First essay, too much wool and freshers' week.

So, I've handed in my first essay, all about my primary placement. That was an exciting moment, I also had to do a lesson-type-thing which turned out to be myself and Adam playing with a motion sensor and getting the group up to compete for chocolate. PGCE students are such children...
The rest of the group is really cool, there's only 17 of us, 4 (including me) are girls, which isn't a shock. Most are older too, and I think most will make it through the course to be damn good teachers. It's a good mix of backgrounds, biology degrees, people who've run their own business, and one history and politics student! They all seem willing to go to the pub after uni too, which can't be a bad thing.
I got my first school placement, I'm at Titus Salt's school in Shipley, which I need to do a dry run to tomorrow, they've given me some really random directions that require 4 minutes on a bus, which seems a little pointless to me. Clearly if it's pissing it down, I'll be taking that option, but if I can save myself from paying money to First Leeds/Bradford/Wherever, I'll take it. I'm the only Leeds person going though, which is a bit frightening, but I've done scarier things before.
Had a lovely week with the bold Ollie, swanky hotel and a posh curry (plus no curry on the VERY expensive dress) made for a lovely and rather civilised 2nd anniversary. It's been a bloomin' awesome two years, I can't believe how lucky I am, and how happy he makes me (when he's not driving me crazy...). This year is going to take a bit of adjusting to, what with him being in Lancaster and me not being in Lancaster, but given the workload I've got, and the workload he'll have, I think spending weekends together will be less stressful than being in the same city and not being able to see each other. So yes, blah blah blah. I love the guy, and we'll just need to see how it goes.
Freshers' Week was last week, I can't get over how orange some of them are. Terracotta is not a human skin tone, at least as far as I was aware. They were born in 1990, a fact I find both amusing and horrifying at the same time. They all look too unsullied by a diet of pizza, beer and BettaBuy bread, but I shall give them time. Once they realise their student loan only comes in once a term, then the scurvy'll set in.
I will admit to having gone to School Disco, and I also admit to having a really good time. It's my 3rd one, but only my first as a student, a fairly shameful fact. There were some skirts that verged on the gynacological (if that's a word) if not internal-exam indecent, which were somewhat disconcerting, but entertaining nonetheless.
The Ace Race has been called off (for us anyway). Steve H has to do hiking club stuff, so Pyro and I reckon that leaving it to the New Year would be best. It gives us a chance for a training weekend, to get my arse on a mountain bike for the first time ever, mostly. And also for me to use my £90 (for a year, with everything free) gym membership and actually be fit enough to feel 100% happy about doing it. I was about 80% happy to do it in the state I'm in now, which would have lessened as it got closer, but this way I can run without falling over, and might enjoy it more than feeling I had to slog through it. Anyway, these things happen for a reason, and the New Year is a good target to get fit for!
Also, my knitting stash is growing apace. I bought circular needles in Glasgow, and some gorgeous Rowan Cashsoft DK in "Thunder" to make a bunnet/beret/tammy out of, but I need a pattern, and some guidance on the circulars. That or I'm venturing into the world of DP-needles, which I'd also like to try. Also, yesterday I found a bag of Sublime merino/cashmere/silk Aran weight in "Vintage Red" for a quid a ball which I couldn't leave in the shop all by itself. It's going into a chequerboard stockingette pattern scarf (Ka, I'm borrowing your idea, sorry. I just can't do cabling yet, and k2p2 wouldn't have been interesting enough. I apologise profusely for my sins and bow before a way more competent knitter!) for a Christmas present.
I should really eat a proper meal, but I gorged myself on olives (almond, garlic and feta stuffed mixed box) from the market, and now am very, very thirsty, but not hungry at all. Eejit.