Below are the 25 most recent journal entries.

	2008.06.19  10.50 Quite a lot to talk about, but i'll keep it short.. Exams are over, but I've been ridiculously busy.. doing fun things though! I got my degree results yesterday, got a high 2:2, which i'm a bit annoyed with. I got a 2:1 in EVERYTHING, except my double dissertation module which I got 47 in. Personally, I think that's ridiculous as I know it wasn't that standard. I'm disappointed in that because I know that I put the amount of work in to deserve better than that, but I don't mind too much as i've still got my job and that's what I came to uni for, and a piece of paper won't matter once I have good experience. Been playing football quite a lot recently. We lost my last game in charge, which was a bit of a shame. We were 2-1 down and scored with about 5 minutes left, but the referee (who was one of their teams subs) ruled it out for being offside, even though the ball travelled backwards! We argued a bit as it was a ridiculous decision, but then decided to get on with it as it was only a friendly. Also had some really good nights recently. Last week had the Summer Ball, then went to Leeds, then had the football AGM in three consecutive nights. Then my bro came up the next day and I had my birthday BBQ, followed by the club in the student union on the Saturday which was really good. Tuesday was my friends 21st which was also an amazing night, ending with us hoisting him on our shoulders and carrying him out of the club at the end of the night!! Looking forward to starting work in September now, I really have had enough of the education process.. it's doing my head in! Organising my travelling at the moment- really looking forward to it, some of the countriesin East Europe look so amazing. Had to cut out Albania and Macedonia from original plans due to time/ dangers (We would have to travel through Kosovo). Still deciding on wether to do Montenegro or not, they don't have much of a train network so we'll have to do most of it by coach, but it looks similar to Croatia which is an amazing country.

	2008.05.23  13.35 Hi Friends Hope everyone is well. I'm 3 exams down and 1 to go, and then that's it for my years of being in education, probably. One of the exams so far didn't go particularly well, but I think the other two went alright, and hopefully my final one on Thursday will be ok. Been quite ill this week which hasn't helped with the exams, but think its probably due to stress and working long hours, hopefully i'll be feeling a lot better over the next week or so. Got lots planned for after exams, so really looking forward to the celebrations, just hope weather stays good as that will lead to a lot more enjoyment.. Also need to sort out a place in Newcastle, so hopefully will do that after exams. Its so scary having to find somewhere new to settle out for who knows how long. At least at uni I've known that i'll always be going home for a at least a month every 10 weeks or so. I don't know how you managed to move away at such a young age Josh, i'll be 21 and shit scared! I'll be back in Ashford on probably 28th June, but going to Malta 1st-6th July, and then interrailing Eastern Europe 28th July- 5th September (or something like that) and then probably moving up to Newcastle in the next week or so after that... so I hope to really make the most of 6th-28th July- BBQs, football, going out... please!! It'd still be cool to go away somewhere for a week or so, like we suggested a while back, too.. but not sure if and when we can fit that in! I was delighted that Darlington lost their play off match the other week, I'm hoping that Gillingham are away to Darlo whilst i'm up in Newcastle and not whilst im in East Europe so that I can go.. how sad that I'm actually planning trips to as many of the away games in League two as I can.. I guess that's what being a fan of a shit team is about though!

	2008.04.18  11.01 Last Post on the Bugle Rightio, I'm packed up and ready to return to Durham. Leaving in about an hour ish. Kind of looking forward to getting back in order to see people, but i'm going to have to work extremely hard this term seeing as my finals are in 4 weeks! Argh! Also have to hand in a Berlin field trip report a week on Monday. On the bright side, a week on Sunday is our 'festival of sport' where i'm entering a six a side team, which i'm looking forward to. Going to be tough though as up against uni players etc! Last year we played against a team which had a maltese international and Nigerian under 21 haha. Well done on your 5 a side victory, Ben. Can't wait until after exams- should be lots of beer-age, fun, football etc. Yay. I'm having a 21st birthday thing on June 14th, so if any of you fancy coming then it will be cheaper to book in advance, but I realise I live far away so don't worry I won't be annoyed if you can't. Flying might be easier for some of you!! Have just booked my flights to Europe for when I interrail over the summer, it means I'm going to miss Bens and Eggs 21st so i'm really annoyed about that, but as I start work in September August is pretty much the only time i'll be able to travel.. Have sent off my contract for Atkins in Newcastle. Hopefully references, health, grades etc will be ok! Am looking forward to it, although i'll probably wish that I had taken a gap year or two once I get started!

	2008.04.14  20.37 Guten Tag! Got back from Berlin on Saturday. The timing of the fieldtrip was pretty annoying as it meant missed Dan, Josh and El in Ashford, boooo. The fieldtrip was good though- got the work done and managed to get out to experience the Berlin nightlife a couple of times. Our coach to the airport was at 7am on Saturday morning, so for some reason we decided to stay out until 5.30am Friday night. I felt very sick on the plane.. Made some really good friends out there, too. I'd never met some of the people before but got on really well with them and there's a couple I'd like to stay in touch with. I've decided to take the Newcastle job. I'm hoping it is the better choice for my long term career. It's a bit less pay in the short term but I think I'm less likely to be swallowed up as another graduate and I will have more responsibility. And I'll still have some good mates in Durham next year which is only 20 mins away on the train. I'm sorry Ben and Josh, I know you recommended the Manchester one, and I think that would be amazing but I think this one will be good too!!

	2008.03.16  20.05 I am home, yippee! And I'm ready for fun times. Thursday night, County? Who's around? Got a 5 week easter hols. Working 9-5 for a few weeks and then a week long fieldtrip to Berlin, followed by one week back in Ashford where i'll be writing up the fieldtrip (hopefully). Gills were awful yesterday, lost 3-0 at home to the team one place above us in the league. We're definitely going down! Ah well, that's what happens when you get a non league manager who sign 8 non league players..

	2008.03.13  21.51 Been offered a job in Maidstone for Jacobs as graduate transport planner.. don't know the details yet as it's being posted through. Really great news but it's just made everything a lot more complicated for me! I'd pretty much just decided that Manchester was the right thing for me and now I have an offer 20mins from home. Argh! I'm not moaning because it's amazing i've been offered one job let alone two, but its just added to my confusion about what to do! I've never been so happy/ confused!

	2008.03.09  09.56 Thanks to the nice messages of encouragement about the manchester job :) The more I think about it, the more I want it.. I just need to work out where I'm going to live and who with!? And check the contract.. and get the required grades.. Still a long way to go. Went to Hartlepool V Gills yesterday. Lost 4-0 and we missed a penalty. Good old Gillingham, looks like we'll be in league two next year :( Errrrm playing against another team from our college this afternoon, they're the team above us so they should win! Congratulations to Pompey and Barnsley for their results yesterday haha. Not sure what else to say really.. I'm home in about 6 days, woo.

	2008.03.07  14.04 Sooooo Had a phone call this morning to say I have a job offer to work in Altrincham (Manchester) for Faber Maunsell (engineering firm) as a transport planner. It's pretty exciting but also quite scary! Positives... Manchester is a fun place, £22 000 a year salary, £2000 'golden hello', Faber Maunsell are a big company who are in the top 100 graduate employers list Negatives... Quite far from friends and family. I should receive the contract in a next couple of weeks and so I need to look through it and check that its all ok, but it could mean this time next year I may have been living and working in Manchester for 6 months :-S wow.

	2008.03.03  09.09 Absolutely shattered! Handed my dissertation in on friday morning, which is quite an amazing feeling- worry due to the fact is 20% of my entire degree, happiness as its a massive burden off my shoulders, tiredness as a lot of work went into it and excitement about the weekend ahead! After handing it in I went to college and played pro evo for a few hours and then headed to the pub with my geographical mates for ONE pint. Four pints later I decided I better stop as my brother wasn't arriving until six so I went home cleaned my room and then went to the station to meet matt (my bro), jack wilkins and george wilkins. Jack, matt, george and I went out Friday night to the student union which was a really good night. It was good to see jack and matt again and I didnt really know george before but he seems like a good guy. Then saturday Francesca brother came up and John Linkins came up (It's francesca birthday today so we were celebrating it saturday) and we hada bit of a gathering at my house and then we all headed out to college bars and the club, which was anotehr really, really good night. All in all a good few days, but now I am prtty exhausted. Not done any work for three days but I feel that is deserved after handing in my dissertation. It's all about planning for my Berlin fieldtrip now...

	2008.02.25  11.40 Doodle Doodle Alright people, hope everyoone is well, been a while since I've updated because i'm pretty rubbish at doing this. Got a rejection letter (or "unsuccessful") through from Tesco today for the Site Research Graduate programme. Pretty annoying as the feedback is generally really good, did well on all the tasks just need to improve influencing others basically. I'm not too suprised though as everyone else there was of a really high calibre and so I think whoever got it deserved it. I'm a bit down about it at the moment as it would have been a really good job, but that's life and i'll get over it and I have plenty of things that make me happy so no point in thinking about something that doesn't. And I've decided I'm going to travel if I don't get a job, so I'm in a win win situation really. Four days until my dissertation is handed in, but I'm fairly pleased with how it is going so far and I feel I am on schedule to hand it in on Friday and be happy with it. Been quite busy over the last week, been going out quite a lot due to college events and 21st birthdays, all of which have been really good and enjoyable. Had our last league match of the season on Saturday, i.e. my last competitive match as captain :( We drew 0-0, so not exactly the best way to finish but it was against second in the league and it stopped them from getting promoted so that was a bonus. I thought I played pretty well with some big challenges and some silky moves that I didnt know I had!!! Went for lunch after the match with the team which was good, although the Arsenal match was on and so watching Eduardos leg break wasnt so fun.. My bro is coming up this week which im pretty excited about, should be a good weekend as I hand my dissertation in so will be celebrating that as well! Wahey

	2008.02.10  13.19 Afternoon Hello, hope everyone is well! I'm back home in Ashford at the moment, I like being home. I came back because I had an assessment Thursday and Fri in Herts and i'm meant to have another on tuesday in Maidstone so it made sense to come home in between. The one on Thursday and Friday was for Tesco site research. It went quite well, but I don't think i'll get hte job as the competition was really, really tough. There was 14 of us and everyone was really nice and really clever so I think I have a chance but only a slight one. Stayed in the Tesco hotel in Cuffley, which was amazing. The food was brilliant and it was a really, really nice place. Had ice breakers and indiviual tests on the Thursday and then on Friday we had group exercises and a presentation. It was a suprisingly enjoyable couple of days, I'm glad I did it. The job also looks really good so I hope I get it, but as I said i'm not too optimistic. Got home friday evening and got a Chinese takeaway, and then went out for a meal with my parents last night, which was really nice. Today will be spent watching the football that is on and that's pretty much it. I have a lot of work to be doing but I hope to get some done tomorrow and the end of the week, I thought I should relax a bit whilst I'm at home!

	2008.01.27  09.32 Thought it's about time I update again! Hope everyone is well, and sorry if I've not been in contact with people much. Been a pretty busy term so far. Third year is intense! Handed in my first summative essay of the year, which I was personally quite pleased with, but then again I usually do badly in the ones I think are good and well in the essays I think are bad, so... Also been trying to get on with my dissertation as it's less than five weeks until hand in now. Twenty pages down, fifteen to go but this is still the first draft and it's going to take a lot more work! I quite enjoy doing it though so hopefully it will go ok. Got a few interviews and assessment centres coming up for jobs. Had one interview last friday, which I don't think very well, but it's in Manchester and I'm not really sure if I want to live there anyway. Got an assessment centre tomorrow in Reading, which could be quite cool, and got a two day assessment centre for Tesco in a couple of weeks. I know they're an evil company but I'm down to the last 12 people and if they're prepared to give me a job I'm sure I could change the whole nature of Tescos so that they become nice and ethical ;) Or maybe not, but they're already filled me with loads of propaganda to say they're a good company, so I'm sure it's fine! Been out a few times this term but tried to restrict it. Had a massive Aidans college sports social on Wednesday to Walkabout which was actually amazing, one of the best nights I've had at uni. Walkabout was just full of our college, and Quinton Fortune and Raimond Van Der Gouw were in there so had a nice little chat with some Premier League winners!! Good times. Footie is as fun as ever this term. We've lost our only league match we've had, but next weekend is our big match against one of the best teams in the university in the last 16 of the cup. We're the college 4th team and the 2nd and 3rd teams are already out the cup, so we're doing pretty well. We've already beaten one 1st team, and so I'm hoping we can do it again! Or at least go out in style ala Havant and Waterlooville.. Hmm I'm rambling now. Tranmere v Gills on Tuesday, big match! Come on you Gills!! See you all at Easter Mood: content

	2007.12.15  15.24 Homeee! Just arrived home!! It's pretty sad that I'm updating LJ within 2 hours of being home for the first time in 10 weeks but this is because I am the only one home... my dad is at Watford v Plymouth and my mum is on her way to London to see Kaiser Chiefs tonight. Haha. Sooo, it's nice to be home even though I haven't seen any family or friends yet. The house is just very.... homely. I've been in Edinburgh for the last couple of days with Chez, which was enjoyable. It'sa really beautiful place and although it was unbelievable cold, that kind of just added to the nice christmassy feel. Went up to the castle, Edinburgh dungeons, on the big wheel etc. Was good. I fear this holidays isn't going to be much of a rest as I'm working 9-5 this week and the 2 weeks in January and every other spare moment I want to see friends and family and also have a load of uni work to do, including my dissertation. I'm working at Scott Wilson on the ring road, which is really good as it's a transport planners and although I'll just be doing general office stuff it will hopefully be a good experience for me. I have the week off between xmas and New Year so hopefully get alot of socialising, footie and work done that week! I have been applying to quite a few jobs over the last month for when I graduate. I don't really expect to get any of them as they are ridiculously competitive (About 50 applications for every place). I'm going to be optimistic though and I have been offered four interviews which is a pretty good start, and hopefully if all goes well at Scott Wilson there may even be an opportunity there. I'm sure I have other stuff to say, but I'm not really sure what....

	2007.12.09  18.56 Howdy Footie today was cancelled boo. But we trained instead and it was muchos fun. Good pitch, a lot of rain, seven a side. Sweet. I'm winding down for the term now, handed in my last bit of work of Friday and although I have a load of dissertation etc to be doing, I've given myself a bit of a break to relax and have a rest. 'Rest' seems to involve getting extremely drunk, and I had enjoyable nights last night and thursday and have the xmas ball tomorrow which I hope will also be enjoyable. Been applying for jobs, which is pretty tough and time consuming. Got a couple of interviews though, which is good. I hope everyone is well, and I look forward to seeing people over xmas.. I'm back next Saturday!

	2007.11.30  09.58 Busy on here this week I felt left out! Now i'm not. Not sure what else to say errrrrrrm I have lots of work which is not good. Im looking for jobs which is scary and hard. We knocked out a team in e cup two leagues above us, probably the highlight of my footballing career!! I might do a proper entry soon xx

	2007.08.27  11.30 I think I've torn or strained my anle ligaments :( Swollen up and hurts like fuck if I put weight on it, grr.

	2007.07.18  15.54 Helloooo Just to let you know that I am still alive, in case you wondered. Work in London is going well and I am enjoying both the actual work and the living with my bro/ in the capital. Life is pretty similar to being at uni (pro evo and having a few drinks) just with longer working days! I'm on good pay and although that is offset by travel costs and contributing to rent, the experience and enjoyment is worth a lot anyway. Bit sucky about not really seeing people in Ashford but I shall be back in a month and I will make sure I go out etc! Sorry this is brief!

	2007.06.28  22.47 I love football

	2007.06.27  00.03 Heyyy Enjoyed parts of being home and not so much other parts. Enjoyed seeing Ben, and enjoyed 6 a side for my brothers friends team last night (ended 3-3). However I have been bored due to the lack of entertainment in the day. Today was good though- went up to london. Had an interview, went for lunch with chez and we went to the science museum and then to the theatre (the complete works of shakespeare- really, really funny!) The interview went well and i've been offered the job. It's summer work at a railway consultancy in crystal palace. £10 per hour and quite flexible on when i work. It sounds really good and I want to accept.. but some of my friends are in ashford and i'd probably have to spend at least half the week in london (Staying with my bro). I don't know whether to take it or not!

	2007.06.12  08.50 Ahoy I know we say this every year and it never lives up to expectation, but i'm going to make sure we all enjoy this summer and that we all see each other lots. Obviously there's the problem with work and stuff nowadays, but we will still have some free time in the three or four months! I'm going to have a bbq so that everyone can come round mine and eat meat/ vegetarian /get drunk/ not get drunk and we will all have fun and a merry time. I promise. And we need to celebrate my birthday. And bens. and eggs. and jacks. and joshs. and we should have pre birthday celebrations for dan. Sounds fun, eh? :) I finished exams nearly 2 weeks ago now, and time has flown by. Had some good days and some bad days- had some good days and nights out, but also been a bit ill and i've been a bit stupid at times too. Ooh and I'm D team captain for next year aswell, yay! Off to Gatwick this afternoon, for the flight to Croatia in the early hours of wednesday morning. Should be good, not too sure what to expect but I really can't wait now- looking forward to getting out of Durham for a bit. Hope you are all well and hopefully speak to you all in a week upon my return, and see you in two weeks!

	2007.05.17  12.35 How is everyone? Not updated for a few months probably. Got exams on at the moment, only had one so far and got 3 more to go, and revision isn't going great. Seem to have lost all motivation which isn't good. Got loads of good stuff planned for after exams though including.. England V Brazil at Wembley, my birthday BBQ (my bro is coming too), Croatia, Beer festival, trips to the beach.. and then in the slightly longer term Electric Gardens, seeing you lot and working (hopefully at a town planners.. had a few interested which is good!). Has anyone heard from Josh recently? Hmm I'm going to myspace him. I've not actually done anything of any significance lately as been trying to work, but keep getting distracted by things.. such as LJ. I don't have much to say, I think i;m just procrastinating.

	2007.05.01  10.09 Electric Gardens ticket ordered. I can't wait :oD

	2007.04.21  22.52 I like what Josh did, and admire him very much for it... and I also want to say a few things that you may or may not know about me. Don't worry if you don't know it.. I think some of them aren't known by anyone. I hated the way I used to be. I now like myself much much more. I hated the way I looked, the pain I was in and my personality. I could see myself marrying Francesca (eek scary!), she makes me really happy. The three most important things to me in life are my friends, football and music. Probably in that order. Football and family got me through my arthritis and osteoporosis when I first got it. Football, family and friends did so later on. I think I have got through the worst of my illnesses. I want to give something back to those that have helped me. But I think this is for selfish reasons.. I don't think I'd do it if I didn't think it would help me e.g. by making my CV look better. I want to change this. I want to be much much more confident around people I don't know. But, I would happily not make any more friends if it meant I could keep all the friends I have now. I don't really know what I want to do in life. I take the easy option far to much. I wish I was better at telling my family how much they mean to me. I wish I visited/ spent time with friends more, I have no good reason for not doing so. I'm jealous of those that have natural talentss I don't have, wether it is football, music, art or looks. I moan alot, even though I am really really lucky in life with the family, friends, education etc I have. Right I'm off to bed now, early start in the morning!

	2007.03.13  10.05 Wembleeeeeey I have tickets for the first competitive match at Wembley, wahey!! England U21s V Italy U21s, week on Saturday.. £10 per ticket, really good! There's going to be 60000 people there, so should be a really good day. Going up with my bro and sitting with uni people, I really can't wait!

	2007.03.08  09.00 Morning! What a beautiful day it is. What a beautiful few days it has been. This makes me happy. I love just strolling down to lectures in the sun, soaking up a bit of solar energy whilst listening to my mp3 player, especially when you can see the cathedral and castle towering over the city. It's just perfect. I'm also happy because of football yesterday. It was a massive match, we were in joint 2nd with two other teams and we were playing one of those teams. It was a beautiful day on, for once, a very good pitch. I started in centre mid and thought I did alright.. we won 1-0, and I set up the goal. I had a few stray passes and stuff as well, but everyone played really well and it was just so satisfying. Unfortunately I seem to have been in the wars a bit in footie recently, and this continued yesterday as someone accidentally (I think!) elbowed me on the bridge of my nose, and blood started gushing out everywhere, so the ref made me be substituted. There was only about ten minutes left and watching the end of the match was so nerve racking! My nose is ok though, it's not bruised or anything so I don't know why there was so much blood. We are now in joint second with one other team. There is one game of the season left, so we need to win with a good score, and hope that the other team in second place don't win! Bring on Sunday. Last night went to an SCA awards formal. Black tie and all, with about half a bottle of wine free each, which was nice. It's good to be rewarded for volunteering and staff, but I kinda wish they didn't reward us because that isn't what we do it for!! Hope everyone is well. I think I am dressing as Peter Pan tomorrow.