I never know how to react when someone has diad. Obviously, I'm sad, but I never really know what to say. "I'm sorry" doesn't cut it, "Were you close to them?" is just...patronizing, and never, I repeat NEVER, say "Were they male or female?"

Dave got sad suddenly in Mondo (a random nightclub on campus) and I asked him what was wrong, to be fair, he was drunk as a skunk. He showed me a text message saying that it was one year since 'gramps' died. Which is sad, but I didn't know whether gramps was Grandpa or Grandma. We went home shortly after that, and he hugged me all the way home, (only about 200m!) really tight, like so I couldn't walk. We got back, got into bed, and I asked him if he wanted to talk about it.

Being a typical bloke, of course he said no, so I tried anyway, but first I had to ask whether the person who died (I nearly said 'Was it male or female?' which would have been worse.

So I said "Male or Female?" he gave me 'a look'. It was horrible.

We didn't talk about it really in the end. He lay awake with his eyes wide open staring at the ceiling. I don't know how long he stayed up for, but I feel asleep, and woke up at four to find him on his way to the loo.

This morning he has a monster hangover...his mouth is stained red from all the snakebite he drank (it's this vile drink with lager, cider, and blackcurrent juice. Absolutely vile)

I made him a cup of tea which he didn't drink. He has missed three lectures this morning. Oh well. There's nothing I can do.