University of Aberdeen Blog

The past few weeks have been fairly busy for me, but in a good way. I have made some progress on my PhD thesis, and have managed to write a few extra pages. At the moment I am quite taken with the notion of empire and whether or not we need a new one to sort the global situation out. If you want to know more you will have to wait until I am done with my PhD I have also been busy socially, as the societies I am involved with have organised event after event. I had great fun at my first ever Halloween party, went to a number of movie nights (God on the Brain, Quantum of Solace), and have taken part in some pub quizzes. Most of these events have involved a lot of new friends and people I have just recently met at the university.

Which is why this weekend will be special. I am travelling down to York today to meet up with some of my best friends in the world. I have known them for years as they are all either former students of the university or former members of societies I am involved with. Over the past year most of them drifted away from Aberdeen as their degrees finished and they moved on. Some got jobs, some have followed in my footsteps and taken up PhDs at other universities. It has been a bit tough not having them around and as we all feel the same way we have organised a big meet-up in York this weekend. It will be the first time in over half a year that we will all be gathered in one place, so hopefully it will be good fun.

I will tell you more about the weekend in my next entry. For now I have to run and finish packing my bag as my driver will be here soon. Until the next time, be well in all things.

David

It’s hard to believe that we are already halfway through the term and that Christmas is almost upon us. However there is much to do before then. Since I last posted life has been all go! Being on the committee of a society means that there is never a dull moment.

The past week is a prime example. Last Sunday was Remembrance Sunday which was quite an eventful day. On campus, there was a procession of students from the University’s military units with a Pipe Band. It really was a wonderful sight, as they processed along the High Street toward the chapel where a service of Remembrance was held. Following this, there was a military inspection and a public reception in Elphinstone Hall. Before the parade began, myself and others from the Catholic Society arranged a continental breakfast in the Catholic chaplaincy for our members. Being in the centre of campus, the Chaplaincy was the best place from which to see the parade whilst staying warm!!

Myself and my flatmate also cooked dinner for those who had attended the evening mass in Kings College Chapel. It seemed to go well as all the food was eaten and I didn’t get any of it!!

It does seem that this week has been all Cathsoc. We have decided on the final design for the back of our hoodies which are to read, “Perfecting Guilt Since AD30”  Although some people, such as my parents believe this to be a little bit disrespectful, we have permission from our Priest! We want to show people that we aren’t afraid to mock ourselves and are more than religion!

In addition to this, Tuesday the 11^th was St. Martins day. There was a procession from the Catholic Chaplaincy led by our very own ‘St Martin’ on a horse. Included in the procession were 40 children from the University Nursery who carried lanterns that they had made and their parents as well as students and guests. This procession finished in the quad where ‘St Martin’ offered half of his cloak to a ‘beggar’. This was followed by a service in the Chapel led by the University Chaplain Rev. Easter Smart, where the Catholic Chaplain, Fr. James Claffey O.P. attempted to teach the children some Latin phrases. All in all, this went very well and we even managed to get some coverage in our local paper, the Press and Journal.

But as for now I have to go for lunch. Speak soon!