…is the best way I can sum it up.
University has continued at a very similar pace these last few days, and I’ve found myself getting into something of an academic panic; especially yesterday. You see, my beloved readers (all three of you), it has been some time since I’ve worked on anything particularly academic; being a mature student and all that jazz.
Whilst the Interactive Media diploma I completed in June this year did have a fair amount of written work to present along with practical results, for the most part the hardest thing I had to do was write an evaluation and make sure all my pre-production paperwork was in order.
University is, quite rightly, a very different ball game.
Somehow between going to bed on Tuesday and around late lunch yesterday, I managed to get myself into a bit of a state. I have a habit of putting ridiculous amounts of pressure on myself, something that haunted me towards the end of the diploma, and I found myself panicking about how on earth I was going to get myself together to read everything, take all the necessary notes, do this, do that…
In the end, my organisational skills kicked in, and after getting a bloody strong brew (two teabags ‘for the win’) I spent most of last night writing up plans of action, lists, charts and probably enough written evidence to convince the United States that Outer Mongolia has Weapons of Mass Destruction™.
So, panic over. However it does highlight the fact that my first semester in university is extremely academic in nature, and whilst I’m no fool and never expected a degree to be 100% practical a certain amount of adjustment is needed in my specific case after coming from such a practical college course.
Now that the emotional roller-coaster is over, I’m heading towards the end of the week knowing that I’m in a much better position than I was, and after chatting with some of the guys this morning I’ve come to the conclusion that I wasn’t as ‘behind’ as I thought I was. Quite the opposite, everyone is in the same boat.
One thing that hasn’t helped my mood this week is the fact that the Halifax refused to take my money the other day. I have a system whereby my Abbey account holds all my student loan cash, and I want to transfer my weekly budget into my Halifax card-cash/debit card account each Monday to eliminate any risk of over-spending.
Sensible eh?
Well, it looks like I’m going to have to resort to moving the money around through online banking at this rate (with the four day wait ball-ache), as according to the lady in the Headingley branch:
There is no counter service available for your account, sir.
Frankly, I thought she was high as a mother frakker’ on heroin when the sentence lept from her mouth with all the grace of a diseased Coyote nibbling on roadkill somewhere in the Nevada desert. I asked her again, and I received the same response.
Now, after a very Bogart-esque conversation between myself, the detective looking for answers and the lady, a femme fatale looking to spoil my day (and the plot, kids) I ascertained that the only way to deposit my rupees in the branch was by using the envelope deposit system. Meaning no instant access to the funds I was depositing which happens when you a) use the counter or b) use a direct deposit machine.
She suggested an account upgrade, and I nearly exploded.
Not able to believe that the cashier was prohibited from spending roughly ninety seconds of his time TAKING my money and putting into THEIR bank, I left the premises before the urge to staple everyone — customers included — to death consumed me.
Not had the best of weeks so far, eh?
On the bright side, I’m back in Manchester to see my girl tomorrow night, and the BA Cinema & Photography welcome-meeting-cum-party-type-thing has been announced for October 21st; joy oh sodding joy.
Wherever you are, hope you’re having a good day.
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