Tuesdays at the Rhondda Leader

Hey guys,

These past few weeks have been most eventful; uni, work, uni, work, uni, work. I did bring my nan up to see the house I’m living in, and to meet my girlfriend’s mother – it went well, as I thought it would. University is so demanding right now – my imagination isn’t working and I have so many stories and poems to write…not much longer and the essays will start pouring in. 
      I don’t even have a day off in the week; just weekends, but I still have homework to do then. I’m never in uni for a full day, but then I work evenings; in the cold nights you just long to be in bed, doing nothing. The latest I finish is 2pm – Apart from Tuesdays..when I’m in 5pm-7pm…Yay! A night off work! In replace for two dragging but comical hours of Writing Fiction – the only class that I’ve story ideas for. Tuesday days are hectic too – not really in a bad way though. Each Tuesday I go to the Rhonnda Leader – thought I’d return after my week in June ‘08.
      I got my name printed in the paper last time; The Observer more than the Leader. This time round though I’m working with just the Leader, and I’ve been out on the streets of Porth asking people their opinions on; the Credit Crunch, and whether boys are harder to parent than girls. Today, I was sent with another reporter to speak to the people who organise and fund the Poppy Appeal to help soldiers to live, get jobs, etc. Only thing is…it was pissing with rain, and it was freeeeeezing cold, but ya know, it’s great. 
      Another amazing thing I done today was finding out more about the shorthand that reporters use… just bought a book on it, so I’ma get reading when it arrives. What a great thing to have on your CV - employers know you’ll get all the info in the time you have. It looked like Egyptian to me, when Chris squiggled away.

No puedo esperar volver a Espana en Diciembre! Can’t wait to go back to Spain in December. Getting a little better with Spanish too; because, I’m finally practicing online with some Spanish friends. Only thing is…I can’t do the squiggle above ‘n’ and all that stuff.

Back to reality

Hey all,

Aw, what a couple of weeks. I’ve disappeared on you again! I’ve been away. Really, if I’m thinking about a career in writing and Journalism, I should try to get online when I’m away as well. Me and my partner spent three wonderful weeks in Spain, visiting friends. We spent two days out of Benidorm – the place where we were staying, and where our mates work.
      From 6am, on the morning of the 18th September we were awake, driving in the back of Maria Jose’s car, heading for Cheste, in Valencia. We were on a road trip, stopping along the way, seeing the real Spain, driving to see Madonna in concert. It was a hectic day; we had to wait all day in the heat, in the blazing sun. Lotsa flies, fags and funny smells – the germy air inside the porta loos, used by thousands of sweaty, screaming Madonna fans. I’ve never seen so many people, or experienced the Spanish way of gigging.
      When the first set of gates were opened, Emma and I peered from the car park – we’d gone for a cool down in Maria’s car, we couldn’t handle this weather and the lack of air to breathe. We thought we’d pass out! I stood up higher and I laughed, “Woah, look at them all running.” The queues were shortening and crowds of Madge’s followers sprinted, battled, to get nearest to the stage. After watching for a while I had to lie down.
      As we’d been waiting in the midday sun for ages, and we still had to wait until 10pm for Madonna to come on, we wandered around and parted from our friends. Maria is a massive fan, so she waited in the queue. One of the runners. Me and Em walked the whole first section and bought lotsa water, sat down, pissed behind trees, felt sick…we also had the car keys, so we’d just go back for food and shade. The carpark was getting fuller, and the pee-tree had people picnicing by it, so if we needed to go, we’d have no other choice but the stinking porta loos, that I believed had all sorts of germs and STIS. True though! Think about how many people use those things. There’s never toilet paper, or a sink to wash your hands. I survived by using lemon wet wipes that me and Em had found at a resturant we ate in the day before. We took alot of them, especially for the porta loo occasions.
     Enough of holiday talk. My second year started on Monday, and even better, I’m back at the ‘Rhondda Leader’ every Tuesday, just to help out. I’ll be updating my site soon.

Amy x