Cover Letter to Environmental Graffiti Ltd
Dear Sir/ Madam,
My name is Dan Yeo, I am twenty three years old with a joint honors degree in journalism and media studies.
I firstly want to highlight the fact that although I am lacking journalistic experience in the sense that I have spent very little time in the news room, I consider myself to be a capable journalist with my own personal style to writing.
I have this very day finished a one hundred day project that required me to experience one new thing each day for a hundred days and then report back about it on my blog site; in fact sending you this CV is my very last new experience!
I began the blog with a total lack of confidence in my capabilities as a writer, but have slowly come to realize that not only is it something I have come to enjoy more and more with each post but I seem to be improving.
My grammar may be a little off at times and some of the posts could have a bit more meat to them, however, I'm proud of everything I've written on it and for that reason would like to submit it to you as an example of my work in the hope that you may consider me for a position as a blogger on your website.
I have a massive place in my heart for environmental issues and have been involved with various NGO's that act against threats to the planet and it's animal inhabitants.
I have contacts with Greenpeace members on varying levels of authority as well as an upcoming research trip with the Atlantic Whale Foundation to collect data on humpback whales.
I am involved with local campaigns groups helping to work towards transforming our town in a transitional one and am also a member of a 'grow it yourself' communal allotment.
I have alot to talk about and a real enthusiasm to do so.
Thankyou for taking the time to read this, please find my CV right under this (what was meant to be short) cover letter.
Yours sincerely,
Dan Yeo
Thursday 13 May 2010
EXPERIENCE #99: CONSULTING THE I CHING BOOK OF CHANGES ON WHAT TO DO NEXT WITH MY WRITING
I first heard about I Ching interpretations when reading Rex Weyler's account on the coming together of Greenpeace.
They would use I Ching coins and hexagrams to consult an eastern oracle on troubling or confusing matters.
Each hexagram has a reading to go with it, so once a question is asked and the hexagrams have been selected, an answer will be acquired or get a shove in the right direction at least.
Although I'm neither terribly spiritual or religious, I do get a kick out of taking advice from something that seems rather high and mighty, you know, like the weekly Take a Break horoscopes, that sort of thing.
Whether I take it or not is a different matter but in my eyes if I Ching is good enough for the Greenpeace boys then it's good enough for little ol' me.
Ahem, problem is I don't actually own an I Ching kit (talk about falling at the first hurdle).
What I do have though is the Internet and also a well worn in Amazon account.
As you read this I have my very own I Ching set on its way to me, but whilst I'm waiting I decided to do an online reading to achieve some up to date, high speed clarity about one thing in particular.
I decided to ask the oracle 'what's next with my writing?'.
See my problem is that before I started this blog I totally lacked the confidence to show anyone anything I'd written (itsy bit of a problem when your trying to get work published to the masses).
The thing is, set aside the horrendous grammatical errors that are splayed over each post I make, I actually like showing my writing off now.
So problem solved right?
Wrong, the only other real issue I have is that the idea of writing for a local paper about cake stalls and gnome burglars (well, maybe not the gnome burglars that actually sounds rather riveting) makes me want to dry wretch and perhaps even bring up a little bile in my mouth.
I want to write about the things that I have a passion for, I don't want to have to start out by making cups of tea for jumped up journalistic big wigs and covering car boot sales and baby beauty competitions, it just seems like a big waste.
So, what the oracle have to tell me about the future, actually some really quite interesting things.
My first hexagram was 'Hexagram 2, Earth'
‘Earth.
From the source, creating success.
The constancy of a mare bears fruit.
A noble one has a direction to go.
At first, confusion. Later, gains a master.
Fruitful in the southwest, gaining partners.
In the northeast, losing partners.
Peaceful constancy brings good fortune.’
Right, so now I'm just going to take a whole heap of snippets from the reading and interpret them in my own way.
'Creation unfolds from the original vital energy, creating success with an ongoing exchange between spirit and daily work, flowing through to fruition'
'And so at first there is confusion: you set out like a pioneer, open to all the possibilities, and find them as many as scattered rice-grains.'
'You gain someone or something to be loyal to, where you can find fulfilment in service. Once you have this guiding principle (which may or may not be a person), you begin to follow signs as fluently as the mare.'
'There is a balance to be found between joining with like-minded people and following your own calling alone – but gaining allies comes first. Perhaps your individual sense of purpose emerges more strongly when you’ve learned to work responsively with others, like the mare running with the herd.'
The way I read this tells me that there are so many pies that I want to stick my fingers in that the real purpose with my writing is vague and confused, which I agree with.
I can also see the emphasis for a need for guidance in order to being achieve my goals. Perhaps by working with others I'll be able to then follow my own true passions in writing, as it say's though 'gaining allies comes first'.
I suppose that by even working with others that are alike to myself I'm going to be furthering my individual loves and passions....deep.
My second one was 'Hexagram 16, Enthusiasm'
‘Enthusiasm in the dark.
Results bring a change of heart,
No mistake.’
Again, here a some snippets I've nabbed from the reading.
'The energetic charge of enthusiasm can be used to set great things in motion. It is good to use it to expand and enrich your experience by extending your network of communication and support, marshalling your resources ready for future challenges. And it is also good to use such structures to channel the motive power of enthusiasm, and keep it from running amok. It's brightly coloured images can be woven securely into the larger patterns and meanings of life.'
I think this one nicely nestles in next to the first hexagram which sort of finds a balance my fears and what is reality.
I think what it's telling me is that on the one hand I need to mix with other journalists, get a job with a publication of some sort even if its not exactly what I have in mind for the larger picture but on t'other hand always remain focused and enthusiastic for what I personally like to garble on about.
A lot to ponder on here, now where's my pipe?
They would use I Ching coins and hexagrams to consult an eastern oracle on troubling or confusing matters.
Each hexagram has a reading to go with it, so once a question is asked and the hexagrams have been selected, an answer will be acquired or get a shove in the right direction at least.
Although I'm neither terribly spiritual or religious, I do get a kick out of taking advice from something that seems rather high and mighty, you know, like the weekly Take a Break horoscopes, that sort of thing.
Whether I take it or not is a different matter but in my eyes if I Ching is good enough for the Greenpeace boys then it's good enough for little ol' me.
Ahem, problem is I don't actually own an I Ching kit (talk about falling at the first hurdle).
What I do have though is the Internet and also a well worn in Amazon account.
As you read this I have my very own I Ching set on its way to me, but whilst I'm waiting I decided to do an online reading to achieve some up to date, high speed clarity about one thing in particular.
I decided to ask the oracle 'what's next with my writing?'.
See my problem is that before I started this blog I totally lacked the confidence to show anyone anything I'd written (itsy bit of a problem when your trying to get work published to the masses).
The thing is, set aside the horrendous grammatical errors that are splayed over each post I make, I actually like showing my writing off now.
So problem solved right?
Wrong, the only other real issue I have is that the idea of writing for a local paper about cake stalls and gnome burglars (well, maybe not the gnome burglars that actually sounds rather riveting) makes me want to dry wretch and perhaps even bring up a little bile in my mouth.
I want to write about the things that I have a passion for, I don't want to have to start out by making cups of tea for jumped up journalistic big wigs and covering car boot sales and baby beauty competitions, it just seems like a big waste.
So, what the oracle have to tell me about the future, actually some really quite interesting things.
My first hexagram was 'Hexagram 2, Earth'
‘Earth.
From the source, creating success.
The constancy of a mare bears fruit.
A noble one has a direction to go.
At first, confusion. Later, gains a master.
Fruitful in the southwest, gaining partners.
In the northeast, losing partners.
Peaceful constancy brings good fortune.’
Right, so now I'm just going to take a whole heap of snippets from the reading and interpret them in my own way.
'Creation unfolds from the original vital energy, creating success with an ongoing exchange between spirit and daily work, flowing through to fruition'
'And so at first there is confusion: you set out like a pioneer, open to all the possibilities, and find them as many as scattered rice-grains.'
'You gain someone or something to be loyal to, where you can find fulfilment in service. Once you have this guiding principle (which may or may not be a person), you begin to follow signs as fluently as the mare.'
'There is a balance to be found between joining with like-minded people and following your own calling alone – but gaining allies comes first. Perhaps your individual sense of purpose emerges more strongly when you’ve learned to work responsively with others, like the mare running with the herd.'
The way I read this tells me that there are so many pies that I want to stick my fingers in that the real purpose with my writing is vague and confused, which I agree with.
I can also see the emphasis for a need for guidance in order to being achieve my goals. Perhaps by working with others I'll be able to then follow my own true passions in writing, as it say's though 'gaining allies comes first'.
I suppose that by even working with others that are alike to myself I'm going to be furthering my individual loves and passions....deep.
My second one was 'Hexagram 16, Enthusiasm'
‘Enthusiasm in the dark.
Results bring a change of heart,
No mistake.’
Again, here a some snippets I've nabbed from the reading.
'The energetic charge of enthusiasm can be used to set great things in motion. It is good to use it to expand and enrich your experience by extending your network of communication and support, marshalling your resources ready for future challenges. And it is also good to use such structures to channel the motive power of enthusiasm, and keep it from running amok. It's brightly coloured images can be woven securely into the larger patterns and meanings of life.'
I think this one nicely nestles in next to the first hexagram which sort of finds a balance my fears and what is reality.
I think what it's telling me is that on the one hand I need to mix with other journalists, get a job with a publication of some sort even if its not exactly what I have in mind for the larger picture but on t'other hand always remain focused and enthusiastic for what I personally like to garble on about.
A lot to ponder on here, now where's my pipe?
Wednesday 12 May 2010
EXPERIENCE #98: VISITING MY GRANDFATHERS GRAVE
Gosh, I really do need to start visiting places that don't involve the deceased en masse.
Um, my pappy died when I was two. This wasn't really enough time to really get to seal a real bond with the ol' guy and so it's one of those passing's that hasn't really had a huge place in my life.
What I do know is that he was a journalist so I suppose we have that in common, and also my mam seemed to like him which is saying a lot considering minus my brother and I, the Yeo clan aren't at the top of her special people pile (he's my dads dad you see).
Regardless of all this I considered it pretty poor that I'd never even visited his grave before or for that matter even been aware of where he was buried.
So I headed up to the graveyard I knew he was buried in and went from stone to stone looking for the name William Yeo.
At one point I found a Wilfred Yeo and thought I'd struck gold, however the death date didn't add up to what I'd been told and so I carried on skulking around the tombstones in search of my real granddad.
Pretty much the last bloody stone I looked at was his, so freaking typical of the Yeo's, good work team, not.
A little flustered I sat right next to his grave and just read my book and smoked my pipe (it was a definite pensive moment right then, sorry mum).
A little chunk of me felt like one of those runaway adopted kids who after some mild hysteria and weeping are always found by their new mummy and daddy asleep on the grave of their recently deceased nearest and dearest.
Another little chunk of me elsewhere did feel something special for being there though. My granddad was supposedly a good human being and so it would have been nice to have been properly introduced.
Although it's perhaps a little too late to do that, the letters on his plaque definitely need touching up (Jay can you help me with that?) and he's in real need of some sort of flower arrangement to spruce up the plot so at least I can do this eh?
Dedicated to a man I wish I'd met x
p.s Totally checked for orbs around his tomb!
Um, my pappy died when I was two. This wasn't really enough time to really get to seal a real bond with the ol' guy and so it's one of those passing's that hasn't really had a huge place in my life.
What I do know is that he was a journalist so I suppose we have that in common, and also my mam seemed to like him which is saying a lot considering minus my brother and I, the Yeo clan aren't at the top of her special people pile (he's my dads dad you see).
Regardless of all this I considered it pretty poor that I'd never even visited his grave before or for that matter even been aware of where he was buried.
So I headed up to the graveyard I knew he was buried in and went from stone to stone looking for the name William Yeo.
At one point I found a Wilfred Yeo and thought I'd struck gold, however the death date didn't add up to what I'd been told and so I carried on skulking around the tombstones in search of my real granddad.
Pretty much the last bloody stone I looked at was his, so freaking typical of the Yeo's, good work team, not.
A little flustered I sat right next to his grave and just read my book and smoked my pipe (it was a definite pensive moment right then, sorry mum).
A little chunk of me felt like one of those runaway adopted kids who after some mild hysteria and weeping are always found by their new mummy and daddy asleep on the grave of their recently deceased nearest and dearest.
Another little chunk of me elsewhere did feel something special for being there though. My granddad was supposedly a good human being and so it would have been nice to have been properly introduced.
Although it's perhaps a little too late to do that, the letters on his plaque definitely need touching up (Jay can you help me with that?) and he's in real need of some sort of flower arrangement to spruce up the plot so at least I can do this eh?
Dedicated to a man I wish I'd met x
p.s Totally checked for orbs around his tomb!
Tuesday 11 May 2010
EXPERIENCE #97: GOING ORB HUNTING
For the past few days I have been overtly aware of an overwhelming increase in the levels of paranormal activity in my life.
It began late Saturday night when Jack and I decided to take a midnight walk down to the graveyard. It was all blustery and billowy out and walking down the country lanes played a little on the nerves.
So when Jack blurts out that he's just seen some sort of glowing orb springing from spot to spot in the sky we both freaked badly.
Skip forward a few hours to when we have returned from the scariest walk ever and we decide to investigate this phenomena further through the power of the world wide web.
So much orb related information!
Oh, sorry for those of you that have far better things to do in your spare time than read over conspiracy theories and pictures of ghosts and aliens, let me explain to you what an orb is.
From what I've read it's something to do with the faintest of visual energies given off by something spiritual. Let me show you...
...so like these, just minus the fox (isn't he just smashing by the way?!)
The circular little thingymabobbies you can see are orbs and there are tonnes of photo's out there with tonnes of them in.
So, whilst on this paranormal high of mine I decided this evening to stop by the graveyard on the way home from work and do a little orb hunting for myself.
Tottering around tombstones in the dark alone is perhaps the worst possible scenario for me ever and so I felt way, way, way outside my comfort zone. I clicked on some happy music on my mp3 and prayed to Allah that I wouldn't see any spirits lurching toward me between flashes from the camera.
Don't worry nothing bad happened but the whole thing did make my heart thud doubly hard. The photographs are still awaiting a detailed analysis from myself but at first glance I do believe I may have failed to bag even one.
For those that fancy partaking in their own orb related hunts I've added a nifty video to help you get started.
It began late Saturday night when Jack and I decided to take a midnight walk down to the graveyard. It was all blustery and billowy out and walking down the country lanes played a little on the nerves.
So when Jack blurts out that he's just seen some sort of glowing orb springing from spot to spot in the sky we both freaked badly.
Skip forward a few hours to when we have returned from the scariest walk ever and we decide to investigate this phenomena further through the power of the world wide web.
So much orb related information!
Oh, sorry for those of you that have far better things to do in your spare time than read over conspiracy theories and pictures of ghosts and aliens, let me explain to you what an orb is.
From what I've read it's something to do with the faintest of visual energies given off by something spiritual. Let me show you...
...so like these, just minus the fox (isn't he just smashing by the way?!)
The circular little thingymabobbies you can see are orbs and there are tonnes of photo's out there with tonnes of them in.
So, whilst on this paranormal high of mine I decided this evening to stop by the graveyard on the way home from work and do a little orb hunting for myself.
Tottering around tombstones in the dark alone is perhaps the worst possible scenario for me ever and so I felt way, way, way outside my comfort zone. I clicked on some happy music on my mp3 and prayed to Allah that I wouldn't see any spirits lurching toward me between flashes from the camera.
Don't worry nothing bad happened but the whole thing did make my heart thud doubly hard. The photographs are still awaiting a detailed analysis from myself but at first glance I do believe I may have failed to bag even one.
For those that fancy partaking in their own orb related hunts I've added a nifty video to help you get started.
Monday 10 May 2010
EXPERIENCE #96: COOKING UP SOME EGGS THAT DIDN'T COME OUT OF A CHICKEN
My preferred poultry type was actually a little quail or something else that lays little diddy eggs mainly because I love items that make me feel like a giant, its cool alright?!.
Today though opportunity struck again when I least was expecting it and I was offered access to a clutch of duck eggs.
I took advantage of the offer and chose to fry them.
The first observation I took note of was the largeness of the yolk which got my two thumbs right up, no surprise really considering how much I actually love runny yolk.
The second thing that I noticed was the richness in taste, this was apparently due to the fact that a happy duck laid the egg, this made me tilt my head and smile.
I'm actually quite sure that the richness had some sort of drug inducing effect on me as after eating the fried egg sandwich I got all galumpy and drowzy.
I want to thank the happy duck and its owner for providing me with such top quality eggs, ducks rule.
EXPERIENCE #95: HAVING A TASTE OF BLUE CHEESE ICE CREAM
Being a rather fancy establishment, the restaurant I work in is the sort that can get away with jumbling up sweets and savouries in such a delightfully delectable style that the yahs just lap it up, at five quid per chew in fact, silly sods.
Today though was different, blue cheese ice cream for whatever reason immediately made my brain holler "Yes". I suppose it's probably my complete and utter (or udder bahahaha, ahem) adoration for all things dairy based.
In fact merging two seperate dairy foods gets a doubly big tick for me so a big ol' spoonful of whiffy cheese ice cream is my perfect type of pudding.
It didn't disappoint either, it was creamy yet potent which is just how I like it. Who knew such a absurd mixture would go down so totally well?
Today though was different, blue cheese ice cream for whatever reason immediately made my brain holler "Yes". I suppose it's probably my complete and utter (or udder bahahaha, ahem) adoration for all things dairy based.
In fact merging two seperate dairy foods gets a doubly big tick for me so a big ol' spoonful of whiffy cheese ice cream is my perfect type of pudding.
It didn't disappoint either, it was creamy yet potent which is just how I like it. Who knew such a absurd mixture would go down so totally well?
EXPERIENCE #94: STARTING WORK ON "PROJECT PARCHED"
As you can see I'm six days away from finishing up and tidying away my one hundred days project.
Although this blog is strenuous to write on the best of days, I've enjoyed it immensely and going to miss writing all my guff and garbage on here everyday.
However the show must go on as everyone seems to keep saying so I've decided to make a start on preparations for my next blog which I've codenamed "Project Parched"(look at me codenaming things, aren't I cool!?!).
I won't bore you with the details of what the whole thing is about just yet but today I needed to find a rough guesstimate of how much water I use in a day.
This basically entailed me jotting down every flush, splash, sprinkle and plop that related back to my own personal needs and requirements.
The results were rather shocking actually.
Dan in a day = 114 litres
What a tremendous amount of H2O to go through don't you think?
Although it was a pain to write down every time I went for a piddle or had a cuppa tea I would really recommend that others do this too for just one day.
It sort of puts things in perspective when you consider that some folk get by each day on the same amount of water it takes to flush the loo just once... mad I know.
Although this blog is strenuous to write on the best of days, I've enjoyed it immensely and going to miss writing all my guff and garbage on here everyday.
However the show must go on as everyone seems to keep saying so I've decided to make a start on preparations for my next blog which I've codenamed "Project Parched"(look at me codenaming things, aren't I cool!?!).
I won't bore you with the details of what the whole thing is about just yet but today I needed to find a rough guesstimate of how much water I use in a day.
This basically entailed me jotting down every flush, splash, sprinkle and plop that related back to my own personal needs and requirements.
The results were rather shocking actually.
Dan in a day = 114 litres
What a tremendous amount of H2O to go through don't you think?
Although it was a pain to write down every time I went for a piddle or had a cuppa tea I would really recommend that others do this too for just one day.
It sort of puts things in perspective when you consider that some folk get by each day on the same amount of water it takes to flush the loo just once... mad I know.
Sunday 9 May 2010
EXPERIENCE #93: VERY NEARLY VOTING AT THE VOTING STATION
Well I might as well tell you now, I was going to vote for the Green Party today.
I cycled down to my voting station posed as my brother (my registration was rejected and so used my brothers vote instead) and joined the very orderly cue waiting to vote.
I was set on the Green Party vote, I'd practiced my ticks, I'd engaged in a few heated debates concerning my choice and I felt pumped and ready to make that commitment.
My turn comes round to hop in the little booth and so I enter, unfold my slip of choices and BAM, am confronted with the crushing realization that there's no green party option.
I was going to go and point it out the the people behind the desk but a few worries started to whur around my mind concerning the fact that perhaps they go by another name in these parts or maybe they've not got through for some reason.
Consequently I'm left to dawdle in the booth for a good five minutes whilst I milled over my options.
I figured I could vote for another party that I know very little about or I could as I see it make a true stand and place a vote for none of the candidates.
I went for the latter option, posted my blank slip and strode out of there feeling as if I had made a true statement.
Considering that wassock Cameron is probably going to be head honcho from now on I'm sort of thinking that perhaps I should have gone for option number one but right in the midst of it all I felt as if my decision had been the correct one.
Dedicated to Aron the biggest Tory dork out there. x
I cycled down to my voting station posed as my brother (my registration was rejected and so used my brothers vote instead) and joined the very orderly cue waiting to vote.
I was set on the Green Party vote, I'd practiced my ticks, I'd engaged in a few heated debates concerning my choice and I felt pumped and ready to make that commitment.
My turn comes round to hop in the little booth and so I enter, unfold my slip of choices and BAM, am confronted with the crushing realization that there's no green party option.
I was going to go and point it out the the people behind the desk but a few worries started to whur around my mind concerning the fact that perhaps they go by another name in these parts or maybe they've not got through for some reason.
Consequently I'm left to dawdle in the booth for a good five minutes whilst I milled over my options.
I figured I could vote for another party that I know very little about or I could as I see it make a true stand and place a vote for none of the candidates.
I went for the latter option, posted my blank slip and strode out of there feeling as if I had made a true statement.
Considering that wassock Cameron is probably going to be head honcho from now on I'm sort of thinking that perhaps I should have gone for option number one but right in the midst of it all I felt as if my decision had been the correct one.
Dedicated to Aron the biggest Tory dork out there. x
EXPERIENCE #92: BECOMING A REAL MAN WITH THE PURCHASE OF A GENTLEMANS TOBACCO PIPE
Yessiree, today I ticked off one of my longest lasting must do's, I went and got myself a pipe.
For the past two years running I have vowed on New Years Eve that my resolution is to take up smoking a pipe.
Lord knows why, perhaps it's to do with the whole bad boy image I am having to constantly uphold and improve upon or maybe it's because I'm half way through the Sherlock Holmes saga's and I think he's super cool / I'd do anything to replicate his entire being in any way, shape or form possible (and breathe Dan, goooood).
I have had my eye on one particular pipe in one particular shop for a few weeks now. Today I strolled right on up to the counter, rapped my knuckles on the glass top and asked the good sir behind it to fetch the one I'd been oggling at, post haste mind you.
So I proudly left the store pipe in hand and with my chin up I trundled on home.
I quite honestly feel like a child with a pornographic magazine or something, the pipe is something that I'm hiding from my mum and brag about to my mates.
Has it proven to be a good smoking utensil I hear you ask, well I haven't used it as of yet as I'm waiting the most perfect of opportunities to do so.
I have however decided that I suit the pensive pipe smoker type so will put it to use in times of deep concentration as well as debates and the births of each and every one of my children, quite.
Toodles for now x
For the past two years running I have vowed on New Years Eve that my resolution is to take up smoking a pipe.
Lord knows why, perhaps it's to do with the whole bad boy image I am having to constantly uphold and improve upon or maybe it's because I'm half way through the Sherlock Holmes saga's and I think he's super cool / I'd do anything to replicate his entire being in any way, shape or form possible (and breathe Dan, goooood).
I have had my eye on one particular pipe in one particular shop for a few weeks now. Today I strolled right on up to the counter, rapped my knuckles on the glass top and asked the good sir behind it to fetch the one I'd been oggling at, post haste mind you.
So I proudly left the store pipe in hand and with my chin up I trundled on home.
I quite honestly feel like a child with a pornographic magazine or something, the pipe is something that I'm hiding from my mum and brag about to my mates.
Has it proven to be a good smoking utensil I hear you ask, well I haven't used it as of yet as I'm waiting the most perfect of opportunities to do so.
I have however decided that I suit the pensive pipe smoker type so will put it to use in times of deep concentration as well as debates and the births of each and every one of my children, quite.
Toodles for now x
EXPERIENCE #91: PUTTING TOGETHER MY OWN PIN HOLE CAMERA
Consequently I have been left with a big pinhole shaped, er, hole in my heart ever since mainly because I greatly enjoy both cameras and making cheap bodge job replicas of things that I am simply too poor to buy.
So whilst having a little wonder around the internet I stumbled upon the creative going on's of a clever chap who goes by the name of Marc Rochkind. He made his own version of a pinhole camera that varied slightly from other models I had seen.
He had blacked out a simple cylindrical tube that had a diameter of roughly twenty centimeters, pierced the metal base to create the pinhole and then popped a piece of photographic paper (cut to a circular shape) in the lid end.
What he created was a magical little circular projection of his humble abode.
I'm not entirely sure how copywriting issues are dealt with within blogging circles but I'm simply putting the photo up here to show its greatness to all, I mean no harm brother ... p.s kudos to infinite for this little gem, I mean it.
I've added lighting bolt speed stripes either side to give it the aerodynamic quality that I strive for in all my DIY projects, I hope you don't mind Rochkind (can I call you by your surname? Sweet).
One of my contacts is hooking me up with a few sheets of photographic paper and soon enough I should have my own little circular keepsake of joy, huzzah!
Wednesday 5 May 2010
EXPERIENCE #90: PLANTING MY OWN BED OF CANIVOUROUS PLANTS
Yes, in a mere eight weeks time I should the first signs of my own little version of the shop of horrors, brilliant.
Me and my little brother Isaac created swamp like conditions with peat, water and 'swamp rocks' and then simply scattered the seeds all over the top.
Next thing we had to do was put it in the fridge where it has to stay for eight weeks now to go through a process called stratification, STRAT - IF - FA - CAY - SHOON yes.
The problem is that because of the tub it's in and the color and texture of the peat soil mixture it highly resembles one of those Sarah Lee chocolate gateaus, you know, the ones that poor people and pregnant women always eat?
I'm not pregnant but I am a little bit poor so whenever I open the fridge I get real excited to see it in there only to then realize that it's actually just mud in a tub.
Anyway back to the experience, we went for the three classic meat eating plants: the Venus Fly Trap, the Cape Sundew Trap and another one I forget the name of.
It was gardening with a twist (I'd like to use the term extreme gardening here) and I hope they come out of stratification ready to eat some things and keep me entertained for endless hours.
Me and my little brother Isaac created swamp like conditions with peat, water and 'swamp rocks' and then simply scattered the seeds all over the top.
Next thing we had to do was put it in the fridge where it has to stay for eight weeks now to go through a process called stratification, STRAT - IF - FA - CAY - SHOON yes.
The problem is that because of the tub it's in and the color and texture of the peat soil mixture it highly resembles one of those Sarah Lee chocolate gateaus, you know, the ones that poor people and pregnant women always eat?
I'm not pregnant but I am a little bit poor so whenever I open the fridge I get real excited to see it in there only to then realize that it's actually just mud in a tub.
Anyway back to the experience, we went for the three classic meat eating plants: the Venus Fly Trap, the Cape Sundew Trap and another one I forget the name of.
It was gardening with a twist (I'd like to use the term extreme gardening here) and I hope they come out of stratification ready to eat some things and keep me entertained for endless hours.
EXPERIENCE #89: BECOMING THE SOLE PROPRIETOR OF A NUGGET OF HARDENED VOLCANO MAGMA
I'm always keen to take hold of new, shiny and rare objects just like some sort of human-like magpie creature thing.
I already own a chunk of land on the moon and now I can quite proudly say I posses a little bit of dried up volcano lava.
This mainly gets a mention due to the circumstances in which I received this little trinket of joyousness.
Mother et al flew away to New Zealand which is where they extracted the lava for me (gosh that makes it sound as if I'm some sort of Professor Xavier character who's gone and sent his comrades off to retract an ancient relic of some sort....I didn't but let's just pretend I did).
However another volcano back up our way prevented all planes from flying to and from the UK which in many way I found highly amusing.
I found it even more amusing when my poor mum literally fell through our front door two weeks later than her schedule had permitted only to unfurl her clasped clammy little paw and present this gift to me. The irony tickled me pink it did.
It's something that I don't think many can claim to possess (apart from you Jay, you have one too) and so in that way it counts as a new experience.
I already own a chunk of land on the moon and now I can quite proudly say I posses a little bit of dried up volcano lava.
This mainly gets a mention due to the circumstances in which I received this little trinket of joyousness.
Mother et al flew away to New Zealand which is where they extracted the lava for me (gosh that makes it sound as if I'm some sort of Professor Xavier character who's gone and sent his comrades off to retract an ancient relic of some sort....I didn't but let's just pretend I did).
However another volcano back up our way prevented all planes from flying to and from the UK which in many way I found highly amusing.
I found it even more amusing when my poor mum literally fell through our front door two weeks later than her schedule had permitted only to unfurl her clasped clammy little paw and present this gift to me. The irony tickled me pink it did.
It's something that I don't think many can claim to possess (apart from you Jay, you have one too) and so in that way it counts as a new experience.
Monday 3 May 2010
EXPERIENCE #88: GOING TO A SATURDAY NIGHT DRIVE IN MOVIE
I don't actually know one person out there that doesn't think that this would be a super cool experience to have.
My local town for whatever reason decided to pull their socks up and give the people what they actually wanted for a change and announced a weekend of drive in movies that everyone could attend.
Me and the gang changed into our denim and tees and drove the car down to watch the Saturday evening showing of Grease, classic!
As the sun went down the movie came on and the crowd absobloodylovedit!
Everyone was singing and honking along to the songs and other rather promiscuous lines from the film; gosh some people even just kept their hazard lights on for the length the film just show their enthrallment in the whole event.
Perhaps the only downside was that because it was so busy we were quite a distance from the screen which gave many of us eye ache, tut.
Anyhoo it was such a cool evening and I truly hope that they keep this going through the summer.
My local town for whatever reason decided to pull their socks up and give the people what they actually wanted for a change and announced a weekend of drive in movies that everyone could attend.
Me and the gang changed into our denim and tees and drove the car down to watch the Saturday evening showing of Grease, classic!
As the sun went down the movie came on and the crowd absobloodylovedit!
Everyone was singing and honking along to the songs and other rather promiscuous lines from the film; gosh some people even just kept their hazard lights on for the length the film just show their enthrallment in the whole event.
Perhaps the only downside was that because it was so busy we were quite a distance from the screen which gave many of us eye ache, tut.
Anyhoo it was such a cool evening and I truly hope that they keep this going through the summer.
EXPERIENCE #87: PAYING OFF MY CREDIT CARD AFTER FIVE WHOLE YEARS
Way back in my first year of uni, my brother and I spent the entire wad of mullah our dear ol' mum had given us to live off of during his stay on rounds of Lazer Quest down at the arcade.
Consequently we were poor and hungry and so I slunk down to the bank and picked up my very own credit card; that day we ate like gods.
In the years to come it saved me from various other slightly awful situations that I found myself in, for example the need for bail money to get me out of Thai prison and also preventing a few cold nights sleeping on the streets of Paris.
Needless to say for the most part its been pretty much maxed out and I've only really ever paid off the monthly interest.
Today though after a few months of toiling labor I achieved the unachievable and paid that bad boy off in full, good eh?
It is a very empowering feeling to get that burly bit of debt off my back and out of my brain, I think my bank must be a little relieved also.
I want to thank my credit card though for being with me through the toughest of times. Although I had no choice but to chop you up little man this dedication still goes out to you.
May your pieces rest in, um, peace(s)?
Consequently we were poor and hungry and so I slunk down to the bank and picked up my very own credit card; that day we ate like gods.
In the years to come it saved me from various other slightly awful situations that I found myself in, for example the need for bail money to get me out of Thai prison and also preventing a few cold nights sleeping on the streets of Paris.
Needless to say for the most part its been pretty much maxed out and I've only really ever paid off the monthly interest.
Today though after a few months of toiling labor I achieved the unachievable and paid that bad boy off in full, good eh?
It is a very empowering feeling to get that burly bit of debt off my back and out of my brain, I think my bank must be a little relieved also.
I want to thank my credit card though for being with me through the toughest of times. Although I had no choice but to chop you up little man this dedication still goes out to you.
May your pieces rest in, um, peace(s)?
EXPERIENCE #86: BUYING A £1,000 PLANE TICKET OUTTA HERE
I'd like to think that I am the sort of guy that likes to give new things a try (well duh).
When I'm stuck in one situation for a prolonged period (giggle) I get all tetchy and aggravated.
My solution for this is to turn off all brain transceivers that control my common sense receptors. I hand in my notice, book a plane ticket and commit to a brand spanking new experience before sensibleness comes back into play.
Basically its a quick fix for when I'm in one of my quarter life crisis moods.
The problem is that if I linger for too long the doubt begins to kick in as to whether it really is such a good idea, whether I can afford it and if I'm actually going to benefit from it in the slightest.
This had sort of happened whilst planning my latest escapade to the far off lands of Sierra Leone. I am obviously more than eager to go off and play with humpback whales for a month, it's just a plane ticket there costs a grand.
I've never paid one thousand buckaroos for anything in my entire life and to fork it over for my least popular form of transport ever made me feel quite nauseous.
The turning point though was after a drunken evening chatting to my brother Jack. I was rambling on about how if he really wanted to join a local archaeology society then he should bloody well do it (if there is one...hmm appears that there is).
To be honest I'm not sure if we were even talking about him joining such a society but regardless I interpreted his mumbled response as one of unsureness, lacking in confidence and doubt. That's why I kept on pushing because he was thinking too much about it all and this is when it dawned on me that what I was lecturing him about I really needed to apply to my own situation.
So bam, I got paid today and bought the ticket, done and the receptors haven't even kicked back in yet so it's all feeling rather lovely still.
And as for you Jack consider this dedication and link http://www.cornisharchaeology.org.uk/ free admission to a life of blissfulness and exciting ancient relics (plus dino bones).
Love you brother x
When I'm stuck in one situation for a prolonged period (giggle) I get all tetchy and aggravated.
My solution for this is to turn off all brain transceivers that control my common sense receptors. I hand in my notice, book a plane ticket and commit to a brand spanking new experience before sensibleness comes back into play.
Basically its a quick fix for when I'm in one of my quarter life crisis moods.
The problem is that if I linger for too long the doubt begins to kick in as to whether it really is such a good idea, whether I can afford it and if I'm actually going to benefit from it in the slightest.
This had sort of happened whilst planning my latest escapade to the far off lands of Sierra Leone. I am obviously more than eager to go off and play with humpback whales for a month, it's just a plane ticket there costs a grand.
I've never paid one thousand buckaroos for anything in my entire life and to fork it over for my least popular form of transport ever made me feel quite nauseous.
The turning point though was after a drunken evening chatting to my brother Jack. I was rambling on about how if he really wanted to join a local archaeology society then he should bloody well do it (if there is one...hmm appears that there is).
To be honest I'm not sure if we were even talking about him joining such a society but regardless I interpreted his mumbled response as one of unsureness, lacking in confidence and doubt. That's why I kept on pushing because he was thinking too much about it all and this is when it dawned on me that what I was lecturing him about I really needed to apply to my own situation.
So bam, I got paid today and bought the ticket, done and the receptors haven't even kicked back in yet so it's all feeling rather lovely still.
And as for you Jack consider this dedication and link http://www.cornisharchaeology.org.uk/ free admission to a life of blissfulness and exciting ancient relics (plus dino bones).
Love you brother x
EXPERIENCE #85: BEING DOUBLE BLUFFED TO WITHIN AN INCH OF MY LIFE
Being the king of jesting my friends are more than familiar with my tricksie ways.
So when I left a message on my pal Teri's voice mail service just letting her know that I was in North Hartfordshire Police Station and that I wouldn't be contactable for a few days I kind of figured that she's get that I was joking.
Nope, the sucker totally fell for it even though it was a total retake of a time in college when we convinced our mate Kes that we had been kidnapped, genius.
Two days later I call her up to let her know that the shit has hit the fan, that I have just left prison hospital after getting stitches up my arm and I'm on my way to a press conference and she is still believing it.
Erm I think it was at this point that I started feeling super bad and decided to end this whole charade.
Yeh, the bitch totally double bluffed me and began tugging at all sort of strings around the heart area. She piled on the guilt with family tragedies, uni complications and a total lackluster to be friends with me anymore.
At the same time my other friend Melissa is shitting on me just as badly with jibes of disappointment as well as convincing me that the head operations for the ethical cosmetic company she works for are going to support me through the trial.
To top it off I have the brother texting me to just let me know that Teri is in tears.
This is a new experience solely for the fact that I have never ever felt so very heartbroken in my entire life, I quite literally felt as if someone had scrunched my existence up and tossed it away.
The idea of losing such lovely friends made me want to wretch.
Luckily those tosspots were just bluffing but they definitely put me in my place.
You all get one dedication each for being the worst best friends a chap could ever ask for. x
So when I left a message on my pal Teri's voice mail service just letting her know that I was in North Hartfordshire Police Station and that I wouldn't be contactable for a few days I kind of figured that she's get that I was joking.
Nope, the sucker totally fell for it even though it was a total retake of a time in college when we convinced our mate Kes that we had been kidnapped, genius.
Two days later I call her up to let her know that the shit has hit the fan, that I have just left prison hospital after getting stitches up my arm and I'm on my way to a press conference and she is still believing it.
Erm I think it was at this point that I started feeling super bad and decided to end this whole charade.
Yeh, the bitch totally double bluffed me and began tugging at all sort of strings around the heart area. She piled on the guilt with family tragedies, uni complications and a total lackluster to be friends with me anymore.
At the same time my other friend Melissa is shitting on me just as badly with jibes of disappointment as well as convincing me that the head operations for the ethical cosmetic company she works for are going to support me through the trial.
To top it off I have the brother texting me to just let me know that Teri is in tears.
This is a new experience solely for the fact that I have never ever felt so very heartbroken in my entire life, I quite literally felt as if someone had scrunched my existence up and tossed it away.
The idea of losing such lovely friends made me want to wretch.
Luckily those tosspots were just bluffing but they definitely put me in my place.
You all get one dedication each for being the worst best friends a chap could ever ask for. x
Sunday 2 May 2010
EXPERIENCE #84: BELIEVING FOR JUST ONE SECOND THAT I HAD SOMEHOW BEEN PORTALLED TO NORWAY AND ALL MY DREAMS HAD COME TRUE
Since when the heck did Nordic bakeries branch out to over here in the UK?!
Don't get me wrong I'm in no way complaining whatsoever if anything I feel that we could do with more Nordic businesses in these parts.
Ahem, anyway back to the story of my new experience, I was just pottering around London this morning waiting for my train home when I came across a Nordic bakery.
In many ways it lacked any distinguishing Nordic traits which is perhaps why I mistook it at first for another bog standard bakery. Firstly there was a distinct lack of pine furnishings and secondly I am quite sure the till lady was of Latino origin.
I wasn't there to judge though and so I browsed through the Nordic treats that they had on offer.
Turns out that the Norway lot are only really famous for two pastry based things, rye bread and cinnamon buns neither of which I had ever tried before.
I picked up a loaf for my ol' mum and a little cinnamon bun for myself.
I approached the counter cautiously still questionable of the authenticity of the cashier ethnicity, I'm pretty sure she called me hombre under her breath which spoiled the whole experience for me rather a lot, who you try to fool anyway you damn Latino!?
Nonetheless it's pretty much the closest I have been to anything remotely Norweigan like and thats good enough for me.
Don't get me wrong I'm in no way complaining whatsoever if anything I feel that we could do with more Nordic businesses in these parts.
Ahem, anyway back to the story of my new experience, I was just pottering around London this morning waiting for my train home when I came across a Nordic bakery.
In many ways it lacked any distinguishing Nordic traits which is perhaps why I mistook it at first for another bog standard bakery. Firstly there was a distinct lack of pine furnishings and secondly I am quite sure the till lady was of Latino origin.
I wasn't there to judge though and so I browsed through the Nordic treats that they had on offer.
Turns out that the Norway lot are only really famous for two pastry based things, rye bread and cinnamon buns neither of which I had ever tried before.
I picked up a loaf for my ol' mum and a little cinnamon bun for myself.
I approached the counter cautiously still questionable of the authenticity of the cashier ethnicity, I'm pretty sure she called me hombre under her breath which spoiled the whole experience for me rather a lot, who you try to fool anyway you damn Latino!?
Nonetheless it's pretty much the closest I have been to anything remotely Norweigan like and thats good enough for me.
EXPERIENCE #83: VISITING AN ALGERIAN COFFEE STORE DOWN SOHO WAY
Thinking about it now I've quite probably past this particular store one million and one times and it was only really the large sacks of coffee beans being hefted into the shop that drew me in.
You see the brother an I are strongly pondering thoughts concerning setting up our own little coffee stop and so any inspiration right now is very much sought after.
The Algerian Coffee Store provided just that! The walls were chockablock with the most exotic of beans and tea leaves, they went all the way up to the ceiling!
There were free recipe suggestions on how to make the perfect Algerian coffee brews were also a lovely touch not to mention the modestly priced drinks which were far more focussed on the enjoyment factor rather than profit levels and annual sales.
Jay I do believe you and I need to take a trip to London town so you can see this for yourself.
This dedication is for you brother and also for you Algerians, Al salaam a'alaykum. x
Saturday 1 May 2010
EXPERIENCE #82: TAKING A SOAK IN A BIG OL' FREE STANDING TUB
Just so happens these two young Londoners/house market connoisseurs have only gone and got themselves a lovely new flat down Oval way.
Anyway the flat was really great blahdeeblah but the best part without one iota of doubt is the bathroom which features a free standing bath tub!
It's set against a beautiful red brick wall and the whole affair is complemented with one of those walk in showers everyone's raving about.
I have always, always wanted to have a long, bubbly soak in one of those bath tubs and today I was given the chance to do so.
It made me feel so terribly upmarket, very Sex and the Cityesque if I may say so.
Usually when I plonk myself down in the bath I wash my bits and get bored and pruney which is never any fun.
This time though I took in the whole bath time experience and bloody loved it.
If it weren't for the comotosed state I was in following the tipple or two of wine I'd at tea time and big day out in London town I would have stayed in for hours, however falling asleep in the bath is not big and definitely not clever and so sadly this experience was brief but beautiful.
Dedications go out to you both for allowing my the pleasure of using your tub. x
EXPERIENCE #81: UNDERGOING A SECRET MISSION...SORT OF
This whole thing is still rather classified so please excuse my vagueness, anyone could be reading this after all.
What I am going to do is outline in an almost militant stylized time line so you can see how damn amazing this whole escapade was.
05:47 - After receiving orders to be at SECRET LOCATION A between set designated times I set off for the specified destination.
11:54 - Arrive an hour late, and am told to wait for an unmarked van to pick me up and drive to me to SECRET LOCATION B
12:35 - Am picked up and driven to SECRET LOCATION B.
13:00 - Briefed and begin training for perhaps the most brilliantly hatched plan ever.
17:15 - New information received, mission ditched.
I know it's vague but I really can't go into much more detail.
You need to be aware of how bloody exciting this whole event was (I actually felt like a spy on about seven and a half separate occasions).
I met some of my biggest heroes ever (like quite literally ever) and was so tightly involved in things I never dreamed I could be, it is still rather unthinkable for my brain.
For this reason I hold it close to my bosom as being perhaps one of the greatest of all my new experiences and I'm sorry I can't really share more than that with you.
What I am going to do is outline in an almost militant stylized time line so you can see how damn amazing this whole escapade was.
05:47 - After receiving orders to be at SECRET LOCATION A between set designated times I set off for the specified destination.
11:54 - Arrive an hour late, and am told to wait for an unmarked van to pick me up and drive to me to SECRET LOCATION B
12:35 - Am picked up and driven to SECRET LOCATION B.
13:00 - Briefed and begin training for perhaps the most brilliantly hatched plan ever.
17:15 - New information received, mission ditched.
I know it's vague but I really can't go into much more detail.
You need to be aware of how bloody exciting this whole event was (I actually felt like a spy on about seven and a half separate occasions).
I met some of my biggest heroes ever (like quite literally ever) and was so tightly involved in things I never dreamed I could be, it is still rather unthinkable for my brain.
For this reason I hold it close to my bosom as being perhaps one of the greatest of all my new experiences and I'm sorry I can't really share more than that with you.
EXPERIENCE #80: HEARING THE DAWN CHORUS (TAKE TWO)
This time it really did work and the birds performed tremendously well.
It all happened whilst waiting for a train at the peak morning chorus time of 5:47 a.m (GMT).
I was perched on the station bench when it suddenly occurred to me what the commotion going about overhead actually was, birds singing.
It reminded me of someone holding down a key on an electrical Casio and the same droning high note going on and on and on, just this note was beautiful and the repetition of various bird songs was actually quite moving.
I was literally drowned in sound which at such an early time in the morn was a very odd thing to experience indeed.
Bodmin Parkway really is the doziest little train station ever and the surrounding trees quite literally swamp the two platforms, so in many ways due to the circumstances the morning chorus and a new experience found its own way to me so thanks birds, thirds.
It all happened whilst waiting for a train at the peak morning chorus time of 5:47 a.m (GMT).
I was perched on the station bench when it suddenly occurred to me what the commotion going about overhead actually was, birds singing.
It reminded me of someone holding down a key on an electrical Casio and the same droning high note going on and on and on, just this note was beautiful and the repetition of various bird songs was actually quite moving.
I was literally drowned in sound which at such an early time in the morn was a very odd thing to experience indeed.
Bodmin Parkway really is the doziest little train station ever and the surrounding trees quite literally swamp the two platforms, so in many ways due to the circumstances the morning chorus and a new experience found its own way to me so thanks birds, thirds.
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