Alarum and despondency

I did manage to produce things for both Robert and I to wear at the Bladelands event. Said event went very well. I am knackered. More another time.

I am alarmed and distressed because I have just worked out (d'oh) that 18th August, the day Clearing starts for ths autumn's university vacancies, is the day before I piss off for eleven days on a campsite in Wales. This is seriously non-ideal. I don't know what to do. I mean, I only want to do English at Reading, so it's not like I have to make big decisions - either there is a vacancy or there isn't. But if there is one on the first day and I apply, I'm then not there to talk to them if they want me for an interview etc. If there isn't one on the first day, I then miss eleven days of possible vacancies which will be snapped up like nobody's business. My chances of getting a place this time round were already slim, and now they look so non-existant that I doubt it's worth bothering my former tutor for a reference. :(

Edited to add: Of course, I could skip the event in favour of Clearing. However, I have been looking forward to this event for months and months, have already paid for it on a block booking scheme (hence no refund possible) and would hate to miss it. If I were sure there would be a vacancy I probably *would* miss it, but I have not the faintest idea how likely Reading is to have places going in Clearing, and missing the trip for the very small chance that I might have the possibility of applying for a place I might not get is not looking like a good deal.

no subject

I have made a plan re. Clearing - thanks for all your helpful comments and ideas, especially riksowden who is quite extraordinarily useful. Rik, I owe you beer, or pie, or both. I've also got most of the way through drafting my email/letter to Jane Shaw (ex-tutor) about a reference. I want to send that off tomorrow. At the moment it's good but verbose, so I need to be a tad more concise.

I spent this evening wandering around Reading with Very Short Pier and a photographer, holding their bags and coats while they all posed moodily in carparks and noisy bars. I had omitted to eat much after the bacon sandwich at 10ish and the slice of cold pizza at 11, so I was ravenous; I am probably also starting period pain. I was not a happy Lucy. I decided to come home and deal with my own food, rather than have funny pub grub on an already extremely dodgy stomach. Robert is drinking b33r and, I hope, having fun. I have rice-with-tuna which is tasty and will hopefully not fuck up my insides any more.

I am, once again, really, really tired.