Ash's Amazing Articles

Shafilea Ahmed - RIP (1986 - 2003)

2008-01-18T07:37:00.000-08:00

What did she ever do to deserve be taken like that? When I saw it on the news, I couldnt help but cry Why why why. I will always remember that.
You were just like any other teenager in Britain just wanting to live your life, doing the best you can, ambitions and dreams, a future so bright.
Strong feelings inside, swirling around, just always wondering what did YOU ever do wrong? Why did it have to be this way for you?
What a life to take. Four years have passed, since that time but you will never fade away.
Your face will never fade from our memory, it is as clear as the morning sun You still live on; your in a better place I pray, where you finally are safe and happy
One day, and One day soon Justice will be done.
Even though I did not know you I will always remember you. Those who you cherished, The happy and sad times with will always hold on to your memory, they will never let go, the gentle breeze still speaks your once heard voice.
They miss you all so much Im sure,
Shafilea, Shafilea We all care so dearly Shafilea you will always be remembered. I have read not many do, I wonder why, it just brings tears to my eye I will always remember you, someone has too I never knew you but, it is just important too, I always will do dont worry.
Shafilea peace be with you. If only we could have known - a thousand homes could have opened their doors to you, if only we had known a million parents could have taken you in their arms, if only we had known the whole world would have said STOP.
In your memory lets all say - no more honour killings - lets put a STOP to this and behold and protect all our daughters, because they are our daughters too.

2008 Targets

2008-01-10T04:12:00.000-08:00

OK, I need to get my life on track :) lol

Achievable targets for this year...

1) NEW JOB
Have currently signed on for JSA! Need to get off it as quick as I can. Waiting to hear back from a couple of places, most notably Travelodge which I had a very good interview with.

2) LEARN TO DRIVE
With a job, comes money, which will be used to finally learn to drive
Aim to start learning by March 1st.

3) DO A COURSE/(S)
Again, when I have a job i'll have money and can look at furthering my education, whether through A Levels or other courses relating to what sort of career I might like.

4) EARN £1000 IN SAVINGS
I currently have £0.00 in my high-interest ISA saving account. Aim to put at least £100 a month if possible out of my wages into the ISA

All achieveable I think, with the top one being priority

From Russia With Love

2008-01-08T07:18:00.000-08:00

***WORK IN PROGRESS***

Going to Moscow for an England football match was never expected to be an easy-going affair. Sure, capitalism and western culture is starting to creep in around the walls of the Red Square but the hostilities and hatred toward the English still remains.
From getting off the plane at Domodevo airport you get the feeling you're not wanted. The stares from the locals as you walk past, they know who the English are just by sight. Whether we just have a look about us or maybe it's the clothes we wear but the looks you get firmly remind you how far away from home you actually are.
Arriving into the centre of Moscow, courtesy of a armed escort, the effects of Stalin's communist reign is still very evident. The whole city has a dark, miserable feel to it and this is reflected in it's inhabitants. But with the seeds of change firmly sown in recent years the Russian can finally look towards a brighter future for them and their children.
You can't go to a city like Moscow and not check out the politically and historically famous sights such as Red Square and The Kremlin. This was the plan but unfortunetly, due to the soldiers we have escorting us refusing to take 300 plus English into the most populated and busy area of the city, we had to miss out.

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2008-01-01T11:10:00.000-08:00

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New Year... New Blog

2008-01-01T05:51:00.000-08:00

First of all, I wish everyone a Happy New Year!
It's that time of year again when we all recount the year we just had, this one being 2007, for some reason my right hand is really hurting and it's hard to type but ah well.

Personally i've had a bit of an indifferent year, changes on all fronts. New job, old job, new friends, new phones, new family members and Dr Who!

This time last year I had recently started working at Tescos, on Winwick road. In April I was offered a job back at the BP petrol station I used to work at on the view that I would be the store manager within 3 months. This never materialised and I ended up leaving a job I enjoyed for one I never. After numerous arguments with my manager and the managers above her I walked out in November feeling very let down and upset by the whole company. I'm currently still unemployed but have a few jobs in the pipeline. My biggest regret this year has to be leaving Tescos, my team leader and manager both tried to get me to stay and told me they saw the potential in me and that I could progress up there career ladder soon there, I should have listened.

Old friends... I'm fortunate enough that I've got the best friends in the world and another year on I feel that our bonds have become stronger and we are closer than ever. We have had some awesome times this year and holidays together. Dublin to see REM, Windermere for a week in the summer and Amsterdam in December for the weekend. Memories that will never be forgotten, I'm glad I've got you guys and I just hope that it lasts forever, I couldn't wish for anything more and look forward to more good times and memories.

New friends... this year I have made a very good friend in the form of James' little brother Charles. It's wierd, he is young but we connect on many levels, and on levels I can't connect with with my other mates. We've had some very enjoyable days out, climbing Mount Snowdon in august which resulted in a hospital trip after he fell down the mountain! Also, we had a Dr Who day in November which was very fun and various days and nights at James' house. He's the only person I can talk to about things I'm interested in, like Dr Who, and we also share the same music tastes thus resulting in texts and phone calls which go into hours. No-one else I know is interested in the same things I am so in a way I'm glad he's there because I know I do have someone to talk to and it's a way I can recapture my youth I so very much miss!

That brings me on to my new love this year... Doctor Who! I had never really seen Dr who but Charles convinced me to watch the last couple of episodes of Series 3 when they came out on the tele and I've been hooked ever since. My friends say I'm obsessed, I say they're right. The best present I got this year was my Dr Who Sonic Screwdriver which I've hardly put down since I got it... oh to be 12 again.

On to the Sports side of my life, obviously Warrington were shit again but we were hit by a crippling injury list (excuses excuses) and England failed to qualify for Euro 2008 which was a big bummer as that was what I was saving my Airmiles for but I guess i've got the qualifiers to look forward to. Following England this year included trips to Barcelona for the game against Andorra and Moscow for the Russia game, the latter being very expensive but well worth the memories! The Russians do not like us, just unfortunate we couldn't come back with the 3 points which would have seen us qualify.

On the family front we were hit by the news that my Nana has lung cancer and they won't be treating her due to her age and the risk that could ensue, so we don't really know what's happening but she's OK at the minute so that's all we can hope for.

On the other side, I'm going to be an uncle! My brothers girlfriend is currently 24 weeks pregnant and is due on the 20th April, and it's going to be a boy, really made up about that, cannot wait (although we go to Florida a few days after the due date ).

I think that's about it, doubt anyone's read through but thank you if you have and please leave a comment, I'd love to hear what you've been up to.
Oh and one more thing,

I don't usually do resolutions but this year it's to be vegetarian for a month! Wierd I know but I bet my vegetarian best mate that I could do it for a month, i've also somehow lost half a stone in the last few weeks so keeping that up would be good, and being vegetarian helps! A lot less saturated fats that are in meats and having to eat more veg and fruit which I don't eat so it's all good I guess.
I also need to get back into playing rugby which I haven't for a while, I miss that and I miss the team.

I'm finished now, definetly, hope you all had a good night and please comment

Dr Who

2007-12-29T12:27:00.000-08:00

Hey guys, I hope you all had a great christmas
With the advent comes the Dr Who Christmas Special.
This year we had Voyage Of The Damned with Kyle Minouge guest-starring as a waitress named Astrid. I thought she might have had more to do with the Tardis due to her name but I think Russel-T-Davies might have just done it for fun.
Anyway, the launch of my new website www.drwho2008.co.nr is very soon!
I'm working on the domain, can't afford a proper one JUST yet.
The website will have the latest news on the programme and the latest series due to air in a few months, as well as information about past and current doctors and latest news on them and what they're up to away from Dr Who. Bookmark us now or sign up to the mailing list on the site so you don't miss out! I hope you enjoyed the christmas special, I won't right too much now incase people are yet to watch it but they'll be a full review on www.drwho2008.co.nr when it is
launched.
There are 2 days to go until New Year's so I will bid you all Auld Lang Syne and farewell.
Take care

RIP Garry Newlove - A TRUE HERO (18/08/07)

2007-08-17T16:52:00.000-07:00

R.I.P. Garry Newlove - Father of three and true hero (1960 - 2007)

"Six teenagers are being questioned over the death of a father of three who died following a confrontation with youths outside his home.

Garry Newlove, 47, died yesterday after arguing with youths outside his home in Warrington, Cheshire, on Friday night.

He suffered a head injury after confronting a gang who are believed to have smashed the window of a mechanical digger which had been parked in his driveway." Daily Telegraph 14/08/07

Garry Newlove lost his life whilst standing up to youths causing trouble outside his home, unlike many others, he wasn't able to stand by and let it happen and let the teens carry on running the street. He stood up to the gangs, he shown he was willing to protect his home, his family and his neighbours who have been subjected to abuse from the gangs many a time. For this he lost his life, a wife lost her husband, children lost their dad, and the country lost a hero. If more people can act like Mr Newlove then maybe we can reclaim the streets back from the youths that run them and maybe get them to show more respect. The police should start being firmer and get it back to the times when kids were scared of the police showing up, and they were allowed to give them a clip round the ear if they stood out of line.

Thoughts go out to Mr Newloves' family and friends, and can I be one to say Thank You Garry.

The following is a link to a letter written by Garry Newloves 12 year old daughter Amy whilst she was at his bedside in the hospital before he died. Don't read if you have a weak heart. Click Here

Deaths in Iraq (11/10/06)

2007-08-17T16:41:00.002-07:00

It's been reported that 650,000 Iraqies have died that wouldn't have had we not invaded. I know that number is probably exagerated but anything like that is disgusting, it's horrible and it makes me feel sick. We invaded the country on false pretence at the cost of hundreds of thousands of innocents' lives. How many more is there going to be? Is it going to break 1 million?

I hope to God it doesn't.

And from the man behind this doesn't give me much hope, and I quote George W Bush:
" No, I don't consider it a credible report, neither does General Casey and neither do Iraqi officials. I do know that a lot of innocent people have died and it troubles me and grieves me and I applaud the Iraqis for their courage in the face of violence. I am, you know, amazed that this is a society which so wants to be free that they're willing to…you know, that there's a level of violence that they tolerate. And it's now time for the Iraqi government to work hard to bring security in neighborhoods so people can feel–you know–at peace."

No, George, I do not "you know" and neither do you I think.

Life under Suddam was shit, to be blunt. But it has got a lot shitter thanks to the US and our good selves. So let's all feel proud.

And as for the cobblers about regime change – hey, that's against international law. Do you know why? Because it's open to abuse. Think about it. Who gets to decide what regime is 'nasty'? Who gets to decide what regime needs changing? Perhaps the North Koreans could invade South Korea on the grounds that they think that the south is dodgy and inhumane. Start to get the picture?

Besides, if 'nasty' regimes need changing, why didn't we hit Zimbabwe or North Korea ahead of Iraq, particularly since we, the US and other western countries had supported Saddam for years when it was political?

Iraq and all that (19/06/06)

2007-08-17T16:41:00.001-07:00

I'm so sick of arming the world, then sending troops over to destroy the fucking arms, you know what I mean? We keep arming these little countries, then we go and blow the shit out of them. We're like the bullies of the world. We're like Jack Palance in the movie Shane, throwing the pistol at the sheepherder's feet.
"Pick it up."
"I don't wanna pick it up, Mister, you'll shoot me."
"Pick up the gun."
"Mister, I don't want no trouble. I just came to town here to get some hardrock candy for my kids, some gingham for my wife. I don't even know what gingham is, but she goes through about ten rolls a week of that stuff. I ain't looking for no trouble, Mister."
"Pick up the gun."
(He picks it up. Three shots ring out)
"You all saw him - he had a gun."

It's just a ride, and we can change it any time we want. It's only a choice. No effort, no work, no job, no savings and money, a choice, right now, between fear and love. The eyes of fear want you to put bigger locks on your door and close yourself off. The eyes of love instead see all of us as one.

Work and Happiness (06/02/06)

2007-08-17T16:40:00.000-07:00

My last day at work was today, finally! I really hated that place. It wasn't the job I hated, or the amount of work, but the customers! I can handle people, I think i'm easy to talk to and I like being social and talking to the customers. I used to be able to handle it, the way they look down on me just because I work in a shop, it seems their disgusted by the face the only job I can get is behind a till, even though I'm only 19. What makes these people so special? Why is their life or job so much better than mine that it seems like them having to go to the garage is an inconveniance? Why is everybody always in a rush? I don't know if it's just me but I think people need to value life more, calm down, take a step back from the rat race and just enjoy what you've got before it's too late. People think they need money to have fun and enjoy life, money isn't everything. Take a look at the lesser developed countries, go to Asia, Africa, Southern America, there are people and whole communites have next to nothing, they live in mudhuts, have to travel miles daily to get water but they're still happy. Why? Because they value life more, they're grateful for what they've got and don't take anything for granted. Families and communities are closer because they have to work together to survive. Kids are happy with a crayon and a peice of paper, over here they'd demand an Ipod or a PDA or something! Some of the people in this world, in particular those who go in the garage I (used to) work in could do with bringing down to earth, I'm not bothered by their lifestyle. If they want to live like they do, having money, having a wellpaid job, a big house and a fancy car but then getting frustrated at something minute like having to wait more than 2 seconds to be served whilst I count the last customers change into the till, then it's them I feel so sorry for. If only they could take life for what it is... a life.

Newspapers (27/09/05)

2007-08-17T16:39:00.002-07:00

Are there any decent ones?!

Tabloids... don't even get me started. THE place to find out which "celebrity" went shopping yesterday and who is wearing the same thing as someone else. Take todays Daily Star for example... front page headline of "Becks son missing". The story? Brooklyn Beckham's face being blurred out on a school photo. These are the papers that will happily tarnish the English football team as poor but come next summer and the World Cup finals these will be the ones singing their praises, getting everyones hopes up and giving away posters to support the team, then when we get knocked out be the first to give them jip. Yet the fact these papers (Sun, Star, Mirror, Sport?!) are the best selling papers sums up the British way of life.

The Daily Mail and Mail on sunday is probably the paper that winds me up the most. I have never seen such a fascist publication sell so much. Regardless of what has happened it is always Tony Blairs fault according to those pigs at the Mail offices. I'd like to see them give their best shot at running the country, actually no I wouldn't. Read through the Mail and every couple of pages they'll be whinging about something or other and Tony Blair will pop up, I guarantee it.

The only paper I enjoy reading is the Times Educational Supplement! It actually has some interesting articles and without a biased view, even if it is mainly about schools and education.

I'm going to contradict myself here and make a fascist statement, but there has to be some sort of controlled press. I know it's a free country and all but it does take the biscuit. Going back to todays Star, what a way to play with peoples emotions, especially with the Beckhams past with kidnapping scares

Hurricane Katrina (23/09/05)

2007-08-17T16:39:00.001-07:00

Maybe it's all the death lately. But how come it takes a national tragedy to bring people together? I'm sure you've all seen it. Donations of food, clothing, and cleaning supplies etc. by the tons, not to mention the cash.

All of a sudden it doesn't matter if you're black, white, jewish, christian, fat, thin, gay, straight. Some of these same people jumping up to donate and go there to help were the same ones cursing others. The same bigotted asses making life hell for other religions, races and sexualities. I'm sure the hurricane didn't make those people spontaneously change their identity. Why all of a sudden are they more worthy than they were before?

Which also makes me wonder when the hate actually starts? At what age do we give up on magic? Do we stop believing in the impossible? At what point does life cease to be amazing and just becomes another every day affair? Children aren't naturally cruel and hateful. So what happens between then and now? There was a story about a 6 year old boy saving his baby sister in his arms through the rising flood waters. Not only that but he also helped several neighbor children to safety. Now how do we go from this hero of a boy not only risking himself but doing so to help others. Caring for others openly and honestly without the colored glasses of the world to change them. To the type of men who would watch another person in pain and not lift a finger. To the type of person who would beat, rob, steal, and even murder to further themselves. All at the expense of somebody else. I just don't understand it. Maybe some of you will have a better grasp of it.

Truanting (21/09/05)

2007-08-17T16:38:00.000-07:00

So 55,000 kids skipped school today, bloody hell they counted that fast.

Seriously though, the number of truants is getting higher and higher and something has to be done. Can't say i'm too surprised though. There will always be kids skipping school, the majority being "rebels" who simply can't be arsed or wanting to look hard in front of their mates, but there is some who have serious issues, and as i've found out myself, schools will turn a blind eye to problems and claim there is nothing going on that they know of.

Being a teenager is hard enough without having problems at school, then people ignoring them when they need someone to talk to, can't say I blame some people for missing school as this is often a better result than what can happen as a result of being forced to go.

All in all though, something has to be done. The Government have to find a way to control the truanting (not relying on parents telling their kids the truant officer walks round during the day!), whether that be making school more interesting and somehow get kids to WANT to go to school or coming down harder on the bullies and those who disrupt others

7/7/05

2007-08-17T16:37:00.000-07:00

Britain must stand together and unite. What happened today can knock us down but we are most definetly not out. The people that do this are inhuman, sick twisted individuals led astray by their religion. Let us be bold and stand, we have the world behind us, THEY WILL NOT WIN. Let us remember the 53 (and counting) that have been killed and the many hundreds that have been injured. Now is our time, now is the time to regather ourselves, grief over those we have lost, THEN we will hit back. We will go and we will kill the bastards, whoever they are.

They will kick us whilst we're down but it won't last. It has happened before, we won.

Rest in Peace those killed whilst going about their everyday jobs today.
May our thoughts be with those who have been affected today and their families.
Peace out.