Love’s Not A Competition And I’m Still Not Winning

I’ve decided recently that instead of staring out the window blankly whilst I’m on the bus, that I’m going to use this as an inspiration for writing blog posts and texting them as ‘drafts’ on my phone. God, I need a blackberry.

There was a couple of in front of me today, canoodling. My stomach turned as they gazed into each others eyes longingly, whispering to each other and kissing – giggling and blushing like school children. They only stopped when they received hard stares from real school children who were passengers on the bus and unwilling spectators to their public displays of affection – including myself.

Am I jealous of this couple? Well, slightly. Probably. Both professionals. The guy is blue eyed and tall, very lean and donning an Armani suit. The woman tugging the pricy jacket is similarly gorgeous. Long blond hair caresses her shoulders and it shines in the light. Birds of a feather flock together? Indeed. This is one good looking couple. A literal survival of the fittest.

Economists (I recently thought about this topic when I read the Logic of Life) say that it is definitely more likely that we will marry someone who is similar to us. Similar in what way? It seems that race is the answer to this question. What happens if we were to look at the phenomenon with black African American men and women? 43% of Black women in America – never get married. An alarming statistic! These statistics show that culture plays a massive part. More women than men are getting into higher education – particularly black men. So where are all the black men? Prison. A shocking number on are sentenced to eternal holidays at the steel hotel. A shocking number avoid jail but also avoid college or a decent standard of education. If you are a black man in America with a college degree and you manage steer clear of jail. You can have an astonishing amount of bargaining power, (being a bit of a ‘’geek’’ can work in your favour in this case, I guess!), meaning that these profession black men in America choose not to get married. These cycles begin to repeat themselves, and as a result a cultural thing in Black America is to stay unmarried.

What does this mean for me? I’m English for one, so I’m hoping that we won’t follow the Americans into this trap although it looks likely when you look at the crime figures. I could always decide to marry another race, or rely on probability, of which the law of attraction does not always adhere to. All my experience of romance are fuelled my slightly irrational, hormonal teenage brain rather than the rational thinking of an economist.

The couple get off the bus now; Miss Blonde grips his hand as they glide through the hoard of school children refusing to move. As I predicted they get off at the station, running to catch their train. They look like they earn a bit maybe one day their salaries will be nice enough for a white wedding?

Currently Listening To: Do You Want To - Franz Ferdinand

Je Viens D'Apprendre La Significance De La Ironie

Sitting at a bus stop, I let my weary head loll against the dirty glass as I contemplate the day that I've left behind me. Cheeky lying year 7s ruining the house elections, a spat - bickering between two old friends, feelings of remorse and self pity. Lack of sleep. Again. I sigh to myself.

Talking to my gracious maths teacher today, he asked whether our generation had ever created anything of recognition. Awkward silence. It was not a comment dripped in sarcasm and coated with arrogance but a simple question worthy of an answer. 'We havent lived yet,' it occured to me, as I rested my eyes, whilst kicking myself for not finding at the time. I had the chance in the holidays. Two actually. A dream come true for the one that I took. I hope that it pays off.

A familiar refrain kicks in. I use my oyster card to tap a rhythm on my lycra covered legs. 'Tonight we can truly say we're invincible?' Sorry not tonight, Matt. I am not. It is my duty, however, to do something of worth with my life even if does not necessarily benefit myself. Interdependence. Dependence. Together, stronger. Sounds like an army speech? I must do better, I must work harder, I must strive for the top. For my mum. The milkman. The baby on the bus sitting across from me; sweet dark brown eyes, soft brown skin, smells of talcum powder. Babies reek of hope, don't they?

Before I even got on the bus, I was confronted by a man and woman - both in suits. I rolled my eyes as she flicked contentedly through the magazine before reaching out to me. 'What can God do for you?' She smiled. I laughed wryly, squinting my eyes in the sun as the bus approached.



Currently Listening To: You Rock My World - Michael Jackson

Lack Of Sleep?

I'm fed up.
Fed up, I tell you.

Life sometimes is so hard and so harsh. Acute lack of sleep is a major setback at the moment, but I'm going to keep ploughing on, and keep myself busy. Not that a lack of things to do is, is a problem. Hmmm.....

As well as organising house music and house elections, my life is being taken up with my personal statement, reading for this personal statement and university choices. Alongside this, I'm worried at the moment. Very worried. I tossed and turned last night and then I burst into tears in my C3 lesson today. In front of the teacher who probably hates me the most. Thankfully, he was particularly gracious about it.

I like to always try and think positive near the end of my blogs, so I will now post the great things about my life, since I last posted:

I went to Downes, in Kent on a year 7 ''Bonding'' trip, about two weeks ago, which resulted in a sleepless but HYSTERICALLY funny overnight stay! Being that age was great, it's a shame that I really didn't appreciate the things that you could get away with saying and doing.

The 'Nothing As Sound As A Brixton Pound' article is going to be featured in the student magazine! I am to inform ''lay people'' about the local economy and the global economy! It's great fun being treated as so knowledgeable, (especially when I am not?!)

I've managed to finish 'The Bottom Billion by Paul Collier' which is a FANTASTIC book. I guess it fed my appetite for something related to the continent of Africa and also development economics considering that once I get a master's degree, I would like to go and work for an NGO. Could also make some very good talking points for my personal statement.

Further Maths is going down a treat! Complex numbers (eg. the square root of -1) has lead to some ''intelligent'' philosophical debates on the abscence of an object. To fuel, my love of maths, I've joined the Cipher Challenge team at school. I will talk about this, possibly, in another post, once it gets under way.

I'm hungry now, so I'm going to end here.



Currently listening to: Undisclosed Desires - Muse

Nothing As Sound As A Brixton Pound

This is only going to be a small post, I think or at least I hope so. But my attention has been drawn to some very interesting news for the local economy. Ok, so it’s not really local but nearby. A 25 minute bus ride, give me that at least?

It seems like Brixton will be getting a boost for its thriving little economy in the way of its own currency.

So why get your own currency? Brixton’s decision seems to be influenced by the success of the Totnes Pound and the Lewes Pound. The Lewes Pound no longer exists as it was only instituted for a short while during the worst of economic downturn but it seems to have worked.

The point of the Brixton pound is to give consumers in the area real value for money. It is hoped that the money will stay within the area instead of falling in to the hands of big chain stores, which spoil the diversity of Brixton’s town centre. Another aim is to create and strengthen loyalty ties and more of a community feel for those who choose to shop independently.

The currency is backed by the Lambeth Savings and Credit Union who provide low interest loans for the local community. They want to push for community banking which is non profit making and in the midst of global credit crisis, surely this is the moral alternative?

I can sit here and probably attempt to decipher some more important reasons behind the decision (maybe add in some juicy political ideas!) but my eyes have been drawn to what the majority of people are much more interested in concerning the Brixton pound. Which famous face should grace each note? My vote lies with Levi Roots. Nothing beats some reggae reggae sauce.

Currently Listening To: Black or White - Michael Jackson

The School Bell Rings

It's that time of year again when WHSmiths try and tell us that we need to buy their 'back-to-school' essentials at extortionate prices, induced by the fact that Woolworths no longer exists to try and defend itself as a useless rival. Alongside this, several supermarkets and M&S also attempt to compete for customers to buy their school uniforms, which however cheap they may be, some of them are hideous. In fact, my school insisted that my uniform was bought from John Lewis. Thank god that I don't wear uniform anymore!

Yes, the bell tolls as the last year EVER of school starts. Apparently, there will be lots of important life-changing decisions to be made. It sounds so ominous to me, almost like the church bells near me ringing out over its creepy graveyard (full of drug-takers, people who are halfway to death rather than buried already). I think I would prefer if they were bells of hope but for those who have failed to plan and henceforth planned to fail - there could be dark times ahead. It is important however to keep the faith and work hard this year, I believe that this 'bell ringing' is similar to the one sounded at the beginning of the final lap of a marathon. Even now we cannot sprint until that final bend. 'Slow and steady wins the race' was something I was taught at the beginning of my school career.

So exciting times ahead for me and about half a million other candidates who will encounter the beauty of UCAS. Lets just hope I escape the experience 'sound as a bell', eh?


Currently Listening To: Fairytale - Alexander Rybak