Equal marriage

Firstly, let me start by saying I don’t think I have anything original to say on this subject. I just want to show my support.

Now that the Marriage (same-sex couples) Bill has been backed at a second reading, they’ll doubtless be thousands of similar blogs across the UK publishing their joy – and their relief. And thank goodness for that! It’s really important that people – no matter their sexuality – get behind the bill because it says so much about the country we live in, our friends, our rights and our future.

As many have commented, one day the generations that follow ours will wonder what all the fuss was about – they might stumble across blogs far superior to this and experience it as an alienating kind of history. And to be perfectly honest, the generations that have issues will have probably gone to the grave by then, their bigoted views dying with them.

There’s a (frankly) disturbing video of Conservative MP Sir Roger Gale claiming that he was ensured that the Civil Partnership Bill wouldn’t lead to equal marriage. He now wants to scrap civil partnership in favour of ‘civil union’, entirely missing the point.

MP David Burrowes was quoted in the same BBC article; “marriage is a great way of celebrating the difference between a man and a woman”. Now, if I ever were to marry, it wouldn’t be because I wanted to celebrate lacking a penis. I’m a massive fan of Don’t Tell the Bride, and I swear there’s never been a vow which involves a description of differing anatomies or hormones. Therefore, this quote concerns me even more than Gale’s as it appears to affirm Burrowes’ belief in breadwinner/housewife stereotypes.

More refreshing is MP David Lammy’s more emotive response in support of the bill; David Lammy, Labour;

“There are still those who say this is all unnecessary. Why do we need gay marriage when we already have civil partnership, they say. They are the same – separate but equal – they claim. Let me speak frankly – separate but equal is a fraud. Separate but equal is the language that tried to push Rosa Parks to the back of the bus…. Separate is not equal so let us be rid of it.”

Marriage is not exclusively a religious institution. It is a sacrament in many religions, therefore being part of their institutional structure, but these religions do not have ownership – and nor should they have control – of the definition. It’s the legal, social (and hopefully in most cases, emotional) union of two people.

Next Tuesday at 11pm on Radio 4, equal marriage supporter (and one half of a happy civil partnership) Susan Calman will be explaining why she calls her ‘civil partner’ her wife and how she can’t wait to have the term legally recognised. I did a video interview with her ahead of the broadcast, which you can watch here.

Changing status

When I was 18, the usual way of announcing to the world that you are suddenly single was to change your Facebook status.

Now, it’s far more acceptable to never publish any kind of status online (certainly preferable and less awkward in my opinion), but it does mean that now I have that strange reality of telling people – who should I tell, how do I make telling people when ‘how’s so-and-so’ comes up in discussion less embarassing for my co-conversers and should I mention this on Facebook, Twitter etc…

I don’t really know the answers to the above, but the kind of people who read my blog are probably more likely to ask than Twitter followers, Facebook friends and so on, so I thought I’d essentially break the news here and try and see if you’ll share your break-up experiences and tips. I’ve not been in this place for what must be a couple of years (having been single for over a year before meeting my latest ex).

These are the things I’ve thought of so far:

EXERCISE!

Suddenly you have your own routine to prioritise – I’m at my fittest when I’m solo.

CAKE!

I have some unsalted butter with ‘Radio Comedy cupcakes’ written all over it in the fridge. Although my ex was much better at making icing than me, I need to learn sometime.

Top the biscuit base with the chocolate mixture
Mmmm… chocolate

SHOES!

No more worrying about height, practicality, that slightly unsexy waddle from those ‘man-scaring’ snow lepoard boots etc…

Man-repellant shoes?
Man-repellant shoes?

PANTS!

I’ve heard many an appreciative uology on the unparalleled joys of an M&S cotton five-pack. Maybe it’s time I join the fan club.

CLUELESS!

The film, not actually lacking logic (although surely that’s acceptable for me in the next few weeks). Although I need John Hughes in my life too – does anyone have a copy of the Breakfast Club they can lend me?

FLEECY JOGGING BOTTOMS (and other comfort clothes)

I think my wearing these on Saturday whilst still attached was a bad idea. But now I’m looking forward to seeing them tonight. This is not as sad as it sounds – next time I swap them for something socially acceptable, I’ll have a whole of exercise behind me…

It's all about the comfort
It’s all about the comfort

I should finish by saying that this post is about me, not my relationship – something that can’t be replicated nor replaced by unflattering, comfy clothes and something I shall miss very much.

Radio 1’s Comedy Christmas

Here are four of the videos from Radio Comedy’s specials for Radio 1 in a handy Youtube playlist so you can watch in one go.

They feature Nick Helm serenading an audience member called Dexter, a beatboxer called Hobbit doing the ‘laughbox’, Doc Brown rapping about honest flirting and Roisin Conaty, Lloyd Langford, James Acaster and Sara Pascoe explaining their New Year’s resolutions.

Enjoy!

The New Year list

Happy New Year, everyone!

I didn’t want to come out and do a ‘New Year’s Resolutions’ post, although that’s pretty much what the rest of this going to be, as I think you can be resolved to change at any time of the year. All you really need to ‘make a change’ (and no, I’m not deliberately quoting Michael Jackson there, although I’m aware that I have now) is a catalyst that spurs you into action.

For example, when I was 18 and in my first year at uni, a bit of heartbreak (and the sudden – thankfully temporary – withdrawal of the student radio station Burnfm.com spurred me onto go beyond Selly Oak and Edgebaston and get involved in the local music and creative communities, gaining a career in the process.

However, it doesn’t always have to be such a massive change – and this refers to both your motivation or your resolution. My move from Shoreditch to Willesden Green (a result of a job change from Channel 4 to BSkyB) meant that I spent more time inside so I used this as a source of self-encouragement to start exercising, which I’ve done fairly regularly for the past year with the help of Davina McCall’s excellent workout DVDs (I have the Superbody, Target and Intense videos – no gyms for me) and the intense street dancing undertaken whilst rehearsing for the London 2012 Opening Ceremony. I’m not super-skinny, but I feel better (and even slightly proud) for it.

So without further ado, here’s what I’d like to attempt to achieve in 2013…

  • Keep exercising
  • Record some music, play gigs and be a more accomplished musician
  • Independently produce a radio comedy or podcast
  • Take more photos
  • Get some artwork, photos (all framed) onto the walls of the ‘Get Flat’
  • Create my own variations of cupcake recipes
  • Keep my job (the perils of a fixed-term contract!)
  • See friends more

So what about you – what’s inspired you to do a ‘Man in the Mirror’ and start something afresh? Have you got a 2013 to-do list?

Nick Helm’s Christmas Spectacular

Here’s the first of a festival handful of videos I’ve produced to accompany the Radio 1’s Christmas Comedy specials broadcasting on the 26th, 27th December and 2nd, 3rd January.

Obviously, as someone who’s most memorable moments for listening to Radio pretty much all come from listening to Radio 1 in my bedroom, taping the songs I wanted from the Official Chart Show, this is quite a big moment for me – despite being insignificant to the rest of the world. And anyone who has followed my blog or been friends with me for a while, will probably understand this even more!

As well as this video, they’ll be another of Nick Helm performing a song about Boxing Day, plus videos from Dong Comedy, featuring the-scary-one-that-didn’t-die-in-Hunted, Doc Brown (aka the ridiculously multi-talented musician, actor and comedian Ben Smith) and Roisin Conaty: What If?, also featuring Lloyd Langford, Sara Pascoe and James Acaster. I’ll be tweeting when this content is live, so follow me for updates if you’re not already doing so (thanks)!

Find out more about the shows on the Radio 1 website.

The ‘what I want for Christmas’ post

“When are you doing your Christmas wish list this year?”

This is what my sister asked me last month. She claims to have found this post from two years ago rather hilarious (but also useful, seeing as she got me one of the items mentioned – thanks Charlotte)!

It occurred to me yesterday, as I admired the resulted of my admittedly pathetic wrapping piled up in the hallway of the ‘Get Flat’ (ahem, that’s my flat to the uninitiated) . I then got a Facebook message from my mother asking what I want, which made me realise that firstly, my Mother has moved on from the humble text message (phone calls were so over a few years ago) and has now decided that social media is the way to go for quick questions – Xmas requests and home visits being the most common – it’s also easier for her and her partner to both question me at the same time. Secondly, it reminded me that perhaps this Xmas wishlist lark is frivolous but useful for those lovely, wonderful people who are going to indulge me this year (my 24th birthday is December 27th… eek).

So now I’m doing a rushed browse around the web, wondering what on earth I could want. I’m going very minimal with my flat in case anyone is ever foolish/grown up enough to move in with me (yes I know that’s years away) and I’m scared of building up clutter. However, one’s sofa can never be cluttered, only squishy and comfy or glacial cool. So, I’ve got the er… ‘hunger’ for some of these amazing biscuit cushions from Nikki McWilliams.

Cushion by Nikki McWilliams
Cushion by Nikki McWilliams

My living room is very ‘masculine’ with loads of greys and black tones with a colour pop provided by an orange sofabed from Made.com so the custard creams might work nicely in the living room, with the party rings or love heart jammy dodgers going down better in the ‘girly’ bedroom.

Jammy dodger cushion
Cushion by Nikki McWilliams

It’s not quite as cute or glamorous as the cushions, but I’m also seeking these shelves to pop in the hallway from Ikea. I’ve got a grey one in the living room, but the white version is perfect for books and more and they’re a snip at £14. I also need some grey machine dye to dye some curtains I’ve been given and a long curtain pole for my living room…. so er, maybe a voucher then!?

Finally house-wise, I’m seeking double bedding donations, contributions to aid my DVD and CD collections (I’ve only got Alt-J and Jessie Ware’s albums from the Mercurys shortlist and there’s a few more nominated I’d love to own, plus – ahem again – the Little Mix and Nicola Roberts albums). There’s also the desperate desire to own a floor lamp for the living room – either the Arche floor lamp or Studio tripod model from Made.com.

I’m still mad on baking – cupcakes are my latest fad (two years later than the rest of the world). I love that they’re so easy to transport to work/friends/places so I don’t end up keeping them all to myself. All baking paraphernalia welcome as far as I’m concerned!

Frankie holds cupcakes
Vanilla cupcakes by Frankie (photo and help from Adam)

You can never go wrong with the gift of a Mac makeover (or one of their awesome eye shadows). You book a slot and then you get to try loads of products and the cost of the makeover covers products of the same value (you can buy more if you like, of course!) Plus, there’s the ever-reliable Topshop voucher to keep you in jumpers for the rest of Winter…

GCHQ – Apprenticeships in British Intelligence

I did a careers talk at work the other day for a group of sixth formers about how I got started in my career and what my job actually entails.

I probably got a tad too carried away with the self-depreciation (at one point joking about how I ‘looked 40’, despite leaving sixth form less than six years ago.

As part of the chat, one thing I was really keen to discuss was the topic of going to university: is getting into debt worth it? Will you actually gain anything from your study? Could you gain experience elsewhere?

It appears quite timely to me – given my recent experience, the timing of a new James Bond film and the end of my guilty pleasure, the BBC spy series Hunted – that I’ve been just approached with news of an Apprenticeships scheme with British Intelligence.

(I now realise I could have said ‘I’ve been approached by MI5’, but let’s not get too carried away here, I regularly get confused by our office printers so it’s a role that is perhaps not best suited to me.)

Essentially this is a chance for tech-savvy teens and mathematically-minded young people to help MI5 and MI6 keep Britain safe, whilst gaining a Two year Technical programme in IT, Software, Internet, Telecoms and earning £17,000 to do it. The first year is based in GCHQ
 (that’s Cheltenham and Gloucester to you and me) and the second will feature placements that may find apprentices working in London.
As with any course or job, there are a few application requirements:

“You will have, or be expected to gain by September 2013, three A-Levels (or equivalent qualifications), two of which must be at Grade C or above in a STEM (science, technology, engineering, maths) related subject.”

You have to be British, but they’re looking for applicants from all backgrounds.

To find out more you can register for their open days in Manchester, London or Cheltenham by heading to their website: www.careersinbritishintelligence.co.uk, but be quick – applications close on November 30.

If I was considering my options, and I happened to be more scientifically minded, this would be it for me – £17,000 is more than my salary for my first job outside of Uni for a start! Plus, after two years you can use your skills elsewhere or even save that salary up for taking another course.

(I’m a bit jealous now!)

Would you consider giving it a go?

This is a Sponsored Post – but don't worry, if I don't like it, I won't write about it!

Fundraiser for Jodi’s Brain

If I lived in Birmingham, on November 14 I’d be down the Hare and Hounds for this.

It’s a fundraiser for the poet Jodi Ann Bickley. I’ve been cheeky and decided to copy and paste from the event to explain what it’s all about…

Hey.

So! Like, I’m not the sort of person who asks for help. Ever, Like even if I used to have to borrow bus fare it would proper piss me off, saying that I still owe Kim Trusty at least a tenner in bus fare from June/July. Just saying. Anyway. 

This is me asking for help. Basically I don’t have the money to go to a head neuro and although I have the most wicked family – we aren’t rolling in dollar. The blood tests I need to get are extremely difficult to get on the NHS due to technicalitys with the test 

– a negative result can be a positive and therefore whats going on with my brain is pretty hard to diagnose. (P.s I know I’m spelling a lot of stuff wrong, I’m trying to touch type because the computer screen is making me want to be a little sick on my lap). This all started 
with a tic bite back in last September, before then I had two jobs – performed a lot and just y’know did stuff. Because that’s what you can do when you aren’t ill. I can no longer work, otherwise I would man and I really wouldn’t be asking any of you to dive into your pockets but like – I seizure and fit and pass out a shit load these days. I’m getting an EEG and having a scan of my neck, head and spine to see if anything nasty is hiding. Currently I can’t sleep alone, leave the house alone, go down stairs alone – My fits are often
violent which is mad because I’ve never been in a fight but apparently I’m like the hulk when I’m fitting. I dunno, okay. Yada, yada..I’m going on basically. 

On November 14th at The Hare and Hounds. We’re having a fundraiser to try and raise some money to get my brain fixed good and proper. My pals are coming up and performing for nothing and we’re gunna put on a big party and hopefully you will come because, I’m not a horrible girl and bad brains are shit. It’s on a Wednesday too so it’s not like you can even be like – I CAN’T GO I WANNA GO AND HANG OUT WITH BABES IN TOWN. All the babes are my friends and I can assure you many of them will be there. As well as cake.

Polarbear and John Berkavitch are hosting. 

Rachel Rose Reid. – the best storyteller in the world. 
Tom Peel – the best one man band in the world. 
Dub Mafias Eva & Matt w/ Mr Woodnote – between them they have more talents than most people in the whole world.
Bridget Minamore – she is the tiniest most lovely in the world. 
Musa Okwonga – loveliest, most wonderful in the world. 

– I am honestly not sure what else is happening. 

But I’ve got the best selection of 90s R&B in Tyseley.

It would be wicked if you could come man.

Thankyou.

Jodi.

 
Jodi’s poetry is the stuff that can make you double over with laughter or make you need to dab your eyes with a hanky. She was performing and festivals and being featured in magazines before she fell ill. She was cultivating a cultural community in Birmingham for fellow spoken-words enthusiasts and doing a bloody good job of it. When someone says ‘life is unfair’, I usually scoff in their faces and tell them not to make an excuse – if you have that tolerant attitude, nothing will change for the better. However, in Jodi’s case (and this goes for anyone suffering from poor health), it’s true; life has been ridiculously unfair. Typically, Jodi’s going to fight for change and you can help her, by popping along to the Hare and Hounds on Wednesday 14 November to show support and be entertained all at the same time.
 

Returning to YouTube

I learnt to play guitar and ukulele in front of a YouTube audience, with mixed results to say the least!

From guitar-strap fetishists to German Razorlight fans, I used to demo fragments of new songs for these people, and bash out the occasional catastrophic cover.

Doing covers helped me learn chords and generate ideas for songs of my own. Now I live on my own I can be a bit more spontaneous with playing and practicing. I still get nervous when I’m recording though – if I near the end of a song without a terrible, obvious mistake my pulse quickens; will I make it? Nine times out of ten it’s a no…

But here you go. My return to YouTube. I find it really hard to look at the camera and sing this one, particularly as my face screws up horrendously when I’m performing it.