Monday 27 May 2013

What lurks beneath? Nae worries the Sheriffs will Seize them!

I'm addicted right now! Loving my days off and my Sky + box, Why? Well its down to two reasons; "River Monsters" and "The Sheriff's are Coming". Watched every show of both these tele programmes.

(River Monsters)

River Monsters is basically a show where the main guy (Jeremy Wade) goes out and hunts down the 'monsters' of the worlds rivers. He tracks stories and tales of giant and killer fish and goes to extreme lengths to catch them, no matter how 'rare' or difficult they are to find. I've read up on the show, it has a lot of critics but to be honest, I'm not really bothered by how 'inaccurate' or 'false' the show is, its great telly!

Jeremy Wade is a nutter! I remember the 'Piranha' episode and the mental-case gets in a swimming pool alongside an entire pack of piranha, I mean, who does that!? Obviously it was to prove a point that they are not the cold hearted killers as portrayed in hollywood blockbusters like 'Piranha' which was a horrifically terrible film :/

Its crazy to think some of these fish live in the water. I'm Scottish so I know of the legend of teh 'Loch Ness Monster' or "Nessy" as we all call him, but soem of the 'creatures' he pulls out of the water are terrifying. He's holding a piranha in the picture above (not a red-bellied one, another one, look at the fangs :S).

Overall, the show is great! The main guy as I said is one heck of a character, the camera work is superb and the fish caught are crazy!

I'm not exactly a fish-lover or an angler so its strange that i'm enjoying the show so much, maybe its the natural fear and wonder of "What is out there?"

You can CATCH this show on ITV. (See what I did there?)


(The Sheriffs are Coming)

My other favourite show right now involves County sheriffs chasing up wrong-dooers for payment of owed money. The show is good, I wouldn't say better than River Monsters, but they are totally different shows. Like River Monsters I have watched every show available, addict! I love watching the 'bad guy' getting pulled up and having to pay up! Basically things like "A builder took the money but didn't finish the job" and work tribunal related stories are the main topics of the show. Sheriff's have greater powers than bailiffs and can get in to properties and seize goods if the target doesn't pay up. The guys involved in this program are characters as well, usually good for a laugh and know their stuff!

You can catch this show on the BBC



Thats all today, I'm off to the Florida to catch some snakeheads with Jeremy Wade! Thats a fish btw!

Monday 20 May 2013

Overwhelmed. Needing any help with blogging?

This is just a post to say thank you really. I started this blog after a university module in e-marketing. From that I created www.theglasgowexperience.blogspot.com and this. I learned how to track view and visits and I found it quite exciting. That is ultimately why I started the blog...to track visits where they came from and why. Sifting through the data and info I can see that the blog has generated a great response and for that I say thanks to all who visited and read my nonsense. It really is overwhelming.

I have learned so much from both projects...if anyone needs help with starting a blog or tracking and generating track for it then do not hesitate to ask questions. I have found it is a good way of communicating and letting off steam...a way to get what is bothering you off your chest. It really does help.

So if you need some advice on Blogging or SEO or even digital marketing..I am willing to discuss it with anyone...I am by no means an expert however.


Get in touch through twitter @GrantKFraser www.twitter.com/grantkfraser or my email gkfraser@live.co.uk



Thanks folks



G x

Monday 13 May 2013

Bring back the 'BOWL' Mullet Haircut!

What is it about a haircut? To me, there's not many feelings like having your hair cut. Its a weird thing, I've spoken to some people who agree that whenever you get a fresh hair cut, you don't just get a new hair cut but also, it would appear you become more attentive, focussed and motivated. That might sound strange but honestly I believe this to be true. I had my hair cut on Sunday, since then I've managed to apply for numerous jobs, focus on my studies for my exam and generally feel more positive. With a new hair cut comes a feeling of freshness, I'm more organised, clean cut (in hair and in mind) and I'm definitely more focussed. You may be reading this thinking I'm nuts, fair enough. Honestly though, try and realise/look out for these kind of traits after your next hair cut.

Now I have very fair blonde hair. I've had so many styles throughout my childhood, going back to the classic 'BOWL Mullet' like cut when I was young to the the clean sideshed of today. Hair styles change all the time, things change all the time, thats soemthing I find pretty cool.

I love a hair-cut is basically what I'm saying!

For fun:

(BOWL Mullet cut, back in the day)

(Fresh cut)
 
 
 
 
 
Thanks folks
 
 
 
 
 
 
G x

Wednesday 8 May 2013

Drink Responsibly

I went up-town for a friend's 21st on Sunday (Bank Holiday Weekend). We all went to Kushion in Glasgow where we had a private booth. We all had a cracking night, knocking back the drinks and getting a dance in here and there (most dancing took place on the booth table!). It was the aftermath though that inspired this post.

I haven't put up a blog in a few days, thats because on the Monday (and through to today) the last thing I wanted to do was write a blog! The hangover was probably the worst one to date! We normally hit the drink hard on a night out but on Sunday I must have had about 5 different types of drink. I started off with a Mojito pre-mixed Bacardi bottle which was 14.9%, it wasn't nice at all, I had to add Lemonade to make it drinkable! (Cheers Pouty McPouterpants for the Lemonade).

Then it was on to Nico's Bar on Sauchiehall Street for more pre-drinks. Races for drinking their 'Adios M****rF****r' (A mixed drink of vodka, gin, tequila & blue carracau) were not a bright idea looking back. After having two of them I had 2 jagerbombs after that. Looking at it now, can't even believe we got in to Kushion, must have been a riot by the time 11.300 came around.

Then Kushion itself, one of my favourite clubs in Glasgow. Usually go on a Tuesday for their 'Juicy Tuesdays' night as its always packed and a good night. This was a special Kushion vs Tingle (Tingle Shooter Bar, Glasgow) night. Tingle were in the house and naturally we had some of their shots on offer. Then on to the regular Vodka Lemonades for the rest of the night. The rest of the nights a bit of a blur, can only rememebr dancing on the booth table sure.


What I do remember is the Monday. Felt ill, don't normally suffer from hangovers, but this was somethingelse. Can rememeber getting 'SnapChats' all day from everybody, just non-stop pictures of 'dead' looking people. Everybody hit it hard and suffered too. What a night though, great times and celebrating the Pouters birthday was good.


Happy Birthday Scotty Pout Face!





Thanks folks




G x

Sunday 5 May 2013

Rollercoaster Gillette Soccer Saturday! (4th May 2013)


Saturday is football day. Other than going to watch the teams we all love and support we have the alternative of Gillette Soccer Saturday on Sky Sports (if you pay for it that is sorry). In general, the show doesn't have much meaning, that is until you have a coupon / punt on at the bookies. I love a weekend punt on the football. £2-£5 bets here and there, nothing too serious. A coupon has to be worth some value though, I try to tell others, you wont get the same buzz or thrill in a coupon thats worth £20, but go after the hundreds. Even go for the always enjoyable 20p crazy bets that come in at the thousands, might as well eh?


Now, why am I mentioning this now? Well to this point, bets wise, I've had a pretty succesful week, in my terms that is haha. I changed to PaddyPower instead of WilliamHill this week, mainly because the free match bet that they offered, which I think is £50, ie, you deposit £50 and bet it, they will give you £50 back as a free bet (Win or lose). So, I felt like a bit of fun, a bit of a risk, so I stuck £50 on Barcelona to Beat Bayern Munich in the 2nd leg of the Champions League Semi-Final at the Nou Camp. I then used the free bet of £50 (which is credited to you straight away, which is great unlike Willy Hill) on Bayern Munich to win. In the end if you didn't already know, Bayern won and I ended up cashing in £120, which is great considering my luck!


(Click to enlarge images, my bets)
 

Since that night (Wednesday?) I've taken £100 out and banked and turned £20 into a further £150! It's been one rollercoaster ride though! I crazily used the £20 on an in-play bet on Mexican, Coloumbian and Chilean games, teams I've never even heard of in my life! I bet through in-play (the games were at the 75-80mins stage) and I backed about 5 teams at £20 for £46. 4 cam ein and 1 was still running 'Jaguares vs Pachucha', I had Jaguares as they were 1-0 to the good with 10mins left, it then went 1-1, and I thought "here we go again", this is the kind of luck I've had for months now, last minute equalisers have been killing me for ages! So I watch the muntes go by 88,89,90,91 and then 92 and it goes 2-1 Jaguares! I was absolutely buzzing, a bit of luck coming in for me, great times! Then I went to sleep haha, long journey.

More on Soccer Saturday though, what a weekend, and its only been Saturday. We had the twists and turns of the championship today and I was glued to it. Every goal that flew in was causign mayhem in the league standings. Final day is always tense, so much drama, but there were sooooo many clubs in the mix on the final day. I remember shouting "Palace, Palace, Palace!" in an English accent (the joy was more coupon related) the emotion had got to us, I felt liek an actual fan, the game ended 3-2 after being 1-0 down 1-1 etc etc, last minute goals for Palace secured a playoff spot for the premiership. Then the Hull City v Watford saga. Hull lost a penalty to Cardiff in the final minutes and it ended 2-2, all Watford had to do was win their game vs Leeds United to clinch 2nd place and the all important automatic promotion spot to the high life of the premiership! The Watford game was abotu 15minutes behind the hull game, they pushed and pushed (with only 10men too) before Leeds hit them on the counter, Ross McCormack chipping the keeper from range, the keeper managed to spill it into hsi net. Saga over, Hull go up. Now personally I would rather Watford went up, they deserved it, better goal difference and they were up in that area all season, Hull cam eout of the blue to be honest, plus I think they are quite a depressing side to watch, like Wigan and Stoke :/

But yeah, what a rollercoast soccer saturday on Sky Sports we had. The covergae as always was excellent, the coupons to hand may have gone bust, but what a day, I felt exhausted after it, I can only imagine how the supporters felt! The premiership just can't compete with that I'm afraid, lower leagues are more exciting, always have been, always will be!


I know this post is different form my usual posts, so sorry for that, I know it might not be interesting if you don't like the footy! Sorry, its a one off.

P.s I don't promote gambling, but if you do it or will do it soon, don't go crazy with stakes and try not to get too involved in it haha, or you;ll turn into a MORE derranged version of me and believe me , you don't want that! Haha

(Unbelievable Jeff! Soccer Saturday's MAIN man!)
 



Thanks folks





G x

Friday 3 May 2013

Welcome to the BIG World!

Big day today! Handed in my final piece of coursework for my 3rd year at UWS! 1 exam to go, but that should be a degree of BA Business with Management pretty much wrapped up (providing I pass my coursework!). Not much more I can do now, but sit back and hope for the best!

(University of the West of Scotland, Paisley)
 

Not 100% on the chance of me returning to UWS for my honours year. I would like to do it, chances are I will need it to get any kind of job anyway; but I want to genuinely get a career job before next term, thats the GOAL!

Welcome to the BIG world, its a scary place! Looking at Job titles and descriptions and its daunting. I have spent 3 years at UWS, years I've worked hard and did my best to learn. There is always that fear of; "Will I know what I'm doing? Am I capable of doing a job in the field that I studied?" I would hate to turn up at a job and not know what I was supposed to do, thats the fear that I need to overcome!

Job descriptions and responsibilities state that the candidate would be involved in blah and blah. When reading it all I can make out is blah and blah sometimes, because a lot of the words go in and fly straight back out, I haven't heard of half of the things that you would be required to do, is this just me or is it the same for everyone?

I question job descriptions, will I actually do these things, or will I turn up and be given help to get me going. DO I really need to know the things that are written down, or is something I already know from my own business knowledge, just worded different?


These are some of the barriers I will face in the next few months I reckon, anybody who has been here before me, if you have advice, that would be nice haha.


I'm looking at getting involved in Project Management or Business Development. These seem to be the areas that interest me, I believe I would make a good project manager. I'm generally creative and well organised and on the whole I'm able to take lead/charge of tasks I'm involved in.

If any employer ever reads this, you know how to contact me! ;) (gkfraser92@gmail.com)


Ach well, if it doesn't work out, theres always Costa hot chocolates to comfort us eh!








Thanks Folks





G x

Thursday 2 May 2013

Slabs are not Pets, Don't play with them! (GRAPHIC Imagery)

Photos/Pictures placed at the end. If you have a weak stomach/don't like blood, don't scroll too far down! Sorry.

On a summers day in 2010 my life changed! I was in 6th year at Park Mains High School (Erskine, Scotland), in my final/leavers week to be exact. I was casually outside the school theatre playing football (playing wally) with some friends when I had a traumatic experience, I will not be forgetting about it anytime soon let me tell you that!

I was playing on a pathway that ran alongside (the now knocked-down) theatre when the ball came to a halt on the ground. Perfectly positioned for a strike (or so I thought) I took a swing at it. I managed to connect with the ground more than the ball! At the time I wore 'pointy' suit style shoes. Later on I've found that the ball came to a rest on an uneven slab! The tip of my shoe caught the upturned area of the slab, before dragging my foot directly toward the earth, all whilst I was trying to smack a football full pelt off a wall! You can imagine what happened. No? Well let me tell you exactly what went down (Don't worry; I have pictures to show you! Haha).

After hopping down to the school reception (alone I will add), I was driven to the hospital by my good friend A*. I sat in A&E at the Southern General Hospital, Glasgow for about an hour before seeing nurse number 1. At this point I had not taken my shoe off (Wouldn't have been able to get shoe back on because swelling would have occurred, or something like that). I knew I had "broken" my toe back at school, but what I faced was a little bit worse than that! Shoe came off and then the sock.......all I could see was blood, and my toe literally hanging off with a bone sticking out. My toe is actually twitching just writing and thinking about this again, ha!

It turned out, after x-rays etc etc that I had a compound fracture of the great toe. Basically, I had snapped the main tendon in the toe which allowed the bone to pierce the skin which led to fractures of the toe. It looked gruesome. I was treated by two consultants who after injecting the toe with 10+ injections, tried to manoeuvre and wiggle the bone back inside the toe, even under the anaesthetic this was agony! They couldn't do it, surgery was the only option. I went into a ward and wasn't to eat for 24 hours, so my operation was supposed to be the next day. They couldn't get me in the next day, so I waited even longer without food. Finally starving and in pain, I was taken down and put under general anaesthetic (Put to sleep, knocked out etc)."10, 9, 8, 7........ZzzzZzzzzz".

Since then I have a gigantic toe, swollen with scar marks of the surgery. Got arthritis in it and it takes a pounding playing football, which is not ideal for me as I love my sport!


Big thanks to the staff of the Southern General in Glasgow. Thanks to everyone that helped me out back at the school as well (and A*).




Thanks folks




G x




GRAPHIC images coming up, look away if queasy!




(X-Ray)
 
(1st sight of the toe after sock came off, sick!)

 (The shiny thing is the bone!)
 
(K-Wire Pin through the whole toe and stiching)