The Graduate(s)

WOOOO I GRADUATED!!!

After three long years, countless all-nighters (some of them for essays...) and an awful lot of reading it's finally over. I'd like to thank coffee, tequila and sparknotes...

Our graduation ceremonies were hosted on the rather lovely London Road campus, which is probably the best part of Reading. It's the oldest part of the campus, and as such looks like a real old-fashioned university, perfect for Pimms and strawberries on the lawn after a nerve-wracking ceremony (no one tripped on the stairs or lost their hat - I call that a victory).

 This is not my family. This is my lovely ex-housemate (sniff) Eleanor's, but I am awfully fond of them. We could only get two tickets for the ceremony, so I spent most of the day with my dad.

 My Dad is wonderful (even if he does tend to get a bit emotional at these kind of events - there is often a tear or two shed. Sorry Dad...) and he generously provided my dress. It's Karen Millen, in House of Fraser, and it's now on sale (isn't that always the way?). My brother and sister also turned up later for a photo or two, and a celebratory meal at Jamie's on the riverside. I love Jamie's. It's so simple, and so delicious, and the staff are always fantastic. And their Earl Grey Martini? Spectacular. I may have a stab at making it and post the recipe. It's the perfect summer cocktail.

 The day was filled with lots of sunshine, photos and emotional hugging of people we're not sure how we'll live without, like these folks.

Emotional hugs all round...

 That and feeling a bit smug...

 I arrived at uni unsure if it was what I wanted to do. I had the alternative option of running away to Zanzibar (I spent some of my gap year out there and made friends with some people who were setting up their own NGO, and was more than tempted to join them), and whilst I knew university was probably the better life choice, I definitely didn't want to come. This was a feeling that resurfaced a lot in my first and second years, and there were times when I was genuinely about to leave.  Let's face it, who wouldn't rather be here than Reading...

Pure heaven. In the end though I stuck it out, and I'm so glad I did. I have some of the most amazing friends, and have had the best time (despite the lack of beach bars - although I did work at Lola Lo for a while, that's essentially the same isn't it?). I have also, shockingly, learnt a lot. I really enjoyed my course, and had some fantastic lecturers. If it's something you're unsure about, I would bear this in mind; it's only 3 years. There's plenty of time afterwards to do everything else, and it's really worth going when you're young and will really get the whole experience (largely drinking...).

So what now? I still want to travel the world. I'd like to get a job in advertising or PR. I'd like a car, and a house, and a dog that can pull off a bow tie. Maybe not the car if I end up in London like I want to. I'd like a lot of things from the future.

But first, I'd like to sit around reminiscing just a little while longer...

The Last Dance...

So I've been AWOL for a bit, sorry. I've been super busy doing an internship at an advertising agency (I'll probably tell you about it soon), and although I'm really enjoying it, it does mean I come home and the last thing I want to do is more typing! I promise to be better.

I did have a pretty exciting weekend though, at my university summer ball! I love a good excuse to dress up, and the end of our degrees seemed like the perfect opportunity!

My dress is from Oasis, but unfortunately it's out of stock, but you can browse their other red beauties here. 

Reading provided us with a funfair, a hog roast and some amazing music from James Arthur (who was surprisingly good), Funeral for a Friend, and headline act Feeder, who had me wailing at the top of my lungs at the front of the crowd. 

I had to get a good band photo from the pros, I was too busy dancing my socks off (and I was much too close...).

Louise and I were rather smitten with Callum's bow-tie (I take some credit for him wearing it...). The drinks flowed, the photos got more ridiculous and I made a total fool of myself. I'm going to be so sad to leave Reading, and all these wonderful people who light up my life. I think lots of summer trips will have to be organised around their various hometowns (and maybe a few in sunnier spots!).

Eventually the sun came up, the music stopped, and Callum and I (who made it until 6 - summer ball survivors!) stumbled heels in hand to the nearest taxi. There was talk of breakfast. There was talk of burgers. The word 'diner' was batted around. But bed was calling, and a few hours later as we crawled wrapped in duvets to the TV, food was the last thing on everyone's mind. 

Canals and country pubs

Last night Callum and I decided we should bite the bullet and so some exercise. We decided on a bike ride, because then we could motivate ourselves with country pubs. He even had a bike I could borrow. So I got up early(ish) and headed round to his, only to presented with a tiny clown bike for our 40 mile trip. 

So maybe that's a slight exaggeration. It was however definitely child size...(also I've looked better. Deal with it). Callum looked much better on his adult size bike. 

It was a really nice ride though. It turns out after complaining about having nowhere nice to run/cycle the cycle path is right near the Uni house I'm about to leave. I'm a bit devastated by it. 

Beautiful. There were canal boats dotted along the way too, which made me contemplate a life on the water Rosie and Jim style. I'm not sure I could deal with having one room though, I'm not as little as they were...

We didn't quite make it to Newbury. We got distracted by this pub...

 

We'd made it about 15 miles, so we'd definitely earned ourselves a glass of wine. The Rowbarge Woolhampton did not disappoint. It was so lovely, and the staff were fantastic. All the food looked great too, but having a long cycle home we opted for a light lunch.

I had the smoked salmon sandwich on rye, and he went for rare roast beef with horseradish, and we swapped halves. Mine was good, his was slightly lacking - a bit dry, a bit tasteless. Such a shame, but the chips were fab and the hot food looked great (also the crisps were a bit naff). The pub had a lovely feel though, a great set out and as I say, lovely staff. 

You can check it out here.