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The Rantings of Escaped Experiment-626
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| | Subject: | Hello | | Time: | 08:55 pm |
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| Hello all.
I realise I have not really spoken to anyone properly since the trip to Sian's (two months ago??!!!) - and I feel bad for being quite so rude to you all.
However life the last couple of months has been utterly insane, work went into overdrive for the last two months of term (ended up pulling SERIOUS unpaid overtime - kids went mad, lots of after school actvities to run, not to mention working a 22 hour day to take a group of year 7's to France!!!). Plus add on top of that organising a move out of Cheltenham and back to Ledbury (which is imminent) before moving on to Southampton - AND organising all the paperwork for So'ton (which is vast) and completing my first few assignments (YES that's right, I have assignments - plural - and this is two months before I even start).
However, I do now have a very lengthy holiday ('though I'm looking for work over it) - during which I intend to get back in touch with you all!
Hope everyone is well!
I look forward to hearing your news.
Oli | comments: Stake Here!   |
| Short sharp and snappy update - As of September I now have the option of being a Southampton Uni student on the PGCE course! Went for the inteview yesterday, found out today! This is why I've been so quiet over the last few weeks. Didn't want to jinx anything!
x | | comments: 1 Grr Arg or Stake Here! |
| So; My LJ attendenced (like Alex's) seems to be sporadic, I'm on here for ages posting away, then I go for weeks without visiting (same with Facebook at the moment).
So, stuff is mostly going great, I'm sorted (I hope) life-direction-wise, I'm much more confident in myself and generally a happier person.
Yet the last two weeks seem to have derailed me slightly; crappy week at work, some shitty stuff with certain people letting me down and some other rubbish have left me feeling a bit crap and not really very talkative.
So I'm sorry if I've not been in contact, normal service will hopefully be resumed later this week, love to you all.
Me!
x | | comments: 1 Grr Arg or Stake Here! |
| Hello all!
I was going to post about how life is going at the moment (really well as it happens) and update on news ETC. But have just had the never-ending day of horror at work (in dire need of getting out of here!) and post would be horribly depressing and not at all a true reflection of what's actually going on. So, watch this space! I intend to get in touch with you all at some point over the next couple of weeks (my phone minutes come through tomorrow - WOO!).
Blog Coming Soon! | | comments: Stake Here! |
| | Hello LJ, I am alive...honest. Post coming soon... | | comments: Stake Here! |
| ...And in other news; yesterday was the first day of my new (proper) job at Cleeve School; why yes, it does feel like frickin' months since I got offered the job. Probably because it IS, but actually I'm very glad to have started. So far no kids as we've had an inset day so far. But they return today, so, er...gulp.
I've been given year 7 - basically the hardest and easiest year rolled into one. So today could be quite 'interesting'.
Anyway, longer post coming later.
Love to you all.
Gotta run...
(PS all this is being written on my new free laptop from work).
Apologies for random album quote in title... | | comments: Stake Here! |
| Ok, so as most of you know; a significant amount of Gloucestershire is underwater at the moment. It's really weird to see the places I grew up and the town I'm currently living in being described as crisis centres, highly surreal.
Thankfully both my Cheltenham house and my home in Ledbury have survived the flooding; however, I'm completely without water (as are the whole of Gloucestershire) for up to two weeks - this means no shower, no washing machine, no flushing toilet.
- Showering consists of strip-washing or using baby-wipes.
- To flush a toilet you have to pour a ridiculous amount of water into the toilet bowl.
- We're having to be really careful about washing up and remembering which container of water (every possible vessel in our kitchen is filled with water) is which.
I don't know whether I'm going to be able to get to my destination this weekend as no-one seems sure whether Cheltenham railway station is still underwater or not.
My work, unlike most other businesses in Glos., refuse to close instead they have implemented a 'flood toilet policy' for their staff; basically this consists of all 30 odd staff members using one toilet, and notifying the 'designated toilet staff' once you have done so so that they can empty it out or flush it...this is so far from ideal; I'm sure health and safety would have a field day.
The most frustrating thing is that, despite the number of broadcasts about the flooding, ironically there seems to be very little news; none of us are being told how long we'll be without water or power, whether we can get out of the county or not; and those news reports we are being given all seem to contradict each other, with half saying we'll be without water for two weeks, while half say it'll be a matter of days.
I suppose we'll just have to see whether the water level in the severn goes down.
On the plus side, Transformers was awesome, I'm not a big fan of brainless action movies, but this was really good, very epic and quite funny in places.
I also finished Harry Potter on Sunday afternoon, which was remarkably slow for me as I finished the previous one in about a day.
Anyway, I'm off to try and get some more information from work, so I'll update again when I know more. | | comments: Stake Here! |
| Post coming soon I promise; it's not here so far for the following reasons:
1) Most of Cheltenham is underwater and Ledbury is currently an Island - this means that the central telewest server for the street has drowned (I'm internetting in the Library at the moment), it means my plans to go to Winchester this weekend have had to be postponed - as currently there are between 500-1000 people stuck at Gloucester station From Yesterday, to top it all off I can't go home (family home anyway) as thee's no access to Ledbury from anywhere.
Found out last night that my friends had to close the restaurant of their hotel to act as a rescue shelter giving out blankets ETC. The properties we manage at my work that had been flooded four weeks ago had finally dried out...they're now re-flooded.
So things are a bit manic here.
2) I've had no free time in the last two weeks; with the exception of a bit of time last Monday and Tuesday evening (about 2 hrs for each), I've had no chance to sit down, collect my thoughts, browse on the internet or do anything relaxing. So it makes for a werid change of pace to have a weekend where I now CAN'T do anything.
3) Been meeting the 'new' family members - finally got to meet my cousins last week when we went to see my Auntie, which was quite cool. Steve, the one that's my age, works for ITV and has offered to try to get me some work experience and hopefully a runners job (woo!). It was really nice to meet them and feels like we've known them for a lot longer than a month...weird.
4) Transformers and Harry Potter 7 (the book) are out today. As soon as I finish this post, I'm going to be unavailable for the next few hours in a massive geek fest.
5) The Torchwood car has gone; ok, so this one isn't affecting my posting ability, but I noticed it on Thursday during my walk and reminded me just how geeky these people are. He he he.
ANYWAY: Meet up planning will resume when they've drained Ledbury and allowed it to rejoin the rest of England (rather than the independent Island it's become).
Also:
Plans to see Laura in Bristol, Alex and co. In Exeter, Sian in Brum and Jon - if Wooton isn't underwater, all happening very soon.
Right post done, love to you all! | | comments: Stake Here! |
| | Tags: | phew | | Current Music: | Kate Nash - Dickhead (Why you bein' such a?) | | Current Location: | 'Nam | | Subject: | LONG POST AHOY! | | Time: | 10:00 pm | | Current Mood: | ![[mood icon]](http://photobucket.com/albums/e34/Angry_monkeys/Starbuck/thankful.jpg) thankful |
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| Right, post as promised:
I’ve been immensely crap at posting recently (I know, I’m a bad person) – primarily this is because I have been honestly very busy – both with work and socially. ( text ) | | comments: Stake Here! |
| Not much to report - had a really busy weekend and it all temporarily went a bit Hollyoaks (for everyone around me, thankfully not for myself for once) - but everything seems to have worked itself out; and, for once, everyone around me seems to be happy, we all seem to have worked ourselves out of that post-Uni rut which we all seemed to have falled into during the last couple of months - This makes me happy.
Did anyone watch Dr. Who this weekend? I actually think it's one of my favourite episodes so far - ok, yes, so there were plot elements shamefully ripped off from both Sunshine and 24, which seems to have made a lot of people unhappy ('though surely as this was filmed way back when at the beginning of the year, this would've been before Sunshine was released ('though I suppose it's still possible to have been inspired by the plot)), but I actually didn't care. I thought it was a really strong episode - I've always said that the new series seems to work best when it focuses on the characters, rather than going for the 'monster of the week'/'man in rubber suit' approach.
I just loved it, and it made it much more interesting having the 24 style real-time element to it - other things I loved; the developing storyline between Martha's mum and Mr. Saxon vs. The Doctor, makes a nice counter point to Jackie in the last series who took her time to accept the Doctor, but never really did anything to stop Rose/him. The fact that Martha had to save the Doctor was interesting also, it's nice to be reminded that the Doctor is occasionally vulnerable and not just some kind of super-human being who can beat everything easily.
Also, it's nice to see a couple of you (James and Laura) succumb to the dark side and join Facebook - the army is growing. Mwahahahahaha!... | | comments: Stake Here! |
| Ok, important stuff first - then my usual incessant ramblings below:
Firstly - In honour of the fact that we're all now in gainful employment, and in honour of the fact that Katie is just about to finish exams and stuff at Uni; I thought it was about time for the next meet up (especially as the may BBQ idea didn't really get off the ground). So, with that in mind, could everyone please let me know which weekend's they're going to be free from over the next couple of months, and I'll start organising stuff!
Right, now all that's out of the way; normal service will resume below:
Life is good at the moment; I have a good degree, some fantastic friends and now have a good job - these words eerily echo what I was typing just a few months ago; and just like then I still feel like I'm in limbo - yes, my life now has direction and the super-massive-life-plan-type-thing is finally getting off the ground; so why do I still feel a little lost?!
Unfortunately I still don't know the answer to this; however, talking about this with my friend James, and we came up with a drunken analogy that students are like cakes/biscuits (bear with me); ( Crap Metaphor Ahead )
Ok, end of the crap metaphor (it really worked a lot better after drinking rum, honest!) - but put simply; when i went to Uni, I felt like it would provide all the answers, that I'd graduate and simply know who I was and what I wanted to do with my life - having graduated, I just don't feel like 3 years was enough - there's so much more I want to learn, and so much more to learn about myself and who I am, and I just don't feel I can do that in Cheltenham, it's just not my oven.
Anyway, in slightly less emo-sounding news; I've been voted one of the Office Angels of the year - basically I may stand to win a load of prizes and a trip to London to the finals ETC. Random, but quite cool! | | comments: 9 Grr Arg's or Stake Here! |
| | Tags: | life stuff | | Current Music: | Bone do Role - Melo Do Tobaco | | Current Location: | 'Nam | | Subject: | Alala | | Time: | 10:00 pm | | Current Mood: | ![[mood icon]](http://photobucket.com/albums/e34/Angry_monkeys/Starbuck/bouncy.jpg) bouncy |
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| So today I had my screen-writing workshop; basically a half hour workshop run by a lady who used to produce (amongst other things) about how to write/pitch a 30 minute script and what you should be doing if you want to be a screenwriter professionally:
The workshop opened basically by saying that they weren't going to treat us as beginners, but as professional writers/people with a vested interest in the profession - as such we had to pitch them our idea for a 30 minutes film ; they'd then criticise our pitch and comment on our ideas...gulp!
Anyway, long story short; it went quite well, they were quite pleased with mine and gave me some useful pointers on where to proceed next, without too much criticism.
The workshop was actually incredibly useful and inspirational, whilst at the same time being utterly depressing - basically a lot of inspiration and hope was given out, then almost immediately dashed by pointing out just how hard it is to get into screen-writing professionally and just how much you have to be prepared to sacrifice/work to do so. That said, it's given me a lot of food for thought for the time being.
Anyway, hugely dull post, but just thought I'd share.
In other news, James (my screen-writing partner who's based in Gloucester) and I are beginning to move onto the next phase of getting our short film produced - starting to arrange the final draft/casting/locations/funding ETC. it's all getting a bit real at the moment.
In other news, I seem to be getting really into what is possibly one of the more obscure musical genres I've encountered, Brazilian Punk Rock - first with the lovely CSS(Cansei de sei sexei - English translation 'tired of being sexy') and now with Bonde Do Role (English Translation - er...I don't know) - ok so technically it's South American Punk rock, but I just find it easier to say it's Brazilian. Anyway, I'm tired and now rambling so I shall leave you with one final thought...
Also, if I've been short with anyone over the last couple of days I apologise - my little problem kind of escalated and become part of a much larger one and I think I just needed to vent - anyway, hopefully it's now sorted, at least for the time being.
So apologies for Hulk-Oli, normal service will resume shortly!... | | comments: 4 Grr Arg's or Stake Here! |
| | Tags: | life stuff | | Current Music: | Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly! - I-Spy | | Current Location: | 'Nam | | Subject: | Go Team Oli! | | Time: | 09:25 am | | Current Mood: | ![[mood icon]](http://photobucket.com/albums/e34/Angry_monkeys/Starbuck/tired.jpg) tired |
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| Ok, so it's official - the Supermassive-Grand-Oli-Life-Plan© is back on track! Admittedly there's still a little engineering work on the lines, but they're just going to cause minor delays, rather than a full on derailment, as originally thought.
So anyway, just a quick update to say that life is good - I'm taking my CRB form and stuff up to the school tomorrow, so should find out about getting paid over summer holidays - and also whether what I think I've read is correct and that I get paid during my wait for my CRB certificate (Hello money for doing nothing!!!).
There are still a couple of things which are getting to me - the same things which were getting to me at Christmas, and they are going to need resolving soon before they get out of hand again - but for now pushing them to one side seems to be working well!
If anyone's not heard of them, or not heard any of their work; then you should check these guys (technically, this guy, but he does sort of have a band) out: Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly!
Also, guilty pleasure song at the moment is this: CSS - Alala
Hope everyone's ok - when is everyone next free, amd thinking of getting everyone down to Chelt as you've all been to Ledbury (except Rob and Katie) and it'd fun to introduce you to somewhere new - Nick suggested maybe having a Pirates 3 evening in a couple of weeks possibly - but I don't know how busy everyone is of a weekend/whether everyone can afford it (I know a couple of you have only just started your jobs and I'm about to finish mine/wait to start the new one).
[Edit] And in other news; I'm a horrible, horrible, bad person!... | | comments: 6 Grr Arg's or Stake Here! |
| And so, the weekend of Madness comes to an end!
As much as I love being busy, it's nice to occasionally have a second to just step back and take a breath!
So, Friday night began all the madness - Rushed straight back from work to get changed and get to the Cinema for <i>Spiderman 3</i>; this has been discussed to death on everyone elses LJ's so basically; good film, but too many plot-holes, not enough Venom (how can they take one of the most complex and layered bad-guys, and reduce him to a half hour black-and-white he's-just-bad-rather-than-misunderstood cameo?) and too much of the sandman; still I think Spiderman is probably still the strongest of all the Super-hero franchises on the market nowadays.
Anyway, rushed from the cinema straight to a gig up at the Park Campus SU bar - Gilles Peterson from Radio 1 doing a quick set of jazz/dance/hip-hop fusion records, followed by Ben Westbeech (one of the people signed to Gilles' record label) - who did a drum and bass/jazz/dance fusion set and was absolutely fantastic; got the entire bar up and dancing. Sadly the sound system at Park SU is a little bit shit so didn't have as much atmosphere as it should've done - still got everyone fired up enought that we went en masse into town afterwards for a nu-jazz/house evening at Subtone Bar. All in all, a fantastic evening was had by all; that is until the next morning - I've only ever had 3 hangovers in my life, but after Saturday, I never EVER want one again - Absinthe and Snakebite is most definitely not a good mix.
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Anyway; after Friday I spent the weekend with my cousins who'd come down for my little sister's confirmation - met my newest baby cousin who is awesome, and my other cousin Megan (the one with Downs) was attempting to teach me Maccaton (a type of sign language).
From there went to a Jazz workshop/masterclass back at the Jazz Festival - which was cool but a little bit too technical for my liking.
And rounded off the weekend by going to see <i>Bridge To Terabithia</i> last night - yes, it <i>IS</i> a kid's film, but it's actually a very cool movie - it's nice to see a film marketed towards children, which refuses to talk down to them or patronise them - despite all the CG/Imaginary world stuff, it's actually a very mature film, and deals with issues not normally addressed in this sort of film; the ending in particular; plus the actors in it are streaks ahead of the normal moppets that they place in these kind of films.
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Anyway, apologies for the lack of eloquence in my ramblings, but I'm incredibly tired and don't seem to be able to structure the sentences in the way I want to.
One last piece of exciting news though - Based on my synopsis for an idea for a short film; I've won a place on a sreenwriting workshop in association with the GMG and South-West screen; it's being led by a group of writers from the BBC and Channel 4 and teaches how to write a half hour film - once the scripts then get submitted I'm then in with a chance of winning a place at the Internation Screenwriters Festival - for their new talent day.
Also, the script I was writing with my friend James has been shortlisted for the BBC competition to win funding to have it made - only one more round to go! Woo.
Hope everyone's well.
Speak soon. | | comments: 1 Grr Arg or Stake Here! |
| ( Read more... )</marquee>
On Monday I went for the job of Pastoral Care Assistant (basically welfare officer) at a school/sixth form - Interviewed both by a panel of students and also the Head and Deputy head of the school.
Absolutely bricking it at the time.
But today I found out I have the position; and I cannot tell you just how relieved I am.
I'd write a more in depth post about this, but TBH, am so friggin' hyper write now it's taking real concentration for me just to write this short amount.
Sian - as requested, this is for you The Maccabees If you like what you see the gig is £8 and on in Wulfrun Hall in a couple of weeks. | | comments: 2 Grr Arg's or Stake Here! |
| Much stuff to report on, but am very, very sleepy, and also at work; so will be brief and expand on stuff a little bit later.
- Have just come back from a lovely weekend down South in Winchester (officially the worlds smallest, most middle-class city ever) - seeing one of my best friends; had an absolutely fantastic night, and realised quite how much I'd missed just being able to get drunk and chat with him about anything/everything. Plus it was nice to have a night out where one of the two of us didn't have something major and heavy pressing on our minds (as we had the last couple of time's that I'd been down). Even if it does mean I now only have £20 to last me until Friday (drunkenly taking your card out is never a good idea).
- Am starting to develop a pretty awesome social group in Chelt, which is nice; it's good to be able to text/facebook people again and be able to say 'fancy a pint'? without having to arrange it months in advance. Plus my script-writing partner and I may have won the opporunity to get funding for one of our scripts. Which is quite exciting.
- Have started writing again; just a few short stories, but am hoping to work on my next screenplay soon.
- May have some exciting news over the next couple of days, so watch this space (more on that soon).
- The Big meet-up is cancelled/post-poned; 12th May is a little bit awkward for everyone to make it down; however, I will still have the house free, so if anyone fancies a visit then let me know.
- Mini-music blog coming soon on Mark Ronson and Bloc Party.
Will write more soon, but for now am planning on collapsing in a heap at my desk...
Plus- FAO Katie; have officially seen the geekiest thing ever, you'll love it; am going to try and get photo's tonight so will post them up on here... | | comments: 5 Grr Arg's or Stake Here! |
| Well, spring/summer has definitely arrived - I can tell because, as is usual at this time of year, the fucking hayfever is making me feel like shit - in addition to the usual symptoms, it also manages for about 3-4 days every year when I first get it to make feel utterly sick and nauseous, so for the next 3 days I have the man-flu and am going to spend it feeling utterly sorry for myself - just a warning.
In other news, utterly loving the new series of Dr. Who - I never really liked Billy Piper to start with, however she grew on me and by the end of the second season I was quite sorry to see her go. That said I was quite dubious about Freema taking over from her (especially considering she was a bit shit in her role as her current character's 'cousin' at the end of the last series). But having seen the new series, I think she's a very strong character, she's funnier, smarter and just generally more like-able than Billy ever was in her early days. This series too, also seems quite strong, with the previous two series they always started quite weakly and got better, however this one has started fairly strongly and just appears to be getting better.
Anyway, geeky rant out of the way.
Ok, not all of you have gotten back to me about the meet-up, however, as I have the house pretty much to myself anyway that weekend, I've decided that I'm just going to go ahead and do something, if everyone can make it then great, if not then there'll be other meet ups.
Apparently the script I'm writing with a friend has gotten through to the first round of a competition based around it's synopsis, which is quite exciting news, however I think the competition only requires one of us to attend the prize so I think I'm going to let James go as it was his original idea - really we should have entered two.
I'm also starting to work on a script by myself; at the moment it's taking the form of a short four-part drama; more on that coming soon.
I'm gonna do a music and film post over the next couple of days; I'm halfway through constructing it at the moment and it'll be up here soon.
How's everyone else doing?
Missing you all. | | comments: 4 Grr Arg's or Stake Here! |
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The Rantings of Escaped Experiment-626
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