thegumqueen's diary

I think that it is this time of the year when quite a few students start to realise what a hole they have been living in for the last few months.  But this is not the annual spring clean that many talk about, it is either one of two things:

1) That they cannot get work done effectively when sitting in a room that is untidy, or;

2) That they just need an excuse not to do their coursework.

And I think that most who decide that their house/flat needs a good clean probably falls into both categories.  With just under three weeks to go before I have to hand in 3 assignments, I am luckily currently falling into category 1.  But give it another week or so and I'm sure I'll be scrubbing the skirting boards and vacuuming the curtains.

I guess for some (i.e. you generation y'ers out there), the lure of more technological distractions appeals and facebook will be going great-guns, or your IM will be in constant use, complaining to your fellow students that you just can't find any academic references to support your theory that the dodo is still alive and well and has migrated to the shores of the Isle of Wight.

My current distraction for the last couple of days has been to do with my annual Euro-trip for the International Mini Meeting.  Although this will be my sixth IMM, it will in fact be the fist time I've actually driven abroad, despite having owned my car for well over that period of time!

My first task was to arrange breakdown cover that would guarantee my car be repatriated in a worst-case-scenario.  Job done. £69 from IC Breakdown (a bargain, considering the AA was around £100, doesn't guarantee they'll bring it home and wouldn't cover my 24 year old car anyway!) (I'm sure I won't be laughing so loud in the event that I actually have to contact IC Breakdown!) 

Next task: sort out a Green Card.  With the help from my travelling companion, Jon, we discovered that it is no longer a legal requirement to hold a Green Card when driving in Europe.  We also discovered that if you don't, then you'll only be insured 3rd Party.   So after a call to the insurance company, I willingly handed over 21 quid for a piece of paper that in effect just tells the Euro-police that I do in fact have insurance.  Joy.  And they're not even going to send me a green card (which I was under the impression was the important bit, as said Euro-police don't officially recognise any other formal document).

I have also today discovered that in addition to a number of other useful items to carry in your car (warning triange, high-vis jacket etc), it is in fact a legal requirement in Belgium to carry a fire extinguisher in your car.  Well based on the fact that I'm driving straight through the country, I think I'll be keeping my fingers crossed and will shock you all by admitting in advance that I am prepared to break this law (we're going to be around 10 cars in convoy - and I know for a fact that a number of them carry them routinely).

Well, there's still plenty of planning to be done for the trip, but I guess I should be thinking a little bit more about my priorities right now, like the fact that I have those 3 assignments to hand in before I go, and before that of course there's the little matter of RAG week and Societies Carnival to deal with!

Oops, I think I've been distracted from my work.