16th December 2002; The weekend that was…

Today, I got myself up an hour early to go for an Audience at Birmingham Uni. – I don’t want to say much because I might be going there but- the building is a bit of a hole but the course and teachers are great. Not to mention the girls auditioning with me, there was a lovely girl from Wales and another lovely girl from Ashby De La Zouche (have I spelt it right?) we spent two hours between the audition and the talk/Q&A session in the pub/café bar. Great. They audition about 160 from the 7/800 who apply and 130 get offers – so I’m in with a chance. As soon as I got there everyone was weighing up the competition – it was a quick conversation of where have you applied, have you had any offers, what grades have you got etc – you know the picture, but everyone relaxed when we got into the ‘workshop’ when the head of drama told us we were in the top lot to be auditioned – which was nice. But whether I get the grades or not is another manner.

And my days been topped with the revival of ‘Treasure Hunt’ – I grew up on a diet of ‘Treasure Hunt’ and ‘Challenge Anneka’ – It wasn’t as good as the original and they’ve changed the theme tune, heading for a non-commission!!!

End of Journal…

12th December 2002; Organising my Time...

I open today journal with a cry for some advise; I have too many options and not enough hours in the day. Do I go to Edinburgh Fringe this year - I'd really like to be in a school play again this year however it will probably mean lots of rehearsals, and the week we are in Edinburgh I will get my results for my A-levels (and if I cock them up again - i'd be in a fine mess trying to sort out Universities from Edinburgh on my mobile phone). There is an over riding feeling that I have commited myself to enough already - next term I will have Bugsy Malone to co-direct and organise, I may be in a play at Carlton, I will have my Course Work Drama and History - not to forget all the usual work.

I have the opportunity of an audition tomorrow lunch time - but I not sure, I really want to go but it depends on how well my results are...

10th December 2002; Ok... this is a real journal entry...

I have recently had complaints that my journal is infact not a journal at all - but in fact an 'e-mail forward' cut and paste job (in reference to the entry on the 8th December 2002). I am here to defend my decision to post up this little story - a journal is about the things that affect me and my daily living. That anecdote did exactly that; It made me laugh, it made me cry (in great sympathy for the old lady) and really enhanced me as a person and gave me a different out look on life. As a result I am now a more positive and gentle person who now makes sure he types the e-mail address correctly in the 'Send To' Box.

In other news today, The University of Warwick Film Studies Department has rejected me (The tears come crashing down on the key board) that was no great surprise - which now leaves three courses and I'm in danger of ending my educational years at Coventry University (panic). However I just have to wait and see what happens...

9th December 2002; Thought for the Day...

If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bullshit...

8th December 2002; Due to popular demand I shall now update my journal…

I shall start this entry with a little anecdote;

E-MAIL CONFUSION

From the USA comes the following story, which reinforces the need to get E-mail addresses correct:

After being snow bound for two weeks, during the winter, a Seattle man departed for Miami Beach, where he was to meet his wife the next day at the conclusion of her business trip to Minneapolis.

They were looking forward to some warm, pleasant weather and an enjoyable break from the children. Unfortunately there was a mix up at the Departure Gate and he was informed that he would have to travel on a later flight.

On arrival, he found Miami Beach was having a heat wave and the weather was as uncomfortably hot as Seattle was cold. The receptionist gave him a message that his wife would arrive later in the day. He could hardly wait to get in the pool. So he hurriedly sent his wife an E-mail message, but because of his haste made an error in the address.

As a result, his message arrived at the home of an elderly widow, whose preacher husband had been buried the day before. The grieving widow opened her E-mail, took one look at the screen and promptly had a heart attack.

When her family found her, the following message was still on the screen:

Dearest Wife

Departed yesterday, as you know. Just now checked in. Some confusion at the Gate. Appeal was denied. Received confirmation of your arrival

Your loving husband.

P.S. Things are not as we thought. You will be surprised how hot it is down here.

In the most amazing discovery this week James Kerr’s journal has been updated (after a month and he calls me a hypocrite not updating mine after 2 days?) which now reads more like a Mills and Boon novel – and not a very good one at that! (I’m joking James – no really).

I’ve just finished watching all 26 episodes of ‘The New Avengers’ and waiting to start watching all 17 episodes of ‘The Prisoner’ and to finish watching ‘Sapphire and Steel’. So if you don’t mind I’d like to get back to my television.

5th December 2002; On the Road...

As regular readers will know (all two of you) I went to see 'Road', the Jim Cartwright play at Nottingham Lakeside Theatre yesterday. You can read my review here.

4th December 2002; Cooking?!?

Yet again i'm going to take this opportunity to moan! Not only has my Mother subjected me to using Christmas themed kitchen towel, I have been put down for Cookery General Studies Classes. A certain teacher informed me that if i put down an unlikely choice for my 2nd choice, I would easily get my first - Music (Do you get me?). However it hasn't worked like that and i'll spend the rest of my Fridays chopping up onions and burning sausages...

Something for all my adoring fans to look for - This Thursday 7.30pm ITV1, 'Nearly Famous' documentary features my drama group - Carlton Television Workshop, and you might just see me in the background...

I'm off to Nottingham tonight to see 'Road' - ow can't wait.

2nd December 2002; We wish you a Merry Christmas...

I've hardly opened the first window on my 'Bob the Builder' Advent calender and i have received my first Christmas Card, and my neighbours think that Blackpool Illuminations belongs in their front garden. This surely is pure madness? Work (that is Currys... No Worries...) have already had christmas decorations up for two weeks and have had the Live Aid single on a constant loop since October. What is this world coming to?

30th November 2002; Thought for day…

A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.

29th November 2002; Quick, someone call a Doctor…

Today was turning out to be quite an average day, a slow triple geography followed by a single History and then double general studies (law). But what I didn’t know was that due to my mobile phone deciding to not work yesterday, my agent was trying to contact me to let me about an audition. However they didn’t get in contact until lunchtime – giving my mum heart failure trying to contact me – I was nowhere to be found (in fact I was in the geography studies room doing homework). Anyway, I was whisked to Pebble Mill in Birmingham missing a triple lesson of Drama (!). I don’t what to say much about the Audition (clue in the title…) – I don’t want to tempt fate, but when I got there the 52-year-old receptionist chatted me up, she came out with such classics as ‘You’ve got a good strong name – is it your real one?’ ‘Are you Irish?’ (And before you ask, I’m not, the dark hair and blue eyes and Irish surname is purely coincident!), ‘ The Celtic looks in this season – you’ll get the job’. Sitting down to read the script I was continually poked with a plastic cow by this two-year-old kid – what a joy. Watch this space, who knows…

The site has just had a proper make over, plus new sections have been added. The Reviews Section will start next week when I’m going to see ‘Road’ and then the Bablake Dramatic Societies musical offerings… Plus I’m also in the process of putting up some theatre/TV resources.

28th November 2002; Postage...

Today I had two items through the post; the first came in a brown envelope – labelled the UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM, this was it! Would they take me or not? The letter said ‘Thank you for applying’ – my heart sank, the classic left down – ‘I am writing to invite you to attend for interview…’ An Interview??? I thought universities didn’t do that any more. I’m to report to room 101 on a date that shall remain dateless – for a ‘practical workshop’ – the words ‘practical’ and ‘workshop’ fills me with dread. Apparently ‘I’m to bring loose clothing (no jeans)’ that means there’ll be dancing (!); lets just hope they don’t ask me to sing!

The second envelope was a lot thicker - padded in fact. It was a video. (Nothing dodgy before you ask) It was a copy of some voices-over I did during half-term for First Light productions – As you can imagine I was quite excited to watch this at last (It was premiered at the London Film Festival last week), the last time I did a voice over it was at least two years ago for an advert for the ITV ‘Gladiators’ and that was like listening to a mixture of a dog trapped in a combined harvester and wading through gravel.

Can you believe my despair when I discovered my mobile was broken; it was like losing a child or a limb or both. I took it back to the ‘Carphone Warehouse’ in the city centre at lunchtime. I went to the counter, I said ‘My mobile phones broken’, and she looked at me as to say ‘Well what did you want me to do about it?’ Its going to take at least two weeks if not longer to get it fixed – what am I going to do???

26th November 2002; I'm coming out I want the world to know...

A few of my friends know, some may well have guessed, and other won’t have a clue (they usually don’t), but I feel to is time that I come true and stop pretending. I’ve tried to hide behind a disguise but often I peek through.

Please don’t be horrible for what I am about to tell you, accept me for what I am:

I am a Crossroads fan!

Yes, I enjoy such quality television as Doctor Who, The Avengers, The Tomorrow People, Ace of Wands, Tales of the Unexpected and Danger Man. Plus a few more. I enjoyed Crossroads – so you can see the standards we’re looking at here. Plus such classic as Porridge, Steptoe and Son, Some Mother Do ‘Ave ‘Em (My mother certainly did!) and the new stuff like Smack the Pony and Ab Fab.

Any way back to business this my new on-line journal, bringing you the update with the latest news and innermost thoughts of me: Dexter, better known to my friends as – well I can’t possible repeat it here.

Here comes the difficult bit I’m getting stuck for what to write about … Err… Well…

Let me tell you about me, yes me, you may not be interested, but here a little bit about me;

I was born in Coventry – the cultural centre of this great state we call Great Britain (what’s great about it?) – that gave birth to such geniuses as Lady Godiva and Dexter O’Neill. I came from my mother’s womb tap dancing straight onto the stage. I’m an actor (ashamedly bowing his head) and been with so many theatre companies that I feel like a prostitute.

My secondary school was Pattison College – and without going in to much depth (otherwise I’d be done for slander!) It was eventful, to say the least, getting told off for the most petty things such as having my hair too long (now what’s wrong with that- admitted it looked stupid- but it was the principle of it) and refusing the carry a black plastic bag down the Binley Road during the middle of a GCSE Science class. I ask you – I go to school to learn (that’s debatable) not to carry bin bags full of old clothes to sell for the PTA to fuel the coffers of the school! Don’t get me started.

Then after my GCSEs I decided to go to Bablake, I’m taking Drama, Geography and History. And gained a social life (no really) and have many new friends; Jenny, Claire, Tim, James (The Irish Fire Hazard –a personal joke), Chris, Alex, Nicole, Ami, Lizzie W, Lizzie S, Dani, Jamie and so many more…

What next? Well after world domination, I think a spell on Celebrity Big Brother might do.

Anyway I’ve got to get back to homework, Stanislavski galore! Good-bye for now – I’ll keep you posted.

Coming Soon,

The Ann Diamond Appreciation Society

Why HAIR is arguably the best musical

Why are Girls like buses? They always come in threes!