WHILE many of you were getting bored at home over the holidays, 130ish of us went to France on the Surrey Uni ski tour 2003. Cloudless blue sky each day and really nice snow made it a brilliant week for us all, although I'm still feeling rather delicate after learning the hard way why you should always land on your feet when getting "phat air" off a "kicker"!
  STILL, my little fall was but a mere aborted take off compared to Andy's unsuccessful quest for the skies. Basically, a member of my ski group called Andy lost his ski jump virginity to a jump that even Vasco and Rich (who have been skiing since the age of 3) were weary of. Andy got more air off the jump than in 4 hot-air balloons, but the landing fractured a bone in Andy's neck and he had to be airlifted to hospital by helicopter. So get well soon Andy, and don't worry - as you requested I got the whole thing on video!
  STICKING with the snowy theme, as some of you may not know, just before the Ski Tour campus received its own share of the white stuff. I awoke to txt messages telling me to look out my window, and there was real snow! I grabbed my cameras and headed down to the lake. Everyone on campus was to be found at the lake. Mass snowball fights and snowperson creation ensued, and after going back for some food I grabbed my skis and actually went skiing on the pistes behind Stag Hill!!
  BACK at University now, and already the work is piling up. I really cannot believe that in a few months I'll have graduated! Anyone sitting reading this who can't be bothered to get involved in societies, or go out - then get out there and get involved! When you have to go and work you just won't get the chance to get involved with things as you do now. As a wise man once said: "When you're a student you have the time but no money, and when your working you have the money but no time".

  I'D forgotten how peaceful campus without first years can be… no offence to any Freshers - I just happen to have three on my floor who are sometimes more suited to an army camp than Rawson 2! At the end of last semester, to relieve the tension of exams (theoretically), Rob, Steve and Andy bought themselves a 'cork-gun' each, and proceeded to turn the floor into a war zone. The kitchen table turned into their hideout, the corridors no-man's-land and the fridges a handy place to hide behind (and on) to ambush anyone daring to enter the room. Well, it certainly made for an interesting dinnertime - but don't worry boys, I love you really… honest!
  LAST week one of my university ambitions was realised - snow! Within minutes of waking up, I was out of the door with my camera, joining the throngs of students taking photos by the lake. The afternoon saw several snowmen (and women, devils… and sheep) sprouting up all over campus, most notably the snow-couple on the PATS driveway, complete with breasts and all 'equipment' (yes, the male one did have snowballs). The Twyford field thronged with students in their second childhood, throwing snowballs at anything that moved - I was in heaven. But I don't think one music lecturer was quite so chuffed when he found that the band from MaD Soc's Fame had built a rather large snowman right on top of his car!
  FINALLY, I'd just like to mention the Christmas FNO. From carol singing in Chancellors (don't let second year musos drink whilst they sing!) to the massive glitter ball outside the Union and Boney M on stage, it was, as all my Xmas FNOs have been, a night to remember. A special mention must go to Nathan, apparently 'the most eligible bachelor in Guildford' who spent around half an hour telling me that I was really famous and he was my biggest fan - you made my night! Happy New Year everyone, and let's have a fantastic second semester.