Yesterday night, Holly (@WinchesterAngel) recruited me for a very exciting project. I will be providing artwork for a short film she's producing this semester - basically, the main character is an artist and she needs some pieces that the character will be 'drawing' in one of the shoots.

What's particularly exciting is that the film could go to a film festival, which means that my work could be seen by any number of nifty film-makists and creative types. Plus I get to work with Holly, who's awesome.

Sadly, due to the possibility of the film going to a festival, there's a bit of an embargo on the works, at least until we know how far the film is going and so on and so forth. I will post it online as soon as I can, but for now online distribution is limited to me e-mailing scans to Holly so she can scrutinise it with all her Media Student wisdom.

Brilliant, eh? I could get a bit of mild publicity, and I'm getting paid in chocolate! Get in! Reminds me of my journalist days, biscuits for bylines... *wistful sigh*

I'm now, yet again, completely unable to post to LiveJournal - the Internet has been cut off. But it's totally worth it; this time it's not because we can't afford extortionate bills, or TalkTalk are simply being cretins... this time, the Internet's down because we are finally transferring to Sky broadband.

Admittedly I won't have much time to enjoy the glory of high speed Internet, run well at affordable prices, as I'm going to Ireland soon, but at least we're away from the vile ISP that caused us so much trouble.

Jason's sleeping over at mine today. I was at his yesterday and for once Dave wasn't there! We were alone for most of the evening and the routine was pretty much the same - we had tea, then tea, stuffed our faces and watched a film - this time 'Misery', based on the Stephen King novel. All I can say is if I ever get a book published, I'll make sure it's shit so I don't have any rabid fans like Annie Wilkes.

One thing we did get out of that film was we discovered Liberace - or more correctly, the origin of the background music on the blind cave salamander level of that bizarre Earthworm Jim game he's downloaded for the Wii. The music that's playing when Annie Wilkes lovingly hobbles Paul Sheldon is the same music that the game has on that level. So that's the mystery of the unfitting Earthworm Jim game music solved! Hooray!

We have engineers at the Star office today from BT OpenReach, doing some work in regards to work's Internet equipment. I was told I could leave if it got too noisy for me to work but so far the noise hasn't been too bad. I've also not been receiving many phone calls, which is odd as I normally get the bulk of them. I think a quiet phone day is in order anyway as I try to get stories written as best as I can without using the phone.

Even if they aren't making much noise now, I'd rather leave the phone for a day and just write all my articles in 'framework' form, so I can make all the necessary calls when we don't have anyone in working. Knowing my luck, as soon as I pick the phone up to make a call, the drilling and hammering will begin and I won't be able to hear a thing.

I think I'm going to go out in about ten minutes anyway to have a break - I'll probably read in the library for a wile before coming back for my lunch. I still have soup and a baguette upstairs and I'm starving!

Just a quick update on new and forthcoming adventures in the world of Kelza: Journalist, Bereted Warrior, Eccentric of the Star. I didn't know these things were coming up for me this morning otherwise I would have written about them in my last couple of entries.

First and foremost, the latest Harry Potter film is coming out soon, and I've been tasked with attempting to track down David Yates, the St Helens-born director, for an interview. Apparently this guy is really hard to get hold of and you can see why, working on such a high-profile film. The media must be swarming all over him. Steve and Steven (ah, colleagues with similar names!) have recommended I try through the production company. Wish me luck!

Second, and not so high profile but still bloody exciting, is a potential interview with 'One-Armed Wonder' Keith Xander. Keith is frontman for Xander and the Peace Pirates, a band who are popular on the 'net and have just celebrated the release of their debut album with an Irish tour. Amazingly, and as you can probably tell by his nickname, Keith only has one arm. And he can play guitar.

Awesome, right? I was going to go see them at the Zoo Bar on July 15 anyway as they're the first act ever to grace Zoo's weekly Strongbow Stage music night, they sound awesome (they play a groovy blend of funky soul and rock) and the gig is free entry. So I'll have the chance to talk to Keith, find out how the heck he manages to play guitar so well with one arm (he uses a hook-like apparatus, so I've read, but I can't imagine how it might work) and get a cracking interview for a piece! Then I can see the gig, do a review, and there's my foot in the door for concert reviewing! Hooray!

Have I ever mentioned that I love my job?

I decided against the chiffon dress after all, due to confidence issues. There's still that stubborn, unshakable part of me that simply refuses to be seen in a dress or skirt. I will wear it one day! I'm not giving up just like that; if there's anything the Prince's Trust taught me, it's that I can overcome all obstacles.

Today I had my first Job Centre appointment in about three months. It was just to sign paperwork declaring that I've completed the Prince's Trust Team Programme, and to talk about moving onto TNG (this job search organisation) and a continuation of my placement at the St Helens Star. I've got another appointment on Friday at 9:00 (so no lie-in for me!) to sort out some more paperwork. Huzzah!

The Job Centre even refunded £3.20 of my weekly bus ticket, which will be handy as I'll tell you later on. With a couple of quid in my pocket and a spring in my step (ah! To be poor again!) I emerged from the Job Centre of Doom and phoned Jason.

We agreed to meet at Victoria Park. Since I was closer I got there first, chose a bench in the sunshine by old Queen Vic herself and immersed myself in H. G. Wells' 'The Time Machine'. It was an absolutely perfect day - warm, a bit breezy, and the sky was brilliant blue.

( Under the cut for more waffling... )