Day 11- "Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem"

This post is going to be short and brief, so if you are getting bored of my London life, spare no more misery. 

As you all know it's Easter Monday, also a bank holiday Monday but I had to go into to work. I got up early today and embraced the walk over to Greenwich rather than catching the DLR. The walk was nice, the sun made a cheeky appearance and turned its temperature up and I got a brisk waft of a sea air smell as I walked through the Thames foot tunnel.

walk to work view (Greenwich over the river)

Isle of Dogs Park 

 I actually disturbed someone filming a music video (at 8:30 in the morning) and they rudely commented as I wandered past "We will just stop filming and wait for this boy to pass"- excuse me, it's a public footpath (well tunnel).

Thames Foot Tunnel (it goes under the river)

At the office, I had to sit on the steps of the doorway and wait 45 minutes for someone to let me in; I'm not allowed a Key pass so have to be manually let in, the only other person in the office today was late. Whilst sat on the steps a Jehovah Witness approached me and gave me a leaflet on "Why I shouldn't commit suicide"- as far as I am aware, I'm not at that stage, I may have looked rough and tired sat in a doorway but I didn't think I looked that bad. But it was an interesting and uplifting read. 

One line read: "Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem" which I thought was very true and along with this leaflet it also had an inspiration quote on criticism, which I should take on board. (see below). 

It was just an average day at the office- I already sound like a long term office worker . But I got to go early and yes, I walked back as well; I thought to myself I better do some exercise because all I do all day is sit at a desk, move my fingers and drink an unlimited supply of coffee. 

That's all I have to say today, but to everyone going back to College/ School/ Sixth Form tomorrow, have fun and if the thought of education makes you feel that low and puts you  in a deep dark place; find a Jehovah Witness and read this leaflet. 

Day 6- Work Placement

07:00- my alarm went off. I could see the sun shining through the windows but had to drag myself out of bed (it was so cosy). I got up and just made it in time. 

When arriving at the offices I couldn't actually get in due to you needing a passkey. This was highly embarrassing once I realised, as I had been pushing the door for the last 5 minutes. I turned around to see all the passers by just staring at me as if I was trying to break in. Luckily I had the number of the office and rang it for them to let me in. 

The offices are an old converted house with a different office on each floor, the office for FE Week was on the 3rd floor with no lift. The room was office like but had all the features of the old house; the fireplace, high ceilings and huge windows. I was assigned to a desk and got asked to read all the papers (pretty simple). 

Next, I got taught how to use the system and explored that for an hour, then it was time to actually work. So being the intern I was given the job of checking all the press releases for the magazine and typing them up in a news list. All of the staff working for the magazine today were very busy as the magazine was going to press tonight (a day early) due to the bank holiday. I had over 100+ press releases to sift through but was constantly topped up with coffee- they made a comment on my coffee dosage and said usually the interns haven't hit the caffeine addiction yet, oops. 

A delivery woman came into the office and said she needed a few strong men to collect a parcel which was waiting in reception, immediately everyone looked at me...I had to break it to them that I wasn't strong. This was straight after them asking how I got to the office this morning and I told them I caught the DLR, even though it was within walking distant. They must think I'm so lazy. 

I then had lunch and took the worst decision ever by walking into the centre of Greenwich which was swamped by tourists, all walking slow and with me walking fast due not wanting to waste any of my lunch. They got in the way so much I decided to take a back route which thankfully did not get me lost. Returning back to office, once again I couldn't get in and the woman in reception thought I was a trespasser as she didn't recognise me from the morning, brilliant. 

I then continued to sift through all the press releases and completed a complete news list following next week's publication. I then had to go through and filter which stories would be used and any other information I needed on them. I also had to communicate with press offices in order to gain information further information, and if we needed a picture I would have to source the owner in order to gain the rights to use it. 

 As the day drew to a close all the other journalists and editor were getting frantic about getting all the stories in to meet the print deadline, luckily I had left before it got too flustered. I didn't get any pictures today due to there being nothing that I could photograph, apart from my desk, but the other staff probably would of given me funny looks. So here is just two pictures of me on the DLR- 

enjoying the rollercoaster experience

my view

Day 5: On the move and Drugs, lots of drugs. (Going it alone)

Today I moved location from the North the South (of London obviously)...

Right so we woke up very late again and everything was a bit of a rush, but I managed to pack in time and still go out for breakfast; kind of wish we didn't. 

We walked through a place called Alexandra Palace* and found a local cafe, went in and ordered...it all seemed normal until we realised the owner of the cafe was busy dealing drugs to many of his customers. 

What would happen:

1. The customer would come in,
2.  Sit down,
3.  The owner would then go over to them, place it on the table,
4.  Take the money,
5.  Then they would immediately get up and leave.

 Could you be any more obvious? We ate the greasy breakfast with caution and got out as quickly as possible. 

*Alexandra Palace is an astonishing place, it holds picturesque views of the whole city and the actual palace was where BBC first broadcasted. 

Alexandra Palace 

After this it was time to get on the move, this is when I regret bringing the amount I did. I now had to go it alone on the tube and around the city. I hoped for it not to be busy but silly me, its London of course it will be. As I struggled through the long tube station tunnels to get to the platform I knocked people, I got in the way and I became one of them annoying tourist where I had to stop every minute to relax my arms from the strain of all my bags. I became what I complained about yesterday (oh dear). 

tube app

After 54 minutes, 20 stations and 2 changes, I made it probably with alot more muscle than I previously had. If you know me well that means none. The last change I made was onto the DLR- docklands lgiht  railway, which is an above ground train service (still ran through TfL). The trains have no driver and are automatic, I sat right at the front and oh my, it was scary. At the speed they go it was like a rollercoaster especially with all the hills and bends the line has. 

DLR 

Once I finally found where I was next staying, I took a walk over (well under) the river to Greenwich to find where my work placement was for the next two weeks. To get over the river there isn't a bridge, instead there is an underground tunnel...you could definitely tell you were underwater due to shiplike underground smell of fish and stale water. 

Over in Greenwich I quite easily found the building but (no it wasn't that simple), I was stopped by a pair of youths and asked ''do you want to buy'', obviously I presumed they meant drugs, I politely replied with "No thank you'' and their response was "Oh are you sure, you look that kind of guy", I was shocked, what did they mean...I don't look like a stoner?- so thats twice in one day I have had an incident with drugs. #sayNOtoDRUGS


I resisted the walk back and got the DLR, once again another rollercoaster experience. I then became independent and did my first ever lone shop in Asda and got all the essentials for my breakfast, lunch and dinner. 

Tomorrow I start my work placement at FE Week on the magazine Campus Weekly. It should hopefully be an exciting and valuable experience, so check back tomorrow for an update on my first day. 

(HOLIDAY OVER :( )