I was going to blog my experiences during Fresher’s week every day wasn’t I? Oh dear. I had good intentions but time just vamoosed out from underneath my feet… here I am, three weeks later, feeling somewhat… shellshocked, I think is perhaps the best way to describe it. Its been one hell of a learning curve and I’m still experiencing it. I am so very very tired all the time and it seems impossible right now that things will EVER settle down and into a routine that will enable me to get some kind of work done, but everyone keeps telling me it does happen, so I guess I just have to have faith in them and trust that it will.
That apart, I’m thoroughly enjoying the course itself. I’m not sure I’m learning a great deal at this point – or to be more accurate, I’m not sure I’m taking in very much if only because its all a bit overload – but I may look back and see that I took in more than I thought I did at the time. There are a few teething problems with the communication support, but I guess I knew that was going to happen, and I’d rather they happened now and get ironed out than when I truly desperately need them.
In terms of the house: we’re slowly unpacking the remaining stuff. Whats holding us back now is waiting for permission to do things like put up shelving, we have a lot of books and not enough bookcases, so until the shelving goes up, the boxes are stacked in the spare bedroom. We got the all clear today though, so over the next few days that shall be done and the last of the boxes shall be folded up and go into the loft ready for the next move. Otherwise things are settling down, we’re slowly making it a home and settling in and the house in Manchester seems like a bad dream at this point in time.
Leicester itself is proving to be a lovely place to live. I’m sure its got its drawbacks but so far we’ve not found them. The people are friendly enough, there’s plenty of shops and the city centre is a nice place to be, there’s a good food market there which is always a pleasure. Mum is coming up on saturday for a visit, so we’re looking forward to that. Diwali started last sunday, so we sat and watched the fireworks from the bedroom window – we have a lovely view over Leicester itself. We’re quite looking forward to Fireworks Night now! Its so peaceful here. We found a sort of playingfield/communal area about 2 minutes walk from where we live with similarly gorgeous views over the city where we can walk Jess, and its all helping to banish the Manchester blues, as I’m coming to think of them. This place, for all its issues, is coming to mean something quite special to us both – and we certainly both really appreciate that we’re lucky enough to live here, mostly thanks to the support and help of my Mum. Jess seems happier here too – she loved the night that we spent at Mum’s (although she didn’t like being unsettled), and thoroughly enjoyed the walk we had with Mum, Suzie (Mum’s Dog), one of Mum’s neighbours, and Charlie, his dog the following morning. Jess got to meet her first cow. I’m not quite sure what she thought of it! But ever since then when we’ve met a dog she’s been much more willing, it seems, to play and be adventurous. There’s one dog in the park where we walk her sometimes called Lily who is a very enthusiastic 2 year old labrador puppy, and Jess usually ends up romping around with her like SHE’s a 2 year old pup, not a 9 year old sedately middle aged lady! She’s taken to playing with a ball too, something she rarely did in the old flat, and she adores the yard here. its a good move for her.
I’ve updated the education page with details of what I’m doing this semester and next, and as I hand work in and get it back with results, I’ll post those results here, just as I did last year. At the moment I have a rotten stinking cold that someone gave me – euphemistically known as “Fresher’s Flu”, although its not a flu, just a nasty cold. hope it goes soon!!
On that note, its getting late and I have an early start tomorrow – its not all the life of riley, living as a student you know!!! will try to update again soon 
October 23, 2011 at 9:59 am
Any chance of a teeny, tiny photo of your new house and college? I like to visualise bloggers in their situation, and you do seem quite pleased with yours now. Well Done. Who’d have thought, that after all that time waiting to move, it would come with a Degree! And you have a yard and nice walks for Jess as well! Well done her, too!
November 9, 2011 at 12:15 am
Linda – I did take some photos of Uni on my first day, will get around to posting them and taking some more soon. There’s a cemetary over the road from the Uni that could be really atmospheric under the right conditions and I’m itching to get in there on a cold, misty, frosty morning…! As for the house, at the moment its a work in progress, but I’ll see what I can do!
December 8, 2011 at 7:21 am
How are things progressing with your studying? And life in general? I’m doing a short course with the OU at the moment, trailing a toe through the waters of university. It’s been a mixed experience!
Hope all’s well with you.
December 12, 2011 at 8:59 pm
Stoney – things are great with uni and studying, just ferociously busy. I finish the bulk of the work tomorrow though, and then we break for xmas, so am hoping to get a proper update up then….. and catch up on … ohhh.. everything! (including the humungous pile of laundry…)
December 12, 2011 at 9:14 pm
Good to hear—it’s always better to be busy than bored. Not that I know what bored is! Humungous laundry pile? I have a pet one of those, too. Not only does it grow constantly, but poor house training means it tends to flow all around the house.