Remember to remember

On this Remembrance Sunday evening I would like to remind people to remember to remember.....


I have often heard young and old people alike dismiss remembrance day as being irrelevant within modern society. I have heard people openly question why they should spend their day worrying about being who are already dead.


 In the past I have always put this down to people with poor morals and a lack of respect. However, having given this considerable thought today, I now think it is more about a lack of education and therefore understanding of what Armistice day is actually all about. 


For example,if certain individuals, like myself, are too young to remember the tragic events of WWI and WWII, and do not have a proper understanding of what the Royal British Legion is; the symbolic nature of the poppy and why Armistice day exists, then it is somewhat understandable if they don't quite see how it is relevant to us today. 


I am not here to give a history lesson on World War One, nor to lecture about respect for the dead, I am merely exploring how we can reiterate the importance of remembering the great heroes that fought to make us where we are today, and think that rather than writing people off as having no respect for the dead we should be questioning their apparent apathy.


After all, if these great men and women hadn't risked their lives then we would not be the country we are today and this blog would not exist (and if it did it would probably be in German!). Today, we have freedom beyond our ancestors wildest dreams-something which we very often take for granted. So, remembering the sacrifices that were made for us to be able to enjoy this freedom is not just respectful but also humbling. It helps us to keep our feet on the ground and our heads out of the clouds, and if just once a year in November people stop and look at their lives and reconsider what is really important, then I think Remembrance Day is definitely still relevant!




For more information about the Royal British Legion and how the money from the sale of your poppy helps visit: http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/remembrance

xxx

Cocktails and Pompoms!

Monday night was the Company magazine High Street Fashion Awards at Shoreditch House and as part of the Shoreditch Sisters I was lucky enough to be invited! The sisters were there to run a table making home made pompom head dresses and accessories for the upcoming party season, showcasing one of the crafts from the book 'Queen of Crafts' by Shoreditch Sister Founder and Company Columnist Jazz Domino Holly. 


We arrived early and set up our corner with Sisterhood badges at the ready. The wine was flowing and. judging by the nausea I felt at work the next day, I may have had one too many of the delicious free Pink Pigeon Pink Mojitos! 


As well as the Sisters entertainment came in the form of a bowling alley, DJ, Pete the amazing magician and of course the awards themselves. To find out the winners read this months Company magazine (December issue), I won't spoil it for you!


It was a great night and everyone had a lot of fun, and the lovely Company staff were brilliant hostesses! Looking forward to my next Sisterhood event which will be Clit Rock on the 20th- a feminist music event for charity-stay tuned.


Sisterly love as always xxx

Insomnia? I'll sleep on it!

I have had real trouble sleeping lately. It goes like this.....I can't get to sleep..... I worry about how late it is and how early I have to get up....The worrying makes it even harder to sleep....I lie awake wishing I could get to sleep....the more I lie there the more grouchy and irritable I get which in turn worsens the problem....I fall into a light sleep for a couple of hours max before my alarm goes off and spend the next day tired, grumpy and hoping I get a better nights sleep that night....which makes me so anxious to get to sleep that the pattern repeats itself!!


This is not a new experience for me. Throughout my life whenever I have had something on my mind I have struggled to sleep and been plagued by the seemingly endless cycle of sleepless nights. This time I am determined to break the cycle so I am trying out the thirty minute rule: If you lie awake for more than thirty minutes you get up and do something for thirty minutes before going back and trying to sleep. 


So this is part of my thirty minutes. I just cleaned the bathroom and tidied the front room to save me a job in the morning and now I am writing this and having a drink. Fingers crossed I will get a good nights sleep after this. But if not I'll be back and will probably take my nail varnish off and re-do it ready for the weekend! And if that fails I can always do a bit of knitting or read a book. 


Bon Nuit (I hope!)
xxx

Spooky Fun

I've got a wee bit over excited about Halloween this year and my flat as become the Halloween equivalent of Santa's grotto! There's skull tinsel, an inflatable pumpkin, blow up spider, skull, witches hats, cobwebs, blood hand prints, a cauldron, and body part sweets! It's pretty over the top but I love it. It has definitely cheered me up! 


Next on the to-do list is to make a halloween play list on the laptop and get some booze! Wooooooo!!!

Everyone better bloody turn up!!!

We’ve all heard the horror stories. For some, the mere thought of it is enough to send them into a panic attack. Others barricade themselves in their rooms for hours on end, willing it to go away. Some are driven insane by it. The mention of it can leave you cold......

I am of course talking about the dreaded seating plan. The bane of every bride-to-be’s life. Or so I thought.  Actually, I got it pretty much sorted on the first attempt! There have been a few minor alterations since after discussing it with my parents and then later in a lot more depth with the groom.  An hour of reshuffling and it was done. Off the hook!

I really don’t know why people stress so much about it, but maybe I am just lucky to have gotten off so lightly. I guess it was made simpler by the fact that it is mainly family only, and I have a relatively simple family to work around. The in-laws were a bit more tricky-there are LOADS of them, and lots that I still have yet to meet(!). So they made up the bulk of the re-jigs.

The few friends we have got coming to the wedding breakfast didn’t pose too much of a problem either.  Due to the small number of friends invited many don’t know each other and so are invited in couples and the singles all have at least one close friend to sit them with. There were the odd few old rivalries to consider and people to be kept at a distance but no major issues.

I am definitely bragging now and feeling rather smug about having done the table plan before I have even done the invitations......Everybody better bloody turn up because I’m not doing it again!!!!!

The bad times remind you to make the most of the good

One minute I was lying on the sofa under a duvet watching Jane Eyre,  trying to persuade my fiancé to make me a cup of tea whilst stuffing my face with M&M’s, and my biggest worry was  what to have for lunch the next day. Then WHAM. My world was turned upside down.

Sometimes life deals you bad card. Some unexpected and horrible news that makes you question everything that has ever gone before. Putting a brave face on is easy, just tune into to your inner actor and if you pretend for long enough you really will start to believe everything is fine. The challenge isn’t coping. The challenge is finding the silver lining and decoding the lesson you are meant to learn.

They say no good deed goes unpunished, and when bad thing happen to good people it can certainly feel that way. But if you focus on this then it is easy to wallow in self pity or spend so long cursing your bad luck that you forget to create your own good luck.

Life is what you make it, and sometimes the bad things are a way of reminding you to make the most of every second. Sure you might be looking forward to that big holiday next year, but don’t wish away the time leading up to it because you might miss out on something even better.

I won't go on but I'll finish by saying that my mum is the strongest woman I have ever met and I hope I can do her proud by being just as strong myself. <3

Parisian Sweets

Today's post is a bit of a plug for my good friend Jackariaeh's new clothing company. It is called Parisian Sweets and is currently operating from a Facebook page. However if he can get to 1000 'likes' on Facebook, he has promised to make a website-I personally think everyone should go out and 'like' that page right now because I love it!




In recent years the trend towards Vintage and 'retro' clothing has really taken off with kitsch area's like Shoreditch leading the way. This new genre of fashion is meaning that classic pieces from the past are making their way back into trend setting girl's wardrobes and giving would-be fashionistas an alternative to high-end fashion, often at a much more affordable price.




Parisian sweets is a small online boutique where I have personally found some absolute bargains (see the pictures for example of some o my favourites!!) When I asked Jack what he would like me to say Parisian Sweets he described it thus..... "vintage is a sanctuary for those who are in love with something different , i like to follow fashion but create my own interpretation , parisian sweet's offers an array of one off pieces sourced from lot's of different countries so you can create your own trends & not not become a walking clone"




Nicely put (and those of you that have met my other half will agree that I do indeed love something different ;)). So take a look, give it a 'like' and you never know, you mind find something you just have to have!



PEACE AND LOVE FOR TODAY PEOPLE XXXXX

 This gorgeous floral top was a Parisian Sweets purchase

And then there's this stunning number...and the blouse isn't too bad either

This top was also featured in the evening standard along with half of my face haha:  http://www.thisislondon.co

.uk/lifestyle/article-23983894-put-the-kettle-on-girlfriend-and-lets-get-down/

chasing that paper!

Who knew that paper shopping could be so much fun?!


This afternoon I bought the paper for my wedding invitations, as well as paper for some of the origami decorations. I also acquired a scalpel and metal ruler and some little cards to make the guest book.


I am sat on the sofa now surrounded by coloured paper trying to cut and fold hundreds of tiny paper squares for my origami flower decorations. I feel like a child doing cutting and sticking, and it's fun! :)


Last night we planned a rough budget and had a brainstorm about flowers so it is all starting to come together now. I also had a message from my mum last week to say that the second install of my dress payment has gone through which means it is all feeling very real now.


After going to the beautiful wedding of one of my old school friends on Saturday I am feeling very excited about it. Right now I am buzzing with ideas and keen to push on with the rest of the planning and organising. Next on the list is arranging a trip down to visit the venue to do a menu tasting and liaise with the photographer about the kind of shots we have in mind (the photographic shots not the alcoholic ones!!!)


xxx

DIY Wedding

I am still feeling under the weather after excessive partying at reading festival over the bank holiday. Luckily I have been on late shifts at work which has allowed me the luxury of long lie-ins. I have been using this lazing time productively and researching things for the wedding. 


I am very keen to have an element of individuality about our wedding which  am hoping to achieve through adding some home-made touches. As you know I am a keen crafter so it is not the 'how' that has been stumping me for ideas but the 'what'. I have seen so many variations, designs and ideas that I liked but until now nothing had struck that WOW chord with me. 


Today whilst browsing one of my favourite craft website Eat Drink Chic (http://www.eatdrinkchic.com) I found my perfect invitation design which is both cheap to produce and relatively easy (although time consuming!) to make. I also used the links section to source other similar websites that were more specifically aimed at weddings and from these have sourced even more creative ideas for my wedding.


My first project will be the invitations-I am currently pricing up the materials I need such as the paper, and then I can make the templates and get going. Other projects in the pipeline will be origami flowers for decorating the reception room and a quirky twist on the traditional guest book! I will let you know how they turn out!!


xxx 

Brains

A little while I go I had a brain scan as part of some medical research. I just had the pictures of the scan emailed to me and thought they were so cool that I had to share them. I am fascinated and can't stop staring at my own brain!! Here are the pics.....

Bollocks to poverty at Reading '11

I survived Reading Festival 2011!!! 


I am however, currently suffering from a case of Festival Flu. Symptoms include spotty skin, loss of voice, extreme fatigue, aching feet, dehydration, and vitamin deficiency!! Symptoms occur due to lack of healthy food, sleep deprivation, inhaling of camp fire smoke, shouting BOLLOCKS at the top of your voice, and all water consumption being replaced with alcoholic beverages....!


I had a brilliant time but i cant say I was sorry to leave. After 5 nights sleeping on a floor in a field my bed was luxury indeed! And having unlimited water and electricity has never been so appreciated! Now I am trying to get the washing up straight and recover before going back to the reality of working life tomorrow! And uploading the photos of course!
xxx

READING, READING FESTIVAAAAAAL

It's that time of year once again.....READING FESTIVAL TIME!!! 


I think I am all packed and ready-at least I certainly hope so as I am leaving my house in 3 hours! I definitely have all the essentials: sleeping bag, tent, toilet roll, clothes, wellies... and lots more besides so I'm not too worried. Plus anything I have forgotten i am sure I can beg, steal or borrow, or buy on site. 


I am very excited now and hope the weather brightens up for the weekend!  This year, unlike previous years, I do not have a ticket. That is because this year I will be working there. I am volunteering for ActionAid and in return get my entry and meals. I also get to camp in the staff area with the luxury of toilets and hot showers-very posh indeed. 


I am most looking forward to Saturday night to see Pulp and The Strokes. So hopefully I won't be on shift then, otherwise I will have to do some begging and swap!


SO EXCITED!!!
xxx

Don't Call Me Baby

This month’s Shoreditch Sisters W.I. meeting was a follow on from June’s Anti-Street Harassment meeting. Unfortunately I was not able to attend the June meeting but I had read up on all the information that was discussed. The topic struck a particular chord with me, and whilst I was not brave enough to voice my experiences or opinions during the meeting, it did get me thinking.

Street harassment is often a subject that is taken very lightly, and in many cases dismissed as the norm but this should not be the case. It is a taboo subject which covers a broad variety of harassment situations not limited to physical or violent assault.

Wolf-whistling, comments in the street are all tantamount to harassment if the individual the comments are directed at is left feeling victimised. Comments from men passing by in their cars to women walking down the street that are supposedly complimentary can leave the woman feeling uncomfortable and lacking in self-esteem and should not be tolerated in society. Whilst these examples are seemingly harmless, they lead to a relaxed attitude towards street harassment which in turn makes women vulnerable to more serious attacks, including violent or sexual.

I was glad that as a group we could openly discuss this issue and hopefully by raising awareness the message will be spread that society should not just accept street harassment.

And, hopefully our anti-harassment banners will inspire other women to join the campaign

With great power, comes great responsibility...

That title has nothing whatsoever to do with anything I am going to write....but it catches the attention of those who are on my wavelength :-p






Today I have had a day of realisations.


The first is that although something didn't turn out the way I had hoped or planned it doesn't mean it was a disaster or a waste of my time. Every experience is a learning curve. Every learning curve creates a new adventure. And that is what life is- An adventure....and when did you hear of an adventure story than ran smoothly without a hiccup? 


The second is that being positive in negative situations really does make you feel better. That expression fake it 'til you make it really can work if you put in enough effort. Pretend to not care and eventually you won't. Pretend to smile and after a while you really will be smiling without having to try.


The third is that it is ok to be wrong sometimes and it is ok to make mistakes. Which is just as well because i think I have made a big mistake....its not too late to do something about it though and I shouldn't feel silly for at least trying.


The fourth is that when you find someone that loves you for who you are-mistakes, negativity, hiccups, failures, warts and all-that person is very special, and if sometimes you disagree....well maybe just agree to disagree because life is too short to argue. If someone really loves you for who you are and you love them back...make sure they know just how bloody much you do!


xxx

Home made scones and the count down to Reading!

It has been lovely to have a relaxing day today. I have spent the day reading, watching girlie films, baking scones, drinking tea and generally having a lovely off. No make up, hair on top of my head, pjs and glasses on. 


Tomorrow unfortunately won't be so relaxing, as the week begins again but I have Wednesday to look forward to when I will be off to Reading Festival! Hurray! 


I am not going as a party-goer this year though. I will be volunteering for ActionAid this year, spreading the Bollocks to Poverty message once again! Obviously it won't be all work and no play. In fact it will be a lot more play than work! 


Best get packing!!!xxxx

Money isn't everything...but it helps!

I HAVE A NEW JOB!!!!!!


I have been looking for one for a while, had an interview on Friday, a trial today, and I got the job! Hurray! I start tomorrow :) 


It is quite a pay drop from my current job but I feel that it is worth it. I hate my current job and dread going. I decided that whilst the money was really good, I was miserable and something needed to change. I would much rather earn less, or work more hours to make up the difference, rather than spend my days feeling sorry for myself. I am very excited to start as I really enjoyed my trial day today! 


Relaxing in front of some rather bad telly now before getting a good night sleep and getting stuck into my first proper day in the new job tomorrow! Hurray! Here's hoping it goes well!!


xxx

Design-a Vagina?!

Tonight I have spent the evening embroidering my vagina...... 

Yes you read that correctly.....I have been making a 'vagina patch' for the Embroideries campaign to create awareness, ad stop the practice of FGM (female Genital Mutilation). FGM is a common practice in many Afrian and Asian countries for cultural or religious reasons. The practice which is sometimes known as Female Genital Cutting involves the removal of the outer female genitals including the clitoris and labia.

 This brutal procedure can cause long term complications for the women including pain, difficulty with menstruation, infections and problems giving birth. In some cases it can even result in death through excessive bleeding or shock. This complete violation of women's rights is often carried out by the girl's own mother for fear her daughter will be socially rejected and ruin her chances of marriage. 

The embroideries campaign was started by Tara Scott and aims to raise awareness of this taboo subject. The patches are being embroidered with vaginas from the abstract to the accurate and will be joined together in the coming weeks to create a quilt that will be on display in the window of Coco de Mer to help raise awareness. For more information see the facebook page http://www.facebook.com/groups/259459107465/ or visit the website: http://embroideriescampaign.org.uk/Embroideries_About.htm.

xxx 

I'm a real grown up now...ish

It has now been a whole week since the end of Godspell and thus the end of my time as a student. After four years within the safety of university I am finally a 'grown up'. Apparently. The final show was emotional to say the least with almost the whole cast in tears by the end. The say you save the best 'til last, and the shows definitely got better as they went on.


After the show there were tears and champagne and then onto the pub and the park for more drinks and celebrations. All in all a fantastic day! Monday was a chill out day to rest and recoup after the show before joining the 'real world' of work on Tuesday. 


I don't think it has quite sunk in yet that I have left forever, I feel more like it is the summer holidays and everything will go back to normal in September. That is when I think the real feeling of having left uni will finally sink in! For now it is an endless stream of working Harrods to earn enough to pay the rent whilst auditioning for performing jobs. I have had two auditions so far. One I didn't get, the other I have yet to hear from, but the experiences have been great fun and a definite learning curve, and I look forward to future auditions. With a bit of luck (plus some hard work, confidence and a never-give-up attitude) one of them will be right for me, and I right for them and all the years of hard training will be worth it. 


Fingers crossed x

Feminine feminism

Feminism.

This is a topic that has featured heavily in the news recently with events such as Slutwalk taking place. It is also something that has been on my mind a lot ever since reading 'Living dolls' (see my review in my previous post). It has also become somewhat of a dirty word amongst our generation with many young women taking little or no interest in current feminist activity and movements claiming that 'feminism is over' and exclaiming that women already have equality so 'the feminists' should shut up now. This viewpoint saddens me somewhat and I am keen to do some more research (when time permits!) into how this anti-feminist opinion has arisen within bright young women.


Today I saw a link to an article on Facebook that prompt some more thought on this matter. Apparently today (24th June) is 'World Femininity Day', an interesting title as I am sure you will agree. When I saw this link I had to read more and slightly appalled by what I read. Visit the homepage of this 'day' here: http://www.worldfemininityday.com/index.html. 

The organisers state that World Femininity Day is; 'To acknowledge and celebrate femininity by women, for women, for humanity. We believe it is vitally important as women to be encouraged to feel powerful through our femininity as opposed to matching or competing with masculine ways of being to achieve power in our lives whether that be socially, in relationships, family or career'.


They claim to be 'saying NO to the exploitation of women and children' and are raising awareness of this by asking women to wear a flower in their hair. Interesting tactics.


My feelings on this day are expressed far more articulately by blogger Jess Mccabe. I thouroughly reccommend reading her blog entry which can be found here: http://www.thefword.org.uk/blog/2011/06/world_femininity_day_ugh


Jess quite rightly reminds readers that ' it's important to stay critical about what is considered feminine and masculine in our particular time and place '.


All of this is food for thought about what constitutes femininity in todays society. When I have slightly more time this is definitely something I will be talking more about.

*Showtime!*

The show went so well last night, I really enjoyed it! Sods law that it didn't go as well on Monday when I had people watching! Typical! But it is an amazing feeling when you are on stage and everything goes well and there's a good audience! It makes all the hard work and long rehearsals worth while. 


I am really looking forward to the show tonight and the rest of the week. I am hoping that it goes as well as it did last night on Saturday when my parents are coming to watch! Fingers crossed! For now, I am relaxing with a hot drink in front of the TV (cheeky bit of Jeremy Kyle on!) before heading to the gym and then getting some chores done before its time to head to the theatre! I am really enjoying having the days to myself and I am making the most of it while I can.


In other news, its Glastonbury Festival time starting today and most of my friends as well as my boyfriend are going. I can't deny that I am very very jealous! Glastonbury 2010 was one of the best experiences of my life and I would love to be going there again this year-especially as it is not on next they have  break every few years to let the farm recover). I Hope they all have a brilliant time though (secretly praying for rain :-p) and I will definitely be getting myself a ticket for 2013!


xxx

The end is nigh...

It is day two of my last week of being a student and I've got the fear! After four years of being a student over the last few weeks I have been eagerly counting down to this week but now that its here I am filled with dread! Sunday is the last performance of Godspell, our end of year musical, and I am anticipating it in much the same way as I suspect Anne Boleyn did the guillotine! 


The 'real world' as it is known by us studenty types is a scary place to venture out into when you have been comfortably within the confines of structures education establishments for almost the entirety of your life. University is safe. You get the freedom of moving away from home with the comfort of a student loan to aid you financially and a ready made friendship group within your college. You also get staff on hand to guide and advise and peer group going through the same struggles as you, on hand with  shoulder to cry on. Compared to this safety blanket of education, leaving college and getting a 'real job' is a terrifying prospect.


I am however looking forward to actually having an income. Student loans don't go very far in London with high rent prices, travel cards, and a generally higher cost of living. hopefully I will soon be earning enough money to a) survive, b) save, and c) have some extra cash for actually having a social life of some description.
This would be ideal as whilst I can survive and socialise on my current budget there is no margin for saving towards my impending wedding!! 


The other big worry is 'What if I never see anyone again?' But after some consideration, there are a limited number of people that I would actively make an effort to keep in touch with myself. I guess this is another one of those points in your life when you realise who is truly a friend and who was just a passing acquaintance. It happened at the end of school, it happened when I moved away from Plymouth, and I am sure it will happen again now. However, real true friends will always be there no matter how little you see each other, and those are the friendships that really count. So it is a very silly worry to have!


The dread is accompanied by excitement, and you never know what life is going to throw at you next so you might as well just go with it and enjoy it while you can. So here is to my last week of student life! I will be making the most of it!

Living Dolls

Here is a review I recently wrote about the book Living Dolls by Natasha Walters;

Natasha Walter’s book Living Dolls-the return of sexism, talks about the return of sexism to society and the use of gender stereotyping to enforce and often explain this sexism. The book is divided into two sections; The New Sexism and The New Determinism.

I found the first section to be a wholly compelling read, one that I could not put down and which had me nodding my head in agreement on every page. Walter’s sentiments during this first half of the book very often echo the opinions of fellow writer and Feminist, Levy, author of Female Chauvinist Pigs. Both agree that the current ‘raunch culture’ which appears to be engulfing all aspects of popular culture, from pop music to advertising, is casting women as little more than sexual objects. Young boys are growing up with little or no respect for women-viewing them merely as flesh to be admired for their own pleasure and judging women on their appearances and figures rather than their intellect and personalities. Walter’s notes that this hyper sexualising of women in society is often dismissed as a free choice or passed over as empowering and part of women’s liberation. Walter’s question’s this and urges us to consider whether or not this so called empowering behaviour might actually be degrading. We are also encouraged to ask how free these ‘free choices’ actually are, especially when the people making these choice are often ill-informed about the consequences of their decisions.

It was in the second section of the book the argument became less convincing. Where the first half of the book was thought-provoking, the second was weak with the writing often becoming repetitive with what some might consider to be a too-strong focus on stereotypes. Whilst I wholeheartedly agree that men and women should not be caged into gender specific boxes, at times I felt that Walter’s was overly dismissive of those whose interests naturally fell within the confines of gender stereotyping and did not consider that their could be any freedom of choice in this but that it must have been pressed onto people from childhood. Personally, my hobbies include sewing, knitting and baking-tasks traditionally considered feminine. These hobbies were never imposed on me by anyone but were things that I found a passion for in my early twenties. I felt that at times Walter implied that by enjoying these things I am less entitled to call myself a feminist or that I was buying into what society expected of me. This is completely in contrast to my personal experience. I have found that in general other people (men and women) have found it strange that I am interested in these things rather than expecting me to be because I am female. I am therefore inclined to disagree with not all, but many of the points made in this section of the book.

The book concludes by both marking and celebrating changes currently being made in society to close the gender gap. This section was the perfect ending to a thought provoking book which left me feeling good about all that women have achieved so far and optimistic for the future,. I hope that our generation and the next will not sit back complacently and take for granted all that feminists have achieved, but strive ever onwards in the quest for equality, not just here in the UK but also in developing countries where the women are not as fortunate as us.

Living Dolls certainly gave me food for thought and it is definitely worth a read for anyone on either side of the equality/stereotype debate.

I'm living for the weekend....

It's only Wednesday but already I've got that Friday feeling...


I'm so excited for the weekend already! It's my boyfriend's(yes we are engaged but I've taken a dislike to 'fiance') birthday next week so we are celebrating it this weekend. His brother, a few friends and one of my friends are coming up to London to stay with us for the weekend. On Saturday the lads are going to Twickenham to watch the rugby 7's (beach theme fancy dress-the photos should be comical!!). I was originally going to go but at £25 a ticket I decided to let them have a lads day whilst my friend and I go off for a girlie day-time and money well spent rather than wasted watching a sport I have only a minimal interest in.


The plan is to go shopping in the morning, stop somewhere for a nice lunch, and then a spa trip in the afternoon including a fish pedicure, massage and full use of the spa (take me to the sauna!!!!). I'm pretty excited for the fish pedi. I first saw it being done whilst on holiday in Singapore and have wanted to do it ever since but never gotten around to it. I'm a bit nervous because I have such tickley feet but it will certainly be an experience, and after another hectic week some time spent relaxing is just what the doctor ordered.


Then in the evening after a few drinks at home, we will be getting our gladrags on and heading out for food and drinks at a club in Picadilly Circus. I cannot wait, I love any excuse to get dressed up and it should be a proper weekend of fun. 


Happy wednesday people xx

Waiting for the beat to kick in....

Sometimes the only thing to do is smile! When you're in a really good mood and then the incompetence of others (read 'absolute idiots'!) makes you want to scream and punch things it's a real shame. Especially when this is a daily occurrence as it has been this week. 


Today I was in a brilliant mood after a very enjoyable yoga class and felt like nothing could bring me down. Then     I was faced with a situation that made me want to go back to bed and start the day all over again. After a frustrating day yesterday which left me exasperated beyond belief I decided that today nothing and no one was going to bring me down. So I dug out my inner actress and plastered the biggest smile ever on my face and pretended to be in the best mood ever. 


The funny this is, after 20 minutes of pretending to be really happy I actually felt even happier than I had in the first place. Proof  that it is really that simple to be in a good mood. I smiled so much to convince others that I was having a really good time that eventually I managed to even to convince myself.


So I'd like to finish by quoting Dan le sac vs Scroobius Pip;


'But the question I pose now will offer you a plan B, and maybe some peace and quiet for your friends and family, how hard is it to decide to be in a good mood, and then just be in a good mood?'

bloggers in boots

I entered a blogging competition this week, and for it I had to write about my most memorable festival experience...here's what I wrote:


Back in 2008 Reading was my first ever festival. Dragged along by friends I was expecting to hate it....no showers, make-shift toilets and sleeping on the floor....but i love it and have been going to festivals ever since including Freeze festival, Bestival and Glastonbury!

My most memorable festival moment so far has to be the Libertines reunion at Reading 2010. Having been a huge fan of the Libertines for many years one of my biggest regrets was never having seen them play live as a four piece. After they split I'd seen Pete and Carl play numerous solo slots and supported their new bands Babyshambles (pete), Dirty Pretty Things (carl) and The Invasion of (gary) at gigs across the country. Whilst they played all some classic libertines songs as part of their sets it just wasn't the same.

I'd already bought my ticket when the line-up was announced and actually screamed and cried when I saw them on the bill for Saturday! I was ecstatic! 

Seeing them up their on the stage was an experience I couldn't have imagined in my wildest dreams. \the atmosphere was incredible with thousands of fans singing every word. They played all the big hits and some of my lesser known favourites. The sheer chemistry between pete and carl was electric, and you could see that after all ups and downs they are still a great team. They bounced off one another, thrilling the crowd by singing into the same microphone and recreating the iconic poses from their album sleeves. Even the sound glitch and overcrowding problems couldn't bring me down after finally getting to see my all-time favourite band live on stage at Reading Festival, in what was one of the best moments of my life!

Spiritually speaking....

For years people have been encouraging me to do yoga and for years I said no. All that look through your third eye and learn to breathe stuff left me sceptical (I already breathe in and out countless times a day instructively in order to stay alive, i don't need to pay for a class to teach me that thank you very much!). But time and time again it was recommended to me as a brilliant form of exercise and relaxation. I'm  a stressy person by nature and rarely find the time to really relax so in theory a class that counted as both a work out and a way to relax should tick two boxes yes? Well i didn't think so- with no obvious cardio involved i didn't see how yoga could really be classed as exercise and having to actually go to a class didn't seem very relaxing to me. I was unconvinced.


Then, a few weeks ago the Shoreditch Sisters W.I. meeting that I attend each month had a yoga night. Keen for a catch up with friends and never wanting to miss out on activities at meetings I gave it a go....and now I'm hooked! 


Since my first yoga class that night I have joined a Bikram Yoga class and have been going every other day. Bikram is not the traditional form of yoga that I tried with the W.I. girls but is performed in a room heated to 40 degree centigrade in order to maximise sweating creating a detox effect. It also helps your flexibility to improve faster as your muscles respond more quickly when warm. 


I am really enjoying the classes and for the first time in my life I realise what it means to be truly relaxed. All the times I thought I had been relaxed before, the thoughts were still rushing through my head. Of course its human nature to think and we cant ever truly clear our minds of all thoughts but we can take those thoughts, acknowledge them and then file them away for later rather than following their progression. This is something I could never do before and since learning how to do this I find I can sleep so much better.


In addition to this I feel more flexible, and my skin feels so much better even after the few classes that I have been to. It is definitely something that I intend to keep up and have already recommended to mum!

busy busy

Today I have sent over 150 emails to agents complete with cv, photo and cover letter. I have put my determined head on this week and really set about being pro-active. If i do not hear anything positive back I will be very disappointed because I have put a huge amount of time and effort into it. 


Life has been rather hectic recently with rehearsals. I am looking forward to it all being done so that I can finally have a rest and get back to writing this blog and having a tidy home and a social life! For now though this has to come first, and with less than two weeks left to go until the performances the end is in sight.


The play is Playhouse Creatures by April de Angelis and we perform next friday and saturday. I play Mrs Rebecca Marshall-a character I absolutely adore and will be sad to see the back of.


For now though its all go go go!!


xxx

A brief note of the delights of catch-ups!

Sometimes the most delightful evenings are the simplest! 


Tonight I had a lovely (and long overdue!) catch up with some of my college friends who I do not get to see as often as I would like to. We all lead such hectic lives that it can be difficult to arrange a time to get together! 
Tonight we gathered for food, drinks and some delicious scones baked by my friends flatmate.


We chatted about our lives and love lives, work, other friends and had a general catch up. Simple, inexpensive and pretty much perfect! I had a really good time and realised that you don't have to go out and spend a lot of money to have fun. I also realised that I definitely need to make more time to fit in nights like this!


Same again soon please people! xxx

WARNING! I just jumped out of a perfectly good plane!!

Jumping out of a perfectly good aeroplane to raise money for charity is definitely one of the most exhilarating experiences I have ever had! And it's up there with my 21st birthday and getting engaged as one of the best moments of my life so far!


On Saturday, along with a very brave fellow skydiver, I got the train up to Hinton-in-the-Hedges-a tiny village near Brackley in Oxfordshire. After a lovely meal in the local pub (where we worryingly got talking to the pilot who would be flying our plane the next day!!) we stayed in a gorgeous B&B and had a fairly restless nights sleep worrying about the next day! 


6am saw us up and getting ready and at 8am we arrived at the airfield! There were lots of safety forms to fill out and a training session. I tried to listen really carefully to the training but I was so scared that I wasn't really taking much of it in.


After a gruelling two hour wait in which I watched other brave groups go up in the planes and glide back down it was our turn to go! We got kitted up and made our way over to meet our instructors who would be jumping with us.


Going up in the plane was probably the most terrifying thing. All I could think about was how far away the ground was and that once I was up, the only way back down was out of the plane!


The last thing I heard before it was my turn was my friend screaming as she went, which took me from scared to absolutely petrified! Going out of the plane door is all a bit of a blur now, I don't actually remember it happening! Then suddenly I was out and falling through the air at an initial speed of 200mph, slowly to a mere(!) 128mph as I fell at the speed of gravity! 


I really cannot explain what freefall felt like. It was like nothing I have ever experienced in my life. You know those dreams you have of falling...nothing like it! It was more like being thrown around in a tumble drier. I screamed the most when the parachute was released and we slowed down with a jolt-a bit like when you have to do an emergency stop in a car! 


Gliding down to earth with the parachute was beautiful, and has made me want to give paragliding a go! It was a clear day so I could see for miles around and everything looked like a toy town. Although we were still falling quite fast it felt like I was suspended in the air and could really fly.


After landing I was completely shell-shocked that I had done it. I would definitely do it again and would recommend everyone give it a go! And the best bit was that I managed to raise over £500 for ActionAid by doing it. So it was a massive achievement for me-both personally to overcome that fear, and to be able to help a fantastic charity that do such brilliant work all over the world.xxx

Paddy and George!

Saint Patrick's Day. The day the Irish celebrate their Patron Saint. And the day the English jump on the bandwagon and get rip-roaringly drunk in the honour of Paddy!

How ironic is it that most people don't even know when Saint George's day is, and a some don't even know that he's the Patron Saint of England. Most people do nothing at all to mark the occasion, but people were out in their hundreds last night downing guiness to celebrate! Everyone was dressed in green and donning oversized top-hats in irish colours!

Don't get me wrong- I love any excuse for a celebrations had I not been religiously (pardon the pun!) sticking to my decision to give up alcohol for lent this yar, I would definitely have been mopre than a bit inebriated myself!

I just think that maybe this year we should give poor Georgoe a look in too? After all its another excuse to get hammered on a week night? I suggest everyone don red and white and grab a stuffed dragon (george slayed the dragon according to the legend...)  and head out on the 23rd April in style!

Visit  http://www.stgeorgesday.com/home for more info on saint george and his day!

xxx

So i guess what I'm reallly saying is....that I don't know what I'm really saying...

My thought of the day is a bit sombre. It's that sometimes you can be surrounded by so many people, and yet still feel like the loneliest person in the world.

Although I have plenty of friends, I sometimes feel like very few people really know me-my own fault entirely. But when I feel like this, I miss the people who really do know me best. I guess what I am saying is that I feel homesick this week. Today is the birthday of one of my closest friends, a girl I have known since I was tiny, and I feel quite sad that I'm not there to celebrate with her!

I was also looking forward to another close friend visiting in a couple weeks, but she has now sadly had to cancel through unavoidable circumstances. I compeltely understand but I'm disappointed nonetheless.

It has also been one of those weeks that really test you-with so much to do and learn in preparation for our show next week I have been stressy at best! I have found myself snapping at my fiance and my mum down the phone when really all I want is a great big cuddle!

I guess what I'm ACTUALLY saying is that sometimes you just need a hug! And that's definitely how I'm feeling right now! Ranting over and done with, I'm going to plaster on a smile and get on with it. Because like they say, if you act like you're happy, everntually it will rub off and you won't be able to help but smile naturally!!

So please people, smile, lend a hand, share the love, and give us a hug!!! xxx

Happy Pancake Day!!

It's Pancake Day! Hurray!!


 (It's also my sister's birthday AND international women's day! Celebrations all round!) 


I LOVE pancake day, mainly because I love pancakes! They are so simple but taste so so good. Especially with lemon, sugar, and chocolate chips mmmm, my favourite!


Shrove Tuesday is the last day before the beginning of lent in the Christian calendar, and pancakes were made to use up all the goodies left in the cupboards before the period of restraint to follow! This year for lent I am going to attempt to give up alcohol!


 My reasoning behind this is that it will save me a lot of money and my liver will be my new best friend! There is also the cheeky added perk that if (when!) I do start drinking again I will have a much lower tolerance level (i.e. I will be a complete light-weight!) and therefore nights out will be a much cheaper experience! 


I do feel like I should get drunk tonight whilst I eat my pancakes to use up all the alcohol left in my house to take away some of the temptation....maybe just one glass of wine?


It's going to be tough with so many excuses to crack open the wine coming up-friends birthdays, St. Patrick's day, the night before my skydive... Some willpower is required! Wish me luck! 


And I wish you all a very happy and sunny Shrove Tuesday! Enjoy your pancakes!! xxx

Where does all the money go?

Money isn't everything, and the best things in life (love, happiness, family, friends) really are free. But having money certainly helps! Especially if you live in London. I am currently attempting to save up for my wedding and honeymoon next May-Weddings are expensive!!! But saving is hard, particularly when you are on a tight budget to begin with. 


As a student in London, my student loan just about covers rent and bills. Fine. But you have to eat and have a life too and where does the money for that come from? I work part time a few weekends a month to fund my love of food and my lifestyle, but if I want to save I'm really going to have to watch where my money goes. It's easy to lose track-a coffee here, a sandwich there. A night out, a few drinks, a taxi....it soon adds up.


So the plan is:


-Use my flask-save money on weekly coffees and teas from Costa and take my own with me. Not really a hardship and much cheaper! 
-Give up alcohol-just for March. I might allow myself a cheeky glass of wine once or twice, but no big nights out or going 'for a few' after college! 
-No clothes shopping until the summer-I have enough clothes for now, and so I'll have to just 'Make do and mend' the old-fashioned (and fun!) way.
-Pack my own lunch-adding £10 to the weekly food shop and making our own lunch will save us over £25 a week
-Give up my first class habit-I have to travel to Devon once a month to attend church to be able to have my wedding there and it's all too tempting to pay extra for the luxury of going first class but the savings are huge by going standard!
-Talk less, text more-the main reason my phone bill is so high every month is I spend far too much time chatting away on my mobile and use up all my minutes. I get unlimited texts so I'll have to start talking less and texting more to save the pennies!


Fingers crossed, with a bit more working and a bit less partying it should all come together and there should be some serious saving going on...like I said...Fingers crossed! xxx

It's the littlest things...

Ten little things that make life that little bit better....


1. Laughing so hard that your stomach hurts and you can hardly breathe


2. Sunshine!!


3. A big hug after a long day


4. The delicious smell of home-cooked food


5. Hearing a song that reminds you of good times and makes you smile


6. Spending quality time with the people that you love


7. Catching up with old friend (and making new ones!)


8. Flowers-in a garden, in a vase, wherever! 


9. Helping someone else, without thinking about what you can get out of it


10. Making a difference, no matter how small


and just for luck...


11. Smiling, just because... :) 

You've got a friend!

As I've gotten older, I have found that the best friends I have aren't necessarily the ones that I see the most often. In fact, some of my best friends are the ones that live miles away. I may not see them as often as I would like to but that doesn't mean we are any less close.


When you are at school, the friends that you sit by in class and see every lunchtime are the ones that you become close to, and if you change classes it is easy to drift apart. The true measure of friendship is not the amount of time you spend with some one-you can see somebody all day long at university or work and they can become merely an acquaintance-someone to talk to when there's no one else. 


As with most things it is quality not quantity that counts. True friends, you may not see for months at a time, but you know that when you finally do meet, everything will be as it was before. There won't be any awkward silences or moments when no one knows what to say, everything clicks into place and it is as if no time had gone past since you were last together. 


These are the friendships that will last a life time and the ones that are really worth hanging onto. The friends that will be there for you no matter what and who are always at the end of the phone, even if they are no longer at the end of your street! 


So thank you to my friends, you know who you are. You mean the world!! xxx

Love - 'A wildly misunderstood although highly desirable malfunction of the heart' (Anon)

Valentine’s is behind us for another year (thank goodness!!) but this year it got me thinking.

I personally do not participate in Valentine’s Day. I made a decision not to when I was younger and have always stuck to it whether single or in a relationship. I decided that it was nothing more than a Hallmark celebration to fill the hole left by Christmas and to generate revenue for card and gift companies. Restaurants and hotels charge extra for their usual services and the cost of flowers goes through the roof.  To be blunt, if you need a designated day to show someone you love, them then maybe not everything is as rosy as it seems?

I would prefer to mark other occasions such as the anniversary of your first date or something more personal. But that’s just me, and I understand that for other people Valentine’s is a big deal.

I do admit to tiny pangs of jealousy when I see pictures of friends beautiful flowers and hear about romantic weekends away, who wouldn’t? And it certainly made me reconsider the romance within my own relationship.

Every couple goes through that ‘honeymoon period’ when you have just got together and you are on your best behaviour. Each one of you is trying to impress and you can’t get enough of each other. Passion is high and everything is exciting and new.

After a while the first flushes of love (or more like lust!!) die down and you learn about the other person for who they truly are, and this is what really makes a relationship. When you can completely be yourself and you’re not afraid of your other half seeing you with your pyjamas on, no make-up, a bloated belly full of choccies, and legs that are in dire need of a shave....!!

Now that we have lived together for a while we are well and truly into the comfort zone. When we were long distance, Friday night was pre-weekend prep night: hair wash, long soak in the bath with a face mask, shave legs, moisturise, paint nails...Now, it’s more likely to be slobbing out in front of the TV with my hair in the kind of scrunchie you wore in year five at school and Tinkerbell PJs!

I also used to leave little notes of affection around the house if it was my turn to visit or post one if it he’d been up to me. It is the little things that show you care, not extravagant displays of affection.  I realise I haven’t made as much effort as I used to recently, and its these little things that you have to work at as time goes by. 

Valentine’s Day may be just a Hallmark holiday, but this year, its had one good purpose...to remind me what a good thing I've got. xxx