So finally my tumblr app on my bb is working. This will make my life SO much easier. Although I feel I’ll be treading a dangerous line of slipping into rambly posts rather than actually putting some level of thought into them if I can blog from the bus/park etc.

Phones do seem to be taking over our lives. I know that personally I go straight to my phone if I hear it go off regardless of what situation I’m in. (Please do not reply to a text when in a meeting with the head teacher, it doesn’t seem to go down well) With facebook and twitter on my phone I am more in contact now then I have ever before, if pings, status’s and mentions count as contact that is.

Do we use our mobiles to much? My opinion varies on this issue, so let me know!

Addiction. It’s not fun is it? I don’t mean to sound flippant about such a serious subject. But I’m serious, it really isn’t any fun. 

Addiction can affect anyone. I know this sounds all rather obvious but sometimes it’s the most obvious things that we tend to forget. And it seems to me like we have forgot about the problems of addiction. Any person out there is open to addiction, whether it be cocaine, chocolate or clothes.

Now, personally I would say I have an obsessive personality, not addictive. I go through phases of obsession with particular things (drugs, dying my hair, the Bones box set etc) but I normally get bored of it and move on. Not everyone is this lucky obviously. 

I don’t condone addiction, but i also don’t blame the victims. Because that’s what they are by the way, victims. Just in case you’re one of those people that think the blame lies with the person who injects those drugs or takes that next drink. It doesn’t. “Simples”, as my meercat friend would say. Addiction is, sadly, a part our modern world.  

What is it that I don’t get about addiction I hear you ask? (Okay you didn’t ask but i’m going to tell you either way)

I don’t get why people allow it to go on for so long. If you know an addict, you will know that they normally don’t recognise what they are doing as dangerous or abnormal. And unfortunately people like an easy life so just let addicts continue in their self destructive spiral. We can’t expect someone that believes they need heroin to survive make the decision to stop taking it, that’s just not logical. 

The media paints addicts to be lesser people, this quite frankly, is bullshit. They are no weaker or inferior to the rest of the world, they are just more unfortunate. My main point in this blog, is that it is our responsibility as a community and a society to protect those at risk of addiction, to help those already mixed up in it and to support those that are trying to turn their lives around. 

Because I don’t know about you, but I found acting before tragedy is a little more affective. Why mourn death if we can prevent it? Addicts are people; flawed, vulnerable and scared just like the rest of us. (Cheesy I know)

So yeah, I don’t get addiction. 

Let’s not be lazy with lives. 

Don’t get me wrong, I know why they’re important, and I know that they prevent thousands of possible accidents every day.

But…some of those tests, I couldnt even do if I was sober! Standing on one leg….not Miss Clumsy here. Walking in a straight line? NOT A CHANCE! A friend of mine (and it is actually a friend, that isn’t code for me) was even asked to recite the alphabet backwards!! HOW?! Like seriously, there is no way in hell I could do that, sober or otherwise…the alphabet forwards is hard enough. 

All I’m saying is maybe the police should be a little bit more realistic with their demands….I’d like to see them try and stand on one leg with their finger on the tip of their nose reciting the alphabet backwards in a high pressure situation. Yeah, good luck with that!

Cops should just employ parents/teachers. They always seem to be able to detect even 0.01% of alcohol in a teenagers blood stream!!

[I think I’m gonna make this ‘I don’t get….’ thing a regular segment on here, because there are MANY things i just don’t get.]

Now for anyone that loves stand up as much as i do, Edinburgh festival is the place to be right now. Alas i can’t make it up this year, so i shall be getting my comedy fix using good old YouTube. 

I love stand up, whether it’s the big names doing stadium gigs (Lee Evans -GENIUS) or beginners testing out material and dingy little basement clubs, I don’t care as long as there’s a few laughs involved. In fact sometimes i prefer the little clubs with the lesser known acts, it’s a great way to find the “next big thing”, because lets face it, EVERYONE loves discovering someone/thing before their friends. 

So i just thought I would share a few of the people that I’ve been watching for a while now that are at varying stages of getting their names out there, I’ve seen them all live and can guarantee a great show. 

HAVE FUN!

James Acaster

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9lYbP2UuPw&feature=related

@JamesAcaster

Elis James

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqBEAUw2M10

@elisjames

Daniel Sloss

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oBUwFUSsWk

@Daniel_Sloss

Carl Donnelly

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bq6cOTrNp1o

@CarlDonnelly

So, something I am really passionate about it theatre. NOT acting, no way, but watching, oh yes! I try to go to a different show about once a month when I can (student budget people!) and it’s something I really enjoy. If I like a show I have been known to re-see it over and over again (I’ve seen Les Mis nine times and counting).

One thing I hate about the theatre world though, are theatre snobs. People who will only see something if it has had rave reviews or only if it is in on of the better known theatre’s such as the National. These people don’t know what they’re missing! Some of the best shows I’ve seen have been in tiny little theatres in the middle of nowhere or even shows that would be referred to as “amateur productions”. Summer for me is theatre season, I fit in as many shows as possible and I’m already on quite a roll, even if I do say so myself. 

SO for the record:

Richard III at the Old Vic was surprisingly fantastic. I am not a fan of Kevin Spacey who was taking the lead role of Richard so I must admit I wasn’t expecting to much and I was VERY pleasantly surprised. Personally I love Shakespeare so never really have a problem with understanding the language but others with me said that it was one of the most understandable adaptations they have ever seen. 

Dr Faustus at the Globe was incredible. The staging and use of props and tricks was some of the best I’ve seen and the completely unique surprise at the end was just crazy. For me, a sign of a really great play is when a very well known actor is able to shed the character they are famed for and make you believe in the story you are watching in that moment. Arthur Darvill (Rory of Doctor Who) as Mephistopheles does this very well.  

Finally, I cannot wait to go to The Scoop for a third year running on Friday to see two great new theatre shows. A totally free, fun event organisation run out of an amphitheatre on South bank right beside the London mayor’s office. This organisation runs different events throughout the summer, including movie nights, theatre shows and music performances. 

There’s some form of event for everyone and it’s a great opportunity to get a bit of culture without a huge price tag.

http://www.morelondon.com/events.asp

Check it out and give it a try!