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Coincidentally after that call things started working slightly better but my reception still wasn’t great.   At the places I go most I kept getting “Emergency calls only”.  I bought a new mobile anyway because I’m not making full use of my contract (£15/month 300 minutes call and unlimited texts).  Although the guy did offer to give me 10% but that’s not much and with the VAT increase next year it wouldn’t be worth it.

My new phone is working great.  Calls are crystal clear, reception is good and my texts send first time ’round.  Maybe the guy was right and it was my mobile in question³…

I’ll be glad when this contract is over as I’m looking forward to just keep this mobile for a long time – not a big fan mobile shopping – and not wasting away my money on contracts which don’t meet my social status (read: a loner who barely uses phone.  Just kidding…I prefer using the Internet to keep contact and would prefer calling without worrying at how many minutes I have left.)

1. Silly didn’t realise that the three months before contract ends doesn’t actually apply to cancelling.  Almost coughed up £70 to cancel due to infuriation of bad reception.
2. Who kept apologising for things that were out of his control.  It’s nice but he really didn’t need to.
3. Admittedly I’m not mobile savvy so naivety may also play a part.

Okay, I’m starting to veer of the tangent slightly.  Anyway, I’ve had things said about my choice of mobiles (read: I really don’t care much about mobiles so will usually go with which ever is free with the contract¹.)  My main brand of mobiles has usually been Sony Ericsson though.  With my current mobile playing silly buggers I decided to get a more than decent sim-free phone, which turn rebellious teen on me.

I was tempted to go to the shops but I didn’t want to get harrassed by an Apple fanboy/girl² so instead I researched online and read reviews.  Yes, I am one of those buyers: research then debate for centuries as to whether you want to buy or even spend the money of such things.  Also, being one of those loyalists I was thinking about getting another Sony Ericsson phone but go with the times (touch screen).  My sister told me not to, being the luck I have with Sony Ericssons.

Samsung is an instant no.  Don’t get me wrong, I know they’re good phones but I used to work in a Samsung product based company (the RMA area) so I knew the faults.  That’s what really puts me off buying any Samsung product³.

Babbling again aren’t I?  Fast foward to the Sunday just gone, I bought a Blackberry.  I had been debating on the buy for months and with a nudge I actually bought it.  At the moment it’s charging the howevermanyhours mobiles are meant to charge for.  When I received the package today I was really surprised that my phone had come, as I was expecting the silicone skin to arrive first.  Now though, I’m wondering, should I have really spent that much on a mobile; a technology I’m not too fond of.  I was really happy and excited⁴ but now…not so much.  I’m thinking I should have just left that money for uni, or even stationary⁵.   I’m going to go all organised now and start organising my life away with my new phone.

God I’m sad.

1. That’s not to say I don’t take care for my phones though.
2. No, offence to anyone but some assistants do tend to make it out as the end all, be all product.
3. Here’s some advise, if you really love a certain brand DO NOT work in that’s brand “faulty products” department. It will put you off for life.
4. Me, excited about a mobile?  Never.
5. I’m a stationary geek, or should that be storage geek?  Hah.

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I personally have not lived from home (commute back and forth by car)¹ but have noticed things with people close to me, who have or currently are.  It may seem like common sense but sometimes things don’t cross our minds.  So, in no particular:

• When you find a potential house to live in during university terms please, please, please check the house.  It’s all good and dandy seeing nice pictures of the house but renters can be sneaky.  Do not always believe things when you have not physically seen it.  Also make sure there are no faults with the house so when you move in you already have electricity, water and the necessities.
• Be very careful of which housing estate agent you go with, or if you’re going private than think about going with someone who works in high status job as their reputation is on the line – that’s no saying renters who aren’t in high positions won’t be good landlords though.  I don’t want to name drop (a company) because I think the incompetency is only reflective to that particular department.  All I will say is, you hand a cheque to their staff and then soon after receive a letter notifying that payment is outstanding.  They turn this around put blame to anyone but themselves.
• This point is a bit of a grey area because it depends which way works best for the occupants but responsibility should, perhaps, be shared around.  Unless there is a house mate who is willing to take care of the bills, it’s probably better to divide responsibility.  University is stressful enough and it’s not fair if a house mate has to shoulder the responsibility of keeping the roof over fellow friends’ heads.  It also causes unnecessary drama and things can get complicated with the company in question.
• I’m sure parents will always heckle about this but also check the area where the house is situated.  The house maybe affordable but it may also constitute the profile of the area.  Seeing how close it is to university, supermarkets etc wouldn’t go amiss either.

I think that’s it but feel free to add any more points.

1. However, I’m keeping my options open depending on the top-up degree situation

I’m at that point in life where I have to decide what I’m going to do for a living.  There’s a choice of three paths, one being uni.¹, another being working my butt off to gain a career as a jewellery designer maker or a job working under a business.  Currently I’m letting certain events lead the way but my mind’s decision is constantly fluctuating.

Oh, I had my final exhibition.  My family went so I was really worried that none of my pieces were good enough to show but I have a few pieces in there, which is nice.   During the exhibiting week I had to restock on business cards – Yay.   Although the downside was realising that I had one too many digits on my mobile number.  Bugger.  Hey-ho, more people use email right?

I officially finished university the week before yesterday (Friday) and since it’s been roughly a month since my last post I thought I’d share things that I love:

• Playing the piano – didn’t realise how little I had played during the 2nd semester but it soon told when I went to play certain pieces.
• DBSK².  I had only recently heard their music but I absolutely love their voices.  However, I’ve come to realise that they aren’t a band now (any more?).  Saddens me.  Super Junior are also another K-pop band I’ve been listening to a lot.
• Make-up containers.  I don’t wear much make-up, if at all, so to find them on the cheap is great.  I thought the power cases would be great for separating my extra easy/easy/hard solder, and the bottles would come in handy in storing my liquid solutions.  What can I say?  I’m a nerd for storage.
• BBQs.  Good company and food, what more can you ask for?
• World Cup.  Every time a football seasons ends I always wonder what that time is going to be substituted with.  However, with the World Cup I have no need to worry about that as there’s plenty of football to keep me occupied.  Although there’s not been a lot to shout home about for many countries.  I’m cheering for England but have a soft spot for South Korea and Spain.   Oh, and the England v Germany match just happens to be on my birthday.  Just saying, I’m in no way suggesting that it’s a lucky omen or vice versa but it will probably be the epicentre depicting which way my mood swings, heh.

From the top of my head those are the main things.

By the way, I’ve bought Pandora’s Box and Mystery Stories and want to know what you think about either of those games.

1. Top up degree.
2. Korean band, a song of whom I was coincidentally learning. ^^

Passenger #2: (R’n'B must still blaring but then gradually blears).

Passenger #1: Thanks.

Didn’t see who said what but it’s good to see consideration.  Now, if only others were that easy to deal with.

Here’s a CAD of my final pieces, these are the high end ones by the way:

The black frame is silver but oxidised, whilst the coloured tags inside are made from anodised aluminium.

I also plan on making the affordable editions, where the aluminium tags will be substituted with paper.  More practical for things like images.  It’ll also allow for the consumer to change the tags to whatever they wish.

All I can do right now is keep myself busy with other projects, whilst I’m waiting for my metal to be laser cut and marked.  Good thing too, I need to get pieces ready for the final exhibition.

1. Taking a nice break from uni.
2. Working on projects for uni.  It’s not all fun, fun, fun.
3. Going for my first visit to A&E, after not being able to move out of a foetal position.  Didn’t really think much of it, just thought it was the woman within me being a pain.
4. Nurturing my little shoulders – too much tension in one apparently.  I’m just glad it’s finally stopped being annoying and I can move my arm and doing other things besides watching TV.
5. I’m back at uni. – have been for a week.  Had a mock interview on Friday and as it seems I spent too long making a portfolio.  Turns out I could have just walloped a photo of my pieces and wah-lah, a portfolio.
6. Now I’m working towards the making of my final piece but I’m still working around the price of manufacturing.  Here are some illustrations of my collection.

The concept is to show a loved one how you feel through poetry.  The tags within the pendant swing side to side reveal a quote from a poem.  According to my research the shapes of the pendants are unisex and to continue accessibility to both genders I have supplemented cabochons of unisex colours.

At the moment I’m working on a more cost effective way to manufacture these as one would cost me about £73 pounds to make¹, which in turn will cost over £100 to sell.  My original intention was to make to something to sell within the £50 to £100 boundary.

My other dilemma is what other poem/sonnet/etc I could use.  Although the tags are customisable for the consumer I would like each pendant to include 2 quotes of literature, for display purposes.  So far I have:

1. “To love is to place our happiness in the happiness of another” – G. Wilhelm Leibniz
2. “Love is the life of a soul.  It is the harmony of the universe.” – William Ellery Channing
3. “Life if a flower of which love is the honey.” – Victor Hugo
4. “Love is a canvas furnished by Nature and embroidered by imagination” – Voltaire
5. “You know you’re in love when you can’t fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.” – Dr Seuss
6. “You come to love not by finding the perfect person, but seeing an imperfect person perfectly.” – Sam Keen
7. “Love is the master key that opens to the gates of happiness.” – Oliver Wendall Holmes

Any ideas are welcome.

1. Excluding labour costs, by the way.