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Post by TallPaul on Sept 18, 2017 13:42:33 GMT
Yes, it's that time of year again. Primark is packed, Sainsbury's is stuffed and the local branch of Wilko is getting a much needed fillip. There's isn't a mop or frying pan to be had for love nor money!
Although it was 25 years ago, maybe even to the exact date, I can still remember my first day at university as though it was yesterday. I was going through a phase at the time, so I had as much of a beard as I could grow back then, and was wearing a green check shirt, green cardigan and black jeans. The words right and chuff come to mind. Still, rather that than wear a 'leavers' hoodie. I wouldn't be seen dead in one of those. Just this morning, I even saw a young man wearing a 'resits' hoodie. Perhaps he was being post-ironic?
It was genuinely unintentional, but I arrived fashionably late for the first induction session, so thankfully missed all the 'sit around in a circle and introduce yourself' nonsense.
If I had my time again, would I do things differently? Yes, absolutely. I'd work much harder, for one thing. And I'd also choose a university by the sea, even though that would mean doing almost no work. I've always been quite contrary!!!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 18, 2017 13:56:01 GMT
Funny you should mention Wilkos- I was very excited to DISCOVER Wilkos when I went to Uni- we didn't have them down here then!
I don't actually remember much about my first day (s) I remember being herded to the Sports Hall for an induction meeting- the only time I'd darken the door of the Sports Hall I hasten to add. I do remember my flatmate losing me during one of the Fresher's nights out and being locked out of our flat until I got back (that'll teach her to take a bag to put her keys in).
Would I do it differently? probably, I'd probably do an entirely different Undergrad course. I'd hopefully figure out before my final year that I was dyslexic and save myself a lot of stress and wondering what was wrong with me.
On my first day of my MA we had to get from the Strand Kings College buildings to the RADA buildings on Gower Street. A bunch of us who didn't know London got a bit lost, ended up in the dodgy bit of Soho...and went for Pizza instead. I often wonder if missing that evening of poetry readings is why I'm not more successful in life?
And to quote Groundhog Day if I had my time again I'd possibly have a lot more friends but also punch a lot of men.
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5,159 posts
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Post by TallPaul on Sept 18, 2017 13:59:42 GMT
Those were the days, when Soho still had dodgy bits!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 18, 2017 14:05:02 GMT
Ah university. Whiling away the time on late nights, late mornings, gin and unsuitable men and every now and again popping in for a lesson or two. Oh the good old days.
I don't really remember my first day but I'm sure I looked scrumptious. I mean, these cheekbones were always there.
Would I do it differently? In the words of Dame Patsy Routledge in 'Darling of the Day', Not on your Nellie!
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2,302 posts
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Post by Tibidabo on Sept 18, 2017 14:09:48 GMT
I had as much of a beard as I could grow back then, Me too. Sorry, I'm a bit emotional as that's what we're up to at the moment - though heaven forbid she ever takes me into Wilko's - I wish! we're doing Boots and TK Maxx trips and she's managing to sneak serious-brand make-up/designer jumpers into the basket on the way to the checkout! It's like the toddler having put sweets into the trolley at the supermarket - you can't say no when you discover the checkout assistant has rung it up and their little puppy-dog eyes are doing their thang, now can you? 🐶👀🙎😍
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2,302 posts
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Post by Tibidabo on Sept 18, 2017 14:11:40 GMT
And to answer if I'd do anything differently - hell yes! I'd become a plumber 'cos they earn one heck of a lot more than I do, and don't even need to turn up for work half the time! (And when they do they do a lot of tutting and breathing out which seems easy money to me....)
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Post by Deleted on Sept 18, 2017 14:34:32 GMT
I had as much of a beard as I could grow back then, Me too. Sorry, I'm a bit emotional as that's what we're up to at the moment - though heaven forbid she ever takes me into Wilko's - I wish! we're doing Boots and TK Maxx trips and she's managing to sneak serious-brand make-up/designer jumpers into the basket on the way to the checkout! It's like the toddler having put sweets into the trolley at the supermarket - you can't say no when you discover the checkout assistant has rung it up and their little puppy-dog eyes are doing their thang, now can you? 🐶👀🙎😍 Aw best of luck with the move/transition. And much luck to young Tibidabo she'll do great. Never have I ever done the puppy-dog-eyes at the checkout thing. *drinks* (advance warning that trick also works around graduation time...)
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Post by Deleted on Sept 18, 2017 15:33:45 GMT
We didn't have leavers hoodies back when I left school, we just scrawled our names and rude sketches all over each others' school shirts. I did ironically wear my secondary school uniform jumper for a while in my second year though. I remember hardly anything about my uni days, especially the early ones, but I do remember that the girl in the room opposite mine brought her boyfriend with her to live in her room even though he wasn't a student, and also that he came out less than two weeks into the new term but stayed living in that room all year anyway.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 18, 2017 16:44:03 GMT
Oh speaking of flatmate's boyfriends...the above one of mine was erm popular with the gentlemen shall we say, to the extent of dating two flatmates at once. Anyway in our second year she had one of them in our house, when her parents decided to pay an unexpected early Sunday morning call. Flatmate tried to hide boyfriend in my room, and on discovering I'd gone to work (thank god) hid a partially clothed boyfriend in the toilet on our floor. He then had to try and sneak out without her parents seeing him as they sat downstairs...I forget the specifics of how.
Two years I lived with her and never a dull moment, I'll give her that. The other memorable one being the older gentleman from the pub she worked at getting high in our living room and offering her £1000 to sleep with him...and for some reason her driving him home with me tailing behind in order to drive her home...
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5,159 posts
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Post by TallPaul on Sept 19, 2017 12:26:05 GMT
Oh speaking of flatmate's boyfriends...the above one of mine was erm popular with the gentlemen shall we say, to the extent of dating two flatmates at once. Anyway in our second year she had one of them in our house, when her parents decided to pay an unexpected early Sunday morning call. Flatmate tried to hide boyfriend in my room, and on discovering I'd gone to work (thank god) hid a partially clothed boyfriend in the toilet on our floor. He then had to try and sneak out without her parents seeing him as they sat downstairs...I forget the specifics of how. Two years I lived with her and never a dull moment, I'll give her that. The other memorable one being the older gentleman from the pub she worked at getting high in our living room and offering her £1000 to sleep with him...and for some reason her driving him home with me tailing behind in order to drive her home... I don't suppose you're still in touch? A phone number will do.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2017 12:34:08 GMT
Oh speaking of flatmate's boyfriends...the above one of mine was erm popular with the gentlemen shall we say, to the extent of dating two flatmates at once. Anyway in our second year she had one of them in our house, when her parents decided to pay an unexpected early Sunday morning call. Flatmate tried to hide boyfriend in my room, and on discovering I'd gone to work (thank god) hid a partially clothed boyfriend in the toilet on our floor. He then had to try and sneak out without her parents seeing him as they sat downstairs...I forget the specifics of how. Two years I lived with her and never a dull moment, I'll give her that. The other memorable one being the older gentleman from the pub she worked at getting high in our living room and offering her £1000 to sleep with him...and for some reason her driving him home with me tailing behind in order to drive her home... I don't suppose you're still in touch? A phone number will do. hahaha and I didn't even mention she was a former Miss England/Great Britain/some such sh*te contestant did I? Anyway she's married now, with some sproglets. Who'd have thought it eh? at least nobody is being smuggled out of the bathroom...I hope.
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2,859 posts
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Post by couldileaveyou on Sept 19, 2017 12:43:31 GMT
When you study English as a foreign language you tend not to learn certain expressions and "cheers mate" left me absolutely bewildered on my first day at uni. It took me days to realize it was both a "thanks" and a greeting.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2017 12:48:26 GMT
When you study English as a foreign language you tend not to learn certain expressions and "cheers mate" left me absolutely bewildered on my first day at uni. It took me days to realize it was both a "thanks" and a greeting. This reminds me of my Sweedish friend who was teaching here in Wales for a bit, and couldn't understand why people kept saying 'Yes butt' or 'No butt' and not carrying on the sentence. Eventually someone explained that 'butt' is slang for 'friend' in parts of South Wales, and suddenly things were far clearer! It was bad enough translating my flatmate's Scouse accent never mind dealing with a different language (Though she did once say to me 'You sound normal most of the time and then you go proper Welsh' thanks love)
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5,159 posts
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Post by TallPaul on Sept 19, 2017 12:54:35 GMT
There's lovely!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2017 12:56:31 GMT
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5,159 posts
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Post by TallPaul on Sept 19, 2017 13:27:48 GMT
When you're from the lower orders, like wot I am, it's only really when you start mixing with people from a wide range of different backgrounds, like at university, that you realise words you have used forever, without thinking, aren't actually words, but dialect, specific to quite a small geographic area.
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5,159 posts
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Post by TallPaul on Sept 19, 2017 13:43:31 GMT
I wonder what they say in South Wales when talking about a friend's bottom?
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Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2017 13:45:46 GMT
I wonder what they say in South Wales when talking about a friend's bottom? Butt's butt obviously.
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Post by grannyjx6 on Sept 19, 2017 14:14:36 GMT
And to answer if I'd do anything differently - hell yes! I'd become a plumber 'cos they earn one heck of a lot more than I do, and don't even need to turn up for work half the time! (And when they do they do a lot of tutting and breathing out which seems easy money to me....)
There isn't enough money in the world would entice me to clear hairballs that look like rats out of bunged up showers and I can't even think about blocked loos.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2017 16:06:26 GMT
I'm just about to hit 5 years since my first day of University. My first day wasn't emotional or anything, I was excited! I had chatted to half my housemates on facebook before so I knew of them, and I showed up early to be the first one there so I wouldn't be the awkward final guy. We joined up with three other flats and had a party and went out later in the night and, to quote Donna in Mamma Mia "...".
I loved University, but in hindsight I would of switched courses to one a bit more in line with what I wanted to do. Also my final year was difficult personally, with the anniversary od a specific event coming up in two days that quite literally changed my life, so in hindsight, if I could of stopped speicifc things occuring in order to make that lifechanging thing not occur, I would go back to do that in a heartbeat. That is probably one of my biggest regrets.
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Post by glasses on Sept 19, 2017 17:26:56 GMT
I am still in university, but my first day was three years ago (time flies when having fun). I am studying Linguistics in the Netherlands and my very first day was 1 Sept. 2014. We first years started the day with a lecture (we had had introduction week the week before, so everyone knew everyone already. Oh, the perks of having only 30 people in your year). It was a lecture on Language Analysis, followed by a lecture first language acquisition, and last but not least: Statistics 1. I absolutely loved it! I was at the uni as early as ever, but it was great fun. I still love it, but I am also looking forward to getting a real job, an appartment, and that kind of stuff.
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Post by TallPaul on Sept 20, 2017 12:32:30 GMT
Thanks danieljohnson14 and glasses for making me feel really, really old. I agree that time does fly far too fast. My final year, in particular, just raced by.
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4,156 posts
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Post by kathryn on Sept 20, 2017 14:57:18 GMT
Lol. Glad I'm not the only one feeling old. Facebook hadn't been invented yet when i was at uni!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 20, 2017 15:01:15 GMT
Lol. Glad I'm not the only one feeling old. Facebook hadn't been invented yet when i was at uni! Ahem. Moment of dubious pride. I was at University at McGill when Facebook launched, and were were among the second wave of 'Elite' schools allowed into the first Facebook, back when not only did you have to have a University email address but one from a list of particular Universities. Of course all this kudos was offset by having exactly 5 friends... Anyway back then all the cool kids were using MSN to message their flatmates in the next room.
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5,159 posts
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Post by TallPaul on Sept 20, 2017 15:12:53 GMT
When I were a lad, if you wanted to send a message to someone, you used a pigeon!
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