Marshall Mathers – why did you leave us? Why did you succumb to falling from such height at such a rate, then decide to take your merry time in returning to us? There was no warning, you exploded onto the scene with the Slim Shady LP, shocking in every way and not least due to the lyrical ability. The Marshall Mathers LP, the difficult second album? You made it look easy. Brutality with wit, insidiously insightful and viciously articulate, you captured a generation and shook us to the edge of death with a thought process demonstrating there was method to the madness. A Shakespeare on speed.

The Eminem Show, from slums to center stage you took off the mask and gave us a peek at what it was like to be the biggest rapper on the planet. I’ll discuss the legendary trilogy at a later date, keep that ego in check for a second – tell me what happened next? Don’t look away, stop fiddling and don’t mumble. Had trouble sleeping did we? As far as problems go, you’ve suffered worse previously, haven’t you? Don’t shrug, aren’t those the same shoulders that held up so much but wouldn’t budge? You’re a soldier remember…

» Read more: Eminem on Road to Recovery?

A few months back, while avoiding revision, I sat back in my PC chair and looked forward to leaving education behind – the future looked so bright and I felt a sense of excitement yet nervousness at the overload of fun I was about to encounter. With a full time job waiting for me and a girlfriend who was patiently waiting for claws of exam period to release me – I was on the verge of freedom, the home straight to the adult live I had heard so much about and anxiously awaited.

Yet here I am, back in education, studying for another year, with my girlfriend 100 miles away and my next source of income even further. A concept was once explained to me: You can travel a journey further than the eye can see as you only need to be able to see what’s directly in front of you in order to proceed. The idea that you don’t have a clear path in sight, and all that’s important is you handling the current step, encouraged me, and at a time when my financial situation couldn’t be worse, I borrowed more and signed up to study for my MSC in Web Technology here at Southampton University.

» Read more: Where was my invite?

I’ve got a problem in the bedroom that I’d like to share with you. For years I have tried to find the right position, have tried all sorts of props and even resorted to using the living room sofa. I’ve talked things through with my girlfriend and together we’ve sometimes managed it, but alone? Never – I simply can’t sleep in any other position than with face down and my body positioned at the edge of the bed.

At  various stages of my life I have given a good attempt to sleeping face up. I’ve tried counting sheep, yet after the first few hundred, I can’t help but wonder where these sheep are coming from and where they are going, I can’t help but think they could be put to better use. I’m also convinced certain sheep are having more than one go at jumping the fence, I can’t tell them apart and it frustrates me. I’m not even convinced that sheep can jump, yet I am certain they can bite – I’m yet to get feeling back in my left hand.

So what other methods are there to assist in the process of falling asleep and what were the results?

» Read more: Tired of an old position

We all know where we were and what we were doing when Usain Bolt once again smashed the 100m men’s world record. I was in London, probably raiding the kitchen in an attempt to find out where my little brother hides his bourbon biscuits (they are 40p a pack, no need for the greed). But the event got me thinking, at time of writing, I am the fastest person I know – and that is only in part to not knowing many people. Yet it makes me the fastest person in my world, which is hardly an achievement for my CV but it’s got me excited, can a 21 year old suddenly decide to take on the world and have a chance of succeeding?

» Read more: I’m Going For Gold in 2012