Dreaming of a Holiday

I don't want to sound like a typical student here, but my third year has been tough. Lots of late nights trying to meet deadlines - hell, there have just been lots of tightly-packed deadlines - and plenty of stress to keep me from sleeping for months! I'd love a holiday about now to ease off after finishing University. Nowhere fancy, as long as it's warm: Spain at least, but preferably Cyprus.

I love Cyprus; I've been there three times since I was a kid. It's one of those magical places that seems to make you happy whether it's sunny or raining! I remember scurrying about after lizards en route to Pervolia's pebble beach and drawing nonsense images on the rocks to pass the time. It was amazing, and truth be told, I miss it something terrible.

I don't think travel broadens the mind, mind you; I just think it relaxes it. You lose a little bit of tension and let yourself go a bit, as all your problems are back home and, for a week or two, you can escape from it all. Just relax on a beach and watch the sun set; the only immediate concern being the chaffing of sand up your bum! But I honestly think human beings need a bit of travel - it doesn't do to stay in one place all your life - you have to get out there and have a change of scenery every now and then, just to give you some escapism. Escapism from a big world that's starting to seem smaller and smaller, and from small problems that are starting to seem bigger and bigger.

Me? I just fancy a holiday.

My Sense of Style (Or Lack Thereof)

I've noticed something over the past year or so, and I can't quite decided whether it's a good thing or a bad thing. No, it's not the fact I've grown up to possess these devilishly good looks or an impressive set of muscles (largely because I am not blessed with either), but in fact, that I as I've grown up I have seemed to inherit something from my father. His sense of style (if you could call it that!).

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I was ever stylish in the first place (except, perhaps, when I was a really young child and wore the snazziest purple waistcoat imaginable to my cousin Alexandra's Christening) but at least I was a bit rebellious or different with what I wore. Up until college, my mother insisted that she owned my hair because I couldn't be trusted with it, and although growing it excessively long from the age of fourteen to sixteen was probably a good indicator that this was, in fact true, it did not excuse her for giving me a buzz-cut for the first few years of my teenage life. Two wrongs don't make a right, Mum, and surely even you could not ignore that I was never able to grow hair on my head properly!

Moving on from the positive and negative poles my hair managed (or occasionally did not manage) to reach, and my sense of clothing style wasn't much better. If a robber ever broke into my house, he'd probably have been discovered by his uncontrollable laughter as he rifled through the piles of spinach green pullovers and bland black Snape-Tops that filled my wardrobes and drawers. I was a boring sod when it came to clothing myself - I didn't want to risk looking like an idiot, so I went for looking like an idiot instead. Shrewd, me.

As it was, I looked like a hippie who occasionally came out without his hair (again, thanks mum). So as I grew older, I started to swap pullovers and long-sleeved tops for button up shirts of all colours and materials - denim, when the occasion called for it (double denim never has an excuse to be worn, but I subjected people to it regardless!) The problem was that I couldn't stop. I soon found myself buying sweaters and waistcoats to wear over my shirts, trousers to add a sense of uniformity and proper shoes. I didn't want to 'look cool' anymore - I wanted to look smart. My hair began to recede to a reasonable lengthy (gradually) and I ditched dealer jackets for nice coats. I was slowly becoming my Dad. I don't mean splitting up with my wife and ordering a fishing license, of course. But I remember the sweaters my Dad used to wear (and still does), and the polo shirts on summers days and I think to myself: "John, you're looking like your Dad today!) In fact, I even tuck my shirt in, to which people tell me (and now myself) I dress like my Dad! Is this a bad thing? Maybe. But what would you rather see; a long-haired John with a fringe down to his top lip and a scraggy black pullover, or a nice and smart-looking John, who looks a bit old fashioned but you wouldn't mind going out in public with*? I know which version of me I prefer!

* This is assuming you want to be seen in public with me anyroad!

Reflections on Media Production

As my time at University draws to a close, with but one exam remaining between myself and graduation, I have found myself spending more and more time reflecting on my time at De Montfort. Did I live student life to the full?

I never took any drugs whilst I was here. I mean, I had a chance to take MDMA (or MFI as it has become amongst my circle) but I never did it. I went on many a night out, but not to the extent of going out every night. I never learned to cook, and I didn't take a different girl home every night to sleep with her and cook for her.

But to me, that doesn't matter. In my time at De Montfort, I have made so many amazing friends and met so many fantastic and interesting characters. Raj 'King' Karia; whose love of women is somewhat "Unbelievable" in comparison to his lack of attempting to meet any, Oliver 'President' King, who wore the same shirt practically every time we went out and provided many a laugh. Of course, he was also an ABSOLUTE GOD OF A MAN! Then there were people like my big brother Craig Brown, who taught me so much about the ways of the world, or Richard Cassell who made sure I explored that new world safely (and was a wonderful housemate). Jack Lewin; who lost so much weight and grew a moustache that you could shave off and replace your bike handles with, Lyndsey Ledger who never attended lectures but still found a way into everybody's heart and Ian Abraham, who I hope never has to return to the sausage factory after finding the Audio exam results, and here's wishing he makes it into the industry where his sense of humour will serve him well! Then there's Aidan Albert - a man with many nicknames and faces, but ultimately a man who I will never forget and whose friendship I will always treasure. Duncan MacLeod, who has stuck by me through thick and thin, and cemented my belief that some friendships can last a lifetime. We've seen some highs and lows, had disagreements and laughs; we've stayed up all night playing the Xbox and drinking KX whilst we rush out coursework. He's a great man, and I'm glad University brought us closer. I'd love to go on further about the people I've met outside of the course, but I'd be here forever (and there are peple ON the course whom I lovee equally dearly who I have not mentioned!)

As for not sleeping with trillions of women, I care not a jot! Every year I've met different women; some I've had encounters with, some I've engaged in a relationship with. Some, as many of you know, I was a dick to and let down. But this year I met a beautiful woman I hope to stay with for years to come; someone I can honestly say makes me happy and whom I hope I make happy in return. Her name is Rachel, and believe me when I say that having her in my life is infinitely better than if I were to go around sleeping with the nameless dozens! She is like me in many ways, and our tastes in film and (some) music match wonderfully. But I don't want to get too soppy, or I'll cry after mentioning all these people!

Oh, and so what if I didn't learn to cook, that's what microwaves are for.

So upon reflection, I might not have been the typical drug-taking, boisterous student who went out six nights a week and avoided lectures like the plague, but I enjoyed my time here in a different way and still had a lot of fun meeting new people, forging new friendships, stealing traffic cones, jumping into lavender bushes and avoiding lectures like the plague. (Okay, so maybe I was a typical student in some respects!)

Here's to three fantastic years that I will never forget!