UWE Time

Hihi, I have finally started lectures at the University of the West of England for an MA in Journalism! We've already got stuck in and I'm currently forgoing my weekend and catching up on some homework, having ill-advisedly spent my free weekdays not doing any work.

We started with an introductory lecture on Media Law and Ethics, followed by a seminar and then a three hour Journalism Writing workshop, where we discovered the joys of "dalek chairs" (which I've just found out is actually the Node by Steelcase). After whizzing around like small children for a bit, we were paired up and set the task of interviewing our partners. With no preparation. Just like that.

Yeah, it was kind of hard.

I'm now writing up the scribbled intro and notes, attempting to form a coherent article, yet realising I have a number of gaps that only further interviewing would be able to fill. Top it off with the fact my partner, Aaron, already known as Rowing Guy, has forbidden me from mentiong the r-word in my article.

As well as the packed day on Tuesday, we had a 9 - 4(ish) workshop yesterday on Multimedia Journalism. Again, thrown totally into the deep end by being instructed to pair up and get vox pops from people on campus about the recent controversy caused by Tesco and Asda releasing (and subsequently withdrawing) some poorly thought out Halloween costumes. We had a few minutes to prepare, but Nicole and I were pretty nervous and kept dithering near people, not knowing whether they'd react well to being approached. Listening back to all the vox pops everyone had recorded, we were told we'd clearly drawn the short straw with the rather...odd responses we received. It's ok, we'll get a further opportunity to practice on Monday, when Nicole and I are heading out to the streets of Bristol to start our homework of recording more vox pops and a short interview. Goodness knows what it's going to be on!

Right, probably time to get back to work, or else I'll be drowning in it come Tuesday.

Oh yes, on a side note, the buses in Bristol are awful. Get good, Wessex. Thanks.

Correct Country

Hi, Internet. I have been back in the correct country for a little while, having returned from Malaysia. I am excited to start my new course, MA Journalism, later this month, but until then I have very little to do so I've been trying to tackle my Steam backlog and get some reading done. Currently working my way through Deus Ex: Human Revolution, which is fairly enjoyable (save for the ludicrously difficult bosses). Made a trip to the library to help my younger sister find some books to read; we ended up with a large stack of books and she is getting through them far quicker than I am. Since I started university, I've not read as much as I used to and when I do read, I do so at a more leisurely pace.

I'm back in London for a few days as I went to see Franz Ferdinand play an album launch show, was good fun! It's pretty exciting to see someone live for the first time when you've listened to them for 10 years, plus their new album is rather good. I'm going to the BBC Proms tomorrow with my family and then it's back to Bristol for me, until the end of term, most likely.

Lastly, here is a drawing I did last week when my brain decided it needed a break from sneaking around corners sniping people in the head: