"Nobody likes you when you're twenty-three"
Those words ring in my mind and bring to the forefront a harsh truth. Yes it took Blink-182 to remind me that my teenage years have long passed, and I have to grow up and be an adult. I guess when I was 18 or so I believed that by now I would be in a well-paid job with a house to call my own, living a 'grown-up' life. But in reality, thanks to the on-going housing boom, that vision of maturity can wait just a little bit longer. In addition, I have still not got a job because I choose to stay in uni another year to become ' employable'. And it hits me - have I even grown up at all? Have I even got anywhere since those hazy days where everything in theory just seemed so simple?
Maybe my 23rd birthday has made me drastically think about things which I may have overlooked before. Each year which passes by is a ticking timebomb to Thirtyland; a place where I seriously don't want to be in my current jobless and houseless situation. Seven years perhaps a doddle you say, but its not that easy when house prices are so high it means I may not even get to live in Cardiff's newest 'leafy' suburb Barry, yet alone my hometown. And have I got the maturity to actually achieve such a feat? It may give me a thrill of delight to look at houses in the estate agent's window, but to enter the door just gives me thoughts of sheer fright and panic. The main thing is not to panic I know, and I guess I have to bite the bullet just like everyone else. But it wasn't long ago I was listening to punk bands such as The Offspring and Blink-182, thinking about simple things like relationships and having a blast, now all of a sudden it feels a million miles away, in a time long and forgotten, as if these songs were mere nursery rhymes.
First it giveth then it taketh away
As human beings we feel a whole lot better when certain inequalities are rectified. As the Mint commercial comedically states, when one particular clever thing happens an opposite stupid act has to occur to balance it out. But what I point out here is not the correlation between intelligence and stupidity. I am stating here that stupidity is not a trade, a breadwinner or even a measly source of revenue - it is a gamble which can prove to be way too costly for anyone to take a risk. And stupidity is one particular quality which keeps the world towards a sensible balance.
Jade Goody has lived a very good life from her own stupidity. Her rise to fame in Big Brother is perhaps one of the most successful rags to riches stories which BB has brought us; even better than Kate Lawler's, Craig Phillips' or even Jon Tickle's. She is undoubtedly top dog in the whole BB Hall of Fame and how she achieve this acclaim? By acting an moron, stating that East Anglia is abroad and getting her 'baps' out on national TV. Her whole career is based on acts of absolute stupidity which the public just seem to have loved more and more with each bumbling gaff.
And so, as I'm sure most of you will say, let them ride their 15 minutes of fame. No problem - we we sometimes take such pleasure out of watching these BB idiots burn up and die in the public eye, making them cling onto dear life as they fear becoming unknown again. Yet Goody seemed to win over the hearts and minds of the general public as a real ambassador for the common Cockney; a real, human and imperfect girl just like everyone else, who was prone to usual misdemeanor or stupid comment. Above all she was harmless, someone who everyone revered to be a geninuely nice person. Even after The Sun exposed her fitness DVD as a sham claiming that she had liposuction, she still was excused by the public as it was seen as just another 'gaff' which she could be distanced away from.
But then BB came back to restore the balance. We see the nasty side to this seemingly harmless woman, one who caused a diplomatic nightmare and further tarnished our image as our nation in terms of multiculturalism. Goody is branded a bully and a racist; the tabloids turning their support to Shetty and against the trio of bitches (including Danielle Lloyd and Jo O'Meara) who made her life hell. Max Clifford stated that it was strangely ironic that BB was the rise and fall of Goody's career. But I talk of a simpler notion. It was her own stupidity which kept her feet on the ground. In the end, it was the fool who brought her own world crashing down around her and restored a balance which most of us can agree with.
Sadly, this balance is not exactly equal. Goody now has to face the fact that all her contracts and big money deals have evaporated, but she also has to face the scorn of an amazingly fickle British public. When they love you, they will go the whole nine yards to keep you in the limelight; but when they don't, for whatever reason, they will destroy you. Fellow bully Jo O'Meara has now pronounced that her very life in pieces thanks to the affair as not only her career is finished, but her personal life is also at risk. Both ex-celebrities have already stated that they have received death threats and Goody has expressed a great fear for her two children for their own futures. No matter what the crime, nobody deserves that type of treatment - especially if they were caused by a realised mistake. Its clear not that these women have made apologies for their behaviour and now their personal lives should not be affected because of this affair.
For Goody, it is a case of first it giveth then it taketh away. We can show little sympathy for someone who made a living on being a fool and lost it by also being a fool. It is a bizarre irony which feels fitting, especially for someone like me being a reality-television-celebrity-xenophobe. And although I certainly don't agree with the threats she has received to her own life as a result of BB, she cannot argue that she has been hard done by the events as a result. It is too strong to state that she got what she deserved because she most certainly didn't. What seems to be more fitting for me is that her own stupidity finally brought an end to a rather pointless and silly celebrity career, dominated by the same type of stupid, moronic beahviour.
Jade Goody has lived a very good life from her own stupidity. Her rise to fame in Big Brother is perhaps one of the most successful rags to riches stories which BB has brought us; even better than Kate Lawler's, Craig Phillips' or even Jon Tickle's. She is undoubtedly top dog in the whole BB Hall of Fame and how she achieve this acclaim? By acting an moron, stating that East Anglia is abroad and getting her 'baps' out on national TV. Her whole career is based on acts of absolute stupidity which the public just seem to have loved more and more with each bumbling gaff.
And so, as I'm sure most of you will say, let them ride their 15 minutes of fame. No problem - we we sometimes take such pleasure out of watching these BB idiots burn up and die in the public eye, making them cling onto dear life as they fear becoming unknown again. Yet Goody seemed to win over the hearts and minds of the general public as a real ambassador for the common Cockney; a real, human and imperfect girl just like everyone else, who was prone to usual misdemeanor or stupid comment. Above all she was harmless, someone who everyone revered to be a geninuely nice person. Even after The Sun exposed her fitness DVD as a sham claiming that she had liposuction, she still was excused by the public as it was seen as just another 'gaff' which she could be distanced away from.
But then BB came back to restore the balance. We see the nasty side to this seemingly harmless woman, one who caused a diplomatic nightmare and further tarnished our image as our nation in terms of multiculturalism. Goody is branded a bully and a racist; the tabloids turning their support to Shetty and against the trio of bitches (including Danielle Lloyd and Jo O'Meara) who made her life hell. Max Clifford stated that it was strangely ironic that BB was the rise and fall of Goody's career. But I talk of a simpler notion. It was her own stupidity which kept her feet on the ground. In the end, it was the fool who brought her own world crashing down around her and restored a balance which most of us can agree with.
Sadly, this balance is not exactly equal. Goody now has to face the fact that all her contracts and big money deals have evaporated, but she also has to face the scorn of an amazingly fickle British public. When they love you, they will go the whole nine yards to keep you in the limelight; but when they don't, for whatever reason, they will destroy you. Fellow bully Jo O'Meara has now pronounced that her very life in pieces thanks to the affair as not only her career is finished, but her personal life is also at risk. Both ex-celebrities have already stated that they have received death threats and Goody has expressed a great fear for her two children for their own futures. No matter what the crime, nobody deserves that type of treatment - especially if they were caused by a realised mistake. Its clear not that these women have made apologies for their behaviour and now their personal lives should not be affected because of this affair.
For Goody, it is a case of first it giveth then it taketh away. We can show little sympathy for someone who made a living on being a fool and lost it by also being a fool. It is a bizarre irony which feels fitting, especially for someone like me being a reality-television-celebrity-xenophobe. And although I certainly don't agree with the threats she has received to her own life as a result of BB, she cannot argue that she has been hard done by the events as a result. It is too strong to state that she got what she deserved because she most certainly didn't. What seems to be more fitting for me is that her own stupidity finally brought an end to a rather pointless and silly celebrity career, dominated by the same type of stupid, moronic beahviour.
Coming of age
As my 23rd birthday looms nearer and nearer, the Argos spring/summer catalogue launch promotional T-shirt I’m wearing sets the time of year to a tee. I may have moaned in previous years how my birthday always coincides with the same week as the seasonal launch of the country’s most favourite of books. Of course, it makes it harder to get the time off on the weekend, especially when in this case, my birthday falls rights on the launch weekend itself. Its something I’ve come to accept, not only as an Argos thing but also as a simple fact of life. I guess when you’re older you sometimes have no choice but to work on your birthday, just like you have no choice but to go to school on your birthday too. Sounds like sour grapes perhaps and maybe it is.
I am still fuming from an incident which occurred to me last week at the Prince of Wales. I was returning from the toilets to the table on which we were sat when I was summoned by one of the managers just as I was about to sit down. It was then he accused me of spitting onto the ground and gave me a stern warning about my conduct when I am in a pub. I of course would not do such a disgusting thing and despite my protests, this jumped-up power-tripped moron continued to lay down the law and was adamant that I had disgraced the floor. I was relatively clam at the time, especially as I wanted to stay and have the drink I paid for. But why is that these bar staff think they are God or some kind of quasi-king, disregarding any sense of hospitality or common manners that I, as I a paying customer, am entitled to. Indeed I will be writing to the company and I will state exactly how I feel. I guess I cannot expect much feedback – at the end of the day its his word against mine – but if I can remind them of the simple consumer motto I will be a lot happier to step into the ‘Prince again. The customer is always right because he or she keeps you in a job. Comprende?
The seedy side to S4C
Have to post this now before I forget. Check this article out and see the vid for yourself on You Tube. More likely it will be deleted soon but I'm sure it will keep resurfacing as per any cult spoof such as this. Just type in 'Sali Mali'!
I promise to return soon, as I have some burning issues to discuss!
I promise to return soon, as I have some burning issues to discuss!
Annus horribilis (already)
I guess 2006 was pretty good for my standards. Went on a few excursions home and away, completed some satisfactory academic work which I was proud of and overall drifted through the year without much heartache or any general problems. To be honest 2006 was a bloody good year and with in mind, I only figured that 2007 can hold even greater promise. 2007 will hopefully be the year in which I get my first full time job, meaning more money and greater responsibilities and also I expect to hear my post grad results, which I have been led to believe are relatively good.
Yet before epiphany was even waned, my new year has already become one straight outta hell. My phone decided to break down whilst I was deleting messages (too many new year texts perhaps?) and refused to work despite fiddling with the battery many times. So now I have to wait 3 weeks for it to be fixed. But don't worry, I have a backup right.... three phones in fact. In fact, thats not a fact. One Nokia I had I just couldn't find; suspectedly bunged when I moved back home in the summer. Another Sony Ericsson just did not work after charging. And for my N-Gage (impulse cheap purchase, honest) it was just nowhere to be seen. Luckily I did find the N-Gage after a few days of searching (a helluva lot), but now I am stuck with this brick of a phone which is seriously outdated and looks completely stupid in mid-conversation.
Ok thats not too bad I guess. But my car tax was due on the 31st Dec and it seemed I was incapable of keeping any car documents whatsoever. So not only was the tax overdue, I couldn't find the forms at all. Again luckily I was able to gather them all after ransacking my spare room full of junk, and with the help of the internet (not the Post Office, what a waste of time) I was able to sort out the car tax and avaoid a ridiculous fine which I could really do without in this post-Crimbo period.
BUT
Saying all this things have been on the up since starting this post a few days ago. I did win a poker game at the Steed Unit's house and took a cool £20 away for my efforts. It was also a good night to meet up with some faces old and new. In addition the Argos Winter Wonderland trip was a complete washout thanks to Mother Nature, but to quote many people on the night it was not a problem that couldn't be fixed by alcohol! About 25 of Argos Cardiff Bay's finest peeps and ex-peeps invaded The Central Bar and enjoyed themselves in spite of the heavy rain and wind, which caused the closure of the open ice rink in Cardiff Civic Centre. In your face Mother Nature!!
In future events, it is my birthday soon in two weeks (hint, hint) and the second TTFE Poolmania tournament will take place this Sunday night. It should be great night, especially as the champ Greg Davies will be fighting to keep his crown. With a number of new pool poseurs all staking their claim to TTFE Pool glory, will Greg be able to take the prize for a second time? Or will it change hands?
Yet before epiphany was even waned, my new year has already become one straight outta hell. My phone decided to break down whilst I was deleting messages (too many new year texts perhaps?) and refused to work despite fiddling with the battery many times. So now I have to wait 3 weeks for it to be fixed. But don't worry, I have a backup right.... three phones in fact. In fact, thats not a fact. One Nokia I had I just couldn't find; suspectedly bunged when I moved back home in the summer. Another Sony Ericsson just did not work after charging. And for my N-Gage (impulse cheap purchase, honest) it was just nowhere to be seen. Luckily I did find the N-Gage after a few days of searching (a helluva lot), but now I am stuck with this brick of a phone which is seriously outdated and looks completely stupid in mid-conversation.
Ok thats not too bad I guess. But my car tax was due on the 31st Dec and it seemed I was incapable of keeping any car documents whatsoever. So not only was the tax overdue, I couldn't find the forms at all. Again luckily I was able to gather them all after ransacking my spare room full of junk, and with the help of the internet (not the Post Office, what a waste of time) I was able to sort out the car tax and avaoid a ridiculous fine which I could really do without in this post-Crimbo period.
BUT
Saying all this things have been on the up since starting this post a few days ago. I did win a poker game at the Steed Unit's house and took a cool £20 away for my efforts. It was also a good night to meet up with some faces old and new. In addition the Argos Winter Wonderland trip was a complete washout thanks to Mother Nature, but to quote many people on the night it was not a problem that couldn't be fixed by alcohol! About 25 of Argos Cardiff Bay's finest peeps and ex-peeps invaded The Central Bar and enjoyed themselves in spite of the heavy rain and wind, which caused the closure of the open ice rink in Cardiff Civic Centre. In your face Mother Nature!!
In future events, it is my birthday soon in two weeks (hint, hint) and the second TTFE Poolmania tournament will take place this Sunday night. It should be great night, especially as the champ Greg Davies will be fighting to keep his crown. With a number of new pool poseurs all staking their claim to TTFE Pool glory, will Greg be able to take the prize for a second time? Or will it change hands?
