University of Gloucestershire Local Freshers Induction

3/08/08

Walked into Stroud to catch Bus with Hannah at 8:35 in town. Got off at bus stop next to park campus on main road, after first thinking that the stop we wanted was literally the one by the first set of traffic lights in Cheltenham, as my parents had said.

Arrived early at Park in Cheltenham, as next bus would have arrived to late for 10:30 start of meeting, so waited in reception area of park. Met lad, got chatting to him course place staying e.t.c. he went to get a drink, and we realised that we didn't know his name! Hannah and I decided that he looked like a John, although he may have a more interesting name, as he was quite fashionably dressed e.t.c. Anyway, he came back from the SU bar from where he was getting a drink, and we were like, oh sorry, we don't know your name, and was like "its John"!!! Crazy or what, but it gets crazier!

John had met girl at bar, introduced as Natalie, and so we got chatting, and found out that she went to Archway, a secondary school local to Downfield where Hannah and I went, she lives in Stroud, and has most of my interests in common. Made a great new friend, but also she was at Francis Close Hall (FCH) AND was staying in my halls! (Hannah is living at home.)

Anyway, when everyone arrived and the event started, we were introduced to the SU person, and we began playing really silly games and introducing ourselves, badly, to everyone. We were split into groups and sat in circles, wrote 5 interesting things about us on cards, put them in a box and picked another card, and then tried to link the card to someone else. Also, we played Cornflakes, where you say something like "I like blue" and people who do have to swap chairs with you, but if someone says 'cornflakes' everyone has to swap! There was also free cookies and drinks, which I heartily enjoyed!

Also played a finance game, like ludo, where you get paid at the beginning, travel round the board and either have to pick up life cards and then get life points, or pay bills, just like uni life. The winner is person who has most life points, and even though I didn't spend all my money on the student ball at the very beginning in the game, I still won. Played with Adam and Charlie and others. Explained about compact schools scheme at the Uog, and what we have to do to get extra bursaries e.t.c Good times, fun and humour, and the game was really fun!

John then walked Hannah, myself and Natalie into Cheltenham Town, a straight lien walk along the road for miles and miles, and we proceeded to chat and shop. Stopped at Pizza Hut for plasters, (John works there) and then went to Boots to get meal deal for lunch via self service. All four of us applied for Boots advantage cards to get four points for every pound on future meal deals e.t.c.

Then decided to walk towards mine and Natalie's accommodation, as John knew where it was and was in his homewards direction! Looked around outside of block and through windows, rooms looked massive but ground floor have bars across windows!

Anyway, realised it was time to go as had to catch bus home to get to work and have tea, so rushed nat and han back to bus on the prom. Got home, grabbed something to eat and went to town, had been shopping and put wallet in pocket, but couldn't find it when went to locker. Panicked, but asked to check car and was fine! Met Jeanette and Rebecca and told them, very excitedly about my adventures! The day was slightly marred by having to do the trolley in the rain for the last hour, but hey, still dam good times :D