Brum brum brum

Don't get the title of my post? Ah, it's all to do with where I have been for the weekend... England's second city, home to Aston Villa, a large university and, currently at least, home to my brother!

Yes he's there at uni and has hosted me in his great flat for the last 48 hours or so.

It was nice being back in the uni life- relaxing, friends everywhere who can pop in at a moment's notice, or even no notice at all, and brain-bending conversations possible at any point.

And then I remembered the other side of university life- that small matter of the course- when we walked along the corridor of my brother's law department.

Jono (for that is my brother's name) was showing me around his department and the law library.

Just outside is the largest free standing clock tower in Europe! What about big ben I hear you cry?! Ah but big ben is attatched the houses of parliament. The tower in Birmingham stands all on its own - built to remember... oh I'm not going to tell you everything about it, you'll just have to go!

Well it is now late and I am back in the cold north (ha i used to think Brum was pretty north!) and i want to eat something and head to bed.

So thanks Jono for a lush stay in Birmingham- see you there again soon... :-)

Adios

Is it really "grim up north"?

Newcastle.

It seems a long way away sometimes, especially on weather maps! The BBC forecast is often "so there will be plenty of sunshine in the South East, particularly focusing on Canterbury, but the North East will be 12C with a strong westerly wind." (Well not quite, but it is amazing how often the South East is so much warmer than here!)

But even if that idea of Newcastle is true, the idea that it's "grim" up here is not true!

In fact I was down in London the other day and thinking about how that felt quite different to Newcastle. The night atmosphere here is much more vibrant - kind of fresh and new and exciting. London seems not to have that; almost like 'this is something we've always done, its a bit of a grind being out, but lets do it anyway'!

Maybe thats because people come here for Hen and Stag parties and so are exploring the city for the first time.

I finally got my graduation DVD through today!

It has taken a lot longer than they said it would which is really annoying. I often came back from work hoping it'd be there, but it never was, until today.

Uni does feel like a long time ago now. With friends going back soon, I am missing it, but pleased to be here as well.

Right. Its ten past ten. Time for the working man (that's me) to sign off. So until next time... happy living.

(Maybe I should develop a goodbye phrase - what do you reckon?!)

Blogs to come

North Korea, its launch, and the Western media,

the final inQuire,

friends,

and leaving University.

Blogs to be written and posted soon...