Drinking to remember

After the devastating news I had yesterday morning, going out in Camden for cocktails last night did not seem like such a good idea as I have already said in my last post.

However I decided that staying in on my own and moping would have been the last thing my cousin would have wanted, he liked a drink as much as me and I was going to make sure that I had a really good night for him.

The plan was to go for food and cheap drinks (or not so cheap as we discovered) in The Ice Wharf. Then we would make our way to Bar Fifty Five. Probably the best cocktail bar in London.

So, full of food and after a few pints it was cocktail time. I had decided that I would be sophisticated and have champagne cocktails. The one I chose had gin in it and I never drink gin. It was nice though and with it being happy hour and 2 for 1 all night I had two so if I didn't like it then it was tough.

They were going down well and I got another two. In the end I think I had eight. By this point I had already been sick twice and was not even capable of standing. In no uncertain terms, I was a mess! I don't remember the last time I was that drunk. Apparently in the kebab shop I was talking to myself in my own language!

I think it is safe to say that I will be laying off the champagne cocktails for a while because although I wanted to be sophisticated, I was far from it by the end of the night.

"Life's so unfair..."

Waking up and finding out that you have lost a relative just doesn't bear thinking about. It has happened to me before but when that relative is so young it really does make you think about your priorities and the things in life that you take for granted. Being 300 miles away from the rest of your family also adds to the helplessness you feel even if there is nothing you can do.

My cousin was 33 years old and passed away this morning. Although I haven't seen him for about 12 months, this news which made me feel numb has now hit me harder than a ton of bricks.

Not only has it upset me, it has made me realise how pathetic we can all be sometimes. The things we complain about, have a moan about or bitch about. In comparison to some things, these are tiny problems that don't even matter when you think about them.

A prime example of this is me getting annoyed because a night out had to be cancelled last week. I was so annoyed, I was swearing, shouting and just generally so angry that I couldn't go out. Looking back now I almost feel ashamed that I got myself into that state. It was only a night out. There are so many times that I have had a moan or complained about something that today seems just completely ridiculous.

My sister hit the nail on the head with her Facebook status today that my cousin and I have since copied. It read:

Life's so unfair. The smallest, most pathetic problems seem so big at the time, but when there's someones life either at risk, or lost, you soon realise how stupid you can be. X

Never has a status been more true to life. The thing is, we all seem to get too wrapped up with one problem and blow it all out of proportion. If I have learnt one thing today or if something has been reaffirmed in my mind it is that life is too short.

I am going out tonight, something I wasn't going to do after the news I had but my cousin liked a drink and so tonight is dedicated to him. And if I don't go out, I'll end up in on my own. I'm just trying to do all the crying now but can't promise that there won't be any tears tonight.

So cous, the drinks are on you tonight. RIP x

Praise The Lord!

After what has been a waste of a day, I was pleased to hear that the BBC have commissioned a second series of the Matt Lucas and David Walliams mockumentary Come Fly With Me.

I must admit that when I first saw it advertised, I was not sure what it would be like, Little Britain was funny but after a while it kind of ran out of steam. I have to say that when series two of Miranda finished, this show was the perfect substitute.

Favourite character has to be Precious, the coffee stall owner. Looking forward to the second series and seeing what Lucas and Walliams pull out of the bag next time around.

Moving down under? If only....

I cannot apologise enough for the lack of blogging I have been doing since before Christmas. I am actually a little bit annoyed with myself for not keeping it up.

However I am back, albeit a little late. So what's happened since the last time I posted. Well lots in actual fact. Christmas has been and gone, New Year was also over before I knew it and I was on the train back to London.

The first week back was a little hectic with deadlines looming but it was all good. I got everything handed in on time and was pleased with the finished products. A commission piece of the experiences I faced when moving from Cornwall to London along with a piece about the Penlee Lifeboat Disaster (all set out on InDesign so it looked like a proper magazine feature) were my chosen pieces of work and handing them in was such a relief. Going to the SU after and having celebratory drinks was an even bigger highlight though.

Now it is time to focus on the big one, the dissertation. Everytime I see, read, hear or say the word I shudder a little bit inside but there is no time like the present to start my research and send out a billion emails to very busy people hoping they will find time in their packed schedule to speak to a poor student. I never know how to word emails, I normally end up sounding too polite as if they do not have to be interviewed or too desperate. I think I need to strike a balance.

Today I was meant to start doing some research but that has been put on hold as while I was procrastinating I came across a journalism internship in Australia that I have applied for. I have literally got everything crossed. Being able to move to Oz, write about my experiences and get paid for doing it and living in a beautiful country that I have always wanted to visit could not be better could it?

I am also doing International Journalism this year and I originally chose to focus on Morocco as my chosen country but I can now see this changing to Australia. I do not want to jinx anything but if I get this opportunity it really could set me up for life.

Right I've rambled enough now so time to get on with some of that "d" research.