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A few tips for Fallowfield Freshers
10
Two years ago I was in the position a lot of you guys are now; I was a few weeks away from starting at the University of Manchester. I was ridiculously excited, occassionally nervous, but I couldn't wait for the day to roll round when I was starting my new life. With my Freshers Week still pretty clear in my head, here are a few helpful tips. Take them or leave them ladies and gents!
1. Get up to Manchester as early as you can. If you are the first person to move in in your flat/corridor who gives a ****?! You can get sorted, and do a quick heads up to find the nearest off license/pub. Far better to be up early than be last in.
2. Even if you don't like tea, get hold of a few tea bags, some milk and sugar. When new people suddenly turn up and you meet them for the first time in the knowledge you are going to spend at least a year with them, a cup of tea seems strangely fitting. And that is coming from me, and I hate hot drinks.
3. There is only one thing to do on your first night if you are a Fallowfield Fresher. Try to get a taste for Fallowfield. However it'll be *crazily* busy. I suggest either heading out early, or getting a lot of booze in for a night of heavy drinking and very interesting conversation.
4. Play truth or dare with your new mates at least 3 times in the first 7 days. You are all at least 18 years old... you have a lot of learning to do about everybody so get cracking
5. Get out of Fallowfield! Get a bus to town. Which way is town? Well if you walk out Owens Park gates, turn right. Get any bus heading that way and get off when everyone else does. Feeling really brave? Follow the above instructions but continue to a tram station once you get to the city centre. Being a total Southerner, the only place on the tram ticket machine I recognised was Old Trafford. A few minutes later I was in Old Trafford in an incredibly dodgy pub with a lot of Irish people with shaved heads and tattooed skulls with my flatmates, but the whole event was a Freshers Week highlight.
6. Get up early enough one morning to make it to the Freshers Fair. And if you can, try not to have such a hangover that you get there yet still let the opportunities pass you by.
7. Thanks to mancjunglist for reminding me of the name of this shop! Gaffs is the corner shop from heaven. As you'll learn if you read mancjunglist post a few down the thread, they do dodgy DVDs, cheap ciggys, and they sell drink after hours. It is the only corner shop opposite Owens Park main gate. Learn it's location well - many a night has been saved after poor judgement meant too little booze was acquired originally thanks to this wonderful establishment.
They are all that spring immediately to mind. All you Freshers - you are in for a treat. Relax into what is a freakishly unnatural situation and I can guarantee you will have an awesome time. Don't pass judgement on people too quickly, and don't bring stereotypes from home with you. Stay happy, and stay chilled out. Don't get cross when the 50,000th person asks you what course you are doing, and when 'home' is. When you drunkenly get someone's mobile number, don't save them just under the name you are given as by the end of the week, your new friends James/Jenny/whatever will be mysteries. Add something to the phone entry which will mean you know who they are. Last point - if you are single and are expecting Freshers Week to be a girl/boy fest and it doesn't turn out quite like that for you then don't even think about it twice. A lot of people find pulling easier in the weeks after Freshers when everyone had chilled out a bit more.
Hope to see some of you about. If any of you recognise my face, I'll buy you a drink!
Ted
1. Get up to Manchester as early as you can. If you are the first person to move in in your flat/corridor who gives a ****?! You can get sorted, and do a quick heads up to find the nearest off license/pub. Far better to be up early than be last in.
2. Even if you don't like tea, get hold of a few tea bags, some milk and sugar. When new people suddenly turn up and you meet them for the first time in the knowledge you are going to spend at least a year with them, a cup of tea seems strangely fitting. And that is coming from me, and I hate hot drinks.
3. There is only one thing to do on your first night if you are a Fallowfield Fresher. Try to get a taste for Fallowfield. However it'll be *crazily* busy. I suggest either heading out early, or getting a lot of booze in for a night of heavy drinking and very interesting conversation.
4. Play truth or dare with your new mates at least 3 times in the first 7 days. You are all at least 18 years old... you have a lot of learning to do about everybody so get cracking
5. Get out of Fallowfield! Get a bus to town. Which way is town? Well if you walk out Owens Park gates, turn right. Get any bus heading that way and get off when everyone else does. Feeling really brave? Follow the above instructions but continue to a tram station once you get to the city centre. Being a total Southerner, the only place on the tram ticket machine I recognised was Old Trafford. A few minutes later I was in Old Trafford in an incredibly dodgy pub with a lot of Irish people with shaved heads and tattooed skulls with my flatmates, but the whole event was a Freshers Week highlight.
6. Get up early enough one morning to make it to the Freshers Fair. And if you can, try not to have such a hangover that you get there yet still let the opportunities pass you by.
7. Thanks to mancjunglist for reminding me of the name of this shop! Gaffs is the corner shop from heaven. As you'll learn if you read mancjunglist post a few down the thread, they do dodgy DVDs, cheap ciggys, and they sell drink after hours. It is the only corner shop opposite Owens Park main gate. Learn it's location well - many a night has been saved after poor judgement meant too little booze was acquired originally thanks to this wonderful establishment.
They are all that spring immediately to mind. All you Freshers - you are in for a treat. Relax into what is a freakishly unnatural situation and I can guarantee you will have an awesome time. Don't pass judgement on people too quickly, and don't bring stereotypes from home with you. Stay happy, and stay chilled out. Don't get cross when the 50,000th person asks you what course you are doing, and when 'home' is. When you drunkenly get someone's mobile number, don't save them just under the name you are given as by the end of the week, your new friends James/Jenny/whatever will be mysteries. Add something to the phone entry which will mean you know who they are. Last point - if you are single and are expecting Freshers Week to be a girl/boy fest and it doesn't turn out quite like that for you then don't even think about it twice. A lot of people find pulling easier in the weeks after Freshers when everyone had chilled out a bit more.
Hope to see some of you about. If any of you recognise my face, I'll buy you a drink!
Ted
Reply 1
A lot of really sensible advice there-especially get out of Fallowfield and don't think that the city is just Oxford Road. You are going to be in an amazing city with so much to offer you. Explore it and enjoy yourself. Whatever you want Manchester can offer!
Reply 2
Tednol
7. Need some help from current Fallowfield students with this one... what is the shop which sells booze well after reputable shops have stopped? Aftabs? Anyway, regardless of it's name, it is the only corner shop opposite Owens Park main gate. They will also sort out any dodgy DVD needs you may have. Learn it's location well - many a night has been saved after poor judgement meant too little booze was acquired originally thanks to this wonderful establishment.
7. Need some help from current Fallowfield students with this one... what is the shop which sells booze well after reputable shops have stopped? Aftabs? Anyway, regardless of it's name, it is the only corner shop opposite Owens Park main gate. They will also sort out any dodgy DVD needs you may have. Learn it's location well - many a night has been saved after poor judgement meant too little booze was acquired originally thanks to this wonderful establishment.
Gaffs
Although you have to ask for the DVD list now, they don't just keep it lying around the shop and by the end of last year you had to do a lot more persuading to get them to serve you after hours.Reply 3
Tednol
A few minutes later I was in Old Trafford in an incredibly dodgy pub with a lot of Irish people with shaved heads and tattooed skulls with my flatmates, but the whole event was a Freshers Week highlight.
Ted
Ted
Ahhhh. the good auld irish
Good post, thanks for the info.Reply 4
Tednol
7. Need some help from current Fallowfield students with this one... what is the shop which sells booze well after reputable shops have stopped? Aftabs? Anyway, regardless of it's name, it is the only corner shop opposite Owens Park main gate. They will also sort out any dodgy DVD needs you may have. Learn it's location well - many a night has been saved after poor judgement meant too little booze was acquired originally thanks to this wonderful establishment.
7. Need some help from current Fallowfield students with this one... what is the shop which sells booze well after reputable shops have stopped? Aftabs? Anyway, regardless of it's name, it is the only corner shop opposite Owens Park main gate. They will also sort out any dodgy DVD needs you may have. Learn it's location well - many a night has been saved after poor judgement meant too little booze was acquired originally thanks to this wonderful establishment.
I think you're talking about Gaffs the greatest off license in the world....its a very special place, they do a litre of vodka for 6 quid, a brand new dvd for a fiver (three for twelve quid) and best off they do knock-down price malboro lights...at the counter just ask for twenty specials and they get them from under the counter and there 3.50 a pack (they only do this after 6pm tho)....
It got raided by the police about a month before the end of the second semester but it didnt really acheive anything....
it normally takes freshers at least a month to learn the wonders of Gaffs so now you must all go forth and spread the good news....
Reply 5
mancjunglist
I think you're talking about Gaffs the greatest off license in the world....its a very special place, they do a litre of vodka for 6 quid
damn how comes i have never heard of this place?
Reply 6
Tednol
OP
10
mancjunglist
I think you're talking about Gaffs the greatest off license in the world...
Gaffs! Thats the name. That had been bugging me at work all day...
Reply 7
good stuff, what date does manc freshers week start?
Reply 8
19th sept
Reply 9
oh yes, for the win! ill still be in manchester at this time and so will be able to benefit from all the little freshmen hotties walking around. saaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaafe
Reply 10
14
wow great thread.. thanks!
Reply 11
Tednol
OP
10
One more point which may be of help to those of you who get to Manchester and realise you have forgotten something for your flat/house. Fallowfield Shopping Centre is a pretty miserable retail experience on the whole with the highlight being a large Blockbuster and a Pizza Hut. However it does have a weird shop which sells everything from ironing boards, to towels, to rubbish bins, to mirrors... you get the idea. It's pretty cheap and cheerful, and for you Fallowfield people I reckon it'll be the closest place to pick up things you might have forgotten.
Regards where this place is - once you explore Fallowfield you'll come across some crossroads which are pretty much in the centre. There is a bar called Glass made out of... glass on the crossroads but you'll notice them. If you stand at the cross roads with Manchester city centre behind you, take the left road. Walk down it, past the Armitage Centre, then turn left at the bottom by a petrol station. Fallowfield Shopping Centre is on the right.
Regards where this place is - once you explore Fallowfield you'll come across some crossroads which are pretty much in the centre. There is a bar called Glass made out of... glass on the crossroads but you'll notice them. If you stand at the cross roads with Manchester city centre behind you, take the left road. Walk down it, past the Armitage Centre, then turn left at the bottom by a petrol station. Fallowfield Shopping Centre is on the right.
Reply 12
never knew about any Fallowfield Shopping centre!
I'm round the corner from Robos next year, so i'll not be far away! will have to have a looksie!
(Gaffs is the best place ever by the way)
I'm round the corner from Robos next year, so i'll not be far away! will have to have a looksie!
(Gaffs is the best place ever by the way)
Reply 13
Tednol
OP
10
Babyshambles
never knew about any Fallowfield Shopping centre!
I'm round the corner from Robos next year, so i'll not be far away! will have to have a looksie!
(Gaffs is the best place ever by the way)
I'm round the corner from Robos next year, so i'll not be far away! will have to have a looksie!
(Gaffs is the best place ever by the way)
Round the corner from Robbos sounds like a cracking spot. I'm round the back of Lloyds which should be a good spot too! Better than behind the bastard toast rack anyway.
Reply 14
we were really lucky to get the house...we left it really late, and all the houses we saw before it were really bad...but we were getting a bit desperate, and almost ended up taking a crap house miles and miles down Mosley road!
glad we he held out though!
glad we he held out though!
Reply 15
Tednol
OP
10
Babyshambles
we were really lucky to get the house...we left it really late, and all the houses we saw before it were really bad...but we were getting a bit desperate, and almost ended up taking a crap house miles and miles down Mosley road!
glad we he held out though!
glad we he held out though!
Glad you found somewhere good. Your little avatar picture of Henry Hoover cracks me up... reminds me of Richmond Park. Just thought I'd share that with you!
Reply 16
heh heh! we used to have a Henry in Pankhurst...for about a couple of months, then our cleaners for some reason downgraded us, then again, until we had a completely ancient one that basicially didn't work...then they took that away and we had nothing! 
it was as if the cleaners wanted to save all the work for themselves or something!
it was as if the cleaners wanted to save all the work for themselves or something!
Reply 17
Great advice, thanks i'll make a mental note of that!
Reply 18
Tednol
However it does have a weird shop which sells everything from ironing boards, to towels, to rubbish bins, to mirrors... you get the idea. It's pretty cheap and cheerful, and for you Fallowfield people I reckon it'll be the closest place to pick up things you might have forgotten.
au naturel is here, it is an awesome interiors shop that sells lovely finishing touches like cushions and throws and stuff. i got a nice little watering can there, which serves no purpose but looked nice on my window. its dead cheap and you get a student discount, and they sell loads of really cool cheap jewellery!
there is also a shop that was poundstretcher but is now something else, which i loved for the plethora of cleaning materials on sale. i got the best brush in the world there, scrubbed up the rugs in my house a treat.
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