The Journal's Graeme Whitfield takes you behind the headlines in his newsroom blog »
Environment campaigner Anna Heywood writes on ethical living »
Malcolm Clarke on life as a professional pool player »
Brenda Boyd - the life and times of a morris dancer »
David Brennan from the website Enjoying Photography writes about how to take good photos »
Emily Sillar, from the Comfort Food Company on North-East food »
Write Said Fred - view from the pram with six-month-old Fred Telfer »
Rebecca Young finds fashion on a budget »
Local GP John Mackay writes about the NHS »
Mark Robertson of the Northumber-August 2007 Archives
When is a story not a story?
Posted by Graeme on August 1, 2007 1:24 PM
If you read this blog often enough, you might start to get the impression that I am a little ball of ginger spite whose anger is directed solely at the PR industry.
Honestly, that's not quite true. There are lots of people who work in PR who I count as good friends, and many more who I think do a really good job.
But then there are the others...
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Business is not there to save the planet
Posted by Anna Heywood on August 3, 2007 3:17 PM
I read with interest the story in today’s Journal "Discovery could cut all greenhouse gases" about a ceramic tube device, which if inserted in to power stations, can reduce carbon emissions.
Whilst I was impressed with the yet again great technical and engineering capability of our region; I was also left annoyed that for this to be a viable option for business to consider, the scientists involved feel that ‘it will only be taken up if the Government increases its commitment to reducing carbon emissions by putting up financial penalties”.
Well I’m afraid I won’t be holding my breath for that to happen.
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Keep it fair!
Posted by Anna Heywood on August 3, 2007 4:50 PM
We've all heard the terrible stories about the personal cost of mass market fashion: sweatshops, child labour, environmental disasters from dyes and bleaches.
Now my favourite ethical fashion store 'People Tree' has just launched 'Fashion at a Fair Price' and with it a fab new T-shirt.
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The doctor will see you now
Posted by John Mackay on August 3, 2007 5:16 PM
Apparently there are millions and millions of blogs written every day across the world, and thousands of new ones are started daily. Most stop after a few weeks or months of writing. Sitting here now trying to start for the first time, I begin to understand.
I’ve wanted to do a blog for quite a while, but when it comes to the crunch it’s not so easy to start. What shall I write about, how do you start, am I suffering from writers’ block already?? How do people do this for a living?
Just get on with it, he says to himself while calming down and trying to focus, write about what you know. Hmmm, still stuck. Wonder why that is?
So what do I do?
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An introduction to my challenge
Posted by Malcolm Clarke on August 3, 2007 9:29 PM
In late February 2006 I was unfortunate enough to be diagnosed as a type 1 diabetic, which means I must inject insulin daily in order for my body to process blood sugar. According to my doctors, a virus had took hold and attacked and killed my pancreas.
I remember feeling a little dissapointed that it had not put up much of a fight.
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The condition is not all you must cope with
Posted by Malcolm Clarke on August 8, 2007 11:38 AM
Last night I went to the gym, partly motivated by small changes in my appearance, and partly by the fact that if I am to write a decent blog about getting fitter whilst coping with my condition then I must do the graft.
I worked hard and felt a lot better afterwards. Never underestimate the power of exercise in making you feel good.
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NIMBY-ism may create activism
Posted by Anna Heywood on August 9, 2007 11:50 AM
My first two thoughts upon reading the Health Protection Agency's (HPA) comments in today's Journal (Waste activists take up a burning issue ) about waste incinerators were A) I'm sure I've heard the term 'poses little risk to public health' before and B) I don't actually care, in this case, what advice the HPA come out with; my gut instinct, and indeed I'm sure that of most other people, is that you wouldn't want an incinerator anywhere near you or your children.
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Yellow Pages recycling
Posted by Anna Heywood on August 10, 2007 9:11 PM
Have you recently received your new Yellow Pages? Not sure what to do with the old one?
Today Alice Massey from Newcastle and Gateshead Friends of the Earth sent me this timely email.
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Chilly Billy cools down the kids
Posted by Anna Heywood on August 10, 2007 9:21 PM
On hot days like these, do your children ask you for sticky sugary lollies and ice pops that you'd really rather they didn't have? True eco decision would be to make your own juice lollies or better still deny the little bleeders even that. Didn't you know that freezers use up lots of energy and that's bad!
Today my natural, organic, fair trade, lolly making skills totally deserted even me (somewhere amongst the mountain of washing to do), but I think that I may have found a compromise in 'Chilly Billy'.
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A-levels: the bane of my life
Posted by Graeme on August 14, 2007 1:53 PM
For the last three years I have been The Journal's education correspondent, and though I now looking after all matters digital, I will be coming out of retirement on Thursday to cover the A-level results.
So if you are a lazy child or a worried parent dreading those results, take comfort at least from the fact that I'm dreading them even more.
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Top 10s make us happy
Posted by Graeme on August 15, 2007 5:56 PM
You know it's been a good day in The Journal newsroom when a Top 10 accompanies a story in the next day's paper.
Top 10s are basically lists of puns that go alongside existing stories and there's nothing a bunch of journalists like better than trying to outdo each other in the pun department.
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Keeping motivated
Posted by Malcolm Clarke on August 17, 2007 3:02 PM
Keeping motivated is the key to getting fit, being successful, getting a better job, doing almost anything requires you to be motivated and driven towards your goals. Goal setting is also an important part of it. Here's my goals and how I'm achieving them.
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Big questions
Posted by Rosie Williams on August 19, 2007 5:24 PM
The rest of the world seems focused - as they always are in August - on A-levels and how easy they supposedly are. And how when it comes to getting a string of A-grades to your name, they're a cinch.
Well, they can get on with their debate. Personally, I have more important things to worry about. Like whether to buy my own personal A-level success story a 13.5tog duvet - or will he need a 15togger?
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The return of the Roman
Posted by on August 21, 2007 7:24 PM
Citizens, Greetings,
This week I have been portraying (on behalf of English Heritage) Magnus Maximus, late Imperial Governor of Britain he, who, in 383 AD removed the depleted Hadrian's Wall garrison to add muscle to his bid for the purple.
I can only assume the climate then was kinder, Housesteads this summer is no place for anyone of Mediterranean extraction. Still, Maximus has had some enjoyment from abusing Celts and entertaining visitors. I'm of the opinion abusing Celts is a good thing, good for them, it reminds them how beastly the English are.
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Keeping cool
Posted by Rosie Williams on August 22, 2007 11:16 PM
THE daughter is in London on 10 weeks' work experience. Work is cool. The social life is cool.
The state of her bank account is really not cool.
And tonight we get a phone call.
She and three pals have found a cool holiday at a cool price.
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Returning to 9-Ball
Posted by Malcolm Clarke on August 26, 2007 9:33 AM
About two months ago I decided that I was bored. I was single, suffering from "The Groundhog Day" effect and needing a boost in life. As in most other respects, the only way you can really sort something out is to do that really difficult thing, and take action.
A mere eight weeks later, and I am struggling with getting three seconds to myself.
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The balance of life: Student holidays vs the loss of Nick Ross
Posted by Holly Hudson on August 27, 2007 1:02 PM
The Balance of Life - one Good Thing, one Bad Thing, the chance to both extol and berate in one blog. Random, unrelated, obscure - all of the these words will probably apply at one time or another. First up, student holidays and the sad goodbye to that crime-fighting stalwart, Nick Ross...
Disclaimer: I’m a nice person, really. And in the end, none of this really matters.
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Social services and the media
Posted by Graeme on August 27, 2007 1:16 PM
We have a great story on our front page today about a pregnant woman who could lose her child when it is born because of a history of psychiatric problems.
The story is remarkable enough as it is, but what is also worth mentioning is one of the comments made by the mother-to-be.
Fran Lyon, who is from Hexham, told our reporter: "Social workers have incredibly tough calls to make, but there is just no evidence to suggest I would be a risk to anybody, let alone a child.”
People often clash with social services and many times use the press to fight that battle, but it's pretty rare for someone to maintain the objectivity and fairness that allows them to say "social workers have incredibly tough calls to make", I can tell you.
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Going Thermobaric
Posted by on August 28, 2007 8:18 PM
Citizens,
Time was the nature of military science involved a straight contest between those who sought to erect defences and those intent on knocking 'em down.
Now, in our liberal society, we have a third category, the disarmer.
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Stumbling onto the news
Posted by Graeme on August 29, 2007 4:49 PM
Today I was walking into work when I was stopped on Northumberland Street by a woman doing some market research.
Just as I was about to tell her that I was too busy, she let on that she was doing research on road charging in the North-East - a pretty hot topic in these parts.
With my keen nose for a story (!) I confirmed that, actually, yes, I would be happy to answer questions on road charging.
At this point, she handily gave me some maps with a load of options for different road prices - which you can see in tomorrow's Journal.
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Never miss a Farmers' Market again
Posted by Anna Heywood on August 29, 2007 4:56 PM
I love Farmers' Markets. I love pottering around, I love chatting to, in most cases, the actual producer and I really love tucking in to a basketful of goodies that I know hasn’t been airfreighted from thousands of miles away and sprayed with preserving chemicals to within an inch of its life.
With this in mind, I was most grateful when yesterday I was contacted by Nic Best, who amongst doing other green type things, runs the website for the Northumberland Farmers' Markets Association.
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'By The Sword Divided'
Posted by on August 29, 2007 6:24 PM
Friends,
I'm offering a charity event at Bolam Church, surprisingly at Bolam on Saturday 8th September, in tandem with Northumbria Historic Churches Steeplechase.
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New Metro Machines vs Those Gate Adverts
Posted by Holly Hudson on August 30, 2007 11:06 AM
GOOD THING: NEW METRO MACHINES
So the Metro system is going to get a £50 million overhaul, including £14.3 million to be spent on new ticket machines. Well, that at least nearly equals the amount of money I’ve had to spend just to get change for the machines over the past 6 years of my working life.
Continue reading "New Metro Machines vs Those Gate Adverts" »