After six weeks at Uni I'm getting used to the staple diet of pasta, noodles and baked beans on toast and beginning to realise that real ovens, like en-suite bathrooms are part of the myth surrounding posh colleges. » More on Christmas! I'm sure microwaves meals are far better for you anyway! There's just one problem, a certain celebration coming up in a few weeks where apparently even a student is expected to present friends and relatives and friends with thoughtful gifts whilst their bank balance is
Hmmm despite the student loan and the automatic response of "Oh fine" when questioned by the parents, not looking that healthy. As the demand for Medical Research volunteers is fairly low at the moment it's into town to collect the job applications and time to consider 'ways in which I've contributed to a team' and 'carried out a task efficiently'. Those filled in and returned the waiting begins and continues... until
The phone rings! Trying to sound calm and ever so slightly busy I explain that I'll just have to check my diary and counting to ten tell them that yes Wednesday afternoon will be fine. Then it's time to find some vaguely smart clothes and gear myself up for the interview. After walking past the shop front a few times I can't put it off any longer so running through what I can recall of the application form I take a deep breath and walk inside. The interview goes, um almost as well as I'd hoped and I'm offered the job. Fantastic, 15hrs, permanent, so no stress finding work after Christmas. Or, now the initial relief at finding work has worn off, it seems over Christmas. Yes, that one little drawback which seemed fine at the time. I mean you've paid rent to stay over Christmas anyway especially and you'll have a week off in January. To be fair I should point out that Christmas has never really been something I enjoyed that much. But it is beginning to sound a little bitter and twisted when I describe the Christmas dinner for one complete with solitary cracker pulling and tuneless Christmas songs. Visions of Bridget Jones style drunken singing spring to mind or even worse scary 'Shining' style madness induced by reading too many Critical Essays. Maybe we shouldn't have brought that cheap axe from Aldi! Actually the worst moment comes when telling fellow corridor mates and seeing their horror stricken faces as they ask "What Christmas on your own?" The guilt is increased when invitations to Christmas dinner come, I'm honestly not doing this for the sympathy vote but it begins to feel that way. I point out that I will be earning money which, besides presents, will probably be spent on several evenings out next term. In fact all things considered I feel it should be looked upon as an opportunity to spend evenings at Christmas Pantos, watching DVDs and challenging myself to cook Christmas dinner on a Baby Belling. Hmm 'microwave Christmas dinner for one' anybody? Veronica
Could you be a student diarist?
If you hail from North Yorkshire or are studying in the county and think you could squeeze out a few hundred words about once a month (more if you want to!) get in touch with us by emailing northyorkshire@bbc.co.uk | 
