Please refrain.

My sexy-ass sunset! What a beaut.

On Friday I decided to pop down to the common room party on a whim, so unfortunately I didn't have any drinks with me, but I ended up having the best time there! At first, when everyone was just hanging out, I felt a little lost because I knew very few people. Four to be exact. But once everyone had started dancing I didn't mind being with a bunch of randoms - it was actually kind of refreshing to see some new faces! Then, at around half two when I decided to call it a night, I was feeling rather giggly and light-headed (despite being incredibly sober). Maybe it was the tiredness getting to me, or perhaps the second hand smoke. But I eventually escaped the grasps of my new drunk companions and scurried away back to my wee dorm room. Phew, what a night!

I visited a wee repair man on Sunday. I had my fingers crossed, as I slowly wheeled my rickety bike up to his little workshop. Then, after being invited inside and sitting nervously on a dusty stool for ten minutes he finally found his tool and got to work on fixing my baby girl. The 'bike man', as I like to refer to him as, turned out to be really nice. He tightened up my pedal in no time and, despite my protests, sent me away free of charge! Amazing! It's refreshing not to have people trying to rip you off all the time. And he did a really good job as well; she is running beautifully. What a gent.

But I didn't hold onto the cash I had saved for long. It quickly vanished from my purse just as the Christmas presents began to pile up. Oops.

So, what next? Another monk. In fact, I tell a lie. It was the same one as before. He had the exact same speech, perfected to make the unsuspecting victim (me) feel guilty as hell for not purchasing his book or giving him food. Urgh, what an infuriating man! I mean it was my own fault for opening the door, but I couldn't see him clearly enough through my little peep-hole. I thought he was a delivery man, but my heart fell when I opened the door. Oh no! Help! Our encounter went something a little like this:

*He hands me a book that I don't want.*
Probably the exact copy he handed me four months ago. 
Monk: "It's about the enlightenment, are you interested in enlightenment?"
Me: "Sure, I guess..."
What a dumb question. Let me guess... Do I want to read it?
Monk: "Do you want to read it?"
Me: "No, no I do not." 
*confused and sad looking monk*
Cut the bullshit guilt trip monk man.
*long, awkward, gaze-filled pause*
Urgh, I bet he is going to ask for food now.
Monk: "Well, we monks live off begging so you will donate something."
Are you serious? That wasn't even a request, it was a demand. No chance.
Me: "Ha, I think people should start donating money to me!"
Monk: "I'll take food."
Me: "Sorry, haven't been to the shops."
Monk: "You don't have anything to give me?"
Me: "Nope."
Go away!!
*sudden dramatic, sad facial expression*
Monk: "I've been out walking all day, and I am really, very thirsty. Could you give me a drink at least?"
You serious?
Me: "Yeah, sure. I'll get you some water."
Monk: "No. I don't like water. I want juice."
Well funnily enough, I don't like it when you harass me at my door with begging and religious books. So deal with it! Plus, the whole concept around begging is that you get what you're given! Gah!
Me: "Don't have any."
Monk: "None?!"
Me: "Nope."
Monk: "Well, maybe someone else will be a little more generous."
I doubt it! These are student halls you know!

Please excuse me while my blood boils... Now, don't get me wrong, I love Buddhism and I have met some lovely, really cool monks. (Yes, that sounds really weird, but lets just accept it and move on!)  But this guy is an utter nightmare. He acts all prestigious, then demands you give him things - it was the exact same last time as well! Funnily enough, I don't respond well to that kind of attitude.

Then Monday was gym day. Although I didn't stay for very long this time (only 30 minutes on the treadmill then some sit-ups) I felt great afterwards! The gym always makes me feel like I am somehow managing to save the world just from my presence there...

Tuesday was Bed night. Oh yes, the second last one of the year (but everyone was treating it like the final week because a lot of people are beginning to leave)! Gah, that didn't half fly by! 

The girls will be delighted to feature in such a fine piece of writing =P
Stephanie, Emer, Matra, Riona and Ciara.

I skipped Bed: only going to the pre-drinks on campus. Took me a while to find the girls though - I hate dorms, they are too confusing! But it was nice hanging out with everyone for a little while, and getting my gossip fix!

On Wednesday I was supposed to be going to laser-tag with my IBCoMpanion group - which would have been epic! But unfortunately, my class only finished five minutes before we were supposed to be meeting. Yea...that wasn't happening. Instead me and Jinn decided that a cinema venture was due: Catching Fire!!!! And it was well worth the wait. A seriously great movie right there! Even though it had been out for a couple of weeks the theatre was still absolutely packed. So glad that I had insisted on going to the cinema to see it - I guess it always adds to the atmosphere, especially when the whole theatre is awkwardly giggling with each other. Fab! Plus, while we waited, me and Jinn had the chance for a wee catch up and shared a bag of chips with curry sauce - yum!

Then on Thursday I suddenly realised that I had run out of basically all food; I was pretty much left with one egg, cheese and a single slice of bread...such an organized human being.

But on the plus side it was the Winter Wonderland Prom that night: the opportunity to give everyone who is jumping ship and going back home a proper send off at Christmas. It was an amazing night! Everyone was together in the one place for once: just like the early weeks at Bed. I arrived at the club alone but quickly found myself jumping between groups of friends and having a great time. Drinking, dancing, laughing. What a night!

I am also extremely proud of myself for taking some, very messy, photos of the evening. For a camera geek, I am surprisingly awful at taking pictures on nights out. I have no idea why, and it irritates me to no end!

The one thing I did not enjoy? The cycle home. It was unbelievably creepy. It was around four in the morning, cycling a slightly unfamiliar route back to my dorm: pitch black and freezing cold with a really thick fog. I did not enjoy that. There was an unnerving silence as well; all I could hear was the water from the river gently hitting against the stone walls. Very eerie...

I think it seems relevant to end this post with a final piece of advice for the gents. Listen up! Approaching a random girl in a club and then, without any introduction, suddenly pressing your face against hers is not a great way to win her heart (or just to get lucky). Following that up with some very intense eye contact and sleazy comments while she holds you back? Yeah...that probably wont do you any favours either. And yes, this did actually happen - very creepy indeed. Help!