Almost Forgot...

Closing MSN I blinked and remembered: "Bugger I haven't done my blog post for the day!" And as it is 15 minutes to midnight I will keep this brief, I'm very tired for some unknown reason but am getting up even earlier tomorrow and have an even more tiring day too. Luckily Friday and the weekend are coming up so much well deserved rest can be had. Sorry for the very brief post but I had to put something!

-Ross

Ooh...that's Gonna Hurt in the Morning.

Stumbling back to my flat at 7.20pm, I threw my bag off and slumped onto my bed. Ow, I was as sore as sore could be, but kickboxing was a lot of fun.

...Then I realised I still had a lot to do: eat the remains of my dinner (in fact I made myself a bowl of Cheerios and Coco Pops too), unpack my drying (like washing but...with a dryer) and copy my timetable onto my notepad. That doesn't sound a lot, but when your arms and legs feel like lead weights, it's significantly harder.

I'm even too tired to type anything significant, so I guess I shall leave it at this. I had a very leisurely start (my first class was at 4pm), and therefore managed to dry my still damp clothes, sheets and towels, hoover my room and went out to buy myself some fruit and veg at Tesco Express. So I've had a healthy day today. Joy of joys.

-Ross

"Cookies?" "They're Christmas Cookies."

"...Detergent, bugger."

I knew I'd forgotten something, but standing in the University Laundrette, surrounded by guys who were at least a year older, more confident than me, and with friends; I didn't want to be spending too long thinking...

In my naivette I also thought that the washer would take, at most, 20 minutes. Boy was I wrong...after standing there for 40 minutes my first washer finished, followed shortly by the second. Unfortunately because the washer's were twice as expensive as I thought they'd be, and having to use twice as many washers as well; I didn't have enough for the dryer.

After reporting all this to my Mother I was ordered back to the Laundrette to use a dryer for the wettest of my items, I came back and ironed for an hour and a half, which is strangely relaxing (even if it did make my cell feel like a sauna). I've decided I'll go do a proper wash on Thursday, when I have 6 hours free between classes.

Other than that, I was introduced to three pieces of coursework today in my three classes. All of which don't look too hard, and I'm rather looking forward to the IT parts. Though I was offended when they suggested we buy a book on how to Photoshop. PSHAW! I didn't spend two years on an Art A Level for nothing!

-Ross

I Don't Go Outside Anymore...

"One to the city centre please."

The bus driver looked at me and furrowed her brow, she was trying to figure out if my aggressive tone was intentional or not. Whether you count it as a blessing or a curse, my recent sore throat has given me more of a gutteral growl than a voice.

Deciding that I wasn't trying to intimidate her, she accepted my change and I took my ticket before heading up to the second story of the bus. Sitting down on the remarkably clean and stainless seats, I placed my bag next to me and pushed my headphones back into my ears as I stared out the window. I wasn't sure where the bus would take me on my closer to my would-be home, but I was honestly quite apprehensive as the bus pulled away from the kerb.

I've come to realise that being away from home, I still hold onto the old feelings of clinging to what I know best, to never explore and to be safe...watching the sun set as the suburban housing and single story shops turned into apartments and big shopping chains I realised that I could be perfectly comfortable if I ever decided to take a bus somewhere one day and not know anything about where I was going or when I'd get there.

This is probably part of my 'awakening' into the concious world of adulthood from the subconcious world of childhood.

...That was far too philosophical for a Sunday evening, I think it's a sign for me to sit back and couch potato while watching River Cottage.

-Ross

Built to Last..

Again I find myself staring at the TV, occasionally coughing and groaning. My first full weekend away from home at University had been plagued with illness. Nothing severe, a sore throat and a cough, but either way; when you're ill what you want is to be somewhere...home. And even though now I don't feel anywhere near as lonely as I felt this time last week, it's still not and never will be a home to me.

Today was uneventful, again. So again I have very little to say, but I promise tomorrow will be a little bit more interesting; you'll just have to bear with me when it comes to weekends. Tomorrow my Father will arrive on his way back from Exeter, where he'll have spent most of his weekend trying to control the garden of my Granny's house.

Despite my uneventful and rather trialsome (I reserve the right to combine two words if I want to, it's my blog after all) day, as anyone who's had a sore throat before will understand, I have had very little to report on, so I suppose I shall bring this post to an end.

-Ross

Crunchy Apple...

I stared blankly at the TV and tried not to think about how much my throat was hurting. I looked back at my laptop screen and frowned, I'd spent the whole day staring at these two screens; mainly because of how lousy I felt, and because today was my day off. I knew from the begining of the day that I wasn't going to be going out today. Or tomorrow. I'm not a 'going out and getting drunk' kind of person. I don't really know anyone around here well enough yet.

As I feared yesterday, my day has been very uneventful. Apart from my sore throat, and the University turning off the water in our building for "emergency repairs" and not telling us when it was back on, today has passed by with little to nothing happening. Now though, my sore throat is getting to me despite pumping myself full of painkillers. The one other unfortunate side affect of my sore throat is that my adam's apple seems to be crunching against something everytime I swallow, with a fitting noise to go along with it.

For a lack of anything else to say, I shall end this post for today. Tomorrow I attempt to use the laundrette...probably. Depends if I feel well enough for it. I'm sure you'll all be waiting with baited breath for the results.

-Ross

Gotta Kick at the Darkness 'til it Bleeds Daylight...

"Oi, mate," I turned round to look at the well-built guy addressing me. "You wan' to try out for Rugby?" His hand slapped me on the shoulder as I tried to figure out whether he was joking or being serious. Looking down at my figure I hardly looked Rugby material...thin, gangly. No, not even a figure that'd suit a flyhalf. I politely declined and waited for Jack to finish signing up for Tennis. Today had been interesting to say the least.

Before I continue on about today though, I must mention the one thing I forgot to mention yesterday: my headphones broke. Luckily I brought my cans, big studio DJ style headphones, but it's always nice to have the option to use small ones for when you don't want huge headphones weighing down your neck all day. As a result, I will probably take a slight excursion to Maplins this weekend.

Back to the present, or more recent past at least. Today was the sport's and societies fair. Although the societies part was rather a let down (only 4 or 5 very obscure societies) the sports part was far from. Though some of the sports clubs were more exclusive and demanding than the others, I managed to sign myself up for kickboxing. Hold your laughter for a few moments, it was a nice change to most sports I'm used to, and very cheap at only £2 a session after the first and no extra charges for kit or anything. Rather a good deal I figured, so I'll give it a shot. Plus it gets me out two nights a week so that can't be too bad.

Of course I suppose most of you are intrigued about the field trip which I mentioned yesterday, so I shall not disappoint. The field trip involved a mixture of terrorists, explosions and a little bit of journalism mixed in with it all. The facility where the exersise was staged was owned by the University, so aside from being a bit outlandish for a rural, South-England village it was also quite obvious to notice it's absurdity. Despite the fact that the corpse was moving around, it was obvious a lot of preparation had been put into it's preparation and this was silently appreciated by all involved, I'm sure.

Our group seemed to also be the leading group in terms of speed, quantity and quality of article writing. If I can find a link on Monday, I'll post it here so that you can read it.

Though after a few drinks with my Uncle this evening I have found myself quite tired, so I shall bring this train of thought to a close for tonight, with a three-day-weekend coming up, I'm sure I will have...to find something to do to make for interesting blogging. I believe I've reached what my Father would call: "Blogger's block."

-Ross

Blinked and Missed It

Stuffing my face with Jaffa Cakes I looked back over what should've been a very easy day. In fact it was easy, but for some reason it felt a lot more work than it actually was. It was probably due to my distinct lack of sleep, between shouting party-goers and my small, hard-as-a-plank-of-wood bed it wasn't a night I'd enjoy on a regular basis.

It began with a frankly late start to my morning, crawling into University, trying to find the lecture room where I was supposed to register for the local NHS surgery. When I found it, it all went pretty well, except when on the phone to my Mother to ask the name of my Cambridge Surgery, I turned away and then turned back to see my form had disappeared into the pile of complete forms. After a minute or two of uhm-ing an ahh-ing and my Mother wondering what on earth I was doing, my form was retrieved and completed.

The rest of the morning was full of nothing, despite the comfiness of the sofas in the Student Union bar I managed to keep myself awake. The briefing for tomorrow's field trip was vague at best, though the paperwork they gave us pretty much detailed it all anyway. It was an activity intended to get us used to going out in the field on a "Breaking, Hard News Story" which is anything that's actually important, so not a cat up a tree, and not some celebrity broke a nail and hasn't stopped crying about it since. The scenario sounded quite outlandish, a gun fight at a Gas Depot at the docks. Sounds like I'm now living in urban America.

Getting home I didn't get long to sit down before I was bowled over by the fire alarm. Though apparently I would've burnt to death because I took so long, I was chivalrous and waited for the last member of my flat who was struggling with her keys. I think the woman lecturing us failed to notice the flat on the second floor who were all peering out of the window at her yelling, and the guy on the third floor who looked like he hadn't even bothered to move from his desk. I mean, one guy actually got out of the shower and pulled clothes on and managed to get down at the same time as me. Sometimes I think people don't make enough effort.

Considering the interesting events of my day all but over, I leave you there. My sister goes to an awards ceremony tonight to be presented with...a book. Which she bought. With a book token she was given as an award. It's strange what kind of awards you get these days.


-Ross

Day One, Uhh...Four.

Staring at the TV I realised it's company wasn't needed as much anymore. Until tonight I had had it on constantly, simply for the noise. I struggle to make friends in new places, and though I've spent much of my time (since Saturday afternoon when my parents left) being depressed and upset because I was lonely, now I feel I'm breaking through.

I finally have some friends in my class, and I've gotten chummier with my flatmates. It's surprising how much you notice being alone when you really are alone. At home, despite the fact that my parents were adamant I never emerged from my downstairs room, I actually enjoyed the times I poked my head around the living room door, the times I could wind-up my Mother while she cooked dinner, and the few times I took my Father up on the offer to walk the dog with him. We humans are, after all, social creatures. And as much as I enjoy Top Gear re-runs on Dave, they didn't quite cut it compared to the luxury of company I had at home. Strange how you don't realise what you have until you've lost it.

Today my "activities" as I call them (classes don't start 'til next week, this week is Fresher's week) were light, but the free time gave me more opportunities to make friends. I had a lot of fun sitting with Daniel and "the girls" (I forgot to ask their names, the idiot I am) at a café outside the Uni at lunchtime, and my interview with Mary (one of my teachers) was constructive. The difference between Sixth Form teachers and University teachers is astounding to me, pleasantly so.

I would dare to say I've progressed far enough to not feel depressed when I call my cubicle, "home" - it most definately does not feel like a home, it does feel kind of like a cell, no matter how much I try to make it feel like home, it'll never compare. And my cooking will never compare to my Mother's; I must admit that is one of the most common things among my classmates that they miss about being away from home.

Luckily, my Uncle lives within half an hour's driving distance of my flat; so I'm not totally detatched from home. And he's also offered to take me home when he goes to visit, which is incredibly nice of him. Meeting up with him one night a week will certainly break up University life for me.

My first few posts here won't relate too much to my Journalism course, as I don't spend more than 3 or 4 hours tops in University each day during Fresher's Week. Come Monday I'm sure I'll have lots to say...and a lot to sleep off. Though I must admit I'm looking forward to my field trip on Thursday, to where I have no idea - they're keeping it a secret from us; until tomorrow afternoon that is, when they brief us.

One final note, feedback and constructive criticism would be much appreciated: What would you like me to write more about? Or to write less about. Does my writing style leave much to be desired? Or is it far too formal? These and other aspects are things I would love to hear your opinions on.


-Ross

A Day in the Life...

I sat down at my computer and stared at my map of Southampton, then turned it over and stared even harder at the map of the surrounding area. Southampton is a HUGE city, although I'm perfectly aware that it encompasses many of the smaller satellite towns, it's urban sprawl is massive. To me. Back in Cambridge I was used to the possibility to walk from my house in the suburbs of Cherryhinton to the other side of Cambridge within a couple of hours if I wished; here...I'm not so sure my feet would be up to the challenge.

As a Journalism Student at Southampton Solent I thought I would write a blog, of course as my course leaders had said: "Editors look at applicants who have a 1st but very little experience, and then look at one with a 2nd, but a fistful of clippings and instantly choose the student with paper cuts." As such, I have realised compared to some of my class mates I have very little previous experience with any kind of publishing in any form of Journalism, my total achievements in the field are limited simply to one small article in my Secondary School monthly newsletter about a trip to an Art Gallery in London. Hardly a revolutionary piece.

And glancing through my inbox I noticed an email from my Dad back in Cambridge. It was a link to a blog, much like this one, where a Journalist stated "Eight things that Journalism Students should demand of their Journalism Schools." And glancing through it I realised that I was very lucky, from the course outline I could see my teachers and lecturers were really pulling their fingers out to do a lot of good things for me as a student, but then I noticed two paragraphs:


"A generation ago, no students brought an audience to the table. All anyone had was potential, and employers hired based on that. That's no longer the case. Students who bring their own audience have measurably more value to an employer than those who do not.

Don't get caught behind those students. Get your name out there, now. Find opportunities to publish your best work online, with your name and photo prominently attached. Engage with readers in comments and forums. Demand that your school provide its students with every opportunity to do so."

And I thought to myself: "Well the easiest and cheapest thing to do is create a blog." So here I am. Sitting in my cube in my Halls of Residence in urban Southampton writing about why I wrote this blog. As lame as that sounds.

In this blog I aim to detail my daily experiences, in hope of gaining a bit of experience in the field so that I may give myself an advantage. Anyone who knows me will recoil in horror or jump up and cheer at the thought of me being proactive, but everyone has to grow up one day, and I guess my day will come pretty soon.

-Ross