Exciting days

I had an exciting meeting today with some I met at the NFPTweetup last week about raising funds to pay for a breakfast club at a school in East London. It was productive and filled me with so many ideas that I currently want to hide under my duvet and tell them to calm down.

It was good to discuss the project with someone who has achieved a major personal fundraising goal themselves. The person in question has raised £10,000 in a year to build a school in Cambodia in memory of her mum. That's incredible and I have so much respect for her. After the meeting (and afternoon at work) I went to Jamie Oliver's 'Fifteen' restaurant to try and enlist their help, fingers crossed it will work!

Speaking of Fifteen, I was taken there on Sunday evening and had the most divine time. Excellent food, brilliant service and the company was perfect. I had ravioli, pork shoulder and chocolate and pistachio torte, washed down with a fine bottle of red and cocktails. Although it was on the pricey side, it was such a wholesome, holistic experience that I would recommend it to anybody. It is a special occasion restaurant where you can really feel comfortable.

On Sunday I went to St Martins on the Fields which has inspired me to reread (for the eighth time) 'Down and out in Paris and London'. It is partly set in and around the church and is, in my opinion, one of the greatest books ever written. In the crypt of the church they had an excellent exhibition of photography from the Big Issue Foundation. It was very moving and portrayed it how it is, sadly that means there isn't always a happy ending.

Our new team assistant starts tomorrow. It will be quite odd as I will be responsible for their development. It will be a real test of my knowledge and I hope I can do myself justice and impart something useful.

Speaking of new jobs, I met two job hunters at NFPTweetup. Having been in that situation myself I wholeheartedly understand where they are coming from. One of them has just secured a job and the other one is in the middle of a wonderful campaign to promote herself. It is so proactive that I think a new word should be made to describe it. I just wish I'd have had that initiative. Hopefully she will find something soon.

Keep smiling folks :-)
Sent using BlackBerry® from Orange

NFPTweetup fun

I went to 'NFPTweetup' on Wednesday. For those of you who don't know what NFPTweetup is, it is a quarterly event where fundraisers, PRs and the like get together to discuss the burning social media issues of the day.

I have been to a few of these events but I have always gone away a bit more baffled than when I arrived. Some people who went to earlier events discussed QR codes like they were pizza and scoffed at me when I didn't know what they were. It made me feel quite ostracised and I ended up not really enjoying the events.

This one was so different. Through the wonder of twitter I have been talking to fantastic and it was an opportunity to put faces to names. I won't mention them all by name but it was a feast of delightful Beautiful World folk, Aston Villa and West Ham fans and a fair few Scots! New friends were also made and great conversations were had.

Once you start really talking to people, you realise that sometimes they know as much or as little as you. I had some really honest chats with people about various aspects of comms/fundraising where I heard some brilliant ideas.

I am not the best 'networker' I think it's a bit crude to network. The people I met are either new friends or refreshing old friendships. It's a good little community that appears to support each other very well.

I'd recommend you all coming along to the next one but it's always so massively oversubscribed that I don't want the competition for tickets!

We all went for drinks afterwards and fun times prevailed.þ
Sent using BlackBerry® from Orange

Proactive

Sometimes I get a bit stuck as to how to start with a blog...if nothing of major note has occurred then it can be tough.

I've found out today that my article about mental health will be published later this week. It's very pleasing to know that other people, people who don't have to be polite, like my writing. I have also submitted another article to Column10 about fascism in football as a response to Swindon Town's appointment of self declared fascist Paolo Di Canio as their manager. I am also working on a piece for them with a chap called Stephen Constintine, an incredibly talented and vastly underrated football coach. He has managed four national teams and has just got the club team he manages promoted in Cyprus. He has a fantastic football mind and I have been lucky enough to have been coached by him before.

I am really enjoying getting more work published of late. It shows me just how lazy I have been in the past as what I am doing now isn't enormously time consuming but it is incredibly rewarding.

It's nice to be proactive.
Sent using BlackBerry® from Orange

'Avin' it LARGE!

I've not drunk quite so much in rather a long time but it was great to see my friend Paul and his bro Dan as well as John, an old mate from uni.

It's incredible how easy it is to get distracted and not see your friends. I really don't want it to happen again.

I am going try and email/text/call one old friend a week, hopefully to meet up with them and catch up.

Vague friendships are odd, you know, the people you talk to on twitter/facebook etc who you care about but never see because somehow this kind of internet connectivity has become acceptable.

Let us make it unacceptable, contact someone from the good old days who you miss seeing...maybe someone will call me?
Sent using BlackBerry® from Orange

The week that was...

A long week is over and I'm about to hit the pubs with one of my best friends!

It's been an exciting old week...I have had an article published in a Certified Institute of Public Relations accredited publication called 'Behind the Spin', aimed at young professionals/PR students. My article was on the pitfalls of dealing with camera crews at the organisation you're working at. I have also had an article accepted to a mental health magazine called 'Uncovered' and that is about me working for the NHS but having to be a service user of the mental health team.

I also worked with Miss Katie Price this week on a documentary she is making about her son. The one question I have been asked constantly is, 'is she nice?' I am pleased to say that she is very friendly and polite. She didn't have any airs or graces about her, although I can't say the same for some of the people who followed her about.

My first edition of my works staff magazine is also with the designers now so that's another 'to do' crossed off my list...although it wasn't what I expected it to be, I have edited a whole publication. I am proud despite the fact that it is part of my job to do it.

The final thing which I am proud of, probably more courage than actual achievement is that I am going to be pitching a book to a publisher soon.

No flies on me this week!

My flatmate said to me yesterday, "I think one day you'll be very well known." I thanked her for this.

Then she added with a straight face, "Then I will be able to sell many stories about you."

Hmmmm!

Have a good weekend everybody!
Sent using BlackBerry® from Orange

Good week

I've had a very interesting week at work which has resulted in me working with some people that quite frankly, I didn't ever expect to meet. The unexpected is delightful though and I have learnt so much. I have even written an article about it: http://www.behindthespin.com/features/lights-camera-disruption

I am delighted by this as it the first time I have been published in a professional publication, well, the first time for a profession that I actually work in. I have also submitted a piece about my battle with mental health to a mental health publication but I haven't heard back yet so fingers crossed.

In the next few days I am interviewing Emilo Estevez and putting together a pitch for a book for a major publisher. Despite not being mega hopefully that they will accept it, it's nice to have the opportunity. I will also be interviewing the television presenter Zora Suleman soon. I am delighted to be doing that interview because I suspect that it will be a lot of fun.

All in all it's been a productive week and I a happy that I am pushing myself more than I have been, though I am sure that I can do more.

Here goes nothing eh...

Bad day

There was a bomb scare in London today. I say scare, it was more of a threat than scare.

I work in a hospital, one that was put on alert during the July 7 bombings in 2005 and I work with people who were affected by it and worked through it.

It was awful. There was nothing really said but shadows hung over the place and people talked about where they were on that day six years ago.

A bad day.
Sent using BlackBerry® from Orange

Bad day

There was a bomb scare in London today. I say scare, it was more of a threat than scare.

I work in a hospital, one that was put on alert during the July 7 bombings in 2005 and I work with people who were affected by it and worked through it.

It was awful. There was nothing really said but shadows hung over the place and people talked about where they were on that day six years ago.

A bad day.
Sent using BlackBerry® from Orange

Say YES to London

London, the say yes city.

Tonight I had an enjoyable few hours in the company of a group of travel writers. The meeting came about as one of them is doing a piece on 'tweetovers' in London. Basically asking for tweets to influence his day. My recommendation was taken up but unfortunately the venue was closed (damn you Canada House and your refurbishments!) But by all accounts he had a fabulous day at some of the lesser known locations that London has to offer.

It was inspiring company to be in. All published in their respective fields but all meeting for a common cause tonight, a beer amongst friends in a fine city(venue recommended by twitter users).

I saw courage and persistence and the acceptance that to do the job they loved, they may have to compromise on other aspects of their lives. As I said though, it was a evening of inspiration.

One thing that did inspire me was that they were all very keen and genuinely interested in hearing about my career. I was delighted to tell people about my work when so many dismiss it as 'a bit boring public sector stuff'. I think that as writers, they appreciated the fact that I am working in a field that deeply fascinates me and their interest was very well received.

With a heavy heart I left them in Chinatown but one must work in the morning mustn't one! Actually, I've got a bit to do tonight as I've been tied up filming all day and those pesky journalists don't answe their own enquires.
Sent using BlackBerry® from Orange

Surgery, drinks and being published

My first piece for Column10 has been published today. It's a piece of original work based on a true and positive event and I am happy with it. I'm not ecstatic with it but I am happy. As with many things in life, it is a case of building up confidence and keeping producing. If nothing else comes of it than my parents liking it though, I am still a happy bunny. It's at http://www.column10.com and there will be a link from my website soon too.

It's been a hectic and long day. Due to the nature of my job I can't reveal much but I have learnt a lot about filming during surgery so that makes me happy. The beauty of my current job is that they seem to, well my boss does, applaud innovation. They want me to get out of the office and do things. It's a very different situation to my last few roles so there is less pressure to be by the phone/email. I do miss the constant enquires that came with my last job and I had an incredible team around me too. That was a true bonus and I will always be grateful for their friendship and support.

Tonight I am going for a drink with a very cool travel journalist. He is doing a 'tweetover' around London for 24 hours and so we're having a beer. It should be great fun and can pick his brains a bit and hopefully make a new friend. He is called 'the grumpy traveller' and the address of his website is http://www.grumpytraveller.com

It's been a good day, full of surprises and exhaustion but a good day.

I hope yours was too...
Sent using BlackBerry® from Orange

Rebel rebel

Woohoo! The warm weather makes like listen to a lot more Bowie and in turn, more Seu Jorge who released an album of Portuguese Bowie covers.

Today I may get to go and observe a surgery again. It would be a transplant and it's very exciting. Transplant gives people a second chance at life and I deplore all of you to become donors. If it was up to me then I would have an opt out only policy on organ donation.

It seems to be common sense to me, if something is going to be put in the ground or burnt then instead you should give the opportunity of life to someone. As I work within a very specialist hospital, I can see the direct benefits of transplant and it really does change lives.

I watched The Apprentice last night. I am very ashamed to admit this and I shall not be watching tonight. It was an appalling programme that merely served to demonstrate the lowest type of pond life that we have. I sincerely hope I don't ever work with any of those people.
Sent using BlackBerry® from Orange

Conference and after thoughts

I fear that may have been a tad too sceptical in my thoughts about today's conference.

A personal highlight was when several of the communications staff attending laughed when one of the speakers referred to the governments 'listening' exercise for the proposed changes to the NHS. One said to me, "Lansley spent seven years making up these proposals. Do you really think three weeks of listening will chang a damn thing?"

I think that summed up most peoples perception of what is currently happening. I did find it oddly reassuring to see the examples of best practice used during some of the presentations because in the passed I have done similar and exceeded the results that they achieved.

I only really spoke to one other person, a young woman who had just started at a trust after moving down last week from the North. It wasn't a case of either of us being anti-social but many only chose to network with those on the same level or above and we're pretty much as low as you can go and still attend these things. There were four people there who had interviewed me in the past and not given me a job. They all ignored me and looked the other way as I walked past! Kids eh!

All in all it was a productive experience if only to reassure me that I am on a par with those around me.
Sent using BlackBerry® from Orange

Let battle commence

In my best suit and frilliest tie I'm heading to the offices of NHS London to undoubtedly be told that we all need to pull together at a time like this.

Unfortunately for them, we aren't stupid and so I am sure it will be pointed out that all of our jobs are in danger so there is a pretty major argument for not pulling together to support the proposed NHS changes.

We must stand together as communicators and as people who have chosen to serve the public through our careers but we shouldn't stand by and let this happen.

There will be many casualties over the coming months and I'm sure that I will be one of them (again). It's the life I chose to live though to get to where I want to be and so I have to keep going. It's not like it was a few years back, I've got a support system in place now who I haven't alienated. I had one before, during my 'troubles' but I pushed them away so much that someone of them may not recover and while I can't go back and change that, I wish I could. I wish I could say sorry face to face but I'm pretty sure that would damage them more.

This is all a bit melancholy so instead, here is my morning playlist:

Mumford and sons-The Cave
Ash-Girl from Mars
The Kooks-Naïve
Seu Jorge-Rebel Rebel
T-rex-Children of the Revolution

I do like reading the papers and seeing all of the non stories that are out there. I just looked at someone else's newspaper (I know that's rude sorry!) and saw a story about a woman who can only eat rice due to allergies. This is probably why I am not an amazing publicist because I do not have the patience for that kind of stuff.

Ah well, au revior for now
Sent using BlackBerry® from Orange

Windy...

How is it now seven minutes to my destination when a mere minute ago it was six? Am I living in an age where time goes backwards or are TFL just shit? I suspect that I am secretly part of a Doctor Who episode where time goes backwards, a minute a day until I live a whole day again...argh!!!! Hardly the silencers but it's the best I can do.

Two things that I always notice when I interchange at Camden is the middle aged men with hair that they are really too old to pull off and the amount of kids who really should have examined a mirror before leaving their house. I'm hardly a fashionista myself, my favourite items of clothes were all bought for me. Generally I am quite unstylish but as I don't overly try, I am not overly bothered.

I am going to a conference for NHS communicators tomorrow which should be fun. I predict the following groups will be there:

Those that disagree with the governments plans for the NHS and aren't afraid to voice this face (me).

Those that disagree but are ultimately careerists and as such will just nod and smile.

Those who agree with the plans.

I don't know how anyone working for the NHS could possibly agree with the changes. That isn't to say that some fat couldn't be trimmed off and I do believe that if the Department of Health did their job properly that we could indeed axe SHA's but the proposed changes are ill conceived and will destroy healthcare as we know it in this country. It's okay though, I've always wanted to live somewhere where poor people don't have access to basic healthcare...

On a more positive note I've decided against taking an opportunity presented to me a few weeks back because I've decided that instead of a great move for my future it would be career suicide. I am too young to commit that...

I may be going to Chicago in the summer for the wedding of two der friends from university. It's quite expensive as it's at the height of the summer but hopefully I can do it. It would be a few days in New York and then onto the windy city which I am assured is indeed, mighty mighty pretty.

Sent using BlackBerry® from Orange

It began on the tube and ended in the future...

What is more annoying than someone sitting in the seat that you wanted on the tube...someone sitting in the seat next to it.

I mean, you can't go and sit next to a stranger on the tube when there are a lot of empty seats about.

When I first moved to London, I was told, in the way you are when you're naïve and in a new place that only tourists sat in the seats next to the doors. After living here for six years, I now know that this is bullshit. They are the coveted seats, the ones with the pane of glass to lean on. Now I get annoyed when people sit in the seat next to them and in turn, I get annoyed that I am annoyed.

The laws of the tube are wild an dangerous. It's a place where Al Capone would have run riot and had heavies around each corner extracting a fee for a seat. It is a seemingly safe mode of transport nowadays. The 80/90's were apparently a rough time for the tube, wooden flooring on the trains, rats, muggings and fear. Now though I would recommend it to most though I would also implore people to take a bottle of water too as it gets very hot a lot of the time.

I'm going to see Avatar in 3D tonight at the IMAX! Whoop! I've seen the film and loved it but I've only seen it in 2D on a normal television and so it should be an experience.

I am in the process of preparing a proposal for the charity/NFP (Not for profit) that I am starting. It's initial aim is to fund he breakfast club at a school in East London but after that I hope to get restaurants on board to provide cooking lessons for parents. I am going to try and secure the funding for the breakfast club first and then embark on the rest though as that is a lot more ambitious.

I have just submitted my first piece for the new football site, Column10. It's being run by Rohan Ricketts, an English footballer playing in the lower rungs of the German leagues at the moments. I am excited by this because it's another chance to bump up my portfolio of recent writing.

I must also report a recent musical find. While shopping at Columbia Road flower market last Sunday, I stumbled across a busker who despite an awful band with a tuba playing down t street, still produced something a little bit magical. I bought her EP and I've played it non stop since. It's really fantactis. She is called Brooke Sharkey...google her, she'll come up. It reminded a lot of when I first heard Angus and Julia Stone play all those years ago.

In upcoming news, I have interviews lined up with Tony Hawks, author of 'Around Ireland with a Fridge', Louise and the Pins, a great folky band who are supporting Laura Marling on tour and the actress Kathryn Drysdale who has been in Vanity Fair, Benidorm and 2pints of lager and a packet of crisps. Fun times!
Sent using BlackBerry® from Orange

 My old blogs that I didn't want to just delete...

_____________________

Alexei Sayle is fun

Sometimes I just want to type, to write and write some more. I am listening to Alexei Sayle’s autobiography and I just want to type what I am listening to. His book of short stories, ‘Barcelona Plates’, is one of the best books that I have ever read. I always miss it out when people ask me about favourite books because it feels like it’s a bit of a cop out to have a book of short stories by a comedian as your favourite book. The first story is about the death of Princess Diana and how a tired driver coming back from a bad holiday in Spain accidently knocks a car off the road and into the wall of a tunnel.



He takes very simple stories and puts a comedic and occasionally horrifically dark twist on this. Apparently he lives in the town that I used to live in just near Kingston. I never saw him but I’d like to think that he saw me and thought, “wow, one day he might produce something brilliant.” His autobiography only covers his life up until the age of 17. I am currently on chapter 31 and he is only 11.



I have written an article for a new online football magazine, Column 10, and that should be out soon. It’s very exciting and I have a few more feature ideas so it should be fun. I also have to get a wriggle on raising money for the breakfast club. I’m not being lazy, I’ve just been busy! I feel settled in my new job now so I will be fine though.



Anyway, I’m off to watch Man Utd v Schalke 04.



Posted @ 19:39:53 on 04 May 2011  back to top
Click here to leave a comment
Bin Laden and art

So, Osama Bin Laden is dead. I remember hearing about the 9/11 attacks while on a bus coming back from my first day of college. I heard about the 7/7 attacks when I was called by a friend in Australia who was worried that I may have been hurt. I was asleep when she called.



Jubilation is flowing in many parts in the world but he has just been a figurehead for a long time. Maybe it’s wrong to celebrate, maybe it’s not. I cannot hand on heart say that I wouldn’t if I had lost a loved one in the attacks.



The way I feel about terrorism and standing up to it is similar to how you feel when a group of thugs shout abuse at you in the street. Someone gives you abuse and if you answer back or retaliate then they will kick off with you. It is all a terrible merry-go-round where no one is seemingly willing to back down.



My thoughts are with all those, from whatever religion or nationality, who have lost loved ones due to terrorism.



Tomorrow I am going to an exhibition for a fabulous young artist called Charlie Gates. She is a DIY taxidermist who works with a level of animation and respect for the animals that she stuffs that you cannot help but admire. I am looking forward to it.

Posted @ 23:00:11 on 02 May 2011  back to top
Click here to leave a comment
Travel writing

I once did some work at The Independent travel magazine with Simon Calder and his team. It was a fun and enlightening experience but one that revealed to me a very unsavoury side of journalism that I would have liked to think was a one off but that may be me being naive.



A famous comedian submitted a piece reviewing a recent holiday that he had been on. Everybody agreed that it was fantastic and with the article set to go to print we looked in the travel section of another national newspaper and saw the same article almost identically reproduced. The same article had been sold to two newspapers and only differing editorial standards provided any real change in content between publications.



We had to discreetly ditch the article but as the comedian still writes on a fairly regular basis for that publication I don’t think he was too severely reprimanded.



Why this tale? Well, I have recently begun reading what I believe is a humourous, good quality and original travel blog: http://www.grumpytraveller.com/ The author is a Mr David Whitley and it is well worth a read.



I never did become much of a travel writer although I have been asked to do some writing about Nepal so you never know I could possibly be able to convey what a magical land it is. Here’s to hoping I guess!

Posted @ 19:51:22 on 01 May 2011  back to top
Click here to leave a comment
The great PR struggle

I work in public relations and this occasionally leads to you having to do things that you don’t want to do in order to keep your job, gain a new job or to further your career. In recent days I have received the offer of an opportunity that would be classed in the list of things that ‘I don’t want to do but it may further my career’ and I am faced with having to do ‘something in order to keep my job’.



I am in the privileged position where I work for a fantastic organisation and I am proud to serve them. In a few weeks I will have to work with someone, albeit for only one day, who I wholly disapprove of in as many ways that it is possible to disapprove of someone. If I refuse on the grounds of morals I will surely lose my job for being unprofessional and if I do it then I will be angry with myself. I know there is only one answer to this quandary but it is still a shame that I feel that I am in this position.



The opportunity that I have been contacted about is one that if I took it, I would potentially greatly further my career (if I do it well) but it would also mean putting aside my beliefs to further myself. Should and can this be done?



I am happy that I don’t work in the world of PR agencies because then I would be forced to represent organisations that I may not care about or even actively feel opposed to. I once went for a job interview with an agency and it was interrupted halfway through when the interviewers were called out because the announcement of a new client had just come through. It was for a cheese company. I would have been asked to represent a cheese companies views in the media. I knew at that point that it wasn’t for me.



I don’t believe that there is any shame in only wanting to work for people and organisations that you believe in. It can be the making of a person but equally, it can be the destruction of a career. I’m not far enough into my career to really be able to assess these risks or indeed to be that affected by them but it’s worth thinking about for the future.

Posted @ 20:49:17 on 30 April 2011  back to top
Click here to leave a comment
Once more unto the breach dear friends, once more.

I am now in my third full week at my new job. It’s gone so terrifically quickly that I can barely consider a new job anymore being so my last one only lasted two months. I have a lot more responsibility in this role but it is very different from the last. I am not so much focussed on press but more so general communications. I am also editor of two publications which is very nice and a good thing to have on my CV.



I have had the opportunity to observe some surgeries though. I must confess, I found this to be a very spiritual experience and it did bring a bit of a tear to my eye when I heard a bit about the donor and the recipient. I can’t disclose this information but I was very moved by it all. What didn’t help was the tall, white haired, charismatic surgeon performing the operation...his god like appearance only enhanced the spirituality of the event.



In my worldly news, my two god daughters came to stay over the weekend. We went to Mamma Mia, the Zoo and I embarrassed them by dancing on my chair in a restaurant to Elvis. Me...embarrassing?! I DO NOT THINK SO! In addition to this my friend Chris (Chris of Mighty Ducks question fame) is coming to stay for a few days. This will involve much merriment and fun times. I hope the weather is good because we’ll be going to the St Georges day festival in Trafalgar Square on Saturday.



I am thinking more about starting a charity to raise money for the breakfast club at a school in Plumbstead. I am just trying to find some willing volunteers to help me and to get the pile of forms sorted so that I can register as a charity. This means that I will be cutting back on the other volunteer type stuff that I do.



I am also going to Glastonbury! Whoop!

Posted @ 12:17:51 on 18 April 2011  back to top
Click here to leave a comment
Work and tiredness!

I work for the NHS again and it has quickly been established that my new boss has the same political opinion as me. This is only a positive because it means that I won’t be made to say anything that I don’t want to at work.



My new job is frightfully exciting, so far I have done several filming sessions and booked in visits to different sites across London, I have watched actually operations....GROSS! I have met some incredible clinicians and my team seem lovely...plus I have my own office which is nice.



It’s nice to have had my confidence built up at my last place of work and now I am beginning to fly.



Following my great time with Danny Wallace, I am going to be interviewing author Tony Hawks next week. Tony, the author of several books including, ‘Playing Tennis with the Moldovan Football Team’, is just a little bit of a legend. To me anyway, he was the man who began the generation of fun, an incredibly funny and original author who strangely doesn’t have the public profile of those who have followed.



I would talk more but I am tired.

Posted @ 23:00:41 on 07 April 2011  back to top
Click here to leave a comment
Danny Wallace, a new office and smiles

So, I interviewed Danny Wallace on Thursday. It was the highlight of a wonderful day. He is a very congenial sort who insisted on buying the beer despite my protests and talked with honesty and friendship in his voice.



One thing I have missed out in my interview which I feel I MUST address here, Danny’s opinion of the Mighty Ducks trilogy.



“I don’t think there are enough films made about people who must make good by coaching a bunch of misfits to sporting glory.”



Although Danny hasn’t seen the films, he has assured me that he will try and get around to watching them.

“If they are a recommendation from your friend Chris, then who am I to argue? He is the expert and so that is good enough for me. It’s only (Danny counts out loud) 450 minutes of my life, I can give that over to a recommendation from your friend.”



In other news, I have started a new job. I got offered a longer contract away from where I was working and so unfortunately had to make the move. I was having such a good time where I was and so I hope that this isn’t all a big mistake.



They threw me leaving drinks on my last day and following this I attended closing down drinks for the place I worked for a year before that and then it was onto my old flat mates birthday drinks. A heady night of fun, friends and booze that made me feel very loved by a lot of friends.



It’s all in danger of going quite well at the minute and long may it continue. I have adventures on the horizon...Glastonbury, Pulp, Glasgow for my friend’s birthday and the aforementioned Chris is coming to stay. All that and the Royal wedding, I am a very lucky boy!



I have my own office now which means that I must tidy it, water the plant and make it a little home away from home. To the shops I must go for coffee...

Posted @ 14:01:00 on 03 April 2011  back to top
Click here to leave a comment
Grimsby - heaven or hell

It’s official, I lived for eighteen of my twenty five years in the second most deprived, poverty stricken area in the country.



http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2011/mar/29/indices-multiple-deprivation-poverty-england#



Grimsby isn’t the kind of place that springs into your mind when planning a summer holiday, though it does boast some excellent bars across its surprisingly nice sea front.



I guess that is a digression though.



I started working for the NHS in North East Lincolnshire, the county that plays host to Grimsby, in 2008. One of the first things I noticed was the unmistakeable difference in health education and subsequently life expectancy from area to area within the town. I lived in the Scartho area of Grimsby and my life expectancy was between 9-15 years longer than people who lived three-four miles away. It seems like an unbelievable statistic but it is one that you may comprehend if you walked around the two areas, imagine Kensington and Whitechapel.



An individual’s health is, of course, the responsibility of the individual but in turn, people cannot take responsibility for their own health if they are not properly communicated with. When unemployment is high, people look for things to keep themselves busy. The activities undertaken to relieve boredom can range from drink, drugs, casual sex or smoking to volunteer work, community care or self educating. If you are from a second or third generational unemployed family who wasn’t encouraged to regularly attend school never mind complete the assigned work, which path do you expect you would take?



Each time you consider these issues, it opens up a whole deluge of thoughts, in the end though, I believe that it is down to employment and opportunity. From employment springs so many things, good food for the table so that energy levels increase, aspiration so that you encourage children instead of letting them believe that there is no need to become educated and ultimately health inequalities fall.



No amount of lecturing on the negative impact of fast food, cigarettes and alcohol can change things. If a parent cannot afford to buy fruit and vegetables and if they are having to work such long hours that they cannot find time to cook, then nothing will change.



It is the old cliché, give a man a fish and he will feed his family for a day, give him a net and he will feed them for a lifetime. All that benefits are are a continuing line of fish for people to collect. An individual receives so little that they cannot exchange their fish, invest their fish or pass their fish onto their children so that they can develop new skills.



Employment would provide the net for families. A source of income would help to provide the skills to pass on and ultimately a more prosperous future for their children.



I have a full education up to degree level and several years of experience but I still find it difficult. I shudder to think how people without these cope. I have had the experience of going to a job centre and I know how poorly trained their staff are and how a lot of them do not seem interested in helping you find work but interested in getting people signed on and through the door.



Volunteer schemes and organised community schemes could help but now no council can employ people to facilitate these type of schemes, they will not happen and more people will fall into long term unemployment and health inequalities will increase.



In other news, I have a job. I will be going to a world famous specialist hospital to do their PR. It’s all very exciting although I am very upset to be leaving my current post. They have been fantastic to me here and taught me so much in such a short time.



Posted @ 15:33:15 on 29 March 2011  back to top
Click here to leave a comment
Summer albums...

Pouco me importa se o dinheiro é seu


Ei baby esse cabelo é legal

Moda na gringa é feliz natal

Sei que invocou mas ficou tudo bem

Agora diz estar na onda zen

Ei baby

Você venceu

Passe amanhã e pegue o que é seu







I’ve recently discovered the wonder of Seu Jorge. The above lyrics are from his version of David Bowie’s ‘Rebel Rebel’ and features on his album, ‘The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou’. It is most certainly my summer album for 2011.



In other news, I had an incredible weekend, a trip to Brighton, trying a fantastic restaurant and Persian New Year! All in the name of Emily’s birthday! A fantastic time was had by all, the sun shone, the food and drink flowed and it was just a lovely weekend. Maybe that’s a bit boring for you all but ah well, I guess if you’re reading this then you’re at least vaguely interested in my life.



I have a job interview tomorrow. I know that I have just started my new job but it’s only a short term contract covering someone’s sick leave so I am okay with it. I really do love my current job but they’re not in the position to offer anything beyond the end of April and the job I have the interview for is a six month contract so unfortunately, I have to go for it.



Things are rolling along nicely with the organisation that I volunteer for, Little Episodes. I met with the wife of the founder last night to discuss plans for an auction to raise funds so that we can finally get premises and potentially employ some staff. It’s a journey but a good journey to be on. The beauty with Little Episodes is that the only limitations are our imaginations and money. Our imaginations will help find ways of getting money though so it’s all okay. The proposed date is 21 May so fingers crossed it all comes together in time!



Posted @ 11:19:07 on 23 March 2011  back to top
Click here to leave a comment
The Royal Royal Opera House

Oops. Not blogged for a whole week. It’s not because I had nothing to say, I guess I have just been busy.



I hung out with Princes Charles on Tuesday night...



Well, kind of.



I went to the Royal Opera House to see Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland being performed. It is the first new ballet for many years and it was the first night that it was being performed. Prince Charles, Camilla and the future Princess Catherine were in attendance. I waited for them afterwards and waved...I am a geek but it’s not often you get to see Royals without masses of security and hundreds of people stood in your way.



The ballet was excellent, a visual masterpiece, terrific dancing and spectacular costumes. I can’t speak highly enough of it and would recommend it to anyone, even if you’re not a ballet fan.



So that is twice I have been to the ballet in three months, Gisele and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. I’m in danger of becoming middle class. Argh!



The rest of my week has been quiet. Work has been busy, I have even been dealing with the potential fallout of the nuclear meltdown in Japan.



Is it just me or is the world apparently slowly turning in on itself? It seems more like the films every day. They did say the world will end in 2012...

Posted @ 23:38:09 on 17 March 2011  back to top
Click here to leave a comment
Sometimes it works...sometimes it doesn't

So, I sat in a cafe for an hour waiting for Sadie Frost. Then I had to leave because it closed.



Fortunately this isn’t a tale of rejection, it is a tale of someone giving the wrong message. I asked my friend to pass on a message to Sadie saying that I could get there earlier and she mistakenly said I wanted to rearrange for the next day at a new time. Wires crossed and many apologies later all was settled. It’s delayed for a few weeks but that’s okay.



Today I interviewed ex Sheffield Wednesday and Aston Villa player Ian Taylor on his career and his future business ambitions. It was a fantastic experience and despite having to do it remotely, I think I have produced a good interview, reflective of  good man.



In other news, my parents are coming down to play for the weekend. Lots of shopping, drinking and eating I imagine. It will be a light relief from work which although is excellent, is also tiring.



I’ve been writing all night so don’t have that much energy left to write as I have typed up my interview and still have things to do!

Posted @ 21:23:54 on 10 March 2011  back to top
Click here to leave a comment
Tomorrow tomorrow...

Tomorrow I am interviewing Sadie Frost.


I am just a little bit excited. I first saw her in the Pulp video, Common People, many years ago and although I didn’t in any way track her career, I know she is a woman of many talents who is also a great philanthropist. It should be a good one.


You may or may not be wondering why I am interviewing people, you may or may not even care. I’ll tell you anyway.


It’s the world’s worst kept secret, I am ambitious. Sometimes overly so and end up trying to do so much I end up doing nothing at all. Well, that cycle is over my friends. I am interviewing people because I would very much like to write for publication one day and hopefully while I am still young enough to provide a fairly youthful perspective on things. I have done some writing in the past. I used to have a column in a magazine called Insight and I have written for The Independent and the BBC website but I have nothing that could really justify me getting work as a writer.


By doing this myself, it is serving several purpose, firstly, I get to write and subsequently read something that I would like to read. I ask the questions I want and so far, have got the answers I least expected. It will help be build up a portfolio of writing that I can be proud of and by having a website I have an easy access platform to demonstrate what I can do to people.


I know this probably all seems a bit too self serving for your liking but writing, meeting people and learning are things I love to do and this gives me an opportunity to do it. Even if I don’t make it, it is still an adventure and how many people get to have real adventures nowadays?


I am interviewing Sadie Frost because I have met her through volunteer work I do and found her to be an infinitely interesting person. She has had her ups and downs but she has faced it with dignity and has battled through and come out the other side with a family she obviously adores, a fashion range which my sister swears down is to die for and a whole host of upcoming projects.


None of this is gratuitous, I guess what I am trying to say is that I am not interested in talking to just anybody. I want to talk to people that I admire, in the case of some it is people who’s writing or professional work I admire but they are all people who have sparked an interest in me. I promise you, I work in PR and I would only ever face those beasts to organise an interview with someone if it was really worth it.


Have a good evening, do something nice for someone tomorrow!

Posted @ 21:25:42 on 07 March 2011  back to top
Click here to leave a comment
and so it began...

There was nothing glorious in suffering from depression. It is incredible that in this day and age, people still don't recognise it as an incredibly debilitating illness.


I started suffering in 2006 after returning from a trip to Nepal where I had been working with young children who had been trafficked to India. Before that, I was, well, I was 'that guy'. The one at parties, the one in the pubs and clubs. I was in lots of societies at university, I was an editor at the student newspaper, I played sports and had a lot of friends. Yet after returning from Nepal, I took such drastic steps as not sleeping on my bed because the kids that I had left behind only had hard mattresses to sleep on. I ate rice at every meal and drank ginger tea.

There was little that was of interest to me other than helping the people that I felt that I had abandoned but the more I worked myself up, the less I became able to do. I tried to fight it but I couldn't and I sank. I was left behind by my peers, stop participating and drifted through the last year of university a battered shell of the man I was before.



After I graduated, like many, I fell on hard times in terms of both employment and subsequently financial. This continued for sixteen months with internships and temporary work filling in the gaps between signing on. I then moved back to my parents and got my first job in PR, working for an NHS trust in North East Lincolnshire.



After I lost that I went onto a local council and then I moved back to London and spent a year working for an arm length body of a government department. During this time I felt a slight rise in my mood but nothing of major significance.



Various things happened on this journey, including having to cut my friend from a noose and taking her to hospital while also looking after her two year old daughter, I lived with someone who can only be called unhinged (at best) in Streatham and then struggled to find my way back into London life after I had found my current dwelling.



Before all of this, I used to live and during all of this, I lived vicariously.



I am currently fighting back and this is why I am running my lovely website here. I am going to live again.



So here goes...