The new public nuisance

I was reading the free newspaper they give away on the buses here the other day, when I saw a letter from someone on the letters page that, for once, I agreed with one hundred per cent. The writer was complaining about people who listen to their MP3 players on public transport- and more specifically, their musical tastes, or lack of it.

Whenever I get on the bus, there's always at least one teenager who's got their iPod on at full volume. And every time, it's blaring out the same old thumping, godawful hip hop music. They're the public transport equivalent of those pillocks who drive around the streets of urban and suburban England with the volume of their car stereos cranked up to ten. I for a while, have felt inclined to take my own MP3 player on the bus, sit near one of these pains in the neck and give them a taste of my own musical tastes. Hear some proper music on the bus for a change. One thing's for sure I would rather hear some Muse, Green Day or Keane first thing in the morning on my way to work than some tuneless, pointless thudding!

Something new for me to do.

I've started a distance learning course on Writing for the Web. I've done it as I thought that it would be interesting. I also thought it would be a step in the right direction for what I ultimately want to do. It's set me back nearly £180 and my parents have questioned whether it's really worth that much, but I see it as a worthy investment. Anything that can help me improve as a writer is worth investing in. And I got a copy of the Writers' and Artists' yearbook free with the course materials, which will prove to be very useful. If there is a change in the quality of my entries over the next few months, you'll know why!

The Simpsons character I'm most like

You Are Bart Simpson

Very misunderstood, most people just dismiss you as "trouble." Little do they know that you're wise and well accomplished beyond your years. You will be remembered for: starring in your own TV show and saving the town from a comet Your life philosophy: "I don't know why I did it, I don't know why I enjoyed it, and I don't know why I'll do it again!"

The Simpsons Personality Test

Aye, carumba!

A tale of good customer service.

Every so often something happens to you that restores your faith in human nature.

Last week, I ordered a Keane calendar from Amazon Marketplace. It was only £1.99 (exc. p&p, which wasn't too much) so I thought, "why not?" I needed one up in my room anyway. When the calendar finally arrived the other day, I opened it, only to find that they had accidentally sent me a Razorlight calendar. Now, I like Razorlight as much as the next person, but I don't like them enough to have them counting down the months of the year. I emailed the seller through Amazon, explaining the situation and telling them I was prepared to return the one they'd sent me in exchange for my original item or a refund if they no longer had any.

Anyway, to cut a long story short, I received a reply from the sellers, who said that they were going to send me the Keane one and that I could keep the Razorlight one as a gift. Therefore, I don't need to return it and I can keep the other one at no extra charge! Now that is good service. I am of course, going to e mail them to thank them. The only thing now, is that I have got two calendars. I'll sort something out.