tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37629561244647299882012-01-28T17:59:57.877ZTales, observations and opinions of a 26 year old creative in Sheffield, England. (Soon to be Frankfurt, Germany.)Hayleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02172678952687094973noreply@blogger.comBlogger311100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762956124464729988.post-32015551248357231402012-01-14T23:41:00.000Z2012-01-14T23:41:00.367Z

Over the last few months this blog has somewhat been lacking posts and for this I apologise. It is not because I have become slack at blogging. Far from it in fact. For the last few months I have found myself writing, editing and running blogs for others (most notably Anya 17 and Hope City Frankfurt). Only thing is, between that and holding down two part time jobs, it left me with no time to

Hayleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02172678952687094973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762956124464729988.post-14222110691819814442011-10-08T23:55:00.000+01:002011-10-08T23:55:30.172+01:00

There was a day this summer where I was simultaneously proud and ashamed of my country and the people in it. In August 2011 the British newspapers suddenly had something to talk about on what would have otherwise been a slow news day. What's more, they could speculate on the impact of social media on our society. It was one of those weeks where you'll remember where you were as you watched the

Hayleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02172678952687094973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762956124464729988.post-34164318259389454392010-12-30T23:03:00.002Z2010-12-30T23:20:31.936Z

It's that time of year again; time for round ups, retrospective opinions and contemplative previews. As December draws to its wintery end and the world gears itself for a fresh batch of 365 days seen in with a decent amount of revelry here's some music to add to your NYE playlist of acts to watch in 2011. (So when they make it big next year, you can feel smug knowing you've been ahead of the

Hayleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02172678952687094973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762956124464729988.post-21182605363543842392010-12-27T21:46:00.006Z2010-12-27T22:22:18.983Z

First published by Sheffield's free magazine Exposed Photos to follow just as soon as I get them uploaded! AthleteO2 Academy, Sheffield November 29th 20104/5 For unbeknown reasons, Athlete have never really hit the so-called Big Time. Even the success of 2002's album Vehicles and Animals or hit single, Wires, in 2005, hasn't seen them secure a coveted place in the indie hall of fame. (Although

Hayleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02172678952687094973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762956124464729988.post-34618890057717820582010-11-01T15:23:00.000Z2010-11-01T15:23:27.875Z

<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-GB X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>

Hayleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02172678952687094973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762956124464729988.post-21446789102068216662010-10-04T10:01:00.001+01:002010-10-26T14:40:07.968+01:00

Released 4th October 20109/10 What do Dysons, Mallorie Blackman, Scunthorpe and Simon Cowell have in common? Any ideas? No? I'll tell you. They all feature in lyrics on Tinie Tempah's brand new album, Disc-Overy; his debut no less. Instantly likeable from the first play, Tinie has created a monster of a major label debut which sucks you in from the moment you press play, pumps you full of

Hayleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02172678952687094973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762956124464729988.post-82078502813166058562010-07-27T00:03:00.002+01:002010-08-03T10:40:20.694+01:00

While completing training for a leadership development programme I was challenged to come up with five characteristics I'd love to have on my dream team of followers. I pondered for some time and realised that my top character choices could be outworked in five fictitious heroes I'd grown up loving. So, this is my dream team:  Robin - BatmanThis is the handy side kick, the sounding block. I work

Hayleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02172678952687094973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762956124464729988.post-70999498421370755432010-06-15T00:12:00.006+01:002010-06-15T00:34:23.701+01:00

Everywhere you look the familiar block red speech mark surrounded by a white circle that is the Vodaphone logo greets you. Street traders selling the latest knock-off Nokia mobiles pitch next to a fruit stall and right by that is a ramshackle stand with t-shirts, shirts and dresses pouring out onto the roadside. If it wasn't for the Grace of God beauty salon next door and the stifling heat you

Hayleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02172678952687094973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762956124464729988.post-59038519008517901732010-05-07T02:23:00.000+01:002010-05-07T02:23:15.346+01:00

Even though the outcome is still to be announced, General Election 2010 promises to be one that will remain in the memories of many for a long time.  Whether it's the tales of voters being turned away from the polls or the uncertainty of the final outcome, #GE2010 as it's been labelled by the social media masses has presented its fair share of surprises and controversies. By far the biggest

Hayleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02172678952687094973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762956124464729988.post-3408069680100997152010-05-05T20:04:00.000+01:002010-05-05T20:04:20.884+01:00

Tomorrow. Polling day. It looms with a sense of trepidation and nervous anticipation.  Could we wake up on Friday morning with a hung parliament? Will we have the first Liberal Democrat government in 65 years? What will the BNP and UKIP have to show from the 15 hours of voting? As I write this, the once rank outsider is rallying his supporters in the centre of the city of Sheffield. (In case I

Hayleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02172678952687094973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762956124464729988.post-14041175539099112302010-04-30T00:43:00.003+01:002010-04-30T01:00:55.259+01:00

Before I launch into my recent observations, firstly an apology. I mentioned when this GE2010 stuff all kicked off that I hoped to record my opinion here on the general tirade of politics, campaigns and faux pas regularly. Life, however, got a little in the way. This time next week we will be mere hours away from finding out who is going to be in charge of our country for another five years.

Hayleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02172678952687094973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762956124464729988.post-68071561169313129542010-04-09T19:22:00.000+01:002010-04-09T19:22:22.826+01:00

As the clock ticks down to Grand National Day (tomorrow, Saturday April 10th 2010) bookies and punters will be anxiously watching. The bookies will be hoping for a non-repeat of last year's result when rank outside Mon Mome romped home 12 lengths ahead of the field. The punters however will be eager to see a big payout. From even before starter's orders to the first hoof over the finish line,

Hayleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02172678952687094973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762956124464729988.post-26822279578280744832010-04-06T21:08:00.005+01:002010-04-07T17:00:52.443+01:00

It's official. The much-anticipated British General Election 2010 is coming. The BBC is primed and ready. In four weeks' time, on May 6th, voters will leave their mark on ballot papers and elect the government for the next five years.  Brown, Cameron, Clegg et al are probably hoping that #GE2010 as it's been dubbed on Twitter will see unprecedented levels of voter participation. Surely there's

Hayleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02172678952687094973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762956124464729988.post-90551802778024533862010-01-19T17:49:00.010Z2010-01-20T01:05:24.306Z

Ben Kenwright's production of Oscar Wilde's Lord Arthur Savile's Crime, based on Trevor Baxter's adaptation and directed by Christopher Luscombe, sees Any Dream Will Do winner Lee Mead take to the stage in his comedy drama debut. Alongside Gary Wilmot, Louisa Clein, Kate O'Mara and Derren Nesbitt, Mead's performance at the Sheffield Lyceum's opening night as Wilde's Victorian London aristocrat,

Hayleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02172678952687094973noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762956124464729988.post-35774244160658586432010-01-05T00:01:00.009Z2010-01-05T20:30:01.124Z

Tonight I was asked a very important question by one of my longest, closest friends. She asked me to be her bridesmaid. I naturally squealed at her and said yes. After all I've been secretly habouring a desire for her to ask me ever since the over-excited 'phone call when she announced she was engaged. After the initial excitement and teasing died down, there was a moment of terror as it

Hayleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02172678952687094973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762956124464729988.post-2145841170710593692009-10-11T23:24:00.000+01:002009-10-11T23:24:37.309+01:00

Everyone’s tweeting. Stephen Fry, Lily Allen, Downing Street and The White House. Even churches are tweeting in 140 characters or less. Celebrities use it, ordinary people use it, churches use it. Even the Church of England is on Twitter. What’s more, some churches are using Twitter to connect with people and inspire them before, during and after church. Unless you’ve been living in a cave in

Hayleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02172678952687094973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762956124464729988.post-37507372833778615802009-09-01T12:20:00.001+01:002009-09-08T14:57:37.147+01:00

Nine years ago, 189 nations agreed to take action to reduce the number of people around the world living on less than 80p a day. But as the recession shows no signs of slowing down, what impact is the economic crisis having on the war on poverty Days before the G8 Summit met in July in L’Aquila, Italy to discuss the economic crisis and international development, a UN report warned that current

Hayleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02172678952687094973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762956124464729988.post-82241465572922942942009-08-28T12:29:00.008+01:002009-08-28T12:50:31.964+01:00

There’s no denying it, sex sells. Which must be exactly what the makers of the new iPhone Purity Ring application were thinking when they launched it in July this year. But in a country that still manages to have the highest teen pregnancy rate in Europe, are purity rings the answer?In 1995 Denny and Amy Pattyn decided something needed to be done about the increasing number of teen pregnancies in

Hayleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02172678952687094973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762956124464729988.post-68403169208558741092009-07-27T20:53:00.003+01:002009-07-27T21:31:09.713+01:00

This Saturday morning I was fortunate enough to gain a private audience with the recently elected Speaker of the Commons, John Bercow. He was, unsurprisingly, a very pleasant man.He arrived at the Bell Hotel in Winslow fresh from a coffee morning with the local Age Concern, ready to talk politics, tennis and David Bowie's ability to reinvent himself - a skill that every politician must wish to

Hayleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02172678952687094973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762956124464729988.post-60378836273536892072009-06-15T21:40:00.005+01:002009-06-15T23:20:59.348+01:00

In April Bucks County Council was forced to reveal controversial plans to build a waste incinerator in the middle of rural Aylesbury Vale. As room runs out in our landfills, is burning waste for energy really the answer? For decades we have buried our household waste in landfill sites across the country, but EU legislation and UK government targets are pushing local authorities to find

Hayleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02172678952687094973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762956124464729988.post-13466299588660130512009-06-09T15:02:00.007+01:002009-06-09T19:41:44.418+01:00

In light of the recent European election results, calls for Gordon Brown to step down as Prime Minister have risen to the fore, once again.It's been a disastrous 7 days for Mr Brown. It started with resignations from key cabinet members, including James Purnell and Jacqui Smith, and ended with voters in the north of England prefering to give their MEP seats to the extremist British National Party

Hayleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02172678952687094973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762956124464729988.post-83381432862001382272009-05-11T12:49:00.009+01:002009-05-11T13:55:19.681+01:00

Last night I embraced my inner geek and went to see Star Trek. I'm no Trekkie by any stretch of the imagination - my knowledge extends to Spock, Captain Kirk, William Shatner and being able to identify a Star Trek uniform by it's trademark block colour and the little upside-down V badge.I couldn't tell you anything else. I didn't know when it was set, which characters were in which series or that

Hayleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02172678952687094973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762956124464729988.post-61872895004366010352009-03-28T20:19:00.011Z2009-03-30T22:52:14.469+01:00

I have been somewhat slack these last few weeks in posting ANYTHING ANYWHERE. Mainly because I have been so caught up in planning a magazine or two as part of the assessment for my course. My apologies. Now with cup of tea in hand (and dunked biscuit heading for my jeans), I shall resume.There's been an interesting media reaction to the death of two very different celebrities over the past two

Hayleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02172678952687094973noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762956124464729988.post-32895448618756393342009-02-14T14:14:00.007Z2009-02-16T19:29:17.131Z

The school receptionist facing the sack for requesting prayerTelegraph -Receptionist faces sackDevonshire school receptionist, Jennie Cain, is waiting to find out whether school governors will let her keep her job after she sent an email to 10 of her closest church friends. Mrs Cain asked her friends to pray for her and her family and her children's school after her 5 year old daughter was told

Hayleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02172678952687094973noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762956124464729988.post-28181997398198822282009-01-31T22:44:00.006Z2009-02-17T00:51:50.756Z

Due to my slack publishing of posts, this is now a little, well a lot, behind the times.There is a new Hollywood heartthrob us women are being told we should be swooning over and he is Robert Pattinson.No matter that he is barely out of those difficult teenage years and was brought to our attention in his role as a brooding teen vampire. Robert is THE new creature of lust for every woman and

Hayleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02172678952687094973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762956124464729988.post-68400752692448836422009-01-03T23:00:00.010Z2010-12-29T00:37:31.871Z

Everyday we hear that the credit crunch has claimed another seemingly unsuspecting victim. Banks are being bailed out by the government and thousands of people are losing their jobs. This month Woolworths closed its doors for the last time, leaving nothing more than the childhood memories of filling a little paper bag with as many sweets as your pocket money could buy. As Woolies final days

Hayleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02172678952687094973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762956124464729988.post-16599191497298271762009-01-03T22:28:00.004Z2009-01-03T22:41:17.634Z

Obscenities fly across the arena as Julian Barratt, Noel Fielding and co take their brand of psychedelic comedy to London.“Let’s knit it together like a dirty Shreddie!” declares Noel as he and Julian launch into another night of their ludicrous live tour.From humble beginnings, The Mighty Boosh has taken its fans on a journey into the bizarre minds of Julian and Noel and their alter egos, Howard

Hayleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02172678952687094973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762956124464729988.post-49023401385274163502008-11-24T12:38:00.015Z2008-11-26T15:17:15.700Z

From January 1st 2009, anyone hosting an under 16 in their home will be required to undergo an enhanced CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) check. The new Home Office legislation aims to increase the protection and safety of children, including minors visiting Britain. But this time the nanny state has gone too far.The legislation might look great on paper, but it has opened a proverbial can of

Hayleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02172678952687094973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762956124464729988.post-80623335406572199552008-11-14T12:45:00.001Z2008-11-26T15:21:56.508Z

Admit it, you've secretly wasted hours of your free time on Facebook updating your status and leaving your friends messages on their wall. Maybe you've dabbled in Second Life, or have played the online game World of Warcraft. We live in a world obssesed with social interaction, only we'd prefer to talk to the person we've never met on the other side of the world rather than our next-door

Hayleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02172678952687094973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762956124464729988.post-14592973372901871902008-11-05T13:00:00.000Z2008-11-05T13:01:02.104Z

(written 4th November 08 - posted 5th November, after the event)The Presidential Election:The whole world is eagerly and anxiously awaiting the outcome of today's voting when America's polls finally close in just under ten hours.There is no doubt that today is not only a significant day in American history, but also in the world's history.Much like 9/11, the world will not be the same tomorrow in

Hayleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02172678952687094973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762956124464729988.post-22868480564188497042008-10-10T18:29:00.001+01:002008-10-10T19:36:56.062+01:00

...I may be forced, at the very least, to glare at them in a disapproving manner.The so-called "credit crunch" has been threatening to cause the world's economy to topple and leave nothing more than financial debris for months now. I am not denying we are in the middle of a potentially crippling economic downturn. I for one am wondering how I am going to continue to pay for a degree and general

Hayleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02172678952687094973noreply@blogger.com1