I felt a sharp stabbing pain in my chest when I heard that Tiger Woods was taking an ‘indefinite break from professional golf’ last night.
Until then I had found the story compelling. The perfect role model and the world’s most dominant sportsman was uncovered as a womanising cheat chased out of his own home by his wife brandishing a golf club. The best fiction writers in the world couldn’t come up with stories that good.
But yesterday when I heard the news of his break, I felt like I had been part of a joke that had gone too far. The real victim (apart from his wife and children of course) is golf and all of the young people that play it.
Our relationship begins
From the age of 13 to 17 I played golf religiously. Over the summer holidays I would spend five days a week at the golf course and travel the country playing in tournaments. I started in 1997, the year Tiger won his first major by 10 shots, and for a while it was something I tried to keep under my hat.
Golf and the people who played it weren’t cool. Being a talented golfer gave me no street cred at school. It was all about etiquette, dress code and bank managers. But as I played more as a teenager, Tiger Woods won more as a professional and the whole feeling and image of the game went through a revolution.
Golf became raw, dynamic and exciting when Tiger played and everyone I played with wanted to be Tiger Woods, including myself. Golf would look extremely different now and be played at a lower standard if it wasn’t for the emergence of Tiger. Even his name was cool!
As soon as this commercial came out, people on golf courses all over the world practiced this as they waited on the tee.
The tide turns against Tiger
But people have become frustrated with Tiger in recent years, especially the media, for keeping himself so private and not using his platform to take a greater stance against issues like racial inequality. But for me, just by playing golf with so much flair, aggression and skill Tiger Woods was making the best contribution to the world he possibly could.
So the whole thing leaves me questioning, if there wasn’t such a media frenzy around him, would he have taken this decision? Now I feel he has been hounded into a corner by the showbiz press with extremely sad consequences.
My hope is that this is a public relations strategy that makes people like me feel sorry for him as opposed to disgusted at his behaviour and he will be back on the golf course within the next few months. If Tiger is away for any longer and doesn’t manage to recapture what has made him so unique for the last 12 years then golf will have lost its biggest asset.
Golf will have lost this:
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Friday, August 7, 2009
Nothing better to do...
Procrastination is a weird thing when you think it, which you tend to do when you procrastinate. I spend most of my life running around, taking on more than I can handle and generally fitting a lot in. In these times of busyness I continually try to find more to do and generally succeed.
But when a time comes where there isn’t much structured work to be done I fall into this endless spiral of doing absolutely nothing with my time. I know I have my dissertation to do, I know I have some freelance work to do, but nothing, I mean NOTHING will motivate me to get on with it. You can see how people get into that benefit claimant culture - I think I would be a sucker for that!
Logically this just doesn’t make sense. Why can’t I be disciplined and spread my work out evenly over the year? This isn't a rhetorical question, I actually want an answer.
It takes me back to the days of ‘study leave’ at school. Whose idea was that, because it wasn’t a good one? “I know how we will get them to work for their exams – we’ll send them home for a month.” That’s no way to get me working. That's the way to get me on the golf course, in the park or on the internet looking at things I definately shouldn't. If I was made to go into school every day in the lead up to my exams I’m sure I would have far more A’s next to my name as opposed to all of those ugly C’s.
Never has a truer word been said than: ‘Procrastination is like masturbation - it may feel good at first but ultimately you’re just screwing yourself.’
What a waste of time this was. What I need to do is stop screwing my self.
But when a time comes where there isn’t much structured work to be done I fall into this endless spiral of doing absolutely nothing with my time. I know I have my dissertation to do, I know I have some freelance work to do, but nothing, I mean NOTHING will motivate me to get on with it. You can see how people get into that benefit claimant culture - I think I would be a sucker for that!
Logically this just doesn’t make sense. Why can’t I be disciplined and spread my work out evenly over the year? This isn't a rhetorical question, I actually want an answer.
It takes me back to the days of ‘study leave’ at school. Whose idea was that, because it wasn’t a good one? “I know how we will get them to work for their exams – we’ll send them home for a month.” That’s no way to get me working. That's the way to get me on the golf course, in the park or on the internet looking at things I definately shouldn't. If I was made to go into school every day in the lead up to my exams I’m sure I would have far more A’s next to my name as opposed to all of those ugly C’s.
Never has a truer word been said than: ‘Procrastination is like masturbation - it may feel good at first but ultimately you’re just screwing yourself.’
What a waste of time this was. What I need to do is stop screwing my self.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Fruit and veg challenge - a change of strategy
So less than a week down and I have already failed once. It in fact took two days. You see what I have come to realise is that my strategy is all wrong. Because I don’t have breakfast I don’t get any fruit and veg into me early doors.
What this has led to is fruit binging late at night. Realising I need to get a couple more pieces down me before the day is out I load up on fruit after dinner.
Originally I thought this would be fine. But lying in bed at 1am the other day, my stomach started churning and making some very suspect noises and the consequences….well you can guess the consequences.
Anyway the point is this - I need a more balanced approach to my fruit and veg strategy and this evolves around having breakfast.
This means a complete change in my ethos is needed. I am a man who often wakes, thinks about having breakfast but then thinks better of it and presses snooze instead. This is not the way forward. For me to suceed I need to change this whole approach and get my arse out of bed. As I am soon coming to learn, breakfast is the most important meal of the day.
What this has led to is fruit binging late at night. Realising I need to get a couple more pieces down me before the day is out I load up on fruit after dinner.
Originally I thought this would be fine. But lying in bed at 1am the other day, my stomach started churning and making some very suspect noises and the consequences….well you can guess the consequences.
Anyway the point is this - I need a more balanced approach to my fruit and veg strategy and this evolves around having breakfast.
This means a complete change in my ethos is needed. I am a man who often wakes, thinks about having breakfast but then thinks better of it and presses snooze instead. This is not the way forward. For me to suceed I need to change this whole approach and get my arse out of bed. As I am soon coming to learn, breakfast is the most important meal of the day.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
July's challenge - getting healthy
The Brown Book is back and this is the challenge:
Everyday in the month of July I, Andrew Benjamin Webster, will eat five pieces of fruit and veg. This is a very scientific experiment.
If I succeed I expect to feel infinitely better by the end of the month and if I don’t the conclusion will be that vegetables are over-rated.
Now I have had discussions about this over the last few months and there is some debate as to what constitutes ‘one piece of fruit and veg’. To avoid controversy therefore I I feel it is best to set out a few rules.
1. Beans count
2. Tinned spaghetti doesn’t
3. Potatoes do not count
4. Contrary to what I have said in the past tomato soup does not count as four pieces of fruit and veg. But where it says on the soup tin that it counts as one, it will count.
5. Smoothies count as two as per the instructions on the back of innocent smoothies. But more than one smoothie a day is cheating.
6. Things where salad is just window dressing do not count. i.e. burgers and kebabs.
7. A glass of orange juice does count, but tropical doesn’t (What is that anyway?)
8. My decision as judge is final.
9. I am allowed to not reach five on four separate occasions and still pass.
These are the rules....let the games begin.
Everyday in the month of July I, Andrew Benjamin Webster, will eat five pieces of fruit and veg. This is a very scientific experiment.
If I succeed I expect to feel infinitely better by the end of the month and if I don’t the conclusion will be that vegetables are over-rated.
Now I have had discussions about this over the last few months and there is some debate as to what constitutes ‘one piece of fruit and veg’. To avoid controversy therefore I I feel it is best to set out a few rules.
1. Beans count
2. Tinned spaghetti doesn’t
3. Potatoes do not count
4. Contrary to what I have said in the past tomato soup does not count as four pieces of fruit and veg. But where it says on the soup tin that it counts as one, it will count.
5. Smoothies count as two as per the instructions on the back of innocent smoothies. But more than one smoothie a day is cheating.
6. Things where salad is just window dressing do not count. i.e. burgers and kebabs.
7. A glass of orange juice does count, but tropical doesn’t (What is that anyway?)
8. My decision as judge is final.
9. I am allowed to not reach five on four separate occasions and still pass.
These are the rules....let the games begin.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
One day...one day
I’m coming to the end of my days in Sheffield and after completely crippling myself financially my mind has turned to a time when I can sit down, look around and say: “Bloody hell Andrew, you have made it my son.”
And what will that fateful day look like? Well here is an indication...
1) I will have a white Mac book and I will regularly take it to a posh coffee shop, open it up and sit in front of it pretending I am doing something very important whilst drinking a latte.
2) I will stop having haircuts and instead have my hair styled.
3) I will have a gym membership. I will never use the gym, but I won’t bother cancelling the membership because at the end of the day what is £30 a month?
4) I will stop saying ‘a pint of your cheapest lager please barman’.
5) In the winter I will go skiing. I’m not talking about skiing in Bulgaria or on some cheap eastern European mountain. No I am going to a pretentious resort in France or Canada.
6) I will have a big plant, one that requires watering and adds ‘atmosphere’ and ‘vibe’ to my house. I might put it next to my rug (not wicker, as they bring back dark images).
7) I will have a digital radio. Did you know they have a little screen telling you what the song and artist is that is playing? Technology is amazing these days - that's much better than my manual thing with the tuning wheel that if you move quarter of a millimetre you get Grfrsakfdjgkjgldskgdlfksdljgdsslj.
8) I will download music LEGALLY.
9) I will have a subscription for the economist and buy a quality newspaper full price.
10) When I go shopping I will pick things off the shelf regardless of if they are on special offer. I
will also buy extravagances such as cherries and Ribena without a second thought.
11) I will take taxis back from a) the station and b) nightclubs and bars
12) I will own a framed vintage photograph or piece of art.
13) I will pay for the free bus.
14) I will be the person that suggests we split the bill equally between the table and eat and drink accordingly.
15) In my cutlery drawer I will have a peeler, a masher and an ice-cream scoop.
As you can see I am a man full of ambition.
Inspired by two friends who have made it - Aled Owens and Stevie Cameron, and one that never will – Harry Clapham.
And what will that fateful day look like? Well here is an indication...
1) I will have a white Mac book and I will regularly take it to a posh coffee shop, open it up and sit in front of it pretending I am doing something very important whilst drinking a latte.
2) I will stop having haircuts and instead have my hair styled.
3) I will have a gym membership. I will never use the gym, but I won’t bother cancelling the membership because at the end of the day what is £30 a month?
4) I will stop saying ‘a pint of your cheapest lager please barman’.
5) In the winter I will go skiing. I’m not talking about skiing in Bulgaria or on some cheap eastern European mountain. No I am going to a pretentious resort in France or Canada.
6) I will have a big plant, one that requires watering and adds ‘atmosphere’ and ‘vibe’ to my house. I might put it next to my rug (not wicker, as they bring back dark images).
7) I will have a digital radio. Did you know they have a little screen telling you what the song and artist is that is playing? Technology is amazing these days - that's much better than my manual thing with the tuning wheel that if you move quarter of a millimetre you get Grfrsakfdjgkjgldskgdlfksdljgdsslj.
8) I will download music LEGALLY.
9) I will have a subscription for the economist and buy a quality newspaper full price.
10) When I go shopping I will pick things off the shelf regardless of if they are on special offer. I
will also buy extravagances such as cherries and Ribena without a second thought.
11) I will take taxis back from a) the station and b) nightclubs and bars
12) I will own a framed vintage photograph or piece of art.
13) I will pay for the free bus.
14) I will be the person that suggests we split the bill equally between the table and eat and drink accordingly.
15) In my cutlery drawer I will have a peeler, a masher and an ice-cream scoop.
As you can see I am a man full of ambition.
Inspired by two friends who have made it - Aled Owens and Stevie Cameron, and one that never will – Harry Clapham.
Friday, May 15, 2009
I’m not as bad as them...am I?
My day got off to a fantastic start. I walked out of my front door and lying there on the floor in the pouring rain was a FIVER! Bonus.
But as I handed my sodden £5 note over to the bus driver for an extortionately priced single ticket, guilt started to enter my mind. I began to think of all of the politicians that have taken advantage of the parliamentary expense system. I mean, am I really as bad as them?
I obeyed the rules - that is clear. Universally speaking, the rules state: ‘finder’s keepers, loser’s weepers!’
But thinking about that proposition in more detail, do I really think it is morally right that the losers have to weep and lose the property they have accidently mislaid? I am famous for leaving bags and coats in the most stupid of places, and thankfully people haven’t implemented the rules as rigorously as I did when I picked up the soaking FIVER.
Or maybe the politicians (and myself), in obeying the rules, did nothing wrong and should have a clear conscience. Let me think this through;
But as I handed my sodden £5 note over to the bus driver for an extortionately priced single ticket, guilt started to enter my mind. I began to think of all of the politicians that have taken advantage of the parliamentary expense system. I mean, am I really as bad as them?
I obeyed the rules - that is clear. Universally speaking, the rules state: ‘finder’s keepers, loser’s weepers!’
But thinking about that proposition in more detail, do I really think it is morally right that the losers have to weep and lose the property they have accidently mislaid? I am famous for leaving bags and coats in the most stupid of places, and thankfully people haven’t implemented the rules as rigorously as I did when I picked up the soaking FIVER.
Or maybe the politicians (and myself), in obeying the rules, did nothing wrong and should have a clear conscience. Let me think this through;
1) The majority of MPs are in parliament for the right reasons – I strongly believe this but often feel naive for it, especially when people are peppering me with conspiracy theories.
I met Lemit Opik a few weeks ago. He stood in front of us with energy and dynamism and told us how he had got into politics to make a difference. It was mesmerising. I believed him and was with him all the way. I still am. Surely these people wouldn’t take advantage of the system or the public on purpose. There must be another explanation.
2) The rule book – Oh yes those dastardly rules. At first I thought this must be the reason. It’s easy to get into the habit of something that isn’t the best way forward.
Take smoking for instance. It’s clearly a bad idea. But once you get into the habit of it, the negative consequences of the action leave your mind.
Maybe recycling is a better example. We all know we need to save the world, but I would be lying if I said all of my paper found its way to the recycle bin.
Maybe expenses are similar? You get into the habit of claiming for all you can, and you don’t even think about the ethical principles that underpin an expenses system. In my short life I have come across many people who slightly fiddle their expenses. Is this really so bad?
3) The magnitude – Well to consider that question let’s look at some examples of slight fiddling in comparison to the official guidelines:
Three principles taken from the members of Parliament Code of Conduct are:
- Claims must only be made for expenditure that it was necessary for a Member to incur to ensure that he or she could properly perform his or her parliamentary duties.
- Members must ensure that claims do not give rise to, or give the appearance of giving rise to, an improper personal financial benefit to themselves or anyone else.
- The requirement of ensuring value for money is central in claiming for accommodation, goods or services – Members should avoid purchases which could be seen as extravagant or luxurious.
Claim examples: a trouser press, cat food, expenses for numerous houses, interior designers, hanging baskets, the cleaning of a moat, swimming pool maintenance, mortgages that don’t exist etc etc.
This is where the argument falls down, even for me – an establishment loving layman. The magnitude is catastrophic. This isn’t the odd claim. Every time one of the above went through it should have been screaming out to the MP “THIS IS A MISTAKE! THIS IS WRONG!”
Going back to the smoking analogy, it should have been like smoking a cigarette that puts you in so much pain it feels like it is killing you there and then!
I am disappointed in my ‘in it for the right reasons’ MPs. I still believe that they are in it for the right reasons, but this whole episode has been shameful and I am struggling to see the way back to a form of normalacy (slightly sceptical of people in power). I wonder how much money has been wasted on unjustified expenses over the past decades. It makes me feel a bit queezy.
Has anyone lost a fiver?
Thursday, April 23, 2009
The secret of a good journalist, by a taxi driver
At an apt moment today, the Deputy Editor of the newspaper I am working for passed on to me the three secrets of being a good journalist as shared with her by a London cabbie in the late 70's.
1) There is no excuse for not getting a story (because there is always someone to talk to).
2) There are two sides to every story.
3) Never discard a phone number.
She said this at the very moment I was starting a new note book, which I saw as a sign so wrote them down on the first page. Wisdom.
1) There is no excuse for not getting a story (because there is always someone to talk to).
2) There are two sides to every story.
3) Never discard a phone number.
She said this at the very moment I was starting a new note book, which I saw as a sign so wrote them down on the first page. Wisdom.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Five albums that changed my life
Blur: The Great Escape
The first album I ever got was ‘The Great Escape’ by Blur. It came in a Christmas stocking along with Actua Soccer and Formula One for the playstation. The year I imagine was 1995, and Euro 96 was the most important thing in my life.
Everyone remembers their first album with fondness, but the Great Escape was especially powerful for me because it started me off on the whole Brit Pop thing. Within two weeks I had bought Parklife and Morning Glory, and didn’t wait much longer before getting Definitely Maybe. I was hooked.
Some of my friends favoured Oasis over Blur, and seeking individuality I backed Blur in the epic war. But I couldn’t lie to myself forever and eventually switched sides. Blur are brilliant but Oasis are the band that define my music taste.
Favourite song: The Universal.
The Beatles: Abbey Road
I got the Beatles blue album first which I thought was good. But it took me a while to move past that.
That was until one day when I was looking aimlessly for a CD. I must have been 15. I saw Abbey Road and was attracted by the picture. It was one I had seen before.
I couldn’t believe how good it was. It sounded like an album that had just been made, only ten times better. Undoubtedly the medley of songs that dominates the second half of the album is what makes it stand out. People just don’t pull stuff like that off these days.
From there I got really into the Beatles, both music and history. It was just in time to feel genuine sadness when George Harrison died and to spend a few hours reflecting at the John Lennon peace gardens in Central Park. If you don’t have it already, then snap it up now before it’s made illegal!
Favourite song(s): The Medley.
Radiohead: The Bends
I initially ruled out Radiohead. I thought they were a bit weird without ever listening to them. But one sleepy afternoon watching MTV I saw the video for ‘High and Dry’ and my life has never been the same again. It is still my favourite song.
I borrowed the Bends from a friend. Within a day I returned it and bought it for myself. I wasn’t going to live for a day longer without that bad boy sitting on my shelf.
Such was my appreciation for Radiohead, I bought tickets for a gig in Newcastle in 2003 when every other venue was sold out. Distances were irrelevant. John Young (a man that features in many epic music moments) and myself travelled up there and stayed the night. It was worth every penny. Legendary.
Favourite song: High and Dry.
The Stone Roses: The Best of…
I downloaded ‘I am the resurrection’ during my Brit pop craze, but didn’t really take to it.
But whilst living in Canada my Yorkshire friend Todd Buchanan re-introduced me. I bought the ‘The Best of…’ from a Vancouver Virgin megastore and listened to it daily on my way to work in an ice cream parlour. I always got to ‘Fools Gold’ on my (not so) portable CD player. They were easily the best band I had ever heard.
Todd and I then started frequenting clubs in Vancouver that had ‘Best of British’ nights. As a 19-year-old new to boozing and new to the Stone Roses, the combination of them together didn’t always bring out the best in me. Images of ‘I wanna be adored’ followed by high fiving and dodgy dancing come to mind. But to me…at the time…it was the stuff dreams are made of.
Favourite song: Elephant Stone
Frank Turner: Love Ire and Song
I discovered Frank at Reading 2008 accidently and think I have listened to him at least once a week ever since.
The man is a poet. I imagine his songs describe the thoughts of millions of British people my age and younger. But when I listen to him, I feel like he is talking to me.
I saw him a few weeks ago at the last ever gig at the London Astoria. He covered ‘Dancing Queen’ and had the whole crowd singing along. You can’t argue with a man of that calibre.
Favourite song: Love Ire and song.
What are your five albums?
The first album I ever got was ‘The Great Escape’ by Blur. It came in a Christmas stocking along with Actua Soccer and Formula One for the playstation. The year I imagine was 1995, and Euro 96 was the most important thing in my life.
Everyone remembers their first album with fondness, but the Great Escape was especially powerful for me because it started me off on the whole Brit Pop thing. Within two weeks I had bought Parklife and Morning Glory, and didn’t wait much longer before getting Definitely Maybe. I was hooked.
Some of my friends favoured Oasis over Blur, and seeking individuality I backed Blur in the epic war. But I couldn’t lie to myself forever and eventually switched sides. Blur are brilliant but Oasis are the band that define my music taste.
Favourite song: The Universal.
The Beatles: Abbey Road
I got the Beatles blue album first which I thought was good. But it took me a while to move past that.
That was until one day when I was looking aimlessly for a CD. I must have been 15. I saw Abbey Road and was attracted by the picture. It was one I had seen before.
I couldn’t believe how good it was. It sounded like an album that had just been made, only ten times better. Undoubtedly the medley of songs that dominates the second half of the album is what makes it stand out. People just don’t pull stuff like that off these days.
From there I got really into the Beatles, both music and history. It was just in time to feel genuine sadness when George Harrison died and to spend a few hours reflecting at the John Lennon peace gardens in Central Park. If you don’t have it already, then snap it up now before it’s made illegal!
Favourite song(s): The Medley.
Radiohead: The Bends
I initially ruled out Radiohead. I thought they were a bit weird without ever listening to them. But one sleepy afternoon watching MTV I saw the video for ‘High and Dry’ and my life has never been the same again. It is still my favourite song.
I borrowed the Bends from a friend. Within a day I returned it and bought it for myself. I wasn’t going to live for a day longer without that bad boy sitting on my shelf.
Such was my appreciation for Radiohead, I bought tickets for a gig in Newcastle in 2003 when every other venue was sold out. Distances were irrelevant. John Young (a man that features in many epic music moments) and myself travelled up there and stayed the night. It was worth every penny. Legendary.
Favourite song: High and Dry.
The Stone Roses: The Best of…
I downloaded ‘I am the resurrection’ during my Brit pop craze, but didn’t really take to it.
But whilst living in Canada my Yorkshire friend Todd Buchanan re-introduced me. I bought the ‘The Best of…’ from a Vancouver Virgin megastore and listened to it daily on my way to work in an ice cream parlour. I always got to ‘Fools Gold’ on my (not so) portable CD player. They were easily the best band I had ever heard.
Todd and I then started frequenting clubs in Vancouver that had ‘Best of British’ nights. As a 19-year-old new to boozing and new to the Stone Roses, the combination of them together didn’t always bring out the best in me. Images of ‘I wanna be adored’ followed by high fiving and dodgy dancing come to mind. But to me…at the time…it was the stuff dreams are made of.
Favourite song: Elephant Stone
Frank Turner: Love Ire and Song
I discovered Frank at Reading 2008 accidently and think I have listened to him at least once a week ever since.
The man is a poet. I imagine his songs describe the thoughts of millions of British people my age and younger. But when I listen to him, I feel like he is talking to me.
I saw him a few weeks ago at the last ever gig at the London Astoria. He covered ‘Dancing Queen’ and had the whole crowd singing along. You can’t argue with a man of that calibre.
Favourite song: Love Ire and song.
What are your five albums?
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
It's not that bad!
I know there is a lot to grumble about in the world, especially in London. I mean unemployment is soaring, the banks are finished, we're in recession and the weather can only be described as 'changeable'.
But I saw a site in sunny London a couple of weeks ago that made me think, "Now that is bloody nice."
And as I share this image with you I want you to consider the finer things in life such as holidays, ice-cream, people giving up their seat on the bus, the crossword, taking your socks off after a long day, Only Fools and Horses, cider in a beer garden and a letter from a friend!
It's a picture from Convent Garden on a Sunday. People are being entertained by some performers mixing musical excellence with subtle banter. It's a lovely combination. I mean look how happy these people look...
Beautiful!
(If no one else can appreciate this, then Stevie Cameron will!)
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Experience Pakistan: London edition
When I was in Pakistan we made a load of videos that were meant to show people, 'look we're here and it's safe and we're happy so come join us.' It was called the Experience Pakistan campaign.
At the weekend I went down to London to meet up with my old Swiss roomie Pascal who came to visit us from Switzerland and Pakistan's trainee champion herself, Rabayl. Over breakfast we tried to re-create those unforgetable Experience Pakistan moments:As you can see we failed, but to anyone who was there during that fateful time it might bring back some nice memories!
FTS
Monday, March 23, 2009
Sheffield University Astonomer teams up with NASA
A Sheffield University astronomer has started work on a NASA mission expected to find new planets and stars similar to the sun and earth.
Professor Michael Thompson, Head of the School of Mathematics and Statistics, will lead a team looking at the interior of stars in the NASA Kepler mission which was launched on March 7th. It is expected to find about 50 earth-sized planets orbiting stars over the next three and a half years.
The Kepler Spacecraft will use its telescope to measure the variations in brightness of 170,000 stars simultaneously. If a star dims at regular intervals it indicates a potential planet crossing the path of the telescope and so orbiting the star.
Professor Thompson said: “Kepler takes things to a new dimension in terms of the number of stars we can see and information we can gather.”
The mission will also allow scientists to learn more about the stars themselves through using the asteroseismology technique – the sound of stars. Professor Thompson will play a central role in this part of the mission as he has 20 years experience studying the interior of the sun.
Sound waves travel through stars which make them oscillate or flicker. The Kepler spacecraft will record these light fluctuations over weeks, months and years to measure the exact size of the oscillations and the frequency they oscillate at.
According to Professor Thompson, a good analogy for the process is thinking of a Hi-fi speaker in a bell jar. Although you would not be able to hear the speaker, if you could see it vibrating, you would know it was making a sound. By measuring those vibrations you could work out the frequencies of the sound.
In the same way you can work out the sound of stars, despite them sitting in a vacuum.
This process will allow the team to determine the size of the stars, their chemical composition and their rotation rate.
Professor Thompson said that by characterising a star we can calculate how far away a planet can be to support the type of life forms we are familiar with.
During the first nine months in space Kepler will survey more than 5000 stars for oscillations.
Based on those measurements around 1100 stars will be followed for detailed studies throughout the mission. The accuracy at which Kepler will be able to measure oscillations is so high that the science team expects to see stars change as they age.
Professor Thompson said: “The great excitement of the work with the Kepler mission is that we’ll be able to probe the interiors of different masses and different ages, permitting us to study young suns and old suns, as well as stars that are more or less massive than our own star.”
Professor Thompson is part of a consortium of 200 researchers from 50 institutions all over the world working on the Kepler mission. Professors from Birmingham and Central Lancashire
Universities and Queen Mary College, London are also leading teams as part of the Kepler mission.
For more detailed information visit Mike Trudeau's blog for an excellent analysis.
Professor Michael Thompson, Head of the School of Mathematics and Statistics, will lead a team looking at the interior of stars in the NASA Kepler mission which was launched on March 7th. It is expected to find about 50 earth-sized planets orbiting stars over the next three and a half years.
The Kepler Spacecraft will use its telescope to measure the variations in brightness of 170,000 stars simultaneously. If a star dims at regular intervals it indicates a potential planet crossing the path of the telescope and so orbiting the star.
Professor Thompson said: “Kepler takes things to a new dimension in terms of the number of stars we can see and information we can gather.”
The mission will also allow scientists to learn more about the stars themselves through using the asteroseismology technique – the sound of stars. Professor Thompson will play a central role in this part of the mission as he has 20 years experience studying the interior of the sun.
Sound waves travel through stars which make them oscillate or flicker. The Kepler spacecraft will record these light fluctuations over weeks, months and years to measure the exact size of the oscillations and the frequency they oscillate at.
According to Professor Thompson, a good analogy for the process is thinking of a Hi-fi speaker in a bell jar. Although you would not be able to hear the speaker, if you could see it vibrating, you would know it was making a sound. By measuring those vibrations you could work out the frequencies of the sound.
In the same way you can work out the sound of stars, despite them sitting in a vacuum.
This process will allow the team to determine the size of the stars, their chemical composition and their rotation rate.
Professor Thompson said that by characterising a star we can calculate how far away a planet can be to support the type of life forms we are familiar with.
During the first nine months in space Kepler will survey more than 5000 stars for oscillations.
Based on those measurements around 1100 stars will be followed for detailed studies throughout the mission. The accuracy at which Kepler will be able to measure oscillations is so high that the science team expects to see stars change as they age.
Professor Thompson said: “The great excitement of the work with the Kepler mission is that we’ll be able to probe the interiors of different masses and different ages, permitting us to study young suns and old suns, as well as stars that are more or less massive than our own star.”
Professor Thompson is part of a consortium of 200 researchers from 50 institutions all over the world working on the Kepler mission. Professors from Birmingham and Central Lancashire
Universities and Queen Mary College, London are also leading teams as part of the Kepler mission.
For more detailed information visit Mike Trudeau's blog for an excellent analysis.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Lacking a finger to point
I’m sure everyone can relate to the saying, ‘life can be a bit of a bitch sometimes’ and this weekend fitted the bill.
I awoke on Friday, with my left index finger three times its normal size and puss trying to burst out the top of it. Lovely. I had been nursing the infection for three days, and was sure I was on the mend. Friday morning confirmed I wasn’t.
I had a friend visiting, who I left on Friday morning for university expecting to see her again in the evening. I even suggested she buy some gourmet food for dinner.
I went to my lectures and booked an appointment with the doctor for the afternoon. I intended for him to prescribe me some antibiotics while being clueless as to what had caused my finger to inflame like a sausage.
But he had other plans. He put me in a taxi to Northern General Hospital, miles away from my house and that is where I stayed for the next 2 nights.
In the mean time my friend got called home because her Nan was taken seriously ill. This soon put things in perspective – my injury was minor.
The doctor told me I had to have a small operation to drain my finger and get rid of the infection.
He had no idea as to when this operation would take place as operations are done on order of priority. My finger wasn’t that much of a priority.
While I waited I was given antibiotics through IV. My vein didn’t like the needle at first, meaning my jeans got covered in blood. They’re ruined. "whoops"
24 hours later, the time to have my operation came if I was prepared to try it under Local anaesthetic. Of course I was. I am scared of being put to sleep.
The operation was traumatic! (I’m a girl). I’m no longer scared of being put to sleep.
I left the hospital on Sunday lunchtime with a hole in my poor finger to replace the swelling. The kind nurse said: “orrr that’s a big one isn’t it”
“Yes thank you, lets never mention it again." (I was feeling a bit queezy at the sight of it).
I hope I can still play the sweet tunes of oasis.
I can't at the moment.
Today has been much better I now have a super slim line bandage that looks very fashionable and I can go to London. Thank you NHS for making me better.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Finally...a night out!
My twin brother Stephen and best friend John visited Sheffield this weekend and took me for a much needed night out!!! I don't plan on boring you with the details, but looking back at the pictures I did think to myself what a moronic, yet enjoyable activity a night out is...
After...
Before...
During...
After...
...and the morning after (savage)...
All of these things are bad for my health!
What was worse for Steve's health though, was his car getting broken into in the middle of the night. If you see anyone running round Sheffield with a wake board let me know!
Friday, March 6, 2009
Lahore
It always gets to me when bad things happen in Lahore. When you are in Karachi it feels edgy and aggressive and you almost expect it to boil over sometimes. Islamabad and Rawalpindi host the government and military so it is always full of controversy.
But Lahore is different...it is all about good food, good atmosphere and good people. At least that’s how I want to remember it...
But Lahore is different...it is all about good food, good atmosphere and good people. At least that’s how I want to remember it...
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
The £40 Student Challenge - The Grand Finale
So after four gruelling weeks the £40 student challenge has come to an end and the results are in.
...
Drum roll please...
...
The total for the final week is...
£30.74
Meaning that for the challenge I am a whopping £1.05 under budget (to think what I could have spent that on)
At the end of every challenge it is important to reflect and identify what you have learnt.
1) Every time I congratulate myself for spending less than £40 a week, I carry some guilt in the back of my mind. Lots of people go days without food, whereas I complain about going days without a chocolate bar and a beer. It does go to show what a privileged bunch we are on this side of the world.
2) My twin brother once said to me, after starting his first high paying job, “People say that money can’t buy you happiness...that’s bullshit. I’m going snowboarding twice this year which makes me very happy.” To be honest I think he had a point. I spend a lot of time asking myself what it is that I really want to do, regardless of income. But at the end of the day a lot of happiness can be gained from spending time with friends, going on holiday and having a swift half!
3) Public challenges like this work. It was on my mind all the time and I dreaded the thought of coming to my blog and having to admit that temptation had got the better of me and I had over spent! It makes me wonder how else I can challenge myself? The 5 fruit and veg challenge maybe? The good Karma challenge? The 30 minute exercise challenge? The possibilities are endless.
With that I close my brown book and pledge not complain about money on this blog anymore! Night.
...
Drum roll please...
...
The total for the final week is...
£30.74
Meaning that for the challenge I am a whopping £1.05 under budget (to think what I could have spent that on)
At the end of every challenge it is important to reflect and identify what you have learnt.
1) Every time I congratulate myself for spending less than £40 a week, I carry some guilt in the back of my mind. Lots of people go days without food, whereas I complain about going days without a chocolate bar and a beer. It does go to show what a privileged bunch we are on this side of the world.
2) My twin brother once said to me, after starting his first high paying job, “People say that money can’t buy you happiness...that’s bullshit. I’m going snowboarding twice this year which makes me very happy.” To be honest I think he had a point. I spend a lot of time asking myself what it is that I really want to do, regardless of income. But at the end of the day a lot of happiness can be gained from spending time with friends, going on holiday and having a swift half!
3) Public challenges like this work. It was on my mind all the time and I dreaded the thought of coming to my blog and having to admit that temptation had got the better of me and I had over spent! It makes me wonder how else I can challenge myself? The 5 fruit and veg challenge maybe? The good Karma challenge? The 30 minute exercise challenge? The possibilities are endless.
With that I close my brown book and pledge not complain about money on this blog anymore! Night.
Friday, February 27, 2009
The £40 Student Challenge - Sensing victory
As a child I was crazy about Manchester United. I used to live for them. I think it all started when as an 8 year old child I found a poster of Ryan Giggs in the wet play magazines. I still had Manchester United wallpaper when I brought my first proper girlfriend round at the age of 17. By that time I had grown out of the wallpaper, but can you imagine? It couldn’t have exactly got her going!
Anyway I will always remember the FA cup final in 1994 when Man U hammered Chelsea 4-0. For the last goal Paul Ince rounded the keeper and in front of an open goal slid it across to Brian Mcclair to tap into the net. It was at the stage when they knew they had done it so were sort of taking the piss. They couldn’t believe how easy it had become!
Well I am in that stage of the £40 challenge now. This week has been a breeze. £20 on shopping and a couple of pounds on newspapers has left me with a tenner in my pocket with barely 24 hours left. With that in mind I have started to get a bit cavalier in my actions.
When my alarm went off this morning, I looked at it, gave myself a wry smile and thought to myself ‘sod making sandwiches. TODAY I’m having a Boots lunch!’
Then this evening I was craving a chocolaty treat to go with my cup of tea and crossword. Again, ‘sod it, I’m going to the vending machine.’ I wouldn’t usually pay 60p for a twix, but TODAY I can smell victory.
P.S I suggest you watch that video....Man U were exquisite!
Anyway I will always remember the FA cup final in 1994 when Man U hammered Chelsea 4-0. For the last goal Paul Ince rounded the keeper and in front of an open goal slid it across to Brian Mcclair to tap into the net. It was at the stage when they knew they had done it so were sort of taking the piss. They couldn’t believe how easy it had become!
Well I am in that stage of the £40 challenge now. This week has been a breeze. £20 on shopping and a couple of pounds on newspapers has left me with a tenner in my pocket with barely 24 hours left. With that in mind I have started to get a bit cavalier in my actions.
When my alarm went off this morning, I looked at it, gave myself a wry smile and thought to myself ‘sod making sandwiches. TODAY I’m having a Boots lunch!’
Then this evening I was craving a chocolaty treat to go with my cup of tea and crossword. Again, ‘sod it, I’m going to the vending machine.’ I wouldn’t usually pay 60p for a twix, but TODAY I can smell victory.
P.S I suggest you watch that video....Man U were exquisite!
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
The £40 Student Challenge - Why is the world against me succeeding?
Do you ever have those days when the world seems to be against you? Today has been one of those days. Just as I seem to take one step forward in the £40 pound challenge I am knocked 2 steps backward with great force. Maybe the world is punishing me by ensuring I don’t succeed because I have made such a big deal about something that isn't that hard.
I will indulge myself and demonstrate exactly what I mean…
Example 1
I went shopping today and as I walked round the supermarket I noticed something very peculiar. Literally everything I had bought full price last week was now on special offer. It was almost as if the manager had used my old receipt as the basis for this week's lost leader campaign. Sandwich meat; buy one get one free, oven chips; half price, cheese; half price, pasta sauce; buy one, get one free. I dread to think how much I would have saved if the same offers were in place last week.
I'm not letting the bastards get me this week though. I bought everything that was on offer. The only things I bought that weren't on offer were apples, milk and bread. I've got 8 cans of beans in the cupboard - 2 four packs for £3. You can't beat that.
Example 2
As I walked out of the supermarket the handle on one of my bags snapped sending glass jars crashing to the ground. My shopping (and jeans) was covered in a mix of mayonnaise and mascarpone pasta sauce. It was a disheartening moment. Two old ladies came and gave me one of the carriers they keep in reserve especially for situations like that.
I will indulge myself and demonstrate exactly what I mean…
Example 1
I went shopping today and as I walked round the supermarket I noticed something very peculiar. Literally everything I had bought full price last week was now on special offer. It was almost as if the manager had used my old receipt as the basis for this week's lost leader campaign. Sandwich meat; buy one get one free, oven chips; half price, cheese; half price, pasta sauce; buy one, get one free. I dread to think how much I would have saved if the same offers were in place last week.
I'm not letting the bastards get me this week though. I bought everything that was on offer. The only things I bought that weren't on offer were apples, milk and bread. I've got 8 cans of beans in the cupboard - 2 four packs for £3. You can't beat that.
Example 2
As I walked out of the supermarket the handle on one of my bags snapped sending glass jars crashing to the ground. My shopping (and jeans) was covered in a mix of mayonnaise and mascarpone pasta sauce. It was a disheartening moment. Two old ladies came and gave me one of the carriers they keep in reserve especially for situations like that.
When I carry my shopping home I expect a sturdy handle. I thought this was the basis of a sound argument and I marched back into the supermarket to express my concern at the frailties of their carrier bags.
But the lady I met with a stern stare was so nice. She gave me tissue to clean myself up and fetched replacements free of charge. If I make it under budget this week it will be her I have to thank. Such human kindness makes life worthwhile.
Example 3
I was disappointed with myself yesterday because I didn't have my own lunch and resorted to a Boots specialty meal deal.
However just now I went make 2 delicious sandwiches for tomorrow. But disaster struck once more when I realised I didn't have cling film or foil or anything for that matter to wrap my sandwiches in. What do I do? What is the point of having bread, turkey and cheese if you have nothing to wrap the finished product in? If I just put them in my ice-cream tub will they go stale? I despair!
Sunday, February 22, 2009
The £40 Student Challenge - Week three, living within my means
It gives me great pleasure to be writing this with a hangover. With a little help from my friends I managed to get a bit drunk last night.
It was Tolu’s birthday and I had been saving my last fiver for 3 days so I could buy myself two well deserved pints! However whilst planning the night with Nick we decided the money could go further if we bought some cans beforehand. My fiver got me 5 drinks in the end.
Then I met my housemates who treated me to a couple more drinks. It was just what I needed and much appreciated!
But this is all beside the point.
The good news is that I have change for my £40 this week. In my wallet is 25p which I will re-invest into next week’s budget to get myself a real treat - Maybe a fudge bar!
The key to my success this week has been not buying any food or drink out. I have had packed lunch, complete with orange squash every day and have snacked on apples and oranges instead of chocolate buttons and cake. This has been the first week in quite some months that I have not had a boots lunch.
I still need to refine my spending on my shopping though. My arithmetic failed me while walking round Somerfield this week and I ended up spending £27 on Monday when I thought I had £20 of shopping in my hand. Careful scrutiny of the receipt showed it was me who had made the mistake and not the cashier. Still, I think this is the best I have done in terms of balanced lifestyle and balanced spending.
I am now £8.21 over my budget with a week to go. Will I do it? I just can’t bare the suspense.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
The result of a David Holmes style journalism education
It was quite funny today, I phoned up a local cambridgeshire paper enquiring about work experience and spoke to one of the subs. He couldn't help me, but said he would pass on a message to the editor. The conversation went something like this...
"So what is your name?"
"Andrew Webster"
"Normal spelling for Webster"
"Yes, W E B S T E R"
"Great, and what is your phone number?"
"07786588677"
"Ok, let me read that back to you 077 865 88 677"
"Perfect"
"And you are from St. Neots"
"yes"
"N E O T S isn't it?"
"yes"
"thanks a lot, I have written that down and will pass it on to him."
That is a man who has clearly been drilled on the importance of checking all details no matter how obvious they appear, even when taking a message on a post-it note! I imagine I would now be the same.
I'm going to read up on Evans' just in case the Editor asks me about it when I eventually talk to him.
"So what is your name?"
"Andrew Webster"
"Normal spelling for Webster"
"Yes, W E B S T E R"
"Great, and what is your phone number?"
"07786588677"
"Ok, let me read that back to you 077 865 88 677"
"Perfect"
"And you are from St. Neots"
"yes"
"N E O T S isn't it?"
"yes"
"thanks a lot, I have written that down and will pass it on to him."
That is a man who has clearly been drilled on the importance of checking all details no matter how obvious they appear, even when taking a message on a post-it note! I imagine I would now be the same.
I'm going to read up on Evans' just in case the Editor asks me about it when I eventually talk to him.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
The £40 Student Challenge - Week Two
Wow, week 2 is over and disaster has struck! There has been a mis-calculation! The sub total reads for the week £49.89, thus indicating that I’m some sort of extravagant bastard! I thought I was heading for just under the £45 mark.
However it doesn’t feel like I’ve been that extravagant. I’ve been restraining myself as far as possible.
Analysing the Brown Book it seems that there were a few anomalies to my prudent spending this week that have led to my downfall.
Boots Lunch Deals = £5.98
Beer = £13.25
Contribution to Birthday Boy’s dirty pint = £1
The last is a bit of a giveaway to where I have come unstuck. This week I have attended two birthday celebrations. At both I have drank the minimum 2 pints needed on a night out to make it anything like worthwhile. I even went in one bar and didn’t buy a drink so not to go over the budget. It was depressing.
To give myself some credit, when you look at this picture taken earlier today you can see the clear signs of budgeting...
1) My Sunday dinner consisted of mashed potato and a whole can of beans. Buying a primary (meat) product today would have put meat meals towards the end of the month in jeopardy.
2) How do you think I am looking? – Slightly gaunt? OK, well maybe that is an overstatement, but I have cut out all snacks and treats, and actually think I am losing weight! Today I saw buy one get one free on chocolate fingers and would have usually taken full advantage. But today I walked on past muttering to myself ‘needless cost, needless cost Andrew’
3) See the tea cup on the table – I’m on 4 cups a day to fend off my snacking urges at the moment. I plan to come down on my tea consumption in the next 2 weeks. But still, it shows my intent.
4) As you can see I am surrounded by newspapers. Although this might seem like a needless expense, newspapers have been my key source of entertainment this weekend, with the cross words being the highlight.
So at the half way point I am £8.46 over budget, desperate for a night out and going cold turkey on chocolate, cakes and biscuits. Still my resolve is high as I march in to next week full of confidence I can do it in £35.
Friday, February 13, 2009
A Day in the life of Andrew Webster
8am – Wake up to the sound of my alarm. Look at the mentor duty phone next to my head and think ‘phew, I’m so glad I was not phoned in the middle of the night to attend to a drunken student who had recently been dumped by boyfriend / passed out / slipped on the ice / insert common undergrad crisis.’ Press snooze.
8:08 – Press snooze
8:16 – Press snooze
8:24 – Press snooze
8:32 – Jump out of bed thinking I will be late meeting Nick (and getting to university)
8:33 – Receive text from Nick saying ‘c u at 12 lol’
8:50 – Leave house with 3 pieces of raspberry jam on toast in one hand and my phone in the other frantically calling people to find out where the lecture is.
9:07 – Walk into the lecture late. Thankfully it has not started.
10:00 – Go and stand on the Union concourse in the bitter cold and snow giving out chocolate love hearts to BOYS and girls in front of a stereo blasting out Phil Collins Love Songs. This was the latest marketing strategy of the University project I work for. Hopefully we didn’t put anyone off coming to our next event. Life doesn’t get much more degrading than this.
12:00 – Go to a lecture about the incredible advancements in multi-media technology that are shaping the media... the sound doesn’t work.
13:00 – Go to a workshop on using photoshop. Eat Sandwiches that have been kept safe in an old ice cream tub.
15:00 – Go back to work (university project) to write a powerpoint while university staff talk about the results of their personality tests in the background - I bet I can guess the answers.
17:00 – Buy the Guardian, full of news that is now out of date. Think about how good a pint of real ale would taste.
17:30 – Arrive home, check facebook and start writing pointless blog.
18:00 – Go to a mentor team meeting. Stand outside for 20 minutes before going inside. Then listen to a lot of people talk about how they are trying to ruin students’ fun by telling them to stop making noise and throwing snow (still the students persist).
19:00 – Cook dinner - it’s chicken thighs for the third day in a row. I had to buy in bulk to meet my stringent budgetary requirements. It a beautiful dinner well complimented by cheesy mash and beans. Sadly its completely undermined by Masterchef playing in the background.
20:00 – Leave for the pub. It’s Chris’ surprise birthday party which I am late for. Have 3 pints and some good chat about the general state of things. Buy Chris a pint and help eat his birthday cake.
00:00 – Leave the pub with Nick, Ciara and Mike. Resist the temptation to flutter money away on a donner kebab despite how good it smells.
00:40 – Watch the Mighty Boosch. Realise I have been wearing my underwear the wrong way round all day.
01:00 – Turn the Mighty Boosch off. Update my brown book with ‘Beer £7.25’ and throw away the Guardian I never read.
01:01 – Turn on Radio 5 live and go to sleep!
8:08 – Press snooze
8:16 – Press snooze
8:24 – Press snooze
8:32 – Jump out of bed thinking I will be late meeting Nick (and getting to university)
8:33 – Receive text from Nick saying ‘c u at 12 lol’
8:50 – Leave house with 3 pieces of raspberry jam on toast in one hand and my phone in the other frantically calling people to find out where the lecture is.
9:07 – Walk into the lecture late. Thankfully it has not started.
10:00 – Go and stand on the Union concourse in the bitter cold and snow giving out chocolate love hearts to BOYS and girls in front of a stereo blasting out Phil Collins Love Songs. This was the latest marketing strategy of the University project I work for. Hopefully we didn’t put anyone off coming to our next event. Life doesn’t get much more degrading than this.
12:00 – Go to a lecture about the incredible advancements in multi-media technology that are shaping the media... the sound doesn’t work.
13:00 – Go to a workshop on using photoshop. Eat Sandwiches that have been kept safe in an old ice cream tub.
15:00 – Go back to work (university project) to write a powerpoint while university staff talk about the results of their personality tests in the background - I bet I can guess the answers.
17:00 – Buy the Guardian, full of news that is now out of date. Think about how good a pint of real ale would taste.
17:30 – Arrive home, check facebook and start writing pointless blog.
18:00 – Go to a mentor team meeting. Stand outside for 20 minutes before going inside. Then listen to a lot of people talk about how they are trying to ruin students’ fun by telling them to stop making noise and throwing snow (still the students persist).
19:00 – Cook dinner - it’s chicken thighs for the third day in a row. I had to buy in bulk to meet my stringent budgetary requirements. It a beautiful dinner well complimented by cheesy mash and beans. Sadly its completely undermined by Masterchef playing in the background.
20:00 – Leave for the pub. It’s Chris’ surprise birthday party which I am late for. Have 3 pints and some good chat about the general state of things. Buy Chris a pint and help eat his birthday cake.
00:00 – Leave the pub with Nick, Ciara and Mike. Resist the temptation to flutter money away on a donner kebab despite how good it smells.
00:40 – Watch the Mighty Boosch. Realise I have been wearing my underwear the wrong way round all day.
01:00 – Turn the Mighty Boosch off. Update my brown book with ‘Beer £7.25’ and throw away the Guardian I never read.
01:01 – Turn on Radio 5 live and go to sleep!
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Day 10 - It's not gone quite as expected!
So it’s time to update my progress on the 40 pound challenge.
With one week over you could say I have had some success. According to the Brown Book I spent £38.57. However I have to admit that the Brown Book was mislaid for a few days meaning I am relying on my rather biased memory to re-trace my steps.
Furthermore as I look down the list of 'essentials' I see 2 Boots lunch mega deals and one McDonalds large extra value meal. There is also no sign of any food shopping thus reminding me that vegetables were few and far between last week.
But perhaps the biggest extravagance was the trip to the AIESEC conference, where if it wasn't for the generosity of my best friend Aled Owens, my spending would have been extreme over the weekend. Regardless of that, the AIESEC conference did cost £11 in travel and I HAD to buy a couple of drinks, one of which was £3.25 (not even for me I hasten to add).
So what have I learnt from week one?
Well basically that I am lucky to have made it under the budget, and more importantly that I need to be more organised and disciplined in both my spending and my recording!
This week is already off to a better start on that front. Two days in and I have been food shopping, meaning I have something more healthy than tomato soup and porridge for dinner. I spent a whopping £18.56 on Tesco blue and white stripe products. Most impressively I think I bought a kilogram of meat for £4.71 which might even see me into next week.
In saying that I have already spent £22, meaning I am halfway into my budget already, with a couple of nights out on the cards this week. Hopefully I can be more disciplined in resisting the Boots lunches and get at least 2 pints for £3.25 in Sheffield.
With one week over you could say I have had some success. According to the Brown Book I spent £38.57. However I have to admit that the Brown Book was mislaid for a few days meaning I am relying on my rather biased memory to re-trace my steps.
Furthermore as I look down the list of 'essentials' I see 2 Boots lunch mega deals and one McDonalds large extra value meal. There is also no sign of any food shopping thus reminding me that vegetables were few and far between last week.
But perhaps the biggest extravagance was the trip to the AIESEC conference, where if it wasn't for the generosity of my best friend Aled Owens, my spending would have been extreme over the weekend. Regardless of that, the AIESEC conference did cost £11 in travel and I HAD to buy a couple of drinks, one of which was £3.25 (not even for me I hasten to add).
So what have I learnt from week one?
Well basically that I am lucky to have made it under the budget, and more importantly that I need to be more organised and disciplined in both my spending and my recording!
This week is already off to a better start on that front. Two days in and I have been food shopping, meaning I have something more healthy than tomato soup and porridge for dinner. I spent a whopping £18.56 on Tesco blue and white stripe products. Most impressively I think I bought a kilogram of meat for £4.71 which might even see me into next week.
In saying that I have already spent £22, meaning I am halfway into my budget already, with a couple of nights out on the cards this week. Hopefully I can be more disciplined in resisting the Boots lunches and get at least 2 pints for £3.25 in Sheffield.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Day 4.
So far and so good on my little challenge.
According to the brown book, I have spent £5.31 and we are on the 4th day.
My early strategy has evolved around using up all of the food that I have got in my cupboards first. However I have run out of primary products (the phrase I am using to describe meat) That meant yesterday I had to replace what would usually be some sausages, or maybe a piece of fish with cheese on toast.
Therefore my dinner consisted of cheese on toast, chips and beans. I can't say I had ever had that combination before and to be honest it didn't really work. But still, it was better than popping over to the uni canteen and wasting £5. I also offset the lack of veg with an apple and orange for dessert.
Shopping trip is coming up though, and the pub quiz on Thursday so I think things may get a little harder from here.
According to the brown book, I have spent £5.31 and we are on the 4th day.
My early strategy has evolved around using up all of the food that I have got in my cupboards first. However I have run out of primary products (the phrase I am using to describe meat) That meant yesterday I had to replace what would usually be some sausages, or maybe a piece of fish with cheese on toast.
Therefore my dinner consisted of cheese on toast, chips and beans. I can't say I had ever had that combination before and to be honest it didn't really work. But still, it was better than popping over to the uni canteen and wasting £5. I also offset the lack of veg with an apple and orange for dessert.
Shopping trip is coming up though, and the pub quiz on Thursday so I think things may get a little harder from here.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Tightening my belt!
Andrew Webster is a man who has been living beyond his means!
To pay for this degree I am doing I had to take a huge loan. However the bank misjudged my maturity when giving me the money. It wasn’t the size of the loan that was the problem. No I am perfectly capable of spending that amount of cash. It was the fact that they paid all of it into my bank account at the same time, expecting me to budget throughout the year.
Now I wouldn’t say that I have been living the high life. But I have been failing to pay attention to my dwindling pounds as I buy the odd £5 CD or swan off to London to go drinking with my friends.
Well things have to change. I need to tighten my belt. The dog is at the door, and things can’t go on as they are!
In order to combat the sticky situation I find myself in I have decided to appeal to my competitive, sporting nature and set myself a little challenge.
I ‘Andrew Webster’ of sound body and mind will spend no more than £40 a week on living costs for the whole of February.
Now I almost feel guilty saying this, as I know there are people all over of the world with greater needs than me, who survive on far less. In Pakistan my wage was equivalent to £40 a week and I lived quite happily.
However I am not proposing that I close the doors to the world and live on lentils. No I am proposing that I adapt my life style to live more economically with the hope that these habits will stay with me for years to come. Who knows, they may even make me rich one day and they will certainly help pay the rent for the next few months.
Threats to success
In terms of changing my living style there are a number of red flags that threaten to de-rail me in my challenge.
1. I am partial to a beer
2. I like eat meat in every meal
3. I tend to visit friends outside of Sheffield regularly
4. I am a man who likes a chocolaty treat in the afternoon
5. I am partial to buying lunch from Boots (£3 meal deal is excellent value, but may be too extravagant for my needs now)
2. I like eat meat in every meal
3. I tend to visit friends outside of Sheffield regularly
4. I am a man who likes a chocolaty treat in the afternoon
5. I am partial to buying lunch from Boots (£3 meal deal is excellent value, but may be too extravagant for my needs now)
I will be paying special attention to these things to ensure that I do not fail!
Accountability
To help me I will be recording all of my purchases in this little brown book.
I’m glad I have finally found a use for this brown book. I got it for Christmas from my dad nearly 5 years ago when we had a £5 limit on presents. Ever since then I have b
een trying to find a use for it, without wanting to commit to idle notes thus belittling its importance to me. It will now become an integral part of my makeup.
een trying to find a use for it, without wanting to commit to idle notes thus belittling its importance to me. It will now become an integral part of my makeup.I will also be posting on my blog to share my woes or successes.
If I find £40 is easy to live on, I might lower it too. (lots of people have already pointed out that £40 would be far from a challenge for them...thanks)
Let the tightening begin!
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Happy New Year!
So the end of another year has been and gone! I don’t know where the time goes. It seems like just yesterday that I started 2008 by waking up on a Karachi winter’s day, feeling slightly hungover. This year the hangover was there, but instead of Karachi, I found myself in Crewe (equally as harsh).
Anyway in true New Year tradition I am going to indulge myself with some New Year resolutions and a Nida Rasheed stylee review of 2008. If you’ve got this far, please don’t feel compelled to read on.
RESOLUTIONS
1. Make the best possible next step.
2. Prepare for and complete something physically challenging.
3. Eat 5 pieces of fruit or veg per day.
4. Make a decision either way and stick to it.
5. Read, write and take photos regularly.
6. Eat Breakfast.
7. Significantly improve at the guitar.
8. Learn to drive.
9. Break 80
10. Learn to cook.
Review of 2008 in Question Form
1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
Volunteered at a music festival. It was Reading festival and a truly awesome experience. I met loads more people than I would normally, saw more character at the festival and generally loved it. I also saw Rage which was a bonus.
2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn’t make resolutions, but think I partly achieved my aim of having more direction in my life.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? No.
4. Did anyone close to you die? No.
5. What countries did you visit?
Pakistan (I was already there), India, Nepal and Scotland.
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
A place that feels like home. (As in not shitty student accommodation)
7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
June 7th. I flew home from Pakistan after 10 months and surprised my mum at her 50th birthday party. My whole family was there and even some of my friends. It was easily one of the best days of my life!
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Completing my traineeship, getting selected for my Masters course and getting through the Cadbury assessment.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not achieving a good balance.
11. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Yes I was in hospital for a while with Hepatitus A. I’ve also had a couple of nasty infections recently. I really want to look after myself better in 2009.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Shalwar Kammez with Paul Sloss in Lahore. It wasn’t so much the product but the enjoyment of buying it. We looked and bargained in every shop on the street before selecting our clothes. We then wore them together with such pride.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Taha Durrani – He (somehow) got engaged. I can’t wait for the wedding.
Kurt Archer also. I partly just want to write down this story so I don’t forget it. We were coming out of this nice restaurant when we saw a small girl begging on the street. It was the Karachi winter and she had no shoes on. This clearly broke Kurt’s heart. He sat on the step of the restaurant, took off his socks and put them on the little girl’s feet. He then turned to me and said: “They were my favourite socks.”
13.Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Various terrorists / politicians.
14.Where did most of your money go?
Travelling, as in actual travelling to new places, but also travelling between places in the UK. Trains are so expensive now. I don’t know why my friends can’t all live in the same place, prefereably Sheffield.
15.What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Going home as a surprise for my mum’s birthday.
16.What song will always remind you of 2008?
Incubus – ‘Drive’
Frank Turner – ‘Photosynthesis’
17.Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder?
Sadder. But not very sad. I was really happy this time last year. II. thinner or fatter? Fatter
III. richer or poorer? Poorer.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Reading and learning Urdu. A golden opportunity was missed there.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Checking facebook and my emails.
20. Did you fall in love in 2008? No
21. How many one-night stands? No comment
22. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? No.
23. What was the best book you read? ‘Twilight at Midnight’ – It was about the partition of India. I also started Alastair Campbell’s diary which is a classy read.
24. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Frank Turner without a shadow of a doubt.
25. What did you want and get?
A place at Sheffield University to study journalism.
26. What did you want and not get?
Funding for my Masters
27. What was your favorite film of this year?
Charlie Wilson’s War, Lions for Lambs and Little Miss Sunshine. I doubt any of them are from this year, but I saw them this year so I think that counts.
28. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 25. On the weekend before my birthday I had lunch with some university friends and went out with some school friends. On the day I got stupidly drunk in the student union.
29. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Not sure.
30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Bargain centric. I have also noticed a lot of hoods and collars creeping into my wardrobe.
31. What kept you sane?
Blogging and my family.
32. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Gwyneth Paltrow in Iron Man. That is lame. I don’t often fancy public figures that much.
33. What political issue stirred you the most?
Pakistani politics, especially the rise of Zardari, although I feel disconnected from all of that now. The Democratic nomination (as opposed to the election) also got me going.
34. Who did you miss?
Taha, Sohaib, Nida, Klepo, Zafirah, Mikey, Kurt, Cileia and Seto amongst others.
35. Who was the best new person you met?
Rizwan of Queens English. He was a British guy with Pakistani origin who moved to Karachi with his young family to start his own English School. He was an inspiration. I think he has now closed the school and moved back to the UK.
36. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008
As part of my course I had to find stories in Rotherham. This led me to meet people that are making a big difference to the lives of people in their communities while going relatively unnoticed. The lesson is that people are generally good, and that you don’t have to be in the top job, or have had the best education to make a difference in the world!
That was a bit of a waste of time, but who knows, it might be nice to look back on this time next year!
Anyway in true New Year tradition I am going to indulge myself with some New Year resolutions and a Nida Rasheed stylee review of 2008. If you’ve got this far, please don’t feel compelled to read on.
RESOLUTIONS
1. Make the best possible next step.
2. Prepare for and complete something physically challenging.
3. Eat 5 pieces of fruit or veg per day.
4. Make a decision either way and stick to it.
5. Read, write and take photos regularly.
6. Eat Breakfast.
7. Significantly improve at the guitar.
8. Learn to drive.
9. Break 80
10. Learn to cook.
Review of 2008 in Question Form
1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
Volunteered at a music festival. It was Reading festival and a truly awesome experience. I met loads more people than I would normally, saw more character at the festival and generally loved it. I also saw Rage which was a bonus.
2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn’t make resolutions, but think I partly achieved my aim of having more direction in my life.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? No.
4. Did anyone close to you die? No.
5. What countries did you visit?
Pakistan (I was already there), India, Nepal and Scotland.
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
A place that feels like home. (As in not shitty student accommodation)
7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
June 7th. I flew home from Pakistan after 10 months and surprised my mum at her 50th birthday party. My whole family was there and even some of my friends. It was easily one of the best days of my life!
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Completing my traineeship, getting selected for my Masters course and getting through the Cadbury assessment.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not achieving a good balance.
11. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Yes I was in hospital for a while with Hepatitus A. I’ve also had a couple of nasty infections recently. I really want to look after myself better in 2009.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Shalwar Kammez with Paul Sloss in Lahore. It wasn’t so much the product but the enjoyment of buying it. We looked and bargained in every shop on the street before selecting our clothes. We then wore them together with such pride.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Taha Durrani – He (somehow) got engaged. I can’t wait for the wedding.
Kurt Archer also. I partly just want to write down this story so I don’t forget it. We were coming out of this nice restaurant when we saw a small girl begging on the street. It was the Karachi winter and she had no shoes on. This clearly broke Kurt’s heart. He sat on the step of the restaurant, took off his socks and put them on the little girl’s feet. He then turned to me and said: “They were my favourite socks.”
13.Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Various terrorists / politicians.
14.Where did most of your money go?
Travelling, as in actual travelling to new places, but also travelling between places in the UK. Trains are so expensive now. I don’t know why my friends can’t all live in the same place, prefereably Sheffield.
15.What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Going home as a surprise for my mum’s birthday.
16.What song will always remind you of 2008?
Incubus – ‘Drive’
Frank Turner – ‘Photosynthesis’
17.Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder?
Sadder. But not very sad. I was really happy this time last year. II. thinner or fatter? Fatter
III. richer or poorer? Poorer.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Reading and learning Urdu. A golden opportunity was missed there.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Checking facebook and my emails.
20. Did you fall in love in 2008? No
21. How many one-night stands? No comment
22. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? No.
23. What was the best book you read? ‘Twilight at Midnight’ – It was about the partition of India. I also started Alastair Campbell’s diary which is a classy read.
24. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Frank Turner without a shadow of a doubt.
25. What did you want and get?
A place at Sheffield University to study journalism.
26. What did you want and not get?
Funding for my Masters
27. What was your favorite film of this year?
Charlie Wilson’s War, Lions for Lambs and Little Miss Sunshine. I doubt any of them are from this year, but I saw them this year so I think that counts.
28. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 25. On the weekend before my birthday I had lunch with some university friends and went out with some school friends. On the day I got stupidly drunk in the student union.
29. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Not sure.
30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Bargain centric. I have also noticed a lot of hoods and collars creeping into my wardrobe.
31. What kept you sane?
Blogging and my family.
32. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Gwyneth Paltrow in Iron Man. That is lame. I don’t often fancy public figures that much.
33. What political issue stirred you the most?
Pakistani politics, especially the rise of Zardari, although I feel disconnected from all of that now. The Democratic nomination (as opposed to the election) also got me going.
34. Who did you miss?
Taha, Sohaib, Nida, Klepo, Zafirah, Mikey, Kurt, Cileia and Seto amongst others.
35. Who was the best new person you met?
Rizwan of Queens English. He was a British guy with Pakistani origin who moved to Karachi with his young family to start his own English School. He was an inspiration. I think he has now closed the school and moved back to the UK.
36. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008
As part of my course I had to find stories in Rotherham. This led me to meet people that are making a big difference to the lives of people in their communities while going relatively unnoticed. The lesson is that people are generally good, and that you don’t have to be in the top job, or have had the best education to make a difference in the world!
That was a bit of a waste of time, but who knows, it might be nice to look back on this time next year!
Friday, January 2, 2009
Now this might be me, but I am starting to think that this credit crunch is causing a crisis in popular culture at the moment. My theory is that as times are so bleak, or atleast it feels like they are, people are turning to the past for comfort. All of the negative energy about the place is sucking the creativity and excitement out of people, the results of which are appearing on our television screens amongst other things.
It was Christmas day that prompted my thinking along these lines. At the festive period you expect a bit of reminiscing with your favourite characters, bands and soap stars. But this year it seemed to be extreme.
Let me show you precisely what I mean...
The biggest band in the country at the moment is TAKE THAT! – it’s not because they have had lasting success year on year to the present day. No it’s because they saw a gap in the pop market they could fill. Their example is now being followed by Boyzone!
We expect a new Wallace and Gromit at Christmas, and true to form there was a new one made for this Christmas. However it was more of a token effort, at a mere 30 minutes long! Just to show us what we were missing the Beeb put on an older and significantly longer episode shortly before the new one was screened.
The big story on Christmas Eastenders was the return of Nick Cotton. He has more lives than a cat. Do we seriously need him back? I hope Dot murders the bastard once and for all this time!
The Royal family was prime time Christmas special. – Although I am going to let this one go in the same vain I would with Only Fools and Horses.
The late evening special was a Christmas Blackadder.... documentary. It was a programme to say, ‘remember how great Blackadder was? Oh I wish it was still on now’ How disappointing! Was it just me that expected a new episode?
The worst thing is that now I have started to think along these lines, I can’t stop noticing the trend. For instance, I saw this morning that Mr Motivator is coming back to GMTV 10 years after he was last sacked! Surely he is too old for that game now.
I suspect I am just talking shit though. Maybe I’m about to go downstairs and watch a great new comedy, or listen to the next stadium filling band!
Or maybe I will just stick Celebrity BigBrother NINE on.
It was Christmas day that prompted my thinking along these lines. At the festive period you expect a bit of reminiscing with your favourite characters, bands and soap stars. But this year it seemed to be extreme.
Let me show you precisely what I mean...
The biggest band in the country at the moment is TAKE THAT! – it’s not because they have had lasting success year on year to the present day. No it’s because they saw a gap in the pop market they could fill. Their example is now being followed by Boyzone!
We expect a new Wallace and Gromit at Christmas, and true to form there was a new one made for this Christmas. However it was more of a token effort, at a mere 30 minutes long! Just to show us what we were missing the Beeb put on an older and significantly longer episode shortly before the new one was screened.
The big story on Christmas Eastenders was the return of Nick Cotton. He has more lives than a cat. Do we seriously need him back? I hope Dot murders the bastard once and for all this time!
The Royal family was prime time Christmas special. – Although I am going to let this one go in the same vain I would with Only Fools and Horses.
The late evening special was a Christmas Blackadder.... documentary. It was a programme to say, ‘remember how great Blackadder was? Oh I wish it was still on now’ How disappointing! Was it just me that expected a new episode?
The worst thing is that now I have started to think along these lines, I can’t stop noticing the trend. For instance, I saw this morning that Mr Motivator is coming back to GMTV 10 years after he was last sacked! Surely he is too old for that game now.
I suspect I am just talking shit though. Maybe I’m about to go downstairs and watch a great new comedy, or listen to the next stadium filling band!
Or maybe I will just stick Celebrity BigBrother NINE on.
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