Reggie the Snowman's Christmas Adventure

When Reggie the blow-up snowman was rescued from his Poundland prison by Meg Drewett, Overlord of the Snowmen, he had no idea what an adventure lay in store for him.

Wanting to show him the world beyond his Sidwell Street home, Olivia and Kitty took him on a Christmas journey around campus that he would never forget…

Reggie began his journey in the A&V hub…

He then stopped off to check in at his new part-time job at Kitchen Deli: “Snow me the money!”

 Even though he’s only been on-campus for a day, Reggie already has a keen bunch of study buddies in the Terrace!

Being a snowman is hungry work, and what better place to stop off for a tasty iceberg-er than the Ram?

After drinking the Ram dry, Reggie was snow-ballin’…

A slightly more sozzled Reggie was distracted by the pretty Ram Christmas tree lights. Come on Reggie!

An Exeter snowman through and through, Reggie checked himself out in a stylish Exeter beanie!

Being the only snowman on campus can be lonely so Reggie went to the Adv-ice Centre for some help.

Feeling once more proud of his snowy heritage, Reggie admired the delightfully festive Forum.

Though Reggie is a great student, he is often getting sl-hushed for talking in the library.

Reggie loves to help people out: “It’s n-ice to see you!”

For a cool guy, Reggie sure has a warm heart.

To Reggie’s surprise, it turns out that campus isn’t just a winter wonderland but is amazing all year round!

He really wishes he had brought his b-icicle along though!

Reggie was snowboard waiting for his washing to finish.

Reggie loves a good ice-shelfie!

Presents are important to little Reggie. Let’s just hope he doesn’t find a lump of cold in his stocking…

Of course, no day with Reggie would be complete without reading Exeposé showing that he is snow-flake when it comes to supporting his favourite student rag.

After a long day skiing around Exeter’s campus, it was time for a nap for Olivia, Reggie and Kitty.

Look out for Reggie around campus this week to take an ice pic-k with Exeter’s favourite snowy guy.

 

Olivia Luder, Online Editor and Kitty Howie, Lifestyle Editor

With thanks to Meg Drewett for the loan of Reggie…

Do you know any awesome wintry inflatables? Let Exeposé Lifestyle know on twitter, on Facebook or in the comments below…

ECWS: The Sculptor – Peter Tse

Exeter’s Creative Writing Society continue to impress as Peter Tse submits yet another beautiful poem…

The Sculptor

My friend crafts ice sculptures,
a daily struggle with science,
with cold irreconcilable facts:
Ice thaws at 0.1 degrees;
actually at anything over zero.
For scientists that’s zero to the power of whatever,
For my friend it’s removed from the arctic room.

I’ve seen him poised in concentration,
beads of sweat falling, despite the cold.
Take that science.

They are gorgeous, glinting in the light,
but to touch them is to ruin them.
It numbs your fingers too.

Once they’re done, served their purpose,
he melts them down himself.
Days to make, moments to finish.
There’s no sign left of his endeavour.
Except for the perfect image in his head,
in the recesses of his memory,
soon to be his sub-conscious.
Where science keeps its distance.

By Peter Tse

The Snow Child – Eowyn Ivey

A Russian fairy tale adapted for adults: our Senior Reviewer, Edward Seymour, tells us his thoughts on what he’s read this month. Based on a Russian fairy tale, read on to find out what out what he made of Eowyn Ivey’s “The Snow Child”…

It’s the end of February and I’m pleased to report that my new year’s resolution of reading a new book every fortnight is still going strong. Having read another two books this month I’ve chosen to review Eowyn Ivey’s The Snow Child. With all the snow which blanketed the country in early February it seemed like a topical choice!

Having worked for nearly a decade as a reporter for an Alaskan newspaper, The Snow Child was Ivey’s debut novel. The beautiful yet brutal setting of 1920’s Alaska is really the book’s protagonist, Ivey’s love for the place where she lives is obvious in her writing. When Jack and Mabel sell their share in the family farm, gambling everything on a small homestead, they hope to find an escape in the icy stillness of the alpine landscape from the memory of the child they lost many years before. But as the couple face up to the prospect of their first arctic winter it seems the past sorrows they hoped to leave behind have followed them north. Jack struggles under the weight of the farm work whilst Mabel is unable to break free from her own despair. When the first few snow flakes begin to settle the two momentarily forget their heartache, taking time to build a snow child.

In the morning the snow child is gone, and Mabel spots a young girl with ice coloured hair in the woods surrounding the homestead. The young girl, who reveals herself as Faina seems at home in the wilderness, hunting alongside a fox and thriving in the inhospitable conditions. Jack and Mabel learn to love the girl as their own, but as the sun returns to the ice choked valleys they fear she will leave as the snow melts.

The novel is based on a Russian fairy tale, ‘Little Daughter of the snow’ and in many ways the book seems like a fairy tale written for adults. Darkness and sorrow crouch in the corners of the long winter nights and Ivey does not create the happily ever after that is expected of fairy tales. Yet through this sorrow Jack and Mabel are able to finally find what they were looking for when they made the move to Alaska. This story moves at the speed of the seasons of the land in which it is set, and as a result the beauty of the place is brought to life in the book’s pages.

By Edward Seymour – Senior Reviewer