the idea behind the pictures

While I get my finances and other bright ideas i keep coming up with in motion-slowly. I have a bit catching up to do with life, friends and culture that I had to ostracise whilst doing the NCTJ.

When I go around on my mini trips more often than not it happens to be London or the South from where I have just moved away, I take pictures on my trusty blackberry. I'm not a professional like some of my dear friends, who have a real eye for a good/great picture.

But I'm not bad-even though i say so myself-in framing and capturing a good picture. I find pictures fascinating, they are the documented proof i feel of our daily lives.

I was listening to the radio-to keep up with the current affairs and nourish my starved brain of some knowledge, an interesting fact cropped up about our memory and how the brain tends to 'delete' memories to accommodate the new memory one would have just acquired.

Its not an entirely proven fact, but was very interesting to listen to. Not sure it will explain, short term memory loss, but its definitely a good excuse to keep under the hat when I forget something!

Somehow that fact
seemed to validate my obsession of taking random photographs. This picture is one of mine and a recent favourite! I was standing out the Tate gallery about to walk towards the tube station when I thought 'this looks like a great shot'.

There are more randoms ones. I'm sometimes told off by a really good friend of mine, for taking pictures of sign boards! Well my reasoning behind that is so the viewer-apart from myself can Geo- position themselves-mentally- to give them a feel that they are ACTUALLY there.

Besides its for my memory, to remember where I have been- Hehehe. I think its important, especially with more study and revelations that more people are being diagnosed with dementia-scary thought to lose someone that way. not to remember anything-eeks :s

There have been some sad episodes in my life, and thanks to the pictures I had taken prior to those events, I have captured forever that memory and whatever happiness there was. So the camera, in my opinion, the best invention ever.

Before that, the amazing portrait painters-some excellent examples are housed in the National Portrait gallery-so life like-forget HD! they didn't need that in the 17th-18th century. Wish I could paint like that.

Well at least I can draw comic characters-that'll do for me doodling.

Big wide world

Well, what do I say after a halt to all the madness that was taking place not so long ago.

'Hello!'- My usual response to almost everything or 'Hey ya!' the latter is my favourite; so to what I have done thus far-erm bits and fragments of my plan to tour this Isle has happened.

Starting with North Wales.


Lucky me, dad was on holiday and me being me, with my big brown eyes and whining ways was able to save a chunk of money on travelling by hitching a ride with him (cheeky grin). The idea behind my travel plans was mainly to follow the legendary trail of King Arthur and the story behind it.

I did manage to find one of the battle grounds on which King Arthur supposedly fought to save his kingdom. The most part of this trip however, had a few changes to it. Most of the historical links to the legend within Wales stop just after the North/South border, for the rest I must explore south Wales.

So I figured whilst here I shall find out about this area instead. I've heard alot about Welsh slate and that the roofs of mainly London and various well-to-do areas line their houses with this material. I knew this was part of the country, mining was the major source of income and career path for the people.

I had no idea what the work entailed apart from it was very- Very dangerous! well duh you're going down into the bowels of the earth and there's a limited supply of fresh air down there.

We reached a place called Ffestiniog where the slate mines are. What you will notice when you get to the nearest town is the mountains-man-made mountains of slate chippings discarded after squaring off the tiles.

This next video is not very clear, but the sounds of the carts talking us into the dark tunnels of the dis-used mines was a bit nervy.


The road trip was very soothing to the weary soul after a long while of being stressed and tired, mainly tired. There was a lot of sheep! Most of all the language, it intrigued me to hear and read Welsh. I couldn't pronounce half of the things i saw on the sign boards that was more the three syllables!

From the books I have read, the language is a derivative of ancient celtic, druids used to and some still use it to be with the sprits of the land. Very mysterious. It would be so cool to meet a practicing druid or pagan. I mean these belives pre-date christanity and catholism, they must help countless number of people get through some pretty tough times, most of the trouble, from history, caused by religion itself .

That was North Wales, a bit of history for added measure. Next stop Cornwall and Devon hopefully!

2010, Big Freeze...World in debt..

Welcome to 2010! A decade into the 21st century, "where has time gone" was the most popular quote that friends and family were using towards the tail end of 2009. If i knew how to slow time or even the ability to add a few more precious minutes when struggling to complete all the tasks one sets, I bet the world would be in a much worst state than it already is- I'd imagine.

I must say what a way to start the year too. A nation brought to its knees by heavy snow and ice with temperatures plummeting to a very Arctic minus 22! It was nice to have a bit of snow during the Christmas and New Year holiday's as most of us were probably slumped in front of the television and not really had much plans to go out. There may be some who may have seen the snow as a blessing- an excuse not to go visit the in-laws perhaps (cheeky grin).

Well how the month of January is whizzing by. Mm I'll be done and dusted with NCTJ training soon-SHRIEK!!!!! Shoved into the big wide world. 'Finally' my dad would say.

I think I have also finally made plans to just travel around the British isles and include Scotland and Ireland in to that or yes and Mythical Wales!

A tour round Devon, Cornwall, Brighton and other bits of Sussex while I'm still here in the South. Possibly make a ferry trip to Belfast or Dublin or Both. MM I'm really considering just getting a map and doing things at hock, as if there something that my early life has thought me, even the best laid plans never seem to turn out as you want it to so whats the point of planning everything to the finest detail, raw adventure! it should make for interesting video blogs.

So excuse me for the next 3 weeks while I sit in solitary confinement and be a boffin! Stocked up with coffee, tea and crisps.

Festive season, end of another year!

Goodness! Is it that time of the year again? Well the last time I was here, I think I was withering on about something that was happening in the world, all seems so long a ago and has faded away from all our minds, as has most things.

I'm sure this month is slipping faster from our grips than usual; It is always the case when you're enjoying yourself.

I guess this maybe one of the last posts for 2009, and I'm trying to make it as poignant and philosophical as possible (even though I'm usually neither!)


Music and Hollywood has been dealt with the blow of several stars passing; MJ, Farah Fawcett and recently Brittany Murphy. Personally, I've had trials and tribulations of my own to deal with, as have some dear friends.
There have been good times in between everything; Like ketchup in a burger! it's moments like that which keeps us sane, thankfully!


Immersing myself in what I want to do in life, making new friends, pursing a career in the media industry. One more little hurdle completing journalism training, be well on my way and actually full use of my degree soon.


What can we expect for 2010? A secure job would be nice for starters. Squeeze in a bit more travelling, within the country, there are a lot more places yet to be explored. Oo getting up to Scotland would be a good one for the travelling list.

I have some vague plans and rouge ideas when it comes to jobs whilst looking for something permanent. Its good to have a few lines on tap, can't keep all your eggs in one basket now can I?

When it boils down to it all, I suppose I'm a bit of a believer in that everything happens for a reason-to a certain extent, the rest is down to the choices one makes in life. So fingers crossed, I have enough sense to see through another year and make relatively decent choices along the way.

For the most part, the enjoyment of the present is essential. Life is for enjoying regardless of the obstacles that may be thrown at us from time to time. If there is one thing that I have learnt from my elders, try to put yourself first, if you can stand on your own two feet, its only than when you will be capable to help others.

So 2010, a nice round number, a decade into the millennium and it too, I'm sure will go by like grease lightning. Got another list of 'Do to' things at the ready and a pocket full of bright ideas, most if which will go with the wind, like going to the gym for starters (Big Cheeky grin)

Hopefully next Christmas i would have some money to do something nice with my family, instead of just a sweet, cheap card from the nearest pound shop.

But hey, all is good. Can't and shouldn't really complain. Be thankful for what we have and live a contented life, anything more is a plus and if you want more -EARN IT!

See you in the new year!

X

Whats with all this??

It was in the news today that British sailors are being held in Iranian custody because they accidentally floated into THEIR territory.

Really now this is not a game of battle ship. If our coast guard held their sailors who mistakenly drifted into our waters they would go ape sh*t! First it was our navy, now civilians. how would you find for the lines that divide the boundaries in WATER? The Iranian's could do a loony toons and measure out rope to enclose and identify their space.

Then there is still the pending and rather pressing case of the couple who were leisurely sailing around and have be taken by Somali Pirates! The captures have demanded for a large sum of money-taking into account exchange rate and everything, they are going to be minted!-if they get the money. But what are they exactly going to do with it?

Border controls everywhere are going to be alert after seeing their mugs on the video they released, holding guns to the victims, so cant really go travelling, they can build a mansion but they wont live with each other because pirates don't trust each-well i wouldn't would you??

Where did they get the guns?? Where did they get their sailing vessel ?The mind boggles. What has come of that case? I hope those people are ok. Cannot imagine what they must be going through, being held by strange, psycho people; both in Somalia and in Iran.

To add, more troops have been pledged by Brown for duty in Afghanistan. I have been absolutely against the War despite of what happened on 911. There has already been a fire, going to war in mind felt like someone was pouring more paraffin to the fire.

Hence, i believe that it has led to more terror; The world has become an extremely dangerous place. But the little good that does shine through the community, among friends and family, everywhere, helps get us through most things in my opinion.

A 'sloth's' story

8pm on a Friday evening. Laughing my silly head off catching up with the new series of top gear on iplayer. Was going to have pizza and chips, changed my mind when i saw the fish fingers in the freezer!

Its not very exciting i admit, but its therapeutic not to do much after such a busy week; although deep down i do actually just want to go out. Mind you talking about the week, it has flown by, i must have blinked-its gone!

Another one of my FAVOURITE series-Merlin, catching up on that after Garrow's Law. Yup there is a theme building here, its all BBC productions. I do love 'em all. They are really good productions, I like the magical, mythical story line in Merlin, the intriguing case history in Garrow's Law and Top gear its good for car info and comedy from JC, RH and JM!

Being a 'slob' this evening in front of the laptop, tomorrow is another day. I have plenty to do at the radio station, as usual, love it!

mmm... I don't seem to be sounding like my funny self on this page at the moment, my brain is not functioning that well I finks-see misspelled that, wires are not connected properly. I have to stop referring to myself all the time in this blog, so pretentious of me! (cheeky grin) Hahaha that's better a bit of humour to keep the smile on the faces of all those who 'unfortunately' choose to read this.

TTFN fellow followers be back with more verbal D's later

droopy eyes...

Well its mid week already, soon it'll be early weekend for some. For those like myself, we'll be slaving away on some sort of work. I knew it was going to be challenging-I like a good challenge-but do need some time to get some air!

Moaning over, this is good though. I work best when thrown in the deep end. Talking about deep end's( puns aside ) we had to write up a report on the council meeting we went to yesterday it was a joke! These people, sit there and procrastinate about everything and nothing really.

They do like the sound of their own voice! if i didn't censor myself so much because of my broadcasting and newspaper journalist background this page would be blue with obscenity's!

6 hours and 45 minutes! to deliberate on one item on the agenda, ridiculous! For our sins in a previous life, we had to rush back home, starving and "dieing" of de-hydration, we had to write an article on it. Had way too many quotes. I have a feeling they were putting on a show for us in the public gallery.

oh well i have had a rant about the council, that's load of my mind.

Tomorrow Crown court visit, that should be interesting, another tight deadline for our NCTJ portfolio. Anything to do with law, I'm all ears.

Work load aside for the moment, i finally get a day to go back up to North Hampshire to see daddy and my best mate. She is dragging me back to try on bridesmaid dress and meet the other 2 bridesmaids. At least is something different to do on a Sunday.

I do love the dress she picked out for us -gorgeous. And I haven't seen daddy in weeks so be good to catch up with him. Try not to fleece him for anything-shopping wise- but can't gurantee, I am a girl and shopping is an addiction (smiley face) hehehehe. Nah i wont really.

Hmm, nothing too exiciting for the moment. I am wishing for something else to happen but I will have to remain paitient-for the mean time.