Living without a plan.

I have been looking for flats and jobs. I finish uni in about three months which is a really scary thought and one I keep putting to the back of my mind. However it keeps crawling forward and yesterday I found myself scouring through Right Move, Find A Property and the Job pages of The Guardian.

The really frustrating thing is that anybody that knows me, knows that I like to know what I am doing because I like planning things (call it the OCD side coming out). I need to give notice on my flat soon but at the moment I want to try and get a job in London so that would mean moving to a new place. Ideally in Central London but money is an issue.

I did find a really nice flat yesterday. It was a studio flat near Holland Park and the rent included council tax and water rates. The thing is I don't know if I am going to be in London working, as much as I want to be at the moment, that could all change.

As for the job hunt, it was not very successful. Maybe I am looking in the wrong places but also there is the issue that until I get my journalism degree, I can't really apply for anything. I could apply for an internship but it would have to be a paid position and because I cannot commit to full time at the moment, when I do graduate, I doubt I will be earning enough to be able to move into Central London. My student loan for my last semester will not last forever!

So I am a bit in limbo at the moment if I am honest and not having a plan is unsettling me a bit but I guess I am just going to have to wait and persevere.

But if anybody wants to offer me a job in journalism or knows of any, please let me know.

Help me please

Is there anyone out there that has moved to London this year or is thinking of moving to London to study at University. If you are then you are just the person I want to talk to.

I am writing a feature on moving to London, drawing particularly on my experiences of moving from Cornwall (the countryside) to London (the big city).

I would appreciate as many views as possible and if you are interested please contact me via email.

My address is: leemcollins@hotmail.co.uk

Thank you!

And the stress kickstarts again...

Being a third year student at university means only one thing. It is time to grow up. Many who will know me will understand that growing up and behaving like an adult has been something I have wanted to put off for a very long time.

Parts of my second year were stressful but the sheer volume of work I have to do (we all have to do) this year could top that (and I think it probably will). So far I have a final journalism project, a commission piece, three stories for an online news site, a class presentation with an accompanying essay and a dissertation proposal to complete and that is just this semester.

I have an idea for my final journalism project. I am going down the radio route and opting for a broadcast project, possibly a documentary or a podcast. Maybe I will play it safe with a news bulletin.

My commission piece is going to be extremely personal and I will be blogging about it throughout the semester. I'm writing a piece on moving from the country to the city, an experience that is still fresh in my mind even though I first moved to London just over two years ago. I am hoping to pitch this piece to The Independent Student Section. I am also looking for students that are thinking of moving to London this year or have just moved to the Capital to tell me about their experiences so if anyone reading this wishes to then let me know.

With Children In Need 2010 just around the corner one of my online news features is going to be about the fundraising schools in Harrow are doing (if they are doing anything at all).

I don't really want to think about my dissertation but I don't really have much choice. I am trying to start researching on a topic that is just an idea and not set in stone yet. I really want to do well and possibly achieve a 'first'.

With so much work to do my social life may well have to be put on hold. You know I'm joking. A night out in Camden is just what I need tomorrow.