tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72760001724191580172024-03-19T09:23:42.992+00:00Always Never Me.The story of my life.Samantha Blundellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16660790286639240756noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276000172419158017.post-27819378653122083682016-09-15T13:16:00.001+01:002016-10-09T13:09:49.848+01:00How to declutter your life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This is a short guide from a determined hoarder on how to declutter you life and make time for the things you really want to do.<br />
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When I look back I almost can't believe I ran the London Marathon in April earlier this year. Since then it feels like my life has changed an enormous amount in just four short months. I now have a new job, I've moved into a new flat in suburbia with two kittens, I've started volunteering at my hockey club and I've only been for two 4-mile runs since crossing the finish line. I have always been a firm believer in the idea that you make time for the things you want to do, which is why I'm starting to declutter my life - beginning with my wardrobe and end with my time-wasting habits.<br />
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Here's my advice for decluttering your life:<br />
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Decluttering your possessions</h3>
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I am a serious hoarder. I know it can be hard to admit it but sometime you just have too much stuff. Do you really need to keep the cinema stub from the movie you saw with a friend last week? I always think I'll get around to scrap-booking these things but I never do. It's the same with clothes, old CDs, books, jewellery, scarves (I have a serious addiction), even kitchen stuff.<br />
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I started to trying to sort out my mass of clothes yesterday and found myself asking what a rational number of tops was. The answer, helpfully provided by my friend Grace, is if you actually wear them then that's fine. But there's no point keeping them if you don't. This sounds really obvious but sometimes it's difficult to detach yourself from the sentimental value. Are you likely to ever re-read that book you loved ages ago? How often do you even listen to CDs these days? You have seven mugs but you only ever drink one cup of tea a day, do you need the other six, even if they were presents? By decluttering your possessions you are one step closer to simplifying your decisions-making processes and freeing up your time to do more exciting things.<br />
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Decluttering your time </h3>
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Living in my new flat, I now spend at least two hours commuting every day. My working hours have increased meaning I'm in the office an extra hour and a half too. I'm working on improving my hockey club's communications and I've started umpiring as well as playing. Basically, I have a lot less free time and for someone who is trying to squeeze as much as possible into each day - it makes life a bit trickier. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlviusJqQCcStSNlZ87JJpPT_QXRu5BFyFXHUQsdBMu4EgeL5iUvNQot-Tj1rdG2L44ymLeFFG_YrtQ389cPzE-K8V2GdMUrQR5Gxdxd6r1v8K2W1n_lyMunznYMMIqnosQ60_0HqG6IbV/s1600/phone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlviusJqQCcStSNlZ87JJpPT_QXRu5BFyFXHUQsdBMu4EgeL5iUvNQot-Tj1rdG2L44ymLeFFG_YrtQ389cPzE-K8V2GdMUrQR5Gxdxd6r1v8K2W1n_lyMunznYMMIqnosQ60_0HqG6IbV/s400/phone.jpg" width="275" /></a>The first thing you can do is cut down the hours of sleep your getting. This is often the least popular option but you don't really need more than 7 hours sleep a night, especially if the first two are just having breakfast, getting dressed and going to work, and the last one is showering and chilling out.
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The second is making the most of that commute time as well as your lunch break. I will always read my work emails on the way in so that I'm ready to go once I get into the office. No one wants to work extra time unless they need to so being productive means you're more likely to leave on time. I often use my lunch breaks for personal chores too. Working through your lunch time if you don't need to isn't productive and it just means you'll have to find more time later to run those errands you needed to do.
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Spending less time glued to your phone will definitely help too. This can be really hard to stick to, especially working in social media. On the average day I spend about 60-70% of my day on the internet, not just at work but everywhere. I'm either messaging my friends, checking emails, using Citymapper or checking Facebook. Often it just out of habit rather need; It's so easy to get into that mesmerising trance of scrolling through Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/Pinterest... Even LinkedIn gets me sometimes! But if you're not on there to find a specific piece of content, reply to a particular comment or post then don't get pulled in. Social media can be a real time waster - before you know it you've spent 10 minutes watching cat videos or doing some crappy personality quiz.<br />
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Decluttering your life</h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjME3o6a2EoKNuApDO93YgPfkfsphCymimLW24B95Eb2p6_5oVXkHGD2ShyphenhyphenqpWlDqFFHBD7G-9LEjFMnyEJhCYCLybqxRhmi3W0l8J7OjHH01x31FjBF1igIwk7GnZ7OHorBaTE4hT3Peas/s1600/c835e1b957d18c9236af89aabb8c79d3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjME3o6a2EoKNuApDO93YgPfkfsphCymimLW24B95Eb2p6_5oVXkHGD2ShyphenhyphenqpWlDqFFHBD7G-9LEjFMnyEJhCYCLybqxRhmi3W0l8J7OjHH01x31FjBF1igIwk7GnZ7OHorBaTE4hT3Peas/s320/c835e1b957d18c9236af89aabb8c79d3.jpg" width="264" /></a>Ultimately, the best way to streamline your life is to decide on your current priorities. If you want to get a promotion at work, start a new career, learn to master a new skill, save money to go travelling or start eating healthily, you need to centre your time around this goal. Having too many goals at once is unrealistic and means you're less likely to achieve any of them. Whereas, if you focus on one or two, you'll find it much easier to manage your time and you'll feel a lot more positive about your progress. </div>
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This might mean cutting down on things that you've enjoyed in the past like weekly drinks with friends or running three times a week. But being successful is about making compromises and no matter how much you want to, you can't do everything.</div>
Samantha Blundellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16660790286639240756noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276000172419158017.post-5850391650897147262016-05-12T18:30:00.000+01:002016-05-12T19:40:32.356+01:00My London Marathon Experience & My Life Since Then<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's now been over two weeks since I completed the London Marathon. I'm sorry it has taken me a while to write this. I do have a good excuse, but I will get into that later. First I want to give you a run down of my preparation for the big day and tell you about my personal experience of running one of the world's most famous marathons.<br />
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In the last couple of weeks running up to the race I tapered my training (which basically means I cut down the miles to give my body time to recover for the full distance). I read that tapering correctly can improve your performance by up to 20% on the day so despite reservations I decided to take everyone's advice and taper properly.<br />
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I also had to go to the ExCel centre to pick-up my running number and tag. This was also an opportunity to meet the team from Shelter UK (my charity) and get some last minute advice from some experts.<br />
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I was up at 7am on the big day. My clothes laid out and bag packed the night before. I forced down half a packet of porridge (I could barely eat for nerves) and a big glass of squash. After double-double checking all of my belongings I set off for Old Street tube station at 7:30am. A quick flash of my running number and I was through the barriers and enjoying my free journey. The carriages were filled with runners, some as nervous as me, others season runners on their fifth or sixth marathon. A quick change at London Bridge and I arrived at Greenwich station in what felt like no time at all. I followed the crowds not knowing the direction to the park and tried to stay calm.<br />
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Once through the security checks, I had about an hours wait at the Red Start (the masses and charity start) before the race began at 10am. We were able to watch some of the other races set off on the big screen; you could palpably feel the tension building. After a final toilet stop I delivered my numbered bag to the transportation lorries and made my way to my starting pen (7 of 9), knowing it would be a long time until I got to see it again.<br />
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I chatted to a nice school teacher in the pen and, after they'd let the plastic tape down, shuffled my way forward in the starting blocks. I crossed the start line around 12 minutes after the official start. Despite my expectations, I ran over the start line and had plenty of space to get going. Admittedly I was overtaking a lot of people at this point but so were a lot of others. It was a this point I saw some really unusual costumes such as a man running for Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières) dressed as Jesus Christ dragging a huge crucifix. I can't remember if he had trainers on but I don't think he did.<br />
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The first 10 miles went past in a bit of a blur. I'd run 10 miles or more so many times in my training it felt natural and having never run any sort of race before I was really enjoying the atmosphere and camaraderie of it all. It felt like being part of an exclusive club. It was amazing. It was about mile 10 that I remembered my brother and his girlfriend were planning to spectate in Bermondsey. I suddenly couldn't remember if we had already been through Bermondsey or not. I had my headphones in and I panicked that maybe I had run right past them without noticing. I asked a guy near me whether we'd been through there already and he said it was coming up in a couple of miles so I relaxed a bit and started looking up more. After an initial second panic of not seeing them at the charity cheer point, I was elated at spotting them half a mile down the road on the same side as me!<br />
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After this I really knuckled down. I knew I still had a long way to go and I'd read a lot about people running too fast between 13 miles and 20 miles. I was hoping to see my mum and Leonie (a close friend) at mile 15 but it turned out they got lost and couldn't find the cheer point. I was lucky enough to see some friends from hockey twice during the next hour. It was exciting to see people I knew and brought me back to reality. I was so 'in the zone' the time flew past without too much stress. I saw another group of close friends on my way out of the Isle of Dogs (around mile 23 I think). This was great because I knew after this I only had one more group to look out for - my brother, his girlfriend, my mum and Leonie who were all planning to be at the final charity cheer point at mile 25.<br />
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The last 6 miles were definitely the hardest. Not just physically, but mentally as well. I realised at about mile 20 I wasn't going to make my target of being under 4 hours and I did have a moment of asking myself what it was all for if I didn't reach that. But I soon remembered why I had signed up in the first place. I wanted to raise as much money as possible for the homeless population of the UK. People all around me were dropping out and beginning to walk. Although I may not have been moving very fast at this point I knew there was no possibility of me stopping.<br />
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At mile 25 I saw all my family and Leonie together, smiled and waved and trudged on to the finish. My muscles were really tightening up at this point and I'm pretty sure that last mile took me a lot longer than it ever had in training. It took a long time to see the actual finish line but once you get round the bend at Buckingham Palace it's an amazing sight to see. Having been determined throughout my training that I wanted to do a sprint finish, I didn't give up on the idea on the day. I ran as fast as I possibly could to through those red arches.<br />
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The immediate feeling once I crossed the line was relief. I had made it to the end, no accidents and no upsets. I wasn't even that disappointed about not making the target because I'd accepted my fate over the last 60 minutes. Soon after having my medal placed around my neck, the pain and stiffness set in. My legs felt awful and I could only hobble down to the place where I collected my bag from. The only thing I was interested in from my goodie bag was water.<br />
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The rest of the day was spent in a mixture of pain and celebration. I met my family and friends at the amazing reception put on by Shelter. We went for an early dinner but I couldn't really face eating that much (which is crazy for anyone who knows me well). By 6pm I had waved off my mum and returned to my flat to shower and rest (or what felt like die!) I also had hundreds of messages from all my friends to reply to when I got home which took me about an hour and a half. After that I passed out on my bed from exhaustion.<br />
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The next day was a Monday and straight back to work for me. Other than severe blisters which were causing me to limp around I was reasonably okay. I had some muscle stiffness but nothing too unbearable for sitting at a desk all day.<br />
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The last two weeks really have flown past and if you've stayed with me this long, now's the time to say the reason why it's taken me so long to write this is that I've just left my first real job and started a new one this week. The first couple of days at my new company have been great. Give me a couple more weeks to make a proper verdict but right now I'm very happy with my new situation.<br />
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This is my last post about the marathon and I would like to say HUGE thank you to everyone who donated and supported me along the way. I appreciate it more than I could possibly express. I truly believe without the support of my friends and family I couldn't have done it, and I definitely wouldn't have enjoyed it. I've been asked a lot since, will I do another marathon? My answer has to be, why not...<br />
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<br />Samantha Blundellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16660790286639240756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276000172419158017.post-72326668655845603952016-03-27T18:20:00.000+01:002016-04-07T13:21:16.442+01:00Why I'm Running For ShelterWith 27 days until the big event, I wanted to share with you why I chose to run for Shelter (<a href="http://www.shelter.org.uk/">www.shelter.org.uk</a>).<br />
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Homelessness is huge issue in the UK which most of us either aren't aware of or think it doesn't effect us. I'm in an extremely fortunate position where I've always had somewhere to live and family to look after me but many of us aren't so lucky.<br />
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<a href="http://data.london.gov.uk/dataset/chain-reports/resource/dd12fe65-0a44-465d-96e6-5339fc5c505d">Local agencies report 7,581 people slept rough in London alone throughout 2014/15</a> - a 16 per cent rise on the previous year. And the issue is only growing. More than 50% of homeless people asking for help are aged under 25 and in Manchester sleeping rough has almost doubled since 2014. In the last year, there's been a 30% increase in the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-35686743" target="_blank">number of homeless sleeping in bins</a> (the video is quite disturbing as you seen a man tipped upside down into a compactor). I could go on...<br />
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Professor Green, real name Stephen Manderson, did a documentary earlier this year on the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b070jqms" target="_blank">'Hidden and Homeless'</a> living in the UK (<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/35526100/professor-green-uncovers-hidden-homelessness-for-bbc-three-documentary" target="_blank">BBC write-up here</a>). I watched this instead of running on an injury rest day and it really moved me. Homelessness is more than just living on the street. I won't go into detail as I think everyone should watch it for themselves. Unfortunately, it's no longer on iPlayer but I recommend seeking it out online or buying it on the BBC Store. </div>
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Over the last 5 months of my training, my awareness of homelessness has grown dramatically. There are many different definitions of homelessness and it seems absurd to be that you have to be legally defined as homeless before your Local Council can help you. Shelter argues that homelessness should include those who "live in unsuitable housing, don't have rights to stay where they are or are sleeping rough".<br />
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Those who experience homelessness are often amongst the most vulnerable people in our society, suffering from a combination of poor housing, unemployment, low income, bad health, poor skills, loneliness, isolation and relationship breakdown. <span class="st" style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.4; word-wrap: break-word;"></span><br />
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I've heard the phrase "these people don't help themselves" a lot recently and it's not uncommon for people to avoid and ignore homeless people on the streets these days. But there are many more reasons for homelessness than those which you would naturally think of, such as: </div>
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<li>being evicted because of rent arrears caused by money problems </li>
<li>the breakdown of relationships with partners, parents or family</li>
<li>having to leave because of domestic violence or abuse </li>
<li>illegal eviction or harassment by a landlord </li>
<li>a disaster such as a fire or flooding</li>
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I'm not a particularly political person but I do believe it is the government's duty to support those who are homeless. Having a home, a roof over your head, to me, is a basic human right. How can we be one of the richest countries in the world and still have so many basic problems at home?<br />
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<br />Charities like Shelter need the support of the government. </h3>
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Shelter helps millions of people every year struggling with bad housing or homelessness through advice, support and legal services. They campaign to make sure that one day, no one will have to turn to them for help. Last year, they helped over 4 million people through their advice service. A key part of what they do is campaigning to make housing more affordable, renting fairer and homelessness a thing of the past. They want to tackle the root causes of the housing crisis so that everyone can have a safe, secure and affordable home.<br />
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If you haven't donated yet, hopefully this will persuade you to. </h3>
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<a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Samantha-Blundell" target="_blank">Click here to donate on my page now.</a> </h4>
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Samantha Blundellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16660790286639240756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276000172419158017.post-54542285158882426782016-02-27T11:32:00.000+00:002016-02-27T11:46:31.314+00:00Fundraising: Vintage-Style Country Tea Party<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last weekend I hosted my first fundraising event, a vintage-style country tea party in Gloucestershire. A lot of organising went into it, over half of which was done by my mum. I created the somewhat embarrassingly bad invitations and gave her a rough list of family and friends to invite but she really took it to the next level. Before I had even had a chance to think past triangle sandwiches and a Victoria sponge, she'd already made five different types of cake, asked her friends to bring brownies and cakes, and bought the ingredients for even more. Initially I was a bit put out by this - I wanted to do some baking and organising as well! - but it actually turned out that with running 14 miles that weekend and revision for an exam on the day after the tea party, I would have been pretty stressed out. (The exam went okay, in case you wanted to know.)<br />
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She also did a great job of filling the house with friends and family. Having moved out of Gloucestershire five years ago, I haven't kept in touch with many people in the area. Luckily my mum is like one of the people you read about in a chick-lit novel - she's retired and spends most of her time playing golf, walking dogs, gardening or doing charity work. This is great because it means she has loads of friends to invite and although we only gave people two weeks notice and it was the half term weekend (time with the grand kids!) we still had lots of people who were available to come.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All homemade (except the cherry pie which was a gift)</td></tr>
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I tried to decorate the house with a vintage-style theme: a family friend lent us the most beautiful bunting she had made for her daughter's wedding last year; another let us borrow a pretty tea set with saucers and side plates; I finally got a chance to use the cake stands I'd been given for Christmas a couple of years before; I placed some pink roses in glasses around the room and we bought some matching table cloths and serviettes.<br />
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It was really nice to meet some of my mum's friends, see family that I don't get the opportunity to see very often and talk to people who were genuinely really interested about my running and how it was going. The key question everyone asks you is, 'how's the training going?' With some people they just ask it because they know that's what's expected but others you can really tell actually care. Everyone at the tea party, whether I had met them before or not genuinely cared. Some couldn't believe I was going to run all 26.2 miles and others offered running tips.<br />
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A huge thank you to everyone for your kind donations! It got slightly confusing with the mix of cash and card donations on the website, but in total we raised over £400 which is just amazing! I'm now nearly half way to my target, and with a bake sale at work coming up in 10 days time I'm feeling more confident about making it!<br />
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On a side note, I'm running 16 miles tomorrow - wish me luck!!Samantha Blundellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16660790286639240756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276000172419158017.post-54928550527516014312016-02-14T19:02:00.000+00:002016-02-14T19:02:39.403+00:00More Running, a Cold and Fundraising Plans...This is a short update on how my training is going. It's going to cover January and most of February. I'll try to do another post at the end of February to make up for my lack of communication.<br />
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January was quite difficult with a 12 day break (a couple of days either side of 7 day skiing holiday) meaning I had a considerable amount of catching up to do. 12 days might not sound that much to some people but at the moment I'm running three times a week and hockey twice a week. I managed to get back on track reasonably quickly, starting back at lower distances and building up each week. I'm now running 4, 6 and 12 miles a week, next week I'll step up to 4, 7 and 14.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view from my room of the sunrise at the end of my run in Sicily</td></tr>
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In general the running is going well. I had a work conference in Sicily at the end of January but I still managed to run once whilst there (5 miles) and at the weekend. People have asked if it's getting easier now but I think the runs are just as hard as they always have been because I'm continually trying to run each distance faster. I can't recommend RunKeeper (the app I use) enough. I don't think I'd be doing half as well without it and I'd have to concentrate so much more on my timings too. Now I can just put it on, relax into the run and think about anything I want to.<br />
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I've had a cold the last two weeks which has made training really difficult. I've only actually missed one run but I've been running slower than I wanted to be. Last Sunday I was very weak for the whole day after running 12 miles (I ran the same route 7 minutes faster this week which is a big increase and shows how unwell I was). I'm starting to feel much better and I'm really hoping not to catch any other illnesses before the race.<br />
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I can't believe it's only 10 weeks until the marathon. I feel quite anxious about it if I'm honest. There are a lot of things that could go wrong. I might get an injury running (so far I've been very lucky) or I might get an injury skiing (I'm going again for four days in March). I might not manage to fit in all my training runs planned (I can't see this happening but you never know). I might find the really long runs (14+ miles - more thank 2 hours) mentally and physically really stressful. Anything could happen. And that's what makes me nervous. But I can't control most of those things, all I can do is take precautions.<br />
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My fundraising is going quite slowly. I haven't done any of the events or ideas I had planned yet but I am starting to put some of the plans into place, and next week I am hosting a Tea Party at my family home in Gloucestershire. It's going to be quintessentially British with little sandwiches, cakes, lots of tea and homemade lemonade. I'm also hoping to do a raffle there as well.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My invitations for the Tea Party (don't judge, I made it in 10 minutes in Powerpoint)</td></tr>
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I'm trying to organise a bake sale at work also. The main challenge with that is making and transporting enough cakes for people to buy. I'm going to have to come up with a clever plan. Luckily I only live a 10 minute walk from the office so I can also do three trips if I need to. All solutions welcome!<br />
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In my next post I'll give you an update on how the Tea Party went with lots of pictures of the food and decorations (I'm hoping to have bunting up and I'm praying for sunshine...).<br />
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If you'd like to donate, you can click on the link in the left sidebar or <a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Samantha-Blundell" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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Shelter is an extremely worthy cause and your money makes a big difference to the work they can to help the homeless and change housing conditions in the UK.Samantha Blundellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16660790286639240756noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276000172419158017.post-90924599725862005072015-12-31T19:11:00.001+00:002015-12-31T19:11:59.226+00:00Starting out: 2 miles to a Half MarathonsI thought it would be interesting to write about how my marathon training is going so far as it's the question I've been asked most over the Christmas holidays. In case you didn't see from my last post, I am running the London Marathon in April 2016 for Shelter. To be more precise, 24th April 2016. That's 114 days... The last two months have gone by in a flash!<br />
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I officially started my training at the beginning of November. Before then I had been playing hockey twice a week, very basic level netball once a week and going for the occasional 2 mile run. I would be quite proud of myself for going on these short runs. I never tracked the distance I just went out with my iPod and did a short lap down to Kings Cross and back. It wasn’t until the week before I started my actual training that I realised quite how short the runs were and quite how slow I had been running. Back then I wasn’t running for fitness or with a goal in mind, I was running to destress, for time to myself.</div>
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Now when I go for a run, things are very different. I have to start thinking about it the night before: what am I going to wear? Is the sports bra I want to use clean? Should I have one less glass of wine and one more glass of water? If I’m going for a long run (+8 miles), am I going to get up early and eat before? It’s a lot more serious, but then I getting some good results from the extra effort I’m putting in and I’m raising money for a really important and deserving cause so it’s definitely been worth it. <br />
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At 9am on Boxing Day (can’t believe it was only 5 days ago) I ran the distance of a half marathon. In fact, I did a small bit more but that’s because I couldn’t remember what the actual distance was. I didn’t run it very fast (probably because I was carrying around 2 plates of Christmas dinner and 2 bowls of pudding from the day before). But in two short months I went from running 2 miles to 13 miles. For people who don’t really think in distances, that’s running comfortably for about 30mins (I was slower then) to running for 2hrs. <br />
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I genuinely think I can put the majority of my success down to two things. I say success because I think most people would call that a decent achievement whilst working 9-5, playing hockey 2-3 times a week and having a social life. <br />
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The first is the fantastic support I’ve had from family and friends. Maybe I was just blind to it before but there seems to be more and more people popping-up with an interest in running. I could probably do another post with advice from a second set of experts. I’ve had so much advice and tips and support that it was almost overwhelming to begin with. Not in the sentimental teary way, in the which person do I listen to and which advice do I act on way. But everyone’s training journey is different. Everyone’s circumstances are different. Having a broad range of support has been really helpful and has given me the chance to pick and choose what I want to do. <br />
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Even those who aren’t able to give running advice have been great. Every seems to really care – even when I started to sound like a broken record “I just ran 10 miles!”. And this means a lot to me. Running for a long period of time, mainly on my own, although my brother has kindly joined me over Christmas period, can be really boring and mentally tiring at stages, and to know that my friends and family are proud of me and care if I get a personal best or run a new furthest distance really helps. <br />
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The second is attitude. Attitude has had a massive impact on my performance. As soon as I realised what a big deal running the London Marathon is, not to mention the £2000 I need to raise for my charity place and the £100 deposit you need to pay, I knew I had to take this whole thing a lot more seriously. When I first thought about doing the marathon in February earlier this year, I just wanted to be able to say, I’ve completed a marathon. Living in London, I thought it would be the best location to do it in. And that’s about it. I didn’t care if it took me 5 hours to complete or if I had to walk for a bit. <br />
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Now, the idea of walking makes me angry and I’m beginning to think seriously about the time I could get. I decided, if I’m going to do this, I might as well do it properly. I've been pushing myself to improve in every run I’ve done. I haven’t stopped once or given up, even when I fell over 3 miles into a 10 mile run (it happens…) and most importantly I’ve believed in myself.<br />
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I’m not exactly built for running. I’m short with little legs and I’m carrying about 2 stone extra weight for my height (I’d love to claim it’s all muscle but I know it’s not). But I haven’t let this get me down. I can do it. I’m not one of those people who believes that wishing for something will make it happen (I love Disney but let’s be realistic here) but I do believe that if you want something bad enough and you’re willing to work hard for it then you have as good of a chance as anyone else.<br />
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This attitude keeps me determined. It’s what sets me apart from all those people who say, “I could never run a marathon”. I’m no more capable than anyone else. I just know what I want to do and I’m doing it. <br />
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For those looking for tips to start running, my advice is to start small and build up. Be dedicated, don’t let the rain or a hangover put you off. Set weekly goals and track your progress with running apps – I use RunKeeper which reads your time, distance and pace out every 5 mins. Find a route you like and music you can relax with. After about 20 mins, I don’t even realise I’m running anymore. I think about what I’m doing for the rest of the day, what I can eat or drink later, movies I want to see at the cinema, how the money I’m raising will make a difference and the conversations I’ve had with family and friends over the last couple of days. Relaxing and daydreaming while I run helps me forget the distance and the pain.<br />
Before you know it, you’ll be thinking about your next run as soon as you’ve finished your last. Samantha Blundellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16660790286639240756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276000172419158017.post-82614771218148723502015-11-12T20:26:00.000+00:002015-11-12T20:26:30.465+00:00London Marathon 2016: Advice From The ExpertsI have a very exciting announcement to make: I am officially running the London Marathon 2016!!!<br />
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I've told most of my family and friends already but I wanted to do an official announcement here as I'll be aiming to do (at least) monthly updates on how my training is going, including: fundraising plans and events, any running tips I pick up along the way, diet and much more...<br />
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Early in 2015 I applied for a ballot place along with hundreds of thousands of hopefuls. This was my first time applying so I wasn't expecting to get a place (I have friends who have applied three times and still not been successful). So I wasn't surprised when I didn't get a place in the main ballot. However, I knew that I really wanted to do the London Marathon this year though so I moved straight on to applying for charity places. For about a week I had two charity places (my mistake.. too much enthusiasm I guess) but I decided to go with the charity I had always intended to run for called <a href="http://england.shelter.org.uk/" target="_blank">Shelter</a>.<br />
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Shelter helps millions of people every year struggling with bad housing and homelessness across the UK, as well as campaigning to prevent it. Since moving to London this time last year I have become increasingly aware of the current housing shortage in the UK and the serious homeless issue London has. This is a cause I feel passionately about and I'm really excited to do more than buying a stranger a 99p cheeseburger from McDonald's every so often.<br />
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I have never run a marathon or half marathon before. The furtherest distance I have ever run before I started was 10km. It's clear that I'm lacking in experience. However, I have quite a few friends who have run marathons before so I decided to ask four of them the same 10 questions, hoping to gain enough knowledge to last me at least up until Christmas. Check out who they are and what they had to say below.<br />
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<b>Emma Connolly</b> - a new hockey friend from East London hockey club who has done two marathons in the last year, London and Edinburgh!<br />
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<b>Chary Smith and Siân Cree</b> - university hockey friends who did the London Marathon in 2014. These two were part of my inspiration - they were able to balance their medical degrees, training and a social life! </div>
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<b>Charlotte Sullivan aka Sully</b> - another university hockey friend who has done so many marathons I've lost count! A couple of months ago she even did a 100km race in Spain - one absolutely crazy chica! </div>
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1. What advice would you give yourself starting out again?</h3>
<span style="color: #76a5af;">Emma: Get into a routine and be consistent with your weekly training and mileage. Make sure you use your rest days. Find other people to run with who are a similar speed to you. Stretch well! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Sully: I would tell myself that it was my first one, there is no PB to break, enjoy the training and enjoy the atmosphere and the crowd during the race. Linking negative thoughts and long-distance running isn’t good, it will only make you despise going next time even more.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Charly: I would say to start training early. Buy yourself some good winter running gear, including running armband for your phone/iPod. </span><br />
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2. What was the best training decision you made?</h3>
<span style="color: #c27ba0;">Sian: To train with other people, even if just for small runs, for example we'd have friends coming on the first 4 miles of our long run etc. Also a great decision was to aim for something, so we aimed for doing a half marathon by the end of xmas holidays.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #76a5af;">Emma: Join a running club and follow their running plan. Do some intervals regularly. Do the chasers 20 mile run (Thames 20).</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Sully: Not drinking a single drop of alcohol 2 weeks in the run-up to a race and trying to get a few cheeky big hills into at least 1 training session a week. It may feel like hell when you’re half up one of these hills, but your legs (and mind) will thank you on race day!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Charly: You should plan the route for the long run beforehand. Some people prefer to plan their route as a loop, other prefer half out then half back in, it's up to you. We preferred loops as you avoid tracing your same path. Make sure you vary the routes. A good website is walkjogrun as you enter your postcode and it shows you some pre-set routes tried by other runners which can be useful if you're stuck for ideas.</span></div>
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3. What foods did you find really helpful before and after training?</h3>
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Sully: I have always had porridge before every single race I have ran and it has never let me down, having always beaten my previous time in all distances I’ve raced in! <br />Also, during training and during a race I have never ever taken on gels, nor did I in the 100km. Just like with absolutely everything DON’T CHANGE ANYTHING FOR RACE DAY WITHOUT HAVING TRIED IT IN YOUR TRAINING!!! Whether that be food, different trainers, sports bra, pacing, absolutely everything, changing just one thing could be the difference between making it to the finish line and not.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Charly: Before the runs we usually had porridge with blueberries on, and in actual fact we had this on the day of the marathon too. The best thing about the long runs is you can pig out that evening on fish and chips or something and not feel bad!</span></div>
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4. How often did you do you long runs, twice a week or more?</h3>
<span style="color: #c27ba0;">Sian: We did 3 runs a week: 4 miles fast, 8 miles normal pace, and 1 long run on a Sunday at slow talking pace. The long run would increase by 1 mile every 1-2 weeks. We started at 10 miles, and my longest run was 22 miles. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Sully: For my first marathon and for those that followed, I have only ever done one long run a week. I would be cautious of doing any more long runs in a week as you run the risk of injury, you need to let your muscles rest and repair the small tares they have every now and then to ensure you make it to the start line.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #76a5af;">Emma: One long run a week and 1 medium run (never more than 1 long run a week). Built up the long runs over time. When I was running 15 miles I would also do an 8 mile that same week. </span></div>
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5. How many pairs of trainers did you go through and did you always use running trainers?</h3>
<span style="color: #c27ba0;">Sian: I'd recommend running trainers, definitely for a marathon! I got a new pair in January before the marathon in March. My previous pair was 2 years old and had done 2 half marathons so I was well overdue for a new pair!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #76a5af;">Emma: 2, yes always used running trainers. You can buy the same trainers on Amazon much cheaper when they become last season's trainers.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Sully: I have always used running trainers and definitely always will! I have only recently invested in a pair of Asics having bought 50 quid Karrimor running trainers from Sports Direct for my previous marathons! I never have due to money, but you can go to specialist sport shops and get your feet analysed for perfect fitting trainers (they analyse how you run, whether you have high or low arches etc.)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Charly: I went through 1 pair of trainers that I got for Christmas after a gait analysis. I would recommend Brooke's running trainers. Yes always run in running trainers. </span></div>
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6. What would you change about your training if you could go back?</h3>
<span style="color: #c27ba0;">Sian: To be honest my training put me in great stead on the day - I felt I could've gone faster! All you can do is train as much as you can at the time! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Sully: I think for my first marathon, I would have tried to add a cheeky bit of cross-training in my plan. They say swimming and cycling are really good sports for runners to do as cross-training, the gym too! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Charly: I would change it so that my longest run was 22 miles, not 20 which is what I did. This is because I found the last 6 miles an absolute killer, and feel if I'd done another really long one then I would have been better prepared on the day. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #76a5af;"><br />Emma: For the long runs really push it at least some times. I would often find that I was congratulating myself for getting the miles under my belt but didn't push myself to run at pace. If you are going for a long run get on with it so you can enjoy the rest of the day.</span></div>
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7. What were the best fundraising things you did?</h3>
<span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Charly: The best fundraising things we did were the curry nights when we cooked for about 30 people each time and charged £10 for a curry.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0;">Sian: I did a tea party at home where we invited family friends/neighbours. Mum and I baked loads of cakes and did tea/wine and a raffle - it raised over £280 and wasn’t too difficult to do!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Sully: I would say a sort of jumble event that my mum and I did in our town’s square. We had a cake stall, a raffle, a tombola, jumble stall (books, toys, ornaments etc.) and little games for kids like a lucky dip. </span></div>
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8. Were there any fundraising things you really wanted to do but couldn't find the time? </h3>
<span style="color: #76a5af;">Emma: Not really, I could have done more fundraising though! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0;">Sian: We'd wanted to do a charity pre drinks/cheese and wine.</span> </div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Sully: I would have loved to have made knitting goodies or haberdashery type goodies (little purses etc.) on the cheap and sell them for a couple of quid each. However studying got in the way!!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Charly: We wanted to do an event at the union but didn't manage to get it organised in time really. </span></div>
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9. What was the hardest part of the whole process?</h3>
<span style="color: #c27ba0;">Sian: The hardest part was planning training together, we'd have different schedules so had to do a lot of runs on our own, and then on the day we were at different starts. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Sully: I think the hardest part of the process was being at the start line and NOT doubting whether everything you had done was the right way and whether you’re going to get to the finish line. You have to believe in yourself, believe all the food you’ve eaten was for the good, all the decisions you took in your training were for the best and keep thinking that people have given you money for your chosen charity and that you can’t let them down. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #76a5af;">Emma: Balancing running and hockey. Worrying that it can become all you talk about! Being 7 miles through a 16 mile run and being knackered! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Charly: The hardest part was the training. Fitting it into a busy life can be tough, but you HAVE to make time. I had to miss Saturday hockey matches for the long runs. It was tough but so so worthwhile. Also for me, I used to dread the 4 mile fast runs as they felt like sprints to me! But we think they were really useful in terms of speed training, and the more 4 milers we did, the faster our long runs got.</span></div>
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10. What was the best part of it all?</h3>
<span style="color: #c27ba0;">Sian: The whole day of the marathon - nothing else is like it, an incredible atmosphere from start to end. I honestly don't remember being in pain or wanting to stop - I wanted to do it again!! You thrive on the people there cheering you on, and the stories everyone has to tell about why they're running.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Sully: The best part of it is definitely the feeling of accomplishment. When you’ve finished 26.2 miles on race day, you’ve got that medal in your hand and your family and friends are beaming big smiles at you, and you think about all the training you’ve done, all the sacrifices you’ve made and all that money you’ve made for your charity, you realise just what you’re capable of, which for me was more than I ever thought I was!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Charly: The best bit was the feeling afterwards, knowing you've achieved something that many people would never even attempt to. And also I got very toned and despite not losing huge amounts of weight, I felt my body looked a lot better and I was happy with that.</span></div>
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Samantha Blundellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16660790286639240756noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276000172419158017.post-22152111089347520422015-10-16T21:12:00.000+01:002016-03-23T22:22:45.862+00:00My First Year In Advertising<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Believe it or not (I'm not sure I really do) the end of this month marks my first year in advertising. For as long as I can remember, I've wanted to work in this industry. When I was younger I used to play a game with my best friend where you would choose an object for the other person and they'd have 30 seconds to come up with an advertisement and present it. Now that I'm in the place where this actually happens - it takes them longer than 30 seconds, obviously - it's pretty hard to believe it. Although I'm not creating show-stopping ads (yet) I'm definitely climbing the right ladder.<br />
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I've learnt a huge amount in the last year, more than I imagined I would. If I met myself from a year ago now, I'd be shocked by how little I knew - I don't think I'd even heard of Campaign magazine (advertisers' version of BBC News) and now I spend my day scouring it for new ads, hires, mergers and industry news.<br />
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The biggest lesson I've learnt this year is that advertising can do more than just sell. This was definitely some thing I was aware of (see my post from Blogtober last year on <a href="http://alwaysneverme.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/why-we-should-not-ignore-advertisements.html" target="_blank">Why We Should NOT Ignore Advertisements</a>) but I didn't know the extent to which advertising was moving towards this. The most successful campaigns from Cannes Lions (our version of the Oscars) this year were doing more than selling, they were impacting popular culture and creating change. People have started coining phrases such as 'solvertising' and 'goodvertising' but really it's just advertising at its best. Advertising of the future. Some people think advertising is slowly dying off but I think what these ideas show is that it's alive and making a difference.<br />
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I've also found out just how much time and effort (and how many people) go into creating these amazing, award winning ads. What I used to think happened was: a client told you what they wanted, a strategist turned this into a brief and gave it to the creative team (an art director/designer and a copy writer), they brought the ideas to reality and the account manager delivered them back to the client who then jumped for joy at your amazingly innovative yet refined ideas. Obviously I didn't think it was quite as simple as this but I never imagined how complicated the process was and how many different roles are involved. Collaboration is such a buzzword in the industry but it seems that to be truly successful you need to have a 360, fully integrated, cost effective solution. </div>
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<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/1d/Mad_Men_season_5_cast_photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/1d/Mad_Men_season_5_cast_photo.jpg" width="400" /></a>What surprised me was the unspoken hierarchy in advertising agencies other than CEO to Account Executive or Intern. The hierarchy of brands. The first question you'll get asked when you meet another advertiser is "what do you do?". In the normal sphere of employment this is taken literally but what ad people really mean is "who do you do?" and they're not being crude, they mean what account do you work on, who are your clients. Secretly (or sometimes not that secretly), they will judge you on who your client is - whether they're blue chip or a bigger (money-wise) account than their own. Working in the PR/Communications department I've been spared from this, sort of. My client is our own employer so no one has the nerves (or stupidity) to degrade part of what they represent - it's almost like I work in HR - and yet they're not particularly interested either. It's a really interesting place to be and has given the opportunity to be involved in a broad range of areas in the company.<br />
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Luckily, in advertising (an experience based career) 22 is considered young once again. My friends and I are always complaining about how old we're getting but here I'm considered youthful, fresh and Millennial. A key trait of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennials" target="_blank">Millennials</a> is that we are 'digital natives'. Any technical issue and we're the first person to be asked (it's like <a href="http://alwaysneverme.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/20-most-annoying-things-about-living.html" target="_blank">living with your parents</a> all over again..). But in fact it's actually quite a popular trait for employers. We don't need digital training, we just get it. Before I started working in my current role, and actually before I started working full-time, I didn't know how sought after this was. So instead of grumbling about my age (I'm definitely starting to get bags under my eyes, no grey hair yet though), I'm revelling in the fact that I've not hit 30 yet.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTEqqKZ2a46Uk_3P50Nb8nTjn_zn4SpOIhowng0TW4uyySCgnFp6gKWQArfHZBg3XN9lpSPj85AhoijVPsV_VXkhj9KpNhazeyVF4u9sRaFoJlBNTZPyu628k673w19i6QWuTRnA0TQM-8/s1600/me+and+Grace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTEqqKZ2a46Uk_3P50Nb8nTjn_zn4SpOIhowng0TW4uyySCgnFp6gKWQArfHZBg3XN9lpSPj85AhoijVPsV_VXkhj9KpNhazeyVF4u9sRaFoJlBNTZPyu628k673w19i6QWuTRnA0TQM-8/s320/me+and+Grace.jpg" width="320" /></a>Finally, one lesson I've learnt in the last year which applies to any profession is the importance of making time for yourself outside of work. It's so easy, especially in the digital age, to spend your personal time talking about or doing work (whether it's checking emails, making notes or reading extra articles). And while I think this is great that my friends and I care enough about what we're doing to want to do this, if all we do is work, we're not going to be as productive as we could be. I read a really <a href="http://mashable.com/2015/10/10/five-hour-workday/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily&utm_source=newsletter&utm_cid=mash-prod-email-topstories&utm_emailalert=daily#EbsYFPtd3qqZ" target="_blank">interesting article</a> today about a company that has reduced it's working hours to 5-a-day. I'm not saying everyone should work less, I'm saying taking time to do what you want to do is really important too. At university I had such a flexible timetable I could easily balance my work and personal life. Now I work 40 hours a week it's not quite so easy. But it's still important that I find time to do things I enjoy such as hockey, seeing friends and writing my blog. I want to do the best work I can and I believe that being happy in my personal life enables me to do that.<br />
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I'm interested to know what you've learnt either about yourself or your industry in the last year or so. Leave me a comment below if there's something you'd like to share! </h3>
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Samantha Blundellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16660790286639240756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276000172419158017.post-65550338796048029872015-08-15T21:11:00.000+01:002016-05-23T23:09:25.755+01:00Why It's The Right Time To Facebook CullIt used to be a real competition when you were younger to have the most friends, followers or connections on social media. When I was at school, you knew you'd made it once you reached the top row of more than five friends' Bebo page. Even now I still care about how many follower I have on Twitter and Instagram - not to the same obsessive point, thank God. And I'll admit, I used to be quite proud of having nearly a thousand friends on Facebook. 'Used' being the important word here - past tense.<br />
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Recently I've started to realise that having so many friends on Facebook isn't necessarily a good thing. Other than for work, I use Facebook to keep in touch with all my friends. Social media makes it really easy to stay in contact with people wherever they are - as long as they have a connection to the internet. I'm fortunate enough to have travelled a lot, without even taking a gap year, and Facebook is the best way too keep in touch with all the people I've met. I'd never go as far as to delete my Facebook account but recently it's been starting to lose it's appeal, and <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/parmyolson/2015/01/27/facebook-active-users-decline/" target="_blank">it's not just me</a> (which is probably why they've started advertising on the TV in the UK).<span style="text-align: center;"> </span><br />
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I think the problem for me is that I actually have <b>too many</b> friends on Facebook. This makes me sound really arrogant but if you think about it, it's probably true for you as well (unless you've only recently joined, recently culled or have always had really strict rules about who you accept). </div>
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There is no way I could name all of the friends I have on Facebook, or even communicate with all of them. There are some people that I have on there who I haven't ever met, who I can't remember or haven't spoken to in over 5 years. I'm not saying I should delete all the people who fit in these categories, I'm just saying I have a lot of different connections on there who in real life I might not call 'friends'. </div>
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So gradually, I've been 'culling' my Facebook friends. I've been doing it over the last year or so, and there's still more to go, but I think it's the right time to do it. It's like de-cluttering your wardrobe - I should know as I'm a ridiculous spender (literally just Rebecca Bloomwood from <i>Confessions of A Shopaholic</i> but without credit cards, yet) and I've just moved to a bijou room in Clerkenwell. We all have dresses, tops, jackets, shoes that we've only worn once, that don't fit, that are completely over worn, that we've changed our minds about or have never even worn. Holding on to all these items isn't going to help you choose what to wear, just in the same way keeping loads of 'friends' on Facebook isn't going to make you happier. </div>
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I've trying to get down to a core group of about 400 people that I genuinely would like to keep in contact with and care about what happens in their life. It's now over a year since I graduated from university and I'd probably say that about 70% of the people I met from there I have't talked to in the last year. And there's probably about 40% I won't ever speak to again. It's also 4 years since left school, I no longer live in the same area and I only go back and visit every couple of months. So do I need to keep a virtual connection with people I don't even know any more? </div>
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There's no easy way to decide who you may or may not want to contact in the future but there's nothing to say that in 5 years time you can't re-add someone you'd like to reconnect with. In fact, there's nothing to say you can't do it straight away other than social media etiquette. </div>
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One tip I would like to share that I've been using is asking yourself a simple question: would you say hello to them if you saw them in the street? If you wouldn't do this then you're not likely to do it online either. </div>
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Once you've had a good culling session you'll find that Facebook is just as good as it used to be. The algorithm on Facebook works so that pictures or statuses that are most popular among your friends come to the top of your News Feed. If you only have connections with the people you want then your feed will be filled with interesting updates from all your friends and you won't spend as much time browsing through it. That's the plan at least! </div>
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So if you've been a bit bored with Facebook recently, maybe it's the right time for you as well!</div>
Samantha Blundellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16660790286639240756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276000172419158017.post-68659133107622029132015-07-28T22:03:00.000+01:002015-07-30T00:07:02.748+01:0010 Things You Have To Do In Marrakech<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-MipX_-uWXEeEhD5r4EhkGdqecEw5iIaveePb4VCZw9E4i3DZIk1BOs2I-9eXyp29midL9wzlqLmca1_xFOmj2Ab9vVr-4wxbFZUhcodVQVa5xm6JeHvv7h-epGrgQo3iz3NoXbcFvEPA/s1600/IMG_3521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-MipX_-uWXEeEhD5r4EhkGdqecEw5iIaveePb4VCZw9E4i3DZIk1BOs2I-9eXyp29midL9wzlqLmca1_xFOmj2Ab9vVr-4wxbFZUhcodVQVa5xm6JeHvv7h-epGrgQo3iz3NoXbcFvEPA/s320/IMG_3521.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
I understand that not everyone gets the chance to go to Morocco in their lifetime, let alone Marrakech so this could be a bit of a niche post. But I had such a great time and I've such had great feedback on my Instagram pictures (thanks guys!) that I decided to go ahead with this anyway. Hopefully I can paint a good enough picture with words and images that you feel like you're really there.. hopefully.<br />
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I went to Marrakech at the beginning of July with one of my closest friends from university called Leonie . I can't even believe it was only a couple of weeks ago because it feels like much longer. We found a great last minute deal which we booked in June so it only ended up costing £211 each which included flights, hotel and breakfast. July and August are some of the hottest months in Morocco and although everyone in the UK was experiencing a heat wave that month, it was still even hotter there, averaging 40°C each day. It was also Ramadan whilst we were there. We thought this might cause us some issues with getting served food etc. but apart from one embarrassing faux pas when we tried to order room service at 7:45pm when they were all sitting down to their first meal of the day, we had no problems at all. In fact it was really inspiring to see a nation so dedicated to their faith. We weren't aware that during Ramadan you can't drink anything at all, not even water, so there we were downing bottles right in front of them. It really shocked us; it was amazing really.<br />
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If you ever do make it to Marrakech, then here are 10 things you absolutely have to do:</h3>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leonie checking out lanterns & tea pots</td></tr>
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<b>1. Visit the souks</b></h3>
Every travel guide will tell you that you must go to the souks. Souk is just the Arabic for market but these are not like markets you will find anywhere in London. There are certain sections which sell certain goods such as spices, leather, carpets, materials, slippers and the list goes on. If you want to know more about the specific streets then <a href="http://www.bruisedpassports.com/wheres/marrakech-souk-guide" target="_blank">here</a> is a post I read before we went (I think this is the right link). There aren't really any maps for the souks because it's such a maze but people there are pretty helpful. They will always direct you back to the big square (Jemaa el Fna) so don't worry about getting lost. In fact it's the best bit, after haggling. There is ALWAYS a deal to be done in the souks. None of the shops sell unique items so if the price isn't right for you, move along. You won't lose face or anything like that because there are hundreds on shops there and they're unlikely to remember you the next day. I'd advice going for 1/3 of their starting price. Leonie was really good at haggling, her main tactic was to refuse to change her price, and it seemed to work, so it you have the nerve, give it a try.<br />
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<b>2. Eat at a roof top restaurant</b></h3>
Surrounding the main square, called the Jemaa el Fna, are lots of rooftop restaurants. At night the square comes alive with loads of pop up stalls and cafés but it's actually quite nice to sit above the choas and watch. We did this on our first night and apart from the stray cats, which are everywhere anyway, it was really nice. It's such a relaxing atmosphere and it will be your first opportunity of the day to enjoy the heat without sweating unbearably.<br />
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<b>3. Stroll around the Jardin Majorelle</b></h3>
This garden was owned by Yves Saint Laurent before he died. It was the most interesting city garden I've ever seen (not that I have many to compare it to). The plants are a mix of cacti, ferns, palm trees and more from hundreds of different locations around the world. It's really well looked after (you'd expect it to be as the entrance is 50dh - about £3 - which is quite a lot for Marrakech) and the contrast of blue, yellow and orange against the green foliage was really strong - especially when all buildings inside the city wall have to be painted a terracotta colour. This was one of the best parts of the holiday for me.<br />
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<b>4. Eat in the square</b></h3>
Eating in the square is a must-have experience. Although be careful not to let them pick the food for you, otherwise you will end up with one expensive bill like we did. It's a chance to taste some authentic Moroccan food while soaking up the atmosphere and local culture. If you're in a group or feeling brave, the best time to go is late, around 10pm, however we weren't feeling that brave.<br />
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<b>5. Try the fresh orange juice</b></h3>
Oranges are abundant in Marrakech, I assume it's to do with the climate. In the big square there are loads of orange juice stalls, probably about 30+, and each squeezes the orange juice for you there and then for the amazingly affordable price of 4dh (30p). So when you've found your way out of the souk maze with more bags than you can carry, definitely stop off at the orange juice stalls to refresh.</div>
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<b>6. Walk around the wall</b></h3>
The city centre of Marrakech is called the medina and is surrounded by ramparts (a huge wall). Wikipedia says.. "[The ramparts] were built by the Almoravids in the 12th century as protective fortifications. The walls are made of a distinct orange-red clay and chalk, giving the city its nickname as the "red city"; they stand up to 19 feet (5.8 m) high and have 20 gates and 200 towers along them" (read more <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marrakesh#City_walls_and_gates" target="_blank">here</a>). But basically it's an interesting place to walk around and something cultural to do that's free! However, after I initially suggested walking the full circumference, I changed my mind when I realised the distance was 19km! If I had had the right clothes and shoes maybe I would have done it but considering how hot it was we decided against this. So instead we found the most picturesque gate we could, called 'Bab Agnaou' which was built by the Almoravids in the 12th century. It's in a bit of a random location but if you're going to the Palace (which we didn't go to because it was Friday which is their holy day) then it's really close by and definitely worth a visit.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Although I initially thought these holes were made for the birds I later found out they were made by the scaffolding when the walls were first built.</td></tr>
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<b>7. See the evening prayers</b></h3>
I'm not sure if these are outside everyday but on our first night they were and it was so interesting. There was an electricity in the air as muslims rushed along the streets with their prayer mats. To see such a large group of people all kneel and bow down as one will definitely stay with me for a while. Their devotion was like nothing I've ever seen before and there must have been thousands at this one mosque. So if you get a chance, you absolutely have to see this.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These are used for lipstick, apparently!</td></tr>
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<b>8. Have the spices explained</b></h3>
Think of the scene in Aladdin (the Disney movie) where Jasmine first enters the marketing place and every street vendor is trying to sell her things (or watch it <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RW5n4sIOj9s" target="_blank">here</a>). Well this is sort of what the souks are like, except a lot more crowded! Normally it's polite to walk on unless you intend to actually buy. But if you find yourself in the spice area of the market then it is well worth taking time to have all the spices explained to you. It's quite common for them to try to show you every single product they have to offer - we spent about 30 minutes having about 15 different spices shown to us, smelling each a number of times and having small amounts poured into our hands. Then we had Moroccan and Arab make up explained to us which I found really interesting, especially the lipstick we were shown which looked like a terracotta pot or dish of sorts.<br />
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<b>9. Try Berber tea</b></h3>
All the spice vendors sell the local green/mint tea (they call it Berber tea) and you can also by it in the main square in the evenings. It's traditionally served with loads of sugar but it's quite nice and an inexpensive souvenir to take back with you.<br />
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<b>10. Watch the sunset from a rooftop terrace</b></h3>
We were really fortunate with our hotel. It was really nice but very quiet. There were probably only about 15-20 groups staying there whilst we were. Most buildings in Marrakech seem to have rooftop terraces rather than gardens and we are lucky enough to get the rooftop to ourselves most days. Either it was too hot for everyone else or too quiet but it was ideal for us. On our penultimate afternoon we decided to sit out on the roof top and watch the sunset - sounds romantic but it wasn't!<br />
I'm no bird expert, far from it in fact, but all these small sparrow-like birds seem to come out when the sun starts to set and it was like nothing I've seen before. They were all rushing around us, moving in big groups, it was really pretty and interesting to watch while we waited. If you get a chance, and you have access to a rooftop, then you should definitely do this. The orange/tan colour of all the buildings really added to the view.<br />
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Marrakech was a truly outstanding place to visit and I'd strongly recommend it to anyone!
If you have any questions at all, please ask me in the comments box below or tweet me @_Sam_Blundell</h3>
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Samantha Blundellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16660790286639240756noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276000172419158017.post-23163251517276867132015-06-25T23:32:00.004+01:002015-06-25T23:49:33.509+01:00Old Girls NostalgiaLast weekend I went back to my old university (when I say old I don't mean that old, I only graduated last summer) for an Old Girls Hockey Day and a Red Leicester Reunion night out. The hockey day is a tradition that we try to keep every year, where those from the university hockey club who have graduated return to see all the current students and members of the club, and play a game of hockey.<br />
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In recent years the tradition has run a bit dry but this year we managed to have a proper game. The reason for this, other than the fact that we all deeply miss student life and wanted to see our friends, was that it fortunately coincided with the Red Leicester Reunion event. For those of you who didn't go to Leicester, I'll give you a bit of back story. Red Leicester was a student night not so subtly named after the cheese that first started in 2005. Obviously the music played was always cheesy, 90s music that all the old folks dance to at weddings such as 'The Macarena' or dance mat classics like 'Cotton Eye Joe'. Red Leicester was always on a Wednesday, after BUCS sports matches, and accompanied by an outrageous fancy dress outfit.<br />
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Well last year, after we graduated, the company that runs student nights at our university (or ex-university) decided to cancel Red Leicester! Nooo I hear you scream, but it's true, it happened. The institution that had been running for 10 years came to an end. Apparently the first years joining couldn't relate to 90s music.. So instead they replaced it with LetsDisko (if anyone knows why they chose the 'k' speak now or forever hold your peace).<br />
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Anyway long story short (or actually long maybe) they decided to bring the night back for a one-time-only event on a Saturday so that all us working people could come and spend our hard earned cash on VKs and Food Factory.<br />
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The hockey in the daytime was fantastic! Although we only managed to convince 4 official Old Girls to kit up and come play, we had some great fourth year medics and some strong third years join our side. So we managed a 10 players v 13 players game. It was clear early on that neither side was keen to lose. Also, neither team had a goalie so this made the match a bit controversial, not to mention the umpire for the first half was on our (Old Girls) team.<br />
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After conceding a number of goals early on we paused at half time 4-2 down to the current hockey girls. However after a quick refresh we managed to up our standard significantly and some how pull off a 5-5 draw (if I'm honest I think we were very lucky there..) This was quickly followed by a afternoon pub dinner and some drinks, then off to host houses to get ready for the evening event!!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Georga and Grace's amazing retro outfits</td></tr>
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In standard ULLHC (Uni of Leic Ladies Hockey Club) style we had a fancy dress theme - it wouldn't have been Red Leicester without one. And in remembrance of the night's beginnings a 90s gym wear theme was chosen. There were some absolutely cracking costumes on display from leopard print leotards to Barbie blue unitards.<br />
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Before attending the main event of the evening, we all went for drinks at the Loaded Dog, our traditional pre-Red Leicester pub and current sponsor. This was a nostalgic and fitting start to the evening with the usual hockey chants and games played. For me at least, it felt like we'd never left.<br />
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Another excitement was the arrival of some REAL Old Girls. I mean girls who had graduated before the oldest members I knew from the club had even joined! Some girls were talking to us who had graduated in 2007! I was still at school then! It was so nice to see that people who left that long ago still treasured hockey as some of their best moments of university life.<br />
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From here on the night played out as expected! There were some crazy events going on in hockey corner (yes we have our own designated space - the bottom left corner of the club dance floor), a lot of VK drinking (sugary, disgusting alcopops which come back to haunt you the next day), unusual dancing and we even managed to break one of the lights at some point but none of that mattered because we were all there, together, having fun.<br />
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The next day we were awoken by the harsh reality that we're not 18 any more and hangovers need to be short-lived because we have to be back to full fitness for work on Monday at 9am. The cure? A ceremonial breakfast with the girls who could make it out of bed by 11am followed by a long journey home and an early night.<br />
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It was so nice to go back to Leicester, a place where I've had so many great memories. There are rumours that they might do another Red Leicester night next year and I'm undecided whether I'd be interested or not. Being a student is really an incredible experience and probably not one I'm ready to leave behind just yet...<br />
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<br />Samantha Blundellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16660790286639240756noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276000172419158017.post-47276359495211929592015-04-29T23:24:00.000+01:002015-04-29T23:31:56.816+01:00Escapades in Madrid <h3>
Part 2 (Read Part 1 on Amsterdam <a href="http://alwaysneverme.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/a-modest-view-of-amsterdam.html" target="_blank">here</a>)</h3>
Escapades makes this sound as through I had a wild and crazy time in Madrid but half of what I'm referring to here is the epic journey I went through to get there.<br />
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So my flight was booked for 6:30am take off on Saturday (the cheapest ticket of course is at a time no one sane wants to fly). But in order to get there in plenty I've time I had to catch a 4am coach from Stratford, which was a 20 minute walk from my house. This meant getting up at 3am. Well me being me, I decided to go for drinks with my friends on Friday night and didn't get home until midnight, and I still hadn't packed. Now if that doesn't sound like an adventure you should probably stop reading now.<br />
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On the plane I got turfed out of my seat by a young girl who was desperate to sit by the window and who has started to create a scene. I quickly admitted defeat and gave up my perfect sleeping position. So with the 4 hours sleep that I managed to scrape together, I turned up in Madrid ready for some chica time with one of my best friends from university, Charlotte (a.k.a Sully).<br />
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The three day trip started with brunch at a café aptly named Charlotte (apparently it's a chain in Spain) and was quickly followed by a short siesta. Feeling much revived we set out on a short walk around Madrid and ended up going to a tapas café (just a warning we did a lot of eating and drinking in these three days). Here I tried my first tinto de verano (which is basically like cold red wine with lemonade) yum!<br />
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After we'd suitably stocked ourselves up with food and drink, Charlotte gave me a walking tour of all Madrid's most important and well-known sights, like the Royal Palace, the Templo de Debod, the Plaza Mayor, Pueto del Sol and the Plaza de Cibeles (the pictures will help here).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption">Plaza de Españ<span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">a </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Templo de Debod</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Royal Palace</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plaza Mayor</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kilometer 0 - the point from which everywhere in Madrid is measured from</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Statute of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree in Puerta del Sol</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1GArmmoxjf6TgWcu5QK-jC63OqB_dyL0M-TcugwZ3RpD07M_gtFd4oW7UlTcEvD2BsrChuakudy1UvOBZIAZh6DyDwM0OSd0T9kwDOfV5oMoRsmg8jOp54JtucTthBpBgAPDKs8yk-fy0/s1600/IMG_2969.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1GArmmoxjf6TgWcu5QK-jC63OqB_dyL0M-TcugwZ3RpD07M_gtFd4oW7UlTcEvD2BsrChuakudy1UvOBZIAZh6DyDwM0OSd0T9kwDOfV5oMoRsmg8jOp54JtucTthBpBgAPDKs8yk-fy0/s1600/IMG_2969.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">Plaza de Cibeles</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQJKq1GNCurpPHLotC6EM7wrG2PZvy09QPOzy11-oIJHeVuUWDfFr4YNocabZ1UjnKSsmcnZGta0JZwOoL2GVHlY3AkUZvlfTSs938G9NHn3nNrtGyJXkt-A3d-_oirDybUq857G_KW7yO/s1600/IMG_3016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQJKq1GNCurpPHLotC6EM7wrG2PZvy09QPOzy11-oIJHeVuUWDfFr4YNocabZ1UjnKSsmcnZGta0JZwOoL2GVHlY3AkUZvlfTSs938G9NHn3nNrtGyJXkt-A3d-_oirDybUq857G_KW7yO/s1600/IMG_3016.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a>As you can probably imagine this meant a lot of walking and by the end we had definitely earned more drinks. So we took the Metro back to the area Charlotte lives in and found a bar nearby that was showing the local derby football match Atlético v Real. During this we had what the Spanish call 'copas' which literally translates as spirits but it does actually have a mixer with it. It's served in big wine glasses/tumblers with lots of big ice cubes and is definitely one of the highlights of the trip for me.<br />
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When the game finished and we'd had more than enough copas, we went to the local supermarket and grabbed enough nachos and toppings to feed a hungry family.
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The next day started with a bit of a lie in (got to be done on a Sunday). Then we headed out to El Rastro, which is the most popular open air flea market in Madrid. The weather on this day was absolutely amazing and even though it was packed by the time we got there, it was really nice just to stroll around and browse through all the random things they had. We also saw quite a few performers while we were walking around. Everything in Madrid is so so cheap that I ended up buying loads of random stuff - I got some nice floral espadrilles for €15 and this unusual necklace for €2.50. I probably didn't really need to buy anything but it was fun anyway. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sign reads: give me a theme and I'll write you a poem</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJCecsBU9texQscRhtLlm5tz9OC5nnHJSLTsRI5wJCAgdOxfZjgwydK2bH6pRUeuDT4S7OCCeQRsNgViORLfrIE9p6AZmqyGmbubAV096d0K-bVMLugkGDgSABr4fYpuL10PMR-hyyPisw/s1600/IMG_3008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJCecsBU9texQscRhtLlm5tz9OC5nnHJSLTsRI5wJCAgdOxfZjgwydK2bH6pRUeuDT4S7OCCeQRsNgViORLfrIE9p6AZmqyGmbubAV096d0K-bVMLugkGDgSABr4fYpuL10PMR-hyyPisw/s1600/IMG_3008.JPG" height="256" width="235" /></a></div>
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By this point we were hungry and thirsty again so we found another café. This one was in the sun and had those shiny metallic tables and chairs which definitely helped boost the sun tan. In fact I actually managed to burn my scalp along my parting - rookie British mistake of course. We weren't really dressed for sunbathing so we decided to head back to Charlotte's, shed a couple of layers, pick up the left over nachos, some sangria and head to the park (Parque del Retiro).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0GK8kUQNOhDNUsrzKHaQww0znOu5x24LNXk7kGzQSWnQ22LpIOS_tULzIjvc7gBJld13OPfZ7qNyFQ4f44ouNhUCuShgcva_VGxNxCacaSI-844QeL91jhEWOTFDKEOkic3zhBC3FmfDT/s1600/IMG_3028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0GK8kUQNOhDNUsrzKHaQww0znOu5x24LNXk7kGzQSWnQ22LpIOS_tULzIjvc7gBJld13OPfZ7qNyFQ4f44ouNhUCuShgcva_VGxNxCacaSI-844QeL91jhEWOTFDKEOkic3zhBC3FmfDT/s1600/IMG_3028.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snacks and new shoes at the park</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_RnrZX-RSeRk5OLl5WYsSijrlrTIaQTb1RScOrEbFhVgELRbtitY5r9_uCM-7gpgpbpBEc-dV6Et_AMAPapzEO2HKnRrDuyW0rZAqMS8xeDd8YHjtJ4Ifq2crwIbqThI1pxxy4yzqPwta/s1600/IMG_3029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_RnrZX-RSeRk5OLl5WYsSijrlrTIaQTb1RScOrEbFhVgELRbtitY5r9_uCM-7gpgpbpBEc-dV6Et_AMAPapzEO2HKnRrDuyW0rZAqMS8xeDd8YHjtJ4Ifq2crwIbqThI1pxxy4yzqPwta/s1600/IMG_3029.JPG" height="250" width="256" /></a>When we got there the weirdest thing happened. Two guys came and sat near us with their pet rabbit! They were taking their rabbit for a walk! They didn't have a lead or anything. But they just let it loose to hop about even with dogs walking past (good thing my dog doesn't live in Madrid or that rabbit would have been dead in about 5 seconds). This entertained us for quite a long time - although I'm actually not great with animals (in case you didn't know) so I spent a lot of time thinking it was coming for me.<br />
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After this week walked around a really pretty pond at the park and this massive glass building (Palacio de Cristal). Annoyingly the sun was going down really quickly so I didn't get any good pictures of the building but I tried.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjehyKnXb9r23kL5NacMsinMifH0TCVF8KwzlNa8zVI5cN_LmbvVbBpFu6RFZv7Q5AzZRen6WXzho9Kad1jNfpBmkidS6gn8fK98u6ekqKuzCFPBvSxukkUbXx8XRQp1yYgOJBSa4hZ5AeG/s1600/IMG_3035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjehyKnXb9r23kL5NacMsinMifH0TCVF8KwzlNa8zVI5cN_LmbvVbBpFu6RFZv7Q5AzZRen6WXzho9Kad1jNfpBmkidS6gn8fK98u6ekqKuzCFPBvSxukkUbXx8XRQp1yYgOJBSa4hZ5AeG/s1600/IMG_3035.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monumento Alfonso XII</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE-fQS0VC39E0VTYJyJ6AKdd0jRm3ldBxYjAAcK6Kofy39A7Q6kSIcEF4ISs366TtVt8wbuWcplXVhdLqspx0_YKrIzoKMCPCNeVNxIxkiy_3wGkr9vO7wxjubJgEuyC1OxAdATDlaCHcT/s1600/IMG_3048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE-fQS0VC39E0VTYJyJ6AKdd0jRm3ldBxYjAAcK6Kofy39A7Q6kSIcEF4ISs366TtVt8wbuWcplXVhdLqspx0_YKrIzoKMCPCNeVNxIxkiy_3wGkr9vO7wxjubJgEuyC1OxAdATDlaCHcT/s1600/IMG_3048.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">Palacio de Cristal</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJrzFBiUmg-a2pD2HR5yloeaZH5slgYm2wHf-iAJ3FcfoxunCiANSYWBTMTLpnM9_VgWgv1uZfDNCFEaTxAFumyfCXnOs-7aE8CildJ0bZGdABxcqV4SELPyTPez3Kf1Pxj2oKKMs3Xr0G/s1600/IMG_3051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJrzFBiUmg-a2pD2HR5yloeaZH5slgYm2wHf-iAJ3FcfoxunCiANSYWBTMTLpnM9_VgWgv1uZfDNCFEaTxAFumyfCXnOs-7aE8CildJ0bZGdABxcqV4SELPyTPez3Kf1Pxj2oKKMs3Xr0G/s1600/IMG_3051.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Palacio de Cristal</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGh8W9r7fRLi_zJR-y3Wug4rk-0c7aohSEizJhWRsRUYQZ1tQ-0-alF9JQemppot7NcMHSy1HTBY9rAz1Je7xU3enShBnT-HLeGGjb0Q2thnz8YxWYhoYtZoA_kSLiUTfOKzQV2HMds1mo/s1600/IMG_3067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGh8W9r7fRLi_zJR-y3Wug4rk-0c7aohSEizJhWRsRUYQZ1tQ-0-alF9JQemppot7NcMHSy1HTBY9rAz1Je7xU3enShBnT-HLeGGjb0Q2thnz8YxWYhoYtZoA_kSLiUTfOKzQV2HMds1mo/s1600/IMG_3067.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charlotte is not impressed</td></tr>
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Then we met up with one of Charlotte's local friends who took us to a traditional tapas bar. I definitely think I was the only tourist there! Apparently the sign of a good place to eat in Spain is that it has a dirty floor because they don't have time to clean it. Well this place had a pretty damn dirty floor. It was hard not to step on some piece of rubbish or dropped food (this seems to happen a lot because no one sits down to eat tapas). It was quite strange being completely surrounded by everyone speaking Spanish, especially as I can hardly understand any of it, but it was really nice to experience some real Spanish culture.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz2yJjQeLm2EnPEL4U4G14Jmy3H4iCqo-giHqB5ubXDK0jq_xQCvw8Fkbu3aVMIOzbSEEsq_F3sNM0D7I0p3TPvch6qXVHW2BlWF-ITlhncwPPCD2zNemEBjuWgX9LjF_28NLNCiP72WpT/s1600/IMG_3068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz2yJjQeLm2EnPEL4U4G14Jmy3H4iCqo-giHqB5ubXDK0jq_xQCvw8Fkbu3aVMIOzbSEEsq_F3sNM0D7I0p3TPvch6qXVHW2BlWF-ITlhncwPPCD2zNemEBjuWgX9LjF_28NLNCiP72WpT/s1600/IMG_3068.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tapas</td></tr>
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Real Spanish tapas seems to be the weirdest combination of foods, chicken wings with super buttery chips, ham chunks and tomatoes, these small white fish which look like a mix between worms and spaghetti (I did not try them!). Dessert was a weird sort of baked milk thing - I can't remember what it was called - I'm not sure I would try it again. It tasted a bit like a bad crème brûlée.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3kgmC_FMoSvQ9LorOSADplyjVOi2GN-qFxgbnzEh2VB5Qy0tEv-5uLZ7nXx4qOdQ34-JQe-m9tgWpIY_UUOJZ7T_P6WBJLPPP-X_wuouJ1rk0ZrdsY3T1X1rlS3MGFWVAXTQfxbbkvXjC/s1600/IMG_2949.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3kgmC_FMoSvQ9LorOSADplyjVOi2GN-qFxgbnzEh2VB5Qy0tEv-5uLZ7nXx4qOdQ34-JQe-m9tgWpIY_UUOJZ7T_P6WBJLPPP-X_wuouJ1rk0ZrdsY3T1X1rlS3MGFWVAXTQfxbbkvXjC/s1600/IMG_2949.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The business area where Charlotte works.</td></tr>
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The next day Charlotte had work unfortunately. I met her for lunch and we went to a place called <a href="http://spain.100montaditos.com/" target="_blank">Montaditos</a>. Montaditos are basically mini baguettes and this chain has over 100 different flavour combinations for fillings. Normally each roll is €1 but on Monday's they're 50c. So we went all out and had 4 each and nachos to share (I starting to get a bit sick of nachos at this point but it was all they had).<br />
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Luckily in Spain they get 2 hour lunch breaks, unluckily they have to work until 7pm! So after walking back to Charlotte's work, I went off to explore Madrid with a map she'd lent me. I was trying to find the company I work for's Spanish office. This only took about 15 minutes and I felt I needed to burn off a few more calories so I kept on walking (I was also trying to build up more of a tan). This ended up turning into almost a 2 hour stroll, which I needed the toilet for the last 1.5 hours of (damn bladder).<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinChvj4MO7vFk_eHf9SRL_LV1DiGo9ls_cAVkuZ3bnuZQznpRmUUrbPvQtzKwpU40JS17FH2dk2M8aM9hI4NpqZjefMHaTUZaUS7mVHsWvohCBNA5W8Fh8B00XTyPgiIBjSHYxPyj76YK7/s1600/IMG_3078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinChvj4MO7vFk_eHf9SRL_LV1DiGo9ls_cAVkuZ3bnuZQznpRmUUrbPvQtzKwpU40JS17FH2dk2M8aM9hI4NpqZjefMHaTUZaUS7mVHsWvohCBNA5W8Fh8B00XTyPgiIBjSHYxPyj76YK7/s1600/IMG_3078.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grey Spain's Madrid office</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinatwTxQZcEQxGhwuRDaSpZPQ3goPIGXqEpzPOvuwtBB811eYJbLWzXSJ6YYWt02Vxt1o0_3VqD8RQEnwjaueXqCKc7YVgGWXqo4JJVBv58ANMwLFe8JKGi2E_jKmpnd-mSUImjwQMWwAd/s1600/IMG_3088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinatwTxQZcEQxGhwuRDaSpZPQ3goPIGXqEpzPOvuwtBB811eYJbLWzXSJ6YYWt02Vxt1o0_3VqD8RQEnwjaueXqCKc7YVgGWXqo4JJVBv58ANMwLFe8JKGi2E_jKmpnd-mSUImjwQMWwAd/s1600/IMG_3088.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Funky artwork by the National Library which I found on my long walk</td></tr>
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Sadly after this it was time to pack, shower and get ready to leave at 4am to go straight to work from the airport. Not quite sure how I managed it really but I did.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJVV0wlZABBITTSyi25XU9gBemHyNwh6jVGRNn8r7EReOtqfrFf5aX5mf_F9f0T9VYXtFpozEk4xQ9tNaF4_GKoRog9ibWbdu4phmGvJztX6zblIRKl6vlvuB9uUTXiySyT-4hmbCWLAuw/s1600/IMG_3093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJVV0wlZABBITTSyi25XU9gBemHyNwh6jVGRNn8r7EReOtqfrFf5aX5mf_F9f0T9VYXtFpozEk4xQ9tNaF4_GKoRog9ibWbdu4phmGvJztX6zblIRKl6vlvuB9uUTXiySyT-4hmbCWLAuw/s1600/IMG_3093.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Landing back in the UK - did I bring the sun back?</td></tr>
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Massive massive thank you to Charlotte for having me to stay! It was a great way to use up some of my holiday and chill out. It was really really nice to catch up and see some real Spanish culture. Hopefully I'll be able to visit again some time in the future, maybe even with a group.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8efuo4PjFwETSdRYZHLDfY_zUc91QO4IcDt_qsLLH3ooswlWyUSwRcNN_RLaNoR89d5OVlf5GWbbTRvKa6Coj0J8vvcsaq9aMyryofJyyjvG-mlMbk6cAl5OMCf99r1bYYsjnH-IjqdNt/s1600/IMG_3017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8efuo4PjFwETSdRYZHLDfY_zUc91QO4IcDt_qsLLH3ooswlWyUSwRcNN_RLaNoR89d5OVlf5GWbbTRvKa6Coj0J8vvcsaq9aMyryofJyyjvG-mlMbk6cAl5OMCf99r1bYYsjnH-IjqdNt/s1600/IMG_3017.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxzb3rcnsDrAWwt5_TfYoTm8IeOJLF5fdD_icTT4IWOypVkS4QPQkj-U8JClM4Ki0PiN5jB2X7OLL0KIeg5jd8A4CcmIQVCs7K7OUAJo1KQ8mCu7fI4utBLadd64BxkvytRKGXsTrsdAFN/s1600/IMG_3026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxzb3rcnsDrAWwt5_TfYoTm8IeOJLF5fdD_icTT4IWOypVkS4QPQkj-U8JClM4Ki0PiN5jB2X7OLL0KIeg5jd8A4CcmIQVCs7K7OUAJo1KQ8mCu7fI4utBLadd64BxkvytRKGXsTrsdAFN/s1600/IMG_3026.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<h2 style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The Pig Cup at the park! </h2>
Samantha Blundellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16660790286639240756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276000172419158017.post-25152402855455223272015-04-26T16:46:00.000+01:002015-04-26T18:03:56.307+01:00A Modest View of Amsterdam<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii2hOqk08o-BrfxpU-HVwtJpqpHcIrlfXlsQqFfXXrtYiyfoCwVCQUnMfKPp8fh2IG-NjCd0AXSZc2wqjHyM0SkVGdVCYj6JIBrPOa5MLG27uHVlIEKHKc1IABLI-D8qxJoqiG0Xjd3aXR/s1600/IMG_2826.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii2hOqk08o-BrfxpU-HVwtJpqpHcIrlfXlsQqFfXXrtYiyfoCwVCQUnMfKPp8fh2IG-NjCd0AXSZc2wqjHyM0SkVGdVCYj6JIBrPOa5MLG27uHVlIEKHKc1IABLI-D8qxJoqiG0Xjd3aXR/s1600/IMG_2826.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dutch poffertjes - they are basically pancake mixture<br />
cooked in a metal cake pop. You have to try them!</td></tr>
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In mid-March I went to Amsterdam with my mum for her birthday (hence the modest part) - this trip did not include any of the raucous stuff that normally comes to mind when you first think of Amsterdam. I'm not going to give you a day by day account, partly because I've forgotten a lot of it already and partly because we spent most of the 4 day trip in museums.<br />
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This post is going to be part 1 of 2 on trips abroad I've done in the last 6 weeks. I tried to do it all in one but it got way too long. The next post (which I'm planning to have ready for tomorrow) will be about my trip to Madrid last weekend to see Charlotte (a.k.a Sully), a close friend from university who is working out there at the moment. This was also a short trip but we did quite a lot so it definitely justifies having it's own post.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJsl06Am7AHyoFLqUeEk6r4UokOhrvLw4WediRMRdm0HdT0mK_FUJHsojUf3kTmONP97t7QE5a0041sOfzbrawtMYFRhKq53EqnCJDGgh9PA4jLLHdC_7KOm6FUZ-pMRjtmNs1Rs3VhtIu/s1600/IMG_2858.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJsl06Am7AHyoFLqUeEk6r4UokOhrvLw4WediRMRdm0HdT0mK_FUJHsojUf3kTmONP97t7QE5a0041sOfzbrawtMYFRhKq53EqnCJDGgh9PA4jLLHdC_7KOm6FUZ-pMRjtmNs1Rs3VhtIu/s1600/IMG_2858.JPG" height="260" width="247" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An 'English Breakfast' in Amsterdam.. <br />
Chips? Lettuce? </td></tr>
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I should also say that I'm using this is as an opportunity to share some of my photos. I feel like Facebook isn't the right place and with Instagram I would probably fill all my friends' feeds for the day which wouldn't be popular either.<br />
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Hopefully this will just be a short, informative read with lots of interesting pics to scroll through.<br />
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<div>
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<h2>
</h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h2>
Canals</h2>
<div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpoXUWP2JJ6O6B4JeZZ2CgWCrdPGZaJdTBWu-1YsxrDR_WC7WE8z1BNMvn456lcdgVtMrGCJhZGFY8aOWxO4oE77NE7T50Gi6gYaTyLWHm7jCmih-dO64N-qoyMSN4kt8oLfsPmnr1l2OE/s1600/map_amstrdam.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpoXUWP2JJ6O6B4JeZZ2CgWCrdPGZaJdTBWu-1YsxrDR_WC7WE8z1BNMvn456lcdgVtMrGCJhZGFY8aOWxO4oE77NE7T50Gi6gYaTyLWHm7jCmih-dO64N-qoyMSN4kt8oLfsPmnr1l2OE/s1600/map_amstrdam.gif" height="295" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at all those waterways! That's a lot of bridges..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Well I'm probably going to look pretty stupid saying this but I did not know before I went that Amsterdam is a canal city. Once there I felt it was quite similar to Venice - bridges everywhere and not much traffic at all. Come to think of it I can't remember if there were any cars in Venice but there <u>really</u> aren't many in Amsterdam.<br />
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<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I don't think this city could be any more of a contrast to London. Instead of hustle and bustle with suits and hipsters at every corner, there streets are lined with cafés and bicycles of all kinds. For someone who can't ride a bicycle, I found this a little unnerving. That and the fact that no one seemed to wear a helmet. Amsterdam has cycle lanes built into its roads as well as a tram service that runs through the centre. The reduction in noise pollution as well as normal pollution is just unbelievable. The population difference between London (8.3 mil) to Amsterdam (779 K) obviously makes a big impact. I'm not sure if London could function without it's buses, cabs and cars - there wouldn't be enough Borris bikes for everyone to ride - but I'm just saying it was a really nice change. You could sit outside a café, relax and watch canal boats go past all day. </div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiETH9PKH36Vcp96nTFBiW89R8d_HhPrS-4j2r_cOS6xCR-D-qMnEl0k6mh6UXZE01BzV6bgIfkWqt2risb5qfZWJbXSv0GL4RjLxqz8xqrIXTKnpcH2vB1LgwqNt_ukW9JJILDejOIp0Ez/s1600/IMG_2860.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiETH9PKH36Vcp96nTFBiW89R8d_HhPrS-4j2r_cOS6xCR-D-qMnEl0k6mh6UXZE01BzV6bgIfkWqt2risb5qfZWJbXSv0GL4RjLxqz8xqrIXTKnpcH2vB1LgwqNt_ukW9JJILDejOIp0Ez/s1600/IMG_2860.JPG" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The back of Bloemenmarkt (a flower market right in the city centre)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<h2>
Museums</h2>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfNxzMxCwT_Wp4jf7BKPJm_0QvEnpuxWuqwUW77oEk6VhnfkEJf5UcpISmtjkzJ7nTVrITyRntGtvXMIxKkeL5hyq4Q14dz-6DdVE-m86jDsv7SVslEohit-Kx27lluctcu64pchrFYhTC/s1600/IMG_2809.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfNxzMxCwT_Wp4jf7BKPJm_0QvEnpuxWuqwUW77oEk6VhnfkEJf5UcpISmtjkzJ7nTVrITyRntGtvXMIxKkeL5hyq4Q14dz-6DdVE-m86jDsv7SVslEohit-Kx27lluctcu64pchrFYhTC/s1600/IMG_2809.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outside the world famous Rijksmuseum<br />
by the iconic I amsterdam sign</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I've got to say I was shocked by how many museums there are in Amsterdam. It's such a small city but they've certainly got tourist attractions covered. Perhaps it's because we were tourists but it definitely felt like a place to visit not to live. I actually lost count of how many museums we went in to but I think it was around 12 in total.<br />
<br />
The Rijksmuseum is arguably the most famous museum in Amsterdam, even the building itself is outstanding. The British equivalent to this is probably the V & A museum (except it's not free). The museum is split into different periods of history and holds a fantastic number of Dutch artefacts from the Middle Ages to the present day. This is definitely one to look up<u> before</u> you go. You would never be able to see it all properly in one day so make sure you have a plan first. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2tUFBNz_2MentwJNUPFY4WENqLMxoFSn2wjLTw1UVR02WxkATSwzJk2a8hchGIUd2nPTmrpFFJERlnbbmy51F3xOu2VM9r7-A8LseWzXIWI0JyIcf7hvDqMk8mWGG64b-2g6BjV5YyG16/s1600/DSC_0025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2tUFBNz_2MentwJNUPFY4WENqLMxoFSn2wjLTw1UVR02WxkATSwzJk2a8hchGIUd2nPTmrpFFJERlnbbmy51F3xOu2VM9r7-A8LseWzXIWI0JyIcf7hvDqMk8mWGG64b-2g6BjV5YyG16/s1600/DSC_0025.JPG" height="640" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A massive academic library sits at one end of the <span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">museum</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_pAQtnhhZaDpeKuYsrUh8_xTQNPiwcqxPnyvf71KL4oZ8LV0PBzD12VTklyojlIQDsl4JEtGQYw13ziKGHZG6OHDfmoegnQuMYhtBdfSMBn_i5LXERLqROA5yJwuaNuMLuH0NTxSoDDlT/s1600/DSC_0026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_pAQtnhhZaDpeKuYsrUh8_xTQNPiwcqxPnyvf71KL4oZ8LV0PBzD12VTklyojlIQDsl4JEtGQYw13ziKGHZG6OHDfmoegnQuMYhtBdfSMBn_i5LXERLqROA5yJwuaNuMLuH0NTxSoDDlT/s1600/DSC_0026.JPG" height="422" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It reminds me of Disney's 'Beauty and the Beast'</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWCbo7D8w4Yjj4ZmuLt6eyNmgKMrwiZjEe9NYv7ljLry0ml-R02lrQIRKOI7nlCzGvvLht2nvFykkD0QN6hbVh4xDdBbTzdI78TjWSAWFQwJwPZk5YvL_NYjvo6KJh2aTNCEU3s8oYDxZC/s1600/DSC_0036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWCbo7D8w4Yjj4ZmuLt6eyNmgKMrwiZjEe9NYv7ljLry0ml-R02lrQIRKOI7nlCzGvvLht2nvFykkD0QN6hbVh4xDdBbTzdI78TjWSAWFQwJwPZk5YvL_NYjvo6KJh2aTNCEU3s8oYDxZC/s1600/DSC_0036.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Women (not children) in the late 17th and 18th century had these ornate dolls houses built as a declaration of their wealth.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
Everyone says you <u>have</u> to see Anne Frank's House but in my opinion it was spoilt by the number of people viewing the exhibition. Everything felt like one massive queue. A queue to get in, a queue around the house and then almost a queue to get out. I'm a somewhat patience character (okay maybe not) but I think a good museum allows you to enjoy the exhibition in your own way and this one certainly didn't. If you're desperate to see it get there first thing (it opens at 9am). </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
A highlight for me as a fan of art was the Van Gogh Museum. This was really quite amazing and told you so much more about his life and how he developed his style than the work in the National Gallery in London. Also the museum is hosted inside a really modern but plain building which emphasised the art rather than detracting from it. This is an absolute must for anyone visiting Amsterdam in my opinion. (I wasn't allowed to take pictures though..)</div>
<div>
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<h2>
Oude Kerk </h2>
</div>
<div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixPVN-gD8FsWnPfNVYbVT7jOf5WhNnonLoYtmDB-d8XgXWM4j1gtPI3Cz8XiGVJq3o2OznzEBF-d_IwoK3FMJYkjY8KmHKNj5u-ORA46pPPY_m2tCJM8PpAEUKk905GNz9JS28nNhI5Gbn/s1600/DSC_0098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixPVN-gD8FsWnPfNVYbVT7jOf5WhNnonLoYtmDB-d8XgXWM4j1gtPI3Cz8XiGVJq3o2OznzEBF-d_IwoK3FMJYkjY8KmHKNj5u-ORA46pPPY_m2tCJM8PpAEUKk905GNz9JS28nNhI5Gbn/s1600/DSC_0098.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's hard to get a good picture when it's enclosed by so many buildings.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF0SAEZqTYo5U4yO24p0_qjXmBABhI_Nc05Qlp5mmsnnIU_C1hBTmpjGxq5vLVRNHZLbXrkMaU0aB7qHKfbzXz48jX9Z6S40mSiAugRqJ3FKq1H6XCBWotJO1Fj3kXWUbvr1iY6izDIN9Q/s1600/DSC_0115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF0SAEZqTYo5U4yO24p0_qjXmBABhI_Nc05Qlp5mmsnnIU_C1hBTmpjGxq5vLVRNHZLbXrkMaU0aB7qHKfbzXz48jX9Z6S40mSiAugRqJ3FKq1H6XCBWotJO1Fj3kXWUbvr1iY6izDIN9Q/s1600/DSC_0115.JPG" height="440" width="276" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKfZYAEqaZhWI_8oiJ8qEnWyJa_vV1gYluIB6gtlcDsmghg7Kpg-un2zbqLnDJjGbbtSVTNGiffAJTIIH6rcISZeniFlyTJdteKOrI38CVK8OMeF6xSo7rpYB8KyAIhEmCT-YDsldxRvH2/s1600/DSC_0106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKfZYAEqaZhWI_8oiJ8qEnWyJa_vV1gYluIB6gtlcDsmghg7Kpg-un2zbqLnDJjGbbtSVTNGiffAJTIIH6rcISZeniFlyTJdteKOrI38CVK8OMeF6xSo7rpYB8KyAIhEmCT-YDsldxRvH2/s1600/DSC_0106.JPG" height="440" width="293" /></a></div>
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<div>
The only bit of the notorious 'red light district' we did enter in to was to see the Oude Kerk (old church) situated annoyingly in the middle of it. This church is really quite bare and spectacular, and it's really interesting to see how the church has stood the test of time among the immorality surrounding it. If you're feeling brave enough it's definitely worth seeing and there is a really nice café attached (sounds like a spend a lot of time in cafés - who doesn't like tea and cake though?)<br />
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<h2>
Canal Tours</h2>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmzlAi9NnCpMuM4IOfw6Cu-5c7tQ9wyB-2G3u_M78JRucwRJWjTDUm026VCPHh6k9RXNSahk25jiWjyychWffq-L1Woy1sqV-AbfkFjPOnJmO7ZoUczzbAc47BzXn8tSzMEp3X1ckg17ks/s1600/IMG_2808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmzlAi9NnCpMuM4IOfw6Cu-5c7tQ9wyB-2G3u_M78JRucwRJWjTDUm026VCPHh6k9RXNSahk25jiWjyychWffq-L1Woy1sqV-AbfkFjPOnJmO7ZoUczzbAc47BzXn8tSzMEp3X1ckg17ks/s1600/IMG_2808.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the few places you can see 7 bridges all lined up</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Finally, I'd definitely recommend doing a canal tour. We bought a pack which had this included and although the cheesy, Americanised audio guide was quite annoying it is definitely the best way to see all the sights and admire all the architecture Amsterdam has to offer.<br />
<br />
One last tip, if you're going to go all out with the museums like us, get an <a href="http://www.iamsterdam.com/en/visiting/i-amsterdam-city-card" target="_blank">I Amsterdam card</a> - the discount is really worth it. </div>
<div>
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<div>
If you're interested in knowing more about Amsterdam get in touch in the comments section below.<br />
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Look out for my 'Escapades in Madrid' post coming next. </div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #252525;"><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #252525;"><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span>Samantha Blundellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16660790286639240756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276000172419158017.post-79734975304665799562015-04-15T07:52:00.001+01:002015-04-15T18:11:04.351+01:00How To Survive In London <div style="text-align: left;">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1rbhInRIoCyMIKyLI4WOa357kGCvC_qHl2oY7N3gbc9sWGAw7swZ7dZZZCYDLALdaF1Xq60_ZLbCsYdFwHmEQpwqAhmnE9jGcyDSrwf3_KB6_WjSxGKlT2_E4IrG2gFwHadiAH9HBgIn9/s1600/IMG_2770.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1rbhInRIoCyMIKyLI4WOa357kGCvC_qHl2oY7N3gbc9sWGAw7swZ7dZZZCYDLALdaF1Xq60_ZLbCsYdFwHmEQpwqAhmnE9jGcyDSrwf3_KB6_WjSxGKlT2_E4IrG2gFwHadiAH9HBgIn9/s1600/IMG_2770.JPG" height="400" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">
Great, the only picture I have of</div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">
me at work is eating a burrito..</div>
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</tbody></table>
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<br />
Firstly, apologies for the length of time since my last post. March was <u>so</u> busy for me with family birthdays, a trip to Amsterdam (I've got a post to follow about this trip), loads of extra work etc. etc. This post has been in the planning stages for quite some time so hopefully you all will like it.<br />
<br />
I've been living in London for five and a half months now (can you believe it?) and I think I am finally starting to get the hang of it. It sounds like a really long time to get used to living somewhere but for someone who has lived in the countryside for 21 years of her life, London is quite a big change!<br />
<br />
So I thought I would create a 'How To Guide' for living in London. I used the word 'survive' because sometimes it can feel like a real jungle.<br />
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<h3>
<b><u>Food comes second</u></b></h3>
Although there are loads of amazing places to eat in London, there aren't many cheap ones. My work backs onto <a href="https://leatherlanestars.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Leather Lane</a> which hosts the most eclectic mix of food stalls and shops. There's falafel shacks, burritos shops, special cheese toasties stalls, juice carts, massive salad stops, pretty much everything you could want to eat. But I rarely let myself 'eat from the street' because in London, everything is on a budget!<br />
<br />
Most offices these days have a communal kitchen (I'm yet to find anyone who doesn't have one) with a kettle and a microwave. If you're clever you can easily save £30 a week by bringing in your own food, whether it's leftovers, a can of soup or a home-made ham sandwich. It might not be that exciting but it saves you money to spend on all the other tempting things to do in London.<br />
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<h3>
<b><u>The nightmare that is the tube at rush hour </u></b></h3>
The tube is one thing that you really cannot prepare yourself for. Even if you catch a jam-packed bus every now and then, it's nothing like catching the tube at rush hour <u>everyday</u>. In my first month or so I used to work an extra hour each day just to avoid it.<br />
<br />
You'll soon learn that there is absolutely no such thing as personal space on the tube. In fact I could tell you quite a few stories about my escapades on the tube but I might save that for another post (let me know if you're interested).<br />
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Never fear though, there are a couple of tips which can make catching the tube not that bad:<br />
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Firstly, make sure you take your coat off, and your backpack (tube etiquette for you there), before you get on because it is always super hot and you don't want to turn up to work sweating like you've just run all the way there.<br />
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Try to learn which side the doors open. If you're going to be on for a couple of stops, you want to be on the opposite side to where the doors open because there's always more space that side. The most space is down the aisles between the seats but then you have to hold on and if you're short like me, that's not ideal.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM1XFxSjzF9-jlodgirENE9ms3zNCuiLQxNyw4TNCakg-V6FC6QGem8GDsOhUuWABsJg6xmqI6S6c6BS-AScGrVS8vrYtn5AD9w9CIHxP8e1_SPMpq5q-8ekfT8PhXGgXmU6a65u-tZuie/s1600/IMG_2940.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM1XFxSjzF9-jlodgirENE9ms3zNCuiLQxNyw4TNCakg-V6FC6QGem8GDsOhUuWABsJg6xmqI6S6c6BS-AScGrVS8vrYtn5AD9w9CIHxP8e1_SPMpq5q-8ekfT8PhXGgXmU6a65u-tZuie/s1600/IMG_2940.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The amazing Frozen Oyster wallet I was<br />
given for Christmas (best present ever!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Remember where the exist are on the platforms. This can take a while, but if it's your daily commute it's worth it. Getting into the carriage the right distance along can save quite a bit of time if you're in a rush to get to work. Platforms in central London are quite busy at rush hour.<br />
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Keep your oyster card/contactless debit card in one of those wallets. Everyone hates the guy who gets to the front of the queue then holds everyone up while they mess about looking for their card. If you're going to use it every day you want to keep it safe anyway.<br />
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<h3>
<b><u>Pace yourself - seriously!</u></b></h3>
Going out for drinks in London is entirely different to student drinking or a pint in the local pub. For a start, it's at least double the cost. Like food, it's hard to find an alcoholic drink that costs less than £5. Even soft drinks are expensive.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBQphs0uwUyBIUfrVZtrvF9GZE5X6EL6yBX5FfpBBakJ20J46HN_B_o2VgsbSXWFypujFbO2WUUkIk1mJhtkanR0VqEspdxepnra2z9551OsOXZ7japgvEymjciZAtazAZK7HM10KuBJl-/s1600/IMG_2734.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBQphs0uwUyBIUfrVZtrvF9GZE5X6EL6yBX5FfpBBakJ20J46HN_B_o2VgsbSXWFypujFbO2WUUkIk1mJhtkanR0VqEspdxepnra2z9551OsOXZ7japgvEymjciZAtazAZK7HM10KuBJl-/s1600/IMG_2734.JPG" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cocktails, cocktails and more cocktails.. Seems to be all everyone<br />
wants to drink in London! </td></tr>
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Money's not the only reason you should pace yourself though. Heading straight from work to the bar can be a dangerously long session. Even if you finish late on Friday at 6:30pm, if you're planning to go on to a club that's a solid 5.5 hours drinking! Probably longer than you had in mind at the start of the night..<br />
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It's important also if you're heading straight from work to grab something to eat first. You'll most likely be heading home on your own at the end of the night unless you've made other plans or stay at a friends, so you need to be capable of looking after yourself.<br />
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<b><u>Take everything free you can get your hands on</u></b></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFZjK53d4YlU-MDaXdMAH3XxU0OVgFIajIE_VLWrCHrJSTT26S3GHBEPUIgc9Ephwr78P_VR5UufSOsD8KI76xCAZFwpqj-3unKp9EhGIGYGActbQnrz4lm4qHTHvlkc-RVrFm5nG6mgao/s1600/IMG_2343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFZjK53d4YlU-MDaXdMAH3XxU0OVgFIajIE_VLWrCHrJSTT26S3GHBEPUIgc9Ephwr78P_VR5UufSOsD8KI76xCAZFwpqj-3unKp9EhGIGYGActbQnrz4lm4qHTHvlkc-RVrFm5nG6mgao/s1600/IMG_2343.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Piccadilly Circus shot by me on my first week in London.</td></tr>
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Granted there are a lot of different expenses to consider in London but there's also a lot of free things as well. Perhaps the best thing about catching the tube is the amount of free weekly literature you get offered - from the Metro every morning and the Evening Standard to Time Out magazine, InStyle and Sport.<br />
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There are also loads of free events and things to do, such as sightseeing. Just because you live in London doesn't mean you can't act like a tourist as well. A trip to see the Houses of Parliament, The London Eye or Trafalgar Square can be just as interesting as paying a hefty amount to see the crown jewels in the Tower of London. So do some research (probably by reading Time Out magazine or looking on their website) and find something free to do instead.<br />
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<h3>
<b><u>An antidote to feeling like a small fish in a HUGE pond</u></b></h3>
It's quite easy to feel insignificant in a big city like London, especially if you come from a small town like me. There are so many people buzzing around you with their own problems, priorities and interests. You can catch the same tube at the same times everyday and never see the same people. That's just how it is. But there are actually quite a few positives to this. If you do something stupid (normally getting on or off the tube) it really doesn't matter because you'll never see those people again anyway. If you want to lip-sync to your favourite Jessie J song on the tube who cares. There is so much diversity in London that it gives you have the freedom to do whatever you want, wear whatever you and act however you want (within reason). So although at first it's a little intimidating, London's actually quite empowering!<br />
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Hopefully I've covered a lot of the main issues you might face living in London. Most of all, make sure you enjoy it because otherwise you might as well live somewhere that's cheaper with fresher air!Samantha Blundellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16660790286639240756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276000172419158017.post-74476623945091424212015-03-09T01:17:00.001+00:002015-03-09T01:19:22.045+00:00What Is It With All These Beards?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZE2FGrsEwagbUroAMqXxPn3FJQTYUv6KWstg9lz50yUhlzAjdAa2KuENcqdW5WcvMa9Wu4uZPpZ1UmBi-nGrkOR8FaeJ3hyphenhyphen8qvsb1FCftq9SkplCSfUO30_I8ApxKVWA6dmK7Mjx1On7Q/s1600/beard+baules.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZE2FGrsEwagbUroAMqXxPn3FJQTYUv6KWstg9lz50yUhlzAjdAa2KuENcqdW5WcvMa9Wu4uZPpZ1UmBi-nGrkOR8FaeJ3hyphenhyphen8qvsb1FCftq9SkplCSfUO30_I8ApxKVWA6dmK7Mjx1On7Q/s1600/beard+baules.jpeg" height="320" width="244" /></a></div>
This might sound like the most random topic for a blog post ever but I felt like I just had to say something.<br />
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Why has everyone gone crazy about beards? Beards used to be for tramps and old men. The only person who used to be able to rock a beard was Dumbledore but now it seems like everyone's bloody got one. Maybe it's because I work in the creative industry but I feel like it's hard to go a day without seeing 10 guys with beards. Not short beards like Brad Pitt or Johnny Depp sometimes have - I mean more than a few week's stubble. I mean proper full-on beards. And since when does having a beard make you a hipster? And what's even worse, do girls actually find these beards attractive?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXyeWzKrStstDzytBFrTRbleSA9-qv1H855McJ7QZixNVciBbzZIV6krXFwtMCslcu-X3WVZiwMFZIfEh4c2jcRsArvMewXsIfCcUTt5VRhW5ce3Qu4UkSo5Uk2A9j-NSRDQ9oCvwYQgAZ/s1600/rd_the_twits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXyeWzKrStstDzytBFrTRbleSA9-qv1H855McJ7QZixNVciBbzZIV6krXFwtMCslcu-X3WVZiwMFZIfEh4c2jcRsArvMewXsIfCcUTt5VRhW5ce3Qu4UkSo5Uk2A9j-NSRDQ9oCvwYQgAZ/s1600/rd_the_twits.jpg" height="200" width="157" /></a><br />
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I know I'm probably being a bit harsh but personally I just don't like them. When I see what could be a decent-looking guy with a really long beard it just makes me think of The Twits by Roald Dahl.<br />
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For anyone who had a deprived childhood and didn't have this read to them it's about this really gross old couple who played mean tricks on one another. But Mr Twit had this really gross long beard and I remember a particular section where it described him getting food stuck in there:<br />
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Having spoken to a friend who has one of these beards this is actually a real problem! Apparently rice and milk are quite hard to get out. I mean can you imagine walking around with your dinner stuck to your face for hours? Maybe even days? I certainly can't. Although thank god a sweaty beard is apparently not all that common in winter.</div>
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I think men use beards to express their masculinity. If you can grow a proper beard, you're a proper man. Wikipedia (the font of all true knowledge) says that in Ancient Egypt the men of highest rank grew beards and in the Middle Ages holding someone else's beard was a serious offence that had to be righted in a duel. Nowadays there seems to be a lot more beard-loving between men with compliments and admiration flowing freely between men with beards and men without. </div>
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It's only recently that they have<i> really</i> started to get on my nerves though. And I've been thinking, how much longer is this trends going to go on for? More inside knowledge from my experienced bearded-friend tells me that they actually take quite a bit of maintenance with trimming and even brushing! I know you can get beard oil and a whole load of other products for it. Perhaps it's like a male version of concealer? You could hide a whole host of skin issues in one of them.</div>
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But if you ask me, a beard just suggests you are lazy and/or unhygienic. I read <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-27023992" target="_blank">an article</a> posted on the BBC website a year ago which said that once we hit a 'beard peak' they will become less attractive because too many people will have them; they will no longer be a rarity. Hopefully the summer the trend will be driven out as people start to get too hot because I'm not sure I could cope with sweaty beards on the tube! </div>
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Samantha Blundellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16660790286639240756noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276000172419158017.post-3082088836723853742015-03-01T23:03:00.000+00:002015-03-02T09:25:57.863+00:00What Should I Do Now? The reason why I haven't written in such a long time (3 months if you're counting) is I wasn't sure what to write about. You could call it 'writers block' but I'd have to be a writer for that to be true. It's probably more accurately defined as a lack of inspiration. At university it was easy to write about being a student and the trivial problems I had then, like how to concentrate long enough to do my work (<a href="http://alwaysneverme.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/how-to-stay-in-library-longest-for.html" target="_blank">How To Stay in the Library Longest..!</a>) or what costume to make for that week's fancy dress theme (<a href="http://alwaysneverme.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/love-dressing-up.html" target="_blank">Love Dressing Up?</a>). Not that I wouldn't give anything to relive those carefree three years - I feel like recently my life has got a whole lot more serious.<br />
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I have my first 'real' job. A 9-5, 5 days a week, fixed salary job. Okay, officially it's an internship but it's the closest I've had to an actual, adult job. (I've worked full-time before but not in the industry I ultimately want to pursue). I live in the capital, the biggest city in the country and the place I've dreamed of living for the last 7 or 8 years at least. I catch the tube to work at rush hour everyday and I've never seen the same person twice - not in the 4 months I've been here. I have contents insurance. I mean I actually pay my own insurance and have things worth insuring! Could I be any more mature? Well today I went one step further, I bought my first piece of furniture and put it together all by myself.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Je3IILmJlTtIEOjvIzfV35KCREaxSvz7Bsatal2uetflRFEnCoBHITqFix6uXLR87zn39PlAWwHDkgjXpkNWC-35xK9BPOspFsuiBLQZTe86k7fS00_DJZNvcmXoI8w6va4oI3oWDJk0/s1600/desk.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Je3IILmJlTtIEOjvIzfV35KCREaxSvz7Bsatal2uetflRFEnCoBHITqFix6uXLR87zn39PlAWwHDkgjXpkNWC-35xK9BPOspFsuiBLQZTe86k7fS00_DJZNvcmXoI8w6va4oI3oWDJk0/s1600/desk.JPG" height="297" width="640" /></a></div>
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What you're probably thinking is, 'This all sounds really boring' and the truth is it is. My life's not crazy and wild like a student now, it's the slow and complex life of a young professional. But I'm doing the things I've always wanted to do and I should be really happy, right?<br />
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I feel like after leaving university I've stepped outside what I know and what I'm used to, and actually started living life for real. It's not a fairytale like I hoped it would be. Things don't just happen for you. You have to make your own luck, your own decisions and your own mistakes.<br />
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I haven't been writing because I didn't think I could write anything people would want to read about. But then I thought, I shouldn't be writing for other people. I should be writing for me. I've been doing this all along because I enjoy it and so it doesn't matter if not a single person reads it. I'm going to write about what I'm interested in and that's all there is to it.<br />
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That's what I'm going to do now on.Samantha Blundellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16660790286639240756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276000172419158017.post-22834259217307627142014-12-09T22:26:00.000+00:002014-12-09T22:26:28.758+00:00My First 5 Weeks in LondonThese last 5 weeks have been completely crazy for me. It would be fair to compare them to university Freshers' in their diversity and the number of new experiences I've had. However, they've definitely not been as fun as Freshers'. I think I had quite an idealistic vision of living in London, some sort of British cross between Carrie Bradshaw's life and Rebecca Bloomwood's (from Confessions of a Shopaholic). It's definitely not been how I imagined it. At the start, going a day without getting lost was a massive achievement!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggycwSP9lPkKvmQ5IXoDitKHftCm11RZBDQfMUsTpAm25ZTawL7g3luhPy3yrQqFPWKo2KxJdI9SMkxbuqWcuuVE1dnw5uv-r9pnpPWSeVNd1rKVp2bu5jb_CtExorKkNWmMrFYKUlhTJo/s1600/Carrie-Bradshaw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggycwSP9lPkKvmQ5IXoDitKHftCm11RZBDQfMUsTpAm25ZTawL7g3luhPy3yrQqFPWKo2KxJdI9SMkxbuqWcuuVE1dnw5uv-r9pnpPWSeVNd1rKVp2bu5jb_CtExorKkNWmMrFYKUlhTJo/s1600/Carrie-Bradshaw.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhemVx-KPtvHf6qHW7MlqCh9cusb7hB9PuVq0f34D80LHMwbYOV_dKmflYkTXO7j5K-daf4eKJNWU7aS8l1AN-qy4YFSvThKH0dCUjVtTnTBcp8Tt7r-SL2GjW_9FW8L9lc7MDWJzhDghRz/s1600/rebecca+bloomwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhemVx-KPtvHf6qHW7MlqCh9cusb7hB9PuVq0f34D80LHMwbYOV_dKmflYkTXO7j5K-daf4eKJNWU7aS8l1AN-qy4YFSvThKH0dCUjVtTnTBcp8Tt7r-SL2GjW_9FW8L9lc7MDWJzhDghRz/s1600/rebecca+bloomwood.jpg" height="320" width="241" /></a></div>
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5 weeks ago (41 days to be exact), I left my family home in the quiet town of Stroud with nothing more than a very small suitcase, a handbag and a backpack full of noodles, and caught a one-way train to London. All I had planned ahead of me was a job I hadn't started and the promise of a place to stay with a couple of good friends from university. Ideally I would have liked to have found somewhere to live before moving but with such short notice from my future employer this was not an option.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6PJqEbZMcAA35cOGWiK_AUd37cKVh8LyDRgHFl-22fSJuGotSHydvx2tWZLk67acopdVtwnYwUhmgB4kS29EqoTm-fy5kZGIE81Ww4BYIgKiHc9ZrnjTcYsns-F5xROj1QUpNJjGShMz2/s1600/me+and+dee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6PJqEbZMcAA35cOGWiK_AUd37cKVh8LyDRgHFl-22fSJuGotSHydvx2tWZLk67acopdVtwnYwUhmgB4kS29EqoTm-fy5kZGIE81Ww4BYIgKiHc9ZrnjTcYsns-F5xROj1QUpNJjGShMz2/s1600/me+and+dee.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Me and Deannah at a <br />
university hockey social)</td></tr>
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For my first week and a half in London I stay with a friend from my old university hockey club. I'm so grateful for her letting me stay. I have no clue what I would have done otherwise - probably ended up in a massively over-priced hotel somewhere.<br />
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From the moment I found out I could finally move to London (I've been wanting to live here for a couple of years at least) I started trying to find some sort of accommodation. My friends and family suggested looking on www.spareroom.co.uk, which for anyone who's not been on there is an online advertising space for rooms.<br />
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The way it works is you browse through all the ads and email the advertiser to try to arrange a viewing. But one key detail I didn't know was that as a basic member (non-paying) you cannot contact any advertiser whose ad is less than 7 days old. After speaking to a friend who'd recently used the website to fill her old room I found out that most rooms went in the first 7 days. So at the earliest opportunity I paid for 2 weeks membership (£14.99 for a 2 week deal) hoping that would be all I needed.<br />
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From that point I was organising as many viewings as I could, travelling all over London hoping to find anywhere nice. What I did know was that the whole thing would suddenly turned into a popularity contest. It was like there was a whole new job to apply for, 'full-time flatmate'. I even had a second-round meeting/interview (how ridiculous!) which turned out to be a complete waste of time because at the last minute they offered the room to a friend anyway.<br />
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It was getting to the last couple of days of my 'early bird' membership and I still hadn't found anywhere to stay and if I'm quite honest, I was starting to get quite worried that I might <i>never</i> find anywhere. I organised 4 viewings for the last Saturday before my membership ended and just hoped that one of them would be T<b>he One</b>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXJKEtJZ9qK_2cX8fF6tDIMOdpqVlI76L5mc5ohUjtE9C7nj1Msf7van0u7gpho3YeWWJ3d-aaxY2gK7rHpok0vCHkBGLdp9pLPHR1vFoWY-J2BoD3xD6ABPunQm0snF1fzvynLgfUYLIS/s1600/IMG_2386.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXJKEtJZ9qK_2cX8fF6tDIMOdpqVlI76L5mc5ohUjtE9C7nj1Msf7van0u7gpho3YeWWJ3d-aaxY2gK7rHpok0vCHkBGLdp9pLPHR1vFoWY-J2BoD3xD6ABPunQm0snF1fzvynLgfUYLIS/s1600/IMG_2386.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
I'm happy to say that viewing number 4 is where I am now living! The house is really nice, only 5 minutes walk from the tube station, 30 minutes commute to work (which is really good for London) and the people already living here are really nice. I've only really met one of them properly so far but I couldn't really be happier with this house.<br />
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So after 5 weeks of a sleeping bag, a sofa and at times even the floor I now have a bed! I've even brought my electric blanket from home so I'm feeling quite luxury.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWsTpsmtBJfKRgMEOBnBJ_rHwEqWHgDnNfA3SLIiGE525qcgwlnmeKip4DArdEAX1wND_ffpfkmO32nq_eXxOCErOYoNi9pvr0AiIDZ_0nbWc0Jx45B27axuwCp2uFpljPM16zIlZoQCoi/s1600/IMG_2385.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWsTpsmtBJfKRgMEOBnBJ_rHwEqWHgDnNfA3SLIiGE525qcgwlnmeKip4DArdEAX1wND_ffpfkmO32nq_eXxOCErOYoNi9pvr0AiIDZ_0nbWc0Jx45B27axuwCp2uFpljPM16zIlZoQCoi/s1600/IMG_2385.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
I'd like to say a massive thank you to my brother and his girlfriend Sarah who let me stay with them for 4 weeks after having only moved into their new flat themselves. Without their generosity I'm not sure I would have stuck it out long enough to find somewhere to live. I definitely didn't realise how stressful not having your own bed would be!<br />
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I'm now getting used to working like a normal Londoner, sweating on the tube at rush hour and eating street food for lunch.<br />
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I hope this post hasn't been too boring just reading all about my life. Maybe my mistakes might just help you if you move to London or you can laugh along if you made the same ones as me!<br />
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My next post in a couple of weeks will be about the first two months of my new job and the truths of full-time employment!Samantha Blundellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16660790286639240756noreply@blogger.com0Leyton, London E10, UK51.561948 -0.01313900000002377125.906876500000003 -41.497514000000024 77.217019499999992 41.471235999999976tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276000172419158017.post-4051437685952093922014-11-04T23:10:00.000+00:002014-11-29T17:13:38.699+00:00Blogtober:The Results<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This is a few days later than planned but I am happy to say that I achieved my 1000 pageviews in a month! </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">In fact, I achieved 1,067 pageviews in total!!!</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiczeTXItZyI0JhnJ_hxFu6ksw4KssJ-obe0hhpdPnYGXpGrIL1fwq6IxXCbzfbvSR53M0tfkTThmd1u41kRXTqY7iQHYEKtAEsCYDbY55dMNGYTHOGLgPi4j-oz8x32rWLrXiPiDmaPLsQ/s1600/views+graph+-+all+time.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiczeTXItZyI0JhnJ_hxFu6ksw4KssJ-obe0hhpdPnYGXpGrIL1fwq6IxXCbzfbvSR53M0tfkTThmd1u41kRXTqY7iQHYEKtAEsCYDbY55dMNGYTHOGLgPi4j-oz8x32rWLrXiPiDmaPLsQ/s1600/views+graph+-+all+time.png" height="209" width="400" /></a></div>
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The key objectives set out in my first <a href="http://alwaysneverme.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/blogtober-whats-and-whys.html" target="_blank">Blogtober post</a> were:</div>
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<li>To prove my written and digital skills to employers</li>
<li>To engage readers in topics related to advertising</li>
<li>To motivate myself while applying for jobs</li>
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I'd proudly say I am confident that I have achieved all of these. A colleague even said to me today, "We've all been reading your blog" which was great to hear. Although they were all hard to achieve, perhaps the hardest was engaging readers in advertising content. Most people who read this blog are my friends and family, and what they're looking for is entertainment value. I know in the past I have engaged lots of readers on this topic, last year's<a href="http://alwaysneverme.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/whose-is-you-favourite-christmas.html" target="_blank"> 'Whose is Your Favourite Christmas Advertisement 2013?'</a> is one of my most popular posts to date with 212 direct views. But as I've said before, with today's saturated advertising climate only truly unique and engaging work gets noticed. I think this is the same with my content. Some of my posts were not as popular as I expected and some were more. Over the next 6 months I am going to continue to work hard to come up with interesting and unusual posts which my readers can relate to, and which they can't read elsewhere. </div>
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I've included a couple of little stats graphs in case anyone is interested in a behind the scenes break-down of my pageviews for Blogtober. Unfortunately because of the 4 day delay, the date range for these graphs is 6th October-4th November (Blogger doesn't let you alter it) so the totals don't add up to the full count for October but hopefully it's still interesting to see. </div>
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These charts and maps show where my views come from and what devices they're using:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQL1p1fFWSWJeoAmdr0gvWkMlm7hZff_XS4GAjR_yUbPI52nWA2ndP2ozQLxvnCPZWG19NuJWgE8z4462o6mXIJMnwYBKszbFwkt55omyikBcWOZeIfuwKMQ4AlFa53i_U53dx8_23OPCY/s1600/views+graph+-+audiences.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQL1p1fFWSWJeoAmdr0gvWkMlm7hZff_XS4GAjR_yUbPI52nWA2ndP2ozQLxvnCPZWG19NuJWgE8z4462o6mXIJMnwYBKszbFwkt55omyikBcWOZeIfuwKMQ4AlFa53i_U53dx8_23OPCY/s1600/views+graph+-+audiences.png" height="372" width="640" /></a></div>
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This shows me what sites people are on before they come to mine and where they found me. This bit confuses me a bit so don't worry if your not sure what the difference is between a URL and Site.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVt5BA7MJAkx-T4TCuj5KGmESf3G8JDbaavEcjnI_amq3NwYlLEAliJ0wlVC42Y_6H-PhdBE1zSO69qW_EI7KGlwQAtcCvE3vbXnqwxslp4UwWFzEAIJdZ8DCsw7yqfs_g39uCr-32-tcz/s1600/views+graph+-+traffic+sources%5D.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVt5BA7MJAkx-T4TCuj5KGmESf3G8JDbaavEcjnI_amq3NwYlLEAliJ0wlVC42Y_6H-PhdBE1zSO69qW_EI7KGlwQAtcCvE3vbXnqwxslp4UwWFzEAIJdZ8DCsw7yqfs_g39uCr-32-tcz/s1600/views+graph+-+traffic+sources%5D.png" height="410" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS4glIGMCXbSsXBHb5jK17pNEuBpuxFO0slN6gxaMrkE3RYbmfls0XGG8uFLRTFOqpYV_F6WgcrcZmZhu9kBFm8rtOC-hN4kGu371JkV7v8trcnNDBxvmy8gcGG1NSYK7mkQj68PdYzBvv/s1600/CZoClhRC_400x400.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS4glIGMCXbSsXBHb5jK17pNEuBpuxFO0slN6gxaMrkE3RYbmfls0XGG8uFLRTFOqpYV_F6WgcrcZmZhu9kBFm8rtOC-hN4kGu371JkV7v8trcnNDBxvmy8gcGG1NSYK7mkQj68PdYzBvv/s1600/CZoClhRC_400x400.png" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><b><u>Future plans:</u> </b></span><br />
If you haven't seen my <a href="http://alwaysneverme.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/lessons-learnt-in-meantime.html" target="_blank">last post </a>then you might not know that I have just started a new position as a digital communications intern at Grey EMEA (stands for Europe, Middle East and Africa for anyone who hasn't been able to work it out). So I'll be pretty busy from now on but this doesn't mean I'm going to stop writing, just that I'll be writing less frequently. I have really enjoyed my first few days at Grey and I feel like I've learnt loads to improve my blog already.<br />
From now on I am going to post at least once a month and hopefully fortnightly. I'm planning an article about my first month living in London working at a top advertising agency for the end of November so keep a look out!<br />
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<span style="color: #444444;">Hopefully you've liked Blogtober and who knows I might do it again next year! </span></h4>
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Samantha Blundellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16660790286639240756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276000172419158017.post-48764003544412544542014-10-29T17:24:00.000+00:002014-10-29T17:24:30.780+00:00Lessons Learnt in the Meantime Most of you now know that I have just been offered a 6 month position at Grey EMEA in London as a digital communications intern. I am sure that part of the reason I was given this offer was due to the hard work I have put in since leaving university. I have certainly been busy. For the past month and a half I have had two part-time jobs, a bartender at a local pub and a retail sales advisor at EE, alongside writing this blog. Although these positions were not part of my ultimate career goal they have taught me a lot of different skills which will be useful for the rest of my life.<br />
So I thought I would share what I have learnt with you!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2tGwDvsISDcw1WRyvRH-xF9rH792b9OY5U2Ioni47KDYVeDgIHuGwVtA8CdBZrBF8P7due6hmcrE935YlUvmNH4LJ1DGIj_DjGpJ8rfjQbN-wfpmabbYEGb0dCgi49dbawf0qIXPcmbCU/s1600/photo-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2tGwDvsISDcw1WRyvRH-xF9rH792b9OY5U2Ioni47KDYVeDgIHuGwVtA8CdBZrBF8P7due6hmcrE935YlUvmNH4LJ1DGIj_DjGpJ8rfjQbN-wfpmabbYEGb0dCgi49dbawf0qIXPcmbCU/s1600/photo-3.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #444444;">In both positions I have had to deal with difficult customers.</span> It's almost impossible to work in sales without meeting at least one. I've learnt that unless you were rude to them first, it is not your fault that they are angry or rude. The best thing to do is to listen to them, let them have their say, always remain calm and never to interrupt them. If you don't know how to help them, ask your manager if they can. I firmly believe that it's the difficulties you face which make you stronger and which you learn the most from. There are always going to be times when you will meet with these sort of people in any career and the more experience you get dealing with them, the better.<br />
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<span style="color: #444444;">I have become an expert at small talk, a skill very useful when you go for interviews and you're in the lift before it starts.</span> I've always been quite an outgoing character but occasionally when I've been nervous or meeting someone for the first time I have been stuck for something to say. (Hard to believe I know.) But now I feel confident talking to almost anyone. In the end people are just people and whether they're a 40 year old farmer demanding another pint of Carling at 1am when you want to leave, or a timid shopper looking to get a new pay as you go handset, being able to connect with them is really important.<br />
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<span style="color: #444444;">Being busy at work is actually so much better than having nothing to do.</span> There is nothing more boring than being at work with literally nothing to do! No customers to serve, no glasses to put away, nothing. When you keep yourself busy the time actually goes much faster too. Also standing still for a long time is more painful for you legs and feet that walking around doing things. You might not like your job, but sitting around complaining about it isn't going to make it any better so just get on with it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO5hmRymMrYoo7Ymrl64Mhy_bDXmBlgwpzpCY7r9kMe_bUDH9XRFyAY3ryu7vNSiZ_NTdw3G9c0ZPoZqcRdqA4pESgfNXxobSdHZBSkzF41k5flffcbi1-bm9Vrd9mjsA2TE8ncW-mU_yL/s1600/patience.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO5hmRymMrYoo7Ymrl64Mhy_bDXmBlgwpzpCY7r9kMe_bUDH9XRFyAY3ryu7vNSiZ_NTdw3G9c0ZPoZqcRdqA4pESgfNXxobSdHZBSkzF41k5flffcbi1-bm9Vrd9mjsA2TE8ncW-mU_yL/s1600/patience.png" height="400" width="277" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #444444;">Patience is a virtue.</span> Or so that's what people have been saying for ages and ages. If I'm 100% honest, I have never been the most patient person but the last month and a half has really taught me to be a bit more patient. Not everything can happen all at once and understanding that is really important. In the new position I'm about to start I will be communicating with people all around the world and with different timezones there's definitely going to be a fair amount of waiting around. If I had started this position in July I don't think I would have been as well prepared as I am now. So I am really glad that it didn't all happen straightaway for me because I would have been as good as I will be now. <br />
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<span style="color: #444444;">My first time being formally employed has also taught me a bit more about the different ways you can be paid, and how and when you pay taxes - which before I had absolutely no clue about. </span>With the government's allowance of the first £10,000 you earn in a year as tax free, I'm feeling pretty lucky! I've managed to save up some money which will help me pay a deposit on a flat (when I find one). I've never really been motivated by money and while I've been living with my mum I've not had to pay for any rent or food. In the past I would have said that I didn't need a part-time job because I don't care about money but the savings I've made are going to be really useful.<br />
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I'd advise anyone who is in the position I was in to try and get a local job while you're still applying for positions that are closer to your ultimate career goal. They might not always be fun but they can actually give you a lot more than just money!Samantha Blundellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16660790286639240756noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276000172419158017.post-30224676971042886902014-10-25T18:37:00.000+01:002015-07-31T16:51:08.831+01:00When Should We Start Thinking About Christmas?<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX0ESPxSbAYftUbu-DZegbdf8X8QkGbTnmdVRsh9OdkLvtQZy_VkloXegP4yJ0FsH7Sqn8JN4SUZU1o6EZwQGQMQfYk0MXZfXGDofFhqjmpFjXlrGxJVAEWQeDYWtzcvXnm_jxUl_hECpE/s1600/How-the-grinch-stole-christmas-2000-09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX0ESPxSbAYftUbu-DZegbdf8X8QkGbTnmdVRsh9OdkLvtQZy_VkloXegP4yJ0FsH7Sqn8JN4SUZU1o6EZwQGQMQfYk0MXZfXGDofFhqjmpFjXlrGxJVAEWQeDYWtzcvXnm_jxUl_hECpE/s1600/How-the-grinch-stole-christmas-2000-09.jpg" height="215" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whoville 'How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)'</td></tr>
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It's the 25th October, only 60 days until Christmas! I know to lots of people it probably feels like quite a long way away, but I can't help feeling it's closer than we realise. I absolutely love Christmas. I've been known to start playing Christmas music early in November and I've already bought at least one present. I'm always the first to start decorating the house with tinsel and lights, and to place our plastic Christmas wreath on the front door. I think a lot of people grow out of Christmas, but I'm certainly not planning to. <div>
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What I'm wondering is, when should we start thinking about Christmas? When I say thinking, I mean seriously thinking about it - choosing what presents to buy friends and family, what meat to eat on Christmas day etc.. Supermarkets have started trying to sell decorations and I have seen a lot of advent calendars in the 99p store this week; magazines will have already made their December issues, including where to buy the latest Christmas jumpers and ideas of things to fill your stocking; and restaurants have already started taking Christmas bookings. So it's clear that some of us already are thinking about it, but when is it socially acceptable to start talking about Christmas with others? </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Got enough presents there Lou? 'How The Grinch Stole Christmas' (2000)</td></tr>
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For a lot of people nowadays Christmas revolves around presents. It seems to be the main feature of the day. Whether we are eagerly anticipating opening a present we've been waiting months to get our hands on or anxiously watching our parent's reaction when they receive a set of body wash for the third year running, a lot of time is spent thinking about presents. Sometimes finding the prefect Christmas present can be quite stressful, not to mention expensive. No one likes to be caught in the last minute rush on Christmas Eve where you end up choosing something completely impersonal or out of budget just because you have no time and/or patience left. Believe me, I've made that mistake a lot of times! </div>
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With online shopping some of these problems can be averted but preparation is still key. Deliveries around Christmas time can be unpredictable and I wouldn't advise ordering something in the week running up to the big day, unless you are willing to risk presenting a wrapped up receipt. More and more people are starting to buy Christmas presents earlier. Having worked in retail for the last month, I've had quite a few questions about whether there will be any Christmas deals and I've heard the phrase 'early Christmas present' more than once. In fact, just today one of my colleagues mentioned having already bought all of her Christmas presents! Now I'm not suggesting we should all be that organised but perhaps thinking about them now would be sensible. Especially as spacing out the buying process could help keep our bank balances healthy. </div>
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Another question I'm interested in is when should we start decorating, thinking about the food we're going to eat and playing Christmas music? A lot of people follow the 1st December rule. But if you are going to order your meat from a butcher then you'll need to do this well before December (I'm not sure when exactly because we just get a turkey from Sainsbury's each year). Even if you're just getting a turkey though, you need to work out how many people are coming to lunch or dinner, and if you're inviting family to stay. You may have to work this out earlier than you think, they might already have a couple of options and you'll need to make your offer known before they make plans. If you're going to go away for Christmas, you'll start planning even earlier. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'The Bare and The Hare' (2013) by John Lewis</td></tr>
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Finally when is it okay for Christmas advertisements to start appearing on TV? I said in my post last year's about Christmas advertisements, that as soon as the Coca Cola ad had been seen the Christmas season had officially started but of course not all companies can wait for Coca Cola. In fact I am sure that all the big department stores have already made plans for this years advertisements, if not already filmed them. I'm keeping my eyes out for the first one I see. </div>
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There is a lot of growing resentment out there that Christmas has been taken over by commercialism. It's turning into a display of decadence rather than a time of good cheer or a religious holiday. I can't deny that Christmas has got a bit out of hand, but thinking about it earlier can prevent this. Last year the government predicted that on average British households will spend £820 on Christmas and I wouldn't be surprised if they predicted even higher figures this year. But by being prepared for Christmas you should be able to cut down the amount you spend. </div>
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My conclusion, it's comes down to personal preference. But if you want to spend less time and money worrying about it, then starting to think about it soon might be a good idea. </div>
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</script>Samantha Blundellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16660790286639240756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276000172419158017.post-36917394765367653332014-10-20T17:39:00.000+01:002017-06-12T10:56:06.810+01:00My First Video Blog - 10 Tips to Stay MotivatedI thought I would try something different for this post. This is my first ever video blog (or vlog)! It's a bit cheesy but hopefully you will all really like it. I watched a couple of experts on YouTube for advice and used the family's 20 year old tripod. Sorry about the windy weather and occasional bird noises! I only had one morning to do all the filming and the weather was really changeable! The topic I've chosen is 10 Tips to Stay Motivated! Let me know what you think!!<br />
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<br />Samantha Blundellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16660790286639240756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276000172419158017.post-31469629018097387692014-10-15T12:40:00.000+01:002014-10-16T14:22:09.319+01:0020 Most Annoying Things About Living With Your Parents<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxZUgYQVeyVlefjfPjuhqDy8EkEj1ixLaV7sKhPiP53mJlOyaUy2bM0T6sdqBJU4Wo_Q7mfB0yVoAzIegL4U8BfBUUAxHNO2G17OaUDoBGbaYFFHzhT_FZc2mXJXODJY41QIzNtd600jON/s1600/tshirt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxZUgYQVeyVlefjfPjuhqDy8EkEj1ixLaV7sKhPiP53mJlOyaUy2bM0T6sdqBJU4Wo_Q7mfB0yVoAzIegL4U8BfBUUAxHNO2G17OaUDoBGbaYFFHzhT_FZc2mXJXODJY41QIzNtd600jON/s1600/tshirt.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a><br />
I don't want this to make me sound ungrateful because I'm not; I love my family and I am very privileged to live with my mum. But that doesn't mean that she isn't really annoying sometimes, just like I can be annoying too. A lot of people I know are or have been in a similar situation to me, living with their parents after 3 amazing years of independence at university. If I'm honest I do find it hard living without the freedom I have become accustomed to. I thought the best way to get over how annoying living with parents can be is to make a joke out of it. A couple of people might not connect with some of these but hopefully most of you will! And don't think badly of my mum after reading this, she's the best.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">1.</span> You have to continually explain what you are doing today/this week because parents must know where you are every second of the day.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">2.</span> You are now the resident IT technician and are expected to solve all mobile/iPad/computer problems - especially relevant now I've started at EE.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">3.</span> You have no authority whatsoever. This is not your house. So are you supposed to ask permission for your friends to come over? (Starting to feel 10 years old again?)<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">4.</span> You will get nagged over and over to do chores. Haven't you tidied your room yet?<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">5.</span> You have to share the TV. But it's worse than normal because parents always want to watch programmes you have no interest in, like ones with subtitles or whole golf championships from start to finish. It's not your house remember so don't complain.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">6.</span> Everything that goes wrong in the house is magically your fault.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">7.</span> You have to keep explaining to people that you are 21 and still living with your parents, then endure their look of pity/ridicule.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">8.</span> You can not sit around doing nothing without getting hassled. This also means no more lie-ins.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">9.</span> When your parents actually have something interesting to go to the house suddenly becomes the most boring place in the world and you find yourself waiting for them to come back.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">10.</span> There is never any food you want in the house. This does sound quite spoilt and I have no problem with doing food shopping myself but if I come back from hockey at 9pm and want something to eat all I can find is Ryvita, salad and homemade chutney. That is not a meal!!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">11.</span> You have to share the car and/or wait for lifts. This actually doesn't apply to me but I know a lot of people who are in this situation so I thought I'd add it to the list anyway.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">12.</span> You will undoubtedly be treated like a child again at some point whether it is being told what options you have for dinner (which is nothing!!) or reminded to brush your teeth. How do parents think we've survived for the last 3 years at university?<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">13.</span> You are now the fashion guru and approver of all outfit combinations. This could just be me and my mum though.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">14. </span>You have no personal space. Your room is no longer your room because it's not your house, remember? So you have to be careful not to leave anything personal lying around.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">15.</span> When your parents have friends around you have to be polite and interesting, pretend that you remember them even if you don't and listen to your mum explain to everyone why you haven't got a great job and moved out yet.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">16.</span> Even though you are the fashion guru (13) all of your outfits will be judged for practicality and you will lose count of how many times they have suggested you wear/take a coat.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">17. </span>You will have to repeat something around 4 times before they begin to remember it. Maybe it's an age thing but parents aren't great at listening.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">18. </span>Occasionally you will be asked to house sit/dog sit/cat sit. This could be just for a weekend or it could be a whole week. This means you have to do all the chores and the organising of the family house on your own. Duties include getting up early to let the animals out, feeding animals, walking animals, cleaning house, food shopping, all cooking and washing up, and locking up the house at night. It also means that you can't go out and do what you like because you are supposed to responsible for the house/dog/cat.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">19. </span>You will be continually questioned about how many jobs you are applying for, whether you've sent the applications off and why you haven't heard back yet. However when you ask for any help they suddenly lose interest and have no useful advice whatsoever.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">20.</span> You feel like you're 17 again. You have just gone from all the freedom your student loan can buy to back where you were before you left. It's like that feeling when you go on an amazing holiday and then come back home and everything goes back to the way it was, but it feels worse because you've had a taste for what's out there.<br />
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Obviously there are some great positives about living with your parents, like it saves loads of money, but who wants to read about that. If I've missed anything off the list let me know. I've made it easier to leave comments below.<br />
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For people like me who are keen to move out of their family home, don't worry it will happen.Samantha Blundellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16660790286639240756noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276000172419158017.post-43264907378770542892014-10-10T11:03:00.000+01:002014-10-10T11:03:06.378+01:00Why Are We All So Addicted To Social Media? <div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji5OnA1lmGn0sncscnaoBBOU6dn0u1jmYGn262kYN5Sq-1x11LaSLgv6BGkMadgzsPtY_JtT8oNLQcvC1jsKCl06GnVuuUFoq93iIggG75af7uqfWhqSQpAYZbHQyxkpPxG8RujySUUjax/s1600/photo-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji5OnA1lmGn0sncscnaoBBOU6dn0u1jmYGn262kYN5Sq-1x11LaSLgv6BGkMadgzsPtY_JtT8oNLQcvC1jsKCl06GnVuuUFoq93iIggG75af7uqfWhqSQpAYZbHQyxkpPxG8RujySUUjax/s1600/photo-2.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a>The first thing I do in the morning is check my iPhone for messages, notifications and Snapchats. When I go on holiday my first question is, will there be WiFi? And the thought of a long journey without any phone battery is my idea of a nightmare. Some people probably think that's really sad but in reality most people my age are the same. I barely use my phone for calls or texts anymore. I've just started working in a phone shop and it's not minutes or texts customers ask about, it's data. It's all about the internet. It's about social media. </div>
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There are so many different platforms, each with their own uses and attractions. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, Snapchat, Whatsapp, LinkedIn and the list goes on and on. These are just some that I use on a regular basis. In fact I would probably check each of them daily and some more than 5 times a day. An addiction is "the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice" and I wouldn't say it's a stretch to describe my relationship with social media this way. I also wouldn't call my situation unique, in fact I'd probably call it common. The question is, why are we all so addicted to social media?</div>
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<u>It's continuous.</u></div>
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It's a bit like those online games we all used to play when we were younger. I'm thinking of FarmVille but there are loads of different variations of the same sort of thing. Even though you're not always playing, the game keeps going without you. You have to harvest your crops or you will lose the money you spent planting them. If we think even further back, it's a bit like Tamagotchis (although my parents never actually let me have one). You have to keep playing the game to keep your digital pet alive. Social media has a similar enchantment. People are continuously uploading new pictures, statuses, pins, videos etc.. Somehow, masterminds like Mark Zuckerberg have managed to create the feeling that you might miss something if you don't keep checking back. Although the pictures of your old university friends' crazy nights out are still going to be there 3 weeks later, who wants to be the last one to see them? </div>
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<u>Social media makes you feel connected.</u></div>
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It's called social for a reason. It's all about the connections you can make and keep. Social Media's common aim is to bring people together, to share ideas and create networks. Most people have times when they are alone, whether it's once a day, a week or a month. Some people enjoy this peace and quiet, some don't. With social media, you don't have to be alone. You can spark up conversations with people all around the world. It's this opportunity to communicate with people you don't see regularly in a fun way that has surpassed email or snail mail. Most people like to have lots of friends and social media is an easy way to stay in contact with them all. But you have to keep going back to that site to stay connected. Let's say you meet someone new on a night out, you get introduced by a mutual friend, chat for a while and then go your separate ways. If you know their name, or even if you don't, you could probably find them online by search through your mutual friend's profile. If you send them a friend request on Facebook, you'll have to keep using Facebook to contact them unless you ask for their number or email, which could be a bit too soon, I mean you've only met them once? And that's how social media draws you in. </div>
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<u>Social media gives you freedom.</u></div>
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There are things that are normally socially unacceptable that become okay on social media. I'm not talking about being rude or mean. But stalking through someone's old photos on Facebook is completely fine. You can get away with reading through all of someone's tweets for the last month without anyone knowing what you're doing. There is so much information about people on social media nowadays and that's what makes it so popular. It gives you much more freedom than the real world and you can express yourself in any way you choose. You can be whoever you want to be and say whatever you want to say (as long as it's not offensive). Social media provides the freedom that people crave in life and that freedom is what makes it so likeable and addictive. </div>
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Who can tell what the future has in store for social media or whether in 10 years time we will all have forgotten about Facebook. All I know is, it's pretty addictive right now. </div>
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Samantha Blundellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16660790286639240756noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276000172419158017.post-63079478364633912014-10-05T11:20:00.000+01:002014-10-05T11:20:40.161+01:00Why We Should NOT Ignore AdvertisementsNowadays there are so many different types of advertising and we are coming up with just as many ways to ignore each one. A lot of people record TV programmes they want to watch, like The X Factor, and then fast-forward through the ad breaks. In magazines people often skip the first couple of pages because they know they're normally 'just the advertisements'. Billboards and poster boards (especially the small ones on escalator walls in London tube stations) are so commonplace that most of us don't even need to ignore them - their constant visual bombardment creates a blur. But advertising is all about consumerism and obstructs our daily lives, so it's right to ignore it, yes?<br />
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No. That's my simple answer but if I stop with just that this will be a very short post. Advertising is important in many different ways and it can add a lot more to your life than you think. You might be thinking, she's just saying this because she wants to be in advertising or maybe she just weird. But hopefully after reading this you will start to consider the uses of advertising and will have a more positive view of the industry.<br />
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Firstly, not all advertising aims to drive sales. There are actually lots of different motivations behind different advertisements. For example, public services commonly use advertising to instruct others or create changes in behaviour. In November 2012, Metro Trains in Melbourne, Australia commissioned the campaign 'Dumb Ways to Die' to promote rail safety. They wanted to remind people how important it is to be careful around trains. They were <i>not</i> trying to sell more train tickets. This campaign reports to have contributed to a 30% reduction in "near-miss" accidents which is clearly a positive outcome and a great use of advertising.<br />
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Similarly, at the end of 2011 the British Heart Foundation launched a TV advertisement staring Vinnie Jones showing viewers how to perform hands-only CPR. This has saved at least 40 lives and has a really worthwhile purpose. Advertisements like this prove that there is more to advertising than people realise.<br />
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However, lot advertising is about sales. But, so what? If it's a great product or service that could improve your life or someone else's, does it really matter if you were persuaded to buy it? Without advertising there is no way you would know about all of your possessions or would have bought them. A lot of advertising can be really awful and annoying. With so many different TV channels and YouTube, advertising space is certainly becoming more widely available. But just because there are are some rubbish ones out there doesn't mean you should ignore the rest. If you went shopping for trainers, there might be loads if styles or colours you don't like, but that doesn't mean you'd stop looking for them and never buy a pair again.<br />
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Some advertisements are truly inspiring and amazing. Even if you decide you're not interested in the product or brand, the advertisement can still have an impact on you. Nike's branding is an example of this. Their tagline, 'Just Do It' resonates with many consumers. They believe in seizing the moment, going for something big, doing more than you ever have before. They aim to motivate people and being motivated is always a positive thing. Their ' Just Do It - Possibilities' (2013) advertisement inspires you to take things to the next level. After watching this advertisement you feel positive and empowered. The marketing is unobtrusive which allows you to enjoy the advertisement without feeling like you have to love Nike as a brand.<br />
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The 'GoPro HERO4: The Adventure of life in 4K' advertisement takes this idea of ads that inspire to a whole new level. Visually there is so much going on in the 4 minutes of this video (clearly it's meant for YouTube not TV). It is perhaps one of the best advertisements for a product that I have seen in ages. It shows you things you have never seen before, from a behind the scenes angle. The footage is simply breathtaking and gives you so much more than the idea that you should go and buy this camera. This is a fantastic example of why you should <i>not</i> ignore advertising. If you ignored this one, you'd be missing something great. It really give you a chance to be a part of their adventure.<br />
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Good advertisements aren't thought-up in a 5 minute brainstorming session. They can take weeks to reach their final concept and this is before they even start to be made. There are people in creative departments worldwide who dedicate substantial amounts of time to making their ideas great. There are loads of really good advertisements out there, it's just that they are swamped by the irritating, unoriginal ones. But the truly creative advertisements deserve to be taken notice of, especially the ones which make you laugh. Evian's 'Baby&Me' (2013) is really cute and funny.<br />
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Watching these babies dance like their adult counterpart is a unique idea and the costumes really make this advertisement. If you let it, this advertisement can really brighten your day and change your mood. It's not forcing you to buy Evian water right this second. It just trying to make you happy, so why are you trying so hard to ignore it?</div>
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Likewise, O2's 'Be more dog', although is clearly promoting is brand, attempts to make you laugh while doing so. It's inventive and quirky, and like Nike's advertisements, motivates you to try something different. It's especially entertaining if you have a cat because you know it's so unlikely for a them to do these things. </div>
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Basically what I've been trying to say is, not all advertising is bad, annoying, forcing you to buy its product or love its brand. There are different purpose for different advertisements. They can teach you something new, inspire you, show you things you've never seen before and above all they can entertain you. I'm not suggesting we should love all advertisements and never fast-forward through ad breaks ever again. All I'm saying is we should give advertisers a break, because some of their work deserves our attention. </div>
Samantha Blundellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16660790286639240756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276000172419158017.post-4729239239866357912014-10-01T11:14:00.000+01:002014-10-01T11:26:02.698+01:00Blogtober - The Whats and Whys <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Today is the 1st October and the start of </span><b><span style="color: #444444;">Blogtober</span></b><span style="font-weight: normal;">. </span>Most people nowadays have heard of Stoptober (to help quit smoking) or Movember (to raise awareness of men's cancer), so I thought I would do something similar. But no, I'm not going to grow a moustache.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwrj3LvueXtHGPSLCsi_Igfz_ruSQUnaC7ZlfDIBScTT3EqStaQrAnLt2tXp34AsK84lQ__ujFbPiBRWaNDM0NOQCX7v2LWpjMY5j1tsu5oz3y0iAO0ZLqZgNCIQ1eFcfYe_WdSRocqiO0/s1600/turq+banners1.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwrj3LvueXtHGPSLCsi_Igfz_ruSQUnaC7ZlfDIBScTT3EqStaQrAnLt2tXp34AsK84lQ__ujFbPiBRWaNDM0NOQCX7v2LWpjMY5j1tsu5oz3y0iAO0ZLqZgNCIQ1eFcfYe_WdSRocqiO0/s1600/turq+banners1.PNG" height="289" width="640" /></a></div>
Since <a href="http://alwaysneverme.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/15-things-graduates-miss-most-about.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #444444;">my last nostalgic post</span></a> about university life, Freshers' has started and everywhere I see students living the life I used to live (on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat). At the end of that post I said that next I would write something positive about graduate life and what I am doing to get my career going. This is what I came up with.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #444444;">Blogtober</span></b> is going to be a special month of blogging with aims and targets. I will have new posts every 5 days - 8 posts in total throughout the month. Most of you know I want to pursue a career in advertising, so for this month will be writing about, media, marketing, advertising and graduate life. It won't be like reading a textbook or a boring news article though I promise. I will be expressing my opinions and hopefully you will in your comments as well.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_CgK7NuSJ6d6lNFU_QjmhZgcJhiTOwDGDv-ioTGxEY5AJ_Ger3u7VYyN4-hGMFnNY9oeVXteNqLpZWxIIog1ORbO5NGtax5I-pif63u-XFNjSHtmpnrbzn0jGFK7Ntlw7voLGa9b9G8H/s1600/motivatonal+thoughts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_CgK7NuSJ6d6lNFU_QjmhZgcJhiTOwDGDv-ioTGxEY5AJ_Ger3u7VYyN4-hGMFnNY9oeVXteNqLpZWxIIog1ORbO5NGtax5I-pif63u-XFNjSHtmpnrbzn0jGFK7Ntlw7voLGa9b9G8H/s1600/motivatonal+thoughts.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a>You might wander why I am doing this. There are quite a few reasons. Firstly, it will build upon by existing experience and prove to employers that I can write in a creative and precise way. Secondly, I know that a lot of people, especially those who are my age, are turned-off by advertisements. People are fast-forwarding through them, skipping past them in magazines or just plain ignoring them. But there are some fantastic advertisements out there and I want them to receive the appreciation they deserve.<br />
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Thirdly, and perhaps most importantly, I am doing this <b><span style="color: #444444;">Blogtober</span></b> to motivate myself. It's hard work applying for jobs, waiting to hear back and taking rejection. At the moment I have two part-time jobs and another casual one, none of which are what I really want to be doing. With this <b><span style="color: #444444;">Blogtober</span></b> I have a target to achieve 1000 pageviews this October. Last November I started writing this blog serious and made it to 825 pageviews in a month. I want to beat that. In writing this blog I will stay focused on the career path I want to take and I will stay motivated.<br />
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At the moment I have some ideas about what I am planning to write about for the remaining 7 posts but I am also opening this <b><span style="color: #444444;">Blogtober</span></b> up to suggestions. Is there something you would like me to write about? Let me know in any form you like, Facebook, the comments section of this blog, Twitter or face-to-face (see my <a href="http://alwaysneverme.blogspot.co.uk/p/contact-me.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #444444;">new contact page</span></a> for details). I want to engage as many people as possible in <b><span style="color: #444444;">Blogtober</span></b> and show that blogging isn't just for experts, it's for everyone. You have to take control of your own life and make your own opportunities. </div>
Samantha Blundellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16660790286639240756noreply@blogger.com0