Onward!!

The second pair of in-ear headphones I owned lasted longer than the first pair, but failed on me last night just as I got out of the tube. I figured I’d reward myself given I’ve spent quite a bit of time recently racking my brain on a job application. Plus, it might be time to change them anyway. Considering how long they spend in my ears and in various bags with nothing but the detachable rubber tips being washed, they probably are much nastier than my earplugs, which I am at least in the habit of washing.

I ordered another pair of those, too. Alpine MusicSafes were much nicer than my current Vater ones, so I figured why the hell not.

Going to pick up my first ever prescription medicine in three years of living in the UK, I was asked by the pharmacy assistant whether I pay for my prescriptions. Now, I know that in the UK there is a flat rate per prescription and that there are exemptions and reductions depending on one’s social status (student, pensioner, etc). But why would you ask it first off? Wouldn’t the presumption be that one pays, unless they say something at the point of receiving the medication or at another suitable time? It threw me off a little bit, making me think I’m somehow strange for not only having to, but being happy to pay for my scripts (given that treatment on the NHS is free for everyone, and that I had used emergency services twice before ever stepping in a general practitioner’s surgery).

A friend of mine, who is at Glastonbury festival, received her university results today through her friend who is in London and checked the notice board that results for their university are posted on. She texted me “A first. I’m shaking.”

I wonder how I’ll feel come results day (the 14th). I have this vague inkling that I have done rather okay and will end up with a first myself, but on the other hand it really does teeter on such a fine line. Up until then things seem to hang in a balance, a kind of limbo where little happens. Of course, I am applying to jobs (though not as madly as the friend mentioned above) but it seems I’m only now recovering from the past term, two weeks on. I’m going to spend a week in Spain thanks to some rather amazing friends (and cheap-as-chips Ryanair flights which I admittedly have not yet secured the funds or paid for) which will be very, very welcome. Sun, pool, grill and chill. What could be better? Maybe then I’ll have a clearer head upon coming back, because I feel being in this limbo isn’t the most productive state of being.

Though I am sincerely looking forward to the break (and I feel I deserve it), I can’t help thinking how beautiful summer back in Finland is. It would be wonderful to get some of that, too, but you can’t have everything. For some reason I’ve been feeling like doing things with my hands, which is as inexplicable as it is new. Mucking about at the family summer cottage would give an opportunity to do a bit of that, though, if only in the form of chopping wood and some general maintenance.

Finally made it to register for the doctor at my current address. The documents they require (identification and two proofs of address dated in the last 3 months) in tow, I was optimistic. It was a good thing that I am feeling mildly optimistic or this would turn into another rant, because – as always – things didn’t go entirely smoothly. My national ID card was only accepted after I told the girl that it specifically says they accept that as ID. Also, apparently the two proofs of address (in my case, bank statements) would have to be “from two different banks” (What? Foreign students aren’t even allowed to open multiple bank accounts) or I would need a note from the Home Office. I told them that I don’t need a letter from the Home Office, being an European national. She came back after a quick chat with her colleague and said “OK, we can do this for you this time, as you would need to come back and you thought you were prepared”. So, now she was doing the favour for me!

No matter, at least I’m registered. Now to get my new patient registration done. Kind of makes me long for the simplicity of doctor registrations back home. Or, dare I say it, private healthcare. None of that faffy crap and carting forms back and forth.

As I got home, they called from my bank, asking if I “had a few minutes”. I knew what they were doing – peddling their post-study account. I had already been invited for a chat with a clerk about it before. They’re really careful to tell you of the wonderful rewards it includes (an interest rate) but neglect to mention until the very end that it actually costs you money. I can kind of understand paying for specific services (credit cards, etc) but the thought of £10 a month disappearing from my account for the sheer privilege of them holding my fledgling paycheck isn’t really that attractive to me. They used something along the lines of “it’s like a chocolate bar a day, so not very expensive at all” to which I wish I’d retorted “or you could not have the chocolate bar and save the money”. I remember years ago at a job this guy representing a credit card with horrid terms telling us to think of the minimum monthly repayment we should encourage the customers to sign up to the card with as being “like a pack of cigarettes a week”. What great and healthy comparisons!

I told the woman on the phone that yes, I am still a student (technically anyway) and that I would pop into the branch as soon as I could (which means when I have that mythical paycheck coming in every month I guess). Then it’ll be time for some serious bank shopping.

I keep thinking of novels I should have read but haven’t. I’m guessing I should both keep a list and just start at the first one I can get my hands on. I’m thinking of how nice it would be to spend an idle day relaxing in the sun reading. Followed by a pint at some relaxed pub.

I’m becoming scarily English by the looks of things. Not only do I find idle banter with friends in a pub perhaps the best possible way to spend a Sunday afternoon, I’m also craving good chunky chips with salt and vinegar, and other “traditional” English food. And this is only days after I decided to try and keep myself healthy!

I’m also going to a music quiz later on tonight. It’s only a pound per team member participating, so it’s not an expensive way to spend an evening, at least if you don’t sit morosely nursing a pint after another.

There is much to write about the cultural stuff that I’ve done, too – I went to the theatre to see Arcadia (which I fully recommend) but that will have to wait for now. It’s back to work time for me, I need to get the maximum number of hours I can in order to pay for rent next month.