Burgled

My news this week is that we got burgled :( Our flat got broken into on Saturday night. We had friends round for dinner and some drinks and left the flat sometime after 7pm. My fiance's band had a gig so we went out early for sound check, went for a few drinks, watched the gig and were back by just after 11pm. We got home and I went straight into the kitchen-our plan was to get the rest of the bottle of wine we had started before we left and curl up on the sofa with a film. Needless to say that didn't happen! My partner went into the bedroom and immediately started shouting about what a mess it was in there, asking why I had felt the need to throw all my clothes around and get out the suitcases before we left....I hadn't. It took a good few minutes for the penny to drop that we had been broken into as there was no sign of damage to the front door-which was locked when we got home. We now believe that the robbers got into the building through an external window and carded our yale lock to gain entry before leaving by the front door!


We looked around to see what was missing and our worst fears were confirmed to note that the TV/DVD was gone along with both of our laptops, the xbox, and the ipad. They also emptied the contents of my handbag across the front room floor (i had left my bag at home and taken my purse and phone) and taken the bag, and pulled out all of our suitcase and taken mine-presumably to carry away all our things without attracting attention-basically they made it look as if they were guests or people going on holiday so that nobody from the flats below who saw them would question them.


It made me very angry to be stolen from but the worst thing for me wasn't the loss of our electrical items, it was the fact that some one had been in my house, in my personal space, touching my things. The items can be replaced and the locks and window have now been replaced but the knowledge that an intruder was in my home will stay with me for a very long time.

Album reveiw: Lana Del Rey - Born to die

Read my review of Lana Del Rey's album-Born to die for Propaganda Magazine:

http://thepropagandamag.com/reviews/album-reveiw-lana-del-rey-born-die

deadbeat darling

Check out my interview with New York band Deadbeat Darling for Propaganda Mag:

http://thepropagandamag.com/interviews/deadbeat-darling-interview

Does the x Factor have a future-discuss…

This is the debate I have been interested in lately. With TV viewing figures for the 2011 X factor final at an all time low and the winners Little Mix being pipped to the post for Christmas number one by the Military Wives Choir is this the end for the x factor?

The argument in favour of the x factor says no this is not the end and merely a one of blip for the show. Prime time television slots need filling, and the target demographic for these slots is the majority of the Birtish public. The broadcasters need to put on a show which appeals to the masses; that has something for everyone and above all is accessible to everyone. The answer it seems is reality TV. Most people can relate to the ‘stars’ of reality tv because they are ‘real’ people and not celebrities. In the case of the x-factor, many people dream of one day becoming rich and famous, this show makes that dream a reality for the every day person and so people want to watch.

On the other hand the x-factor (and other shows like it) can be seen as a fad-part of pop culture that will fade with the fashions of our generation. The shows current superstar status has been created by the followings of today’s tv watching youth. These people will inevitably grow up and find new interests and the youth of tomorrow will have a new show or genre that captures their imagination and the x-factor will become a thing of the past.

So, my verdict? There was popstars, there was pop idol and now there is the x-factor. Same show, same concept, different name, the formula is still the same and as the careers of many of the winners have faded the popularity of the shows grew and grew until recently. Hopefully this ratings decline will see a return of real music-with real artists who write their own music and live through their songs, rather than wannabes looking for a fast-track to success. 

I’m not saying that nobody who enters these talent competitions has talent, but hoping that the general public has finally begun to see through the sob stories and the fancy costumes and remember that it was all meant to be about the music. Maybe 2012 will mark a turning point in British music and the x-factor chart monopoly will be over allowing the best of British talent to step into the limelight. 

This is my article for Propaganda magazine. With thanks to andy and dani for their input on either side of the debate.

The hunt is on!

Job hunting is ever so slightly soul destroying. The constant rejection, no vacancies, 'you have to apply online'....it all gets a bit much. Thankfully though this wasn't the whole story and I did get a few more positive responses and have a couple of interviews tomorrow. I am keeping my fingers firmly crossed that one of them is right for me!


After the last post where I said I had a bad day I decided I didn't want to go back to my old job. It was making my constantly miserable and I was fed up of being treated like I was unimportant and as if I had no feelings. Nobody deserves to made to feel like that, and recent events have really hammered home the message that 'life is too short'. I had been fed up there for a long time but 'sticking with it until something better comes along'. Which of course it never did as I wasn't really looking hard enough. 


With the decision to leave made I found it much easier to actually start the job hunting process. I refreshed my CV, printed lots of copies and began handing them out everywhere. It was draining and often disappointing but the need to earn money to live, and the desire not to return to my old job kept me going. I just hope it has all paid off, and hopefully after tomorrow I will know! I haven't stopped looking for other vacancies even though I now have some interviews-they might come to nothing so it is always best to keep an eye out. 


In the meantime I have been living the life of the unemployed...the flat has never looked so clean, the washing is up to date, I have caught up on all the TV and films that I have wanted to watch since Christmas and got 'To Do' lists ticked off so its not all been bad!


:) x