Sunley Sweethearts

I write from the comfort of my cosy new room in Sunley House where the River Great Ouse runs outside my window, people are friendly, and the campus is at my doorstep (no, really!). Suffice to say Moreton Road definitely did NOT work out, but I'm happier now...save for the papers due next Friday. Which explains my lack of a post last Sunday...

So, room pics! I took them last Sunday while the sun was still shining. Did you know the sun is completely set by 5 PM here?! It BLOWS. At least it's lovely while it's up! I'll post pics of my Christmas decorations next week. For now, enjoy. :)

My ghetto-rigged desk. Awwwwww yeahhhhhhhhh!

To the left!

To the centre!

To the right! And don't ask about the chair---I have no clue myself.

This is the creep entrance/what I sense will be my summer a/c unit.

Funny how this kitchen stays cleaner with 14 people using it than a kitchen with only 3...

I can't help but imagine how lovely this courtyard would look in the first snow. Then I shudder from the chill and the realisation that snow means COLD WEATHER. And I can't have anything to do with that, can I?!

I finally have friends outside Global Affairs and The Programme! And a(nother) wife...and mistress...and good lord, have I baked recently! I called a study break last Tuesday for milk and cookies and again this weekend for banana bread.

Angie, my sweet, you have been missing out! But I'm glad I'm there to photograph your first ste---I mean, experiences having freshly baked chocolate chip cookies and warm banana bread. Jean, my honey, all I need to say is RAWR! And remember to buy poppyseed cake mix supplies. ;) I'll be so much freer after Friday...

I know, I' m adorbs! And look almost like I intend to break into the Caramelldansen. [Nikki, you of all people must click on this link. If Tieria and Alle weren't hilarious enough... ;)]. Angie gave me her oven mitts and my hands are loads happier pulling things out of the oven (let's call it touch-and-go before).

COOKIES ZOMG

Planning the next creep attack, I imagine!

Jean! Likely surprised by Angie shoving a camera in her face. 

Mikko was prepared (this time).

Angie felt like taking pictures of everything and everyone (in case the previous four or so pictures weren't indication enough).

Look, Ma! I can wash dishes...

Food porn!

Subtlety is their middle name.

Thank you, Electric Six...and Angie drawing on my Glees paper draft.  It's probably the best thing about that stupid paper and I can't even turn it in!

Acting like you baked the loaf!

But we can always count on Ang for a random pose. See: 'Sexy Loaf'.

Guess who ate the most?

Wearing a silicone muffin mold on your head is not the new in thing, wifey!

THEN Angie started paying attention to me! Wonder why...?

Random story about walking around the lovely Buckingham:
Last weekend, I took a walk. There's this walk right across the River Great Ouse from me called Bertie's Walk. I'd seen it at night walking back from The Mitre, but I'd never been on it considering I would always pass it at night.

Only my favourite pub in town!

It was magical.

Mmmmmagic!

I initially intended to take loads of pictures, but a nearly dead camera battery prevented that. It ended up all right because I got to just look around at the woods and fields and simply listen to all the birds----I wouldn't want an mp3 player on a day like that. Bertie's Walk connects to another path that took me to a couple of (formerly railroad) bridges that I'd seen (and had no idea you could walk on!) and several just gorgeous vistas of the town and fields.

It felt like I was in my own private Pride and Prejudice scene. I can only imagine how beautiful it would be to walk that path first thing in the morning as the sun comes up...I've resolved to do (nearly) that at least once a week. I also loved that I didn't encounter much of anyone once I got to the footpaths farther out from town. I have also resolved to do as one of the ladies from rowing suggested and purchase ordinance surveys from the local bookshop to locate the extensive series of trails that apparently surrounds Buckingham.

  

Fall colours <3

And some random kittehs for Kristina!

Kitteh on a windowsill.

Drooling sleepy kitteh on a wall.

I do regret that this post isn't nearly long enough to be respectable or to make up for a missed week, but I do hope that the pictures are worth it! I imagine the vast majority of readers of this blog understand that writing papers often means for the relatively uncreative (read: ME) that all my best writing goes where it counts (IT SHOULD BE HERE. Alas, the quality of this blog is not a factor in my course grades!). Except for my Glees paper, I rather hate it (which of course means that he likes it!). At least I'm getting good feedback from my professors...right? And hopefully not writing myself out of a job. Is it gutsy or just plain stupid to submit a writing sample to the US federal government that is highly critical of our foreign policy strategy (indeed, we have one! Sort of...)?

By the way, here's where I actually live these days: the Postgraduate Centre. Open 24 hours a day with its own printer and oodles of computers only for postgrads!

OHOHO TONIGHT I HAVE IT ALL TO MYSELF YUSS.

This is what it does to me...

Mine camp. Trololol, c wat I did thar?

Cheers!