Elvis Will Save the Day

Until about ten minutes ago this was going to be a post about stress and frustration - I'm glad I waited. I just found out my first exam result of fourth year and I did better than I thought I would - a lot better. The feelings of uncertainty and anxiety about university and finishing up me degree have, for the moment at least, melted away - my furrowed brow morphing into creases from the smile on my face. 

I'm going to write my original post anyway, but it will have a more optimistic tone about it now. I've been making life tough for myself recently and this weekend it has come to a head. I've neglected my university work over the last few days, with socialising and procrastination getting in the way of things a little. I've also made a couple of bad judgment calls recently which have seen me question where the old Martin has gone - and whether he will come back again. So with these thoughts sloshing around in my head, I knew I needed to go somewhere I could get better again; somewhere where everything I need is in one place. That place is the work of Elvis Costello.

Reporting from the Exam Front Line

I know I said that I wouldn't blog over exam period but I can't face any more revision for tonight. It's that mentality that had dogged me over the last week or so, just at the time when I've needed a little bit extra. Having said that I've been giving 'a little bit extra' for the last month or so; it's hardly surprising that I'm feeling the effects. So with that in mind, I'm going to share a few thoughts tonight about exams and penumbra of stress, doubt, anxiety and so forth that surrounds them.

The Great Delusion

It was pointed out to me the other day - in fact, on many occasions - that my posts are usually quite bleak affairs. This is partly by design and partly a reflection of what my mood is when I write, particularly recently. If it's not been one thing that's been getting me down recently, then it's been another thing. Then I read a book: a book that has shifted my view of things ever so slightly.

The End is in Sight

What a difference a week makes. I was sitting on this very chair this time last week worrying about the fact that I only had one essay finished, another getting there and one that wasn't even started. I now sit here with 2 done and one more following not far behind and that's a good feeling. I probably shouldn't be writing this tonight because some of my peers will read this thinking that they've got a little way to go yet - but I have my reasons. Firstly I didn't fancy doing any substantial work on the day of my deadline because I think that would result in an ironic death by stress. I've also got an all day shift on Sunday at work and I couldn't bare the thought of spending all day in a supermarket worrying about my essays while everyone went on with their lives, buying crap they don't need - if anyone asks I didn't say that.

I Think it Might be Christmas

Well this feels odd. I'm not using Times New Roman,  double lines spacing or footnotes. I mean I could but I don't thing that would be much appreciated by a readership who have been starved of my words for so very long. I know you've missed me and I've missed you as well! In my absence, my browser had forgotten my log-in details and, somehow, this blog has now had more than 10,000 views. It's nice to know that it's still alive somewhere on the internet.

Anyway, I've just come off the back of getting to the point in my essay writing mission that I planned to get to before Christmas so I thought I would put down a few, slightly less formal, words for you. If I can't do it now when can I?