suit last week, but apart from that I have seen very few kitchens bothering. Even in town, people have just forgotten what Christmas is about.
  SO then, I won't write about Christmas not really happening on campus and instead write about something else. Something else is 2 words, meaning something, that if I had enough time spare with all this revision and exams I have to do, I would look up its meaning and write something stupid about.
  ONE thing that I know a lot of floors are doing, is the Floor Christmas Meal! This is a jolly seasonal event, where everyone on the floor (well, all the people that don't have loads of revision for exams) works together to create a lovely meal, then after eating it sit around and get drunk along to a nostalgic Christmas CD.
  JUST think how much money you would make if you wrote a REALLY good Christmas song! You and your offspring would be minted for the rest of your existence! If Anon had got royalties every time "God rest ye merry gentleman" was sung since its conception around the 14th century, then I'm sure Bill Gates wouldn't be the world's richest man ever. Wow! I feel inspired! I'm going to write the worlds BEST CHRISTMAS SONG EVER!! …. Nar, can't be bothered - Got revision!

  CHRISTMAS has certainly arrived in Battersea Rawson. Despite the exams, coursework and associated frayed tempers we are just about managing to pull together and get in the Christmas spirit. Over the last week floors two and three have discovered snow spray - a toy I have, amazingly, never played with in my twenty-one years of existence. The massive "Happy Xmas from Rawson 2 - eat drink and be merry," declared from our kitchen coupled with upstairs' "Rawson 3 says Merry Christmas" is certainly ensuring that everyone who enters Battersea Court or heads for the GU2 studios (just outside the windows) cannot miss our house. One thing that made me laugh yesterday was when a friend of my housemate asked me "so, what's Rawson then?!" - and she was standing in our kitchen at the time!
  IN a way I'm looking forward to the peace and quiet afforded by a week or so at home over Christmas, and three weeks on campus without the majority of students. Maybe the pile of washing up in the kitchen will finally decrease? I remember my first Christmas at home after starting University (being in Twyford I had to go home for the whole four weeks) and it was certainly a massive lifestyle shock. Going from all night parties, sleeping through lectures until noon, eating when I felt like it and going out when I wanted to three square meals a day and a family that went to bed no later than 11 o'clock made me realise what it meant to me to be at university. Nothing against my home life - it's great to go home, be fed properly and not worry about whether Tesco's is still open - but it was that holiday that made me realise that I was at the age when it really felt right for me to start running my own life.
  SO there's a week left of this madness. One more exam, one coursework deadline, two more violin lessons, a Christmas roast and several celebratory nights out to go…. and then home for a nice family Christmas. I can't wait!
  HAVE a great holiday everyone!