Reunions

   This weekend has been so so lovely as I finally had some reunions with home friends in and around Manchester! My friend Jess has gone to university in Lancaster, so after ages trying to decide on a date to see one another, we finally decided that on Friday I'd go up to visit her and she'd show me around Lancaster! Then, rather spontaneously, my friend Beth, who's doing her Masters in Liverpool, agreed to come and visit me in Manchester yesterday so I could take her on a tour of my favourite places!

Friday 24th October - Lancaster
   It's pretty crazy to think I haven't seen Jess before now, seeing as we're living so close to one another, but we've both needed time to settle in and adjust to university life, so it was probably for the best. Having never been to Lancaster I was really excited for Jess to give me a tour, as I can tell by texting her just how much she loves it there and how perfectly suited to her it is!
   After several delayed and cancelled trains I finally got into Lancaster station at 5:35pm, giving us 5 hours to go on a tour and grab some food and have a catchup before I needed to get my train back to Manchester Piccadilly. I didn't really know what to expect, but I definitely was not disappointed. It's so beautiful and picturesque with its old fashioned walkways and cobbled streets, I can see why Jess loves it so much! Despite it being dark I felt so safe walking around as everywhere was well lit and everyone we walked past would smile and say hello, it was all just so welcoming!
   Jess gave me a tour of her favourite points as we headed towards her campus, before she gave me a tour round there. It's safe to say I'm pretty jealous of her campus as it's all so close together and practical, compared to ours where everything is spread out! It really seemed like a home from home, it was a proper little community, and once again, everyone seemed so friendly and welcoming. We decided to have dinner in one of the student bars, and the prices were dirt cheap for such good quality food! We both opted for a BBQ chicken wrap and cheesy nachos, although the nachos were definitely more of a main course rather than a side! Over food we had a major catchup, and although it was bizarre seeing someone from home not at home, it was so lovely to catchup and tell each other all about our university experiences.
   Afterwards we went into Lancaster and stopped off at a few bars for a drink. We went to a Tiki bar which had an upstairs balcony which was so pretty by night with its fairy lights! Then we went to a good old Weatherspoon's as you honestly can't beat the atmosphere in them and it felt just like being back in The Earl in Kettering! Time completely flew by and it was such a shame to have to leave, but it's definitely made me even more excited for when Jess comes to visit me in Manchester. I definitely need to do some more exploring in Salford and Manchester though, Jess knew so many places to go and I don't really know that many yet! After an incredibly long and tiring week I definitely needed to see someone from home, and being taken on a tour of a new place was the perfect end to it.

Saturday 25th October - Manchester with a wannabe Scouser
   So, I got back to my accommodation at 11:50pm on Friday evening, and had to be up at 7:30am to be at the train station to meet Beth at 10:30am (it takes around an hour to get to the station depending on the traffic). However, despite being tired I had an amazing time on Friday, and I knew that Saturday was going to be an amazing day too.
   On the way to the station I had to plan what to do with Beth, as I don't really know Salford and Manchester as well as I should, therefore I opted for my go to place, the Arndale Centre. Shopping, food and a catchup - it can't really get much better than that! Beth agreed that it sounded like a good idea, and so that was our plan for the day! However, we were both starving as neither of us had had time for breakfast, so before we hit the shops we headed to Cafe Rouge for Eggs Benedict and to start our catchup, as we had a lottttt to catchup on!
   I love shopping, and I love helping other people shop, so it was a laugh helping each other pick out items and getting each other's opinions on things. We managed to get the majority of our things in the sale, so we were being good students technically! Plus, we did both think about whether or not we really needed our items, so I'd say we were pretty sensible! About an hour in we were already knackered, so we stopped off at MooBee, somewhere neither of us have ever been, who specialise in bubble tea, which neither of us have ever had! We were intrigued and thought we'd give it a go. Beth opted for Mango and Passionfruit with Lychee popping balls, whilst I went for Peach with Passionfruit popping balls, it's safe to say that we both loved them! They're a bizarre idea but so so good, I'll definitely be going again soon!
   Afterwards we continued shopping before having a Starbucks break as we were both exhausted! It's crazy how much shopping takes it out of you! It was honestly the loveliest day, and we've agreed to see each other again soon, as once again it went so fast and I didn't want to leave! I'll go up to Liverpool next time though and let Beth give me a tour!

   This weekend has just been so perfect, I was feeling a bit homesick so I really really needed it! It's proved to me how important it is to stay in contact with home friends, because it'd be silly to lose them after such long friendships!

Gap Years

   Several of my friends decided to take a gap year or a year out instead of starting university this September, and I really respect them for that. Not everybody is ready to start university at the same time, and for some people university just isn't for them. However, despite this, it can still be very daunting approaching your parents and friends and telling them that you're not going to be going the following September. Most people's biggest worry tends to be that they'll be "left behind", trust me, you will not. Plus, if your friends do stop talking to you because you're not going through university life at the same time as them then they really weren't your friends to begin with! Therefore, I thought I'd dedicate this post to fundraising. Despite the fact the majority of my friends who have stayed are going into full time work for a year or two before going to university, some are planning to go travelling after Christmas, and for that you need to save a lot of money.

   In the summer of 2013 I went to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands on a school expedition and it's safe to say it was the most unbelievable experience of my life and I would highly recommend it to anybody who's considering a trip there! In order to go I needed to raise £4,300, which is exactly where fundraising came in. So, whether you're planning a gap year next year, or you're lucky enough to go to a school like mine that offers an expedition, here are my top tips for fundraising.

• Part/Full time job - obvious as it sounds, getting a job is a fab source of income! I didn't do this during my fundraising, and although I did raise the money, this definitely would have removed some stress! 
• Bag packing - bag packing is actually great fun, you get to meet some really lovely people and have a few laughs with customers, as well as talk about your expedition to them which makes it even more exciting for yourself. Obviously you can't just turn up at a supermarket and ask to bag pack, you have to ask them in advance and arrange a date and  time with them. I definitely recommend asking Waitrose, as a higher end supermarket the donations are fab and the customers are so lovely!
• Quiz nights - I only held one quiz night whilst fundraising, but if I could go back I'd definitely host more as it went down so well with everyone involved. Everyone loves a good quiz, so advertise well, get some teams together, tell them to bring their own drink and provide some nibbles and it'll go down a treat!
• Baby sitting - again, I know this is an obvious one, but it's an easy one for your friends and neighbours to help out with and so long as the children are nice it's never too much hassle!
• Dog walking - you might not like the rain or mud, but if you save your neighbour walking the dog in it then they're definitely going to reward you!
• Car washing - let's be honest, we're all too lazy to do it ourselves and you can save your neighbour the petrol money of having to drive to the local garage to get it done, plus it's quite fun in summer!
• Selling old things - there are loads of selling pages and apps such as Depop around to help make this easy and painless. There's no point hoarding all your old things, so if you don't need them any more then get it uploaded or down to your local car boot, because not only will you get the money you so urgently need, but you'll have a cleaner room as well!
• Bake cakes/make jewellery - these two always go down ridiculously well in schools, because just about everyone loves jewellery and cake. I'd recommend speaking to teachers running any school events and asking if you can have a stand at the back of the hall, as events such as parents evening and dance shows always get big audiences and therefore a reasonable amount of money.
• Set up a Facebook event - this isn't something I did, but it's definitely something I'd recommend. It'll take 5 minutes to set up and inform people of what you're fundraising for, then invite all your friends and get them to invite theirs and share it and so on. It's such an easy way to keep people up to date with what you're doing when and what events you have coming up, so that if they're interested they don't have to contact you directly for details and you'll get a lot more interest in events than if you just told your family and friends to come along!
• Leaflets - I sent leaflets out to my neighbours stating what I was fundraising for and what I'd be willing to help out with. This actually got me quite a few little jobs, so if you're close to your neighbours/live in a close community then I definitely recommend it.
• Grant letters - despite the fact none of us particularly like spending hours trawling through huge books in the library, this is the one time I recommend it. Go to your local library and ask for the book containing all the educational grants. It does take a while to trawl through but pick out all the gap year or school expedition companies whose criteria you fit and write them a letter stating where you're going and what you're doing. I got around £500 through writing to companies which really helped me out! I recommend sending the letters in September and April.
• Sponsored event - be creative! Sponsored events tend to be tedious and hard, but be creative and do something funny and I'm sure you'll enjoy it, alongside raising money.
• Busking - busking was by far the funnest thing I did to fundraise! My friend Tilly plays guitar and Beth and I both sing, so we just went into the town centre and sang and played a compilation to apply to as large a demographic as possible. It was December at the time, so it was absolutely freezing and we didn't tend to stay out any longer than an hour and a half, but over the three afternoons that we did it we raised £150 each and it was such a great laugh!

   In my opinion, fundraising for Ecuador was so much fun, and it made the whole expedition so much more rewarding. Therefore, if you're planning on taking a gap year or going on a school expedition, make sure you fundraise! Getting a job and a stable income will benefit you immensely, but it's so enjoyable being creative and being able to talk to people about your trip. I definitely recommend fundraising!

Blake Come Dine With Me

   Since being at uni it's safe to say that me and my friends have become obsessed with watching Come Dine With Me! It seems to be more or less the only thing we ever watch, and therefore we decided to do our own version of it this week. We split ourselves into three groups - Flat 4, which I was part of, Flat 6 and Flat 7. Each had to cook a three course meal for the others. There was also the optional addition of adding a theme to the evening. It's safe to say that trying to organise groups of 6 or 7 is crazy, but the food was good every night so it all paid off in the end! I didn't take any pictures of the nights myself because I'm a muppet, so I've stolen some of my friend's so you can see some of the food!

Tuesday - Flat 4

Theme

• James Bond

Starters

• Veggie Quesadillas
• Potato and Pea Samosas 

Mains

• Potato and Cauliflower Curry with Saffron infused rice and Garam Masala Sweet Potato
• Mexican Chicken and Bacon Pasta Bake

Dessert

• Raspberry and Chocolate Brownies

Being the flat to kick it off is always difficult, but I think we handled it pretty well! We had a few issues such as burning starters and forgetting how long things needed to go in the oven for... But other than that I think it was a pretty successful night as we held our own and didn't let the stress of entertaining lots of people whilst trying to keep things edible get to us too much. We chose James Bond as our theme, so everyone turned up in black and white and made it feel like a proper dinner party! Despite not having any entertainment, everybody enjoyed themselves and we all tried our hardest to keep things light-hearted and generally just make it an enjoyable evening for everyone.

Thursday - Flat 6

Theme

• Big Kid's Party

Starter

• Treats/Sweets/Jelly and Alcohol

Main

• Pork Chop Bake with Potatoes and Buttered Cabbage
• Stuffed Peppers and Cous Cous

Dessert

• Giant Dessert Surprise

So the second flat in the running was Flat 6, and they decided to have a "Big Kid's Party", so we all had to go in childlike clothes and when we arrived there were party hats, balloons and bubbles! It was clear from the off that it was going to be a fun, enjoyable and entertaining night, and they definitely didn't let us down! The food was unbelievable, proper comfort food! The jager shot jellies were amazing!! The dessert was frozen solid so we couldn't actually eat it, but that aside it was such an enjoyable evening and we definitely all had a laugh.

Friday - Flat 7

Starter

• Bruschetta
• Stuffed Peppers

Main

• Chilli Prawn and Tomato Pasta
• Lamb Cutlets with Baby New Potatoes

Dessert

• Triple Chocolate Cake

Rounding off our Blake Come Dine With Me was Flat 7, and they definitely did not disappoint. The service was incredible, they were constantly filling up drinks and making sure we'd all eaten enough of each course, it was just like being in a swanky restaurant. The food was insane, honestly I cannot describe how incredible it was. They'd clearly put a lot of thought into their menu and a hell of a lot of preparation into cooking it and their presentation. 

   When the results were finally revealed, it didn't surprise anyone that Blake 7 had won by a pretty large margin! In second place was Flat 4, which we were pleasantly surprised at!, and Blake 6 came third. We all had such a fun time cooking for one another and putting on the evenings, and I think that was more important to all of us than where we came. We've proved to each other that we can all cook and have a laugh together, and I think it's brought us closer together as a group.

The Workload

   Following on from my previous post about prioritising, I thought that I should write a post about the workload. Obviously, different students will encounter different workloads due to their course, but I can definitely tell you on behalf of all students, you will get a lot of work, and not all of it will be straight forward.

   I'm lucky enough to only be in lectures on Mondays and Tuesdays, however, not only are my lectures each 3 hours long with only a 10 minute break, I also nearly always leave with a lot of work and revision to do for the following week. It's ridiculously stressful at times, but like I said in my last post, I get stressed very easily. Although I knew my course wasn't going to be easy, I didn't expect it to be quite so full on and intense as it is, so definitely prepare yourself for the worst case scenario when you go, so that you won't be shocked when you realise your three days off will all be spent doing work! 

   Now I'm finally on top of it all I feel so much more relaxed, and won't feel guilty about spending the weekend in bed watching films. My advice for handling the uni workload is simple - the sooner you do it the better! Doing it the day you get it might seem pointless as you have the whole week, but doing it that day means you'll remember more from the lecture and it'll be better quality as you won't be rushing to finish it 5 minutes before it's due in. Plus, it's much more rewarding to be able to sit and watch American Horror Story all evening knowing all your work is done, instead of having that reminder in the back of your head!
   It's safe to say that the reading list for your course will most likely want to make you cry. I have to get 6 books for my TV News module, why do I need 6 to tell me how to present TV?! Of course I know it's not that straight forward... My point is, there'll be a lot of books you need to order and they're not going to be cheap, my Law and Ethics book cost me just under £20 second-hand! Therefore I recommend having a look around on Amazon and Ebay, I usually refuse to have second-hand books, but they're so expensive, and as a student I really need to save money wherever I can!
   Although the workload can be horrible and tedious, getting through it all and doing your best will benefit you so much in the long run. I'm determined to finish my first year with a first, so I know I need to grin and bear it and just get on with it in order to be able to do that! It's better to stay on top of it all now than be panicking the week before my final assignments are due in and knowing that I've let myself down. Obviously you need to enjoy uni as it's a completely new experience and a fresh start, but you need to make sure you put the work in too in order to get your degree, that is the whole reason you're there anyway!

Staying Healthy

   It seems to be a major stereotype of university students that we all become incredibly unhealthy very early on, due to not being bothered to cook for ourselves and not wanting to get up an hour early to have a morning workout. I'll admit that during freshers I didn't care much for fruit and veg and would much rather turn to greasy fast food after a night out to absorb some of my alcohol consumption. However, now I want to get back to eating healthily like I do at home and to start a proper exercise regime so that I can tone up and look good for my birthday and Christmas.

   Food shopping is obviously a major contributory factor in order to be able to stay healthy. As I've said in a previous post, Aldi is by far the cheapest shop local to me, and you get some absolute bargains in there! It's not hard to be able to get a reasonable amount of meat, fish, fruit and veg for under £10, which is probably about the same amount as I'd spend on a pizza after a night out! Buying cook books or looking online for recipes is the best, and easiest, way to be creative with your meals whilst still eating healthily. Lemon and chilli can make any meal delicious, and chucking it all in a bowl with some pasta will provide a hearty meal that isn't breaking the bank or your daily calorie intake!

   I've recently signed up to the free membership at the university gym, however, I haven't gone to book my induction yet, so I can't actually use it. Definitely look into your university gym and the gyms around your university, as many of them will have student deals on. Exercising releases endorphins and I genuinely am looking forward to going to the gym after a long day of lectures or when I'm particularly stressed or angry, and being able to relax and forget about it all for an hour or so. Exercising for an hour takes up hardly any of your day, so there's not really any excuse not to go to the gym!

   Similarly, I've joined the rowing society, and will be training with them four times a week, twice on the water and twice doing circuits. Hopefully, this will help me get a lot fitter and raise my stamina, as well as helping me tone up and get fitter in general. I highly recommend joining at least one sports society at university, there are so so many to choose from and it'd be a waste not to! It's something to look forward to during the week and another great way to make new friends.

   Basically, it's totally acceptable for you to slack off during freshers and put on some freshers weight. However, you can't then moan about it afterwards if you're not willing to do anything about it! Eating healthily and exercising isn't going to break the bank at all, so it's time to refute the stereotype that all us university students are slobs!

Prioritising Your Life

   Unfortunately, I am someone who always ends up stressing over everything and ends up letting everything get the better of me. Alongside this, I tend to be a perfectionist the majority of the time, and all three end up being a horrible mess and get me into a right state. Therefore, I thought, in order to help myself and others who end up in a similar position, I'd write a post on how to prioritise things once you get to university. I had an absolute melt down to my friend Lauren last night and she sent me a list prioritising all the problems I had dictated to her. I've started following it and it's been immensely helpful. She's given me permission to blog it, so hopefully it'll be able to help some of you too, or you'll be able to adapt it to fit the situation you're currently in.

Okay we're going to prioritise these dilemmas and you're going to stick to the order or I'll come to Manchester to throw things at you and we don't want that.

1) Tidy your room, get the hell up and do it.

2) Sort out what uni work you've got to do like you would a level work. 

3) Pull yourself together- you've a group of friends already and they absolutely love you.

4) You have a brand new life, friends and city right in front of you, live it and stop worrying about what's at home because it can wait, if people back home want to be dramatic and bitchy then so be it. It's not up to you to change that, you can only wait and you've plenty to do whilst they're being a little bitch. Your life does not have to stop because of that. You've punished yourself enough.

   The fact she's threatening to throw things at me is definite motivation to get on with what needs doing, they're all silly things that are easily sorted, sometimes I just need someone to point out the obvious for me. 
   I know that this post doesn't contain much content, but the whole point of it is just to prove to you that it's silly stressing over such little things so early on in your time at uni. Like Lauren's done for me, you just need to lay them out and prioritise them and make sure you get them done. I'm actually quite embarrassed for getting so stressed over tiny little things that took me an hour max to sort! Uni is a fresh start for all of us and we need to make sure we make the most of it and enjoy it, so if you have things that need doing then do them there and then, rather than waiting until the last minute and stressing or doing a poor job of them. 

K-Town

   Being at home was absolutely amazing! It was so relaxing and so so lovely to see all my friends and have major catchups, as well as having girly time with my mum. As an only child I've always been incredibly close to my parents, so it's really weird being away from them for so long! Although it did feel slightly strange being home to begin with I soon settled straight back into it and it was honestly so so worth the 4 hour journey. Although I moaned about Kettering every second I was there and I am glad to be away from it, it is still home at the end of the day and I will always look forward to going back.
   Catching up with my mum was just the best thing in the entire world, we get on so well, she's like my best friend really. It was so lovely to hear what she and dad have been up to over the last few weeks, and how much she's enjoying herself doing what she loves and helping other people. It also made me feel so special to hear how proud she is of me for settling in so well in Manchester seeing as originally I didn't want to go, and of how grown up I've become now that I'm having to do things for myself. The highlight was definitely her cooking though, I've missed it so much, honestly, nothing can beat it!
   I also caught up with three of my closest friends whilst in Kettering - Katie, Lauren and Tabby. There were a few others I wanted to catch up with but unfortunately they were busy, so fingers crossed it'll work out slightly better when I'm home at Christmas. I was ridiculously excited to see all three of them, and they definitely didn't let me down!
   Katie and I went straight to the Kino Lounge as it's our new favourite place to eat in Kettering. I'm so annoyed it opened the week before I left to come to Manchester as it's absolutely incredible in there! It's got a really chill atmosphere and it's so vintage inside, plus the food and drinks are insanely good and really really cheap! Katie decided to take a year out as she didn't know what she wanted to do at university, plus her birthday's on 24th August so she felt a lot younger than the rest of us! After debating nearly every course from music production to fashion and advertising, she's finally decided on American Studies and I just know that it's definitely the right course for her and she's going to be fantastic! We jumped on each other when we saw each other, we've missed each other so so much and it was lovely to be able to spend a few hours with her and catchup on life, it was as if we were never away from one another! She's hoping to come up in the next month or so which'll be absolutely fabulous because I just know that my uni friends will adore her! She also has her own blog which I'll be writing a blog post on soon so you can all go and check it out!
   Secondly I met up with Tabby who's basically my little sister. We grew ridiculously close through shows we did and we instantly just clicked like siblings. Again, we jumped on each other we were so excited to see each other! It was so weird being back at school to meet her though, I didn't really want to be back there, it all feels so long ago now! We decided to do some shopping together which was probably a bad idea as we're both absolutely awful at telling each other we don't need something, but we were both pretty sensible which I was proud of us for! She's just gone into Year 12 and she's so grown up now it's crazy! She seems to be enjoying herself so far which I'm so grateful for because I was absolutely petrified the first few months of Sixth Form and I'm so glad she hasn't gone the same way because looking back on it now it was so so silly!
   Finally,  I got to see Lauren and I nearly cried I was so excited to see her! We've got so close over the past few years and it was incredibly difficult to say goodbye to one another when I had to leave to come to Manchester and a major catchup was in order! It's safe to say we probably had a few too many cocktails as we both ended up texting each other saying we were lying on our bedroom floors as the room was spinning! I'm incredibly proud of Lauren as she's just got her dream job of training to be a Healthcare Assistant with the NHS, and I honestly don't know anyone who deserves it more or who will do a better job than Lauren. She's so patient and caring, which is exactly what you need to be to work in a hospital with patients! Hearing how much she's loving it so far made me so proud, she's been through so much recently but she doesn't let it get her down, she gets through it and it's made her the strongest person I know. She's also hoping to come up in the next month or so, and she's already facetimed my uni friends so I definitely know that they love her!
   Being at home was the most incredible few days and it was a well deserved rest from the crazy life of being a university student. It made me realise how lucky I am to be at university and how much I adore it. I missed my uni friends so much, which has made me realise that they really are incredible friends and I'm lucky to have met them so early on. It's also made me a hell of a lot more determined and motivated to do well and make myself and everyone else proud. University is a completely fresh start for me and I am determined to make the most of it, it's never too late to become the person I want to be, and being at home really made me realise that I need to grab every opportunity I get as it comes.

MediaCity

   Sitting in my lecture this afternoon made me realise just how lucky I am to be studying somewhere as beautiful as MediaCity. The building is made up mainly of glass, so wherever you look you get an absolutely incredible view. It's been regenerated so well, with Salford Quays and The Lowry Centre just over the river, and the constant hustle and bustle gives it such an amazing atmosphere.
   As an aspiring journalist I honestly could not ask to be better located. My campus is situated right in the middle of the two BBC Studios, and not only are ITV right opposite us on the other side of the river, they also have the upstairs floor of our building! Hopefully over the next three years I'll be lucky enough to see a few famous faces and make the most of all the opportunities available at the BBC, such as seeing the filming of Citizen Khan.
   If ever you get the chance to visit MediaCity I highly recommend that you do so. It's just so unbelievably beautiful, and by night it looks magical. It caters for all the family and you really can make a family day out of it. I honestly am the luckiest girl to be able to learn here, and hopefully in the future I will be able to have my career here so that I never ever have to leave the magic of MediaCity behind.

Homeward Bound

   After three and a half fabulous weeks at uni I have some commitments back in Kettering which means I get a quick trip home to see my family and friends who decided to take gap years. It's safe to say I am very very excited about seeing them all again! The past few weeks have flown by and although I haven't been overly homesick it'll be nice to have the comfort of my own bed and to see my dogs again. It's also safe to say that it is a very surreal feeling having to pack an overnight bag to go home!

   I have lectures until 6pm this evening, but I have an open return so I can get on any train home depending on what time I'm able to get to Manchester Piccadilly. The journey home definitely isn't the easiest, as I have to get a tram to the station and then three different trains, as there isn't a direct train to Kettering, meaning the journey will take around 4 hours. I'll definitely be glad to see my bed by the time I'm back! I definitely think I chose a university the right distance from home, it's close enough for me to be able to get back at short notice in an emergency, but far enough away to prevent me from running home every weekend. One of my friends has gone to Falmouth and I definitely could not cope with being that far away from home as she can only go home during holidays due to the distance and the journey! 

   Although I have to go home for various different appointments, I am grateful to be going home as I honestly cannot wait to see my mum again. Annoyingly my dad is away with work so I won't be able to see him, but it gives my parents an excuse to come up and see me even sooner as he's gutted to be missing me. I cannot wait to have some home cooked food again, as nothing beats my mum's cooking! I've also arranged lunch out with mum and dinner with my friend Lauren, so I'll definitely have eaten well by the time I come back to uni!

   Despite the fact it might be a long and exhausting journey, I can't wait to be reunited with some of my favourite people and find out what's been going on in Kettering since I moved to Manchester.

American Horror Story

   Seeing as I have a 5 day weekend, I tend to get my work over and done with as early on as I can, so that then I can properly relax and have some downtime. This is exactly how Ruth and I found ourselves completely and utterly addicted to American Horror Story. When I say addicted, I mean addicted. I think 6 was the most episodes we watched in one sitting, which is actually pretty appalling seeing as there are only 13 episodes in a series... We're now treating ourselves to a few days off before tackling Season Two.
   For those of you who have never watched American Horror Story, WATCH IT. It is absolutely incredible and I highly highly highly recommend it. Although "horror" is in the name, I'd describe it as more gorey and jumpy, rather than something which will give you nightmares for the next six months. I don't want to give too much away, as I want those of you that haven't watched it to go and do so, but the first season is based around a haunted house, which if you die in it you cannot leave. I will warn you now that it is addictive, and it will take over your life, but it's so cleverly filmed and produced that it is well worth the numb bum you'll get after watching episodes back to back! I know that you definitely get the first two seasons on NetFlix, and I'm sure the third will be up in the near future as Season Four airs soon.
   Jessica Lange is a phenomenal actress throughout the season, her character being central to a number of major plot twists. She honestly is a character that you cannot hate, although you may want to at times. Similarly, not only is Evan Peters serious eye candy, but his portrayal of Tate Langdon is out of this world! Yet again Tate is a character that later on in the season you realise that really you should hate, but you just can't due to Peter's loveable portrayal of him. He's definitely become my new favourite actor, for someone who's only 27 he is unbelievably talented!
   We don't actually watch a lot of television at uni as we prefer to just spend time talking to one another, but the fact Ruth and I got so addicted to American Horror Story so quickly means you really should go and watch it. You'll regret it otherwise!

I'm A Grown Up!

   Today finally saw me do the majority of my laundry, and now I officially feel like a grown up! Although I found it a tad confusing to begin with, Abi helped me and I managed to get two loads of washing and tumble drying done, which is a massive relief as I was beginning to run out of clothes to wear! It was a pretty bizarre feeling doing it for myself, as I am used to having my parents doing it for me, but I definitely feel more grown up and independent now that I've done it myself, and I'll feel prouder wearing my clothes from now on as well!

   Being at uni you really do grow up very fast as you now have to do everything for yourself! Although it's daunting at first, the sooner you get on with it the easier it becomes! I think my biggest worry about coming to uni was having to cook for myself, however I've realised it's so easy. Most days I'll make myself a salad and cook myself some meat to go with it, or I'll go for comfort food and have a massive bowl of chicken and bacon pasta. Days I'm feeling much much lazier I'll just make myself a Cuppa Soup and have some Ryvita or a stirfry. I actually prefer being able to cook for myself, as I can eat when I want, opposed to when my parents are hungry, which tends to be a lot later than when I'm hungry! Meat goes with absolutely anything you want to throw together, so definitely stock up on it as it's so easy to do!
   My room is currently pretty messy, as I'm not the best at cleaning and it's definitely something I need to get sorted sooner rather than later as I don't like living somewhere messy! My main issue is that I have too many things, but thankfully my parents are bringing me some extra units in a few weeks, which'll make it a hell of a lot easier to keep on top of keeping my room tidy. I don't recommend having a messy uni room, as you have to work, sleep and live in there, so it's a lot easier if you keep it clean and know where things are, as on lecture days you don't really have time to be throwing things all over the place in an attempt to find the book you need.
   If you're in doubt about anything then just ask your friends! Although I haven't really needed much help other than with working the washing machine and tumble dryer for the first time, I would definitely go straight to my friends if I had any queries as I know they'd be willing to help me out. Plus, the majority of you are going to be doing things for the first time, so you might as well do it together to begin with.

Manchester Nightlife

   Manchester is THE place to go for a decent night out and amazing nightlife! Coming from a small town, we didn't really have a lot going for nightlife at all, we had about 6 pubs and 2 clubs, only one of which was actually decent. Therefore, my first night in Manchester was a huge shock, as there's clubs and bars absolutely everywhere, who are on a mission to get you absolutely slaughtered so that you either can't walk, remember your name, or remember the name of your accommodation. Not only that, but they are absolutely huge! Each has at least 2 floors, which are normally split into at least two or three rooms, each with their own bar, and a huge outside area. I still find nights out quite overwhelming, but I haven't had a bad night out once since being here!
   As with everything in Manchester, different clubs and bars cater for different people, and so some differ in their dress codes, as some prefer you to turn up in a dress and heels, whereas you wouldn't look out of place in others in jeans and converse. Therefore, definitely suss out the dress code before you hit a Manchester club by looking at the photos on their Facebook page, as you don't want to turn up either over or under-dressed! However, saying this, everyone in Manchester seems to dress up, so if in doubt go with  that! I for one hate going out if I'm not in a pair of heels and have some lipstick on! There are constantly offers on absolutely everywhere, as the clubs are all very competitive with one another to get the best reputation and most packed dance floor, so you won't really end up spending too much money on a night out, but still keep an eye on your money!

My current favourites
Having only been here 3 weeks, I can't really comment majorly on the nightlife, but I can definitely give you a lil summary of my current favourites:

• Lola Lo's - this is definitely a dressy club. It has a slightly more classy atmosphere than the rest as it specialises in cocktails, although they cost an absolute bomb, and it's definitely my favourite club so far! It has a lot of themed nights such as Tequila Wednesday's and Pinup Thursday's. It's definitely somewhere I recommend going on your next trip up to Manchester!
• Tiger Tiger - yet another packed club, but slightly more casual as you can get away with jeans and a blouse. It's rooms taste in music definitely differs a lot, including a 70s/80s room! We tend to save going in there until we're rather drunk... 
• Orderly Conduct - I actually can't remember a lot about the night we went here, but what I do remember was that it was definitely dressy and it had such a good atmosphere! It was packed everywhere you went and the drinks were cheap, so overall it made for a very good night! 

IQ Salford

   Having decided pretty late on that I wanted to come to Salford rather than resit the year, finding accommodation was an incredibly stressful process, as the majority were already full.
   After doing some research I decided on my top two accommodations to apply to - IQ and Tramways. Both came with ensuite rooms and weren't asking extortionate prices. I definitely preferred the look of IQ, the rooms looked much more homely, compared to Tramway's very basic rooms. However, it seemed a lot of people preferred the look of IQ, as there was a hefty waiting list! The next few weeks were incredibly tense, as I didn't know if I was going to get a room at either accommodation, and I was beginning to panic that I'd left it too late to apply anywhere else.
   Thankfully, not long after panic kicked in I did receive a phone call from Tramways to offer a room. Despite not being my ideal preference, it was a relief to at least have a place! Plus, my luck continued as a few days later IQ rang me saying that despite the fact I wasn't top of the waiting list, I was the only girl and they needed another girl in one of the flats! Of course I grabbed the room with both hands and was absolutely over the moon!
   Having been at university nearly 3 weeks now, I know I definitely made the right decision applying to IQ for my accommodation. Despite the fact that it's self-catered accommodation which I didn't particularly want, the whole atmosphere is so homely, and everyone here that I've met so far seems lovely! The staff in reception are always willing to help out with any problems we have, and they're incredibly welcoming. The look of IQ is appealing as well, which makes it a lot more enjoyable to be in! Despite the fact my room is small, it's cute and homely, and they've definitely made the most of the space! The kitchens are well laid out and are the perfect size to have a communal area as well, meaning that it's always the go to place for parties and to watch TV with my friends!
   My advice is that despite the fact you may be unsure you want to go to university after getting your results, or that you're determined to get into your first choice and therefore don't care about your insurance, it's well worth looking into accommodation as soon as possible. Trust me, it's a horrible position to get into thinking that you might not get any accommodation and therefore have to take a gap year, despite the fact you've finally decided you actually want to go! The best accommodation will go incredibly quickly and if you don't want to be disappointed you need to apply as soon as the applications open.

Job Hunting

   I've finally decided that it's about time I became sensible and go about finding myself a job in Manchester in order to sponsor my nights out in Manchester and just life in general. Living in a city there are hundreds of jobs available, however, there are also several hundred people applying for them, so competition is very fierce!
   Having worked at Next back home, ideally I want to stay in retail, although I am quite interested in working at Trafford Stadium doing hospitality, as my friend Libby works there and recommends it. I've always been a people person, which is why I chose retail originally, but I'd still be able to use the same or very similar skills working in hospitality. Trafford Stadium also offers the opportunity to work in VIP hospitality which I will definitely be applying for due to the fact I would be over the moon serving the rich and famous who go to the various games and concerts held. This is yet another reason why I love Manchester, the opportunities are so diverse and endless.
   Alongside applying to the Trafford Centre I'll also apply to a few retail jobs such as Next, Topshop, Gap and H&M, as that's my comfort zone and I know what I'm doing! Despite the fact I've already worked in retail the atmosphere in Manchester will be very different being a city and I'll definitely be rushed off my feet all the time! However, it's something I'm looking forward to as I'm not going to be living in Kettering forever so I might as well get used to the hustle and bustle of city life to put me in good stead for the future.
   For anyone currently looking for a job, I definitely recommend Indeed. Whether you use the website or download the app onto your smart phone, they are by far the best job searcher in my opinion. You simply put in your location and what kind of job you're after and it'll bring up all the current vacancies, which may lead you to finding your ideal job or something completely different to what you originally thought you wanted! You honestly cannot go wrong with them, so make sure you use them.
   I reckon I'll probably apply for around 10 jobs and hopefully I'll be lucky enough to work with one of them! Having come from the comfort of having a stable job I am a bit nervous about having to reapply and go through the online application and interview process again, but I know it'll definitely be well worth it when I get a nice pay cheque going into my bank account! As a student, I think getting myself a job is a very sensible move, especially in my first year as that's going to be much less hectic than my second and third years, so if I can get myself some extra money for the next two years while I can it'll be incredibly beneficial to me in the long run.

Goodbye Student Loan

   These past two days I have discovered that I have a serious online shopping addiction. My student loan came in on Thursday and I've already spent far too much! I've actually been incredibly well-behaved for me, but it's still been a bit ridiculous. For some absurd reason I've decided I need a completely new wardrobe and make up and accessories for my room, despite the fact I already came with plenty! Although there's absolutely nothing wrong with a bit of retail therapy, do not do it as soon as your loan comes in, trust me it's a bad move! Thankfully I'm a bit of a bargain hunter when it comes to shopping, so I did get a lot for what I spent. All my uni friends keep calling me a shopaholic because there's constantly parcels waiting for me in reception. The only advice I really have, is that although you will want to go crazy when your student loan comes in, remember that you need to live on it for the next three months! Therefore, choose what you really need to buy, and don't buy anything just for the sake of it because you can, because you'll regret it when you can't afford any food!

Citizen Khan

   Tonight turned out to be absolutely incredible! My friend Inzy rang to say that he had been able to get tickets to go and see the filming of Citizen Khan in the BBC Studios and that I was one of the people he wanted to go with him!
   It's safe to say that it was definitely bizarre watching the programme from a studio perspective rather than an audience member at home. Although I was already aware of the amount of work that goes into creating an episode of any programme, I was still in awe of the number of cameras, microphones and people on the set! It must be such a surreal experience acting a scene on the receiving end of all those orders and technology!
   I used to think that all TV comedies used a laugh track in order to emphasise key moments the director saw as funny, however, it's safe to say that Citizen Khan doesn't use a laugh track, it's all genuine laughter! What I particularly loved was the fact that not only were there moments where the whole audience was laughing, but also moments that some found funny but others didn't as I feel that this shows how diverse different people's senses of humour are. Although I laughed a hell of a lot at the actual scenes, I laughed a fair amount due to Inzy's laugh! I also loved the fact that there were people from all over the country there and from different backgrounds and cultures, showing how diverse a community the BBC brings together as one.
   The actors never broke character between scenes which made the whole experience a lot more enjoyable, as they ensured they stayed in role to make the scenes more realistic, rather than looking too staged and fake like some programmes do. Alongside this, they also had Ted Robins there to host the whole thing and keep us all entertained between takes! Having grown up watching him in The Slammer it was crazy to be in the same room as him! He kept us all entertained with stories, jokes and picking on various audience members.
   The actors messed up lines and dropped props and forgot what they were supposed to be doing at various times, which I loved as it reminded you that they were real people! They laughed it off and it was just so obvious throughout that they all absolutely adore their job and realise how lucky they are to be successful in such a hard and competitive industry. It's made me a lot more determined to do well in journalism and get my dream job of being a television presenter! Anything is possible if you put your mind to it.
   Overall, tonight was absolutely unbelievable and I am incredibly grateful to Inzy for the opportunity. I already loved Citizen Khan but now I love it even more! I cannot wait for the new series to start, and to sit watching the final episode knowing that I'm one of those laughs in the background! If you ever get the opportunity to go and watch something being filmed at the BBC then take it! Trust me, it is not something you will ever regret.

Rowing

   So, today was my rowing taster session - the day I've been dreading! I was petrified the whole day leading up to it that I was going to fall in and make a twat of myself in front of everyone, but amazingly I managed to avoid that! Luckily 5 of my friends also signed up for rowing, and that definitely calmed my nerves and made me feel a lot more comfortable.
   We started off with a general talk about memberships, and what we should expect from rowing and what they'll expect from us. The more I listened the more it seemed like something I'll actually enjoy, and that maybe I did make the right decision signing up. It'll be a great way for me to up my fitness and be more active, alongside giving me something to do days I'm not at uni. Plus, it'll keep me motivated to actually get my work done and not just sit around watching TV all day on my off days!
   Our second workshop was learning how to properly use the ergs (rowing machines to you and I), as it turned out none of us could do it right as gym's lie to us! The proper way of doing it is definitely more painful but you can feel your muscles properly working, which I find particularly beneficial as it makes it seem much more worth it as I know it's having an effect. I know that a few months of training up to four times a week will definitely get me fitter and looking more toned, and if that's not motivation then I don't know what is!
   Our third workshop was a talk through the boat and a tour of the boathouse. This was followed by a run as we finished so quickly, and it's safe to say that proved how unfit I am because I got a stitch after about 30 seconds... Then we finally got to go in the boats! It's safe to say it was very confusing and I was pretty rubbish, but at least I can improve and not get any worse!
   Overall I actually really enjoyed myself, and I think I'm going to give it a go and get fit! I think it's something that I could definitely get into, and hopefully I might actually turn out to be quite good at it. Plus, it's safe to say that all of the boys we saw were incredibly muscular, and I wouldn't mind getting myself a boyfriend who's a rower! Ruth, Abi and I were getting all giggly at them, so just watch this space!

First Week

   I'm now officially a university student! I officially started my course on Monday, and despite being a hectic two days, it's made me very excited about what the next year will bring. I've realised that I'm incredibly lucky, as whilst my friends are in 3-4 days a week, I'm only in for two! I have 6 hours worth of lectures on both Monday's and Tuesday's, but then I get a 5 day weekend, and I don't really think you can beat that.
   On Monday's I have Digital Journalism 9-12 and Shorthand 12-3. Digital Journalism is focusing on blogging, and the impact that blogs have had on the skills modern journalists require in order to get into the industry. Luckily, I already have some experience blogging with this, so I have an insider's perspective on what it's like to run your own blog. Obviously it's going to be different from running a high end blog for a newspaper or magazine, but it's still better than not running a blog at all and having to set one up for our assessment with no clue where to start. Having said that though, blogging is something that you pick up and get better at as you go along.
   Shorthand isn't a compulsory lecture, but it's been recommended to all us journalism students that we go, as it is still handy in the industry, although not as much as it once was. It's safe to say that my first lecture in it hurt my brain because it confused me so much! Our lecturer told us that once we've got the hang of the basics it's incredibly straight forward to pick up and understand, so I'm praying he's telling the truth!
   Tuesday's are much more tiring, as I have Law and Ethics 9-12 and Television News 3-6. It's horrible having to go back into uni after having 3 hours off! Law and Ethics completely frazzled my brain. I understand it's important as Political Journalism is one of the hardest forms of journalism to get into, and that we need to know what we can and cannot do as a journalist in court, but there is so much to learn and take in! Hopefully next week will be slightly less intense, I don't think my brain can take much more!
   Television News is exactly what it says, teaching us how to create and present news on television. This is the module I'm most looking forward to this semester, as TV and Radio are the two aspects I most want to get into. As a modern day broadcaster I know the importance of learning not only how to present television news, but also how to film it, choose the stories to be broadcast and put it all together. This is why I'm incredibly lucky to be on this course, as it teaches us all aspects, increasing our chances of getting a decent job and being successful.
   Overall, my first proper days have been hectic but incredibly enjoyable and I am so excited to see what the next year will bring and to be able to study somewhere as beautiful as MediaCity.