Clockwork Musings

52 Photos: Week 4

2011-04-10T20:22:00.003+01:00

This weekend has all been about summer! About good weather! So I'm going to take a very cliche photo of how lovely and hot the weather is!

Here we go:

Me and Woody went out for a wander today. It was possibly the longest I've walked in ages (See: Unfit). My main goal was to take some photographs of the sun, and things looking very stereotypically bright and pretty, and while I've taken a few photos today I've come back with nowhere near as much usable material as I had originally hoped for. But out of it all I really like this picture. I'm not really sure why. I do, on the other hand, love how its a complete contrast to the other 3 photo's I've done within this project and that is exactly what I wanted!

52 Photos: Week 3

2011-04-03T19:49:00.003+01:00

Well my Photography challenge went off to a great start didn't it. Only 2 weeks in and then I miss a week. I don't know. Advise: Don't trust me to keep myself motivated.

Anyway, here's Photo 3 for you:

I went home this weekend and I wanted to get something that captured family. But when I saw the sorry state that my poorly puss-cat is in, I decided to take a photo of him instead. He's old now, and its showing, so I wanted the photo to be slightly darker. I wanted to give a worn look to the photo. The only way I can really put it is so it made him seem like a Veteran.

What do you think?

52 Photos: Week 2

2011-03-20T20:44:00.002Z

I was hoping this week my photo would be easy, and heres why.

Friday was Red Nose Day, and a big charity day, and I had been recruited to take photos of the goings-on in my Girlfriends pub. I was to just turn up, take photos, and then send them to the manager in the next couple of days. From this I would be able to practice my Live Event photography and also have a photo for my weekly photo challenge!

It hasn't been so simple.

I didn't like any of the photos I took. From my perspective I am not 100% happy with any of them. I wasn't confident enough to approach new people, and ended up getting a bunch of photos lacking, mainly, in variety. But still. I had to do a photo of the week so here it is!

Model: John Wood

I wanted a photo that summed up the situation. I knew I wanted it to be from the live event and to preferably reflect the charity. I settled for this photo of my friend Woody.

Since the original wasn't exactly a masterpiece in photography I messed around editing it for a bit. I cleared up some of the lighting that was out, brightened some areas, and still wasn't satisfied. I then decided to make it black and white, and make the red noses the only colour. This ended up just looking a bit over done. So I messed some more and produced this.

All in all I'm rather happy with the effect, and its made the photo a lot better in my eyes, but the more I look at it the more it looks a bit over the top and I'm not completely sure. I've decided to leave it as this and move on to next weeks photo!

52 Photos: Week 1

2011-03-13T21:29:00.003Z

In a bid to increase my photography output I have decided to start taking 1 Photo a week. I'm hoping that each week I can create a decent photo, or set of photos, to put up on the blog. I was originally going to do 365 Photos, which is a photo a day, but I figure with my motivation (or lack thereof) I would only end up putting it off to the point where it just stopped dead. Whereas this way I have 1 week for each update. It also means I can put up a picture that hopefully means something for each week. Now believe me, I don't assume that every week of my life will have something meaningful, eventful, or even worth capturing, but I could atleast lend myself to an idea each week, or test out something new.

So without further a due, my first picture!

This week I passed my probation. This means I get to keep my job. It also means I have to wear a uniform, with this horrible and garish tie. But still, it means security, and its a reasonably big event.

For the past few months I was stressing that I wasn't hitting targets, or I couldn't keep my job. Which would mean I couldn't pay my bills, and I wouldn't be able to carry on living away from home. So I figure my picture had better capture this. The relief and the job security.

Return

2011-03-13T20:50:00.003Z

My last blog was August 11th. Forget that.

My blog before that was May 31st. Lets focus there.

Where I left this blog I was planning to organise my life. I had finished University and was on course to get a real job and support myself in the real world. I was also going to review games, and take more photographs. So where does that leave me now?

Well I've given the blog a facelift. If you remember it before, it was black, dark, and it was just depressing. Now it's bright and its colourful! Just like my life? Not quite.

I have a full time job now, so I thought what better time to start updating. I've also chosen to start taking 1 Photo a week, to keep my photography flowing. With this I will also try to write more. I figure I'm going to need some creative outlet working in the industry I am.

So all in all this is another new start. Something I've had many of whilst owning this blog, and something I never stick to. I'm not making promises, but lets hope I can do something this time!

Shaun

@shaunkellett

Hindsight.

2010-08-11T21:46:00.001+01:00

Things are always so simple in hindsight.

Every important, or near enough important, decision that I've made in the past was once had, and once took a lot of thought, but looking back everything was so much simpler than I gave it credit for.

The decision to go to College, to go to University, to take Psychology. Every important decision seems like common sense now.

But now I'm face looking at the big open world. This place where I have to make my own way, get a job, pay bills, and live. Its so much less like freedom then you grow up thinking it will be.

Maybe when I'm older, this time now will look simple, just not today.

Organisation. Starting June 1st.

2010-05-31T16:37:00.002+01:00

(I realise there have been a gap in the posts, but you might also realise that I have been reviewing Games during this absence: Here)

Over a week ago, on the 21st of May 2010, I finished University. When I say finished I mean I completed my last assignments and my last exams of Year Three, but I have yet to receive my grades or degree. The way I see it, it is time to change my gears, shift myself from Student Mode and into full time work. I've spent the fast three years organising my time with a heavy focus on Enjoying myself and Socialising, which I don't regret, I believe this is the main focus of University. Many come to earn their degree, further their education, but for everyone one person who is there solely for this purpose, there are many more who are here to have an experience. I am pleased to say I have had this.

Now that this experience is over, or is atleast drawing to close, and I have one month before I move out of this house, I am changing my focus. I am now looking to getting a job, paying back my debts, and securing myself an income of some description. No more student loans, no more government money, I need a job to support myself. I am also looking to kickstart my creativity again. Its dwindled since University, I don't write any more and my photography has dwindled.

So how do I plan to achieve all this? Well!

I have an excel document, primed and ready, to keep track of my funds.
I am working on my C.V. to send out to different jobs.
I am planning to write a blog a few times a week, while still Reviewing games.
And I plan to take more photographs when I am at home.

Tomorrow my life changes...

Wish me luck!

Shaun Kellett

If I can't advertise here...

2010-03-14T23:50:00.001Z

Then where can I advertise! I mean really?

Well, just in case you've been following, I've decided to set up another blog for Video Game related articles and reviews. It can be found here at Clockwork Gaming (Notice I stuck with the theme? Cool huh?)

Every now and again, or every week if time will allow, I am going to write an article about Video Games. Be it a review, an article, or just my opinion on anything at the time. If you're wondering why I'm doing this there are a few simple reasons.

Firstly, I'm looking to broaden my creative horizons, writing articles is a little different to poetry and short stories. This means I get more practice in different areas.
Along with practice I also get something to put in a portfolio, should I ever want to become a journalist, editor, or professional reviewer.
I spend so much money on games and, when it comes down to it, put them on my shelf to barely touch again. This way I get something else out of my games, something more for my moneys worth.
And lastly, for a bit of fun.

I hope you enjoy my reviews and articles, I know not a lot of people read my blog, and even less people comment it, but if anyone feels the slight urge to comment on my articles I will take any feedback into consideration. My first review is of Mass Effect 2 for the Xbox 360. Check it!

Shaun Kellett

Clockwork Musings

Stressed again.

2010-03-13T23:03:00.003Z

So I'm forced to write about stress again as its something constantly on my mind. Instead of writing generally, I'm going to go over the process of me stressing.

When I stress it starts off small, I can feel a niggling doubt which I, usually, manage to put off and this leads to me procrastinating or not trying as hard as I should. I normally feel confident at this stage.
Later on this stress builds, and I begin to panic. This is when things get interesting. I start to work a little harder and it is here I begin to realise I don't have as much time as I thought and know less about the subject then I thought.
About now I have a panic attack. I can't focus, concentrate, or see the end goal, all of which lead to more stress and to a feeling of hopelessness. I fidget, cry, and am just generally irritable.
By now I can't think about anything else, I'll have periods of productivity, but I wont be able to calm down, or take a break, or let myself think about anything other then this stress. What makes matters worse, is that I'll still procrastinate and be distracted, for instance writing this blog.
Untill the project is done, dusted, and out of my control, this cycle will repeat over and over.

And that, followers, is how my head is right now. I'm stressing, I feel a failure, and I am worried that I'm going to fail or receive a low grade. I've lost sight of the path to the end goal, my heads a web of intangibility.

Eugh.

Wish me Luck.

Shaun Kellett

Clockwork Musings

I can't stress this enough...

2010-03-09T17:45:00.002Z

But I'm getting stressed.

I am very good, it seems, at procrastination, I am even doing my dissertation on the subject, but sometimes I can see a picture of what I need to do and it stresses me.

I have recently been better at taking into account the work I have to do and while it, occasionally, motivates me to sit down and work it's better at sending my head into a complex brainstorm of stress. I can't focus on one piece of work, as they all bounce about begging me to focus on them instead. What I find is my attention is drawn more to my IS, my Independant Study, my Dissertation, but I'm finding it hard to grasp and understand. This stresses me more.

It's getting to the point where I'm having mini panic attacks, I'm shouting/snapping at my Girlfriend when she's done nothing wrong, and I'm losing sleep.

Yet part of me still just procrastinates, puts it out my head, and lets me go on just playing Video Games and Facebooking.

That's why this week I'm going to try and be productive. I'm going to overcome these stress attacks and do some work. I should hopefully be able to see my Supervisor about my Dissertation tomorrow, and I should hopefully be able to complete some work by the weekend. Just in time to have a break and go home to see the family.

Shaun

Clockwork Musings

Creativity Loss

2010-03-06T23:43:00.007Z

So it's been ages. Again.

If you follow my blog you'll realise I haven't posted anything new in... Well... About a month. A common situation with me. I'll blog a few times, then have no time, only to blog a few more times a month later. Not to mention I've barely written anything creative, or taken any photos, or just actually done anything in ages.

I feel sapped of my creative juices recently. I get the urge to just grab my camera and take some shots but I find that absolutely nothing captures my eye let alone my lens. As for writing I seem to have zero inspiration and little to no ideas on what to write. If anyone can provide any sort of motivation in these areas then please let me know!

So what am I going to do?

Well.

I think I'm going to start a new blog even though I have trouble writing for this one. The new blog will have a topic and it will be titled 'Clockwork Gaming'. In this blog I will review games I have played, or am currently playing, while also writing an article or two on my opinions about the current video game world. I figure I need something creative to do, I need some practice writing articles, and I have a passion for video games.

Lets see how I fare.

Shaun Kellett

Clockwork Musings

On Blogging, Tweeting, and Tumbling

2010-02-15T11:29:00.002Z

Blogging was looked down upon, ages ago, as something that only lonely, emotional, or self centered people did. I remember back during my school years, when Blogging first came about and LiveJournal was all the rage, most people used it as a way of tracking stuff day to day, with little interesting to say, but more recently it's become a medium that most people have some connection to, be it writing or reading.

I myself write in my blog to get across emotions, or thoughts, that I have that are too complex to keep in my head. Writing helps me overcome these and, while it might not be best to broadcast these to the public, I am not ashamed of how i've thought or felt and, in the end, it may well better my writing ability, which is the second reason I blog.

I blog because, more often then not, I don't have a lot of time, or motivation, to be creative, so I use it to keep my writing on track; as a way to prove to myself that I still can, and I like to think this helps.

However more recently there has been a surge in, what I call, convenience blogging, using Facebook Status', Tweeting, or posting a quick Tumblr article. It's these blogs which I am being drawn into. They take no time and you can simply post a thought, or feeling, without having to write a large essay such as I am now. However I feel we're losing out on some of the more interesting blogs. While nearly every celebrate, or so it seems, now Tweets about their antics, surely a more detailed explanation, a full blog, would be prefered by their truer fans. Surely it would be better then the articles and gossip we read in all the 'Chat' and 'People' magazines. While some people still write articles while Tweeting, Neil Gaiman for instance, mainy provide a simple one sentence update about their lives.

I think with a happy medium we could blog, tweet, and update our facebooks, bringing us truly into the shared experience of social networking and the internet. All of which, I think, is a positive and horizon broadening thing.

Beyond the Veil

2010-02-11T21:17:00.001Z

So the future is looming and it gets more apparent with each passing day and it leaves my mind buzzing with questions. Am I going to fail University? What am I going to do afterwards? Will I be able to cope with it?

As per usual motivation is a main problem of mine. I still procrastinate and I still can't be bothered to make myself work. I'm in the final year! I should be stressing, working hard, conducting my study and doing my background reading. I should have everything planned for when I leave University and I should be looking forward to my future. At the moment the only thing I can see myself doing, and enjoying, is sitting in front of a T.V. playing Xbox while putting off actually doing anything productive.

Maybe I'm allergic to productivity?
I can't even do anything creative anymore.

Sweet Home Solihull

2010-02-09T19:01:00.002Z

I'm normally under the impression that where I am from, Solihull, is quite small. I base this idea off of its limited attractions, entertainment, and that nobody seems to have heard of it... ever. However, more recently I have been beginning to realise that perhaps it's better then we, well I, give it credit for.

Due to its close proximity to Birmingham a large set of amusements isn't far away, a huge selection of bars and clubs and a vast area to shop make it a popular day trip out. Something that many people travel from much further away to see. Solihull itself boasts the Touchwood shopping centre (Note: Touchwood, not Torchwood, you Doctor Who fans). There's restaurants, bars, the cinema. Stuff I usually took for granted, but from talking with other people from other, smaller, areas its become apparent that I should maybe appreciate what my home town has got.

A few people have told me that where they are from the largest 'local' city isn't easily accessible, while others have told me there home-town doesn't even have a good pub or cinema. It's this that has made me consider, perhaps where I am from isn't so bad after all?

Space. The final frontier.

2010-02-01T17:57:00.003Z

Space, my own space that is, seems to be what I am currently aiming for. It's the current goal in my life.

As I draw near to the end of my final year at Derby University I'm starting to crave my own space and freedom. It isn't that I don't like living with my housemates, in fact I get on with them very well and, in many ways, probably better then the majority of other houses out there. What is bugging me is the idea that everything in the house is joint and I'm craving just feeling that everything is mine. The whole group behaviour is getting to me and I feel, in a way, that I might have out grown it.

For instance, doing a 'group shop' consists of me spending £50 towards house supplies when, if I lived alone, I'm sure I could knock that down to only the basics I needed and actually used. It seems I just pay it to keep face, rather then disputing how much of it I personally will use. In another case is the washing up rota. While taking it in turns to do a wash is organised and fair, which I'm not disputing, I simply feel it would be easier, and less time consuming if you were washing what you, personally, had used for yourself.

One of the main reasons these issues have surfaced is the lack of group activity. While before we always seemed to eat together, now people are more frequently eating alone, or with girlfriends. This means the group dynamic no longer works and I'm beginning to feel more solitary.

Another issue I believe is affecting this is the idea of going back home at the end. It's like a step back. I'll be living with my parents once again, in their house and with their rules. I can't see myself wanting to stay there long but at the same time I wont have enough money to move out or live on my own.

I'm stuck in a predicament with no easily reachable solution.

I hate to do this but....

2010-01-11T20:06:00.003Z

It occurs to me that I've done this before and that I'll continue to do it over and over again. I'll have my little bursts of inspiration, of motivation, and then I'll get overwhelmed or simply bored and forget about them once again.

This is, again, a blog about Change and is, again, a blog about how I am going to improve myself.

I've always said I don't make New Years Resolutions, but perhaps I have now. Either way I'm to now focus on bettering myself for the future.

This year is going to be massively different for me, simply out of the situation I am in, if not for the changes I am going to make for myself. As per usual my Motivation seems to be the critical area that I need to improve, or better. At the moment my life is pretty much orientated towards being lazy and playing Video Games. Whilst I enjoy the latter, I am beginning to annoy myself with how much my free time, and even my time which should not be free, is used up with it. Therefore, I am going to start reading more, and writing more. Though juggling this with Working more, another of my years aspirations, may be time consumming, it may be better for me in the long run.

Time being one of the determining factors to what I am doing and when I'm doing it, I also vow to change my sleeping pattern. Recently I haven't done too bad, getting up at 8:00 some days, and though today I slept for 2 hours longer then I wanted I will get up early tomorrow.

So here you have it. Another blog on a subject I've written about time and time again.

I'm sorting my life out... I'm fed up of writing about it but it's true.

Shaun

Clockwork Musings

The end of Challenge 2

2009-09-06T20:55:00.000+01:00

The Name of the Wind was an absolutely brilliant book, I couldn't really have picked better for this Challenge.

The writing style of the Name of the Wind flowed so well and felt so easy to read. Always, when I have been writing, I have struggled with making chapters seem around the same length, but here Patrick Rothfuss just throws away with that and some chapters are little over a paragraph. Perhaps its not a new thing, but to me it is completely new to the usual schema and inspires me to pick up my pen again. Something I was hoping for!

A Graph to Show Pages Read Each Day

A journey almost as hectic and exciting as Kvothe's own!

In terms of reading I finished the book, as I said I would, at 8:00pm today. I hit a snag on the Saturday where I didn't read nearly as much as I meant to and so recovered for it today, in fact most of my day today was spent, laptop off, reading; Quite a feat if you know me.

The challenge, much like the previous one, has shown me what I can do if I put my mind to it; what I can achieve with a little bit of persistance, motivation, and, also, a deadline. Imagine if I turn my hand to other things in this manor, such as revision and coursework. I am definitely going to be aiming high in University this year. It's my final, most important, year!

A Graph to show Page Total throughout the week,

So I will endevaour to write and be more motivated. It's hard and I've said it before but hopefully I have recruited some of my friends to push me on this and soon I should have a few chapters on my hands.

We can only try our best, right?

Shaun Kellett

Challenge 2: Progress

2009-09-03T21:31:00.005+01:00

So, what progress am I making?

It's a question that lingers on every readers lips. I can sense the excitement, the anticipation, the suspense of knowing how I am doing with my current challenge, that of reading "The Name of the Wind" in a week. Now for some the challenge is easy, some people read and don't stop reading. Some polish off a book in a few days, but for me it is a challenge. I need to read more, I need to stop just surfing the internet and doing nothing productive and this is what I have done.

So far we are on Thursday, we are over half way through the week so I should be over half way through the book. Well, lets see.

A Graph to Show the Ammount of pages read each day.

Wednesdays soaring success coupled with Tuesdays loss and Thursdays half-way status

On Monday, despite reporting I was off to a bad start, I managed to hit my target. I read into the night and, just when I was feeling tired and sleepy, just when my eyes were waining, I hit page 95, my target, and it just so happened to be the last page of a chapter. I was thrilled, I placed a bookmark and put the book down.

On Tuesday I got distracted, I woke up late, had a family meal, and wen't to the pub. By the time I got home and went to sleep I had read only 30 pages, leaving my well and truly behind.

Then there was Wednesday, my most productive day so far. Not only did I hit my target of 95 pages but I recouped all my losses from Tuesday and exceeded even that. On Wednesday I read a total of 179 pages. I was overly impressed with myself.

And that leads us to Thursday. Today, I have only read 46 pages, rather then the targeted 95, though I do not fear for there is still time left in the day. I am hoping, by the time I finally crawl into bed and lay my eyes to rest I will have hit 95, perhaps further, and I will be well on track to complete the book on Sunday.

A Graph to show book progress

Close but not quite there

As you can see, I'm not sticking to the ammont of daily pages, but I never expected to. The average was there as a guideline and so far I am sticking reasonably closely too it. I think I am well on my way for Sundays target. Lets hope.

Wish me luck.

Shaun Kellett

The Second Challenge

2009-08-31T15:55:00.003+01:00

Due to the success of the last challenge I decided to challenge again. This time, rather then writing, I am going to read.

On Friday, when Emma and I went to Stratford, I picked up a copy of 'The Name of the Wind' by Patrick Rothfuss as recommended by Andy and Nina. I chose the book based on the recommendations and also because it has been a while since I read fantasy, having been more concerned with Sci-Fi books of recent. Lets hope I find it gripping!

Challenge 2 awaits

I'm planning to read it all by next Sunday. My first thought, when picking up the book, was 'Oh, it's quite a lot longer then I thought' and I actually hesitated of going through with the challenge, but then I realised that its not that long, and it was entirely possible and also that if I didn't go through with it i'd let myself down.

It's 662 pages long. Thats 662 pages in 7 days, an average of approximately 95 Pages per day, and I will update again on Thursday to let you know of my half time progress.

So far I am off to a terrible start as I have been with my Family all day, but this evening I am going to atleast start myself off and, though I might not hit the daily average, it will be better then no reading at all!

Day Seven: The Finale

2009-08-30T23:24:00.004+01:00

This blog post is a bit late as my internet/laptop is now seriously going awry but I am here, typing away on my Mothers laptop before the 12 O'Clock deadline, not that I actually set a deadline but still.

This blog is the final blog in my Challenge and so it better be pretty climatic or you're all going to be dissapointed, right?

Well!

Today I've been hungover, to an extreme, while having to face the busy day of a Somerfield shift, and by busy I mean I did practically nothing for 6 hours and got paid for it. The reason for my state was because we went out yesterday evening to say Auf Weidersehen to Liz as she moves to Germany for a year as part of her course. As I mentioned in my first ever blog, apart from the ones explaining my blog, about a certain Daniel Winter, I think its a really good and brave decision. If anything I'm a combination of pride and jealousy and definitely don't think it would be anything to regret. So best wishes to Elizabeth!

I could talk again for hours on end about the value of new experiances but I won't bore you with that old spiel.

I've decided its only natural to asscess the Challenge, or Challenge 1 as it is going to be called. The aim was to get me to write more and post more blogs and as I have hit the target of Seven blogs, with this concluding the challenge, I think I have achieved that. It was a struggle and some of the blogs show this, due to time or inspiration constraints. The one thing I found didn't happen, which usually would with me, is my motivation didn't die and I looked forward to blogging, rather then procrastining.

The idea of Challenging oneself appears to me to be a succesful way of getting stuff done and I am going to try to utilise it in the future. The main reason for this, I think, is you make a commitment to yourself rather then something easy to break you actually have goals, which really do help. Another reason is, as i've mentioned before, you, the public. As I am blogging if I fail everybody knows and I have to strive to achieve so I don't look silly so thank you to those of you that have followed and read.

A graph to show the 'hits' recieved each day of this week on my blog.

The highest hits I got were when I advertised on facebook, these were in the 20's, the lowest I got was 4, one of whom I know is myself.

As the graph shows, I had a few readers, even if they might just be one person refreshing, but it kind of shows who bothered, or just who was bored on Facebook. A few people have gotten back to me, often with encouraging words, which makes me think maybe I do have something to say afterall, and now the challenge is over, and I dont have to think of a topic each day and thus exhaust most my thoughts, maybe I could go back to writing at least one a week, and I might actually have something interesting to say.

In the end its been very productive. I am pleased with myself and hopefully this is a new start. I'm also going to challenge myself more, and maybe I might start to be productive without such a structured method. I will blog again tommorow with what this weeks challenge will be, maybe you will follow that too.

Shaun Kellett - Not a Clone
Clockwork Musings

Day Six:

2009-08-29T17:46:00.003+01:00

Ok this might have been a bit of a rushed topic and a rushed post in general but its a post. I am very much reminded of blagging out an Essay just to have something to hand in. It's rubbish I know, but forgive me, I tried and I think I scraped a Pass. Maybe a D?

I've had a busy day today involving going to work, sorting some stuff out on my car and handing in my resignation to Somerfield.

Since I am finishing work and should really start packing for Univeristy I'd like to reflect back on how Summer has been. I have really enjoyed this Summer despite not having done much. Though i've missed some opputunities, such as climbing with Andy, Sid, and Nina, I have done other things like going to Portsmouth with Dan and Nina, and Stratford with Emma.

I've also managed to work this holiday and, despite it having worn me down to the point where I can't wait to leave, I have some funds ready to start back at Uni and to help pay off any overdrafted I've used up this summer.

It's nice not to stay in one place for too long. Derby was getting boring by the end of the year, there was little to do, and little to see, but Solihull has been a refreshing change, especially considering I was dreading the Summer prior to it. In my opinion the Summer has been just long enough, I have reached the stage where I am begining to want to go back to Uni and see all my mates there, but I am not yet completely sick and bored of being at home. As all my mates from here begin to leave and go off to different parts of the country (and in one case world) it will be time for me to move back and begin a third year.

It's interesting how life can be split into segments, such as 'Summer' or 'Uni', and because of the Education system I never think of 'Years' as being 1st Jan - 31st Dec, Years are what they are in Edcutation terms now. There are years where I started new and bigger schools, years where I made new friends. Though its hard to recall them all at any one given moment there are so many different memories clustered in my head surrounding each part of my life and I very much look forward to what the future ones bring.

If I was to make a prediction, as to where the next year will lead, it is one of great and happy times, though also one of sad departures and one of fear of the unknown. The next year brings the coming of an End as I will finish University, along with my housemates. It will be hard and challenging, but it will be an amazing memory.

Memorably,

Shaun Kellett
Clockwork Musings

Day Five: Friendship

2009-08-28T16:54:00.006+01:00

Friendship is funny.

I am pleased to say I am someone with many friends but rather then a blog ode to friendship I want to consider the journey friendship takes, from stranger to loved one.

In my life I've had many opputunities to make different and wonderful friendships; School, College, Work, and Uni, to name the most prominant occasions. Sometimes its obvious who will become a friend and sometimes it's those obvious friendships that end up being distant memories for any number of reasons.

I find it interesting to muse on how I first met some people, sometimes I knew people for many years before they came friends, sometimes I didn't even like them. Andy, one of my best friends for instance I disliked to begin with. Sid, and Caolan, both went to the same Junior school as me, and every school there after, but it is only the recent years, since late secondary and college, that we've properly become good wholesum chums who I know and love now.

On the contrary to this some people I have taken instant likings too have turned out to be people I don't particually like, or want to talk to, in the long run.

I suppose it just means that everyone out there has possible potential to be a friend and that some friendships take long winding journeys, while others are a little bit more simple then that. Another thought is that some friendships just don't last, which is just the way things go. I look back on who I would say were my best friends in the old years and how we've grown appart and I don't regret it, at all, and the fact we're different people with different interests was inevitable. We should cherish the time we spent with our friends.

If you're reading this from Facebook then theres a chance we have atleast a few cherished memories. We should reminisce about them sometime!

Shaun Kellett
Clockwork Musings

Day Four: Why blog?

2009-08-27T20:59:00.004+01:00

I covered this subject right at the start of my blog when I told the world why I was setting it up but I figure it might be wise to cover it once more, especially as I am now advertising it to the world on both my Facebook and my MSN and hardly any of you will read the first post.

I don't claim for my blogs to be interesting, enlightening, deep or otherwise, I just claim that they are me; my thoughts, my feelings. The purpose in my blog, as a whole, is to encourage me to write more, lest I lose my literacy. It also stands as form of expression when I need to get something off my chest. You can find out what matters to me by seeing what I write about, I wouldnt express an untrue emotion, or an untrue thought. If it doesn't interest the reader it doesn't really matter to me as I blog for my own encouragement, my own peace of mind, and my own growth. If someone reads it and likes it, then that makes me happy as not only have I expressed myself someone else has enjoyed the expression. Not all expression is loved, and never will it be loved by everyone. I accept that.

At many times I won't feel creative, or I wont have inspiration, and then I find it hard to write. The beauty of using a blog for this is it comes down to how I am feeling at the moment. It may mean I range from cynical, to depressed, to overjoyed, and it may not keep a strict topic as some blogs do, but it allows me to express and to write without need for creative inspiration.

The purpose of this challenge I am setting, on the other hand, is to will me to do something. By saying 'this is what I am going to do, by this time' I am giving myself a deadline and, hopefully, helping myself to change. I advertise it, on Facebook, on MSN, because those who actually want to read it can do, and also because I have someone to monitor my progress. No matter how many people read it, be it one or ten, I still feel more focused on the challenge then relying souly on myself.

I thank those of you who have found the time to read my blogs, those of you who have encouraged or critised provide me with the drive to carry on the challenge.

They say you should be proud of who you are, and proud of what you accomplish. I'm proud of what I write.

Shaun Kellett
Clockwork Musings

Day Three: Hypocritical Planned Spontinaity

2009-08-26T20:00:00.005+01:00

I am a hypocrite. "How?" I hear you all scream. Well.

I often state how I love meeting new people! But I am terrified of new people, constantly concerned that I will give off a bad 'first impression' and I will from then on be regarded with anything from disgust to pity. But I like having a new collection of friends, to span who I know and who I can learn from and, after the initial 'meet' after a few times when I am comfortable, I then love having this new person in my life.

Another way in which I am hypocritical brings us to the main subject of this blog. I would like to say I enjoy trying new things, and doing new things but in fact I am not a massive fan of change. Change scares me and quite often I wont do anything. However, this is fear of change is changing as I am trying to grasp hold of new experiances and be more spontanious!

Today I spontaniously went to Bournemouth with my friends Dan and Nina. Ok, maybe not too spontaniously. It was planned, but it still had a sense of randomness to it. Dan is currently a student at Bournemouth Univeristy and he had some resits. What would have cost him £80+ on the train only cost him £30 in petrol and I offered to drive him down; not only to save my friend money but to do something different. Mondays blog mentioned how I waste so much time and just don't really do as much as I could so I relished the opputunity to just do something different.

A spontanious picture of Nina and Me in Bournemouth.
Well ok, it was preceeded by 'Lets take a picture for my Blog' so it wasn't that spontanious

So Nina and Myself spent most the Day, from 8:30 till 4:30, in Bournemouth, chilling, chatting, taking photos, and exploring the town while Dan, the poor sod, spent the day in exams. It was thoroughly enjoyable, for Me and Nina atleast, and it shows just what a bit of change can do.

How many times do I wake up, spend a day doing nothing, and go to bed. Or if I have work, I will go to work, then come home, and go to bed. When I do do something it is usuall the Pub, which in Solihull is normally the choice of Feildhouse or Spoons. It's nice to do something completly different, even if it's a drive to a rainy seaside, and it shows that this sort of change, either spontanious or planned, can be a good, possibly even great thing. Not only did it get me out the house, not only did I do a favour for a friend, not only did I get to take photographs and thus be a little bit creative, but I feel it broadened a friendship aswell. So many good and positive things from one simple change to everyday.

Lets try and do something different.

Atleast Once a week!

Shaun Kellett
Clockwork Musings

Day Two: On that First Step.

2009-08-25T18:50:00.004+01:00

Everything requires a single step to begin and it strikes me that it is usually that first step which I find the hardest.

I've never been one for motivation.

If you've met me, or read any of my blog before, you will know that I procrastinate with pretty much anything and everything. When I entered writing competitions I left it till the last minute to write my entry, obviously not proof reading or planning it properly. Now, I by no means think I could win most of these competitions, but I'd stand a better chance if I put some effort in. What always hits me is the "I'll do it later" attitude and it persists untill the last possible minute. This happened with my IS, my Independant Study, the piece of work that is going to help me pass my degree, the piece of work which, without, I fail. Now at first I didn't know it had to be in so early, so I began to stress, then the longer I left it the more stressful the thought of it became, so I didn't touch it. Days turned to weeks and weeks to months and it became increasingly apparant that I needed it sorted, but the idea of it scared me.

But then it clicked... It takes one single step to get it moving. All I had to do was email lecturers to see if they liked my Ideas. If they didn't, start again, but if they did it meant I had a direction to go.

One step, and I could have a destination.
One step, and I could stop stressing.

Now in a way you have helped me with this. By setting this Challenge, to write seven articles, and by having people read it (I know atleast a few of you are reading every article, and for this I thank you) it gives me some motivation. I knew that I wanted to write about 'that first step' but I knew I couldn't write about it without first doing it. So I forced myself to send off emails about my IS, so I could write about it in my blog.

I rely too much on other people. I am relying on the fact that I have some people reading this to make me write, otherwise, knowing me, I would probably have given up. But I figure, by starting this I am starting a change. By setting the challenge, even with minimal support, I am sparking a change in myself where hopefully I can get over the first little step without you. Not that I don't appreciate you all! I think you're just dandy! But I do need to be able to encourage myself, and to just start doing things in life!

From now on, he says, I am going to jump that first hurdle more easily each time till it doesn't become a challenge anymore. Obviously it may take a while, and obviously I will still procrastinate with somethings, but, overall, I am going to make an effort to do something a bit more worthwhile with my time. Whether its on my own or with others.

So, here's to change; here's to getting up that first step.

Shaun Kellett
Clockwork Musings