ME #1

1. I live in Holbrook, Derbyshire (with 47 sheep)
2. Ruth Hannah Smith (hence the RHS, incase you were wondering) 
3. 14th December 1993
4. I have been to five schools since turning 4 (16 years ago, cray-zee)
5. I don't eat lamb (not because of the sheep, because it tastes like plastic)
6. My favourite fruit is banana (with lashings, I mean a tablespoon of peanut butter)
7. I love to run (a lot, occasionally, sometimes, in lycra)
8. I am unbelievably organised (you should see my desk right now and my calendar) 
9. I will only drink bottled water when at Uni (theres just something in the water in Stockotn) 
10. My favourite film of all time is Love Actually (and The Holliday, and Notting Hill etc etc) 
11. I am an only child (not a lonely child as Sarah once thought it was, she's one of three) 
12. My aim in life is to achieve a Masters degree, just to get the same qualifications as my father 
13. My obsession for Clinique is frankly unwordable (which isn't even a word... see) 
14. I can't drink caffeine 
15. I don't drink milk, it makes me rather ill, but I will always partake in chocolate 
16. I can rap the words to "Make me proud" by Drake (Don't ask me sober though)
17. I always try and have breakfast in bed (a new thing, I wake up 20 minutes earlier to relax!)
18. I wear glasses to read (+0.5 - is it even worth it?)
19. I am the area champion in Derbyshire for the 800m 4 years running 
20. I have never broken a bone (apart from my nose, but that is not a bone) 
21. Myself, my mother, my grandmother and my great-grandmother all went to all-girls schools 
22. I have never smoked, or taken drugs, you will find me with a bottle of rose occasionally however
23. I have never had anything pierced, ever, anywhere, never will. 
24. My day always begins with solid porridge, keep it in the microwave for 5 minutes, with half the normal amount of milk. Bon Apetit! 
25. My favourite animals are cats, British Blues to be certain, although I love my rabbit Lady Gaga lots
26. I was in New York for my 15th birthday 
27. My biggest fear is illness 
28. My favourite holiday is to the west coast of France, Cognac, La Rochelle area 
29. My lucky number is 4 as it is the only number where the number of letters are the same as the number itself 
30. Are oranges orange because of orange or is orange orange because of oranges? 
31. I love scars, in fact don't get me started
32. Most used nicknames are Ruthie and Rufus (and now Rutilda from my supervisor at work)
33. I support Derby County, have done since I was born, with my dad taking me to the Baseball ground, then the opening of Pride Park
34. Harry Potter over Twilight all the way 
35. I can play the piano (a bit, when I feel like it)
36. My favourite composer is Beethoven, then probably Einaudi
37. My favourite actress EVER is Kiera Knightly, how is anyone that gorgeous? 
38. My favourite actor is Hugh Grant 
39. My favourite boys names are Elliott and George, maybe Morgan too 
40. I love the name Felicity for a girl 
41. I'm not superstitious as I never know what it means when you see a Black Cat and after all my Uncle Stevie Wonder said "superstition aint the way" 
42. I once cycled from London to Derby for Sport Relief and fell off and got bursitis in my shoulder, of which I still have the scars on my elbow from, nearly two years later. 
43. I often sleep talk 
44. As a 5 year old I always wanted a red Porsche boxter - I had one for my Barbie dolls
45. I have never owned a horse 
46. I have driven through Luxembourg in an hour
47. I would rather have fingers for toes than toes for fingers 
48. I am pretty amazing at risottos - ask me to make you one sometime
49. I laugh at everything, or I see the funny/happy side of everything. Every cloud!



I tan like there is no tomorrow

50. My greatest weakness is worrying. I worry about everything. Hence no.49! 



the fam



Ahh Stephenson College, DU



I'm a cat

Primary School

I'm in the S somewhere! 

Holbrook C of E Primary School, home of the great. 

It was the tiniest primary school in the area and it was the best place on earth. acc moi. 

I have been thinking a lot about primary school lately and all the little things that made me chuckle and when I thought that having the coolest snack for break time was basically the biggest issue of your life and in year three if it wasn't a Frube you may as well have gone and sat on the Betty no mates bench as you were not cool. 

So here are a few little memories that I'm sure a lot of people share too... 

The Spice Girls were big back in the 90's and I was always Scary Spice, because of my enormous afro hair (I always wanted to be Sporty Spice, but I just didn't fit the criteria)

There was always that one girl who braved the summer dress in March when her mum was convinced it was Summer and that the poor lamb would be too hot in trousers... 

Aparatus was THE best P.E. activity ever, those long wooden planks that you used to attach to a metal bar and walk up like you were a trapeze artist was the best. 

Having the sportiest boy on your rounders team was like having Suáez on your football team, no one could ever catch those balls and the Babe Ruth (no connotations to moi) walked round the posts like he was a Saint and everyone cheered and you got like a whole rounder for it. 

"Hands together and eyes closed" was the way you knew lunch was about to start. Being a C of E school we had to stand up and thank God for our parents, but mainly the food we were about to eat because by 12 we were eating each other's arms, or the sand pit, which ever was closest. 

Using that dome shaped robot in IT lessons was incredible (as we had like 1 computer in the whole school in year 2 it was all about those robots). Pressing its little buttons and watching it move around the room was insane and you'd bore your parents to death about it that night. 

Big holidays always meant making your parents a card or a present. I remember once taking my parents home a Christmas tree angel made out of a toilet paper tube, a doily and a straggly piece of yellow string, I insisted it go on the tree that Christmas, I never saw it again... 

Having to take the "pen test" before you were allowed a Bic in your life was like sitting your finals at Uni (I can imagine), I was stuck with my HB for quite a while, however I could count to 1000 by year 3. 

When Bull Dog was banned and everyone went on strike and wouldn't go to the playground at break time. My first "political" stand off. Not bad. 

Stuck in the mud replaced Bull Dog, that was definitely where I learned how to run - playing stuck  in the mud - ahh good times. 

You were the boss in year 6 when you got to sit on those apparatus benches during assembly - OR if you were selected to operate the OHP (Thats an overhead projector to anyone under the age of 15) and move the written out song lyrics. 

Hands down, thumbs up was a great game when you'd leant people's shoes, or who just sucked their fingers and you got touched by a slimy, deteriorating finger - ew. 

Ahhh the free milk we used to get aged five and a bit - the one that used to sit outside, in the winter it would be frozen and in the summer it would begin to curdle, potentially why I don't drink milk now, that put me off for life. 

Our school introduced giving our fruit for break time, which was always a bit manky, nevertheless, fruit goodness. However, there was always some silly baboon who dropped their apple and was told by the teachers to just go and wash it under the sink and eat it again - thinking back, that sounds vile. 

I used to fall over all the time when I was in reception/year 1, I was always coming home with scrapes and scabs on my knees and Savlon was literally called "the magic cream" as I'd be magically healed by the next day - That was the time I was convinced Jesus had come back as my Dinner lady - very interesting. 

When it was home time and you used to sing "footballs coming home, its coming home, its coming!" - just me? I was a football hooligan back then... 

Ringing the bell at the end of playtime was an incredible achievement and basically meant you were loved by the dinner lady and could at smug for the rest of the day.

You always knew it had been Christmas holidays when that kid came back with Bugs Life pencil case, rubber, pencils, crayons, sharpener (No one had a sharpener! or a red crayon for that matter...)

Ok I could literally go on all night... But I already fear this post is very very long. 

What good memories!

I'll be thinking of more all night!

RHS x

It doesn't do to dwell

Happy Sunday! 

I love Sundays, my parents are playing golf (or spoiling a good walk, depending on how they play), I have to clean the kitchen (which I love because I'm an OCD clean-freak at heart), there is football on the TV (Derby County vs. Chelsea, BT Sport 1:30pm - see you there), I have an assignment to write (not so much to love about that...), later we will be partaking in a lovely Sunday tea - I believe we are having pork tenderloin (or latissimus dorsi as I like to call it), washed down with some excelled vin rouge from some region of France, followed by a few scoops of Ben and Jerries, finishing the assignment and reading. I have to have a relaxing Sunday as I go for a long run Monday mornings - we'll see about that. 

Anyway, the title of this post, I will admit, is a bit deep but I live my life by this quote (try to) and I have only just learnt who said it AND that it isn't the full quote! The full quote is "it doesn't do to dwell on dreams and forget to live" - now this to me could be interpreted very differently. Dreams as in "future plans and aspirations" or dreams as in "that really scary one I had a few nights ago". But this quote comes from J.K.Rowling - surely the biggest dreamer on the planet?! No one can write that many books about magic without a little bit of dreaming. Therefore I have edited her quote to "It doesn't do to dwell". 

I am the biggest worrier ever - hence why I am never having children and why I stay well away from anything merely bad for me and run just incase I get a blocked artery from eating two biscuits in one day. A bit extreme, but so, so true. If you dwell, the problem seems worse and gets blown out of proportion, but if you skip through life without a care in the world a) you're the envy of everyone, b) how do you do it? and c) you're probably living life the best way! A little bit of worrying is good for us as it keeps us on our toes but dwelling to the point of insanity never helped anyone and it drains your energy then you need to buy Manuka honey which never helps anyone because it is so flipping expensive. Forgetting to live is the worst part, you'll miss so much time and when you hit 40 you'll look back and see how much time you wasted worrying - trust me, a wise owl told me it once - not in a dream! Very philosophical for a girl of 20 - but I've had a lot of practise!

Have a good Sunday and a fabulous week! (I really must get back to my assignment) 

RHS x 

When 20 becomes 30 and 30 becomes 40

I'm nearly 20 (precisely 8 weeks today) which as I keep saying to people means I'll be nearly 30 which then means I'll be nearly 40 which by then I'll have minus two kids (the kids I would have had if I hadn't been climbing a career ladder) and I'll be happily single with a cat called Elliott (if its a boy or Felicity if its a girl- the names I would have called my children). 

So "nearly" meaning "almost" or "fairly close to" -  I know there is a decade between 20 and 30 and 30 and 40 (A in GCSE Maths, not many people can say that you know) however to me that will be the next milestone and ever since Jennifer Garner was in 13 going on 30 I never could wait to be 30 (flirty and thriving, say it with me!). Now however at the tender, ripening (no really, crows feet, expensive eye concealer, firming body lotion) age of 19 I am nearly (that word again) half way through my degree, which two mornings ago I questioned where a year has gone - seriously who do I write to about this. I hope its not RBS. 

So we lead onto another thing. RBS. I'm turning into my grandmother (she's 70, I'm 19 going on 70, it gets better doesn't it) and she always told me to have one bank, which I did till I was 14 and wanted a debit card (basically my portal to buying Topshop, or the 1/5095th I could afford, which was great because at 14 I was a tidy 6 and oh does Topshop love to serve the skinny, as we learn as we turn 16, 17, "oh my I'm curvy" 18, "time to become a 10" 19). I'm getting sidetracked; RBS want me to write in to close my bank account, in this day and age. As Natalie said "where is my owl". "write in" who do they think I am?! I'll write an email and write in a letter of complaint. 

Where was I? I'm currently having a conversation (Facebook Mail, who has time to meet and talk anymore?!) with someone (might be Mike) about how I don't go out much (its been 2 weeks of actual term and I have been out three times now I think that is me going slightly crazy and has lead to me assess my mental health however to most students that is a dismal effort and probably brands me with a 3rd class honours and leads to several forfeits). Who wants to go out anyway when you can read Charlotte Brontë or watch a Sarah Jessica Parker film and drink dandelion and burdock tea (with a hint of peppermint). Ok its official I am getting slightly boring but I want a good degree and a good CV and good skin when I'm 40 - you don't want to know what all the sugar in alcoholic drinks does to your skin, after all 40 is just around the corner - I'm halfway there! (nearly). Don't worry I'm going out on Thursday AND Saturday next week! (I'll be careful).

Anyway, this was my break from reading about how Japan have outdone the U.S. in manufacturing by keeping costs low etc and how Darwin has explained why we prefer to eat sugar and fat. 

I'll let you decide which is the most interesting

Rant over

RHS x

P.S. If anyone missed JD and Mike's heart to heart in Storytellers on Thursday please ask them to reenact it - it was beautiful.

What the North has taught me

As a country bumpkin in the heart of Derbyshire ("There is no finer county in England than Derbyshire" - Miss Bingley, Pride and Prejudice - yes I went there)  going to the outskirts of Middlesbrough for University was rather a scary thought - but amazingly exciting - I'd always wanted to live in a city - I thought. 

Ahh how to talk about Middlesbrough - the locals are friendly, one once told me where Topshop was (how nice!) ... I'm sure there's more things... 

Anyway... I've lived there for a year now and am currently back in Derbyshire (or London, where some people believe I live - I'm just far too posh darling) and I've been thinking about what I have learnt from the North because I can assure its definitely a learning curve going to another part of the country. 

For example:

Nights out in Newcastle

The Quayside - Newcastle

"Why are you wearing flats? We're going to Newcastle - GO AND CHANGE YOUR SHOES!" - standard conversation several seconds before boarding a taxi to Newcastle. 

Never EVER EVER wear flats to Newcastle - unless you want to blend in with the students and ugly people - that's what I was told. 

Students (I am told) stand out in Newcastle on first arrival - they are white (people in Newcastle look like slight relations to South Americans, or that popular fizzy drink... ah, Tango), they wear flats - deary me, poor souls they don't stand a chance. 

There's a saying in Newcastle "go high or go home" - After one treble in Bijoux I'll pick home please #lightweight 

Getting ready for a night out 

(this is entirely what I have learnt + some added because I'd missed "loads" out) 

It takes me about 2 hours to get ready for a night out (from shower - changing my flats to heels).

Only 2 hours because THANKFULLY I was blessed with that natural fake tan that renews itself like, every day really. I have a constant tan - weird I know. 

2 hours - I got laughed at, when at about 7pm the night before we were due to go out I couldn't find several of my friends because they'd already started prep. 

26 HOURS BEFORE WE WERE DUE TO LEAVE - I kid you not. 

The schedule for a night out (I believe this is an extreme, depends how much (many) you want to pull - I should have quoted that, I didn't say that) 

Friday Night (going out on Saturday night)

1. Shower
2. Hair
3. Tan 
4. Blow dry hair (upside down - make it BIG!)

(my friday night would have included going to the gym so I could wear a crop top on the Saturday night - then potentially watching Love Actually with Ben and Jerry - old friends, not the ice cream - obvs)

Saturday Morning (were getting there) 

1. Shower (I'm guessing watch tan go down the drain to leave a golden goddess - hmm)
2. Put on more tan (South American - Tango)
3. Go into town to buy a new dress (about midday apparently), buy new shoes.
4. Get nails done - full set of acrylics (who said the North was cheap?) 
5. Bye 2 sets of eyelashes (after all, who wants to see your eyes anyway? - its dark) 

Saturday Evening (I'd be having a nap if I had done this much on a Saturday yawn)

1. Shower (do not get hair wet! - friz was never in fashion)
2. Get dressed
3. Tan on face (Tango - down right there is no colour to give you any hints at what colour) 
4. Foundation (Tango-pasty?!)
5. Bronzer - And I mean a lot (Tango - mad colour - pasty - glittery bronze) 
6. Always a smokey eye (to cover the eyelash glue) 
7. Straighten hair and curl (I'd recommend a sturdy heat protection spray) - but no poodles please
8. Backcomb hair - "must be poofy" 
9. Must wear heels (here we go again) 

Are we ready to go yet? - jeez.

Were finished. Moving on...

Phrases - a.k.a. another language 

When I asked my friends what they learnt from the North, general answers included free drugs (oh dear), the accent (or complete new language) and "mums on tour" - think we got a bit side tracked. 

Anyway, wow the accent. HAHA, I thought learning French was difficult but this is like crazy to understand. 

"Why aye" - did I spell that right? - this means... actually I have no idea what this means, sorry. 

Bijoux - with a local Geordie (and friend!)

- one treble too many.

"Flanter" - this is flirty banter, usually with the opposite sex and you don't know you're doing it but everyone else notices - surely not!

"Shanter" - this is sh*t banter, if you need any tips on Shanter just ask me, I'm the best at it haha. 

"How way" - was that spelt right? - this means like "come on" or "come on man" - Geordie's say "Man" a lot - even to a girl, I was really shocked at this behaviour.

AND. 

this is the best they say "Master" like "maRster" but "Bath" is just "Bath" not "baRth" - freaks I tell you - best to avoid the Geordie in their natural habitat. 

Other things you need to know

Do not go to Goldies in Stockton on Tees, unless your name begins with a G and ends in reg. Its full of "dirty old women" - Wait, just don't go to Stockton-on-tees in the first place - good idea. 

A Parmo is great if you want to die of coronary heart disease precisely 5 hours after eating - Ok, I've not seen it happen, YET anyway. There are only some places that make the best Parmos - or its best to ask LB to make you one. Its chicken (sorry, "chicken" with béchamel sauce and cheese, like a lot of cheese...)

So far the best takeaway we have found is Malones in Middlesbrough (they do the best cheeseburgers! and Pizzas - yes I actually had half a pizza after one night out, I spent 2 hours in the gym the next day and could still notice I'd eaten it.)

The boys love themselves (boys, never lads in Newcastle), love themselves sometimes too much. I believe they are called "spice boys" because they are cinnamon sweet. haha, no they pluck their eyebrows and probably use an eyebrow pencil and have more fake tan on then girls and wear the lowest cut tops I have ever seen - I have to look away, far too much skin on show.

Durham Cathedral and Castle - a beautiful part of the North East

Never go to Sam Jacks in Newcastle, ever, even if you're a boy I really wouldn't recommend it. I was warned and walked in, my eyes were horrified I was stuck to the spot and just about managed to sprint back out - never to look back. I'm still recovering. 

Ahh the North East, my second home (although the Dr's surgery is adamant its my first home, hmm not sure how I feel about that). A different culture to what I know here - as Daisy (our cow) looks at me from the field, waiting to be milked and Mary the sheep sleeps and Lady Gaga the Rabbit digs a burrow (which do you believe?) - but definitely a culture in its own right and the people are very friendly! 

Southerners should give it a try before they buy - they could probably buy Newcastle with their monthly income. 

IF THEY WERE A BILLIONAIRE HAHAH. 

its a great place! 

Happy travelling and Geordie-ing 

RHS x 

p.s. Dinner or Lunch?

 Lunch, agreed? agreed. 

Boyfriends vs. Friends - which is better and why

nutters.

Ok, I've had aeroplane rides that have lasted longer than relationships. 

What am I talking about?! 

I've had showers that have lasted longer than relationships... 

Entering my card pin has lasted longer than relationships...

relationshipS (s?! - plural?!) 

I've had one (ONE) relationship ("relationship"), that lasted a month. I was 15. 

It was pretty awful, I will be honest. I just thought he was attractive, wasn't sure about the rest - probably not the best grounds for a relationship. 

Since then, there really hasn't been much to even tell you. 

The odd on and off "thing" (fling) that I never wanted to be more serious than it was, several bouts of "what WAS I thinking... why didn't my friends tell me?!" - when really they are screaming at you for months saying "what are you doing honey?!" - but to you, it sounds like an annoying buzzing bee so you carry merrily along until you hit a wall.

SO, I've hit the wall ("the wall" - something which causes you to re-evalute your life - deep.) 

Last time I hit "the wall" I was cycling up some 100ft Derbyshire mountain side after cycling for 5 days, 2 of which with a paralysed shoulder - I broke down and had Lucozade gel squeezed into my mouth and was told to "get back on my bike" (Tip of the day - take water with Lucozade gel, or have the pleasant experience of swallowing tar -nice) 

Unfortunately I can't cure this wall in quite the same way. Even wine doesn't help (please don't down a bottle of wine when you hit "the wall") 

So, its been 4 years and 7 months since my last "relationship" and I have to say I am not bothered in the slightest - really. 

Boys do not appeal to me at all for relationship purposes -  don't get me wrong, they are great for making babies (ew) but what else are they good at?

I have been speaking to two of my close friends (one of whom has been in a relationship for... nearly 2 years? and the other had a boyfriend about 18 months ago and is currently single) and been asking them if we need boyfriends or whether friends are good enough...

Boyfriends vs. friends

From the girl who is single -  I got the jist that if you have known the person for a long time - he is your friend, best friend, knows your flaws (how anyone can accept your flaws?! - they're a keeper if they can accept mine - I occasionally ('occasionally') sleep with Henry, he's a bear) and can still stand to be around you and can watch you eat (I'm not starving myself for anyone - thanks!)... the relationship is great - Great! 

However, knowing them just from meeting them on a night out - oh dear. If you are in a relationship with someone that you have met on a night out I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU (because I do believe this is quite rare) - it must take ages to get used to each other - you don't know what the other wants for breakfast the next morning - disaster darling. 

A boyfriend is a friend for life (or however... yeah...) and only yours (lets hope), whereas your friends, well they're shared with everyone else aren't they (OUR FRIENDS CHEAT ON US, this is horrible).

You can tell your boyfriend things before you tell anyone else (thanks non-single friend!), they don't judge you - like my friend said however, its unlikely that you will get judged by your friends but you know that whatever you do in front of your boyfriend he won't care! - where can I find one?! - Joke. 

And lets be honest - you get the attention you want (thanks, both friends!), both friends said that the attention just on you is very nice indeed, with your friends, yes they might just go shopping with you but they are shopping for themselves too, with a boyfriend they are the ones that say "that looks great on you!"  and not "that looks great on you! does this look ok on me?!" - see the difference 

Wait - did I mention taking a boyfriend shopping?! - HAHAHA - what amma like. 

Do boys like shopping with their girlfriends? Does electricity and water mix?

Do girls like shopping? Is the Pope Catholic? 

Simple. 

So the good points about being in a relationship - someone is always there for you, a phone call away, to tell your needs to (OH! just like a Dominoes worker - sorry non-single friend! - she has a lovely boyfriend and hopefully knows im joking!x) 

Anddddd, there's the bad points -  the arguing, jealousy, moving away - moving to University, now how many relationships have I seen break up because of Uni? - not many actually! but it definitely strains it I can imagine! 

Nights out - this was funny (thanks single friend) - apparently are far better with your girlfriends than with your boyfriend - you can still talk to lads but my friend said that some of your girlfriends can get jealous and say "SHE HAS A BOYFRIEND" - thanks doll, he was BETTER than my boyfriend - ouch. 

Boyfriends buy you drinks (you should!), carry you home from a night out (high expectations?), put you to bed... WOAH, easy tiger...

HAHA. So, as you can see I don't think I'm ready for a relationship after some of my comments. I am very happy for my friends who are in a relationship and I know two girls at Uni who are in long term relationships hundreds of miles apart - hats off to you! (im so jealous) 

I think I'm too close to my girlfriends to ever dream of having a boyfriend (just yet anyway) - I never ever speak to boys when I'm out (STRANGER DANGER! -did you girls never learn at Primary school?!), potentially because I'm having a really good time without them! 

SURE, I have friends who are boys but none that I'm THAT close with at the minute and I'm happier at the minute than I have been for a very long time - I don't think I was 'happy' 4 years and 8 months ago (when I was in a "relationship") whatever 'Happy' is. 

But - what I do know - (and  I was told this by one of my parents' friends) - is that it ("it"?!) happens when you least expect it - and so far in my 19 years and 8 months of existence, that when you do least expect it - its definitely the best experience. 

Happy loving - Love to my all my friends (and their boyfriends!) 

RHS x

University secrets

This could be interesting... 

Durham University, Queens Campus, Stockton-on-Tees (yep, the North East - don't knock it!) 

"where's all the fit lads?" 

"why is it 78.4% girls?"- the questions all the girls were asking each other 

"I'm in heaven"

"where did I store my condoms?" - what the lads were saying 

its University, most people meet the person they spend the rest of their lives with at uni, of course this is what people were thinking! 

Never have I ever 

Ok, it took me several weeks to understand the rules of this game 

NB: drink when you HAVE done what someone says they "never have" 

(there have been occasions when I have drank to things such as "never have I ever had a threesome" - I haven't, honest) 

This game often involved many people "dropping out" at certain points, 

especially when one boy dropped the "never have I ever masturbated" bomb - silence (at least wait till year 2 for those types!) 

Can you keep a secret?

Wow, the times I have heard this, 

"of course" - the majority of people do! 

Any juicy gossip? - no chance and I mean NO CHANCE. 

keep things to yourself as much as you can, I definitely learned that way! 

choose your 'secret keepers' wisely

Gossip Girl

Yes, really, a Durham University Gossip Girl Twitter account was set up, I was a suspect (just because my window was perfectly positioned to see most goings on - it wasn't me, unfortunately!) 

This caused uproar! 

It was publicly posted when X was seen leaving Y's block etc... you get the picture. 

Again, being an undercover agent is best at Uni, 

The "Who can sleep with the whole of campus" game 

I didn't enter, I was too busy revising all the time, yep all the time - even at Christmas when we didn't even have exams 

Some people got a reputation though - if you're a lad, great (not really, but whatever), if you're a girl, oh dear. 

BUT - as I say (you may quote me) "Those that matter don't mind and those that mind, don't matter" (Smith, R. 2013) 

You're friends won't care who you get around with - makes nights in much more interesting (or the morning afters, or tbh that night after the action!!) 

Just try not to upset people - I've seen it happen and its a dog eat dog world (or lad sleeps with girl, is a prick, moves on, girls gets upset - standard, but sad) 

NB: twister? its never twister... where is there space to fit a twister mat? - exactly! 

Best time ever (not best song ever)

It is literally amazing at Uni, everyone should go, just for the experience (life that is!)

It goes far too fast though. And now, onto the second year, I'm hoping and praying (please God) that the partying does continue and the friends keep on coming! (as in, I get more, friends that is, jeez)

• Middlesbrough Empire Saturdays - wow, keep dancing till 4am 
• Photo bomb as many pictures as you can - especially in freshers
• Try anything! (except that - you might hurt yourself)
• Take Berocca - or grow an orangery 
• Don't pay for a TV license in halls (naughty) 

RHS x