Happy New Year and all that...

So it's a new year and although it's probably too late to still be wishing people a happy new year, I'm still going to do it. Happy New Year.

Anyway, it's actually very convenient as it gives me an excuse to update my blog. Yes, I do realise that it is now five months since I last added to it, but as the saying goes 'better late than never'.

I'm not going to bore you with every detail in my life over the past five months, as, suffice to say, it really hasn't been that exciting. But I will summarise some of the more interesting bits.

My last blog was during August, so by that stage the summer was nearing its end. I did manage to get away though and spent a really nice week back in France, in Orleans where I worked as part of my university course during the 2009/10 academic year. Nothing much had changed, just that the 2nd tramline was making good progress in disrupting the town as much as possible. However, it was still a great week and it was so nice to see the town again. I have so many great memories from there that despite the fact that there isn't that much there to do or see, it is a town that I will always have a great affection for.

Orleans cathedral - complete with disruptive work in the front on the new tramline

After France then it was back to reality and the 24/7 search to find a job. As I think I have previously stated, journalism is my goal (in particular sports) as a career. However, walking into a journalism job is far from easy as I discovered, and was told - numerous times. I am still told this, but as far as I am concerned there isn't a job which you can simply walk into. You have to do research and preparation and hopefully this will lead to what you want. Sports journalism is a profession no harder or easier to break into than any others, so these comments do not put me off one bit.

Going back to the job search then, and there wasn't much to report. I received more than a few rejection letters and e-mails but this did not deter me. Sure, you get frustrated but it's not the end of the world. To cut a long story short, I decided to apply for a sports journalism course to get the necessary qualification (that all journalists need), in the hope that this would help me get a job. I applied, and was successful, so will be starting that this coming Monday.

In the mean time then, I tried to get as much work as possible in whatever field (not literally) - for both experience and money. In terms of journalistic experience, I got into some blogging for an online site and thanks to it I know a lot more about memory foam mattresses. See, it's all good experience! I will put up the link on here when it goes live.

I also did some work experience at local newspapers - the Southern Daily Echo in Southampton and Bournemouth's Daily Echo and from these made some useful contacts which may be beneficial in the future, you never know.

Finally there's the work I did (and still do) in the catering industry. I was kp (not Kevin Pietersen, for cricket fans) in the kitchen at a local French restaurant. The term 'kp' means a kitchen porter, which is essentially just a posh name for someone who does the washing up. So, that was me, a washer-upper. It was nothing too inspiring, but I did get some good food out of it and it was a nice place to work. For anyone interested, and I do recommend going there, here's a link to the restaurant: http://www.laperlemilford.co.uk/

That's not the only experience that I've had of the catering industry as I work in a local cafe too. It's more than just kp-ing, as I do a bit of everything there. It's good because you get a bit of variety and as it's local I can just walk there, so very convenient. Again, thoroughly recommend a visit, and you'll get excellent service. http://www.beachcomber-cafe.co.uk/

And that's about it then really, for the past five months in my life. On Monday, I start a sports journalism course down in Bournemouth which will last until mid-July. It covers a range of things - from shorthand (journalist language) to public affairs, and of course sports stuff, so interviewing, match reporting, things like that. It's going to be a challenge but I am looking forward to it.

The skills that I will hopefully learn will hopefully put me in a much better position in the job market too. This is the extra motivation - I know that this is leading to something, rather than just some experience that could help me in any job. Additonally, there's the small matter of the Olympics too which provides me (and journalists alike) with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to report on such an event in England. If that's not encouragement then I don't know what is.

I am in the process of starting a blog on the Olympics too, but I'm just finalising a few bits. But a link will be up for that very soon.

If you've made it this far, thank you very much for reading!

It definitely won't be five months until my next update...that's a promise.

All the best for 2012!