The proposed mosque near Ground Zero is back in the headlines today and the debate brings up all the things I hate about politics. The media know it’s a highly emotive issue, easily sensationalised to create a multitude of negative emotions and cloud the bigger picture. The perfect storm before the mid-term elections. The right wing media will try, and achieve a level of success, in influencing people to vote based on how they feel about this one controversial issue, neglecting all the other balancing factors over the past two …

Today is a day of firsts. For starters it’s my first day back at work since injuring my leg. I’ve attempted it without crutches and thought I had quite a pace on until I got into the building and realised that I wasn’t going to get very far very fast. I’m sure as the week goes on I’ll get my speed up. Somehow I have to conquer London with luggage and a dodgy leg at the weekend. If you hear people howling with laughter in Kings Cross on Friday evening, …

My blog has become a rather eclectic mix of subject matter, so I thought it was about time I threw a movie review in. Except it’s not really a movie review, because that would require critical analysis and that is something I refuse to do when it comes to Sex and the City. Everyone deserves a guilty pleasure in life and this is mine.

In the trailer Lily (Charlotte’s daughter) asks “Like in Jasmine and Aladdin?” to which Carrie replies “Yes sweetie, but with cocktails” and that is exactly what SATC2 …

Was I happy about the prospect of a Conservative government? No. Am I happy about a Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition? I’m open to the possibility that I might be.
Those of us who have been campaigning for electoral reform over the last few days can see the beginning of it today. Proportional representation will see a future of no one party having a majority of seats. Therefore if reform is what we really want, then two parties working together despite political differences is a start of this.
Do I trust Cameron …

After staying awake for just over 24 hours on election day/night, I was still non the wiser as to how our country would look and operate for the next few years. In fact I could have stayed awake for six days straight and only just be having a vague idea of what might happen next. As I type David Cameron is just about to go to the Queen and ask if he can form a government. I would love the Queen to reply “Computer says No”.

As it was it looked …

In 24 hours the only thing certain to be happening in the UK is people asking the question “What next?” Speaking to friends, family and colleagues no one knows what will happen once the polling stations close. Will Labour hold on? Will Conservative get a majority? Will the Liberal Democrats get the most votes yet still only come third? Whatever happens the way the next few weeks, months and years unfold are a complete uncertainty even after the results are in.
The day after the election was announced I booked the …

Strangely I started writing this blog on Friday, before the events of yesterday unfolded.
I may be a couple of days late in mentioning Gordon Brown’s gaffe with Gillian Duffy, but what’s interested me is the reaction to it. Initial news reports suggested it had all but killed the Labour campaign, however it seems in reality it may have balanced out. A few votes lost by those who are appalled versus a few votes won from those who respect him a little bit more for seeing his human side.

There seems to …

Can you believe it’s nearly a month since the General Election campaigning kicked off? I’m not sure where the time has gone, yet it has and now I need to make a decision. I’m a postal voter so I need to tick (or cross – I haven’t read the instructions yet!) a box and get it posted by Friday. But I still don’t know which box to go with.

The biggest question I’ve been asking myself is what do I care about? WWID (‘What Would I Do?’ as opposed to WWMD) …

If you haven’t seen The Age of Stupid then you must. Everyone must. Buy it. Borrow it. Rent it. I don’t care how you get hold of it but you must watch it and tell everyone else to as well.

I try to recycle but never have been brilliant at it. I have gradually become more environmentally friendly. I got the idea of sustainability before I really understood climate change, purely because I think we are very wasteful of resources. However I admit until now although I’ve done my bit I’ve …

If you’re on Twitter you couldn’t miss the tweets about #debill yesterday evening. Today it’s all over the news. But what is it and why the fuss?
The Digital Economy Bill (hence the abbreviation to “debill”) is been created to update our laws relating to digital, information and communications sectors. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills gives details on the four broad areas the bill will address:

A competitive digital communications infrastructure
Creative industries in a digital world
Public service content
Digital security and safety

The Digital Britain website gives more information on each of …

It’s come as no surprise to most of us that a General Election will be held on the 6th May. Somehow that didn’t make it any less exciting to follow the events of yesterday, kicking off what is going to be an exciting month ahead. I have an idea of who I’ll vote for, but by no means is that a firm decision. I’m fascinated (and quite often frustrated) by the tactics politicians use to try and get votes, often patronising and alienating the electorate. I’m amazed that local election …

I warn you this is a LONG blog so I won’t be offended if you decide not to read it. If you decide to give it a go can I suggest you get yourself a cuppa before you begin!

As I start to look at what I want to do in my career next there’s a few themes emerging…
I live to learn. Learning as much as I can about a lot of things in a short space of time. I absorb information at an alarming rate. For someone who talks a …

I’ve just had another episode of dealing with BT and have written a letter of complaint to post tomorrow that I’m sure will end up with a reply of “we’re sorry but there is nothing we can do.” I’m fed up of run ins with BT so I decided to pen the letter I wish I could send them instead…
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BT,
You screwed up again. After our hours on the phone, back in 2008, I thought I’d finished with you. It was messy and tiring. You couldn’t accept that you had faults …

I am a bitch. This comes as a bit of a revelation to me. Generally in day to day work I keep my cool. I explain to people why they need to do something and the benefits to them. If they don’t get it quite right I’m nice, constructive and help them improve. I am usually the good cop. In my current job I’ve only had one full on strop (I blame PMT). But when it comes to design it turns out that I can tell it like is.

In terms …

From the over enthusiastic loud honk by the bus driver on a Durham roundabout this evening I can only conclude I had a near death experience. His subsequent over enthusiasm in hitting the breaks in non-life-threatening situations can only suggest I was lucky to survive.Yet I am grateful at this time of year for any bus turning up within a 30 minute window. Once the ice is gone and the evenings get lighter I can walk to and from Durham (aside from the event of the odd torrential downpour). But …