What was your full name?

(NAME) (NAME) (NAME).

(NAME) (NAME) (NAME).

And how old are you?

Nineteen

Nineteen

Both nineteen (pause) How do you know each other?

School friends

Yeah

And drama buddies

Yeah drama buddies and school friends.

So how long have you known each other?

We've known each other well for about three years now

Three years, yeah

Three years now. Did you know each other before? Or?

I -- I'd heard of a name

(laughter) I think everyone had heard mine

(laughter)

Um, so which was that you knew each other through school?

Yeah

Yeah

Whi- Which school was that?

St Cuthbert's High School.

Oh right, is that?

A good Catholic all-boys school

Yeah. In the people's republic of Benwell.

(laughter) Yeah

(laughter) I had to go to a Catholic School, not all boys though. (laughter)

Good

So is that close to where you both lived? Or?

Um, I got a taxi there every morning that was about ten, fifteen minutes

Oh right, okay

About a six minute bus ride for me.

Okay, um, so whereabouts did you live?

Up Westerhope, it's right the west end of Newcastle

Oh right

(unclear) Westerhope (laughter)

(laughter) Ah, I just live in Gosforth, it's basically (pause) um (pause) ten minute drive from Jesmond.

Oh right, ok.

All Newcastle students live in Jesmond

Yeah (laughter) (interruption) they're all in Jesmond.

(interruption) (laughter)

(unclear) in the city

Was it a nice area, where you lived?

Yeah where I lived yes, I'd say it was.

Yeah mine is. There's some places you wouldn't go (laughter)

(laughter)

(laughter) It's the same with everywhere really. Um, so did you both enjoy school?

I loved school.

Yeah

Absolutely loved it. Um (pause)

Why?

Because, we, we got away with all sorts.

(laughter)

Really?

Yes way. Um. Like, um there was this one teacher who we all despised and someone who shall remain nameless just wrote on the blackboard in massive block capitals so-and-so is an absolute so-and-so.

(laughter)

No-one has ever, he never got found out.

Really?

(unclear) Um, never -- never, not know

Bit of a hero then

Take that secret to the grave.

Yeah. (laughter)

(laughter)

Except when you tell me after this.

(laughter)

How about you? Any funny stories?

I've killed, nearly killed three teachers

Really?

'cause, did Athletics (interruption) and were doing (pause) No, Discus and hammer.

(interruption) (laughter)

(interruption) Javelin?

And I was there with the discus and the guy went 'how far can you throw that' and was standing about thirty five metres and went 'I don't believe you.' 'I can.' 'Er, I'm going to stand here on thirty metres', regretted that when he ducked about ten seconds later.

Really?

(laughter)

(laughter)

Brilliant. My er PE teacher always used to tell us how we always had to behave when we were doing javelin because 'she didn't want to be the one ringing our parents and then telling them that we, that their kid wouldn't be coming home tonight'. And that kind of thing. Huh, all a bit over the top (pause) So, what were your favourite subjects? At school.

History.

History. And you?

Physics.

Least favourite?

Physics.

(laughter)

Art.

(laughter) Art.

So not history? (laughter)

Ah no, I did AS-Level history and I'm big into my history as well.

Ah right.

What did you get in that? What did you get in that?

B.

Retard.

(laughter)

Did you get an A?

Yeah.

Woooo

(laughter)

So, is it a big school?

Umm, (interruption) thousand?

(interruption) you'd think (interruption) thousand people all together and that's with the sixth-form attached to it.

Just boys?

Just boys, yeah

Oh that is a lot.

But there's an all girls school just down the road

Yes!

Oh right

So

Tense

So, any inter school rivalry?

No just inter school relationships

Lots.

Inter school relationships?

Yeah, my girlfriend's from that school.

Oh right

And I'm infamous at it, for various reasons.

(laughter)

Why?

They do a joint musical at the end of year eleven and thirteen

Oh I heard about this

And I got into quite a lot of trouble just most days.

(laughter)

(laughter)

They would find broken stuff on the floor and stuff and I wouldn't even be in the room and they'd come find me.

Oh

Just 'cause they knew it was me

Oh, huh, never mind. What was the uniform like?

Um, maroo- for like year seven to year eleven it was maroon blazer and maroon tie, white shirt, optional jumper, black kegs, black shoes.

That's not too bad.

Sixth-form is basically that except you've got (interruption) black and blue tie, black blazer and then you -- you

(interruption) black

Had the option of various colour shirts

Yeah (laughter)

Oh really?

Yeah

Did most people just wear white?

Um

Blue was sort of

Quite a lot

Blue, wore blue

Oh really.

Blue was more the colour of choice

Oh right, must've looked quite smart.

Sorry?

Must've looked quite smart.

Yeah. Well

That was the intention.

Yeah.

The school I went to we just wore a white polo shirt and a horrible green jumper.

Ugh

It was disgusting (pause) Um, (cough) so what kind of hobbies and stuff did you used to do when you were younger?

Um, well (pause) my and my dad as a single entity would play football.

(laughter)

(laughter)

(laughter) Yeah obviously like being in (interruption) the chair it's a bit hard

(interruption) Yeah

He sort of like just carry us like

Really?

I'll always remember like when erm 'cause when you're younger most of young lads have football parties.

Yeah

So my and my dad would usually just run around holding me playing football.

(laughter)

So, when I got quite fat that got a bit tricky.

(laughter)

But erm so but erm I like football obviously

Yeah

Nineteen ninety seven, I had a Playstation. Er that was, that took up a lot of my time. Erm

What's (interruption) your favourite game?

(interruption) Still does.

Ah, on the PS-One it's got to be er Metal Gear Solid.

What's that? Metal Gear Solid, oh Yeah.

First one.

Fair enough.

I just cannot live without it. Still play it now. (unclear)

I was an N-64 fan, but, mm.

Yeah, oh aye I had an N-64 and a PS-One

Both?

I have still not played

(unclear)

I still haven't played Goldeneye on

Ever?

On the N-64. No

Definitely my (interruption) favourite game ever.

(interruption) Favourite game

(laughter)

(laughter)

Erm, so yeah then did you from your PS-One, did you move to the PS-Two and PS-Three?

Of course of course. Erm, I'm getting, I'm getting an X-Box 360

(sigh)

I'm sorry.

Oh no.

They're much cheaper! And, and I've heard they're much better.

PS-Threes are much better

X-Box live is quite good, it's probably better than the PS-Three online.

The PS-Three online is probably worse (interruption) than X-Box online.

(interruption) Yeah

But in terms of graphics and stuff.

It feels like you're flying a plane with an X-Box, (interruption) the controller's so big.

(interruption) Yeah

Mm Yeah, erm so Yeah, computer wise, how about PC games?

Erm Rome Total War and Medieval

Ha, my younger brother has those.

Yeah?

Yes, I've got those as well

Imperial Knights.        yes!

(laughter)

(laughter)

(laughter) Any football games? Like Football Manager?

I'm er

Oh, I'm an addict. Haven't got the new one

Erm Pro Evo two thousand and ten

Oh right

Hm. I'm more of a Fifa fan.

Oh man, you scumbag.

Really?

Ah no, Fifa's much better.

No -- no.

(laughter)

Pro Evo's the best. Oh Fifa, only got good (pause) has only really got good

Yeah

Er Pro Evo

Recently.

The last couple of years.

Yeah. It's got good

I agree.

(unclear) Newcastle top of the league, Andy Carroll top goal-scorer on Fifa. No arguments about that.

Can't complain.

I love playing (unclear) when I'm absolutely (unclear) goal difference of like one hundred and thirty six.

Yeah, that's not bad.

(laughter)

(laughter)

So are you both big Newcastle fans?

Yeah.

Huge.

Huge.

Huge.

I used to work there.

Did you? What did you do?

I was a barman.

Oh right.

Erm, don't get to many games 'cause of work and stuff and other interests but whenever I go it's, I love it.

Yeah?

Yeah, I was a season ticket holder for six years (interruption) before started working there.

(interruption) mm. Oh right.

Erm, like, you just have to see what it means to like the people, 'cause you know the derby was recently?

Yeah.

Five one, (interruption) just, five one, five one.

(interruption) Yeah.

(laughter)

Sorry, erm.

(laughter)

Yeah, so erm it's just like outside The Gate erm so.

Aye -- aye, went to that one.

(unclear) was wild.

I was in town while the game was on

Really?

And it was empty

Yeah

There was (interruption) no-one in town.

(interruption) it was, it was.

Everyone was in

I was, I was working, that was the last game I worked.

Really? What a way to go

And I got, I got warned by the bar manager next door to my box 'cause he could hear us chanting and cheering.

(laughter)

'Aren't you meant to be working?' (pause) 'Yeah I am.'

That must be one of your best Newcastle memories

It was, but I went to the last, the last derby when we were in the Premiership.

Oh right, cool. I don't remember that.

I think it was two nil, it was like one

Two

It was Keegan! Keegan was still here

What was that, that was two one with (pause) I think someone stupid like Martins scored

(laughter)

(laughter) Someone ridiculous like that.

Yeah

Before everyone

Martins -- Martins or Luque. No it wasn't Luqu -- Luque.

Luque scored in the four one where it was Shearer's last ever

Yeah

Game.

Yeah

'Cause I've got a photo of that with just

Yeah

Running up, taking the penalty, just about to hit the penalty, the ball hitting the back of the net, and the keeper diving

Yeah

Just those three things.

No, but I went to the two one (pause) game against (pause) with Keegan with my brother and like I don't know how I got out alive.

Yeah.

I remember just police everywhere.

(laughter)

And apparently they were sent to the station on match-days and

Ah, I was caught in that, in the last derby.

Really?

Well not the five one, the two one. I was caught in the middle of that, wandered out aged like seventeen, having a pint after work kicked off, I'll go get another one, just sat back down.

(laughter)

(laughter)

We're not leaving there (pause) Ah, I don't know. One of the first memories I have is Bobby Robson's first game where we won eight nil.

Oooh

And Shearer scored five.

Oh oh oh

Really? Who was that against?

Sheffield Wednesday in nineteen ninety nine.

(laughter)

That's a long time ago.

(laughter)

No but like Newcastle get a lot of stick but (pause) like in terms of, I know it's not that much of a gauge of success but in the formation of the Champions League, when was it formed?

Champions League?

Nineteen

That must've been four, ninety four

Four

Ninety five.

Yeah like

Because it was the European Cup

Maybe it was before

When

No

AC-Milan won it early nineties

Yeah

Didn't they? And they were like the last winners of the European Cup

(unclear)

Yeah and so if you take, sort of, the years from that until then we have had like quite a large presence in it.

Yeah, well, when you had Bobby Robson

We're only one of like six English teams to score more than a hundred goals in Europe or something

Yeah

Ah, there we are

Still

That's a good little stat.

Europe

He's much more on stats than I am.

(laughter)

Well, what, we must be like one of only (pause) four or five English teams to have actually won a European trophy, like a major one, not the Inter Toto.

(laughter)

Yeah (laughter)

Fairs Cup in sixty nine

(laughter)

(laughter)

Moncur hat-trick over the two legs against Budapest.

(laughter)

You know your stuff. You do.

(laughter)

Yeah.

I'm a Tottenham fan so

Good weekend for you

Enjoying yourself at the moment

Yeah, loving that Arsenal game.

(laughter)

Europe's a new feel, (laughter) not used to it, the Champions League. It's all good (pause) Right, do you follow any other football teams? Or just Newcastle?

Uh

Uh

Probably, I'm Rangers a bit (pause) and I usually have like one team in a country.

Right.

Like I quite like Barcelona and AC-Milan

Yeah

Who was it? Monaco, until recently, but, stopped that

Yeah

Just 'cause I've lost track of them.

Why did you like Rangers? Why do you like them?

(pause) It, It's not 'cause of the Catholic Protestant thing.

(laughter)

It's just I remember watching them when I was younger and I saw a couple of Rangers games and a couple of Celtic games and I preferred the way Pr- Rangers played football.

Oh right.

I thought they played better football so I started watching them 'cause it was more enjoyable.

Gascoigne used to pretty handy back in the day

Yeah

Gazza! (pause) Yeah

What do you think of Paul Gascoigne?

Oh, don't

Um

He's an interesting one like.

(laughter) 'Do you want some chicken?'

Yeah (laughter) do you want some chicken.

Did you hear about that? (laughter)

Yeah.

'Moaty, I've got some chicken'

'Moaty, it's Gazza, he won't shoot me' (laughter)

But like, it's the stupid things, like the Facebook group, I reckon

Yeah.

Gazza should go in and get his wife some fishing with the fishing

Yeah

Rod and a couple of tickets

Like that event fishing with Gazza. Ohh.

(laughter)

Um, it's sad, it's sad because

Hm

He was such a talent in Italia ninety

Yeah

Before that. Um (pause) Interesting anecdote here um my dad has got this friend who works in Italy who teaches Italian and like

Yeah

He gave Gazza, sorry, he gave a journalist a tip off that Gazza was going to be a star.

Yeah

Like, everyone in Italy basically rubbished this guy

Yeah

But then obviously

Yeah -- yeah

He had an absolute blinder.

Yeah

And so, yeah, but

He was at Tottenham before that, don't forget. (laughter)

He was at Newcastle before that.

Yeah (laughter)

The days of Waddle and Beardsley as a youngster.

Yeah

Chris Waddle, posh Geordie.

(laughter)

Oh no, yeah -- Yeah, b- but it's so sad because if he had sort of care that

Yeah

Ronaldo has now, he wouldn't have

It was more his friends rather than anything

Hm, yeah, but he still needed that care

Well it's 'cause his friends, he was very impressionable and his friends led him

Yeah

Astray. Which is

Do you think there's any parallels between Gascoigne and Carroll?

Carroll's let fame go to his head, and I this because I know people who used to play him when he was younger and his half-brother plays for my football club.

Oh really

Yeah and he said the moment he signed a professional contract he went 'Oh I'm going to be a big Newcastle player.'

Yeah

So, he just needs to start controlling himself.

Yeah

The players are quite like that though aren't they, like I think

Yeah

Especially in Newcastle.

I mean

It's hard, you give a nineteen-year-old five even just five grand a week

Yeah

Which in terms of football is nothing

Yeah

And you're there going 'Um, I have three thousand pounds to spare'

Yeah

Yeah

'Pub?'

Yeah (laughter)

Yeah, and like and got criticised for sort of having a go at Joey Barton for, did you see it when he erm punched um

Pedersen.

Yeah

Yeah

I got, I got sort of um criticised for that and saying 'oh it shows he's passionate and you call yourself a Toon fan'

Yeah

And I'm like 'Yes'.

It's not passionate

That's just violence

It's just underlying aggression

Yeah, like, the problem is like he doesn't need to do it, Barton is an exceptional

No he's not.

Well not exceptional.

He was, he was up to this point of the season

Yeah

He wa- he was up to this point of the season

Yeah

He had that talent and he's

Yeah

(unclear)

Yeah

But like people go 'Barton smacked Gamst Pedersen'

Yeah

'in the chest' and you go 'oh that's violence off the ball'. Cattermole's been sent of three times this year.

Yeah

For Sunderland.

Look at De Jong on Ben Arfa.

Yeah

Yeah

De Jong in the World Cup on Alonso, but Cattermole almost broke Modric's leg for Tottenham.

Hm

Yeah -- yeah

And

Yeah

Nothing said about that

Cattermole could be sent off every game he plays.

Yeah

Quite early

He's a little runt. I hate him

(laughter)

At least still Barton does still put a tab out in your eye, it's nothing

(laughter) yeah

(laughter)

Have you seen that Facebook group when when posed with a problem in my life I think what would Joey Barton do. (laughter)

Oh yeah what would Joey Barton do (laughter)

That's a bit controversial (pause) (laughter)

I just hope he's not on Facebook.

(laughter)

I loved his tache.

What?

Barton's tache.

Oh yeah

Yeah

(laughter) Looking more (unclear) it's so filthy

Yeah (pause) wouldn't shave it till Newcastle won

Oh for the love of God.

Yeah

I think it's the only time like hairdressers and stuff started watching football.

(laughter) (pause) So (pause) Tom you're doing history?

Mm-mm

At uni. Have you always wanted to do that?

Yes well from about when I finished year ten

Being a superhero doesn't count by the way

(laughter)

Ahahahaha! (pause) So from like the end of year ten I always I thought this is what I wanted to do at uni, so

Yeah

It's how it is.

What made you want, want to do it?

Erm (pause) (cough)

A teacher? Or?

There's only (pause) two really good History teachers in our (pause) erm school

(NAME) and

(NAME).

Ah Yeah.

Yeah I'm not, don't worry, (NAME)'s a pile of       .

(laughter)

(laughter)

Er

Saw him at Gateshead the other night

Did you?

The only teacher about

Yeah, Rick Astley

Yeah

Yeah

Rick Astley (laughter)

Yeah he looks like Rick Astley

(laughter) he's a dead ringer. (laughter)

(laughter)

Oh

No but

Except he looks like Rick Astley aged twelve.

(laughter)

Unfortunate.

Yeah

No but erm, at well, eh, a teacher called Mr (NAME) and if I was to say Henry the Eighth, I think he's one of the most enigmatic historical figures ever.

Oh

And sort of, I knew when we did the Tudors in A-Level so I thought, come on.

And how about you?

Chemical Engineering.

What got you into that?

Well, since my dad works there I've been there since like aged six and it's always just seemed really interesting.

Oh right

And also, well the main one was I came in, in with my dad one day like during the school holidays, so he could look after us, went up to this guy and went 'err what do chemical engineers actually do?' And the best answer to give a nine-year-old is 'Well I can't tell you because I've er signed the Official Secrets Act but I blow stuff up'. 'I want your job'.

(laughter)

(laughter)

So your dad works at the -- the uni?

Yeah

Newcastle?

Yeah

How long for?

M- (pause) think he's going on about twenty odd years or something

Oh right

It's the same for my dad at school.

Oh right.

He's been there for like, must be about twenty five years.

What does he, so is he a teacher?

Yeah, he's a teacher. But what's funny is he went there before.

Oh really.

Yeah so he's basically been at the school since

Did he go to uni in between?

The Dark Ages

Yeah he went, he went

(laughter)

Yeah pretty much

(laughter)

I mean, yeah he went to Hull.

So he went, so he was at the school then uni for three years

Yeah

And then went back straight back.

Yeah

He must love it there!

Yeah

(laughter)

Quite a few teachers who do that

Aye

A lot of teachers who are old pupils

Right.

Really?

Yeah

It's not the case with the school I went to. They're all from all over the place (pause) And what does your dad teach?

Italian and French.

Oh right. Nice.

Yeah.

And your mum?

French and Spanish. (laughter)

Really?

Your mum teaches Spanish?

Well, well to be honest she doesn't teach Spanish, she speaks Spanish.

Oh right.

She teaches French, but like so when I said I wanted to do History, they were obviously a bi sort of sad like but they didn't mind they didn't mind.

What your brother's doing law isn't he?

Yeah. He wanted to do Law and French but there was like three sort of French people who had applied.

Oh right.

So, they were like always

Didn't have much chance

He's at Oxford as well so

Yeah

Oh right

Yeah, so.

How old is your brother?

Um, really should know this

He's two years older than us

Yeah twenty one. (laughter)

Do you have any other brothers or sisters?

No -- no.

I've got one younger sister who's in

Have you?

Yeah.

(laughter)

She not Catholic!?

Set Tom up.

Sumo (laughter)

(laughter)

Argh.

(laughter)

That was a joke by the way

(laughter) For the record

(laughter)

Er lower sixth.

Oh.

She's er English, she's more like English subject orientated rather than science

Oh right.

She does Geography, History, and two English's.

Oh right, that's pretty similar to what I did.

Yeah

So, surprising that you don't live in France, or Italy, or

(laughter)

Spain, or somewhere really. (laughter)

Well, erm, I've been to like Italy and France like I've lost count of how many times I've been.

Do you go on holiday there?

Yeah. It's always the same, it's the same

(cough)

But I've been very lucky because I've been to America four times

Ah really

Which is

On holiday as well?

Yeah, which has been        epic!

(laughter) Where's?

Sorry I shouldn't swear

No it's all right, it's fine don't worry.

(unclear)

You've got license to swear

Excellent, excellent. Erm what did you say?

Where's your favourite place?

It's got to be Rome.

Right

Rome is

'cause of Rome Total War? Or?

(laughter)

(laughter) No, er I just like all the history

(unclear) and conquered

Aye (laughter) Aye -- aye can't       

(laughter)

(laughter) erm, no erm. No but like the city has got all the history of like the Pantheon

Yeah

The Colosseum. Erm, obviously the Vatican City.

Oh, I've never been to Rome but I've been to

Ah it's beautiful

The rest of Italy.

Sort it, sort your life out.

Okay.

(laughter)

(laughter)

Possibly this summer actually, going inter-railing so might go there.

Oh.

How about you? Favourite place?

It's s- er, in the South of France near Bordeaux there's a town called Saint Emilion

Ahh

Which is quite famous for wine and stuff but it's very

That rings a bell.

I've been there. I've been there. When I was very

But it's quite like a medieval city and it's got like the massive church tower there's like its dominating feature but we went on like a night-time tour of it.

Oh wow.

So we were like in the bell-tower at midnight

Yeah

And stuff

Sounds good.

And like it's got, it's got massive catacombs and stuff under it as well, it's just, it's really exceptional place to go.

Where else have you been on holiday?

I've been (pause) we went to the South of France for about five years in a row then we've been to Normandy, I've been to Germany with the school, Berlin, and I've been to

When was that? Germany with the school.

Year ten.

      .

Did you miss out? (laughter)

(laughter)

I, I only still gone, I wasn't a German student and went on it. Historically relevant.

Ah, you little

And they let me get away with that

Little swine.

(laughter)

But we then Portugal (pause) once and the Menorca and Gran Canaria then I've been on quite a few holidays like in Scotland and in England.

Oh right. Okay. So anywhere in the world where either of you really really want to go that you haven't been?

(pause) Actually I went to India as well. I forgot about India (laughter) as you do.

(laughter) That's a big one. (laughter)

I went on a three week trek there with school and stuff. I don't know probably Rome. Rome's one that's always taken my fancy.

I'd love to go to either Moscow or Saint Petersburg

Yeah

Because I'd, sorry I know I sound incredibly geeky, er but Russia today is sort of so changed from from like the post

Yeah

Collapse of the Soviet Union, and I just, I just want to go and just get a feel of the place. And if I could by some dastardly means break into the Soviet archives

(laughter)

(laughter)

That would just like, that would just like be heaven for me

Yeah (laughter)

Heaven for me, none of this like Cheryl Cole naked stuff

(laughter)

(laughter)

Soviet archives (laughter)

I'd love to see you just sneaking round trying to be subtle.

Yeah. (laughter)

(laughter)

(laughter)

I'd be like Blofeld

(laughter)

(laughter)

I think you and my brother would get along, he's

Yeah

Got all books on the Gulag Archipelagos and

Wey-aye man!

Stuff like that

(laughter) (unclear) (laughter)

Be like a kind of mission on Call of Duty.

(laughter)

(laughter)

Have you got the new one?

No, I haven't got Black Ops yet.

It looks amazing.

The advert looks amazing.

Yeah

The music on the advert

About to say, Assassins Creed, just come out as well

Ah that

And like the adverts' pass out vibe

(laughter)

(unclear)

What?

Yeah

Do you, did you play the others?

Ah yeah I've completed the other two games

Yeah, they are good

(pause) Any game you get the chance to beat the        out the Pope

(laughter)

(laughter) Really?

Yeah, that's the last mission, beat the        out of the Pope. You don't even kill him you're just beating him.

(laughter)

(laughter) From a Catholic school it's good -- good to see.

(laughter)

(laughter) I'm not a big fan of the Pope. He was in the Hitler Youth for God's sake!

Hm?

Yeah

Did what?

He was in the Hitler Youth for God's sake!

Yeah

Yeah but that wasn't when it was kind of voluntary

I suppose.

Controversial figure. (laughter)

Yeah

What did you think about all the money spent on his visit?

(pause) Was it last month?

The thing, is the Vatican really a state? (pause) That sure like.

(laughter)

Erm, so not sure about that at all

No comment

I don't know I think it was a good thing 'cause I think someone pointed out that we're spending that much money but the money generated was something like twice that.

Oh really?

So like, yeah the money that, where was he? Like Glasgow and (pause) somewhere

Yeah

Like a couple of cities and he's, they've estimated the amount of money they'd get in from tourists and hotels and little things like that would be twice what we paid.

Yeah

In expenses, so

Oh right

In the end it was probably worth it.

Yeah economically (pause) So what, what kind of modules are you doing then, are you, are you both first or second year?

I'm second. He's first, I'm second.

Yeah I'm first Yeah. Fresher.

Fresher. How was Fresher's Week?

Oh it was epic, out every night, I was out before, three days before, then fresher's week, then out two nights after and

Fresher's week and a half

Yeah. Awesome, messy.

What, what halls are you in?

I stay at home.

Oh you stay at home, right.

Save costs and I don't think, I'd be unlikely to qualify if (interruption) I was in halls

(interruption) Fair enough Yeah, first year the work load's not too great, which is lucky I think, would you say?

Well

Second year is for me

I've got

Second year, yeah, it's horrible.

Second year is awful.

I've got five assignments on at the moment.

Really?

Yeah.

Oh maybe that's

That's the amount of essays I had to write in the year last year

Yeah, I didn't have to do much.

They don't let up on, I think nine till five every other Monday, nine till two, eleven till one, nine till five, nine till five.

Really? (pause) See, I'm, I've got twelve contact hours a week (pause) I think

Yeah

Lots of reading though.

Yeah (pause) I've got to read twenty books for one module, all over four hundred pages each.

God.

Chemistry book which is about that, I think and I just got given to them.

God.

But like, for me, I've got for one module next year where I've got to read fifty books.

Really? Is that a module that will last the whole year? Or?

No, one semester.

Woo

I'm not looking forward to finals.

Which module is that?

Um, well, basically I've got, there's a book like this which is best part of say, it's the best part of (pause) (unclear)

Really?

So like this book is on the history of the twentieth century

Yeah

So like, I've got to have like different sources for each thing it raises.

Really?

So that's going to be hell.

Do you have to do secondary reading on top of that as well?

Yes -- yes.

Gutted. Aren't you lucky?

(laughter)

Shut up.

Do you enjoy it?

love it. Love History.

Why?

I want to be a historian.

Oh right (pause) On Soviet

Yeah, yep (unclear)

Doctor (NAME).

Shut up.

Sound like a Bond villain.

Yeah (laughter) do actually (laughter) yeah

There's Doctor No so it's not

(laughter)

Yeah (pause) no, yeah but like, that's going on like our intellect at like year seven

(laughter)

So that was

Really that's our level of intellect in year ten. (laughter)

Yeah

So, did, do you do quite a lot of sport?

Yeah (pause) at school I did athletics, football, rugby, rowing, basketball, badminton, tennis, swimming

Did you play?

Cricket.

Did you represent the school in all of those?

Yeah. Held the school rowing record, stupidly, er, Northumberland for rugby and athletics, er, trials for cricket and football

Oh

And got asked to play for Northumberland for badminton and tennis but I didn't have the time.

(laughter) I can imagine.

Oh and Newcastle for swimming.

Wow! Are you from a sporty family or?

My dad did a bit of football, my dad played football, the club I play for now, and he did like the odd bit of running when he was younger but nothing deadly serious.

So who, what's the club you play for now?

Called Rutherford over in Gateshead.

Oh right. They good? Is it a good standard?

They're, I think the first team you get fifty, sixty pounds a match

That's quite good

So it's a decent enough standard, but I've been injured for, I've been out for nine months.

Oh really?

'cause I've got dislocating shoulders, so I've had an operation on my right one and I'm having physio to probably have an operation on my left one.

Oo, sounds painful. So what, do the just dislocate when they feel like it? Pretty much?

Well it's usually little actions set them off like there was a stupid time I went to do like a slow motion punch to my friend as a joke and it popped out and it took four hours to go back in.

Ah, that's horrible (pause) What position do you play?

Upfront mainly, I've been like top goal-scorer in Gateshead for like the last three years now.

Ah wow

I started out as a centre-half, I played

Aaahhhhh

Oh, I'm sorry Tom

(laughter)

(laughter)

(laughter) It's all right I've just heard this all before.

(laughter)

(laughter)

(laughter)