Today my mum said she smelt a strong smell of soot coming from my car, as soon as I started it up I'm wondering if this is normal, or if there's something horrible going on? there also seems to be a lot of soot around the exhaust too, again, I'm clueless as to whether this would be normal.

Also, my oil level seems to have dropped some, not dangerously low or anything, just lower than what it previously was. I read in the book that it reaches it's 'normal' level after 3000 miles, mine has done 4400, but what is this normal level? it's so confusing

Any help would be appreciated.

I have a 1.6 TDCI Mk7

I think it's fairly normal. I'm not an expert by any means, but after a quick google, the sooty smell is due to the car not having a diesel particulate filter (DPF). I think its just uncombusted carbon etc. being blown out of the exhaust when you turned it on.

Can't comment on the oil I'm afraid

Hope this helps :)