All Systems Go

It's August, which means it is, nearest makes no difference, 1 month until my University adventure begins. Moving away from the place I have called home for 20 years, to start out on the road to true independance, on the road to major life-changing qualifications and the start of a journey to the rest of my life. And I'm not ready.

I haven't even thought about preperation, about what I need to take and what I need or have to leave behind. Anything, from pots and pans to new clothes and sporting equipment, I have literally just realised at this second, I am massively underprepared for what will be a massive step in the Life of Mitten. And you know what they say. Failing to Prepare is Preparing to Fail. Or maybe I'm taking it all a bit too far?

I have a place to live. My accommodation confirmation e-mail came through last week, stating I will be living in Welkin Halls in the seaside town of Eastbourne, which is amazingly about 20 minutes from Brighton, and will be paying a mountaneous amount of money for the privilege. I have thought about the whole University experience since that e-mail more than I have ever done, ever since that day back in January or February, (I think), when I knew I would be heading down south.

I have thought about the accommodation, where I have had dreams that I would be staying with a group of law-abiding, bookworms who have no concept of, "Being a Fresher" and me, having no choice, but to stay camped inside my room for all eternity as my flatmates slaved away under lights, actually working. I have thought about the course, where I have daydreamed about being inundated under books and research and notes, which is probably my worst nightmare, then having to tell myself that this course is described as, "vocational". I have also had a dream about passing out on the Brighton seafront after too much Wray and Nephews, but I imagine the few hours preceding that would have been pretty amazing, so I'll by the by and take that as a good omen. However, I can't help but feel like I'm sat in a huge cooking pot of emotions. Nervousness, excitement, apprehension. All rolled into one. I imagine everyone going to University this year, and have started out in previous years, have felt this. But I can't help but feel that this is still the huge gamble I anticipated that it would be.

Back in the real world, and once again, just like most of last year, I find myself awake at Impossible O'Clock, waiting to feel tired, as I have failed to get out of "that" sleeping pattern. I don't have the willpower to stay awake all night and all day, and find myself falling asleep at around 5am, officially making me an owl. This is probably because I know I have nothing to do during the day. No car, very little money and friends who are either working or on holiday, means that I would only be sitting around doing nothing until 5-6pm anyway, waiting for everyone to come to me. Just like last year. The only difference today, being that I might be able to go to sleep at 5am, when it isn't 1,000 degrees. It's excruciatingly warm.

At least in Eastbourne, you can go and sleep in the sea if it's muggy. Only to find yourself in Northern France by daybreak. Or drowned.

Ok, now I'm babbling. So I'll leave you to get on with your day in peace.