A Lip Licking Week

Hiya! You alright then, my loves? (Haha...sorry that's the "brit" in me speaking).

Well, it's been a long time since I've updated! Many things to tell you all, but I guess I'll just write about my week. So last Sunday, John came down to Southampton (now known as "Southy") to stay with me for a few days. John is a mate from school - we lost contact pretty much after school ended but somehow rekindled our relationship via facebook, msn and being in Europe. I last saw John in Lyon, where he was working in a bar and living with a graffiti artist - it was great waking up each morning on the fold out sofa in his kitchen, admiring the walls covered in his housemate's artwork. Now it was my turn to return John the hospitality.

I went to the coach station to pick him up, but I couldn't find him. I asked the lady at the counter whether the coach from London Victoria had arrived and she said it had come and left, whilst munching on a Haribo (soft gum sweet). I panicked for two seconds then found John lurking about outside. He had dyed his hair a blazing, copper colour. We made our way back to my "gaff" (place of residence), and I showed him the local sights including ASDA (Coles), the tourist office, clock tower, park and St Mary's Rd (dodgy area). As we walked, he observed how ugly English people are compared to the French; how even the most common French woman would be an elegant goddess compared to these brits. Well, we were kind of in "chav" (derro) central which didn't help.

After dropping off his bags and having a cup of tea (yes...very English), we headed to a local pub for a late lunch. Over bacon and cheese burgers we caught up, talked about our tragic lives and what not. It was barely five o'clock and it was pitch black. Anyway, we went back to my place, ate pappadams (John has some weird fixation with them) and mango chutney, and watched the American version of My Sassy Girl (definitely not as good as the original Korean version but still cute).

The next few days were filled with me going to work and John cooking me lunch (haha!) and dinner (aww!). We went out for Indian one night which cost an arm and a leg and several pounds, and went to a couple of clubs. We pined and whinged alot. It was nice having him for company though - it's been ages since I could just sit down and talk to an old friend. Don't get me wrong - I like meeting new people and all, but sometimes you just get sick of the small talk and the introductions and the pleasantries. Meh.

Anyway, John left on Thursday morning. Work this week has been crazy busy, mainly because of us being short staffed due to people catching the flu and various other viruses. And I've been exhausted due to the late nights and trouble sleeping due to John snoring. Thankfully I've had the weekend to catch up on sleep!

Oh..our kitchen is now kind of clean. Din put the dirty dishes that had been there since August into a plastic bag, and I cleaned the counter and stove. Baby steps. I've also been trying to talk and hang out with my housemates more. I talk to JT now and again and at work, and I went into town with Din on Saturday which was cool. Oh, and I went to the library and I'm totally in love with it. It's like this really nice building, and it's kinda new inside and it's got heaps of books, dvds, cd's etc. And I borrowed two graphic novels and i've already finished them and I love them and i wanna borrow more!!! And no...i'm not into manga or anything...I just love graphic novels :)

Oh..totally forgot...on Thursday I left work early and went to Southampton University for a lecture. The lecture was titled "The Power of Procrastination" and was given by Jorge Cham, an American cartoonist who has a webcomic (www.phdcomics.com) about the life of a grad student (yeh...i dunno...i just got into it a while back). I was SO incredibly happy when I found out he was coming to Southampton - how freakishly coincidental was that?! He was actually doing a lecture in Melbourne when I was overseas - so it kinda worked out. Anyway, I caught the bus to Southampton Uni, though I really had no idea what I was doing...luckily a nice chap on the bus asked me for the time, so then I struck up a conversation with him and he told me where to get off. He was a student studying Ship design and he was constantly asking me for the time because he was running late for a lecture. And cos he didn't have a watch.

Anyway, the lecture was awesome. I felt like the biggest loner when I arrived though...I like sat by myself somewhere in the middle, whilst people were talking to their friends etc. :( But then this Indonesian girl came and sat next to me. Her name was Betty, and she was a PhD student, writing her thesis about mobile phones or something. We got to talking - she was from Jakarta and had been working, having done undergrad in (insert science/engineering/ computer related subject here). She had studied in England (in London) went back to work in Indonesia for ten years, and now was ready for some more study in England.

ANYway, the lecture then started and it was fully awesome. Jorge Cham has the geekiest voice though! I thought it was just an act at the start, but the entire lecture he talked in this high pitched, geeky voice. Anyway, the lecture was funny. It was also funny how I was like this random person there - I wasn't even a student of any description. Haha. Anyway, after the lecture he had his booksigning, and I raced outside to get a copy of one of his books. In the masses of people I lost Betty ( :( ) but managed to get near the front of the line to get my book signed. I'd never been to a book signing before. When it was my turn to meet Jorge, I kinda was all...err...what do I do??? Then I just blurted out "Hi, my name's Ed I'm from Australia I love your comics I'm actually a pharmacist but I came to Southampton and it just happened that you were giving a lecture here so it all worked out I love your comics. hehe" Anyway, he signed my book and he drew a cartoon of me! (YAY!) He then told me that he'd been to Melbourne before. And as I was leaving he said "G'day!" I didn't have the heart to tell him that "G'day!" is more of a greeting than a farewell. I just gave him a goodbye wave thing and quickly left.

After that, I wondered around the campus abit. It's actually a really nice university. I went to the library there and sat down and read a few comic strips. Ah..to be a student again!

Ok. that's enough from me. I miss all you guys back home!

PS - I've uploaded some more photos onto Facebook (Pisa, Florence, Rome, Vatican). There are plenty more to come!