UCCA and PCAS; gym; new house rabbits

A discussion in the office yesterday of the fees charged by UCAS for making applications to higher education led on to Jude and me (both being over 35) reminiscing about the former system of applying separately via UCCA to universities and via PCAS to polytechnics. My school had a policy of encouraging students to apply to the maximum number of universities and polytechnics, even if a particular student a) knew exactly which university they wished to go to and b) rightly or wrongly, had no intention of going to a polytechnic. Consequently I remember making several applications to polytechnics, including one to Brighton Polytechnic (now the University of Brighton) to do (I think) Librarianship. I didn’t turn up for the interview I was offered and feel that now might be an opportune moment for a formal public apology – I’ve no doubt it’s a fine institution. Perhaps not surprisingly, I think I received a formal rejection letter about a week after the interview date.

Have rejoined the health club that I resigned from last autumn on cost grounds as it has been suggested to me that the cost might be insignificant next to the health and other benefits (viz., less likelihood of being a grumpy cow). Previously I’ve only used the swimming pool (and fun add-ons such as the spa bath and steam room), but thought that to really get my money’s worth (and hopefully tone up a bit) I might give the gym a try. So went for a fitness assessment on Monday evening and spent about 40 minutes being put through my paces by a polite young stripling of a lad – included such things as the Sit and Reach test (a test of flexibility; I didn’t do very well) and a body fat measurement involving having little electrodes connected to your feet. Had gone in feeling reasonably OK about my fitness levels in certain areas, but came out feeling a little deflated having been marked only ‘Average’ on most things. Perhaps it’s a timely wake-up call to start upping the activity levels before the point of no return where old age lays me waste. Etc.

Bunnies

However, the big news this week is that as of this evening, our two new house rabbits, Harley and Lola, are in residence, thereby rounding off our wacky liberal version of the traditional nuclear family. Currently they're both sitting together in the cage they were delivered in, munching bits of hay and looking circumspect. The plan is for them to have the run of the ground floor once they're settled in (and house-trained). Have just taken the photo, with my phone so a bit grainy, and with flash turned off so as not to traumatise them. Am a bit concerned at the moment by Harley's persistent chasing of Lola around the cage in an attempt to mount her - hope this tails off soon once any residual testosterone has with any luck worked its way out of his body. Last thing she needs is to be sexually assaulted while trying to adjust to a new home. Anyway, as he's considerably smaller than her it looks rather absurd.