Is this what hell is like? My hands are shaking from too much coffee, and in a second, with a should, all is noise and sharp breaths spreading across the room.
What started it? The loud manoeuvring of trucks outside? The hushed sound of someone else's stifled laughter? A friend returned? Any which way, they seem oblivious that everyone can now hear their conversation, that one noise is not a cover for another.
Be more silent! Do not let another's failing social graces justify your own- stop the chain reaction in its path.
The truck is gone. Shouts slowly drop to whispers. Giggles swallowed, shamefaced. A phone call- French. And suddenly we all look round to judge.
----
Though in my head I always classified us together- for as a trio in public we were and are unstoppable- that I remember there was only really one time when we spoke together privately. Then it was all seriousness and earnestly and self-defence and general bitchiness- characteristics I have filed under questionable in all of us- but very clearly, also them and us, he and we- a solid group, mutual opinions, an acknowledgement of somehow being as a three, a little separate from the groups we entertained.
But maybe all that really was just me, putting an overly subjective spin on what was, in fact, just friends talking. Though I hope not.
Wednesday, 26 October 2011
A Little Walk About Campus
It rained today, the first proper, unending, torrential rain we've had since I've since I've been back at Exeter. It is wonderful. Campus, it seems, is deserted, lectures easily identified by long lines of umbrellas trailing from the buildings. My Trusts lecture was shockingly empty, people unable to piece together the urge to fight the wind and wander up the hill for two hours of a lecture which is unfailingly podcast.
- Which reminds me, it seems that the social norms amongst the 2nd years (to call them 3rd years is to admit my great age- the 'new generation,' perhaps) is not to leave seats as a buffer against those you don't know and instead cosy up all along the rows. Understandable in 1st week, but confusing today, with the Moot room half empty. I personally like stranger space, not only as a guard against forcing the smell of damp felt into another's face but also because it gives me somewhere to put my folder and water bottle &c. Besides which, in the space of a seat one can fit two bags and coats and scarves side by side, instead of trampling them or pushing them down to the row below. But I digress -
I like rain- proper, poetic, wholesome rain, not icy mizzle or bratish sprays- especially as a vehicle for procrastination. On Mondays I like to walk from Amory to Devonshire House to pick up a paper and a treat - today a large coffee, which I have managed to smuggle into the library. It's a nice walk up to the Great Hall, as the developments have lead to the refurbishment of the paths through the wood, which is gorgeous and peaceful and today looked like something out of a romantic fantasy. It was made even better by the sheer lack of people- even in the Ram Bar, even in Coffee Express, which is normally unapproachable from 12-2, there was a basic lack of students. Plus the Student Shop was selling the Guardian again, which made me happy.
Somehow, though, the rain doesn't appear to have scared the lawyers away- after very proudly sneaking my coffee in through the library doors, I found them all packed in chorals 3 or 4 abreast.
Rumour has it that most of these keen students are not even lawyers- the downside of the developments is that studying in the main library is effectivelyreading in a building site, which has driven many students to the serene quiet of the law library. For myself, the greatest downside of this is not only the noise but the lack of good seats. On a rainy day like this I like to sit by the window and watch. But no matter. Reading awaits- and caffeine is kicking in.
- Which reminds me, it seems that the social norms amongst the 2nd years (to call them 3rd years is to admit my great age- the 'new generation,' perhaps) is not to leave seats as a buffer against those you don't know and instead cosy up all along the rows. Understandable in 1st week, but confusing today, with the Moot room half empty. I personally like stranger space, not only as a guard against forcing the smell of damp felt into another's face but also because it gives me somewhere to put my folder and water bottle &c. Besides which, in the space of a seat one can fit two bags and coats and scarves side by side, instead of trampling them or pushing them down to the row below. But I digress -
I like rain- proper, poetic, wholesome rain, not icy mizzle or bratish sprays- especially as a vehicle for procrastination. On Mondays I like to walk from Amory to Devonshire House to pick up a paper and a treat - today a large coffee, which I have managed to smuggle into the library. It's a nice walk up to the Great Hall, as the developments have lead to the refurbishment of the paths through the wood, which is gorgeous and peaceful and today looked like something out of a romantic fantasy. It was made even better by the sheer lack of people- even in the Ram Bar, even in Coffee Express, which is normally unapproachable from 12-2, there was a basic lack of students. Plus the Student Shop was selling the Guardian again, which made me happy.
Somehow, though, the rain doesn't appear to have scared the lawyers away- after very proudly sneaking my coffee in through the library doors, I found them all packed in chorals 3 or 4 abreast.
Rumour has it that most of these keen students are not even lawyers- the downside of the developments is that studying in the main library is effectivelyreading in a building site, which has driven many students to the serene quiet of the law library. For myself, the greatest downside of this is not only the noise but the lack of good seats. On a rainy day like this I like to sit by the window and watch. But no matter. Reading awaits- and caffeine is kicking in.
Friday, 14 October 2011
To Be a Law Student in Exeter in the Autumn
Have I mentioned how much I love English law? If so, it's most likely that you were cornered by a very over-excited Jess, possibly wringing a tea towel or beret, and subjected to a long and high pitched comparison of American and English legal systems and lecture styles, which no doubt devolved into a session of "did you knows" until you desperately excused yourself and made a note to buy a deadbolt for your door. I won't do that here, and I am truly sorry for the trauma I may or may not have caused.
What I will do though is subject you to a long and no doubt rambling discussion of my courses. Because you clearly care so very much.
Trusts
I've been thinking for a while that Trusts and Estates might be an interesting and useful area to qualify in. I liked Trusts in 2nd year Land and in Family Law, and so far I'm liking them as an individual subject. Although this is a little worrying, as typically the courses I get the lowest grades in are those I think I understand. We shall see how the formatives go, I suppose. Trusts also has won the case-quote of the week/month/year with "Look you here, I give this to baby." Hurrah!
Company
Again, so far I like it. It's like contracts, but with non-natural persons, and everything fits logically and my lecturer is the happiest, most wonderful person in the world. I'm hoping that this will prove the Family Law of my 4th year- the course I took as a filler which I found I actually loved.
Commercial
And here's the dud of the year. I've been told about 7 times now that the best way to deal with this most complex of subjects is to avoid all term 1 lectures and work from the giant of a book instead. Which doesn't seem like fantastic value for money, but apparently our term 1 lecturers simply serve to further confuse matters. It's a little annoying; the course used to be taught by my 1st year Contract lecturer, Prof. Tettenborn, who is fantastic, but unfortunately for us all he's upped sticks for Swansea. No matter. What I have learned of Commercial so far does seem to be exciting and logical- I just wish that the lectures were a bit more upbeat!
The Very Exciting Dissertation
The VED remains very exciting. I love working with my supervisor, I love the research, and I love the field generally. The fact that I may be turning into a Prof. Barlow fangirl is neither here nor there. Admittedly, I still have no semblance of a plan, but I have 2 more weeks of research before one is needed, so I'm sure (??) I'll be fine. Do not ask me about the dissertation though. I get far too excited.
Folk Soc
ICBINI (the mini folk festival) soon. Lots of work and still no risk assessments. Rapper starting on Thursday. Need to get a risk assessment done ASAP. IVFDF Aberdeen 2012. Still no word from Coach Co. or other Unis.
BUT
The great and wonderful James Bennett has finally showed me how to play around properly with this (can you spot the bits that I did? Yeah, thought so), and it makes me happy. Hurrah hurrah.
Life in General
Good. My head hurts, and I am bad at time management, but good. Here's to painkillers and tomorrow solving everything.
What I will do though is subject you to a long and no doubt rambling discussion of my courses. Because you clearly care so very much.
Trusts
I've been thinking for a while that Trusts and Estates might be an interesting and useful area to qualify in. I liked Trusts in 2nd year Land and in Family Law, and so far I'm liking them as an individual subject. Although this is a little worrying, as typically the courses I get the lowest grades in are those I think I understand. We shall see how the formatives go, I suppose. Trusts also has won the case-quote of the week/month/year with "Look you here, I give this to baby." Hurrah!
Company
Again, so far I like it. It's like contracts, but with non-natural persons, and everything fits logically and my lecturer is the happiest, most wonderful person in the world. I'm hoping that this will prove the Family Law of my 4th year- the course I took as a filler which I found I actually loved.
Commercial
And here's the dud of the year. I've been told about 7 times now that the best way to deal with this most complex of subjects is to avoid all term 1 lectures and work from the giant of a book instead. Which doesn't seem like fantastic value for money, but apparently our term 1 lecturers simply serve to further confuse matters. It's a little annoying; the course used to be taught by my 1st year Contract lecturer, Prof. Tettenborn, who is fantastic, but unfortunately for us all he's upped sticks for Swansea. No matter. What I have learned of Commercial so far does seem to be exciting and logical- I just wish that the lectures were a bit more upbeat!
The Very Exciting Dissertation
The VED remains very exciting. I love working with my supervisor, I love the research, and I love the field generally. The fact that I may be turning into a Prof. Barlow fangirl is neither here nor there. Admittedly, I still have no semblance of a plan, but I have 2 more weeks of research before one is needed, so I'm sure (??) I'll be fine. Do not ask me about the dissertation though. I get far too excited.
Folk Soc
ICBINI (the mini folk festival) soon. Lots of work and still no risk assessments. Rapper starting on Thursday. Need to get a risk assessment done ASAP. IVFDF Aberdeen 2012. Still no word from Coach Co. or other Unis.
BUT
The great and wonderful James Bennett has finally showed me how to play around properly with this (can you spot the bits that I did? Yeah, thought so), and it makes me happy. Hurrah hurrah.
Life in General
Good. My head hurts, and I am bad at time management, but good. Here's to painkillers and tomorrow solving everything.
Friday, 7 October 2011
The Life and Times of Miss Carter, Law Student, on Being Back in Exeter
Hum, where to start?
I'm back home again. My grandfather died very recently, and it turns out that funerals and death and everything are very messy and confusing and all over the place. I came back to talk through the service, and am staying on for the weekend to sort out things like obituaries and pictures and a family reading.
Death is weird. Like, weird. I've spent most of this evening browsing through poems for something suitable, and I've been completely unable to shake off the feeling that I can't go for anything too emotive, because, you know, it's not like Grandad's dead or anything. It would be silly to be too earnest. Bizarre.
I don't think I'm going to deal with it until the funeral, but that's OK. I've noticed I've started talking a lot more about him and his life and death recently, which I think is a good sign. I'd like to thank my friends for being so wonderful. Especially Hannah and Martin.
I'm also reading far, far too much WWI and general death poetry. I have a collection of favourites. I've tried writing my own. It all gets far, far, too personal, and entirely unoriginal. We've settled on something about moving on and memory, and blah. Angry musings on mortality seem a little out of place. Also too personal. It's silly, I know.
But, in better, more-run-on-sentence news: FRESHERS' WEEK HAPPENED AND WE GOT NEWBIES AND THEY ARE SIMPLY WONDERFUL!
Also I'm taking Company and Commercial and Trusts and a 30 credit Comparative Dissertation on lex loci and same-sex marriage. But shh. Although it is bloody good to be back doing law, real proper bare bones law, again.
And, wonderfully housemates are wonderful and kooky and properly Englishly insane, and dear god, if these 4am conversations with Dave about Hamlet the Musical and Dorchester become habit there is a good job I'm going to end up living in a gutter.
But Freshers. Because Freshers are important. They have come, and they are staying, and we have musicians and singers and dancers general smiley people coming out of our ears, and we love it. Thursday night sessions are proving a success, Monday night dancing had an excess of men, and people are asking about rapper. Thank you, lovely people, and seriously, well done committee.
Next to worry about is Thursday's dissy meeting and ICBINI and exams and IVFDF and so on. But for now, look! Pretty!
I'm back home again. My grandfather died very recently, and it turns out that funerals and death and everything are very messy and confusing and all over the place. I came back to talk through the service, and am staying on for the weekend to sort out things like obituaries and pictures and a family reading.
Death is weird. Like, weird. I've spent most of this evening browsing through poems for something suitable, and I've been completely unable to shake off the feeling that I can't go for anything too emotive, because, you know, it's not like Grandad's dead or anything. It would be silly to be too earnest. Bizarre.
I don't think I'm going to deal with it until the funeral, but that's OK. I've noticed I've started talking a lot more about him and his life and death recently, which I think is a good sign. I'd like to thank my friends for being so wonderful. Especially Hannah and Martin.
I'm also reading far, far too much WWI and general death poetry. I have a collection of favourites. I've tried writing my own. It all gets far, far, too personal, and entirely unoriginal. We've settled on something about moving on and memory, and blah. Angry musings on mortality seem a little out of place. Also too personal. It's silly, I know.
But, in better, more-run-on-sentence news: FRESHERS' WEEK HAPPENED AND WE GOT NEWBIES AND THEY ARE SIMPLY WONDERFUL!
Also I'm taking Company and Commercial and Trusts and a 30 credit Comparative Dissertation on lex loci and same-sex marriage. But shh. Although it is bloody good to be back doing law, real proper bare bones law, again.
And, wonderfully housemates are wonderful and kooky and properly Englishly insane, and dear god, if these 4am conversations with Dave about Hamlet the Musical and Dorchester become habit there is a good job I'm going to end up living in a gutter.
But Freshers. Because Freshers are important. They have come, and they are staying, and we have musicians and singers and dancers general smiley people coming out of our ears, and we love it. Thursday night sessions are proving a success, Monday night dancing had an excess of men, and people are asking about rapper. Thank you, lovely people, and seriously, well done committee.
Next to worry about is Thursday's dissy meeting and ICBINI and exams and IVFDF and so on. But for now, look! Pretty!
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