ARRIVA STUDENT SURVIVAL GUIDE

ARRIVA STUDENT SURVIVAL GUIDE

OWN STUDENT LIFE WE RE ARRIVA and we re not here to give you a big corporate hug, just some useful info to make your life at Uni that little bit easier. So take a look at some of our life hacks, quick n easy recipes, booze do s and don ts and travel babble. Of course, we re going to let you know about our buses, too. How they can get you from A to B and all the things you can do on them! BUT, LOOK, THIS IS ALL ABOUT YOU. So please share any survival tips or advice with your fellow students on our Facebook page in your area. Everyone who comments below the Life Hack post with their own life hack or useful information aimed at students will be entered into a free prize draw with lucky winners across the country receiving a 50 Amazon voucher.* Student life. Owned. WIN A 50 AMAZON VOUCHER 11 TO BE WON* *Terms and conditions apply.

GET YOUR RIDE ON Life s always a bit hectic at Uni. You re probably travelling here, there and everywhere, which is why we want you to think about getting your ride on by bus. GREAT VALUE STUDENT SAVER Student Saver tickets are great value for money. So whether you re in for a lecture, out for the night, down to the shops or back to home for some clean clothes, roasties and TLC, you ll be saving money. That s more funds for the things you really want to be spending your cash on. And guess what? We ve got FREE WiFi on board many of our buses, so you can work and study on the bus, no problem. You can also add some juice to your phone with charging points on board many of our buses. So your mobile s not going to die on you at that crucial moment. If you re out for a big night with your mates, the bus is a great option too. All of you can hop on without having to wait for a taxi big enough. FREE WIFI & USB CHARGE POINTS

Just the ticket You can now also pay for your ticket in different ways. The Arriva m-ticket app is an easy, convenient way where you can buy with your phone and pay using your card, PayPal or through Apple Pay or Android Pay. You can even gift a ticket. So if a mate s stuck somewhere with no money, you can use the m-ticket app to send them one. The Arriva Bus app is worth downloading too. Our Journey Planner app enables you to plan your journeys in advance and even keep track of where your bus is in real time. Plan your journey and buy tickets with our bus apps.

For getting to and from Uni For visiting family and friends For going to the shops, laundrette, library For nights out pubs, clubs, pizzas, your whole student social life in fact GET YOUR RIDE ON Basically, you can use the bus for everything, not just for Uni. If you want to know where your bus goes and to what zones as well as the different tickets you can buy, check out arrivabus.co.uk/student

STUDENT LIFE HACKS

HATE CLEANING? When you re cooking, stick a wooden spoon over a boiling pot and it ll stop the water spilling over. GOT A HABIT OF SLEEPING THROUGH THE ALARM AND MISSING LECTURES? Put your phone in an empty glass at night and we guarantee the noise made will wake up the sleepiest of heads.

ROLL UP, ROLL UP YOUR TOWELS. Fold your towel in half. Fold in half again but across the diagonal. Rotate then fold in the base angles as shown. Turn your towel over. Roll tightly from the base. Tuck the point behind the open folds. It saves loads of space.

SHOWER HEAD A BIT skanky? HOUSEMATE WANTING TO MICROWAVE AT THE SAME TIME? Flip a mug and put your bowl on top of it room for two! Tie a bag of vinegar around it, leave it overnight and it will clean everything off. NEED MORE SPACE IN YOUR KITCHEN? Put a chopping board over an open drawer and you ve got a worktop worthy of Nigella.

ARRIVES 4.10 NEED A SNOO E? WHO NEEDS A TOOTHBRUSH HOLDER? Wash out an old soup can, and add some elastic bands! Use our Journey Planner app to see what time your bus arrives at your stop and set an alarm for a wake-up call.

Studying means sitting down for much of the day, so it s vital that you try to incorporate regular physical activity into everyday life. Walking to and from the bus stop is a good start. The bus is also a great way of getting to and from sports venues and recreational places. Whether you re up for a gym session, a swim at the local pool or a run in the park, simply hop on and get active. Our comprehensive timetable means you can fit in any of these activities by taking an early morning bus or going for a late night session. DID YOU KNOW? 44% of UK adult bus users say they use the walk to the bus stop as a way of getting regular exercise. This daily short walk to and from the bus stop and destination can burn 22,630 calories a year, with daily bus users clocking up the annual equivalent of 11 marathons! According to Buses are good for your health! taken from Bus Users UK: Accessed 06/09/2017

TASTY TITBITS You may not be a whizz kid in the kitchen, so we ve put together a few ideas for what you can make without eating too much into your budget. They re all pretty cheap but cheerful. Individuals with allergies. Always check products before purchasing.

Minestrone Soup V Serves Not only yummy, it s pretty healthy for you, too. Packed with veg and energy boosting carbohydrates, it s cheap to make and freezer friendly. m M 3 large carrots, roughly chopped 1 large onion, roughly chopped 4 celery sticks, roughly chopped 1 tbsp olive oil 2 garlic cloves, crushed M M 2 large potatoes, cut into small dice 2 tbsp tomato purée 2l vegetable stock 400g can chopped tomatoes M M 400g can butter or cannellini beans 140g spaghetti, snapped into short lengths 1 2 head savoy cabbage, shredded Crusty bread, to serve M M Method Chop the carrots, onion and celery into small pieces. Heat the oil in a pan, add the chopped vegetables, garlic and potatoes, then cook over a high heat for 5 mins until softened. Stir in the tomato purée, stock and tomatoes. Bring to the boil, then turn down the heat and simmer, covered, for 10 mins. Tip in the beans and pasta, then cook for a further 10 mins, adding the cabbage for the final 2 mins. Season to taste and serve with crusty bread. m m m m m m m m m

Chilli Con Carne Serves Got a group of mates coming around? Get the pot on and share the love. Add extras like guacamole, sour cream, cheese, tortillas and nachos to turn it into a Mexican party feast. 1 tbsp oil 1 large onion 1 red pepper 2 garlic cloves, peeled 1 level tsp hot chilli powder (or 1 heaped tbsp if you only have mild powder) 1 tsp paprika 1 tsp ground cumin 500g lean minced beef 1 beef stock cube 300ml hot water 400g can chopped tomatoes ½ tsp dried marjoram 2 tbsp tomato purée 410g can red kidney beans Plain boiled long grain rice, to serve Soured cream, to serve Method Prepare your vegetables. Chop 1 large onion into small dice, about 5mm square. The easiest way to do this is to cut the onion in half from root to tip, peel it and slice each half into thick matchsticks lengthways, not quite cutting all the way to the root end so they are still held together. Slice across the matchsticks into neat dice. Cut 1 red pepper in half lengthways, remove stalk and wash the seeds away, then chop. Peel and finely chop 2 garlic cloves. Start cooking. Put your pan on the hob over a medium heat. Add the oil. Add the onions and cook, stirring fairly frequently, for about 5 minutes, or until the onions are soft and slightly translucent. Tip in the garlic, red pepper, 1 level tsp hot chilli powder or 1 heaped tbsp mild chilli powder, 1 tsp paprika and 1 tsp ground cumin. Give it a good stir, then leave it to cook for another 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Brown the 500g lean minced beef. Turn the heat up a bit, add the meat to the pan and break it up with your spoon or spatula. The mix should sizzle a bit when you add the mince. Keep stirring and prodding for at least 5 minutes, until all the mince is in uniform, mince-sized lumps and there are no more pink bits. Make sure you keep the heat hot enough for the meat to fry and become brown, rather than just stew. Making the sauce. Crumble 1 beef stock cube into 300ml hot water. Pour this into the pan with the mince mixture. Open 1 can of chopped tomatoes (400g can) and add these as well. Tip in ½ tsp dried marjoram and add a good shake of salt and pepper. Squirt in about 2 tbsp tomato purée and stir the sauce well. Simmer it gently. Bring the whole thing to the boil, give it a good stir and put a lid on the pan. Turn down the heat until it is gently bubbling and leave it for 20 minutes. You should check on the pan occasionally to stir it and make sure the sauce doesn t catch on the bottom of the pan or isn t drying out. If it is, add a couple of tablespoons of water and make sure that the heat is really low. After simmering gently, the saucy mince mixture should look thick, moist and juicy. Bring on the beans. Drain and rinse 1 can of red kidney beans (410g can) in a sieve and stir them into the chilli pot. Bring to the boil again then reduce the heat, and gently bubble without the lid for another 10 minutes, adding a little more water if it looks too dry. Taste a bit of the chilli and season. It will probably take a lot more seasoning than you think. Now replace the lid, turn off the heat and leave your chilli to stand for 10 minutes before serving, and relax. Leaving your chilli to stand is really important as it allows the flavours to mingle with the meat. Serve with soured cream and plain boiled long grain rice. CAREFUL! HOT! HOT! HOT! tsp = teaspoon tbsp = tablespoon

Pasta Bake V Serves Jacket Potatoes With Cheese & Beans V Serves A handful of ingredients and minimum effort, pasta bake is classic student fodder. Use pasta and tinned tomatoes as your base and then delish up with your favourite veg and herbs. 300g passata 300g pasta Method Boil some water and leave the pasta to simmer until thoroughly cooked. Whilst the pasta is cooking, crush the garlic into the passata and add the herbs and chilli powder. Season well. Put the tomato mixture into the microwave on full power for 1 minute. Drain the pasta, put into a casserole dish and mix in half of the cheese and the sauce. Sprinkle the rest of the cheese on top and put under the grill until it has browned and all the cheese has melted. Enjoy! 1 large baking potato 25g cheddar, grated Tin of baked beans 1 tsp olive oil Jacket potatoes are the staple diet for students crisp on the outside, fluffy and meltingly soft on the inside. Fill em full of baked beans, then sprinkle some grated cheese on top. Method Heat oven to 220 C/200 C fan/gas 7. Rub a little oil over each potato and put on the top shelf of the oven. Bake for 20 mins, then turn down the oven to 190 C/170 C fan/gas 5 and bake for 45 mins - 1 hr until the skin is crisp and the flesh soft. 1 tbsp mixed herbs 1/2 tsp chilli powder Empty a can of baked beans into a pan and cook on a low temperature for 5-8 minutes, stirring regularly. 2 cloves of garlic, crushed Cut a cross on top of the potato, and pour over the baked beans. 100g cheese, grated Sprinkle the cheese on top and let it melt into the potato for 2 minutes.

Cheese & Ham Omelette Serves Go solo or share, omelettes are so easy to knock up and perfect for a speedy lunch or quick bite before a big night out. Method Heat the butter in a frying pan until foaming. Pour in the beaten eggs and cook for a few seconds, until the bottom of the omelette is lightly set. Push the set parts of the omelette into the uncooked centre of the omelette. Cook again, until the omelette has set further, then push those set parts into the centre of the omelette again. Repeat the process until the eggs have just set but the omelette is still soft in the centre. Put the cheese and three-quarters of the ham in the centre of the omelette and cook until the cheese has melted. Increase the heat to high and cook the omelette for a further 30 seconds, or until it browns on the bottom. Fold the omelette in half, then remove the pan from the heat and tilt it slightly to move the omelette to the edge of the pan. Slide the omelette onto a serving plate, then shape it into a neat roll. Sprinkle over the remaining ham. 3 free-range eggs, beaten 10g/½oz unsalted butter 30g/1oz cheddar, preferably Montgomery cheddar 1 thick slice of ham, finely chopped N UDGE N UDGE

Roasted Ratatouille Chicken Serves Method 1 onion, cut into wedges 2 red peppers, seeded and cut into chunks 1 courgette, cut into chunks 1 small aubergine, cut into chunks 4 tomatoes, halved 4 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for drizzling 4 chicken breasts, skin on Salt and black pepper A few rosemary sprigs (optional) Heat oven to 200 C/180 C fan/gas 6. Lay all the vegetables and the tomatoes in a shallow roasting tin. Pour over the olive oil and give everything a good mix round until well coated (hands are easiest for this). Put the chicken breasts, skin side up, on top of the vegetables and tuck in some rosemary sprigs, if using. Season everything with salt and black pepper and drizzle a little oil over the chicken. Roast for about 35 mins until the vegetables are soft and the chicken is golden. Drizzle with oil before serving. If you want to take the meal up a level, here s something to seriously make an impression.

Thai Red Curry Serves 1 tbsp vegetable oil 1 tbsp ginger & garlic paste 5-6 tbsp red curry paste 800ml coconut milk 8 skinless, boneless chicken thighs, cut into large chunks kaffir lime leaves (ideally fresh) 2 tbsp fish sauce 1 tsp brown sugar ½ small pack Thai basil 1 red chilli, sliced diagonally thumb-sized piece ginger, cut into matchsticks cooked rice, to serve Whip out the Thai spices, curry paste and coconut milk and make a curry to die for. Method Heat the oil in a large saucepan over a medium heat and fry the ginger and garlic paste for 2 mins. Add the red curry paste, sizzle for a few secs, then pour in the coconut milk. Bring to the boil, reduce to a simmer, stir a little and wait for the oil to rise to the surface. Add the chicken and lime leaves, and simmer for 12 mins or until the chicken is cooked through. Add 1 tbsp of the fish sauce and a pinch of the sugar, then taste if you like it a little saltier, add more fish sauce; if you like it sweeter, add a little more sugar. Bring to the boil, take off the heat and add the basil. Spoon the curry into four bowls and top with the chilli, ginger and a few extra basil leaves. Serve with rice.

TOP TIPS MONEY SAVING ALERT! GOT ANY OTHERS? Let us know those that have really hit the mark and we ll list them here. We don t want to be telling you which supermarket to shop in, but each one has a discounted section. Worth a mooch. Eyes bigger than your belly? Not to worry, you can freeze what s left to enjoy another day!

DON T GET LEFT HANGING Look, we know how important it is to mix study with pleasure. So here are a few ideas that will help you survive the pub-crawls and sessions that you may want to partake of. Always drink responsibly.

COCKTAILS ANYONE? JÄGERBOMB A shot of Jägermeister in a glass of Red Bull ARRIVACOLADA Our very own rib tickler with pineapple juice, rum, milk and Arriva coloured Curaçao ROSÉ COOLER Half a glass of Rosé, top up with lemonade, ice and a slice FAT FROG 1/3 Smirnoff Ice, 1/3 Blue WKD, 1/3 Orange Bacardi Breezer TVR Vodka, Red bull and a shot of tequila Feel free to add any other ones you ve come up with DID YOU KNOW? HOW TO CHILL YOUR BOOZE QUICKLY! 1. Fill a bucket with ice 2. Stir in ½ cup of salt 3. Push in your bottles 4. Wait for 3 minutes 5. Enjoy your ice cold drink

FRESH AIR Get up, get out and get some fresh air. Oxygen increases the rate that alcohol toxins are broken down. EAT Eat, but maybe not a fry up. It can aggravate your stomach, so opt for a slow release carbohydrate like cereal. Or toast many claim it soaks up the alcohol. WATER HANGOVER CURES Get as much water down you during the night and the day after. A hangover is essentially dehydration. POTASSIUM Eating a banana or spinach is not a bad idea. We lose electrolytes when we drink and we can get them back with potassium-rich foods. A SHOWER OK, you may need to sit down if you re feeling too weak, but it will still work. DON T WEAR SOCKS Wearing socks makes you feel more restricted and so can t fully relax. FEEL SORRY FOR YOURSELF If you ve got no plans and no lectures, completely write off the day as you re unlikely to do anything productive with a banging headache.

ANY OTHER IDEAS? We d love to hear more student survival tips and life hacks from you. Let us know on Instagram, or our regional Facebook or Twitter pages!