Journal Entries
Ormondroyd: an overdue update
Posted Jun 1, 2007
It really has been a while since I've posted a Journal Entry, hasn't it? The main reason is that I have been truly, madly, deeply busy with University work. During an exhausting first five months of 2007, I completed my B.A. (Hons.) in Combined Studies at Bradford University, which involved writing and then re-writing my dissertation on the subject of 'The Feature Film Documentary As A Political Weapon: A Case Study - "Super Size Me"'. 
I also did sociology and English Literature modules, respectively assessed by means of a somewhat stressful three-hour exam (a 
experience, since I don't normally hand-write anything longer than a postcard) and a lengthy essay. On top of all that, I've performed in two shows with my theatre group and two more shows with the Bradford University Society of Operettas and Musicals - the University's Society of the Year for the third successive year.
So now everyone keeps asking me 'What are you going to do next?' And the honest answer is 'Er, I dunno'. 
I can't really make any firm plans until I get my results, which probably won't happen until early July; I'm due to graduate on July 19, if all has gone well. The student life has suited me so well that I really don't want to leave academia; I'd like to stick around, either as a postgraduate student or in Uni administration. I'm going to be taking some professional careers advice over the next couple of weeks, but really nothing much can be decided until my results come through. I'm fairly confident that I've got either a First or a 2.1. We'll see. 
In the meantime, I've got an anxious wait and a bit of time on my hands... which at least means that I can now spare a bit of time for h2g2 again! 
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Latest reply: Jun 1, 2007
The Mystery of Room 42
Posted Jan 23, 2007
When I looked at the timetable for my University modules in this semester, I was delighted to find that my Monday morning 'Revolutions In Literature' class was to be in Room D42 of the biggest Bradford University building. D for Douglas Adams, 42 - I knew I'd never have any trouble remembering that. 
Imagine, then, my consternation when I got to the building yesterday to be greeted by some of my classmates who told me that we had to go to another room, because D42 simply wasn't there! No room with that number existed on D floor. A notice had been left directing us all to another room in another building, where a very enjoyable session studying the works of Wordsworth duly ensued. 
But what, I wonder, happened to Room D42? Did the Vogons demolish it? 
Has it fallen through a rift in time and space, taking some unlucky students with it? 
The official explanation is that D42 does exist, honest, but the Uni maintenance people just hadn't gotten around to putting the sign with the magic number on the door. We're going on another mission to find it next Monday. I'll look out for hovering 
, just in case.
Anyway, the 'Hitchhiker' motif of the week continued at my rehearsal with the mighty Bradford University Society of Operettas and Musicals (BUSOM) tonight. We're doing 'Fiddler On The Roof', and during rehearsals of that lovely song 'Sunrise, Sunset', our musical director told us to try to sound happier, because at the moment she thought we were singing like Marvin the Paranoid Android.
Personally, I took that as a compliment.
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Latest reply: Jan 23, 2007
Ormy's New Year Resolutions 2007
Posted Dec 31, 2006
It's that time of year again: time to look back, take stock and look forward. I guess that all things considered, 2006 went pretty well. My main objective all along has been to continue succeeding as a student, and I can certainly give myself a bit of 
on that front. All assignment deadlines have been met, and I am still on course for a first-class BA (Hons.) degree. I am now in the final few months of my course, and will be starting my dissertation very soon. (In fact, as I've already had to hand in a 1,500 word plan of action for my 8,000 word dissertation, I suppose I've started work on it already.) The last mark I received for an essay was 78 per cent, and if I can keep up anything like that standard I'll be fine.
So far so good. However, looking back in this Journal on my resolutions from a year ago, I 
to see how badly I've done in another area. Last New Year's Day, I confessed that I needed to look after my fitness a bit better, because I'd been letting myself get out of shape towards the end of 2005. Well, guess what? I've been overdoing the 
and 
again towards the end of this year too, and on an overdue visit to the gym on Friday I found that my weight was perilously close to 100kg, a barrier I'm determined not to go through. So a detox January with more exercise is definitely in order, I feel.
There are one or two things in those 2006 resolutions that now seem a little poignant. Last year I finished my resolutions by pledging to get some 
in my life, and I've certainly tried to do so in the past year. I've been as sociable as I could be, and there is a gratifyingly large collection of Christmas cards on the shelves to the right of my computer. I've made a couple of great new friends during 2006. However, I am still single, and it's still a scandalous waste. I'll be seeing in the New Year by watching Jools Holland's Hootenanny alone, and in truth I'll be glad when the holiday season is over, because if you're feeling a bit isolated then the festivities just make matters worse. Of course I'll probably complain about being overworked then; but I am really looking forward to seeing all my University and theatre friends again.
So, let's keep it simple this year, with just the two resolutions:
1) Lose some weight and gain some fitness. 
2) Write a great dissertation and get that degree. 
And a very happy, healthy and peaceful 2007 to all my readers!
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Latest reply: Dec 31, 2006
Ormy's Virtual Mistletoe
Posted Dec 15, 2006
Happy holidays everyone!
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Latest reply: Dec 15, 2006
Song and dance man
Posted Nov 6, 2006
I am now a critically-acclaimed actor! OK, it might be just one critic in a student magazine who has sung my praises, but hey, it's the principle of the thing that counts. After all the years I spent as a music journalist reviewing other people's performances, it cheered me up no end to have someone else write about me and my friends and say that we were good, our show was good, and I was especially good. You can read the review here: http://www.kineticmag.com/reviews/46/ (and for anyone who doesn't know, my RL name is Dave Jennings. So the sixth paragraph is the personally significant section. 
)
Emboldened by this success, I am making my debut as a song and dance man on Thursday in 'Scratch Express', a simplified version of 'Starlight Express', taking place at the Theatre In The Mill, Bradford at 7:30pm. I play Prince of Wales, the English Train, and get to sing on three numbers and take part in two fairly carefully choreographed dance routines, one of which involves some vigorous high kicking. I've booked a massage for the afternoon of the show in an effort to help my creaking old frame keep up with all the people half my age who I'll be performing with.
If you'd told me ten years ago that in 2006 I'd be a University student singing and dancing to Andrew Lloyd Webber songs in public, I'd have been incredulous and probably outraged. But what the heck - the show may be pretty silly but it has some good tunes in it, and it's all fantastic light relief from the rigours of my final year at Uni. Will the press and public me this time? I'll soon know! 
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Latest reply: Nov 6, 2006
Ormondroyd
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