X-tra, X-tra X-citement for this year's X-travaganza

With only two days to go until the X-Factor starts up again (yes!), I feel a bit sad that I am SO EXCITED about it. Maybe this signifies the lack of entertainment currently in my life, or maybe it just celebrates my enthusiasm for singing, but in my opinion, there is nothing more satisfying than plonking myself down in front of the TV with a glass of wine, getting my critical head on, and generally poking fun at the thousands of wannabe pop stars that sound like a strangled fox sitting on a washing machine.

I have been getting 'in the zone' while applying for jobs, by watching snippets from the previous series' of the X-Factor and the unseen auditions which showcase THE WORST that the UK has to offer in the way of talent. Getting primed for this year's competition and the sheer unpredictability of what it could bring, is all part of my warm-up for the first show.

2010 is also a little bit more intriguing, with how the producers have filled the Malaria-shaped hole left by Cheryl at the audition stages. How will Katy Perry fit in with Simon and the crew while she guest judges and will they just chuck her off when Cheryl comes back? What will the show be like without Dannii at the auditions as well? Apparently she is jumping back in when she has finished doing the birthing thing, so how will she juggle motherhood with mentorhood? So many changes, so many possibilities! SOOOOOOO looking forward to it!!!!

Owning that beach bar in Fiji has never looked so appealing...

Whether you're a recent graduate, someone with a few years work experience under your belt, or a high flyer at the top of your career seeking out that last challenging role before retirement, all of the above have the same thing in common; you face the biggest struggle EVER to secure that make or break career move that could be the difference between eating value baked beans for the rest of your life, or care free dining out a couple of nights a week, indulgent retail therapy sessions, and super relaxing five star holidays.

Speaking from recent personal experience, I think the most difficult stage of someone's working life is that of your mid to late twenties. I have been led to believe that our twenties are about finding the right career path, with flexibility and lack of responsibility being the fuel for this period of self exploration. Now, I'm not a senior staff member, and never been in the shoes of someone of that age or level, but us late twenty somethings really have the roughest deal. At our age, we are expected to have relevant job experience for our next role. How can you have this if you want to change direction, scared that otherwise you will have to spend the next forty years stuck in an industry that you would sell your first child to get out of.

Put it this way; when you're fresh out of uni and 'mouldable' employers will lap you up because any company worth it's salt will have a grad scheme designed especially for those straight out of higher education and ready to unleash themselves at the merciful hands of the working world. If it turns out that this is the industry for you, and there is no chance you would ever get cold feet a few years down the line, then you're made for life.

When you're at the latter stage of your career, chances are you've built up an army of contacts to whom you can consult about changing companies. A former colleague of a former colleague may know of a former employer searching for someone just like you. You will have the expertise and years behind you in that industry to be hired in a heartbeat for a decent position. At this stage, there is less desire to switch career paths as, let's face it, what would be the point when retirement looms and you need to make as much money as possible to survive the rest of your life?

When you're 26 and still don't know what you want to do, having sampled a few job options, how are you meant to get another? If you want to change angles, how can this be done, when the path of linear progression is abandoned in favour of taking a chance on something off the beaten track? At 26, employers want you to have at least two years relevant experience in the same or very similar role, and career experimentation is frowned upon in our new culture of 'won't look at your CV if you don't tick all the boxes'.

What is to be done aside from fleeing to a tropical paradise and opening a beach bar for a simple life? Answers on a covering letter please!

Gimmie Gimmie More Singing, Britney

After the much-anticipated return of Britney Spears to the stage for her Circus tour, I was looking forward to her first London gig at the O2 Arena on June 03 2009, and had eagerly bought my ticket in preparation. When the night of the concert arrived, I took my seat and the show began, but what followed was quite jaw dropping; no live singing whatsoever, and she didn’t even treat the crowd to a hello until five songs in.

I’d heard from friends who had previously seen her ‘live’ that she rarely sings during her shows, but even they were shocked to find her most famous ballad – Everytime – which she did last time she sang at a gig at Wembley in April 2004, was cold-heartedly mimed. For this track she was sitting on a small, rectangular platform, hanging from the centre of the stage. There was no dancing involved, so she couldn’t have blamed her lack of vocals on having to concentrate on choreography, yet still mouthed the words to a flawless backing song.

I’m not denying that she’s talented – after all she put on a comeback show that was impactful, slick and showcased all her hits, including her first number one, Baby One More Time.

Considering her recent meltdown and the fact that this tour will last four months, I have to admire her for such resilience. It’s just the issue of her inability (or general stubbornness) to interact with the crowd. Perhaps she just doesn’t know how to ‘keep it real’ anymore, but I feel people will lose respect for her lack of rawness and warmth that have kept a lot of stars in the business afloat.

The likes of Bette Midler and Whitney Houston, who are real icons of strength, girl power and professionalism haven’t got where they are today from being cold towards their fans, nor from not singing a bum note or two. It’s their sincerity that people love. I can’t help but think there is an invisible glass wall between Britney and her fans; a barrier of superficiality that never goes away.

Her support act for her current tour, Ciara, gave a faultless, well rehearsed performance in which she sang all her songs, danced like a superstar and had the courtesy to speak to the audience throughout. Britney exclaimed: “What’s up London, I’m so happy to be here”, after half an hour of being on stage, and then muttered some other muffled, incomprehensible comment towards the end of the night.

I was starting to begrudge paying £50, just to see a public appearance (who knows if it was even her – from where I was sitting it could have even been a Britney stand-in), but I suppose it’s her aloofness that kept my attention. Let’s hope that this aloofness, however, doesn’t override her relationship with her fans or her title of Queen of Pop.

Snow bored

We're only ten days into the new year and it's already been filled with record breaking low temperatures, snow days which have turned into snow weeks, as well as the sudden mass exodus to the local supermarket to stock up on milk (of primary importance to ensure hot drinks can be made in order to avoid hyperthermia), bread and life's other necessities.

As exciting and rare as this weather is, not to mention easy on the eye, after four days of being indoors - Sky remote worn out from continous channel hopping and computer keyboard steaming from the amount of hours spent on Facebook - the novelty has well and truly warn off.

At first it's magical when you pull back your curtains to see a fine dosage of powdery, unspoilt wintery goodness, and the potential of making a whole snowfamily during your recently acquired time off from the office. 'Working from home' has never seemed so appealing, especially when you can go outside for a couple of hours and act like a big kid. However, when this is over, cabin fever sets in, the cold becomes unbearable and dressing up like a Michelin Man to pop out for supplies has never been so low down on your list of 'things to do in 2010'.

There are ways and means of riding out this tedious spell, without your mind going into overdrive and making you notice every little ache and pain you never knew you had. Before you've talked yourself into appendicitis and overanalysed all aspects of your life, it's time to book a holiday for some well-deserved winter sun.