It’s been a good while since I last posted something. It’s
the start of a new year and this is my first post of 2013! I said good bye to a
very tumultuous year and welcomed in a new year. So what has 2013 brought for
me so far…
I have come back to uni after spending a really great 3
weeks at home with my family. I’d hoped to get a fair bit of revision done but unfortunately
that didn’t happen. Instead we had family over so I spent time with them and
enjoyed watching lots of Christmas TV and films and eating lots of chocolate and
biscuit selection boxes. I think I visibly put on some weight but oh well!
Christmas only happens once a year and while I’m at uni, I don’t get the chance
to eat as much as I do while at home. I didn’t exercise at all either. But tbh
I’ve never been an exercise freak. I have never been to the gym and only go
swimming on holidays. The only time I run is for the bus and after that my
muscles kill and I try to avoid such pushing myself. A friend asked me to go
for a run with her in the mornings but why would I exert myself so much when I
can sit in with the heating on and a cup of tea and watch Miranda on I player. I
know I should be encouraging exercise as a medical student but I’d rather eat well
and keep active by walking to uni etc rather than doing active exercise.
I’m currently without hot water atm! You never realise how
much you rely on such things until they stop working. We’ve been without hot
water for 2 days now and it’s difficult to do the washing up in ice cold water
and we can forget showering! I hadn’t had a shower since Saturday and realised I
had to do something about it cos I’m going to be in hospital tomorrow meeting
patients. So I boiled lots of hot water in kettles and saucepans and filled my
bath tub. I did my best but the water was going cold very quickly. It was such
an uncomfortable experience – having a bath in cold/lukewarm water. I was
shivering and couldn’t put my clothes on fast enough. But at least I’m fairly
clean and won’t feel so conspicuous and uncomfortable tomorrow. My letting agent
sent round a plumber today who had a look and ordered the suitable part and
will be able to fix it tomorrow. Hopefully we’ll have got water tomorrow, given
that the part he ordered is the right one. The plumber didn’t seem so sure what
was wrong with our boiler. I don’t know if I can bare another cold bath again!
Me and my flat mate are back to arguing about the heating. As
we’re living in student accommodation, we are given an allowance which is
included in the rent and if it goes over, we will be charged. My house mate is
rather adamant that the heating be on a mere 2 hours a day even at this time of
year. If I had my way it’d be on about 7 hours a day. You can see why we argue about
it. We agreed on 5 hours a day. But my housemate likes to turn it off without
letting me know at random times despite our agreement. I know I’m not one to
talk as sometimes I put it on for a couple of extra hours when it’s really
really cold. The house temperature sometimes gets to 15/16 degrees Celsius and
no matter how many layers you put on, you still feel cold. We argued so much
about it last semester and agreed not to argue about it again this year. But surprise
surprise, we’re back to arguing about. I guess when two people are stubborn
about what they want, it’s inevitable.
I’ve found 2 people I’m going to live with next year -my
flat mate last year who is also a good friend to me and one of her friends. We’re
hoping to move into private student halls. It’s a lot more expensive but we won’t
have to worry about safety, heating and hopefully distance too as we want to
find somewhere nearer uni and town. I’m glad I’ve found housemates for next
year because I was worrying about being on my own and having to make new
friends all over again. One of my current flat mates (not the one I argue about
heating with) decided she didn’t want to live with us next year and wanted to
be with her other friends. We hardly see her this year and we’re drifting apart
from her. We realise we have little in common and she’s always out and with
other friends.
Uni’s a lot harder than I thought it’d be. I feel more alone
here and very isolated from everything. I wish I’d made more of an effort
making friends in my first year and putting myself out there. But I find I miss
home and my family a lot, especially this year. I guess its life experience.
But I am focussing on my work and have my laptop to watch TV and films and
books to keep me busy. I’ve always found social events quite uncomfortable so
tend to avoid them with a bargepole. But so far I’ve been a lot lonelier this
year than last. I got on with my flat mates better last year and we were always
going out or doing something together at least once a week. It just hadn’t worked
out as well as I’d hoped this year.
