"Like a bridge, over troubled waters..."

So, for those of you who are o2 customers, some of you may have had to deal with the madness of last weeks signal problems.  I was one of them, so I feel your pain!


A day before I was leaving for a weekend at Latitude, my phone decided to play silly buggers and loose it's signal.  Originally, I thought it was just because I was in an area with poor signal, but then when it said my "Sim Card was not recognised", I knew something was actually up.


I look online and find out that since 1:30pm that day, there have been various problems with random peoples phones.  I try and phone o2 and after about 30 mins of being on hold a message tells me "There are problems with o2, call back tomorrow"and then the phone cuts out - dammit!


My brother, 100 yards away, no problems with his o2 - dammit!


I land up spending nearly my whole time at Latitude with no signal but internet (it doesn't recognise my phone but will give me internet - tell me how that makes sense) which makes it very difficult to organise stuff, especially when you are Stage Managing a show.


Anyway today, they decided to apologise and deduct 10% of my bill for the inconvenience (that's nice) and also give me £10 back in the near forceable with Priority Moments : )


Ahhhh, Priority Moments, the way to make my day!  You know in the space of a month I have had 4 completely free items - a latte, an iced tea, a chicken and bacon baguette and a bottle of Coca Cola.


I am telling you, if you want a pay monthly contract and are considering o2, do it! (Apart from the annoying hiccup they had last weekend).  Priority Moments are currently offering you loads of free stuff if you keep up to date with the offers.  I love nothing more than a free lunch and they just keep offering things to me.  All you have to do is show a code and you get stuff - SWEET!


For someone who used to remember when food items were a lot cheaper, this is like me getting cash back for over paying : )


I don't normally like cheap gimmicks to keep me connected to a company, but I have to say o2, your doing alright so far, just keep our data safe!






Blog title comes from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjNgn4r6SOA

"I'm mad, really bad, but don't tell my mum and dad..."

So I just came back from Latitude Music Festival and I had such a great time : )


I've been to Latitude a few years back but worked on behalf of Gorillas.org (and Beer Workers Co.) on the bar.  This year I was Stage Managing a show for Theatre 503 (at the Theatre Space) called Billy Chicken's Is A Psychopath Superstar.


First of all, I had a pass that allowed me into more areas : ) this included us being able to pitch our tents in the performers area and using the nice facilities : )  The amount of famous people I saw wandering around this area over the weekend was insane - I even saw Marcus Brigstock getting into his funky 1950s caravan (it was awesome!)


Second of all, our tech and shows were on the Thursday and Friday, giving us Saturday and Sunday to do whatever we wanted at the festival - what isn't cool about that!


My duties also changed over the rehearsal period, so I landed up calling the show (cueing the lights and sound from the desk).  I was originally quite scared about this but it was so enjoyable to do (especially as I know the show inside out) and it was a really great confidence booster - I would DEFINITELY do it again!  On top of this it was for a 650 seater that was packed on both nights.  This is about the same size venue I work within but never having the power over the show - so cool : )


Other than work, I had about 3hrs sleep a night and got to do lots of cool things:
- saw Professor Brian Cox with Al Murrey and various other people talking about the connections between the arts and science
- Marcus Brigstock and Robin Ince on the early Edition for Radio 4
- Tim Key
- Elbow (the best performance of the weekend)
- Rufus Wainwright and his band
- Guilty Pleasures (will definitely have to go to this club night more often)
- Lots of dancing in the rain In The Woods to Dermot O'Leary's DJing
- Mark Ravenhill and a guy from the RSC talking about the connections between theatre and religion and how they can both be controlled by government and sponsorship at times
- Johonny Woo (hilarious performance artist who dresses up including singing a song dressed as Mary Portas, lol)
- Mark Grist (the English Teacher known for out rapping his hiphop pupil on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tp4wEewrQdU - so talented!)
- Look Left, Look Right's 4 Musicals
- Disco Shed
- Dexys (Originally Dexy's Midnight Runners - Come On Eileen : p)


If you get a chance to go, you should.  The Festival has a bit of everything art based for everyone - you won't be disappointed : )


I also want to thank Theatre 503 company and cast and all the other wonderful people I met, ate, drank and danced with - what a great weekend!

Blog title comes from this:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3gFGu9yF34

"Whose got the power, but whose got the power..."

What on earth is going on at the moment?  I went to a meeting to do with work and everyone was just talking about the two main agendas of yesterday in the papers:  the Jimmy Carr tax avoidance and the possible disappearance on the GCSEs.  And guess what, they both involved David Cameron.


Now I didn't used to be that interested in politics when I was young, apart from a good bit of political satire from Spitting Image, Brass Eye and Have I got News for You.  In general, politics was boring and deserved little of my time.  However, as I have gone through my 20s, not only do I have an interest in how everything works (probably due to things like doing Jury Service, working on Elections and the fact that a lot of these issues actually affect me now as an adult) but I have an opinion.


First of all, the Jimmy Carr situation.  As it has been stated, he didn't do ANYTHING illegal, it is within the law how he avoided tax.  The fact that David Cameron decided to pick on a very well comedian, who would not only be supported by many of his fans but also the comedy network. The fact that he forgets we are in a recession and as another well-known comedy performer rightly pointed out, at least Jimmy wasn't wasting public money and putting us into a recession.  I am sure there are lots of politicians who have been 'avoiding' taxes etc, there has been proof in the past of all kinds of cover ups involving the government.  How about looking a little closer to home and then questioning individuals and finding a way of getting us properly off the teetering edge of recession.  Ridiculous!  By the way, News Night on BBC2 was very interesting (involved both of these areas of news last night - iplayer it!)


Second, was the idea of scrapping GCSEs.  Why do we constantly have to change the way that things are done?  


I did a BTEC ND in Performing Arts over 10 years ago and you know what, the BTEC grading has changed SO many times!  In fact, my qualification broke down the results of all my subjects but never gave an overall grade.  If you now try and find out EXACTLY what my certificate is worth, you get pages of complicated sheets for all different takes on the qualification depending on it's year and nothing for the one I did - What is that about?


Anyway, back to the subject at hand.  What is the point of going back to an old system from yolks ago that was scrapped?  How is it better than GCSEs?  What about all the people that have just taken it? - it means their results are kind of null and void straight away.


Instead of always changing the names of things, re-branding them and in the education system, just constantly confusing all the people that study and work within it, why don't they suss out the problems they have and rectify them - isn't that what you would do in any other business before you looked at other options?  Also, it is so stupid that Nick Clegg (and I assume the rest of the Liberal Democrat party) knew nothing of this before it went to press?  Perfect timing whilst Clegg himself is out of the country don't you think.


Sometimes these issues and the many others that seem to have arisen (especially since the recent Recession), really annoy the hell out of me.  There are so many people in this country working their butts off, trying to find new ways to live within the current climate and instead of sorting out the issues which are destroying this country, they put less important new topics on the table.  Changing exam procedures is not going to help this country back on it's feet or a possible 1 million that Jimmy Carr has avoided.  


Let's just hope that someone and/or a political party pulls their finger out and sorts out this mess.  The UK deserves better than this!




Blog title comes from this cool new humorous triple act that I've only just heard of, Smart Songs.  They have the right idea about the government and how it all works : p :  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCB8EOY5d48&list=PL2329445E592C5583&index=2&feature=plpp_video

"Take your Oyster Card and shove it up your..."

Do you remember when travel in London was happy and simple?  I do, it was before the Oyster Card was invented.


Promoted as a "smartcard that you can use instead of paper tickets".  They make it sound so easy.


Below I am going to explain how UNEASY this system is.  Not the concept, just the fact that it's a stupid bit of plastic that very rarely does what it is meant to.


Kent as a county, was never really interested in the Oyster Card scheme.  Like it's residents (the clever ones) we realised that due to being part of greater London and Kent, we would land up paying more by having a system like Oyster instead of a ticket that could get us from Inner London to wherever we were resident.  We were against it so much, in some towns, Oyster Card machines were installed and then removed shortly after and did not return for a number of years when other areas had unfortunately succumbed to it's "magic!" When it did return, it drew boundaries on certain lines.  Like the time my mum and I visited Dartford on our Oyster cards and got fined at the other end.  Oyster card runs on the whole line APART from the final destination which you cannot use on Oyster - how are we meant to know THIS!!!  And they clearly mark that there are places to buy Oyster cards in Dartford, even though you can't use them at their station - weird!


Wimbledon Station, one of many evil places where your Oyster Card works in a slightly different way just to confuse you again.  At Wimbledon you have to buzz into the station and then on the platform of the train you are getting, but not the same when you come into the station.  Also, if the barriers are open at the front doors you just buzz on the platform because if you buzz in the same as normal, you may be fined.  WHAT THE F***!  And I know it's true, because when it was installed, I got fined SO many times and so did lots of other people I used to know. No signage to say this, like at Dartford.


Today was a glorious day, before my Oyster Card decided to sting me for no reason.  I buzzed in at one station and when I buzzed out at my destination it came up as "Seek Assistance 74 (or something similar)".  The station I was at doesn't tend to have attendants and I was unsure why it was reacting like this, when an amount came up when I buzzed in originally.  I went out later in the day and it had taken the full £7 fine (roughly) instead of the amount for my journey.  Absolute w***!  I phoned up the Oyster Card number and it says I have to wait 24 hours to phone up (even though I shouldn't have been fined).


If you don't live in London, you may not understand the annoyance of this crappy piece of plastic, but I have had to put up with it since I was a student and I HATE it!.

My blog title comes from this great song that really sums up how I feel about Oyster Card and travel in London in general (If I've mentioned it before, it's because it's the best : p) : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UymKurTBdhw

"The wonder of you"

I don't know about you, but when I was younger, it was all about the brands you wore for PE.  More at secondary than primary, but it still existed.

For a girl, I had quite big feet. By the time I went to secondary, I was a size 5 or 6, which in all honesty matched my height, which was then about 5ft 6-7.  All kinds of footwear were difficult (mainly because I needed shoes suitable for school, not an office or a rave, lol) and trainers weren't too bad, but only certain makes supported wide feet as well (which is what mine were).

I remember once being bought Hi-Tec trainers, which now, would probably be a lot cooler than they were then.  But at the time, totally uncool and wouldn't people rub it in your faces.

As I got a bit older, I started getting running trainers from a local training show.  They were reasonable in price, were great for going on track runs with my dad and were suitable for what I did at school.  Unfortunately, they weren't known by other kids, so this also redeemed them as uncool, lol.  This brand was New Balance, who are now pretty big and getting more respect in this country.  Now I can't really remember that much about them apart from they fit, looked alright and were comfy.

After school, I started trialing different brands including Donnay (Cheap and Cheerful), Adidas (Funky Designs and reasonably hard wearing), Nike (Sporty, but slim fitting) Reebok (Wide Fittings, but more boyish styles), but I never enjoyed wearing them, I just wore them.

And then a great website called Javari came to my attention (one of the best kept secrets I have found in the last year or so).  Javari is a sister site to amazon.co.uk, so when you buy something through them, you sign in via your amazon account - perfect!  But this isn't the best part, they are kind of like an outlet store, so they do ridiculously amazing offers on here at certain times of the year.  And this, is how I was re-introduced to New Balance.  I needed new trainers, they came in lots of different colours and styles (including a fitness style one that helps you pump your leg muscles whilst you walk) and they were about 1/4 of the normal price because they were an old style.

Anyway, I kid you not, these trainers are the best buy I have done in ages (and that's coming from a bargain buyer).  They are comfy, supportive, wide fitting, look good and go unto really big sizes - what more could someone like me want!  They were so good, I not only bought a 2nd pair in a different colour straight away, I have convinced friends of mine to buy them, who are also now enjoying the comfort.  I don't secretly work with New Balance, they are just amazing trainers!

So if your strapped for cash and need a new pair of funky fitness wear for your feet, check out Javari, you never know what you will find : )

Blog title from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyrQqmc5UT8http://www.newbalance.co.uk/

"All I need is the air that I breathe..."

So I'm getting older, just like everyone else.  And I'm not fit, I'm not going to lie about that either.  But my body has been taking the piss recently.


I used to have Asthma when I was a kid.  Most the time not really that bad, just the odd problem with breathlessness, but due to the huge amount of extra curricular stuff I did, it was probably get at bay.


However, in recent years where exercise has been secondary to my theatre work, my body has become quite unhealthy.  The exercise stuff especially has become non-existent : s


Well, til recently, this wasn't a problem.  But due to increased stress levels of trying to re-route my work career and not exercising, my asthma is back and is currently not looking to leave.


The main problem started a few months back when I wasn't enjoying work, had come second to someone else for a job I really wanted and was generally getting stressed with silly things.  On the way to a freelance job on a random day, I started getting a very tight chest (making me feel like I was wearing a tight corset) and this followed with having odd times when I found it hard to breathe.  Originally we thought it was a chest infection and I was given an inhaler and stuff to take.  


Fast forward a month or so one and I suddenly couldn't breathe whilst at work and then it got worse over the following days.  Since this event I have been to the doctors several times and now have a blue, purple and brown inhaler and follow up prescriptions.


Unfortunately, moving on to today, I am still having problems and we are still unsure if it is just a random asthma problem, a chest infection that won't go or stress - whatever it is, my breathing sucks at the mo.


I have started trying to eat healthier stuff when I can and do a lot more walking etc, but until the problem clears up a bit, I find it very hard to do much without coughing or having to taken my inhaler.


I wish all those years ago when things were easier and less stressful, that I had enjoyed them more and really realised how lucky I was.

Due to my dry sense of humour on this one, I thought the title was very appropriate for the subject matter.  Blog title comes from this song:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7duPNQCp-w4

"and the whole world has become...electronic"

When did we all become so reliant on electronic gadgets?  Every time I put my phone down, in the back of my head I am thinking "What if someones trying to contact me about work and I've not answered".  It's sad but true.


I didn't get my first phone til I was 16 (when I was off to college and at Stage School and my parents wanted to know where I was, lol) and it was a Philips U Phone (a bit like the link, but Black and with a fingerprint mark with a U on it).  It did what I needed for that time period, which was making calls and texting people (I had a great social life then, lol).  We didn't get our first computer much before that and that had a black screen with green typing and was for word processing (I'm old).  Yes and I had a typewriter but I liked it and still miss it now - sniff sniff.


Now, there is so many more gadgets and I've started succumbing to them.


So the mobile phone has become the all in one gadget (does everything but because of this, not all features are brilliant).  I have a smart phone and it has helped my lifestyle with organising but I also feel it has taken over my life - feel lost without it.


I now have my first ever tablet, due to the fact that my phone is too small and not powerful enough to do work applications and need something for when I'm on the go.  I only got it test, but so far, I am impressed (and that takes a lot for me)


Asides from that, the laptop is still going strong, with new laptops coming out that are small like the net book but a lot more powerful.


What else is on it's way? : s


I don't hate technology, I just miss my life before it.  Calm and tranquil with the odd look at my phone a few times a day.  Now I'm checking one of my gadgets at least once an hour through habit : s


It has made me more organised, but I feel like I spend my time now organising stuff rather than doing, which is just not fun!


It's funny, I was going to write this post days ago and then saw a similar post from another blogger I saw online.  He calls it the ping and I would definitely suggest you check it out - it's SO true:


http://cheerfulegg.com/2012/06/06/revenge-of-the-ping/ 


Post title comes from this hilariously bad music video : p : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWOzUzJd6wM

This post is for my pal Shez, who not only loves hilarious music videos like me but was the one who showed me this wonderful footage : )