The one I wasn't going to post....

I wasn’t going to publish this on here. But reading back on it now, with my first uni year drawing to a close, reflecting on my first thoughts whilst settling in, it’s quite sad really innit? I settled in quicker than I ever expected, met some utterly fantastic and interesting people and have already got memories that will last me a lifetime. And for the uni people who haven’t seen my blog before….read away!

Emotional, moi?

Ladies, gents, everyone – this is one I wanted to just call “Bye…”

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I guess that’s that then.

It’s strange, you know something’s been coming for weeks, months, even a year at a push but you don’t know how to prepare yourself for it. All the talk of saying that “I’m definitely ready for this”, there’s always a slight doubt at the back of your mind whether what you’re about to do is the right thing for you. Yes, it’s very exciting, meeting all sorts of new, interesting people from different areas and backgrounds; getting plastered on pints of Snakebite at £1.50 a go and waking up with your head down the toilet; trying new things; being independent and doing things for yourself.

But these last days leading up to leaving when you start to realise how scary and sad it is to be turning the page on a big chapter of your life, and starting a new one. Living 150 miles from home, from the comforts, from having meals cooked for you to just kicking back and doing sod all in the garden, even the petty arguments are something I’ll miss, knowing that everything would be OK 5 minutes later, glad to have let off some steam. And Freddie…I’ll miss Freddie of course. He’s the coolest rabbit in the world.

Wrote that opening on Saturday evening, having finished my packing and getting ready for “The Last Supper”. Am now sitting in my room, writing this after a relatively (rather) heavy first proper night out yesterday – quiet night in, in Freshers’ Week is rarely heard of I suppose – but I’m independent, thinking for myself.

I could reel a list off of what I’ll miss. It ranges from the obvious to the obscure. My football coaching is going to be a massive loss for myself. Being part of the Otters “family” for nearly 14 years has been the best time of my life. My now Under-11s are improving no end – leaving them in the capable hands of Alex, Mary and Conrad – things will always improve and our little lot can surprise a few this season. Hopefully my coaching career will improve and further itself up in Gloucestershire – the goal to work at Cheltenham Town FC will always be in my sight.

Will I miss Palace. Under Peter Taylor at the moment, I don’t honestly know….of course I’ll bloody miss it. The Palace rollercoaster will always continue without me being there, I’ll get to more games this season. Though I think promotion may slightly be out of reach….
I know I’ll make a shedload of friends here. But the people at home – Ben, Jez [even though I’ll see you up there :o)], Kev, Bishop, Dan, Ross, Tom B, Ferg, Kym, Pricey, Tom N, Mike, Dan G, Ian, Beckie and everyone else who I cannot think of at the minute – it’s been an absolute pleasure to be your friends over the years (some of you just months). Despite everything that’ll happen on our separate paths at uni, work or whatever, I’d like to think that our relationships will remain as strong as ever when we meet again at Christmas before making Summer’08 the best ever.

Keep smiling – you know where I am. And are probably thanking yourself that I’ve finally f*cked out of your life. I know I couldn’t put up with my barrage of crap jokes if I was in your shoes.

Now, where’s that beer…..?