Extremes

A week or so ago Raine and I found out that our lecturer: Paul Fletcher, died. He was a great influence on the RS department, and everyone he met. In February (the leap year day) he had his first child. He was a young guy. It makes so little sense, it's unbelievable for everyone. We spoke to him just a few weeks ago. He will never be forgotten. He believed in me, and he acted as a reference for my MA applications, that will never be forgotten.

This has hit me on a very personal level. I can't explain it properly, Raine doesn't understand it. It happens to coincide with a time when I've been thinking about the 'big' issues...but this isn't the time for narcissism. What I'm pulling out of it all is the importance of appreciating the now, I think that's the greatest thing we can do, in memory.

The future

Raine and I went down to Oxford at the start of this week. I was meeting with Peter Clarke, someone I'd love to be my PhD supervisor. He was the most wonderful man, if I invented a supervisor he wouldn't be as perfect. We chatted for over two hours, he was so open, and gave me so many things to think about. We met at Wolfson College (the picture's of its main area, and its punt harbour), where he's a fellow, and where I want to apply. It was a beautiful place, it's a Graduate only college, so there should be plenty of like minded people. Although it's a little out of the city, it's within easy walking/cycling distance.

I'm going to apply to Oxford in September, but I have to keep my options open - I can't do anything unless I can get funding, and the competition at Oxford might make it impossible. I've found someone at Manchester University who I'm going to talk to, he seems to supervise the area I want to work in (Islam and politics in Britain). Manchester, at the moment is my second choice. Basically we want to get out of Lancaster, it's just too small for us, and petrol prices (£6 a gallon) mean we rarely get to leave. Realistically though Lancaster might end up being the home of my PhD, if I establish links with a local Islamic community during my MA research it will be hard to justify a move down south. Also, the department, and my current supervisor, are currently undertaking a Home Office funded research project in an overlapping area.

Yesterday we booked the wedding, and ordered the rings. The wedding will be at 2.30 on September 4th (Raine's birthday). The rings are made by Gina Frost, and they're made of bands of different coloured metals - red gold, yellow gold, titanium. They're very us, and we're excited about getting them - they should be ready in 3 - 4 weeks. We're currently trying to organise the reception, and the honeymoon. It looks increasingly like we'll be going to Newquay for the honeymoon - we don't have enough cash to go further afield. I think we're going to spend the week learning to surf. Hopefully at Christmas I'll have my grant and we'll be able to go abroad. As for the reception, we're really struggling to find somewhere - everything aimed specifically at weddings is extortionately priced. It's not something we want to spend a lot of money on. Ideally we'll hire part of a restaurant, and people will pay for their own meal.

I'm getting fit at the moment. I've joined the uni gym this week, I'm going swimming several times a week. I'm also using the exercise bike everyday, building up my distance and time. I'm going to be trim Bean by the autumn.

Bikes

Raine got me a bike for my birthday/our anniversary - my first ever bike, and from Toys R Us no less - it was my childhood dream to get a bike from Toys R Us. What a bike it is - it isn't a kids one (despite the shop), it's red with double suspension. Bikes have gone up in price by so much, I guess because people are cycling more because of the price of petrol. This one was half price - £100, instead of £200. You should have seen us trying to fit the thing in the back of the mini. Amazingly we managed it in the end. It's worth it, though. I think it's the best birthday present I've ever had! Raine's going to get her bike brought up here, from Blackpool, and we'll cycle down the canal into town together.

Today we dropped into uni, to get a discounted paper. We pulled up by the bins, and sat there was an exercise bike. Having practice at getting bike shaped objects into the mini proved helpful - it was a much quicker exercise than the Toys R Us display. It's now in the living room, and I'm going to use it everyday. It's great at the end of the academic year, all the rich people move out, and they just leave things round the bins. Last year we found a big TV, which we're still using as our main TV.

My fitness kick is all kitted out now - I'm going to cycle to work; use the exercise bike while we watch TV; and I have a swimming hat to keep my dreadies dry, so I can go to the pool at Uni a few times a week.

We're off to Oxford tomorrow. On Monday I'm meeting with the Professor I'd like to be my PhD supervisor. I'm trying to keep the nerves in check. Mostly I'm just looking forward to it, I'll be meeting him in the college I'm applying to: Wolfson. Tomorrow, when we get to Oxford, we'll be going to Browns for Sunday dinner with a friend. Can't wait:-)