Having the imagination to create and inspire can sometimes mean more and I think that's something important to remember. Imagination, can take you anywhere and make everyday that little bit more exciting.
Wednesday 27 July 2011
Albert Einstein Quote
Having the imagination to create and inspire can sometimes mean more and I think that's something important to remember. Imagination, can take you anywhere and make everyday that little bit more exciting.
Friday 15 July 2011
Southampton Strikes
I have always been bought up to care about the world around me, my parents recycle everything that they can, the TV is turned off at the wall when it's not being used and the rule always stands that if you leave a room you turn the light off. My dad has drummed this in to me from a very young age, I will admit he does still have to moan at me now and then when I leave something on over night or I put cardboard or plastic in to the rubbish bin, but I do what I can.
Now that I am living in a rented house with other young people I'm struggling to live by those rules which at the moment is made even harder by the continuous bin strikes in Southampton (yeah that's right, bin strikes - they are not kool.) Our recycling bin is still full from the people that lived in this house before and I would put money on the fact it doesn't even have recyclable items in it. The strike is a massive hassle and the streets of Southampton are absolutely disgusting to say the least. Bins are full to the brim in the high street causing litter to fall on to the floor and be swept up and down the street by the wind, gathering in shop door ways and around seating areas. I wonder, what people think if they are visiting Southampton for the day or for a holiday. They wont exactly leave thinking it's a gorgeous city with well kept streets will they now? As for the polygon where a lot of the student houses are, bins are full causing bin bags to be thrown on to the pavement and during the night ripped and torn apart by animals which leaves rubbish up and down the pavements and no one clears it up. It doesn't just look awful, I can imagine how much of a health hazard it is. With the weather like it has been lately the high temperatures cause it to smell and I'm sure I don't need to tell you it's a rats haven. I dread to think what goes on outside my bedroom window on the roads when we go to sleep at night.
So why does Southampton currently look like a landfill site? Well, 4,300 council workers including bin men and street cleaners, have been threatened with being sacked from their positions if they do not agree to sign up to new contracts which will cut their pay by up to 5.5 percent from July 11th. These budget savings need to be made to save 400 jobs. The strikes are in to their third month now and the streets are getting worse. Read more here.
So with the strike not exactly helping with recycling in our new house, I'm feeling guilty every time I put a can or plastic in to the bin. I can just imagine my dad shaking is head disappointingly at me. Not only that, I feel guilty. I don't just recycle because my dad says I should, It's because I care as well. Some people are ignorant to global warming, and the effect it has on the planet. I'm no expert to be honest but I do care. Some people just point blank don't!
The issue of having no where to put the rubbish as the bins are full outside is a problem. We seem to generate so much waste and because everything is being thrown in together we are having to take the bins out every couple of days. If we flattened plastic packaging and cardboard etc. and separated our waste the bin in the kitchen definitely would not fill up so quickly. I'll reiterate my point however, with the bins outside still full, if we separate our rubbish there will quite literally be no where to put it. It's like viscous circle. Either way we can't win until the strike ends, we have empty bins and we know what we are doing and where everything goes.
So I now realise how much I sound like a moaning old woman but I think it's all relevant right? I might only be 19 but you can care about these things just as much as when your young and I think some people seem to forget that.
Now that I am living in a rented house with other young people I'm struggling to live by those rules which at the moment is made even harder by the continuous bin strikes in Southampton (yeah that's right, bin strikes - they are not kool.) Our recycling bin is still full from the people that lived in this house before and I would put money on the fact it doesn't even have recyclable items in it. The strike is a massive hassle and the streets of Southampton are absolutely disgusting to say the least. Bins are full to the brim in the high street causing litter to fall on to the floor and be swept up and down the street by the wind, gathering in shop door ways and around seating areas. I wonder, what people think if they are visiting Southampton for the day or for a holiday. They wont exactly leave thinking it's a gorgeous city with well kept streets will they now? As for the polygon where a lot of the student houses are, bins are full causing bin bags to be thrown on to the pavement and during the night ripped and torn apart by animals which leaves rubbish up and down the pavements and no one clears it up. It doesn't just look awful, I can imagine how much of a health hazard it is. With the weather like it has been lately the high temperatures cause it to smell and I'm sure I don't need to tell you it's a rats haven. I dread to think what goes on outside my bedroom window on the roads when we go to sleep at night.
So why does Southampton currently look like a landfill site? Well, 4,300 council workers including bin men and street cleaners, have been threatened with being sacked from their positions if they do not agree to sign up to new contracts which will cut their pay by up to 5.5 percent from July 11th. These budget savings need to be made to save 400 jobs. The strikes are in to their third month now and the streets are getting worse. Read more here.
So with the strike not exactly helping with recycling in our new house, I'm feeling guilty every time I put a can or plastic in to the bin. I can just imagine my dad shaking is head disappointingly at me. Not only that, I feel guilty. I don't just recycle because my dad says I should, It's because I care as well. Some people are ignorant to global warming, and the effect it has on the planet. I'm no expert to be honest but I do care. Some people just point blank don't!
The issue of having no where to put the rubbish as the bins are full outside is a problem. We seem to generate so much waste and because everything is being thrown in together we are having to take the bins out every couple of days. If we flattened plastic packaging and cardboard etc. and separated our waste the bin in the kitchen definitely would not fill up so quickly. I'll reiterate my point however, with the bins outside still full, if we separate our rubbish there will quite literally be no where to put it. It's like viscous circle. Either way we can't win until the strike ends, we have empty bins and we know what we are doing and where everything goes.
So I now realise how much I sound like a moaning old woman but I think it's all relevant right? I might only be 19 but you can care about these things just as much as when your young and I think some people seem to forget that.
Wednesday 13 July 2011
Hell yeah - I work at Starbucks!
After a stressful few days moving in to the new house with two previous flat mates and a new one, Monday morning came and I was up bright and early with a handful of CVs ready to hit Southampton hard, I needed a job big time. The idea of having to pay 3 months rent with no help from student finance was freaking me out big time. I went every where, all the shops, cafes, restaurants and bars - someone had to have me!
I pushed the big glass door in to the Starbucks store where I noticed the poster on the door, "Come and join our team?" Well at least they were hiring and I wasn't in danger of handing over my CV hopefully only for them to say: "We will keep it on our records and let you know if anything comes up." For them to throw it in a pile of paper work never to be seen again. The Starbucks staff were cheerful and welcoming and like very few of the places I had been the day spoke to me about the job vacancy for a few good minutes and even read through my CV while I was still there. I had a good feeling and sure enough within an hour later the store manager was on the phone inviting me back for a 'chat' and within the next hour I had secured a job interview. Successful job hunting day I would say.
An interview and trial shift later I was a Starbucks employee and I am now two shifts in to my new job. The first day was as okay as first days go, I felt pretty useless and in the way but at least on your first day you can get away with it. Today however was hectic and scary. Starbucks is fast paced and today I could not keep up. When there's six drinks lined up waiting to be made all completely different with special requirements I forget what I've been taught and look blankly at the other staff hoping someone will help me. Which of course they do. My problem is I panic and the more I panic the more I have no idea what I am doing. Don't get me wrong I am learning but these things take time you know. I have just about mastered lattes and cappuccino but throw in a caramel machiato, whatever kind of frappuccino and white skinny mocha with extra cream it all gets a little bit complicated.
I will get there. In the mean time I can enjoy the free drinks before and after and during my shifts and 30% off at any other time, oh yeah! Plus, free bags of tea or coffee (definitely a win for my caffeine addiction) and as a 'partner' I get shares in Starbucks. Crazy stuff don't you think? It's all pretty exciting and I'm sure I'll be a pro at making frappuccinos and the like within no time at all.
I pushed the big glass door in to the Starbucks store where I noticed the poster on the door, "Come and join our team?" Well at least they were hiring and I wasn't in danger of handing over my CV hopefully only for them to say: "We will keep it on our records and let you know if anything comes up." For them to throw it in a pile of paper work never to be seen again. The Starbucks staff were cheerful and welcoming and like very few of the places I had been the day spoke to me about the job vacancy for a few good minutes and even read through my CV while I was still there. I had a good feeling and sure enough within an hour later the store manager was on the phone inviting me back for a 'chat' and within the next hour I had secured a job interview. Successful job hunting day I would say.
I will get there. In the mean time I can enjoy the free drinks before and after and during my shifts and 30% off at any other time, oh yeah! Plus, free bags of tea or coffee (definitely a win for my caffeine addiction) and as a 'partner' I get shares in Starbucks. Crazy stuff don't you think? It's all pretty exciting and I'm sure I'll be a pro at making frappuccinos and the like within no time at all.
I have a house!
I guess you could say the next phase has begun. Last week I moved back to Southampton, packed up my little room in halls and said goodbye to the first year of University and the fun, arguments and tears we shared in those hallways and moved across town in to a house. For a student house it's pretty damn impressive. We have reclining sofas, a spice rack, wine rack and a pull out ironing board! I'm not even kidding, you pull out a draw and da-da there's an ironing board. It's actually amazing - I love our house!
The only down side is that at the moment we don't have internet as such because it takes weeks for it to be set up. I feel lost without it and because I've been so out of touch with the internet my blog is seriously lacking in life right now. I have taken to using my mac in Starbucks every now and again to get updated with what's going on in the world, which - by the way is where I now. Hell yeah, I work for Starbucks. So since I have stopped blogging regularly lots seems to have happened and changed which gives me loads to blog about but with the busy bustle of life and lack of internet access I just havn't been able to.
In yet another attempt to revamp this blog I will write about all those things that have made the last month so incredibly hectic from the good to the bad from the funny to the sad and all the bits in between.
Watch this space.
The only down side is that at the moment we don't have internet as such because it takes weeks for it to be set up. I feel lost without it and because I've been so out of touch with the internet my blog is seriously lacking in life right now. I have taken to using my mac in Starbucks every now and again to get updated with what's going on in the world, which - by the way is where I now. Hell yeah, I work for Starbucks. So since I have stopped blogging regularly lots seems to have happened and changed which gives me loads to blog about but with the busy bustle of life and lack of internet access I just havn't been able to.
In yet another attempt to revamp this blog I will write about all those things that have made the last month so incredibly hectic from the good to the bad from the funny to the sad and all the bits in between.
Watch this space.
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