Highlights this week definitely being the start of pre-season for my beloved Southend United, which has already resulted in trips to such amazing grounds as Great Wakering Rovers (Burroughs Park) and Thurrock (Ship Lane). OK, 'amazing' is overstating it somewhat. But it's started pretty well, with 2-0 and 4-0 wins in those games - and a 0-0 draw against Canvey Island that I'm glad I missed, after reading the match report. It was only a 10 day wait in between the Euro 2008 final and the start of pre-season, but that was hard enough. It's good to be back on the terraces anyway.
I've been busy at work at Premier this week on Radiothon analysis - which has actually been really interesting. It's basically been correlating what was happening on air during the week with when phone calls were coming in. I'm producing a very cool PowerPoint presentation at the moment, which should be useful for the team when they do another Radiothon. And to be honest, it's just great to work with such great colleagues and a brilliant radio station - so I don't care what they make me do really!
My results for my first year of Journalism Studies at The University of Sheffield came out today, and I got a first (woop woop!) which I was very pleased with, as I had to work pretty hard for it. Much harder than I imagined I'd have to actually - but the reward is insignificant in the long run really, as only the second and third years count towards the degree classification. Looking back, perhaps I should've enjoyed myself and worked less - I could've probably still got a first, but I suppose I'd rather I was further into the grade boundary.
The weekend was brilliant, as my brother got baptised at Leigh Road Baptist Church on Sunday, in a very moving service that was enjoyed by a packed congregation. It was good to get all the family and close friends together in the church, and I was very proud of my brother. I finished off the day meeting with some friends at The Peterboat in Old Leigh, with a pint of Carling in the sunset. Lovely.
Prospects for this week? I've got two days off from work on Wednesday and Thursday, which'll be nice, but I've got two musical engagements which will keep the revenue stream flowing! Then I'm back at work on Friday, although I'm going to see Spamalot with my good schoolfriend Adam - which I've been looking forward to for ages! And it's my half-birthday on Saturday - for those of you who don't know, my birthday is on Christmas Day so I always celebrate it properly in June or July as it's hard to get friends together on the 25th! So lots of fun ahead - and hopefully a good game tomorrow night as Southend take on Fulham in a friendly. But I wouldn't bank on it...
Monday, 14 July 2008
THE PRODIGAL SON RETURNS
I think it’s right about time I blogged again. I can make all sorts of excuses, but I’ll spare you those and get on with the important stuff that you might actually be interested in reading about. I’ve decided I’m going to update this much more regularly now - hopefully once a week.
So over the last few months I’ve almost been killed, fallen in love three times and interviewed Jonathan Aitken (the latter two are not connected). I finished my exams at university in June, which were a bit crazy as there were so many of them and everyone else thought I was really unlucky to have eight in two weeks. But it was five in three days that was indeed quite ridiculous. Anyway they’re all done and I get my results next Monday, which will hopefully be just fine.
I’m currently working in both production and marketing for Premier Christian Radio in London SW1, which is the same place I worked last year - but in the news department. It’s an absolutely great place to work as everyone’s so friendly, and I’m earning way more than any of my friends at university for a summer job - so that’s an added bonus, although it’s reduced quite a bit after travel expenses are taken into account. Most people say travelling 80 minutes each way (Leigh-on-Sea to Fenchurch Street then Tower Hill to St James’ Park) on a daily basis is crazy, but I don’t mind it as long as I’ve got a good paper or puzzle to be getting on with. This is why I have unfortunately bought the Daily Mail on some occasions. But enough of that - it’s fantastic to be back at Premier, as I’ve got such great colleagues and it is actually quite exciting at times. Over my first two weeks of a 10 week contract, I was working on the Radiothon - which was a big please-give-money-to-Premier drive - and sourced 48 ‘drops’ in six days. These were quick snaps from well-known (and very hard-to-track-down) Christians on why people should support Premier. Whilst actually recording this was quite straightforward, getting hold of these household names was pretty tough. But after much perseverance (and chasing-up PAs who didn’t get back to me) I was quite pleased with my efforts - which were described as ‘stirling’ by the deputy programme controller. So a good start to my job indeed. The remaining four days of the first week were spent manning the phones, which eventually led to me almost going insane - although I came second on the staff leaderboard for donations, with over £16,000 taken in around 220 calls. So that wasn’t bad either, but I was annoyed I didn’t win, thanks to my colleague processing a £5,000 donation. But it wasn’t a game - it was all in aid of Premier, and we were working as a team, weren’t we?! Since then, I’ve been working on various marketing projects such as Coffee Break and Big Church Quiz, and some other things too. Anyway, I think that’s brought you up to speed, so here goes my review of my last week...
After such a busy two weeks working for production on Radiothon at Premier, I was put onto the marketing team to work on various projects. One of these, Coffee Break, successfully wound up everyone in my department by trying to get numerous supporters of Premier to hold a coffee morning for us. My conversation went something like this EVERY time for two or three days: “Hi my name’s Mark and I’m calling from Premier Christian Radio. Have you heard about our new Coffee Break initiative?” Then either “No? Well it’s basically where we’re asking our listeners to hold a coffee morning and I wondered if you’d be able to help us out with this?” or “Yes? Well that’s fantastic - would you be able to hold a coffee morning for Premier?”. Yes, it was that samey - and after going through 1,000 people on the database, I had spoken to almost 194 and got 23 to hold coffee mornings. Apparently anything over 10% is a good rate, but I was glad I didn’t work in sales as if I did, I would no longer have my job intact. From that monotony to the slightly more interesting aspect of the Big Church Quiz, where I had to write a script for a DVD we’re making for churches to use on a quiz night (and then support Premier). This was slightly more fun - in fact, a lot more fun - and I look forward to filming in a few months. Following all that, I’m doing some analysis on Radiothon audio - basically establishing what was happening on air when lots of calls were coming in (and vice versa), so our next Radiothon can be even better! That’s my working week sorted...
Away from SW1, I greatly enjoyed what was going on at SW19, and didn’t realise I liked tennis until watching Murray v Gasquet and then the men’s and women’s singles finals at the weekend. Really tense sport of a high quality, and it coincided with around 15 consecutive wins for yours truly in table tennis against the three other members of my family. Not a chance, I tell you. Thursday was a very cultural evening, what with an open-air opera concert in Canary Wharf followed by a private viewing of one of my mum’s friend’s pieces of art in an exhibition called SS9, in Southwark. That was very interesting indeed and rather high-class for a young man like me, but I enjoyed myself. A TAGS (The Almost Gospel Singers) concert followed on Friday at my old junior school, West Leigh, and that was very interesting as it wasn’t really a concert, but rather an ‘exposition’ whilst other people were looking at art. So we had to sing extra loud, but it was OK - check out www.tagsquartet.co.uk for details of our next concert in September! My weekend wasn’t too busy, aside from helping my brother write his testimony ahead of his baptism next Sunday, visiting our friends in Finchley (and getting horrendously lost as usual) and meeting up with some friends at the pub to celebrate two birthdays at the same time - very productive indeed. Added to that, I couldn’t get to sleep very easily on Saturday as there was a live steel band playing in the next-door neighbour’s garden until midnight. It went through my windows and earplugs, but it’s never usually noisy so I wasn’t too annoyed! Anyway that’s enough for now - if you’ve read down this far, well done. I’d like to meet you one day (in a public place).
N.B. This post's actual date is Monday 7 July 2008, not Monday 14 July 2008 - as stated above
So over the last few months I’ve almost been killed, fallen in love three times and interviewed Jonathan Aitken (the latter two are not connected). I finished my exams at university in June, which were a bit crazy as there were so many of them and everyone else thought I was really unlucky to have eight in two weeks. But it was five in three days that was indeed quite ridiculous. Anyway they’re all done and I get my results next Monday, which will hopefully be just fine.
I’m currently working in both production and marketing for Premier Christian Radio in London SW1, which is the same place I worked last year - but in the news department. It’s an absolutely great place to work as everyone’s so friendly, and I’m earning way more than any of my friends at university for a summer job - so that’s an added bonus, although it’s reduced quite a bit after travel expenses are taken into account. Most people say travelling 80 minutes each way (Leigh-on-Sea to Fenchurch Street then Tower Hill to St James’ Park) on a daily basis is crazy, but I don’t mind it as long as I’ve got a good paper or puzzle to be getting on with. This is why I have unfortunately bought the Daily Mail on some occasions. But enough of that - it’s fantastic to be back at Premier, as I’ve got such great colleagues and it is actually quite exciting at times. Over my first two weeks of a 10 week contract, I was working on the Radiothon - which was a big please-give-money-to-Premier drive - and sourced 48 ‘drops’ in six days. These were quick snaps from well-known (and very hard-to-track-down) Christians on why people should support Premier. Whilst actually recording this was quite straightforward, getting hold of these household names was pretty tough. But after much perseverance (and chasing-up PAs who didn’t get back to me) I was quite pleased with my efforts - which were described as ‘stirling’ by the deputy programme controller. So a good start to my job indeed. The remaining four days of the first week were spent manning the phones, which eventually led to me almost going insane - although I came second on the staff leaderboard for donations, with over £16,000 taken in around 220 calls. So that wasn’t bad either, but I was annoyed I didn’t win, thanks to my colleague processing a £5,000 donation. But it wasn’t a game - it was all in aid of Premier, and we were working as a team, weren’t we?! Since then, I’ve been working on various marketing projects such as Coffee Break and Big Church Quiz, and some other things too. Anyway, I think that’s brought you up to speed, so here goes my review of my last week...
After such a busy two weeks working for production on Radiothon at Premier, I was put onto the marketing team to work on various projects. One of these, Coffee Break, successfully wound up everyone in my department by trying to get numerous supporters of Premier to hold a coffee morning for us. My conversation went something like this EVERY time for two or three days: “Hi my name’s Mark and I’m calling from Premier Christian Radio. Have you heard about our new Coffee Break initiative?” Then either “No? Well it’s basically where we’re asking our listeners to hold a coffee morning and I wondered if you’d be able to help us out with this?” or “Yes? Well that’s fantastic - would you be able to hold a coffee morning for Premier?”. Yes, it was that samey - and after going through 1,000 people on the database, I had spoken to almost 194 and got 23 to hold coffee mornings. Apparently anything over 10% is a good rate, but I was glad I didn’t work in sales as if I did, I would no longer have my job intact. From that monotony to the slightly more interesting aspect of the Big Church Quiz, where I had to write a script for a DVD we’re making for churches to use on a quiz night (and then support Premier). This was slightly more fun - in fact, a lot more fun - and I look forward to filming in a few months. Following all that, I’m doing some analysis on Radiothon audio - basically establishing what was happening on air when lots of calls were coming in (and vice versa), so our next Radiothon can be even better! That’s my working week sorted...
Away from SW1, I greatly enjoyed what was going on at SW19, and didn’t realise I liked tennis until watching Murray v Gasquet and then the men’s and women’s singles finals at the weekend. Really tense sport of a high quality, and it coincided with around 15 consecutive wins for yours truly in table tennis against the three other members of my family. Not a chance, I tell you. Thursday was a very cultural evening, what with an open-air opera concert in Canary Wharf followed by a private viewing of one of my mum’s friend’s pieces of art in an exhibition called SS9, in Southwark. That was very interesting indeed and rather high-class for a young man like me, but I enjoyed myself. A TAGS (The Almost Gospel Singers) concert followed on Friday at my old junior school, West Leigh, and that was very interesting as it wasn’t really a concert, but rather an ‘exposition’ whilst other people were looking at art. So we had to sing extra loud, but it was OK - check out www.tagsquartet.co.uk for details of our next concert in September! My weekend wasn’t too busy, aside from helping my brother write his testimony ahead of his baptism next Sunday, visiting our friends in Finchley (and getting horrendously lost as usual) and meeting up with some friends at the pub to celebrate two birthdays at the same time - very productive indeed. Added to that, I couldn’t get to sleep very easily on Saturday as there was a live steel band playing in the next-door neighbour’s garden until midnight. It went through my windows and earplugs, but it’s never usually noisy so I wasn’t too annoyed! Anyway that’s enough for now - if you’ve read down this far, well done. I’d like to meet you one day (in a public place).
N.B. This post's actual date is Monday 7 July 2008, not Monday 14 July 2008 - as stated above
Friday, 14 March 2008
TAKING-ON THE INDEPENDENT
I was incensed to read an article in The Independent from Andreas Whittam Smith ridiculing the study of journalism at university. I therefore decided to write into the paper, and sent the letter to my tutor, who forwarded it around the Department of Journalism. The original comment piece from Whittam Smith can be found here:
"Media studies is no preparation for journalism"
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/andreas-whittam-smith/andreas-whittam-smith-media-studies-is-no-preparation-for-journalism-786785.html
My letter was as follows:
SIR: I am afraid that Andreas Whittam Smith is simply out of touch ('Media studies is no preparation for journalism', 25 February). I’m reading journalism at a Russell Group university, and feel incensed to hear his claim that journalists "cannot believe that what they do is worthy of academic consideration". What would he say about the wide variety of media journals and texts, and are media critics just wasting their time? That seems slightly contradictory in a paper with a weekly media supplement. Things have changed since Smith was at Oxford, and it would be interesting to find out how many of his younger colleagues on The Independent read journalism at university before arriving at the paper.
Smith has got his facts wrong too. The assumption that "journalism has no formal training that is a condition of entry" is clearly false, as most journalists have to pass a range of NCTJ exams to write for almost every newspaper - whether these come from a 12-week or 3-year course. Perhaps he has a point saying “media studies is no preparation for journalism”, but this is because media studies is a theoretical subject. However what harm can studying and practicing journalism at a top university do to your writing ability? I’d like to say that it has certainly improved mine.
MARK DUELL
BA JOURNALISM STUDIES, THE UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD
So that was that rant over. Otherwise, I was very pleased with a story about a Sheffield student who ended up with titanium plates in his jaw after being punched at Union night, Tuesday Club. Not pleased about what happened to him - pleased that it was a good story. This made the Sheffield Steel and also The Star newspaper - see below for more:
"Tuesday Clobber" (Sheffield Steel, 22/2/08)
http://www.shefsteel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1015&Itemid=0
"Student's jaw shattered in club attack" (The Star, 28/2/08)
http://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/news/Students-jaw-shattered-in-club.3825490.jp
And here's another story about government proposals that could drastically change freshers' week as we know it...
"Freshers' week bingeing binned" (Sheffield Steel, 22/2/08)
http://shefsteel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=977&Itemid=0
"Media studies is no preparation for journalism"
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/andreas-whittam-smith/andreas-whittam-smith-media-studies-is-no-preparation-for-journalism-786785.html
My letter was as follows:
SIR: I am afraid that Andreas Whittam Smith is simply out of touch ('Media studies is no preparation for journalism', 25 February). I’m reading journalism at a Russell Group university, and feel incensed to hear his claim that journalists "cannot believe that what they do is worthy of academic consideration". What would he say about the wide variety of media journals and texts, and are media critics just wasting their time? That seems slightly contradictory in a paper with a weekly media supplement. Things have changed since Smith was at Oxford, and it would be interesting to find out how many of his younger colleagues on The Independent read journalism at university before arriving at the paper.
Smith has got his facts wrong too. The assumption that "journalism has no formal training that is a condition of entry" is clearly false, as most journalists have to pass a range of NCTJ exams to write for almost every newspaper - whether these come from a 12-week or 3-year course. Perhaps he has a point saying “media studies is no preparation for journalism”, but this is because media studies is a theoretical subject. However what harm can studying and practicing journalism at a top university do to your writing ability? I’d like to say that it has certainly improved mine.
MARK DUELL
BA JOURNALISM STUDIES, THE UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD
So that was that rant over. Otherwise, I was very pleased with a story about a Sheffield student who ended up with titanium plates in his jaw after being punched at Union night, Tuesday Club. Not pleased about what happened to him - pleased that it was a good story. This made the Sheffield Steel and also The Star newspaper - see below for more:
"Tuesday Clobber" (Sheffield Steel, 22/2/08)
http://www.shefsteel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1015&Itemid=0
"Student's jaw shattered in club attack" (The Star, 28/2/08)
http://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/news/Students-jaw-shattered-in-club.3825490.jp
And here's another story about government proposals that could drastically change freshers' week as we know it...
"Freshers' week bingeing binned" (Sheffield Steel, 22/2/08)
http://shefsteel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=977&Itemid=0
Saturday, 23 February 2008
A CUTTINGS UPDATE
Nothing quite as glamorous as my last post, but I've had a few other things published since appearing in The Guardian (see below).
"Books clean-up reveals volume of rich works" (The Star, 13/2/08)
http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/Books-cleanup-reveals-volume-of.3769813.jp
"A Rare Find" (Sheffield Steel, 9/2/08)
http://www.shefsteel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=946&Itemid=0
This story got an outing in both the Sheffield Steel (student newspaper at The University of Sheffield) and The Star (Sheffield local paper). I was in the library of Stephenson Hall, which is now disused, and came across six volumes of a book series over 200 years old. After some research, I found that original volumes of the set sell for up to £2000, so I thought I'd write a story about it. The Sheffield Steel put it on their website front-page, and The Star said they wanted it for their paper, and it got printed with a picture and by-line, so I was very happy with that!
"Uni praised for water plan" (Sheffield Steel, 12/2/08)
http://www.shefsteel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=949&Itemid=0
Not the most exciting of stories, but it was reasonably interesting and shows that The University of Sheffield is an institution at the forefront of energy conservation (in this case, water conservation). Great stuff.
Details to follow of articles in the latest issue of Sheffield Steel (22/2/08) - “Tuesday Clobber” and “Freshers’ Week Bingeing Banned” and “Whose Degree Is It Anyway”. I’m currently waiting for the weblinks so I can post them on this blog, but you can check out all these stories in this week’s Steel paper, available from the Students’ Union at the University of Sheffield! There may also be an appearance of the “Tuesday Clobber” story in The Star this week.
"Books clean-up reveals volume of rich works" (The Star, 13/2/08)
http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/Books-cleanup-reveals-volume-of.3769813.jp
"A Rare Find" (Sheffield Steel, 9/2/08)
http://www.shefsteel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=946&Itemid=0
This story got an outing in both the Sheffield Steel (student newspaper at The University of Sheffield) and The Star (Sheffield local paper). I was in the library of Stephenson Hall, which is now disused, and came across six volumes of a book series over 200 years old. After some research, I found that original volumes of the set sell for up to £2000, so I thought I'd write a story about it. The Sheffield Steel put it on their website front-page, and The Star said they wanted it for their paper, and it got printed with a picture and by-line, so I was very happy with that!
"Uni praised for water plan" (Sheffield Steel, 12/2/08)
http://www.shefsteel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=949&Itemid=0
Not the most exciting of stories, but it was reasonably interesting and shows that The University of Sheffield is an institution at the forefront of energy conservation (in this case, water conservation). Great stuff.
Details to follow of articles in the latest issue of Sheffield Steel (22/2/08) - “Tuesday Clobber” and “Freshers’ Week Bingeing Banned” and “Whose Degree Is It Anyway”. I’m currently waiting for the weblinks so I can post them on this blog, but you can check out all these stories in this week’s Steel paper, available from the Students’ Union at the University of Sheffield! There may also be an appearance of the “Tuesday Clobber” story in The Star this week.
Tuesday, 5 February 2008
MY BROADSHEET DEBUT
Monday was a great day. One of my university tutors emailed me at 8:44am with the following message: "Congrats on getting your eloquent letter in the Media Guardian...You tell 'em!" Suddenly I remembered that I'd emailed The Guardian last week with a comment about an article by Peter Wilby, not expecting anything to come of it, and they ended up printing it as the lead letter! I ran down to the newsagents, got two copies, and couldn't believe it when I saw my name on a national broadsheet newspaper for the first time in my life! How exciting. I emailed round many past journalism contacts, friends and family members, and it was great to hear some of their comments.
But firstly, here is my letter reprinted in full, sourced from the following address: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/feb/04/1
The importance of being well-informed
I must disagree with Peter Wilby's comment that students are only at university "to get a degree which will be a passport to a good job" (Academic exercise reveals a scary truth, January 28). I am thoroughly enjoying reading journalism studies at a great university, and this is mostly because I've tried to get involved in the subject by reading media journals, a different newspaper every day, and consuming a good variety of television and radio. Perhaps I shouldn't bother, as Wilby believes Sunday papers are "doomed" anyway (October 29), and my chosen vocation is neither "a profession" or "a skill" (December 10).
But our tutors are constantly reminding us how important it is to be well-informed. Along with most of my fellow students, I believe that I can make my course far more fulfilling by doing more than just essays and assignments. Our tutors are certainly still "highly engaged with public affairs" and thankfully seem desperate to ensure that an "instrumental attitude to university life" (January 28) will be the antithesis of their students' higher education experience - including mine.
Mark Duell, BA journalism studies, the University of Sheffield
I received many comments about the letter from various people, and here is just a selection of these:
“I think his crushing criticism here demonstrates the success, in his case at least, of the selection criteria and process for admittance to the top institution in the country for journalism.”
Malcolm Hiscock (Company Watch)
“A good point well made!”
Jayne Deacon (BA Journalism Studies, The University of Sheffield)
“An interesting response”
David Duell (Barclays Capital)
“You tell 'em!”
Tony Harcup (The University of Sheffield)
“Skills, bro!”
Phill Dolby (Regional Magazine Company)
“Good Stuff!”
David Elcock (Leigh Road Baptist Church)
“Brilliant!”
Kay Duell (musician)
“Great!”
Maria Toth (Premier Christian Radio)
Hopefully this will be the first of many more appearances in the national press! Watch this space...
But firstly, here is my letter reprinted in full, sourced from the following address: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/feb/04/1
The importance of being well-informed
I must disagree with Peter Wilby's comment that students are only at university "to get a degree which will be a passport to a good job" (Academic exercise reveals a scary truth, January 28). I am thoroughly enjoying reading journalism studies at a great university, and this is mostly because I've tried to get involved in the subject by reading media journals, a different newspaper every day, and consuming a good variety of television and radio. Perhaps I shouldn't bother, as Wilby believes Sunday papers are "doomed" anyway (October 29), and my chosen vocation is neither "a profession" or "a skill" (December 10).
But our tutors are constantly reminding us how important it is to be well-informed. Along with most of my fellow students, I believe that I can make my course far more fulfilling by doing more than just essays and assignments. Our tutors are certainly still "highly engaged with public affairs" and thankfully seem desperate to ensure that an "instrumental attitude to university life" (January 28) will be the antithesis of their students' higher education experience - including mine.
Mark Duell, BA journalism studies, the University of Sheffield
I received many comments about the letter from various people, and here is just a selection of these:
“I think his crushing criticism here demonstrates the success, in his case at least, of the selection criteria and process for admittance to the top institution in the country for journalism.”
Malcolm Hiscock (Company Watch)
“A good point well made!”
Jayne Deacon (BA Journalism Studies, The University of Sheffield)
“An interesting response”
David Duell (Barclays Capital)
“You tell 'em!”
Tony Harcup (The University of Sheffield)
“Skills, bro!”
Phill Dolby (Regional Magazine Company)
“Good Stuff!”
David Elcock (Leigh Road Baptist Church)
“Brilliant!”
Kay Duell (musician)
“Great!”
Maria Toth (Premier Christian Radio)
Hopefully this will be the first of many more appearances in the national press! Watch this space...
Friday, 11 January 2008
SLOW NEWS DAY? I THINK NOT
I've just finished a week's work experience at the Echo, a local paper which covers south-east Essex, including Southend and Basildon. It was great fun and I got to write lots of stories - three of which had by-lines - and also went to the West Ham press conference yesterday with Alan Curbishley, as well as reviewing a Southend reserve match. Well, that's great fun in my eyes anyway. And I won a bet with all the sports journalists at the Echo, over the attendance in the Essex Senior Cup game between Concord Rangers and Southend United. I said 222, and it was 230. Not bad, I think.
Anyway, after all that fun I relaxed today, knowing full well that there's often very little news on a Friday. Well, rather like Christmas Day (see below) I was wrong, and found two fabulous stories today on BBC News.
Britons 'want Del Boy TV return'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7182964.stm
I love Only Fools and Horses! It's absolutely great, and it would be fantastic if they could make another one. So agree many other people in the UK, as this survey shows. Faulty Towers, on the other hand, would not be so good for a remake. You see, it was such perfect comedy in 12 episodes that it would be a shame to make any more. It would ruin what John Cleese acheived, even though there was only 6 hours material. So let's see Del Boy back on our screens quicker than you can say menage a trois. S'il vous plait.
Parted-at-birth twins 'married'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7182817.stm
This has got to be story of the year (although it's only 11/1/08 so far). I quote the first paragraph: "A pair of twins who were adopted by separate families as babies got married without knowing they were brother and sister, a peer told the House of Lords." And then their marriage was broken by the law. Unbelievable. This is such a fresh and rare story, and although it's not exactly certain how and why they met again (all Lord Alton said was: "They met later in life and felt an inevitable attraction") it seems a bit farfetched. Still it's a super tale, and one I'm definitely going to tell my 9-year-old twin cousins next time I see them, to ensure it doesn't happen again!
Anyway, after all that fun I relaxed today, knowing full well that there's often very little news on a Friday. Well, rather like Christmas Day (see below) I was wrong, and found two fabulous stories today on BBC News.
Britons 'want Del Boy TV return'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7182964.stm
I love Only Fools and Horses! It's absolutely great, and it would be fantastic if they could make another one. So agree many other people in the UK, as this survey shows. Faulty Towers, on the other hand, would not be so good for a remake. You see, it was such perfect comedy in 12 episodes that it would be a shame to make any more. It would ruin what John Cleese acheived, even though there was only 6 hours material. So let's see Del Boy back on our screens quicker than you can say menage a trois. S'il vous plait.
Parted-at-birth twins 'married'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7182817.stm
This has got to be story of the year (although it's only 11/1/08 so far). I quote the first paragraph: "A pair of twins who were adopted by separate families as babies got married without knowing they were brother and sister, a peer told the House of Lords." And then their marriage was broken by the law. Unbelievable. This is such a fresh and rare story, and although it's not exactly certain how and why they met again (all Lord Alton said was: "They met later in life and felt an inevitable attraction") it seems a bit farfetched. Still it's a super tale, and one I'm definitely going to tell my 9-year-old twin cousins next time I see them, to ensure it doesn't happen again!
Friday, 4 January 2008
2007 - THE YEAR THAT WAS
Right then, one of my Journalism Studies course-mates at The University of Sheffield has put together a rundown on 2007, and I thought I'd steal her idea. So here we go (the headings are hers):
1) DRINKING BUDDIES OF THE YEAR?
Journalism students. They know how to drink, and are good fun to hang out with. Well, most of them anyway.
2) YOUR SONG FOR 2007?
That is so hard! I've really got into drum 'n' bass and dance music this year, but one song I've fallen in love with in the clubs is Jump Around by House of Pain. However, best song of the year? Probably the phenominal I Still Remember by Bloc Party, still my favourite band. As this shows, I also like indie (and classical and jazz and R&B)
3) LIFETIME SERVICE AWARD
My parents, for putting up with me this long, and backing my every move to get to university.
4) COOLEST NEWEST FRIEND?
Definitely a chap called Chris, who I met at Spring Harvest, Soul Survivor and then in Sheffield at St Thomas Church Philadelphia. He is a legend and has been so helpful as I settled in up north.
5) HIGH POINT OF THE YEAR?
Working at Premier Christian Radio for 10 weeks. It was brilliant, I loved it.
6) LOW POINT OF THE YEAR?
Southend United getting relegated from the Football League Championship. All that money, all that excitement for nothing. As Adrian Chiles said: "It's the hope that kills you".
7) BEST HOLIDAY?
Spring Harvest was really great this year. It was fantastic to meet so many Sheffield Christians, months before I'd got there. And as a location Butlins was brilliant, I must add.
8) MOVIE FOR 2007?
Not a big film fan, but I thought The Bourne Ultimatum was exhilarating. And my friend was in it. Seriously, he was (an extra)...
9) WHO DID YOU SPEND VALENTINES WITH?
My French textbook.
10) BEST RELATIONSHIP?
For getting me through university so far, that award has got to go to the man upstairs - thank you God!
11) WHAT WERE YOU FOR HALLOWEEN?
Sorry, don't do Halloween. I went out to meet some friends for a drink which was much more fun.
12) RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR?
I'm still a big fan of Ask, but Bella Italia is brilliant and I'm loving Nandos. However, for the amount of money I spent at their Westminster branch in the summer, this award goes to...Subway. Their sandwiches are out of this world.
13) BIGGEST DOUCHEBAG AWARD?
When I went Speed Dating, a girl asked me if Southend was in Essex, or if Essex was in Southend. She didn't get a tick, needless to say...
14) BEST DECISION MADE IN 2007?
Going to The University of Sheffield to read Journalism Studies. I hope to prove wrong everyone who told me otherwise.
15) WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR 2008?
Helping Southend United to promotion (somehow), getting a first-year first-class pass at university and relying on God for a lot more than I currently do. And 120wpm shorthand.
16) MOST STUPID IDEA WHEN DRUNK?
I try not to get drunk so as not to embarrass myself.
17) TV SHOW OF THE YEAR?
Deal or No Deal. An unbelievably simple but yet so addictive game show. Noel Edmonds is brilliant.
18) MOST LOYAL FRIEND?
My good old school friend Adam back in Southend.
19) BIGGEST CHANGE OF THE YEAR?
Working full-time over the summer, going to university after that - enough said!
20) NEW YEAR RESOLUTION?
To answer truthfully when anyone says to me: 'How are you?' If I'm not 'OK', then I will say so! It's something that annoys me, that's all...
Good, that was fun.
1) DRINKING BUDDIES OF THE YEAR?
Journalism students. They know how to drink, and are good fun to hang out with. Well, most of them anyway.
2) YOUR SONG FOR 2007?
That is so hard! I've really got into drum 'n' bass and dance music this year, but one song I've fallen in love with in the clubs is Jump Around by House of Pain. However, best song of the year? Probably the phenominal I Still Remember by Bloc Party, still my favourite band. As this shows, I also like indie (and classical and jazz and R&B)
3) LIFETIME SERVICE AWARD
My parents, for putting up with me this long, and backing my every move to get to university.
4) COOLEST NEWEST FRIEND?
Definitely a chap called Chris, who I met at Spring Harvest, Soul Survivor and then in Sheffield at St Thomas Church Philadelphia. He is a legend and has been so helpful as I settled in up north.
5) HIGH POINT OF THE YEAR?
Working at Premier Christian Radio for 10 weeks. It was brilliant, I loved it.
6) LOW POINT OF THE YEAR?
Southend United getting relegated from the Football League Championship. All that money, all that excitement for nothing. As Adrian Chiles said: "It's the hope that kills you".
7) BEST HOLIDAY?
Spring Harvest was really great this year. It was fantastic to meet so many Sheffield Christians, months before I'd got there. And as a location Butlins was brilliant, I must add.
8) MOVIE FOR 2007?
Not a big film fan, but I thought The Bourne Ultimatum was exhilarating. And my friend was in it. Seriously, he was (an extra)...
9) WHO DID YOU SPEND VALENTINES WITH?
My French textbook.
10) BEST RELATIONSHIP?
For getting me through university so far, that award has got to go to the man upstairs - thank you God!
11) WHAT WERE YOU FOR HALLOWEEN?
Sorry, don't do Halloween. I went out to meet some friends for a drink which was much more fun.
12) RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR?
I'm still a big fan of Ask, but Bella Italia is brilliant and I'm loving Nandos. However, for the amount of money I spent at their Westminster branch in the summer, this award goes to...Subway. Their sandwiches are out of this world.
13) BIGGEST DOUCHEBAG AWARD?
When I went Speed Dating, a girl asked me if Southend was in Essex, or if Essex was in Southend. She didn't get a tick, needless to say...
14) BEST DECISION MADE IN 2007?
Going to The University of Sheffield to read Journalism Studies. I hope to prove wrong everyone who told me otherwise.
15) WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR 2008?
Helping Southend United to promotion (somehow), getting a first-year first-class pass at university and relying on God for a lot more than I currently do. And 120wpm shorthand.
16) MOST STUPID IDEA WHEN DRUNK?
I try not to get drunk so as not to embarrass myself.
17) TV SHOW OF THE YEAR?
Deal or No Deal. An unbelievably simple but yet so addictive game show. Noel Edmonds is brilliant.
18) MOST LOYAL FRIEND?
My good old school friend Adam back in Southend.
19) BIGGEST CHANGE OF THE YEAR?
Working full-time over the summer, going to university after that - enough said!
20) NEW YEAR RESOLUTION?
To answer truthfully when anyone says to me: 'How are you?' If I'm not 'OK', then I will say so! It's something that annoys me, that's all...
Good, that was fun.
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