Austin's reprieve

Our lives' have become mini infused. We couldn't give Austin (our 1985 Mini) up. We were close to tears every time we locked her up. Something had to give, because we can't afford to run two cars, so the Fiat has gone...well, nearly gone, we're waiting for the buyer's cheque to clear. One condition underpins our decision to keep her - for the next year she's going to be our primary hobby. She now has her own fund. Today we bought tools. We also went to pick up some free seats for her! I've joined a forum for mini enthusiasts, this guy was giving away some seats from a stripped mini. Austin needs seats - her front ones have no headrests, and so we gamble with whiplash every time we ride, and the covers on her backseats are torn to shreds. When the guy opened up his industrial sized garage we were greeted by ten or so minis in various states. A few guys share a garage and do up minis of all types in their spare time. It's great, we'd love to find something like that a little closer to home. At the moment we don't even have a drive way, so we're going to have to snatch space here and there. I'll put pics of Austin's progress here and on flickr.

Last weekend we went to a very cool party. Up in town, with some religious studies hippy types (there's no other decent religious studies type;-)), and their friends. Had some very fine weed to smoke, hopefully getting some of our own soon. It was the nicest smoke I've had in a long time. It was a great people watching party. There was a guitar being passed around, some guy sang a real catchy song about seals (!), everyone had to make seal noises at appropriate times. Another guy had a tattoo which I loved, along the length of his forearm it said "You can't buy life." I'm so tempted to get it myself, but I think it'd be too intrusive. I love my tattoo, but it's subtle, and easily concealed. Tattoo guy offered us a crack pipe, obviously we didn't try it, but I like to be able to say I was offered a crack pipe;-)

Term finished on Thursday. Which means this week is my last week of lessons as an Undergraduate. I had my MA application to Lancaster accepted, just have to wait forever to hear about funding now. I plan to self fund somehow, if there's no other way, which will probably mean working part time, and studying part time over two years. It's good not to be leaving. I've been given my summer job again - which seriously rocks, it's a great job: running the JobShop and Info Desk at the Students' Union while the manager is on holiday (she takes six weeks off in the summer). LUSU's my home from home, I don't think I could be released into the wild of monkey work anymore.

I finished 'The Time Traveller's Wife'. Managed not to cry...just. The search is on for something as good now. Suggestions...?