End of the year and end of an era… Tomorrow it’s back home to Derby and then next time I arrive in Bristol I’ll be a Langfordton semi-professional type folk, crazy stuff!!
The pre-clinical year’s are over, and from now on its concentration and serious commitment to the clinical side of the course for the next two years (god knows who I’m trying to kid, but I thinks that’s the mentality we’re supposed to adopt going into next year).

We got our final results for the year on Friday and all my friends did really well, plenty of merits and the odd distinction scattered among them. Somehow I managed a clean sheet of merits in the three subjects (basic clinical science, microbiology and pharmacology). Couldn’t quite believe it when I looked at the results, it just goes to show that even though lectures are adamant that it isn’t possible to cram for this course the technique definitely suits myself and many of my friends.

Since the last blog I wrote I’ve had a great few days;; I’ve been surfing, visited house parties and I’ve sorted out my living arrangements for next year.
The surfing trip was in celebration of Paula’s birthday. A group of 9 of us went to Devon for a night, the surf was ideal for begins, low white rollers, everyone except maybe Milnethorp got standing. In the evening we camped nearby in an awesome little campsite, that even though it was cheap, had a swimming pool and sauna. We of course made us of these facilities in typical vet fashion, clothes on in the pool, thrown out after closing and much dunking and fighting. George made a valiant effort on altering Paula’s mental state, we learnt during the evening that Paula had somehow never thrown up by alcohol, therefore George made that the evening’s mission. Somehow Paula survived and didn’t even have a hang-over the next day… she must have one hell of a liver. The most comedy thing of the trip for me, thought it wasn’t at the time, was my tent falling down twice during the night. Once the whole fly sheet came un-pegged on three sides and blew off. It was raining and windy, though I’m sure tents are still meant to stay up in these conditions. I blame Polly’s poor effort at tent assembly.
The couple of house parties have been as good fun as ever, much alcohol etc. I went to good bbq party at Louise’s last night with John and then we got dragged off to some random party with some Law students we met at lousise’s. The party was actually a 21st celebration and I think the guy was fairly surprised when me and John wished him a happy birthday then proceeded to consume the parties alcofrol. Good definitely came from the night though as I now have the phone number of an incredible attractive law student. Hopefully this will spell date for tomorrow night, will have to see.
Housing stuff is now finally sorted. Our place in Bristol is cleaned up and ready to be left and I moved stuff into our new place in Langford today, which was even cooler than I remembered. There’s a massive lounge/kitchen communal area and a wicked garden for parties. My room is pretty nice to, though perhaps a bit on the small side.

In the house in Bristol now is just me and Mat, everyone else flew the nest yesterday. I’m probably going home tomorrow date permitting and mat is leaving on Wednesday as he’s travelling directly to Glastonbury. Unfortunately I’m not going this year due to a holiday that has now fallen through, a slight tragedy but never mind.

Over the summer the theme is foster practice and Morocco, not at the same time… Over July I’m slacking around getting things organised, getting fit, playing guitar, drinking and maybe doing some bar work. Then in August it’s foster practice for three weeks (small animals this time), then its onto Morocco until the end of September, when I may do a week of specialist practice with Kieran, as this would no doubt be an awesome experience for me.

I don’t know yet whether I will be appointed to continue my blog writing in the clinical years, maybe I’ll find out when I work for the workshop during vetsix in July.

If my diary is unwanted next year then this will be my last blog. Hopefully they’ve been of some interest to my immense amount of avid readers and fans, and most importantly I hope they’ve given some people an insight into the life of a Bristol Vet Student.

It's Monday afternoon and it's so good not to be hungover or drunk. It's always the same, finish exams then go on a week longer bender before getting results. However this year there's a slight difference as we all pretty much know how we've done due to viva lists. Once papers have been marked and results tallied up each department gives vivas to those who've failed (and those lucky enough to receive merit/distinction vivas). Therefore I already pretty much know I've passed all three subjects. Though there's always an element of doubt till you see your candidate number with the list of passed students.

Since I last wrote I've had a cool weekend away. It started off at rediculous 0'clock on Saturday morning to make it to alton towers for an awesome day out. Even though we set off early it still took us ages to get there and only had just over 5 hours in the park. Though this was alright as we managed to get round all the worth while rides. Best ride for me = air. Worst = corkscrew (courses immense pain and headaches for all riders!).
Saturday evening we (that's Mat, Me, Laura, Kate, Kate's boyfriend who's unknown to us, Claire and Hayley) made a lasagne and then spent the evening drinking outside round a fire. A fairly pleasant evening. Everyone loved mine and Claire's Hex ride reconstruction, you have to have been on this crazy ride to appreciate how bizzare it is).

Sunday I got up mega late to make up for the day befores festivities and then set of to Polly's for her 21st birthday party near Manchester. I had a great night at the party, bit of drink and an absolute indulgence in rediculous dancing with many people.

Today had been really chilled out, had a bit of a Jam with JP and Ian, looks like the skills haven't gone to rusty over the revision period, but then to be fair far more guitar gets played during revision time than not.

Tonight it's off round to Paula's for drinks and 21st birthday celebrations including, as she said in the e-mail, games where we may get wet...so god knows what she's got instore.

Tomorrow its camping time as continued celbrations occur for Paula's 21st. Gonna be a fun few days!

Exams are finally over (unless I get any vivas). The last one was a microbiology spot which took place yesterday. It didn’t go too bad, can’t see why I shouldn’t scrape the half marks needed to pass. The exam was an hour long and involved 9 short questions of different viruses, microbes and fungi. Each question has different photos of animals and plated microbial samples to use in answering the questions.
I decided to revise for this at home over the past few days, though can’t say I really got much work done, saw some friends spent too much money in Derby on many non-essential items. It was nice to be at home for a bit though, see the family, no cooking and some relaxing runs around my village. It was also useful to be at home to help my little sister Hannah out with some GCSE revision.

Since I last made an entry there’s not been much work done apart from the odd bit of microbiology revision, though there’s been a couple of pretty big nights out, one after the exam last Friday and another last night in celebration of finally finishing exams. It was cool on Friday to get out and see everyone again after being cooped up revising for so long, which is probably the main reason for the crazy story of the night… too much revision add some alcohol and a stressed JP = an arrest. JP wouldn’t have been arrested if he’d given his proper details as all he did was litter. Though I think telling the police his name was Wayne Gretski the ice hockey player, and that he came from 12 Lincoln Street, Lincoln did the guy no favours. Thankfully he hasn’t got a record though he did get a massive £80 fine… In future JP be nice and polite to police officers.

After the exam yesterday I spent the afternoon with the house and a few mates chilling in the garden with some beers and a bbq, essential post-exam wind down. Then in the evening we went to another bbq at Andy’s house and then from there to Mat’s old house’s house party. Not much to say about the night apart from me and Johnny consuming all the oranges from the massive punch, from which the alcohol had some major effects! Bed by 12 and a stinking hangover today (I suppose the ridiculous amounts of beer all day probably contributed). According to Mat I spent most of his house party chatting to various random medics I’ve never met, though my case of CRAT is too severe to remember this socialising (can’t remember a thing).

Today has been a nothing day, watched a film went to the park to play frisbee for a bit, got an ice cream and tonight it’s off to Emily’s surprise birthday bbq party… What a stressful student life.

Tommorrow it’s off to alton towers then a few people are staying at Mat’s house in Stoke before going off the Polly’s 21st on the Saturday.

Final critical exam over with!! Basic clinical science steeplechase. No this didn’t involve jumping hurdles and water, it was a crazy computer based exam. I had to answer 50 questions in 45mins on such wonderful topics as surgical implements, patho-physiolgy, biochemistry and anaesthesia. The blessing of this exam was that it gave you a mark at the end. Therefore I’m feeling pretty good right now with my 71%, and as this exam was worth 20% of BCS the pressure has been majorly lifted!

Last exam is on Wednesday, a microbiology practical. However no work is to be done for this until maybe Monday. So now its kick back and relax time i.e. Out tonight for a well deserved binge drinking booze up… Ideal!!

Last written exam of the 3rd year finished, though it's not party time yet as I've two practicals, one tomorrow and one on Tuesday.
The final written yesterday was pharmacology, which went really well (not very often I get to say that). The format was six questions to answer out of a choice of 12, then 175 true/false negatively marked questions. I chose questions on autonomic nervous system innervation to the respiratory smooth muscle, a2 adrenreceptors, anti-inflammatories and other equally riviting topics.
Today its revision for tommorows basic clinical science steeple chase, then after that tomorrow it's chill out time and a big night out for Em and Andy's birthdays!