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.