Reflection

For me, 2010 was a strange year. I had no really major events (apart from stepping foot on US soil for the first time) but with regards to character building it was huge! My new years resolution last year was to become more assertive, start looking out for me, stop feeling bad for saying 'no' to people. And while it took me many months to make progress I think I’ve finally gotten somewhere. I finally came to the realisation that I constantly make the mistake for falling for guys I shouldn't, who make me feel like crap, and that’s a key reason for me feeling down about myself. But I finally know now who my friends are and that’s huge for me.

2011 will be a big year no matter what. Three 21st birthdays in the family and a 50th. My sister’s wedding, my graduation and finding my first real job. I can’t wait to graduate.

New Years resolution? ORGANISE MYSELF. STOP PROCRASTINATING. KNUCKLE DOWN AND FINISH WELL.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY!

NI Water Make A Boob.

During the lead up to the Christmas Period, Northern Ireland experienced some of the coldest conditions on record, with temperatures plummeting to -18 degrees in Castlederg and the worst snow fall for 25 years. Christmas morning for me was a chilly -16 degrees. Fast forward 24 hours and Boxing day was a positively tropical 6 degrees. However, as the temperatures rose, burst pipes from the freeze began to drain reservoirs of their stores, commencing the nightmare for NI Water.

Tonight, Peter Robinson condemned NI's response to the fiasco, labelling it as "shambolic" and "ineffective". More than 6,000 homes tonight remain without running water and NI water is having to rotate its supply to some 60,000 customers. This for NI Water (NIW) is a PR disaster. What could they have done differently? Two words:

SOCIAL MEDIA

As far as I can tell, NIW is yet to take advantage of Social Media channels. What adds further insult to this fact is some clever cookie has jumped the gun and started a pseudonym on Twitter unofficially as NI Water. Under the name of 'Not Really NI Water', the do-gooder is not only helpfully tweeting updates from NI Water themselves but highlighting the fact that NIW are nowhere to be seen.

 All NIW engineers carry mobile phones. All engineers therefore have the ability to send a simple update via sms, detailing progress made or update those areas with or without water in real time, turning this experience into something slightly less sour. Instead, some have been without water for 12days with no idea of when it will be restored. Others have had intervals between water supplies, resulting in timid use of taps for fear of causing an airlock in the system. Burst pipes were inevitable, we all knew this. However by keeping the public in the dark NIW has somewhat signed their own fate.

The damage has been done in this case and it looks like the only way out of the fiasco is to embark on a complete overhaul on how NIW is funded and operated. This is a prime example of how simple it could have been to keep the public on-side. The money required to change NIW's reputation back round in comparison to the pennies required to update a twitter account is, well, sad to say the least.

Day Twelve... Christmas Day.

Day Eleven... Christmas Eve Stayed indoors...

Day Ten... I braved it, and it was Beautiful.

Day Nine... It's Too Cold to Venture Outside. Window View will do.

Day Eight... Home, and can Finally Enjoy the snow.

Day Seven... Happiness is...

Day Six

Day Five

Day Four

Day three

Chillin...

Weather Obsession

I swear I'm becoming obsessed with the weather... for good reason though! I'm flying back home on Monday to N.I. for Christmas to be with my family. We've recently been forecast more snow. Now, I know for some of you American readers, the snow is not that big of a deal where you are. Especially not the meagre amount that we get here in the UK. However, the sad thing is that it only takes a few inches and the entire place shuts down. We just can't cope.

I found out an interesting fact yesterday too from a lecturer. Bristol airport was apparently built where it is in order to experience the most adverse conditions. If it's going to be foggy, it will be foggy at Bristol airport. If snow is forecast, you can guarantee that Bristol will bare the brunt of it. Why I hear you ask? For the flippin' RAF, so that they could practice in such conditions! Now what moron decides to keep it as an airport for the general public?

Anyhoo, whether it's true or not it doesn't matter. Back to my original point. Weather forecasts. I just wish they could all agree on the same thing. I've got 5 different options for checking the weather on my phone alone. Every morning and night this week I've been checking the short and long range forecasts. And whilst the BBC tells me 'no snow. but some sun' yahoo is telling me 'SNOWWWW!!!!' It's freaking me out slightly.

I'll keep you posted. Right now, BBC is saying sun on Sunday and Monday. Yahoo is telling me snow sunday and sleet on monday. That's the most they've agreed all week. Stay like that please. The last thing I want is to be sat on Christmas all by myself with the only thing to do being my dissertation :(  (but snow, feel free to come back when I'm home safe and sound!)

Day Two

I promise to start being more creative with future posts...

Day one

I needed lots of this today. Might explain my headache.

Protesting students are still camping in the student union.