WHAT'S THE PLOBLEM?

Feb. 9th, 2010 at 12:43 PM

BAD:

So, my beloved Manchester Evening News is officially up shit creek without a paddle. Not content with ripping the guts out of what was once a venerable and well respected regional newspaper with a proud history of quality journalism, Guardian Media Group has now decided to sell its former cash cow off to the highest bidder. Trinity Media coming into Manchester is the worst thing that could happen to the regional news industry within the city. They've made no secret of their intentions to "consolidate" news output, mainly via getting rid of local newspapers and experienced Journalists. Whilst I'm aware that my view on the affair is skewed by the fact that I used to freelance for the M.E.N (who, by the way, were kind enough to inform me that my contract with them had been terminated via a two line email), I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels a stinging sadness in their chest at the thought of the "Manchester Guardian" being no more. I did wonder if the powers that be at Trinity Media will paint over the wall in the M.E.N's reception which bears C.P. Scott's Comment is Free but Facts are Sacred quote once they've got their feet under the table, but seeing as they appear to be moving the staff to OLDHAM of all places, it seems as though they've just decided to go the whole hog and turn Scott's Place into a Tesco Metro instead. In retrospect, perhaps I should have guessed that the place was fucked when they turned the ground floor into a branch of Nando's.
And in case you're wondering about Channel M (and if you're not, I can't really blame you), Trinity Media has decided not to buy that arm of the empire - probably with good reason considering that most of the time it's just a massive money pit with television cameras attached to it. Somehow, I doubt Mancunians will be hearing much more from it in the future. (Poor Andy Crane though. How's he going to afford to buy his children shoes now?)

The fusebox at

giro_playgirl/

mcgazz mansions has been playing silly beggars recently. Mainly because it keeps going POP! and switching all the electricity off when we're in the middle of something important. Like for example, when I'm trying to work. Or, more importantly, when I'm trying to record 30Rock. I had to miss an episode of my favourite programme last night because the fuse box going POP! meant that our Sky+ box decided to have "a bit of a moment". SIGH. It's always something isn't it? I'm starting to think that our house is either a) haunted, b) hates us or c) BOTH. I give it a week before I'm putting a shout out on Twitter for an Old Priest and a Young Priest.

GOOD:

I'm off to Glasgow this weekend on the premise of seeing

mcgazz's baby sister get hitched. Hoorah for love! I'm incredibly excited about this because it means that a) I finally get to have a weekend off for the first time in ages (I'm not one to moan about work because work = MONEY, but I am stacked out at the moment and am therefore seriously looking forward to getting a bit of a break), b) Glasgow was my old teenage stomping ground and I miss it a hell of a lot (even if the last time I was there was in 2005, on the pretext of the worst "romantic weekend" ever) and c) I might get to go on an AQUABUS (PLEASE GOD MAKE THIS HAPPEN). It's only going to be a flying visit, but here's hoping both myself and my Scottish beloved get a few minutes on Friday night to sit in the 13th Note and discuss all of our youthful Glaswegian-based misdemeanours.

Work is fun, if busy - both on the freelance and contracting side. I'm really enjoying my Web Editing duties at LIPA which, if I believe the rumours, may involve me shaking Paul McCartney's hand in April (my Beatles loving mother is insanely jealous about this possibility). Hell, I can even cope with the fact that the kids here have a worrying habit of jumping onto tables and bursting into song in the school canteen.
My only gripes are that my commute here does appear to involve a lot of hills (meaning I'm rapidly acquiring the thigh muscles of a Rugby Union player), AND I saw a dead rat outside one of our buildings the other day. But hey, these are only minor things - especially when I think about the state my working life was in this time last year. Indeed, next week it will be a year since I walked out of Ten Alps, never to return. It's been a long and difficult slog at times, but I can honestly say that I've never been happier. Who knows. Maybe I should make more split second life changing decisions on a drunken whim.

Current Music:Stuart Maconie's Freak Zone

Comments

( Read 6 comments — Leave a comment )

giro_playgirl

Feb. 9th, 2010 01:40 pm (UTC)

Nope, all true. On my first day here, a girl just decided to belt out "Rule Britannia" in the dinner queue for no reason at all. We even have singing dinner ladies! (And Jam and Custard MUFFINS).

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