I have now been at the art school for about a couple of months. It’s not going so bad inasmuch that I have, at least, not been massively down, but It’s a rocky road and all that. I seem to be keeping up with the work albeit at a slightly slower pace than others. It’s a little hard making friends with the second years since, predictably, they have all already clubbed together into their own little cliques. Many of those I knew in the first year have,besides, I think, grown somewhat accustomed to my absence. So it is sometimes very lonely here, the more so since I live on my own. A lot of the time I get the feeling no one gives a damn about me in this damned place. Too bad.

I probably shouldn’t be so introverted all the time and should try to ‘reach out’ to people more, or something, but I am too shy and cannot say how much I dislike imposing myself on other people. Hopefully in the future I will live to look back on these sad recent years in a more positive way. ‘erhaps one day you will enjoy looking back even on what you now endure.’ (from Vergil’s Aeneid: ‘Forsan et haec meminisse iuvabit’ (I Love Latin, don’t know why))

Anyway, it is my birthday soon, which at least is something for this miserable _______to look forward to. I know what you’re thinking: what do you get the man who absolutely nothing will make happy? (Aooks and tools mostly)