BLOG 39! Fly FM!

Hi everyone,


Just a quick one this morning to let you know about my new Mixcloud page, which I will be using to upload podcasts and the latests highlights from my Fly Fm radio shows.

I will be back with another blog from 6th December, once I have met my first uni deadline. Sorry for the lack of blogs recently.

So for now follow the link below and listen to my latest Fly Fm highlights, certainly worth a listen.

 http://www.mixcloud.com/alexanderblakemore/

cya

Alex :)

Blog 38! 'Education charity shop'!

With Christmas time approaching many retail shops are setting themselves up for one of their busiest times of the year. For many students the thought of charity shops has never been at the forefront of their mind. I decided to investigate the world of charity by visiting two of Nottingham's stores.

The charity shop Mind, on Mansfield Road, Sherwood, is a charity that works with people with mental health problems affecting 1 in 3 people within the UK. They don't just work with the patience themselves, they support family's and give meaningful work to people who would not be able to get paid work for various reasons. This very important charity focuses on an issue that is close to many peoples lives. Assistant manager of the Mansfield store Jackie Chapman spoke to me about the importance of the shop and donations for the charity at christmas time. 

She explained that "It's particularly important at christmas time to support charity shops, because like most stores that's when we get most of our income. When you go into a charity shop to spend money or to make a donation you are automatically supporting people who are less fortunate than yourself." The support you give to mind over this christmas period will help them continue to support patience and their families suffering with mental illness. 

Mind takes a wide range of donations: Small electrical goods, children's clothes, toys and ladies and gents wear, books, DVD's, CD's. This creates a diverse range of products to sell to customers giving a wide variety compared to high street stores. Within the shop nothing is wasted, "If we find an item of clothing that is not suitable for sale we have a rag man who pays us so much per weight of bag. We have a similar system for books via world books, who pay us per box. We are the ultimate recycler, everything is used." The effort put in by the volunteers is a major part of the shops success and without their support the shop would not be able to sort out the best donations. 

You may now be convinced that shops like Mind are vital in the community but why should you shop charity instead of high street? After speaking to Jackie it was evident why charity is often a good decision "You get a wide range of clothes and fashions, if you go to a high street shop you will find the same t-shirt in lots of different sizes. What we do is a size 10 or 12 and you get a different range and lots of different era's. I think this makes the shop more interesting." 

Jackie's message to students was clear "Buy from a charity shop because you'll get a bargain"

Oxfam have a similar message "You should shop charity because you can get all kinds of interesting things that are no longer available in high street stores and for a bargain price. At the same time you will be helping a good cause." This was a tip to students from Patrick Wright the manager of Oxfam Charity shop in Mansfield Road, Sherwood. This shop's mission is to "raise as much money as possible so that it can help people in poverty and suffering around the world." 

The world of charity is something that is rarely published and it's important to acknowledge the work that goes into supporting good causes. But they can't do it alone they rely on people like us to help them out in whatever way we can. There are so many way you can get involved and anything you can do is highly appreciated. With christmas approaching why not head down to your local store and have a look at some of the bargains you could pick up. You could also donate something that you no longer need which could be put to better use by the charities.

Blog 37! Home after a busy but rewarding week!

Hi everyone,

I hope you are all well and you enjoyed halloween and bonfire night.

As you can probably tell from the title of this week blog I've had a good week and I am writing from home in little old Lichfield. After a busy week last week and coming out with a fairly poor story overall, I was determined to put as much if not more effort in this week and find a really good story. Lucky I did and my week was spend producing a great local story about a women who runs her own business in Carlton, Nottingham. I found the rewarding side of journalism from my experience this week, being able to share a genuinely lovely story which deserves to be heard.

I also had my first Fly FM news meeting this week which was exciting, it is due to start broadcasting again soon so keep your eyes peeled for my news slots and be sure to tune in.

The media has officially gone into christmas mode. I was listening to Scott Mills on BBC radio 1 the other day and he played 'All I want for Christmas', in my opinion christmas songs should not be played till at least December.

This weekend is set to be a good one. I am planning on meeting friends and seeing family before heading back off to Nottingham on Sunday for another week of story finding. It is unbelievable to think I have been at University for 8 weeks and I am already thinking about coming back for christmas. Time has flown by, but I feel very settled up in Nottingham, slowly getting to grips with where everything is. I have always been terrible when it comes to remembering where I am going.

Speaking of christmas, I am looking forward to it more than ever this year as I will be nice to be home, get some money behind me and spend time with friends from home. I think being away makes time with family more special and you realise what you take for granted. The main thing I am looking forward to is having my double bed back for a month.

Enough of me, time to see what's in the headlines:

• The playstation 4 system is due for release on the 29th November, which means I only have to wait 21 days until I get my hands on it. (Exiting news for gamers) 
• The chairwomen of Ofsted has said that two year old's should start school in order to improve their chances. Now in my opinion when you're two you should not be worrying about your 'chances', that age is all about having fun and enjoying your very early years. Leave it to the four year old's to go to school. 

That's all from me this week now just time for song of the week! It's monster by Rihanna and Eminem

I'll be back soon 

cya Alex :) 

Blog 36! Podcast 6! Halloween!

Hi everyone,

This is my latest podcast just follow the link below, hope you enjoy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZosiWNBExig&feature=youtu.be


Also here is the link for the Insidious trailer mentioned in the blog: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1YbOMDI59k

Hope you all have a great week and I will be back soon

@alexblakemore1

Cya Alex :)

Blog 35! Disappointing afternoon!

Hi all,

It's been a while since I last blogged, but unfortunately I have to write about how my day has been very disappointing. So it's not the most Jolly Blog.

I went home this weekend which on a positive note, was really nice and I was treated to lots of food and drink that I've missed since being a university. I also had a catch up with family and drove my car around the streets of Lichfield. It's strange, when you are away from home you get used to being away, but when you go back you realise the sort of things you miss. So being home was really nice. UNTIL...... I went to watch Aston Villa this afternoon. Sorry non-football fans this blog is going to be focused on the Villa match.

In my article for avillafan.com this morning I mentioned how Villa have had a good run over the last 3 games, and keeping it tight at the back. I also focused on the positives of our recent performances and the sort of tactics we could have played. But now the match is over and we got outplayed by Spurs, losing 2-0 it's time for a slight rant.

For the first half an hour we followed the sort of tactics I expected for today's match, and I think Lambert got it right. We were pressing Spurs and giving them very little time on the ball, resulting in them passing back to the keeper on a regular basis. Neither team had many chances and if it wasn't for a dodgy ball into the box by Townsend, missing all the players in the box and creeping into the net, I think that both teams would have gone in level at the break. In the second half it was fairly one sided until the introduction of Benteke who tried to create chances for the Villa, but as soon as Spurs grabbed their second the game was lost.

Delph impressed me again today, working his socks off for the team and trying to create some chances for Villa. I also thought that the defence looked fairly decent again against a Spurs team who are very good at attacking. Townsend was outstanding again and caused out right back Luna some serious problems.

On the negative side Kozak was poor. He is a waste of money in my opinion, and although he has played a few games recently due to Benteke's injury, he has done little to impress me. Today he didn't get his head on anything and he was unable to hold the ball up on any occasion. He was fighting a losing battle and at times I felt sorry for him. As soon as he left the field we instantly looked like a better side with Benteke getting his head on everything and holding the ball up, allowing the rest of the team to press forward. Unfortunately Spurs got their second and there was no coming back.

I had to write about this because I thought I had to follow up on my article this morning.

Onwards and upwards and let's hope we can pick up the form we were getting from the Villa team before the international break.

I'll be back soon with another blog, and I promise it will be less focused on football and back to the usual Opinion Counts.

Cya Alex :)

Blog 34! Nottingham Trent University!

Hi all,

Just a quick one to update you all on my first few days in Nottingham! As you know I moved into my flat at Gill Street on friday morning and as I was the first in the flat I was able to get the best cupboards and fridge space which was amazing!

All of my flat mates are really nice and I am beginning to really settle in up here. Walking around Nottingham is still strange as I am used to living in little Lichfield so my system is still getting used to the size and complexity of the city. I have to admit I am loving living here and it is a great student city.

I have been out for the last 3 nights and in one word Nottingham is MENTAL! I have never been out on nights like it. The music, people and atmosphere have been incredible. I have had rather too much to drink though, but it's freshers week so who can blame me.

Tonight the flat are having a quiet one and we are going for some food at our local pub. I am missing home but of course this is inevitable, however I am starting to get used to being away.

Today I had my first lecture and it was overwhelming with a lot of information being chucked at me. I have a busy but exciting week ahead and I am looking forward to getting stuck in.

Next week is Kitty's birthday and I am really looking forward to seeing her and celebrating her 19th birthday.

That's all I have time for today but I will be back soon from Nottingham.

Time for some more baked beans and ham (3rd day in a row), good job I enjoy beans!

cya Alex :)

Song of the week!  - Too close by Alex Clare

Blog 33! Change, Uni and the next chapter!

I am currently sitting on a Cross Country train from Leeds to Derby on my way back from spending a lovely couple of days with Kitty at Leeds Metropolitan University! It was great to see her and meet her flat mates. She was very settled up there which was great to see and her room is really nice and surprising clean for a girl who is well known for being very lazy!

Amongst the calm and chilled out atmosphere was a very scary moment of getting stuck in a lift. We paid little attention to the sign notifying us of the maximum weight restriction! With a good 6/7 of us in the lift we were well over the limit. The lift didn't go anywhere and the buttons to open the door would not work! The lift was very cramped and the air was beginning to get very hot! We pressed the help button but it made little difference as we were not rescued. We were stuck in there a good 5 minutes before people began to worry. I was playing it cool of course but inside I could feel my heart rate start to quicken! So I thought I'm going to try and open the doors of the lift! I did think they would be very heavy so I would need some help off the others in the lift, but as I grabbed the side and pulled they swung open! We were all relieved, especially Kitty who pushed me out of the lift instantly to escape the congested lift.

 Aside from that small complication and drama the over night stay was quiet and allowed me to get to know her flat mates and spend some time with Kitty which I have missed lately as until she went to university we saw each other on a regular basis.

Moving on. Tomorrow I am moving into my flat at Nottingham Trent university and it is the beginning of an exciting time for me. I am going to study Broadcast Journalism, a subject you all know I am passionate about. I am also looking forward to the freedom of moving away from home and beginning my life as a city man. I will update you soon to let you all know how I am getting on at university and will most likely have some stories to tell.

So, it's all changed! For months and months you could see the change coming ever nearer but thought little of it whilst we enjoyed our summer antics! For me the change began on results day when I knew I had got the grades to go to university and we were all going our separate ways. I have known most of my friends for a good 7 years and we are all going to lead separate lives from now on. The change hit me most when kitty left for Leeds the other week and for the first time Lichfield felt empty without my friends! I am still coming to terms with the change that has seemed to snap at our lives so quickly and change them, but with time that change will become our normality as we all head into our next adventure.

That's all from me for now and I will be back soon! Hope you all have a great week.

Cya 

Alex