Gone To Falmouth

New Blog! New Blog!

2010-08-31T11:40:00.002+01:00

What madness is this?
Follow my latest 'adventures' over at onedayrobin.wordpress.com[update: don't bother, it's dead, go here instead]

Writing A Personal Statement

2010-06-29T12:07:00.000+01:00

This is a sign of the times. I am writing a Personal Statement for my CV. I am going to be searching for jobs. I am moving into a new phase of life.

Here is what I have so far. I wouldn't employ me.

I am passionate, excitable, a little bit naïve and a little bit cynical, with a genuine love for the company of others. I try to smile at strangers, have an unsavory love for running jokes, intentionally mismatch my socks, tan well, work hard, have vowed never to pretend to browse my phone when feeling awkward, do not own an iPod, do not have much of a sweet tooth, do believe in the redeeming power of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Tomorrow, mother, father and I are going to cruise down Falmouth way so that I can put on a stupid gown and a stupid hat and attend some pointless ceremony, after which I will be a graduate living in Bristol seeking work and no longer a student living in Falmouth seeking a rich wife and no longer Gone To Falmouth and so this is the last thing I shall put on this blog, except I shall post one more thing to tell you where to find me on the internet which I will update if I start a new blog so do keep an eye peeled, and thank you for being interested in what goes on in my life and the silly things I have to say and the better things you & I could have been doing and for the banter which happens every now and then in the comment boxes and for helping me survive university and probably contributing in some way to my excellent result, especially those who got involved with my projects, and for understanding or not and having a laugh at my expense or your expense or whatever, and that time I had glittering facial hair, thanks again, goodnight.

I'm Back In Bristol Yo

2010-06-28T10:39:00.001+01:00

Things is hectic.
Got to unpack my room.
Got to tidy.
Got to graduate.

After that I will pretty much be chill.com

Did I Even Say?

2010-06-25T13:51:00.001+01:00

I got my results, yay, I got a 2:1, blah de blah.

/Homies

2010-06-25T13:17:00.000+01:00

My Bristol friends just left, after an action-packed week of fun in the sun, and fun after the sun had set, and at one point fun as the sun was rising.

This is the second time I've had to deal with the emotional trauma of being left alone in a near-empty house, in the space of a week. As you can imagine, I'm feeling pretty fragile. On top of that, there's the knowledge that on Sunday, when England play Germany in the knock-out round, I'll be travelling home along the M5, trying to make it back in time for the second half!

I'm very ready to be home now, especially seeing as I am completely out of money, but it goes without saying that the Falmouth parting will be an emotional one. Expect a trail of Robin tears from 32 Broad Street all the way along the A39.

Visitors

2010-06-20T10:21:00.001+01:00

Today I get my last set of vistors, I guess. Four lovely friends from Bristol are gonna come and make the most of me having a free house in Falmouth, and the forecast for this week is great, so expect maximum outdoors adventures and minimal blogging action.

Furthermore, I had to push the date of my departure forward (? - I get confused about which direction dates move) owing to some rather rigorous, by-the-book letting agent behaviour, so I'll be heading back to Bristol a week today, taking all my stuff with me, and hopefully leaving behind a clean, tidy and intact house so that I can reclaim my deposit.

Me, ma + pa will then cruise down in style for Wednesday 30th's graduation ceremony, after which I really will have left Falmouth for good. And therefore the name 'Gone To Falmouth' will no longer be appropriate. And therefore this blog will be destroyed.

Flaneurs For A Day

2010-06-19T00:53:00.001+01:00

Today my good friend Dave and I participated in our long-awaited Flaneurs Day. If you don't know what a flaneur is I can't really be bothered to explain but basically, the original plan was to do all sorts of expensive things and spend all kinds of money and get ridiculously bloated and probably a bit drunk in the process.

However, a severe shortage of funds meant that this plan had to undergo a radical change. A few key points (eating Eggs Benedict for breakfast, meandering through town, making pointless purchases) remained, with much thanks to Sara, who essentially provided inspiration throughout. The three of us got matching garish day-glo wristbands that say 'Cornwall', and were gonna buy some horrible sunglasses but bailed at the last minute, and scored points for doing various things such as finding shoes, digging a trench, and leaving a blunt but honest post-it note at the cafe.

My personal highlight was when some dude in a cowboy hat came out of the Quayside Inn (at about 12 midday, I should add), pint in hand, and sang 'you gotta fight / for your right / to par-tay' at us, then stuck out his tongue and ran off down the street. Legendary. We awarded him 500 points right then and there.

End Timez

2010-06-13T12:12:00.003+01:00

Well.
My homies are leaving sometime this week, and then a few friends are gonna come and visit, and then I'll be graduating. So basically, it's all going down.

I had a scary moment on Friday, when a tutor called to tell me that a piece of work was missing from my folder, which I had already told them was missing, because I think someone at uni has it. So I had to email that badboy in, and now I'm getting paranoid that my emails aren't sending, because I've had a few troubles with that sort of thing recently, and out of all the emails I've sent in the last week I haven't had any replies.

In other news, my world cup banter is being reserved for twitter, which feels less formal. Feel free to follow me and discover my 140-character bigoted opinions.

Regressed

2010-06-10T16:53:00.001+01:00

I have this theory that a build-up of stress, culminating in the completion of my degree, has led me to regress to a childish state (one which some would argue I never previously enjoyed).

As evidence of this, I should tell you that I am sat in boxers + a t-shirt, listening to Mastodon and playing Unreal Tournament 2003. This is the teenage existence I never had because I was too busy reading Dickens and writing poems in a tree somewhere about how sad my heart was.

Laa

2010-06-04T10:01:00.000+01:00

Well, quite a few things have gone down since I last wrote a BLOG, including I don't know and I don't care.
Just recently I had a wonderful visit from my parents, coinciding with some delightful weather, and we talked and dined upon fine food and walked around in the sun which was all very nice indeed. I passed up the opportunity to go back with them to Bristol for a bit, not entirely sure why, but partly I am keen to make the most of being young/free/single in Cornwall while I am those things.

Yesterday we went on a trip to the Lost Gardens Of Heligan, which are very pretty, though not nearly as dramatic as the name implies, and got to wander around some 'jungle boardwalks', down to the 'lost valley', past some wood-burning kilns, and around to some fantastic walled gardens full of fruit and vegetables including, in no particular order, APRICOTS, LETTUCE, PINEAPPLES, PEARS. I want to be a gardener. If anyone is looking for a gardening apprentice, please contact me.

Ohhh Hiii

2010-05-28T09:10:00.003+01:00

Today is final hand-in day, which means that my last ever pieces of assessed work, ever, will be submitted for review. Of course, it's never really over; I have to give back some older pieces of work in a big blue box in a couple of weeks, then I have a tutorial mid-June, and of course the dreaded GRADUATION CEREMONY, which requires me to wear a stupid gown and a stupid hat and I'm just thinking why why why? This University has never exactly been formal, it'd be more fitting if we wore boardies and had a barbeque on the BEACH.

So even though I keep saying I'm nearly finished, what I mean is that another hurdle has been crossed. I won't be totally done until I've left this place.

In the meantime, I've been adventuring a lot with some friends, taking in new bits of Cornwall and re-appreciating old bits, and I've done a few solo expeditions, one of which nearly ended in my death. I also recorded some songs (which I put a link to below) and am working on some short stories etc., but it's a bit hard being home alone in a small house in a small town and trying to find some purpose. I'm going to try and get a car, and maybe a job. I can't believe I just wrote that, it's probably a lie, but one can dream.

Anyhow, for some reason I've been waking up around 7.30 every morning feeling stressed. Maybe it's accumulated from my youth when I was such a chilled out guy. Maybe it's a premonition. Maybe I've finally cracked. But then, I do live in the CRACK HOUSE.

Some Summery Songs

2010-05-27T17:42:00.002+01:00

for you listen to. (click click click)

If I Die Because I Ate All The Meat, It's Your Fault

2010-05-23T00:16:00.003+01:00

(to be explained)

(I didn't eat all the meat yet, just one piece)

Plug

2010-05-22T10:03:00.002+01:00

Here is some non-fiction that I've been writing of late.

Don't Everybody Congratulate Me At Once

2010-05-21T12:07:00.000+01:00

This morning, I printed out my last essay, and burned my dissertation to CD, which essentially means that I am FINISHED.

Hand-ins aren't until next week (as I may have mentioned... over and over...) but I
don't feel in a position to add or change anything so I am already slipping into the mentality of one who is on holiday.

As soon as I'd finished, I went downstairs and cleaned everything. Now I'm making CDs. It's a beautiful day outside. Hopefully I will be able to find some friends.

And, sometime in the next month I will be wrapping up this blog. Just a heads-up.

I Just Finished...

2010-05-18T10:29:00.002+01:00

...the first draft of my last essay. That means I have a week and a bit to do redrafting, editing, printing, binding etcetera etcetera amen, and on Friday 28th May I will have handed everything in and therefore completed my degree.

Oh wow.

Almost There... Almost There...

2010-05-15T12:52:00.001+01:00

Whenever I say 'almost there... almost there' I imagine I'm the dude in the X-wing at the end of Star Wars, right before he misses the shot and gets hit by Darth Vader.

Anyway, I'm getting pretty close to the end. My Geo-homies finished their last exam yesterday, adding their names to a growing list of (mostly Exeter) students who are now free to do whatever they want. As for me, I have 1000 words to write raw, and then 12 000 or so words to proof-read, edit, print, submit (all by 28th May) and then I too will be among the ranks of the free.

Today, I woke up to the sunshine, and I added a few-hundred words to my overall count, so I'm gonna go and enjoy the sunshine, and maybe later watch Russell Crowe compete with Kevin Costner for the top spot as best-named British folklore icon EVER.

So Much Going On

2010-05-11T10:43:00.000+01:00

Sometimes in life, nothing really happens. For most people, this period covers from when you are born until you are about 12. For others, it is slightly longer. I feel that for me it has only just come to an end.

Right now, though, and in the coming months, EVERYTHING is happening. Whatever can happen, will happen. That kind of thing. Isn't that crazy? And I'm just, like, 'Woaaaah.'
Sometimes I kick things.

Anyway, right now I have One More Essay onemoressayonemoressayonemoressay to write. Sure, there's a bit of drafting/redrafting/editing and even some BINDING to be done, but in layman's terms, ONE MORE ESSAY and I am DONE DONE DONE DONE DONE DONE DONE DONE DONE DONE DONE DONE DONE DONE DONE DONE DONE.

You have no idea how hard this essay is going to be to write. It's like trying to hang on to a 1-0 lead with 10 men, in injury time, against Man U. Destined to fail.

Oh welll.

Preview Seafaring Tales on Muxtape

2010-05-08T23:36:00.003+01:00

COMING SOON:

Seafaring Tales is a mixed-media project combining Robin’s songs and stories with Ellen’s delightful illustrations.

The extremely limited edition, handmade Seafaring Tales package includes a CD of 12 songs, a bonus CD of 5 reworked songs (featuring guest singers!), a lyric/picture booklet, and some short stories accompanied by Ellen’s brilliant artwork.

The money raised from this project will go towards helping each artist in their respective creative endeavours: half towards a digial editing/software suite for Ellen, and half towards studio hardware/maintenance for Robin.

The songs from Seafaring Tales will also be available to download from bandcamp at the price of your choosing.

(preview)

For Those Of You Who Are Stressed About How Much Work You're Doing

2010-05-07T17:02:00.001+01:00

Let me assure you by saying that I have not done a single day's work since my birthday.
Various distractions, including (but not limited to) parties, celebrations, seminars, elections, the internet, guitars, Seafaring Tales, walks in the sun, walks in the rain, more of the internet, Cornish pasties, more internet, and even menial household chores such as scrubbing, have presented themselves, and prevented me from getting down to my studies.

However, unlike you, I have a plan. A plan for domination. A plan to write the 3 of the best essays ever known, in about a week.
It involves wikipedia and a lot of coffee.

Wish me luck.

My Life As A Series Of Seemingly Unconnected Phrases

2010-05-04T12:46:00.001+01:00

annyong

stress factor

pasties

shoes

wrapping

shop.com

May vibes

escapism

flip

not happening

Wow, Boring

2010-04-29T22:47:00.000+01:00

Today, for the first time, I got to be 21 years old. It was average to poor.
Had a heavy, heavy seminar on Sarah Kane, then a good chill session with KP, then I tidied from the mayhem of yesterday's wild celebrations, ie. I washed up the teapot.

I also made a list of what I have left to do. I'll tell you.
3000 words on belief,
3000 words on whatever I want (literally),
1500 words of a review,
plus redrafting my disseration work.

That is all. Hard though it is for me to imagine, after this I might never complete an academic assessment again.

Mergh

2010-04-27T08:51:00.002+01:00

'Mergh' is a sound you make when you're sat at your laptop thinking, 'Why am I awake at this ungodly hour on my day off?'

And the answer is, inevitably, 'Because I thought it would be a good idea to have Tesco deliver my shopping between 9 and 11am.'

Why? Whywhywhy?

Anyhow, today should be the day I finish draft 1 of dissertation 2, so I might be smiling later. Also, coughit'smybirthdaytomorrowcough. Ah?

A Game I Made Up

2010-04-24T00:13:00.001+01:00

So I'd like to introduce y'all to a game I made up.
You can play it with friends or by yourself, and it's a good way to pass time when you're walking home, for example at night.

The rules are as follows:
every time there is a gap between cars passing (or people, or whatever) you have to bust some dance moves. Preferably while walking. Best played when you're in an area where traffic is common, but there are breaks in the flow at regular intervals. Like, for example, the A39 between Falmouth and Penryn.

If you are with friends/in a quiet area, you can play the opposite - you only have to bust those moves when a car is going past. Best not do this by yourself, in case people think you are drunk, mental, or trying to start a fight. That's what I thought, anyway - feel free to prove me wrong.

Thoughts and Stuff

2010-04-22T22:14:00.005+01:00

I promise I shall never post another post like that post I posted. Aware that this blog, in particular, and the internet in general, ain't exactly the best place for serious political discussion...

That said, I watched part of the debate today. I'm happy to accept that I may be bringing a few preconceptions to the table, but I liked Clegg more than I thought, Cameron about as much as I expected, and Brown less. The debate totally highlighted for me that some of the issues being discussed (immigration, nuclear deterrent for example) are real sticking points. There are no easy answers, and, by extension, no 'right man for the job.'

But, okay, I might vote after all. Scary thought.
Politics aside, here's what's been going on...

Tuesday was a day off, I tidied a lot, went on a pretty nice walk, met up with my friend KP for a cup of tea, did a smidge of work, and hit up my bed earlyish because I had a 7.30 start on Wednesday, for a 3 hour seminar during which we handed in some work and discussed a lot of things including music piracy, which was in no way relevant.

That afternoon, me and KP smashed 5 episodes of Lost, bringing me up to date with that crazy ol' show. Then I cooked dinner (chili) for 6 friends, who visited me in Penryn, and we drank wine and engaged in 'banter'. Today I met my dissertation tutor, then had a seminar of awkward silences, then came home. I hope your life is as fulfilling as mine. See you on the other side.

Generally Speaking

2010-04-20T11:28:00.004+01:00

There is a general election coming up, and I have been thinking a lot about whether I shall vote, and whom I shall vote for.

There seems to be a universal understanding that the Labour government has wronged us as a nation, and needs to be replaced at all costs. I don't see this to be the case. We are in the midst of a global financial crisis, which, however much trust you might have in the economic power of the UK, was not caused, single-handedly by any one nation (as far as I know), and certainly not by the sole efforts of the Labour party. (At the moment it's hard to imagine Labour being competent enough to cause a national, let alone global crisis, but that's an aside).

Every government will make mistakes, and compromise. That's a fact. They are essentially preaching it to us every time they say that they will 'listen to the public voice', because let's face it, when have we, the public, ever agreed about anything? But each party still has to talk the talk, and even though most of the talk is all just talk (are you following?), some of it indicates what is going on behind the scenes.

I see the Conservatives as being about principles. People who are doing alright in life will be rewarded a bit, etc., etc. People who are succesful will be given more chances to succeed. The whole 'privileging the privileged' thing doesn't click with me at all. Deceptively, it is billed as 'privileging the deserving'. For many, this is a logical vote, and I'm not for a minute pretending that I think the Conservatives are a bunch of fascists - they are, more likely, realists - but my instincts say 'this is wrong.' More to the point, it doesn't work!, as we've seen before, time and again.

The Liberal Democrats seem to be concerned with implementing fairness. The problem I have with this idea is that fairness hasn't ever been a social reality, and isn't something that can be brought about through law. For example, if certain proposed laws to counter discrimination come into place, they will inadvertently discriminate in other ways against other people. I feel like the Lib Dems want it both ways, whereas, for example, if we as a nation are going to bring about social justice, the middle classes will have to make major sacrifices. On top of that, as the 'underdog' party, the outsider, you might expect the Lib Dems to bring something fresh to the table, but they are stuck using the same rhetoric and cheap tactics as Labour and Conservatives have been doing for years. It's frankly disheartening.

As someone with zero knowledge of economics, I can't say whether Labour have brought us into a massive financial crisis, or whether they have saved us from far worse things. My quality of life has barely been altered since the recession. Petrol and booze are more expensive: not necessarily a bad thing. I owe various organisations a phenomenal amount of money: that, I am unhappy about. In fact, probably the only area I really feel let down by Labour is in the education system, but I'm certain that neither Tories nor Lib Dems would do anything better. That's not to say that Labour have my vote. I find Gordon Brown uninspiring, and his sparring with Cameron the last couple of years has, in my eyes, considerably damaged his respectibility. But sometimes I can't help thinking, better the devil you know.

The only other party I'd seriously consider voting for is the Green party. I checked out their website the other day, but I'm yet to investigate them in any real depth. I don't feel at all guilty about the gaps in my political knowledge; I'm always open to learning more, and being corrected when I'm mistaken, but equally, I feel that most people voting will be in a similar position to me in terms of things they know and don't know, and assumptions they have made. At the end of the day, these things are all equally important as contributing factors.

Having weighed up all of these things, and considering that I do care about, and show some interest in, how our country is being run, I am still most likely to abstain from voting. Maybe it's a simple case of shifting responsibility, but I don't want to vote in a party who bring about further disappointment and the same old cycles of damage and blame.

Final Term

2010-04-19T09:53:00.000+01:00

After a fairly epic drive through blazing sun and blue skies, in a van laden with the possessions of 5 people, of which probably 75% (possessions, not people) were mine, we finally got into Penryn at about 7(?) and - thanks to mum's quick-witted culinary skills - dined on bacon sandwiches.

I sortof-unpacked and sortof-thought-about-rearranging-my-room and now am surrounded by sortof-mess, but I have a lecture in sortof-an-hour so I guess any real 'sorting' will have to wait.

Having enjoyed a hectic weekend filled with great food, great company, etc. etc. etc., two weeks home alone is looking a little daunting. But if the weather holds, I'll be out and loving life. Let's hope.

To Falmouth

2010-04-18T08:51:00.001+01:00

This afternoon, probably 3ish.

Here Goes

2010-04-16T17:57:00.000+01:00

Work is officially out until I get back to Fal. Meanwhile, packing, pancakes, playing the good host, and salsa, are some of the things on the proverbial menu this weekend.

Also, another P, playlists. A good playlist can enhance any situation. I need at least 3 to be going with. But will I have time?
More on that later.

Counting Down

2010-04-14T16:17:00.002+01:00

It's hard to comprehend that when I return to Falmouth on Sunday, it will be for the last time (as a student).

But also, I'm already moving on, mentally, emotionally, physically(?), preparing for the summer and a new 'season', etc.

This week is the week where everything happens (always, always, always) and I have to do all my work and fulfill all social obligations. So in other words, it is busy.

Someone Please Provide Me With A List Of All The Things I Have To Do

2010-04-12T10:43:00.000+01:00

Every morning when I wake up, I freak out. It kind of goes like this:

Aaaaaaah.

Then, after a couple of coffees (normally at about 11 o'clock), I managed to get my head sorted out with regards to the obligations/commitments/chores that are causing me stress.

I never used to be this guy. I have no idea where it's come from. I don't even particuarly care (at the moment) if I fail my degree. So why the stress?

I'll tell you: the government are making me paranoid. I have sensed for some time that they have been growing fearful of my powers. They are trying to break me down using psychological warfare. They must be brainwashing me in my sleep. Last night, I dreamed that I was trapped in a shed, fighting grey soldiers with a door.

So It Goes

2010-04-10T09:40:00.001+01:00

So we, the family, hit up Wales for like, 5 days, and that was cool.
We stayed in a cottage owned by some people, and it's on farmland so there's a barn, rusty old cars, broken fences etc., and the cottage has no showers or TV or internet or mobile phone signal so it feels pretty old-school, but it does have hot water and a MASSIVE FIREPLACE in the front room.

We hung out and played a lot of left-footed football and silly games and watched series 7 of Scrubs and went on a few pretty epic walks and chilled at a tea-garden and climbed a tree and took photos and Joey, Mum and Dad all took on this writing challenge I set and they shared stuff at the end of the week, it was pretty awesome actually.

I had to sleep on a bed that was too short for me, just like at home, which SUCKS, majorly. The whole house smelled of firesmoke. The armchairs were about a hundred years old, but very comfy. There is a zebra-skin on the wall by the stairs.

It took us 6 hours to get home, including a stop at Esther's place in Cheltenham to drop her off. Yesterday evening Chloe, Smallsy and I trekked to Sainsbury's to buy stuff for a picnic (today) and Sunday lunch (Sunday). I made brownies and burned my arm.

That is all.

Tomorrow Morning I Will Mostly

2010-04-04T23:27:00.001+01:00

Be going to Wales, on a family holiday(!)(!)(!)

Hope that's ok.

Road Trip

2010-04-03T13:18:00.001+01:00

Yesterday me and 2 bros (Joey and Pez) went on a road trip to pick up Esther (sister) from Cheltenham. I may have dented the car (not mine) on her gate. But we were lucky to survive torrential rain, hail and blinding sunshine, all at once, in the most mental motorway journey on the way home.

In the evening a few of us watched The Graduate with Dustin Hoffman. I found it very amusing. I love Dustin Hoffman.

The Facebook group I made for Valentine's Day has apparently been manipulated by someone(?), or I am the victim of an elaborate pratical joke, but anyway, please don't try and pay me money or buy any songs off me. And if you're in the group, leave it so it closes down.

Boom

2010-03-30T12:21:00.000+01:00

I just completed the first draft of that essay.
And what's more, I used three semi-colons in the last sentence. That was probably too many.

The good thing about living in a community house is that you get to bounce ideas off people. For example, at lunchtime yesterday I began describing the wider socio-historical context for Hans Christian Andersen's fairytales to mum and Nomes. Until they got bored.

In other news, British Summer Time came and went and then it rained. That was fun. I hope you didn't do a Pez, and set your alarm an hour early only for your phone to adjust itself automatically so that in fact you woke up 2 hours early. How droll!

The True Purpose Of An Essay

2010-03-26T11:53:00.002Z

The assessment aspect of an essay is obsolete. As I have already discussed on this very blog, the criteria used to mark and categorise academic work is arbitrary and hypocritical. Quantitive values (work hours, word count) serve no purpose with regards to analysing content. Any judgement made will be utterly subjective, and therefore fundementally flawed.

Why, then, do we persist in the task of essay-writing, again and again? Why do our course leaders, sources of wisdom that they are, set us essay after pointless essay, so that when one is finished, it is time to begin the next? They know full well that when all is said and done, they will have to read through, mark, make comments and corrections - fun by exactly nobody's standards.

It is a system of hate. Essays are hateful things. I despise them. They make me sick of words, sentences, paragraphs, commas, the dreaded SEMI-COLON. Essays make me angry in ways that I cannot even begin to express.
But hate is in itself an energetic force. When I write essays, and I feel hate, I am producing far more energy than when I sit at Facebook and click 'like', 'like', 'like'. This energy is used to power an underground network of supercomputers, which our lecturers, local MPs and world leaders use to go on Chat Roulette, and play Solitaire.

Bristol Vibes

2010-03-22T22:54:00.004Z

I've been back in Bristol since Saturday, and I'm kinda counting this as 'coming home', seeing as when I return to Falmouth for summer term it's going to be (fingers crossed) more of an extended holiday.

But between now and then, I have a lot of work to do. I won't bore you with the details, suffice to say that every student/working cliche will be fulfilled.

Since I came back I've been hungry, like, all the time. Apart from Saturday evening after the four course meal. That set me back a bit.
Also, I got a new bass. A sexy beast. I went down to the cellar, cranked the amp up to 11 and made things vibrate in that room that should not have been vibrating.

Monday night football, then 'Rabbit Proof Fence'. Pez should be back from Rome any minute. I will give him a hug, and then retire to my boudoir.

Oh, How You've Changed

2010-03-19T11:42:00.000Z

I am, of course, talking about myself.

When I came to Uni, I honestly couldn't do something like this: write an email where I referred to myself as 'i' at one point, and then later on as 'I'. That inconsistency bugged me. It was 'give 100% to either cause, but don't be non-committal'. It was 'write properly, or don't write at all'.

Since then, I've loosened up considerably. Just look at my twitter page. A stream of inconsistent, nonsensical trash. Thank you, University College Falmouth. You have made me less of a freak.

In other news, let's talk about Lent. Over half-way through, and I still haven't really struggled to keep my ground. It helps that I have less friends that ever before. It helps that my few friends would mostly stay at home and watch a movie over going out drinking. But, on the occasions I have ventured out to a bar or other drink-orientated establishment, I have been more than okay.

Except, I just don't enjoy soft drinks. I used to love lemonade as a kid, but now I'm like, whatever. And Appletisers the same. One, on a summer's afternoon, is fine; multiple Appletisers in one evening is just not cool. It's not about that 'ooh, alcohol' feeling (though I won't pretend that isn't fun on occasion), it is primarily about taste. Soft drinks, as a rule, just don't cut it. Especially not the rather limited selection that Falmouth's backwater pubs have to offer.

What Happened?

2010-03-17T15:20:00.002Z

So, pretention aside, I documented my entire essay-writing process on twitter, which I guess you can still read if you roll down the page.

I struggled on Monday, but conquered on Tuesday, all in the face of enormous adversity. I've also done loads of writing for my Creative Non-Fiction unit, perhaps a bit too much, but it's been good practise.

Hmm. I'm starting to freak about how much stuff I've got/agreed/planned to do over the Easter break. I really need to be able to categorise it all neatly in my head, but it ain't that simple. Very excited about going back though, and I guess I'll just have to make some priorities (dissertation, reading, music with my homeboys - in that order).

Okay, I guess I'd better get back to what I was doing. Which was nothing. Better than writing in this boring blog though.

It is as if nothing matters, and some chalk and some flowers are all that exists.

2010-03-16T12:30:00.001Z

That is the line I have cut from my essay.
But I really want to put it back in.

K

2010-03-14T10:39:00.000Z

I think the letter K best expresses where I'm at right now. I'm hungry, but I can smell bread baking in the kitchen and that makes me feel almost content. But not quite.

Yesterday I walked into Fal for a cup of tea (and a ciabatta panini) with some lovely people. Then I walked home. I recorded a song about sharks with my new microphone, which is so sensitive that when a bus went past I could feel it shaking in my chest through the headphones, like some gigantic bass.

Tomorrow is timed paper day. It hadn't really occurred to me to worry about it, because we've been told not to, but now that very same thought is making me nervous. What if it's too easy?

I'd like to dedicate this blog post to my mother. Happy mother's day.

If you join this group, Robin will interview you

2010-03-12T12:15:00.001Z

Click to play.

. All interviews will be posted to a website (details to follow).

. A limited selection of interviews may be used as part of my coursework.

. Interviews to be conducted through Facebook message or email, unless requested otherwise.

. Copyright of all interviews is retained by me (Robin), the interviewer.

So Begins

2010-03-12T10:54:00.000Z

My last week before my last holiday in my last term at UNIVERSITY.

Next week I have a timed paper, which, I have been told, will be easy. I hope it is. Then, I get to go home for 4 weeks, write a dissertation, interview some folk, make some music, maybe detour to a holiday location avec ma famille, and then return to Falmouth for 5 weeks of lectures, 3 assessed pieces of work, and then on 24th May, a hand-in, after which I will be FINISHED. FOREVER.

I have my house until July. Graduation is June 30th.

Meanwhile, life goes on. Buckle is ill. Lauren is hard at work. I have some new shoes, they hurt my feet. Penryn continues to resemble Hobbiton-on-Sea. It is getting slightly warmer. I am guilty of not doing any reading. Tonight: canapes.

Hobbits, and Life Week

2010-03-09T13:42:00.002Z

The girls who work at the health food shop remind me of hobbits, not because they are plump and hairy but because they are petite and jovial. It cheers me to wander through Penryn, which is essentially Hobbiton-on-Sea, and be served pasties (definitely hobbit-food) by jolly little hobbit creatures.

In other news, this week is the CHRISTIAN UNION'S 'Life Week', during which time they (I say 'they', not 'we',) will be trying to lure as many unsuspecting non-believers as possible into one of Christ's almighty fishing nets, using such guerilla methods as an open mic night tonight, which I have once again volunteered to help be tech guy for.

Being tech guy is cool, it means I get to hang out with all the cool musicians and look cool.

Nah seriously, I have actually rehearsed a set and volunteered to play, which is a first (you may have heard about my totally inappropriate levels of personal snobbery towards open mic nights). But my game plan is to try and facilitate others, and appreciate the wonderful talents that God has bestowed upon my brothers and sisters. Can I get an amen?

More Visiting

2010-03-07T16:39:00.001Z

My brother Joey came down this weekend. Thankfully the weather was just swell, so we could get out and enjoy life. Friday afternoon, for example, was beautiful and sunny and calm, and we walked along the Penryn river and had a good old chat. On Friday evening we attended a random but lovely dinner gathering.

Saturday brought disappointment when we tried to go and see Alice in Wonderland and it was sold out, but we made up for it by eating some massive chocolate-chip cookies. Joey enjoyed seeing the sights of Falmouth, I could tell. I also feel like I taught him a lot about himself during our various journeys together.

I won't pretend I've changed. I'm very much the same, perhaps slightly less bitter.

Blah Blah Blah

2010-03-04T22:48:00.001Z

My first formal publication of 2010,
I guess.

Dear WWW

2010-03-04T09:50:00.000Z

Dear WWW,
why does nobody love me anymore?

Today I am very tired. I am struggling to write this, and when I have finished I will struggle to go downstairs and make breakfast, which I will struggle to eat.

Yesterday I struggled to behave myself at a CU guest meal, struggled to keep my mouth shut on the bus, and even struggled to eat my BLT at Costa, though I didn't struggle to enjoy having lunch with my friend Kelly.

Before that, I struggled to walk home in the freezing wind, having struggled to stay focused for a seminar wherein my lecturer struggled to remain in the room and eventually left for home because he was feeling unwell.

That was yesterday, as a struggle, in reverse.

Opinions

2010-03-02T11:56:00.000Z

Someone within the University system keeps trying to get me to fill in the 'National Student Survey', whatever that is. I keep getting emails/seeing banner ads telling me, and my peers, that 'Your Opinion Matters'.

I'm beginning to worry.

I think that the National Student Survey is making a big mistake by telling students that their opinions matter. Frankly, their opinions piss me off. Students should be banned from sharing their opinions, in my opinion. DO YOU SEE WHAT I DID THERE? HYPOCRISY!!!!!

Okay but seriously. Opinions do not matter. Even mine. They're wrong. Like, all the time. Whenever I voice an opinion I'm like, 'Oh flup, that's wrong.' But I don't admit, I just sit there, all smug with a big smile on my face.

Also, I'm sick of the following words: GRADUATE, BUSINESS, SUPPORT, PLACEMENT, POTENTIAL. Please be warned that if you use them in front of me I may headbutt you.

I Just Realised

2010-02-28T23:57:00.000Z

I have about ten minutes until it's March, so I thought I'd better do one last February post.

The last few days have been hard. A lot of time spent on my own, especially under growing pressure from work and various responsibilities, has screwed with my head a little. Thankfully I managed to go on a really long walk on Saturday afternoon, all the way around Falmouth essentially - if you saw a guy holding a Costa coffee, cursing under his breath and looking really spaced out, it was probably me. Today I also took a little stroll, to soak in the February spring which has arrived over the last few days. I know March will be cold at times, but today the sun hadn't set by 6pm, the birds were singing and there was a beautiful calm settled over everything.

I think this week the workload is gonna get upped. Thankfully that stuff is mostly gonna be fun, or easy, or both, but it coincides with an increase in socialising: I'm getting two family visits this week(!) plus there's a CU events week happening the week after which we're collectively building up to, and no doubt I'll be involved in that somehow. But to top it all, I'm writing songs for a couple of new projects, having just finished some rough demo songs for another project I'll be working with my brother(s?) this Easter. Lucky I got a couple of new mics, ain't it?

GRIN.

Shame

2010-02-26T21:03:00.000Z

The dinner I've just consumed is probably the one that I should feel most ashamed of, in my entire life.
Menu:

Cheese & Tomato Pizza (£1.95 from Costcutter)
Cadbury's mini eggs (about 80g worth, from Lauren's mum)
Wrigley's extra ice chewing gum (1 of)

I also drank some juice, and some water, between courses.
I'm watching the rugby and cheering for France. Is that unpatriotic if they're playing Wales? I don't care, they're winning.

House Inspection

2010-02-25T17:59:00.003Z

Our house is being inspected by people who may potentially wish to live in it next year.
So, that's cool. But what about me; where am I going to live? That information is top secret, and will not be disclosed at this juncture.

In other news, a few of us met with our dissertation#2 supervisor today, aka Chrissy, who is a PHD student at UCF. Couple of acronyms for you there, free of charge.
So that was cool, apart from I was weirdly nervous telling the group about myself and my work, unnaturally so, felt like a mini-panic attack in the tiny, claustrophobic interrogation room where we met at the back of the library. Think it was connected to the intensity of the environment.

Discussion of Heaney and R. S.Thomas in our lit seminar, which was a giggle. I literally giggled. We all did. I liked them a lot better after hearing our lecturer read the poems aloud. Patience is a virtue that must be excercised to properly enjoy poetry, and that is what I learned today.

Does This Guy Ever Shut Up?

2010-02-23T17:51:00.000Z

About himself, that is.
If that question is currently going through your head, let me send one back at you: why the heck are you still reading my blog? Why are you still following me on twitter? Why are you still my Facebook friend? Honestly, all of these mediums are simply means with which I can massage my ego, by talking about myself, all the time, all the time, all the time.

So on that note, for those of you who are faithful followers in the Temple of Robin (not that I'm advocating idolatry here), read this interesting news bulletin which was released earlier today:

recently I put together two collections of songs which I felt deserved, in some way, to see the light of day again.

the first set features some early ventures into recording with synths and drum programming, which I think are really fun, poppy songs. I'm aware of their flaws, but I'm also aware of how strong they felt at the time, how much I enjoyed making them, and how much I still enjoy listening to them. these songs set me on the road to creating an evil clone/alter-ego for myself, so I called them Becoming A Mystery White Boy.

the second set, which I put online today, was whittled down from 20 or so demos, some covers, some originals, all of which had an immense amount of significance for me despite the fact that they were all flawed in some way. I guess I find it hard to let go of things I've made. so I also give you Summertime, aka Best of the Rejects.

Oregon

2010-02-22T13:02:00.002Z

Today's soundtrack = M. Ward and Laura Veirs.

Both artists reside in Portland, Oregon.

Who wants to go to Portland with me?

On A Completely Different Note

2010-02-19T23:56:00.004Z

I'd like to draw your attention to a collection of poems written by me and my friend Katie.

My contributions are all set in Cornwall, and based upon experiences I've had, connected with various beaches (the theme for the collection was 'Grey Beaches'), some stemming as far back as maybe 1996. You may know that I love Cornwall to bits and find it to be immensely inspiring, so if you like 'nature poems' (that aren't actually about nature, leastways, not the mother earth type) you might enjoy these.

(Katie is a brilliant writer, eloquent, lyrical and yet deeply honest. I would recommend reading the collection for her work alone.)

Lent

2010-02-17T18:11:00.000Z

I have never really engaged with 'Lent' before; however, this year I have been persuaded by my mother to give up drinking alcoholic beverages during the Lent period, along with the rest of my family.

Interesting, you might think. And you'd be right: it is interesting, which is why I'm writing about it on here.

In other news, I had my first seminar in 'Creative Non-Fiction' today, my last ever 'creative' unit on my 'Creative Writing' course. Needless to say, we went for a walk. It was lovely. I am looking forward to the assessments, which include an INTERVIEW (with anyone!), and an ESSAY on literally anything at all, and a REVIEW, which I will struggle with, but there you go.

Oh Yeah, I Almost Forgot

2010-02-16T23:39:00.000Z

Mystery White Boy is proud to present, after almost a year of silence, two new singles for 2010.

Fantastic designs courtesy of Archie Bagnall set the tone, the aim of these singles being to take the production and songwriting of Utopia to a new level while creating fun, dance-friendly tunes.

‘Lime’ hints at Mystery White Boy’s venture into space, during which time he was often on the run from the police. ‘Pretty Pretty’ pays lip-service to one of many disastrous encounters with romance, and serves as a warning to all the charming but susceptible young men out there - and of course, to all the pretty ladies.

Download the singles for free direct from bandcamp, and make sure you spread the gospel, yo.

http://mysterywhiteboy.bandcamp.com

Hi

2010-02-15T14:51:00.000Z

Today I had my first lecture of the semester.

That's right; five weeks before the Easter break, I resume my course.
And, I found out today that one of my lectures will be a 'private study session' (lie-in), and that another has been cancelled because we have a timed paper that week, and couldn't possibly handle the pressure of multiple commitments at once.

And yet they have the nerve to give us a 20-page essay to read on 'The Poverty of the Student Life' which utterly mocks students for being a bit pathetic (and also for being mind-slaves to the capitalist hegemony, but that doesn't really tie in here).

Well!

Don't Believe That Bullshit They Tell You

2010-02-11T16:55:00.001Z

Hi.

I'd like to come clean and let y'all know a little something about 'good work ethic': it sucks.
I am not, by nature, a lazy person, but neither do I get overly absorbed in the work I'm obliged to complete, especially if it's not work I've set for myself.

I have been told - consistently, throughout my school life and my time at Uni - that the harder you work, the better your result will be, or something to that effect. THIS IS NOT TRUE.

I can't believe how long it has taken me to fully come to terms with that fact. Sure, hard work brings many things: increased gratification, perhaps, and wider breadth of knowledge, no doubt. And hard work may - and let me emphasize that word again, it may help you do better, but that is not a certainity. It is not, it is not, it is not.

The only essays for which I have received Firsts were written on-the-fly, unplanned, and in rather a 'touchy-feely' manner. They were not bad essays; they had integrity. On the other hand, essays for which I have planned and planned and studied and studied and worked and worked and worked - and believe it or not, those essays do exist - have resulted in mediocre marks. Not bad, as such, but not excellent, and certainly not reflective of the supposed 'law of work ethic': that the more hours you put in, the better the grade.

Let me tell you something, my children: the system is a bitch.

I Have A Cold

2010-02-11T09:54:00.000Z

It is annoying.

Today I have my tutorial, whereby the formidable Meredith will talk me through all my work to date, which I am half-excited about. I do enjoy finding out my results and seeing how my work went down, but I'm not so keen on the 'you could have done this bit / that bit better' because, well, it's too late now.

I have received a very helpful email from an Amazon seller telling me that my order will arrive 'between 14:56 and 15:56' so could I please make sure I'm home to collect it. Certainly!

My Last Week Off

2010-02-08T15:48:00.002Z

This week is my last week off.
I have to read a massive course reader, and about a billion books, and keep updating my journal, and finish my new Mystery White Boy songs before I kill myself out of misery.

In other news, I had a wonderful time with Esther and Nathan. We walked quite a lot. We ate quite a lot. They both had colds and used quite a lot of tissues. Inbetween, there were laughs.

It was also such a joy to use the car and drive around Cornwall. I love Cornwall. Cornwall, Cornwall, Cornwall, forever in my heart.

For My Project This Term

2010-02-03T16:23:00.000Z

I have to write a journal.

But it shall be like no journal you ever experienced before. Nonono.

("You just said Nono and made it sound like Ono." "Ono, did I?")

I also have to read a load of CRAP about creative non-fiction. To prove how utterly preposterous the very idea of "creative non-fiction" is, I am going to FICTIONALIZE everything that happens in my life. Even the true stuff.

Further, I have ordered some SWEET records and some SWEET CDs (including new offerings from Hot Chip, Shearwater and Gorillaz).

And, I have been recording some SWEET new songs which Mystery White Boy will be releasing.

And this week my SISTER and her BOYFRIEND, NATHAN, are coming to visit, which I'm very excited, so excited that I ordered loads of extra food from TESCO which came TODAY, and some REAL COFFEE BEANS to be ground up in their honour.

So yeah, we gonna have a good time.

Throw Your Hands In The Air, Go Crazy, Scream

2010-01-28T20:03:00.003Z

I am in business.

By which I mean, I am going to attempt to rip people off in as classy a manner as possible.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF 2010, I AM PROUD TO PRESENT: ROBIN MITCHELL'S VALENTINE ENTERPRISE

I will pen a love song for you, or your loved one, or a total stranger who you happen to find incredibly attractive. I will flatter shamelessly, and serve up such compliments as you never received, or alternatively (if you are slightly sadistic) I will write something full of angsty regret, telling the world how you broke my heart.
The finish product will be presented in the form of your choice, depending on the extent of your love (and your bank balance).

Click here for more information.

Do You Want To Be The Subject Of My Song?

2010-01-24T23:03:00.000Z

Pretty Pretty is shaping up to be a lively, fun, synth-driven romp. The lyrics speak of an unknown person who is extremely attractive and generally amazing.

As part of a new entrepreneurial initiative, I will dedicate this song to the highest bidder. So the question remains: How much will you pay to be Pretty Pretty?

Spam

2010-01-24T10:27:00.001Z

Hi there. It seems my comment-boxes have become a haven for spambots, which is annoying.

If you see any comments left in an overtly friendly but incoherent manner, especially ones containing hyperlinks or foreign characters, you would do well to ignore them.

My Problem Is, Yeah, I'm Like, So Clever And Funny And Beautiful

2010-01-18T17:54:00.000Z

If you don't plan to read beyond this sentence, click here.

Otherwise, know that I spent Christmas recording two singles (+bsides) that are trying to sound 'lo-fi shoegaze' which basically means GUITAR NOISE and muddy vocals.

You can listen and download both of them at bandcamp, and then put them on a tape, or you can email me and ask for a tape but please make sure you like them first otherwise you'll be guilty of wasting my valuable time and resources.

Sooner

Nothing Over You

PS. One of the bsides to 'Sooner' is a cover and it has a naughty word in the chorus. Just so's you know, I had nothin' to do with that shit.

Week 12, or, CrunchTime

2010-01-18T11:14:00.002Z

This week is deadline week. I'm about to stroll up to Uni and book an appointment to get my dissertation PRINTED by REPROGRAPHICS.

Between you and me, I don't think it's finished.

Between you and me, I don't think it ever will be.

I have a whole chapter based on a rather obscure book by a rather obscure author about a rather obscure area of Eliot's private life, that my supervisor advised me to take out. The problem is, it forms a large part of the backbone of the essay, in terms of bridging together different arguments, and even worse, I spent hours researching it and don't have any other work that could fill the gap.

Of course, it's too late for that now. The chapter is staying. Who knows, maybe my markers will like it.

Everyone loves a bit of scandal, don't they?

I Can't Believe You Still Read This Rubbish

2010-01-16T11:14:00.001Z

I can't believe I still write it.

That is all.

Lady Gaga & Me

2010-01-16T10:57:00.000Z

So, I had never heard a Lady Gaga song before and I was intruiged as to what all the hype/hate/debate was surrounding her, so I got hold of her first album and last night I had my first listen.

Basically, I can sum it up in one word: Madonna. If you like Madonna but dislike Lady Gaga, you are the world's biggest hypocrite. The image, the naughty lyrics, the synth-driven pop vibes, even her singing voice (clear and confident but definitely not soulful) is quite reminiscent of Madonna.

Personally, I like Madonna and I enjoyed listening to Lady Gaga, even though I felt like a bit of a gay, and if I was blasting her from my car I would probably get some evils, but that's besides the point. The songwriting was mostly mediocre (as with many Madonna songs) but that's only to be expected from something which is crafted 100% to be a 'perfect pop album'; on the other hand, I thought the melodies were fab and I loved the beats, they reminded me of more recent Britney stuff but also some Little Boots.

Why have I chosen to share this with you, my blog readers? Maybe I am trying to show I can engage with popular culture. Maybe I had nothing better to do. I don't know. Ask yourselves that question.

Encouraging Criticism

2010-01-15T12:55:00.000Z

On page 10 of my dissertation, my tutor has drawn a line in the left margin (to indicate that he is referring to the entire paragraph) and then put a big question mark next to it.
That is all.

Trickery

2010-01-15T11:27:00.000Z

DO NOT TRUST ACADEMICS, for one will say "Do it this way," and another, "Do it that way," and you can guarantee that whichever option you choose, the person who says the opposite will be the one who marks your essay.

Yesterday

2010-01-14T09:23:00.004Z

Yesterday was KP's birthday and (after finishing my first draft of that stressful essay) we hung out and watched some cawl films including:
Casablanca (a classic)
Mega Shark VS Giant Octopus (~~a modern classic~~ it sucked)

I really enjoyed them both for different reasons. I was expecting Casablanca to be pretty slow and a bit "meh" but it was actually lol.com forward slash rofl - the dialogue was very snappy and the romance and all was quite tongue in cheek (at times literally: disgusting) and I thought it was fantastic.

Mega Shark... was probably equally as bad as Shark In Venice. My favourite bit was when the shark leapt out of the water and dump tackled/bit in half the aeroplane. Also, the Japanese guy's pearls of obscure wisdom. Fab.

So, today I have one essay and one dissertation to revisit, but suddenly life feels that little bit easier. Plus, my housemates finish their exams today so party time is on. Except that they have more deadlines next week, and so do I, so party is postponed indefinitely. Oh well.

Cawl.

Majority Blonde

2010-01-12T23:33:00.001Z

I just finished mixing their songs. I am knackered, had a terrible sleep yesterday and today was busybusy and tomorrow will be busy and I have never been so stressed by an essay as this frustrating little 3000 word pittance that I should have done ages ago.

Wow, that detracted from what I was going to say, which is that the Majority Blonde tracks are awesome and I look forward to you guys being able to hear them, whenever that may be.

Aah.

2010-01-12T12:35:00.002Z

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

I am stressed.

In 2009

2010-01-11T13:53:00.000Z

In 2009 I was involved in the making of 14 sets of recordings (including Dave Churchill, Matt Crossman and Majority Blonde). About 8 or 9 of these were all my own work. Of these 8 or 9, about 3 or 4 were released publicly. Let's call it 3. Of these 3, 2 received great reactions (Fairytales and You Search Me) and 1 - 1 solitary EP - was written off.

That EP was my Utopia, released under the alias of Mystery White Boy. You can still download it today. I don't think anyone in the world listens to it apart from me, but I am still firmly convinced that it is the best thing I've done in terms of musicality, in terms of genre-busting style, in terms of production and even in terms of packaging quality.

You could say that Utopia was a turning point. I put hours into it, I tried to make it look as nice as possible, and I even put free copies in the local record shops, and after all that no-one gave a toss. By comparison, I somewhat rushed the Fairytales songs in an effort to get them out of the way before coursework deadlines and I even considered scrapping the lot at one point, and yet I still get requests for Fairytale CDs even today.

(Don't get me wrong, I'm very proud of the Fairytales stuff. It's just such a classic situation).

The reason I'm writing this is partly for catharsis, almost a year on, but mostly because 2010 will see the return of Mystery White Boy, and this time some jaws are gonna drop, yo.

PS

2010-01-10T16:58:00.001Z

Did I mention that I'm back in Falmouth?

I'm back in Falmouth I'm back in Falmouth I'm back in Falmouth,
it's snowing it's snowing it's snowingay.

I Am Being Targeted By Government Institutions That Wish To Suppress Me

2010-01-10T11:15:00.000Z

My evidence is this: twice in the past two years I have been summoned for Jury Service. I am not in the least bit surprised; they evidently take pleasure in wasting my time. Well, guess what "Jury Service People" (if that is your name), this time I get to be exempt. Winnar.

Everything I Talked About Yesterday

2010-01-07T10:54:00.002Z

I regret saying anything positive about the snow, or snowball fights, or anything of that nature. My entire right hand side, particularly my arm and my chest muscles, are all aching, presumably from overexhertion in the snow yesterday, and my cough resembles that of satan after one too many cigarettes.

One Good Way To Hinder Your Recovery

2010-01-06T11:50:00.000Z

is to roll around in the snow. And yet that is exactly what I chose to do this fine morning.
The benefits I reaped were far superior to any immediate side-effects, however: I got to join a large selection of random neighbours for coffee and hot drinks by the fire, having pelted them all in the face with snowballs.

So winter ain't all bad. I'm still not a big fan of settling snow, though I love watching falling snow. I didn't do any work this morning, and am looking less and less likely to be doing any this afternoon either.

OMG! First Post Of 2010!

2010-01-03T10:51:00.001Z

I didn't even realise that was my first post of 2010.

I flippin' love 2010. It's a great year. I can feel it in my bones.

Hezzar.

A Week Of Sick

2010-01-03T10:49:00.002Z

Is the title of my upcoming novel, which will be about the world ending beneath an ocean of vomit.

I've been ill this week (not throwing up ill, but heavy cold and nasty cough ill) which has prevented me from doing things I want to do, and even things I don't want to do (such as work).

But, today I sent off my dissertation first draft to my dissertation supervisor, who will no doubt be most displeased that I have ruined his holidays.

While being at home for Christmas I have been to the cinema a lot. Avatar, Where The Wild Things Are, Nine, Sherlock Holmes... I'm pretty sure there were others, or certainly back in Falmouth there were a fair few as well. I love the whole 'cinema experience' (particularly at Bristol's Orpheus, because it's so cute and cheap and cosy) so that's been a nice boost for the holidays (and, I think, made me enjoy some of those films far more than I would have otherwise).

While being at home I was meant to have recorded the legendary Majority Blonde (who, by the way, are playing The Croft on 5th Jan). We've laid down one full instrumental (ish) and backing tracks to three or four others, but if we want to get that stuff wrapped up before I go back to Uni next Saturday we're gonna have to work hard.

In other news, I am now the proud owner of a nice fluffy jumper so that I need never be cold again.
You stay classy, San Diego. (This joke is not getting tired).

You May Or May Not Be Interested

2009-12-30T17:15:00.000Z

in my poetry collections.

This is where all new work will end up. If that appeals to you, bookmark it. If you want to promote me to people, please do - make sure you give 'em my business card.

Christmas dot com forward slash omg wow

2009-12-26T16:48:00.000Z

I believe a medium-scale life update is called for.

My dissertation, which is on T. S. Eliot (remember?) is now in "completed first draft" form, which feels good.
Yesterday was Christmas, a day spent in the warmth and comfort of family surroundings and gently made pleasurable by, for example, a massive turkey (dead and roasted) and a nice warm coat.

I went to bed at 10pm, feeling ill. Today I have a cold but thankfully pills cured my headache. It is the warmest day since I've been back in Bristol (I think). All the songs I listen to have synth or guitar sounds that resemble my Falmouth doorbell, it's quite disconcerting.

The last two nights I have had some properly wack dreams. One involved me being witness to a brutal murder (the details of which were also narrated in graphic detail in my head as I was watching. Fun.) and the other involved mountain climbing, in shorts and slippers. Stylllish.

Uh. I have been closing/deleting things from the past, because I feel like I've entered a new era of life, not in a totally dramatic way or anything but because of where my head is at. I have more faith and more optimism than I have had for a while, partly through thinking about the future. I guess I am slightly more fired up. I will probably put an end to this blog soon, in keeping with the "seasonal" thing. It's not like I need any more excuses to spend time on the internet.

I have to say, I enjoy this quite unique form of keeping in "contact" with some of you guys. I don't really know how that could be replaced. I might start an extreme opions blog instead, where I bitch about things I read on BBC News. I guess that is what this blog would have been in another life.

I should probably keep going until I graduate, seeing as this blog is about uni life, but the fact is that after the first month or so (see October 2007) not a lot changes at uni and all of a sudden it becomes about what I want to tell you, in whatever sense.

In other news, I really badly want a car. I wasn't going to be able to afford one but I might've been given some financial support in which case I think it would have a transforming effect on my last few months in Kernow, even with regards to a last-ditch attempt at Rich Wife Chasing. In all seriousness, if you hear of cars going for < £100 that will be cheap to insure, point them my way. POINT.

Christmas Week

2009-12-22T21:32:00.003Z

Is busybusybusy. I have been working. I have also been caroling, mince pie-ing, festivity-ing and other ings.
It snowed in Bristol on Sunday night. First time it's snowed in December since forever ago.

So, things are Christmassy. I am very tired. Life is peculiar. It goes on.

Bird and Bear

2009-12-15T14:41:00.000Z

Bird and Bear EP (http://birdandbear.bandcamp.com/) - long-awaited recordings from me and Tom, featuring a frankly brilliant Buckle solo and some sweet banjo licks.

PS. I am alive and well, sort of, apart from a dead leg picked up in football yesterday, and dissertation which is still looming, and despite not having any drums. But that's a whole different story.

Goodbye Seeyou

2009-12-10T16:55:00.000Z

All in all it has been a hectic term, and this evening promises to be just as hectic as we have decided to roll back to Bristol. The corridor and the stairwell and the landing below and the next stairwell are all full of my things, and I actually thought I was leaving a lot behind this time.

Christmas is not going to be restful - I have 10 000 words to write, an album to record (not mine!) some tracks to mix (not mine either) and an EP to promote (Bird and Bear - all ready to go, we just need to decide what we're doing with it). But I'm very excited about going home and getting into the Christmas vibe, chilling with my people and so on.

That is all from me for now. You stay classy, San Diego.

My First Defriending

2009-12-08T23:52:00.000Z

I'm sure this has happened before, but I just noticed someone remove me from their friends on Facebook.

In principle this shouldn't bother me at all - last year I actively encouraged people to remove me if they didn't wish to receive my "updates" (spam) about musical things.

However, now that it's happened I can't help but ponder: who was it, and why did they do it? Was it something I said? Was it simply a matter of account-deletion, or have I seriously pissed somebody off without knowing?

Is it that I talk too much?

Lol Christmas Songs

2009-12-05T23:50:00.000Z

http://robinmitchell.bandcamp.com

Lol Time Travel

2009-12-05T11:38:00.001Z

2004 sounds like ancient history to some of us.
That's when I first started blogging (inspired by Timothy, who's still going strong). I used to hate the word blog so much, I've kinda gotten over that now.

I just deleted my old blogs, for fear of them turning up in searches and revealing embarrassing things about my childhood. I went to my first post (think it was November 04?) and I'd left myself a comment in September 07 (when I set this site up). My 2007 self said all sorts of nice things to my 2004 self, so I decided to leave my 2007 self a message from 2009.

Then I obliterated the blog and all the comments were lost, swirling in oblivion. But it was quite a cathartic thing to do. Imagine meeting your 18-year-old and 15-year-old selves at a party. I'm not sure we'd see eye to eye.

Centralising

2009-12-04T13:25:00.001Z

Trying to find a way I can have 1 page that hosts/links to everything I do (that is of cultural value) on the internetz.

Flavours.me seems pretty cool... (http://flavors.me/rmitchell)

Ach

2009-12-02T13:51:00.000Z

What a busy week it has been/is/will be. This weekend was mostly spent indoors working (from Thursday evening until Monday morning I did not leave the house) and now I have a social commitment every evening this week. Which is fine, because I don't really work in the evenings, but it is all of a sudden so busy!

Ooh lala.
I have finished recording my Christmas Ep for the year, I know you're all very excited about that. Just waiting on artwork. And me and Buckle have almost wrapped up the very first Bird and Bear record, though we are really way too busy.
In other news, I had pizza for lunch and it was good. That is all.

The Good News Is, The Bad News Is

2009-11-27T17:00:00.000Z

I just finished an essay that was really stressing me out, which is all groovy, except that it was only 1000 words and was really the least significant thing I had on my plate.

So I now only have to write 3000 words on urban spaces in modernism, and 8000 words on something T.S. Eliot said once upon a time, and (slightly more urgently... it's due in two weeks) collate responses for my hypertext project, "The Catalogue." Oh wait, before that happens, people will actually have to get it done. The joys of being dependent on others.

You'll be wondering why I haven't had any brilliant ideas recently. The truth is, I'm under a lot of pressure to "think constructively" with regards to my essays, so all of my usual "outside-the-box" thought is being kept in the box, under a big heavy rock.
However, I did have a moment of inspiration today, during which I lay curled up by the radiator on my bed and slept for eight minutes.

Where At?

2009-11-24T09:27:00.000Z

I had a mental but really, really good weekend and that was followed by a descent into the last three weeks of Uni, deadlines looming, books I need being recalled to the library, panic, mayhem, and a bizarre ritual involving stones at CU last night.

It would be very hard to summarise why the weekend was so good. On paper, I essentially just spent 72 hours in a converted train station and got under ten hours sleep over the whole period... maybe it doesn't sound that exciting... but it was the best CU event I've been to in terms of how I engaged with things personally and spiritually and also I genuinely enjoyed being around the other guys from CU and having fun.

But, I didn't take any work. And I really am extra stressed now that the book I'm using for my 3rd essay - which I haven't even looked at yet - has been recalled to the library.

The Near Future

2009-11-20T09:48:00.000Z

The imminent future (like, 5 minutes time) will see me catching a bus up to Uni to hand in a 1000-word essay proposal (20% of the total mark for the unit! Mental!). I'm proposing to write about negotiation of urban spaces in the work of Katherine Mansfield and Christopher Isherwood and, by the way, I absolutely love what I've read from both these two writers. I'm not so hot on urban spaces yet though. The 3 books I found in the library that weren't just rabbiting on about architecture seem pretty dense, but we'll cross that bridge.

Which leads me on nicely (how?) to this weekend: I'm off to Oakhampton this afternoon with Christian Union for a holiday in the sun. Or something. We'll be staying in a lovely youth hostel built on the site of an old train station, it's very picturesque - situated right next to the moors, and at the bottom of a beautiful hill with gorgeous views. So yeah, that should be a lot of fun if all goes well. Meantime, I just have to pack and come up with a costume for Under The Sea (was gonna go as the Hot Crustacean Band, but thought that was a bit cheeky. Might well be "The Bubbles Under The Sea" if my plastic bag + sellotape trick works).

Great Ideas #Whatever

2009-11-18T13:28:00.000Z

"Endothermic" is the answer to my previous question. Thank you, Buckle.

Right, you guys are gonna love this. It's a new game, maybe play it over a week or a month or the rest of your life if you're really keen, but i think having a time-restraint is good because it makes you take it seriously.

The game is this: it's called Home Alone and every time you know you're alone in the house you have to get naked. If you hear your housemates/friends/family coming back or if the doorbell goes, you have to put your clothes on at lightning speed.

How exciting does that sound? I should write a book of rules for life or something.

Issues

2009-11-17T13:17:00.001Z

Firstly, my guitar hasn't left its case since the gig on Thursday. Surely that is a bad sign, a terrible, terrible sign.

This Friday I have to hand in an essay proposal (assessed - 20% of the unit) and then I'm off on the CU weekend away. After that I'll have two weeks to complete my hypertext coursework (looks like posting letters is a no-go), but first and foremost I have less than 24 hours before my next meeting with my dissertation tutor and apart from writing 18000 words of notes (yes, eighteen thousand) there's not a lot I've actually done. Yeah, 18000 words is a lot, but I'm meant to have drafted a couple of chapters. Ahem. Doesn't matter though, he leant me a book last time and if he's mean I won't give it back.

Cross that bridge, anyway...

On a lighter note, our toaster is being weird. It decides to focus all its energy on one tiny bit of the bread, so that straight away you can smell smoke and pop the toaster up and there's just one tiny bit of crust which is black as death and hotter than the sun, and the rest of the toast is uncooked. Colder, even, than when you put it in. That's an exponential reaction or something, innit.

Work Club and other bits of genius

2009-11-15T12:04:00.002Z

Down here we have a thing called "Work Club," which actually started in first year but has really come into its own this term (since we all began having to actually do some work). Work Club is both a cure for the monotony of a Sunday afternoon, a means through which to excercise focus and discipline toward work, an excuse to go a bit mental.

Work Club begins with everyone sitting down and becoming immersed in their respective books/essays, but as soon as the spell is broken, mayhem ensues. The spell can be broken by something as simple as a misplaced sigh, or the more typical decision to read something aloud that has grabbed your attention. This will undoubtedly lead to a discussion or even a full-blown argument, after which there is simply no chance of returning to "the zone" and resuming work.
Normally, after this point we just chatter away, and snack until we feel sick. In first year, we once converted a Henry Hoover into "Captain Sparkle." Another time we piled our mattresses into the corridor to make a den. Maturity has made us more restrained. I mostly just lie upside down on the armchair and discuss matters of my personal faith in great detail.

Since before Halloween I have been compiling the ultimate electroclash/synth-pop/post-disco/I-don't-really-know-what-to-call-it playlist which would've been best thing to blast in any given venue on Halloween night had it been ready, which it wasn't, but which will now forever be my go-to point for slightly dancey, slightly gay contemporary music. I'm listening to it now, actually. This ties in because I have this great idea for Work Club, which would never work down here as our relationships with each other are far too complicated, but I'd like to try it somewhere sometime. The idea is this: Work Forward Slash Party Club. Every forty minutes, or after whatever length of time it is that concentration begins to lapse, you blaze some loud music and basically rave to it for twenty minutes or so, before collapsing back into your chair and resuming work.

I think the extreme contrast would be healthy, and a day of Work/PartyClub would provide a great workout for body, mind and soul.

Think about it guys, and let me know if you're interested.

Revelations

2009-11-11T10:22:00.003Z

I realised that I have too often overlooked the true function of a blog. When I start grumbling on about how terrible my life is, I am missing out on a great opportunity: the chance to share my bigoted opinions and - even more importantly - to voice my brilliant ideas about how to make the world better.

So, here's an idea I had this morning.

The death penalty is pretty much the biggest example of hypocrisy that exists, right? I mean, Satan must find it hilarious. I know I do.
Anyway, I was thinking: the death penalty is society's way of saying, "Ooh, look at us, we're "good people" and capable of not going out on a killing spree, and you're not." My suggestion is this: instead of bearing down with punishment on those who commit the crimes, we should instead congratulate ourselves on our continued resilience against the secret urges to kill and maim that no doubt reside not very far beneath the surface.

My proposition is simple: don't kill murderers - there's no point to prove. Instead, anyone who hasn't committed a murder should get a medal.

Win.

Me Again

2009-11-05T21:03:00.000Z

Work is screwing with my head. I'm on an immense high whenever I do some, and feel really, utterly miserable whenever I don't.

Life otherwise is pretty hectic. Did I mention that I actually do stuff down here? Tonight is my night off - I'm not going out to watch fireworks, in fact, thus far I have been sat at a computer since finishing off the wonderful tartiflette that I cooked. I'm meant to be working, but I also had a lovely glass of Buckle's home-made sloe gin (oh, and a terrible night's sleep yesterday) and I really don't feel like it.

If you want more regular "updates" (non-factual, mostly nonsensical) (I mean things like photos and music and links to things) check out my tumblr, at least I'm consistent there.

Oh, and I now write opinion pieces. Rad!

(Too much time spent reading the indie press, I'm talking like a muppet)

Honesty? Dear God No!

2009-11-04T14:06:00.002Z

i intentionally misrepresent myself on the internet. everything you know or believe to be true about me is misguided.

hello, and love me.

almost worthy of facebook...

Please Don't Ever Give Me Careers Advice Again, And Other Stories

2009-10-28T10:00:00.000Z

Yesterday after our lecture the foolish ones among us stayed on for a careers advice presentation.

Next time I want to spend 40 minutes looking at a list of links to different websites I will do so within the comfort of my own bedroom. And, I might add, it doesn't take a professional to tell me that options open to me after taking an ENGLISH WITH CREATIVE WRITING COURSE might include WRITING.

Also, I spent a large part of the presentation kindling a hatred for journalists, media monkeys and anyone in advertising or PR. Oh, and careers advisers.