As much as I am considered part of the ‘technological generation’ I have started to find it very difficult to keep up with everything.
I wake up in the morning and connect to the internet; then the fun begins. First, I check my hotmail account, and then move on to the Yahoo! Account, the University webmail is next and finish nicely with a Facebook update. Now this is fifteen minutes of my morning that I will never get back, the problem is if I don’t check I may miss something in between all of the junk that actually happens to be important.
The idea of technology and a World Wide Web is to make our lives easier, but more often than not I find myself getting up early just so I can check all of these various mediums.
However, all deadlines have passed for a couple of weeks equalling a break from work, so in order to make the most of this time I will unplug the laptop, let the emails build up and set my MSN profile to ‘away’ and make the most of some time without the pressures of an easy life.
Thursday, 26 March 2009
Food for Thought
It is a sad day when the sight of a dented Morrison’s value can of beans is to be considered a highlight of the week, but sadly this is the world I am now a part of.
When we all left for University I’m sure my peers just as I did was mocked for embarking upon a journey of rice and fast food. But it couldn’t be further from the truth. Since I have been fending for myself and hunting my own boar it has been a very pleasant experience; creating a new meal every night, each night more frugal than the next, but still edible.
The idea of cooking doesn’t appeal to everyone I’m sure, but for me there is something very satisfying about coming back from a lecture or seminar and then spending the time preparing and cooking a meal just how I like it, it adds to the flavour and makes it just a little bit more satisfying.
Tonight for example; Spaghetti Bolognaise, a personal favourite that will see me maybe until the end of the week, forward planning at its best.
However, this will be the last of its kind as the end of the semester draws to a close, and the bank continues to inform me that I have just enough money buy a small carton of milk; I am forced to look at pasta and tomato sauce and forget the mince completely.
So next time I go shopping; a dented, out of date can could be the catch of the month.
When we all left for University I’m sure my peers just as I did was mocked for embarking upon a journey of rice and fast food. But it couldn’t be further from the truth. Since I have been fending for myself and hunting my own boar it has been a very pleasant experience; creating a new meal every night, each night more frugal than the next, but still edible.
The idea of cooking doesn’t appeal to everyone I’m sure, but for me there is something very satisfying about coming back from a lecture or seminar and then spending the time preparing and cooking a meal just how I like it, it adds to the flavour and makes it just a little bit more satisfying.
Tonight for example; Spaghetti Bolognaise, a personal favourite that will see me maybe until the end of the week, forward planning at its best.
However, this will be the last of its kind as the end of the semester draws to a close, and the bank continues to inform me that I have just enough money buy a small carton of milk; I am forced to look at pasta and tomato sauce and forget the mince completely.
So next time I go shopping; a dented, out of date can could be the catch of the month.
Tuesday, 24 March 2009
Summer
For many this is a favourite time of the year, and for me this is no exception. It always seems that the summer and the holiday that it brings are the main part of the year, and everything else is just leading up to it.
This year is no exception, as the sun gets stronger and the clothes get smaller, it is a sure sign that summer is starting even earlier this year. As such plans have been made for trips and holidays, although this summer will unfortunately be significantly different from the others.
Being at University means that I am financially unstable, meaning that the best 3 months of the year will be spent working so that I can support myself for a month or so when I get back. It is not all bad as it would fill the time that would be spent lying on the sofa; however, it also fills up my time that should be spent carrying out my summertime plans.
So, once again money is the factor that is dictating my life, and now it’s not the spending that has taken over, but making it is now the biggest problem. This ironic turn is yet another element that has thwarted my plans for a relaxing summer; in retaliation I think I’ll just stay in bed until 2 o’clock tomorrow, and the day after.
This year is no exception, as the sun gets stronger and the clothes get smaller, it is a sure sign that summer is starting even earlier this year. As such plans have been made for trips and holidays, although this summer will unfortunately be significantly different from the others.
Being at University means that I am financially unstable, meaning that the best 3 months of the year will be spent working so that I can support myself for a month or so when I get back. It is not all bad as it would fill the time that would be spent lying on the sofa; however, it also fills up my time that should be spent carrying out my summertime plans.
So, once again money is the factor that is dictating my life, and now it’s not the spending that has taken over, but making it is now the biggest problem. This ironic turn is yet another element that has thwarted my plans for a relaxing summer; in retaliation I think I’ll just stay in bed until 2 o’clock tomorrow, and the day after.
Tuesday, 17 March 2009
It's Music To My Ears
Whilst i'm sitting on the train, i'm listening to my Ipod, the same as many thousands of commuters and tourists will be on this sunny Monday morning.
But the interesting part is how only a very few will be listening to the same artist, or even the same genre, but no matter what it is it will all mean something to us. Whether its electro or rap we will listen to music that will put us in whatever mood we want to be in. That is the magic of music, it is emotive, it can cheer you up, make you sad or maybe even cause inspiration.
Me personally, I like playlists and have created one for nearly everything I do, I even have one for walking to the shop so that I'll walk a little faster. Right now I'm listening to my 'journey' playlist, full of upbeat songs that lasts for around 2hours, and I know that way I will happily drag my bags across the country and do it will a smile on my face.
However, apparently this is considered anti-social, but then again listening to screaming kids and equally screaming parents is not my idea of a good morning, and hardly a social event.
I dread to think what would happen if I ran out of battery half way through or forgot it altogether, its not worth thinking about. So when you get ready for your morning journey, whether its 2hours or 2minutes, make sure you put yourself in the right mood and lose yourself in another world, just before reality kicks back in.
But the interesting part is how only a very few will be listening to the same artist, or even the same genre, but no matter what it is it will all mean something to us. Whether its electro or rap we will listen to music that will put us in whatever mood we want to be in. That is the magic of music, it is emotive, it can cheer you up, make you sad or maybe even cause inspiration.
Me personally, I like playlists and have created one for nearly everything I do, I even have one for walking to the shop so that I'll walk a little faster. Right now I'm listening to my 'journey' playlist, full of upbeat songs that lasts for around 2hours, and I know that way I will happily drag my bags across the country and do it will a smile on my face.
However, apparently this is considered anti-social, but then again listening to screaming kids and equally screaming parents is not my idea of a good morning, and hardly a social event.
I dread to think what would happen if I ran out of battery half way through or forgot it altogether, its not worth thinking about. So when you get ready for your morning journey, whether its 2hours or 2minutes, make sure you put yourself in the right mood and lose yourself in another world, just before reality kicks back in.
Alcoholism? Not yet...I'm at Uni
The negative effects of alcohol are well know and well distributed, but for some crazy reason its positive effects are not explored in our society.
One of the best places to see where this happens of course is Universities across the country, as night after night gallons of intoxicating liquor will be poured down students necks as bank managers laugh as our funds are poured away.
Obviously this would seem like another negative in this case, but of course not, the confidence that comes from alcohol 'mis-' use is second to none, guaranteeing at least 5 new friends a night,as you discover that your practically related because you both eat food.
Another obvious benefit is the way that you will be up the next day, to stop yourself being ill in the morning as the room continues to violently spin, you have to go out for fresh air, which leaves nothing better to do than to actually go to lectures with your dark glasses and industrial pack of chewing gum.
Obviously I can't speak from experience, but it plain to see; drink up and wake up in the morning embarrassed of yourself, cause you'll soon miss it when its gone.
One of the best places to see where this happens of course is Universities across the country, as night after night gallons of intoxicating liquor will be poured down students necks as bank managers laugh as our funds are poured away.
Obviously this would seem like another negative in this case, but of course not, the confidence that comes from alcohol 'mis-' use is second to none, guaranteeing at least 5 new friends a night,as you discover that your practically related because you both eat food.
Another obvious benefit is the way that you will be up the next day, to stop yourself being ill in the morning as the room continues to violently spin, you have to go out for fresh air, which leaves nothing better to do than to actually go to lectures with your dark glasses and industrial pack of chewing gum.
Obviously I can't speak from experience, but it plain to see; drink up and wake up in the morning embarrassed of yourself, cause you'll soon miss it when its gone.
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