2015. It felt like a far-away year that was never going to come, and now it’s standing at our doorstep, waiting for us to let it in.
But then again, 2014 felt like that.
2015 is a year I’ve been looking forward to. A new Star Wars, new Jurassic Park, the new Avengers movie, Cucumber/Banana/Tofu and new Doctor Who’s 10th anniversary. (Therefore is it right to call it “new” Doctor Who?!)
2014 felt like the year I needed to get out of the way before I got to the good stuff 2015 had to offer. But oh, it snuck it and stole the show BIG TIME. 2014 is one of the years I’ll be most fond of.
Coronation Street: The tour:
I’d been eyeing up this job role since I heard the tours were going to open in 2013. I applied, thinking it’d just be another of many rejection emails. But then I got a letter! Saying I had an audition! Audition?! I’ve never auditioned for anything in my life. But I did, and I got the job, and I’ve been happy there ever since.
In January 2014, when the show moved to Salford, I vowed that I’d somehow get into the new studios. Fast forward to December 2014, and we had our staff party there, and all was good. I’ve met some bonkers and quite frankly brilliant people at this job, and they’ve made my life richer.
Booths:
The job I never really talk about. I sometimes see it as my “boring” job, the one that pays the bills – and shame on me. The people I’ve met here, both staff and customers alike, have been amazing. A lot of people come and go here, which is the nature of such a job, but the people who’ve stayed with me here I’ve gotten even closer to, and the people that have left will always have a place in my life.
I could write a list here of everyone I work with, and write paragraphs upon paragraphs on why they’re brilliant. That’d be boring for everyone except for the people I write about, so I’m not going to, but I think Tom Taylor needs a shout out. He’s literally guided me through everything during my time at Booths, and shown nothing but support and faith in me – even when I’m a lazy, workshy git. My friendship with him this year has been a very glittery highlight.
TV Extra work:
I sent a photo and a description of myself (height, weight, eye colour, etc) to a casting agency, simply because I wanted to get work on the set of Cucumber, Russell T. Davies’ new drama for Channel 4. It was quite a big thing in Manchester this year. Everyone who worked on it was talking about how great it was going to be, and I was so jealous. So I nagged, and bothered and pestered my agent to get me a gig on it. On the last week of filming, I was offered a part! I’ll be in episode 7, but I’ll most likely get cut from the show. (Like I did with Hollyoaks! Pah!) But I only did it for the experience. (I got to see Freddie Fox – in the flesh! PHWOAR.)
I didn’t just do Cucumber and Hollyoaks. I also did a classy BBC production “The Hallow Crown”, set to air on BBC 2 this year. I got to see Benedict Cucumberbatch on set, and I played a French Guard. (“But I don’t know any French!” “You won’t have any lines.” “Oh.”)
Script writing:
Whilst all these other jobs were filling my life, in the background I was still writing. And by November, I’d won a writers room competition, got shortlisted/longlisted for numerous competitions and even got two paid gigs! I wrote a series of short videos of Primary Schools, featuring the dashing Aaron Craze (host of Junior Bakeoff) and the Christmas Coronation Street tours. I have Georgia and Gareth to thank for these opportunities. People with names beginning with G must be lucky.
CELEBZ:
I got to meet EVERYONE this year. (Or at least see them in the flesh.) Tony Warren and the writers of Coronation Street (Jonathan Harvey, Damon Rochefort and Debbie Oates), Kevin Smith, Jennifer Saunders, Russell T. Davies, LESLEYFRIGGIN’SHARPE, numerous Corrie cast members, Kay Mellor, Julie Hesmondhalgh and – did I mention? – Freddie Fox. (PHWOAR!)
I love a good old name drop so this year has been very satisfying in terms of that.
Relationships:
I’m not one to talk about relationships on Facebook. So I won’t be going into too much detail, but 2014 saw me enter my first long-term relationship. I learned so much from it, and quite frankly, my ex had the patience of a saint. I met his family and he met mine, and luckily both experiences were very pleasant. It’s over now, but we’re on good terms.
Ever since University, I’d always wanted to move in with my friend Joe. It was always on the cards, but circumstances never really allowed it to happen. 2014 saw yet another dream come true when I got to move in with him in October. I’ve been really happy living in this apartment and I can see myself settling here for a long time to come – hopefully!
And after working so hard, I got to spend the end of the year enjoying a week off with my family. It was a busy, loud Christmas with family members travelling across the country to join us, and it was a nice parallel to last year, when I was working in Manchester, and only got to spend two days in Preston. I also got to enjoy my time here with Alice, Tristan and Oliver, and maybe drinks and laughs were spilt and shared.
So here’s to 2015! I’m looking forward to the big movies due out this year, but also to the surprises life has in store. (I pray to God they’re nice ones!)
But then again, 2014 felt like that.
2015 is a year I’ve been looking forward to. A new Star Wars, new Jurassic Park, the new Avengers movie, Cucumber/Banana/Tofu and new Doctor Who’s 10th anniversary. (Therefore is it right to call it “new” Doctor Who?!)
2014 felt like the year I needed to get out of the way before I got to the good stuff 2015 had to offer. But oh, it snuck it and stole the show BIG TIME. 2014 is one of the years I’ll be most fond of.
Coronation Street: The tour:
I’d been eyeing up this job role since I heard the tours were going to open in 2013. I applied, thinking it’d just be another of many rejection emails. But then I got a letter! Saying I had an audition! Audition?! I’ve never auditioned for anything in my life. But I did, and I got the job, and I’ve been happy there ever since.
In January 2014, when the show moved to Salford, I vowed that I’d somehow get into the new studios. Fast forward to December 2014, and we had our staff party there, and all was good. I’ve met some bonkers and quite frankly brilliant people at this job, and they’ve made my life richer.
Booths:
The job I never really talk about. I sometimes see it as my “boring” job, the one that pays the bills – and shame on me. The people I’ve met here, both staff and customers alike, have been amazing. A lot of people come and go here, which is the nature of such a job, but the people who’ve stayed with me here I’ve gotten even closer to, and the people that have left will always have a place in my life.
I could write a list here of everyone I work with, and write paragraphs upon paragraphs on why they’re brilliant. That’d be boring for everyone except for the people I write about, so I’m not going to, but I think Tom Taylor needs a shout out. He’s literally guided me through everything during my time at Booths, and shown nothing but support and faith in me – even when I’m a lazy, workshy git. My friendship with him this year has been a very glittery highlight.
TV Extra work:
I sent a photo and a description of myself (height, weight, eye colour, etc) to a casting agency, simply because I wanted to get work on the set of Cucumber, Russell T. Davies’ new drama for Channel 4. It was quite a big thing in Manchester this year. Everyone who worked on it was talking about how great it was going to be, and I was so jealous. So I nagged, and bothered and pestered my agent to get me a gig on it. On the last week of filming, I was offered a part! I’ll be in episode 7, but I’ll most likely get cut from the show. (Like I did with Hollyoaks! Pah!) But I only did it for the experience. (I got to see Freddie Fox – in the flesh! PHWOAR.)
I didn’t just do Cucumber and Hollyoaks. I also did a classy BBC production “The Hallow Crown”, set to air on BBC 2 this year. I got to see Benedict Cucumberbatch on set, and I played a French Guard. (“But I don’t know any French!” “You won’t have any lines.” “Oh.”)
Script writing:
Whilst all these other jobs were filling my life, in the background I was still writing. And by November, I’d won a writers room competition, got shortlisted/longlisted for numerous competitions and even got two paid gigs! I wrote a series of short videos of Primary Schools, featuring the dashing Aaron Craze (host of Junior Bakeoff) and the Christmas Coronation Street tours. I have Georgia and Gareth to thank for these opportunities. People with names beginning with G must be lucky.
CELEBZ:
I got to meet EVERYONE this year. (Or at least see them in the flesh.) Tony Warren and the writers of Coronation Street (Jonathan Harvey, Damon Rochefort and Debbie Oates), Kevin Smith, Jennifer Saunders, Russell T. Davies, LESLEYFRIGGIN’SHARPE, numerous Corrie cast members, Kay Mellor, Julie Hesmondhalgh and – did I mention? – Freddie Fox. (PHWOAR!)
I love a good old name drop so this year has been very satisfying in terms of that.
Relationships:
I’m not one to talk about relationships on Facebook. So I won’t be going into too much detail, but 2014 saw me enter my first long-term relationship. I learned so much from it, and quite frankly, my ex had the patience of a saint. I met his family and he met mine, and luckily both experiences were very pleasant. It’s over now, but we’re on good terms.
Ever since University, I’d always wanted to move in with my friend Joe. It was always on the cards, but circumstances never really allowed it to happen. 2014 saw yet another dream come true when I got to move in with him in October. I’ve been really happy living in this apartment and I can see myself settling here for a long time to come – hopefully!
And after working so hard, I got to spend the end of the year enjoying a week off with my family. It was a busy, loud Christmas with family members travelling across the country to join us, and it was a nice parallel to last year, when I was working in Manchester, and only got to spend two days in Preston. I also got to enjoy my time here with Alice, Tristan and Oliver, and maybe drinks and laughs were spilt and shared.
So here’s to 2015! I’m looking forward to the big movies due out this year, but also to the surprises life has in store. (I pray to God they’re nice ones!)