New Neighbour in Mirage Park

                 A New Neighbour Arrives in Mirage Park

Finally the property next door was going to be occupied, it had remained empty for far too long. Fleur really hoped for a family with young adults like herself and to perhaps make friends. It would be wonderful if they went to university as well, then they would have something in common. Fleur did realize however that to have all her wishes come true was an unrealistic dream. It would still be good to have someone new around though, unless of course it was someone really old and grumpy or mean.

A decent time after the removal vans left, Fleur went round to welcome the new incomer.

Marcus Shaw was quite charming, and his dog Crocket, a Welsh Springer Spaniel, was a big softy. 

Fleur hoped to get to know them
 better.

Perhaps she would be allowed to take the dog for walks at the weekend. She was certainly very taken with the new neighbour and looked forward to knowing more about this fascinating man. He had a really lovely smile and a way of looking deep into your eyes that quite took your breath away.

Over the next couple of days Fleur found it hard to concentrate,

Marcus was always on her mind. She definitely wanted to get to know him better but she couldn't think of an excuse to go around
to his home.

On a sunny weekend Fleur decided to erect her easel outside and paint 'en plein air'. She had been painting for awhile when Marcus walked up and started chatting. 

"I haven't been here long enough to find all the cool places to go and meet people. Can you think of anywhere, perhaps you could accompany me until I know my way around?"


Fleurs heart skipped a beat, this was all she could have hoped for.

"Well, happening tonight, I suppose there is the Karaoke bar in the spice district of San Myshuno." Fleur could have kicked herself for blurting that out without stopping to think first, perhaps Marcus hated karaoke. Why didn't she just say one of the bars or nightclubs, there were plenty of them.

"Okay, I guess that could be fun. I need to up my singing skills if I'm to get that audition"

This was said in such an off hand manner Fleur wasn't positive she had heard correctly. Was Marcus a musician joining a band or maybe an actor? That seemed exciting and intriguing. 

They arranged to meet up a bit later and travel together. 

Marcus was easy to be with, though he did seem to do most of the talking. He did really want to know about all the local or easily accessible venues so she could help him there, and Fleur was a good listener so she didn't mind. 
When they arrived it was happy hour which was fortunate as

Marcus had let it slip that he didn't have much money at the moment. Fleur had just received her scholarship grant so she was happy to buy a few drinks. She sang a few songs and Marcus watched a bit or chatted to people in the bar. He seemed very good at mixing with everyone especially all the young women that he always attracted. After a while he decided to sing too. He had a very good voice many people stopped to listen and quite a few applauded at the end. The evening passed very quickly and all too soon they were heading home again. Fleur couldn't remember the last time she had so much fun. She couldn't believe her luck, she was actually in the company of this wonderful man and he seemed to want to be with her too.  Was the best yet to come.

They arrived home and Markus gave Fleur a really great kiss at the doorstep. Oh the dreams she had that night!

More Entertainment and Outings

Marcus was so much fun he was always up for an evening out. They went to local bars where Marcus socialised with so many people. He said he had to get his face known in town it would help him to get work. They attended festivals in San Myshuno, trying all the different foods on offer. At one festival Marcus persuaded Fleur to try the bubble blower, she wasn't sure that she liked it and ended up in a bit of a daze.

She arrived home in a bit of a state after that one and it was so late her father was fast asleep so there was no trouble. 

Her work desk at home took on a new look with a photo of Marcus and the romantic rose he had given her. 

Fleur was beginning to struggle to stay awake in some of her classes and her father was starting to make comments about 'not burning the candle at both ends' and 'it will end in tears'. Fleur closed her ears and carried on. She was after all still keeping house and doing course work. She was entitled to some down time wasn't she?

However there came a time when neither Fleur or her father could ignore the fact that they were expecting different things. It all came to a head one night after a disco when Fleur was so tired she fell asleep on one of the sofas at the venue and didn't return home until the early hours of the morning.

 









That caused a big argument and it only stopped when Fleur pointed out that she had to leave or her father would make her late for class. It was a fact that Fleur had already missed a couple of tutorials and her grades, certainly for the electives, were slipping. She did not want Terry to have any excuse to stop her going out so she worked harder and didn't go out every night.




Read episode 4 to find out what happens next. Will Fleur get the work/fun balance right, will she keep seeing Marcus, will she resolve the differences with her father?

Fleur begins to Discover University in Britechester

            We travel with Fleur Bowes to Discover University

 

As Britechester offered Fleur a place studying art history for an Honors degree it was not a hard decision choosing to go there. The brochure made the campus look beautiful.

 The view from one housing block on the campus

 Another view of the campus

However Fleur's father insisted that they visit the university to make sure it was as it seemed in the very attractive brochure. Fleur loved Britechester on sight, beautiful old buildings, a peaceful atmosphere though she was sure that would change when term started with all the students attending classes and joining various clubs that operated during term time. The student commons was inviting with a cosy fire for cold days, plenty of seating and places to study. There was even a canteen that was free for students studying at the university.

Darby's Den, the UBrite Commons

There were debating podiums and a microphone for poetry readings. Outside there was seating for those warmer days and a chess table for those students that enjoyed the game. You could walk down to a beautiful area by the canal with picnic tables and a couple of barbecues. There were ducks on the water and sometimes a canal boat chugging along.

 

Fleur would have quite liked to move to the campus housing but didn't feel able to abandon her father when he works so hard, how would he cope. Besides it would be cheaper studying from home, wouldn't it? Fleur felt sure she would still be able to fully participate in all that university offered. There was the large but quiet library in Gibb's Hill surrounded by many beautiful houses with even a little beach not too far away. She would join the art society, make new friends and have fun in the evenings at Pepper's Pub where all students met up, including those from the nearby Foxbury Institute. 

Discover University Life

Fleur's first few weeks were a blur of activity. Course books had to be bought and they turned out to be expensive but she could eat for free in the commons which offset that expense a bit. The Art Society was wonderful, all that Fleur could hope for. Models were provided and you could meet and befriend like minded students.

It was fun meeting the uni mascot at various events throughout the week and taking a selfie as a memento. You could grab a snack on the run (though you did have to pay for those of course).

Then there were the classes to attend and course work to complete. There were presentations to put together on a board and present after checking the information and refining the look of it. Term papers had to be written and edited before submitting them. Then at the end of term there was the exam to take, this was always rather nerve racking.

In the early days Terry was very supportive when Fleur was working at home.

However as time passed Fleur found herself working alone more and more often until she hardly ever saw her father.

One evening it dawned on Fleur that she was missing out on all the student fun. She was still keeping house, maintaining the garden (admittedly she quite enjoyed that). Fleur worked hard to keep her grades up, but travelling ate into her free time which didn't seem to exist anymore. She was becoming more and more tired and needed the break when the end of term arrived to recharge her batteries before she started the whole process all over again.

Would Fleur get through this and find a happy balance or would it all become one long grind.

Next episode, the arrival of a new neighbour