new year, working in radio, and blog neglect...

Ok, so I feel bad for neglecting my blog for over two weeks... so I'll try to make this one a good post!!!

At the moment I am working in radio, manning the news room of The Pulse in Bradford, West Yorkshire. Covering all the big stories in Huddersfield, Halifax and Bradford and anything international that comes up. Writing the stories then reading them live on air.

Bhutto has been a recurring theme in my bulletins lately, as Pakistan plunges into chaos. And it looks like Kenya may be heading the same way. Elections are a tricky thing, and tensions run high...

The local stories are generally quite grim, such as the killing of a 13 month old boy by his family's pet dog in Wakefield.

But the New Year is upon us, so fresh starts all around!

January sees me begin a three week work placement at BBC Manchester, which should be rewarding.

More soon

manics... amazing...

Saw the Manic Street Preachers at the top of their game last night. A varied set, amazing sound, a band full of energy... Absolutely blinding!

And Brixton Academy was such a perfect venue!!!

Manics - 11/12/2007

The video is You Love Us - can you hear the crowd?!

Japanese Test / 日本語のテスト

Tomorrow is another day of judgement for my (and millions of other people around the world) as we sit out Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT). I will be sitting 4-kyuu, which is the first level (ranging from 4-kyuu up to 1-kyuu), and am extremely nervous!

So good luck to anyone out there sitting the exam!

Otherwise, I headed down to Portobello Road Market today with the hope of buying all my Christmas presents... did it happen? Did it heck...

明日日本語能力試験をします。　四級です。　私は。。。　とてもナーバスです。　
みんな、がんばってください！

そして、今日本語でファイナルファンタシーVIIをします。　すごい！

condoms...

It's been a week since my last blog...

My big story today is counterfeit condoms. I'm covering the story for tomorrow's news day at uni.

It seems that someone has been producing fake Durex and distributing them to shops around London. Already 9 boroughs have been hit, including Harrow. Obviously that's a big worry for students around here...

The thing with these condoms is that there is no guarantee they will protect against infections or prevent pregnancy.

I'm speaking to people from Durex and trading standards tomorrow about it, so we'll see what they advise for anyone who's bought these.

guitars!

tonight, as part of my journalistic experiences, I will be attending Gibson's charity guitar auction at the O2 (the Dome). the auction includes guitars donated and signed by such artists as Paul McCartney, Noel Gallagher and Slash.

should be an interesting night, and a wonderful opportunity to see guitars making a difference - as the proceeds are going to 3 charities - The Prince's Trust being one

today still has rain...

Japan seems to be coming under fire today, as its whaling expedition is slated by the US, and it is receiveing criticism over its policy to fingerprint all foreigners entering the country

unhealthy Huddersfield...

How proud one is when one's town is featured on Trevor MacDonald's programme... as having some of Britain's unhealthiest people, and being at the top of the cholestorol stakes (or should that be 'steaks'?)

Poor Huddersfield... 65% of adults there are above the recommended levels for cholesterol. There's more on the Examiner website

Otherwise, the rain came today, along with thunder, which failed to materialise into a storm.

'I really really wish I could be somewhere else...'

My title today quotes the Razorlight song 'Somewhere Else' and sums up my feelings for the day.

I used to love autumn and winter, but this year and last, I just can't wait for it to end. I want warmth, open windows, short-sleeved shirts! I think I'll aim to move to Hawaii and open a beach bar once I graduate... I think part of the problem this year is being London. Autumn at home (Huddersfield) always struck me as really beautiful, with the changing colours and the falling leaves. In London it just feels bleak.

But enough of that!!! The weekend has been interesting. I enjoyed my first ever full body massage, which was extremely relaxing! I ventured into Regent's Park and Greenwich, both seemingly nice areas of London. Although, after years of seeing pictures of 'the Dome', or the O2 as it is now, I was a little disappointed to see that it's much small than I had imagined!!!

A little news that's grabbed my attention... Asahi News claims that Japan is suffering a butter shortage, and there are worries over prices of Christmas cakes as a result.

Lily Allen and train stations...

Just seen Lily Allen play a fantastic set at Waterloo International Station (soon to lose its International status).

She played 3 songs - LDN, Smile and Waterloo Sunset (by the Kinks) and got a massive response from the small audience there.

By the looks of it, it wasn't publicly announced, as the crowd was small, but soon grew once people realised what was going on!

Today is the last day that the Eurostar will arrive and depart at Waterloo, changing to St. Pancras International as of tomorrow, which is also the 13th anniversary of the first Eurostar train.

a few stories...

Back to university today after illness...

So, a few stories for the day...

Back home, in Huddersfield, schools are to get a £400million investment from Kirklees Council - that's from The Examiner

In Japan, a group of 4 'war orphans' have arrived from China in the hope of finding any relatives and information regarding their real past. The group were among those left behind in China after Japan's loss in World War 2. 2812 such 'war orphans' have been recognised by the Health Ministry. That's from Asahi News today.

And in London, it's the last day for the Eurostar at Waterloo. As of tomorrow the services switches to St. Pancras station.

books... and still ill...

Well, the illness seems to be reaching its latter end (or so I hope!), so I should be bright and breezy in time for classes on Monday morning!

I've been getting through the last few days with a schedule of sleep, Andrews salts, Lemsip and books. At the moment (and in fact, for the last two years or so, on and off) I have been working my way through the works of Haruki Murakami, and have now moved onto his namesake Ryu Murakami. I have recently finished Haruki's The Wind-up Bird Chronicle for the second time, and feel to understand it a little more this time! At the moment I am working through Ryu's In The Miso Soup. Excellent...

Also, in the Japanese vein, I have been watching the anime series Azumanga Daioh, and the drama Mop Girl, trying to understand them without subtitles. Not as easy as you might think!!!

今、村上の本を読んでいます。　イン・ザ・ミソスープ。　そして、あずまんが大王とモップ・ガールを見ます。　いいですよ！　とても面白いだよ。

illness and such like...

today brought illness... I think it's flu or cold or something, coupled with stomach ache... not ideal, really.

my blog seems to be attracting more visitors from far and wide also, and my first visitor from Japan too! (ありがとう！）

I have now begun to type up my application for January's work placement. BBC radio stations are my choices, as I think the experience and credence would be excellent. So watch this place...

Tomorrow, I will be in the audience of The Wright Stuff, so tune in to Channel 5 tomorrow morning!

And the photo is my own... the beauty of autumn nights in Shelley, Huddersfield.


NOVA school in Japan has been partially bought by another corporation. G.education Co. will reopen 30 of NOVAs school, after the company filed for bankruptcy in October. There were many English people working for NOVA in Japan, so this will hopefully come as some relief. That's according to Asahi

back down south...

Well, I'm back in London... can't say I'm all that thrilled by it!

I thought it was colder back up North, although today I'm not sure. It's freezing!

Just as I'm thinking how sleepy I am, I read an article on Mainichi Daily News stating that Japanese working hours have increased, but the amount of sleep being had by Japanese people has dropped! Crazy...

I think I'll be having an early night, tonight...

Received Go!Go!7188's new album today, along with a single by Mick Green and TMGE... so I'll be having a listen to those today too. I like my Japanese music!

back up north

That's right, I'm back in the north, albeit just for a weekend. And a busy one it is!

Yesterday I visited the barber (not paying Southern prices), the doctor, a friend in Manchester, a friend in Denby Dale and found time to give blood and sign myself up to donate Bone Marrow.

I'm glad I've done that, as there's so few people registered to give bone marrow, and it's such a crucial thing for saving someone's life. I am also an organ donor and a regular blood donor... so if there's anything else of me anyone wants, just let me know!

Today my mother returns from India where she has been volunteer-working with disabled children for the past month.　So I am back to welcome her home!

And Paul Tibbets, the pilot of Enola Gay and the man responsible for dropping the bomb on Hiroshima, has died this week aged 92. While this is sad news for some, I am certain it will be met with other reactions amongst certain Japanese people.

The bomb was responsible for the deaths of at least 140,000 Japanese people. That's from the Japan Times website.

そして、毎日日本語を勉強しています。　テストは十二月二日だ。

home sweet home...

so now I have done half of my first term, I guess I am looking forward to going home again some time soon... I do miss home, and I suppose my heart will always be in Yorkshire's green hills... (as in the picture. taken by me. of my village!)

so a bit of local news... In Huddersfield, residents in Meltham barricaded a dustbin wagon after they refused to collect waste. that's from the Examiner.

Meanwhile... in Japan...
More dogs in Sapporo mean that there's been a rise in dog-related business... Pampered pooches are living the high-life in the city according to Asahi today.

the computer hath returned!!!

ah, great days... the computer has come back from repair, so my blogs can once more become regular and full of useful and gripping stories! or something like that....!

yesterday I visited the Cabinet War Rooms and Churchill Museum in London. as a 2nd World War historian, it was of great interest to me, and I was surprised as to how much information the museum had, and how detailed and accurate it was. a really great visit.

the weather did not dampen my moods yesterday, as I had a visit from my father - the first time we've met in 6 weeks, since I moved down south. so a great time was had, and I had fun listening to his stories of his time in the Metropolitan Police in Hammersmith.


and ... Japan is considering suing the US Embassy over 10 years of backdue rent on land that it occupies in Tokyo. that's from Asahi today.

'down to Hendon with the boys in blue...'

A line from Cock Sparrer's song 'Riot Squad'... and a sum-up of my day today.

Today was a selection day for the role of Special Constable, for which I applied some time ago. Today involved a written test, an interview and two role-play exercises at the Police Training School at Hendon.

Seemed to go ok, so we'll see!

Still no computer...

Japanese giant English school NOVA has folded, leaving 4000 instructors jobless... 300,000 students are also in the dark. That's from Asahi

aaaah

Another day, another dollar... well, another dollar spent...

with the refusal of my busking licence, I may have to get a real job. and with a bit of luck there should be plenty going in such a huge city!

so tonight is only a short blog... so now I will depart and tuck into some tasty Japanese beverages... Pocari Sweat anyone?!

London Calling...

Another interesting day in London...

On a friend's recommendation, I took my girlfriend to a Cuban restaurant near Waterloo for a meal for her birthday. Never having had Cuban food before, it was an experience, and a mighty pleasant one at that! Great food, fantastic atmosphere, and good beer! So check out Cubana near Waterloo station.

Walking my girlfriend home, we were on Clapham High Street when we heard a huge bang. Now, if you've ever been in a car-crash, you know exactly what that bang sounds like... As it happened, one car had run into the back of another, but had managed to hit a woman and her scooter before-hand. We all rushed towards, and several people actually managed to lift the car off her, while the rest of us tried to calm the woman and keep her still until Police and Ambulance turned up... very scary.

Anyone who knows me knows I am no stranger to the car crash, but it was quite surreal to see it from a different angle. The worst was seeing the pain that the scooter-driver was in, and trying to reassure her that she was ok. Frightening stuff.


Otherwise, today, I finally heard from TFL about my busking licence and... my application was unsuccessful. Shame... but there's plenty more open mic nights to be had!!!


And at the moment I have a new addiction... The Japanese manga comic 'One Piece'! Absolutely fantastic. Go buy it at Borders or somewhere!!!

Ruby Tuesday Part 2

Japanese homework building up and a fear of my own accent...

Voice coaching should be kicking in soon, thankfully. A chance to fine-tune and hopefully dampen my Yorkshire accent.

My Japanese exam on the 2nd December looms ever nearer. And I feel to be making little progress. I can read and write basic things, I can get buy in a conversation, but there's far too many of those little moments where you get completely lost...

私は十二月JLTPテストをします。　二年間日本語を勉強しました。　ロンドンでテストをします。

But with hard work, and lots of studying, improvement of both my Japanese and my English should come about!

Ruby Tuesday

Last night saw my first venture in to playing live music in the capital. An open mic night at The Perseverance in Marylebone. Around 10 performers, each playing two songs... a fantastic atmosphere! My motive for playng was that yesterday was also my lovely girlfriend's birthday! So it was a little surprise for her too...


Since seeing Brett Anderson play on Sunday night, inspiration feels to be coming to me. I really can not describe how beautiful the music was, and how talented he is as a songwriter and performer. We were also fortunate enough to see him at close range in the flesh before the concert also.


Today is presentation day... so shortly I will be making a comparison of BBC Radio Leeds and the Pulse of West Yorkshire (Bradford) in their news output. Both being local stations where I come from (Huddersfield), this is a project I can get interested in very easily!


and a programme in Fukushima prefecture in Japan is recruiting city workers and residents to try their hand at working on a farm, according to Asahi news. Japan's agricultural background is often forgotten in the face of its pioneering technological developments...