Wednesday 30th April

Started today doing a lot of work. Doing more if the photo book and reading some critical studies texts. All morning though, I could hear an annoying buzzing sound which to me sounded like the speed boats you get on Oulton Broad. At lunchtime the others phoned and asked if I wanted to join them shopping so off I went out into the rain - yep, its raining again. After a little wander, and a bit of decision making outside Claire’s Accessories about ear piecing we went to the Tarte Tatin for a spot of lunch, forgetting we were going out to supper later. Apparently while I was in the toilet, Mary and Liz had dared Grace to put whipped cream on her face - and she did! Very full, we had another look around the shops before realising the time and rushing home to get changed. We all met at Grace’s at 6.30 (well, Mary and I did) to help clear up and get out glasses etc. After the meal we were coming back to Graces for a little party. Mika, who was meant to arrive at 7 eventually came at about 7.30 and we went to meet Charlie and a friend I had met yet lauren (?). Mika told us that there was a 24 hour speed boat race on the river - so I was right about the noise! We had supper at an Italian, where I think we made most of the noise, mostly made by trying to teach each other how to pronounce french and english words properly. Back at Grace’s, after I had attempted to talk to Lauren in french, some more people arrived. Timotei, Henri, and Jean-Philippe (J-P) who brought along a friend, a cousin and the cousins girlfriend, and it was basically an evening of guitar playing. Liz, Mary and I eventually left at about 4am, leaving Grace with Mika and J-P who were still playing the guitar. The power boats were still going so I decided to walk to the river and have a look. All the lights are so pretty on the river at night, the bridges turn blue. Couldn’t see the boats very well but I could see their lights and it was pretty noisy. I really like being out so early in the morning. Eventually got home at about 5am, to find party going on in the flat below - nice!