It’s annoying you.
I can tell.
It’s ‘Another One Bites The Dust’ by Queen. The song seems appropriate at the moment for a variety of reasons but I won’t let that ruin my moral – although that seems to be non-existant after a week from hell. However, something more important has struck the little bubble that I live in.
Change. Continue reading
It was nearly a month ago that I discretely added a ‘contact me’ option on my blog and it’s only taken up until now for someone to not only break the ‘first message’ barrier, but also the ‘first ridiculous message’ barrier too. I say up until now but the message came through last week but before I ramble too much, here it is:
“Hi Sam,
I just want to say that it’s becoming obvious that your posts are made up because nobody could lead a life not cooking properly and being this unlucky with girls. Anyone living this lifestyle is living in hell.
Kind regards…”
Well. Continue reading
It doesn’t take a genius to know my thoughts about fashion – you only have to look at me to realise. However, I thought that it would be interesting to see where a fashion article would go, how it would end up.
One or two friends of mine have spurred me on to keep writing as even that first sentence was saved into my drafts folder for a week or so as I still felt uninspired, but eventually, I delved back into the nonsense that lies unpublished and rediscovered my wonderful thoughts on fashion.
In my trail of thought, there are two ideas for how you decide what to wear. Now, being honest, I don’t know whether this is just me or all men in general, but these two ideas are; practicality and whether or not they’re clean. Continue reading
I have realised that most of my blog posts begin along the lines of ‘since I started uni…’ and well, this one is no exception.
It’s safe to say that since moving down to where I am now, music has been an ever-growing importance to me and well, a wonderful invention called CDs have made it something more. Perhaps now I have too many? Or I’d argue not enough, but regardless of how many I’ve somehow managed to squeeze on my shelf – isn’t it wonderful?
It’s impossible to walk down Southbank in the early evening with your iPod plugged in.
It’s bank holiday Monday and I’m sitting enjoying a couple of buskers perform under the sunset outside the Tate Modern. The tide is out and just below me, are the pebbles and sand that usually form the river bed.
The air above me is busy, with planes and helicopters flying over and of course, the setting sun to me left, blinding any turn of the head towards Blackfriars Bridge.
If anything, I should be in my flat revising for my upcoming exams but I’m not. Instead, listening to two guitarists and the many conversations around me – most of which in a language I don’t understand. Continue reading
After purchasing a lava lamp Wednesday, I’ve noticed my mood chill out. The blue bubbles of lave bounce off each other in a kind of boring but weirdly relaxing way and have somehow inspired me to actually do something.
Considering the fact that my end of year exams are only a week away, you’d think that I’d do some revision, right?
No.
Well I’ll be honest and admit that I’ve been a little distracted. Continue reading
As I moved into my flat in student halls, I was too excited to care about all the nonsense people had warned me about. Nonsense like not spending too much in your first few weeks, look after your diet and more importantly, what James told me about getting out for a bit.
Instead, I overspent on everything, drank way too much and ate utter rubbish. The working side of things wasn’t an issue yet, I was settling in and meeting my new drinking buddies. I mean, I managed to get myself a part-time job the day after I moved in, but that was a weekend thing and the uni course wasn’t due to start for another few weeks. Instead, I became a student and followed all the routine student doings that new students do in a very student round about way.
For me, as we began to settle down on the course, the drinking slowed down and the Continue reading
Those six months went by fairly quickly with tonnes of end of year coursework and a dragged-out breakup but I made it to the door and rang the bell on the Monday morning ready to start work. I had no idea what I’d be doing and who I’d be meeting, so I was dressed smartly and prepared for anything. Or at least that’s what I thought. James met me at the door and showed me into a meeting room. We discussed what would be happening throughout the week and said that Metallica would be coming down on Wednesday and a phone interview with You Me At Six on Friday on top of the generic work experience jobs like sorting out the mail. Luckily for me, making cups of tea wasn’t a job in my task book!
WIN!
The mail job sounded pretty easy. Sort the post into piles of who’s they were before dishing them out accordingly. The only problem was, this is a music based radio station, that has a very popular unsigned show. This was also notably the peak time in the year for unsigned releases as they were sending in their demos ready for the summer and festival period. Postal sacks, yes, multiple, landed on my desk and I began to dig deep. It didn’t take me long to be overwhelmed with identical jiffy bags form unsigned bands trying to stand out from the crowd. Kind of ironic really. Continue reading
Having spent £9,000 on my first year at uni, you’d think I’d have learned a lot wouldn’t you?
Well, actually, I have.
As I begin to contemplate revising for my end of year exams, I came to realise that I learned way more than what was taught in lectures and seminars. In fact, putting the food poisoning to one side, I believe that I have become a different person.
For example, the embarrassment of having the lyrics to Grease Lightening blue-tacked to my mirror seen by girl has made me more socially awkward and having nearly been shot outside MI6, well that’s made me realise that you can’t take pictures of their building at midnight, wearing all black, half an hour after a terrorist attack in America. Continue reading
For the first time in a while, I am really struggling to sum up the kind of week I’ve had.
Mixed feelings doesn’t really begin to describe it, but it goes like this.
Having been single for the best part of eighteen months, (and to the obvious question on that, I’ll answer ‘no’ with a cheeky grin and a wink…) it was difficult for me to break the ‘work mode’ I have endured since my last break up. You could argue that being single for so long has helped me get to where I am now, with an amazing job opportunity in my email inbox and near completion of my first year at uni, but when it came down to telling someone how I felt, I obviously screwed up. Continue reading
Last night, a ‘celebration of Thatchers death’ party took place in Trafalgar Square, London. Police gave themselves a strong presence in the area and being nosey, I thought it would be interesting to see what went on.
After things began to kick off a little, I took out my camera and began filming, only to find that the party began to stir up a little more as protesters continued to drink.
This is my video which is not only my experience in the goings-on last night, but also important experience/practice as a journalism student.
If I’m being honest, Brighton isn’t really my scene…
My reason for travelling down to the coastal town was for an interview, just a couple of questions with someone representing a company. I figured that by going the extra mile, or so, I’d be able to give myself a great opportunity for the assignment. Once the interview was over, it was my intension to explore and to visit somewhere new.
The train I was on arrived into Brighton station an hour and a half early and after briefly popping into an internet café, took a stroll to the beach where I spent some time taking photos and walking up to the pier. I noted the old pier too, which appeared abandoned and cut off from the shoreline. I remember seeing it in a presentation based on hyperlocal websites, where one of my classmates chose a site local to Brighton and a banner on the home page was a picture of the old pier. Continue reading
I’ll begin by admitting my current state of existence.
I am sat on a green stool at a wobbly table along the main corridor at university. I have a bottle of coke to my right, and floor to ceiling windows to my left, overlooking the only patch of grass I know of in London. Northampton Square. I’m staring openly into my screen, awaiting for inspiration and that alone, kind of inspired me. If thats what you want to call it.
If nothing is expected, what is there to prove wrong? But on the other hand, if too much is expected, what is there to well, prove wrong? If that sideways view of looking at the world makes sense, who are we? The answer, nobody knows. I’m not even too sure where this is going, but it seems to make sense. Continue reading
When I travel, I prefer trains because they take one route to your destination. The only stop starting is between stations and that seems to be getting better of the years, but ultimately, it’s being able to sit down and watch the countryside pass from my window without having some bloke in the car next to you staring at you through the window.
It was my mums birthday over the weekend, the Easter weekend. As usual, bank holidays were awarded for no particular reason other than to make my life absolutely hell. Taking advantage of nothing different, except a day off uni, I got myself some train tickets for the Friday morning and a return for Monday afternoon. Two full days to relax and to not worry about work, coursework and anything else for that matter – I even saw some snow! Continue reading
Before I begin, I should say that this has nothing to do with the horse-meat scandal but instead the fact that tonight, I managed to cook something other than chicken.
It felt like Christmas all over, as I sliced and diced a Turkey breast. As my usual cooking methods go, it wasn’t a standard roast or ‘pop in the oven’ job. Instead, a heavy use of spices and all sorts was added to the mix. I firstly marinated the meat in some sort of powdery thing that said “this will make any meat spicy” so, pretty self explanatory really. With some chips, coated in chilli powder, the Turkey then went into the oven for enough time for me to feel hungry. Continue reading
I’ll be honest, I’m a little exhausted.
From the 2nd of January, working has become a part of my natural routine. Whether I be preparing reviews, or writing blog posts. I’ve directed a music video, podcasted for 12 weeks as well as producing a new radio programme. Featuring regularly too on the CityOnAir news bulletins, studying full time on a demanding course and then, nailing down a part-time job at weekends – yeah, it’s been interesting.
A lot of people ask how I do it, how do I cope?
I think I’ve always said that I don’t cope, but then I think I have. Continue reading
To cut a story short, I have a pen-pal. My pen-pal is actually a really busy bloke whose work gets mocked by his peers daily. To be honest, I don’t really care.
In fact, seeing the envelope in my postbox alone was enough to send all my worries someplace else – I knew what it was about and while that bit is personal, the idea of it is still pretty cool.
And now he’ll get back to work, presumably.
Tonight I have decided that I am really mean.
I know.
There are two things that really stand out in any argument I have with myself or my closer friends on the matter and usually end with the conclusion that yes, I’m a mean guy. The first of these is slightly self inflicted. I have a way of bullying myself into thinking that working lots is fantastic and leads to great success, but all its done so far is given me a shift-change and broken my natural body clock so much that sleep? Well, that’s not a word in my dictionary. Continue reading
The point of doing anything is the end result of personal satisfaction, apparently.
For me, however, not everything seems to satisfy me and instead, satisfies the needs of others around me for what only appears to be a short term basis before they begin to degrade my response. My situation isn’t unique. Personally, I’d describe it like a series of steps. I share a particular step with a few, or on a larger scale of thing, a lot of people. Each of us have our own agenda, our own ambitions and ultimately, we are all different people. My person, or the person within me, is not only looking up at the next step and figuring out how I can get there, but also looking at the step below and lending that helping hand to those who need it. Continue reading
I had a reality check tonight while at a gig. After finishing a conversation with a pianist who had just performed twenty minutes improv on stage and when introducing myself to a photographer. It was quite a surreal moment and it all began when he asked if I could play any instrument.
For an eighteen year old, to have been playing for ten years and to have done gigs at the Cavern Club, NEC, Symphony Hall, Jam House, NIA, O2 Academy, HMV Institute, Birmingham Ballroom, Town Hall, Villa Park and well, if its in Birmingham, you can sure add it to the list too. That’s not bad. I then began thinking about when I met Roger Taylor as a kid and having Steven K Amos buying you pints, that’s not bad.
But these don’t really hit me as much as the next thought that passed my mind. Continue reading
Ever since I could remember, holidays took weeks if not months planning in advance. Flights had to be booked as early as possible. Up until now, the shortest time I’ve had to prepare for a holiday is somewhat four months. Up until now of course, where little over 48 hours was really the fine line.
I shall set the mood for you back to when the idea first came into question.
It was a drunken Monday evening and the four of us had been on the topic of Mickey’s monthly adventure and that was where, I think, the joking about began. I have a vague idea of what happened next but it resulted in the booking of a city break to Amsterdam, later that week. Continue reading
Oops indeed as it feels like a lifetime since I last wrote something and I have a variety of excuses too…
Okay, so the busy thing is at least half true. With university taking a slight decrease on the whole workload thing, ignoring the french and media law exams coming up, I’ve stepped up and began planning a brand new piece of radio with my friend who has recently joined the main news team with City OnAir. You can hear all of those programs here, but the new one will be epic. I hope. Continue reading
Pasta has been heavily used on the latest menu in my kitchen; whether it’s with chicken or chicken. On the day of my weekly shop, I figured it was time to try something new and to break the mould. At the time of me saying that, I was standing in a new isle of the shop, one that I had never thought about walking down. I put my shopping basket down on the floor and scrunched a post-it note with my shopping list on into my pocket. My hands reached up to the shelf for a box of eggs.
I have never ever cooked eggs before, only ever watching my mum as she baked cakes back at home. The box looked alright, I didn’t know what I was looking for but I had been told previously to ‘check them’. In the basket they went and they were soon joined by a packet of bacon and the rest of my shopping. Continue reading
So as the company was announcing it’s status in administration, it was obvious that their vouchers would not be accepted in stores. The news that afternoon confirmed it, despite them showing job opportunities for the company…
However, I thought I could try my luck and phone Jessops’ customer services. Nothing. Continue reading
I was now left without a camera that I wanted to use for university (and for the potential of a video blog for this website), but told to wait 2-3 weeks for the repair to come through. The assistant took my camcorder, or what ever it looked like, to the back and that was that. Goodbye.
As any tech’ fanatic would, I began taking a peak at what the store had to offer; hoping to catch a glimpse of the blonde assistant but she was nowhere insight. The store was larger than the other but still, I didn’t have an awful lot of time and soon headed back to the flat.
Two to three wasn’t a bad wait, for a repair/replacement anyway. I was happy with that, and so continued on my day-today life for the time being, but it got to the point where I had almost forgotten about the camcorder and soon enough, I evidently did. Continue reading
It was on the 24th of October, in the year 2012 that I walked into the Jessops store on Oxford Street; to make an insurance claim on what was inevitably going to be a ‘destroyed beyond repair’ camcorder that had just been accidentally smashed to smithereens.
The purchase date? October 11th, little over a week earlier.
I took everything that I had with me into the store; receipt, box, all the accessories that it came with and of course, the insurance certificate. The young lad who I approached turned out to only have been working at the company for a short time; and so passed me onto a familiar face. He was around in the store when I bought the camcorder for £199.99 and so it was nice to be able to speak to him. The man, who was apparently the manager however I was unable to confirm that, seemed to be a little ‘edgy’ in his questioning. Continue reading
So I could be referring to the whole ‘getting older’ thing that we seem to be compelled to go through for some reason or another; but unfortunately I’m not. I’m also not referring to being able to play with Lego without getting odd looks from others.
Instead, what happened to the shops we grew up walking into? Were you being dragged around shops you didn’t like as a child by your mother? Or perhaps you are the dragger of children; but either way, there are fond memories of throwing tantrums and pushchair wars down the isles in such shops that are leaving us behind; only to make way for empty premises. Continue reading
Okay, so you could argue that it’s probably better to be going to bed than taking a stroll along the Thames at night, but really, isn’t she beautiful?
That seems a little over-the-top for the start of another year, or another year to make out of the world statements and call them resolutions.
I seem to recall last year, expressing my dear love to the idea of being able to fly, like Superman, however I can only tell you how disappointed I am that I did not succeed that particular new year resolution. Instead, I can confidently say that I found some fantastic new music and some great new friends. In that order. Although some of those new friends also brought me to the attention of some more great music, so, thanks uni!
But you may ask, what have I set myself this year?
I can only reply with one clear answer, and it’s one of great concern to all those around me who understand that I really did need that cookery book for Christmas.
To not die from food poisoning.
It seems like a fair argument, I think, especially when you look back on the last few months from moving into my flat in London where cooking has become a need-to-do thing, sort of, imperative to survive. Sadly for me though, cooking at university was a first for me and only ended in disaster on the first few attempts but slowly but surely, I am beginning to get the gist of things and hopefully I won’t try anything too adventurous with food (this excludes chilli-cheese-toasties which are a must keep).
But enough of this rubbish, enjoy your new year parties and celebrations! Get off the computer, or phone, or tablet, or television, or holographic device or what ever space-age technology you use to read WordPress blogs. Enjoy your day and enjoy the year, it’s 2013, and remember, we survived the apocalypse!!
Oh, and be sure to check out my new review site – The Daily Review – which was also launched earlier today!
Unfortunately I’ve had to take an unexpected break from writing on here, but I am back with just as much flavour to treat your empty stomaches. Or something like that anyway, but as ‘they’ say, people come and go – life goes on and through.
Without a shadow of doubt, things have gotten weird – in both logical and practical ways as I continue weekly life as both a student, part-timer et un amoureux de la musique. Yeah, my french exam earlier this afternoon worse than expected, but you can’t say I didn’t try!
If you ignore the actual working elements of the diary, university has been extraordinary. A recent night at ‘the Jazz Market’, thanks to Chaos Theory, was all I needed to keep on top of things. The night began with a glass of top shelf white which begun the hole into what was a replenished wallet after payday. My debit card dug deeper into my overdraft throughout the night with the purchase of my first cocktail – an Apple Martini. The flavours took over my tongue through my second, third and fourth before I tried the Porn-Star Martini. That too played with my mind, begging for more. It was unfortunately, the end of the night.
It is sometime before my next endeavour into the basement at The LUXE, where the jazz market is homed. In the meantime, I sit firmly at my desk writing what should be an essay due Friday, but instead is another couple of draft articles for the site – oh and before I leave you tonight, news that Angelo Uccello will be featuring in another review isn’t surprising, but gossip tells me that this is also going to be the announcement for some very exciting news.
Be strong, be vibrant. To be or not to be is not the question, but being is definitely an answer…
