Surplus

As I've been cleaning and organising, I've also been trying to make a pile of stuff to give away or sell.  This is the pile so far (plus one bit of stuff to send back home to people, when I can afford the postage):

It will also include my desk, but that's currently in pieces leaning against the far wall.  I actually find it hard to give things away, especially if they are things that are from or remind me of other people.  I think that's because my love language is giving gifts, so things are important reminders to me of those I care about.  At least, that's what I'll tell myself.  ;)

Sunny

For my thesis-submitting party, RitaB brought me flowers.  I've already taken some photos of them, because I can't resist.  Today they just caught my eye again.   

Now, of course, sunflowers will always remind me of the Doctor... and Vincent.  =)

A Grand Day Out

It's been in the planning stage for ages, but we finally took the time and had the weather behave enough to make a day trip up north along the coast.  RitaB and I spent the day hiking from the Bullers of Buchan to Slains Castle and down into Cruden Bay.  Very long day with very achy knees by then end, but dang, I love those places!  Plus, it was great to spend the day with RitaBekah.  And we had a picnic on the cliffs.  With cheeeeese, Gromit!  Hence the name of the day, for those of you in the know.  ;) 

I still want to live at Slains.  Maybe I'll just set myself up in a caravan there...

The Desk

Tackling the desk has been the hardest part of the Big Organise so far...

Yikes.

Spring Cleaning...

or more appropriately, thesis-finished cleaning. 

My J-ness has been giving me problems for a while now, at the state of my room.  I have lots of stuff after six years here, and very little space, so I had been dying to have a good clear out and organise.  Now is that time, since I don't have anything else I have to do (woot).  I am taking everything out of the boxes they've been thrown into along the way and putting like with like--boxes of books, of kitchen goodies, of keepsakes.  Not a boxes with all kinds of things in.  And I'll take down my desk, reorganise my space, get sorted.  Partly it's in case I have to leave the UK and ship things home--I'll already have them sorted and know what's what.  Mostly it's just so I can appease my inner J and not feel quite so out-of-control.  

DONE!!!!

Today, I submitted my thesis.  That's me, empty-handed. 

I got very little sleep (like, two hours) because I couldn't stop my brain: what if I've not used someone obvious? what if I forgot something? what if it sucks? what if my formatting is all wrong? what if....?

Then I finally got up and ready, and headed in to Lynch's office.  She let me print out my 252 pages there, using university ink, since the uni had kicked me out of my own office.  I made sure my formatting was as good as I could get it, since uni uses Word 2007 and I don't, and then printed it off.  From there, I headed to the libarry--where I had to be let in and sign the book, since technically my student status expired in May--to get another copy made and turn them both in to the bindery.  The libarry guy was an idiot, and sold me copy cards that I couldn't even use (well, I could use them, but not to use the automatic feed to copy all my 252 pages. Turns out it charges you two copies for each page you don't do manually... what?! Seriously?!)  So after I did about 40 pages manually, because I couldn't stand to have wasted that £30 on copy cards (grrrrr!), I finally gave up and turned it all in to the bindery to finish copying and then bind up in the cheapest and quickest manner possible. 

After that frustration, I went back to collect Lynch and we went for a poddle--through the botanical gardens, around Seaton Park, and back around to uni in time to go pick up the two bound copies.  A little freaky, to hold those 'official' things in hand... and then to Registry, where we waited and waited in line and finally got to turn them in.  The lady was actually very nice, and was excited for me--which is funny, because usually the folks working there are like robots who don't give a darn about the people they are serving.  Lynch took photos, and wrote me a Thesis-submitting song, which she performed on the way back to her office, where we enjoyed Cockroach Clusters and Toffee Cappuccino coffee. 

I highly recommend having a photographer, singer-songwriter, companion walker, and party coordinator when you submit.  All in one person is even better.  Thanks, Lynch! 

Now it's just the wait for the viva...

I'm a Crabby Person!

Sometimes I am.  And sometimes I'm not.  But I went to see 'You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown' (which was here as part of the Aberdeen International Youth Festival) with Aleithia, her flatmate Amber, RitaBekah, Liz, and ... a girl whose name I've forgotten.  I 'dressed up' as Lucy.  My sister used to tell me growing up that I was just like Lucy... and I can see that in part. 

Besides, it's a great show.