My nose is cold, my feet a numb and my hands are finding it difficult to write this. Winter has well and truly arrived. Like many Brits, I am one of those who turns hysterical as soon as the first flake of snow falls on the floor - usually out of excitement. However, I feel it’s a little too late. A month earlier and Christmas may have felt even more Christmassy than it was.
It feels good being back in Lincoln! Yesterday was my first lecture, but seen as how the tutor failed to show, it meant an obvious Starbucks trip was in order. My first workshop of 2013 did go ahead; The Journalist on Screen. I was probably a bit optimistic to be hoping for The Devil Wears Prada, Confessions of a Shopaholic and Sex and The City. Saying that, our first film was The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets Nest which was surprisingly good. I’m thinking I’ll pop the reviews up on here once my tutor has looked at them. Films about journalists really are quite good, even if it isn’t Sex and the City.
Speaking of films, I saw Les Miserables on Monday and oh my word, it’s one of the best films I have ever seen. Having seen the musical in summer last year I was sceptical as to whether it could live up to the stage version. But it did, and them some. It’s definitely going to be the film of the year, everyone is talking about it and singing the songs… You just have to go! Oh, and if you leave and don’t feel compelled to learn every song, lyric by lyric, there is something extremely wrong with you.
Possibly the best thing about being back in Cathedral City is seeing everyone. A lot of my family and friends back home have said how much I’m going to miss Lincoln once I graduate. I don’t see it that way. Instead, I know I’ll miss all the amazing people I’ve met and Lincoln just won’t be the same without them.
If you’ve never been to Lincoln before, you have to visit. Seriously. It looks stunning in the summer, with an array of restaurants that sit along the Brayford (big river thing), the quirky shops and beautiful architecture. Despite some city’s which look ugly in the winter, Lincoln is the complete opposite. It takes on another life of its own.
I should be thankful I live in one of the best cities in the world. At least in my eyes anyway.
There is a reason why Andy Williams described Christmas as “the most wonderful time of the year”, simply because it is. This Christmas has been no expectation to statement.
If there’s one thing I’ve learnt from these past few days, it’s the importance of family and friendship. For me at least, I need that one day in December to remind me how much I appreciate all of my friends and family. Even if some of them are a bit weird sometimes.
I began reading the first book on Sunday and in all fairness I’ve been completely blown away. I read the Harry Potter books on and off, as for Twilight well, it had me pulling my hair out during some moments, but this? It’s different. Since I started reading it (I’m a slow reader, give me chance) I’ve not been able to put the book down. Whether I’m waiting for someone in the car or sat in a café, I’ve been glued to every word waiting for the next thing to happen - which I know will.
Prices are a little on the high side but on the lunch menu you can get two courses for around £10 which isn’t bad at all. The restaurant layout also makes you feel very welcomed as it’s cosy and very modern. Oh, and the desserts? They’re to die for!
The best fish and chips I have ever had. The Thorn Tree at Ripley combines an English tradition with a ‘posh’ twist. Everything about it is beautiful! Again, it can be a little pricey but don’t let that put you off, their take-out service is a lot cheaper and because it’s set in the countryside, during the summer you can just sit outside and enjoy. 
I was introduced to Tapas last month and I can’t get enough of it. This restaurant is perfect if you’re out shopping as it’s based right in the heart of Nottingham’s buzzing city centre. I went here with a friend and for under £20 we had 6 tapas dishes, a basket of bread and a drink each. Bargain? I think so. 
They say that January is the most depressing month of the year, one where new years resolutions are made, and then broken and where life gets back to normal after the Christmas buzz. Saying that, January for me hasn’t been that bad at all! Having babbled on about it for weeks, yesterday was the first ever show of the Watercooler, a brand new breakfast show on Siren FM. What was even better is I was with five other amazing people presenting the show! Well and truly fabulous.
Sparkling vampires and hunky werewolves can only mean that the next instalment of the Twilight Saga is here. I was lucky enough to attend the midnight premier with hundreds of others scattered around the country. Of course I opted for a wonderful Nando’s with fellow Twi-hard 
One thing I was worried about was the Breaking Dawn soundtrack. Since the first movie was released the film stayed true to individual music taste. However, the latest movie saw tracks from Bruno Mars, Christina Perri and The Noisettes on the playlist. I’m happy to say though that it all worked! Couldn’t have been happier. 
The Jack o Lanterns are shining brightly and everyone is dressed in an array of costumes, it can only mean that Halloween is here for another year. There’s something I always find quite spooky about this holiday season. I’m a strong believer in the after-life even though I’ve had no experience of it. But I guess that’s what this time of the year is all about.
Of course Halloween also symbolises another thing: the end of October. Another month is over and the rush before Christmas is well and truly on its way. Work at Uni is piling up by the mountain-load and I’ve taken on a few exciting things! The first; I’m now a student ambassador for my journalism course, and the next is I’m a reporter for one of few community radio stations in the country - Siren FM!
Finally I got to see Taylor Lautner’s new film Abduction on Wednesday. Here in Lincoln we only have one cinema, so £9 is the going rate, unless you’re an Orange customer and the price gets slashed in half on a Wednesday - Proud to be Orange. In total there was eight of us, including someone who physically cannot shut up (you know who you are).
I thought it’d be nice to let you all know what I’ve been getting up to over the past few days. Even though my blog is still being kept pretty active I still sometimes feel a little MIA, that’s university for you.
How good is this weather as well? Seriously, who’d have thought that a few weeks ago, when the Daily Fail was telling us it’d be snowing this month, it’d be this sunny. We’ve certainly been treated with a late Indian Summer which means all us Brits can’t complain about the cold shivering months that lie ahead! 
