Jess morgan - Monkey Chews-tastic (1 of 7)

In an intimate room above a buzzing, atmospheric bar, Jess Morgan is rocking away. Her melodic voice fills the low-lit room as her funky, folky geet-ar strumming sets the whole room nodding along. The place: Monkey Chew’s bar, Camden. The time: 9th December…oh, late-ish. The event: Laissez-faire Christmas Special.

Jess Morgan, 22, is one of those rare things: a young singer-songwriter with genuine talent. Not so new to the gigging scene, she played her way through her Bachelor’s degree at York St John University, before finally moving to London to make her name. Her voice doesn’t seem to be going unnoticed either: she’s been Steve Lamacq’s Demo of the Week, and had reviews from the likes of James Morrison…positive reviews, I might add. So I caught up with Jess after her latest gig to ask her a few questions…

Right! First, the basics: Name, age, and where d’you come from?
Jess Morgan, 22, from Acle…which is slap-bang between Norwich and Great Yarmouth. In the countryyy!

Have you always been into song-writing? What sparked your interest?
It was the move to York really. I have always been into music and lyrics - but being in a buzzing-ly cultural city like that really gave me a shove to put my ideas into real songs and let people hear them.

When did you decide…this is what I want to do?
I can't really remember really. I was dead set on joining the navy and seeing the world after Uni - until the music I was making and developing became something I wasn't prepared to give up. Between then and now I realised I don't want to do anything else right now.

What’s happening for you at the minute?
Lots of gigs coming up. I'm usually first on the bill or the support act - but it all takes time. My biggest achievent so far was being steve Lamacq's demo of the week and getting some radio play on BBC Radio 2.

Any future plans?
Future plans? Hmmmm. I've got plans to release a promotional single - limited edition on 7inch vinyl. its not a money spinner- just for promotion really. Ideally, I would like to record and sell lots of albums.

Record Signing?
Had a weeny bit of interest, but we (me and my manager Steve Whiteley) are playing it cool. We're not in a hurry to get signed. I'm still developing as an artist.

How long does it usually take you to write a song?
Not sure really. I'm currently re-visiting a lot of songs I wrote over the summer, and actually some from over a year ago. I used to hurry songs- because I thought I'd had this great idea and I wanted to play it live, or get it down on the tascam, but now I don't worry so much. I'm not afraid to take songs back to the drawing board and start again on them. I guess that’s me growing up!

And finally Jess, what do you do when you’re not playing?
I'm always playing! No seriously, I dream of one day having a gym membership, being able to travel, surf, eat French bread, pay my mum and dad back all the money I've borrowed, being able to paint massive canvasses again and go to the cinema with my lovely boyfriend. Fingers crossed it won't be too long, but for now its really just music, music, music.

Check out Jess's Demos here:




Jess' Myspace Page: www.myspace.com/jessmorganacoustic
Jess' official website: http://www.jessmorgan.co.uk/

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Starbooks Christmas Spirit (2 of 7)

Starbooks Christmas Spirit

Starbucks are really ‘passing the cheer’ this year by donating children’s books to a local primary school.

The book drive takes place nationwide every year, and Starbucks Uxbridge’s lucky local school in 2007 will be Greenwood Primary of Northolt.

Jolita Sodaityte, a supervisor at the store said: “I think it’s great that we can give a little something to the community. It’s part of the Starbucks spirit, and doing something good makes Christmas that little bit more special each year”.

Donated books don’t have to be new, and Starbucks urges everyone to drop in any unwanted children’s books of their own. But hurry, the drive ends Christmas Eve!

Uxbridge Battles Heathrow Extension (3 of 7)

Uxbridge Battles Heathrow Expansion

An exhibition is being held today as protests continue to grow over proposed Heathrow extension plans.

The exhibition is one of several being held by the Government and lasts from 10am to 6pm at the London Wetlands Centre. Experts will be on hand to explain the consultation proposals.

Local residents have until just February 27 to respond to the consultation. The document itself has drawn criticism from campaign group NoTRAG (No Third Runway Action Group) for its unreadable and confusing language. Christine Shilling, NoTRAG’s press secretary said: “this consultation insults, confuses and probably falls foul of the Government’s own legislation against discrimination. Unless people can read and reply to the questions they have not been consulted”.

The extensions would mean the number of flights at the airport could rise to 800,000 – an increase equivalent to building a new airport the size of Gatwick. Angry residents of Sipson, a village which faces being wiped off the map entirely, have been campaigning along with local MPs and pressure groups.

The move would also threaten listed heritage buildings, as well as Heathrow Primary School, a huge area of agricultural green belt land, archaeological sites and a nature conservation area.

Hillingdon council and the surrounding areas are being vocal in their opposition to the plans by helping fund NoTRAG and holding public meetings for the residents to voice their concerns. Tim Jurdon, manager of aviation at Hillingdon Council said: “We have been fighting these proposals for a long time, since before terminal 5 existed. All members of the council are opposed to them. At the minute we are analysing the consultation and will be responding in due course”.

Unsurprisingly, airline companies have welcomed the proposals for the third runway. Responding to claims that the runway would have a terrible effect upon the climate, Steve Ridgway, chief executive of Virgin Atlantic said: “Limiting growth at Heathrow wouldn’t prevent climate change because that growth would only go elsewhere”.

BA’s chief executive Willie Walsh had a slightly more reassuring answer to the same question however, saying: "We are committed to ensuring that growth is sustainable. By the time a third runway becomes operational, aviation emissions will have been capped by the EU for several years. If airlines want to fly more, they will have to pay for emissions reductions in other industries – so overall CO2 in the atmosphere will not rise because of a third runway."

Local supporters for the no-third-runway campaign include John McDonnell, MP for Hayes and Harlington, Uxbridge’s MP John Randall, and Councillor Ray Puddifoot, leader of Hillingdon Council who said: “We recognise the international status of the airport but for the sake of our residents we have to say, enough is enough.”

NoTRAG campain website: http://www.notrag.org/

Hillingdon Council: www.hillingdon.gov.uk

BAA Heathrow: Future Growth: http://www.heathrowairport.com/portal/page/General/Heathrow%5EGeneral%5EOur+business+and+community%5EFuture+growth/2155192363423110VgnVCM10000036821c0a____/448c6a4c7f1b0010VgnVCM200000357e120a____/

BBC Coverage:
"Village FAces Being Wiped Off Map": http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4731948.stm
"Locals Polled on Heathrow Plans": href="http://http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6952887.stm">http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6952887.stm

Long Distance Relationships: Don't Let them Bite you in the Butt

This was a piece I wrote for a women's online magazine - www.ETPmagazine.com. They edited it a little, which was kind of unnecessary (but what writer won't say that), and I think in a couple of places they made it a little clunkier than it was before, but those changes are really very minor and I'm only noticing them because, well, I wrote it and it's mine and...all those sorts of feelings. I know I'll have to get used to my work being subbed obviously, and one day I might even be the person doing the subbing. So, I'll have to learn to let things go!

Here's the link to the article, but I'm posting the original piece here:
http://www.etpmagazine.com/index.php?view=article&catid=41%3Apeople&id=306%3Ahow-to-handle-a-long-distance-relationship&option=com_content&Itemid=82

*****

LONG DISTANCE: DON'T LET IT BITE YOU IN THE BUTT

It’s Monday evening. It’s been one of those days. You’re eating fish finger butties because, as usual, you forgot to go food shopping. Your face is a breeding ground for new and undiscovered acne; your boss dumped three extra shifts on you; your tutor dumped five extra essays and oh, yeah, you left your living quarters looking vaguely like something out of The Piano.

You’re mardy.

You want a hug.

You want it now.

....but here comes the catch. Your other half lives at the opposite end of the country. Or, as in the case of moi, a different country. So you grumpily send a reproving text, dump the mushy fish remains in the bin and plough on through the piles of your life currently residing on the bedroom floor.

Sound familiar? As the world becomes a significantly smaller place, the opportunities to meet –and fall for – someone living on the other side of the planet have been greatly improved. Intercity? A breeze. Intercontinental? Not a problem; we’re people of the 21^st century. Heck, what can’t we do.

That said however, long distance love won’t always be a walk on a sandy beach, on a summers eve, with a pinkish sky and a...you get my drift. It can be tough. It can be trying. It can feel an awful lot like hard work...and then it is that proverbial glass of sparkling rosé. Heaven. So from one long-distance-ite to another, a few shared secrets of transatlantic love...

* Don’t take each other for granted.

It’s the cardinal rule of any relationship but for this it stands tenfold. Unlike those lucky (mutter, grumble) people who get to live in the same city, never mind house, your partner isn’t necessarily always there for you to ignore. Doesn’t mean it can’t be done though...people get busy. You have a job, a degree, work coming out the wazoo, and, somewhere in there, a social life. Just don’t forget the little things, okay? I’m wagging my finger here. An unexpected soppy text brightens every day...

* Communication, communication, communication.

The one thing I can vouch for! Invest in a webcam – it makes such a difference to be able to see the Other Half when you’re talking. Phones are wonderful for revelling in their accents/gorgeous voices/amusing speech patterns...but nothing beats seeing that smile, right?

* It’s the Little Things...

India Arie sang it, and I’m going to nod along and agree. The best thing? Letters. Snail mail! The Yank has worse handwriting than a teacher...more sloping hieroglyphics than legible words, but nothing beats finding something to decode in my letterbox. The Second Best Thing? Sending memories...remember that time you went to ___ with ___ and slept in a tent and it blew away and a goat ate your ____? Every couple has memorable moments. Did you eat something special or see something amazing? Find a picture, a little trinket, a packet of something you ate, anything post-able, and send it First Class.

* BusyBusyBusyBee

Much harder to miss someone when you’ve barely time to sit, non? Don’t take on the equivalent business of running a small third world country or anything, but having things to fill your day certainly makes the time go quicker. Besides, a watched phone-eth does not ring-eth. Trust me.

* Honesty...the best policy (for once)

The truth. You might not like it. You may not have asked for it. But it’s one thing that needs to out if you’re going to last. I’m not talking “does-my-bum-look-big-in-this-yes-actually-it’s-huge” type honesty. I mean, guys c’mon, flattery gets you most places, especially with the Christmas season and festive feasts looming. But in all seriousness, honesty (and communication!) have to be the oils for the cogs of a long-distance relationship. If something bugs you, say. If you loved something he sent. Tell him. If you’re suddenly brimming with love/anger/hostility/absolute devastation (because England lost, again...or whatever)...the things is...speak! Be tactful, but be honest. If you let something simmer away, it’ll never get resolved.

* Culture Shock

Culture differences may not be a spanner in the works at all if you’re commuting city-to-city (though try telling that to a Yorkshire person and anyone south of the Watford Gap). But for intercontinental relationships there can be that added factor of, well, a completely different way of life. It was probably part of what attracted you to that person in the first place. Thou shalt, in that case, remember the golden word: tact. Yes, he did go to catholic school, and yes he does think tucking his shirt into his ‘khaki pants’ is cool. It’s not a reason to mock him.

Not all of the time, anyway.

* Savour Every Moment...

It’s finally arrived. He’s here. You’re there. There’s no longer that ocean/mountain range/ Scottish Border between you. It’s time to stick on some John Legend, curl up together in a comfy armchair, and finally enjoy the chance to not have to speak at all...

RAF 90th Anniversary Parade (4 of 7)

RAF 90th Anniversary Parade

It may have rained on their parade, but that didn't stop the Royal Air Force from marching through Uxbridge yesterday.

More that 70 personnel from RAF Uxbridge, which is to close in 2009, participated in the display.

Christmas shoppers lined up to watch the procession, which went without a hitch, depsite the dismal weather. Echoing throughout the high street were the melodious tones of the RAF central Band as they and the Queen's Colour Squadron paraded to the culminating salute, taken by Wing Commander Lindsay and the Mayor of Hillingdon, Councillor Catherine Dann.

The heel-clickingly precise parade occurs not annually, but when the mayor invites the force to exercise the Freedom of the Boro. This year it also had the added ceremonial bonus of commemorating the 90th anniversary of RAF Uxbridge, established in 1917 as an armament school.

The Freedom of the Boro, granted in 1960, is decreed in the Freedom Scroll, carried yesterday by Flight Lieutenant Andi Reid. He said: "The parade went well. It's always nice to take part in ceremonial occasions, especially if it's for the public".

The last march took place in 2001. Prior to that, the parades occured in 1985 and 1980 to commemorate the 25th and 20th anniversary of the Freedom, respectively.

Cllr Dann said: "I was very pleased to participate in this ceremonial occasion when RAF Uxbridge exercised its right to march through the town centre".

The Queen's Colour Squadron recently returned from a tour of duty in Basra on Operation Telic, which lasted from November 2006 to April 2007.






The march through Uxbridge.
Apologies for the wonkiness.

It has taken a couple of weeks worth of newswriting classes to get into the swing of writing in the style of the two posts below. It would be easy to assume that something is easy to do because it's only 80 - 100 words or so, but nope! Being concise and also interesting is actually one of the most difficult things. Give me a comment piece any day! Though I quite enjoy writing them because they're a bit of a challenge - how much can you fit in, how immediate can you make it sound for the reader, etc. More to follow shortly!

DOUBLE TROUBLE

A gun-toting father and son duo have been sentenced to 33 years in prison for attempting an “audacious” daylight raid on a security bank.

Mark Roberts, 23, and Andrew Roberts, 42, were sentenced at the Central Criminal Court today for attempting to rob a security guard outside the Allied Irish Bank in Finchley Road, north London, last year. The pair will be imprisoned for a number of serious offences, including robbery, possession of a firearm with intent to commit robbery, and resisting arrest.

Innocent civilians were put in danger as Mark Roberts fled, shooting into the street and resisting arrest.

DS Neil Williamson of Finchley Flying Squad said: “The sentence today should send a stark message to those engaged in this type of criminality.”

Written 16/11/07

Hayes Blaze (5 of 7)

HAYES BLAZE


A child is suffering from shock, and a woman burns to the hand, after a nasty wake-up call in Hayes yesterday morning.

Ten firefighters and two fire engines from Hillingdon were called to the blazing living room of their Tudor Road home at around 6.30am on Thursday, to a fire started by an unattended candle left on a plastic stereo.

Luckily the fire caused only a small amount of damage to the living room, but the picture could have been dramatically different as there was no working smoke alarm installed.

A Firebrigade Spokesperson said: “It shows the need for people to have smoke alarms in their homes. We’re doing a lot of fire safety education – it’s an important part of a fire-fighter’s working life now. The main goals are obviously still to attend fires and put them out, but the prevention side is very important to us as well.”

The London Fire Brigade carries out home fire safety checks and will fit a free smoke alarm where needed. For more information call freephone 0800 028 44 28.

The First Interview... (6 of 7)

With the class studying central government at the minute, specifically right now the role of MPs within said machine, our lecturer and guide Sarah Niblock gave us the challenge of finding and interviewing an MP. For this I decided to go back to my northern roots and contacted Colin Burgon, MP for the Elmet constituency.

*****

For over 20 years Colin Burgon, Labour MP for Elmet, has lived and worked in his constituency. So...what does an MP's week consist of? Is it one big Westminster Party? In between the challenges of Tv aerials and Venezuelan ambassadors, and having kindly invited me to share a cup of tea, Colin Burgon spared the time to give me the low-down on his day-to-day work...

So, Mr Burgon...What would you say a typical day is like in your constituency?

In the constituency there’s no such thing as a typical day really, because the work is so varied. It ranges from meeting individuals with particular issues, to attending group residents meetings, such as the pensioners groups. There’s also more technical meetings – usually people with planning matters – and visits to workplaces or schools. It changes from day to day.

Do you visit the schools often?

I go as often as I possibly can. There’s around forty plus schools in the constituency and I’ve been to the overwhleming majority of them!

What then, is a typical day in Westminster?

It’s usually a lot more structured. I have to be there to vote after all. You can’t leave when there’s a three-line whip vote...it’s not like you can wander off through London and go shopping or anything, you just have to be there, full stop. It’s also more structured because there’s a program to follow in the chamber; plus a whole series of meetings on top of that, and people coming in to lobby you, and you lobbying for your interests. People are coming to see you day in, day out and whether you’re at home or Parliament you still have to work through the letters from constituents.

Are you lobbying anything in particular at the moment?

I’m currently involved, of all things, in Latin American issues. I met the Venezuelan ambassador yesterday, and will be meeting the Bolivian ambassador tomorrow, so it goes to show what a wide range of issues you deal with as an MP.

What’s your favourite part of being an MP?

Being involved with the people. If you don’t like people, or being around them, or get on with them particularly well you shouldn’t do the job really. Though the downside is that some people can be quite obnoxious with you.

What’s the most bizarre request you’ve had from a constituent?

Someone once complained about their TV reception. I was so bemused, I thought, well what do you want me to do, climb onto the roof and hold the aerial for you?! There’s been a number of things...some really daft issues. Though luckily you’re able to sort most of them out for people.

Actually, a thing I’m working on in Methley at the minute (that’s the constituency I grew up in – LT) is to do with the railway bridge...they’re building new houses there and the contractors ripped up some trees that were giving shelter to the houses already there, so I’m in a bit of a fight with them to try and get some new trees planted and fences put up so they’ve got that shelter and privacy back. So you can see how one day you can be dealing with the real nuts-and-bolts issues such as that, to meeting with international ambassadors! It’s a real range of work.

Thank you Colin Burgon for your time and insight!

A bit of a comment.... (7 of 7)

Here's a piece I had to write recently for the government module of our course. It was written just before Gordon Brown firmly came out with an answer about the speculated-upon snap election (hence the ending). I'm not sure whether I'm entirely pleased with it myself, mainly because of the amount I had to leave out due to the word limit. There was so much more I wanted to put in, mainly on the spin side about flash Gordon and his Saatchi & Saatchi tagline...not to mention the fact that his speech was mainly written by Bob Shrum, who was previously an advisor on Al Gore's 2000 Presidential campaign...but I chose an angle and ran with it, and consequently feel that I didn't really write about anything at all. So...here it is.

Brown's Big Tent: A Bit of a Circus?



A government "of all the talents", an invigoration of a slightly tired party, a step away from the showmanship of the Blair Years...Not flash, just Gordon. Yet what kind of PM is Brown shaping up to be? Which is the more accurate portrayal - Bottler Brown, too scared of going up against a Conservative Party apparently gaining some long-lost momentum in the polls? Or is it the all-smiling, Frostrup-flirting, surprisingly amiable Gordon of the first 100 days?
His is a tenure already marked by a mulititude of premiership threatening occurrences: floods, terrorism, and a potentially devastating foot-and-mouth reprise. Not to mention the Saffon Revolution, Zimbabwe and Iraq in the International Affairs periphery. With his first challenges coming far out of the realm of prevention, was the new Prime Minister going to sink or swim? An answer seemed to come rather quickly. Brown appeared solid and dependable. He emanated an air of almost stoic calm. A car bomb in London? A cow has tested positive to an industry-crippling disease? Not to worry; we're British. We simply get on with things. And that, it seems, has been Brown's message throughout his early days in power. No frills, no flash, he's simply getting on with the job.
He may not have Blair's way with words; he may not have Blair's charisma, but somehow, that helpfully contributed to the Brown Bounce. The electorate is, quite frankly, tired of all that jazz and they'd like a bit of sensibility back, if you please.

So far, so wonderful for the PM without a mandate.

Yet a week is, unfortunately, a long time in politics. And Gordon Brown's had several of those. Inevitable then, you might say, that he was going to hit a rocky patch sooner or later. It's a wonderful thing that Brown can respond promptly and confidently to unexpected crises...they make for such wonderful soundbites at party conferences too. But what about the things he should have seen coming? Ten years as a primary influence on domestic policy ought to be enough time to lower those crime figures, wouldn't you say? Why is it then that an innocent 11 year old was shot in broad daylight, walking home from football practice? Northern Rock: preventable? Perhaps, perhaps not. But surely a PM whose prior job was Chancellor of the Exchequer ought ot be able to guide his new appointee in the right direction.
Oh go on Gordon. Call an election. If you won't give us a vote on the European Constitution, at least let us make our minds up about you.

Proactive? Isn't that a yoghurt?

All things Short and Squiggly

Things have been a little quiet on this western front recently...I'd quite happily blame shorthand drilling and fresher's week, but if we're going to be honest (and unfortunately, I am), then one shall just have to say one has been...erm, well, lazy.

But, no more! Oh no, no, no, no! This particular hack-in-training has been attempting to immerse herself in all news, blogs, radio shows, phone-ins, webpages; getting all manner of ink on her hands in the process. Soon a real (local) piece will be posted. Soon, contacts will be amassed. Soon, oh so soon, there will be real substance, and a body of work to peruse. It's an exciting thought...


Musings

Nothing like a good set of party conferences, with an election on the horizon, to bring out newspaper bias is there? It had always been something I took rather for granted, but recently the true colours have been bared. "Quit stalling and call and Election! Says Cameron", cried one paper..."Tories in Trouble" claimed another...which is it folks? Bias ususally amuses me more than anything - opinion is obviously an integral a part of journalism - though occasionally it can drive you to that extra bar of chocolate, as you wonder despairingly whether the world's going to hell in a handbasket or not. Obviously, as much fun as bias makes the whole game, every now and then I do crave an objective view of things.


How many trainee journalists does it take to read a map?

Apparently, following an interesting walk around the streets of London on Monday night, not one of us has a head for directions. Even though our shorthand teacher had distributed full maps with written descriptions we couldn't manage to simply head straight to the appointed place. That's what you get with former English students. Not one ounce of geographical ability between them...

"Tight, Bright but not Shite"

Welcome to one ever-so-slightly disoriented Northern student's Newsblog. The above Words of Genius are sadly not my own, but did come straight from the ITN radio newsroom (along with Jon Snow's tip as to the best place for buying socks. The Boden catalogue apparently...) and I believe it will probably become somewhat of a mantra through the coming year.

Thus it begins! Keep logging in for News and Comments, mainly from this particular West London postcode, as my MA in journalism progresses...perhaps one day I will stop eating apples and peanut butter whilst staring into the depths of my "Essential Law for Journalists" tome long enough to write something of interest.


Well, one can only hope.