This evening, after I suggested, Big Richard, Andrew, Julian and Little Richard went to three pubs to have a meal out to end the year.

During the evening we were having many deep conversations on different contreversial topics. I really enjoyed the evening. But for a moment, at the Flemming Arms, my mood changed.

I walked into the toilets to relieve my bladder, when some random gentlemen I had smiled at earlier followed me in. It turns out that he just wanted to talk.

I have no idea why it happened, but we ended up talking about life, and the experiences one MUST have in life. He was 60 and enquired about what I was doing and where I was going in life. From the age conversation, we ended up talking about travelling. I brought up a couple of things about my trip to South Africa. He was talking about one of his friends who'd been in ZA during the apartheid. He asked if I had come across any anger or predudice whilst I was there.

I proceeded to explain about how Laura got her hangbag and contents stolen by some of the black guys from a rough area. But what he said back to me really made me think. I don't remember his phrasing, but I came away deep in thought about how I've become acostomed to thinking about the bad in everything first. I'm always quick to recall the bad and not quick enough to think of the good.

He gave me a "lecture" about life, and experience. It would be boring for me to repeat the things he said to me here, but the way he phrased things and the points he made really affected me.

But what I wanted to basically mention was that when I sat back down after talking to this man, the conversations we were having without our student group seemed to lack any meaning. The things we were so worried about and arguing over really don't matter. Not in the big picture.

Perhaps life is just there to be enjoyed. To be honest, I'm becoming tired of deep though all the time I'm awake. I think I'll just be happy to end up not regretting missing any experiences I've ever dreamed of.

So here's to a wonderful three days in Sheffield with Catie and friends. See you soon.