New Blog, New Link

Hiya guys!

Just to let you know, I have started a brand new journal.
Here's the link

Leigh's World - The Next Chapter

Wow, What a Shock!

I was very shocked when I received the e-mail from AOL stating that the Journal community is due to close.  Like many other J-Land members, I feel shocked, angry, confused.  Why is AOL doing this?  We weren’t even given a choice.  After all, we are a community!!

I joined the blogging community on April 11, 2006 searching for a new pastime.  It was suggested by a family friend that I join the school newspaper team.  I had planned to leave school and study a Childcare course at college, so I thought “No.”

However, Lesley had planted a seed in my mind, which was ready to grow.  I stumbled across Jeannette’s blog one evening, and suddenly blogging seemed the perfect way to set the world to rights!  Originally I dismissed the idea as I thought people wouldn’t be interested in what a teenager had to say.  How wrong I was!

J-Land is a great community, and it shall be a shame to see it disappear… along with our blogs!  We have laughed and cried together through good times and bad.  I have made some wonderful friends throughout my time here.  It was great to know that whatever you wrote, there was always someone there to listen.  Your words meant so much!  The sudden closure of "AOL, Hometown" has left me wondering, "What's the point?"

Throughout my time here in J-Land, I have shared with us my education, the challenges I have faced, my holidays and family life.  You have watched me grow from boy to man.  I’m not ready to leave yet.  I feel there are still lots of things to tell you.  But thank you for visiting the crazy world of Leigh; it’s been a pleasure having you!

Tags: journals, closure

Three Week's Absence... Tut, Tut!

Wow, it’s been nearly three weeks since I posted a ‘proper’ entry on here.  I have had a serious case of writer’s block!  I’m feeling great!  I think I just needed time away from the computer, to be honest.  J-Land seems to have been pretty quiet in recent months, so it seemed right to take a break.

First of all, I must say Congratulations to my Mum and Dad, who celebrate their 22nd Wedding Anniversary today.  It’s also my mum’s Birthday tomorrow, so I shall send Birthday Wishes too.

I enrol at my local University on the 22nd September.  I will be living at home and commuting back and forth to lectures.  I don’t feel ready to move out of home yet.  Maybe I will in the second year, who knows?

I am really excited to be starting this new chapter in my life.  I’m so excited to be meeting new people and making new relationships, as well as all the parties!!  I’m nervous too, but the social-networking site, Facebook has been helpful there. 

You see, I have joined a Fresher’s Group on there.  The Group enables prospective students to find others on their course and get to know each other beforethe course starts.  It’s really handy because now we won’t get so freaked out when we meet.  It’s amazing to me how many students attending this University are not from Wales!

Do you remember I was nominated for my county’s “Outstanding Student Award”?  The Awards Ceremony took place on 5th September.  It was a lovely night.  I felt so honoured and it was a privilege to be there with my parents, Headmaster (I was so nervous chatting to him!!) and Head of Sixth Form, as well as all the other talented nominees.

There were 18 nominees altogether, one from each Sixth Form in the borough.  Then in between five courses, the six nominees from each county (Rhondda, Cynon & Taff) would go up individually and answer questions about themselves.

I was asked four questions, which I will post at a later date.  I had written two pages of stuff to mention – I know what you’re thinking… a little O.T.T – but I didn’t want to forget anything.  Anyway, I didn’t use the paper as a reminder.  I felt I didn’t need it, however, I think I remembered the important bits!

I went up onto the stage twice after the speech.  Once to collect a trophy for being a finalist in the competition… and another one for… Rhondda’s Regional Student of the Year!!!!!  Can you believe it?... YEAH BABY!!!!!  Also, I was awarded £170 in vouchers, which are going to go towards books for education… boring I know, but sensible!

Oh my God – I was so speechless.  Words cannot describe how I feel.  I’ve been on a cloud of euphoria ever since.  It wasn’t the top prize (the top prize was a brand new car for a year), however, it was like the icing on the cake for me.  I have worked so hard and now it’s paid off.  You see, the organizers announced the Regional Winners, then the overall winner of the competition. 

I feel so honoured and privileged, and now, I’m looking forward to the new challenges that lie ahead.  I may need to detox in October after all these celebrations!!  HAHAHAA!! 

   

9/11: We Will Not Forget

Tags: 9-11-01, New York, World Trade Center, Terrorist attack

Is it Over Already?

 

I can’t believe the Olympics are coming to an end.  It certainly doesn’t feel like coverage has been broadcast for sixteen days, anyway.

 

As I type this, Team Great Britain have won 19 gold medals, 13 silver medals and 15 bronze medals.  The team has achieved forty-seven medals in all and rank fourth in the league table.    Well done team, your country is very proud of you!

 

 

However, I do not think it is fair that in the league tables, they only count the Gold total.  It’s as if the Silver and Bronze medals do not matter.  The Silver and Bronze may not be as prestigious as Gold, but it’s still a good attempt.  Maybe in the future they could change the scoring system.  Perhaps 5 points for a Gold, 3 points for a Silver, and 1 point for a Bronze?

 

     

 

It’s the Olympics Closing Ceremony today.  The Opening Ceremony in Beijing was so spectacular!  I woner what surprises China have in store for us today.  I predict that the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 Games are going to be a tough act to follow.  I mean, for a start, we don’t have the same amount of money to spend.

 

      

 

Well done Team GB once again.  According to the “Daily Mirror” this Olympic Games has been the best performance by athletes to date.  Let’s hope the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown keeps his vow to give the team Honours!

 

Get ready for the Paralympics Games which begin on 6th September!

 

      

 

Pictures above are from the Opening Ceremony of the Games in Beijing.

 

Team GB arrive at Hathrow Airport, London. 

Tags: Beijing, Great Britain, Olympics 2008, medal count, Team GB, sport

Limo Trouble

 

Firstly, remember this entry?  Well, I have an update for you.  Kailei & I, along with the other couple WILL NOT be getting a refund from the limousine company.  This is because the company refuse to believe it was their fault that we broke down en route three times.  TOTAL BULL!

 

 

 

The driver said his boss knew that the limo had a strong chance of breaking down.  The manager said they would not give us anything back because the driver did the job.  He got us there from A to B.  But as they missed the professional photography session, they gave us a two bottles of wine to share and half an hour’s free ride in the limo whenever we wanted.

 

 

 

I’m sorry if I sound ungrateful, but in my opinon, for the amount of money we paid… that’s not worth it at all.

 

Still On Cloud Nine

Firstly, I would like to congratulate my friend and mentor Jeannette, who was given the role of Magic Smoke’s “Guest Editor” this week.

 

I would like to thank her as she choosing my journal as one of her ‘picks’.  What a surprise and honour it was to learn I had been chosen.  It must’ve been a very hard job to pick six journals as there are so many out there in J-Land. 

 

I’m so enjoying reading and commenting on Jeannette’s other choices.  It is thrilling to discover some journals that I have never visited before.

 

Waiting for my ‘A’ Level results wasn’t as bad as I had thought.  I was excited more than anything.  All of us were told to line up and wait outside the Headmaster’s office.  Then one by one, we were called in and then handed our results on a piece of paper, and given a hearty congratulations and a pat on the back!

 

I do not agree with this procedure at all because the teachers already know the results and it’s unfair on the student.  I believe that the Results should be put in an envelope and then given to the open.  Then, they can deal with whatever good or bad news privately. 

 

I know the teachers must be there to support and guide students, but whatever happened to privacy?

 

To make things worse, I had to go and see the Deputy Headmaster then, to check if I had received acceptance from my chosen University.  It was total chaos!  The University’s switchboard was jammed.  So I was sitting for an hour and a half, waiting for a response.  That was the worst part… not knowing whether or not you had got onto your course.  In the end, I gave up… it seemed like I had been sitting there hours… so, I came home and checked online.  There it sat in my inbox:  “YOU HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED!”

 

Later on that night, we had a little drink to celebrate in the back garden.  It was nice.  Mum, Dad, Uncle Robert, Maggi, his girlfriend Auntie Helen and Kailei were here.  Not too many people, just the people that mattered.  We all had Champagne and some strawberry cheesecake.  I paid the price the next day though with the mother of all hangovers!  I must say, I don’t drink much, so it goes straight to my head!

 

Thank you to everyone who sent congratulations on my ‘A’ Level Results.  I am still on cloud nine.  I’m so excited to begin this new chapter in my life.  The other students won’t know what’s hit them, hee hee! 

 

Tags: A/AS Levels, examinations, results