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Monday Aug 20, 2007

V Festival

This weekend I finally lost my festival virginity. With some slightly over-the-top preparations, thanks to some swotting on the My Tent or Yours website, and having spoken to fellow festival veterans, I was all set to go. Before I'd even checked out the line-up I'd already decided exactly what I was going to wear, which consisted of a long black summer halter-neck dress, a cap for when the rain took hold (surely that was a given), some brown furry boots, a pashmina and a denim jacket. My boyfriend told me I'd be fine without an anorak seeing as I had an umbrella with me – unfortunately he didn't tell me it wasn't really festival etiquette to put your umbrella up while you were watching an act. His punishment? I got his anorak, he got wet.

While my other half swanned about in the VIP tent, I couldn't resist whipping out the mp3 digital recorder to ask you all what your ideal festival line-up would be, dead or alive. It still amazes me how many people ask: "Is this going to be on TV?" I know video cameras are getting smaller and smaller, but c'mon people!

I did some serious 'people watching' while I was at the festival. The majority of the crowd was in their twenties and thirties, with the odd scattering of kids and slightly older people trying desperately to reclaim their youth. Well, the Happy Mondays were playing after all. Definitely my other half's favourite part of the day. Not mine – while we boogied away with Bez and his maracas, we happened to be stood next to someone who was peeing into a plastic cup, which then got sprayed above our heads – nice! Ten hours later, after seeing The Editors, Pink, Kanye West, The Happy Mondays and Foo Fighters perform, it was definitely time to take my bruised feet and messy hair home. A fun day out for all!

Posted by Julia ( 11:20 AM ) Link to this post  |  Comments[0]

Wednesday Aug 15, 2007

Talent on TheSite.org

I've always had a suspicion that you lot were a talented bunch, but you've really proved it in TheSite.org Towers exhibits competition. There have been some fabulous entries and if you don't fancy trawling through the whole thread on the discussion boards then you can visit the Flickr set and watch a slideshow of them. You've still got plenty of time to get your entries in - deadline 31st August.

Last week we confirmed the runner-up prizes which you can see here. These are courtesy of www.logic3.com.  We can now reveal that four star winners will not only have their images printed to a professional standard and displayed at TheSite.org towers for a year, but they will also receive a block image containing their own photography (see image for example) from our friends at learn to dream - the company printing the images for the open evening. 

The star winners will also be invited to enjoy drinks and nibbles at the Towers (date to be announced) while showing off their work to other guests.  Some of the runners-up will also have images printed for display in the offices, which will of course be credited to them.

It's all very exciting

Posted by Helen ( 4:18 PM ) Link to this post  |  Comments[0]

Monday Aug 13, 2007

Exam results and careers advice

If you graduated from uni this spring then you'll already have your results and may already have a decent job lined up. On the other hand,  maybe you're thinking about getting further qualifications or have no idea what you'd like to do next. Perhaps you're just not sure what's out there. 

This Thursday 16th August you're invited to a live careers chat where you can ask our expert Nan Sherrard questions about jobs and further education. Nan has no less than 25 years experience in the field and works for Graduate Prospects. She also works for three universities including Open University. Nan will be online at 7pm until 8pm.

The chat will also be relevant for people who graduated up to five years ago and haven't quite found the right career path.

And as if I need to remind you, the 16th is results day for A-level students, so this is an excellent chance for you to aks questions about your future. If you've got brilliant results you may be going to the university of your dreams and want to ask Nan how to make the best of the experience. You may also be wondering: is uni really right for me? If you're generally disappointed with your results, then come and find out what you can do next.

Here's the link to get into the chat: http://www.thesite.org/realchat/client/chat.jsp

Posted by Helen ( 3:26 PM ) Link to this post  |  Comments[0]

Wednesday Aug 08, 2007

It's all for charity...

I have to admit, I’m one of those people who avoids eye contact with street fundraisers while muttering something along the lines of ‘Sorry I’m in a rush!’ It’s not that I don’t want to help raise money for worthy causes, but I’m an Aquarian and Aquarian’s are renowned for being stubborn. Therefore I tend to only give money when I choose to, and not when I’m being pinned down by an overly-smiling person wearing a fluorescent jacket and holding a clipboard.

I’d say I’m more of a spontaneous charity-giver – if something gets me all choked up then I will happily donate. For some reason I feel more at ease giving money to people holding collection boxes – especially when it’s for a cause that’s affected someone in my family.

I keep hoping that one day I’ll sign up for a monthly charity donation scheme, but somehow I know that I will feel more guilty choosing one charity over another, than not doing anything at all. I’m hoping one day I’ll become more charitable, but for now I’ll carry on with my spur-of-the-moment generosity, running after people in the supermarket car park who’ve left their pound coins in the trolley, and taking all my old clothes to charity shops. There are many sorts of charity-giving after all…

Do you give money to charity?

Posted by Julia ( 4:18 PM ) Link to this post  |  Comments[1]