{ I would have stayed up with you all night. }

So, I'm here. I was travelling from 9.30am until 2.20pm which is a ridiculous amount of time considering the journey home took just over three hours. The morning started in a panic as I realised I couldn't find the keys to the house in Soton. I couldn't understand it: I keep both sets of keys in my handbag. After much rummaging, I finally texted T. and asked her to get the Landlord to unlock my door for me. By this point it was past 9 (which was when I was going to catch the bus) so The Rents dropped me off at the station. Thus began my travelling woe.

As ever: no seats on a GNER train, so I was in the vestibule with a girl who was on the phone the whole journey, and four guys who were headed to London for Grand national shenanigans. They were fun enough to listen to, if not for the sexist and racist jibes. Anyway, I don't mind not having a seat on that train because it's direct and cuts my journey time by 45 minutes, except the train was late so I lost 15 minutes there.

At King's Cross I had the usual trouble trying to navigate the steps down to the tubes. Northern Line? BANE OF MY EXISTENCE. It's the easiest route to anywhere and it's always fucking closed. So I ended up walking around King's X underground for what felt like forever as I took the Piccadilly Line to Oxford Circus (where there were yet more steps) where I took the Bakerloo line to Waterloo. Got to Waterloo, found that there were no trains heading to Soton. ?! So, got on the 11.30 train to somewhere else, got off at Woking at midday then had to wait for the 12.30 to Bournemouth which does stop at Soton. Delays, PLATFORM CHANGES (ARGH), high temperatures (I was in three layers for reasons we won't go into) and finally I got on the train and could relax. South West Trains always have seats, thank fuck, and lots of luggage room. Got to Soton at 2pm, hopped straight onto a unilink bus (was abused by the doors at every damn stop), got to the house 20 minutes later. T, N and The Flatmate were all here already so as soon as I got in, I felt much better about being back. This is when I found out that I'd LEFT MY KEYS IN SOTON. So. Haven't lost them, then.

Since then I've unpacked, cleaned up, sorted out the wonky closet in the hallway, written an email, posted a letter and bought food to eat tonight. I've also bought The Subtle Knife which I'm going to start tonight. I've just got to write some emails and make a to do list for tomorrow. I am KNACKERED.

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Internet speed here is awful, which I always forget when I return. AND NOW I AM IN THE DEATH HOURS, GODDAMMIT. *sporks*

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Two new postcards on my wall: Audrey Hepburn (from the_muppet) and one I picked up from the cinema ages ago. "Either he's dead, or my watch has stopped!" &loves; Also, my fugly funny animal poster fell down whilst I was away (kabutar, I told you, it's a total conspiracy!) and I've decided that whilst I love it, it doesn't go with the rest of the room. So! Send me stuff to put on my wall! You know you want to. I mean, look how ugly the wall is without stuff on it:

So. Help a girl out, yeah? If you don't have my address and want to play, email me. In return I will send you a card or a postcard.

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WHERE ARE MY DUCKS?! :(

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Hartley is open from 9am tomorrow so I'm going to hide out in the library. I'm taking the laptop (yay, hotspots!) so I'll likely spam you all with how bored I am, but like I said, I have a better idea of what I want to do for my dissertation so I can do what needs doing, huzzah. It's going to take forever, though, because woe, I actually have to read the stuff I'm citing. Not in full, and I'm pretty good at the skim read, but still. Aie.

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Since being home, The Sister has got me enthused (once more) on The Fray. I'm glad, though, because I've had this album for a year and it's still so good. Also on the list of good things: I have a good idea of what my dissertation is going to be on, and - BUBBLEGUM. Yay.

Also: isn't The Departed Tango one of the best pieces of music ever? Also on that list is the one I'm playing now. (Hi,twincy!)

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OK. More emails, the to do list, possibly Doctor Who and CSI. I'd still rather being in D. than in Soton, but I just have to get over it. At least there won't be any more panic attacks now that I'm faced with the reality of being here. Also: I live with nice people. Who may or may not go to see Sunshine with me!