Category Archives: The Student Survival Guide

Many graduates I have met have often said they wished they had a sort of “survival guide” to help with their experiences at uni. Inspired by popular media such as the “Chicken Soup” book series and the TV Shop “Ned’s [DECLASSIFIED] School Survival Guide”, this continuously updated collection of posts aims to guide, but not spoonfeed new and returning students through their years at university. As a former student of 6 years and in that time a house warden to two different fresher groups I hope my experience can impart wisdom into this category.

Making Copper When You’re Brass-ick

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I’m willing to make a bet that a sizeable portion of students at the moment are pretty damn poor and are awaiting for loans to come in, living off the bank of mum/dad/other appropriate relative, guardian or friend or having just as much (if not more) going out than coming in. I know the feeling. It sucks. But believe it or not, you don’t need to be an alchemist or a miner to make some ‘wonga’ in these tough times – even if not by much you can still party on and (with some commitment) make some money to put some bread on the table.

Our Survey Says

More and more websites are popping up day to day like people in the street asking if we have a few minutes of our time to answer a few questions, often with the reward being the fuzzing feeling the companies hope we have at the end knowing that we’ve helped them gain insight to our opinions on something, or give us the hope we might win something in a prize draw (which very rarely happens). But what if you could get paid for it? Bodies like Swagbucks, Toluna, Ipsos (Mori) and YouGov have been around for yonks with their opinion to those that aren’t drooling over numbers being all that appealing. But when faced with a potential financial crisis can become a holy grail for a bit of time in the evenings where you’d be otherwise watching cat videos, playing FIFA, staring at Pintrest, totally ploughing through your reading list.

But it’s not just click click ka-ching I’m afraid with some surveys having a preliminary section to see if you qualify as one of their ideal responders. Check out each of the sites (non affiliated) to see what you prefer and if you’re up for it, sign up! Though be prepared if you’re not the most opinionated to check the email settings as if you’re not committed to do it every day or every other day, it can feel quite spammy over time getting notifications in.

Who Is The Mole?

Another research and assessment opportunity you can partake in is the role of a mystery shopper. To the uninitiated, the mystery shopper is a customer hired to work on the inside by visiting an outlet (either by it’s manager directly or at random by it’s parent/group) and follow a set of specific instructions secretly (often buy a certain set of items or request a particular service), pay for the goods using money either supplied by your employer or as an expense to be refunded later on and report back through a small survey often to describe the customer service you received, the quality of the place you visited and the quality of the products purchased. Depending on what you’re assigned to you can often keep the products too as well as get a pay-check for completing the task. Your responses are then fed back to the outlet for further improvements, all whilst never knowing the identity of their secret shopper.

Swag Radar

You’ve probably heard of this term before. If you’re not as fussed about getting the income in cash but in the products you’d normally need to buy with your depleted balance, then product reviews are a good way to get some cool products without having to pay much if anything at all.

Sites like Pinchme & Swaggable in the US, Producttesting.uk.com in the UK and Vipon or Toluna globally will allow you to partner with companies to try out new, improved or unreleased products, usually for free or for a hefty discount in return for you trying it out and returning a review with some constructive comments and/or criticism as required. It might be awesome, it might not be so glamorous, but at the end of the day you got it for very little and it might just save you a trip to the supermarket or gadget shop in the near future!

Uber Hauler

If you have a car or van, enough for a tank of petrol/gas and a free half a day on your hands, why not sell a bit of usage of your vehicle and the privilege of your driving for some money? Often hated by local taxi firms, follow in the footsteps of my inspiring friend Phil at University and start a small “fab cab” for your coursemates, with lifts to lectures, evening campus events or study groups and lifts to/from town for a night out for a cheap fee.

If driving people around isn’t your cup of tea, why not trade the humans for cargo and offer to do some couriering? Maybe you know a band that’s playing a gig in the next few days that’ll need their amps, instruments and PA system moving to the venue or perhaps a media project that requires a lot of audio visual equipment moving to a set on the other side of town. If you like the look of start-ups like Deliveroo and there’s a niche in your town, perhaps take people’s food orders at lunch or dinner time by text and offer to bring home their bacon one night in return for bringing a little financial bacon of your own home?

The possibilities are endless depending on the vehicles you have to hand, just make sure you don’t irritate any local businesses or do anything unlawful whilst you’re doing it and you’ll find a great job for your spare time!

Cleanin’ Out Your Closet (in a much, much nicer way)

The final method only involves a bit of manual labour and a bit more sacrifice. In our digital age, fewer people are finding use for the older technologies that haven’t quite made it into the timeless retro period such as CDs, cassettes and DVDs. With most of these either going back to their Vinyl roots or making their way onto the digital platforms, many people have found their music and film collections gathering dust in old cupboards, attics and spare bedrooms. If you have no use for these anymore, why not sell them on to somebody who may still have use for them or to a place that may be able to recycle/reuse them in some way? (FYI, many people have found optical disks a great deterrent for birds in allotments or as artwork in cafes and bars).

Sites like CeX & Music Magpie in the UK. Decluttr & F.Y.E in the USA, The Beat Goes On in Canada (but ship elsewhere too) & or SecondSpin globally, can all help you empty out what you don’t use anymore, value it and give you cash in return for your used media, meaning you have a little bit more towards though cheaper tracks in the future.

 

So go out there, reveal the mystery and take the services out for a test drive. Have you got any other suggestions you’ve found for saving a bit of money (besides getting a proper job?) Feel free to leave your review and  comments down below. Your opinions are valuable and may help shape the future decisions of other readers. 

 

Happy Saving!

Mike

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Emergencies: Are You Prepared? 

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Whilst it’s often rare that as a student you’ll  will be responsible  for the fallout of emergency situations,  there be times when things happen that you will be ultimately thrown into taking action without warning. Are you prepared for the big situations that might happen to you on campus or in your accommodation?

It also pays to get to know the environment, social culture and important points of contact when you go travelling or on holiday, especially if you’re not used to the culture or climate of a place.

Here’s some thoughts to consider should things go south wherever you are.

When Someone Gets Hurt

This one is inevitable, be it yourself, somebody you know or someone you happen to pass by at the time, so this is the one to be most prepared for if you want to be a good Samaritan.

The most basic knowledge you should have is your local emergency or high importance numbers and which one to call depending on the situation. Some of the most popular ones are below:

  • USA and parts of South America – 911 for everything. South American countries vary, but can be checked here.
  • UK – 999 or 112 for emergency support, 111 for less urgent health or equiries when you’re not sure. 101 follows the same non urgent procedure for police reports and enquiries and depending on the landline or nearest mobile tower you’re calling from will connect you to your local station or constabulary. 911 also redirects to 999 when called from a mobile.
  • Europe – 112 for general emergencies. Specific services vary by member state which can be checked here.
  • Oceania – 999 or 112 for most places (it’s worth checking for certain countries). Australia is 000 on landlines and mobiles for emergency support with 112 optionally for mobiles too. For non urgent police enquiries there, you can report to 131 444.
  • Asia – The numbers vary greatly depending on the country you’re visiting and the service you require. It’s reccomended for travellers to check here before you travel.

Another good preparation for this is to have some First Aid training. It sounds pretty basic, but you never know when this might come in handy. All it takes is an illness, an accident or a firm fist to put somebody out cold and if you’re well trained to get them in the recovery position and at worst breathing again then you might just save their life and help get them back on the path to recovery. If you’re interested in taking your training further, resucitation programs are available for working staff that may have a  defibrillator on site or the potential to get one.

If you feel someone has been hurt due to a crime or through something out of the ordinary that should be investigated, it’s worth getting in touch with the police using one of the numbers above.

When There’s a Threat to Your Safety

Weather

Sadly, if it’s not people, animals or bacteria trying to get to you, it’s probably the elements. Those living on flood plains, coastlines and places known for extreme weather will no doubt have been breifed in educational institutions and places of work and will hopefully have a plan they will have discussed in their family home. The question is have you prepared for it in halls or in your student house or apartment building?

When you get towards Tornado,  Monsoon/Hurricane/Typhoon season it’s worth checking your local weather site to check what to do should the worst strike and what you can do to prepare (eg: designate a safe space,  get a weather radio,  sort out documents etc.)

In most places where dodgy weather is known to strike you’ll also be likely to find one these. Find out what sound(s)  it makes,  when it’s tested (so you don’t panic over nothing) and what each sound means.

 

Other Sirens

In other areas, similar sirens are used to warn for other emergencies such as at Nuclear Power Stations, Demolition sites, Mental Health Hospitals or areas under conflict.

Sometimes its something as simple as a fire or gas alarm.

Again, same protocol as above, it’s worth checking when these are tested and what local action plans are available so you can make a plan of your own.

UK – Broadmoor Hospital Escape Sirens (NOTE: TURN YOUR VOLUME DOWN)

France – Civil Defence Sirens

US – Nuclear Sirens

 

Human Threats

Sometimes there aren’t noise makers available to warn us of threats. Sometimes it’s as subtle as somebody appearing where they shouldn’t be or suspiciously reaching down to their belt or into their coat for something that doesn’t resemble a pen or wallet.

On these cases you may have to enact some form of lockdown.  These are popular in schools and some higher education institutions in the past few years following mass shootings and threats on campus. Whilst this shouldn’t be necessary at home,  it’s worth seeing if your campus has a policy so you know what to do if a situation occurs when you’re on site.  The examples below may appear a little cheesy, but they get the correct message across:

Conclusion

Whatever your situation, the more you know, the safer you’ll be I know a lot of it is boring stuff,  but after being in a couple of situations myself where I genuinely wish I knew what I was doing,  it really is valuable stuff,  if not now then certainly in later life!

Mike

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Flipping Good Pancakes: A few Ideas to Try

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So there’s no doubt you’ve heard that Shrove Tuesday this year is today. If you celebrate the day by eating Pancakes,  here’s a few ways to do it regardless of your diet or budget:

Can’t Cook or Won’t Cook?

If you’re like me and have a probability that  fire and doom can happen whenever you use a oven,  range or hob (choose as appropriate), why not try a ready mix? You may have to nip to a 24hr supermarket to get one in time tonight, but these bad boys will allow you to knock out several Pancakes in one sitting by simply adding a little milk and pouring straight into your frying pan/skillet.

Need Gluten Free?

Pancakes are sadly one of the many foods gluten intolerant people sadly have to give up after diagnosis. We,  thanks to this really helpful and easy recipe you may be able to enjoy pancakes again!

Try It the ‘American’ Way

Jealous of the Americans having all the fun enjoying these for breakfast on a regular basis? Why not use today as an excuse to try these smaller Pancakes by following the steps in this great tutorial from Howcast.  Great if you’re on a diet but still want to join in!

Get Creative With Your Toppings

Why should Sugar,  Lemons,  Bananas and Strawberries get all the limelight? Of you fancy trying out a world of different flavours,  try frozen Blueberries whilst you cook your batter or get a little more adventurous and try a few alternative ingredients such as Chocolate (melted or spreadable),  Pineapple, Different blends of Syrups etc.  If it works on a Pizza or an omelette,  I’m sure it wouldn’t be too bad on a pancake right?

Overloaded?

Considering many go nuts on this day in order to use up food like our ancestors would in order to prepare for fasting on Ash Wednesday,  it’s quite easy unless you’re making a thick pancake to overload the poor thing with many toppings,  causing them to drop off your fork as you eat them, like a pizza slice.

If you share this pain,  then once your batter has formed well enough and you have flipped l,  why not add your ingredients in the pan in the centre,  fold over one half with your spatula and pour a little more butter on the end.  Leave it to cook for a couple of minutes and BAM!  you have a ‘Panzone’! Keeps your toppings in, meaning you can have more.

Why Not Watch a Vlog or Let’s Play As You Eat?

As you’re busy Snapchatting and posting your culinary creations to your Instagram Stories, why not follow along the story of two wonderful people whom happen to refer to their audience affectionately as “Pancakes”. This isn’t sponsored, I just thought it no better time than to share the love by recommending them as a watch whilst you dine.  I’ve been watching Mike and Brittany’s daily posts for over a year now and never fail to be entertained by the antics of their pets Nora, Oscar and Jack as well as feel humbled by their kindness towards their friends and their friends’ kindness in return.

If you enjoy dogs, cats, cool stuff, games and adventures, or just interested in everyday life across in the USA, I couldn’t recommend them more. You can check out their stuff on the Press Record, Paw Record, BBPaws,  Brittany Bear Paws and Zesty Plays channels on YouTube by using the links to the right.

 

However you choose to enjoy your food today, I hope they come out well and don’t turn into some new form of cement or get stuck on the ceiling (speaking from experience for both!)

Mike

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7 Weird Things That Can Happen At Uni, But Are Totally Worth It

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University is a life changing experience for many. For those that joined leaving college or 6th form (or shortly after a gap year of working/travelling), it’s a life changing experience of growing up, making friends, forming and changing relationships and working out what you want to do with your life and maybe changing your mind a couple of times.

But throughout all the drinking, partying, sex, drugs and rock and roll – weird stuff sometimes happen, be it you that did it or you were merely part of the experience of it. But when you look back at these things from a graduate perspective, you can still laugh about it and if you did it, you can say it was definitely worth whatever sanity or dignity it may or may not have cost.

Here are 7 things that happened to me between 2008 and 2014 during my time in Scarborough that could only ever be unique because it happened there and then…and it was worth it.

Unusual Dress Codes

At some point, you’ll be invited to a themed night out or houseparty – usually halloween, often others. But sometimes the themes can go off the beaten track and sometimes your particular costume may do too.

My experience of this involved joining several hall-mates that were part of the HUU Athletic Union (Scarbrough Ladies Football Team to be specific) and their theme night one week was based on ‘Pimps and Hoes’. This was fine as the dress was fairly simple. The girls would initially go as hoes and the boyfriends/plus ones/housemates of the team leaders as pimps (regardless of gender). But for some reason there was an imbalance of hoes due to people dropping out…so when I returned from an Easter break, I got the news I was changing sides if I wanted to come out. It took a lot of thinking about, but I was eventually talked into it with the promise the girls in our halls would sort out the clothing, makeup and such.

Needless to say it was a cold night for my legs, an itchy experience wearing makeup on sensitive skin and a lot of alcohol needed to be consumed to ensure that I remained pacified. But it was a decent night.

Needless to say though, I have some dignity left so there are no photos available for public viewing (some things are better left unseen).

Take Some Unintentionally Bad Photos

There are an incredible amount of terrible pictures of me as a student posted on the internet. Not as bad as some I imagine, but everyone during their time at uni will experience that one picture you just couldn’t re-create. And it’s usually a hilariously bad one.

This one occurred in my first year in one on one of the last nights at our old favourite rock club that sadly no longer exists (although I’ve heard it’s recent replacement is quite good too). In the midst of Rage Against the Machine’s initial reprisal of “Killing in the Name” we entered a great bonding session over headbanging. Unfortunately I happened to lift my head at the wrong moment and this happened:

Me in Bar Zero. Copyright Ellie Casey. Used under fair use.

Photo Credit: Ellie Casey

Yeah…

Also Capture Some Amazing Photos Too!

On the same night during a later song, my good friend Ellie Casey also caught this cracker at the perfect timing of my hair peaking in hight. Whilst I’ve seen better one such as horizontal dolphins, well timed pool jumps and crazy death eye looks, this one’s not bad for a once in a life time shot:

Me in Bar Zero 2. Copyright Kat Tye. Used under fair use.

Photo Credit: Kat Tye

Strange Items Appear in Your House

Many people have woken up to something they don’t remember brining into their accommodation. Road furniture, other people’s ornaments, somebody you had a crush on lying in the bed next to you.

Of the many things myself and many people I knew in my undergraduate and postgraduate years (Traffic Cones & Road furniture, For Sale Sign, The world’s smallest – and crushed banana, Top of a concrete post etc), the spare wheel has got to be one of my more unexplained ones – especially since I vaguely remember wheeling it home, but with no explanation as to why I decided to, nor any memory of it appearing in my living room the next day.

Needless to say it became a good talking point for my house for the few months it lived in the back yard as well as something to play with during pre-drinks.

Random Days of Mass Energy

Most people aren’t adept at being able to work around the clock in their 20s (unless you were lucky enough to be born to work like a machine), but every now and then you manage to find the time to run on pure caffeine and adrenaline and yet escape without a scratch. This one my example and I didn’t feel all that terrible the following day:

Facebook Status 21.5 hours. Screenshot.

Can’t say I’d be capable of doing that in one go again without consequence!

Making Unusual Statements

Everyone that’s been on social media has or will at some point create an unexplained message and post it online – usually when under the influence of something or deprived of sleep. On rare occasions it can even happen when you’re sober and in the heat of a moment. And then some, like one a dear friend of mine posted that frequently comes back to mind will never fail to make you smile – unfortunately he’s offline currently so I couldn’t obtain permission to display it here today, but I can tell you that owls, dragons, philosophy and family members all made it into the final cut!

Bursts of Information at Random Hours

If you’re an arts student I’m sure you’ve had this at some point. When you’re sat in a studio for hours or days on end staring at your respective equivalent of a blank canvas only to come away empty handed. Then at some point mid shower, loo session or at 4am, it strikes. One of two things then happen – either you’re very lucky and you then stay up all night or soaking yet or unclean trying to bring this idea to life, or you spend ages looking for your utensils of creation and manage to find them all, only for the idea to have gone away. If the latter happens to you, take my advice. ALWAYS have something on you. Even if it’s just a pen and paper or a voice recorder (most phones and tablets have these as apps now) with you to take note or jog your memory later. Doesn’t always work, but when a rare and unusual moment happens, it pays to capture it!

 

Have any of these happened to you? Has anything happened that’s not on this list? Feel free to let me know and discuss in the comments section down below.

 

Mike

 

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Not so SAD: Dealing With Single Awareness Day

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So yeah, I can’t really do 3 valentines day posts without talking about the side that doesn’t quite get so much attention: being single on it.

Whilst many fear or dread such a fate, being young and free on a manufactured holiday really isn’t any different to every other day. If all the lovey-dovey stuff being shoved in your face is getting you down however, here’s some ideas to help you remember that you can still enjoy life with the vanilla form of friend or family.

Try a Traffic Light Party

This fun themic night out is set up like any other night out, only on entry you’re asked one single question “What is your relationship status?” Depending on your answer of “single”, “in a relationship”, “it’s complicated” and in some cases now “looking for sex, no strings attached”, you’ll get a sticker to wear that’s respectively green, red, amber and another neutral colour such as blue.

Therefore if you’re a green you don’t have to spend all night wondering who’s available or if you’ll have your lights beaten out of you if you respond to a flirt. The mystery is lifted so you can have a fun night with your friends. And if something happens, it happens and if it doesn’t, at least you had a good night.

Have a Meal or Film Night with Single Friends

If you haven’t got a date to have food with instead of dining alone, why not cook up a treat with your friends (or order in if you don’t feel like it)?

You still the benefit of having an excuse to go out or dine in, with the company of great people who are in the same boat as you. If you wish to make a night of it why not expand it to a night of films or games? You may even find the opportunity to get to know your friends a little better as well as keeping each other occupied for the day.

If All Else Fails…Screw the World

In the 21st Century, we have a wonderful thing called the Internet – you’re on it. With services such as Amazon Prime, Spotify, Xbox Live, Netflix, YouTube, PSN and, erm, many others, you can spend the night with a takeaway or your favourite healthy option and use the time whilst your couple friends are out to take over the TV or chill out in bed and use the time to catch up on your favourite multimedia.

If you’re more lo-fi, why not read a book or complete your latest artwork? At the end of the day, you always have yourself and the things you enjoy doing. Why should you let today stop you?

 

Mike

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From Petal to Metal 

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Met someone but not really sure where it’s going? For those that are a little lost and forever defacing daises and flipping coins to find out, here’s some quick fire pointers depending on what you feel your relationship is…

Please note this isn’t expert advice nor directed at any one particular group of people. Just an individual’s advice on some basic areas, so please adapt this to your own situation as required.

 

​For those that think too much 

Relax. Over-thinking isn’t healthy and if anything may blow whatever feelings you had at the beginning out of proportion or make you unnecessarily nervous or over confident. Keep a cool head about it and see where things go.

For those that don’t think enough

Had a card drop through or a person pining for you? Don’t just casually brush it off. Obviously somebody is going to all the effort for a reason. If you don’t feel the same way that’s fine, but make sure this is communicated to them so they don’t feel like they are wasting time or just embarrassed much further down the line.

For those that stare then blink

Sitting on the sideline wondering “what if?” will never get you anywhere. I have missed opportunities in life by (as my friend described it”, sitting and watching the world go by. The opportunity rarely comes around twice, so if you feel something and you have the chance to say it when opportunity knocks, I’d take it there and then. The worst they can say is ‘no’ and at least then you know.

For those with a bottle that link a drink

Alcohol can have a strange effect on us and our perception of the world, often amplifying our emotions like sounds through a speaker. Tread carefully if you’ve had quite a bit as this may impair what you actually feel about what may be a crush and doing something extreme and drastic can often lead to interesting surprises the next day.

If in doubt, remember the advice of Ted Mosby:

When 2am rolls around, just go home and go to sleep. Because the decisions you make after 2am are the wrong decisions.

For those who think “they” are way out there

For those above 18 – are we in High School or something? For those preparing to go to Uni – you’ll soon understand the meaning behind this.

Going out with someone based on social status is an age old societal value that really doesn’t have as much of a place in many modern societies. Sure if it forms as part of your faith then you must respect it, but for most westerners in the post LGBTQ+ revolution people should be able to love whomever they wish regardless of orientation, ethnicity and wealth. Often you can’t control that feeling, so if there opportunity to get to know one another is there, do it. And if something sparks for you, all the better.

For those that have always been there to care

This sadly can sometimes be another alarm bell. If you’ve been together for a while as friends or in a professional relationship, whilst the “Friend Zone” is a bit of a grey area on its boundaries, there is a limit to where you become less likely to work on a romantic level due to becoming comfortable with each other’s company on the level you’re on.

If you feel you can have “banter” with them and be there for each other whilst knowing every secret each one of you shares without feeling anything special about it, then there’s less chance of that excitement and adventure of getting to know and love things about each other happening. Still, if you both feel strongly and yearn for each other, then by all means see how things work out.

If the feeling is more of a sexual nature then perhaps this is a slightly different feeling for each other and not necessarily the grounds for a romantic relationship itself.

For those with dates miles and miles away

In today’s connected world, love and liking has no bounds. With internet dating, chatting over VoIP technologies such as Skype and FaceTime it’s surprising where talking to each other can lead. Not sure if it works, have a look at couples such as Jack and Kass or Chelsea and Chris of Love My Brit in the links on the right, or indeed many of the other LDR couples that both documented their time and advice of helping close the gap.

For those who aren’t sure if it’s there anymore

If you we’re previously a “Red” couple on the famous traffic light scale, but your light feels like it’s slipping to an amber or worse still to a green state, then maybe the two of you need to talk. This doesn’t mean necessarily to end the relationship completely there and then, but it needs to be discussed as soon as you have doubts. I’ve experienced this issue twice, once on each end and leaving it until later on can often have some pretty undesired effects that will compound quite strongly and almost guarantee the end of you two, compared to just talking it out in the beginning and maybe finding a way forward. Just like an operation or a diagnosis on your physical body, the emotional operation here will be understandably scary, may hurt, take time to heal and may not always give you everything you want but like anything in life, it can often be resolved one way or another with a little preparation before things grow beyond control.

And of you’re not quite there yet

Fear not, for you never know what the future has in store…

 

Mike

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Shoestrings vs Heartstrings: Celebrating Valentine’s Day on a Budget

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Attempts to delight and romance your significant other can often be expensive for the humble student. From premium dinners to branded cologne, to the finest roses little expense is spared to those that celebrate the holiday in full swing. So in today’s short post for the couples that are truly less than three (do a web search for it if you don’t get the reference), here’s three short but sweet ideas you could do if you want to save some money for your other 364 days of love following today.

Please note that none of today’s links are sponsored or affiliated and you can of course use your favourite shops, I just chose the ones that usually carry the best value pricing and are accessible all over the UK and in some cases internationally (FYI: Some products from Walmart can now be found in ASDA in the UK and Target also ship internationally too).

Make Yourself a Table for Two

Spending your week’s food shop as a deposit on a table needn’t be the case if you have some spare room in your accommodation. Find an area such as a dining room or a large bedroom to host your restaurant scene. Next you’ll need a table and some seating – you should hopefully at least have one chair in the house you can use! As for tables – if you’re in the bedroom, sadly that dining room table won’t fit through the door. However if you have that spare £10 you would have spent on your dessert in a restaurant something as simple as two LACK end tables from IKEA can be used to create your small banqueting stand. Now, to make this more special you’ll need a tablecloth. These don’t have to be expensive, with ones from Wilko in the UK as low as just £2 or at Target for $1.79 US or for $5.97 CA from Walmart.

Once you’ve purchased these simply screw the 8 legs into the two bases, place together and lay your cloth of choice over the top.

Now for some candles. Whilst going all out with sticks may be a little pricey, an equally romantic effect used by many restaurants can be achieved with beer bottles. Simply purchase 2 candles from the shops above (or your preferred wax burning supplier) ensuring the size will fit to the neck of the bottle (at worst, using a simple kitchen knife, the end can be tapered to suit), then simply light the candle and allow to burn for a short time. If you want a more rugged effect, try lighting 2 candles and gently hold the end to the lip of the bottle where the candle meets it – make sure you hold the candle you’re melting so it doesn’t fall over and never attempt it whilst both are lit!!

For your choice of food you may elect to use your culinary skills if you are capable and if not, look out for valentine specials in your local supermarket. Many come with choices of starters and mains already prepared and a choice of either dessert, wine or both as part of the deal.

For the finishing touch, why not load up your musical device with a nice playlist. It doesn’t have to be romantic tunes if that’s not your style, instrumental music can work just as well if played at a background level.

 

Sometimes Less is More

Can’t afford the super elaborate day out in the all-glass Victorian botanical conservatory? Not to worry, why not celebrate the way you helped make sparks fly in the first place and go back to a good old first date. A trip to the park, local lake or a nearby beach is always an option for you to get out and just be “us”. If you would like to make a day of it, why not adapt the tip from above and pack up a picnic? You can use the tablecloth if it’s a disposable or opt for the traditional blanket if you have a little bit more money to spare.

Whilst I hope you’ve got a gift sorted out already (and if not, good luck!), simple creativity can often help the doughless romantic. A simple story carefully crafted, a song to serenade or a video or slideshow to surprise your partner with always makes a cost-effective yet truly personal and valuable gift. If you’re going down this route though, remember don’t make it too grand if time isn’t on your side!

Remember, It’s Only a Day

Unless it’s one of your birthdays or your anniversary – remember that today is only a day popularised by media. It’s not a “significant” date, merely a very popular one used to express love for your family, current or to be. So don’t try and panic like it’s your wedding day to make the day perfect for your significant other – just be what made you the couple you are and treat them with care and respect to celebrate and remember your relationship, just like you should every day. At the end of the day, make it less about what it is and more about the two of you.

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4 Things To Learn From The Super Bowl

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Unless you were living under a rock for the last couple of weeks, in the United States on Sunday, the American Football Conference and the National Football Conference pitted their best teams of the season against each other in Super Bowl LI (that’s 51 for those that don’t remember their Roman numerals) and this year’s one was pretty special. From the incredible comeback of a team that spent around 3.8 quarters struggling to keep their opponent back, to the legendary Julian Edelman catch that I’m surprised isn’t a GIF yet! Oh, wait…

 

So, with this these amazing feats, spectacular half time show and general atmosphere to captivate sports fans the world around, here’s 5 things I learned (and wish I was still at uni to practise as a student) that I’m sure current students can benefit from too.

 

Sports at College/University Can Catapult Your Career

I’ve never been big on playing sport to be honest. I don’t mind watching it, but I’ll leave it to the skilled types to participate. However, if you are of the athletic mind and body and have thought about taking it to a professional level, then there is no better time than higher education to pursue it. Whether you want to give your existing gym activities such as weight training or rowing a more competitive edge or you feel you’d be happy to step into the shoes Rio Ferdinand has vacated, then find a local team in your town or Athletic Union to try out for (or in the case of no try outs, go along to a practice and see if you suit each other). If the team you seek doesn’t exist, speak to your respective activities or sports co-ordinator to see about starting one. It’s a common fact that in North America, the main channel for players to get into NFL Teams is through the drafts which are scouted from University Teams. It’s not quite the same for all sports, but if you can show your colours in your institution, then there’s always an opportunity for (or to get) a local agent in to watch you at work on match and gala days.

Teamwork Practice Can Be Learned In the Space of a Match

For those that question if the cliché “Teamwork makes the dream work!” really is effective, go watch your next sports match carefully. Unsurprisingly the team sports should include teamwork throughout the game. But with the Super Bowl, there were several examples.

For one, there were the players on the pitch working together to get the ball that crucial 10 yards forward and to get the all important touchdowns or indeed trying to stop all this happening if you were on the opposite team. For another there was the swarm of support staff working behind the scenes to ensure everyone had communication, to operate all the cameras and replay systems, the many TV crews that ensure the game was broadcast across the world and the many standby staff for health and security.

When it came to half time, the most inspiring thing for me was hearing that they had minutes to assemble Lady Gaga’s stage and had to perfectly orchestrate both the pre-filmed part and the actual show to make it appear seamless (huge thanks to Philp DeFranco’s eleventh hour video referencing this and the Intel Technology that powered it!) and all in pitch blackness. After the show, this all had to be dismantled and removed from the pitch as quickly as possible in order to allow for the second half to begin. None of that could be achieved without good clear communication and everyone willing to do their parts as and when needed to – all in the name of good entertainment and sportsmanship.

Now imagine how many other places this teamwork could be practised…

Watching a Different Sport Might Just Interest You In Something New

As I say, historically, I’ve never been a big sports person. I’ll still watch Wimbledon though each year when I can now after giving it a chance and having the rule of tennis explained to me properly. I’ll keep going to the odd Football match now and again. I was sceptical about a sport that resembled rugby though and sounded like it stole our name (turns out in fact it was an offshoot of Association Football as explained here. But after a few Super Bowl viewings and attempting to follow one team’s season this last year it’s grown on me quite a bit and I intend to follow it a bit more next season.

If you’re not sure about a sport you see in the next Olympics or has a tournament coming up, why not give it a chance? You never know what you might learn to appreciate and follow. And if you miss it and it comes back in later life, you’ll forever be wondering “What if?”, so quash it early and see what you may like beyond what’s just popular in your country right now.

Staying up Until Daft o’ Clock Can be Worth It Sometimes

It was around 4am GMT before the BBC finished covering this year’s event and it was quite tiring to get to it. When I first watched the Super Bowl with my friends Luke Hansell and Sam Brown 6 years yesterday, we managed it but I will admit to flagging a bit at the end. Thankfully the second one felt a bit better (though I missed the beginning of it) and this year was tiring again. So if you’re watching sport internationally, make sure you’ve had some kip earlier in the day (or just slept in) and make sure you have some form of caffination available to keep you going through into the earlier hours so you don’t miss the action!

 

Mike

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5 Annoying Habits that Drive Your Housemates Insane

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Living with your housemates for close to four months now, if not more with only a few weeks break in between. Ao surely by now, regardless of your accommodation type (we’ll refer to your co-residents as ‘housemates’ in this article to make it less wordy), if you’re sharing you’ve surely picked up on your housemate’s habits. Whilst some of their more interesting routines make great memories, there’s some that may not sit so well with you.

If you’re one for the more notable lifestyle quirks, take note of these selected 5 things that can drive your fellow residents potty:

Dish-wrecked

It’s understandable sometimes that when you’ve had that 4am burger & chips and you can barely stand that you don’t want to wake your Housemates to clunking ceramic.  The same can be said from cleaning off a pretty gnarly baked on meal that needs a little time to soak. But when the pot pile begins to grow and fester, so will the rage within your housemates. If you all share a sink, some people may feel disgusted at still seeing the remnants of your dinner several days on and also probably don’t want to feel the health effects of the growing germs. If you’re not an immediate washer, you have a choice: 1.) Wash them or 2.) Keep them in your space, not your friends’ space.

Junkzilla

Similar to the above, there’s always the housemate that leaves a trail of destruction behind them. Now, I’m not the tidiest in the world as many will say, but there are some scary sights to be seen in Uni accommodation from the wasteland level of rubbish that didn’t quite make it to the bin, ever, to the fact that they haven’t showered for a week to save money on water/shower gel/detergent in return for great times. This often isn’t a problem unless you plan to bring a significant other or family member into the house. If you live with a couple or a housemate that wants to let somebody stay, call this a special enough occasion for a quick session, make friends with Henry the hoover and take a trip to Poundland for some Oust (or alternative brand).

The Mooch

The finisher of going out of date food, the one who always makes sure you have company on your games console or in your car or at dinner and the reviewer of your assignments to make sure they make sense. Sounds idyllic right? Well…until you realise they still have a large amount of their loan left whilst you’re struggling on cheap noodles, great marks whilst you tackle the plagiarism scanner and somehow has clocked up more achievements on a game you’ve been playing for years.

The Mooch is a dangerous character, sometimes not realising themselves that they are one. They feed on opportunity, often without returning the favour. Care must be taken when addressing a mooch to prevent offence, however it must be addressed before a situation occurs, particularly if you are still in a living contract with them.

The One Who Took Sean Kingston Too Seriously

By that I mean the lyrics of “Sleep all day and party all night!“. Now as students life can be a great party, however it doesn’t always have to you be in your house if your housemates need some kip for the next day. Loud music, loud arguments and/or loud sex can often put off housemates that aren’t partying with you and can sometimes can polarize the household.

If you sleep on opposite hours, negotiate so you can party with your friends on some nights and, if you promise not to turn into any of the first three, that you can have the odd party at yours whilst they’re at home or out at other friends.

The Whinge

Now, I’ve complained about a lot of groups that are seen to “misbehave” whilst being students. Unfortunately there’s two sides to every coin and this one is the one who complains too much or without thinking.

When it comes to complaining about your housemates, think carefully if they do fall into any of the extremes like the ones mentioned above. If they’ve only left the pots out for a day, you haven’t yet asked them to turn down the music at 10pm or perhaps they need a little lesson with Henry first. Instead of raising hell at the first sign of rebellion or insolence, perhaps have a quiet discussion or if on a scale, a house meeting to diplomatically discuss the matter.

After all, nobody likes a whinge.

 

Have you ever been one of these people or perhaps have lived with (or currently do) live with one? How did you deal with the situations? Feel free to leave a comment down below.

A poster filled with these ideas and any amazing ones you submit (complete with your credit) will be coming soon.

Mike

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Getting Unstuck

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Whilst it may be a little early to be talking about the dreaded assignments with some semesters only recently restarting, but I’m willing to be there are some that will have had theirs announced or already received a little homework and are having trouble getting it done (sorry to say – it still happens after uni). Fortunately here’s some useful things that can sometimes help to shift the block.

Go for a Walk

It sounds a little cliché but it really does work sometimes. When creating a work, many artists claim to find inspiration strikes when they least expect it (after many 2am wakings from strange dreams or the need for a walk, I’m inclined to agree). The same can be said for non-artistic works. If sitting at the laptop or in the library isn’t working for you, take a little break and have a short stroll. If a walk isn’t your thing, a drive or a ride can have the same effect. Get out into the fresh air and appreciate the world around you. You’ll be surprised at what the world may randomly present to you or what may lead to a train of thought back to your work.

If it doesn’t strike you on the trip, don’t fret! Some people find the thing they were struggling on for hours an easy fix when they get home.

Break It Up

This is a good one for early starters. Looking at a wall of text is no easy task. Writing one is no easier. So a simple solution – why not break it up into bits?

Many people find it easier to start on a particular section. Some people prefer to write a rough introduction. Others may split thing up into heading (much like how a lot of these posts are written), whilst many more plan their whole written assignments out first before attempting the first draft (often wise). If you start your assignments and homework early enough you can often break these segments up over time – so instead of writing 5,000 words in one sitting, perhaps write 250 at a time. When you’ve got a few consecutive parts, arrange them in the right order until you have the lot. Then you need only worry about making them fit together in your final draft.

Ask a Friend or Family Member

If you’re short of ideas and know somebody who might be able to shed some light, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Two heads are often better than one on large projects. If none of your friends can help, why not ask a family member. Even if they may not have studied or worked in the same field as your course, they may be able to offer general advice or point you to a useful resource that may help you become unstuck.

Book a Tutorial

It sounds a bit of a cop out, but your tutors are here to help. If you can, book a tutorial slot to go through what you have already. If it’s a specific area of interest, why not email one of the lecturers. Many are happy to shed some light on a situation, even if they’re not your specific lecturer. They may also be able to offer extra literature or scholars to pay attention to, giving you a useful thread to follow rather than trawling hopelessly through a Libguide or trying to remember the right number in the Dewey Decimal System.

Sleep On It

Similar to the walk/drive option, a good nap can sometimes help you escape from the block for a short period allowing you to relax, switch off your brain for a little bit and in a way reset yourself. As long this isn’t taken advantage of or you’re planning to do this midway through your all-nighter, a good bit of sleep can leave you feeling refreshed, re-engerised and with a fresh pair of eyes to cast upon your work again.

 

 

It’s worth noting that as everyone works differently, not all of these will work for everyone – feel free to mix and match to find your fit. If you find something special that’s worth sharing, feel free to leave it as a comment to share with everyone else!

Mike

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