36 hours of drama…
November 23, 2009
Filed under Combining university and family...
Tags: ambulance, car, casualty, crazy, destroy, Eastenders, hospital, neighbours, optimist, pliers, rampage, schedule, smash, war
Well, what a strange, but dramatic, couple of days I’ve had. My car has been wrecked, my nephew was taken into hospital again with febrile convulsions (he’s home now and doing well) and the stair I live in has seen more excitement than a years worth of Eastenders.
One of my neighbours, who I’d previously considered to be a bit ‘dotty’, for want of a better word, decided at 2.30am yesterday morning to completely snap and cause chaos in the grand olde gardens of Dumbryden. She rampaged up the stair, kicking all the residents doors as loudly as she could (waking my son in the process). After I went out and shouted at her, she then felt the urge to smash someone’s kitchen window – with a turnip!!! After she did that, her next move was to destroy my car with a stairgate. And credit where credit is due, she did a very good job of it!! My rear windscreen was completely smashed, the front, not much better. Tyres were slashed, windscreen wipers snapped off and the bodywork was deeply scratched, thanks to a pair of pliers (which she then decided to leave in the shell of my car).
Since her apprehension, and very swift release, she has also smeared excrement on my next door neighour’s front door, and assaulted another neighbour, who subsequently was taken away in an ambulance. Can you see the comparison to Eastenders now?
I have to admit to being concerned about this abrupt turn of events. Not only am I worried about this maniac being anywhere near me or my children, there is also the issue of me being carless. My car is very much an essential part of my life. Without it I’m struggling to take my kids to school and nursery. Without it, I’m unable to then get to university on time for classes. Without it, I can’t get my shopping (I’m such a weakling I can’t carry much).
In a single stroke, Mrs Crazy has completely turned my schedule upside-down, caused difficulties for myself, my kids and my other neighbours. I must be an optimist though, because I’ve noticed that in the last 36 hours, as well as having a madwoman downstairs, I actually have a lot of good neighbours. We’ve banded together in the face of an all-out attack, swapped phone numbers and have actually started chatting more than we ever did before. As for the car, well, that’s become a casualty of war, but hopefully with a bit of TLC it should be back in action soon.
Internet Dating – the Realities
November 19, 2009
Filed under Articles
Tags: chat, inernet dating, online, pleasure, proposal, safety, secret, sexual, stastistic
As someone who’s been using internet dating for almost a year now, there’s a lot of things I’ve seen. Things that could be considered be a fairly unusual occurrence in ‘real life’ and also things that could be considered ‘ten a penny’. What is it about the virtual dating environment that seems to attract so many people? Is it the fact that they can act out their guilty pleasures in secret? Could it be that there are so many lonely people to choose from right at their fingertips? Or is it simply that people are so busy in their everyday lives that they’ve been reduced to surfing the net looking for ‘the one’?
One of the main problems with internet dating is that people can be whoever they want to be, and it’s easier to keep up a pretence. For example, one man that I was chatting to seemed very charming at first. However, once I had talked to him for a few days, the chat turned towards sex. In this day and age, it’s quite normal to talk about it, making sure you have the same likes, dislikes, sexual appetite etc. However when Prince Charming starts getting to the point where he’s discussing a distinctly unusual sexual preference, then you know it’s time to cut him off. I made the mistake of not doing so, and arranging to meet said Prince Charming, despite my instincts telling me to back off. In the end I stood him up without letting him know why. How do you tell a guy that every fibre of your being is screaming at you not to do it? Well, in this case my instincts were spot on! When I received a text from him threatening to ‘hunt me down’ I was glad that I hadn’t shown up. Better to hurt someone’s feelings then end up as a police statistic.
The other side of the coin is that people genuinely are looking for love. They want to find that ’someone special’. Someone to cuddle up to at night, share their thoughts, fears and happiness with. I do wonder on occasion, how many people end up that lucky. I’ve met a couple of guys online, who haven’t been unable to keep their emotions in check. One of which, even gave me an indirect proposal after 2 dates! It’s easy to be swept up in the tide of emotions that come with a bit of attention from the opposite sex, but after a while, you learn to hold back a little and get to know people a bit better before making declarations that you might later regret!
From what I’ve experienced, online dating is very much a game of chance. Although some people do find their significant other online, for a great many more of us, there’s more chance of winning the lottery. For every decent person on the dating websites, there must be at least 5 who are not all they’re cracked up to be! There are a few things to keep in mind when jumping into the online dating scene though. Remember, just because someone tells you something, don’t always assume it’s true. I’m not saying that everyone is lying about everything, however text can be misinterpreted and sometimes people can exaggerate or stretch the truth a little. Be cautious, not everyone is out there looking for love. Some people could be looking for a bit of fun. Make sure you know what the difference is, and that their definition of it matches with yours. One final point, BE SAFE. If you do meet someone online and decide to meet outwith the virtual world, make sure that you put your safety above everything else. Make sure you meet in a public place, and that you’ve told someone where you’re going. If you can get a note of your date’s registration plate, copy it down and text it to your ’safety person’ in case of emergency. As long as you take precautions, the virtual world can be your oyster. Although I’ve had a few bad experiences, I’ve also had the good ones. I’ve made friends, had the opportunity to go out on dates and clawed back some of my socialising skills. It can’t be all bad then, can it?
Article – Edinburgh on a budget
Main article
The city of Edinburgh is steeped in history, culture and diversity. With many attractions, such as the Edinburgh Festival and Christmas Wonderland to draw tourists, the city is full of hustle and bustle throughout the year. For those on a tight budget however, there are still many places to visit and lots of things to do. Whether you’re a nature lover, enjoy eating out, or simply like to view wonderful architecture, there are plenty of treasures in one of Scotland’s most prestigious and beautiful cities.
Situated close to Edinburgh University, Mosque Kitchen in Potterrow has had good reviews for both their food and their prices. The food served is mainly curries with naan bread and there are options for vegetarians too. The average price for a 2-course lunch or evening meal is around £4, which is sure to suit everyone’s pockets. The food itself is served in disposable plates, with plastic cutlery, so if you wish to wander round the university grounds and eat at the same time, then quite simply, you can.
If curry does not suit your taste buds, then perhaps Jimmy Chungs would be worth a visit. With 2 branches in Edinburgh, one in Grindlay Street and the other at Waverley Bridge, they’re conveniently located in the city centre. A Chinese, buffet-style restaurant, there is plenty of choice for diners, including starters, main meals and desserts. With prices ranging from £5.49 to £11.99 for adults, and lower prices for children. This restaurant would be perfect for many.
For some light-hearted, yet educational fun, the Museum of Childhood, situated on the Royal Mile, is a must-see for those who have an interest in history, or perhaps who’d like to see, and remember fondly, the toys of their childhood. Children will also be fascinated to see the dolls, board games and train sets that were used by generations before them, as well as contemporary toys and games. The museum, which is set on different levels, also shows the street games played by children in the past. The Museum of Childhood has free admission and is open 7 days a week.
Whilst on the Royal Mile, there is plenty of fascinating architecture and character among the buildings, some of which have housed famous historical figures such as the philosopher, David Hume, Daniel Defoe, author of Robinson Crusoe, Robert Burns and Deacon William Brodie. One of the interesting streets, just off the Royal Mile is Mary King’s Close. The Close was apparently sealed off during the time of the plague and is now reportedly haunted by a little girl named Annie, who is searching for her doll. It is now open all year round for tours. The Royal Mile is also home to the Brass Rubbing Centre, the Netherbow Theatre and the 3D Loch Ness Experience.
For visitors who enjoy getting away from the busy city streets, perhaps getting back to nature is something to consider. Just outside of Edinburgh is Vogrie Country Park, which is open from 7.30am every day and closes at dusk. The park contains over 4 miles of fantastic woodland, barbeque areas, a general play park, a toddler’s play-park and an adventure park for older children, a miniature railway, golf course, and of course, Vogrie House itself. Situated in the grounds, near the play-parks, Vogrie House is open to the public during the summer and contains a café, which is also dog friendly. In a large room just off the café, is a soft play area for younger children to play in while the adults have a well-deserved cup of tea.
If gentle walks, or cycling are of particular interest, then Colinton Dell near the outskirts of Edinburgh is certainly something not to be missed. Forming part of the Water of Leith walkway, the area is steeped in history, woodland and wildlife. Toward the end of the walk is Colinton Village, which consists of a number of small shops, including a café and a delicatessen. Spylaw Park can also be found at the end of the walkway. This is a park full of tranquillity and beauty, and is certainly worth a look.
Brunton Theatre in Musselburgh is the perfect place for entertainment on a budget. With a range of productions, from film to music, theatre to dance, Brunton Theatre caters for a variety of tastes. Shows are mainly in the evening, however during the festive season, pantomimes can be seen throughout the day. A bar and bistro is located in the theatre, and serves snacks, lunches and pre-theatre suppers. Show prices start from as little as £5.50.
Sidebar
For the Ghouls among you…
A number of tours around Edinburgh take place in the evening, and are not exactly considered to be ‘normal’…
For visitors who scare easily, a simple tour, which incorporates the ghoulish history of Edinburgh might be suitable. The Cadies and Witchery tours would be the perfect choice, with well-researched facts and more laughter than would normally be expected, this tour is light-hearted and fun.
Mercat tours offer tours on Underground Edinburgh, ghost tours, and history tours as well as paranormal tours, which offer the opportunity to have overnight vigils. The underground tours are located at two different locations, one of which is the spooky underground vaults. Don’t be surprised to see the ghost of a cobbler there, or perhaps a phantom dog…
Auld Reekie Tours (who appeared on Most Haunted), have a choice of tours, which also include the underground vaults as well as overnight ghost hunts and private group hunts and vigils. The public overnight ghost hunts, although slightly more expensive, would be recommended, unless you have your own specialist equipment.
Article – Journalist Profile
November 19, 2009
Filed under Assignments
Tags: band, Glasgow, herald, Journalist profile, Sean Guthrie
ARTICLE – JOURNALIST PROFILE, SEAN GUTHRIE.
By day he works hard to bring harmony where there’s discord, shaping other people’s stories and correcting their mistakes on the production desk of Scotland’s biggest newspaper group. By night, Sean Guthrie fine-tunes his musical skills as a guitarist in a Glasgow band.
When asked what exactly he does in his role as production editor, he laughs loudly and makes a comment about it being a very ‘forward’ question. He doesn’t appear to be offended however, and affably explains in a brief, but comprehensible way what the role involves. “I oversee production of The Herald Magazine and the Sunday Herald magazine,” he says, “though I sometimes cover features… on the daily newspaper”. He describes the job as being similar to that of a chief sub-editor, which entails 50 per cent of it working with the copy and trying to make sure it’s faithful to the story, and the person who writes it. “The other 50 per cent”, he laughs, “is nagging people to get their job done. It’s about making sure things are done within the schedule”. At times he may need to be in touch with picture editors, designers and also keep in touch with technology.
Regarding the technological aspect of things, he believes that there’s no such thing as the perfect system. Things can, and will go wrong at times. This is where skills such as problem solving are useful. Using his experience in band tour management, he claims that the instinct for resolving problems develops, and learning not to panic or freeze comes with that.
His own band, Roads to Siam, were formed in 2002. “We play a mash-up of space rock, prog, psych and metal with a bit of garage rock thrown in” he says, then elaborates “I wanted to make people think about love, loss and life; now I’d settle for frying their synapses and making their spines wobble due to the mostly relentless heaviness of the music”. It seems to be a passion shared by his brother Mark, who plays bass in the band, and who played alongside him in the Scottish pop band, The Supernaturals, before they got their record deal. Once being in a famous pop band is not Sean’s only claim to fame however, he has written music for two films, made by his sister Karen, and her friend, and is included in the IMDB website as a composer, which he says “put a smile on my face for all of five minutes”.
It seems apparent then that his ideal job would combine his two interests, to write for music magazines, either Uncut or Mojo. Of course, with them being based in London, this is something that he couldn’t see happening. “I love living in Scotland” he says “and would have no interest in moving to London”. Scotland, particularly Glasgow, is where Sean seems to have it all. As well as having his band there, he has a studio in the east end of Glasgow and, of course, his day job.
When asked what he would do if he had 24 hours to do anything, the main focus of his reply is somewhat expected. After shouting at a noisy bus in the background to ‘shut up’, he explains:
If I could manipulate the space/time continuum, I’d get my band into a nice studio to record our best tunes. We’d use the best gear known to man, have it mastered by the best in the world, then put onto the heaviest vinyl. We could keep it in a time capsule. Then I could say ‘I made that’.
Reading, reading and… more reading
November 19, 2009
Filed under Reading and learning
Tags: accurate, BBC, dependable, fair, honest, Hutton, impartiality, interpretations, news reporting
I’ve been doing even more reading this week in order to complete my second essay for Intro to Journalism. I found ‘News’ by Jackie Harrison interesting. One particular section, about the Hutton inquiry and the changes made to the BBC as a result of it, made interesting reading. The topic for the essay was whether BBC news reporting has ever been impartial. I have to admit, it was pretty difficult to come to a solid conclusion, particularly given the fact that impartiality has so many different interpretations. I found it easier to focus on impartiality as being honest, fair and accurate to the best of a journalists ability, and in the end decided that in comparison to some parts of the media, the BBC is more dependable for impartiality than anyone else.
Article: A boy from the west.
November 9, 2009
Filed under Assignments
Tags: Boys from the West, Edinburgh castle, gaelic, guitar, Paul Young, Princes Street, rock, runrig, scottish, singing, traditional
Amid the hubbub of noise from the tourists and shoppers in Princes Street, and against the backdrop of Edinburgh Castle, a solitary figure stands out. With his scratched, blue guitar, a steely look in his eyes and a soulful, rock-edged voice, Paul Young has a crowd starting to gather around him.
Take a closer look and you’ll see this Paul is worlds away from the pop star who dominated the charts during the 1980s. At 16 years old, Paul, who is from Edinburgh, lives in a homeless hostel. What he does share with his namesake, though, is the dream of stardom. He has never had a singing lesson, yet has a voice that resonates and catches attention, and at the moment he is practicing his singing in Princes Street while he waits to set up his band ‘Boys From The West’.
He explains that the band is to be a traditional Scottish rock band, like Runrig, who recorded songs such as Hearts of Olden Glory and Going Home. He is as passionate about his country as he is about music, and this is evident from the way he speaks about both. Besides wanting to learn to sing in Gaelic, he wants Scotland to get back into their music.
When asked about his vocal talents he explains that he started a number of years ago when he put a Runrig CD on and starting singing along to it. He commented that even his Mother “wondered where the voice was coming from”, a sentiment that seemed to be echoed by the swarm of potential fans inching closer to him as he sang.
One thing is certain about this millennium’s Paul Young. With his talent, and drive to succeed, he seems determined to be a bigger star than his famous namesake.
Article: Tramding room only
Edinburgh shoppers face yet more uncertainty about their transport into Princess Street following proposals yesterday for full pedestrianisation. Prohibiting all traffic except for trams and cycles is an option currently being considered by The City of Edinburgh Council, with the possibility of neighbouring George Street also being subjected to “enhanced pedestrian facilities”. The Department of City Development will be looking at different possibilities for transport methods. The results of this, which should be available early next year, could see many new and regular visitors to Princes Street frustrated by the arrangements.
Originally, councillors had considered the option of a trial over Christmas and New Year, which would see the street closed to traffic. However plans were put on hold after discussions with retailers and the realisation that this period is the busiest time of year in the retail calendar, with up to 30% of their annual business taking place at this time.
Retailers wouldn’t be the only ones that could be affected if this proposal were to be given the go-ahead. Vicky Marshall, a nursery teacher, 29, from Edinburgh said that if the plans were to go ahead that she ‘wouldn’t be too happy’, explaining that re-routing buses is an inconvenience. This is a feeling that her colleague, Dawn Moorhead, 31, shares. Although she explains that, living in the city centre, she is used to walking, she feels that the proposal would have an adverse affect on pensioners or people with mobility limitations. She points out that ‘the only people that are actually benefiting are the tourists’.
Historically, Princes Street was open to all traffic in both directions, until a landmark decision saw it being closed to all but buses, cycles and taxis travelling from the west end to the east end. Further developments in later years introduced the same restrictions on travel in the opposite direction. Now, with the controversial tram works taking place, Princes Street is closed off completely, with only pedestrians being able to gain access to the many shops and other attractions.
The reason behind this decision may be one of transport emissions and the hope to make Edinburgh a greener city. However, if traffic is simply going to be re-routed from one street to another, this may actually result in increasing congestion as people fight to get to their destination.
No one from the City of Edinburgh Council was available for comment.
News values
November 8, 2009
Filed under Observations, Reading and learning
Tags: diluted, Galtung and Ruge, news values, online access, rolling news channels
I’ve been doing a lot of reading lately for different classes and one theme that seems to be prevalent in all of them is that of ‘news values’. I’m starting to feel that it’s all coming together and that information from one class is linking into another really well, reinforcing what I’ve already learned.
As well as news values being taught in class, I’ve noticed that a number of books also contain information about it. Most of them mention the same values from Galtung and Ruge (1965), which don’t seem to have changed much in the last 34 years. What was considered to be newsworthy then, still seems to be the same today. The only difference that I am aware of, is the delivery of contemporary news. With 24 hour rolling news channels and online access, it’s easier to have awareness of the news, even if it is somewhat diluted.
Slowly but surely it’s coming together.
October 19, 2009
Filed under Combining university and family...
Tags: doubts, essay, frustration, interview, Journalism, Multimedia, reporting, strengths, study skills
I spent a lot of hours on my Intro to Journalism essay yesterday and I’m (fairly) confident that it’s gone according to plan. I’m going to go through it again tonight after some time away from it to see if there’s anything that can be improved on, and I know there will be.
In the meantime, I’m finding the Multimedia Reporting assignments difficult. I understand what’s expected of me, but in all honesty I’m not sure I’m doing very well with it. I have 2 assignments to do, one is to interview a journalist (which from my previous post, you’ll see is NOT going well), and the other is a story on the city council meeting we attended on Thursday last week. I’ve got a story from it, but contacting people and trying to get information from them, is an entirely different ball game. I’m getting extremely frustrated and It’s reinforcing my idea that I definately don’t want to be a news journalist.
I am however, really enjoying Study Skills. It’s my favourite class so far, and one that I think I’m going to benefit from considerably. This is where my interests lie and I’m hoping I’ll have the chance to learn more about it as the course proceeds. We attended a workshop on Thursday afternoon which was really interesting. It helped us look at the types of people we are in different situations, particularly groupwork. I was pleased to find out that I could possibly be strong in two different areas, which apparently, can be quite unusual (well, I like to be different).
I’ve been working like a dog (as the Beatles once sang)
October 18, 2009
Filed under Combining university and family...
Tags: babysitter, chaos, Craighouse, journalist, library, organised, school, study, university
Life has been a bit chaotic the last few days. I’ve been trying to get housework done, look after the kids and carry on with uni work. I discovered a small problem during the week which could potentially cause me a bit of hassle. My daughter has a week off school starting tomorrow and I’ve had to arrange babysitters for the times when I’m at uni. That in itself was not too difficult, but at only 5 years old, she can still be a bit demanding, which means that any study time I’d normally have during the week, could be plagued with interruptions.
In the meantime however, I’ve managed to get some books from the library (I never realised til yesterday that it was open on a Saturday), and did a bit of research yesterday. I’m still at the planning stage for my Intro to Journalism essay, but I know that once it’s clear in my mind, the typing part of it will take no time at all. I wish things were going so smoothly for my Multimedia Reporting class. I’m supposed to interview a journalist that I admire and had the perfect person in mind. Unfortunately she prefers to communicate via email and as yet, still hasn’t answered any of my questions. I spent some time yesterday deciding on another journalist to interview as a back up though and opted for someone a bit more local. I tried calling the newspaper that she worked for, but with it being Saturday, I wasn’t able to get through. That’s something that’s earmarked for tomorrow, and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that it all goes to plan. I’m was supposed to have my first draft in last week and now I’m worried that I’m going to be dreadfully late. Will I be penalised for it? I really hope not.
On the plus side, the chaos is starting to feel a bit more organised. I’m getting familiar with the library and the staff (particularly at Craighouse campus) have been really helpful. I feel like there’s light at the end of the tunnel and I’m just praying it’s not a train…
