February

There's no easy way to say this, but my recent efforts at blogging have been pretty shambolic. This post has no particular topic other than to say hi, I'm alive and haven't forgotten how to use a computer, so I'll apologise in advance now for being super boring for the next few paragraphs and rambling on like the complete nutter that I unfortunately am.

I'm currently on reading week, in other words half term, and have come home for 9 days to see family, friends and celebrate my little brother's birthday which was last Saturday. It would actually be so lovely to consider this week off as a chance to relax, have a bit of a break and do something more exciting that type frantically on a computer about Jane Eyre and Shakespeare, but sadly that's not the case. The last few days have consisted of me essentially chained to my desk ploughing through assignment after assignment - and the best part is that there's still another year to go. And it will get worse.

But on a lighter note, it is so good to be back with my Mum, Dad and brothers in my weird little hometown. And it has been a fun few days just being able to hang out with them and muck about, do stupid crazy things and make each other laugh. I also had a brilliant day in London yesterday with my best friend - we went exploring all over the place, starting from Victoria, then travelling from Kensington to Westminster and past the London Eye, then to Piccadilly, through the West End, finishing with a delicious dinner in Soho.

As we were walking down by the Houses of Parliament, I decided it would be a great idea for us to buy a pancake to share from this cute little kiosk. I say "great idea", bearing in mind any idea of mine is rarely close to being achievable, let alone "great". We decided on a nutella and cream pancake but it ended up being served in a polystyrene cup, making it virtually impossible for us to eat with any shred of grace or dignity - the filling was flying everywhere, and in my attempt to get some of this ridiculously located pancake out of the cup with my fork, I ended up pinging half of my portion into Alice's face, which as you can imagine, went down as well as the cold, mushy pancake did at the end of the whole episode. All in all, the day was mad and eventful and the two of us were knackered by the end of it, but we had a lot of fun :)

Also in the news, I managed to further prove my stupidity and severe lack of co-ordination in a spectacular fashion by falling over in the shower last Tuesday and smacking my face on the side of the bath. As a result, I found myself sporting a very attractive black eye which has provided many of my friends and family with yet another opportunity to laugh at me and make incessant jokes, the worst of which came from my Dad, who kept calling me a Pirate - it took me a while to establish that he thought I should be wearing an eye patch. Do you see the madness I have to put up with?

Not a lot else to report from my exciting, fun-filled little life other than to say sorry for boring you to death with this not-so-fantastic piece of writing - in fact, I'd be surprised if you've made it this far into the post without closing the tab/falling asleep/throwing your laptop out of the window in sheer anger that you spent the last two minutes of your life listening to me babble on about a load of nothingness.

I promise that I'll try to write something a bit more interesting very soon...

Happy February!

Nats. X

Seeking out student housing doesn't have to be stressful

Soon to be featured in a copy of Christ Church's student newspaper UNIfied. Have a look at previous editions at http://ccsu.co.uk/UNIfied.

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First year students… listen up!

The time for finding your second year accommodation has been underway for some weeks, and for many of you, it will be the first time you’ve ever had to go through this type of process.

Once you’ve rounded up who you’re living with and started arranging your first house party, (because we’re students and its top priority), your house hunting venture can officially begin.

Firstly, you must think about price. The four bedroom house with a new kitchen, stylish furniture and an enormous garden might make you squeal like a banshee on helium but it’s only any good if you can afford it. Same goes for location – nobody in their right mind would take pleasure in having to wake up hours before their 9am lecture just because their journey into Uni takes so bloody long. Student housing is certainly a-plenty, so all it takes is a little time, effort and research.

When you finally find a place that you and your future housemates like, it’s a great feeling of excitement and relief; the property is reasonably priced, a stone-throw away from campus and has everything you’re looking for in a student house.

But watch out. You might be studying an impressive undergraduate degree, but that won’t stop you being subject to exploitation from landlords who have been in the business long enough to know how to trap you.

1. Book a viewing to see the property for yourself.

This is hugely important. The photos on the internet might look fantastic but you can never guarantee that these pictures are accurate. It is more than likely that you will spot things when looking around the property which you could not see online.

2. Ask the landlord or manager of the property plenty of questions.

Is the house fully furnished? When does the tenancy begin and end? Where is the nearest supermarket? What happens if a housemate leaves University? Will you be expected to pay full or half rent over the summer holidays? It doesn't matter how stupid you think your questions might be – you won’t know unless you ask. Moreover, if the tenants are present at the time of your viewing, make sure you ask them questions too – they might be more honest than the landlord.

3. Check the deposit.

Ask what deposit scheme your landlord is using and check out the website when you get home. Some landlords ask for a large sum of money which will be returned at the end of the tenancy, providing the house has been well kept. Others, however, will require rent in advance.

4. Ask what the rent includes.

Be 100% sure that you know what you are paying for. The rent for some properties will include gas, electric, water and sometimes internet, while others will not. It is extremely important that you check this before signing the tenancy agreement as it can cause problems further down the line.

5. What appliances are included?

Does the house have a kettle, microwave, washing machine, shower, television? Is there a fridge and freezer and how big are they?

6. Study your contract

This is one of the most important steps. Read the contract thoroughly, and if there’s anything you are unsure of, ask Student Support or the Student’s Union to go through it with you. Allocate bedrooms before signing to ensure everyone is happy with the living arrangements. Finally, double check the rent with the landlord, and if you are happy with the property, go ahead and sign!

Just remember that keeping calm through this seemingly stressful process is key. And don't forget you can ask the Student’s Union or Student Support if you are in need of help or advice.

Good luck!