The absent blogger takes a long hard look at her website

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People talk about having your own corner of the web when actually you have lots of corners. It might be under the same username, or similar username give or take an underscore. But each network that you belong to is a different corner in my opinion.

Needless to say that I’ve neglected my main blogging corner for a few months, and each time I come back all apologetic and that I won’t do it again.

Over the past few days I’ve had a good think about what to do with my blog, how to get more out of it and so on. I regard something like Tumblr as fun – it’s my short attention span blog, where it is easier to click on “Like” or “Reblog” to share something like a photo of a hungover looking owl rather than add substance to it. Twitter is where I chat to people about various random things that I happen to be interested in. LinkedIn is that scary professional place that I should use more to help me find a job. Facebook is where I share photos of my adorable dog (wait, I do that on Twitter too) and catch up with friends that I haven’t actually seen in years.

But what about this place? I’ve done quite a bit since I last posted and in hindsight I’m thinking “Why didn’t I blog about it?” Is it too late to talk about my wonderful week in Barcelona where I overdosed on Gaudi and went to my first football match in god knows how long? Or should I turn my handwritten memories into a “Top Tips” post?

I passed my driving test and got a car. I’ve been doing so many firsts in my little VW Polo that I haven’t written about it!

A lot of this is about hindsight, either I’ve forgotten to write about something or I’ve dismissed it when I shouldn’t have.

So my blogging mantra for 2012 is: You do something. You blog it. Now. Not next week.

NaNoWriMo

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It comes to that time of year when a couple of my good friends go and ask me “Are you doing NaNoWriMo this year?”

NaNoWriMo Mind Map

For those who don’t know, National Novel Writing Month aka NaNoWriMo is a challenge to write a 50,000 word novel within the month of November.

I’ve signed up before to do it, had a fairly decent plot but then it’s all fallen apart. I’ve started with a mind map (see above) this time. It’s mostly my worries but it’s helped!

November’s always been a difficult month for me. I’ve always found myself being really busy. It might be constant Saturdays of rugby, it might be being drowned in a sea of university work, or it might be my penchant for procrastination.

This year’s going to be difficult too. Partly because I’m going to be spending half of November in Spain: first in Barcelona and then at my Gran’s near Alicante. I don’t want to be thinking about my novel when watching Barcelona play at the Nou Camp.

But I’m determined to do it. I’ve seen friends go on and succeed with their NaNo pieces, and some have even gone on to write a 75,000 word book in November. I don’t care if it’s rubbish (it will be), I don’t care if anybody doesn’t see it (which they won’t because it’ll be rubbish). I just want that happy and relieved feeling that my friends get when they hit December 1st thinking “Thank god it’s over, I’m so pleased I did that.”

2011 will be the year I win at NaNoWriMo. I can’t guarantee the Booker Prize but I will write 50,000 words in a vague plot behind it.

Who’s with me? And what coping strategies do you have?

Recipe Time: Banana Bread

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You have over-ripe bananas. You enjoy baking.
What do you do?
You combine them.

So last week I made banana bread for the first time, much to Dad’s disgust as he hates bananas!

I used a base recipe from the BBC Food website then adapted it with a slight change of ingredients.

Ingredients
285g/10oz wholemeal self-raising flour
1/2 tsp salt
110g/4oz butter – plus a bit extra for greasing, even if you’re using a silicone mould like I did
225g/8oz light brown sugar
2 eggs
4 slightly over ripe bananas
85ml/3fl milk with 1 1/2 tsp lemon juice/vinegar (the original recipe says buttermilk but I’ve found you can only seem to get that from Waitrose so I opted for the “stuff you generally have in the fridge” method)
1tsp vanilla extract/flavouring

Method
I followed the exact method from the website and the creaming and folding videos are really worth watching – I wouldn’t have thought to fold in the flour with a metal spoon instead of a wooden one!

Et voila!

Banana Bread

And yes it tasted delicious! If you try the recipe then let me know how it went!

Recruitment Agencies – They’ve gone digital

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In my quest for post-university employment, I sent myself out to Birmingham City Centre to hit the agencies. I went to the following places: Randstad, Key Personnel, Office Angels, Blue Arrow, Pertemps and Brook Street.

I got positive responses from all of the agencies, they liked the fact that I’m a graduate and that I have office experience, but instead of taking a paper copy of my CV, they all wanted me to email it to them so that it would go straight onto their databases for their clients to search through. Only Blue Arrow took my CV from me, while Office Angels had a look through it.

You might think that it was a waste of time then?

I don’t think so. From each of the agencies I got a contact to send my CV to, rather than a generic “recruitment@suchandsuchaplace.co.uk”. At least I know who is going to be dealing with my CV and I have somewhere to email my queries to or an updated CV as it changes and adapts due to experience. I hope to establish a working relationship from the contacts I have been given: they will see what jobs are suitable for my level of experience and I have to give them all of the information necessary to assist them in the search while continuing to conduct my own job hunts.

Here are my top tips for using recruitment agencies

1. Do your research: If you know what area you want to work in then search for agencies that will give you that. Don’t go to a recruitment agency that specialises in catering or engineering when you’re after office work.

2. Take a map: Many of the recruitment agencies in Birmingham are on New Street but there are some hidden away in smaller roads. I did a Google search for “Recruitment Agencies in Birmingham” and they were plotted nicely onto a Google Map for me. You will find that having a map with them on there will help you plan your route carefully as well.

3. Don’t forget a paper copy: Despite only one agency wanting a copy of my CV, you never know when someone may want to look at it.

4. Take your laptop with you: One thing I should have done after I finished my search was to take myself away to somewhere with decent wifi coverage such as Starbucks or even a Wetherspoons and email the agencies my CV there and then. It’s fresh in the mind then.

5. Don’t worry or be nervous: Something I’m prone to doing, but just take a deep breath and relax, they’re trying to help you.

The Rugby World Cup

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I’m ready for it.

Raring to go.

My body clock has been messing up on me for the past few nights so I know that it won’t mind 6 weeks more of it, even if the lack of sleep sends me crazier than usual.

Here it comes. The Rugby World Cup.

I’ve got my wallchart sorted, courtesy of The Rugby Paper and the Breakfast Pack from O2′s Get Up For England Campaign is currently on its way here.

I don’t have a new England rugby shirt, I still have my old faithful from 2003 and even then I don’t wear it when England are playing – it’s a superstitious thing.

The build up feels as though it’s been going on forever, talk of squads and warm-up games, it’s a long winded process but now the competition really starts.

Plus the domestic season has just begun. Bonus.

It’s a life rugby bonanza, and I cannot wait.

A new chapter

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So much stuff has happened since I last updated my blog! And I should really stop apologising for the lack of posts, it’s my own fault.

My life has been full of many highs and lows over the past five months that to just have got through the rollercoaster ride (and I’m not keen on rollercoasters, hence the metaphor) is an achievement in itself.

I was helped along the way by some great friends – especially the Tonkers lot and my rugby family, actual family members, and staff at university.

So in short and in no particular order I have:

- Finished university, getting a 2:2, which I am really pleased about
- Experienced two tragic losses, both of them close to me. One being our dog, Matt, who was 11 and a half, a really really close friend, who was such a lovely lady
- Failed my driving test a couple of times – whoops – nerves just get the best of me
- Watched a lot of rugby. What more do you expect from me?

So now a new chapter begins, one where I’m not in education, that’s scary. I’m on the big job hunt at the moment, applying for this and that, trying to get work experience here and there. I hope to find something soon, don’t we all, but the big challenge is not to get too down about the failures.

I plan on using this place a lot more, definitely. I’ve been playing with the layout, I’m happy with my green and white look to it, but I know that the inclusion of red will equal Christmas so I’m staying far away from there!

I’ve got to keep positive, keep working hard and take whatever opportunities I can!

All change!

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I know that it’s a cardinal sin to apologise for not blogging but I’m going to.  I’m sorry that I haven’t blogged since Week 2/3 of the Six Nations.

But it’s not due to abandoning it, honestly!  In fact I’ve been working hard on it.

For starters I’ve moved away from hosting my site on WordPress.com and have gone to the site One.com as they were the cheapest hosting – just over a tenner for a year’s worth of hosting, plus they moved my domain to their servers for free. Their customer service has been rather good too, especially as I was a complete newbie at all things FTP and PHP when I started this! Many thanks to Lauren for recommending them to me!

I’m still getting the hang of it all, it can be fun but can be frustrating at the same time! Like how to get new blog posts automatically sent to my Twitter feed and Facebook!

If anyone wants to give me a hand then let me know!

So this is the beginning of a new start for the blog, I have loads of things planned already!

You won’t be able to get rid of me now – muahahaha!

Simmo’s Six Nations Summary – Week Two-Threeish

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In the week that brought us two swallow dives, a home side not turn up and the game of the tournament so far, it’s time for my look back over the weekend’s action.

To swallow dive or not to swallow dive?

I know it looks good and provides good pictures for the following day’s newspapers but I admit that I’m not a fan of Chris Ashton’s swallow dive. I just keep thinking ahead to the forthcoming Rugby World Cup, to the knockout stages, and Ashton sprinting to the line to score the match winning try with a few minutes to spare. He goes for the swallow dive, but this time he drops the ball, he knocks it on. It’s a decision that costs England’s campaign and constant chokers, New Zealand, end up winning the Webb Ellis Trophy for the second time since 1987.

I’m not a complete killjoy, honest, I like a good celebration and Gareth Thomas’s head tapping is one that always stands out when I think of try celebrations. I’d just rather they get the ball planted over the line first and then celebrate it!

Not like this one from the former London Irish back rower Juan Manuel Leguizamon:

Swallow Dive Fail

I guess this says that any showboating should be left to the backs?

Wherefore art thou Scotland?

I was impressed with Scotland in the first weekend of the Six Nations, so what happened to them last week?

I think Christine Lester says it all in her Scotland player ratings for The Rugby Blog. It was pretty much the same personnel but a stark contrast in performance. It’s frustrating, just when I was thinking “this Scotland side can beat Wales and do it well”, then don’t.

They took another step forward against France, unfortunately they took two back on Saturday evening. Lets hope that the changes, particularly in the kicking department with Ruaridh Jackson replacing Dan Parks at fly-half and some stability in the form over 100+ cap Chris Paterson coming in at fullback will help Scotland find that form of the France game in the first weekend.

True is it that we have seen better days from Ireland…

And if the penalty count against them wasn’t so high, I’m sure they would have beaten France. I felt that Ireland played the better rugby, it’s just that France’s discipline was tight unlike Ireland’s. I’m sure Declan Kidney has been working hard on the indiscipline this week, particularly at the breakdown. Other members of the media are saying that this current Irish side are getting older and that they’re towards the end of that “golden age” that included the 2009 Grand Slam. I don’t think so, I mean look at the England side that won the 2003 Rugby World Cup, everyone said that they were too old! And they’re giving younger players a chance too, I particularly like the look of the back row forward Sean O’Brien, he seems like a good future prospect.

Let’s not write off Ireland just yet, they’re still a really good side.

And finally…
I know it’s after Valentines Day but I’d really like a Chabal Bear:

Chabal Bear

Simmo’s Six Nations Summary – Week One

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Can’t you tell I like alliteration?

It’s finally here, after the hype, expectation and some of the early mind games *cough* Warren Gatland *cough* the Six Nations started last Friday in Cardiff, starting with a bang.

Who would have expected before this weekend for England to have a shaky but positive start against Wales, for Ireland to scrape a win away in Rome and for France vs Scotland to be the best game of the weekend in terms of entertainment value.

“Tripgate”: Part Two
Once again in an England v Wales match there have been issues over a trip. Last year it was Alun Wyn Jones, this year it’s Jonathan Davies on Chris Ashton. Unlike AWJ, Davies was not sinbinned for it as referee, Alain Rolland, did not spot it, nor was he cited later on. Lucky boy! Other than that I felt that Davies did have a good game on Friday night, but I was more impressed with James Hook and hope he is given a chance at fly-half against Scotland on Saturday. When he moved to fly-half later on in the game he did inject a bit more pace and creativity in the backline, more so than Stephen Jones had done during the game.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CydQ3gEg8HI]

Dylan Hartley
Last time I saw Mr Hartley play he had a nightmare of a game for Northampton against the Leicester Tigers, particularly with his throwing into the line out. Last week he was also singled out for attention by Wales coach, Warren Gatland, who stated that “Kiwis have been known to crack under pressure and choke. I hope [Hartley] does so a week on Friday.” Thankfully Dylan Hartley proved his fellow countryman wrong, with excellent throwing into what was touted as being a weakened lineout due to the absences of Courtney Lawes and Tom Croft. His all round game was excellent, and if it wasn’t for the stand out performances from Toby Flood and Chris Ashton, he would have been a serious contender for man of the match.

Luck of the Irish?
They’re the silent contenders for the Six Nations, all the talk has been about France and England. Yet with both sides having to visit the new Aviva Stadium during this year’s tournament, this could play into the hands of the Irish side.

However that home advantage could have meant nothing as they came out the better of a hard fought battle against Italy in Rome on Saturday. Despite the low scoreline it was a thrilling game and the Italians played really well. Yes there were slight issues but it’s the first weekend, it’s bound to happen, but there were still positives to take from the game. The pack was dominant and I think they were happy to have captain Sergio Parisse back to bolster the back row.

Ireland were typically Ireland: strong in the lineout and breakdown while being free flowing in the backs, and it was that combination that brought about the drop goal from Ronan O’Gara in the last moments of the game to seal the victory for the men in green.

Did the Italians deserve the victory more than Ireland? No, I don’t think so, both teams battled and did that well, yet Ireland have that experience that knows how to steal victory from the jaws of defeat. The Italians should be positive though ahead of their trip to Twickenham, I just hope that they haven’t peaked too soon.

A Tale of Two Attacks and Occasionally Absent Defence
As Italy nearly beat Ireland, could Scotland win in France for the first time in ages?

The beauty and frustration of the French rugby team is that you never know which side is going to turn up. We’d seen negative France towards the end of the Autumn Internationals when they got thumped against Australia. On Saturday we saw indications of the Grand Slam winning French, but also some from November.

Scotland had come into this year’s Six Nations as world beaters, having beaten South Africa late last year, but there were issues over whether their dominance in the forwards could be complimented by try scoring backs. They did show this on Saturday in what was the most flowing of the games this weekend.

Two of the French tries, the one from Imanol Harinordoquy and the beautiful passing sequence and support play that put Damien Traille under the posts showed us what we were missing from France in the Autumn, but the defence did fall asleep at times and Scotland capitalised on that as they scored three tries of their own.

I would love to see Scotland beat Wales this coming weekend, and I think they have the team to do so, they didn’t pull off an upset against France but they didn’t not show up either. As for Ireland against France, home advantage will be a major factor but as always with this French side – who knows which one will show up?

Ice Hockey: Let’s go Panthers, let’s go!

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One of my unofficial aims for 2011 was to try something new each month.

So when my friend, Laura, invited me to see the Nottingham Panthers vs Newcastle Vipers in ice hockey’s Challenge Cup last Sunday, I jumped at the opportunity to go and see a sport I hadn’t seen live before.

I wholly admit that my only other experience of ice hockey was when I was completely and utterly engrossed in the 2010 Winter Olympics ice hockey final between the USA and Canada.

Here it is summed up in 4 minutes:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7DeQbTzPE8]

So on Sunday I made my way to Nottingham, to the National Ice Centre via a pub for a spot of food. The face off, which starts the game, and I referred to as both the “puck off” and “kick off” during the evening, was at 5pm so we got there at about 4.30pm and took to our seats. They were far enough back not to get hit by the puck and just off centre on one of the sides.

Laura tried to explain everything she could to me before the game started, but it’s one of those ones that is better explained once you have seen it live! I felt the same about Australian Rules Football, the rules and what happens sounds strange but once you see it you understand it better.

I like the way that some of the North American traditions from their ice hockey have made the journey across the Atlantic: the laser show, the national anthem before face off (see, getting the hang of the jargon now), and the musical interludes plus actions at breaks during the game.

I got the jist of the game quite quickly, which probably helped with the enjoyment of the game. It’s split into three periods of 20 minutes each, but they tend to last more like half an hour with the stoppages. The “half time” breaks are 12 minutes between periods 1 and 2 with a 15 minute one between periods 2 and 3 – it allows the fans to get a drink, one of those foot long Herta hotdogs and for the ice to be cleaned by the Zamboni machine.

It’s fast paced but very easy to follow, unless you’re really focusing on the subs bench, with unlimited changes that can get slightly confusing! The penalty rule was easy to follow, it’s just like the sin bin in rugby, only it’s 2 minutes with a man down instead of 10. I was introduced to other bits of jargon such as slashing and icing but I’ll leave the explanation of those!

To be honest, I went expecting a fight or two, it’s something you tend to associate with ice hockey, but with a final score of 15-0 to the Panthers they weren’t going to be happening. Maybe those will happen next time I go, and yes I enjoyed it so much there is a next time, as on Tuesday it’s Nottingham Panthers vs Coventry Blaze. Last time these two teams played there were…sparks between the two sides, or should I say it was more ill tempered.

I’m excited about it already.