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.
While I like, and I am very supportive of the new features and design changes you bring to the community, the latest bunch of changes have had me very puzzled, and consequently annoyed.
I have never really liked the “Live Feed” idea, and in my mind it is just messy. Therefore I was happy to have it hidden away in the previous design. Now, however, I get awfully confused when sometimes I click on the “Home” button whilst logged in and it takes to one or the other (and not the last page I had previously been on) of either the much nicer, clearer and customisable News Feed, or the slow, irritating and cluttered Live Feed.
To be honest, and I will admit, this is not massively annoying, one click and it will take me back to my preferred News Feed. But WHY, have you – intentionally or not – COMPLETELY messed up my News Feed!?!? WHY!? Items that should be in the live feed are apparent… Items or types of updates I had previously hidden, are now appearing… and most of all – everything is out of order.
Personally, I think I will be spending out the little £25 it takes to upgrade to Apple’s new OS, Snow Leopard. After all, I am a semi professional Mac user and I use an awful lot of processor intensive applications – so the snappier speeds Apple is promising will save me some time in the future, which is nice. I am also curious just about any new Apple software anyway, and I do like keeping up to date. Hence, why, I have ordered my copy from Amazon, and it’s on its way.
Having said all that… is Snow Leopard worth it… for the average user… I mean, really!? I have two personal friends with Mac computers – but I wouldn’t say SL is a must for either of them. Both own relatively new MacBook’s, but use them for general work and activities (like iPhoto and Pages). Wow, these are highly processor intensive, aren’t they. To be honest, I don’t think either of them would really care, and while £25 is cheap for an OS, it’s still a fair bit of money – that’s a good 30 or so iTunes songs… and about what I spend on my lunches for about two week period!
But hey ho, that’s my opinion and I thought I’d voice it out.
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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