Current mood:	thoughtful
Current music:	Gregorian - My Immortal

Like Clockwork
Editor's Note: What a meandering entry! Is someone procrastinating? ^^;;;

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Parts of me are still sore from that fall. My knees still sting, there are cut marks on my right hand, and I have a bruise under my hair, but they're all healing, so aside from trying to not let my knees brush anything, things are okay. Sorry for worrying you if I did so: I was still quite in shock at the time of the entry! It took a large peppery meal to help me regain sense.

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After that, I voted in the local council elections. We all had two votes, and I voted Lib Dem and Monster Raving Loony. I'll explain that last one: I don't actively support the silly party, but I was feeling disillusioned with all three main parties, and I'd hardly vote for UKIP. In any case, the MRL candidate had come up to me on Wednesday lunchtime and we'd had a chat about politics, ending in him saying I ought to be a politician and stand in next year's elections. Aside from the matter that I'd be in Germany even if I won, I'm not sure about me and politics, even though I've had quite a number of people telling me I could. I could, yes, but I'm not brutal enough to climb any political ladders. I'm too nice, and too honest, for this political world.

Predictabley, the Conservatives gained all local seats. Despite the students (those who could be bothered to vote) voting largely Lib Dem, the local residents are true blue, and less apathetic. However, were it a general election, I'm fairly certain Mr. Cameron would be moving into Number 10. Never mind the fact he's Tony Blair II: indeed, that may why he is enchanting many voters dillusioned with Blair. He's a liability for Labour, but I'd question if he was Labour in the first place: New Labour is too right for Labour's roots, and it is perhaps telling how David and Tony agree over so many matters. Kennedy was at least somewhat different, but Sir. Campbell is a step backwards: he's bringing the Lib Dems into the same middle ground that Labour and the Tories are fighting each other for.

Politics ought not to be about that. The idea is that the different parties stand for different values, but it's hard to see what those are in this political scene where the center is all. Where are those who are openly left-wing, aside from Galloway's hoarde (some of whom are fine, but Galloway certainly is not). My Dad mentioned how many teachers are fed up with the misguided education policies of all three main parties, and how there are plans afoot for a new party to adopt the position Labour once had. Goodness knows we need it. It's a sorry state where a politician's private life is much more a damaging issue than misguided international wars (this goes for the US too. Impeach Clinton because of something involving only him, but keep Bush for his plethora of disasterous policies?). In fact, it's a sorry state where good councillors lose their jobs because Prescott had an affair. Politics these days is so much more Hello! magazene than The Economist: how did personality outweigh policy?

I wonder how far this trend can go, although I know that I don't really want to know...

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and talked to various people (including Amy) before joining Holly on the hillside overlooking Egham by Reid Hall. Reid Hall is set apart from the rest of the residences, and has large windows overlooking Egham (on one side) and a row of trees, grass, and lights on the other. We saw students having a picnic there, on the grass beside the lights, and I began to feel increasingly annoyed over how I slumber in a basic, basement Williamson cell whilst those students, who pay only a little more, enjoy views, internet, en-suites, a flat environment and well-lit lawns in front of their doors. It's not fair...but then, as I said to Holly whilst I bore my soul for two hours, what is fair and unfair doesn't really matter in those terms...we can only know one existence. Nevertheless, we still got to enjoy the evening, and a beautiful evening it was too, with the light taking hours to fade against a Summer breeze.

The following day was again very Summery, although I got up far too late to enjoy most of it (I was tired after the ordeal of the Thursday). Oh gosh, it really was Summery. Founder's quad was transformed into a beach scene, with almost every square inch of lawn taken up by students, sunbathing, revising, chatting and drinking. The noise level was loud, and there was bare flesh in every direction as people grabbed the sun. I observered from the sidelines with curiosity. However, Holly and I found a quieter patch of green between Founder's and the woods, and we sat there for a while, watching an odd flying insect covered in fur escape a scavenging magpie. Later, we saw people playing with a ball in the meadow, whilst others were enjoying the sun (in a bikini o_0). Summer had clearly struck the students of Holloway. All the girls in their lovely flowly Summer clothes did make me a little envious/depressed, however, although some of the outfits were really pretty (Blue and white especially. I like blue.)

We met up with Viv and Nick for dinner, as well as some of Viv's friends (one of who was wearing a lovely skirt I'd already commented on to Holly) who were extremely friendly and good fun. I'll be seeing them next year, as they're living in the same house as Viv, Nick and Nick (and they mentioned a horrid house they turned down, which later turned out to be the one we're in next year...*must not comment*). After the dinner, the four of us walked through a summer evening Englefield Green with a cool breeze to Brunel, where we said hello to Brian and went for a walk on the hillside overlooking Windsor and the Thames Valley. Brian tripped and fell...it seems to be going around (;_;). Poor Brian. He regained enough Brianity to take us back to his room however, but we didn't have time for him to show us Guild Wars. On the way back, Nick rode Holly's bike, which was really quite cute, and I danced around poles engrossed in the music of my iRiver, a Summery evening and my friends, although I soon got very hungry as I realised I'd only had two meals in the past two days.

Today was spent largely on a trip to Egham. After a shower, I joined Holly for an extended breakfast in Founder's, and then later went on to join Viv in letting them hear my copy of the new Blackmore's Night CD Village Lanterne. Afterwards, Viv went to do work, whilst Holly and I listened to my iRiver all the way down to Egham, where we wandered around Tescos. I was given £14 change instead of £4 at the checkouts, so I gave the £10 back and then spent a seperate £5 on a coffee and a Subway. All in all, it was quite pleasant, and productively relaxing (as opposed to staying in bed, although I did have a dream involving my Dad driving off a pier in Scotland and luckily landing on the ferry. Then, on the other side of the loch, things got complicated involving gender games, I think). The walk back was also quite enjoyable, despite the cutting nature of Tesco bags, but we were a little concerned as we were running five minutes late for Doctor Who.

Oh yes...Doctor Who.

Oh, wow, I cried! I really cried at the ending, and then again over the phone asking my mother to make sure Confedential was taped. Strange really, given how I didn't cry at last weeks episode at all, whilst the DW community (the new ones, largely made up of fangirls) seemed to find last weeks really emotional. Ah well. Yet, honestly, Stephen Moffat writes Doctor Who in a way as to make RTD look like a GCSE student. Moffat reaches such greater depths than RTD, and creates worlds, whilst RTD makes sure you are aware that you are watching a TV show. I'm always happy to see a non-RTD episode, and in comparison with last weeks, Moffat is the best. Oh gosh, and then some...

I MISSED THE FIRST FIFTEEN MINUTES! Not only were we five minutes late, but it was ten minutes early. This grieves me muchly, as it seems I'd have really loved the parts I missed. Time trips (five minutes to you is five years to me...and time can do so much)! Clockwork mask robots! 18th century Versailles (and weren't the dresses beautiful!). Mickey being great! Rose being increasingly disillusioned (I don't like her. Mme. d. P. was so much lovelier.)! Overuse of exclamation marks in review!

I make it little secret how much I think about time and its effects, and I much prefer character-based drama as to action-based, so this episode was almost made for me. Oh gosh, the ending...the bittersweet ending, Rose standing there unsure as to whats happening to their relationship (hah!), the final twist which explains it. And concepts used oh so well...

Personally, I'd rather this episode had been longer (we needed ballroom dancing!) to give its epicness justice, and I'd quite happily have sacrificed any of the three previous episodes for it. Next week looks quite grand as well, but I worry about the return to RTD...although I have a feeling the overall arc won't disappoint. I'm unsure as to how this episode could be topped in personal impact, however.

Time is bittersweet, but it keeps running, ...like clockwork :)

I now have biscuits and drinks in my room again, as well as a new bowl and some new herbs & spices for my collection. Despite this, however, I have a world of German grammar and vocab to cover as well as revision on Sun-Yat Sen and the big essay. I really must stop procrastinating, even though Thursday earned me one day off.