Saturday 19 May 2012

A trip to town: a review

With the revision period upon us I have had a few excursions into Leeds city centre in recent weeks. This has led me to make the following observations. I have also installed a rating system to thoroughly convey my unnecessary judgement and criticism of the everyday people I am surrounded by.

1 = ought to be banned from the use of public places/generally leaving the house
10 = a perfect unobtrusive shopping companion

Group #1

Any man/woman with a pram and/or any other small children. A large group of offenders who struggle (in vain) to control their herds of children so that in turn they do not notice quite how much they are getting in everyone else’s way with their silly state-of-the-art-and-over-priced push chairs and mass of Marks and Spencer’s shopping bags.

6/10 – to be fair, it’s not entirely their fault.

Group #2

Scores of children who I’m sure ought to be at school. Life qualifications besides the GCSEs they are not getting include:
  • A strong commitment to the cause and to generally gaining the attention of those surrounding them.
  • Enthusiasm and encouragement – creating a lot of noise and getting everybody involved.
  • The ability to work well in a team.
  • Reliability. They will always be there.

2/10 – if you are aware of your children/siblings doing this, please lock them up.

Group #3

Slow walkers. PLEASE. We are here because we have things to do today, not tomorrow.

4/10 – only because I feel this might be a slightly hypocritical judgement, otherwise it would be 1.

Group #4

Meanderers. Probably the worst category to be anywhere near. We’ve all encountered them. They’re the ones that make you look like an idiot – they walk at exactly the same pace as you and just slightly in front of you. You have to do an awkward skip/jog/walk to overtake and just at the crucial moment when you’re almost parallel to them, they swerve into the bloody fast lane and cut you up for everyone to see. Piss off, nobody wants you here.

0/10 – and only because my scale doesn’t go lower than that.

Group #5

The young professionals. General busy-bodies who think they’re worlds ahead of you just because they have a briefcase and a take-out coffee. More often than not they can be found talking slightly more loudly than is necessary into their company telephones and they walk with a distinct air of arrogance. One day I will knock into you and spill your coffee.

You score 6/10 – in their defence, they have actually got a job so they’re currently doing better than me.

Group #6

Weird unnecessary hands-free phone people. Two types – those who talk into headsets and those who listen to music out loud. Yeah you walk down the street with all that swag and your magic phone but you don’t realize that you listen to shit music and you look like twat.

4/10 – it’s so bizarre that they might have a social disorder so I feel bad scoring any lower than that.

Group #7

Charity workers/general do-gooders. They make you feel inadequate not only because you are not volunteering like they are, but also because you can’t afford to donate £1 a month to those less fortunate than you, despite the fact you are out on an entirely self-indulgent shopping spree with money that is not your own and is meant to be spent on food and rent.

9/10 – because I am projecting self-hatred onto good people.

Moral of the story is: go back to the library.

Friday 11 May 2012

Life's Biggest Questions

Why are there so many raisins in Fruit’n’Fibre?
Why are crop tops in fashion?
Why do people who sit in “silent study” not understand the meaning of “silent study”?
Why is my train delayed?
Why is there no money in my bank account?
Why did that person not respond to my friend request?
Why does American Apparel sell “disco leggings”?
Why do people buy “disco leggings”?
Why is my phone bill always more than it’s meant to be?
Why do some men use hands-free when they’re walking down the street?
Why is it not okay to have a teddy bear any more?
How does the kitchen get dirty so quickly?
Who invented dry shampoo? (I want to praise them)
Why did Ovid write so much?
Why does Britain not have any talent?
Who numbered the lecture theatres in Roger Stevens?
Why am I not revising?
Why does McDonald’s not do delivery?
Why did Busted break up?
Why can you actually not stop once you pop a pringle?
Why do insects always attack me?
Why are Marmite lids always sticky?
Who hates Marmite?
Why has no one from Home and Away proposed to me yet?
Why is it still raining?
Why do estate agents never do what they say they’re going to do?
How many types of pasta are there?
How do slugs get into the kitchen?
Who hates the population enough to compose the Go Compare song?
What is in a chicken nugget?
How have we already run out of toilet roll?
Why is toilet roll so expensive?
Why is this true – concentration span of aphid > concentration span of me.
When will I stop procrastinating?

Thursday 3 May 2012

How to spend a day in the library and not do any work


Walk to uni slowly.


Go the union shop first to stock up on library food supplies (don’t underestimate this step, I would recommend it even if you don’t want to waste time).
Press every button in the lift to prolong the journey to silent study level 13.
Go to the toilet.
Take your time to choose a seat – do a couple of laps to assess if necessary.
Just trying to be quiet slows you down. Taking books and pens out of your bag silently should waste a few minutes.
OCD is important. Order your files and books in size order and line up any other stationary accordingly.
Go to the toilet.
Check your phone and reply to any texts/emails that you haven’t responded to yet.
Stare into space.
If you have twitter, check twitter and tweet something.
If you don’t have twitter, make a twitter account.
Reply to any texts you may have received.
Go to the toilet.
Update facebook status.
Congratulations! It’s break time. Go and get a cup of tea/coffee.
When you return, shuffle up books and pens. Then re-organise.
Organize your diary/phone calendar.
Play with some flash cards – make some origami/just pass notes.
Hurrah it’s lunch time!
Listen to music and pretend you’re starring in the music video.
Tweet something. Update facebook status. Send texts.
Write a blog.
Go to the toilet.
Walk round the library pretending to look for a book. Pick up a few and place on your table triumphantly.
Check phone.

Play hottie in the library (http://hottieinthelibrary.com/).
Stare into space.
Go to the toilet.
Look through every single photo on your phone and reminisce about the good old days.
Peruse the books you picked up.
Take them back.
Stare into space.
Tweet something. Text someone asking them to ring you.
Pack up your things.
When your phone rings, it looks like you are being forced to leave, preserving your credibility as an student.