Seachain an duine a bhíonn ina thost

Four phone calls just to verify that the patch of grass by the pier (which they insist on referring to as a formal garden) belongs to the Council and that we can use it for a picnic in freshers' week ... Gwynedd Council could work on its user-friendliness.

If you were coming to Bangor in September what kind of thing would you want to know from your SU handbook?

Ah, all moved in at last. We've got great big squishy couches, a big bathroom, a spare bedroom and even an outhouse. How posh are we?

On the downside, we also have a shower which keeps tripping the fusebox switchy thingy meaning we have to run down the stairs clutching our towels and dripping water all over our nice floors. We also have very poor TV reception, although once the landlord has put the wonky aerial back upright and rewired the cable leading into the house (which looks like someone has attempted to splice it to have a wire leading into the spare room but then stuck it back together with duct tape) it will hopefully improve. I also find it a bit odd that in a furnished let the house comes without curtains.

But never mind. As Sam has already said, it is an exceptionally fastidious house. Everything is just so, with people respecting the different-sponges-for-different-things ideal and keeping the bath clean and wiping counters when they're finished. Bliss.

Gosh there's coalitions left, right and centre (and between the three). What an indecisive public we are.

Plaid, the fickle party that they are, are now toying with the idea of entering coalition with Labour.

But what's more interesting is that the Green Party in Ireland is now in government, albeit in coalition with The Nasties (a.k.a. Progressive Democrats) and Fianna Fail. At least The Nasties only have two TDs (Greens have six).

I liked what Ciaran Cuffe was saying about the coalition bringing together pragmatists and idealists; I'm starting to feel quite excited about our new government. The Green Party will be getting two ministries; here's hoping they get Transport at the very least, and ideally Transport and the Environment. We could see some actual investment in these areas; wouldn't that be novel?

Charles was very nice. Lord Ellis-Thomas said "And this is Carolan Goggin" and Charles immediately said "Oh, and you're studying music, are you?" I was very impressed. I'm not sure whether he recognised my graduation hood or whether he had been thoroughly briefed beforehand, but either way it made me feel like he was taking an interest. What a pro.

The foundation stone ceremony wasn't just fun because I got to meet Prince Charles. It was also fun because Sam and I cornered both Betty Williams and Alun Ffred Jones. It was funny, after we spoke to Betty I pointed out to Sam that she still hadn't replied to my letter I had sent her weeks before about the Freedom of Information Bill. But clearly she dashed home after the ceremony, full of guilt, and penned me a letter as my response appeared the very next day.

Alun Ffred looked very squeamish when we tried to get him to tell us what he thought of the rainbow coalition. He really just did not want to talk about it. I was a bit disappointed really; surely his constituents have the right to know what he thinks on an important matter such as this?

Anyway, we couldn't stay much longer because Sam was getting a little squiffy on the buck's fizz they were plying us with (for goodness sake, it was only 11:30).

All of a sudden there's a kind of hush around Bangor. There were lots of parents lurking over the weekend, lugging suitcases and carefully packing all their offsprings' worldly possessions into their nippy and fuel-efficient but terribly impractical hatchbacks. And now there are no students.

At the moment it feels peaceful, a little holiday from having hundreds of people with all their problems queuing up in my waiting room (where Frodo has artily arranged back issues of Seren to entertain the guests), but pretty soon I think it's going to be dull. There's only so long 9 episodes of Green Wing can take to watch.

But never mind, there's always Thursday to look forward to: first Prince Charles, then (and this trumps any other event that could possibly take place this week) my theory test. How embarrassing it's going to be when I fail hazard perception.

I've been itching to tell you all something for a good week or so now but the University has finally announced it themselves so I can say it too ...

I have acheived my ambition for the year.

Prince Charles is coming to Bangor next week.

I had best dust off my sparkly sequined jeans and ivory jacket.