So this is what it's like out here

Well here I am after months of searching (and was in fact getting fairly despondent at the staggering number of rejections) finally in full time employment as a Journalist with an award winning, respected regional paper- the Essex Chronicle.

I'll never forget the day I got the e-mail with the job offer. How can I? It was the day,George Osbourne, Chancellor of the Exchequer stood in Parliament outlining the biggest cuts Britain has seen in decades. I am very humbled and grateful to my lucky stars, guardian angles, family and friends for this momentous opportunity to start building my career.

My new colleagues are ever so nice and helpful, because it is that kind of office where there is so much to be done among so few of us that we chip and help each other out. As a trainee, I'm still getting grips with the computer system, writing styles and various details. It's all coming together nicely.

It is nice to see the finished pages and know that your work is going to be read by the many thousands of readers across the region. Exhilarating!

Absolutely love my job and I'm working hard at it and always trying my very best. :)

I have moved to the town of Chelmsford, which is only an hour a way from my home, so it is pretty handy to get back at the weekends or whenever I feel like it and is a reassurance that no one is too far away just in case of an emergency (I've run out clothes to wear or money or something like that, nothing serious *touch wood*) I'm glad I've got my independence back and have fine tuned my budgeting skills. Ahh all I now need to do is to find another hobby besides shopping, reading and watching TV. Gym or an exercise class of some sort to keep fit- sort it out when I feel a bit more settled in my new environment.

Now for some healthy pasta salad... I need to find more recipes, can't keep eating green leaves for every meal!

Eye Candy, and Eye No No

I'm a fairly active individual, have been most of my life. I was the sporty one in school, but it has been a while since I last went to the gym mainly because I was busy anyway, with uni, work, volunteer stuff and more work, so never really found the time or the money to join one.

Last week, I met up with a really good friend of mine. Like girls do when we get together, started yapping away about this that and the other, catching up on things we've been up to, spot of lunch and we carried on talking when she mentioned about needing to go to the gym that afternoon and said she has a membership and could, therefore, sign up a couple of friends for a free 7 day trial at the gym. I thought, being the workaholic I am, it would be a great idea to keep busy and get more exercise.

Now, I haven't been to a gym since secondary school days, and even then we used the school gym in the afternoons. I turned up at this gym near the centre of Cambridge (can't mention which one, but as I've already given away the location, those familiar with the area would kind of know), a rep meets and greets me, shows me around the facilities.

After the tour, I'm all excited and looking forward to a work out and getting fit and that, so the rep shows me to the ladies changing room. I hadn't actually noticed the other ladies until after the rep left. I turned around to find some semi, some completely stark naked women- MIDDLE aged (and senior!!) women. I plonked onto the wooden bench, shocked and scared as I saw what was yet to come in life! -If I absolutely neglected my body.

I shouldn't make fun, it's not PC (blah blah blah), I know I know, but to quote the famous phrase from 'Catchphrase'- "say what you see!"

I quickly changed, it was a personal best, trust me I couldn't move fast enough to get up to the all the exercise equipments. As soon as I sprinted to the 'fitness room' I got straight on to the treadmill, and thank heavens they were situated near the men's work out gallery. Ahhh... it was like having an ice cream after a nasty injection.

Needless to say I stayed working out on the various machines, toning and "sight seeing" and more working out, flicking my hair, wiping the beads of sweat (not all from working out!). I won't traumatise you by saying what I saw afterwards when I had enough exercise for one day, I'll leave you to your imagination.

Work has never been this much fun....!!

There are those people who pick a career because their parents are from the same line of profession, so it's what they know. There are those who go for certain jobs because of the money they could earn before they reach 35 and retire by 36. And then there are there are those who do what they do because they absolutely bloody love the job but earn peanuts or even less.

I belong to the last group of people. A newly qualified journalist, I take what ever media or writing opportunity comes along. I'm grateful to have such lovely friends who help me along the way. This time it was no different, thanks to a sweet friend of mine, I got contact details to help out at a music festival down in Dorset- Camp Bestival.

A family friendly festival, packed full of fun stuff to do and to top it all of you have superb musicians playing live music. "Cheer! Hands in the air!", swarms of people dancing, screaming, jumping up and down, the music coming through the speakers are so loud they make the ground vibrate.

80's Pop Band, Madness

Lulworth  Castle was a great setting for this festival. Not very many cater for children to enjoy camping, this was perfect. It was a great excuse for adults to act like kids and all at times after a few pints no doubt. There's nothing like cramming into a tiny tent with two fab mates, zipped up in sleeping bags so as not to freeze in the night air drifting and laying on solid, at times slushy wet muddy ground in a middle of no where.

No amount of money could buy that experience, unless of course if you had to pay for being at a festival. We lived on rations of bread, home-made sandwiches, some fruit, biscuits and water for three or so days, hadn't had much of a wash, true campers we were, baby wipes and deo for B-O.

With our all access passes we were roaming around the site after our shifts at the box offices, meeting and seeing new people. Most were dressed up in fancy costumes, there were many tents showcasing different shows and exhibits. From Skateboarding to Zippos Circus, book readings to dancing to DJ mixes. The walk around the site itself hurt every muscle in body, such a trek across each attraction and the longest route was always at the end of all the fun and dancing back to our tent, on the other side of the plot of land, in the dark.

I thoroughly enjoy meeting new people, I had a good time chatting to a couple of fellow journalists, working along side very funny, witty folks from Manchester and just random people at the event. The meeting of random people started from the moment I got to the Wareham train station.

A shuttle bus was meant to pick festival-goers and take us to the main gate of the event. There were several of us at the station waiting, no sign of a bus. A lady, don't know her name, asked a cab driver standing outside, he was no help but offered to take all 6 of us for the same price as the bus would have cost us. A fair deal, we piled into the taxi and off we went. 

For the next three days, there was not only work, but a hell of alot of dancing, feeling hungry, thirsty and tired. But oh-so much fun.

England are out and the world just rolls forward..

If you have been hiding in a hole for the past few weeks and or have not an ounce of interest for football, then England crashing out will not be a major issue for you.

I do not want to re-iterate the painful scoreline on these pages, but surely now the age old joke- 'don't mention '66 world cup' has been completely and absolutely ripped from our tongues. It'll be now the German's who'll be saying 'don't mention 2010 world cup to the English' for the next 4 or 40 years!? Well I think the footballers should do the decent thing and cut their paychecks by...say.. 90% and give the money to good use like the employment of graduates and TALENTED young people (even though I say so my self!)

Ahh well enough of the football for now, I've been scouring the Internet to find something interesting to write about.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/drunk-writers-were-better-sober-says-psychiatrist-2010053.html

Came across this article on the Independent website. Geez that means I have to start writing sober-damn, not so fun any more this writing malarkey (haha, kidding really I'm not much of a drinker and have never touched the evil drugs.

Surely no one could have believed that creative writing was indeed induced by the consumption of alcohol and drugs. One simply just has to look at the state a person becomes, generally after taking these substances on a recreational level. The individual most certainly becomes incoherent, unable to remember their names, let alone spell them. So therefore, they could not have been capable of writing incredible literary works, whilst intoxicated.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/minor-british-institutions-the-british-giant-rabbit-2008443.html

Hahaha, aww this is a sweet article. Giant Rabbits as pets, that's 50 quid well spent I think. I wonder if they an move about as freely as normal sized rabbits? what's not to say they are actually normal sized and the smaller ones are actually dwarfs of their kind?? Now I'm just being silly I know.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/jun/28/ambassadorial-crime-sprees-foreign-embassy-staff-exempt-charges

I think this needs to be looked asap. Diplomatic immunity is being abused so much in this country, Why cant it be like in the TV series CSI, they seemed to almost always nail the sodding characters. They are clearly not abiding by the laws of the land, and don't seem to care about their behaviour at all. If the shoe were on the other foot, our embassy staff abroad would be done up like kippers, if found to have done something ridiculously stupid, like j-walking!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2010/jan/12/guardian-50-television-dramas

Do you agree with this list? What would keep and add something else?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2003/oct/12/features.fiction

Great reads these lot, personally I've still got a fair few more to add to my reading list.

I feel I have to end this piece with a funny satire video, a cartoon parody of the worst song ever to have been aired to the public, the horror they must have felt coming over them when it started- ugh unbearable to think about it.

This link about William Shatnar, I'd most certainly never would have admitted in hind-in side- if I were this person.  The most cringe worthy of tracks released by this actor in the 70's was quite frankly horrid.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/tvandradioblog/2009/may/22/television-television1

I'll finish by letting stewie from 'Family Guy' sing it in his squeaky voice. TTFN

World cup 2010

Its back folks! If you a football nut, or maybe not so much a fanatic but at least a fan of the game, you would have noticed that the glorious game is soon to hit our new HD screens all the way from South Africa.
Sports journalists all over the country and the world will be going mad trying to keep up with all the games, the pre and post game analysis, the end less debate on the out come. If you have been living in a big hole just lately, the pre world cup madness has been kick started by the lovely advertisers and retailers alike.

I was on my usual jog around the town couple weeks back, the flags were out! (dramatic music) Yup, the St George's flag that normally only comes out the closet once a year on...you guessed it.. St George's day is now stuck to people's cars, hung across their homes and the pubs have gone overload of flags- its practically everywhere, even the poor dogs are giving passer-bys the 'get me out of this' look.

And by the sounds of the recent adverts on TV and Radio, businesses are taking a little gamble on the chances of England winning the cup. 'We'll give you this for nothing if England wins the World Cup' and wait for it here's the catch- 'and if they don't you can PAY the amount in simple small monthly payments'

I wonder if they put all their meager profits at the bookies for England to loose so, all the muppets out there who fell for the colourful ads would end up paying for the goods? It truly is desperate times for these businesses, they're turning to out right conning gullible folk to make money. What has the beautiful game created? I'm glad I've got at least 2 brain cells to not fall for that trick.

Well, good luck to those who bought into those marketing ploys for your sake I do sincerely hope Capello's England team lift that trophy after nearly 40years of disappointment. C'mon England!



But we must not forget that there are more positives to the game than the few who try to cash in on the whole event, it is one of the most watched event on level with the Olympics. It is bringing the entire world together, so please no fights for just this month-yes? what say you? Hate or love it, its something that creates a talking to point to most people- leaving out the die hard rugby and cricket fans, and women who rather watch back to back to rom coms. I've got my chart listing out all the groups and countries playing, a dedicated pen to write down the scores BRING IT ON!

Travels to the edge of the world (ok, to the most westerly point in England)

I'm must start by saying how grateful I am first. I'm a very lucky person. I feel I need to acknowledge the fact that if it weren't for the greatest love and care I get from my family and friends, all these may not have been quite possible.

So far, you may have read about my plans to travel to some really stunning locations the British Isles has to offer, well I can gladly say, I can tick off two more places on that long list. Cornwall and Devon! Wow, as I expected absolutely beautiful sites and to my surprise the weather actually held out for the week. The journey starts early-ish for me, travelling by train reminds of the books I used to read about the travels of Phileas Fogg- not quite around the world in 80 days but still it was an adventure non-the-less.

Cambridge on the fast train to busy, bustling King's Cross thankfully I reach London just after the morning rush hour which means the tubes won't be half as pack as it normally would be. Crossing the 200 year old underground network to get to the station that gave us the most kindest and cutest bear- Paddington. The smell of freshly baked pasty and baguettes had to wait as I had to find the ticket office to purchase my very cheap returns to Truro and back.

20 minutes to go before my train leaves, the last thing I was expecting was a flirtatious ticketing officer. It so made my day that he was actually gorgeous!  Lugging around my purple flowered hippie suitcase did get some looks, but that was fun it helped me start some interesting conversations with a few rather cute gentlemen (that's another blog, wink wink , nudge nudge!) I know right! what stroke of luck with men, this trip was meant to be, and I was sure going to savour every minute of it.

The four and half hour or so journey was not that bad actually, the train was travelling on historic tracks and bridges engineered by Isambard Kingdom Brunel. My favourite pictures en-route was taken near Paignton (Below) and Teignmouth (Above) in South Devon.
The beaches had proper sand and the sea air was therapeutic to the dust and carbon monoxide filled lungs of mine.

As I whizz by the on the comfy train, my mind wonder and ideas of a pirate novel and the urge just to go 'Aye aye' and 'Urrh me matey' was tempting.

I scoff my yummy chicken salad baguette and gulp down the apple and raspberry flavoured water as I sat soaking up the warm rays of the sun, in the comfort of the train now that was whizzing by the Western coastline.

Truro! Well here I was, standing on the platform of the small country train station looking astonished and weary. The thing that you notice when you get there is how hilly and narrow the roads and paths are, than I learn that the town is located in a valley; I won't rush out and get a bicycle anytime soon than.

I had found my way to my B&B, and found that Cornish people are very very nice and cheerful.Stark contrast to the stern, stiff upper lip folk in the rest of the urban areas. Seagulls, they were like pigeons are to the streets of London, simply everywhere.

I vaguely remember, ages ago on a beach in East Anglia, a seagull stole my chips, so I was cautious of this one stealing my fried rice from me.

I made good progress, the day after my interview in Truro itself. I had a day and half to look around the West Country. I took a bus to Penzance- Pirates of Penzance came to mind, didn't meet any pirates sadly.

Had made it to several other places in between too; Falmouth, St Ives and of course had to go to Land's End.

It has this land mark inn. As you approach Land's End, the sign reads : 'The Last Inn in England'-Nooooo (hehee) and as you make you way back away the sign would read :'The First Inn in England'-Sweet.

I covered alot of ground, met and spoke to some really sweet people who appreciate a good chat about anything and nothing, that added to the fun of travelling alone. It never seizes to amaze me who or what you may see. There are so much more out there to explore, if one had all the time in the world and enough of course money, I would easily be a traveller. Wonder what it must have been like in the days of horse and cart? No one had much money but had loads of time in their hands.

For your info..

The world as we know it has taken new turns in the metaphoric road to the future. Britain is in the hands of two political leaders, whose youth and genius tactics ousted the older, misfortuned political old horse- Gordon Brown. Just wonder if he as had a lucky escape from the lime light, considering the situation of the entire region.

Let's give the similar looking lads a chance shall we? I'm sure the cracks will start to appear as time rolls on. How much worse off can we get?

Well here are some video snips to update on the goings on this week.

News montage of the week.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/newsbeat/newsid_8681000/8681776.stm

David Beckham hands in England's World Cup 2018 bid to FIFA.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8683040.stm

Internet creates another musical talent. In the footsteps of Lilly Allen, Justin Bieber and Artic Monkeys
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment_and_arts/10116841.stm?ls

In the World of the crazy escapes.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8683750.stm?ls