My vision for the Eurovision...

It's an exciting time in England at the moment; the Queen's Jubilee, the impending Olympics AND... we didn't come last in Eurovision. That's right folks. We were NOT left with 'nil points'. Mr Humperdink deserves an almighty round of applause.

Or does he?

With some of the world's greatest music acts shouldn't England perform slightly better in what is meant to be a music competition? Shouldn't we put our impressive up-and-coming young talent on the world stage, without the attempts at humour and without the stench of fame's has-beens? Shouldn't we bring the serious chance back to the game?

Sitting listening to my friend detailing to me the highlights of this year's show, I let my mind wander and came up with an ingenious idea (even if I do say so myself!) I suggest a brand new approach to the selection of our Eurovision representatives. Who actually decides who represents us anyway?!

What if the public had more of a say...
What if there was a pre-Eurovision talent competition...

Yes, I know, our TV's are inundated with reality shows; The X Factor, The Voice, Britain's Got Talent...It gets a bit tedious. But this, (like Britain's Got Talent) offers contestants the chance to represent their nation. Who knows what gem we might stumble across...to think we could have had someone like Olly Murs represent us...After all, Ireland had Jedward... (You can't help but feel a slight twang of pity really...)

Or, why not rummage through the talent on offer at our Brit school? If we raised the profile of Eurovision and actually made it something to be proud of, or to even care about, getting the English nation involved in picking an act then who knows...we could actually look at our singer in Eurovision without a sense of embarrassment...one day we might actually stand a chance of winning!

Until then, I suppose we can stretch out the pride we felt in Buck's Fizz for a few years longer...

Carpe Diem...

I’m so EXCITED!

I feel like filling this page with lots of nonsensical words that will amuse and annoy people, frustrating anyone trying to pronounce them and possibly giving others who have never read this before the image of myself as a complete and utter idiot. Instead, I’m going to fill a line like this:

Auhgpuawnhwvuyhguidmvhtrgpv urehtvhweikjvgt egruivfjh4uteos;idlkjhrgiwo 4wyurpughifujk !!!

Yes I realise they’re technically not words as I accidentally pressed some number and punctuation keys but it conveyed my excitement well did it not?!

I’ll explain why I’m so (for want of a better word) ‘buzzy’…

As you may have noticed, or guessed, my last blog was written in a slightly lower mood…maybe a new label needs to be invented like ‘pre-term blues’ or something…

But nonetheless, today everything seemed to brighten! The writing workshop I so briefly mentioned before emailed me: I have a confirmed place and the first workshop is next week! It’s titled ‘Writing Reviews for Publication’ and runs for 5 weeks at a professional studio in the city.
A studio, may I add, that is extremely difficult for two exploring students to find in the pouring rain…perhaps made harder because they overlooked the building name and focused instead on the number. Maybe I won’t be doing that again – I think my shoes are still drying out…

Anyway, this lovely-jubbly workshop will focus on theatre, book, film and product reviews with tips on approaching publishers and become a professional (!). Hopefully I’ll gain some useful skills, maybe possibly some contacts whilst giving me some good old fashioned writing experience.

Why reviews I hear you ask? Well, with the help of some lovely friends of mine, I’ve noticed that newspaper journalism, which I’ve been focusing on so strongly, doesn’t allow for much creative expression nor for an individual writing style to develop, both of which I enjoy experimenting with in my blogs… so perhaps the newspaper format isn’t quite for me. I also sometimes can be quite sporadic with my ‘news-curiosity’…some days I know EVERY headline, some days I don’t have the foggiest clue about who’s at war with whom…

Which led me to consider magazine journalism and, after various suggestions from friends and parents, I’m considering swaying towards those culture magazines that you sometimes get in the Sunday papers. (As a starting point) I’ve done reviews in the past for Impact at my university so why not start there? (Before slowly but surely progressing to a columnist position... *wishes*)  I’m aiming to review some plays over summer and try to get them printed by a local paper or something…

So, there you go – that’s the first exciting thing! Now for the next, which I am STILL beaming about! J

I, on a spare of the moment thing, applied for the (paid) job of campus tour video presenter for the University of Nottingham. This basically means presenting a video for prospective students highlighting our campus and why Uni. is JUST SO GOOD! To be perfectly honest, I thought nothing would come of it and actually forgot about it, until the email came through yesterday. I seriously thought about bailing. And then I had a rethink.

Today I had the actual casting session!! Yes yes, ‘casting’…

*pause for effect*

 I had to learn a short script and present it in front of a camera and three other official people – members of the project and marketing team I think. (In the excitement I think I’ve forgotten their names…) Anyway, after that I had to walk slowly across the room whilst being filmed explaining, off the top of my head and totally unprepared, why I’d recommend my university and explain a bit about my experience.

Well, I started with the English committee and being part of the netball team before I had a little brainwave. I mentioned writing reviews for Impact magazine, creating my own blog and managing to write for The Huffington Post. I finished in style with a cliché about University allowing you to chase your dreams and do what you’ve always wanted to do.

They seemed to like this. Mr Camera-guy smiled at me and said, and I quote, ‘That was brilliant’, whilst the boss of the ‘film-crew’ and part of the marketing team smiled and nodded to the lady sat next to him. Mr boss-man then questioned me a little about my blogs, especially Huffington Post and before I knew it he asked; "So, are you looking for writing opportunities?"

A little stunned I nodded eagerly.

"Great. Expect a separate email from me soon then."

I’m sorry, what? Run that by me again, I thought. Was this a writing opportunity landing at my feet? Could it be….?!

I thanked them all for their time and left the room feeling the happiest I’ve felt for ages. I got escorted downstairs by the nice young man who initially escorted me upstairs, and he asked me how it went. I genuinely got good vibes, I told him. I also thought to myself, and am still thinking now, how impressed I am that I didn’t clam up in front of the camera – I managed to actually look straight at it - I didn’t feel my heart getting overworked and beating a million times a minute AND I didn’t feel my face burning up. All in all, I’d say that’s pretty good right?!

I then decided to tell him about the writing thing. He looked at me, and it was as if something seemed to dawn on him. "Of course!" he said. Turns out, the marketing department, for whom he and Mr boss-man work for, are looking for a writer (originally full time but they realised students hadn’t finished yet) to work for them. It’s a paid position. A PAID WRITING POSITION.

OK, so I’m not sure the finite details; I don’t know what I’d be writing and I could very well be forgotten about by Mr boss-man. *sob! L *

But I really really hope he doesn’t forget.

I left with a wave from the nice young man as he called, "who knows you might end up with a nice little writing number, that is, if you don’t get the presenting job and end up getting scouted from YouTube!"

AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Just IMAGINE!

So yes, my lovely readers. Not only could I gain a nice little writing job (pray for me that he emails), but I could be presenting a video for bright-eyed young potential Freshers. Maybe presenting is the way to go…

                                                                                ***

P.S – Did I also mention I got voted in on the Yoga Committee at University? I am now the new Communications officer and their website, email account, Twitter and Facebook account is MINE.

Oh, it’s been a good day…