Don't forget the cordial

Last night i remembered another big difference between Australia and England. English cordial seems to be a little bit stronger then the variety found in Australia...

Today i have been trying to trade my advertising, and ended up having a conversation with a nice lady about the effectiveness of charities, which sort of tied in to what we are discussing in ethics at the moment and has been occypying my thoughts alot recently.

Is it an obligation of wealthy people to give to poorer people or is it just a good thing to do? - or as this lady thinks, is giving to charities actually part of the problem. She mentioned some examples where charities do more harm then good, but on the whole, i don't know if this would stand up.



The photo is of Ben and I with Jimmy Carr the comedian (read my article from a few days ago).

Tonight i'm going to some student accommodation about 4 miles from the campus to have an Italian dinner with some of my European friends - should be very nice!

Australia vs England

Here is a brief list of things that i have noticed that are not the same - there may be a couple of wild generalisations...

- People say 'youright?' (Are you alright?) instead of 'howyagoin?' (How are you going)

- When it rains the rain drops are not as dense and you don't always need a jacket or rain coat

- Sheets are not valued as highly. My bedding pack did not include one and several times i have stayed at other peoples places and not been offered one.

- The gaps between English peoples teeth are larger than Australians. This is based on the dental floss that i bought that was too thick for my teeth. Nuff said.

- Students get way more involved in University societies

- Students drink more (it is possible)

- Students get into fancy dress costumes to go out more often.

- It is colder here.

- People say 'Bollocks' and 'Blimey' not even intending it as a joke.

- Girls wear short skirts the whole year round (thick stockings as well when it is cold)

- Blokes wear scarfs even if they aren't metrisexuals, old pompous men, or Dr. Who.

Wow - lots of great stuff has happened since i last wrote - i'll begin at the beginning...
On Friday Ben and I went to see Operator Please in Manchester and i ran into two of the singers backstage when i was going to the toilet - very cool. Not so cool was having to run from their show after they had only been playing for twenty minutes to catch the last bus back to Leeds. Meh, at least we saw them!
On Saturday i went paintballing because a friend of mine won some tickets, saving us a lot of money. We still had to pay £15 for ammunition but it was alot cheaper than usual. It started out slowly for me as i got shot within 30 seconds of the first two rounds, but then after a while i got a feel for it and even played the hero of the green team when after scrambling under heavy fire behind some shelter, i grabbed our bomb and running into the open lobbed it into the enemy's bunker, winning the game for us. I did get shot a bit, and i've still got a few bruises, but it was a real blast - very much worth it! The pic is of my finger where i got smashed by a paintball - it left a pretty good mark.
On Sunday i worked on my last essay and after some initial panic where i really thought i couldn't get it done, i got it done - yah! And that night Ben and I went to see the comedian Jimmy Carr at the Grand Theatre which was great fun. At one point during the show he asked the audience for their sexual fantasies, and i quite wittily yelled out 'Ya Mum' to which he replied 'Alright so thats necrophilia'.
Having finished my essay, i was then able on Monday to try and get rid of my £300 worth of advertising space, which proved to be a bit trickier than i had expected. Most places i went too needed me to contact head office. So i'll try that, and send a couple of emails about. Worse comes to worse and i'll take up the offer of a meal for 4 at a resturaunt that i got, but i think i can do better.

£300 paperclip

A fundraising organisation at Leeds Uni is running this event where people get a paperclip and trade it for bigger and better things, then sell them on eBay and the proceeds go to Charity. I traded my green paperclip for advertising space in the student newspaper worth £300. Now i am going to go down town and offer it to some businesses and see what they will give me for it - lets see how we go!

In other news, the time now is 3:30 in the Afternoon, and it is already getting dark - no wonder English people get so pale and pastie (say I who live in Australia and still manage to emit a faint white glow when ever i take off my shirt).

Last night Ben and I made Brownie's, they were a quite fluffy as we only had self raising flour. We bought chocolate, but borrowed all the other stuff from other people in the building complex, giving them some of the produce - so everyone is a winner!

I polished off an essay today, so i've just got the one more to go before i'm done for this term - yeah! Really should start it sometime...

Swing when your winning

So i was planning on writing all about the fantastic weekend that i just had at the swing camp - but today was just so dreary that i thought i wouldn't do such a fun topic justice. See, i've got these essays looming, two due next week, both 2000 words each. So today as i don't have any classes on until five i thought i could really make some headway into it - but way led to way, and almost everything that could go awry did and it looked like i wasn't going to achieve anything. But i grabbed myself (figeratively) by the scruff of the neck and said 'look dear boy, you will achieve something today - just focus on one thing and get that done'. So i did. I posted my mail. Go on scoff away, but this task involved getting photos which were all located on various computers printed from a machine that promised 'your photos in seconds' but in reality due to technical gliches took over half an hour, walking back and fro from Leeds city because i forgot the addresses to two letters, filling out a table top sized voting form (all 1 to 79) and then waiting in a 25 minute que. This whole process took me nigh on two hours - but with the day split into awkward segments - this took away all of my usable space. Aswell as this the day was quite damp and i was forced to hide my satisfaction that the weather was reflecting my mood, as this would wreck my mood, and thus make the dreary wet atmosphere superflous. But all is well now as still having done very little study i went to a reagaton dance class, ate some pizza and went to 'Gaghole' a comedy night of students and professionals - pretty funny stuff. Which puts me nicely in the mood for writing about the weekend.

Saturday started with a nice basic beginners swing class - good fun. Then we had a fantastic jumps and tricks class which was open to both beginners and intermediate. It was here that i danced with 'bit of a guy' girl - named so because these were the first words that she said to me (she was dancing as a male lead - but i danced with her anyway) the first time i had met her. On first meeting Bitofaguy i had assumed that she was your typical very good looking girl - with a very 'i'm a good looking girl' attitude. But i managed to break that down - after her initial comment 'I'm actually a bit of a guy' i said 'wow, love the honesty - and we've only just met!' to which i gained a wry smile, but got an audible laugh to my comment after i had finished dancing with her 'you make an alright girl too'. Anyway, so in this jumps and tricks class we learned some cool stuff, then we had another beginners lesson, then a break before our big night out at 'The Wardrobe'. As soon as Ben and I walked into the club we were very intimidated - these people knew how to dance, and looked very smooth on the floor, so we sat down and watched. Bitofaguy (who is an intermediate) came over and said 'hey' to both of us with her mate Amoeba (it was loud and it sounded like that - it could be Anita or Anilla though), possibly wanting a dance - but no such offer would come from these two gents, being more scardy cats than swing cats! But after getting an offer from another girl (Diana) in our beginners class i went out to the floor and Ben went too with another beginner. Once on the floor all i could remember was the last routine that we did that day which included moves such as 'spank the baby' and 'getting jiggy' both moves - especially the former, look quite ridiculous, and in all honesty i couldn't even remember the whole routine, so there were several moments of just standing around feeling very ill at ease and hoping never to be in a situation like this ever again. And i was meant to be leading so i've got no idea how Diana felt. So after the second song i swiftly left the floor apologising to my partner and swearing never to do it again. However, it wasn't long before i got back on the horse (nb. in this metaphor the horse is the dancefloor not Diana) as another lady from our classes asked me to dance. By this time after watching more attentively the other dancers i had remembered the basic step and was able to make my way through the song staying relatively in time and not feeling too bad. Ben and i then made our way casually over to the bar, got some water on the rocks and stood close to Bitofaguy and Amoeba, with our backs turned so that eye contact wouldn't be made and we wouldn't be obliged to ask for a dance. Bitofaguy then approached us and asked us (i like to think it was me though) whether we would like to dance with them. And here is where Ben gets his big coup because Bitofaguy danced with him and myself with Amoeba, although i maintain that this was solely because he was who she happened to be closest too and it would have been too obvious otherwise. Amoeba was a fine dancer nevertheless - i had a real blast with her and she taught me some smoking moves. Later i danced with Bitofaguy and found that my first impressions could well be quite off as she was just really positive and great fun. She left early, i did a bit more dancing - a good night all round.
The next day we started it off with another beginners class and then in the break Ben and I went for a quick tipple at the refectory (water - still). On the way we walked passed the the Swing help desk which was manned by non other then Bitofaguy. We had a conversation of a jocular nature (thankyou Peter Garret)and i questioned why she left so early the previous night - giving the impression that i stayed really late and am a party animal, where as in reality i left before twelve - before the actual band played. She said that she had to attend a friends 21st birthday, where i rather excitedly dropped in that it was actually Ben's 21st birthday today - because it was so, and she gave Ben a birthday hug. If only I had been born one month and eleven days earlier! I'm blaming you Mother! After another beginners swing class with an Australian and Dutch couple we headed to the sports centre to do a 20's Charlston class with the same instructors with the intermediates. This was a real hoot - big, camp moves, slo-mo running, a bit of breakdancing six step, scarecrows, lift your braces and kick out your feet - all round good fun. We then got the opportunity to bust out some of those moves with the ladies and for once i felt like i was really being communicative, telling my woman where to go by my movements and not through my voice as i was the previous night. I danced briefly with the Dutch teacher and she said i had 'a good body for it - good posture', nice one Justo! Bitofaguy was in this class too, but i didn't really talk to her as she had a sore knee and sat out for most of it. When Ben's side of the room was dancing and we were watching i yelled out 'yeah Ben, it's your birthday' just as a joke. But the instructors picked up on this and got everyone to make a circle and all the girls in the room had to dance with him - ahh what a laugh! It was fantastic. After the class we reluctantly went to a bar on campus to hang out with the swing crew. I say reluctantly as i was not keen for another round of awkwardness on the floor. But once there i was put back on the floor because a girl asked me to dance, of which i can't say no to. And it was pretty average, i'd forgotten most of the moves and it was a bit ungainly. But i got along well with the girl so it was at least good fun - it was this dance that Ben videotaped me. From there more and more girls asked me for a dance and i gained a bit of confidence and a few moves (like the chill out foot shuffle from the Dutch instructor) and i was starting to feel good. So i asked Diana for a dance and said 'alrighty, you just see the improvement' and with this confident statement i danced confidently, flinging her out, doing several passovers, foot shuffles, Charlston hitches, Texas tommy passes, badooms, slides, you name it - it felt awesome!
I think i might even pursue Swing when i get back home and perhaps head down to Melbourne which according to Matt and Loti the instructors is meant to have one of the best scenes in the world. (Note to self: Lindy exchange in November swingtalk.com.au) And from Swing i headed back to Ben's place for some waffles, and then had a slightly damper jog back then usual thanks to the light rain that had set in and would follow through into the next day. All in all it was a pretty super weekend. But i can't dwell on the past - best get stuck back into these essays - or go to sleep more likely, tomorrows a new day!

Also, an article i wrote on Bahai's not being allowed to attend University in Iran got published in the LeedsStudent newspaper on Friday.

Philosophy class yesterday:
There were five of us students and our third year proctor who was meant to be controlling our discussion and it was all going really well. I had thankfully managed to find the right reading to read so i knew what i was talking about and we were slowly working our way through the questions that we had to answer. Then we came to question 3. Now when i was sitting at home the night before quite late, i came up with an answer to question three that was quick and easy, but also as i wrote it down, incredibly accurate, poignent, and humerous. So as we breached question three there was a pause as everyone was waiting for someone else to go first - my heart said 'shout your answer out justin, say it loud and proud and tell everyone how cool you think it is', but my mind said, 'stay cool, wait for someone else to say their answer which will be inferior to yours then nonchalantly say yours - this way you will look even cooler'. By now my heart is beating really fast doof doof doof, and i'm thinking 'ahh what if i say it wrong', 'what if they don't get it'. But I wait... the question is read by our proctor 'how would you define wisdom?', still i wait, as an unclear definition is made, then i strike, 'Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit, wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad' - and there was a pause for at least one second where everyone was looking at me with a blank face, then they all started laughing and commenting on how great that was. Yeah, nailed it!

The last two nights in a row i've gone out for tea with Ben and his parents who have come to visit him here, the first time it was just me and them, then last night it was with Andii and Celine as well. They paid both times which was very nice, and the food was fantastic - we ate at some pretty high class places - my meals cost pretty close to or over £10 and at the second place they took my jacket from me and put it in a closet - pretty high brow eh? Last night it was a celebration for Ben's birthday which is this Saturday so i asked the waitor to bring out a candle or something which they did and we sang happy birthday - ahh very nice indeed. Incidently, no one called out the hipips at the end - normally the dominant males job...

This afternoon as we have the bye at five a side soccer, Ben and i are going to play American flag football - that starts at two and it is 11:36 now, so i guess i have just enough time to do a bit of study before hand (essay on strikes and riots in France in 1968), but on the otherhand i might pay my mates at the bank and post office a quick visit - why not hey?

So i was poked back by my actress friend (poking is when you allow someone to view your profile on facebook) which is a good sign - but she has a boyfriend - which is a bad sign. Here is a picture of her and the lead actor from the play.



Today i played some football with some of my english buddies at the sports centre and went to a baroque concert and talk with some of my international pals. During the football match at 11 oclock a lady came and asked for a minutes silence which we did, being rememberence day at all. At the concert i asked Helena from Germany if they do anything for rememberence day. She said they have a carnival that starts at 11o'clock, but she didn't think it had anything to do with remembering the war - odd.

I have only been to one other classical music concert before and that kept me entertained with dancers and a couple of songs that i knew. But i didn't know any of these ones, so thankfully i brought my knitting along and i finished off my ball of wool. I would liken the whole experience to being about as exciting as going on a journey in a car with interesting but not outrageous scenery flashing by your window - and no radio.

Black Comedy!

The light turning on was actually pretty spectacular - there would have been at least 3000 leodins (synonym for 'people who dwell in leeds') all crowded around a massive stage in the cold listening to X factor (like aussie idol) winners and losers sing their little hearts out. Then they switched the lights on and there was an awesome fireworks display. Now fireworks are pretty cool in my books - plenty of 'wow' moments. Infact Ben was yelling 'wow' so loud that he scared a little kid away - wow indeed.
But not even the wowtastic fireworks could top off the last 2 hours that i have had. I went to see the stage production 'Black Comedy'. Initially i thought it was going to be stand up, and then i couldn't find tickets, so i had all but given up hope. But Andii knew all about it as she was planning to audition for a part and was part of the stage society. It was hilarious and the performances were top notch - and it was all glued together beautifully with old school English accents. It made me realise that i haven't been to a stage production of anything in a fair while - the last time being a rock opera in Newcastle at least a year ago. What really makes a stage production great for me is having a charactor on stage who you can have a crush on - and my gosh, this one was not lacking in that respect. There was an actress playing the charactor Clea who particularly caught my eye - it could be because she was playing a spicy charactor, but she looked like one cool chick. So i sent her a message on facebook......... Now is this wrong? Am I a sleezy, stalking, star eyed fan looking for my slice of Celebrity pie? Or am i just a level headed sensible lad persuing the available pathways to contact with a lass that caught my eye? (or am i an accidental poet? - read those last two sentences aloud)

Two nights ago i was going for a jog through hide park with my British friend Matt when a guy started running near us chased by two policemen. It was just like an episode of the Bill - awesome! Well, the guy got away but apart from that it was pretty cool.

Yesterday Salsa was cancelled (Boooo!) because there was a give it a go swing dance class (yeah!!!) So we did that instead - it was a hoot! I then went to Bens place to make some plans for our trip in December but instead we made rice crispee treats and watched flight of the conchords - an awesome New Zealand New York show. WE bought rice bubbles and marshmellows and fudge - but the marshmallows had beef in them so ben couldn't eat them, so we just made it with fudge and they were great. But now i have two packets of marshmallows to eat - ahh! What a nice problem to have.
Also yesterday we played five a side soccer and had a win - only it was a practice game as the other team didn't turn up.

This afternoon i've got Tango and Swing dancing, then we are going to see the Leeds Christmas lights get turned on!

Guy Fawks night!

Yesterday was Guy Fawks day and people got right into it. At seven o'clock we went to Hyde park and watched probably the biggest bonfire i have ever seen - then a pretty impressive fireworks display before working our way through the massive crowds to the fair that was set up. There were so many people there that we decided against going in and instead went back to Charlie mo.
Guy Fawks is celebrated because an Irish Catholic man back a couple of hundred years ago tried to blow up parliment but was caught and burned or drawn and quartered - I'm not sure if people celebrate him as a martyr or they are celebrating his death. I don't actually know if most people know either - just a good excuse to play with fire!

Ireland

Well Dublin what a hoot!
We caught the 45 minute flight from Leeds to Dublin with Ryan air and from the airport made our way by double decker bus to our hostel. On the way we saw a shop front titled 'The money doctor' where i made a fantastic pun which i will now shamlessly retell. 'Hey guys, do you think you could get cheque-ups there?'. Once we got to our hostel it we went out to get something to eat - unfortunately it was about 11 and most things were closed so we went to an Irish fastfood chain - Supermacs! the food was quite expensive - correlating with what the taxi driver told us on the way to the airport. As we started dinner i 'prosted' Anne, which is the German way of Cheersing - but then thought that as we are in Ireland we should do it the Irish way - but we didn't know how to do it, so i asked an dude who was sitting near us 'Excuse me mate' no reply 'Excuse me mate!' still no reply, then he looked at me and said 'did you just say excuse me man (or mate, i wasnt' sure)'
'Yeah'
'you should say sir'
'Oh ok, excuse me sir how do you say cheers in Ireland?'
And he waved away the question and walked away. so i didn't learn at that point how to say Cheers in Ireland, but i did learn that you should say 'sir' not 'mate' when talking to Irish men of about 50 years.
In the morning after a small breaky of dense bread all 12 of us headed out to explore the city. We saw Trinity college - where i got a med student asking for donations to say 'diddle de de Potatoes', the Old Dublin wall, Dublin Castle, Ha'penny bridge - named because it once cost half a penny to cross it and St. Patrick and Christ Church Cathedrals. One (mildly) interesting thing that i noted was that the pedestrian crossing buttons are the same as in Australia and make all the same noises and vibrations - in England and the rest of Europe they have different ones, hmmm. For dinner that night we went to Dublins oldest pub and had a hearty if expensive meal.
The next morning we woke up slighty tired from the big days walking before and headed to the fishing village of Howth where we saw seals in the little harbour. We also saw some caves along the rocky shore which we explored, before having a mighty lunch at a small cafe/restaraunt - it was fantastic! The team then split up a bit more and Ben, Celine, Andii, Jean, Joe and myself went to Bray - another village on the other side of Dublin about an hours nice train ride from Howth. Once there we walked along the shoreline and then climbed up a hill that had its peak covered by clouds. It was an epic climb but we all made it! On the way back down Ben and I had an extreme run down - very cool! That night we ate in the hostel and then went to the Temple Bar district and saw some live music. At the second place we went to they were playing Irish music and i requested as song that i had first heard when i was a little kid on the 'modernday swaggies' tape that my parents played a bit. It was a collection of Australian folk songs - and one of them was Irish - so i requested it.
"I tell my maa when i go home,the boys won't leave the girls alone"
And they played it and it was awesome! Yah!
The next morning we caught a taxi to the airport and flew back - this time with the nice view of the country side!
The whole weekend cost me about €180 which i guess isn't too bad. It was a great time!