This is the tale of how one man went on the search for a new home for the next 4 years (and during term times only), and his other quest for search of Christmas presents. In case you have little classical literature knowledge and are wondering what on earth my title is talking about then go and read the whole Aeneid by Virgil, in the original Latin of course, none of this cheats English. Or you could just wiki it and prove to yourself that it exists and i haven't gone truly and utterly insane. Or maybe i have and just haven't realised yet, i may currently be sat in an asylum typing this on an imaginary computer in my little own imaginary world. I'm a bit worried now, is there a way to check if you're mad and have created an imaginary world to live in? Hang on why am i even asking because then you'd be imaginary too.
So anyway, leaving my slightly crazed ramblings aside, back to the Seaneid. In truth the tale began two years ago on a long and dangerous trek into the south. I know a dangerous place to go right, where the pies have vegetables in them and fish & chip shops aren't found on every street. So there i was journeying to Southampton (it even has south in its name) via Cambridge and tbh i can't actually remember what really happened but after two expeditions to the north this time (where i can confirm the pies are free from vegetables and the chippy is as common as the pub), i was only slightly clearer on where i would go.
All this jibber-jabber is essentially trying to explain why i found myself first going to Oxford, then Lincoln (actually this was nothing to do with Seaneid, but was occurred at the same time), then nearly going to Lancaster (although i thought better of it and didn't go in the end, just so i could partake in the epicness that was cipherfest '11, more on that some other time though) anyway today i traveled down to Loughborough and tomorrow i will be going to Manchester in the epic quest for Christmas presents (yes i know it's less than a week until Christmas, but i've only just started feeling Christmasy enough to buy them (plus a Taco Bell has opened in Manchester!)).
So as you can tell i'm glad i've nearly finished all this traveling, and soon my search for uni will come to an end, with pretty much all my uni's contacting me this week about offers :s, and with Christmas on Sunday the quest for the presents will be pointless (it might not be quite finished though i'm expecting late presents might be the case for some). So it's could be quite a momentous week with the next four years of my life being decided, although i have a feeling it still doesn't matter at all with my view of whateverhappens,happensandifyoujustgowithitandyoullenjoyyourself, and the awesomeness of my time in Oxford and the great people there (bit of a shout to my fellow St. John-iens (?) if you're reading this)
In case i don't write again before Christmas, Merry Christmas, and if i don't write before New Years, then shame on me because i won't be doing anything next week, apart from maybe contemplating my future...
and revising for January exams...
and finalizing my DofE...
and probably buying people late Christmas presents...
and something else which i've forgotten.
Showing posts with label UCAS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label UCAS. Show all posts
Monday, 19 December 2011
Monday, 14 November 2011
It's Been a While...
Sorry about not posting for so long, but for various reasons i have been busy over the past few weeks (amazing since i normally have nothing to do). So although this post is the restart after the temporal lapse, it won't be a traditional post and more of a collection of thoughts and things that have happened over the blog's downtime. I will hopefully be able to bring back the regular single-track posts later this week (hopefully), but definitively next week, as i will be in Switzerland this weekend for a trip to CERN! So if all the hype is correct i should have plenty to write about.
Where do we start then? Well i suppose with the most major event in the past few weeks (not the oxford entrance exam or UCAS submission, i'll get to them later), after the complete failure of my computer where not one but both my hard drives failed simultaneously leaving my computer totally befuddled as it tried and tried again to find windows, but alas it was in a dark windowless place. But as they say out with the old, in with the new and so i have brand new computer, shiny and all!
For those tech-nerds out there it's an acer with terabyte of hard disk space and a core i5 processor and soon i shall buy a suitable graphics card to replace the inbuilt one. For those who aren't tech-nerds, it's a shiny black computer with a curved front, and all that mumbo-jumbo i just talked about is the stuff inside, don't strain yourselves trying to figure out what it all means.
The only problem i had with this sudden change is that i was working my way through an extended essay and since for a few days i had no idea whether it would be able to be recovered and so it this state of limbo i took a well earned break, leading to a frantic few days of trying to complete the essay before the deadline. Luckily it was recovered as well as most my other data, which has unfortunately deprived me of the opportunity to have a nice slate-clean start from all the thousands and millions of useless bytes of junk that have accumulated over the years.
Now let me mention the other big event of the past weeks, that is of course the previously mentioned UCAS submission, and subsequent events that followed. To put it simply i'm very glad i've finally managed to rid myself of all this UCAS stuff, now it can be a joyful thing where i can see my university choices roll in (or not as the case has so far turned out to be). And the entrance test (which annoyingly was introduced for the 1st time this year) followed by mock interviews have taken up most of the other time i found.
Right now that 's all i can remember of the last few weeks, but i assure you there was definitively more which i simply just can't recall at the moment. And the next few weeks seem to promise to be just as busy, however again i'm not sure how busy, as i can't recall any of my future events i have planned either. Luckily, with time the way it is, i currently haven't found a problem with solely living in the present, oblivious to both past and future, and frankly it's more fun this way.
Where do we start then? Well i suppose with the most major event in the past few weeks (not the oxford entrance exam or UCAS submission, i'll get to them later), after the complete failure of my computer where not one but both my hard drives failed simultaneously leaving my computer totally befuddled as it tried and tried again to find windows, but alas it was in a dark windowless place. But as they say out with the old, in with the new and so i have brand new computer, shiny and all!
For those tech-nerds out there it's an acer with terabyte of hard disk space and a core i5 processor and soon i shall buy a suitable graphics card to replace the inbuilt one. For those who aren't tech-nerds, it's a shiny black computer with a curved front, and all that mumbo-jumbo i just talked about is the stuff inside, don't strain yourselves trying to figure out what it all means.
The only problem i had with this sudden change is that i was working my way through an extended essay and since for a few days i had no idea whether it would be able to be recovered and so it this state of limbo i took a well earned break, leading to a frantic few days of trying to complete the essay before the deadline. Luckily it was recovered as well as most my other data, which has unfortunately deprived me of the opportunity to have a nice slate-clean start from all the thousands and millions of useless bytes of junk that have accumulated over the years.
Now let me mention the other big event of the past weeks, that is of course the previously mentioned UCAS submission, and subsequent events that followed. To put it simply i'm very glad i've finally managed to rid myself of all this UCAS stuff, now it can be a joyful thing where i can see my university choices roll in (or not as the case has so far turned out to be). And the entrance test (which annoyingly was introduced for the 1st time this year) followed by mock interviews have taken up most of the other time i found.
Right now that 's all i can remember of the last few weeks, but i assure you there was definitively more which i simply just can't recall at the moment. And the next few weeks seem to promise to be just as busy, however again i'm not sure how busy, as i can't recall any of my future events i have planned either. Luckily, with time the way it is, i currently haven't found a problem with solely living in the present, oblivious to both past and future, and frankly it's more fun this way.
Thursday, 29 September 2011
Pvcure Punyyratr
Yes its that time of the year again. Cipher Challenge 2011 has begun (in case you want to test yourself have a go and solve the cipher in the title) and man i'm excited. Considering that i currently have nothing to do in the evenings apart from sit around and watch endless hours of american comedy (a.k.a. scrubs, the big bang theory and how i met your mother), which are all excellent programs worthwhile giving a watch. On a related note, if you're already a fan of either of the last 2 then both their new seasons are out! Just head over to your favourite streaming site to give them a watch, because knowing the English Tv scheduling they won't be out here until at least November at the earliest.
Anyway, as i was saying I've had little to do for the past few weeks, so cipher challenge is now not just an awesome thing to do but also helps me fill in some time. However saying that this weeks challenge was pretty easy, but that was expected being the first week and all, got to break the newbies in gently. If you're one of those newbies looking for hints, then tough luck you won't find any here because this year i'm determined to win, after last year's disappointing finish.
After submitting all our previous ciphers hours before the deadlines, we went into the final cipher quite pleased, however to put it simply it was impossible. No, i don't mean we found it impossible, it was actually impossible with the only way of solving it was with brute force and if you know what i'm talking about then you'll know that that means impossible. So this year i'm determined to do better, so on thursday nights don't expect any blogging , unless of course like today the cipher is easy then i'll be blogging still.
On a different note, i've finally finished my UCAS for good. After weeks if thinking i've finished and having it all held up because the careers adviser didn't know what to do, i've finally sent it off but paid the pricey sum of £22 for the pleasure. However i should be soon rejoicing in the delights of getting places, or just wallowing in self-pity as the rejections roll in. Either way it should be an interesting time, but until then i'll just sit here watching my american comedy and deciphering my ciphers. Oh what a wonderful life i have!
Anyway, as i was saying I've had little to do for the past few weeks, so cipher challenge is now not just an awesome thing to do but also helps me fill in some time. However saying that this weeks challenge was pretty easy, but that was expected being the first week and all, got to break the newbies in gently. If you're one of those newbies looking for hints, then tough luck you won't find any here because this year i'm determined to win, after last year's disappointing finish.
After submitting all our previous ciphers hours before the deadlines, we went into the final cipher quite pleased, however to put it simply it was impossible. No, i don't mean we found it impossible, it was actually impossible with the only way of solving it was with brute force and if you know what i'm talking about then you'll know that that means impossible. So this year i'm determined to do better, so on thursday nights don't expect any blogging , unless of course like today the cipher is easy then i'll be blogging still.
On a different note, i've finally finished my UCAS for good. After weeks if thinking i've finished and having it all held up because the careers adviser didn't know what to do, i've finally sent it off but paid the pricey sum of £22 for the pleasure. However i should be soon rejoicing in the delights of getting places, or just wallowing in self-pity as the rejections roll in. Either way it should be an interesting time, but until then i'll just sit here watching my american comedy and deciphering my ciphers. Oh what a wonderful life i have!
Wednesday, 21 September 2011
Hmmmmm....
Apparently some people have noticed that i haven't posted in a while, well a while being 2 days, and noticed being complaining. Yes i know i might have suggested that it would be a daily blog, but i never stated it, if you don't believe me then please do check. Whilst i managed to keep up the daily blogging for a while, well just under 2 weeks, i recently decided that it would be best to try and move away from the daily and more towards a normal when i can be bothered, which should hopefully be every couple of days though, and if you can't be bothered to check then i will be posting any new posts on my facebook feed (if i remember that is).
Anyway with that little situation explained, i shall continue this post in the normal style (whatever that is), and to be honest i'm still unsure what to write about, even as i'm writing this, so i could just keep on typing, and typing, to give me more time to think, or i could just stop and think for a while instead...
Sorry that took a little longer than expected, but i figured out something to write about. You might remember a while back i was complaining about UCAS, but I've finally finished the form, although it took many hours of boredom before i couldn't find anything else to do, but every so often there is a period of extreme boredom. Also if you know about UCAS then you'll know about the dreaded personal statement, where there is a true balancing act between pompousness and humility, and after you've successfully managed that, you give it to someone in order that they can tear holes in it (metaphorically obviously, unless they're a bit weird). If you're like me then after a few people have criticized it and you've rewrote it and rewrote it you get to a point where you just ignore any criticism, and just say "that'll do".
If you're "eagle eyed" (a.k.a. pedantic and annoying) you might notice I've already moaned about UCAS, and you know what, i don't care it is truly annoying. And of course you actually have to pick your university choices on top of it, and that is why i spent my saturday traipsing around a soaking Lancaster. Luckily, though, Lancaster's course includes a year abroad so hopefully North Carolina will have better weather, if not at least it's a year in North Carolina which i suspect is better than a year in Lancaster itself, i mean just looking at the population (thank you Wikipedia) Lancaster: 46,000 Raleigh: 400,000, which means it's actually a big city. I may be being a bit harsh though because Lancaster's campus is actually very nice (see i'm unbiased) and so if you hadn't already guessed that is one of my choices; although mainly because of the year abroad and £1000 scholarship for good grades.
So i think that's enough for now, i have to something to write next time and i promise i'll try to think of something before i start writing. Or i could just blabber on like an idiot (no sarcastic comments please), anyway until then (which should hopefully be tomorrow or friday) find something else to entertain you, but make sure it's not too entertaining so that you still read my blog.
Anyway with that little situation explained, i shall continue this post in the normal style (whatever that is), and to be honest i'm still unsure what to write about, even as i'm writing this, so i could just keep on typing, and typing, to give me more time to think, or i could just stop and think for a while instead...
Sorry that took a little longer than expected, but i figured out something to write about. You might remember a while back i was complaining about UCAS, but I've finally finished the form, although it took many hours of boredom before i couldn't find anything else to do, but every so often there is a period of extreme boredom. Also if you know about UCAS then you'll know about the dreaded personal statement, where there is a true balancing act between pompousness and humility, and after you've successfully managed that, you give it to someone in order that they can tear holes in it (metaphorically obviously, unless they're a bit weird). If you're like me then after a few people have criticized it and you've rewrote it and rewrote it you get to a point where you just ignore any criticism, and just say "that'll do".
If you're "eagle eyed" (a.k.a. pedantic and annoying) you might notice I've already moaned about UCAS, and you know what, i don't care it is truly annoying. And of course you actually have to pick your university choices on top of it, and that is why i spent my saturday traipsing around a soaking Lancaster. Luckily, though, Lancaster's course includes a year abroad so hopefully North Carolina will have better weather, if not at least it's a year in North Carolina which i suspect is better than a year in Lancaster itself, i mean just looking at the population (thank you Wikipedia) Lancaster: 46,000 Raleigh: 400,000, which means it's actually a big city. I may be being a bit harsh though because Lancaster's campus is actually very nice (see i'm unbiased) and so if you hadn't already guessed that is one of my choices; although mainly because of the year abroad and £1000 scholarship for good grades.
So i think that's enough for now, i have to something to write next time and i promise i'll try to think of something before i start writing. Or i could just blabber on like an idiot (no sarcastic comments please), anyway until then (which should hopefully be tomorrow or friday) find something else to entertain you, but make sure it's not too entertaining so that you still read my blog.
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