Back Home

After a long 2-day journey in the car, going through germany, luxemburg, and france to england I arrived back home this evening.

I hope friday night was good for everyone. Unfortunately, I was dead due to exhaustian from packing all afternoon, and so did not get to see all of you before you left. I did come down and see as many people that were left, and was even visited in my room as I was finishing packing. However, despite all that, I still enjoyed myself, and wish you all the best for the following year - wherever you may be. I definitely will remember this year as the best one I've ever had, and will never forget any of you.

Signing out for tonight

Last entry from Germany

Not wanting to say very much (I know that's very unlike me) I thought I'd just inform you all that this is my last day at the Uni here in Mainz. Tonight my parents are coming to pick me up and we return tomorrow morning to the beautiful country that is England.

Therefore there is a big party in Hechtsheim tonight. Everybody is invited (although I have to draw the line at the police), and if they could bring a bottle it would definitely be a good thing.

In the possibility that I don't write anything on this site for a while, don't fret. It takes a couple of days to get back home, then I've got to unpack, but I will be here again beforenext wednesday.

Hope everyone else that's leaving after me has a good trip, and we'll see each other soon.

And if you haven't given me your contact details, write them in the form that is on the "Email" page of this website.

Signing out.

Sooner than some people would want, I suppose, but here I am

OK, a very brief summary, as you will find out I don't have a lot of time today. There is a picnic in Sudbahnhof which is probably happening right at this minute. I will be getting down there as soon as I've collected my schein. Tonight there is a cocktail evening at Ethel's place, with guest appearance from her mum. Last night Mavi came round and cut my hair again. Send your condolences/congratulations to her/me now.

And onto some news:
A catholic priest has managed to clear someone from a murder charge in America by claiming that someone else confessed to the murder 16 years ago. There will almost certainly be an appeal, but that's not the end of it for the priest. In doing so he has sacriliged the art of confession. It seems like an interesting topic, so say what you think.
It has also now been proven in Japan, that 30 minutes of passive smoking harms your heart, giving it spasms and stopping it from functioning properly for a while.
So do you think smoking should be banned inside all public buildings? Find out in the new poll section.

You may notice that I'm quite busy at the moment, and so don't have a lot of time to write here. This is because I am leaving on saturday morning for the good old UK.

I do, however, have time to read emails and messages in my guestbook. Also I'm managing to keep up to date with the news. Speaking of which, I would like to bring your attention to a nwe virus/worm that is circulating the net. It is very clever, and it's for that reason that I'm talking about it here. It's called Sircom, and it only requires a windows machine for it to infect it. Also, because the name of the file and message randomly changes, it is quite hard to track down. The best way to avoid it, as always, is not to open attachments from anyone you know unless they refer to them in the email, and the email looks like it has been written by them. Anyway, more detailed information can be found on the link above.

As a total surprise Blanca is back here until the 15th of August, so if you're around come and see her again. People are leaving tomorrow as well (eg Elisabeth) so better say goodbye before it's too late.

Well that's me done for the moment. I'll be back again soon.

Now you will definitely be wondering what I'm still doing on the web. Not too long a story, so here goes:

Whilst leaving the ZDV, I met Geir on his way in. I duly summoned him to give me some help with the problem I was having with my guestbook. He put me in the right direction, and after a few trial and errors, I came up with the result that is now linked to under "Guestbook".

So, after my 12 hour stint in front of this computer, I think it well and truly time that I leave this building and try to get some colour into my skin once again.

Website Update

OK, you may not know this but I've just been in the uni computer room since 8.30am on a saturday, and it is now 5.15pm.

What have I been doing, you may ask?

Well, I've been changing the site behind the scenes that it works a bit better, and is less reliant on Mainz Uni. This is important, as when I leave to go back to the UK I will no longer be able to use anything on the uni website. Nearly everything has been changed now, just the guestbook to go.

I have also bee implementing the project that Geir and I completed. You will not see the effects of this until it is completely set up, but keep your eyes peeled, it'll be up within a week.

Also, as a new feature I have a poll section. This means, that each day I can put up a new question for visitors to my website to vote on. The example one asks if this is a good idea. If you think so, I will improve it and change the questions on a regular basis.

OK, my brain's been drained now, got to find some sunlight.

Job Search

Due to his previous company going into receivership, my dad is now currently looking for work. If you are interested, or know someone else who might be, please forward a copy of his CV and covering letter to them.

Yesterday saw the farewells directed towards Sofia and Rebecca when we went out to have a drink. Starting off as Geir, myself and them two, we were soon to be joined by Laurent. We did a short pub crawl, yet drunk enough for a long one. Well, Sofia will be back at her home now, having eaten a roast dinner cooked by her mother. So I don't think she'll be missing any of the german food then.

Slowly piling up my stack of 'Scheins'. Today I was presented with the particle-detectors one, as well as my Dutch one. Only another two to go (and a little work for one of them).

However, tonight we have the semester-end party in the Muschel and the medicine students party in the Studihaus. So we should have a great time with the people that are still around.

Anyway, being slightly pressed for time, I will endeavor to return tomorrow.

Byeeeeee.

Sleeping and leaving

Got to bed at a reasonable hour last night, only to wake up at 11am. Seeing as my last spanish class started at 12, I quickly got ready and left. Whilst waiting for a bus to take me to uni, I bumped into Sandra who told me about a factory that had caught fire close to the Wohnheim. The police came around with loudspeakers at 5am telling everyone to shut their windows and doors to prevent the toxic fumes from coming in. However, seeing as I, along with lots of others, slept quite well without hearing any of this, our windows were left open.

Well, it's time to say goodbye to a few people this week. Sophia and Rebecca both leave on thursday and friday respectively, Laurent disappears on friday as well, as does Pili.

Slowly the circle dwindles until it is no more.

One last thing. On the 20th-22nd July there is the 3rd annual beerfestival in Mainz, so if you're in the area, pull up a stool.

It was Diana's birthday on saturday (26), and so after having a bit of a birthday party at her place we then went out to the Mainzer Kollege Bar for the evening. Fun was had by all.

Well, seems like everybody is busy revising for exams, and desperately trying to finish off their essays to hand in this week, so nothing much more to say.

Todays events

Woke up today very early to try to finish one of the books, and read the other one on the tram. Talk about last minute revision. Had an oral exam on Friedrich Dürrenmatt at 9am on Friday 13th. Great. In fact, it was. I got a 1,0 which is the highest grade there is. Anyone ever feel like they are studying the wrong subject???

I even ate some nice food in the Mensa !!!
But that's where the day stopped being good to me. But I'm not going to spoil things and say why it went bad after that.

This will be the last weekend here for some of the erasmus students (including Sophia and Rebecca). So there should be some celebrating/mourning going on tonight.

Monday should see Geirs and mine web-project come into being.

Small but perfectly formed

This entry is only to say that people are suddenly realising how little time they have got left here, and are desperately trying to finish off all their necessary work before the week is out. Of course this means there are also exams, of which my german one is this friday (13th) at 9am, which should be fun, especially conisdering I haven't read the book about which I have to talk. Never mind.

On another note, there has been a sudden spurge of cases of Legionnaire's disease in Murcia, which, if you had see all my photos, was a place that I visited on my trip to spain this year. The disease is said to be pneumonia like, but carried by polluted water. Well, considering the smell that wafts up from the river in this city, I'm not surprised.

Anyway, going to try and get some work done.

Just to keep you updated, I had a great time in Munich, despite no-one coming on the saturday to meet up with me.

Also, it seems like there is a big problem in the email messaging system, and I reckon that no-one understood my last email (even the bit that said if you wanted it in your own language) so I will have to do something about that. Also, I get back to Mainz only to wake up this morning with the biggest hay-fever symptoms ever. My eyes and nose have been giving me nothing but pain all day. Anyway, enough of my moaning (ok, one more - I can't log into my email account today to check any messages).

Hopefully tomorrow will bring better news.

End of work and Coincidences

So I just came up out of the bunker that was the MAMI. It is presently being disassembled to make way for a better set of magnets. After spending a good 10 minutes cleaning my hands and getting all the grime out of my hair, I am now a free man. Yes, that's right, I have now finished all the necessary hours for the month of July, and therefore for the rest of my contract. At last I can rest a little during the week in the knowledge that I won't have to get up too early.

Last night was the Fiesta Latina at the studihaus. It could have been good, but I wouldn't know, as I had to get up early this morning. IInstead I went out to the cinema with Mavi. Originally intending to see Lara Croft, but ending up getting there too late, we went instead to have an ice-cream in the town. Walking along to Schillerplatz we sat down on the benches (usually used for the drunken old men to leer at the people going by during the day), and were chatting, when a man came up to us. Without spending too much time I suddenly realised that this man was in fact my head tutor of physics of my university (birmingham). It was quite a surprise too see him there, especially as we were not originally going to be there. Coincidences are always happening. The thing to think about is - are they just coincidences, or is fate having a go at organising your future. You decide.

This will probably be my last entry until monday when I come back from Munich. Should be fun. Have a good weekend.

What a load of Crepe

As mentioned before, last night I made some crepes. Not just a few, but a lot. I even managed to eat one :)

Despite the amount of work and exams people have got, we managed to get together once again and enjoy an evening of eating and drinking before we were forced to get some sleep to be able to get up for those 8am lectures.

Tonight sees the Fiesta Latina in the Studihaus, but it doesn't seem like many people can make it, as they have exams the next day. I have got to work at 8am, so that'll be me out for the count as well. I'll probably just end up going to the flicks.

A few interesting stories in the news today:

Even though the SE of the UK are having a 29° heatwave, in the west they have had huge storms and lots of rain, with cars being abandoned.

Also, apperntly new evidence shows that STDs can be transmitted through oral sex as well. Check out the info here.

And one last piece is that engineers have figured out why wind turbines don't work well at high speeds - the bugs get stuck to the blades.

that's all folks.

My Name

I am not going to continue to complain about nobody replying to me, except that geir was the only one who did, and he requested his email in icelandic. Now I've got problems as I only know one phrase in that language, and it's not the most polite of ones either.

On another note, it has been brought to my attention that some company has now bought up the rights to the domain www.marcuslloyd.co.uk, which makes it a bit annoying for anyone to find me in the search machines.

But, looking at their website, they seem to be saying some very nice things about me:

"Marcus Lloyd is able to work with clients at any stage of their Internet marketing campaign"

"From entry level online brochures to full-fledged e-commerce centres, Marcus Lloyd has worked with some of the largest corporations in the world to develop Internet marketing programs which yield results"

...commitment to quality and service has led Marcus Lloyd to a reputation among the top in this still fledging industry"

So now you know what other people think, why don't you tell me what you think?

Anyway, got to go and get some more stuff for the crepes tonight.

Surprise, Crepes and a bit of News

Well, despite a lengthy, thought-out, intellectual and mentally stimulating email to update visitors about this website, I have received a total of 0 replies, which even I, in my pessimistic capacity, didn't think would happen. So what's up? Did no-one receive this email? Or does no-one have an opinion? Or maybe you didn't understand it? If so, send me an email saying that you would like it in your own language and I will sort it out. That's what a nice guy I am :)

Another reminder about the Crepes evening tomorrow. People are invited to arrive from 10pm, having already eaten dinner, and bringing along something to drink (soft drinks are allowed as well). I will be slaving away in the kitchen until the wee hours of the morning helping to fill you up with some ingenious new concoctions that are crepes. So make sure you get off work/school/sofa on time and get yourself over to room 1145, building 4 of the Wohnheim Hechtsheim.

And finally, a brief look into the the world as it is today will inform you that the Co-op chain of supermarkets in the UK are taking on the might of the EU about the size of peaches. Yes, it really is that interesting.

So, tuck yourself up tight in bed tonight, cos tomorrow you ain't gonna get no sleep :)

Advance notice that on wednesday I will be doing crepes at 10pm, and you are all heartily welcome (although you are invited to bring along drinks).

That's it.

Last batch and Latest News

No need to hold your breath an longer, the rest of my photos from Rome have now been put up. I might have taken a bit of time, but as you can see, it has been worth it. Also, there are photos from Osnabrueck, more from Haarlem, and also ones from my trip to Berlin.

As mentioned before there was a big party here on friday night. We descended on it and kept it company until the light hours of the morning (6am for me). We had a great time, and although I didn't have much time to take any photos, the ones I do have should be quite interesting.

Well, as it's a sunday, I reckon I deserve my rest.

So that'll be goodbye from me.