February

There's no easy way to say this, but my recent efforts at blogging have been pretty shambolic. This post has no particular topic other than to say hi, I'm alive and haven't forgotten how to use a computer, so I'll apologise in advance now for being super boring for the next few paragraphs and rambling on like the complete nutter that I unfortunately am.

I'm currently on reading week, in other words half term, and have come home for 9 days to see family, friends and celebrate my little brother's birthday which was last Saturday. It would actually be so lovely to consider this week off as a chance to relax, have a bit of a break and do something more exciting that type frantically on a computer about Jane Eyre and Shakespeare, but sadly that's not the case. The last few days have consisted of me essentially chained to my desk ploughing through assignment after assignment - and the best part is that there's still another year to go. And it will get worse.

But on a lighter note, it is so good to be back with my Mum, Dad and brothers in my weird little hometown. And it has been a fun few days just being able to hang out with them and muck about, do stupid crazy things and make each other laugh. I also had a brilliant day in London yesterday with my best friend - we went exploring all over the place, starting from Victoria, then travelling from Kensington to Westminster and past the London Eye, then to Piccadilly, through the West End, finishing with a delicious dinner in Soho.

As we were walking down by the Houses of Parliament, I decided it would be a great idea for us to buy a pancake to share from this cute little kiosk. I say "great idea", bearing in mind any idea of mine is rarely close to being achievable, let alone "great". We decided on a nutella and cream pancake but it ended up being served in a polystyrene cup, making it virtually impossible for us to eat with any shred of grace or dignity - the filling was flying everywhere, and in my attempt to get some of this ridiculously located pancake out of the cup with my fork, I ended up pinging half of my portion into Alice's face, which as you can imagine, went down as well as the cold, mushy pancake did at the end of the whole episode. All in all, the day was mad and eventful and the two of us were knackered by the end of it, but we had a lot of fun :)

Also in the news, I managed to further prove my stupidity and severe lack of co-ordination in a spectacular fashion by falling over in the shower last Tuesday and smacking my face on the side of the bath. As a result, I found myself sporting a very attractive black eye which has provided many of my friends and family with yet another opportunity to laugh at me and make incessant jokes, the worst of which came from my Dad, who kept calling me a Pirate - it took me a while to establish that he thought I should be wearing an eye patch. Do you see the madness I have to put up with?

Not a lot else to report from my exciting, fun-filled little life other than to say sorry for boring you to death with this not-so-fantastic piece of writing - in fact, I'd be surprised if you've made it this far into the post without closing the tab/falling asleep/throwing your laptop out of the window in sheer anger that you spent the last two minutes of your life listening to me babble on about a load of nothingness.

I promise that I'll try to write something a bit more interesting very soon...

Happy February!

Nats. X

Seeking out student housing doesn't have to be stressful

Soon to be featured in a copy of Christ Church's student newspaper UNIfied. Have a look at previous editions at http://ccsu.co.uk/UNIfied.

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First year students… listen up!

The time for finding your second year accommodation has been underway for some weeks, and for many of you, it will be the first time you’ve ever had to go through this type of process.

Once you’ve rounded up who you’re living with and started arranging your first house party, (because we’re students and its top priority), your house hunting venture can officially begin.

Firstly, you must think about price. The four bedroom house with a new kitchen, stylish furniture and an enormous garden might make you squeal like a banshee on helium but it’s only any good if you can afford it. Same goes for location – nobody in their right mind would take pleasure in having to wake up hours before their 9am lecture just because their journey into Uni takes so bloody long. Student housing is certainly a-plenty, so all it takes is a little time, effort and research.

When you finally find a place that you and your future housemates like, it’s a great feeling of excitement and relief; the property is reasonably priced, a stone-throw away from campus and has everything you’re looking for in a student house.

But watch out. You might be studying an impressive undergraduate degree, but that won’t stop you being subject to exploitation from landlords who have been in the business long enough to know how to trap you.

1. Book a viewing to see the property for yourself.

This is hugely important. The photos on the internet might look fantastic but you can never guarantee that these pictures are accurate. It is more than likely that you will spot things when looking around the property which you could not see online.

2. Ask the landlord or manager of the property plenty of questions.

Is the house fully furnished? When does the tenancy begin and end? Where is the nearest supermarket? What happens if a housemate leaves University? Will you be expected to pay full or half rent over the summer holidays? It doesn't matter how stupid you think your questions might be – you won’t know unless you ask. Moreover, if the tenants are present at the time of your viewing, make sure you ask them questions too – they might be more honest than the landlord.

3. Check the deposit.

Ask what deposit scheme your landlord is using and check out the website when you get home. Some landlords ask for a large sum of money which will be returned at the end of the tenancy, providing the house has been well kept. Others, however, will require rent in advance.

4. Ask what the rent includes.

Be 100% sure that you know what you are paying for. The rent for some properties will include gas, electric, water and sometimes internet, while others will not. It is extremely important that you check this before signing the tenancy agreement as it can cause problems further down the line.

5. What appliances are included?

Does the house have a kettle, microwave, washing machine, shower, television? Is there a fridge and freezer and how big are they?

6. Study your contract

This is one of the most important steps. Read the contract thoroughly, and if there’s anything you are unsure of, ask Student Support or the Student’s Union to go through it with you. Allocate bedrooms before signing to ensure everyone is happy with the living arrangements. Finally, double check the rent with the landlord, and if you are happy with the property, go ahead and sign!

Just remember that keeping calm through this seemingly stressful process is key. And don't forget you can ask the Student’s Union or Student Support if you are in need of help or advice.

Good luck!

The Wyn Harness Prize for Young Journalists

In mid January, I entered for an annual competition ran by The Independent, held each year to commemorate the death of the late and great Wyngate Harness. 

Harness played the role of assistant editor of The Independent brilliantly and was considered one of the best loved figures in the history of the newspaper, a true hero in the world of journalism. Sadly, he died of an inoperable brain tumour in 2008. 

The competition to mark the anniversary of Harness' tragic passing has been running for 4 years now and is a fantastic opportunity for young journalists to discuss a part of British society which they care about, but which rarely makes the headlines.

Unfortunately I wasn't lucky enough to win but there's always next year and I'll definitely keep trying! And so my article doesn't go to waste I thought I would share it on here and let you all read it. Hope you enjoy :)

My Article

I am not the most moral human being on the planet.  I have not raised enormous amounts of money for charity.  I have never taken part in any type of volunteering without the potential of gaining something for myself, only too happy to help out at the local nursery for work experience during school hours because it meant missing my P.E. lessons on Wednesdays for 6 weeks.  I very rarely go to Church.  I swear, I sometimes talk about people behind their backs and I have lied on countless occasions.  Hardly the criteria for a virtuous lifestyle.

But I have been a blood donor for 3 years, and in truth I think that offers a certain level of redemption.  It is my opportunity to help others who depend so heavily on the kindness of strangers to provide them with the support they need to continue with their unique battle.  Donating blood saves lives, and only the cruellest of the cruel would deny any person their right to survive.

NHS Blood Donation has been in service for over 60 years, receiving approximately 2.1 million donations every year.  And yet, even with numerous promotion campaigns broadcasted over television and radio, and printed upon leaflets and in newspapers, the number of registrants stands at a mere 4% of the UK population.  Blood stocks are regularly peaking at dangerously low levels, as the current situation shows a significant dip in the stocks of blood types B- and O-.  17-24 year olds account for 40% of new donors each year, but statistics reveal that the number of young people registering contrasted to 2011 has dropped by 50%.  Evidently, solutions need to be sought after now to prevent further risks of shortages in not just the short-term, but the long-term future.

I therefore put this question to Jeremy Hunt, the UK Secretary of State for Health: by how much will the percentage of registrants have to fall before it finally dawns upon the Department of Health that this is a matter which deserves deliberation, discussion and action?  Naturally the health and well-being of the population is the top priority of the DH, but it has become manifest that much more support is needed to aid this government organisation, which is clearly struggling to recruit the 250,000 new donors needed every year to replace those who can no longer give blood.

Promotion is the key, but government funded campaigns are futile without any consideration for the target audience.  Advertisements must be age specific - they must be clear-cut, cool and clever to engage and encourage the younger generation to get involved.  Blood donation could and should be talked about in secondary schools, college and at Universities.  After all, where better than in an educational setting, when pupils and students are in the perfect mind-set to listen, understand and properly consider the prospect of donating if they can?  NHSBT television and radio adverts are scarce and barely seen or heard, but a sufficient amount of funding can enable the creation of not only more, but also better adverts which are enthralling to their audience as well as effective.

We have seen government spending decrease and the cuts in force, but if any organisation were to deserve a financial boost, no matter how slight, it would be NHS Blood Donation.  With more funding comes more promotion, with more promotion comes more donors, and more donors means more lives saved.  If a little more time, effort and money went into raising the awareness of this crucial yet undervalued piece of British society, public interest could soar to new heights and our potential to save lives could grow to become stronger than it ever has been before.

Reflection of 2012

It's New Years Day on Tuesday a.k.a. the ending of one year and the beginning of another, and it's always at this time that we start to reflect on our achievements, experiences and regrets of the last 12 months and begin to speculate what the next 12 months has in store for us. 

This year more than any other has been a chance for us to feel good about who we are, what we represent and where we are from. It has been a fantastic year to be British, and as an already patriotic individual myself, it has been truly amazing even to witness it. The pleasure I've taken in participating in the Jubilee events, watching Olympians and Paralympians win gold medals, and even seeing the England football team play in Euro 2012 this summer (well, perhaps not the latter) has been phenomenal - singing the national anthem has become something of a recent regularity. As Lord Coe quite rightly stated in his speech at the closing ceremony of The London Paralympic Games:

"there are some famous words you can find stamped on the bottom of a product. Words that, when you read them, you know mean high quality, mean skill, mean creativity. We've stamped those words on the Olympic and Paralympic Games of London 2012. London 2012 – ‘made in Britain’.” 

But it's not just been a year for national achievements - every individual has seen success in their own unique way. One of my own family members and so many of my friends achieved fantastic exam results this summer, not only at University but also at college and sixth form. My incredibly brave best friend went travelling in America for 4 months, something which took real courage to do, especially as she was so far away from home and had never done anything like that before in her life. My little brother gained his brown belt in Karate, an achievement which took real effort and determination. My parents, as always, have completed another year of working hard, not only in their exhausting jobs but also in supporting us three kids. And my brilliant cousin gained a position in the British Army as a musician and our entire family are so incredibly proud of her.

This year has been quite a turning point for me too. On Jan 28th, it is a year since I signed up to blogger.com and began writing (/rambling) on the internet. I was also offered my first ever paid writing job working for a company called Mediarun who advertise particular companies through articles on subject-specific websites. And as well as this, I was appointed News & Current Affairs editor of my University's newspaper, something I thought I'd never manage. So it's been quite a year - some parts have been particularly difficult, but as always you manage through them - pick yourself up, brush yourself off and get on with it.

2013 sees several exciting events, including my parents' 25th wedding anniversary, my brother's 18th birthday and my grandparents' 80th birthdays. Not to mention the beginnings of my final year at Uni, and hopefully plenty more to keep me busy. This year has been a rollercoaster, but enjoyable for nearly every step of the way. For now, I'll look back on 2012 and smile, able to beam with pride when I say "I was there".

December

First of all, I have to apologise to my blog for abandoning it, basically leaving it in the cold like a little lost orphan. This past month has been absolutely mad with assignments, general Uni work, my job, newspaper deadlines etc. that I really haven't had the time to sit down and write properly in absolutely ages. But I'm back now so it's fine.

Nothing else has really happened since I last wrote so I'm not really sure where I'm going with this post - might just be the most pointless piece of writing ever, but I didn't want anyone think that I'd given up posting on here because I still absolutely love it and have really missed it. However, I want to write about worthwhile topics, and just typing out load of rubbish down for the sake of it (slightly like I'm doing now) seems a bit stupid.

Therefore...just so this post has an actual point, I'm going to try and persuade you to do something worthwhile this Christmas, and by that I don't mean sit in front of the telly just watching Elf and eating loads of turkey sandwiches, but actually making a difference to something or somebody's life. For example...you could give a charity a Christmas donation or raise some money yourself, achieve a personal goal (a good one, I don't just mean seeing how many mince pies you can fit in your mouth), help a friend or family member who is going through a tough time, give blood, give a few hours of your time to a volunteering organisation. Christmas is such a magical time of year, and you can feel a whole lot better by doing something truly amazing!

This is inspired by my amazing housemate, who rather than celebrating Christmas Day with his family - having a delicious Christmas dinner, opening presents, watching festive movies and playing games - he goes down to his local hospital to play in the Salvation Army band to make other people feel better. And it's so inspiring and touching to hear how much he loves doing it - a totally selfless act to help those who need cheering up more than ever at this time of year.

If I don't find the time to write on here before the 25th (hopefully I will), then I hope everyone has a lovely time celebrating wherever they are and whatever they end up doing.

Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Nats. X

Saving a Life The Easy Way

The last few posts have been really boring and merely entailed me banging on about my not very exciting life as a mad, clumsy student with no money.

Because of this, I thought it was time to go back to writing something a little more serious, and today I've chosen to write a bit about blood donation. Right now, NHS Blood Donation are running a brand new appeal called 100K in 100 days, in which they're attempting to recruit 100, 000 new donor registrants from 7 November 2012 to 14 February 2013.

The whole scheme is being backed by cast members of Hollyoaks, to highlight the severe need for young blood donors across the UK. The number of young donors aged between 17-24 registering in the last 10 years has been falling steadily, with a 20% decrease in the last decade, and a 50% drop in the last year compared to 2011.

My story with blood donation started when I was about 10 years old. At the time, NHS Blood Donation had just launched a brand new campaign and they were promoting all over the country. Television and radio adverts, leaflets through your door, leaflets given to you on the street; it was everywhere. I had heard of 'Give Blood' before, but had never considered actually becoming a future blood donor until this point. The moment I read through the leaflet which came through the letterbox that day, I made the decision that as soon as I was old enough, I would become a blood donor.

Before I knew it, my 17th birthday came whizzing round the corner and I was eligible, but started to panic. There was no getting out of it without making an idiot of myself, not without it looking awful. So I convinced myself to get the first one out the way. Then at least I'd have done it, and could consider whether to continue afterwards.

And I did it. It was scary, but the NHS staff members were so relaxed, friendly and easy to talk to that, for half the time, I barely even acknowledged why I was there in the first place. I was also lucky enough to have a friend with me who had done it many times before and she, too, was anxious because she has a phobia of blood. She uses donation as a way of overcoming this fear, so I knew that if she can do it, then I could too. Putting it into perspective, I remembered that those who depend on blood donation are suffering far more than me.

Registering for blood donation could be one of the best things you do this year. I cannot stress enough how easy it is to sign up, go along to a session for an hour or so every 4 months and offer someone the best possible gift you could ever give them. The feeling you get afterwards is indescribable, and you can only ever experience it by actually doing it yourself.

Donation sessions are run all over the country throughout the year, so why not go along to one and see for yourself? First, be sure to check the guidelines to ensure that you're eligible: http://www.blood.co.uk/can-i-give-blood/

If you have any queries or questions, visit http://www.blood.co.uk/, 'Like' the NHS Blood donation Facebook page, or follow @GiveBloodNHS on twitter.

Giving blood is so amazing and it saves so many lives. Do your bit and register today!

The Anguish of All-Nighters

Featured in a copy of Christ Church's student newspaper UNIfied. Have a look at previous editions at http://ccsu.co.uk/UNIfied.

All-nighters are quite often a customary aspect of the student lifestyle.  You have a deadline looming, but you haven’t even started writing yet and to be honest, watching back to back episodes of Friends sounds far more appealing.

It doesn’t matter how many times you convince yourself that this time you will be organised and prepared, refusing to leave everything to the very last minute; you will probably still find yourself being drawn to other, more interesting things. And as a result, pulling an all-nighter is the only solution you believe you are left with, knowing that in a few precious hours you will be expected to hand in an important piece of work you are meant to have taken time and consideration over.

The thing is, I’m not even criticising you for it, because I’ve been there. In fact, I think we all have. It’s common knowledge in the student world that chatting to your mates on Facebook or Skype is a far more engaging activity than writing an assignment about Wuthering Heights. But procrastination can be poisonous, as more often than not you may find yourself moping into lectures powered with 4 hours sleep or less because you had a deadline and your time management skills had let you down.

We all know that sleep deprivation isn’t good for us, but having a frequent lack of sleep for the three to four years that you’re at University can be seriously damaging to your health.

Studies conducted by professors of sleep medicine have shown that there are clear links between sleep deprivation and the onset of neuropsychiatric disorders, like bipolar depression and anxiety. If you keep forcing your body to stay awake when it’s in severe need of a good rest, your blood pressure can be significantly affected, which in turn increases your susceptibility of cancer and heart disease.

You might even find yourself showing symptoms not just in the long-term; namely, short-term euphoria has been revealed in research at Harvard and Berkeley to be a condition which comes from sleep deprivation.

Here comes the science part: from missing a night’s sleep, the neutral circuit that controls pleasure and reward in your brain (something called the mesolimbic pathway) is stimulated in a process driven by a chemical called dopamine. If your dopamine levels are high, you receive a boost in positivity, motivation, even sex drive. And even though that sounds great, what comes next is not so wonderful.

Because not only is this boost extremely brief, this rush in dopamine also results in impulsive behaviour and addiction. The sections of your brain which control planning and evaluating shut down when they’re deprived of sleep, which means you’re more likely to become careless and happier about taking risks. When your brain is forced to operate in a different state regularly, it can permanently alter itself. So if the ‘mesolimbic pathway’ is continuously over-stimulated by lack of sleep, you could end up with permanent brain damage.

The moral of the story? Organisation of assignments, essays and exams is not only crucial to achieving great results, but crucial in keeping you healthy in body and mind. So every once in a while, switch off the TV, sign out of Facebook, sit down and actually study. If not for the sake of your work, at least for the sake of your health.