 | | Nicky Bamford |
Name: Nicola (I prefer Nicky) Bamford Age: 18 (years not months!) Born and bred: Rochdale – rubbish tip of Great Britain. Occupation: Student – strangely lacking many of the common connotations that apply. As always and ever, I am a writer. Oh, does Avon count as employment? Interesting fact: I stuffed up on live TV when I was ten! I was meant to be dropping gunge over Konnie Huq but hit her with the bucket instead. Oops! I’m also crazy enough to try anything, with the exception of eating frog’s legs. Best moment: Getting my GCSE and AS-Level results – big confidence boost! Being accepted for Edinburgh University – four years out of Rochdale! And getting this Work XP placement, of course! Aspirations: To be a successful writer in various shapes and forms. To be thrown off a horse five times because that way I can become a good rider, so the saying goes. Hates: Not having my brother around to blame when things get broken. Because I’m so clumsy it happens often. Cigarette smoke – yuk! If you don’t mind destroying your own lungs then at least don’t destroy everyone else’s!ÌýHospitals – I’d rather eat at Wimpy than have to force down hospital grub. Public Transport – Bring on the human teleporter… please! Me and Blast! Every city needs a dynamo and this year Manchester has me, Nicola 'Nicky' Bamford. I have a middle name but I don’t see the point of having it so it gets no mention.
During my placement I’ll be jumping back and forth in an endless battle with public transportation to bring the artful youth of the city into the Blast spotlight. I’m an 18 year old (officially an adult!) born and bred Rochdale lass looking to share Manchester’s hidden, and much overlooked, treasures with you. I have one older brother and it is a widely acknowledged fact that siblings mentally scar you for life, as does your parents playing The Carpenters all through your childhood! | "It’s strenuous, frustrating and requires a LOT of perseverance in every aspect from poetry to prose. But it’s worth it in the end." | | Nicky gives her view on writing |
Though I am a student, I’m surprisingly not lazy, unless I want to be. You might say I’m too lazy to be lazy! And –shock, horror- most of the time I’m stone-cold sober! But I’m a giddy gal anyway. Most important of all, I’m always up for a laugh! I’ve held a pen in my hand and ideas in my head since I was a tiny tear-away with a fondness of scribbling on walls, so words are my weapons and wonders. There are those that say you can only be a writer if you pick up a pen – I stoutly believe otherwise. A pen doesn’t provide inspiration, it’s just the tool to put it on paper! At the moment, I'm looking for new pursuits. Generally, that pursuit is writing. Many make the mistake of thinking writing is easy – nah huh! It’s strenuous, frustrating and requires a LOT of perseverance in every aspect from poetry to prose. But it’s worth it in the end. Okay, what else about me? (Strains brain for something interesting!) Well, I’ve done more sports than I’ve had hot dinners. Thankfully, I wasn’t diabolical at all the sports I tried. Just the majority of them. I have a particular passion for film and even studied it as an A-Level. It’s incredible how much more you appreciate the big screen, past and present, when you come out the other end of that subject. I’ll bet quite a few of you would cringe at the thought of analysing Nosferatu and Metropolis for an exam! Believe me, I did. I’m a fantasy fan and it’s a pity that such films are rarely successful, with the exception of the brilliant Lord of the Rings (also one of my fave books). It’s also the genre I’m trying to write a novel for. And phew is it taking a while to find a new original idea! Supposedly seven original stories in the world? Pah! Watch this space for the eighth! One thing that helps with journalism is photography. I may be an amateur but having splashed out on a spanking new camera recently, I’m definitely an eager amateur! What will I be reporting on? Basically anything that comes to hand. Manchester is crammed to its skyscraper rafters with events just waiting for a little media attention. I’d also like to put Rochdale on the map for something positive. So if you’ve got any ideas or want some coverage for your gig, band, art, film or exhibition, drop me an email! | 
