Growing Up

I have no excuses for my absence. Actually, that's a lie. I have many:

1) Finishing my third AND FINAL year at university has turned me into a complete hermit.

2) After studying finished, I didn't want to read or write ever again.

3) I got over it, but just felt lazy.

4) I'm now working full time in a GROWN UP JOB. *Scream*

That's correct! I am now a proper 9-to-5 gal. Not that I'm used to it one little bit. Who knew 5 days a week would be so HARD?! I never felt like this when I was at school working 5 days a week! The days have long gone where I could legitimately mong out in my onesie scoffing a Pot Noodle whilst watching Friends or The Walking Dead. I'll still try and find time to do those things nonetheless.

But, let's backtrack a little bit. Before I decided that I wanted a full time job and actually earn enough to start paying tax, I decided to work for free. (Many would ponder what's the difference...)
I did a week's work experience with The Times newspaper in London (that massive News International building where The Sun is based too)
How AWESOME would such a thing look on my CV?! Amazing, what a brand - what an experience in the top-dogs of the journalism industry!

How wrong was I?

I didn't do anything that I thought I would whilst I was there. I worked on the magazine desk, and frankly - I felt like I had no input whatsoever. Oh, wait - I'm being harsh. At one point, I was asked to manually type out chapters from a fiction book because their PDF-to-Word wasn't working. TOP journalism right there! I sat in the corner all day every day, and stuck it out. I have a good 3 years of journalism experience under my belt and I was typing out chapters! It was either chapters or research for interviews. Stuff I could've done from home. 

Now, I can't be too harsh, as at the time I didn't have any formal journalism qualifications, so The Times can't just trust anyone to write stuff - but the CHANCE should've been there. A chance to prove myself, get myself published (even if it'd been the SMALLEST piece) but no. I have nothing physical to show for my work experience at The Times apart from £130 taken out of my account to cover travel and food expenses for the week. (No, they didn't pay for anything. But I knew that anyway) I left The Times feeling slightly humoured as 'the work experience girl' and nothing more. I wish I could say the work environment was pleasant, but alas, I cannot. I won't go into even more boring detail, but rant over!

I now have a job where I can actually DO stuff! I have some responsibility at last! Currently I spend my working days engaging with university students (new and existing) digitally via emails and social media, as well as managing the web content for our new website (www.hertfordshire.su, in case you're wondering) it's been stressful at times but I actually don't mind that (for now!) when the new term starts, I'll be engaging with students face to face and promoting the many services that The Students' Union offers.

I'll try to be less absent-y next time... but I'll probably have an excuse! 

Tumbleweed...

Well, this is awkward.

Here's me thinking now I'm in my final year at university studying English Literature, Journalism and Creative Writing, I would be more on top of my blog as a result. Wrong.

Wrong, wrong, wrong.

I have however, been working very hard over the Summer to keep my journalism experience going. I'm writing for an online magazine from time to time, supplying all sorts of feature articles. For example, if you ever want to know about women and tattoos, the best hair oil (yes it exists), or what would happen if all the convenient technology (stupid phrase now I see it in front of me) were to fail us. If you DO want to know the answers to such issues, visit Yuppee Magazine. It's obvious to say I have yet to find my 'niche' when it comes to writing. What interests me most? Probably things that aren't worth writing about to be honest. I'm easily pleased.

Third year university is havoc. All of a sudden I've gone from watching Gossip Girl and How I Met Your Mother day in day out for four months to having to read six novels in two weeks. How has this transition happened?! Also I'm getting deadlines coming out of nowhere (Tutor: 'Well you KNEW this would happen!' Yes, yes, you were right) and it's really thrown me off guard. Over the Summer I did some work experience with my local newspaper, The Comet. Now, I'm doing some more experience with their partner newspaper, the Welwyn Hatfield Times, as part of my journalism module. AND, on the side of all this, I'm interviewing Wired Magazine's editor David Rowan tomorrow. I'm really looking forward to exploring his views on becoming an entrepreneur (a word that is REALLY hard to pronounce. I implore you to try now. Go on!)

So yes, things are really happening right now. I'm overwhelmed to say the least, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I love being busy with things that NEED doing. That reminds me, I MUST watch this week's episode of Gossip Girl...

(xoxo) - Sorry if you don't get the reference.

Camping: An Idiot's Guide

I went camping with a group of eight friends, all of them being regular campers. I however, only remember going camping when I was more interested in a colouring book. When you're nine, the parents do all the hard work and all of a sudden, a brand new home is created for you on holiday. So when I went away this weekend, everything was brand new and alien to me, and I actually learnt a lot about camping. There's a lot that can be said for the phrase 'taking things for granted'...

The camp site we were at (Bush Farm, West Knoyle, Wiltshire, England) was a really rustic place, where they literally give you a patch of land in the woods and leave you to it. None of this business where they pack you in so tight you can't see grass. We were allowed camp fires, and, more importantly, were allowed to be in a group consisting of people aged between 20-25. There's a lot of camp sites that actually disagree with this, but they're more family based. From my short but sweet camping trip, here are my rules for a successful and convenient holiday. Some rules are obvious, but perhaps so obvious that they get forgotten:

1) When you buy a tent, double it.I suppose this is a given. I bought a '2 person' tent; however you do NOT want this if you are sharing with someone else. I felt like I was in a sardine tin; and so did my tent buddy. I was almost relieved when my tent buddy was forced to leave the tent because the rain had got her stuff soaked. Are you sharing a tent with three people? Buy a '6 person' tent. Etc...

2) Dry Wood.Campfires are a bitch at the best of times, but when you are surrounded by trees you think that maybe the wood you can gather will be enough for a decent campfire... unless the wood is perfectly dry, either buy some or use an alternative material. Smoke EVERYWHERE...

3) Dry Shampoo.Probably one for the ladies here. Shower and toilet facilities are fab, however dry shampoo saves you a LOT of hassle (especially if you're stranded in your tent because you forgot your wellies and it's bucketing it down with rain outside.) It doesn't make you feel as fresh, but hey, you're camping.

4) Remember Wellies.See above.

5) Lanterns and torches.You can never have too many of these. You don't realise just how dark it can get outside - this sounds silly but light is heavily taken for granted. I bought a LED torch and also a LED lantern. The lanterns are great for putting in tents whilst you're trying to sort yourself out.

6) Blankets.There's nothing worse than being freezing cold in a tent when it's windy and rainy outside. If I hadn't had my blanket with me (as well as my sleeping bag, obviously) I'd still be at the camp site now, thawing.

7) Know your route!Scenario: It's torrential downpour outside your tent. There's water inside your tent. It's 3:30AM. You don't have your wellies with you, and the toilets aren't exactly a 10-second walk away. Even though you have your LED torch, you don't want to be shining it everywhere around other people's tents. Know your pee route; the nearest emergency tree...

8) Emergency Poncho (No, seriously)After going to the effort to know your pee route, you don't want to return back to your tent soaking wet. They are a life saver, and also work well to use as a cover around the inside doorway of your tent. I got one for 50p at Morrisons; and it served it's job well. Zip fastenings really aren't that secure with the rain is without mercy.

9) Socks.Always take spare socks. Wet feet are never fun.

10) Heads up!It's rare that you will be able to get that perfect flat surface when you pitch your tent. Nine times out of ten you'll be on a slope of some sort. ALWAYS sleep with your head on the top of the slope, with your feet at the bottom. It's a lot more comfortable and the condensation can gather elsewhere.


So that's my quick summary of a complete idiot's guide to camping. I hope I remember it if I go again! For a wet, filthy, knackering weekend, I must say, it was totally worth it! An education, if you will. Laters!

Come here often?

'What does it mean?' 'You've already interpreted it anyway...'

Wow it's been a long time since I have posted here! I have been lacking blog inspiration, and I'm trying to get more followers to make this blog somewhat useful in the massive cyberspace world.

University year-two is complete; and, as ever, I'm exhausted from my cushty student lifestyle. I have wondered for ages what to write about when it comes to blogging; you don't want to hear some girly diary (If you do, go watch a chick-flick or something!) however I find this blog personal to me, so when in doubt, talk about any interesting stuff in your own life. I will find a niche, someday. One thing that I find interesting right now is tattoos. Particularly tattoos on women. I recently got a tattoo (Pictured above) and it was my first one. I don't plan on getting any more, because personally I'd rather have one bold one than loads of little ones. I chose to have it in a place that can be easily hidden (some employers still frown on such things) and also I got it placed behind my left shoulder, because if I don't like it in 10 years, it won't matter because it's literally behind me. Besides, I often hear older people these days saying how much they would love to remember how it was to feel 20 again. Well, I can - just by looking at this reminder!

People ask very strange questions and make weird statements when it comes to the revelation of someone's tattoo. For instance: 'It cost HOW much? What a rip off!' (It's for life, and probably cheaper than what you pay for your car insurance per month...) 'What if you meet a guy and he really doesn't like it?' (If they detest it that much I don't want to be with that person) and finally: 'What does it mean?' - I personally find this question a tricky one to answer. As my tattoo is an image, it's hard to put what it means into words (that's why it's an image...) however I find that even if I do say the meaning of my tattoo, it will always get interpreted differently by other people. I'm glad that more and more people are accepting of tattoos on women. They no longer convey the 'gangster' image they once did. And why should they? Anyway, if you're worried what other people will think if you get a tattoo, chances are you shouldn't get one and you should be working on that self-esteem issue of yours. Peace out! :)

You may open your papers....now.

Hello!

So, I'm totally stressing about exams, even though I really shouldn't be because I keep getting told that your first year of university is pretty much....non existent on the importance scale.

I have a huge sore throat at the moment, which really didn't help me in my exam today. The room was full of air conditioning so I kept having to swallow and my throat was being such a pain! I'm hoping I'm not getting a Summer cold. My next (and last) exam is on Saturday, yes- a Saturday! Who said it was necessary for exams to be on Saturdays?! I Pay these people over £3,200 for the year and this is how I get repaid! Unbelievable.

When it's come to revising, I shamefully haven't done any, until the morning of the exam. It's just getting started with revision I simply cannot do. Once I'm started, I'm fine. I have tried various motivation methods, such as rewards- however I lose all self control and just skip to the rewards. Hello, BlackBerry!! :D

Anyone who is reading this, good luck in your exams, whether they matter or not!

x 

Happy Easter!

Hello!

I must say I didn't think I would make it to more than three blog posts, but I'm trying to stick with this as much as I can!

At last, it is the Easter break from university! Happy days! I was waiting for my first day off for weeks, months! And then, it arrived! I had a lovely long lie-in, got up late, stayed in my PJs until the afternoon.....and got bored. I was so incredibly bored as I was so used to doing something (even if I didn't like it) everyday! However I know that I need to relish this time off while I can, otherwise I will be constantly miserable!

In other (and more relevant, if a little tedious right now) news, the Royal Wedding is approaching. How do you guys feel about it? How many times have you been asked this pointless question? Will you just see 'THE dress' then switch over and watch Friends or something?
                       I think it's nice how a wedding of random people that nobody knows personally (not many of us anyway!) has made the entire country and other parts of the world SO excited. What is it about a royal wedding that makes everyone so ecstatic? Businesses love it, that's for sure. But I remember when the news team was interviewing the public about it; they said that it would "really cheer everyone up!" Why?

And with that, I bid you all a Happy Easter! (I need more followers.... 5 makes me feel lonely...)

x

Nearly There!

Hello again people!

It's good to see that my followers have now increased to 5 whole people :D This does make me happy!

On the other hand, I have the added 'SpringTime' pressue of major university assignment deadlines to deal with. It's procrastination I have problems with; the thing is, I'm amazing at procrastinating, especially with shopping :)

I can't believe that I'm nearly a THIRD through my university degree! It's scary stuff, and it's going mega-quick, but right now I can't be happier for this. The long term-times have been hard to get used to; especially when you have a break or a day off every other day when you're at high school. Oh I miss the primitive times!

Hope you're all good, and I can learn how to get a decent background on this blog soon. I want something unique! However whenever I try to paste in the HTML code, I only get half a decent background and half a Blogger one....what a conundrum.

Toodles! x