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.
Friday, August 7, 2009
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?
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