Back and just as disorganised

Let's get to it people! I have spent two months now reading and taking notes for classes and just random articles that never seem to get written, so now, I am writing without thinking...or planning, depends on how well this little speech pans out.
I find it kinda liberating that no one reads this blog. Sure, I would love to be a famous writer, with fans telling me how much they wish they could write like I do, but hey, let's be realistic; I am no writer. I'd like to be, heck, one day I know I will be. But until I train myself more, I put more effort into it, there isn't a chance of me picking up some fans.
But, like I said; it's liberating like this; I can write whatever and whenever I feel without worrying about how someone might take it.

Now, this post is going to be topsy-turvy, swinging out on loads of different branches. I'd apologise but at least it's more natural than planning it all. See I am back at university now, with a bucket load of work happening so the less structure in this, the better. I spent yesterday writing a thousand word essay on Third World Aid. It took me all day because of the structure and wording. Not that I'm complaining too much; one day for an essay - that's pretty good timing. I feel good about it and still have a week before I need to hand it in so plenty of time to fix it later. My gripe is just that it was meant to be an opinion piece and I think my opinion wavers each time I come back to the topic.
Do you think wealthy states should give assistance to less developed countries? It's a simple question, one that I would hope it wouldn't take a long time to answer. And yet, when I asked students here at uni, quite a few went 'um...no?' or 'hell no! Why is it our responsibility?!' Don't get me wrong, I'm all for having an opinion, I'm not going to fault your choice but I may ridicule it.
Firstly; why is it our responsibility? Well, mainly people, it's because a lot of these countries are poor, corrupt and ill-managed because of us! Because of the British or French Empires, because of American or Russian hegemony, because of China's exploitation! We wealthy states went across to these poor countries and practically stripped them of resources, of Independence and of free choice. Britain, France, Germany, Belgium; they all ruined cultures of Africa and Asia and then left those countries in varying states of disarray without care. That is why it's our responsibility. Just like it is America's responsibility because the hundreds of million people there exploited the poor, turning arable forest land dead after stripping it of all the resources they could get at the lowest possible prices.
And, even if we to ignore the fact that we are responsible for the poverty these people live in, how bout the fact that we are rich whilst they are poor? What about the idea that all beings are equal, but some are just luckier than others; we were born into wealthier families and so we should help those less fortunate? Human rights, guys, moral beliefs and reasoning! The elite over in Africa have become rich by ruling corruptly and filtering off money and resources from the government and people. Now, we can't stop them easily without crossing their sovereign lines which very few nations will do without having some interest in it for them, but we can try and help the grassroot levels, the local communities. And we should. There should be no question about whether or not we should help, it's a definite yes, we should and we will. Otherwise we condemn them to a life of probable hardship and poverty whilst we live it up in the West.

Apologies for the rant, but hopefully I made my point.

I feel the need to write more on this post but I know it will become a giant text without interest so perhaps I shall just begin another one in a few minutes. I've decided that sometimes, rather than writing a big post, I may just jot down a few lines, a thought bubble if you will. Who knows - no planning:D

What a retaliation!

I know it's been an age since I wrote - that's what summer holidays are for though, wandering off and finding other things to do, outside in the sunny sun and warm air. Why would anyone stay inside during this time of year?

I'll tell you; any Australian sports fan would be currently, no matter where they happen to be in the world, jumping up and down in delight. This night, this morning, this lunchtime, our boys, the Wallabies, kicked South Africa's butts in rugby!
We went out there with grit and determination and actually followed through! Hats off to James O'Connor, Australia's youngest national player, to Adam Ashley-Cooper who has grown up so well and is now one of the most valued players of our team!

Thanks to Matt Giteau, who, like last week, was there all the time, making a few mistakes but always ready. Thanks Drew Mitchell who would have scored, who was always waiting and who could only improve as the night went on.

Our boys were...not fantastic actually. They messed up, they had to deal with the fantastic defensive efforts of the Springboks, who stopped three would-be tries in the first parts of the game. They had to watch out for Bothas Boka and so Bryan Habana and yet they got passed them all in the end, through field goals from Giteau and tries from O'Connor and Ashley-Cooper, cheeky taps and runs from Elsom, Will Genia (go you little beauty) and all round amazing plays by Benn Robinson. He deserved man-of-the-match in every way and god know's what will happen if Robbie Deans allows Al Baxter to return to the starting pack over him.

If only we hold on to that momentum and play just as well in two weeks time when we go up against the All Blacks in NZ. We won't win the cups, that is for sure but at least we can prove that we are not 5th in the world, we are in the top 3 and dammit if we will be one of the top two in the years to come! All we ask is that come saturday 19th September, Giteau tries to do drop-goals like he did today, that Elsom comes back better than ever, like he played for Leinster and that we run the game to the ground, forcing the All Blacks to play our game, not theirs for the first time this year.

A new window

I cannot really believe what happened to me yesterday. Something that I have dreamed about for years finally came true. Albeit, not in the form that I desperatly wanted but I've learnt that nothing ever comes true in the exact way you dream it so take what you can and see the beauty in that which does come true.
Yesterday I became a published sports reporter! I wrote 4 articles and did some research on the English female football captain as well. My name was at the bottom of all those articles, my friends and family read them and so did however many other people out there surfing the web.
I haven't felt that proud in a very long time. I am moving up the ladder, opening one door at a time and finding I like it in the next room.
I shall leave links to the articles on my blog so everyone can see. Happy days!

Rugby news!

Yes!

Come on New South Wales! Finally the Waratahs and the Brumbies are building together teams that may actually have a better chance of beating some the SA and NZ teams in the Super 14.

Not only is Matt Giteau coming to Canberra to play for the Brumbies after giving up his Western Australian contract but now apparently Berrick Barnes, the star of the Queensland Reds, has chosen to sign on to the Waratahs rather than stick it out in his home state. According to Rugbyheaven Australia he's become disillusioned with the club and its franchise and has been given a one year contract with NSW. Hopefully he'll bring a fresh start for the club who just lost Lote Tuqiri.
Meanwhile the brilliant Brumbies (can you tell I'm a fan?) have now gotten hold of Giteau, the Wallabies star, and returning man Rocky Elsom. I watched the Lenister-Munster game this past season when Leinster won the final and he was amazing. Definitely one of the key players for the team and I think he will be in the Brumbies as well. Plus, just wait until he's back from injury and playing for the Wallabies - hopefully he'll sack Richie McCaw a couple of times to really show his dominance.

Ah to be back in Australia for the Super 14. I guess I'll have to wait a few more years. Hopefully everything will be running smoothly by then.

How old is too old to say....

'Mummy' and 'Daddy'?

In this world where every child is desperate to grow up and be their own person, to live on their own, to travel and be allowed alcohol, why oh why do university students still deem it acceptable to call their parents 'mummy' and 'daddy'?
I realise this is quite childish of me, to zero in on an issue that many people would choose to ignore, to snicker quietly at the immature adults these students are, but after 4 days of listening to some very bright graduating students say these titles and chuck tantrums in the line for photos, I really must ask; WHY?!

They are about to go and recieve their bachelors, masters or, heaven forbid, their PhDs and yet they feel comfortable to call their mother and father, their mum and dad, 'mummy, mummsy' or 'daddy'. They are at ease with themselves enough to complain loudly and bitterly that their peers were taking too long getting their graduation photos done, and bold enough to elbow parents and students in front of them out of the way to get to the mirror. Really, are these the type of people you want working with or for you?

One photographer said to me that Exeter is where all the Oxbridge rejects come to because they don't have the grades for the elite unis but definitly have the cash. And I am afraid I do have to agree with the fact that there is an abundance of snobs at my univerisity. I have been lucky to find others who are not snobby in any way and share my opinion that not everyone in the uni must own a mini-cooper and wear ugg boots outside in order to be considered fashionable. I have also been lucky enough, something that others may not agree with, to be raised to know I should work whilst studying - not too much, but enough to understand my responsibilities and not need to rely on my parents for everything. I had the most alarming morning last year whilst at work, when I was waiting for a girl to pay for her items. She was on the phone to her mummy, I assume, asking that daddy transfer some money to her for the rest of term. The rest of term was three weeks away but hey, understandable; parties were of the abundance as we all celebrated our summer freedom. However, what shocked me was the amount; she asked for a 'couple of thousand' as 'that should last' until they came to pick her up! Holy god! What so many people wouldn't give to live in a world as rosy as this lass's! Such a request and she was so blasé about it. My, Exeter is certainly different.

Now all I have to do is find out if my friends call their parents 'mummy' & 'daddy'. That possibly could be the deal-breaker, I'm afraid. Judgemental I know but I wouldn't be able to stand it since I am there on a budget and proud of that fact. The only way those who do say those words will stand my friends; they buy me a mini.

A 'new' home

I am what I like to think as an 'economic jet-setter'. The theory behind this is that, if I had the choice I would eschew my daily life of university classes (cos let’s face it, does the world really need another journalist or politician?) and work to bumble off to different locations around the world, looking for adventure and fun without getting too narcissistic and forgetting that I was just one small being. But unfortunately, as a student...and a regular dependent who makes far less than £100 a week, I cannot afford to toddle off on every whimsical desire I have to see a new country, county or place. I must choose my destinations carefully (Leicester instead of Spain), book them early (1 week beforehand - I almost shot myself at the price) and make sure everyone I want to see will be there for my pleasure - the second friend decided London seemed a good place to be that weekend.

However, this past weekend, I finally got on a plane, or a knat seeing as how small it was, and flew from the little country town/city of Exeter all the long way (1hour, 5mintues) to Paris, the City of love and rude locals. My boyfriend and I were bouncing off the walls all the way to the airport, obviously excited to be leaving a place where it had rained, and still is, for the past three weeks to the polluted air of Paris. Both families currently live there and thank god. I may be from the small town of Canberra, Australia which is not nearly as bad as anyone from outside it thinks, but I must say, the best city in the world is Paris. The food, the drinks, the culture. I love New York, I want to live there one day, but god help me, when Paris falls I will die.

The people may be rude - my sister and I went to buy some bread from a boulangerie yesterday and got told off for asking for a cereal baguette. Apparently all of this woman's bread was made from cereal. We didn't have the energy to tell her that we were simply asking for a wholemeal loaf, something our regular boulangerie would have known and happily sold us. Instead we simply said a 'banette' instead and proceeded to buy half the deserts for a picnic for three. I think she probably would have been happier if we had left without buying anything. However, across the street from this charming French babushka we met a lovely French couple in the key shop. Whilst they could not do what we wanted - a dog tag for our slippery ball of fluff - they were helpful and loved telling us how much they liked Australia and Australians, and how they wanted to go there.

My only problem is, and I think it possibly is similar to what happens to men when their wives are pregnant - they get sympathy pains - is that I am feeling jetlagged yet I only went forward one hour in the process of coming to France from Britain. My sister, dear to me that she is, came from Australia. Strangely enough she is currently passed out on the couch downstairs, crushing our dog beneath her. I would save him but I think he actually likes it since he's getting some sort of attention. Now, why would I be having sympathy fatigue for my sister? I don't know except it gives me the chance to blow off actually going outside and lets me have some lazy summer days. It won't last of course - I've been in France for years and yet only been to the Louvre twice. This tells everyone that I am not the most productive expat around. I have finally moved from Paris to England and now, when I'm suffering in the wet and grey all I can think about is doing things in Paris. I must take the opportunity.

And take it I shall. I plan for many a thing in the next two months, including velibbing everywhere around Paris - yes it is a verb now, the French made another thing fashionable. For those that do not understand, velibs are the public bicycles situated across Paris. You can hire them through a machine with your credit card and trot on off for a leisurely cycle in the midst of crazy drivers. I will go to many a museum and art gallery, especially on the first Sunday of the month when many are free (I'll never not be a free-loading student) and I am going to eat many people's weight in fabulous food and wine whilst never putting on a kilo. Alongside that will be the mandatory shopping trips - the sales are up to 70% off! As well as the days trips to the beach and a look-see at Grenoble so I can plan how I will spend the winter holidays camped out at my sister's apartment, boarding whatever slopes surround the town.

Ah, to be living rent-free at your parents flat in Paris. Perhaps I shall be a less economic-minded whilst I am here.

Scratch that last bit – I do not want to be one of those university students who still call their parents ‘Mummy’ & ‘Daddy’ and rely on them for everything. Any self-respect would be out the window. Good thing I have Paris to distract me from those snobs and their complaints.

Farewell to Flintoff

One day before the second Ashes test between Australia and England kicks off, Andrew Flintoff, Britain’s golden boy, announced his retirement from test cricket. An all-rounder, Flintoff played 76 times for his countries in his 11 year Test career, becoming a national hero in 2005 after the successful 2-1 Ashes series which saw England regain the trophy for the first time in 18 years. After four ankle operations and a recent knee surgery Flintoff has finally acknowledged that his ‘body has told me it’s time to stop.’ He plans to retire from test cricket after the Ashes series finishes, and will concentrate on One-dayers instead. "For my own sanity I can't keep going through rehabilitation, I think I've done two years in the past four, just rehab all the way through. "I've got four Test matches, and I'll give my utmost for England to try and contribute to an Ashes win, so that's what I'm focusing on over the next few weeks." He is commended for his commitment to the game and his team.

Many hope that this news, while not surprising or unexpected, will inspire the English team to win the series and once again regain the trophy after losing it to the Australians in 2007. BBC’s Jonathan Agnew commented on the timing of Flintoff’s announcement, decreeing it as a ‘bit of a distraction,’ and noting that the Australian camp might want to think about the motivation this might bring to the English. However, Ricky Ponting, the Australian captain, said though they were surprised by the decision of the young man, the team would not be treating him any different come the Lord’s battle.
Flintoff will be missed in the game; he’s always been a great figure and an important part of the England team as a bowler and batsman. The game will lack a bit of flair with him missing.