The R Word...

So tomorrow is my last day at work, the last ten months have flown by and I can't quite believe it will be my last day.


As you can probably gather from the title I was made redundant. It all started in August; I remember it like it was yesterday. Being told that my whole department was being off shored, in one word I was gutted, I felt as if my whole world had fallen apart around me. I loved my job, loved the people I worked with, the company and the place it was based, everything suited me perfectly, until they decided to off shore. It seems now that everyone knows someone who has been made redundant, a year or so ago my boyfriend was, you never really think it will happen to you, you think you are safe, however, that is not always the case.

Over the past ten months it has felt like an emotional rollercoaster; getting over the initial shock of the r-word, then getting back to normal. Then finding out when we were going, how much we were getting, then a sense of normality again with people leaving left, right and centre, then the whole handover process, then the end date. It all feels pretty surreal at the moment and I don't think it has quite sunk in that I am going yet; I am going to miss everyone loads; it’s going to be very strange. But I’m seeing it in the everything happens for a reason mantra, which I suppose is true as in October I am starting a journalism course, which means at the end I will be a qualified journalist. It's going to be tough but I cannot wait.

I suppose all that's left to say is: here's to the future! :)

The Clothes Show, Earls Court London, 27th June 2010

It was as if I had died and gone to fashion heaven. This was my first time at the Clothes Show and it was fantastic! When you enter a room and the first thing you see if a Paul's Boutique store you know you are in the right place.

We went straight to the fashion show. It was presented by Jeff Brazier and a guy named Melvyn, followed by a performance by a boy band named Wanted (ok, quite young), and then the show, which was a mix of dance performances and catwalk. This is the first show I have ever been to and I really hope it isn't the last, it was just amazing seeing the models strut their stuff in truly amazing clothes, there were so many items that I have on my lust list now.

Then the mix of goodie bags and shops. I picked up loads of cool goodie bags, mainly with magazines in and loads of freebies. The shops were great, they were the type of shops that you have probably seen in magazines and even visited the websites. I'm not sure if it was because it was the last day but everything was discounted! I picked up a gorgeous necklace and envelope with a swallow from 'And Mary' (http://www.andmary.com/), HALF PRICE!!

The atmosphere was amazing and everything about it was great, if you love fashion you will love it, and I will be going next year!

Stockholm Royal Wedding

This is not really an official 'me' post, but I love Stockholm and became slightly obsessed with the wedding of the Princess, so if anyone else if interested here are some links....
http://www.marieclaire.co.uk/lifestyle/lifestyle-galleries/28151/0/the_royal_wedding_of_crown_princess_victoria_of_sweden_and_daniel_westling_.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1287959/Swedens-fairytale-royal-wedding-Princess-Victoria-marries-Daniel-Westling.html

Holiday!

Everyone loves a holiday, luckily this year I am going away twice. A couple of weeks ago I went away with my boyfriend for a long weekend in Stockholm, one of the most beautiful cities I have ever visited.

My boyfriend and his friends had the bright idea of doing the marathon there... again! Something I have no desire to do, but they are amazing to watch. The crowd really get behind the runners and I can’t explain the feeling of pride and excitement when you see the people you know running past you or crossing the finish line.

I have been to Stockholm twice and it is just amazing, the architecture, the people and the Swedish meatballs with lingon berry sauce are enough to make me want to go there again, however, there is one drawback it is so expensive. I think I heard someone say the tax is quite high, which is one of the reasons why it is so clean but as a tourist you can’t believe how much stuff is over there, and alcohol has a very high tax.

I would recommend that everyone visit Stockholm at some point and make sure you do the following:

• Fly to Stockholm Arlanda airport it is 20-35 minutes from the city centre, whereas the other airport is a hour and a half coach trip (on a good day)

• If you are not a veggie try the meatballs, with mash and lingon berries it is delicious! So much so I am no desperate to get some lingon berry jam, apparently you can get it from Ikea

• Visit the old town, lovely restaurants and modestly priced

• For beer drinkers they don’t serve pints the most they serve is 44cl, and if you ask for a small beer be careful my boyfriend asked for one and it was tiny, less than half a pint

• In June take your sun cream as it gets hot!

• If you can afford it stay at the Story Hotel (www.storyhotels.com), a gorgeous boutique hotel with a shabby chic feel to it

• Get the tube, if you are under 20 than you get it cheaper.

Not a definitive travel guide but some things I have picked up on and if it helps one person than I’m happy.

My second holiday is to Menorca, and is at the beginning of July. I cannot wait; our hotel is on the beach and away from the touristy hustle and bustle, pure bliss!

Film Column

All good things must come to an end and I thought I would post on here that my last film column will be in the paper on the 2nd July. I enjoyed writing about films and will try and write reviews for films I have seen on here, just in case people start getting withdrawal symptoms! :)

I just don't know what to do with myself...

Why is it when you were younger everything seemed so simple. Decisions were either straight forward or taken out of your hands. The most challenging decisions you had to make were what to have for your lunch, who your best friend was or what GCSEs to take.

At the moment I find myself at a cross roads. Last August I, along with my whole department, was told that our jobs were being off-shored and we were being made redundant. Now ten months later and D-day approaches, I have to decide/ figure out what I’m going to do next.

Throughout my life I have always pretty much known what my next step was going to be. When I was 13 I decided I wanted to be a writer/ journalist, so what GCSEs, A-Levels and Degree I needed to do followed suit (Media and Film Studies). I didn’t leave my first part time job until I had a full time one ready to start, and when I went for an interview at my current employer I knew I was going to work for them, just something in me knew that this was the company I was going to work for.

Now I have no clue what my next step will be. Do I stay with my current company? Or try and get paid for my writing? Security or the unknown? Do I follow my head or my heart? That’s the dilemma! I would love to be a professional writer but I know it won’t be easy, but then I think if not now when? I don’t have any real financial ties – I don’t own a house or have a mortgage, I don’t have any kids or anything, so isn’t now the ideal time to throw caution into the wind and do what I want? Or does the green eyed beast (money) raise its head, making my stomach lurch at the thought of having no money, but then would it pay off in the long run if I can get my big break?!

It makes me feel very frustrated, I’m usually very decisive if I want something I do it, but now I’m torn! The only thing I do know for certain is that interesting times are ahead!

Published Work

The new Solent Life it out now....
http://www.solentlife.co.uk/

In the central edition there is a piece on weekend breaks to give you some ideas, and in the eastern edition is a piece on a walk you can down around Old Portsmouth. Perfect for these sunny weekends.

In The Guide 2 is my hot 10 flavoured beer piece, if you fancy something a bit different.
http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/Launch.aspx?referral=other&refresh=gG06T5j11kK8&PBID=898dcbba-75b6-419a-989f-aa69bed7582e&skip=

The column in the paper isn't by me this week, I was away in Stockholm and didn't have the chance to write it, but next week it will be business as usual. I'll try and get a post about Stockholm over the next couple of days so watch this space!!