A Letter To My Younger Self.

A company called Earnest is encouraging people like me to share advice I would have for myself back when I started University. It's fair to say i've been through a lot between the ages of 19 and 22, and whilst I don't think 'wise' is a word that would ever be used to describe myself, I know i'm definitely wiser. I don't have any regrets, and wouldn't change any decisions I have ever made, but i'd love to go back in time to just give myself some reassurance.

Me, Anya & Emma, on holiday in Mallorca, a few weeks before I started 1st Year.

So if I could write a letter to my 19 year old self, what would it say?

Dear Pre-University Me,
Get ready. Because you're about to enter the weirdest and most roller-coaster-ish 4 years of your life, and you won't even recognise yourself at the end of it (that's a good thing).

You're going to meet a hell of a lot of new people, but remember, you're all in this stress-inducing experience together. You'll meet people that are nice, mean, judgy, helpful, kind, funny, annoying, intelligent... But the most important thing to remember, and something you're going to struggle with for the next few years is just to be yourself, who cares what anyone else thinks. You're going to get judged whether you like it or not, so at least let it be whilst you're enjoying yourself.

Remember that everyone is different. No one is the same. You won't find another human being who treats you exactly how you treat others, so if someone's a little frosty or maybe a little over-enthusiastic; cut them some slack. They're not you.

Make the most of absolutely everything. Even the rubbish bits. Embracing the rubbish bits make you appreciate the great bits. And making the most of the great bits just goes without saying. Nothing lasts forever so appreciate what you have whilst you've got it.

STOP SPENDING YOUR MONEY. Somehow I don't think you're ever going to get a handle on this, but you can at least try. Learn to budget. Stop spending your money on food and stupid stuff you'll like for a week then forget about.

And for gods sake, don't leave assignments to the day before. There's nothing worse than getting a stress on when you've done an all nighter and you're hyped up on coffee with 600 out of 2,000 words done. Just learn to manage your time better and stop having Netflix marathons.

Annabel

Earnest's student loan refinancing page is a great resource for information on paying off loans and financing for University!

What the Sherlock?!

*Spoiler alert!*

Okay so last time I was this shook after a TV episode it was Game of Thrones' Battle of the Bastards. After watching Sherlock's The Lying Detective I just couldn't resist writing another excited, adrenaline-fuelled post.

After scrolling through Twitter minutes after the episode had finished, the #Sherlock mentions had already blown up, it was crazy. Theories were flying around left right and centre, the Sherlock fandom had gone into complete and utter meltdown. Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffatt had finally ruined us. I'll admit, the first episode of this season I wasn't impressed; I found it difficult to follow and just generally didn't have a clue what was going on. Then this episode started, and I began to feel the same. That was until around halfway through. Then shit hit the fan and things got real interesting. It was a bloody brilliant episode, possibly my most favourite one yet. I'm not going to go into a synopsis of the episode because chances are, if you're reading this then you've already watched it, and if you haven't, don't read any further.

Pretty much how the entire Sherlock fandom was feeling after that emotional rollercoaster.

Here's a few theories that i've seen flying around. I'm not taking responsibility for these theories or claiming that they're mine, they're just what I have seen flitting about the Twitter-verse.

1. Euros is Moriarty in disguise.

Let's think about this for a sec. Sherlock had already encountered "Euros" in a disguise. Surely he would have recognised his own sibling? Yes she was disguised but with a wig and some contact lenses. I'd still recognise my sister if she changed her hair and put some glasses on. I just don't find this one very credible, there are too many plot holes with it.

2. The Power of 3.

"There must be something comforting about the number 3. People always give up after 3." Just when I had lost all hope of series 4 getting exciting (or understandable), Sherlock says these beautiful words that have stuck with me since. I seem to be seeing the number 3 everywhere. 3 Holmes siblings; Sherlock, Mycroft and now Euros. Who's to say there isn't a fourth? Is Euros just a means to cover up Sherrinford? And if so why is Sherrinford being protected?

3 episodes a season. To me it seems like there is a lot to be tied up in one more episode. Could Gatiss and Moffatt have the last laugh and watch us all completely lose our shit when we find out there is a fourth episode? I believe it's possible, there just seems to be too many loose ends, and whilst they love to keep us hooked on a seriously annoying cliffhanger, I think due to the extremely long waiting period we'll have, it won't be such a big one. So we'll see, just something to think about.

3. Moriarty is alive.

We saw him blow his brains out. I know we were all blown away with Sherlock's miraculous return, but we saw that from John's point of view. They had clearly thought through an escape clause with that one. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love the character Moriarty and I love Andrew Scott bringing him to life, but I just don't see this one being feasible without him getting a ridiculous story like it was someone in a mask.

4. Euros works for Moriarty.

Well she did use his infamous catchphrase, "miss me?". So I believe this to be possible. Why else would she have a reason to stalk and trap John? At the very end of the episode we also hear Euros talking to a third person "he's pulling a funny face, i'm going to put a hole in it". Who is she talking to? Could it be another radio device like the ones Moriarty has already used in The Reichenbach Fall?

5. Sherrinford is actually a place.
In past episodes, he/she has only been referred to as "the other one" which was by Mycroft. Since, the name Sherrinford has been used with very little context. With the way the name has been used, it's totally believable that the characters are referring to a location rather than an actual person. Have you seen the trailer where a house bursts into flames...?

6. We already know what 'The Final Problem' is...
Wasn't it in Series 2 Episode 3 that Moriarty was talking to Sherlock in 221B and asked him what the final problem was? When Sherlock replied that he wasn't sure, Moriarty replied "I've already told you". At that moment in time we were assured by the end of the episode that it was that Sherlock needed to die. But what if it's bigger than that?

Something else for you to think about...

Mycroft Holmes

Irene Adler

Sherlock Holmes

Sherrinford Holmes

Moriarty

Euros Holmes

We all know Mycroft loves a good acronym...

Literally me losing my shit during and after the episode.

I could go on for days about the endless conspiracies and theories. But I suppose all we can do now is sit and wait for everything to unravel. I for one, can not bloody wait.

Special mention to Hudders who was the real MVP of the episode, the absolute Queen of sass.

Annabel