Living in miserable conditions in rainy Scotland
Friday, June 25th, 2004have no internet access as can’t go into lab. Well there is always the library but can’t be arsed at the moment.
Feeling down, sad, sentimental, whatever at the moment. Sitting alone in my new square shaped living room. Saturday afternoon and I don’t know
what to do. Listening to Annie Lennox through your speakers. Washing clothes. The weather’s not good either. dark clouds most of the time. Not much sun. I bet it’s getting dark pretty early in Germany.
Have emailed my supervisor and will see him this Monday and said he had a defined project ready for me. Hope I’ll get into it and get it done before my mother comes. The way it looks now, my brother and his girlfriend will come at the same time and we’ll rent a car and drive around. That’s what I am organizing at the moment. Trying anyway. Still haven’t brought the book back to library.
Went out with David and his mates yesterday. To Shack and was cheapest night ever as I only had 2 drinks one of them was paid by David. Didn’t plan to go out. Well did earlier this week, but went to Tukido on Friday and didn’t feel so well. Eddie, our teacher pushed us a bit too far. Well me at least. Almost passed out, saw stars and then it became black in before/ in front of my eyes. So had to take a rest. And that’s why I didn’t want to go drinking that night. Plus had shorts and red t-shirt on after tukido when I went to David’s flat. So another excuse for not going out, but could borrow trousers, shirt and shoes of David.
Now I know why David never pulls. Well don’t know, but got some ideas why. Although guess I am wrong as you might tell me soon. Went to flat and there they sat drinking and never stopped drinking until drunk and then we went to shack at midnight and I guess people were already a bit tired and drunk so not much energy for dancing left. Anyway, that’s not the real reason, but is just not forward enough, waits for the girls to do approach him and unfortunately that’s not usually the way it works.
now I am already in a better mood. Have to smile at what I write. And I like Annie Lennox. “Why” is playing. Maybe would be good if I could start my project and then would be busy doing that and not have too much time to be sad and think of you. You just made me forget that I don’t know many people here. Even thought of going out with Sarah, or your flatmates or whoever hates me because of what I’ve done. Wouldn’t mind too much going out with Hailey and Willie, which maybe shows that I am desperate ?!?.
Soon there is going to be the West End Festival for 2 weeks. Want to go to concert of Belle and Sebastian in the botanic garden. It’s free, so that’s good. Should get a bit warmer tho, is a bit depressing.
Have finally shaved my beard and head again today. Was a bit too long. not much more to tell.
Bye for now.
Later:
just organised tukido training in June. Is a bit more expensive, 27 pounds a month because it is not in university. But is worth it. Keeps me fit and happy and that’s important. And as I’ll go to summer camp it’s also a good idea to go to trainings before.
Everytime I get stuff done like that it makes me happy. That’s why I like doing the washing up. Dirty dishes become clean again. What a wonderful transformation. Taking the piss of myself.
Evening:
didn’t go to cricket match. stayed at home. Organising the trip. Still going through brochures, looking at the map and deciding what we could do. Now I feel as if I should travel more in Scotland. And that I shouldn’t stay in Glasgow doing my project. Would like to be on an island on my own. Doing nothing. Thinking, enjoying nature, meditating, reflecting. Whatever. Just be alone.
Realized as well that as funny as it might sound right now because of what I’ve written before today. I quite like to be alone. I didn’t get enough time on my own this year. I like to have day where I don’t do much. Staying in bed until I want to get up, then without any haste(hurry) having breakfast, taking a shower. All very slowly. Cleaning my room is what I usually do on such days. Or do things I should’ve done a long time ago. Just taking the time that is needed for things that don’t seem to be too important. Is a quality of living for me. Sometimes. Every now and then while I was studying in Zurich, I did not go to my classes but had one of these days. Helped me to find to myself, to focus on what I want or just to give me new energy for the daily life, which can be quite stressful. So many things and as you know, I don’t always cope to well, but want to hide and just ignore the things I have to do.
I like my new flat, view on the river. I can watch the seagulls feeding. They are flying very low over the clyde and then drop into the water, picking at whatever they find and the next second they are flying again, looking for more food. They almost don’t stop flying at all. Not sure what they are looking for. Whether it is fish or leftovers by humans. But saw them picking up grass or plants which they did not like in particular. More hunting.
Am getting tired now.v
Sunday morning:
Good morning to you. A ray of sunlight tries to sneak through all the clouds over Glasgow. Imagine it would always rain if there were clouds. You would need to wear waterproof clothes all the time.
Do you remember that I was washing clothes yesterday. And as there was not enough space on thes white thingies where you can hang your clothes I hung a couple of them outside on the balcony. In the morning today there was a folded letter in our letter box, written in an old womans scripture(writing). And it reads as follows:
“Would Residents pleas note
that the balconies are not to
be used for the drying of clothes,
carpets, rugs etc.@ (AGM Speirs
Parnie).
I’m sure you weren’t
aware of this,
Best wishes
Margary Mackellar
(Stair Rep)
End of letter. What a wonderful world, where people not only look after their own interests, but also take care of other peoples interests. Thank you Margary. Have to find out if she is responsible or just an old bitter lady that needs to be hit. Is a bit wrong what I just wrote. You know that I don’t like violence, but old ladies can be a pain in the ass. The whole incident just reminded me so much of the way things are in Switzerland where there are hundreds of rules to abide to if you life in a block of flats. No playing on the lawn, no bbq, no coming home after 11 (not true), not playing music after 9, no no no no no no no and even more no. And every party makes sure that the other parties do not get away with anything against the rules. It’s surly hell for kids. Personally I am glad I never lived in a block of flats.
Sunday night: 2215
Hey you.
I don’t know what I wanted to write. But it started with an I which is quite useful if you want to write about yourself. Well. Have just watched D-Day commeration programs. Don’t know why I am always become so emotional when I see sad or happy or whatever stories. Only really started since I moved (;-)) to Glasgow.
Now they are showing a program about drinking in Britain. So revolting to see what people do when drinking too much.
Am happy today. Slept in, scanned photos, went to Tukido, back home, dinner, telly. Not much really. Am wearing your thick woollen socks. Love them. Warm and cozy.
Training was good. Lots of black belts. It is Master Teh’s club, but he is in China 
at the moment and so wasn’t teaching. Want to be fit by the time you come back. Not too skinny, just fit.
Tomorrow starts my project. Hopefully. Have a meeting anyway. And because my mother is coming on the 11th or 12th of July will try to stay in flat until then so that I have enough time for it.
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Here it is dark for a few hours. Had a good day. Spent all morning working on my photo albums, uploading them etc, then tried to catch research student in the lab, was he seems to be on holiday. Now I hope that Paddy, my supervisor is not too ill tomorrow and that he will be in. Paddy said I should see Graham, as the time is pressing. Bad news. And not sure whether the project is suitable for getting marks back home but will try anyway and worry later. Let them decide whether it is or not. I’ll do my best to make it happen. And don’t tell me it is all my fault 
I know it. But am trying to get it over here so there is a better chance that I’ll be back in Scotland soon.
Still have to find out about my minor, as my placement depends on it. Could try to do placement in Scotland anyway, if I plan to come and work here after my degree that would be a good choice really. If not, then it does not really matter career wise. Just could be that if I do placement here than I might take half a year longer to get my degree. Have to sort it all out. Exam results can be expected by June 19. Which is not as soon as I hoped for.
Went climbing today in the afternoon, to Kelvinhall sports centre. They do not have a proper climbing hall, but just a bouldering wall, where you climb without ropes and climb up and down and in case you fall there is a mat. Went there with George. Austrian guy I went climbing with before. Ladies at entry gate or whatever you call it where dead nice and let me in for reduced price even though I didn’t have the card needed for that. Might try and get one of them. And couldn’t rent climbing shoes so had to try and climb in my cycling shoes, which was ok, but not so good as they don’t have a lot of grip.
George is obviously better than myself. He just started climbing this year, but likes it and goes a lot. He than showed a route and told me it should be easy for me, but one had to pull oneself up and first I couldn’t do it. He could, but he is only 78kg and I am 88kg. So he said but look at your arms, so strong :-). Didn’t know they look so strong ;-). And was better than earlier.
Walked home with him through Kelvingrove Park, chatting. Was good and got to speak English. He is doing the Cambridge Advanced English whatever degree. Exams are in Air!
Have had a lot of salad, or lettuce if you prefer lately. Eating healthily. And cooked a whole pan of rice for the next couple of days. And when in Sainsbury I didn’t buy a whole bag of apples, but just one and enjoyed eating it.
Cycled home over the suspension bridge. Haven’t done that before. Lots of not cobbler stones, but the stones they have in old streets. You told me before. And at the end of the bridge, on the south side there is a South American restaurant. But it looked closed. But entry was probably downstairs. A ned looking guy came towards me, asking:” this a restaurant … in glaswegian ;-)” so said aye. (didn’t, said yes). But that it looked closed to me but he didn’t want to listen to me advice, climbed down the stairs and pushed open the door. And in he went. I went home.
I’ve been drinking 5 litres of water today. And still almost having a headache. What’s wrong with me. And am hungry, but not because I am eating too much.
Tomorrow is my first Yoga lesson in I don’t know how many weeks. Am looking forward to that. Not so stiff anymore. Still a little bit. And tomorrow night tukido. And will finally hand in application sheet for summer camp. More about that later.
Watching too much tv, but was a long day. Up again at 6.30 to be in the lab at 8.
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It’s end of day again and time for reflection :-). Have to smile myself when I write sentences like that.
I guess I do miss my friends in Switzerland a little bit. Am sitting here alone in my new flat. Not sure whether I am lonely. There’s just nobody here.
Had a good day when I look back. Got really bored in the morning, after I found out that Paddy wasn’t going to come and the other student is still on holidays. So haven’t started my project yet. Didn’t know what to do, but then decided to work on the Yello website. So started installing and configuring software so that I could work on it the same way as Paul in Australia does. And so the afternoon passed quite quickly. Was answering emails in the morning, then went to Sandyford to renew my book. (Haven’t got the inner peace yet to finish reading it. Need some more time and not my project in the background). Didn’t have to pay a fine, as they do not charge you at Sandyford library. Was quite lucky, because was a month late.
After that went to Yoga, plenty of new people, and spotted also a Swiss girl, Lea, but didn’t talk to her. Would still rather speak to other people than Swiss people. As long as I am here anyway. Tried to convince David to come to Tukido, but he is such a bore sometimes. As in needs a lot of kicks in his ass to move it to come to gym or tukido. So cycled there, left soon after 6 to be there at 7. Because i wasn’t sure whether
I would find it in the first try. And I didn’t. Cycled all over the south side, around Hampden Park until I finally fond it, after asking a couple of people. That’s my story for today. Training was good. My feet are still hurting. Mister Davie was teaching, the guy that teaches in Strathclyde Uni as well. So was good.
And remember that guy I met last Sunday at tukido. The one that does theatre. Well, got his number and there is a free concert on Saturday in the botanical garden. Might have written about it before. Belle and Sebastian and friends are playing. 3 to 8. So should be good. He might come as well and will also ask other guys. Georg from climbing should come as well.
Wouldn’t have bothered sitting in front of the computer today if the weather would have been nice. But it was so depressing. Have never seen it as cloudy, misty, foggy whatever. You couldn’t even see the other side of the clyde kind of. And stayed like that for the whole day. Not even black clouds, but just white and grey. And found out that in Switzerland, the sun is shining and the temperatures are approaching 30 degrees celsius. Should be 30 degrees on Thursday. Here most of the people were wearing jackets. And I was cycling to the library in my shorts, t-shirt, helmet and my flip flops. Was inviting the summer, but it does not want to come. :-((((( Sad story.
My brother etc. are definitively coming. Have booked their flights. And I’ll book the youth hostels tomorrow. Am very much looking forward to that. Coming around in Scotland.
Will stop my thinking aloud for today now. Am sure there will be more to follow.
And maybe I can bring light into the darkness that is my brain. Not really true, but make more sense of what I am thinking, if I get a good nights sleep.
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Saturday 12 June 2004
Weather has been bad all the time. Torrentuous rainfalls. Want to say heavy rain for a short while every now and then. Today a bit better. Had a bit of sun in the morning. Will soon go to Botanical Garden to concert. Lea, a swiss girl is coming, and Mark, the guy from Tukido should come later. As should Paul.
Am definitely not doing project, as Paddy hasn’t been in the whole week and don’t have time to wait for him forever and in the end it’s not feasible any more to do it anyway. So will enjoy myself a bit. Work on the yello website, go travelling with Philip if he comes. Hopefully.
Could have gone to Inverness for the weekend with David and his flatmate and pals. Are gonna do some sightseeing and highland games, but would have missed Tukido twice and concert today so decided against it.
Wednesday went to Fit Physique class and was good. Knackered afterwords. Have never ever in my entire life sweated as much in a single hour. Must have been liters. Can still feel muscles from then. Then wanted to go to internation pub, so stayed in lab until 10. Went to buddha bar. But didn’t know anybody and was in my green trousers and my hoody so decided to go straight home. Wasn’t sure whether David would be coming and mobile ran out of battery, so did not know. When home had new call on voice mail of David who was in Buddha bar, so changed and went back. Then went to blo.
Thursday and Friday worked on yello website, no sight of Paddy and bad weather, so no way of going out to a park. Yoga on Thursday, met Lea again and decided to go to Belle and Sebastian concert on Saturday together. Which is what we did. Nobody else came, so was good. Lot’s of people in the botanical garden. Music wasn’t so brillian in the beginning, but from 6 was good as Belle and Sebastian. Walked her home and talked. Swiss German. She is going to Lewis and Harris the week after next one and should tell me the top places to go as willgo there later. A lot of students seem to have gone home, either europe or inthe UK.
Football European Cup has started. England is playing today. Switzerland aswell. Have Tukido, otherwise would probably watch the Swiss playing.
It’s Sunday by now. Think definitely no project and will just do things. As innot doing too much.
Sunday evening:
There was a beautiful sunset tonight. Am listening to Sunday Surgery.
Am absolutely dead again after Tukido. Was first time that Grandmaster Teh was teaching. And made a difference. He spots all the mistakes you make and corrects you. Was good. Learned a couple new things. Then when we did sparring was sparring against Eddie (black belt, sometimes teaches us) and was good and he said that I should be a bit more careful about distance (not coming too close when sparring against other people because they might not be able to move away and I don’t have protective gear and might heart them or me), but also said that I had a couple of good kicks. Made me happy. Made me feel good. Which is nice.
Have been drinking on my own at home. Watching football. So maybe should stop soon.
In Yoga lesson on Thursday tho, Liz, the teacher said I wasn’t as good as before and that she could spot the difference and that I hadn’t been practising for a couple of weeks which is true.
So. Should organise all my visitors and then soon be off on holidays and enjoy my last days in Glasgow for a while.
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it is Monday night. The lights are reflecting in the Clyde. You know, sometimes there is not a single wave on the Clyde, as in completely flat, but more often than not it is windy and there are waves. Would really love to jump into it and go for a swim. Only if the sun would shine and the temperature would be high enough. Am wondering whether there are any crazies that do it. There must be. And is the Clyde really that dirty? Why? Such a shame.
Was in the lab in the afternoon, mainly uploading more photos and downloading more music and finally booking the youth hostels. Loch Lochy, the first one I tried was already full, so got a bit scared as to whether all of them would be full, but nope, was the only one.
Have been watching part 1 of a documentary about swingers. Story of 3 couples that like to have sex with strangers, as they called it. Was interesting, but not so well done. Tomorrow is the second part. Is an american production. And the featured couples are still kind of young. Two of them in their twenties I would say. Maybe that’s why they chose them. And not the old ones with huge bellies and sagging boobs.
Don’t know if I should try to meet Paddy tomorrow or if I should just try not to see him at all. Would be a bit cowardly. I know. So should go and see him and talk to him and find a solution ( sort things out).
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There was a wedding scene just a couple minutes ago. Have never seen one like that. And was kind of funny, as boyfriend marries girl he and his girlfriend swing with and he does so for monetary reasons. That’s what he says anyway. And so they have to promise to be ever faithful and all that stuff and the witness is his girlfriend. And she cries and runs out. Well that was kind of the end of the second and last part of “sex with strangers”. First part was yesterday.
And after watching it all I would say that men are assholes. Sometimes at least. And that not everybody is meant to do it. It might seem like good fun in the beginning, but what if one of them likes it more than the other person or the other person loves the one too much and suddenly can’t stand it anymore.
It is midnight. Lights in the river again. Will they never stop? Tried to call couple of people in Switzerland again, but to no ??avail?? (nobody answered). So sent txt and Philippe called me back. He will try to come Thursday or Friday, which means pretty soon. Has to be back at end of June as has to clean houses. He owns a record shop but also cleans houses as gives him some more money. So was really good news talking to him and that he is coming soon. Is flying here, as I told you in my last email, but can still take some records back and then will give some to Markus and Corinne and whoever comes. And will give rest to Oxfam. Just kidding.
Want a digicam. Now. But would like to have a cam. Nice sunset yesterday. Purple clouds and all that stuff.
Was scanning in photos when I suddenly realised that it was already 5 to 12 and that my yoga lesson was at 1210. Thanks to my bicycle was there in a minute. Then back. And later Tukido. Was good, but hard. I know I am repeating myself, but it does get harder. Grandmaster Teh, he knows his job. After doing the stretching could feel muscles I had never felt before in all the tukido classes and we did kind of the same exercises but he corrected me when I was doing them wrong. So learned some new stuff. That’s good. Really a shame I can’t do it in Switzerland. Means I have to come back ;-)).
There are a couple of kids coming to the trainings and they always try to kick a wooden block apart. Which makes no sense. There are 2 plastic pieces which you can join together and then if you kick hard enough, they come apart. So that’s what I want to try this Friday. Hope I won’t deaden my foot doing it
See my life is centered around doing nothing and attending classes. Pretty good. No reason to get fit for though. No beaches to go or swimming pools. And the weather is pretty cool here as well. Pretty cold I mean. In the south of England it was 29 degrees and up in Scotland only 15 degrees.
Bye for now. And tomorrow will have to go to lab and send my emails off. And do what? Will try to borrow digicam of Lea and shoot some photos. And want to go out. Ashton lane or thereabouts. In the Belgian pub there’s life music. Still westend festival. Guess should be out all the time, but no energy left ususally. Am pretty good moneywise. Not spending too much.
Haven’t got my deposit back though. Should maybe call my landlord sometime soon to find out.
Micke and Helen might come tomorrow. But are really busy sending out invitations for their marriage. Can’t really understand why it takes so long.
So, bed is calling me. Am sleeping a bit better in my bed by now. Still not possible to sleep through though.
Am listening to music by a band called Freezepop which sound very spaced. Mix of Krafwerk and something else. Not sure whether they consider themselve a serious band but I quite like them. Got it from Julz, the guy in the states. Yello
Is gonna a be a strange kind of summer. See, now I start complaining about the weather again. Instead should have gone cycling somewhere. Will be very proud of me if I manage to cycle somewhere further than 10 miles before I’ll go to the hebrides. Weather is not so bad after all.
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It is Saturday morning, well lunchtime and I’ll have to spend one more week on my own, as Philippe won’t be coming this week but probably in middle of August. As it it too expensive now because he was late in booking his flights. :-(. Which again means that I would have had time to do my project but now of course it is another week spent and gone ;-).
It always turns out another way then expected. Not too sad about it though.
Wanted to see Croft No. 5 yesterday but concert was beginning at 8 and had Tukido from 715 to 845. So decided to be there at 830 but then would have had to leave so early so decided against it. There’s another good concert next saturday. Bog Eyed Fearies or so. Both celtic bands and part of west end festival. Blurp.
Went to David’s Flat instead where there was him, his flatmate Christine from Germany and Brett, the guy who went to Ireland with us. Later on James and Scott came as well. The plan was to go out, but people kept drinking and got tired and when David finally wanted to go out at 1230 us others decide to go home Was a bit cruel. He was really drunk, more then us and changed into his shirt and got ready and we just smiled. And walked home. Quite glad though.
Went climbing with George earlier on yesterday. Was raining really hard when I was cycling to the climbing centre. Was lucky to had my waterproof jacket on. Climbing was really good. Did the easy routes. Grade 5 and could do all of the ones I attempted. 5+ proved to be too difficult though. Or I was already too tired. But was good fun.
Not sure what I should do today. Tomorrow the plan is to climb Ben Nevis. Christine, David, Scott and myself. I hope they are up to it. Christine and David planned to go to Fort William to do some hiking and I then suggested to climb Ben Nevis. I’d always thought that it was dangerous and all that nonsense. I guess it can be. But Lea had been climbing it in March or April and was just wearing her jeans and a jacket and she said it wasn’t so difficult. So I thought I could do it as well. It is June for god’s sake. Bad weather though, so we’ll see.
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Today was the longest day in the year. As far as I know. 21 June. It is dark now. But you could still see some glow at 1 AM. Quarter past now. Day was mixed. Hope you can understand what I am trying to write. Was crabbit and not happy when returned from lab, but am ok now.
Slept in after yesterdays climb and then cycled to lab at 3 or so. Was kind of sunny but had been raining in the morning. (You get a daily forecast for the weather in Scotland - not fore, but more hindcast as in hindsight?). Should have booked accomodation for my mother, but didn’t. Did nothing really. Well uploaded some yello picture and ate some oranges ;-). And read swiss newspapers on the net and followed the football. And read some websites. Did nothing as I said before. Essentially didn’t do the things I should have done. Or wanted to do?
Philippe called me, he has booked now. 10-17 August. Probably wrote to you in my last email telling you that. Was a bit unsatisfied when I left the lab. Should’ve gone out, was quite nice. Not all the time.
No sport as well. Meaning no real contact to anybody else. Lea is away on holiday. George started working on his project. And I’ve got nothing to do. Well have loads I could, should do. Tried to call Francis, my landlord several times, but he never responded. Am a bit worried about my deposit. It is GBP 390, which is quite a sum of money for a poor student like me!
Robbie hit the road until Thursday night, so on my own in the flat. Doesn’t make much of a difference, as we went on quite well and didn’t see him too much. Kind of happy now, lying on the sofa, typing this message.
Can still feel my legs from climbing up Ben Nevis ;-). Wondering when I’ll see you again. Time will pass quickly as soon as I go travelling. Don’t really know what to do. Is not nice to go out (not talking about nighttime). No swimming pools, asking myself what all these other people do that have time to kill.
Should be on an island now. Should read more maybe and defo spend less time in the internet. If I use computer should at least use it for a purpose. Will get a watch from Julian in the States for helping him buying a whole lot of them from a swiss guy ;-).
Digicam didn’t come yet, hope tomorrow. Need a shave btw. Head and Face Is growing long.
When playing frisbee bumped into Laura, my old flatmate. And she and her boyfriend are also going to T in the Park. Was funny as I hadn’t seen her in a while and she didn’t reply to my text messages telling her that she had still some letters etc. Found out that she has lost her phone and therefore my number and didn’t get my text messages at all.
Much nicer flat here, looking out on the river is a better sight than backyards in Springburn!
btw. David is obsessed, as you may have noticed. By sex and asses and women etc. I usually find it amusing, but could imagine that other people find it disturbing ;-). Wanted to say annoying. I quietly smile.
Time for bed now. 2PM.
ps. It is already getting brighter again. Or still afterglow of the sun. Don’t know. But not completely dark anymore. Or my eyes got more used to it.
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Is past midnight again, as usual, never go to bed early. As am always sleeping until 10 or 11. Not tomorrow though. Want to go swimming. First time for weeks or rather months. Should be good.
Went climbing today in the evening. 6 - 10. Was good, enjoyed it again. Went with George. Am getting better. Wasn’t so sure whether I should go as was knackered after my lunchtime exercise class. Did weights. And was surprised that there were quite a lot of girls that choose the heavier weights and then some of them could do more than myself or the other men. 4 in total or so. Is obviously not so much about muscles but about endurance or what it is called.
Have been doing an awful lot of abs exercises, but my sixpack just does not want to come through. ;-(
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Thursday night. Robbie is back. But he is moving out on Tuesday, so he is gonna clean the flat on Sunday.
Got my deposit back from the old flat, but was half a hassle. First I tried to reach Francis but couldn’t get hold of him. Then I asked Laura whether she had gotten the full deposit back and how long it had taken. And yes she got all of it back, but said it took ages. And she suggested I should keep beeing on Francis back and try calling him from a different number. But then the next day I got a phone call from Francis. Was in Yoga, so he left a message, asking me to meet him the same day at George Square. A suitable time was soon found and so went there at 4pm. Didn’t know whether he would just hand me the money over or whether I would have to fight for my deposit. But he was there, even early and then gave me a check over GBP 390. Full amount. So that was good. What wasn’t so good was that for me in order to get the cash I would have to pay the check into my Royal Bank of Scotland bank account. And remember, have an overdraft of 70 pounds and don’t want to pay them, so would have lost 70 pounds if I had taken the cheque.
So tried to persuade Francis to somehow give me the money in cash. But he said that was impossible which I found a bit ridiculous. I mean I had given him the rent in cash a couple of times and before I could get the flat I had to hand him the first rent plus the deposit in cash. 550 pounds in total. That seemed to work somehow and so we went to the next Royal Bank of Scotland at uni and he cashed the cheque for me and gave me the money and I gave him a receipt and everybody was happy. He also brought 3 letters for me that still got sent to my old flat. Forgot to pay the rest of the power bill. So have to do that soon. Now!!
Bought 2 pineapples today. Was about the only sensible buy I did today. Can I say that. Buy as a noun? All the things I bought today, what are they? Rubbish, I know, but they are my buy? Sounds terribly wrong, but don’t know what else to use and don’t have a dictionary handy.
Had short show on TV. Muirs way. Where he went to Isle of Muck. Must be somewhere in Scotland. Have a school with 5 pupils and a computer. There must be about 20-40 people living on that island. Very remote. Attracts me somehow.Don’t know why. Maybe it seems like such an innocent place where nothing can go wrong. Apart from your head. Slightly mad.
There’s a guy in the lab which I see quite often and started talking to him He is in 2nd year. Has to resit a couple of classes from first year and he passed 7 of his 10 classes this year. Not to worried about it though. Said it was ok. As he had gotten his marks and could look at them online and I couldn’t so I thought that something must’ve gone wrong. So I asked another of the guys in the lab, one from 4th year whether he had gotten his results, and he said yes, about one and a half weeks ago. Was a bit pissed off and decided it was time for some drastic action ;-). And went to see Paul .(Goldfinch)….. Forgot his name at the moment. He is responsible for the 4th year guys. And he had entered my courses into the system.
Was a bit weird. Knocked at the door and he said come in, so went in and he was at his computer and said hi, so said hi as well. Then was told to take a seat and that’s what I took. (What I did might be slightly better English, but is not as funny!). For me anyway.
Then as he was looking at mee I told him why I had come and he kept staring at me. Thinking. Wasn’t sure whether he had recognised me. Said he wasn’t sure what to do and if he couldn’t help me than nobody else could help me. So had to smile myself, as it was all quite amusing. Computer Science department but nothing is working. Some of their systems are quite elementary, or rudimentary, ar just basic and not working properly. He was looking at some files lying around in his office but could only find part of my records. Than looking into his computer again.
And finally he presented me with my marks. The ones I’ve sent you earlier. Am happy with them. Not proud, as haven’t done enough and could’ve achieved far better results. But was relieved I had passed all my exams. Foolish me, that I didn’t talk to Goldfinch before, telling me that I wouldn’t do all my exams, as you know, you can pass an exam even if you fail it. Don’t get the system, but that is how it works.
So. have 111 credit points out of the 120 needed for my degree, but still have to do 19. Which are 10 too many, but that is because I’ve done too many regular classes and not enough for my minor yet. The 19 are all for my minor. 5 of them I’ll get in sept/oct in Zurich. 9 more will be for my project. And the last 5 I’ll try to get by letting one of my classes count for my minor. Otherwise I’lll have to do another class in Zurich. Which I am trying to avoid.
So have to sort out minor and placement. And rest of it is kind of given. Project in Zurich. Shouldn’t take me more than a week to find it and a month to complet it. Let’s say one more week just in case something goes wrong. But will have to work full time on it and than everything should be fine. And won’t have the money to go out too often anyway. Will try to find some work in Zurich. Well at least do the telephone stuff again on the weekends for the cinema. Earned 150 pounds a month with that usually. Not too much, but a bit and won’t have a lot of rent to pay, as I won’t have a flat on my own.
Andreas offered me to stay in his room or otherwise there’s a room at Mel’s and Andrej’s new flat. Is close to where I’ve been living for a while in Zurich. Nice location. Mel is in Japan now, but only for a bit more than a month.
Found a couple of old photos of myself on the net. Are from eestec exchange in Delft, Holland. I went to after my first semester at uni, together with Simone. Had more cheeks and funny jumpers I’ve long since thrown away. So had to smile, laught when I discovered them.
Getting quite long again tonight. The letter I mean. Camera still hasn’t come and am getting worried about it now. Was sent last Friday and there’s no way it takes a week for a parcel to come from somewhere in England to Glasgow.
England lost today in the penalty shootout or so against Portugal. Was for the English, but not too sad about it. Match is showed again on tv. But tv is just on, not really paying a lot of attention. Shit lifestyle. Leaving on my own, tv, sleeping too much. Does not suit me. Or I don’t suit it, can’t remember which one is right. Only that it is different.
Is getting already brighter again at half 2 in the morning. Is amazing. And they showed pictures of Sheffield today on tv. Was already dark there while it was still light and bright in Glasgow. There are some advantages of living up here, apart from the fact that you get wet. Miserable summer up to now. Has to get better.
Should go to bed slowly. Didn’t do anything today (thursday). No swimming, no yoga no nothing :-(. Found out that I can swap my harddrive of my laptop, but is not much of an achievement. My cd drive is working again. Not really, but after not being able to open it for months I now can’t shut it anymore. Is really annoying and still have to find service center. Am loosing it. Thread I mean.
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