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From Cleopatra to Coffee Breaks (and a Little Confusion in Between)

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Edited by Nikole Karissa Gaye, Saturday 11 October 2025 at 21:38

Ah, a day off from work — or as I like to call it, my “study day.” I’m an FE LSA by trade, a mature student by madness, and a mother and wife in between. Today’s grand plan was to be productive.

Armed with a mountain of notes, a questionable amount of caffeine, and the determination of Cleopatra herself, I’ve spent the morning analysing how the Egyptian queen ended up flogging soap in a Palmolive poster. I mean, this woman bathed in milk — hardly the modern face of moisturising bubbles! Still, I managed to pull together some half-decent thoughts between trips to the loo. (Note to self: six cups of coffee may technically count as hydration, but your bladder disagrees.)

After my 87th walk to the bathroom — hello, 10,000 steps before noon — I switched modules to Mary, Mother of Jesus — quite a gear change. From seductress to saint, I’m not sure my caffeine-addled brain was ready for the contrast.

By mid-afternoon, I was feeling virtuous enough to consider a reward. I typed “book gym session” into my phone, but somehow ended up with “gin session” instead. Honestly, the phone knows me too well.

Still, despite the caffeine shakes and confusion, I’ve actually had a productive day. Cleopatra sold her soap, Mary kept her halo, and I kept my sense of humour — just about.

So yes — I may have spent half the day pacing, over-caffeinated and slightly delirious — but I learned a lot, got my steps in, and somehow managed to laugh my way through it. For a mature student on a study day, that’s what I call success.

Until next time — may your coffee be strong, your notes legible, and your autocorrect forever on your side.


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Stormy Skies & Study Vibes: A Cozy Uni Prep Day

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Today is the definition of a slow and steady study day – and honestly?... I’m not mad about it.

With Storm Amy howling outside like she’s got a personal grudge against roof tiles, I made the executive decision to stay tucked up indoors, firmly planted under a blanket, flanked by two snoozing dogs, and glued to the spot in front of the fire. At 5 ft 2, there is no way I am risking getting swept off into the sky like some academic Dorothy.

Instead, I have decided the blustery weather is the perfect excuse to dive into something a little less chaotic: my university welcome pack.

Welcome Pack Wonders

I finally had the time (and brain space) to properly flick through the orientation materials – and I have to say, it all started feeling real in the best way. Reading about what’s to come, module breakdowns, support services, and study tips made me feel more excited than nervous. Okay, slightly more excited than nervous.

Material Girl in a Study World

After taking some notes (colour coded, of course – we’re keeping the vibe organised), I made a checklist of everything I’ll need:

  • Core textbooks (one already ordered, the rest sitting patiently in my cart)

  • A few academic journal links I’ve bookmarked for later

  • My trusty day-to-a-page diary, now with post-it flags marking key dates

  • An unhealthy but necessary amount of highlighters including glitter ones, because let's face it every girls needs some sparkle.

There’s something so satisfying about preparing without the pressure to perform. Just a warm fire, a hot cuppa, and the occasional tail wag thumping against my legs.

Little Wins & Big Feels

Even though I wasn’t knee deep in assignments or lectures today, I still feel accomplished. Sometimes the quiet, slow-paced days are the ones that actually build the strongest foundation. A little reading here, a little planning there ... and suddenly, it all feels less overwhelming.

And hey, if I managed to resist the pull of an afternoon nap with two dogs curled around me like living hot water bottles, I can do anything, right?


Here’s to the calm before the academic storm. And if Amy could chill out too, that’d be great.

Until next time – stay warm, stay dry, and remember: progress doesn’t always have to be fast-paced to be meaningful.

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Rainy Days, Flashcards, and Lap Dogs: The Glamorous Life of an Adult Learner

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you know what's romantic in theory?... A rainy day.
You know what's slightly less romantic in practice? A rainy day when you’re behind on coursework, your highlighters are on strike, and your 5-kilo dogs have decided your lap is now their full time residence.

Today’s study session started with real ambition. I made coffee, lit a candle (because adulting with ambiance is still adulting), and opened my laptop like a focused academic warrior. Within 90 seconds, one dog had claimed my lap like a Victorian fainting couch, and the other was busy rearranging my highlighters with her nose. For feng shui, obviously.

Meanwhile, the rain outside wasn’t exactly helping. The soft pitter-patter on the window was less “motivational study soundtrack” and more “why don’t we all curl up and pretend the real world doesn’t exist?” My dogs were very on board with that plan. One is currently burrowed into a blanket with the intensity of someone evading tax fraud.

And yet...there’s something kind of perfect about it all.
Sure, I’m trying to commit adult level content to a brain that still forgets why it walked into the kitchen.
Yes, my dogs are treating my lap like a chaise lounge in a Parisian spa.
And fine, I did just realize I highlighted an entire paragraph in pink and yellow and now it looks like a popsicle meltdown.

But I'm learning...
They're cozy...
The rain is doing its moody background soundtrack thing.
And honestly? It feels like a little moment of calm in the middle of adult life chaos.

So if you're also an adult learner today, with a pile of notes, a cup of coffee going cold, and two tiny dogs supervising your study session from your knees, know that you're doing amazing. Your dogs believe in you. (Well, they believe you might open the fridge soon. But still.)

Keep going. Rainy days were made for focus, fluff, and forgiving yourself for re-reading the same paragraph four times.

Studying is hard. Tiny dogs make it better. Rain makes it cozy. And yes, naps happen.

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