Home comforts help the growing distance concern

By Simon Wright (Personal piece)

SOMETIMES, I do wish that my life was just a bit quieter, or if that can’t be the case, a week where relatively little happens in it.  I guess I’m in dreamland here! 

     Another week, another mixed bag but it did involve a trip back home for a couple of days to my homeland of Milton Keynes.  I couldn’t wait to get away from it all and it turned into a productive 48 hours.  Not only did I watch one of the classics in film; The Lion King, I felt I made significant progress in regards to my dissertation.  In fact, I’m technically 20 per cent through my 5,000 word quota, which is very satisfying.  It hasn’t been proof-read by anyone other than me, nor content has been checked by my supervised tutor yet, but to say substantial progress has been made is very true.  My target to have the dissertation nearly complete by the end of January is well within reach.

      Being at home for a couple of days rocked too.  I do like my independence, so my accommodation in Northampton works out well, but it is also nice to go home and be guaranteed a hot shower, not having to cook for just you, be certain of a decent internet connection and so on.  Home comforts will never go away from me and with the lack of activity around University so far this year; it looks like something I might be doing a bit more often as the year progresses.  Certainly it is something more to think about if I get more of my work done in this area.

       I had to getaway and at the right time too.  I had several run-ins with Uni course mates between Sunday afternoon and Monday evening, all minor disagreements it has to be said but by the time Monday evening came around, I had enough.  It didn’t matter how I reacted, how I felt, what I decided to do, everything seemed to backfire on me and for no good reason.  If I’ve done something wrong, I will be the first one to hold my hands up and say sorry.  I don’t feel I have had to do that in the past seven days, yet can’t help but feel almost like public enemy no.1.  I think these incidents have highlighted a fact of life; I will probably feature next week in the Odd One Out round of Have I Got News for You?  I have very little in common with anyone on my course and it is beginning to show.  I still watch Neighbours, love Formula One and like playing computer games on my Xbox 360.  The majority prefer a meal at Nando’s, love Halloween and are big fans of The Only Way is Essex.  The latter pair is things I can’t stand and wish didn’t exist.  The gap is not narrowing; the distance is growing.  I hate distance between people, it is one of the worst things to happen in life, but I fear it is happening with pretty much everyone and I don’t like it.  I guess it’s a fact of life and sometimes, it’s better to know where you stand sooner rather than later down the line.  However, if it continues, I can’t help but feel that is this going to be a very long, torrid year.  I’ve already been called boring this year, but perhaps I’m more a freak of nature, lame and uncool than anything else.  However, whatever people think is their business, so I guess I'll just get on with it, keep my head down and wait to graduate.

     Regular readers will know that I was quite critical of the lecturers towards the end of last year and rightly so.  However, credit where it is due, they have supported everyone so far this time around.  Any questions have been answered properly via e-mail or in the next timetabled session and often, things have been made clearer after looking like a near impossible task.  I got another e-mail from the head of the course yesterday encouraging people to apply as this year’s student course rep, with the incentive being a free coffee.  Nice try, but I think I’ll give it a miss.  If you were offering a free Sky subscription, an Audi A4 or a holiday to Mexico, then that would be far more tempting to take on.  In a small team, I do feel I can lead a group forward, but I don’t think I would be cut out to take on the challenge of dealing with the problems/issues/enquiries of 30 students.  For me, it is more likely to provide more headaches than delight.  It might look good on a CV come the end of the year, but to me, feels more like a poisoned chalice.  However, good luck to whoever decides to take on the role.

BUSY: People queue in their hundreds to see the Olympic torch

     Today saw the Olympic torch arrive at the University of Northampton in an event put together very successfully by the University and the Student Union.  I went down for a couple of hours to see what was going on.  A very lengthy queue meant I wasn’t going to be able to have my photo taken with the torch, but everyone seemed very happy there today on such a beautiful, autumn afternoon.  Many youngsters could try out a whole range of sports, such as badminton, basketball, hockey and javelin.  I think we can safely say that Britain’s young talent continues to shine through and it makes you think just how close the 2012 Olympics are now.  In a little over nine months time, the biggest sporting event in the world heads to London and I hope everyone will get in the Olympic spirit, because it is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

      Once again, it has been a tough week in news.  There was the tragic accident in MotoGP in Malaysia last weekend that claimed the life of promising Italian rider Marco Simoncelli, followed by the earthquake in Turkey just hours later which has claimed hundreds of lives.  I didn’t feel miserable about these events, but they are a shock.  One of the well-respected students on the course, told me on Monday; ‘People die, get over it.’  I thought it was a barbaric and unnecessary comment and I was unimpressed, especially with all the tragedy around the world at the moment.  However, perhaps I have had carried too much emotional attraction and meaning to some of the issues in the world in recent weeks and that is something in journalism that you can’t have.  Yesterday, BBC journalist Sanjeev Shetty came into the University to talk to us and spoke about his decision to not show the Simoncelli accident on the rolling news channel when it came through on Sunday.  He highlighted the issue of not getting personally connected with the story, so that’s something I have now taken onboard, no matter how bad it is.  The guest lecture was really useful to me, as not only did it show the hard work I have to put in to get where I want to go, but Sanjeev shared some of his experiences with us and that was nice to hear.

TRIBUTES: For Nabila outside University, a touching memorial

      Finally, as I was leaving the Olympic torch event at Park Campus today, I walked past the lovely memorial that has been created for the late Leisure & Tourism student, Nabila Nanfuka.  Nabila was tragically crushed to death in the Lava: Ignite nightclub last Wednesday morning and the story has remained in the news all week, with the inquest into the death, plus news of the owners of the club going into administration.  Flowers and lighted candles were present and I did stop for a minute to pay my respects and look on.  Nabila had everything going for her and her dreams of a successful life have been cruelly taken away.  This is another reminder to those out there who seem to care more about Kitty Brucknell surviving in the X-Factor.  Get a grip; natural disasters have happened and another economic crisis is sweeping through Europe.  These stories are far more important than a stupid TV show. 

      I will leave you this week with the saying; “Never take anything for granted and don’t plan too far infront, because you just never know what is around the corner.”  Thank you and goodnight!

The magic 8 ball - What does it say?

ANYONE who knows me will already know that I am absolutely dreadful at predicting anything.  It's a pure fact.  2010 was a luckier year for me in that aspect, but 2011 has already followed the previous poor rate of success.  I may not have a crystal ball, but the magic 8 ball, which you can still get at weird shops and fairs, and also even as a phone application is my predictor.

So, last night, I put him to the test and asked it some questions.  This is the feedback it gave me.  Trust it as a sign...

Will Jamaica still be in the Commonwealth by this time next year? Don't count on it

Is Gordon Brown going to make a sensational return to politics? My sources say no

Will a Skins movie ever be made? Without a doubt

Does Milton Keynes stand any chance of ever gaining city status? Concentrate and ask again

Do you see wedding bells for Nicole Scherzinger and Lewis Hamilton? Without a doubt

Should Chelsea realise they made a mistake and sell Fernando Torres in January 2012? Outlook not so good

Will a British side win the 2011/12 UEFA Europa Leauge? Outlook good

Do you see Ed Miliband remaining as leader of the Labour party at the end of the year? As I see it, yes

Is Sebastian Vettel going to wrap up the 2011 FIA Formula One world championship next weekend in Singapore? It is decidedly so

Will Gaddafi be found in his hiding place? Without a doubt

Will England win the 2011 Rugby World Cup? I'd better not tell you now

In 2,000 years, would you say that dinosaurs return to rule the planet? Reply is hazy, try again

A u-turn by Simon Cowell; will he return to be a judge for the live shows of The X-Factor?  Yes- definitely

A Manchester club to win the 2011/12 Barclays Premier League? Reply is hazy, try again

Do you see Sarah Palin being the next president of the United States?  Very doubtful

Can Nick Clegg make himself even more unpopular with another change of heart?  My reply is no

Will HMV follow Woolworths in going bust by the end of the year?  Ask again later

Do you see it snowing on Christmas Day 2011?  Yes

Out of someone I personally know, will there be a winner of the National Lottery?  Cannot predict now

Do you see Hollyoaks being axed by Channel 4 next summer?  As I see it, yes

So, there you go.  Believe it or not, the magic 8 ball has had its say - let's see if it carries physic powers!

9/11: My memories

By Simon Wright (Personal piece)

I WENT to bed on Monday September 10 2001 in a normal world.  Not much was happening in the world to be honest, certainly nothing out of the ordinary.  24 hours later and everything had changed.  The world would never be the same again.  We had to face with a new threat in our lives, terrorism.  By the end of September 11, 2001 – thousands of innocent lives had been taken in one of the biggest mass murders ever known to man.  As it was broadcast live all over the world on television, it had a massive impact which affected all of us.  Now, a decade on from that dark day, I want to share my memories of that day and how I dealt with witnessing on television such an appalling loss of life.

     Tuesday September 11 2001 started as a bright, sunny day.  Only a week earlier, I had started at Secondary School in Wolverton, Milton Keynes.  Already, I felt I was struggling with the extra demand of lessons and the ridiculous amount of early homework I was getting in the term.  Also, it didn’t help when you had Maths lessons with a guy who couldn’t speak a clear word of English if his life depended on it.  As it turned out, I was in that lesson, totally oblivious to the devastation that was just occurring in America.  Yep, I was doing some silly mathematical equation when the first plane hit the North Tower of the World Trade Centre.

     With the homework I had and needed doing, I went home at the 3pm dismissal time and walked home for a busy night in the books.  If I was lucky, I might be able to see Liverpool’s first match back in the UEFA Champions League against Boavista on the doomed ITV Sports Channel, but the work needed doing.  Strangely enough, I decided to do some Religious Studies homework, with the topic being some basic research on the six main religions in the world.  A pretty boring task, but I had to meet the new standards.

     My mum came home from her teaching assistant job at the local First School and she looked concerned and asked me whether I had heard about the plane crash in America?  I looked at her, a bit confused.  I thought back to Concorde crashing in Paris a year earlier and hoped the ‘Supersonic’ jet hadn’t had another major accident.  She turned on the television to BBC News and the pictures remain vivid to me today.  Seeing replays of both towers of the World Trade Centre on fire was a massive shock.  As I tried to understand what had happened through the BBC Breaking News strap, it was clear the Religious Studies homework would not be completed tonight.  I wasn’t going to be in the right frame of mind.  Then, I gasped in horror as I saw replays of people hanging out of windows, trapped in the burning towers, knowing that they were faced with the probability of being burnt to a crisp or jumping to their deaths.  Next, the video of the two towers collapsing was shown to the entire world and I simply could not believe my eyes what I was seeing.  Surely this was no accident!

     That evening, I watched an ITN News special, presented by the legendary Sir Trevor McDonald and I struggled to comprehend the day’s events as it was replayed on the broadcast.  I didn’t feel sick or anything, just generally numb and confused.  How could this happen and more so, who was responsible for this disgusting act?  I must admit, my first thought was Iraq was responsible, but once the Al-Qaeda name was ran around the news, it started to make more sense.  I remember having a 72-minute phone conversation with one of my school friends on the day’s tragic events, but I don’t remember much of that conversation.  By that stage, nothing else mattered to me on that day.  I knew I had witnessed a life-changing moment and it would have a direct impact on everyone’s life, for many, through no fault of their own.

     My brother, and entertainment expert for this website, Jason Wright spoke to me about his memories of the day and the implications of what was to come for the world.  He was ten years old and had just started third year at a middle school around the same area where I was with secondary school.  “I heard nothing about 9/11 until I got home, as mobile phone breaking news was non-existent in this day.  My first emotion was; was it really happening and I felt really scared watching the pictures.  I do remember Kay Burley and Jeremy Thompson presenting Sky News and their voices as the devastating pictures came in said it all really.  As for going to war with Afghanistan, I always felt it was a grave mistake and let the US go in and do the job, without our help.  Finally, my deepest symphonies go out to the families and friends of the bereaved.  I feel justice has been done with the death of Al-Qaeda’s ringleader back in May, but ultimately, it won’t bring back his victims and my thoughts are with you on what is bound to be a poignant day on Sunday.”

     Ultimately, I can only echo those last thoughts of my brother.  It will be a tough day for the families’ victims, but hand-in-hand, the world will stand on Sunday to remember America’s darkest day and remember those innocent lives, so cruelly taken away.

R.I.P to the victims of 9/11 in New York, Washington and Pittsburgh – You will not be forgotten, ten years on.

Me in the latest issue of Runner's World!

By Simon Wright (Personal Piece)

ON MONDAY July 11 2011, I began a nervous trek on the London Midland train from my home in Milton Keynes to London Euston.  The destination was Broadwick Street, a short walk from Oxford Circus tube station.  The building I would be attending was the National Magazine Company.  However, this wasn't for a sporadic visit to see how a magazine works; this was real.  I was about to spend the next fortnight working for Runner's World magazine.  In the nine days I was there, I learnt a lot about the magazine industry, how it works to tight deadlines and build up a wide range of manufacturer contacts and beat some nerves along the way.  The experience was well worth it and I now have evidence of the hard work I undertook in the latest issue of Runner's World, which is priced at £4.50 and is available at all good newsagents.

     Before I show off some of the stuff I did, a bit of background info about Runner's World.  It is alongside a number of magazines that are produced within the National Magazine Company range.  Other popular titles include Traithlete's World, Men's Health, Cosmopolitan and Company magazine.  The magazine is all about tips of how to improve your levels of fitness; from new training regimes to healthy food diets.  Some issues will also contain emotional interviews with normal members of the public about incredible stories of running.  For example, the latest issue has a link to the tenth anniversary of the horrific terrorist attacks on America on September 11th.  There are also plenty of reviews of the latest gear equipment, previews of upcoming races and detailed reports of other races that have taken place of late, and also stars from athletics can be covered, especially with the countdown to London 2012 getting ever closer.  Recent editions have featured golden hepathlon girl Jessica Ennis, while senior writer Kerry McCarthy (my mentor on the placement) flew out to Jamaica earlier this year to meet the great Usain Bolt.
 
     Enough about them and more about me.  See the pictures as I explain some of the processes of the work I did in the two weeks I was there;

It isn't much to look at, I know - but underneath the 'acknowledgements' section - I am listed as a contributor towards this issue.  It's pleasing to see my name in print, even if it was a very small contribution to the process.

On page 30 is a section called Real Runners.  I had to do some research on the website forums to learn some heartwarming and incredible stories of running.  I was also set the task of doing a telephone interview with Gina Little, who features on the left-hand side of this section in the issue.  Gina was great in the interview, especially as this was a technique I've never enjoyed or looked forward to with any anticipation.  In the magazine is the shorter 60 word version of Gina's amazing marathon story, but for a longer, more detailed version of what we talked about, visit; http://happydude88.blogspot.com/2011/07/gina-little-marathon-magic.html

Although I never wrote this race report, I played a huge part in it going to print.  NO, I DID NOT DO A MARATHON IN THE SAFARI, I couldn't possibly survive.  Jessica Hatcher took part in the event and did a lengthy race report on her experience.  My role in this was to cut-down the word length, due to space and structural changes within the magazine.  Once again, I feel privileged to have played a part in this report and it was very interesting to read, and also, difficult to cutdown as a lot of it was very relevant.  Those who know me will remember that I was a sub-editor for one of the journalism groups on the Christmas Unique magazine at the University of Northampton last year.  It was good for me to be involved in this process again.

This is the key page and all my own work.  On day one, I was set the task to find five races in September, to go into the magazine.  I had to find a range of type of race; (Trail, Off-Road), surface (Flat, Uneven), distance (10K, marathon) and geographical distance.  Also, I had to do a search of races on the RW website and count up the amount of races taking place in September.  The flashy graphics, such as the UK Map, rating percentages from the the website and pie chart are not my doing, but the rest is.  This is my first official byline for a magazine and it is a page I can look back on with immense pride and satisfaction.  Watch out for the January 2012 edition, which will be sold in December 2011, as I did a similar thing towards the end of my placement for December's races.

Finally, a photo I took of my first byline.  For any journalism student studying at a college or University, this is the first stepping stone towards a positive and aspiring future.  

Other tasks I did included getting in touch with many sports manufacturers to release pictures for an update to the RW website catalogue.  It was probably the most work I did, but whether it will be updated and changed is upto the website editor.  However, I'm delighted to have loads of contacts now available to me.  I also did some research into some running shoes that feature in the current edition.  However, this was a very minor part, as I only had to compare prices and hand over a website link.  It was upto the senior writer to call in the testers and rate just how good these shoes really are.

The placement at Runner's World was an immense experience and I don't regret one bit.  I'm very happy to see my work officially published and let's hope there is more to come for many years to come.

Everyone makes mistakes

By Simon Wright (Personal Piece)

THE gun goes off twice to indicate a false start and shock sweeps through the world.  The commentators scream in disbelief, millions of television viewers around the globe are left stunned into silence and over 60,000 spectators in the Daegu stadium in South Korea can’t quite believe what they have just seen.  The unflappable, likeable, cool Jamaican athlete Usain Bolt has just false started by miles.  The men’s 100m, expected to be a case of how fast Bolt will run has just been blown wide open.  Under the new, tight IAAF regulations, Bolt is disqualified.  He rips his Jamaican shirt off his torso, probably thinking why did I do that?  This incident alone yesterday just shows the point that everyone makes mistakes.

     Some people in life will claim that they’ve done nothing wrong, have no regrets in life and think they are absolutely perfect.  Hello, wake up and smell the coffee!!  Everyone has made an error of judgement before, no matter how big or small it is.  It’s life, ‘Pobody’s Nerfect!’

    

Mistakes can vary in sizes and form.  Here is a list of several potential examples;

• Someone making a bad career choice.  For example, thinking you can be a top chef and wreck Jamie Olivier’s career, only to realise that you can’t even cook microwave pizza and would never succeed in running a top London restaurant.  Oops!
• A drunken one-night stand, which many have probably done over the years.  Yes, it probably feels great when you have consumed gallons of tasty alcohol, but the next morning, it is bound to be a massive regret.  Plus, if you are in a secure relationship, the consequences are likely to be far more severe.  What were you thinking!
• Deciding to install a popular computer programme to continue competing with the technological times.  Hours later, your laptop simply won’t load up and nothing is backed up either.  Oh why oh why did I do that, I’m an idiot!
• As a football manager, making a bold tactical gamble to win a game, which you end up losing.  Don’t rub your hair furiously like Arsene Wenger!  Be a man and own up to your mistakes via the press.  Real-life or on Football Manager.  Yes, I totally lost the plot there!
• Getting home from the supermarket, unpack your shopping and think, oh nuts, I forgot to buy the crucial ingredient for dinner tonight.  With no money left, that chicken curry isn’t going to taste right now.  Don’t bother with Come Dine with me then, unless you want to be embarrassed.
• Getting out of your car, and putting the wrong type of petrol in!  Ah damn it; I knew it should have been unleaded fuel, not stupid diesel!  Oh no, that Mercedes car is going to pay for my clumsiness. 

Okay, it’s time to open up my closet of some of the daft errors/mistakes I’ve made down the years.  Those who know me must think I’m just an accident waiting to happen.

• Live streaming on illegal websites.  I know it’s dodgy, but when you begin, you think; ‘Ah, no problem, life’s all good.’  Then, when you check your latest anti-virus scan (like I did in April this year) and locate 272 potential deadly viruses, you realise, I made things far too critical.  I’ve learnt my lesson from that, but unfortunately – my current laptop probably will never recover from its previous healthy state.
• Aged 11 on my first foreign holiday in Lanzarote.  It’s December 30 and I see a Virtual Striker football machine.  Time to see if I can play for Brazil haha!  I start walking towards the games room, without realising there are a pair of glass doors in the way.  Ouch! That hurt and it did!  I tried brandy to cure the pain moments later.  Well, it eased the pain but then, I threw up at breakfast the next morning.  One alcoholic drink I must stay away from in future.
• I got mediocre AS level results, and saw the opportunity to go on a BTEC National Diploma Media Production course at Milton Keynes College.  Rather than go for it, I dither about it and by the time I want to go there, all places on the year’s course has gone.  I had to stick it out for another year at Radcliffe Secondary School, in the sixth form!  Wasn’t my smartest move, but luckily, it all turned out good and if I had gone a year earlier, I won’t have met my amazing friends on my journalism course at the University of Northampton.  Remember to put your career choices first before friend preference everybody!
• Saying things in the heat of the moment, when you think; ‘I’m right and you’re wrong, shut the #### up, I’m talking sense!’  Moments later, you think; ‘Why did I say that?’ and are forced to make a grovelling apology to the friend/colleague you just insulted.  It has happened to me time and again and is probably the one mistake I constantly make.  Fortunately, after another unsavoury incident earlier this year, I have managed to control this issue far greater.

     Of course, when you make a mistake, you must learn from the error of your ways and not do it again.    Like I said, no-one is perfect, we’ve all slipped up and we just have to accept the mistakes we’ve made and learn from them.  If you do, we become better people.  As we’ve seen from Usain Bolt in the last 24 hours and my own collection, hold your hands up and come back stronger.  It makes you stronger people.

Fear - A personal experience

By Simon Wright (Personal piece) - Initially done in February 2011 - for my print portfolio at the University of Northampton

WE SHOULDN’T be living in the past.  Yes, everyone is going to have a degree of doubt, no matter what the event/moment is.  However, if we don’t beat the fear and nerves, where will we end up?  I believe, not in a promising position.

I THINK I can safely say that we all think about life in many different forms.  We all take life for granted until the unexpected happens which changes everything.  For some, that might be the breakdown of a rowdy relationship, or a conflict with a personal religious belief.  Having an element of fear in my life is common, like many others.  In fact, I’m sure we all have a fear of some degree.  Staying secure is important and we don’t want to be too insecure.  On one night in July 2009, I found this out to be of great cost.

     As I walked home alone on my way back from a night out in Milton Keynes, I was attacked, just yards away from my family home.  It still feels very painful for me to describe or write about the experience, even eighteen months on.  I suffered a broken nose, general shock and a stolen mobile phone.

     I was extremely lucky, as I could easily have been another fatal victim of street attacks in the UK.  However, it made me look at life in a different way.  I could have locked myself away, not wanting to go out again, be bitter about my injuries and wonder, why me?

     No, I had to make changes for the better.  If I lived in fear of it happening again, then I wouldn’t be where I am today.  Before this incident, I had always taken things for granted.  Yes, I had always looked out for people, but I had always put myself first.  I was far too selfish, greedy, over-confident for my own liking.

     Now, eighteen months on, I understand the importance of life far more than I ever did before.  Every second in life is precious to me now, I know that and I am embracing and enjoying the challenges thrown at me.  By acting tough, showing defiance and determination and getting out of my comfort zone, it makes me a better person, no matter what the final outcome may be.

I feel a stronger person for tougher previous experiences

     Sometimes, I hold back and I know it’s due to fear.  I have a tendency not to throw myself into new situations straightaway, especially on my course at University.  It’s that case of playing the ‘waiting game.’  I think that it’s fairly understandable to still feel some insecurity.  I certainly think so and if people don’t like that, I couldn’t care less.  However, I like a challenge, and after the initial reluctance/concern, I will do it, say it, whatever the final result.  Nine times out of ten, I’m likely to enjoy it too.

     Some of us live in fear and with fear regularly.  We all have it to some form of existence.  However, if we always live with it on our conscience, then success is going to be limited.  We all have elements of fear, but if they are overcome, then you will be able to appreciate life far more.  From my own terrible experience, I know how to bounce back and be a stronger individual.

Print, exam, Balestra - A top-notch week

PERSONAL PIECE (By Simon Wright)

ANOTHER week down and one of the best weeks I’ve had of the year so far.  Pressure released from some rather tight shoulders, things finally began to go my way and the spectacular journalism night out less than 24 hours ago has left me buzzing.

FINAL: The front cover of my 12-page magazine

     If you had read last week’s edition, then you will have understood the nightmare I had with Printers Pairs.  On Monday, I went to the library at the University of Northampton to print out my 12-page magazine, based on retro TV (see picture for front cover).  Typically for me, it didn’t run without its problems.  First, the magazine wouldn’t print out, because I was on another student’s username.  Then, my library password had expired, which meant I couldn’t get onto my log-in screen and set-up my Adobe PDF file for printing.  Eventually, I managed to print out three A3 copies, and by accident, one A4 colour booklet copy.  Looking at the final product, I am delighted with how it all came together in the end, after some trials and tribulations.  Of course, I needed some assistance, otherwise I would have been in a major panic and I’m lucky to have that this year, in the form of a strong and very close friendship with Tamika.

      As a group, I do think we all have a strong chemistry.  A lot of us have different interests; different hobbies and some have more eccentric lifestyles than others!  However, it all works out in the end.  What I do know this year is that without the presence of Tamika, I wouldn’t have been as motivated as I have been and maybe, I wouldn’t even be at the University.  Tamika has helped me massively though some very tough situations for me this year, both within University and outside Uni.  She has always been there for me and I am eternally grateful for that.  Without her care and support, I wouldn’t be as strong as I am now.  Monday was another prime example of this.  I know many people who would have just walked away from me and left me to fight my own battles.  Tamika has never done that, and I’m so pleased she has always stuck by me, especially in some trying situations.  True, you do need to show some individual qualities, but to have a strong personality backbone; you need loving support from your friends.  I’m lucky, because I do have three or four very close friends on my course at Uni, as well as my loving family and the ‘Pubbage’ crew back in my hometown, Milton Keynes.  With her hard-working capabilities, together with always being there for support, advice and a good laugh too, Tamika’s friendship will be one of the most positive aspects I will lookback on during my second year at the University of Northampton.    

     Whilst I can never fault Tamika’s reliability as a friend, the lecturers continue to be a total liability.  I’m beginning to feel I should trust Ian Beale from EastEnders more than the useless lecturers.  I don’t want to be too hyper-critical if I can help it, but I am paying over £3,000 a year to attend my degree at the University of Northampton.  I expect top-quality teaching as a result and to say that I and the rest of my course are getting that would be one of the biggest porkies I’ve heard.  England has got more chance of winning the Football World Cup than we have of getting any decent communication.  This week’s episode saw the ridiculous decision taken to move the deadline for the Unique group magazine portfolios by a week, and let us know, two flipping days before it is meant to be handed into the Assignment Office!  The lecturers used the excuse that we all knew and it was made abundantly clear!  So, where’s the evidence?  No-one told me, and also, what is a Log Book?  I mean, they accuse some of us for slacking.  Well, don’t prove that by changing around deadlines without telling us then!  I don’t expect us to be spoon-fed.  After all, we are all grown-ups, but just a little bit of better communication wouldn’t go amiss.  No-one will break their leg if that happened.  It feels like Civil War is breaking out between Lecturers v Journalism Students.  It would be an interesting occasion for Big Fight Live!  Quick, I’d better telephone Rupert Murdoch; he might be able to back a blockbusting knockout victory for the students!  Sometimes, I feel more reliable than the lecturers and I’m not even teaching!  Maybe we should trust Wikipedia more than them.

     Thursday May 12, and its 9.30am.  I have just started my dreaded exam on law and government for journalists.  Then, I come across a term called TWOC!  I’ve have never even heard of that terminology, never!  If someone wants to let me know, send your answers via postcard!  Aside from that stupid term, I felt the two-hour exam went really quickly and went very well.  I got a C last year, from an exam that I thought was easy-peasy, chocolate-squeezy!  I actually thought the 2011 exam was easier still.  Exams have been the death of me in the past.  My brain always froze in an exam hall, and often would spoil a hard year’s work of effort.  Since I screwed up my GCSE’s in 2005, I have worked incredibly hard to sort these issues out and the results seem to be coming together now.  I’m glad I don’t have to do any next year (I hope!), and will always going in feeling butterflies.  However, I felt very confident of doing well and hopefully; the results will prove my confidence.  I’ve always gone into a hall with a bag of nerves, often been ill in the build-up to the exam, not eating much and struggling with irregular sleeping patterns.  Not so this time around, so it was a pleasant change.    

PARTY: With journalism buddies, Shamima, Tom and Richard

     To conclude this personal blog on a happy note and I went out last night into town to make my debut in the Balestra nightclub.  Since Balestra opened just before Christmas 2010, I’ve always been interested to go and experience it.  I’m not a clubbing person and never will be, especially after being attacked on the way home from a night out in Milton Keynes in July 2009.  However, I will bite the bullet and go out occasionally, with the plan to have some drinks, a mad dance, a real laugh and a memorable experience.  This certainly happened last night.  After some pre-drinks at Pennywhistle’s with two of my closest friends, Emily and Rochelle, plus a rather entertaining Jonathan (who I’ve never really seen eye-to-eye with), we headed down town to the club.  I was so thrilled to finally have a night out which saw the large proportion of journalism students out together, partying into the early hours of Friday morning.  It is something we haven’t done enough of and I think that made the experience even more enjoyable.  I have also managed to find a nightclub in Northampton that can match up to my favourite place, which is Oceania in Milton Keynes.  Like I said before, I’m not a regular clubber, but Oceania is the only experience when I’ve come out of a club and gone ‘Wow,’ before last night anyways.  To see people out, who I don’t normally socialise with made it more awesome too.  There were plenty of highlights along the way.  Seeing one of our journalism technicians outside Pennywhistle’s, as we disappeared into the town, Farida complaining that her feet were about to fall off and an Olly Murs lookalike trying to chat up Farida and Tamika in one of the nearby eating establishments after the nightclub experience and frankly, failing absolutely miserably!  Well, some guys just don’t know when to stop!  I got back to my place, exhausted at 3.45am, but having had one of the best nights for ages! 

    More partying next week hopefully, when Uni is wrapped up for another year!  I already know that despite my London work placement and Fuerteventura summer holiday with the family, I am really going to miss my journalism buddies over the lengthy summer break.  LET’S GO OUT ON A HIGH!

March - A personal self-reflection

CLOCKS: British summertime has arrived and brings fresh hope

WHILST I spend time blogging on worldwide issues and hobbies that interest me, I felt like doing a personal blog to sum up recent weeks for myself.  The clocks have gone forward and hence, British Summertime has arrived.  I have hope, belief and conviction that things are turning the corner, when three weeks ago, things looked rather bleak.  March has tested me and I have learned some lessons which I feel have improved me for the future.

     The beginning of the month was the low point of 2011 so far.  I turned issues that were bad for me into situations which completely took me to the brink.  Having numerous problems with a laptop is pretty bad, but I should have dealt with them in a far more calm and considered manner than I did.  It affected me far too much.  I also returned to University after a production week with an attitude of ‘I don’t care,’ ‘I can’t be bothered,’ and ‘I wouldn’t compromise.’  It was the first time that I had shown any form of attitude like that in my 18 months at the University of Northampton and looking back on it, I couldn’t believe that I’d be so awful in my behaviour.  To compound matters, I had a serious argument with a very close friend which pushed me to breaking point.  I don’t want to share the details, because it’s a personal matter, but it just made things really bad.  When I left Uni on Friday 11 March at around 4pm, I left a broken individual.  I had enough and I thought that was it.  I went home to Milton Keynes to consider what to do next and more importantly, would I return?

     I returned the following Monday in a more calm, friendly and fresh approach.  If I had left, I would have taken the defeatist approach to life.  We all have bad weeks, desperate moments where we don’t quite know where to turn to next.  However, to become a better person, we need to overcome the hard moments and overcome it, because at the end of the day, what would be left if you walked away from what you really wanted to do?  Absolutely nothing!

     Although events in Libya haven’t really interested me, and that’s purely because I don’t see any point in Britain being involved, the earthquake and tsunami to hit Japan on March 11 really shook me up.  It made me think and realise that there is more important moments around the world rather than personal reasons.  To see so much devastation happen in such a well-developed country was heartbreaking.  For those who think the world has ended because ‘Oh dear, my boyfriend has dumped me’ or ‘I have no friends, find some for me;’ I’d say hard cheese!  At the end of the day, think yourself lucky that you have a roof over your head, food in your stomach, clothes to wear etc.  What about those affected by the Japanese tsunami?  Lack of supplies, homes that have simply been washed away, no sign of friends and family.  These are all more important and necessary situations than a simply panicky domestic issue.

FEELING STRESSED: What's the point?

     Now, I am taking the chilled and relaxed approach.  There is no point running around like a headless chicken, I tried that and it didn’t work.  There’s no point stressing out, I’ve tried that and it didn’t work.  Taking a step back, embracing what I have and taking it easy is the way to go.  I’m pleased that March has taught me some hard-earnt and tough lessons, because I now feel in a better place for the experience.

     Of course, my thoughts still go to those who lost everything in Japan in such devastating and tragic circumstances.  

F1 2011 preview (Part 1)

THE new Formula One season begins this weekend, two weeks later than initially planned.  The Australian Grand Prix takes over the mantelpiece of the F1 opener, after Bahrain’s cancellation, following the current unrest in the Middle East.  With another big shake-up in the rules, another new race in India to look forward to and a rather stable driver market this time around, 2011 can beat the drama of 2010.  Can Sebastian Vettel defend his title?  Will Fernando Alonso bounce back from last year’s Abu Dhabi heartbreak?  How will Renault fare without Robert Kubica?  Is Michael Schumacher going to prove his critics wrong?  Have McLaren been sandbagging in testing?  All the talking stops this weekend in Albert Park, so here’s the inside guide.  

Red Bull Racing Renault

1              Sebastian Vettel (GER)

2              Mark Webber (AUS)

Red Bull starts as defending double champions and on pre-season testing evidence look like the class of the field again in 2011.  Adrian Newey and his technicians at Milton Keynes have come up with another highly impressive contender, which looks quicker than last year’s RB6 and far more reliable to its predecessor.  Sebastian Vettel stole the title last season, with some irresistible driving at the end of the last campaign.  If the young German cuts out the silly errors, then Schumacher’s records could be beaten after all.  Mark Webber came so close, yet so far last season and the Aussie knows that he needs to beat Vettel this season, especially as he is out of contract at the end of the season.  Webber rattled Vettel at times last season, but lacked the cutting edge when required.  He has some points to prove this time around.

McLaren-Mercedes

3              Lewis Hamilton (GBR)

4              Jenson Button (GBR)

They were undoubtedly second best to Red Bull in championship last year and McLaren so badly want to take the constructors title for the first time since 1998.  However, their car just hasn’t been up to scratch in testing and looks way too slow to cope with Red Bull and Ferrari.  Expect Lewis Hamilton to wring the neck out of it, and he has a better chance than at the start of 2009 at least.  Jenson Button had a promising debut season with McLaren, and could be the one to beat in changeable/wet conditions.  However, he fell away from the ultimate pace in the title run-in and how he handles the new Pirelli tyres will be interesting to see.  Race wins are certainly possible, but a championship tilt looks a long way off at the moment.

Ferrari

5              Fernando Alonso (SPA)

6              Felipe Massa (BRA)

Ferrari’s strategy cock-up cost them a driver’s title in Abu Dhabi last season and heads have rolled in the winter.  Chris Dyer, Michael Schumacher and Kimi Raikkonen’s former race engineer has been demoted to a factory role and the charming boss Stefano Domenicalli is surely on a last chance.  The pressure is intense, not just from Luca di Montzemolo, but also from the Tifosi.  No driver’s title since 2007 is simply not good enough.  The car looks short of one-lap speed in comparison to the Red Bull, but its long-run speed could be its wildcard.  Fernando Alonso has moulded the team around him and is sure to be Vettel’s main threat this season.  Felipe Massa’s morale was destroyed by the team-orders debacle at Hockenheim last season and time is running out for the likeable Brazilian at Ferrari.  If he doesn’t score consistent podiums, expect Alonso to have a new team-mate for 2012.  Massa’s last corner title heartbreak in Brazil 2008 seems like a century ago. . .   

Mercedes GP

7              Michael Schumacher (GER)

8              Nico Rosberg (GER)

After the miracles of Brawn in 2009, the much-hyped takeover of Mercedes GP somewhat fell flat as a pancake in 2010.  The car just didn’t do the job and Michael Schumacher drove much of the season like a pig, resulting in several calls for him to pack it up again.  However, the 41-year-old stays on for 2011 and is bound to be better on the Pirelli tyre.  Nico Rosberg is getting ever closer to that maiden F1 win, but this is his sixth season in the sport and he must deliver that breakthrough this season if he really wants to be considered as serious championship material.  The addition of Bob Bell as technical director is a shrewd move and though testing has delivered mixed results, they look quicker than McLaren at least.  The jury’s still out on where they will be in the chasing pack.

Renault

9              Nick Heidfeld (GER)

10           Vitaly Petrov (RUS)

The heart of Renault’s team was ripped out by Robert Kubica’s horrific rally accident in Italy.  His absence from the team for this season is going to have a major effect, but Nick Heidfeld is the best possible stand-in.  Heidfeld has finished second on eight separate occasions in his career and the car looks good enough for race wins, even though championship material looks some way off.  At worst, Heidfeld will be a consistent point’s scorer.  Vitaly Petrov showed promise in 2010, notably in holding off Alonso in the season finale at Abu Dhabi, but too many daft errors cost Renault a load of points in the season.  Renault have the best resources to break the top four, but the loss of their golden jewel in Kubica could have some major implications, especially in the early races.

Williams-Cosworth

11           Rubens Barrichello (BRA)

12           Pastor Maldonado (VEN)

Juan Pablo Montoya’s win in Brazil 2004 seems like a century ago now, and although Williams have dropped into the midfield, they seem to have produced a very quick car for 2011.  With more sponsorship terminations, the Grove squad has been hit the hardest in the post-2008 recession, but what they do have is winners in Patrick Head and Sir Frank Williams.  With money tight, the late season heroics of Nico Hulkenberg wasn’t enough for him to keep his drive and GP2 champion Pastor Maldonado takes his place.  Maldonado will do well to match Hulkenberg’s impressive point’s tally of last campaign, but he isn’t any slouch.  The incredible Rubens Barrichello enters his 20^th season in the sport and his energy and enthusiasm never seems to dwindle, despite having a midfield car again.  If Williams sort out the KERS issues that have dogged pre-season, they could be the dark horse.