I’ve been on a bit of an emotional rollercoaster the past few weeks but I’m slowly picking things back up again; even when you know someone is dying (and I did; my stepfather was diagnosed with cancer nearly a year ago, after having a stroke at the end of January 2007) you’re never quite prepared for it, especially when it’s a parent. You think they’ll be there forever, and the one thing I’ve been saying the most the last few weeks is “I’m 20 - I shouldn’t be saying goodbye to my dad yet.”

Fish came to Derby to provide hugs (and some geek support) on Wednesday last week - I’m now not only hosted by him, but I can IRC via ssh/screen on his server - yay :-)
He stayed until Friday, when we both went down to London, had sushi in Piccadilly and went to London2600, then both crashed at Matt’s, leaving me with the interesting (and quite difficult) decision of which boyfriend to sleep with. I sneakily delegated this to AQA, who told me I should sleep with the one who snores the least and is less likely to disturb me by kicking me in the middle of the night, causing laughter all round.

On Sunday, Matt was in the band ringing a memorial at Christ Church in Hampstead; I went along to listen and it was a very moving experience. During a memorial, the bells are insulated on one side with a leather pad, meaning that the usual chime is followed by a dull echo. The resulting sound is mellow and sad, and both myself and a couple of the ringers were in tears by the end of the piece.

I travelled back to Manchester on Monday morning for the funeral. My mum bought me a first class ticket in the quiet coach, giving me some time and space to myself, and providing me with a delicious breakfast of salmon, scrambled egg, toast, and a never-ending supply of tea and fruit juice, which lifted my spirits a little.

After the funeral, we had a small party at my mum’s, and I stayed overnight, then hopped on an early train to Coventry for the NUS Women’s Campaign Conference, which was just brilliant. It still hasn’t quite hit me how fantastic it was. I got elected onto Women’s Committee as the National Council rep, but the best bit by far was all the new, inspiring and generally awesome people I’ve met. I have no idea when I am going to find time to sleep, but I am so excited and hey - there’s always caffeine.
Next things on the agenda are FEM08 and Abortion Rights Lobby of Parliament, and of course election results within the Union tomorrow. I just made it back in time to vote with 3 minutes to spare. I don’t think many are going to forget me running up to the voting area, nearly falling over my suitcase trying to get there in time in a hurry!

…I think I need to sleep now.