Registration

1.51pm. At about quarter past one, I made my way down to Roy and Kirsten's room. Their room is basically two single rooms stuck together with access around the desk and shelf from one to the other. Kirsten was in the shower and Roy was pulling a shirt on.

They have made themselves comfortable, they had hot chocolate and dates at the ready.

We walked down to register, which took us through the main Grey building. It's remarkably school-like, except for the JCR of course, most schools don't tend to have bars. I'm not mad about the architecture; even Sussex had more character there, but it's an interesting place nevertheless. It isn't posh, not like the interiors of the ITV series 'Trinity' (here) but serviceable.

The main corridor inside the front building of Grey College. At the end of the corridor just before the stairs, is the bar (left). Up the stairs is the dining room.

We registered with a goth-like lady called Gemma, who took no persuading to put the three of us in the same group - yellow spots. She wouldn't agree to put Paul in the same group, as he wasn't there with us, so when we stepped outside, I sent Paul a text asking him where he was.

Turns out he was on the metro to Central station in Newcastle, so he's still in transit. I hope that he makes it in good time and manages to be a yellow spot too. It would be so much fun if we were all together again.

Roy and Kirsten have, hand in hand, gone into town to get a spot of lunch. I wasn't feeling especially hungry, so I am back in my room, typing up blog, and feeling a small pang of homesickness. It'll pass.

The phoenix, at the top of the stairs, with a picture of the plaque underneath added into the corner.

As I walked back through Grey, past the JCR and the bar, up the stairs next to the dining room, with the metallic phoenix sculpture outside (it reminds me of the Coventry University phoenix), a girl recognised me with the words, "you're David." It was a statement, not a question, and I felt as though I should know who she was. Turns out she is Kaye Jones, a girl who has been about as vocal as me on the course forums. I didn't recognise her but that's not unusual for me.

We have to reassemble at reception for 4pm, for the first session, which I suppose will be a welcome and introduction.