Smoke, S'mores & Socialising...

The weekend went far too fast, but today did not feel a slow Monday either. First drafts were handed in and my now private team of editors; Shannon, Sam and Lenka went to work on the book, although with such busy schedules, I do keep telling them that they don't have to read it . After watching 'Top Hat' at the end of the day, I sat outside the library with Lenka and Adele before we had a slightly early dinner. 

At 7pm, Shannon and I went over to the fire pit where the bonfire was already alight and the last preparations for the event were made - mostly collecting sticks for marshmallow toasting. So, the evening was spent making s'mores and chatting with Relay For Life people and others who were tempted by the snacks, losing a small amount of arm hair in the process of crisping up the marshmallows. 

At 9pm I walked with Marcela to the library and then returned to Worcester for a shower, removing as much of the smell of smoke from my person as possible. I have watched some of Homeland but the constant buffering caused me to revert instead to the last episode of GOT in season one. Tomorrow I will look at getting an ethernet cable to help things run more smoothly. Speaking of Game of Thrones, the Halloween costume is starting to come together. 

The Lemon Leaf...

This morning Autumn, or Fall, was definitely in the air. The day was bright and clear despite a mild chill and the leaves are on the turn.  

After getting up early to Skype family from Hodson, I briefly looked over one of the two essays in this week before US Sam picked me up and we went down to the Lemon Leaf for breakfast, where we met Oz Sam and then Sean. I can say that I most definitely approve - anywhere that brings me tea inside an historical looking book is an instant favourite. The food was very good, the service friendly and the price reasonable - I would suggest it to anyone wanting good food and a relaxed morning. 


From the Lemon Leaf we went to Dunkin' Donuts for US Sam to get an iced pumpkin something or other, and purely because it was free, I had a small coffee, which I threw a fair bit of over the counter, my hand and a little bit on Sam - sorry again. 

Back at campus, I read through the second essay outside the library and did the reading for this week. The weather was warm and for a while, me and Oz Sam were the only people out there, which was great. 

When the work for the week was done and I had grown bored of watching a pair of squirrels chase each other around a tree, I went inside to join the others and did book stuff until our brief peer mentor meeting at 3pm. With plans for me and Caitlin to have the individual mentor meeting over squash on Tuesday, I headed back to the library and continued to work until an early dinner at 5:15pm.

After we had eaten a bit, we followed our usual Sunday routine of heading over to Kent Crossing and in a Hobbit-like fashion, we had second dinner, this week cooked for us by Lenka. Eoin, Sam and Sean then returned to their work, whilst me, Lenka and Shannon stayed and watched episode 9 of GOT. Now back in Worcester, I am trying to find out how I can watch Homeland without paying the subscription fee that seems to come with all online programme watching. 

The Renaissance Festival...

Well, its the 50th blog post and to mark this historical moment, we (Shannon, Sam, Lenka, Ester and I) took a trip today back in time to the Maryland Renaissance Festival. With straw-lined streets filled with 'Ye olde...' whatever you could possibly want and many people dressed in (air bunnies) traditional dress, it was like living the past two years of my degree. The day offered up a joust, some interesting British accents and an array of foods to gorge whilst you enjoyed bards playing music and actors performing shows. In all seriousness, it was a really good day out and I was impressed with the depth of detail in the buildings, the quality of the merchandise and the costumes people wore. 

This evening, we are following up the theme of the day with some Game of Thrones, thoroughly inspired for our upcoming Halloween costumes. 

Wine-d Down...

Today felt a very long end to the week. But, it was very relaxed having handed in an essay and having already written the two essays in for next Friday. We have plans to go to the Annapolis Renaissance Fair tomorrow and Sunday is the Relay For Life Bonfire Night. 

Aside from some piano playing and picking up the Sherlock Holmes outfit that arrived today, I don't feel like I've done very much. After film discussion class, Lenka came back to mine and, having let her in on some of the details on the book series and letting her read some of the first book, we brainstormed some ideas for a while because she is much better read on fantasy books than I am. 

This evening we have come to Amro's for a chilled out wine evening, which is a very nice Friday night after what has felt like a long week. With an added bonus for the evening, I joined Sean at Public Safety as he needed some company whilst he was doing Safe Ride call-outs. 

The First Assessment...

Sufficed to say, I was clearly making a storm in a tea cup about the quiz today - one question, ten minutes and then leave half an hour early. That's why we love Ken Miller (and thanks, Phaedra). 

After class, me and Sam had an early lunch and then I went back to Worcester to let the food go down before playing squash. I was pleased that after an intense hour I still didn't feel the need to take a breather and if I hadn't needed to get to the Relay for Life table, I'd have kept going - a very small step for man I know, but it was gratifying all the same having known how tough I'd have found it at the start of the year. 

Over dinner we discussed in some detail about doing a group fancy dress, Game Of Thrones style, and for those of you thinking, I thought Sherlock Holmes was on the cards, he still is. You need to remember that here in the US it is Halloweek to celebrate the holiday. It has been decided that I will be going as Lord Petyr Baelish (Littlefinger). 

The Mid-Week Hurdle...

Today out of class was spent revising for the quiz tomorrow, which is very small and should be simple enough (touch wood), but as it's the first assessment here at Washington College, I want to get it right - some piano was also played.

I also spent some time complaining to an online costume company, asking why I had paid for a costume that had never been dispatched. But, I have a refund for the original costs and the outfit has been re-ordered at a lower cost courtesy of a deal they now have on. Here's a clue to the persona I shall be taking on this Halloween. Enough said? 

This evening was the first bi-weekly meeting for Relay For Life and after I managed to locate the room, we discussed upcoming events, scheduling and identified committee meeting times. So, with the all clear for their blog I will now link it through this one and begin publicising it. http://takeastandrfl.blogspot.com/ 

Building A Blog...

Much of yesterday was spent creating a new blog for Relay For Life so that messages and information can be sent out to non-members more easily. When I have had the all clear for it then I will link it through this blog too. 

Having not played squash for a week due to my cold, it was good to get back onto the court. I was going to play alone, assuming that everyone had classes, but running into Caitlin on my way to the fitness centre, she said that she was free and heading that way, so we played a few games. 

I had to leave a bit earlier than usual because I had to man the Relay For Life table in Hodson for half an hour, but as no one was filling the 30 minutes that followed, I stayed on from 4:00pm-5:00pm, adding to the blog. 

Before eating I did the last few amendments for Friday's paper and I added to notes for the quiz tomorrow. After dinner, me and Lenka went back to Shannon's where we spent the evening watching Game Of Thrones and discussing writing. 

Deal Or New Deal...

The relatively relaxed classes today, with films being watched in two out of three, were contrasted by lots of writing and reading in my spare time. This morning I read and made notes for class tomorrow and a class discussion on Wednesday that I'd forgotten I had. I also added to my notes for a quiz on Thursday that a really need to start revising for - but I still found time to play the piano a while.

After today's film 'Our Daily Bread', which I found a bit too cheesy and corny, I finished some reading and then rewarded myself with some Game of Thrones before dinner - yes I guess I am hooked, but it is historical in some respects, so I think that I can view it as keeping my interest for medieval studies alive whilst I'm away from Holloway. 

This evening I've been in the library finishing the New Deal paper and with a discrete fist punch in the air at just gone 10:00pm, I shut the document (after saving), and I will read it back through tomorrow. I must say that having Marcela and Kellyanne for company made the ordeal much more bearable, with Marcela Facebooking me pictures of minions and Kellyanne letting us in on her latest paper on pornography and also the work of a telepathic gorilla - they will give people degrees for anything these days.

The End Of A Long Weekend...

Brunch was especially busy today, not only with students' parents here for Fall Family Weekend, but also with the alumni baseball team causing long queues for food. 

Still patience prevailed and after food, Sam and I walked down into Chestertown, where I had decided to return to Bookplate to buy a collector's set of Crusade histories at a very good price with money that I received from selling my old clarinet - nerdy I know, but they are very nice and they will come in useful for my final year. 

Back at campus, I wrestled with HBO for a while as I tried to gain access to Game of Thrones, but having no luck, I went over to Lenka's to grab the episodes from Sam's hard drive. From there, the three of us walked back down through town and to the waterfront where the international office was having refreshments to celebrate a Chinese Moon Party - with moon cake of course. We also let off Chinese lanterns, ours was the first to fly, but falling before long into the Chester River - had it landed on the vintage sailboat, there would have been quite a display.

At 5:30pm we made our way to Shannon's for Sunday Dinner and a big thank you to herself and Lenka for cooking this week. With the Relay For Life business cancelled, I was now free to go with the others to see the American Shakespeare Company's performance of Henry IV Part I for free no less. The show was amusing and well done with many original features of Shakespearean theatre.


Now, with the rest of the evening free, I shall sit back and watch episode three of Game of Thrones - 'Lord Snow'

Game of Trones...

A very lazy day today, although I was still up and showering at 8:30am before a later brunch - with peoples' parents here for the weekend they are clearly making more effort with the food. 

At 1:30pm, we went into Chestertown to Bookplate, where I could have bought most of the shop, but I only came away with one book. After getting a drink at Play It Again Sam's and bumping into Fran and her parents, we walked down to the waterfront to watch the cardboard boat race. Impressively half the boats stayed afloat and finished the race. 

Then, we made our way back to campus, where I tidied things away from last night and spent some time making the video for 'Homecoming...' 

Dinner was earlier at 5:45pm, but that didn't stop us sitting around and talking until 7:30pm, where we were greeted by a drenching downpour as we left. Hanging around under the marquee until the weather eased, we went over to Adele's where I was introduced to Game of Thrones (Trones, for Eoin), and after two episodes I can safely say that I have enough to be watching in the upcoming weeks. With Addison in bed this post is coming to you from Hodson and as I have just seen the others go into the nest, I think I will join them. 

Homecoming...

Not much to say about homecoming. We sat around and chatted for a while, had some tea and then turned in for an early night...

...or not. 

After a long week of working hard and everyone fighting illness, it was time to have a good time. A dance floor was laid and a marquee put up on Hodson Green and Shana kindly opened up her room in Chester for us beforehand.

Yesterday in general was spent starting on the New Deal paper outside of classes. I also received a very nice surprise from my grandparents so that I no longer have to haul a holdall around when we go away for short periods of time, and with all the travel in the upcoming months it will be very useful. 

Forget The Cold And Carry On...

The cold has hit with full force today, but lots of fluids and a stiff British constitution is keeping the worst at bay. To that end, today has also been the most productive this week. This morning after breakfast I finished reading for the next paper, typed up notes for a quiz next week, amended two first drafts, copied up some film notes, and began planning the upcoming paper. 

Drew, on the right was the barber for today
and he did a perfect job

After Miller's class, I went over the road and experienced my first authentic barber shop experience at 'College Heights Barber Shop' run by three generations of the Thompson family. I decided to smarten up before Homecoming tomorrow - at least my hair can look nice even if my face is saying that I'm dying of cold. After the haircut I went next door to the bank and authorized my credit card for my American account. Then, I went back to Worcester to get my things for the essay plan and made for the library to begin forming an as yet unknown argument. 

At the library I found Caitlin and Marcela working. Before I started planning however, I fulfilled a promise and went with Axel, Amer and Caitlin to hear their upcoming presentation and give them some feedback. Leaving them at quarter past four, I went over to the GEO to meet up with some people who are thinking about studying abroad at Royal Holloway next year. I think that me and Lenka gave a good advertisement for the college and covered as much as we could about life at uni, London and England in general. 

From the GEO I went back to the library and finally got down to filling out the essay plan. With most of the work done, I broke for dinner at 6:30pm and then went back to the library to finish the plan. At 10:00pm I printed off the finished plan, satisfied with a productive day and headed back to Worcester with a large cup of tea - the ultimate remedy for a cold. 

Relay For Life...

In between classes was time spent relentlessly reading up on the New Deal for the next paper that I really need to have planned by the end of tomorrow if I'm going to stay on schedule with such a busy weekend and week ahead. 


This evening was the first meeting of Relay For Life, which was a good way to meet everyone involved at Washington College and see how the organisation works. This year the goal is to raise $60,000 and I will be doing all I can in my position as Online Drafter for their blog to help us achieve this. So, to get things started, anyone here at the college can sign up to join the event on 11th April 2014 and anyone at all can make a donation online towards the cause. 

To do either, simply follow the link below:
http://www.relayforlife.org/getinvolved/findanevent/app/findanevent.aspx?x=51&y=12

If you want to donate you can 'Search For A Participant' and put in my name to get the correct event. If you want to sign up to join the event, then 'Search For An Event', which is 'Washington College' and then under team, choose 'Take A Stand'. If you are unsure what to do, there will be a table downstairs in Hodson all of next week where we will be with laptops to guide you through the process.

Now, back in Worcester I will try to get a head start on some of the tasks for tomorrow and fend of what has now become a fully fledged cold :(

Fending Off The Germs...

Today has felt very unproductive in terms of college work, which is why I felt guilty and started reading for a paper in the library at 9:30pm until 11:00pm. However, it was very nice to chill out and get into The Good Wife on the say so of Eoin, and put my mind off work until the two first drafts to be returned tomorrow. 

Not wanting to be shut in a small confined space with Caitlin's cold germs, I played squash for an hour by myself, which was a very good workout; just me, the ball and the wall with Nickleback and the Red Hot Chili Peppers for company.

After dinner, some of us headed down to the GEO for games and pizza for cultural ambassadors, before I resigned myself to moving to Miller to read up on Roosevelt and the New Deal. Now more than ever I'm surrounded by the sick and snotty, and I am in some denial that my slightly sore throat is nothing more than the need for a drink. 

On the way back to Worcester I found Dale and Caitlin studying in Hodson, so I joined them to listen about some incomprehensible science and the A+ that Caitlin got in her medieval history test purely because of the information I gave to her - I guess the degree is worth something!

Grapes Of Faff...

Today consisted of classes as usual, forty-five minutes of piano playing, the musical '42nd Street', some book stuff, but most importantly...Grapes of Wrath, or the Grapes of Faff as I have come to call it, is finished!!! 

Yes, these past weeks I'm sure you have been apprehensively reading the posts, waiting for the final announcement, biting your nails and ever wondering when I would be able to finally close on Steinbeck. Well my friends, the wait is over and so is one of the longest reads of my life and to celebrate finishing I made a trip over to Walgreen's with Caitlin for some shower gel and deodorant - classy I know. Now, I can turn my attention to more pressing reading for class tomorrow, but I think it will wait until morning. For the moment, I'm going to kick back, relax and watch some TV.  

Beach, BBQ And A Boatload Of Sand...

Lots to tell on the weekend. We set off from the CAC early Saturday morning and made our way down to Ocean City, which is a couple of hours away. We stopped off at Dunkin' Donuts where I really confused the staff, firstly because I ordered tea and then because I wanted milk in it. A few minutes later the confusion was resolved and once Eoin had picked up the least appetizing breakfast wrap in history, we were on the road once more.

We arrived at Fran's place by late morning and didn't hesitate too long to dump our things, change and then head towards the beach. One thing we hadn't counted on, was that we had timed our visit with a large motorcycle rally that brought in hundreds of Harley-Davidson's to create the perfect background melody for a peaceful setting. But, undeterred we made our way to a spot that we thought was out of the splash zone (which it wasn't later in the day) and set up camp. At midday we went for lunch and Dale picked up a seaside delicacy of deep fried Oreos. All in all, I feel that I did everything someone should at the beach; a sunbathed (briefly), built an excellent sandcastle with the engineering help of Dale and some added historical consultancy from Sam, and I went in the sea. 

Now, I can't remember the last time I ventured into the ocean, so I wasn't well-versed in how to handle a wave that suddenly rears up a good foot above your head. Later on I was told to dive through the wave. At the time, however, I figured I would simply turn towards the beach and take it full on - how powerful could a wave be anyway? Well, it turns out, stronger than me. The initial impact not only snapped my neck forwards, which was a painful shock, but I was then thrown off my feet and hurled onto the beach like driftwood. The sand in question was not the soft powdery paradise I had first thought, and after being thrown several feet across it, I did I fine job of some extreme exfoliating to my elbows and knees. Hoping that no one had noticed my blunder, I staggered to my feet and wiped the salt from my eyes in time to see the next breaker repeat the process. Desperate now not to be stuck in an eternal and painful cycle that the nearby children had managed to overcome, I crawled away with a considerable lack of dignity to a safe distance, ruing my attempt to be adventurous. Being British, however, I was not prepared to make a public spectical of myself, so, I got to my feet and in a true Daniel Craig fashion stepped from the water with my head held high with as much self-confidence that I could manage. 

After I emptied my shorts as best as possible of a decent proportion of the beach that was causing considerable discomfort, we went for some ice cream and then headed back to the house, stopping off for some (cough) refreshments (cough). I showered, emptying out some more sand and a surprisingly large pebble, and then we set about barbecuing some burgers and cooking some pasta. By this time Sam had joined us and Sean was on his way. Following dinner I took part in the very American tradition of making shmors with gram crackers, marshmallows and Reese's peanut butter cups over the fire, which were great. Sean arrived and we ended the day, relaxing with some chilled drinks, good music and anecdotes from the day. 


This morning we had a lazy start, going out to the shops to get supplies for eggs and pancakes, orange juice and donuts. At midday we set off back to Chestertown and aside from a bit of traffic that slowed our progress we made decent time. Back at campus I passed the time before an early dinner and then headed to KC with some ironing for family dinner. This week Oz Sam treated us to some spaghetti bolognese, which was very good, and we made more plans of what trips and travel we would be doing in the year ahead.

A great weekend and a huge thank you again to Fran

for driving us down, letting us stay and take the comforts from it!

The Final Book Is Shelved...

TGI Friday. It's finally the end of a long week and I am thoroughly looking forward to a relaxing, work-free weekend ahead. Today began with a slightly alarming encounter with a cricket in the shower. But after a stand-off of flip flops at dawn, I could proclaim myself the victor and get on with the morning before class. 

After the first class and some feedback on the first draft of my first paper, I read a bit and then headed over to the pianos and filled the time before I had to return to Smith for 'The 1920s & The New Deal'. Once classes were over, I returned to Worcester to find that my final course book had arrived. This wasn't the first copy of the book I ordered, which, after the delivery company said had been delivered and the post room had no record of, apparently vanished into the ether. Anyway, cutting a long story of many emails short, I received a full refund and having gone to another company, the next day delivery held true so that I could pick the book up before the weekend. It also means that I no longer have to mooch of Sam, but thanks for letting me borrow yours until now.    

With the book situation sorted, I also looked over my first draft of my Hollywood Film paper and then made my way to the library to print it out and finished another ridiculously long chapter of 'Grapes of Wrath'. Bring on the weekend!

Open Mic Night...

Today was a productive one. After breakfast with Marcela I did two loads of laundry while I began on my first paper for Hollywood Film. Then it was time for Miller's class and lunch before returning to write some more and dry the clothes before squash with Caitlin. As we were walking back I finally got to see some British summer after a very humid start - warm rain is a real novelty. I typed up the last sentence of the paper just before dinner, at which we saw a pretty decent lightning display from the dining hall window as the storm rolled in. 

After dinner some of us headed downstairs and spent the rest of the evening in the Egg for the open mic night, which was a really good night to chill out, hear some good music and generally unwind after a long day. I finally clicked into plans this weekend, when a group of us are going down to Ocean City where Fran has a place for us to stay - thanks Fran! Here's hoping the hot weather holds out until then.

Midday Music...

Back onto 'Grapes of Wrath' today after a few days break and with 100 pages to go I'm on the home straight (I think). After the first class I read for a while and then, having emailed the music department, went over to Gibson to where rooms of vacant pianos were waiting. So, I broke up the day with twenty minutes of playing, which after nearly a month of playing not touching a musical instrument, was a really good. I think I will fit into my ever-growing schedule and make it a regular session just to get away from the laptop. 

This evening I headed to the library with Sam, Lenka and Ester to read some more before reverting to some writing. Now I have an RA meeting upstairs in the common room that I never knew existed, and then to bed. Sleeping past my alarm this morning told me that I need an earlier night. 

Sunshine And Squash...

Washington College's Photo

Today began as a subdued affair. Not in the mood to do any work and with class cancelled, I filled the morning with a bit of writing and half-hearted essay planning and reviewing. At noon I made my way down to Martha Washington Square along with over 500 others. President Reiss and the local vicar gave brief talks and there was a minute's reflection and the ringing of the campus bell. 

After lunch I headed down to the JFC and spent an hour doing some squash practice before I was joined by Caitlin and Dale for another hour and a half of playing, all of which helped to take my mind off things and I felt somewhat brighter afterwards. I returned to Worcester in over 30'C and welcome shower later, I Skyped parents whilst I had some free time before dinner. For the rest of the evening we relaxed and chatted in Hodson before turning in after a long day.

A Flame Went Out Tonight

Most people that know me, will know that I dislike sharing my writing with other people, mostly because I don't like knowing what they think of me because of it. But, I will make an exception tonight. 


That spark of creation, of imagination, for preservation,

fell victim to a wash of sorrow in the depths of despair.

But as one world crashes to the shore ours still turns,

feeling the flood that follows, and the tears

swell the flow that pours through the minds and hearts

of those once close, now stranded,

by the waves.

Feeling isolated from us who hold back the tide.

But words can traverse this sea.

They travel on the air and carry messages of faith;

the dove that promises a light of hope in this future

suddenly thrown into darkness.

We must cast this light through the gloom,

for the flame that went out tonight. 

Back Into The Cycle...

After the manic schedule of the weekend, even the busy Monday felt quiet. Classes were routine, with the film Employees' Entrance to wind up proceedings. Back at Worcester I read for tomorrow and then spent the hour and half leading up to dinner relaxing with some online TV. 

After dinner, I made my way, slightly unsure of the right direction, to the Sassafras lounge for the first History Society meeting to go over events and proceedings for the upcoming semester. Naturally, I will be attending the inherited Blitz Ball and my RAF uniform will be arriving with my parents later in October. 

Feeling slightly guilty for my ninety minutes of slacking earlier in the day, I went to the library to review my first paper and begin setting out a plan for the second. 

On a serious note. My purpose with this blog is to inform people back home and here in the US of what's been happening. Therefore, I would see it as a mark of disrespect to simply ignore and omit the tragic news of an apparent suicide that occurred on campus earlier this evening. I only write this now because we have been formally informed by the President of the college. I will say no more details on the matter, respecting the privacy of the student in question and their family, to whom our thoughts and sympathies go out to. In case no one has checked their email, there will be a moment of campus silence and reflection tomorrow at noon in Martha Washington Square.

Aching Limbs...

Yesterday was a much warmer day than Saturday with a longer lie-in. Breakfast was excellent once again and we were soon on the road back to Chestertown. Surprisingly, I did not burn on Saturday, but not having aching limbs was a bit too much to ask for. My arms feel fine, but my shoulder blades and thighs, from sitting high in the raft, are certainly feeling the strain. But, I'm still determined to continue my routine of playing squash on Tuesdays and Thursdays. 

Anyway, the drive back was largely uneventful, except for the longest hour of my life when I desperately needed the toilet, which didn't apparently constitute an emergency so that they could pull over. I did try to reason that if I couldn't hold then there would very much an emergency situation, but I was resigned to hold off until the rest stop. However, after the toilet break I could take a nap and rest up after a long weekend.

Getting to college at 3pm, I had forgotten that I had volunteered to cook curry for people at Shannon's so I went out with her to buy food. After a rush to beat the Freshmen from the Mt. Vernon trip to the dining hall, we headed over to KC at 6:30pm and I donned by chef's hat and apron to cook everyone the Birmingham delicacy. After food, we sat down for a good old British evening of comedy with 'The Holy Grail'. 

A Wild Day In Whitewater...

On Saturday the alarm went off at 6am and I grudgingly left the cosy confines of the bed to get the ball rolling, as we had to be outside the hotel and on the road by 8am. Breakfast was amazing with a huge buffet selection for us to chose from. It would be a long time and several hours of rafting before we would stop for lunch. 

At 8am we left the hotel and drove to the rafting centre in a great deal of early morning fog that blanketed the hills. The journey took around forty-five minutes with occasional glimpses of the Potomac River that we would be riding later in the day. 

Arriving at the centre, we had a brief talk and filled out another form, then we collected our life jackets and helmets and boarded a school bus that would take us to the launch point for the rafts. There, we had a brief talk about how to sit and paddle the rafts, as well as any hand signals used by the instructors to help guide us through some of the larger rapids of the day. As the only person in our five-man raft with any kind of experience on a raft, which I admit wasn't much, I was chosen to be the captain and rudder for the raft. This meant I had the special job of sitting high and unsteadily on the back of the raft with only a small pocketed on the floor to put a foot in. 

After a first slightly disastrous rapid, we were soon in the flow and once I had got the hang of steering and viewing submerged rocks from my vantage point, we were rowing as a well-oiled team. Overall, the day was a success with only Sam and Lenka falling from the raft in a couple bigger rapids, and not flipping the raft - admittedly we came extremely close to doing so, which caused me to throw myself heroically to the across the raft. Unlike most captains, I was not prepared to go down with the ship. We stopped after a few hours for a quick lunch and then paddled for a few more before we reached the exit point, where we loaded up the rafts and took the bus back to the centre. Throughout the day, one of the instructors had been videoing our progress and once we had changed, we took the opportunity to see how we had done. 


We arrived back at the resort after dinner at Ruby Tuesday at about 6pm. There, we had welcome showers and chilled out for the evening, going down to the dining hall to settle a craving for desert, before turning in, hoping that we had staved off sunburn and sore limbs. 

Set Sat Navs For Seven Springs...

This is the first of the three retrospective posts I will do from Friday-Sunday. Friday itself was a very long day. Before the first class of the day I had finished my first paper and done the laundry so that I had enough things to take with me for the weekend. 

After my first class I packed and took the suitcase down to the JFC, unsure if the discussion class at the end of the day would run too close to 4:30pm when we were set to leave. Before the film discussion was lunch and gladly, the class itself was over by 3:30pm, which gave me some time to pick up things I had forgotten and then head down to the JFC to fill out some paperwork and board the minibuses. 

The journey to Seven Springs Resort took about four hours with a brief rest stop once we were in the hills. Following trip tradition, we stopped at Pizza Hut a short way from the resort, before arriving at the hotel at around 10pm. Me, Sam, Lenka and Eoin took a room and happily got some rest before the early start on Saturday.

The First Paper...

Felt like a long day yesterday. In the morning I began the first paper of the term, which didn't feel as depressing as I thought it would. After lunch I continued to write and after a not so brief conversation with HSBC's fraud detection team, having forgotten to tell them that I am abroad, I wrote until 4pm.

Taking a break form the paper I went over to the JFC to play some squash, or so I thought. Unfortunately, I never made it onto the squash court because I was conscripted into a '5 minute' presentation for the rowing team. Now, being British I was not prepared to walk out of the presentation, especially as I had chosen the seat farthest from the door. So, 55 minutes later I trudged out, ticked off that I had lost my squash time and more assured that I didn't want to row. 

However, I did not had time to grumble because I was meeting with Sam, Eoin and Lenka at 5pm to buy a couple of things for this weekend. So, arriving home and switching outfits in a time that would rival a quick change on the West End, I join them for a spot of shopping. On the upside, I do now have everything I need for the trip. 

Once we had finished, we headed back and went to listen to the Naval Academy band for an hour in Martha Washington Square. Sufficed to say that the jazz, free popcorn and candyfloss put me in a more mellow mood for dinner at 7pm. 

As I won't have time to write a post between finishing today and leaving for the trip, I think that on Sunday I will do several posts to break things up for each day individually. 

The Post That Almost Never Was...

Having initially said that the blog would not be used every day I have felt a slight pressure to keep it going, and I must admit that I am finding it harder to make every day interesting for the reader - hence the lack of a post last night, when I decided that there was nothing interesting to say. However, in the clear light of day I realised that I like a challenge and will continue to try and keep a daily review. 

So, yesterday. I met Marcela for breakfast, which is becoming something of a routine, and then I went back to Worcester for an hour to read before class, which actually became a time to do a bit of writing instead - no guilt felt. 

Classes were swift as usual with 'American Madness' as the film to finish the day. It is definitely best to finish the day with the film - it is a relaxing unwind for the mind. 

Having said that I was finding it hard to write entertainingly about events, I can foresee today being a busy one, and tomorrow in the lead up to the rafting trip this weekend. Which, now that I think about it, will also give me a lot to talk about. So actually, I was lying and I'll stop making excuses. There will me much to tell on the latter days of this week.

The Poster Sale...

Today was the first day of the poster sale and I took the opportunity to "British-up" my side of the room somewhat. These posters along with the union jack flag and the bags of Twinings are starting to make the place look a bit more homely. I may go back tomorrow to see if any other posters catch my eye. 

Another hot hour or so of squash went well with me narrowly claiming a 2:1 victory after some warming up. 

Two and a half more hours of 'Grapes of Wrath' this evening. I swear that Penguin Classics put too many words on a page just to make you feel like a slow reader. That, and I think Steinbeck needed to work on dividing his chapters better; the last one took fifteen minutes, but I've estimated an hour and a quarter reading time for the next one - bring on tomorrow!

The Start Of The Second Week...

Another long Monday of classes today, but 'Trouble in Paradise' was an amusing film with which to end the day. Reading has reverted back to 'Grapes of Wrath' and after two and a half hours in the library I am coming up on the half way mark. 

Tomorrow I think I will start planning the first paper of the year, which feels horribly early as I would still be on holiday back home, but come November the deadlines will arrive thick and fast so I should get a head start. 

To break up the workload tomorrow I have penciled in another squash game, this time with Caitlin, after Miller's class and lunch. I'm even considering getting more than one set of sports wear, which feels slightly daunting, but unlike home all the facilities are free so I might as well use them.

The Potluck...

An equally lazy morning and brunch today, followed by yet more reading up on the puritans (but only 20 pages left!) This afternoon also had the addition of laundry and after a year of not having a dryer, it's really nice to be able to do everything in an afternoon. The only thing I'm missing is an iron, but Shannon has offered up hers, so I may be making some trips to Kent Crossing in the near future. 

Today I did remember that the dining hall closes early, so it was an early meal at 5:30pm before heading over to KC for a relaxing potluck with Shannon, Sean, Sam and Marcela - the potluck being Spanish rice. It was a welcome, mellow change to just sit and chat, but after the discovery of the snugglies, things did escalate somewhat to a small fort, with plans for future design improvements and extensions. 

A Night Out In Annapolis...

Nothing beats waking up without an alarm, followed by a relaxed two hour brunch. Yesterday was the first brunch of the semester and it was a great time to chat and unwind after the first week of classes. 

Leaving the dining hall at 1:30pm, I headed back to Worcester to continue with some reading for 'The History of U.S. to 1865'. Having been so engrossed in the difficulties befalling the Puritans of Massachusetts, I had forgotten that the dining hall closes at 6:00pm at weekends. Instead, me and Addison went downstairs for a couple of subs, where I met some more of his friends in the lounge and answered a few more questions on queen and country. From there, we went over to the stadium and caught the remainder of the first half of the women's football game. (soccer for all you non-Anglophiles). 

Yours truly, Sean, Fran, Sam (the birthday boy) & Dale

At 9:00pm those of us who were yet to depart for Annapolis met outside the CAC and left to join the others for Sam's 21st. With the naval academy in the town the streets were not short on officers dressed in their whites on a night out. - Lots of officers, not sure how many gentlemen. Arriving at the bar, I can't say that I've ever listened to heavy rock, pop and country merged into one playlist before, but it work. 

Sean was good enough to drive those of some of us back to campus, a task that became all the more laborious when we discovered that we had Sam's car keys as we were approaching Chestertown, and he had to make the two hour round trip all over again. - Sorry Sean :/

After being rebuked for doing retrospective posts, there will be another this evening to keep my mother happy :)