ANOTHER week nearer Christmas, and sadly we haven't started putting up our decorations. The top of that big Christmas tree I see out my window is still there, and its raining - not snowing. This last week I've been doing a project on lifts with my group. It's really the only thing I've been thinking about, and it's really not good. Still, I can talk about lifts for ages now… I'll spare you though.
  TWO interesting facts about lifts that you may not know. 1) If you are in a lift that is plummeting out of control, then jumping at the last minute will have no effect what so ever. 2) The first lift safety system was created by some sultan guy a few hundred years ago, by putting a load of feather stuffed pillows at the bottom of the 2 storey lift shaft. To test the system he then hoisted the lift up to the 2nd level with a servant in, then he cut the rope. The servant survived with only 1 broken leg, so the sultan was satisfied that the lift was safe!
  I have just had a great idea. I think everyone in the world should buy more underwear! I'm far too busy to do my washing, but its getting near to the time when I need to do it, i.e. when I run out of underwear. It seems that everyone on campus has just enough underwear for a 2 week rotation, because whenever I walk past the laundrette between those 2 weeks its empty. However, whenever I want to do my washing, the place is packed! If people bought more underwear, then the 2 week rotation would be no more, and it would filter into the 3 or 4 or even (for the very lovebuyingunderweary people) 5 week rotation!
  RIGHT then, I'm off to take out my subscription to Elevator World Magazine! Oh, and if you need to move your fridge to get something from under it, don't do as my "un-named" housemate did, and tip it up with everything still in it!

  EVERYONE above the first year will be familiar with that 'mid term low' feeling that sets in around week 10 of the first semester; an unfortunate by-product of the abnormally long 15 week Autumn semester. Everyone starts to become slightly lethargic and apathetic, the most common word around is the dreaded 'coursework', and Union is unnaturally quiet on a normally heaving Friday Night. Unfortunately, I am one of the guilty ones who did not attend the week 9 FNO - the very first Friday I haven't ventured out since the start of my final year. After a crazy week of coursework, rehearsals and Barefacts, snuggling up in bed and watching the comic-but-meant-to-be-scary Carrie 2 seemed a far more appealing prospect than the Union. Don't worry, my psychiatrists tell me I'll be back to (relatively) normal within a few days.
  THIS week saw the sleeping-through-7am-fire-alam incident of week 5 resurface again. After my earlier warning from the Warden, I thought I'd heard the last of it. But, oh no, things like that cannot be forgotten by the powers that be. This week, our entire floor received a letter informing us that "someone (you know who you are) should understand that not only do you put yourself in danger, but also the safety of others." Apparently the next time I commit this misdemeanour I will be fined £15. For being a heavy sleeper?! How many times do I have to say it - I did not choose to sleep through the fire practice!
  NOW, enough of my ranting and raving (it's been a long week). Week 9's Sunday Roast Dinner, despite warnings that I should never be let near any type of food, was my first time as the main chef. After a few narrowly avoided disasters (yorkshire pudding mix in foil cases should not be left to defrost whilst sitting on top of each other - it's messy) the result was actually quite edible. Maybe there's a chef somewhere deep inside me fighting to get out. Mind you, it must be hidden very, very deep!