I must admit that when I first saw the opening animation I thought, "Goodness, we might actually be able to pull this off!". However, hopes were soon dashed as the travesty of London's history started.
I think one word can sum it all up nicely - embarrassing.
Am I the only one dreading the London hand over during the Beijing closing ceremony? Every time Britain attempts anything on an international scale, I can’t help but think, “Good god! Can’t we do anything right?”
From what I’ve heard the event is going to involve a London bus, David Beckham and a previous X Factor winner.
Lord help us, an actual disaster waiting to happen. I think I'll be watching through my fingers!
So my A-level results are ready in a couple of hours. I'm just about to get ready then head up to school. Exciting times. To get into university I need a B and to C's.
So I've now finished my A-levels. The results are released on the 14th, so I'll keep you posted. Exciting times.
More pressing matters though! I now need a job! I used to work in a supermarket part time while I was still at school and hated every minute of it! I left as soon as I could afford to. Now I'm looking for work in an office. I've applied to several companies but it would appear nobody wants me! The latest blow came today. Two months ago I applied to a pension firm for a customer service roll. Over the past month I've had two phone interviews, a maths test and an English test. On Wednesday I finally got though to a one on one interview. Today they emailed me to say "Unfortunately after careful consideration, we are sorry to say we will not be progressing your application at this time". Rubbish.
In the UK, our government takes us for an absolute ride. I became all too aware of this when I started to drive.
To become a fully licensed driver in the UK you need to take both a theory test and a practical test. Before you even consider taking either of these you must apply for a provisional license. The unbridled pleasure of doing this will set you back £50 ($99). Fifty Great British Pounds for a damned piece of plastic! Did I miss something?! Are these cards gold plated? Does it let me get out of jail free? Maybe I can access those exclusive lounges in airports. No, it's non of these things. Infact, it's a gateway to further ludicrous, unjustifiable governmental pricing.
So now you have your green bit of plastic, and that's all it is, a glorified bit of plastic, you can take your theory test. This consists of 50 questions about cars, road signs and safety. This will cost you £30 ($59). Finally, if you pass that you can take your practical test, which will pluck a further £56.50 ($112) from your pocket. This means that the overall cost of becoming a legal driver in the UK is £136.50 (£270)
BUT, I feel I may have left a significant part of the process out - actually learning to drive. Our driving tests are becoming notoriously difficult to pass. The test includes a few questions about the engine including how to check oil, water and brake fluid levels and also how to check if your power steering is working etc. You then must drive for 20 minutes and perform two reversing exercises which include things like reversing around a corner and reverse parking. You also have to show you can navigate several multilane roundabouts. The current pass rate is only 43%. This means that you need an awful lot of preparation to meet the current standard. It's no wonder why the UK has the safest roads in Europe, we're all trained to NASA standards. The government states that people who pass have an average of 47 hours professional training. At around £20 ($39) an hour this isn't cheap but it is essential. The average learner spends £940 ($1865) on lessons.
This brings the total cost of becoming a full UK driver up to £1076.50 ($2134)
So it's a pretty simple concept. You get a cone, put it on one of your unsuspecting friend's property and it's their responsibility to pass it on! The video below shows us coning Sophie's chicken shed and the porch. So mature, I know. You have to try it, it's more fun than it looks!
Okay, so I fully thought that cone was going to fall on me and knock me out, hence the length of time it took. They're pretty heavy you know!!!
So yesterday the newly built Ikea store in Belfast opened for the family and friends of the staff. The official opening date is Thursday the 13th of December. The place is absolutely huge! The only other Ikea I've been to is the store in Bristol, I would say it's about a third larger than that! The most amazing feature is the restaurant which is only a few hundred meters away from the runway of Belfast City Airport. I have taken some pictures inside which I will post tomorrow as I have lots of coursework to do!
Stick with the first half. It's about Jack not turning up for his speech. He was running for chair of the school council but obviously lost. In the second half I explore the new shopping area near by and go into work. Enjoy...
WIDGETIZE