Today Pocket Wellies are displaying at the Phoenix Media Festival in the Ellen Terry Building room ETG05 at Coventry Univertiry. The show starts at 12 and goes on till 6pm. Come say hello!

Firstly, many apologies for the lack of action on this blog over the last 10 days. We here at P.W.H.Q have been snowed under trying to get all things Uni finalised and ready. We each have two massive pieces of work due in friday - multimedia and the small matter of the Pocket Wellies product launch final project, oh yeah then there is the degree show next wednesday (feel free to come along, its at the Ellen Terry building, Coventry University). We have all been running around like headless chickens trying to get everything finished to a good standard, including our website www.pocketwellies.co.uk , the print advert campaigns we’ve been putting together, not to mention a research and development folder big enough to plug the whole in the O-zone layer!

However, everything is going on hold for one night only this evening. Althoutgh in all fairness I think the entire country is going to be coming to a stand still (unless of course you don’t like football). For tonight is the grudge match that the whole of English football has been waiting for.

The time: 19:45 GMT

The Venue: Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow

The Event: it’s only the Champions League final!!!

Two of the biggest clubs in English football battling it out for European football’s top prize.

As I’ve mentioned in previous posts (sorry for being a bit repetitive), this season we have seen an absolute domination of the competition by English club sides, which for me personally gose some way to making up for the huge disappointment of the national sides unwanted summer holiday.

I cannot wait for the kick off, the atmosphere here at our office is reaching frenzied heights, even though there is only two of us who love the beautiful game, and we support Leeds and Birmingham respectively. Although neither myself or Chris have a vested interest in either team, we cannot help but be swept away in all the glamour excitement, drama and passion that goes hand in hand with such a prestegious competition - it is a welcome break from the bread and butter/long ball rubbish thats been on offer from Leeds opposition this season.

I’m going to sign off now, as there is 3 hours of pre match build up to watch on Sky Sports News that needs watching - I wish I could think of a reasonable excuse, but you will probably see straight through me.

It’s finally back, by popular demand. On Saturday night, Gladiators makes it eagerly anticipated return to our screens. As a young teenager growning up in the 90’s I remember having a massive crush on that stunning athlete Jet in that skimpy leotard, being in awe of the raw power of Shaddow - the unequalled master of the figal stick challenge, and then there was wolf, I’m sure he was about 80 when the first series was around so I will be very surprised if he makes a surprise return!

Original presenters Ulrika Johnson and John Fashanu have been replaced by Kirsty Gallagher  and fellow ex footballer Ian Wright, and viewers have been promised an entertaining blend of brand new and retro designed to whip viewers into frenzied excitement. The major disappointment for me is that the Show has left terestrial television for a new home on Sky one. Unfortunately I live in a house which has yet to be convinced by the wonders of Sky TV, and therefore I will have to find something else to entertain me this Coming saturday night. But for those of you lucky enough to have a sky box in your lounge, be prepared for a nostalgic fiest of oiled up gladiators doing battle with plucky challenger in a modern day tale of David and Goliath (well almost). I leave you with a clip of the original series, yet to wet your appitite…

<a href=” >Gladiators

Just a quick post today to express my sadness at the plight of those thousands suffering from the devestation caused by massive cyclone which hit Burma earlier this week. I’ve read that as many as 22,000 people are already feared dead, and with thousands more still missing, its feared this number could still rise to unpresidented levels. Unfortunately, due to the media constraints imposed by the strict, uncompromising regime that governs the country, it is difficult to know full extent of the devestation and if the thousands left homeless by the tropical storm are getting the relief, aid and supplies they so desperately need.

My fears are that due to this enforced lack of coverage and iron curtain which surrounds Burma, people around the world are not fully aware of the unimaginable traumas that has been inflicted on what is already one of the poorest nations in the world, and as a result will not get the same help from more fortunate western countries, that was received from the Tsunami which struck parts of Asia on boxing day 2004.

If you are interested in making a donation please visit http://www.christianaid.org.uk who are raising much needed funds for the burmese people affected by this tragic natural desaster. Once again, my thoughts go out to the people of this troubled nation.

I see that the line up for this year’s Glastonbury festival has been announced, and true to form an star studied billing has been revealed. It was already common knowledge that the Verve, Kings of Leon were headlining, along with hip-hop legend Jay-Z, which in itself was a contraversial move and one not greeted with enthusiasm by many of festivals regulars, who feel that the inclusion of the multi-millionaire rap star is going against the chill out, dance and indi traditions of Glasto.

It seems that due to a press leak , organisers were forced to hastily reveal the full line up for the festival which kicks of on 27-29 June. In addition to the the above headliners, revellers can expect to see the likes of Panic at the Disco, Massive Attack, Groove Armada, The Feeling, Goldfrapp, KT Tunstall, Duffy and the Fratellis to name but a few.

What ever your views on the whole Hip Hop debate, we can be sure that with a line up with as strong and diverse selection of acts, as this the festival will, as always live up to the expections.

Finally, changing the subject, just a quick foot note to say a huge congratulations to Man United and Chelsea and in particular Frank Lampard, who show tremendous bottle to stick a penalty away just 5 days after tragically losing his mother. This displayed unbelievable courage and for me says alot about his character. I’m not going to bang on about football and bore you all so I going to leave you with peech of a strike from the ginger prince Paul Scholes, which took the Red Devils throough to the Champions League final for the first time in 9 years. Enjoy….

I see today that people have been queuing since the early hours of the morning at computer games stores nationwide in order to get their hands on a copy of the eagrely anticipated Grand Theft Auto IV game. From the early reports I have heard the game does not disappoint, with many new features to explore including stand up comedy clubs, stacks more radio stations and incredibly even an online dating service for all those GTA lonely hearts outh there!! The game is widely being tipped as a masterpiece and a worthy successor to the previous greats Grand Theft Auto 3, Vice City and San Andreas. Indeed according to the bbc website “The game is tipped to break the opening week sales figures of Microsoft’s Halo 3, and pull in up to $400m (£201m)” with the game having an average review score 99.1% according to gamerankings.com.

Whilst we are sure to see the token complaints about the ever contraversial content of Rockstar’s latest offering, we must not forget that the game carries an 18 certificate and therefore is clearly intended for adults only and is therefore blindingly obvious that the game contains content of an adult nature, in the exact same way a 18 rated film would. I for one will be definately getting hold of a copy when I finish university. Ideally I would like to get going on it straight away, but I don’t think this is a good idea as, if it’s as good as I my gut instinct are telling me, then the changes of completing my degree will go up in smoke quicker Liberty City….think i’m going to save myself for a couple of weeks and buy myself a copy as a little graduation treat.

We are rapidly reaching the final few weeks here at Coventry University, as in the words of Sir Alex, its “squeeky bum time” for Chris, Tom and Myself. With barely 4 weeks left until we become fully fledged graduates (fingers crossed), there just doen’t seem to be enough hours in the day in which to get all our projects and assignments done, if we are not working on the product launch for the amazingly brilliant Pocket Wellies, we have got our heads buried in books or turning our eyes square in front of the Computer.

After tearing my hair out over an essay I am trying to write, I decided to take a breather from the grindstone and had a quick surf on the bbc website, and do you know what, I came accross an article which gave me a bit of a lift, and made me start to think that these last three, often painful and exhausting years (honestly it was, well…some of the time), may just pay off. The article says that Organisations and companies which employ a lot of new graduates are expecting a growth in vacancies in graduate jobs this year. The report says that The Association of Graduate Recruiters forsees a rise in graduate positions of 15%, compared with 5% last year. Whilst the report also suggests that companies are also going to struggle to fill these grad vacancies, being the ever optimist this report might just be the bit of news that gives book worms nearing the light at the end of the Graduation tunnel that extra incentive to see their studies through to the end. This article can be found at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/4687030.stm

Anyway, enough from me for today, as much fun as it is talking to you all, unfortunately this essay won’t write itself so back to my pile of books. Next post will be up after my not so exciting weekend…

Another week of enthralling Champions League football, all be it a little for the neutral. A 1-1 draw at fortress Anfield between Liverpool and Chelsea on Tuesday, followed a 0-0 stalemate at the Nou Camp between Man United and Barcelona, which could have been so different if the Genius that is Cristiano Ronaldo never fluffed his lines and missed a third minute penalty (guess that just proves the Portugese phenominon is human after all). Both ties are still well and truely in the balance and I for one am licking my lips at the prospect of two mouthwatering return legs next week. Whilst I am not a supporter of any of the Liverpool, Man United or Chelsea I cannot help but feel a huge sense of pride when I watch the ever increasing standards that the leading Premier League clubs are setting, they are well and truely throwing doen the gauntlet to the other European Giants, who at this present time are struggling to hold on the coat tails of the Man Uniteds and Chelseas of this world. Lets also not forget Rangers success in the UEFA cup this season.

I for one am even more thankful for the success of British clubs as I am in dire need of a lift, after the dross that has been served up by the English National Team. Champions League success is giving me a tiny pick me up, when I contemplate the thought of a European Championships without England. There are many people who blame the state of national team on the lack of English talent coming through at top Premier League clubs. I’m sorry but I just don’t buy into this view. In my humble opinion, if you’re good enough you will make the starting 11. Stevie Gerrard, a scouser born and bred, and cockney geezer John Terry, are two of the first names on the team sheets for their respective clubs. The simple fact is we just don’t have enough young English players who are anywhere near the standards of young foreign imports such as Fernando Torres and Ronaldo, and in the modern era, top clubs cannot be expected to have any room for sentiment and national pride when the stakes are so high and the concequences of failure are unthinkable.

Rather than pushing the balme on top clubs, I believe a complete overhall at grass roots level by the F.A is required. People like Brian Barwick need to have a serious think about how we can nurture and produce young English talent, capable of producing that moment of magic required to win matches at international level.

And just to clarify, I am a Leeds United fan so I have no particular affinity to any Premier League, I just enjoy a cracking end to end game of football, something the Champions League is providing but unfortunately the same cannot be said for the three lions of Eng-er-land.

Firstly, thank you for visiting the Pocket Wellies blog from the team here at Pocket Wellies HQ. As you will probably already know (you more than likely found this blog from looking at our brand spanking new website), we are a brand new product designed to keep all of your tootsies clean and dry at festivals and other outdoor events. Best of All, our Pocket Wellies are 100% biodegradeable. This means you can all have fun at festivals, enjoy clean and dry feet, and feel safe in the knowledge that you are also not harming the beautiful world we live in, which is excellent news for us Greenies out there!!

We care about what happens to our planet, but we also don’t want to be known as the fun police, which is why we believe that Pocket Wellies are soon going to become the perfect filling for an Environment and Leisure sandwich!!!

You will soon find on this blog details of our impending product launch, events and places we will be appearing at…basically any exciting developments that happens here at P.W.H.Q will be posted on here. We will also post anything we find remotely fun interesting, whether this be news reports, sport (Chris and I are both footy obsessed so expect to see a few references to the beautiful game), Youtube video clips, photos etc etc.

Now is definately the time to shed your muddy footprints and join the wellievolution!

Keep watching this space….

Thanks for visiting our blog!