ONCE UPON A DREAM; University Prep

Collegiate Campus

 It is a dull, grey Tuesday afternoon and I'm tucked away in my cosy study as I settle in to write this blog post.  I'm burning Water Garden oil from M&S in my oil burner, which smells like the sea and reminds me of sailing out of Oban Bay, or boating on Loch Lomond.  I have a tealight burning in my Lothlorian candle holder, which gives off a warm glow, lighting up the spiral staircase and tree-branched arches of the holder.

My beautiful Lothlorian Candle holder - its so pretty!

I have spent all day writing, working ahead on my psychotherapy columns for the upcoming months. I like days like today, where the writing is flowing well and it feels like easy work.  As the summer wanes, it is only a matter of weeks until I am back in university and they are doing everything they can to make the campus safe for our return, in the midst of the coronavirus crisis.  Because we will be going back into the classroom, and lectures, seminars and Masterclasses are all going ahead as usual.  That is the plan for now, at least.  Things might change and I think we have all learnt in recent months not to take anything for granted.

I'm really looking forward to going back.  While the main campus is all mod-cons, I much prefer the beautiful buildings of the old campus, pictured here.  It suits my idea of university much better and has all the Dark Academia vibes about it that I love.  Yes it's cold and drafty, but it's also very old fashioned and traditional, which is why I love it.  It has such a Gothic atmosphere, especially on a stormy autumn day. 

Collegiate Campus

We have already been sent our reading list for the next academic year and it doesn't look too bad.  I read most of the books last year to be honest, so I feel I'm already working ahead.  I've been going over last year's class notes and revising when I can, just to refresh my mind of what we covered, as it's been so long since we've been in class due to Covid.  I haven't attended an actual class since February, before the tutor strikes and then the virus shut us down completely.  So I am eager to get back. 

I've missed the Masterclasses the most.  These are so interesting and inspiring!  I sometimes have to pinch myself when I'm sitting in the cosy little blue lecture hall, listening to some amazing speakers, because it can feel quite surreal at times. I've been lucky enough to meet some fascinating people because of the course I'm on, but I have to say that for me, the Oxford Fellow, Patrick McGuinness,  was the highlight of last year.  He was so smart and clever.  His upper-crust education came off him in waves, as he sprinkled his Oxford magic on us.  That was the best Masterclass of the whole year  and I really hope that he comes in to teach us again during the next academic year.   

Our cosy Masterclass lecture hall - I tend to sit in the middle row.

I'm really looking forward to throwing myself back into the university environment.  It is like being in a warm bubble of learning. Everything you need is right there on campus in it's own self-contained little world.  Yes, things will be different and strange this year because of the Covid virus, but it will still be lovely to have that normality of regular classes in place again, because I have missed it.  I've missed that sense of belonging that students have.  It's like being part of club; you have your own language, your own obligations and responsibilities, your own circle of friends who all have the same interest in the same topic, your very own world.  It's such a homely atmosphere of learning and I can't wait to be back there again. 

Roll on September, when my days of on-campus Dark Academia will begin once more! Until then, at least I have my snug little study full of books, a penchant for self-educating and my writing to get on with too.  That should be enough to keep me going until autumn and I plan to enjoy these last weeks of summer, being as bookish as I like and reading as much as I can. 

Carpe Librum! 

Marie x