Ooh, my life!

[zotz]

20 years ago I was 14, so I'd have been in 3rd year at school, doing English, Arithmetic, Maths, Geography, French, Biology, Chemistry and Physics for O-grade - but still a year from the exams. I was getting into politics around this point, and still living with my parents, brother, sister and Gran, in Ayr.

15 years ago. 19. At medical school, clubbing and gigging regularly, and sharing with AJ, Paul Emsley and Damon. I was gaming a lot, and not yet hanging around with SFSoc, who a year or so later became very central to my life, probably roughly around the time I started playing records at people at the Potterrow - although I was haunting the place regularly by this point. Life was good, although a lot of work.

10 years ago I was 24. I'd done three years of a medical degree and bombed out after failing Pathology once too often, working briefly for the Social Security and slightly longer for Kelly (who are scum) attached to Scottish Equitable. Then I'd gone back to do Genetics, and at this point I was in my third year. I'd been with Lara for about three years (it lasted another few months) and I was living in Spottiswoode Street with her, Tom and probably nik_strychnine. Every Friday was Strangeways in the Park Room. Life, overall, was pretty good, although it got even better before it got worse.

5 years ago I'd finished the genetics degree, gone out with Myf for three years and been dumped without explanation, done a postgraduate diploma in software technology and worked for a while in the systems office of Edinburgh University library (which was a top job working with excellent people, although the pay was pitiful). I'd applied for, and got, the job I had now and had been living in Cambridge for almost exactly a year. I was still in the place on Cherry Hinton Road that I'd moved into when I arrived, so I wasn't as close to the local goffs as I became after moving in with James, valkyriekaren, grahamb and Kirstin later in the year, although I was a Calling regular already at this point. I think I was still drinking mostly with Tom at this point, although later he disappeared to Birmingham. I was miserable, lonely, unwanted, failing at work and had been very briefly actually suicidal - the only time I've ever been. This was as bad as things have ever been for me. It's all been uphill again from here.

3 years ago things were distinctly better, although still not all that wonderful. I'd just moved into the place I am now, so I was probably sharing with Jo, Nev or Vicky. I'd bought Jo's bike. And I think I'd already piled it up. Nobody tell my parents that, OK?

I was doing the Calling as well by this point, I think.

1 year ago the Calling was restarting after us losing our venue when the Q club closed. I'd been sharing with Patrick, but he moved to a job in Manchester and Rvn moved in, and with Karen. My life had picked up a lot by this point, although not because anything dramatic had changed. I had more and better friends, I guess, which makes a big difference.

Yesterday I was hoping to get zC202N20 in this month.

Today I found a single-cloned patch, which is going to need some more sequencing. Later, I'll be at The Calling, of course.

Tomorrow is May Eve. I wish I was going to be in Edinburgh for it, but there's always next year. There's always next year. That could be my motto.

Comments

[aiwendel.livejournal.com]

*hugs*
*strokes*
xxxxxxxxxxxx

[ex-lark-asc.livejournal.com]

I was miserable, lonely, unwanted, failing at work and had been very briefly actually suicidal - the only time I've ever been.

I wish I'd known. I wish I'd been with-it and mature enough to help somehow. I wish things had worked out any other way, and I still don't know how you put up with living with me that summer..

[zotz]

Things were already a lot better by then. I was obviously meeting worthwhile people, for a start, which helped greatly.

[ex-lark-asc.livejournal.com]

THat's either a thickly-veiled compliment or, er, something else I haven't 'got'..

[zotz]

Sorry, it wasn't intended to be veiled. I include you among them.

Feeling old...

[original-aj.livejournal.com]

I can't believe that it was nearly half a lifetime ago we shared those flats. Must get the pictures out again soon.