Napping Nightmare

For the first time in nearly three years I have become submerged in the trial that is the student revision, and exam period. A-Levels were quite a long time ago for me, yet I distinctly remember the sleepless nights and hibernation that occurred in an attempt to secure good grades. Fortunately it paid off, but y'know, they aren't quite so important any more, and instead I have a degree to contend with.

Now, I'm not trying to say that the first year of a degree is the end of the world, but, being the geek I am, I like to do well. It's come as a bit of a surprise therefore, that I once again find myself in that position where I am aware that I should be working ALL THE TIME. I'm not good at that. I like being social, I enjoy shopping, and coffee, and sight-seeing, and well it's my birthday soon too, and exams and essays are seriously hindering this.

Anyway, today I got up early and worked all morning, had a late lunch around 3pm and decided I wanted to read a book about dragons and elves rather than more literary theory on Roland Barthes. A worthy decision I'm sure you'll agree. So, equipped with tea and a good view of the City from my window, I opened my book. A few pages in I began to get drowsy, and not long after, I conceded that a nap was just going to happen, whether I wanted it to or not. 

Total mistake.

Awaking over an hour later, my hand imprinted on my face, a headache twisting my temples, and eyes blurred with confusion, my overwhelming thought was REGRET. This is not the first time such a napping nightmare has occurred, and I have reason to believe it won't be the last. Such is the life of a student.

So, after wasting a large amount of time, I am continuing to plan an essay...long into Friday evening. This most definitely hinders the desire to go and be sociable, or, make a nice dinner for that matter. And on that note, you have my advice: avoid napping at all costs. It's a temptation that totally ruins your day. 

Trust me, the desire to sleep is not equal to headache and blurry eyes. I just don't know how cats manage it!! xo

Shopping Spree

With the arrival of student loans, my desire to shop has increased ten fold. And it was already pretty high.

Do you ever have that period of time where you know you need to buy things but you put it off because you can't really afford to? Well, that's been me for the past six months. The result is that I am desperately in need of a large number of things.

Unfortunately, I seem to have misplaced my sense of logic, and have bought other stuff instead. 

Recent purchases include...

and these...

As well as another dress, and jumper, and underwear, and stationery and a number of other ridiculous things. 

Woops.
xo

A Sunday of Delights

I returned to London yesterday afternoon, and with quite a flourish managed to come last in the Pub Quiz I was at in the evening. The shame, the shame. Anyway...

Sundays are normally one of my favourite days of the week. They tend to involved going to church which I love, and that in turn also involves seeing friends which I love too. Mix in some coffee before, or dinner after and that's a good day right there. Today was a delight though.

This morning I met a friend for breakfast in Bethnal Green, and we went to Columbia Road flower market. I've been meaning to visit for ages, but until now have yet to find the motivation to get up early on a Sunday morning. I'm sure you understand. Anyway, after getting trapped behind a locked gate (oh the joys of uni security) and then getting a tad lost, I was finally able to meet Lizzie. We sat in a very cute cafe, eating croissants and drinking the best coffee I've had since leaving London three weeks ago. Then we poked about in the most exciting shops, full of books, vintage jewellery and designer clothes, before fighting our way through the stalls of flowers. I was so incredibly restrained to not buy anything, but they would've been ruined by the time I got home tonight.

As we both had other plans for the day it was a bit of a short trip, and though we could've happily listened to the busking cellist for a long while, we unfortunately had to leave. However, I think I might've found a new favourite place to hang out. 

The rest of the day I spent drinking tea and reading whilst waiting for friends, and then a huge starbucks social with friends from church before heading to church itself.

I've got plenty that's filling my brain so I'm going to read and journal and head to bed for an early night. I'm looking forward to the arrival of friends tomorrow as they return to uni. Hurrah for good things, and hurrah for sunday.

Delightful.

During the Hail

"March winds and April showers, bring forth May flowers"

I won't lie, the sky has been a little bi-polar the past few weeks, what with icy winds, torrential rain and the odd outburst of glorious sunshine. It's made spending time outside an adventure in itself, and I've successfully managed to destroy two umbrellas in the space of three weeks. 

Still, it's leant me some time to do some reading, and some chilling, both of which I don't do that much of. And, as I hear you scoffing at my lack of reading, let me qualify that...I read a lot. But that's because my degree makes me. (And don't get me wrong I love the learning, geek that I am!) But, it's not the same as picking up any ol' book that you find on your shelves, and hiding away with dusty pages and a cup of tea.

So, that's what I did these past few weeks. Whilst it hailed outside, I've been working my way through a number of books, mainly about dragons and magic, and elves and dwarves. What can I say, I like fantasy. It's been pretty delightful.

Unfortunately imagination isn't reality, and I've had to break into the real world on occasion. Fortunately for me, that's not too difficult when there are lots of friends to catch up with and new cafes to try.

Yesterday I went to a new deli, about 15 minutes from where I live. This place opened a few months ago, and as they have bunting in the windows, I rather expected to like the place. I wasn't disappointed. Armed with vanilla chai, a friend and I whiled away a couple of hours, pausing our conversation to buy some earl grey and marvel at the cuteness of the cafe. Everything was really reasonably priced (one of the benefits of not being in London!) and the staff were so friendly. Made me want them to sit down and join us. 

Anyway, following my lovely morning of civilised tea and chat, I joined some other friends for lunch before heading home (in the rain and hail I might add). Today I paid my respects to Nero and got some work done in there, following a trip to T.K.Maxx where I ogled their handbags and debated buying half of them. 

I was very restrained you'll be pleased to know. Anyway, the tiresome task that is packing needs to be done as I head back to London tomorrow. I love home, but living in that tiny-box-harry-potter-couldn't-fit-in room, has stretched me to my limits. 

I'll be sure to note any interesting people on my travels tomorrow, and write about my appalling performance at the pub quiz in the evening. For now, I'm going to ignore the looming deadlines and exams that require my attention, they along with the hail can remain outside of my thoughts. 

Love and nuzzling friends.

xxx

VICTORY

It might have taken seven months to the day, but I finally got the answer I was looking for. I think it's safe to say that justice has been done. I might have squealed when I got the email. Yayayayayayay!

Sweet Potato and Chickpea Curry

When I have the time and the inclination, I love a good bit of cooking. Today I spent my time attempting to crack on with the mountain of Uni work that I need to get done. Inevitably that gave me the time and inclination to want to cook, so armed with half the spice cupboard I began and it was pretty delicious. 

Here's the recipe...

Ingredients

2 Sweet Potatoes

2 Tins of Chickpeas

2 Normal Potatoes

2 Carrots

Some pepper (pick a colour of your choice)

A few mushrooms

An onion

Tomato Puree

Garlic Cloves (the more the better!)

Coriander

Paprika

Cumin

S/P

Any other herbs you might want to throw in

Balti curry paste (because I'm a bit of a cheat really)

3 Veggie Stock Cubes

Essentially, peel and dice all of the veg so that it'll all cook at around the same time (hold back on the peppers and mushrooms or they'll go soggy). Also, I sauteed the onion and garlic first. Throw all the veg in a big pot, and begin to cook, then add about a tea spoon of all of the herbs. Mix up the stock, add that to pan and give everything a really good stir. At this point it'll look pretty strange, but don't worry it does come together eventually.

Pour in one tin of chickpeas, and then split the second tin so you have about 2/3 of the tin left over. These you need to mix with a potato masher - they thicken the sauce in a bit of a miraculous way. Add all of these to the pot, spoon in a couple of dollops of balti paste, and a whole lot of tomato puree. Stir the pan and have a good taste, then add a whole heap more spices.

The curry needs to take a while to reduce and for everything to get nice and soft so don't be afraid to add more stock, or at least more hot water if it's boiling away. Once the curry has come together more as solid mass than lumps of vegetables, you are ready to gobble it all down. Mmmm.

Cook up some rice, and enjoy! xxx

A Degree of Worth

I'm currently making adjustments to an essay on Marx, his view of ideology, and how any text can be used to serve the ruling classes.I'm writing this in the context of homelessness in London, and the way in which it represented to the middle classes as a simple issue of finance.

This is exactly why I'm doing an English degree.