Okay well thanks guys (pause) right now we can get on to a bit of chat about other things (pause) so I was thinking that we'll begin with university (pause) and em, did you always want to [realized as 'wanna'] go to university? (pause) like or was there a debate about it?

I think I've always wanted to go, but it's just because like they're saying now, you're just not offered anything else, you're just supposed to go, especially if you're quite academic

Yeah

Okay

(interruption) Em yeah pretty much the same

Em how did you decide on this university? Like (pause) (interruption) what major factors

(interruption) Em (pause) well

(interruption) contributed?

Em I knew that, I either wanted to stay close or not move away at all and the only other universities apart from Newcastle and York, that did modern languages and linguistics were all in and around London, so, and then em and then I went to York and I thought it was cack (laughter) (pause) and then and then that summer the Newcastle University was rated, four- fi- fourth in -- in the country in the Times list so I thought oh I may as well

Wow! that's pretty good, I love York, I think it's great

Ah the place is lovely but er the university 'cause a I like I thought ah York it's going to [realized as 'gonna'] be really nice university like really old but it was er, made in the reformation the university reformations in the sixties an it's all concrete (pause) and it smelled of moss

That's like most of Northumbria's like that, I know what you mean, the em student accommodation, some of it obviously, there's that nice new bit but some of the accommodation (pause) (interruption) why people would pay

(interruption) Where is -- where is Northumbria accommodation?

It's just behind, you know where the students Union is, like the old stuff

Ah yeah, behind. Yeah

Yeah it's just behind there

Yeah

And there's all the new stuff behind the old Warner Brothers

Are you smiling at yourself there?

No (pause) ah I was just smiling at you (laughter)

Oh ok

Ok, em I was wondering do you think that university is not for all nowadays because of tuition fees and the cost, of going to university?

I don't think it's much to do with the cost I think, not I know it's easy for me to say this but I think some people should just recognise their limitations and go and do other things because I think there's I think that's why tuition fees have gone up 'cause there's so many people going to university, they end up quitting or come out and come out with nothing that's a waste of their time as much as anyone else's, and money

And someone else's place

Yeah totally -- Totally

And I hate, like how, I remember there was a Question Time a couple of weeks ago and there was a guy who was like really, it was the -- the youth, question time like the student special and there was a guy who was like was really staunchly right wing, but I agreed with a lot of his views, on the university and he was like made out to be like an elitist toff 'cause he said that em like the whole point of universities historically was like it was like centre of academia and people who were like at their height like really -- really clever and like really academically inclined, would go, to universities and be with like-minded people and that's what I always thought university was going to be like and [realized as 'an'] then the like (pause) the first two years, it like it was a really big issue for me that like, it wasn't (pause) I was like well I wouldn't say surrounded, but like the majority of people (pause) on my course and in lectures, ah didn't want to [realized as 'wanna'] be there, they weren't enthusiastic about it er and like I felt they made us out to be like a right freak for actually like being really, excited about work at university

It's yeah I think it's just people don't realise there's other alternatives I think and it's not it's not being elitist, if you don't have the, the mental capacity to be there, I just, like I say, it's a waste of your own time let alone anyone else's

And it's not to say that -- that like, you know if you don't go to university then you're stupid 'cause er there's nowt wrong with going into like a skilled trade, 'cause I couldn't fuckin plumb a house I couldn't build I house I couldn't wire I house up (pause) there's nowt, there's nowt wrong with that (pause) people seem to think well a lo well a don't know [realized as 'dunno'] (pause) Maybes if people don't get a degree they'll be looked down upon, by other people

Oh I don't think so I know so many people who don't have degrees, I don't think it's that much of an issue really

(interruption) Right uh-huh

I just don't

It's just do you think it's just like schools and like the er government er for er forcing people

That's all that's all any people said to me when I was at college, you just finish college and you go to university, that's it

Yeah (pause) yeah there's no oth

(interruption) And then I think it depends I suppose it depends what you do if you're doing something that is, like, traditionally academic like -- like English or something and all the ones I did (interruption) I suppose that's the only way forward really

(interruption) Yes (pause) yeah

(interruption) For some people

Yeah I just don't think anything else was made available like apprenticeships, office temping or anything

Um

Just never even an option, it was 'no you're going to university', I think ma parents were the same, and they were annoyed when I wasn't very happy when I was there and stuff (laughter)

So em (pause) do you think that when you first if you do a degree you're more likely to em go on to like go on to do another degree or a masters or stay in education?

I think I don- people doing degrees back to back I think I kind of admire them for being able to stay in academia for that long, especially if they went on to do a Masters on top of that

Um

But I personally wouldn't want to

Um (pause) no

Much preferred working full-time if I'm honest, I'm only going back 'cause it would be a real waste of time and money if I didn't complete my degree now (pause) I don't agree with cutting my losses when I'm two thirds of the way through

Um

So how would you both describe your experiences of university (pause) especially because you like both live at home?

Eh, disenchanting (laughter)

I think if you if I'd lived with other students, like, well like you did and everybody I know who's lived in halls and things have had a really good time they've made loads of

(interruption) Yeah

(interruption) Well not even like really good friends, made like, they've had an experience

Yeah they've had the proper

I don't think I've had that

So if you cou

(interruption) God we're like a carbon copy

We really are

We should've getting together sooner (laughter)

Yeah we didn't

Yeah we're lonely together

Uni sucked (laughter)

(laughter)

So do you think if you could go back in time and like choose your options again and make diff and make decisions again do you think you would make different ones?

I think if I, if I knew if I always knew what I know now, then, I would have gone and thought much more about what I wanted to do and where I wanted to go, but I think if I hadn't have gone, in the way that I felt then, I would have been like ooo! I want to go to university I wish I'd gone, I think the grass is always greener (pause) but if I knew what I knew then I would definitely wait until I was in ma early to mid twenties and decide then because I think at eighteen you're too young

Yeah um and it's always after the fact (pause) h- hindsight is a great thing (pause) you always think, ah well if I'd have waited like you said if you had of waited it would probably be, aw I'm just wasting ma time, why -- why didn't a just go in the first place?

Totally

So do you feel the same about having to choose a job straight away like you know having to decide you know

(interruption) Oh God

(interruption) what you want to [realized as 'wanna'] do 'cause we're all graduating this year?

Yeah

So how do you feel about that?

yeah I'm brickin it (laughter) (pause) yeah I'm having real issues about it this year (pause) I haven't been eh like when I was away at univer- Germany, em especially second semester I didn't really have to study anything so I just had a lot of time to do nothing and it really like it was really worrying us th- that I don't have any idea what to do when I graduate, but like, my mam and dad are like wh- what you worrying for ju- just you know it's not a bad thing when I think are generation like, the there's always been something else to do you know you go to school and [realized as 'an'] you do your GCSEs and [realized as 'an'] then you do your A-Levels and then you do university then and now there's nothing there, you either (pause) I'm just lost, or you feel like a failure 'cause you (interruption) don't know what to do

(interruption) I think -- I think with this generation as well once you get to that point there's so much more choice as well, it's not like right you go and work in a local factory like your father did, you could do -- (pause) you could do virtually (interruption) anything you wanted, but em, I'm not too worried really, I think I'll probably just go back to what I was doing before and, probably spend a couple of years doing that (pause) just take my time and decide what I want to [realized as 'wanna'] do

(interruption) anything

W- What were you doing before?

Yeah (pause) yeah (pause) did you go on

I was working at the shop that I work at now, full-time

Yeah

All right

I was just working at Gaf full-time so

When was that?

Till (pause) Probably since like May last year till September, this year

All right

So I'll probably just go back to that, and decide what I want to [realized as 'wanna'] do instead of just rushing into something like I did with university, I've learnt my lesson

S- so did you take a year out (pause) or, er huh

Um, just didn't go for a year (laughter)

(laughter)

(laughter)

You didn't

Not a good example

So do you think it's important to like have em, some form of work outside university?

I think, well it is for me 'cause (pause) I got really depressed when I didn't have a job 'cause I just felt like completely like useless and worthless and like, having to, being twenty two and having to er borrow money off your parents was you know, and you know your other friends at Uni who you know have -- have moved here eh you know being completely independent and living on their own and then there's just you living with mummy and daddy getting, pocket money it just made us feel like shit

Totally I agree with that, I think em it gives you a different circle of friends as well and, I don't know [realized as 'dunno'] it gives you something outside of university I don't know [realized as 'dunno'] as well as like being a little bit more dependent, independent even financially

Uh-huh

So what would you say the best things are, about working at Gaf?

Eating

(laughter)

The the -- the freedom actually's pretty good, you can do like your own, if you want to [realized as 'wanna'] do a display you do, you don't have to conform to anything (pause) you can wear your own clothes, that's a good one (pause) [3 sec] How do you think your job compares to the UCI?

Uh God er I -- I was a was like really nervous the first, I would say three weeks just 'cause it was so different to the -- the pictures like a couldn't get used to the fact like, if you wanted to go next door to the Co-op you could just go, you didn't have to you know wait until it was, was really dead or like organise the day until you could get a break and just (NAME) and (NAME) being so (pause) laid back like em (pause) it was so bureaucratic at the pictures and they were really (pause) into it, like that's what we didn't understand about the management that like everyone who worked there was a student and doing just it for just a part-time job and the management, saw us it was like that was our career and they were really like proper mentalists about it

You can kind of [realized as 'kinda'] understand that because (interruption) it's

(interruption) 'cause it is their career

It's obviously like that for them, they've gone and worked there when they were your age and obviously

(interruption) And and just stayed on yeah (pause) which, was kind of [realized as 'kinda'] funny (pause) but em yeah like em, you would have to do three times a year there was like a live fire evacuation where we'd get em, primary schools in and eh you'd have to give like three weeks notice if you couldn't attend and university lectures wasn't a good enough reason not to attend and it's like but -- but this is just ma part-time job (pause) Wha, I just, yeah and just with the hours and stuff it was just a huge business and stuff and with the rota you have to give so many weeks notice, and like and it's very private but like on Saturday like we were stood at the back of the shop and I was like (NAME) would it be all right if a just did two days a week and he was 'er, yeah, would it be all right if you still did a Wednesday and then one week weekend day' and I was like yeah and that was it but it would have -- have to have been a, procedure at the pictures

It's dead, I know what you mean like my job before was, it wasn't exactly like that 'cause it was still more or less an independent business

Um

But it was a lot more rigid and you -- you were like (pause) it was more cliquey as well. I think everyone gets on here, whether you're a part-time or full-time or none but there it was really cliquey 'cause full-time meant you were doing sixteen hour shifts back to back and you never saw anyone else, they were your friends and that was it

Mm

And em, so yeah, it's different for me and kind of [realized as 'kinda'] similar ways, I know what you mean

Yeah, where did you used to work like?

Magnesia Bank in North Shields, (interruption) have you

(interruption) Ah the -- the pub?

Yeah (pause) fun

It was a fun -- fun -- fun job

So em (pause) what kind of people do you think Gaf attracts? For workers?

Alternative

Yeah, yeah younger as well, we didn't have

(interruption) Yeah

Yeah (pause) I mean other than the obvious kind of people. People who just want a job, regardless of what it is

Yeah

Yeah I think it was definitely alternative people (pause) people who liked the shop, really

Yeah pretty much

Yeah

Who like the clothes

Who like the clothes

Helps

Ok em so do you think you'll go travelling after Uni?

That's like my idea of hell, really doubt it, I'd probably go and live in another city but I wouldn't like to be travelling around bloody Bangladesh or somewhere

But you like travelling don't you?

Well I like travelling but I don't (pause) I like I'm not, I'm not really into back- backing. I'm too much of a gay!

Totally

I like -- I like my little Cosmopolitan little coffee shops and cafes like Berlin

So you'd go round like cities but you would like, (interruption) be

(interruption) Yeah. Just like Europe and if -- if I was going to the Far East I would go to Shanghai or like Tokyo but like a mean it's good to learn about the cultures and stuff but I wouldn't really wan-

(interruption) No me neither

I mean I know it sounds so like boring but I wouldn't really want to [realized as 'wanna'] venture off the well trodden path

Me neither

'Cause I'm just not brave enough, I'd be shitting bricks

I'm not brave enough and I just don't th I mean I suppose it would benefit anybody sort of morally and, I don't know [realized as 'dunno']

And all that

All of that (pause) well I don't know [realized as 'dunno'] I'm sorry but that's where my personality limitations are (pause) I just don't, just don't find that fun, and what's the point do you know what I mean

Yeah to go and find

Yeah it's like going to festivals, It's just kind of like (pause) I like going and everything but the slumming it and everything

I know I really want to go to like em Leeds Festival or Glastonbury but a really can't bring myself to do it 'cause

(interruption) If you're -- if you're -- if you're (interruption) well prepared you'll be fine

(interruption) the toilets, they're blu

Especially being a bloke, just starve yourself all weekend

Yeah I know

You'll never have to go

Just yeah aw yeah, I just like, hover

Just stand somewhere (laughter)

Aw honestly it's as bad as everyone says

Yeah a know I'd rather just

(interruption) Not to make you feel worse (interruption) but it really is

(interruption) no yes no I'd rather just, go to a gig at the Academy

Yeah exactly, go home have a wash (laughter)

Yeah, eh just watch it on telly

No it is as bad as everyone says

Watch it on telly and then you can go to Bulletproof or Stone Luv afterwards, that's what I'd say (pause) and use your own toilets and then get a taxi back

What are your favourite places to go, in Newcastle? (pause) For a night out?

It's not that they're my favourite places, but I always end up in like, em, all the kiddy places like, Get your Skates On and, er, bloody Legend's

(interruption) Aww no

(interruption) Aww no. You [realized as 'ya'] gan to the Big Market like?

Ah God, no -- no (pause) do you?

No

I was going to [realized as 'gonna'] say

Thank God.

(interruption) When er

(interruption) I was going to [realized as 'gonna'] say, I'll have to stop being friends with you!

Where do you go?

Em, well Tokyo's

Aw I love Tokyo's

North, it's just down it's next to the Lit and Phil

(interruption) Just down from Cen-

(interruption) just down -- down from Central Station

Oh yeah

You know you've got like, is it Apartment across the road (pause) aw Apartment as well (pause) very expensive (interruption) bar though

(interruption) Where all the strip clubs are (pause) they are

Er, and then usually I go to em, Stone Luv or I -- I love Bulletproof at the Academy

I much preferred it when it was at Reds Bar (pause) I know it was smaller and stuff, but I don't know [realized as 'dunno'] I think

Aw and they played Star Wars

Did they?

When It was at Reds as well

Did they?

That was kind of [realized as 'kinda'] cool

Aw I don't know, [realized as 'dunno'] there's something I don't like about the Academy

Really (pause) what, just in comparison to Reds or just

(interruption) just

(interruption) on its own

Just on its own (pause) I don't know, [realized as 'dunno'] it's either, really -- really packed, and really -- really huge and really -- really stressful or it's really -- really, big and really -- really empty and just a bit uncomfortable, like depending on when you go and I don't know, [realized as 'dunno'] there's something about it I don't like (pause) but I don't know [realized as 'dunno'] what it is

Um (pause) um

I like it that I got my phone back from there, when I lost it but other than that

All right

Um I went somewhere in York that was the most bizarre place, it's called the Willow Disco (pause) (laughter) and it's a Chinese buffet right that turns into a disco at the end

(interruption) That's mint

(interruption) Aw wow!

And they play like loads of eighties, music and stuff like

(interruption) Like a proper disco

Like a (interruption) school disco

(interruption) A discotheque

Totally, completely, with a DJ that cuts (interruption) in

(interruption) Ah class

(interruption) and everything

Those light boxes (pause) a Christmas disco

And one of those things, not a disco ball but, a flashy thing, aw that's great, and they give you like prawn crackers and the drinks are like, you get a can rather than a pint (pause) bizarre

God that's like social clubs (pause) class

Oh yeah exactly like social clubs, it's about fifty pence for a whiskey (pause) And you're like, what seriously?

Em at the top of ma nana's street, and we used to live there as well, there's East End Social Club and you used to

(interruption) was that in Wallsend?

Yeah (pause) but they've made it into apartments or something now and er we used to go the Christmas party every year and just looking back it's like, fuckin hell, just I wouldn't be seen dead in a place like that now but, I suppose mid to late eighties, that's what -- that's what it was like

Is that what people did (pause) I'm sure the drink in those is so cheap that they actually take your soul or something (pause) as you walk in (laughter) (pause) yeah and like you can have a pint for a pound but we're going to [realized as 'gonna'] take a portion of your soul

To pay for it

Yeah (pause) they must -- they must -- they must. You can't do it otherwise

D

(interruption) They are

So do you think drinks have become more expensive recently? In comparison to other countries and stuff as well?

Couldn't tell you, [realized as 'ya'] mind you, saying that they were like, really cheap in Germany

Were they?

Beers. And you know like last week there was the thing in the paper about the supermarkets being irresponsible for offering like their own brand lager for twenty nine pence, well you can get bottles of beer in Germany for twenty five cent, which is less than twenty nine pence and, it's -- it's not frowned upon, but the -- the drinking culture over there is different to here like I think the majority of people over here go out to get pissed, that is the main aim and the quicker you get pissed the better, whereas in Germany -- like especially in Buberry where I was it's like they really love their beer an it's em like all about like the whole culture around beer and [realized as 'an'] the taste and whether it's good and oo that's smooth and blablabla, and people go out for the social. They -- they go out to a bar just to sit whi

(interruption) there's higher standards

Yeah like I don't think I ever saw like a group of leery people who were pissed.

No

It was lush

Europe's like that though I think (pause) mainly

Mm

But I think whether you have that attitude about drinking depends how long you've been drinking, because I think a lot of people who only started drinking lots when they go to university or something, are far more likely to carry that on, well into their mid twenties and things

Mm

Whereas dafties, who started drinking at like thirteen or fourteen

On street corners (pause) white lightening

Mm and white lightening (pause) like now (pause) mm I was one of those

(interruption) Lambrini

(interruption) Are you really?

Yeah, err totally but I don't I don't go out to get pissed now unless (interruption) I'm

(interruption) Unless you (pause) you really need it

Like, not, I don't do that, my friend is unbelievable, she's like pouring drinks down all night and you're like, seriously, you're nearly twenty two years old, (interruption) just stop

(interruption) slow down

Calm down (laughter)

And like if a drink's really not agreeing with you and you just decide you don't want to drink anymore people are like, what you aren't drinking, it's like (pause) I've got me car, except I don't have a car (laughter)

No like (NAME), when -- when you told him that I didn't drink

Uh-huh

He nearly shit himself

Eeh! he couldn't believe it (NAME), he thought he was going to [realized as 'gonna'] explode

I know

He had tears in his eyes (laughter)

Didn't he?

Yeah

It really it made him really nervous and like, really put him off, and like he says that he's not going to [realized as 'gonna'] drink on Thursday when we go out, or he's not going to [realized as 'gonna'] drink, or he's like going to [realized as 'gonna'] be

(interruption) Rubbish

(interruption) watching what he's drinking like he must think I'm one of those arsey, bastards that like, ooo! You know what you did last night blablabla, but you know really I don't give a shit

It's nice that someone can remember really (pause) or actually no I'm not that sure (laughter)

(laughter) Seeing as it's normally you and me who make a tit of ourselves

Yeah, (interruption) the last two

(interruption) I know I can't wait

It's going to [realized as 'gonna'] be great (pause) I'll properly join in like everyone everyone always says, 'oh you don't drink (pause) actually you don't need to drink, you you're mental' (pause) so

Yeah

So have you never drank?

No [realized as 'nah'] not really (pause) tried it but, it just didn't float my boat, not really bothered

That's fair enough (pause) I'd love to have that attitude, your life would be so much more simple

And cheaper

And I've got this thing about losing control, like not being, in control of your actions, it's like -- like going under for an operation really freaks us out

Yeah

I suppose getting drunk's like when I have been a bit woo, I just didn't like it at all (pause) 'cause you like can't walk in a straight line

I just I think this is another thing like getting older like, I just did worse things when I was younger stupid wise being drunk, wake up and be like, ooh! I feel a bit stupid and then just, get over it but now the first thing I think when I wake up is what did I do (laughter) like drunken amnesia and I I just really -- really panic and text everyone I know oh I didn't do anything stupid whereas when I was younger I don't think I cared. I think I'm a bit more self conscious now but I know what you mean about being scared about being out of control aw I'm a bit like that especially after bloody last (interruption) year

(interruption) Like the only time I ever get pissed off with people who drink are, like, you know -- you know how you have different sorts of drunk people (pause) it it's the ones who like fall over and like just like end up spilling their drinks but they're so pissed they don't care (pause) And like, you know other people are getting really pissed off and it's embarrassing you, and it's just like, I you need to get away from us now

I don't like it when people (interruption) people drink and drink (pause) I think I've done that obviously a lot but, I don't like it when people can't be told to stop, that really annoys us when you know someone's going to [realized as 'gonna'] be like 'no shut up we're staying out' (pause) I don't like that. I -- I think people should be able to be told to get in a taxi and go home

(interruption) fuck off

I once threw my tights over a on a rahs head

But it's a rah, I would have (interruption) let you off

(interruption) I was going to [realized as 'gonna'] say that fine (pause) not that I have any prejudices against anyone (laughter)

I do, against rahs, and charvs

Why?

Charvs it's pretty self explanatory like

They make my life a living hell at high school it was fucking horrible.

Me too

And they still do, they think they can do whatever the fuck they want (pause) I was walking through the subway a couple of weeks ago or last week and I had ma i-Pod on and you know just walking home after Uni in a world of my own and there's these two charvs coming back from school or, the street corner or wherever, fucking druggies house I don't know [realized as 'dunno'] and er, like one of them shouted something at us like right in my face and I was just like 'what the fuck are you doing?'

(interruption) Out of your way

Like -- like you actually have to go out of your way to bother someone, why -- why would you do that?

It's because you're the most interesting thing they're going to [realized as 'gonna'] see all day (laughter) 'cause they have such crap lives, and it means that if they're talking about you, they're not talking about the fact that they've had beans on toast for tea (interruption) for about two years

(interruption) Um, and the fact that that they're like shit, and wish they were on like Jeremy Kyle

(interruption) And the fact that

Yeah exactly

Generalizations guys!

(interruption) Aw but aw come on

(interruption) Ah no God (NAME), you obviously didn't go to people like what we went to school with like, the, ah this one girl I was just walking down the stairs and she got us by the hair and dragged me backwards up the stairs

Oh my God

But I had my hand caught in the hand rail and you know when it was like -- like me arm was like being ripped out of its socket

W- Which high school did you go to?

Saint Thomas More

(interruption) those bloody Catholics

(interruption) but I was just, but she disappeared up the stairs so I was just left standing there going (pause) (interruption) grrr

(interruption) Sobbing

No I was really angry so other people coming up the stairs were like ah it's (NAME) (NAME) again, ranting on about something (laughter) (pause) and I was like no -- no I had a reason (pause) My hair, most of it's on the floor

(laughter)

(laughter)

Can you see a big bald patch? Aw yeah I mean it's the -- it's the really polemic for me, really polarising just the one group of people what a just have no patience for, at all, can't stand em.

(interruption) mind you

(interruption) and a really wouldn't care if they were all obliterated off the face of the earth, (interruption) I wouldn't

(interruption) If you, if you make friends with someone that like has those sort of tendencies but you make friends with them, they'll be your best friend for life

Um

Some of them have got their wits about them but others, they're just complete products of what they've come from

Yeah

And not worth knowing (pause) some of them, great people

(interruption) I know that what

(interruption) Just have to get over it but like em most of them aren't worth the bother

Uh-huh

So you mentioned rahs (pause) what's wrong with rahs?

God

Superior attitudes, complete lack of consideration for anyone else

Yeah

Such as one rah said, started going on about university, how she'd been completely screwed over by the university system because she's from a public school (pause) Is that the correct term? (interruption) em

(interruption) Yeah (pause) a weird term

And em (pause) it is isn't it

'Cause it's not

But em, and how because state school people must get all sorts of special treatment and stuff, so I was just like, like well I'm a state school people but then I still got turned away from fifty percent of my universities (pause) do you know what I mean?

Um, yeah

So obviously that's absolute rubbish

Uh-huh

So knowing your audience (pause) they were just obviously talking (laughter)

Yeah

That's like -- that's like if was talking homophobic or like

(interruption) Racist

Racist (pause) and going God oh God and someone sitting right next to us (laughter)

Why -- why -- why -- would you do that? (pause) just like know your audience and when to, shut-up (pause) they do, honestly (pause) seen it with my own eyes

Er I don't want to, [realized as 'wanna'] you know tar everyone with the same brush but

No

Like there's been a lot of people like that on my course and a lot of them just (pause) are at university 'cause it's something to do, to like, fill in a gap, and they'll get a loan off the government, or if not daddy'll pay whatever, an, especially in first year, I remember, we were sitting in a lecture and it was on we were doing it was an introduction to English Historical Linguistics, and er

(interruption) eugh (laughter)

No I love it, I'm a total geek with that sort of shit, and er the lecturer was talking about something and I was totally getting into it and em, like she was getting really, like enthusiastic and excited about it and there was just this group of rahs who spoke the entire time and were just ripping the piss, at the lecturer, it was just like really disrespectful (pause) and it's like, what you here for, if you're not if you're not excited about it or even interested in it why you sitting in the lecture theatre learning about it?

They could be doing something else that they enjoyed from their po- perspective

Just go and have a gap year [realized as 'yar']

But it's just I (pause) yeah, they should have, surely if they've got that much money they should have better manners, do you know what I mean, but it's just totally not

(interruption) Yeah finishing school should have taught them something (laughter)

Yeah but I really -- really, they're really self involved a lot of them, which is (pause) I probably would be if I'd been told everything was about me (pause) but

Yeah uh-huh

Wait so eh how would you describe a rah? What is a rah?

Posh rude, well dressed

Well (pause) not -- not, some of the times no (pause) I mean I've seen a rah (pause) I think it was my first year, she'd er you know that whole hair thing

Ah if they're dumbing down

Where they just, you know, like

Slumming it

Like wake up and leave their hair as is which is -- is fine, you know you can do that, but they think they look good which, is like what the fuck?

All spending ten hours actually performing this thing on their head to make it look messy

(laughter) And she was wearing a tweed jacket, a really like a really baggy t-shirt, she looked like a tramp (laughter) em, what was it, red tracksuit bottoms which were like fraying at the back and really like stained 'cause she'd been walking in the muck, and then a pair of stilettos (pause) and she was like waiting at the bus stop, I'm like, what are you, are you real?

Maybe she was going home from a night out, from (interruption) some scruffy

(interruption) with that outfit (pause) (laughter) Some scruffy rah bar I've been to a rah bar

What's a rah bar? Where would be a rah bar?

They only serve cocktails (pause) Revolution after hours (laughter)

Cocktails or like silly beers like Budva (pause) or things like that do you know what I mean, like you can't get them everywhere, cans of Tiger

Really posh beer

'cause it's really really dumbing down (pause) it's like 'oh you know you can only get Tiger here' (pause) (laughter) that was a really rubbish rah accent

I thought -- (laughter) I thought it was quite good (pause) do it again

No [realized as 'nah'] (pause) no [realized as 'nah'] -- no [realized as 'nah'] -- no [realized as 'nah']

Yeah and if you ever hear anyone who isn't German saying 'ya' then you've pretty much got a rah

Yeah yeah, pretty much (laughter)

(laughter) Ya equals rah

(interruption) (laughter)

(interruption) (laughter)

(interruption) (laughter)

That's a nice little slogan

Yeah If you say yah then you are a rah (laughter) (pause) careless talk costs lives!

(interruption) (laughter)

(interruption) (laughter)

(interruption) (laughter)

(laughter) You're so random

Ah so do you think that people who are at Newcastle like depending on what your social group is, do they tend to live in different areas (pause) of Newcastle like Heaton, West Jesmond, Sandyford (pause) where do you think rahs live?

(interruption) Jesmond

(interruption) Jesmond

I like the way we were both like Jesmond. That'll be on your em, do you have to do a script for this?

Yeah

In upper case letters (laughter)

It'll be like, both together, Jesmond. (laughter) Hell yeah

Well like they all strive to live there

Yeah (pause) whether they can or not

Yeah like, I think a lot of them would live in Heaton but wouldn't say anything

Yeah yeah

Or live in Sandyford but don't say anything

Can I just say after we've been doing that, (laughter) every time I say yeah I really sound as if I'm saying yah

(laughter) Yah

(laughter) Yah rah (pause) is right here (pause) the most subtly self aware person ever

(laughter)

So do y

(interruption) And you live in Jesmond too

Aw you know I didn't mean anything

(laughter) So do you think Jesmond

(interruption) I bet you know it as well don't you (laughter)

Do you think Jesmond's changed quite a lot, since we were young?

Well apparently

I wouldn't really know

I wouldn't know

I mean, that I think the first time I went to Jesmond was with my mam and dad and they were going to, you know William and Brown, the jewellery place

Yes I do know that shop

They'd went there 'cause my mam and dad were buying new wedding rings and like my dad, th -- the -- the boss at my dad's company lived there and we'd been to his house a couple of times but I didn't really know the area

(interruption) do you know how I knew it was trendy though because my mum is really difficult to buy for, and my aunty and her partner got my mum em, jewellery like from this really posh jewellery shop, em for her birthday and we went like, for lunch to in this little shitty cafe on the corner

(interruption) (laughter)

and I knew if they wanted to go there then it must be (laughter) upper middle class (pause) 'cause that's the only places they go (pause) like they get, is it the Guardian or the Journal or something that does like, how to be fuckin upper middle class

(laughter)

(laughter) it does honestly, read it, (interruption) it's like if you eat at this restaurant everyone will think you're great

(interruption) It's probably the Guardian (pause) The Independent

It might be the Independent I don't know, [realized as 'dunno'] that's how far out of it I am

No I know, left wi, I know I read them 'cause they're left wing but they are totally (pause) up their own arses

Really selling a life style I think (pause) yeah

Yeah I mean, there's nothing to read 'cause I'd sooner die than get the Daily Mail

My parents get the Daily Mail

Ah no, really! (interruption) Oh God!

(interruption) Oh you are right to feel that way (pause) horrible

Ah th it's just insane

(NAME)'s parents do as well, we discuss things we've read in the Daily Mail sometimes

It's just hilarious you just know the stance they're going to [realized as 'gonna'] take on any issue

(interruption) Yeah

before they even say it and it's it's just like a joke now, ah and then the Daily Mail said that (interruption) as you knew they would

(interruption) they even

They even have like their own little stamps that they print on stories now like em, 'care and dignity for the elderly' or em, 'health and safety killjoys', so like stamp it on an article

(interruption) 'no gays adopting' (pause) less em, whatcha call them, immigrants (laughter) (pause) get them out

(interruption) totally

(interruption) it's really right wing but not tabloid which is, I mean like the Sun's really right wing really I mean you can't take anything the Sun says seriously (laughter)

mildly, I quite like the health and beauty pages (pause) It's a real

(interruption) (laughter) I thought you were going to [realized as 'gonna'] (interruption) say page three

(interruption) what in the Mail?

In the Mail or the Sun?

In the Mail (pause) it's a right scare- is that the right word, scaremonger?

Um

Like everything is you can't

(interruption) Ah definitely

It's like just oh my God I use Dove deodorant, am I going to die tomorrow?

Ah everything'll give you cancer. The -- the only reason why we're getting cancer so often now is 'cause we don't die of anything else

Yeah exactly

L- Like we live past forty 'cause we didn't get polio or tuberculosis

(interruption) Bird-flu

(interruption) Fuckin avian-flu. That and like carbon footprint is going to [realized as 'gonna'] be like the word of two thousand and seven, avian-flu and you've got to [realized as 'gotta'] think about your carbon footprint, fuck off (pause) for God's sake

I prefer, if they made things like that easier it would you would be more likely to do it (pause) It's like did you know that we have the cardboard collected because if (NAME) was to take it to the cardboard recycling place they would go sod off you're a business

Really

Yes that's what he told me, I was like, that's absolutely ridiculous, who would be more likely to generate cardboard, the council must just not offer it like, do you know what I mean, businesses must

(interruption) Yeah

(interruption) Have to sort it out for themselves

I can't think of that many people who get deliveries at their home like in cardboard boxes, like the amount that we have as well

(interruption) yeah exactly

(interruption) it's insane

It's like you know off your bloody ready meals and cereal boxes, isn't it that you have in the house

Yeah

But em (pause) I think that's absolutely ridiculous, it's like, well it'd be so much easier for us just to chuck it in the bin, do you know what I mean, and (interruption) so

(interruption) yeah

(interruption) so we try to make the effort not to

(interruption) Yeah (pause) it's such a half arse system as well. I remember when they brought it in a got really pissed off 'cause like if you live in Northumberland you have like that full, you have to fill that blue like the same size as a wheeley bin and it's all for like recycling and then

(interruption) And we got that tiny little black box

(interruption) And yeah that summer that they introduced it I went over to Germany and they're like light years ahead of us 'cause there was like a big green movement in the eighties

When everyone was really -- really pissed (laughter)

(laughter) Yeah Yeah they're all deadly serious (pause) so like two generations at least have grown up with this whole green thing and em

Well that gives you hope doesn't it, surely that it might be like that here

(interruption) In twenty years time

Well no 'cause I don't want to [realized as 'wanna'] be talking about bloody carbon bloody footprints. I just want everybody (interruption) to do it

(interruption) Just to do it

Yeah, I don't want it to be an issue

Like like every bin, like say for every bin on a street here, they have they have them split in four for, it's like paper, em (pause) paper, glass, em em, some plastics and what's called Restmull, what's just the rest, like what doesn't fall into those three categories

(interruption) like rubbish

Yeah, and that's like every bin. So you can like recycle, it's not, you know, you don't have to go down to your local recycling depo

(interruption) Yeah

(interruption) You just go on the street and chuck em in

(interruption) saying that they're getting a lot better at that here, there's one in North Shields Metro, there's one in near Tynemouth Metro as well. I think you need them collecting more because can you remember how we always used to drink out of plastic bottles I used to collect them up and I went to take them to the recycling point and they were in Gaf bags and everything, plastic bags, probably not that good (laughter)

(laughter)

But they, it was so full I was like, I'm not taking them home so I just decided to leave them and hope that Gaf didn't get a phone call (pause) please stop leaving your plastic everywhere

(laughter)

But em, oh no, the that's what I mean about making it difficult, I made the effort, I went and I still couldn't do it, you know what I mean

Yeah like if it was the same procedure and infrastructure as putting your bin out, everyone would do it but the -- like I -- like I said it's a half arse system and they make it like, like, a special thing and you have to go out of you're way and in Germany it's like, you have -- have, they have three different em, like bin collections. And they just come every week and everyone has three bins and it's just not a big deal because yo- you know, your bin's there (pause) you just do it

I think it will get like that, here

Probably, but better (pause) 'cause

there's so much what were the drinking hours like in Germany (pause) has it always been quite liberal? (pause) or has it been

I think so, yeah, 'cause, I mean, I spent the summer in the North, and then I spent last year in Bavaria in the South and I think, like they're a lot more up with the beer in Bavaria but like, in the North as well it's just, 'cause it's just, seen as a social thing

(interruption) Yeah

There's not such much of a stigma attached to it, em because everyone, uses it as a social thing, it's not seen as you know, like young people getting pissed or causing bother

(interruption) Well it is really antisocial (pause) Like really out of your skull, isn't it?

Um

Especially if other people aren't, that is really antisocial isn't it. I think it is

I would say, but like you can, em, can you drink on the street here, in Britain (pause) like with a bottle?

I think you can (pause) I've never been told not to

Well a don't know [realized as 'dunno'] whether you can or you can't but you don't really see it that often 'cause I think we're still hung up on manners and how you appear, but in Germany, everyone did it, like you would sit on a tram and a guy would get on with a bottle of beer and immediately you'd think aw he's a piss head, but he's not, you know, even by near the end of the year, every time I would see someone with a bottle of beer or like sometimes they would have crates or bags, a would think, fuckin alchies, but they're not, it's just normal

(interruption) it's just what they do (pause) and they can handle their booze a bit better too

(interruption) Aw definitely, 'cause it's like stronger over there as well

(interruption) Really

(interruption) Like proper beer

God they must hate it when like English tourists go over there (pause) geet rolling around

(interruption) It's just the cigarettes as well, em, I can't, a think they're going to [realized as 'gonna'] try and push it through but I really can't see a smoking ban coming in in Bavaria 'cause everyone smokes (pause) and like you would go on the tram and I passed two high schools on the way to university and you would be passing at break and pretty much the entire school was outside smoking, and the teachers as well, but but the problem was that the cigarettes are stronger over there so if you like if you'd go out in the evening and you'd come back, like you know here if you come back and and you smell a bit, there it would be enough to knock you sick. It would absolutely reek of cigarette smoke it would be on your skin and you would have to shower before going to bed

(interruption) yeah I did that

(interruption) because you couldn't sleep because and then your bed would smell of smoke and then like em, even last winter I would leave ma clothes outside on the balcony and with the winter and with it being cold and that they still stunk in the morning. It was horrible

Yeah er I can imagine. But it's just not fair that is it, like having to wash your clothes all the time

I know and it was like, this is just clean on I can't wear it tomorrow

I think like the thing about the smell of smoke is it depends, like, I've lived with a smoker, like my mam's smoked since

(interruption) yeah same here

(interruption) I was a foetus

(interruption) yeah same here (laughter)

But like, we have the same

(interruption) I know it's horrible isn't it

(interruption) life, I've even got my brother is the same age as your sister

(laughter) That is weird

But em

(interruption) Same life couldn't tell us apart

Em yeah. I think because I've lived with ma mam I don't really smell cigarette smoke, but now I do, due to the smoking ban 'cause you never smell it anywhere really (pause) but when I from living with my mam I'm obviously a bit used to the smell anyway so if it was on me I would kind of [realized as 'kinda'] wouldn't notice it (pause) you know what I mean?

Yeah

My house never really smelt of smoke, I don't think

Yeah mine neither (pause) Aw something that a was really conscious of 'cause some of ma friends parents did smoke and a would go to the house and it would reek

(interruption) reek

and a would go, my house doesn't smell of smoke does it and it's a white house as well, like white inside so

Really (pause) bloody hell. Right em (laughter) crunches, I love crunches, they're great they're my favourite (pause) you like Twirls don't you?

Love twirls, but I also love toffee-crisps but I kind of [realized as 'kinda'] like can't really am stopping eating Nestle now for moral

(interruption) ooo why?

(interruption) reasons (pause) Coca-cola as well 'cause Nestle are em part of this group that em make formula milk and they're like trying to er badly promote it in Africa, but in places where they don't have em access to sanitary water so they just making powder milk which Nestle, which Nestle are saying is better for your baby than breast milk

(interruption) yeah but

(interruption) and yeah obviously it's not, and they're using like water from a cesspit. And the babies are getting ill

That's (interruption) really bad

(interruption) But they're doing it for profit so that's why I can't eat Nestle

(interruption) Oh and also I know I'm not supposed to talk but

(interruption) Oh go for it, no go for it

I'd like to input (pause) and also a few years ago they had, Nestle went in and gave all this powdered milk free to the mums -- the African mums em who started using it and eugh, their own breast milk dried up

(interruption) Ah yes

and then they started charging for it (pause) sorry (pause) carry on.

That's absolutely despicable. Eee no I agree (pause) what's the part of the Nestle company?

I'd I think it's either Nestle or an umbrella company that do the milk, but as a principle it's like fuck Nestle

That's bloody disgusting that. That really is

And then, and then I was reading a story in like the German, it's called Die Zeit and it like -- that's the -- think it's left wing or right wing but it had a story about Coca Cola and how, it's em, bought the ground water in some particular like Asian country and em so Coca Cola owns the water and a guy who living in this village was digging in a well and Coca Cola came out and were like if you want to [realized as 'wanna'] drink that water you have to pay us 'cause that's like our water (pause) and it's like, are you kidding

Absolute profit honestly

And there's and then I like went on Wikipedia and looked under em looked up Coca Cola and there's an entire article just dedicated to, controversies regarding Coca Cola

Yeah (pause) It's that's like

(interruption) It's

Everybody who knew or was involved in that is going straight to hell, straight to hell

It's just totally like the man

(interruption) Yeah

(interruption) isn't it. It's really worrying that, that like people always say that governments you know gov- Democratic governments rule the world. They don't, transnational corporations do

Totally

Like I really want to [realized as 'wanna'] see, is it Sy- Syriana, with George Clooney about the, the oil, like oil conspiracies

Who else is in that?

Is Matt Damon in it?

Yeah he is I saw it and it was really good

I'd like to see that

Yeah, like -- like -- like how political like foreign policies are shaped by the oil which

(interruption) That guy out of em 'The Sound of Music' Christopher Plummer, he's in it as well

Aw, mint!

He's a really good actor

He's totally (interruption) making a come back

(interruption) have you seen him, have you seen him in Nicholas Nickleby?

No

About a Charlie blablabla, aww I've seen that it's a proper tear-jerker

Really, what's it about?

This, this guy Nicholas Nickleby whose father dies and leaves them in loads of poverty (pause) and that's like his evil uncle, and they just end up, he becomes a school teacher and so it's just about his life really

Ah right

If I like told you anything specific, I'd probably be giving the story away

Ah right

Anything

Just Dickensian (pause) general Dickens

Yeah

Yeah, have you seen him in the Inside Man

Who

Christopher Plummer he was in that as well, he was the,

What's Inside Man?

With em, Jodie Foster and [realized as 'an'] Clive Owen, where they di do a bank robbery

No I haven't seen that

With Denzel (interruption) Washington

(interruption) I think I started watching that. Yeah. I was going to [realized as 'gonna'] say it sounds like a Denzel film

It's really -- really good

Oh yeah, Jodie Foster's like a really fast talking (interruption) politician

(interruption) Yeah

Yeah yeah I know the film but I haven't seen it

He's like Christopher Plummer is making like er like (pause) Bill Murray, apart from like

(interruption) Ghostbusters

He just did Groundhog Day and then he was in nothing and then he was in like Life Aquatic and Broken Flowers and we was in loads and I love him

Ah a don't really like Billy Murray, I must admit

Do you not?

No (interruption) I really don't

(interruption) No

So many things I don't like (pause) I don't know [realized as 'dunno'] what it is about him (pause) I quite liked him in A Life Aquatic, really dead pan like that (pause) I don't really, I don't like Scarlett Johansson either and I think that's probably why I didn't like Lost in Translation

Did you not?

That's basically about those two isn't it?

Yeah

A -- a lot of people I know didn't like that but, because everyone, I think the main criticism was nothing happens like it's just about nothing but, but em, I could relate to it on the being in a foreign country not speaking the language being completely

(interruption) yeah

(interruption) like socially and linguistically isolated and like, that's why I really liked it 'cause, like it really

I think you've got to [realized as 'gotta'] relate to a film in some way especially one like that where you say nothing really happens to be able to get anything from it so

Yeah (pause) and plus I just thought some of the bits were really funny when that, when that prostitute goes up to his room, and the Japanese woman and she's going lip -- lip -- lip my stockings, lip them

(laughter) Yeah, yeah

(laughter) Lip them and he's like what -- what do you want and she like falls over and she's like pick me up -- pick me up, help me, and then he goes to help her and she says, don't touch me and we were so wetting ourselves

So funny (pause) no em, I like the fact that they brought back More Than This by Roxy Music, that film (pause) We used to play that in the shop all the time didn't we [realized as 'wuh']

One of my favourite songs

What, which one?

More Than This, (interruption) he sings it at the karaoke

(interruption) Ah yeah, Aw Roxy Music, ah they're so good

Bryan Ferry, the hidden Nazi of pop music

Really, what?

Yeah, have you ever seen his son as well?

His really gorgeous model son

He's just Bryan Ferry though, I was like oh my God

(interruption) He's got two

Ah one of them

(interruption) One of them is like the spit

(interruption) yeah, (interruption) I thought

(interruption) And the other one is like, you can tell

I thought it was a picture of him (laughter) (pause) I was like oh my God that I thought

(interruption) Is that because of the the fox hunting thing (pause) why do you call him the hidden Nazi

No -- no -- no -- no I read it and it was absolutely shocking (pause) ah I cannot [realized as 'cannit'] remember now (pause) no but it was absolutely really shocking, you should look it up on the Internet or something, it is, some of the comments he made, you're like

Really

Like em, just about Hitler and stuff and like er you can count me behind Hitler, and, I'd have him on my album cover or some, it was something like that (pause) bloody hell

Ok that's a bit creepy

Just really -- really like em, he's a massive Nazi

Ah I'll have (interruption) to tell ma mam

(interruption) I'm saying this and I can't even remember the story properly

(laughter)

Well yeah 'cause like I don't know [realized as 'dunno'] which one of it I don't know [realized as 'dunno'] whether, I don't know [realized as 'dunno'] are both of his sons models or or one of them's a model and it must be either that one or

(interruption) Yeah, he's got like a strange name

Yeah, some arsey name, but like one of them was done 'cause they were protesting for fox hunting and he was arrested for some sort of behaviour and like it was in the papers 'cause he was, and a was really shocked 'cause he was on the side for, for the toffs

Yeah (pause) dear

(interruption) Which is

(interruption) I suppose if you've been brought up with that kind of [realized as 'kinda'] thing

Yeah

Can I just ask you right, you know how you're from like Wallsend

Yeah

Do you find that loads of people, if they're from Wallsend are like, Wallsend and North Shields right, nobody makes an issue about where they come from or where they live, except people who live in Wallsend and North Shields (laughter)

(laughter)

It's like ah aye I'm proper Shields me. Oo right I'm proper Wallsend er Wallsend bloke like. I know quite a lot of people that lived in Wallsend and stuff and I just, like no-one I know who lives in Whitley Bay's like, ah aye I live down Whitley Bay (pause) I don't you don't

(interruption) Yeah it might have something to do like like North Shields and the fishing industry, and then Wallsend with the ship building, it must be oh and the mining as well it must just be a (interruption) remnants of there

(interruption) it's weird though, do you not find that?

Oh yeah completely

I just I find it really weird

And like if you're abroad, or away somewhere

(interruption) Yeah yeah

people are like, ah are you from the North East oh where you from, ah I'm from Wallsend ah me too and you're like, it's like okay (pause) life story

I know it's like you're from the same place as me therefore you must want to hear me speak

Yeah it's really weird

Despite the fact that you're in a foreign country and that's probably the last thing you want

(laughter) Definitely

Aye (pause) I'm sure I met my uncle's brother on holiday, I was like talking to him 'cause we got sat at the same table like you know like on an excursion and he had like a really similar accent to him and he looked quite similar

(laughter)

And I think I've probably met him before

(interruption) Have you has your uncle got an estranged brother like?

No, well

(interruption) Do you not talk about him?

(interruption) No they're not

(interruption) is he a half brother?

No, they're not estranged but you know when -- you know when you get to -- you're older and you're not that close

Yeah

And I was like I'm sure, I, he said his name was (NAME) as well

(laughter)

(laughter)

Isn't that weird though? (pause) bloody meet ma own uncle on holiday and not even recognise him

Are you close to your family in general?

Not really, did I just spit on your hand there?

No., I would have licked it up anyway

(laughter)

(laughter)

(laughter)

(laughter) Just on ma work

Not really, well yeah but like, I'm not estranged from anyone I'm closer to ma mum's side than my dad's

Same here

I think everyone is though

Do you both have large families, or is it relatively small?

It's er kind of [realized as 'kinda'] big

mine's small on my mum's side, like quite, well not small but it's quite compact (pause) like I would say I knew more people and I've met them, but it's pretty big and my grandma's fam- like family are Irish so (pause) read into that what you will (pause) they're everywhere

(laughter)

Canada (pause) everywhere

The lecturer for this is Irish! (laughter)

Sorry, no but the Irish tend to have lots of brothers and sisters and stuff. And large families, don't they?

And they're everywhere

They do! They do!

Like Chlamydia, they're everywhere

(laughter)

(laughter)

(laughter)

(laughter) Shut up stop making it worse! They do, what's his name (pause) Eamon Holmes, he's got like about five brothers or something and (interruption) (NAME) (NAME)'s got about twenty sisters

(interruption) My friend (NAME) that I made last year on Erasmus she, er she was (NAME), she was the eldest then (NAME), then (NAME), (NAME) and then em, oh what was her brother called, and then she had a little brother (NAME). So there's f- five of them

Yeah

And then there was three on (NAME)'s family she was one of three and then (NAME) was one of four

See like they're always never only children

Bloody Catholics

So do you wish that you had more siblings?

Oh God no, one's, one is more than enough, sometimes I wish I wish I didn't even have that

Yeah

Does ma nut

mine's a dafty

Is he?

Yeah

What's he do?

He works in, you know Boundry Mills that used to be Dickens

Ah yeah

He works there, he's worked there for bloody years -- (pause) bloody years

(laughter)

How old is he, same age? Twenty three?

Yeah, he'll be like twenty four in, March so

How do you feel about being the er younger sibling?

'Cause you're older aren't you?

Yeah

I don't know [realized as 'dunno'] (pause) I think we were both treated quite equally although I think my brother is gets away with like, we both still live at home, if he doesn't like text ma mum and tell her where he is, he'll get away with it, whereas I don't, (interruption) but I don't know whether

(interruption) 'Cause you're the baby

(interruption) that's 'cause I'm a girl though, I don't know [realized as 'dunno'] whether that's age or (pause) gender (pause) mm

Em I hate it. It never used to be an issue when I was little 'cause I used to get away with everything and (NAME) would get the blame for stuff, but now it's just I think that, with living at home as well, 'cause I was saying yesterday I want to move out (pause) I think em I think ma parents are having a bit of problem getting used to the fact that I'm older and

(interruption) yeah totally

(interruption) like, em, when I came back just between the semester holidays, I went out with my friend (NAME), and then when I like, missed the last bus so I ended up just sleeping over at hers and like ma mam and dad said the next day that like, they were really worried like I'd been in Germany and they didn't have any idea that I was out or in or wherever but just the fact that I was home but then ma dad was like but we did realise that you know you're twenty one and you're allowed to do what you want

I don't think it'll ever be like that with my mother (pause) I need to move out desperately

Yeah

I don't think she'd treat me like that

Aw ah move out with us

Can you imagine that, you'd both just be like, shut up. All you've done is complain, I'll just be like

(interruption) Ah do you [realized as 'd'you'] want you?

We've made a provisional plan to get a place (interruption) 'cause like obviously I don't even though my mum and dad live here. I don't have (interruption) anywhere to live with them

(interruption) yeah

(interruption) when you've graduated?

Yeah

At the end of this year

Yous are both sensible, aren't you? [realized as 'ya'] (pause) With money and things?

No, I'm really sc- I would be really scared about being left with someone that didn't pay rent and things

(interruption) Aw no, I don't like, the feeling of letting people down with money,

(interruption) No I don't

I'm quite good at things like that (interruption) [inaudible]

(interruption) I've lived in houses for three years

Sorry?

I've lived out my house, my mum and dad's house for three years

Well yeah exactly

Well I haven't but I'm really like, I would never just, you know

Well like (NAME) moved out last year for her last year and was in Sandyford and money

(interruption) Ooh! me too

(interruption) and she was in charge of em, someone was in charge of rent someone was in charge of phoning she was in charge of water and gas and it was like like getting blood from a stone (interruption) and it's like

(interruption) Aw I'd never want people to feel like that with me, if I was stuck

(interruption) Yeah just put it in a tin

(interruption) If I was strapped for cash and I'd had a genuine reason for it I would be like, want someone to understand 'cause I would never normally be like that

(interruption) Yeah

(interruption) but if I'm err, but if er no (pause) It's people you see with Sky and Cable and that and they're skint just don't have the Sky and Cable, get a bloody (interruption) set top box

(interruption) Yeah, get a set top box (pause) it's got E4, you're sorted

Exactly, it's got E4

Wha you don't need anything else

And it's got Dave now

Aw mint!

(interruption) QI on a Monday night

(interruption) What's Dave?

It's the new name for (pause) UK-GT. the longest, what was it called. UK-TV G2 Plus One

It was ridicu yeah

The longest channel name ever

They put it on Freeview (pause) it's like, I like Top Gear 'cause

(interruption) ah th me too though (pause) It's so funny

You don't have to like cars to like that programme do you?

Well like Top Gear in the nineties it was all like car, like you know specifications but now it's

(interruption) It's funny

(interruption) yeah they do the races and stuff and ah yeah

(interruption) the celebrities

(interruption) love it

The three of them are really good together aren't they (pause) I love Richard Hammond, did you see the one where they tried to cross Africa?

No

And they, aw you've got to [realized as 'gotta'] see that it, it'll be repeated on Dave 'cause it was so so funny (pause) they like, they each pick a car and they have to travel across Africa (pause) (interruption) their cars just get completely wrecked

(interruption) I love the challenges they do

Hilarious did you see the one em, where they were trying to cross London? (pause) Richard Hammond had a bike

(interruption) No but I heard about it

(interruption) James May was in a car, and Jeremy Clarkson was in

(interruption) a fucking helicopter!

(laughter)

No he was in, not far off, he was in a speedboat

(laughter) On the River Thames?

Yeah yeah and em they got the stake, the stake to em use public transport and it was always just him standing like a big (laughter) (pause) in his helmet.

With his head in like someone's BO armpit

Euuughh rank (pause) Didn't he have like a really big accident?

Yeah he was

Then his hair grew

(interruption) He was

(interruption) and he got highlights

That's that's Richard Hammond's year summed up really (pause) 'cause he was on Jonathon Ross, like when he got better, em, and then he was on just a couple of weeks ago, and em Jonathon was saying like how you feeling blablabla, and they got on to the fact that like even though he was completely lucid last time he was on he can't actually remember any of it but he was like you know up walking and talking, but they showed him a bit of the interview and Jonathon was like so, and he was like, nothing, I just don't don't remember that happening, at all

Makes you, I've seen him doing other challenges like that since as well (pause) know when to stop

It's, yeah, it's more than your life's worth or less than your life's worth rather

Yeah (pause) no I don't

To get er killed in action

Especially when he's got a wife and kids, I can understand some you know single forever person with their goal of travelling really fast

(interruption) Is Jeremy Clarkson married

I think so, I think he's got kids as well

God bless them. (laughter) What

(interruption) how embarrassing

(interruption) what my wife must have to put up with, God almighty

Do you think (interruption) tha

(interruption) with jeans up to there

Yeah who's your day the biggest wanker on television, after Simon Cowell

(laughter)

Do you think that you sound quite like your parents?

No, I don't, my parents are quite well spoken (pause) I was

Are they, yeah?

I was until like, you know like, if you were to record them or they were on the telly or something, you would be like, they're from the North East but quite well spoken

Yeah, yeah, but they're not like a fishwife

Yeah yeah not like me

Do you speak like your friends? (pause) Do you all like speak in a similar way (pause) (interruption) or a similar style?

(interruption) Yeah I would say I do

Yeah, I'd I'd tend to change depending on who I'm with

All right so what kind of differences do you notice?

Em

I swear a lot more (interruption) I swear with my parents as well though which is pretty bad, but err not with my grand parents

(interruption) yeah I swear a lot more with my friends

(laughter) And do you think like that ethnic background plays a role (pause) in how you speak (pause) like was the

(interruption) Definitely I mean, I can't speak from experience but like

(interruption) well look at (pause) Is ethnic like just where you're from?

Yeah like er

(interruption) Like your family's heritage

Well look at (NAME), (NAME)'s lived down here (interruption) since she was four and she's still got a really and her brother's younger than her and even broader so like

(interruption) Ah yeah good point

(interruption) Scottish

Yeah, yeah

Weird

Her mum is really broad but on the other side of it their dad isn't really and he's like of a similar sort of

Em

He lived in Scotland and then he moved here (pause) so it's very strange

Are you aware of using any specific dialectal words?

God yes

(interruption) Proper

(interruption) I get I get the piss taken out of us for saying 'wu', instead of us like 'are you coming with wu'

(interruption) howay

And 'us' instead of me, are you coming with us

Yeah wu, us and howay for me

Yeah (pause) (interruption) yeah howay man

(interruption) I was in I was in York and (NAME)'s accent changes when we're down there and she went, howay, come on, and her little friend (NAME) went, what does howay mean?

(laughter)

(laughter) And we were like (pause) aww

Have you ever em encountered any problems or injustices because of how you speak?

I think people love to do a fuckin mock Geordie (interruption) accent

(interruption) Or prejudice

Don't they?

Yeah people go

(interruption) Aye man pet man right man

Yeah

Yeah I'm part of that group on Facebook yes I'm a Geordie, stop asking me to say Byker Grove

Yeah Byker, 'cause you do you go proper Byker

But I think I have some people who come from different places have

(interruption) There's a stereotypical

(interruption) Err have thought they knew what I would be like just 'cause of the way I've spoken then like er they always are and they even say, ah you know I'm really surprised you're like that and, that's nice but it's quite, it's quite offensive as well 'cause you know that they've just, heard you and just thought they had you down

I can be quite leery though I think I probably conform to what people think

(laughter)

(laughter)

Em do you ever change or alter how you speak?

I do (pause) (interruption) I speak a lot better

(interruption) God yeah

(interruption) For different contexts?

I'll speak a lot better if am if am in an interview or something I'll speak a lot better. If I'm with someone that I think might not understand me like like it's an older person, if they've got hearing problems or something I'll speak a lot lot. Better (pause) (interruption) lot better er

(interruption) Do you think -- do you think there's a like big change in how older people speak and how younger people speak from (interruption) different areas?

(interruption) Yeah

Swearing's, definitely one, but I think it depends though, you hear some people speaking like fishwives and then you've got other ones who are really well spoken and proper

Yeah 'cause charves tend to want to speak, really broad Geordie (pause) whereas like we don't, but like our grand parents generation I think just everyone spoke broad Geordie. That's what 'cause you know everyone you know (interruption) worked in shipyard worked in a mine

(interruption) depends

Depends what class you're from though

Yeah

I think like if you're from like more of that sort of middle class like my mum's parents are, they're very sort of like proper and (pause) (interruption) kind of thing, yeah definitely

(interruption) Yeah (pause) Is that, the Irish side?

(laughter)

No -- no, that's my mum's side, but she's only from the West End of Newcastle so, I think it just depends on how you've been brought up

So what do you think about the ways that youths and the younger generations speak today?

Swear a lot more, sorry that really is like (pause) swearing honestly, everybody swears so much more (pause) loads of people wouldn't have dreamt like you said you would swear in front of your parents but not your grandparents, I think that's like a huge issue, I don't think there's much of an issue about how you speak anymore I think (pause) if you've got an accent

Well like even on TV like you know BBC in the sixties, the newsreaders, they (interruption) proper RP but now you've got Hugh Edwards, Gethin Jones off Blue Peter (pause) Steve Jones on T4 (pause) like people from Yorkshire, Geordies, Irish. And it's (pause) I mean I think the BBC are like encouraging it really

(interruption) RP

(interruption) Yeah

(interruption) They want to be seen as type -- as

There was a guy who wrote a poem about it in a like an anthology, did you ever have to do that?

Ah the (pause) the six o'clock news

(interruption) When the writer came in I put my hand up and said that I just went your poem is completely obsolete now, I don't know [realized as 'dunno'] why they're still (interruption) touring it

(interruption) Yeah, yeah definitely

I don't know [realized as 'dunno'] why it's still in the anthology, unless it like a reflection of how things were

Where then

(interruption) but it's not now

Er so do you think that you can tell very easily that a person is from here? (pause) By their accent

(interruption) Ah definitely, I think it's a really distinctive accent, especially on the TV

(interruption) Yeah

Do you think it's got positive or negative connotations?

It's supposed to be positive isn't it? (interruption) If you're on

(interruption) I asked the day, we were in the courtyard bar in the Old Library building and I was with my friend from Scarborough and another of my friend's that comes from a village near Cambridge and I said like what, what do you think when you hear a Geordie accent, like is it a good thing or is it a bad thing and er, 'cause I said I'm really conscious that people think that wer stupid 'cause if I hear a Geordie on the radio or TV I just think, we just sound stupid

(interruption) yeah I do

They said, they both said, friendly (pause) And like everyone here's really friendly and then (NAME) said that I'm yet to meet a Geordie wanker and I said come to work (pause) we get loads of em

(laughter)

It's like I think like sort of (pause) dodgy's more associated with a Liverpudlian accent, than, er, that's what I think

Yeah

Isn't it though? (pause) I don't want to [realized as 'wanna'] say anything but I think it is, not that I think every (interruption) Liverpudlian is

(interruption) Don't worry

(interruption) And we're very like that in Britain, we've got wer stereotypes and prejudices about all of the areas and also, like

(interruption) races

(interruption) and Nationalities, 'cause in Germany you make fun of em the Polish and in Poland you make fun of the Germans and the Russians, and in France they make fun of the Brits and in Britain we make fun of everyone

Yeah, exactly

Except you know like Antarctic people (pause) 'cause there is none

So in conclusion are you both happy with your accents?

I don't know [realized as 'dunno']

(interruption) and the way you speak?

I'd probably like to be a bit better spoken, and I'd like to swear less. I don't think it's done us any harm

(laughter) I think (NAME)'s er sworn more, during this interview than you

I tried not to though, that was a, I just pictured my grandma was sitting there (laughter)

(laughter)

'Cause she'd kick me arse

And I'm happy with my accent but I've got a problem in that I'm really good at doing accents (interruption) at doing other accents

(interruption) I am as well 'cause I could speak, better, England (laughter)

(laughter)

(laughter)

(laughter)

If I want to [realized as 'wanna'] speak properly I can, but I just don't

'Cause, like being in Germany em (pause) I was the only person, literally the only person from the North of England, let alone the North East and em, so like my accent kind of [realized as 'kinda'] like em levelled out, and then when I was coming back, I was in em Stansted Airport and I was talking to a couple behind us and they were from Washington and they had to ask whether I was from here because they didn't they couldn't hear it and they were like ah, right yeah, you just don't sound like you're from here 'cause you had to I like

(interruption) I think it's easy to adapt your language, that's why I think it's so crazy that, like em, that they've still got Scottish accents

Yeah

But then, they're dead patriotic aren't they the Scots, like

(laughter)

But they are honestly, anybody will oh God I'm so stereotypical (pause) Just excuse everything (pause) yes the British are very stereotypical!

(NAME)'s sitting there going fucking English

Yeah, but they are though and when you look at the X-Factor and things Scots stay in regardless of talent because all the Scottish people are voting for them (pause) They do

(laughter)

(laughter)

Well on that note (pause) thanks guys