So that little issue about the rest of my life....

4 years have gone by too fast. Some great times, some strange times and some miserably broke times (Thank you final year for that last one!). All together making up a unique experience that we'll never be able to really truly recreate again. Which is sad in more ways that I can say. However, there's still some brilliant things to come and I have decided instead of wallowing and fretting over things not done in the past  I'm going to highlight the good things (and turning the any bad things into good things, mind over matter people!) of  being tossed out into this distorted reality that people have dubbed the "real world."

Laters UCC !

My Student Card expires on the 30th of September. This thought terrifies me nearly more than my future job prospects. No more discounts or special treatment. Full price trains (seriously one needs to take out a mini mortgage to afford them regularly!) However, lets turn this into a positive and see it as an extra incentive to completely exploit it until then! It also gives us "the fear", to quote Chandler from friends "You need the fear", to find a job so we will earn enough money to not miss that wonderful card's perks that much.

Please mister don't take my card from me!

No job lined up? Brilliant! Unless you are becoming a teacher, this is your LAST proper long summer  off. It's the perfect time to do nothing serious or proactive for your future! Say yes to pyjama days, day time drinking, every sort of festival/gig, trips away, cooking everything in your (friends) house and watching hours/days of trashy day time TV!All in all a pretty sweet lazy summer. If you are stuck for things to do please click here for my post about procrastination!

*Disclaimer:Some sort of part time job/funding may be required to attend fun things like festivals or go anywhere but your house.

Sunshine, skateboards & balance may not be included.

Casual drinking will become standard and not frowned upon. While we are students and do this people just grumble about how we are wasters and disgraceful drunks. However, once we enter the working world, add some sort of power suit and a work phone glued to our ear people will know that this, albeit very large, drink has been earned and they will clearly be awstruck by how hard we must work.

Two approaches can be taken for this:

The first is the large bottle and  equally large glass combination more fitting to the "Tough day, don't talk to me" scenario.

No nonsense approach.

The second is slightly more delicate and more organised in appearance, whereby like the underwear of the day you may have had as a child, your china cups are mark by the beverage they should be used. This can show "classiness" and "superiority" etc.

Bringing some manners into the affair.

Moving out and into our own home. As much as  I like living at home I'm really looking forward to having my very own place and space with friends...Now this doesn't necessarily only apply to those of us who live at home as I am sure there will be serious upscaling with regards quality for those of you who are already "independent".

All the travel opportunities once we're employed or have finally found some miraculous funding will be brilliant. For me nothing is better than the feeling of packing a bag and flying off to somewhere full of new exciting experiences! Some might say growing up means becoming more restricted or tied down but just think about it positively, that limited amount of time off available can make anyone become more proactive in organizing weekend breaks and carefully booking those elusive few holiday weeks. On top of this the chance to travel on business trips will be amazing- On top of this how fantastically important does that sound? Also if you are anything like myself, it will be a chance to let your well worn back packs and rucksacks from eons ago retire and replace it with something that is not from the Supervalu special stamp offer of the 90's.

Hat boxes, yay or nay?

Becoming more mobile. This will mean many different things for each of us. For some it might be buying our first car, for others it will be upgrading, maybe even getting a company car. At the end of it all in all it will be  more chance of adventure and more freedom...Speaking of I should really get my full licence..

Nothing quite like throwing on a pair of doggles and jumping into the side car!

I realise I may sound very naiive and roughly about 8 years old at how impressed I am by all of this but sure that's what rose tinted glasses are for. I don't care really, because after 18 years of continuous education I have almost completed my third and final level (for now) and am on the brink of entering into the "real" working world which is what we are have been working towards all along, am I right?

Exams aside, where to next?!

RAG week has rolled around once again and like every year it's a great chance for everyone to go into denial about up coming deadlines and the ever dreaded final exams in May. So I've decided to get into the spirit of things and focus my attention on what I'm going to do for the summer!  I'm not too sure whether I will end up going away travelling for a month or so but one thing that is definitely for sure is that I'm going to a festival of some sort!

EP mainstage

Without fail festivals are the best fun. On top of seeing some unbelievable performances, the most random of things can happen and the best friends that you will never remember will be made. Constantly tripping over guide ropes; drinking ridiculous amounts of alcohol (and that's just for breakfast); almost transforming myself into a human glow stick;  and  dancing it up at raves in the woods helped me say a big goodbye to my summer of work last year. When the final day came I nearly threw a strop, it never feels like there's enough time!

Raves in the woods!

My only issue is I'm at a loss as to which one to go to! Especially with flights around Europe being relatively cheap. So here are some of the options, feedback on what some of them are like or which one to go to would be much appreciated!

Electric Picnic - Last year was ridiculous and I wish I could live in the land of Electric picnic! I mean pirate ships for stages and a reggae town for "down time". Plenty of chill out spaces to cure a hangover in the body and soul area and some amazing steak sandwiches to be had on double decker buses. Definitely worth a return trip or several. Line up pending.

Body&Soul stage at EP.

Body & Soul - It is a celebration of the summer Solstice. It continues the tradition of thousands of years whereby people light fires and stay up all night to greet the sun on the longest day of the year.While there is great music, it's not just a music festival - there is amazing art, inspiring speakers and roaming performers. It's about the overall experience and transports people into a completely different world. Culturally it's the anti-Oxegen.

Camping fun

Sziget Festival- Situated on Obudai Island off Budapest. It lasts roughly for a week and apparently has a water park nearby (?!) This festival already has the likes of Stone Roses, Placebo,Crystal Fighters and Noah & the Wale on board. Has anyone actually been??!

The crowd at Sziget last year.

Benicassim - Went here as part of a 6th year holiday way back when. It made Oxegen look like miserable in comparison, though that could be said about any outdoors activity in Ireland versus sunny Spain! It's near a beach...(depending on which campsite you are in-the longest walk in the world if you stay in the one we were.) and also a water park to cool off and avoid sitting in the sauna like tents!  Amazing fun and not too far a trip to Barcelona. The line up is usually pretty cool as there's usually something for everyone and the nocturnal music schedule is always a bonus if you're  pasty and Irish, of which I am both!

Tomorrowland- 3 day long music festival in Belgium. The lineup has big names such as Fatboy Slim, Calvin Harris, David Guetta and Skrillex  so far... oh and a really pretty website! Anyone know much about it?!

Tomorrowland

So that's only a few that are in consideration, anyone have ideas on which one would be the best one to go to? Or is there any even better ones that I have not mentioned?!