Arrival

12.50pm. Got to Grey College at twenty to twelve after a slight sat nav mishap (the sav nav said turn left, but I knew it was right), and we drove past the Town Hall by mistake. But I got us to turn around, take the left turn instead, and soon we were driving up past DSU, past the building I stayed in when I did M101, and up South Road to Grey. All of a sudden, we were there.

Parked just outside reception, went inside, and there was a sign saying that we should collect our room keys first, then register, but not until 1.30pm. We couldn't collect our room keys immediately, so we sat outside, and filled out the registration forms to kill a bit of time.

We're standing outside reception at Grey College (above), waiting for registrations to open

Roy went back to the Land Rover to get some pain killers for Kirsten's headache, and before we knew it, we had signed in, collected room keys (we are in Holgate House, they are in room 521, I am in 570).

Their room is on the ground floor, mine is on the 4th floor, with no lift, so I was sweating and swearing by the time I got to my room, after pulling, pushing and occasionally kicking my case. My view overlooks the entrance to Holgate, and I can just about see Kirsten's black Land Rover from here.

I have 50 minutes to unpack, have a shower, and then go and register. I really hope that the four of us can find ourselves in the same tutor group.

The room itself is ensuite, just, and the accommodation is dated, basic, but serviceable.


There is a single bed with wooden shelving at the end, a dated wooden wardrobe with four hangers (just as well I brought my pack of plastic ones from Birmingham), and a large wooden desk next to the window, with 7 power sockets. Should be enough even for my load of gadgets.


I need to get a username and password for the university internet too, I don't want to find myself offline, but my Three dongle has a more than good enough signal if needs be.

I was just in the middle of unpacking when there was a knock at the door from the domestic service lady, asking if everything is okay. I was surprised; I hadn't expected anybody to knock. At Sussex there was no domestic service for the entire week. It's fine, it's perfectly serviceable for a week, although I wouldn't care for the room if this was a hotel.

Paul sent me a next around 1pm to say that he was out of Newcastle airport and heading for the railway station. Looking forward to seeing him soon. The next challenge will be registration at 1.30pm - fingers crossed - then back at Grey reception for 4pm I think for the first event.