I am writing this post at 5am, having just got home from work. I have now finished my final shift in this bar, the thought of which overwhelms me with happiness. I will be transferring home to a different bar over April and will then return to Edinburgh having handed in my resignation. Knowing that I don’t have to go back to a job I detest is an incredibly liberating feeling. After 7 months in a job that challenged me and exhausted me, I can now turn my full attention to my studies. I have learnt a lot in this time – mainly that life is unfair. Working hard to pay for my degree has given me a sense of great integrity and I am proud of myself for sticking it out and not relying on ‘The Bank of Mum and Dad’. Although I still have a month of bar work ahead of me, it is wonderful to know that certain chapters can now be closed. Spring is here and the sun is shining on Edinburgh.
March began with one of the most exciting cinema events of the year. The Oscars were as fun and infuriating to watch as ever and it was a great motivator – plus, a celebration of the years biggest and, arguably, the most influential films. Other highlights of March include suffering through Lars Von Triers terribly flawed Nymphomaniac and only yesterday I witnessed Jonathan Glazer’s Under the Skin; an ambitious and inspiring film with several flaws but a lot of merit. (My review of Under the Skin is coming up this week). The best film I’ve seen this month is Wes Anderson’s triumphant The Grand Budapest Hotel. I saw it twice in fact, and I loved it even more on my return. One of our most challenging course-screenings this month has been Pasolini’s Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom. It has certainly been a diverse and unusual month of cinema.
With March came a trip back home to Lancashire. Having a full five days to relax in the company of my family, and some of my closest companions, allowed me to ease some of my anxiety. As much as I am enjoying my course I am also finding it very frustrating and challenging. Sometimes I feel like I’m drowning in all the film philosophy. If this year has taught me one thing it is that I am clearly not a philosophical person; never have been and never will be. My anxiety revolves around my difficulty to break into the real depths of the academia I am studying and writing about. My course has been part of an exciting and unexpected adventure but I am almost relieved I only have one more week of lectures. I am ready to write, graduate and start my life outside of education.
As far as Edinburgh goes, well it’s as romantic and seductive as ever. A recent weekend was spent with my best friend, with whom I scoured the city, discovering the likes of Bruce Munro’s Field of Light and the charming Panda & Sons. One to one time with one of the most important people in my life was not only fun and relaxing but helped me to see the bigger picture and feel excited about getting out into the real world. This time next week I’ll be packed up, ready to head back to Lancashire for a month. For now, I’m ready to get away from the city – just for a little while. Now that my lectures are over I am ready to plunge into my thesis work, which will be with me until the end of Summer. I can’t wait to head back home for a wee while but, knowing me, I’ll be pining for Scotland’s capital after a matter of days. Aye, nae bother.
Thanks for reading and let’s all keep supporting our beloved film industry.
Hannah McHaffie 