Something nice and something very very odd...

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I spent too much today, all on useful stuff though. The main thing was a proper camping rucksack, twice the volume of my everyday one which i'd realised was not going to let me carry ten days worth of stuff (even extremely pared-down stuff) in an easily-portable form. (let alone waterproof) This one looks like it will hold my sleeping bag as well as more frivolous stuff like clean pants, dry socks, washing stuff and whathaveya. It is bloody weird to wear though, the bag bit comes up behind my head and the straps feel like wearing a bulletproof vest. Unfortunately that isn't a built-in feature, maybe they should make special ones for protests... Also got some blister-proof socks (horrid memories of the last big anti-capitalist demo i went to in Washington a few years back, after which i was wringing blood out of the socks i'd been wearing and had to take my shoes off at work for the next week to avoid being distracted by the pain from my endless round of phone calls - anyway, i'm unwilling to expose the delicate backs of my ankles, for all that they should be like tinfoil by now, to being stomped around Edinburgh on a hot day without some protection!), a little flashlight (not as good as my big maglite for self-defence, but way easier to carry around) and some re-usable sanis. (ew, hope i don't have to use them while camping, or at least that i get to wash them. and yes, i know i should make my own, but this is easier...)
I've resolved to lose one and a half stone by the start of term, if only so as not to scare the new ickle first years. Also to be able to fit behind my desk.