Week 11: Countdown to Christmas

This week has been busy!

On Monday, I had a performance assessment worth however many percent of that module. Fifty, maybe. I should really have paid more attention to the percentage, perhaps. That said, regardless of each assessment's percentage, I've worked at my fullest. There's dedication! (Don't listen to people who say: "It's only first year") For anyone who wants to study Drama at Birmingham, this paragraph may be of use to you. For anyone who isn't, perhaps you may want to skip. The performances were hosted in George Cadbury Hall, which has its own auditorium (and BBC HD cinema), fully equipped with ninety-six lights and a small audience area. The stage area can be small, large or massive. I'm not entirely sure how many people are studying this module but in any case there was a Monday group and a Thursday group. Within each group were smaller groups of three or four students. We were given about three weeks in which to rehearse a segment of script - that we could cut and mix around as we wish - and then perform it in front of the three module mistresses and the other Drama single honours students. The Thursdays were invited to the Monday performances and vice versa, though that was optional and some of us wanted a day for sleeping after such intense rehearsals. Each performance was limited in time: groups of three were expected to prepare a piece 8-10 minutes long and larger groups of four could extend to 12 minutes. Marks were taken off for shorter or longer pieces outside the time limit as they did not stick to the brief (though I must say I don't remember any pieces that didn't fit the time limit). Unfortunately, I was talking to one of my group members and she said, "You know what non-drama folk say about drama students? Its true, isn't it? We do just do really hippy-ish stuff in practical classes." Take heed! If anyone wants to know more about the practical exam for first year, do ask me. I may even be able to give light on the practical exam for second and third years, having made friends in those years.

Tuesday was the Winter Ball for all halls of residence. Each halls booked their own events room at hotels, botanical gardens, football grounds and other events locations which was followed by a 'secret' (*cough* Bambu *cough*) after party where all winter ballers joined for one massive partay. I only stayed until 10pm because I fancied some epic sleep but my flatmates arrived back at staggered times, the latest being about 3am. She had a good time. Everyone dressed up in their best attire (black tie: boys in suits, girls in cocktail dresses) and was served up a beautiful three course Christmas dinner. This wasn't free, mind. Tennis Courts' Ball was priced at £20, with £5 extra for anyone who wanted to go to the after party. From what I know, Elgar, Aitken and Maple's Joint Ball was £30 and Jarratt's was £10. For TC, the new RA (TeCRA: those who rule over Tennis Courts and get the admin done for us, as well as organising events and sorting out issues) was announced and each baton was handed over. There were cheers, there were woops and there were tears. Tears of joy.

Before the ball, I had plenty to do. I had a presentation to give on Wednesday so had scheduled Tuesday morning to write it up, having done the research over the weekend. Unfortunately I had forgotten that Wednesday was also the day of PTPC, which requires a group meeting beforehand to prepare a presentation on the week's topic and questions. I wasn't the allocated presenter so that wasn't too bad, but I did have to take half an hour out of my time to discuss the question and topic. Handy tip: don't delete past coursework, it may come in handy. At 12pm, I was sat in Joe's Bar at the Guild, waiting for my group members and churning out what looked like an introduction for my presentation, on my laptop. After the meeting, I sped off to the main library to find a neat little study area in the quiet section on the third floor. It was at that moment that I figured that I wasn't only just against time in terms of 'must-be-back-at-the-flat-at-3-30-pm-to-wash-my-hair' but the study holes didn't have plugs so I was also against my laptop's battery life. I couldn't really go back to the flat and work there because I'd get slack and go on Facebook. The double pressure and lack of internet access produced 1200 words in an hour. Pretty good going, don't you think? When I got back to the flat and washed my hair, I polished it and managed to get it to about 1400 words, which is two sides of A4, single spaced, size 10 text. The presentation, though, was to be read out. Again, a ten minute time limit was set. When I read it aloud to myself, it was about nine minutes nine seconds.

I have to admit, I haven't really done many of the typical student things that you hear of before actually moving to University but I did add one to the list on Wednesday: going to a lecture having had no sleep. Whilst I say I left the ball at about 10pm to get some sleep, it didn't actually happen. This was partly due to me going out of my room to greet that flatmates as they came back, hearing each of their hilarious stories, and returning back to my room only to exit again half an hour later to repeat the process. I'm sure I laid down to sleep at about 4.30am, with a looming alarm of 7.30am and the aim to leave the flat at 9am. Perhaps I did get some sleep but I didn't feel it. I do remember having a dream. It really was a very strange night. I don't advise going to a lecture or seminar with no sleep under your belt. Especially if there's an hour walk preceding it.

Friday was the last day of term. This meant that TC (and all the other halls) began to empty. The arrival of the parents, as seen in reading week back in the day, was another sight and cars were filled up with ridiculous amounts of 'stuff'. I don't know what they took home. I'm only taking clothes, books and my laptop, essentially. As I only had an hour long lecture at 9am on Friday, I planned to do some food shopping, have some lunch in my flat then go to Birmingham to attempt to finish off some Christmas shopping. I arrived at the university train station at about 1pm and the queue was actually long enough to extend outside the station. Albeit, the machines are only just inside, but still it was long. Handy tip: don't leave on Friday, leave it until Saturday morning when its still busy but the traffic isn't as bad. Oh but I did return to Birmingham at about the same time the following day and the ticket machines were out of order so the two cashiers had to process them. My theory, as with the washing machines and tumble driers, is that they were too full of money. This does stop them working! It has been proven with a washing machine or two. Another handy tip: if a washing machine isn't working, first ask maintenance to check it isn't full of cash before they order a new one.

I've bought my train ticket home for Wednesday so this is my week: Monday, Christmas Dinner with Oliver; Tuesday, clean the flat, pack my bags, read through my books to see that they're useful for the three essays I've been set; Wednesday, finish packing my bags if I didn't on Tuesday, go hooome!

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and have a lovely 2010!

Week 9: Theatre Crafts Allocation and Christmas

This week's post, I'm afraid, will be completely drama orientated. Reason being I have been absolutely immersed in the world of theatre as part of costume crew for Vinegar Tom. I must admit, it isn't one of the easiest things in the world to cope with. The technical rehearsal(s) is(are) horrible for the costume crew because we have to sit backstage for literally hours whilst the cast and crew work together in getting the lighting and sound cues right. I'm absolutely not kidding when I say 'hours', too, because one of my calls for the two tech days was about nine hours long. Late nights, too. I think that day ended at about 10.15pm. On Saturday at about 6pm my mood turned fowl absolutely because I was exhausted. Of course I did all my jobs with some enthusiasm but my mind was cast to my bed. It is amazing how something like that can make the feel of bed sheets absolutely heavenly. Actually being in that semi-awake, semi-asleep state before dropping off is something I daydreamed (no pun intended) about. That said, it did give me an insight into the world of student theatre. Once the performances began, the staff stepped back and the whole show was being run by students: third years performed, second years ran tech and costume crew and first years worked the box office, curtains, costume changes and other small jobs. My recurring job was to make Lydia's feet and hands look dirty by using green, black and red stage make up. The colour we ended up with changed every night. I wish I had pictures of the costume and such but I didn't take any. I did make detailed notes about each costume, though, because I have to write an essay on the process.

I'm struggling for things to write about this week because the above situation has absolutely taken over my whole week from morning to late evening every day. There is one thing: Christmas. When I came back from the first performance night, most of my flatmates were in the kitchen discussing the goings on before Christmas and what we would do together. I was just in time for the decision making which made me feel much happier even after such a long day. It was decided that we would choose the Secret Santa (everyone's name is written on separate slips of paper and folded up, everyone then choose a piece of paper and has to buy a present for that person unless they get themselves in which case the names are shuffled and chosen again) that night and would exchange gifts on Monday 7th December either before or after Christmas Dinner, which will be a flat effort with everyone making something. We're also going, together, to the German Christmas Market on Tuesday 8th December. I already went with my boyfriend on the day of the Millenium Point chaos so it'll be a bonus for me. We'll sip mulled wine and ride the merry-go-round. Good times.

I went to Birmingham today to find a present for my secret santa recipient yesterday as it was my first day off all week (oh yes, Saturday was taken too by matinee and evening performances, 1.30pm til 9.15pm call). I'd love to say it was so easy to find a present but with a limit of £5 it is very difficult to get something worthwhile and within the in-jokes and interest of the recipient. I know exactly the type of thing I'd like to buy but I spent over three hours trailing around the Bullring and Pallisades only to buy my lunch for today, to browse Selfridges for Christmas cards, to induldge in the smell of Vera Wang for men and buy my boyfriend his first of many small Christmas presents. I did find a few things that would be pretty good to buy my recipient but they were over budget so I had to look elsewhere. I'll try again on Thursday, which is the day I don't have anything written on my timetable and which I should really use for reading. Oh the joys of being a fresher.


The Bullring: Debenhams.


Birmingham centre at night: Selfridges and a Christmas tree.

Week 8: Quiz, Bowling, Money, Christmas and Gatecrasher

I can't believe I've gone through eight posts without mentioning the legend that is the pub quiz! I go to the quiz every Sunday at Rios in the hub at the Vale. The epic awesomeness that is Mike does the hosting most weeks, helped out by a taller-than-the-average-bear friend whose name I haven't overheard yet. Occasionally someone else chips in with a round or two. The prizes vary but usually they're a crate or something. There's also a bottle of sparkling wine for the third from bottom, every week. See, if they gave a prize to bottom or second from bottom then that would be easily cheated and people wouldn't take it seriously. Perhaps I take it too seriously. The team names are always interesting. Quizzie Rascal are a team who haven't changed their name since the first week. My past team names have included JLS Crowd Surfers (response to the drama at Millennium Point); Goth Detectives Part 2 (a Hallowe'en choice - if you know the reference, you win at life); The Good, The Bad and We Left Nathan At Home and various other names that are perhaps inappropriate for a blog that's meant to be within good taste. If you want to know, leave me a comment. They're really not that special, though, so I doubt it's worth the effort. The vale quiz consists of six rounds: Round 1, general knowledge; Round 2, topical (has been Sport, Geography and Music alternating); Round 3, picture round variable; Round 4, interchangeable (usually music/film); Round 5, double points (usually mimicking the intros round from Buzzcocks, sometimes film quotes, sometimes lyrics); Round 6, knockout (each question is True/False, you can answer them all or answer only a few but they must be in order and if you get one wrong you lose the string but if they're all right you get all the points). My team, which now consists of me and my boyfriend, has scored a high of 41 and a low of 26 (out of 60). The low was last week and we managed to get the third from bottom prize of sparkling wine.

I noticed that I haven't really written about the entertainment in Birmingham. Well, on Tuesday evening Flat 135 had a bowling night to get back together as a unit. We'd been missing each other because of the amount of work we each have to do at staggered times so we spent about a week or two reminding each other to make sure there's an evening free for all of us when we can do something together. Not being familiar with the entertainment, we just thought to go bowling and had a sheet of vouchers, provided by Katy's friend, for Lakeside Superbowl. Winner! The offer on the vouchers were misleading, though, so I really advise either phoning to check or expecting the worst. Ours said 'One Free Game per person per lane'. To me, that means one free game for everyone in one lane. To them, it means only one person gets a free game. The 'venue' wasn't too bad. It was pretty easy to get a strike or at least half-strike (or whatever it's called). We did book a lane beforehand which is most definitely advised because almost all lanes were in use when we arrived (about 8.30pm). I was told that the bowling alley in Five Ways has a student night on Tuesdays when you can pay £6 each for unlimited bowling, provided you have proof of being a student (usually NUS, sometimes they accept the University provided card). In retrospect, we should've gone there. Apparently it's closer to the Vale and it is far better value for money. We paid about £5.30 each for Lakeside Superbowl, for one game. I'll have to look into the Five Ways student night, perhaps for next week.

Apparently either Friday or Thursday was the official beginning of consumer Christmas because it was exactly five weeks away. From what I remember, that's where the countdown starts in the film Love Actually so it is officially the arrival of Christmas (though there is debate between the 5 week mark and the moment you see the Coca-Cola advert). I went to Birmingham to do some shopping in the Bull Ring (to get a hockey stick, purse, pub golf outfit and photos developed, if you're interested) and it was pretty busy. The queues for the escalators are always absolutely epic. Selfridges was getting rather busy, too, and that's usually comfortable. I am planning on doing my Christmas shopping between the 11th and 15th of December because that's when I'll actually have my Christmas budget, so I'll be able to report back about that before I take a break for Christmas and New Year (that's right, you're getting an extra week!). For anyone who has experienced Christmas shopping in Meadowhall, Sheffield, imagine a shopping centre far bigger than Meadowhall and multiply the number of people by about four. I'll confirm that estimation in whichever week that falls in. Technically week 12.

I feel like I should include details about CostCutter in here at some point. It is, after all, the most convenient place to buy the essentials (and more) if you live on the Vale. There's also Aldi, which is about 25-30 minutes walk from my flat and Sainsbury's which is 35 minutes walk. There's also a Tesco Express which is just 20 minutes walk in the same direction and a large Tesco in Five Ways which I've yet to go to. CostCutter, though, is topic here. For the weekly shop, the most popular option is to get together with a few people and order online from one of the major supermarkets because the more items you buy, the cheaper (sometimes free) the delivery. The convenience of getting it shipped to your door is good, also. There's something absolutely lovely about doing a big shop but then the carrying back isn't pleasant at all. It's surprising how uncomfortable a mildly heavy bag is to carry. I definitely recommend getting reusable, wider handled bags. It doesn't sound like a major issue but remember that living at Uni means you have to actually buy things yourself and can't depend on parents or guardians to do the weekly shop. On Wednesday I had a mini money and food crisis (that's what you get for allowing your desktop pc to get overheated and temporarily break, causing you to buy a laptop and reduce your budget from £80 to £30 a week) so I had to transfer over £50 from savings and do a logical shop at CostCutter. I spent just under £12 and got four chicken breasts, beef mince, cereal, curry, cheese, plums and I'm sure there was something else in there. Good value! I might, if I get some time, have a look round CostCutter and note down a basic price list for random stuff, just to give an idea.

As an aside, there is a fund open to people who come across hardship and desperately need some cash. There are conditions and I think it has to be repaid (though don't quote me on that). In any case, there's no need to worry about money when coming to University because there are ways to control cash flow and be efficient. Budgeting is encouraged and there are people who can help with students who are not sure where to start with money and financial issues.

Another thing I experience as new this week was Supersonic Vague at Gatecrasher. Birmingham's Gatecrasher, I'm told, is the biggest in the country. It really is worth a visit on a night even to experience it. Tickets for Supersonic Vague, which is the indie night every Friday with guest DJs like Razorlight and Reverend and the Makers, are available online for £3 plus £1.05 booking. The charge is to a debit or credit card and the ticket is sent to your phone. The ticket itself shows the logo, number of people to be admitted and has a black and white barcode-like image that is scanned on the door. It reduces queuing time majorly and makes for a smoother transaction. Inside Gatecrasher there are several themed rooms. The main room is where the guest DJs do their sets. I've heard stories about how busy it can get (so much so that you can't move, sometimes) but when I went I didn't have a bad experience at all. It was busy enough to create a good atmosphere but not too busy to feel claustrophobic. I only stayed in the main room, though, so when I go again I'll report back on the different rooms. The music wasn't too bad, either, with tunes from The Prodigy, Reverend and the Makers, Florence and the Machine, Calvin Harris and The Wombats to name but a few. That isn't restricted, however, because the other rooms keep their theme. For example, I think there's a room that plays cheesy pop and one that plays dub-step and doesn't change just because its Supersonic Vague in the main room. I may be wrong, though. More information is available on the Gatecrasher website.


My boyfriend and I at Supersonic Vague, Gatecrasher.

L-R Katy, Luke and Flo at Supersonic Vague, Gatecrasher.


Christmas in Birmingham.