FAMILY AFFAIRS

Ok so I didn't get into halls because they're oh so popular but it's fine, I live in a lovely house that's in walking distance from Uni and loads of our friends live nearby. It's quite good this way because I get the best of both worlds, near Uni but far way enough to escape when I need too. Perfect. Everyone was saying crap like "Oh it's going to be scary living alone" and "You're going to miss having everything done for you", but if I'm honest i was excited! As much as I love my family I was looking forward to having a fresh start and I thought that when I moved away from home I'd leave the 'family household structure' behind, instead I've just dumped myself into another. Once we'd all settled down (4 girls) and no longer classed one another as strangers,I started to see each of them portray three of the stereotypical family members.

THE MOTHER

I didn't have a lot of practice in cooking for myself so at first 'The Mother' was pretty amazing, always cooking meals for the two of us to share, and only demanding that I cut the garlic.. which after a while became extremely frustrating as it made my hands stink for days, but she's pretty much obessesed with it so I had to do my part. I smelt for the first 4 weeks.

So far she sounds a treat, but we haven't discussed the nagging that mothers feel the need to do about cleaning. Back at home my real mum always went on about "noone ever helping with the cleaning" and unfortunaely this sentence still resounds through my new house. I entered the door one day too no hello's just "I'm the only one who cleans in this house, I've cleaned the floor three times this week, I'm going to make a cleaning rota... Can you put the bin out now please" I responded with "Oh ok 2 minutes".... 4 minutes passed and "Fine I'll do everything myself" was shouted my way! Not cool.

She's still 'The Mother' though because no matter what, arguements or annoyance, 7am or midnight, I can waltz into her bedroom, get into her bed, and talk about my troubles and she's there to listen... just like all the best mums out there are! Couldn't have asked for a better second Mother.


THE OLDER BROTHER

Now back home I don't have an older brother which used to upset me abit when I was younger, I've always wanted one, until moving to harrow and discovering what living with one would be like. 'The Older Brother' is of course not male, because we're all girls in the house, but I'm pretty sure that men behave similarly to her. When any bills get posted through the letterbox it's usually time to run and hide, preferably under my bed, as it provides the best protection from any possibile angry outlashes. "WHAT THE FOOK IS THIS!! I'M NOT PAYING COUNCIL TAX, GET THE BILL OUT OF MY NAME!" is just an example of a situation that was easy rectified yet blown thousands of miles out of proportion - typical male behaviour when it comes to money business.

As a younger sister you get to witness the stage of your older brothers life when they lock themselves away for hours on end in their bedroom because they have discovered the wonders of porn, well I have witnessed this with 'The Older Brother', but minus the porn... she just likes to lock herself away.

Don't get me wrong though older brothers aren't all that bad they just choose to keep themselves to themselves, and it's those rare moments when they open up and cook you the most amazing veggie burger out of nothing but generousity at 2am, that you know you still have love for them. Oh and not forgetting that 'The Older Brother' is like a human encyclopedia, always useful!


THE SISTER

In whatever country and whichever household 'The Sister' is always the supplier or clothes that are better than your own, and 'The Sister' in my new house fulfils this role beyond expectations! I'm not sure a wardrobe can get any better than the one which lives in the downstairs bedroom of number 57, and like all younger sister's I find myself dreaming of one day looking as good at that age as 'The Sister' does now.

My two real sisters are pretty much the bees knees, but 'The Sister' I live with now has managed to fill the position of "the sister that's you're best friend". It's gotten to the point where it only takes 1 day to pass without communication and that theme tune for the TV programme "Sister! Sister! Never knew how much I missed ya!" is on repeat in my head! Constantly filling rooms with laughter... about absolutely nothing let me point out... and grooving to much loved old school tunes "CHECK OUT MY GRAVEL PIT" (yes we do run simultaneously to any dancefloor if this comes on)... and occassionally catching a cab because we don't want to take a 5 minute walk in the rain, is pretty much all we do.

'The Sister' does have the tendancy to spray alcoholic drinks across bars from her mouth.. and stick nudity up on her bedroom walls.. but the random, pleasant texts and spontaneous trips to Junction for Brunch (the best pub in harrow, and thats saying something) is why I love her like I do my real sisters.

Basically don't bother research your housemates before you move in with them, because if you're as lucky as I am then there is no need whatsover!

CHLOE.