22

I am sitting in a cafe next to Victoria Station waiting for the nextt Oxford tube. Nearby, I can overhear some people arguing that with globalization, internet should be free for all. And perhaps in ten years, one will no longer need to pay for it in public places. As it is my birthday I thought I would treat myself to a latte. And there is free wifi! Had a great dinner last night at Kastoori, in Tooting, with Granny and Jeremy, Ant and Cath, and Lou and Bertrand, which was good fun, and very generous of Jeremy. Didn't quite get the lie in I was hoping for, as Alice and Jamie came terring down, but a good breakfast and nice to see the family on my birthday. Went walking around Green Park, and all the 'fancy' shops on Bond street, regent street etc. and spent a bit of time at the India Tourism Ministry, getting some travel info. Back to Oxford now, and then a spot of golf in the evening and a few drinks to see off the day.

On a more philosophical side, 22. Well. It seems like after my 18th birthday, every birthday seems to come quicker and quicker. I can clearly remember last year having some mates around to play poker, and now that day has come around.

A birthday is special, but only to oneself. Other than that, it is just a normal day, of which is often not really different to any other. Except you get a bit of attention. 22 is getting on. Soon, it will be 23, then 24 and so on. Perhaps the lesson, is just to live every day as it was the last?

At least your birthday gives you a bit of time to think about yourself afterall!

A working day

It is 4.37am, and I am just back from a shift at BMW. Another shift at another job at 9am this morning. Four hours sleep, or shall I read a book, until next shift? Welcome to the working life. I hope that by the time I go to India next month, I will have done my fair share of mundane jobs and get something a bit more decent, but for all the workers, who know nothing else, I sympathise hugely. Karl Marx would be horrified at the thought of working night shifts at a factory.. Quite right. As a family man, where is one supposed to find time for their families etc... Perhaps, this is the 'broken Britain' Cameron always talks about...

Anyway, the birds are starting to tweet...

End of Brookes... and plans for the future

I am sitting in the 'Shakesheare' pub in Victoria, having just submitted my India visa application. All going well, I should have it by next week, and, with ticket already purchased, I should be on the way to the sub-continent in mid August.

Last few weeks have been tiring but much fun. Graduation last week which the parents came over for. The ceremony was short and sweet and I was awarded a prize that I won last year. A dinner with some mates and parents at the Magdalen arms where pies were absolutely massive, and then London to say by to my parents. We watched warhorse which was nothing short of brilliant, and then went back to the hotel for the night. I drove up to Oxford with a mate, and then went up to Yorkshire for a 'hunt ball'. Really good night, and then back to Oxford on Sunday evening, for a 6am start at BMW the next day!

Going to Ant and Catherine just now, playing a round of golf, then lunch tomorrow in Kew, then back to Oxford, and hopefully Henley if I can get there...

Oxford Africa Conference

The Oxford Africa conference, which I helped organize was staged three weeks ago at the Said Business School... dad spoke on two of the panels, about SME's and agriculture, and all in all, was a great success. It was a full day event, with dinner at St. Anthony's in the evening, and much learn't about investment and business in Africa, and contracts made all round... Africa has huge potential as a frontier market, and I hope to be involved in the game one day...

Went with dad to the Hart's farm for lunch in Oxford on the Saturday... Such hospitable people, and lovely, sunny English day spent sipping pimm's and braaing..

Finished Oxford Brookes University

Well, I have now finished at Brookes... Graduation on 24th June... what awaits now? Well, for the time being, the feeling hasnt really sunk in yet, although I feel a tinge of despair occasionally, when I get a break from BMW, thinking, that.... the work life has now started!! No more lazy lie in's, or parties that go on all night, and doesnt matter if you late for lectures (or wreaking of alcohol!!

But, I think Brookes has prepared me well... Not just academically, but I feel I have become more worldly, more purposeful, and perhaps, more resourceful... Time will tell though... For now, am just enjoying the brilliance of Oxford... Attending talks by world leading professors, trying to plan my travels, and arranging final drinks with some people, who sadly, may not see for a long time yet...

I will write the first of my essays 'on leaving university' in the next couple of months...

Poverty sucks...

It really does...

With almost zero balances in the account, rents to pay, bills to pay, food to buy, etc. etc, it is pretty hard to sustain a 'student lifestyle' that I have had for the past few years... I started a job at BMW doing temp work and it is certainly the worst job I have had. The pay is good though... Rising at 5am (not since rowing days have I risen so early), clock in by 6am and work through till 5pm! Even Aristotle would be proud of that... The people are incredibly different to any other 'profile' of people that I have met whilst being in the UK. Your typical working class... They all read the tabloids such as the sun (ironic as it's a conservative paper), covered top down in tatoos, chat about the footy, buy BMW's on 'company schemes', or rather rent them out from the company, and 'init, init, init'... But, they are a cheerful bunch nonetheless... I just cannot see how they live like that for years on end. Rise, go to work, put a light or something on 400 cars per day, go home, sleep. And watch the footy on the weekend with the lads, and also, drive to the footy, in the new, roofless BMW... I think the worst thing about it is one, the lost freedom, where one has to be constantly working-there is no time to read an interesting article, or a book or something, or even to go outside and soak in some sun... Also, the environment I find prison like, with the unforgiving sirens that start and stop work, dead on time, and some of the managers prowing around looking for any mishaps going on... It must be better than Foxconn though...

May day eve

May day, for asome absurd reason, is the biggest eventt of the year for Oxford. It results in partying all night, jumping off the main bridge into the river at dawn (although police now cordon off the bridge) to prevent bodily harm. Alas, with a coursework due on Tuesday (I have to get over 80% to secure a first for this subject), and an independent study due in later next week, and an exam the following week, it is all getting a bit close. Do I go out? It's the last May day in Oxford for me...

Well, books aside for a bit, nip over to Tesco for some dinner, and Paxman interviewing Brown at 8.30pm. Then, i'll decide.