Free Living

Learning to live in a bad economic climate is tough going, the Institute for Studies say people do not want to work from the age of zero, but what if life could be made cheaper by adapting a few habits? Here's my 10 picks of some adaptable habits:

1. Cut your own hair – Ever thought about it? Buy yourself a clipper or a pair of scissors.

2. Scavenge supermarket dumpsters – It isn't stealing when something has been thrown away.

3. Plant identification and foraging – Pick up a plant guide and start picking your fruit and veg!

4. Catch your own protein – Go fishing! Or simply raise some chickens in your back garden.

5. Live near all your needs – Make life convenient and travel less.

6. Sell your skills – Good writer? Painter? Carpenter? I.T. Expert? Go out and sell your talent.

7. Find free stuff online – Gumtree.com, hotukdeals.co.uk, freecycle.org – Freebies are endless.

8. Sell your own food – Start growing, bake cakes or anything deliciously grabbable.

9. Don't own a pet – Babysit them – literary.

10. Charity shopping – Designer labels, big or small – they're all there!

RANT: Tube misery saved by the 'i'

Time for a quality rant, I know a lot of people who live in London rarely complain about the Tube service and how inflating ticket costs seem to have no real impact on the 'constant improvements' done on the tube by TFL, but I'd like to express today's findings.

So I was excited, on my way home, as usual...a long day...kinda hungry really, not fussed. Got on the train at Westminister (district line...yes another green line story!) not thinking much of it, focusing on my newest investment - the i newspaper! Woo! It's sexy in a way, my morning digest of news in brief, for only 20p!

The train arrived at St James's...

"ladies and gentlemen we are being held here until further notice to due a passenger alarm at Victoria"

5 seconds later...hes on a role!

"ladies and gentlemen, we apologize for the delay due to a passenger alarm at Victoria and signal failures at Earl's Court"

I really thought nothing of it, a slight pain at most, but the i paper healed me to sanity. It wasn't the same story for my comrads on board though.

The general sounds of huffing a puffing were ranked No.1 in the reaction poll, the frustrated sounds of people reopening their Evening Standard newspapers came in at No.2, simultanious mobile fetching (to contact loved ones/play games/or exercise the habit) came it at No.3, and finally people leaving the train came in at No.4...why would you get off the train? and where would you go? Couldn't answer that question myself.

To draw a conclusion to my never ending gibberish...

I guess it's the 'little' things in life that make annoying places better to be in.

BRIEF PROFILE: Kate - Catch 22 tutor

KATE, a freelance journalist and tutor at Catch 22 academy, started of her career when she was just 19, writing hair themed horoscopes for Hair magazine and doing the unbearable - ''lots of washing up''.

Her career plan was to be anything but a journalist, being eager to avoid her mothers path to becoming a writer, her career soon took off as her unpaid commitment to Hair magazine saw an opportunity to work along side another editor within the same region. Her claim to fame came when she appeared on Ready Steady Cook only to come second. When asked about meeting Ainsley Harriott she answered - ''sweaty...very sweaty!''

Kate has been involved with a number of publications - The Telegraph, Times, Independent, heat and many more. Her passion for teaching at Catch 22 came from her own experience and struggles in getting into the journalism world, she mentioned her mentor Katie who helped her to develop the necessary skills she knows today and enabled her to get her foot into the industry.

Currently, Kate is involved with script writing and seeks to get involved in book writing in the near future.

Dog took my seat!...

I've never been a dog lover really, to be honest I don't see the appeal with dogs but I can't see anyone agreeing with the above. So I was on the slowest line on the Tube today, it's green, apprantly has 'air conditioning' and always stops for a few minutes in a tunnel between West Brompton and Earls Court, I can never quiet figure why? Perhaps this is a good cause for a survey.

Enough gibberish...back to the story...

I sat down on a clearly marked 'priority for less able' seat and excitedly started playing FlickKick on my phone. I have never really been told off before until a (what seems like) a homeless man walks on at the far end of the carriage and starts to demand seats from people flashing his ticket holder and venting - "I got a disability card".

Did anyone seem to care? Not at all, did I? A little.

It was my turn, I really didn't think much of it but felt sorry for the man, now, I can comment to what I wanted to say to him...but I held back, I used (for what is about to unfold) what they call in the industry of 'common sense' - my head.

I saw this little creature behind him, bulging eyes and red pupils, at that point I knew it was time to stand and walk, honestly I couldn't be heartless, it felt right, in the worst way possible.

I stood for the rest of my short journey careless to what had just happened but ironically shocked at other people's refusal to hand over their seat to the blagger.

The moral of the story was that I got kicked off my seat on the Tube by a dog, in a nice way perhaps, put in simple terms.

To anyone, who is interested, here he is...

NEWS: Bolt to dance round the track - Marley style...

The secret of being the world's most notorious athlete is not only about foolishly conducting yourself on the track but also bragging your swagger.

Bolts lightening runs do not go unnoticed, yet his image as an athlete is vital in his success outside the track.

Bolt is now to wear a new set of snazzy attire by PUMA. Let's remember, this is not the first fashion stunt PUMA has attempted, Anelka's sparkly pink boots didn't go unnoticed back in 2008 adding insult to onlooking punters.

The sports giant has decided to put this behind them and have another go without causing insult. PUMA is to team up with Cedella Marley - fashion goddess and daughter of Jamaican reggae icon Bob Marley, in an attempt to win over the billions of spectators and cash in a few million.

The track gear will promise to have high tech fabrics and use silhouettes engineered 'technology' to 'enhance the performance of all athletes' - we'll leave it to PUMA to explain that bit.

Usain is to reveal his attire along with his comrades when they walk down the catwalk later this year at the IAAF World Championships in Korea.

(Tabloid - Sun style!)

REVIEW: Thailand - A ‘concrete’ introduction to Bangkok...

What did I know about Thailand? Let’s see... Thai green curry? Not really, or maybe I do know how it tastes like but I wasn’t too sure, I knew I had a 50/50 chance of getting it as my main meal on the flight to Bangkok, or back…or neither. I was trying to figure what I did know, but I guess it was going to be good, well that is what I’ve heard. On the plane I went…

I imagined a tropical beach circling the runway, palm trees symmetrically parallel to each other… Ok, that’s expecting a bit too much from a city airport, but my hopes soon faded once I landed on concrete. The planes air conditioning did not really prepare me for the heat wave that was about to unfold, I excitedly exited the trap doors, it was hot - “Ohhh myyyyy Geees…” I’m guessing that’s what I said.

Forgetting the journey, I was stunned. Suvarnabhumi Airport was amazing, automatic soap dispensers, genetically modified indoor palm trees and overstated moving walkways, I was taken away. Time just about stopped (I stood still) as I started to predict if I would ever inhale city pollution, or if I’d see something other than the insides of the aviation industry.

I finally did… ”Whoop!”

I spent a couple days’ shopping in the heart of Bangkok, an exceptional city, a kind of concrete of goodness. Splashing my cash on anything cheap, in reality I don’t like shopping, but I just about bought a colourful collection of t-shirts to go with my adventures. I did buy a pink one, not to my taste, but like all tourists I had to fit in considering it was a symbol of respect to the Royal family.

My Bangkok days were up, I was satisfied. Finally time to travel south, I was about to be introduced to the paradise I was promised back in London. Here I go…

(reconstruction of my trip to Thailand back in 2008)

Success!...

I was about to crap my pants last night in waiting for tommorow (today) to arrive. I really felt like this would be a start of something new for my career choice, Catch22 Academy really got me excited and passionate about journalism again, it showed me that there is a way to get somewhere in life if you persue whatever it is that you want in life.

The call came in, having nearly forgotten about my interview yesterday my heart started beating again...I guess this one call could change the direction I take in life and give me some sort of leverage. Now it's down to Wednesday, really excited to whats to unfold, what I'm about to learn and where this takes me.

I guess good things do come to those who wait.

Wahooo!