A year of change-- in memoriam 05/06

This is my last entry of the academic year! How crazy is that? I can't believe this year has gone by so fast.

It's been a pretty academic crazy year, all told. Had some memories I will treasure forever (time with my best friend here Michael, CinSoc events, the summer bbqs, theatre trips with Bianca, random film nights with Michael and Helen, Anthony Fothergill's ker-azy seminars, time with my friend Jason, having my first taste of Ben and jerry's, discovering great music via napster and limewire, getting to know my really lovely housemates, been to some truly great gigs, civillised and loquacious tea trips with my friend Sam, going to bingo randomly...and this is just my time at uni) had some moments I'd really rather forget (the emotional trauma/gruelling scream of coming out for one...). I've even had the odd life changing experience (obviously coming out to my parents and various friends being the most notable one).

I've met a couple of peeps that have become really good friends, got to know a few other acquaintance types pretty well and become friends, met some people who came and went pretty quickly, had the odd horrific date, been to see a load of great films, had some disappointments (the Exepose thing most notably, also not being able to afford to go to Norway), learnt to cook to an extent, learnt that perhaps I should be more tolerant and not to judge people the way I tend to do, learnt to relax a little bit more, learnt that perhaps you're not as defined by your sexuality as you might think you are, changed ideas about careers more than twice, become co-president of CinSoc and generally felt more accepted than I've ever done in my life before.

Today also marks the last time I will see my best friend Michael for a long while. He's going off to Russia and Germany in the next year for his year abroad. I'm meeting up with him over summer I hope, and will see him when he comes to visit us next year, but...well, it's weird. He was my first proper friend here, and by far the closest friend I've got here. I have other friends obviously, but his absence will be very much felt. He's really the only person I feel I can talk to about absolutely anything here. Part of this is because I've spent so much time with him during the last few years I feel more at ease with him than anybody I know, with the possible exception of my close family. Exeter and Michael have been inseperable for me, so seeing him not here next year will be very sad. He lives the other side of London from me, so meeting up will be difficult. I really hope I don't lose contact with him. I'll stop before I get all emotional. Sigh.

Lol, this has become a bit of a downer entry. It's not supposed to be quite like that, but I'm feeling a little misty-eyed. Well, that's my excuse anyways. And to think, I've only got one more year left of education before I begin my life proper. Am I ready for it? Ask me this time next year.

I've got some great things to look forward to this summer, so have no reason to be teary-- probably going to America in September, meeting up with my two best friends at home for starters.

And so with that I say, for another year, James has left the building! Goodnight Exeter!