Shit happens. That's what they say. I am 20 years old and I have to say I'm astounded sometimes at my ability to either read to much into or overreact to things. I frequently find myself questioning why things are happening either too slowly or not at a level that inspires any action from me. True, I could make things harder for myself, but I'm at university now studying for a degree and I'd kind of hoped before getting here that that in itself would be enough of a challenge to stop me losing momentum with regards to my education and career.

I've learnt a lot about myself over these past two semesters (just starting the third tomorrow). I can talk to people, I can get myself out of sticky situations and I have learnt that your body will continue to steer you through a crisis even if your mind says 'no chance'. I'm yet to come to terms with the fact that I'll never be a size 8, or that I probably won't ever marry Benedict Cumberbatch.

I digress. What I'm trying to say is that I should, by now, realise that shit gets thrown in your face on a frankly daily basis and just because one of those lumps of excrement has come out of nowhere and made you look at things differently it doesn't mean you can't just wipe off the faeces and get on with everything else going on in your life.

Pass me a j cloth.

EDIT: Because people are texting me asking what's going on I'll clarify: I returned to Falmouth yesterday. I left friends, family and two kitties behind to sit on a train and travel 300 miles away for 10 weeks. I didn't get a chance to say goodbye to Laura properly so I feel like a crap friend. My train was cancelled at Plymouth meaning I spent 2 hours worrying about what was going to happen and how I was supposed to get to Fal with a French guy across from me who kept implying it was a great opportunity to go out and get drunk *wink wink shudder shudder*. I eventually get back to Falmouth in the pouring rain with a painful twisted leg that I suspect I've pulled a muscle in or something. I forget all the important things like crumpets and coco pops at Asda this morning, and then, while eating my dinner, I discover a maggot hidden in my vegetables. Adam throws the maggot into the bin and I try not to throw up. I might not have shorthand tomorrow so I could have come back to Fal a few days later and said goodbye to people properly and not be stressed. But Crumblysnacks won an Olivier award tonight and I have squash and ginger nuts so don't cry for me, Argentina, everything is fine. Honestly. I'm excited for this week. Laura, I'm sorry.

Madre and padre came down to Cornwall last week and it was nice to see them. I have to say, I was struck on a number of occasions by how much more comfortable I was seeing them on what I suppose I could call 'my terms'. It's not that I don't enjoy coming home (the cats, the Xbox and home cooked meals are always a bonus) but I struggled quite a bit at Christmas with feeling like I was either in the way or like my way of doing things was wrong.

I never really got the phrase 'to fly the nest', but I guess I've done just that. I'm very aware that I am doing things by myself. A year ago if you'd told me I'd be where I am now I wouldn't have believed you. Like every other student I now cook when I want, sleep when and until I want, go where I want, see who I want etc. without the limitations. And it's nice.

I like going home and seeing everyone but frankly I'm not sure I'm 100% looking forward to coming back for Easter. It sounds like an insult, honestly I don't mean it to be, but I start to feel pressured at home in a way I don't here. At home I tend to feel guilty if I sleep past anything like 8:30am and if I don't do anything 'chore' wise around the house and still if I go out and see my friends. I don't know what it is. Well I do, but we won't go there. It's very complicated. I know I'm not the only person who feels like this. I guess I'm coming to terms with the fact I am my own person and I can do things when I want; it's just I can't be like that at home because stupidly it makes me feel bad about myself.

I'm looking forward to being back in my bed and cuddling my beautiful Dark Star who I miss more than I can say and seeing mum and dad and hopefully some chums too though I don't know when everyone's back. I'm also looking forward to going to Carlisle for a week, that should be nice. I'm going to try and get as many shifts at work as I can get my hands on as I need geld.

Blarghhh.

In other news I got a 1st on my Writing For Media portfolio (which is my favourite module i.e. the practical news writing one) and a 2.1 on my first essay (still waiting on the result of the second). I'm on 60 words a minute in shorthand which is full marks with regards to the exam (set for the first week back after Easter) and the teacher wants to push me and two other guys up to 70. The women's football team have a friendly against Bodmin on the 18th and I absolutely intend to go for the captaincy. I'll probably be playing (as I was told at training on Thursday) up front in the David Villa position with the coach (who is playing too) in the Fernando Torres position behind me. I'm hungry for a goal.

That's a lot of brackets.

This video has been making the rounds on a lot of our journalism blogs down here, and I think it's a wonderful little film showcasing the best of Falmouth. So I'm sticking on this blog to make you all jealous because I'm nice like that.

Being far away from everyone isn't such a bad thing, especially when I have all this on my doorstep.

I heart Falmouth from Huda Abdul Aziz on Vimeo.

I urge you to check out her Vimeo page, HERE where Part II can be found should you want to see it.

As a joint Christmas and a 'Congratulations You've Made It Through A Really Shitty Start To University Life' present for myself, I bought a pair of second hand Bose QuietComfort 15 headphones. As someone who likes the quiet and gets irritated easily by stupid people, wearing these headphones on my weekly big shop at ASDA has been a revelation. I literally can't hear anything except my own music.

So I was standing in the queue at the checkout this morning, staring vacantly at the six tins of peach slices and block of Cathedral City cheese belonging to the woman in front, listening to the haunting sounds of John Williams' War Horse score. I look up, and the checkout man and Peach Slice Lady are both staring at me. I take off my headphones.

Me: Oh God, sorry. Did you say something? I can't hear anything with these headphones on.

Peach Slice Lady: We were just wondering what you were thinking about my shopping.

Me: What do you mean?

Peach Slice Lady: You've been staring at it since you joined the queue. I'm a little concerned about what you think I'm going home to cook.

I wonder briefly about whether this woman could take a joke or not. She seemed nice enough, and she wasn't angry or anything. I risk it.

Me: Erm...a cheese trifle?

She looked at me like I'd suggested covering each other in jelly and having a cheeky wrestle. She packs quickly, pays and leaves. I pack quick quickly, pay, but just before I leave the checkout man winks at me and says:

Checkout Man: Nice to know there's someone with a bit of wit up at that university.

I put my headphones back on and leave with a smile on my face.

Today is the day of my 20th birthday! I have been inundated with texts, messages, cards and lots of lovely things and I have to say I feel very spoilt. Happy happy happy. So here is a picture of my transformation, and also my wall of stuff which is now predominantly birthday cards!

Thanks so much to everyone, and congratulations to Neil who passed his driving test today!

Lots and lots to be happy about. Awesome.

YEAR END LIST 2011

TOP 10 ALBUMS

1. Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows - Hans Zimmer

2. The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe - Harry Gregson-Williams

3. Doctor Who: Series 5 - Murray Gold

4. Iron Man II - John Debney

5. What Did You Expect From The Vaccines? - The Vaccines

6. Velociraptor! - Kasabian

7. Iron Man II - AC/DC

8. X-Men: First Class - Henry Jackman

9. Robin Hood - Marc Streitenfeld

10. Still Got Legs - Chameleon Circuit

HONOURABLE MENTIONS (SONGS): Otis (ft. Otis Redding) - Jay Z and Kanye West, I Got A Thing - Hanni El Khatib, Louder (ft. Sian Evans) - DJ Fresh, The Road Goes On - A.R. Rahman, Christopher Nightingale and Varttinna, Kristofferson's Theme - Alexandre Desplat

TOP 5 FILMS

1. Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows - Director: Guy Ritchie, Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Jude Law

2. Bridesmaids - Director: Paul Feig, Starring Kristen Wiig, Rose Byrne

3. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 - Director: David Yates, Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Ralph Fiennes

4. X-Men: First Class - Director: Michael Vaughn, Starring: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender

5. Fantastic Mr Fox - Director: Wes Anderson, Starring: George Clooney, Meryl Streep

HONOURABLE MENTIONS: Thor - Director: Kenneth Branagh, Starring Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Paul - Director: Greg Mottola, Starring: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Whip It - Director: Drew Barrymore, Starring: Ellen Page, Drew Barrymore

TOP 5 TV SHOWS

1. Doctor Who - Starring: Matt Smith, Karen Gillan

2. Bones - Starring: Emily Deschanel, David Boreanaz

3. Merlin - Starring: Colin Morgan, Bradley James

4. Psychoville: Series 2 - Starring: Reece Shearsmith, Steve Pemberton

5. True Blood - Starring: Anna Paquin, Alexander Skarsgard

HONOURABLE MENTIONS: Frozen Planet - Starring: David Attenborough, Misfits - Starring: Iwan Rheon, Lauren Socha, Life's Too Short - Starring: Warwick Davis, Ricky Gervais, Rev - Starring: Tom Hollander, Olivia Colman

MAN OF THE YEAR

[On his two cats] "Eighteen months ago, I'm saying: 'I don't want any rescue pets within one hundred yards of either of my residences. I'm sorry. I don't want some, like, tripod, abused animal.' I was adamantly opposed to the whole idea. And now I couldn't imagine living without them. I've become one of those people where the Missus is like: 'They don't want to see iPhone pictures of our kittens right now. Stop it.'"

- Robert Downey, Jr

WOMAN OF THE YEAR

"I went through my high school year book recently. I was surprised people wrote I had a good sense of humour. I don't remember being funny."

- Kristen Wiig

PERSONAL HIGHLIGHTS

1. Getting to university. I don’t mean moving away or grades or anything, I mean finally getting to university and realizing that things happen when you make them happen. I’m genuinely looking forward to getting back down to Falmouth and getting back into all the things I’ve started.

2. Getting my maths GCSE. I finally have a C, and though it might not be the most impressive thing in the world I’m certainly proud of myself for getting it together and taking the exam. The pressure is off and it feels great.

3. Getting back into football. I am secretary of the women’s football team at Tremough and have made it clear that I take the game seriously. I can’t wait to start playing matches and scoring goals.

4. Mallorca with the family. A really good two weeks of sun and relaxation. For the most part!

5. Being friendly and reliable at work. Though it might not be the most glamorous job in the world, it did make me feel good to know that people would come into the shop just to see me. A regular came to my leaving drinks before university, what more do I need to say?

6. Chillin’ with my buddies. Particularly poignant in the year we were scattered across the country. Whether it involves parties, cheesy chips, Doctor Who or birthdays, I love you dudes, I really do.

Targets For 2012:

1. Find a nice, three-bedroom house in Penryn with Natalie and Bryony.

2. Score a hat trick during a football match.

3. Pass my shorthand exam.

4. Finish the year with a 2.1 (or above would be nice. I’m being practical).

5. Go/travel somewhere.

6. Get work experience in journalism.

First of all, apologies for not blogging since the 1st of this month. I had planned to do a couple of entries over the course of the last few weeks but being at home and having my own bed and the Xbox and food and sofas and general Christmas shenanigans meant that I haven't sat down and put any thought or effort into writing.

Christmas is over and done with for another year. I had a really good one, did you? I got just about everything I wanted and then some. Highlights include Bridesmaids on DVD, a fantastic furry hat with paw extensions and ears, a pen knife, a book all about fonts and a brand new Carlisle shirt that I can't wait to wear next term at training. And under my kit for good luck, of course.

My only disappointment came in the form of Doctor Who, and I can't tell you how rubbish I feel saying that. I thought it was a bit flat and the story was just rushed. I don't know. Maybe I need to watch it again. I didn't find it particularly funny (unlike dad, who laughed hysterically through the whole Lily/Cyril's room bit) or sad either, to be honest. Move on Jane, move on. This is blasphemy. I was genuinely grinning at the end though, with Amy and the Doctor. That was nice.

Anyway my next blog will be focusing on the last year and what happened and what I hope to happen next year. That should do it.

What did you get?