Study, Study, Everywhere…

For those of you who still have exams left, Emily Vine takes a look at some of the best locations to get your head into some of those revision notes.

It’s that time of year when finding a place to study can become a survival of the fittest. You may find yourself circling computers in a vulture like fashion… waiting, just waiting, for someone to cave and reluctantly surrender their hard earned pitch when hunger strikes. Even if you are lucky enough to find somewhere to set up camp, attempting to study on campus can be a moderately dispiriting experience. Here’s a quick run-down of the pros and cons of the more popular study spaces.

 1. The Library: The most coveted of all the on campus study environments. Close to books, fresh water supplies, sources of food, and most importantly, kindly library elves who appear from the shadows to bring blankets to the weary student. For the more industrious among us, the silent study rooms may provide temporary respite from the distractions of the outside world, but any stomach rumble or involuntary sneeze will be punished by stares of unparalleled loathing from everyone within a three metre radius.

2. The Forum: Unrivalled in terms of people watching opportunities. Those who attempt to study here must face the perpetual fear of being caught up in an impromptu flash mob or being press ganged into entering a colouring competition to design a gorilla. Deciding to reside here also carries the high risk of ending up on the ‘Spotted in the Forum’ Facebook page, where strangers may feel your appearance / choice of food / browsing habits are noteworthy enough to be brought to the immediate attention of the rest of the student body.

Image Credit: http://www.hw.ac.uk

 3. Amory Study Centre: If the perplexing swipe access doors don’t stump you (who exactly are they trying to keep out?) only the brave will prevail and find a seat here. Keen individuals will arrive early to claim a desk, carefully distribute the entirety of their possessions across it and promptly vacate the area for hours at a time. Carving “See this desk? Mine.” into the table itself would be a subtler way of proclaiming ownership rights.

4. The Sanctuary: Offers plenty of activity space and opportunities to practice sign language with people you’ve spotted on the very far side of the room, but the violent interior décor may provoke epileptic fits or a mild sense of uneasiness. It’s also closed at the moment. Something to do with exams apparently.

 5. Any one of the numerous on-campus Cafés: Nothing like background conversation and the incessant hissing of a coffee machine to act as the perfect ‘white noise’ soundtrack to your revision. You may occasionally have to buy things, but settling down in a comfortable armchair close to a steady supply of caffeine and sugary foodstuffs may help to numb the pain of learning.

6. Outside: If all else fails and there’s really nowhere to sit inside, why not finally make the most of the abundant steps outside the forum? Or exploit the beautiful campus surroundings, settle on a grassy mound somewhere, and quietly befriend a squirrel.

7. The Ram: Ok, I don’t know anyone who’s tried to study in the Ram.

 8. Arena… it’s worth a try.

 

Emily Vine

Revision vs Procrastination

Ben Gilbert, Online Lifestyle editor, levels the playing field and shows that revision and procrastination don’t have to fight dirty.

 
It’s that time of year – exams. ‘Oh God!’ I hear you cry! No? Just me then. Regardless, one word will be popping up again and again. Revision. It’s hard, and no one likes it, but here are five ways to make your revision go a little more smoothly.

Image Credit: dailydoodleproject.com

5 TIPS FOR REVISION

Play some classical music
There is just something about playing classical music that calms me and helps me focus a bit more when I’m doing my work. But then, perhaps it is not the same for you – you may even find that heavy metal does the trick. Whatever your taste, if there’s a track that helps you focus, play it loud and proud!

Find a place where you can work
Again, this can differ for different people. I know a couple of people who love revising in small groups. I like that too – especially when you can bounce ideas around, but otherwise find somewhere that you can be free to work without distraction.

Turn off your phone
Speaking of distractions, my phone and Facebook are killers. Every time I want to revise, one of them calls out to me. So turn your phone off. Log out of Facebook. Maybe even get someone to change your Facebook password, if that helps!

Choose your sustenance wisely
Whatever helps keep you on the ball, eat that. Need that caffeine fix? Don’t skip it. If it helps, abuse it. No need to get ridiculously unhealthy about it, but if you crave a sugar rush to motivate you, then have it. And if you want to go catch a salmon and nibble on that, that’s okay too.

Incentive!
I once saw someone open a text book and place a Jelly Baby at the end of each paragraph – finish reading the paragraph, reward yourself with a sugar-filled edible baby. Couldn’t be simpler. I even saw this done with shots, but that may not help you revise really.

 
But let’s face it, with every planned revision session, procrastination ultimately rears its ugly head. But do not fear it – it could be healthy! After eight straight hours with your face in a book, maybe some time off is just what you need.

5 WAYS TO PROCRASTINATE

What’s that? Sunlight?
Yes, it is now the summer term, and with any luck that sunlight streaming through the window will actually stick around for beyond exams too. There’s no telling though, so drop what you are doing right now and run outside! And after you are tired of that, maybe you could even take your revision outside too?

Go for a run
It isn’t to everyone’s taste, but sometimes going for a run, or going to the gym can be just the right thing to take your mind off everything that is stressful at the moment.
And never mind the scientific proof of endorphin release… I just find it fun.

Oh, there’s a new Game of Thrones episode
Television is your friend, albeit the friend who wants to go to Arena all night before a 9am lecture. And thanks to the magic of the internet, you can catch up on almost every TV programme under the sun! Be careful though – it is easy to lose days to an entire series …

Try something new
Last week, I decided to learn how to play Peter Griffin’s fabled ‘Iraq Lobster’ on guitar as a way of distracting myself from work. I’m not saying you have to do the same, but why not try something new and exciting when you have a break from your revision schedule? There’s a LOT of things going on at university that has your name right on it!

Clean
Time and again, I hear about how everyone’s room’s become miraculously spotless during revision and essay periods. Even people who normally can’t be found underneath their dirty clothes. I always assumed someone was stealing into people’s houses and tidying without them knowing. Then again, maybe it is just another way to procrastinate. You decide.

Ben Gilbert, Online Lifestyle Editor

Crammer's Butternut Squash and Pancetta Soup

Left your revision to the last minute again? Tired eyes from staring at your notes and computer screen in the early hours of the morning? Butternut squash is packed full of vitamin A so help out your eyes and revision with this slamming soup.

Photo credit to nature’s pride

Serves 4. Freezable.

Ingredients

100g pancetta, lardons, or sliced streaky bacon

4 fresh sage leaves, optional

Splash of white wine

50g butter

2 medium onions, finely sliced

3 cloves of garlic, sliced

1 big butternut squash, roughly chopped

1 litre of water

125ml single cream

Equipment:

Chopping board

Small sharp knife

Big sharp knife

Spoon

1 frying pan

Small plate with a sheet of kitchen roll

1 big pan

Kettle

Hand blender

What you do

Chop and slice all vegetables. The butternut squash looks intimidating but it isn’t – the hardest thing about it is that the flesh is tough. To prepare it, use a big sharp knife and cut off the ends. Next, use a peeler to get rid of the skin. Sometimes I microwave the squash for 3 minutes before cutting off the ends because this makes peeling easier, but you don’t have to. Once peeled, use the big knife again to halve length ways. Use a spoon to scoop out the seeds. Finally, use the big knife to roughly cube.

Heat up the frying pan and add either the pancetta, lardons or sliced streaky bacon until it’s crisp.

Add in the sage leaves and stir round. They should sizzle and crisp up.

After about a minute, remove the bacon and sage and place on the plate with the kitchen roll to soak up excess oil.

Fill and boil the kettle.

Return the frying pan back to the heat and add the wine and stir. This should bubble and steam up but keep stirring. This deglazes the pan and picks up all the tasty bacon juices in the pan – also makes it easier to wash up!

Melt the butter in the big pan. Add all the chopped up veg and sweat for about 10-12 minutes. The vegetables should be softened but not coloured.

Add the deglazed wine juices from the frying pan and stir.

Pour 1litre of boiled water from the kettle into the pan – most kettles have measuring lines on them already. Bring to the boil and then reduce to a simmer for 15-20 minutes with the lid on.

Get the hand blender involved. Remove the pan from the heat and liquidise everything in the pan, taking care not to burn yourself / splash it up the walls.

Put the pan back on a gentle heat for 5 minutes. You can add the fried bacon and sage here, or leave as a garnish to top the soup at the end.

Swirl in the cream, season and serve.

 

Still unsure how to prepare the squash? Check out the ever enthusiastic Dani Spies youtube video here!

By Kitty Howie, Lifestyle Editor 

 

Crammer’s Butternut Squash and Pancetta Soup

Left your revision to the last minute again? Tired eyes from staring at your notes and computer screen in the early hours of the morning? Butternut squash is packed full of vitamin A so help out your eyes and revision with this slamming soup.

Serves 4. Freezable.

Ingredients

100g pancetta, lardons, or sliced streaky bacon

4 fresh sage leaves, option

Splash of white wine

50g butter

2 medium onions, finely sliced

3 cloves of garlic, sliced

1 big butternut squash, roughly chopped

1 litre of water

125ml single cream

Equipment:

Chopping board

Small sharp knife

Big sharp knife

Spoon

1 frying pan

Small plate with a sheet of kitchen

1 big pan

Kettle

Hand blender

What you do

Chop and slice all vegetables. The butternut squash looks intimidating but it isn’t – the hardest thing about it is that the flesh is tough. To prepare it, use a big sharp knife and cut off the ends. Next, use a peeler to get rid of the skin. Sometimes I microwave the squash for 3 minutes before cutting off the ends because this makes peeling easier, but you don’t have to. Once peeled, use the big knife again to halve length ways. Use a spoon to scoop out the seeds. Finally, use the big knife to roughly cube.

Heat up the frying pan and add either the pancetta, lardons or sliced streaky bacon until it’s crisp.

Add in the sage leaves and stir round. They should sizzle and crisp up.

After about a minute, remove the bacon and sage and place on the plate with the kitchen roll to soak up excess oil.

Fill and boil the kettle.

Return the frying pan back to the heat and add the wine and stir. This should bubble and steam up but keep stirring. This deglazes the pan and picks up all the tasty bacon juices in the pan – also makes it easier to wash up!

Melt the butter in the big pan. Add the deglazed juices from the frying pan and all the chopped up veg and sweat for about 10-12 minutes. The vegetables should be softened but not coloured.

Add the deglazed wine juices from the frying pan and stir.

Pour 1litre of boiled water from the kettle into the pan – most kettles have measuring lines on them already. Bring to the boil and then reduce to a simmer for 15-20 minutes with the lid on.

Get the hand blender involved. Remove the pan from the heat and liquidise everything in the pan, taking care not to burn yourself / splash it up the walls.

Put the pan back on a gentle heat for 5 minutes. You can add the fried bacon and sage here, or leave as a garnish to top the soup at the end.

Swirl in the cream, season and serve.