A dissertation on drugs

I have three days to write my dissertation proposal. This may not seem like a long time but something inside me thought it was due in tomorrow so I am relieved.

It's only 1600 words as well and doesn't get marked so I am not panicking too much. I have just changed my topic as well at the very last minute.

I had started writing and researching for my proposal before I decided to change my mind. I can be so indecisive sometimes.

I was going to write about how EastEnders tackles domestic violence, paedophilia and bi-polar disorder but have decided to do something more current. Drugs.

Both EastEnders and Emmerdale have tackled drug addiciton this year and Emmerdale are still playing it out on-screen. Both storylines have been tackled very differently with very different characters in very different situations.

What I want to do is try and find out which soap has told the story most realistically. I have a good idea of which one I think has but want to speak to some people to try and answer my question. If anybody has any views on either storyline please let me know. Every opinion will be valid and used in my research.

Now it's back to the proposal

Have I been slacking or busy?

I have not posted on here for over a week. Do not get me wrong, I have been meaning to since Monday but just have not had the time or I have forgotten.

The weekend was really good, probably the best weekend I have had in a very long time. I had some friends up from the place I work in Cornwall and we did not stop laughing from the moment they arrived to the moment they left.

When they arrived on Friday I met them at Paddington Station. The evening was already planned, we were going to see Les Miserables. I was a little wary at first because I did not think it would be the sort of thing I would enjoy. I was right. I did not enjoy it at all and if anything I could not wait for it to finish. The constant singing and lack of speech drove me insane.

Saturday was spent at Camden Lock Market where I bought a 'Matt Cardle hat'. Then a trip down the canal to Little Venice was followed by a trip to Selfridges. I didn't buy anything. The day was rounded off with a meal in an Italian restaurant in Old Compton Street. Most of the laughing took place in here, the atmosphere was enough to make you smile as soon as you walked through the door. The journey home in a rickshaw was just as memorable.

Waking up surprisingly not as hungover as expected on Su

nday and we were all off to the London Dungeons. It was ok but I wouldn't go back in a hurry (and no I wasn't scared!). Next it was onto Winter Wonderland and ice skating. I had so much fun, an hour on the ice was not enough for me and I am itching to get back there, even if I did fall over twice, both in spectacular style (at least I made everyone laugh).

After doing a Torvill and Dean it was off to Hard Rock Cafe for a meal and far too many mojitos. I lost count in the end...the meal was fantastic though, I think!

Monday came far too quickly and we spent the day in Oxford Street, mainly in Primark and Selfridges (you can't get much different than that). A small pub around the corner was also our home for a few hours before it was time to say goodbye. I couldn't believe how fast the long weekend had gone and before I knew it I was back in my cold empty flat in Harrow staring reality in the face. I was doing uni work.

Please get your violins out now.

A busy weekend beckons...

This weekend is going to be mad to say the least. I have got some work colleagues coming up. Friday we are off to see Les Mis in the theatre, something I am skeptical about because it is not the sort of show I would normally choose.

Other plans on the agenda are to go to Camden, Winter Wonderland and maybe the London Dungeons. Therefore I will be posing as a tourist for the next few days.

Nevertheless I am really looking forward to it.

I won't be posting until Monday at the earliest and I will fill you all in on what happened, how much wine was drunk and what I thought of Les Mis.

Today I am...

Keep calm and carry on

"Keep calm and carry on". A term I have been putting into practise, that was until today and I have no idea why it all changed.

I was in my flat, I had written a story for the HA1, rewritten my commission and my pitch and was in quite a good position in terms of work. However I could not get the layout for my HA1 story right. The pictures were affecting the text and it was not going the way I planned.

This was the catalyst and I started thinking about other things and flipped out. Normally I like to think I have a very high tolerance rate but today I was proven wrong.

Another problem was the fact that I was signed into Twitter and sent a tweet that I wish I hadn't now but seemed so apt at the time. It read: "I'm ready to go home now. Uni can take a run and jump off the nearest cliff as far as I am concerned." This prompted a text from a friend who reassured me that I was panicking over nothing and I had infact done quite a bit of work.

So today I went through these three stages...

...tea solves everything and it's even better with some cake thrown in. Now it is time for some wine, I think I've earned it.

Remembrance. But some people don't remember

Today is Remembrance Sunday and I am sat writing this blog post watching the service from the Cenotaph. I went to the Cenotaph last year for the service and it was truly memorable. I always feel extremely proud to be British when I see the service but actually being there last year made me feel a deep pride that I have never felt before.

I buy a poppy every year and have done all of my life. I can remember being in primary school and sticking it onto my jumper with sellotape because I always seemed to lose it if I used the pin that came with it. Nowadays I use a safety pin if I have one. If not I go through about three or four poppies but I do not mind buying more as the money is going to a great cause and it is a cause I will always support.

I just wish that there were more people like me that understood the significance and importance of wearing a poppy. I am by no means saying that there is only a small number of people that wear a poppy. I was however shocked this year by the amount of people that I saw that were not wearing one. Even if it was just walking down the street or through uni, the number of people wearing poppies was much less than those that were not.

I have always been of the opinion that there is absolutely no excuse to not wear a poppy and to wear it with pride.

Another thing that baffles me and annoys me is the disrespect of some people during the two minute silence on Armistice Day. I was at home for the silence this year because the uni did not hold a silence. One thing that angers me but I won't start ranting about that now. Aside from uni, I was told that many people were not taking any notice of the silence in shops.

I have seen it first hand when I worked for Tesco. I worked on Remembrance Sunday and we stopped for a two minute silence at 11. As soon as the clock struck, the tills stopped, I stopped serving and like I do every year took two minutes to remember those fighting and those that have fought for their country. This, for some people had no importance and while the majority of shoppers stopped, there were a minority that decided their weekly food shop was much more important. It just find it extremely ignorant and unnecessary.

Watching the Remembrance Service really puts things into perspective and makes you realise just how important putting your money in the pot and wearing a poppy is.

I'll second that emotion.

Tonight I have been what can only be described as an emotional mess.

I came home from uni feeling positive about getting my work done and then I watched Hollyoaks. Hands down, the episode I watched tonight was the best episode of the Channel 4 soap in years. A fire ripped through Hollyoaks

village and one of the characters, Steph who was dying of terminal cancer perished in the blaze.

Perhaps the thing that made me shed a little tear was the fact that Steph chose to die. She had admitted that she was scared of dying and when she uttered the words "I'm ready to go now" to her husband who was trying to save her, the emotion just hit me (and I am sure many others). It does not take much to make me cry and tonight was no exception but I still had that little voice in my mind whispering, "it's only a programme."

Another programme that

made me cry was The Pride of Britain Awards. I have just finished watching it and feel very humbled by all of the people that collected the awards. By the second award I was balling my eyes out and now, two hours later I think my tear ducts are completely dry.

The winners were just outstanding. Their bravery cannot be put into words and I have no words to describe my annoyance at the way some people behave, comment and act when there are real heroes out there putting their lives on the line for others. Some of the problems that seem so big for many people are put into perspective and seem even more pathetic.

Some of the reconstructions during the awards were just remarkable. Parts of it left me speechless at the selflessness of some people. These people are the heroes, they are the pride of Britain.

After blubbering like an idiot, I'm having some light relief in the way of The Apprentice: You're Fired.

While I am on the Corrie theme...

Last night over 11 million of us tuned in to say goodbye to a Street stalwart. Jack Duckworth passed away last night in his chair. After one last dance with his deceased wife Vera (played by Liz Dawn who made a guest appearance), Jack slipped away after returning home from a surprise birthday party organised for him in The Rovers.

It is the end of an area for Coronation Street and was a fitting end for such a memorable character. Critics and fans highly praised last nights installment of the soap after its transmission.

R.I.P Jack.

Progress is good

I have been abandoning my blog but it is all for a very good reason. That reason being uni work. Obviously that is much more important at the moment and I have to say, I have been doing quite well.

I knew this week was going to be quite a busy one but all in all I have been coping quite well and managing my time well too.

I have completed the first draft of my commission but I think that 1300 words is a bit too much so it needs to be subbed. A meeting with my commission lecturer and all round legend Patrick tomorrow should sort that for me.

I am also making some headway with my radio documentary on 50 years of Corrie. What I thought would only be a four minute documentary is now going to be a 14 minute documentary. A possible trip to Manchester (it's going to be freezing up there) will also help me produce what I hope to be my best piece of radio work to date.

I really want this documentary to have the feeling like the audience are with me every step of the way. I have to confess I did not think of doing it this way but my mentor, David Hendy, who is also a bit of a legend opened my eyes as to the ways in which I could make the documentary fun.

There is not much more to report other than I am actually enjoying doing all of my work. It sounds strange I know but I am.

Now then, time to get back to the emails and planning to bring this Corrie documentary to life.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Yesterday I spent most of my time in Central London shopping. Being a student, shopping is not something that I tend to do an awful lot because I can't afford it but yesterday was an exception.

I'm going to the Student Radio Awards on Thursday at the Indig02 and with it being a suits and dresses ceremony I needed to go and buy some clothes to wear (I don't have my suit up here, it is 300 miles away in Cornwall).

The only things I had in my wardrobe were a grey waistcoat and a grey tie, so unsurprisingly this year I am wearing grey.

I decided to go to the new shopping centre near St Paul's Cathedral on Cheapside. That turned out to be a bit of a wasted journey because I only managed to get a shirt from H&M. The trousers I saw in Topman were not available in my size so I knew what I would have to do, brave Oxford Circus on a Saturday.

I decided to get off the tube at Marble Arch and walked down to Oxford Circus, going in nearly every shop on the way down where I thought I could get either the shoes or trousers I needed. However Selfridges was a bit too expensive and Primark was just too manic, I wasn't in the right frame of mind and I hate that shop.

I made it down to Oxford Circus and got my trousers from Topman and a nice pair of shoes from Next.

With the shopping all done, I didn't really want to go back to Harrow but the thought of missing Strictly and The X Factor and my hunger persuaded me to get on the tube.

The main reason I did not want to leave was because Oxford Street looked amazing. The Christmas lights were on and with it getting dark at 4:30, the atmosphere was brilliant. The smell of caramelised nuts roasting just down the road from Bond Street station added to the Christmassy feel. Debenhams, M&S, John Lewis and House of Fraser were also lit up and Selfridges had all of its windows decorated for the festive season as well as boasting a large Christmas tree at its main doors.

I came back feeling quite festive and it is only November. With all of the Christmas ads of TV now though, it is hard not to be feeling Christmassy but the Christmas songs won't be going onto my iTunes until 1 December.

This family that live just down the road from me are already in the Christmas spirit.

The jackpot is...free drinks from Camelot

Yesterday, as predicted was a very busy day. I had a meeting with the deputy head of Belmont School in Harrow Weald concerning a piece about their fast approaching fundraising day in aid of Children In Need.

The meeting was a success and I now have three stories for The HA1 secured. One for next week, one for the week after and one for January.

I also said I would attend a debate that my lecturer, Patrick had organised. Patrick has done so much for all of us and more and I really felt as though I should go to support him. The debate, which was also filmed by television students took place in the television studios and I was a member of the audience. In fact for quite a while I was the only audience member (until the rest, that were being held in another room were let in).

I was worried about being the last person there because I had to get back from my meeting in Harrow Weald. Little did I know while I was rushing across Harrow to get back to uni that I would actually be the first audience member to arrive.

That was not the only first I encountered yesterday. During the debate we were all asked if we gamble (I put my hand up), we were then asked if we do the lottery (I put my hand up). Only two of us out of an audience of 30 raised their hands. My answer then meant that I was in the spotlight. Patrick, knowing it was me asked me the first question (this was before any of the panelists had been introduced). Apart from Patrick's voice, mine was the first to be heard and I was the first to be filmed. I just hope I didn't mumble. To be honest I cannot remember what I said.

I knew that after the show of hands, trying to persuade the audience that playing the lottery was a good thing was not going to be an easy task. I think I put my point across well though. I had said my piece and I was not going to speak or go near a microphone for the rest of the debate.

After the debate my mind was not changed in terms of playing the lottery. All I was now thinking about were the free drinks Camelot (the firm behind The National Lottery) had offered to buy us in our SU bar.

The rest as they say is history. The free drinks went down very well but having started drinking at 5, I was home by 10 to watch the EastEnders repeat on BBC Three.

One month until I propose

One month, one month! That is all I have until I propose. Before you all start wondering if I have gone completely mad I am not talking about the 'down on one knee with a ring' proposal. In fact it is slightly more scary than that at the moment. I have one month to write my dissertation proposal. (Well technically less than a month now)

This fact only dawned on my yesterday as I was feeling good about having made progress with my other work. I have it in the back of my mind that my proposal does need to be done soon but I had completely forgotten that the beginning of December was the deadline. So what did I do to calm myself down? I had an Inbetweeners marathon with two friends complete with Dominos pizza and wine (not too much wine though I hasten to add).

It seemed like the best idea to cope with the impending doom that is now four weeks of solid work. What with the dark evenings now I might as well just keep my blinds closed, light a candle and be done with the outside world for a few weeks.

Having said that, I do have some workmates coming up in just over two weeks. The plan is to go and see Les Miserables and who knows what else. I am sure plenty of wine will be consumed. Oh and there are the Student Radio Awards next Thursday at the Indig02. Good luck to Smoke Radio!

With a few things happening over the next few weeks I think now is the time to say those words no student wants to say. "I'd better do some work."

Promise This. Buy my second album

After last nights news that Cheryl Cole has become the fastest selling artist of 2010 so far with her second album, Messy Little Raindrops, being a fan I could not wait to buy it and see what it was like.

When Cheryl first went solo I have to admit that I was not keen on 'Fight For This Love'. I don't know what it was about the song but it just didn't sound right, something that I also thought about 'Promise This' the first time I heard it.

However now I have developed a real liking to both songs. I don't know what it is about the songs but they definitely grow on you if you let them. I bought her first album '3 Words' and instantly liked all of the songs. I did not think there was a bad song on that album and having listened to 'Messy Little Raindrops' this afternoon my opinions on Cole's second album are the same.

I know that not everyone reading this will agree with me but I have to say, I can see why she has rushed to the top spot in the charts ahead of Rhianna. (I am not saying that Rhianna is rubbish before anybody thinks I am, her performance on The X Factor last night was brilliant and she is also a very good artist).

My favourite song on the album is 'Raindrops' and it is completely different to what I have heard Cheryl do before. It is a much slower song and it really does show off her voice. I could listen to it over and over again. It reminds me of her version of 'Fireflies' that she did for Radio 1's Live Lounge or 'Set The Fire To The Third Bar', a song she performed with Snow Patrol at last years Children In Need Rocks The Royal Albert Hall concert.

With Cole's success comes and X Factor failure. Why is Wagner still in? Who is voting for him and how was Katie in the bottom two again?

Oh and can we please try and get Gavin Henson out of Strictly? My ironing board moves better than him!