IT IS a strange sensation on Monday morning to find that I really do not mind going to work. But then my work as a summer student in the County Council is quite a holiday for me - unlike my full time colleagues - in comparison to the recent late night studying when my memory seemed to have virtually no retention capacity. The relief I feel at simply doing what I want in my free time without jeopardising - exam results has not yet subsided.
I met Jenny at 8.00 p.m. before she made her way to the CBS Debs' and after assuring her off how well she looked, I went to the Pumphouse with Roisin and her French exchange Sophie.
There I met some of the girls from my old class in primary school and we recalled some of the many funny things that happened to us.
I like to think that at the ripe old age of "almost I8" it is probably a little premature to be recalling "the good ol' days", but the recollections certainly were amusing. I was also glad to discover that Maeve will be doing engineering at Trinity.
Midweek I met Sean and Kiera who are down from Dublin for a few days. We went to Cafe Fleva after seeing Eraser which, I confess, I did not enjoy.
Sean is pleased to be going to UCD and together we taunted Kiera about the speedy approach of her return to school. As I left them both I saw Jenny and the two of us walked home together.
The focus of the conversation was college - yet again. We are looking forward to the exhaustion we hope to experience during our first few weeks of late nights - or should I say early mornings.
After work on Thursday I went clothes shopping with Susan - well clothes viewing actually, and as I left her I spotted Thomas, the long suffering student teacher from Germany who taught my class in second year.
Of course he is perhaps best remembered for driving over his more than expensive violin - a passtime he assured me has not been engaging in recently.
On hearing that I will be attempting to study German at third level his eyes lit up and he proudly invited me to "drop in next time you're in Munich" - next time? ... Okay. "Sure thing," I said. "Thank you."
David, my cousin from Cork, arrived tonight to spend the weekend in Kilkenny. He is generous in his congratulations on my Leaving Cert results and sends me the same from Trevor.
I don't envy either of them for having it all ahead of them but I calmed him somewhat by informing him that much of the pressure is completely unfounded and regular work is what is needed rather than extensive swotting.
"The secret is not to worry," I told him - advice which sounds smug, smart, and easier said than done. Nevertheless, I confidently reiterated my calm assurances. "You'll be grand," I said. And, on that optimistic note, we headed out for a good night on the town.
