2014: The Best Of Three?

March 2014 fared to be a very eventful month for many reasons. I desperately wanted to have a few adventures outside of Birmingham! I will not lie that I'm lacking motivation when it comes to my university studies but I know I just have to keep going for just a little while longer. I reunited with friends who I had not seen for an age and loved my time in-front of the camera for a good cause. Did the third month of 2014 switch things up for you?

Cheltenham Spa and Dursley was my first trip out of Birmingham for a while. I embarked on my south-west trip at the beginning of March to be reunited with my dear friends Catherine and Lianne, we were in for a right old treat! National Rail delayed me somewhat but we all reunited in the picturesque Spa town that's not so far from Bristol to enjoy some lunch and catch up on the good times! I really liked Cheltenham for it oozed the same Spa qualities like Bath but not like Buxton which I was about to see a few days after my shenanigans in the south! I didn't see the racecourse but I wasn't there to see such sights. I met Catherine's boyfriend Ben so it was nice to put a face with a name. Making a pit-stop for some food we carried on reminiscing about our freshers days and gossiped about more recent events that were going on in our lives. I really do love a good reunion! Time moves on but when a friendship stays the same its always a lovely thing to have in my life! Let's move onwards to Dursley, please?

Settled in the small village like town of Dursley we got our drink on, I really shouldn't drink cider because its the root of all evil. Nonetheless, I was excited to experience a night at 'Capones' a small nightclub that I had heard so much from Catherine back in our first year at university in Birmingham. Making our way into Dursley's town center we bypassed the kebab shop until later on for our lunch in Cheltenham Spa had felt a world away. Stopping at the 'Old Spot Inn' Lianne introduced me to pear cider, which went by the name of 'Perry' she warned me that this local brew would taste like juice but bite me in the behind if I wasn't careful. I had already indulged in a few cans before leaving for the pub so I tried not to take much notice, but I should have taken heed because that seemingly juice like cider bit me alright! The night turned into a great chain of events, although I do remember colliding with the concrete pavement to later realize in the morning that I looked rather worse for ware! Thanks for a great weekend! 

If I was a rich man? I would travel the world! But I made it as far as Warwick University for a very random and unplanned reunion with my placement brothers, Paolo and Tom. It was meant to be for me and Tom spent some time in Coventry the next day that inspired my day trip that I took a few weeks later. It was great to see the boys again because life seems to get in the way of the good things! We went for some food then had a few drinks at the Students Union, where I witnessed the 'Folk Society' Morris dance I wasn't impressed at all! Get me some Reggaeton to get down to, show those uni kids how its really done! From Warwick to Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre I saw 'Fiddler On The Roof'. I found a bargain ticket the week before so threw caution to the wind by booking that ticket. I love a good musical so I jumped off the train from Coventry, heading for the theater only after my sly afternoon nap. Fiddler isn't the happiest of affairs but I loved the show all the same, I guess the Jews in Russia didn't have the best deal so there wasn't many show tunes. Who needs happy anyway?

Did I mention about Buxton? Let's rewind two weeks back to the beginning of March. Me and my fellow classmates schlepped up to Buxton for a educational afternoon to research the town for our pending 'Destination Management' assignment. Take me back for some cream tea and scones but nothing else. I thought that Buxton needed some love for it was looked tired from many angles. I'm glad I visited Bath back in January of 2014 because I could appreciate the sights compared to Buxton. I must admit that I'm lacking motivation for that assignment but I know that all matters shall be taken care of in time for the deadline. March saw the submission of my draft Dissertation, I submitted forty-five pages in-total and I know that I'll be busy putting the final copy together so I can get my life back! It's not all been about taking trips and gallivanting to the theatre! I'm looking forward to getting all this work done and securing my new loan so I can enjoy the final few months in Birmingham before the end of my degree! 

Less of the hate! Let's share the love! I took part in the NOH8 photo shoot campaign to raise awareness about homophobia. I was lucky enough to be part of this great cause by being a member of the LGBT Guild at University College Birmingham. I tried my best to serve 'Equality' realness alongside by LGBT Guild friends. Myself and my friend Rob did our best to serve the camera and I quite like the photo that has been captured to the right. I have been a member of the LGBT Guild since September 2013, I'm not one for groups and unions but I'm blessed to have joined a great society during my final year at University College Birmingham. Away from the photo shoot we got our drink on to celebrate the legalisation of same-sex marriage in England. We all grouped together to enjoy the movement that has definitely brought a sense of belonging and freedom for the LGBT community in England, but I like to see this movement more as a human right rather than a privilege. You better put a ring on it! 

Another development with the LGBT Guild at University College Birmingham will be the upcoming Birmingham Pride March 2014, our theme will hopefully be 'Gay Tourism' so I can't wait to 'drag up' for the occasion! I booked my early bird weekend tickets for Birmingham Pride so I my plan is to grace the parade then get to grips with the goings on down Hurst Street, Birmingham. I'm fortunate for the friends I have made from being a member of the LGBT Guild at University College Birmingham for its such a great thing to have friends that I can truly relate to and put the world to rights! So remember let's be a part of the love revolution and make sure there's a little less hate in this world! I know I will definitely miss the goings on of the LGBT Guild and I have every intention to remain in contact with the friends I have made after I depart from Birmingham to my next destination. Who runs the world?!

Joseph Harrison