Blogs

Get Close to the Amazing Bird

In my daily life, it is hard to see owls which are shy, lazy and mysterious. Because they are hiding in the woods and many of them only have to moonlight. So when I, a crazy fan of owls and eagles, went to the Turbary Woods Owl and Bird of Prey Sanctuary and took part in the flying demonstrations, I thought “Oh, it is a paradise”.

Ok, so I don't know if maybe it’s just me but doesn't everyone seem a little too sensitive nowadays? It’s as if everyone is waiting for someone to do something even a tiny bit controversial so they can start kicking and screaming. Maybe this post will also prove to be one of those controversial things, but I can't work out why people seem to have a permanent bee in their bonnet.

Until this year I had never contemplated the idea of being involved in a protest, as like many people, I believed they didn’t achieve much. But in January I am proud to say I was part of the Women's March, alongside 100,000 other people who marched in London. Since then I have been involved in two more protests, the Anti-Muslim ban demonstration in February and recently the NHS March.

While browsing Netflix during an all too common Friday night in, I decided to watch the film ‘The Duff’.

I would like to begin by saying that I love rom coms. I am no stranger to watching a cheesy, totally unrealistic tacky ball of Hollywood drivel and absolutely loving it- mainly because I have no real social life.

 However, this specific film made me want to gouge my eyes out. For so many reasons.

Dear Students,

You will all be emailed regarding both overdue kit and returns of currently booked out kit.

I am away from 6^th to 18^th April. DO NOT RETURN KIT TO ANY OTHER MEMBER OF STAFF WHILST I AM AWAY.

Outstanding fines (printed out and shown on the kit room door) will need to be paid on the first day of the summer term 8^th May and this is the deadline date for return of all kit.

I must remember
Not to say something that ruffles any feathers
Not to give any look that shakes any heart
Not to take a route, which is a detour
Not to write a line, which causes offence
I must remember that
The days and daytime are all happy
Everything is okay and fine
It’s only my heart, which is not actually a heart

                As someone who watches a less than responsible amount of TV and movies, I’m more than a bit familiar with the clichés common across the medium. The one that I find most irritating, however, and have seen become especially common, is the ‘strong female protagonist’ or, more accurately, the Mary Sue.

Learning to be a journalist while a student is an interesting affair for many. Some take to it by writing for student papers as I did, perhaps maintaining a blog throughout or studies, or you chose to take the route we here at the Centre for Journalism did and decided to let someone teach us what we are supposed to know rather than muddling through by trial and error. There may well be a thousand different approaches to learning the profession, all with their own benefits and pitfalls. One thing is certainly true though, it was never going to be a stress-free endeavour.

Okay, some people may cringe at this blog post, but when you're in a reflective mood and have to write something, this is what happens.