Day in the Life #5 (Exam Day)

It was day 1 of my first semester, first year exams. I woke up, brushed my teeth, made some oatmeal and was now ready to concentrate on some early morning revision. I had 5 exams over a 2-week period and today was Mathematics 1. I had been revising all break for these modules and felt prepared for all of them, but today’s exam felt the hardest, and not to mention the longest: 2 hours and 30 minutes to complete 4 out of 5 questions of my choosing. Anyway, it was time to cram. So that’s exactly what I did for about 1 hour before I get a knock on my room door.

It was J, my roommate asking me if I had a spare pen and pencil as he lost all his. (Don’t ask me how) So I go to my desk, get a pen and pencil and lend it to him. I tell him I have an exam today. He says, ‘good luck, go ace it’. I say ‘hopefully, ha-ha’. Anyway, the conversation ended in an instant and we both got back to what we were doing. I think he may have had an exam that day. I was too focused on my work to really care about asking him.

Next: got back to cramming. I still had about 2 hours to go. I lived on-campus, so the walk to the exam hall would’ve only taken be about 5 minutes. Anyway, I went to the kitchen to see if I had any Redbulls to boost my concentration. To my luck I had 2 in the fridge. I took both and rushed back to my room. I cracked them both open and kept them side-by-side while memorising proofs and looking over example questions. Back then the Redbull would stimulate me enough to actually help me enjoy revision.

I revised and revised, and by the time the Redbulls were finished it was time to go, but not before I needed the toilet. So, after using the toilet I headed straight to my exam hall. I was seat number D26.

Everyone was pin drop silent slowly walking to their designated seats. There was a sense of tense-calmness if I can put it that way. Anyway, I was ready, and ready to ace it.

I walk to my seat, sit down and realise I need the toilet again. I run to the toilet and run back. The Redbulls must be doing their magic. Anyway, I was ready to take on the world at this point with the biggest grin of confidence on my face.

Exam’s done, and I still have the biggest grin of confidence on my face. I felt like I smashed it. It was re-assuring to feel like smashing an exam after revising for it for so long.  I looked around to see confused, disappointed, accomplished, relieved and a whole host of ‘other’ faces.

We walked out as slowly and calmly as we walked in.

I can’t reiterate how relived I was. It was like 1 of 5 giant boulders being taken of my back.

In my head I’m thinking weather to relax and have fun tonight or to start cracking on with exam number 2 which was in 2 days’ time. As the thought finished I heard my maths-buddy ‘I’ talking about answers to specific questions. A friend ‘H’ wanted nothing to do with that and ran away. A bunch of us were now stood around bouncing answers of each other to specific questions. Picture 4 or 5 maths geeks doing this, and now picture the exact opposite. Yep, that was us. The complete opposite of the norm. Anyway, once that had finished we decided to head (without any thought) to ‘Charco’s’, (dare I say it) a fancier Nando’s.

So Charco’s ended up being little eating and more talking about exam questions.

After Charco’s ended we all split up going our own way. The thought as I walked back to the flat was ‘did I really smash that exam?’ Anyway, time would tell.

I got back to the flat and the first thing I did was jump in my bed and think about what I would do tonight. None of the flat was in. They must’ve still been at University. I was calm, still focused and ready to just get a bit more revision done for now.

So, I revised. I put my headphones on and cracked on for about 2 hours before I decided to give up and take the rest of the night off.

I went into the kitchen to see if anyone was in. E, K and N were in. All three of them had exams that day. K was studying English Lit while E and N were practicing for Dentistry. Everyone said it was a great day and that the exams couldn’t have gone any better. I told them I felt like that as I finished the exam, but after discussing the questions with a friend, I may have overestimated my abilities in acing the exam.

The night then panned out quite nice. It was just us chilling in the kitchen talking and having fun. We talked about potentially planning a movie night after one of the exams. I invited S and V over from the other flats and we then continued to just talk, talk and talk. It was amazing how much time we could kill just by being around each other and initiating conversation.

The day was nearly over and the girls (K, N and E) decided to go revise some more for up-coming exams. I said I would do the same and went off to my room. V and S also went back to their flats.

So I revised more. It wasn’t going to be a fun night after all. It was a productive one though and that was good enough.

As I laid in bed I thought about all the pressure of exams and what it could mean after I left all these amazing people and went off into the real world to go and get a job or do something I loved.

I just didn’t know this early.

Day done.

Day in the Life #4 (Club Orleans)

Tonight, was the night. It was going to be our first night out clubbing as a flat. I was in my room for pre-pre-drinks (things that happened before pre-drinks). Pre-pre-drinks consisted of me having a shower, grabbing a small snack and getting ready. I wore blue tight fit ripped jeans and a plain white top. I sprayed a bit of Lynx to keep me fresh and wondered on into the kitchen.

The kitchen was messy from before. No-body had bothered to clean up anything; we were a lazy bunch. Anyway, I was the first one in the kitchen. The time was around 6:55pm, 5 minutes before the flats meeting time. I move some stuff around to make a little room on the kitchen table, throw a few things in the bin and voila, it’s clean, well cleaner than before anyway.

Now, people start arriving to pre-drinks. I think I mentioned previously that the flat consisted of me, J, O, K, E and N. Me, J and O were the boys and K, E and N were the girls. First O arrives, he says hi and I say hi back. It was kind of boring and had a weird feel with just us two. J is second to arrive. He looks like he’s already had a bit to drink. Pre-pre-drinks much have actually meant drinking for him, ha-ha. So the boys are together and eager to start what’s necessary: drinking and having fun. We don’t wait around and crack open some alcoholic beverages. By this time all three girls: K, N and E arrive together giggling like little girls about something we (the boys) didn’t want to know about.

So everyone’s there; the girls are happy bunnies and the guys are occupied. It was time to officially start pre-drinks. Everyone sat around the table while me and J poured each of the girls a shot with one hand and our personal beverages in another. Everyone now had a drink.

As we’re sat around the table we play ‘Never Have I Ever’ followed by ‘Drunk Jenga’. Let me explain. Actually, I won’t explain. It’ll just take too long. If you’re curious you can always search online for the rules and stuff. Without a doubt Drunk Jenga was the most fun to play. After a few drinks the guys were tipsy while the girls were all over the place. It was a miracle that the girls didn’t attempt to fly, ha-ha. (I don’t recommend flying and drinking. It won’t happen) So Jenga blocks are all over the floor, the kitchen is a mess with bottles and food all over the place and we decide to have one more shot each before we head out. We were going to go to club Orleans.

The 6 of us, feeling most wonderful, looking into each other’s eyes saying, ‘this is going to be awesome’, and boy let me tell you, this first night was perhaps the best night I’ve ever had in my life to date. It was unforgettable.

A taxi was called and with all the alcohol in our systems we were ready to take on the world for all its glory. We were itching to run the Olympics while feeling as calm as monks in a monastery. Anyway, enough description. Let me tell you how the night unfolded.

The taxi ride was a laugh, it was us singing pop songs throughout while the taxi driver looked at us with rolling eyes. He didn’t care much. He dropped us off outside the club and we queued up for about 15 minutes.

We were now in club Orleans. The lights, the fashion sense and the music; it was a spectacle to see. We knew at this moment, we were in for something incredible. We danced, danced and danced. We loved every minute of it. It’s difficult for me to compare it to anything. It’s something you must do and be a part of to get an understanding of what I was feeling that night. But I can tell you this: I finally felt free. No parents on my nerves, no cramming in for end of year exams, no nothing. Just pure, blissful freedom. J at this point wanted a smoke and invited me to tag along.

We pushed and squeezed our way though the crowd all the way to the smoking area. He rolled one for himself and asked me if I wanted one as well. As drunk as I was, I agreed. Both of us were there like some cop duo with cigarettes in our mouths lighting them up one by one. We inhaled, then exhaled. Inhaled, then exhaled. We inhaled and exhaled the smoke many times while we simultaneously talked about our flat and how awesome everyone was. Anyway, we both rushed back into the club as fast as I smoked my very first cigarette.

We all continued to drink and dance, and that’s all we did for another 4 hours or so. It was hectic, sweaty and down-right mental.

The night was bright, but aged. Time was ahead of us and moving at some speed. We were sobering up as well. It was time we called it a night.

We left the club and went straight to a pizzeria close by, gobbled the pizza down within minutes and called another taxi to take us back home.

The journey had a sense of calmness and peace to it. Almost reflecting on the night and what it was made to be. Anyway, we were finally home and into the safety of our flat. Morning was on the edge and we all decided not to stay up. Although J did make the suggestion, ha-ha. But goodnights were said all round and away we all went to our rooms.

As I lay in bed I thought of how incredible the day was. I was so over the moon about getting into my first pick University and was even happier about how everything was turning out to be. I could sense this year was going to be epic.

Day done.

Day in the Life #3 (The LCD Setup)

I had just woken up. The night from yesterday was heavy and filled with excitement. (Anyway, that’s a story for another time) It was about 10am; I got changed and headed to the kitchen to eat. I was starving. Anyway, I walk into the kitchen (our flats communal area) to find a massive 40-inch LCD television on the kitchen table plugged into an Xbox 360, plugged into a PS3, and plugged into a DVD player. I was amazed at what I saw. The kitchen is never usually like this. We normally just sit around, talk and eat. So I see this massive setup and I see the 3 guys who did this: S, V and J.

‘Check this out’, S said. I sat down next to them while V and J were playing FIFA 14 on the PS4. Our kitchen is big enough to fit about 100 people in and not have any room to move. So It’s big enough. Our seats, well they’re like 3 long planks with cushions on them. One in the centre while the other two are perpendicular on either side. Then there’s the table, that’s in front of every plank. So it’s basically a square table in the middle while the planks are around it. By planks I do mean cushioned seats, ha-ha. Along with the playable/watchable setup, I see rolling papers, filters and tobacco on the table. Nobody is smoking now, and I do realise that it’s a no-smoking area, but that’s soon to change.

We each take turns playing each other on FIFA. It’s great when it goes to penalties. Tense enough for an adrenaline rush. My flatmate K rushes in the kitchen and says she’s got some exciting new. ‘So do we’, S shouts. S explains the setup to K and K replies: ‘ok, but I’ve got bigger news’ – This flat had been chosen for cleanest flat in the building and we were getting a secret prize for it. So me and J were stoked. I guess we all were to some extent. But, technically V and S aren’t from this flat, V’s from the one downstairs and S is from the opposite one, same floor. (Some background info: we have 6 people in our Flat – me, J, K, N, O and E) Anyway, the prize, thinking back on it all, was a ticket each to go watch ‘The Greatest Showman’.

So now the 5 of us decide to turn everything off as K didn’t want to play. K was a girlie girl who didn’t like video games that much. As we turned it all off, E came into the kitchen. E said she was bored and had nothing to do. She didn’t like video games either. Now all of us were bored and had nothing to do. So we planned, and the plan was to leave inside and go out on a day trip all on foot.

We had decided the location: town. Town is a great place to wonder around and see something exciting. Especially in Leeds, town is huge and packed with at least one street performance a day. Anyway, it was time to leave. The 6 of us were off. Off on another adventure. This time, on foot.

So the journey on foot began. First out the flat door, then downstairs, outside our building entrance and to the road. S, V and J brought their rolling gear and tobacco along and each rolled one for the road. As we were all walking and some of us walking and smoking, we realised that in the rush we all had forgotten our keys to get back in. We knew nobody else was in mine, K and Es flat so we just decided to go and see what would happen when we came back.

The day was serene, orange and beautiful. It may have been a perfect summers late afternoon/evening. The streets were mainly populated with students. There were 2 big Universities in the area. We made it to town and went to get some sweets in Al’s Sweet Shop. Pic ‘N’ Mix was in order and necessary to fuel us for the moment. After, K and E went shopping while me, S, V and J decided to wait and sit down in town central watching the parade go by. S, V and J decided to light up their second cigarette each while we all waited and watched. S thought it would be funny to shout: ‘geek squad’ at the parade. It was kind of funny to watch half the parade turn around for a second, do nothing then continued marching as if nothing had happened.

Anyway, K and E had finished shopping and had me, S, V and J (the boys) carry their shopping back. So we were home. We had got in ringing the bell to be let in by O. O went back into his room after letting us in, V and S said they had to head back to their flats to get some revision and studying done. Now it was just me, J, K and E back in our flat kitchen. After a quick drink K and E also went back to their rooms. It was just me and J left.

‘One more match’, J suggested. ‘Okay’ I said. So we had one more match to end it all on our kitchen setup. It didn’t go to penalties this time, but I ended up winning 2-1 playing ‘El Classico’. (Barcelona vs Real Madrid. I was Barcelona) Well one more match turned into 2, then 3, then 4 and finally 5 ha-ha. It finally ended, and I forgot who won all of them, but it was a great 2 hours or so. I had totally forgot about my revision and was going to head back to my room to get some done.

I was now in my room, had a shower, got changed and I’m now ready to revise. I had some crisps first and then finished the day revising.

Day done.     

Day in the Life #2 (London)

It was movie marathon day and I was excited. I just finished my very first semester at University and was at my Sisters place. She also had the weekend off. (Little background about my Sister: she’s a biomedical scientist living with her husband in Dorchester) All three of us had nothing to do that day, although I could have been revising for exams. Anyway, I put revision off till tomorrow or Monday because that way I could be all on my own in the house with no distractions. So back to the point: today was movie marathon day.

The three of us said that three movies would be enough for the day to pass. One chosen by me, one chosen by my Sister (N) and one chosen by my brother-in-law (K). Just as we were about to choose; K got a phone call. K said he had to urgently go to London for the day for business purposes. N thought it would be a good idea to tag along. So that’s exactly what we did (N and I). All three of us were going to London. So today turned from movie marathon day to going to London day.

London was right in front of us. All three of us hopped straight in the car. No thought of anything else, no waiting around planning for what it could be. It just was. All three of us were in the car ready to go and Bam! Bird poo pretty much slammed in front of us on the windshield. We could only laugh and say ‘thank god it wasn’t on our heads’. Ha-ha.

Anyway, we ended up listening to music all the way to a service stop on the motorway. The stop was purely for food, but what happened next will blow you away. We saw Benedict Cumberbatch! You know, from Sherlock. I was excited. Me and a friend named S from Uni watched all seasons of Sherlock (2 at the time) back-to-back over 2 days and loved it. First thing was first though: I asked for a picture. So after all that, we finally ended up doing what we came for, and that was for some KFC.

We make it to KFC and ended up ordering our usual meals. It was a long que, and we finally got a place to sit and eat. As we were eating we realise (after a second or so) that our meals are to each other’s right, so we each had to shift our meals one to the left. It was interesting and just funny to watch as we did it. Anyway, we were finished and off to London.

So London was near, only a few more miles to go to reach K’s destination. His business purpose would last an hour or so. So, me and N had some time to kill (an hour ha-ha). Me and N decided we would just stroll around and see where we could go for an hour or so. We ended up finding a huge park.

The park was cool. It was just a stroll about. The view was spectacular. The colours of all the different flowers, bushes and trees complemented by the ponds, swans and birds was keeping us staring in amazement for a while. We only had 45 minutes left to mess around before we had to meet K at his location. We decided we would stay in the park till it was time to go.

I can’t talk about the scenery enough. It was beautiful; it was tranquil; it was just perfect. Almost has if we had a spike of serotonin in our systems. (Our pupils could have been severely dilated at this point ha-ha) We had 15 minutes left to wonder like little children discovering the world for the first time.

Anyway, we went in a circle and found ourselves at our starting point. It was time to go. We walked back to meet K and noticed a McDonalds right by us. We grabbed a bite to eat and headed for the car. K reversed out; me and N got in and we hit the road back home. I’ll have to admit the park was the best part of the day. I know N would certainly say so.

So there we were, in the car with a 2 or 3-hour journey ahead of us. The journey was calm, peaceful and nice. It was almost like the park effect had been lingering though me. Music had been playing throughout and we had been talking and laughing. We felt connected.

‘We’re home’, N exclaimed, and we were. We were home. The day had almost come to an end, but as we got inside we realised there was only one thing left to do, and that was to end going to London day right. Yep, it was to end the day with a movie. We next had the difficult situation in picking the movie all three of us wanted to watch. K dropped in and said: ‘I’ll leave that option to you two’. I then said ‘fine, I’ll drop out too’. So it was done. N had to pick the movie to end the day. It was going to be Escape of the Dead, a horror/slasher film. She mainly chose it for the thrill and horror type aspects of the movie.

The movie was fun, the popcorn was sweet, and the day had come to an end. Both N and K said they were going to bed. I said I was going too, but realised as I got into my room I could do a bit of revision for my end of 1^st semester exams. I had 5 exams; I had almost 2 months to revise for them. So I sat down and planned on how I would go about it for the next 2 months. It was a simple task in the end: I would switch revising modules every 2 days.

It was time for bed.

Day done.

Day in the Life #1 (The Skateboarding Incident)

The day was a good one, it was shining with sun and had me in a great mood. The morning consisted of packing, packing and more packing. Anyway, I was all packed and off to Leeds. (Background Info: I was at University there studying BSc Mathematics, my 2^nd year to be precise).

I was at Leeds, dropped off and ready to start my second life all on my own. I could feel it, it was going to be a great semester. So, I’m there, multiple bags around my neck and one suitcase in hand and just as I was about to walk upstairs to my room, I see my friend S skating on his longboard towards me from the right. He stops and acknowledges me. I acknowledge him, and we proceed to walk back to our rooms.

It’s about mid-afternoon, I’m in my room with nothing to do and I get a text saying, ‘Come to the kitchen’. I get out of bed and leave my room. Just as I leave my room I see my roommate K leaving her room as well, we both say hi to each other and carry on. I see my friend S in the kitchen along with two others. They were just chatting about something. So, I sit down, and we’re all in the kitchen talking about random stuff when my friend S asks: ‘Do you want to go on a little skate?’. At this point I was just playing around on my phone. But I say yes.

We both (S and I) headed out the kitchen to go get our boards. I had a black coloured penny board and he had a black and white longboard. We decided to meet up downstairs by the building entrance. I got my board, had a quick drink and ran downstairs. I was the first one downstairs. I looked around for a minute and admired the beautiful sunny view that was surrounding me (We lived by roads, but there were lots of plants and bushes to view). Anyway, he finally made it. We both put are boards down and headed off. We headed out the entrance and to the road.

We skated to this place where you could go downhill. (It wasn’t really a hill, more like a long road down). It was steep, and by steep, I mean almost vertical. So, we’re at the top of the hill ready to go down and I say: ‘S, you ready for this’, he replied ‘yep’ and headed straight down. My jaw dropped, I giggled a little and went straight after him. He made it halfway down the hill and jumped off his board. I did exactly the same thing. It was a disaster. Actually, it wasn’t too bad a first attempt. Ha-ha.

Round 2, and this time we were ready. We both kicked off and headed downhill. My board was picking up pace, I was speeding. I was in front. The halfway mark was done and my board now started to wobble. (I thought the money I paid for this board would handle this kind of speed. Apparently not) I fell of my board, rolled around and made it downhill. I got up to find my friend S with one foot on the board and one foot on the floor almost skidding down. At this point I felt a slight pain and stinging sensation on my knee and elbow realising two massive open wounds on the mentioned knee and elbow. A stranger close by asked if I was alright and luckily had some bandages in his car. He bandaged me up and I was ready to go. Me and S were glad It wasn’t too serious of a fall. S said it looked worse from his angle. Anyway, I was fine.

The sun was slowly setting down but the day was still as beautiful as it begun. ‘It’s time for a movie’ S shouted. I was okay with it, I had nothing else to do. We skated back to our residence and planned for the movie. It was going to be The Amazing Spider-Man. So we called a taxi and we were there, right in front of Cineworld Leeds.

We walked in, bought our tickets, got our glasses (3D glasses; it was a 3D movie), got some popcorn and sat down near the entrance. We couldn’t go in yet, they still had to clean the screen we were going in.

While we were sat down a fight between two boys ensued. It was almost theatrical in the way they fought. One guy swinging for the fences while the other was swaying in and out missing blows. A swing finally landed and I kid you not, the force that boy went from upright, standing up, to on-the-floor lying down, was faster than a bullet being shot. It was like we had something to watch before the trailers. But this was no laughing matter. Once the boy was on the ground, the boy that grounded him ran out and off. He left, almost as fast as that boy he punched went from upright to up-down. Eventually an ambulance was called and everything was fine. (I think) Me and S didn’t know what happened after as we both went in to watch our movie.

So now the trailers were on; the movie was next; the movie had finished. It wasn’t too bad a 3D movie but it didn’t compare even a bit to the original Spider-Man movies.

Anyway it was time to go. (We may have gotten pizza before. Not entirely sure) We called a taxi and headed off home.

The day was nearly finished, it was evening time and I had to pickup were I left off in my education. I had been revising all holiday at home with my parent’s and had to continue doing the same here at Uni. I had 4 exams coming up to complete my 2^nd year.

So that was that, I revised a module for about 3 hours, took a shower and it was time for bed. Bed’s usually around 10pm for me.

Day done.