In similar fashion to a year ago, these are my new set of resolutions for 2012. Pop back on 31st Dec 2012 to see how I’ve done… I need to complete 5 or more to be more successful than 2011!
Start wearing contact lenses again
Start eating less trash and more variety of foods
Go swimming or to the gym more regularly
Drink less alcohol unless it’s a special occasion
Do more work experience with media organisations
Work towards a 2:1 for my Year 2 University results*
Use Facebook less*
Enjoy being at, and working with, SUSUtv even more than in 2011*
Do something big to raise money for charity
Not to lose any friends, and become even better friends with the ones that I really love.
*these are gunna be the hard ones!
Other things I’m looking forward to this year…
SUSUtv’s Elections coverage in February
SUSUtv’s trip to see our friend Talty in Ireland on St. Patricks Day
My geography field trip to Picos de Europa in April
So 2011 is over, and it’s been an absolute riot! Here’s a round up of the best bits…
Went to the National TV Awards at the O2 in London with this lovely bunch of people:
SUSUtv outside the O2 Arena in January....we'll be picking up the awards in there someday
Took part in an epic SUSUtv Elections broadcast
Went on a seriously cool surfing trip with SUSURF to Newquay with this lovely bunch… should really go again!
Just some from SUSURF...
Attended the NaSTA Awards and Conference in Loughborough, in April. Petty Crimes won best comedy amongst a few awesome awards at SUSUtv!
Andreas and I picking up the award for Petty Crimes!
Get very, very, very drunk for the Royal Wedding
This photo was taken at lunchtime. I fear I was already tipsy off champagne...
Became the new SUSUtv Co-Head of Production along with my bestest companion Carly (the one who looks/is exceptionally drunk in this photo)
Carly: "Where are weeeee? I can't seeeee...." - Gotta love Jesters!
Speaking of Carly, there’s us celebrating our birthdays with the first annual ‘Gingerfest’ celebrations…
We were all ginger. Our bedsheets weren't best-pleased...
Went to Beach Break festival, had a blast whilst filming for SUSUtv!
Had a holiday in Cornwall with this lovely bunch of people…
Cornwall 2011 with my new 'children'...
Celebrated my ma’s 50th birthday in Londaaaaaaan.
My mum doesn't really look 50, does she? Far right...
Ran the New Forest Half Marathon
....all 13.3 miles.
Moved into my new house, started a new year at University, lept back into Uni life with…er…FreshersTV!
Aren't we a sexy bunch? Brownie points if you can see me...
Continued working, getting drunk, being a student, etc. until Christmas. Here is a lovely bunch of geography people to demonstrate the awesomeness of Uni.
YAY Geography, at the Geography Ball.
Update on 2011 resolutions
Update this blog regularly…SORT OF – I’ve posted to this blog somewhat, but not what you’d call ‘regular’!
Write down my best memories… FAILED – I’ve had far too many good memories to keep a track of!
Start some sort of part-time web design business that will make ££… SORT OF – I’ve been working on a web design freelance website, but I’ve yet to start it and it’s not made me any money!
Build an iPhone app… FAILED – Not bothered trying.
Continue work at SUSUtv and make Petty Crimes one of the best shows EVER… SUCCESS! SUSUtv has been incredible this year! Petty Crimes won a NaSTA, and Episode 2 is watchable here.
Attend the gym (or other exercise) twice a week… SORT OF – In the summer I trained for quite a bit for my half marathon, but have failed this winter
Continue to meet new and awesome people… SUCCESS! I can safely say this has been done.
Keep an organised diary/calendar to help my shocking memory… SUCCESS! You should check out iCal on my Mac…
Spend more time reading around my subject at university… SUCCESS! But still got some more to do…
Do something that will make me feel warm inside (that can be anything)… SUCCESS! Of many things, I ran a half marathon… which literally, made me warm inside, but also emotionally warm for all the money I helped raised for Help For Heroes.
5/10. Not bad.
Have a wonderful, wonderful 2012 and all the very best to all
Over the summer I built a new website – Slightly Soton. Most of my blog readership I think knows the premise of the site already, but for those who don’t – do go check it out and have a ponder. The satirical news site launched on 1st Sepetember, and at 8 days in, some things have really stood out and I wanted to share my thoughts publically.
First of all, there’s this whole big thing about ‘secrecy’. It was never a secret that I was doing this. Infact, I have mentioned many times to various people all about the rough idea in the back of my mind… I just didn’t involve anyone in the production. When I first set up the Twitter and Facebook pages for the site a couple of days before launch, I didn’t bother trying to undisclose who was behind the project, I came out straight off (see this tweet here). I’d rather people focussed on what the content is rather than who the writer is.
The point of Slightly Soton is simple – something that people can chuckle at in their spare time. I only write well when I’m talking crap, so to me it makes sense. At the end of the day, if people read the content and they enjoy it, I’m happy. If they don’t come across it, or do and don’t like it – it doesn’t bother me.
Lots of people have tried comparing the site to the popular Wessex Mash from a few months back. Let me say this clearly; I am not copying the Wessex Mash, or at least not trying to. As I have said above – people know it’s me here – Pete and Mike kept themselves quiet because of the content they were writing. Nothing on Slightly Soton is out there to personally insult or slander people or organisation, and I will take responsibility for the stuff I write. If you are comparing SS to WM, you clearly haven’t understood the what SS is about.
Furthermore, it’s remarkable the response I’ve had from some people. Whilst some think it’s the greatest thing since sliced bread, I’m not going to lie in that I’ve had a few stroppy comments. One bloke, “Anon” submitted a comment complaining that the site was nothing like The Wessex Mash and he was unimpressed with the articles. Whilst a completely fair comment to make – he/she didn’t muster the balls to say who he/she actually was, nor did he/she leave an email address. And I do hope that “Anon” reads this post and understands where I’m coming from… I would have messaged back directly, but no email was given. And yes, that comment has been rejected.
In another few weeks I’ll update everyone on how things are going again. But I do enjoy writing this stuff and I shall carry on until I get bored of it. The most popular article by far is the Jesters and Sobar to join together for one massive night article, which swept around Facebook picking up 150+ likes, 473 unique views for that article, and over 1,500 page views for the entire site – in just 7 days. 78% of visits are new visitors, not returning, which only speculates the site is growing with readership. You can’t argue with figures like that, that’s while I’ll carry on and not get down by stupid arse comments such as the one from “Anon”, as I know people out there are enjoying it.
Description: Reached after a few pints, one starts to become tipsy.
Common Occurrences: Walking in a straight line becomes difficult, and you think you are awesome at dancing.
Usually results in: Your voice levels going up in volume. More drinks are purchased.
2. Standard.
Description: The standard drunk phrase. Fairly common.
Common Occurrences: Frequent trips to the toilet. Staring at good looking females, followed by shouting loudly at your mates about her. You stupidly take part in karaoke or open mic events.
Usually results in: Thinking you are still at the “Getting there…” stage, so you carry on drinking. Promising situations with available females… often could well be promising that night… though unlikely once moved onto the “Stupid and Insulting” stage.
3. Stupid and Insulting.
Description: Beyond the standard levels of getting drunk,
Common Occurrences: People leave your conversations. You think you are awesome. A few people say “you need to go home, mate”. Stereotypically insult all gingers, females, fat people, short people and foreign people in the area.
Usually results in: Stealing things. Being told to “get lost”. Getting slapped by a fat girl. Falling over (a lot) on your way home. Waking up with bruises. The ability to make sensible decisions is compromised.
4. Royally Fucked.
Description: That extra step further that makes you the laughing stock in the morning…
Common Occurrences: Rarely able to even hold a drink without spilling it. Words so slurred you can’t even speak. Unable to use keys (that is, of course, if you can even remember the way home). Starting to talk to inanimate objects. Claim to not know people you really know well.
Usually results in: All of previous mentioned above. Vomiting. Getting thrown out (or even not being let in) of bars/clubs. Remembering absolutely nothing of your journey home. Being told of the people you insulted, things you stole, and things you broke from the night before… feel bad for the following week. A monstrous hangover.
Jester’s, a nightclub in Southampton, is categorically the worst club I have ever been to. It was once voted second worst in the country in a survey – where the winning club subsequently burnt down.
For the whole of my first term at university, I somehow managed to avoid going at all – opting either for Sobar, a relatively better club just a few doors down, or just not at all. Turns out this coincidental fate may have dramatically ramped up my life expectancy – as anyone who ventures into Jesters will probably come out a lot worse off than they did when they entered.
It was, however, time for me to visit. Having pre-drank a fair bit, I felt like I could make a good, unbiased opinion of the place. First off, I was ripped of a £4 entry fee. Fuck! I could go pretty much anywhere else in Southampton for cheaper.
As you take the staircase down into what seems like a large open-plan living room, you are left to ask the question ‘where exactly are the fire exits?’ and think ‘ohh this is a lovely fresh smell!’.
This is awesome – the bar staff at Jesters actually wear wellington boots. Perhaps this is because of the layer of quagmire that carpets the dancefloor; a mix of spilt drinks, piss, vomit and sweat. I don’t think I have ever seen such a gross layer on the floor. I feared falling over that night, and I also felt pretty sorry for the shoes I was wearing.
At the bar, you can order a jesticle for a further £4. This is a speciality cocktail that tastes alright, actually. I don’t know the actual recipe, but as I understand it, there’s shots of vodka, malibu and rum, topped with fruit juice. This may indeed sound nice, but on the second jesticle I had, it tasted very different – so much so that I believe it’s just a case of shove-whatever-in-the-glass and hope it tastes alright.
It was then my turn to go to the toilet. Fuck my life. As I walk into the gents, I am greeted with the vision of some tosser pissing in the sink, a guy at the urinal, and a guy next to him peeing ON HIS LEG, adding to what was a rather glorious pool of piss, water and beer on the floor.
The place was disgusting, however I did manage to have a good night nevertheless. This involved getting very drunk, laughing at all my friends, becoming abusive to people I didn’t know, making some new friends, loosing a lens from my glasses (thought about picking it up from the floor if I could find it, but then not doing so in fear of catching a disease from the floor), and walking home partially blind, whilst exceptionally drunk. Ladies and gentlemen, that, was my first Jester’s experience.
In this post, I want to summarise the phones that I have had over the past few years. It’s amazing to see how things change over time!
Nokia 6100
This was my first ever phone. I was so excited! It was a hand-me-down from my mother, and after slipping in a cheap T-Mobile (just after they had changed from one2one!) pay as you go sim card – I was on my way! The phone was pretty decent too – colour screen, games, endless ringtones, etc. I was in love… until it dropped into a water bucket, and died.
Nokia 5140 (blue)
After my incident with the 6100, I decided to get the 5140. It had just been released, and was really popular because of it’s really durable body and strength. It was also marketed out at people who enjoyed outdoor activities (which, incidentally, I was at the time…). In terms of features, it had basically everything the 6100 had, but with a camera. I could only get the phone on the Orange network, so I got a new PASG sim from them.
Sony Ericsson K750i (silver)
After a good few years at Orange, we switched to Vodafone because they had a great business plan deal on that would suit the whole family – incidentally, we are still on the same contract today. Because of the new contract, we could pick virtually any phone, and naturally, I went for the best at the time – the 750i. I was mostly lured in my the insane 2MP camera (the best in 2005!), but about half way through the 18 month contract, the phone turned from being the best thing in the world, to the worst. Everything, and I mean… everything, just stopped working correctly – and I had to put up with this for at least another 8 months!
Nokia N95
This was the phone someone would dream about… and after becoming sick of Sony Ericsson’s dire reliability, I went back to Nokia and got wowed by the flippy screened N95. The specs and details with the phone simply were awesome – but it was just simply too big. It was actually a brick, the same materials used to build houses… I had an 18 month contract with the phone, but got so irritated half way through, I shoved the SIM card into my at-the-time girlfriends old phone, which I think was a Nokia 6000 series phone, similar to the 6100 and 5140 – but a bit weird looking!
Samsung Tocco
The third phone I got with Vodafone on the same contract was the Samsung Tocco. This thing was pretty nice – although it was a pity that the touchscreen wasn’t as responsive as I had hoped. This was my first touchscreen phone, and I was amazed by the concept… but let down a little. I had this little over a year, and just two weeks out of warranty, accidentally took it with me in my wetsuit when I went surfing. Not good!
Vodafone 521 (white)
Phone-less on holiday was becoming hell, so I had to buy myself a new handset quickly, and preferably cheap! I owned an iPod touch at the same time, and didn’t need any other functions other than the ability to send messages and make phone calls! The cheapest phone Vodafone had in their shop, was this, the 527 – a Sagem phone branded ‘Vodafone’ to match the network. It was all of £25. Why so cheap? Well, I’ll just put it out there for you – THIS IS THE WORST PHONE IN THE WORLD, EVER.
And that concludes my phone history. Until a few weeks time, when I’ll be getting an…
Apple iPhone 3GS 16GB (White)
The most epic phone ever. But my question is this – now that I’ll be switching to the iPhone, will I ever move away to another phone company? Or will I be iPhone outed for the rest of my life!?
Taking a break from my normal technology or design related posts, I thought I would share my experience of Swine Flu.
Turns out that I caught the virus on the week of the 16th August, and I suffered from it on the Thursday to Sunday. I have to say – it was nasty. I had a killer headache, a massive fever, frequent chills, muscle pains and a rather upset stomach (mind you, I wasn’t sick, which I was happy about…).
Initially, I dismissed the idea that it was actually Swine Flu since I knew absolutely no one else with the virus, and even bigger give away was that I had suffered no such ‘cold like’ symptoms; such as coughing, sneezing, runny noses, runny eyes, etc.
However, a few days after falling ill, and getting better, it turns out I had passed the illness onto my mother – who, suffered a lot worse (probably because she’s a women and can’t deal with pain as well!). It was then we gave it the thought that we could both have had Swine Flu.
After ringing up the rather unhelpful Swine Flu Pandemic Service (England only), it turns out that there are strains of Swine Flu that are less serious – without the cold symptoms. We didn’t get sent Tamiflu, since we had both got better rather quickly.
To be honest, it wasn’t that bad – for me at least.
For all those wondering, my nickname ‘Moggy’ obviously comes from my surname ‘Mogford’. I have been called Moggy ever since the age of about 7 or 8, although it really started at the age of 7 when I was called ‘Mogman’ by my primary school teacher. It evolved into Moggy very quickly and thats been my nickname ever since. Today, all my personal friends know me as Moggy, while the large majority of teachers stick with Alastair, although thats now changing.
My name is Moggy, and I moan. My interests are web design, graphic design, technology, Apple products, politics, media and geography. Plus a few other random things.
I hope you enjoy all my posts. If you do, why not pass the word onto a friend, leave a comment, subscribe to the RSS, or even get in touch with me?
Lots of love all you gorgeous people!
Mogs
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