Song of the Day: Desire (Come And Get It) by Gene Loves Jezebel

I heard a remix of this song in a movie the other day and wanted to pass it on as it's a real favourite of mine.
Enjoy,

Recommended Reads

Another Wednesday means it's time for our recommended reads! This week is brought to you by overly romantic puppies as pictured to the right of this text.

Here are my recommendations for the week:

• How to conserve your iPad battery (satire)
• Ever wanted to see what it'd be like if superheroes texted each other? Click right here to see it.
• Imagine if Google Street Scene captured scenes from movies? This Tumblr has imagined that and brought it to you
• What's this? YouTube is having a GEEK WEEK? Click here for the promo vid.

Thoughts on The Red Wedding

I'm still coping with the Red Wedding Game of Thrones episode and Catelyn's powerful speech.
Am I the only one who wants to say “On my honour as a Tully, on my honour as a Stark" as an intensifier to begin my sentences?Like “On my honour as a Tully, on my honour as a Stark I swear if you don’t give me correct change I will return in the dead of night and burn you corner shop to the ground."

Song of the Day: Heart of Oak (live) by Carice Van Houten

Another chill out song from the wonderful Carice Van Houten

Dreams?

Hi readers.

For a new project I'll be working on soon I need to read lots of fiction surrounding the theme of dreams. If you know any good books that feature or focus on dreams and the "power" of dreams please let me know by leaving a comment on this post or tweet me and let me know your recommendations. It'd really be a great help to me and I'd really love to hear what fiction in the genre you have enjoyed.

If you are a writer, or know someone who is, don't hesitate to link me to any of your work too as I love to connect with new/aspiring writers.

Thank you, lovelies, dream on.

Song of the Day: The Next Day by David Bowie

Nothing beats a bit of Bowie.
Enjoy,

Song of the Day: Still I Rise by Carice Van Houten

As if I needed another reason to love and be thankful for Carice Van Houten... I came across this, a song based on a Maya Angelou poem, and it is utterly fantastic even for a live version and I therefore had to share it with you.
Enjoy,

How to name a baby

This week a child was born and the whole world was waiting to hear the name. Bets were placed, the media speculated, and eventually the name was released. Of course I'm talking about the son of Kate Middleton and Prince William whose name has been announced: George Alexander Louis. Of course the royal child would have been given a fairly traditional name, but here are some pointers for anyone else hoping to have children some time in the future about naming their little darlings.

Remember this: a baby name is for life.
When you choose a baby name this is something that you have to like for the rest of your life. Naming the baby after a film character you're currently infatuated with may lose meaning if, in a few years time, you realise you actually don't like the film as much. If you're lucky enough to have time to really plan before having children why not consider a name for some time to ensure your opinion of it does not change.


I urge you to pick a name that isn't on the most popular baby name list at that given time. Do you really want your child to have the same name as most of the babies born that year? There are thousands of beautiful names out there. Instead of Laura why not Nora? Instead of Daniel why not Dashiel? Help your child get ahead in later life by picking a decent name that sets them apart from their peers and classmates. Don't copy the names your friends or acquaintances give to their babies. That totally defeats the purpose of naming.

Think about the initials of you future child. 
You may select beautiful names for the child but if you name your child something like Warren Ewan Emerson his initials will be W.E.E.
This also goes for seeing how your kids names go together. Having a son called Samuel and a daughter called Ella may seem lovely until you call out "Sam and Ella!" and it sounds like you're yelling about salmonella.

Try to pick a name you and your partner/co-parent will be happy with. 
Don't feel pressured into using a name you don't like by your partner or because there is a family name you're expected to give the child. You'll have to repeat this name thousands upon thousands of times over the years in good times and bad times. It may as well be a name you like to say.

If you need inspiration there are loads of baby name websites, phone apps and even youtube channels to give you inspiration. May you and your children have a happy life together.

Same Sex Marriage Legal In The UK!

In the blink of an eye it happened.
Even the Queen approved.
Same Sex marriage is to be introduced to the UK next summer. I have to say that I am overjoyed. This is a wonderful step in the fight for equality.
Nothing happened in some ways. Society didn't crumble, the air didn't become harder to breathe. So many people feared that passing same sex marriage would have huge repercussions but what they forgot was love happens and is experienced every day regardless of gender or marital state but it is the legislation that protects couples and their families in our society that holds great importance to the individuals involved.

But why the need for same sex marriage in a country that already has civil partnerships is a question many will ask.

A civil partnership provides most, but not all, of the rights that come with a  civil marriage.
Also "civil partner" sounds somewhat cold and impersonal. We've been raised in a world where "husband" and "wife" are terms we say with pride and love. The importance in changing the restrictions of same sex couples to only having civil partnerships to the ability to have a marriage allows their relationships to be seen as equal to the marriages of heterosexual couples.

Marriages are accepted everywhere but not every country accepts or holds any appropriate legislation protecting a civil partnership and therefore same sex partners have no protection. It restricts their rights should they choose to move abroad to any country without protective legislation for their union.

The legislation surrounding marriage relies heavily on gender as something binary and therefore can be particularly problematic for members of the trans community or intersex individuals. If individuals must ever provide their marital status on official forms they'd have to say they were in a civil partnership rather than a marriage. This forces people to come out where they'd perhaps rather just say that they are married without fully giving away details of their sexuality.

Marriage has been provided to those without religion despite the fact it has often been cited as a religious practice. Civil Partnerships should be encouraged towards those who want to forge their love together without religious connotations. At present it's more seen as something specifically for non-heteronormative couples.

People have been committing themselves to each other since the dawn of time and this will continue regardless of gender or legislation. People will choose to commit themselves lovingly to someone else and there's no shame in that. My hope is that in legalising same sex marriage we can continue to spread tolerance of the LGBTQ community which will then help us to focus on further issues that the community faces and experiences. Civil partnerships aren't as socially acknowledged and accepted as marriages and herein lies the importance: love should be treated equally, regardless of gender. If we're going to have the opportunity to fully commit to someone then our marriages should be equal to that of our peers unless we, the couple at hand, choose otherwise.

Song of the Day: Hello by T.I feat. CeeLo Green

This is one of the songs that played constantly whilst we were in Kavos and I missed the sheer absurdity of it all. I mean listen to the lyrics...
When you're driving do you do so with a pile of money on your lap?
This song is ultra cheesy but also makes me feel like I'm still paddling around in the hotel pool with my ladies.

Inspire.

I'm going to spend the next few days writing.

In truth I've found it very difficult to keep to my daily writing goals. Other things so often get in the way or whilst I was travelling I was forever distracted by the fun things going on around me. In order to make up for this I'll probably be spending the entire weekend writing. How else am I to complete a novel by the end of the year?

As I did when on holiday I shall probably set a few posts to go up each day so you're not totally neglected but I do need to get back to work. This will be excellent preparation for August since I may suddenly be away more than usual that month. I just thought I'd throw out a personal post since my previous and pending posts are more like an article than a personal update.

Thank you for stopping by to read my blog.
Whether you're a regular reader or a new fan please follow me on Twitter and say hello!

Holiday Book Review: The Book of Human Skin and Does This Baby Make Me Look Straight?: Confessions of a Gay Dad

Here I want to share a few of the books I read and enjoyed on my holiday. I packed almost eight books but didn't read through all of them as expected. I found myself really relaxing by swimming in the pool or snoozing in the shade. For all the books I didn't get around to reading I shall read and review them later. I'm currently working through Far Afield by Susanna Kaysen. I've also been flicking through Virginity: A Cultural History by Anke Bernau which has been an interesting read thus far. Whilst I was in Huddersfield for my university graduation I went into the discount bookstore and managed to buy eight new books so I'll have no shortage of reading material over the next few weeks. That said here are the two books I really enjoyed whilst on holiday:

The Book of Human Skin by Michelle Lovric is a wonderful slice of fiction. Set in Venice, surrounding the inhabitants of the glorious Palazzo Espagnol, the book focuses on the Fasan family. There is the devilishly dark Minguillo and his cherubic sister Marcella who threatens Minguillo and his right to his own inheritance after the passing of his father. Minguillo then makes it his personal mission to destroy his sister whilst seriously underestimated he goodness and how much she is loved by those around her. With multiple narrators and , this may not be what you'd consider 'light' holiday reading. Lovric appears to have done a good deal of research on various prevalent topics and themes within the novel which makes for an interesting read. If you're a fan of any Gothic Literature, the works and writing of Anne Rice or shows like Hannibal, Game of Thrones or The Borgias on HBO etc I would recommend this book for you. This dazzlingly dark novel will certainly prove an interesting reads as it turns one of the most beautiful cities in Europe into a much more grim place. The story is shocking and amusing in all the right measures. Don't read this book if you have a queasy/weak stomach.



Does This Baby Make Me Look Straight? Confessions Of A Gay Dad by Dan Bucatinsky was a little bit more light-hearted. In fact I devoured this book within 24 hours near the end of my holiday. This book is made up of little snippets and stories of Dan's journey into parenthood and some of the unique problems Dan and his partner Don have faced. The pages are full of candid and witty confessions of parental anxieties and personal transformations into parental roles.
This book had me chuckling away by the poolside.
Ultimately this is a book about love and about family. I highly recommend this to anyone, especially if you have children or are hoping to start a family soon. Having worked in TV, Bucatinsky knows exactly how to captivate and entertain an audience. This certainly is a must read for anyone within the LGBTQ community. I loved this book more than Pad Thai.

10000 pageviews? WHAT?

This blog just hit...

10000 PAGE VIEWS. 

I'm still utterly amazed that this blog has had such attention and is still pulling in new viewers/commenters from all over the world. Whether this is your first time here or if you stop by every day: thank you. Just knowing so many of you stop by really makes my day. Please continue to read, feel free to follow me on Twitter and leave comments on/share any posts you like.

You make my day.

Song of the Day: Here Comes The Sun by Nina Simone

Post anniversary musical mushyness for you in our song of the day.

Enjoy,

Recommended Reads!

Uh oh....

Wednesday is here once more.
Time for recommended reads.
My apologies - I didn't have much time to throw this post together so maybe next week I'll give you more stuff to enjoy.
Here are my picks for the week:

• YouTube Video: What would it be like if George R.R Martin read Game of Thrones to children? 
• More George RR Martin related goodness. Watch the second video first. This is absolutely fantastic. Also - Neil Gaiman seems to be everywhere and knows everyone. Gaiman is magical.
• You might have heard something about it...But a Royal Prince was born this week. Here are various responses to the birth of the Royal Baby
• Want to watch a movie for free? Click here to see 1990 film Mermaids.
  

What Kind of Online Parent Are You?

With the media and social networking sites in full Royal Baby frenzy now seems as good a time as any to think about parenting. I find myself at that age where more and more of my friends are becoming parents. After a while you begin to notice patterns in parenting emerging based on how people discuss and portray their family life online. Here are a few of the online parenting types I've noticed as a non-parent thus far. How many of these do you see in you own friends? Do any of these even apply to you?

The "Sharent"
The "sharent" is a sharing parent. You know the type. As soon as they have the first ultrasound photo of the baby it's slapped onto Facebook in eager anticipation of all the photos to come. These parents are happy to share their joy with the rest of their friends. The photos from the hospital alone take up an entire 150 photo album. Once little Dora or David join academic clubs or teams there are usually videos of them at dance recitals or football practice. These parents often have at least two photographic devices on them at any outing, pride oozing from every pore.

The I-Am-My-Child Parent
Of course parenting takes a lot of time, effort and energy but some parents find themselves utterly absorbed in these new roles. Everything they say, do or post has a clear focus on their child. Every status is the child. Their life is the child. They are becoming the child. You're likely to see them with glitter glue in their hair, wandering through the supermarket humming the theme music of In The Night Garden. 

The TMI parents

Wow. I didn't expect to see photos of your baby butt naked so you could ask Facebook if that rash is normal. I also didn't expect photos of your baby covered in puke chunks and snot trails. I now feel a little queasy. Every time their baby is ill they'll coo and fuss over a status describing their symptoms in full, worried detail.

The Competitive Parent.

Any time someone mentions their own child the competitive parent tries to one up them by saying what their little darling can do. "Oh, your son is taking a nap? Little Jimmy is already sleeping though the night!"

"Your child started reading? My daughter reads at a fifth grade level already and she can't even walk yet"

Even for those of us who aren't parents it can be really uncomfortable to watch a competitive online parent.

The Soothsayer

These are the parents that will warn anyone who will listen to not become a parent. Any time they see someone cooing over a photo of a baby or discussing how much they'd love to be a parent these are the people that will rain over the parade. "You think you're ready for a baby? No one's ready for a baby. It's Hell. You totally shouldn't do it."

The Wise Consultant

These are the parents who will actively get involved in any discussions of child-raising, parenthood, pregnancy. They can probably recommend books on child psychology techniques or have a decent argument as to why you should use fabric baby slings and cloth nappies. These are the people that are often helpful to new parents in need as they are ready and positive to lend their wisdom.

The Not-Sure-If-They-Even-Have-A-Child Parent

Every now and then you have those friends you rarely see anyway who have a child. You aren't near enough to see them regularly but because they then never seem to mention their child you almost forget they've had one at all. You are more likely to see a status about them "hanging with the girls and getting a few cocktails" than anything about their child. Not a whisper, photo or quick status. Suddenly I begin to hear the music from the start of Rosemary's Baby in the back of my head...

The "Too Cool For Drool" parent

Ever a comedian these parents seem to remain their cool selves after the birth of their children. On Facebook or Twitter their children often feature in witty remarks or interesting anecdotes that leave you chuckling and under the impression that parenthood is a laid back, funny adventure. These are the parents that lure others in because they manage to make every parental job look like an exercise in being awesome.

What kind of parent are YOU?
Are there any other types of parents you've noticed?
I wish any new parents, including Kate Middleton and Prince William, the very best of luck in this new journey.

Review: The World's End

For my anniversary this year my partner and I went to go see The World's End. I fancied a trip to the cinema and we agreed on seeing this movie as it is mostly filmed in the town where my partner grew up. I've seen Pegg's previous films like "Shaun of the Dead" and "Hot Fuzz" which I enjoyed but I have to say that this must be my favourite Pegg/Frost film so far.

The film focuses on a group of ex school chums meeting up after many years to finish a pub crawl they failed to complete on their last day of school. Brought together by hedonistic man-child Gary King (as played by Pegg) the unlikely group come together again for a spot of unfinished business as they return to their home town fo a pub crawl called "The Golden Mile" that involves having a pint at the 12 town pubs. Obviously there's a twist to the film that the trailers have sort of shown. If you've not seen a trailer for the film then that's even better. I urge you to avoid all trailers, see this film and enjoy it for what it is. Trailers give away far too much these days. The film brought laughs as well as a few really deep moments that really created audience empathy for the characters. I really enjoyed this movie and it has to be one of my favourite films of the summer so far. Also Simon Pegg with a pint in hand, dark dyed hair and a trench-coat over a Sisters of Mercy shirt suddenly became incredibly attractive to me.

I left the cinema with the desire to drink beer and listen to The Sisters of Mercy. Essentially I wanted to be me at age 17.

Song of the Day: Through The Wormhole by Emilie Autumn

When checking updates fom my various YouTube subscriptions today I came across this little gem by Emilie Autumn. Recorded on an iPhone with Emilie singing and friend Marc Senter on guitar this is a quirky little number that I wanted to share.
Enjoy,

Song of the Day: Second Hand White Baby Grand from Smash

Earlier this evening I had the opportunity to hear someone that I love very much sing this live.
She managed to do an excellent job and brought me to tears.
I don't really keep up with many TV shows but I may go back to season one to check out Smash.
This song of the day seems fitting because I'm aware that season two has just started.
If you like what you hear then check out season two currently on Sky Atlantic.

Song of the Day: Red Hands by Walk Off The Earth

Enjoy,

A Message To The Graduating Class of 2013

Three years ago I never thought that I'd be graduating in a heat wave. 
There I stood in the heavy black robes, the mortarboard cap slipping down in trails of my forehead sweat, filled with that uncanny sense of pride and loss. We knew that we had achieved something that we doubted we could along the road. The sense of loss came from knowing we may never wait in those halls again outside a seminar room or take a lecture with one of our favourite educators. Whenever reaching an end of an era like this the literature student in my always imagines it as a book that has been written, closed, and is lovingly being put away on a shelf. We will look back to that book in search of memories, learning experiences and wisdom as time goes by but the shelf has made more space for the many chapters of the many books that are still unwritten. 

We gathered outside the building where the ceremony would take place in our heavy gowns and mortarboard caps. We were a sea of black and blue fabric trembling from the heat and the anticipation of the ceremony ahead. In a secondary circle gathering around us stood the people there to support us as they had supported all our previous endeavours: friends, families, partners, colleagues. 

The Chancellor giving the commencement address told a simple story or how a man filled a glass container to the top with large rocks and asked people if it was full. When they said yes he threw in some small pebbles that moved in between the cracks. With a raised eyebrow he asked everyone if the container was full now. When the students said yes he pulled our a jar of sand and poured that in too. Immediately the sand filled further space within the container. The moral of the story was that the big rocks were the important things in our lives: love, family, our health. The pebbles were other things of importance: education, jobs. The sand was all the "small stuff" that gets in between. He reminded us that if we were to fill our container with sand, the "small things" that don't matter, then we'd have no space for the rocks representational of what is important in life. Then, he says, a student who had been listening to him at the time of the demonstration pulled a cheap can of beer from his bag and poured it in stating "but at the end of the day there's always time for beer." He then continued to ramble on about the importance of education in this age full of technology. In fact he went so far as to say at one point that our education, in some way I still do not grasp, meant nothing. What an apt way to end student life: "you'll probably forget all you've learned or not use it much... but hey, there's always time for a beer, right?" In truth this message left me feeling a little deflated. Really? This is the message that is following me out the door into my first steps as a graduate with a BA Hons degree? Then I took a moment to look around at my friends sat around me, people I'd shared many a beer with over the past three years, and realised that they were my rocks. My parents, who were conveniently sat behind me, were my rocks. My sister who was watching the ceremony via a live video link was my rock. My partner who was waiting for me at home was my rock. Without the people in my life I wouldn't have made it to this day. The wonderful people who had educated me along the way were my rock too. They have rallied together unknowingly to create a solid foundation for me to stand on as I climbed the ladder to reach my degree. It is important to remember those who laid the path for us and equally important to remember that we were the ones who walked it. 


I dedicate this post to everyone who is graduating this year. Congratulations class of 2013. University education is an uphill run but you got there eventually. Be proud in remembrance of all you've managed to achieve and hopeful as you look to the future. I hope that it holds great things for you. 

One More Step Along The World I Go...

Hello, dear readers.I am officially back from my holiday to Corfu. It was a wonderful experience to be able to take time to relax and make memories with my friends. Then I went on to my university graduation ceremony and am now a university graduate with a BA Hons degree. I am a Bachelor of the Arts. That sounds pretty darn awesome to me. Now that I'm back I'll be getting down to work and creating some new posts for you on here and over at The Huffington Post. However I'd like to share an updated list of places where this blog has been read from. I may have missed some in my absence, but this seems to be the most definitive collection of the wonderful places I've been read from. As per usual I'm eternally thankful for my readership and still get excited whenever I pick up views from a new country, especially one I've never been to myself.



Countries that have viewed my blog:

United Kingdom
South Africa
United States
Germany
South Korea
India
Finland
Argentina
Puerto Rico
Bulgaria
Greece
Sweden
Mexico
Turkey
Romania
Serbia
Philippines
Japan
Canada
Netherlands
Spain
Chile
Switzerland
Italy
Ireland
France
Hong Kong (as special administrative region of the People's Republic of China)
Vietnam
Malaysia
Czech Republic
Russia
Ukraine
Australia
New Zealand
Belgium
Denmark
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Argentina

Song of the Day: National Anthem - Lana Del Rey (cover) by Autry!

Y'all know I loves me some Autry, right?

Well what could be better? 

Here Autry is doing a cover of "National Anthem" by Lana Del Rey.

Autry has a really fun and quirky voice.

Enjoy,

Recommended Reads

Ahh, Wednesday.
Possibly my favourite day of the week.
It is, of course, the day where I do my "Recommended Reads" section and give you a little list of interesting things I've seen around on the internet that week.

Here's my list for the week, lovelies:

• Portraits of dogs dressed like their owners - found on HuffPost. I think that's all that needs to be said, surely?
• Attitude Clothing UK - a cool place to shop for alternative clothing as well as home furnishings, accessories and novelty items.
• YouTube Tutorial - How to make a simple erasable message board at home
• Fuck Yeah Lesbian Literature - a whole Tumblr dedicated to the literary works of queer female writers. Awesome!
• FreeTranslation.com for all your basic language needs. It's not perfect but it's often pretty good.

Graduation.

Today I graduate from university with honours attached to my degree - and it's a damn good degree.
I'm an academic, a scholar, a bachelor of the arts.

It hasn't been an easy journey but I feel really proud of all the challenges ahead. I won't be blogging much today. Instead I'll be prancing around in a silly square hat and fancy robes clutching my degree.

This post is dedicated to all those who are graduating or have graduated this year from university. It's an uphill run and I applaud you.




Here are some commencement addresses from various influential people at past graduation ceremonies that you might appreciate:

• John Green's Commencement Address
• Neil Gaiman Commencement Address
• J.K Rowling Commencement Address
• Julie Andrews Commencement Address

Song of the Day: Gold by Spandau Ballet

Holy heck. I'm graduating today!
I couldn't immediately think of a song that represents the meaning of such a special day so I guess I'll have to say it with cheesy self-assurance from Spandau Ballet.

Song of the Day: 1% of Static by Galaxy of Tar

Something a little more out there for today.

This is the band of Naima Mora.
Earlier I discussed my trashTV guilty pleasures, one of which was America's Next Top Model.
The first ever season of ANTM that I watched crowned Galaxy of Tar singer Naima Mora as the winner. She sings, she acts, she models. What's not to love?
Enjoy,

Confessions: Trash TV.

I confess!
I really don't keep up with a lot of television. My family can watch and keep up with multiple shows at different times. Their Sky Box is forever recording episodes from here and there. I, however, only really faithfully watch two shows at present: Game of Thrones and Greys Anatomy. In between I have to watch something. Now, of course, you'll often find me tuckign into a movie or a documentary but I confess...I like a bit of trash TV as much as the next person. I like being able to tune into a show where I don't have to have a committed and up-to-date relationship. I need something I can just dip in and out of.
In fact I have many guilty pleasures.
Here are some of my favourite trashy things to curl up and watch:

America's Next Top Model

I don't know what it is about America's Next Top Model but it has this ability to make you instantly feel like a fashion expert.
"She needs to elevate her jawline so we can see the curve of her neck to sell the jewellery" is akin to things I've thought whilst watching this show when, in truth, I can't tell Dolce and Gabbana from Gucci.
I highly enjoy ANTM whenever it's on. Mainly for Tyra and her crazy antics. It's easy watching. You can pick a model to root for and see if they win.



How Clean Is Your House

How on Earth did someone come up with a show about cleaning houses that managed to actually gain popularity? Perhaps it stems from our desire to vicariously judge the hygiene of others by looking at their filthy, bug-infested homes.

This show is very systematically created from start to finish with each show following the same basic structure but, strangely enough, it's always a little interesting to see just how messy some people can allow their homes to become...





The Real Housewives of NYC/The OC

These are shows about women who are so rich they've forgotten how to make it through a social function without creating tedious social drama. It makes for very addictive viewing. Oh sure, a good deal of it is probably created for the show itself... but it's always interesting to see how the other half lives...


One Born Every Minute

I love watching shows about the birthing process. I'm always interested in hearing what people name their children as names are of a particular interest to me. I love One Born Every Minute because it gives an interesting feel of the people and relationships present.



Millionaire Matchmaker

Brought to you by the creators of the Real Housewives franchise, this show is also about people with more money than common sense. It's about a dating agency for millionaires. It's a show I'm still fairly new to but it's interesting to see how some of the dates play out and end horribly.



and last but not least...
Jeremy Kyle

Britain's answer to Jerry Springer: it's almost impossible to not appreciate the bizarre spectacle that is Jeremy Kyle.
From the bizarre behaviour of the guests to Jeremy's perpetual hatred of Facebook this show is, dare I say, a British classic (a word I use quite loosely) that has seemed to enter our collective British conciousness.
Is there really anyone in the UK who is not aware of the existence of this show?







What trashy TV do YOU watch?
Let me know in the comments section below or tweet me your reply.

Song of the Day: Blue Orchid by The White Stripes

I'd not listened to this song in ages!
This may be an unpopular opinion but this is my favourite White Stripes song.
Yes, I even like it more than Seven Nation Army.
Enjoy,

Love.

It's a great time for the LGBTQ community lately as the fight for same sex marriage marches on. I'm proud to live during a time where marriage can occur regardless of gender or sexuality. I feel that once same sex marriage can be adapted into society then we can begin to normalise lifestyles that don't conform typical contemporary notions of heteronormative domesticity. We can then begin to focus on the rights of the trans community and the problems facing the queer youth of today.

This blog is, and ever shall remain, in support of same sex marriage.
Your personal feelings or religion should not determine or restrict potential legislation that will serve and protect other people, couples and their families.

Love is love.
Love is lovely.

Song of the Day: Love is Blindness by Jack White

Forever in love with the soundtrack to The Great Gatsby.
Enjoy,

Song of the Day: Voyage Voyage by Desireless

I should currently be on my way back from Corfu!
Huzzah!
So a song called "Voyage Voyage" seems appropriate.
I totally love Desireless and their music. 

This is why I decided to give you the extended version of the song.
Enjoy,

YouTube Video: Story Time with George R.R Martin

Another video that I wanted to share with you.
Can you imagine what it would be like if Game of Thrones was adapted fro children?
Well this video is a hilarious imagining of that very scenario...
Enjoy,

Travel Tips

So you want to travel?
So do I.
Very soon I'll be jetting off to Kavos in Corfu and upon my return I'll finally be planning my trip to New Zealand that I've been hoping to do for about half of my life now.
These are some basic things to consider for anyone heading off on their first holiday over the summer.

• Try to book your holiday in advance. It's better if you do so not too far from the fly out date, but not at the last minute either. If you're going somewhere new then you want to do a good deal of research on where you're jetting off to before you go. There are also plenty of things to sort out beforehand. 

• Make sure your passport is still valid and if you have to apply for a new passport then do it about a month before travelling unless you need more time on the passport before travelling so as to avoid any holiday rush. Some travel companies want you to have a certain matter of months on the passport before travelling so always check these things. 

• Sort out some decent travel insurance before you go to cover you in case of lost luggage, injury, cancellation fees etc. You can usually find it for a cheap price if you compare insurance rates online in advance. 

• If you're going somewhere in which the native language is different to yours try to brush up on a few basic phrases. Good phrases to learn are things like "How do I get to/find ______", "How much is this", "Please/Thank you" just to get you by. It's only polite to know at least a little bit of the language rather than expecting everyone to accommodate your native tongue. Why not look into some free basic language courses?

• Make sure to change some money into that of the local currency. Go a little over budget just in case. Research where you're going and get a feel for the place and what there is to do there so you can budget for all the things you'll want to do whilst there.

• Consider any location specific needs. Are you going somewhere hot? Then you may want to consider sun tan lotion, light clothing, an empty water bottle to fill whilst away to stay hydrated. Going somewhere cold? Make sure to bring lots of insulating clothing.

• If you've never travelled before, try to do so in a group so that you can plan together and help each other out on your adventures.

My Favourite Films

I love movies. To me the cinema is a wonderful, exciting place. I've worked at movie festivals.

Girl, Interruped

This film is a must-see for anyone living with any sort of mental health problem. The storyline? A young woman is sent to a mental health facility for a 'rest', expecting a week's stay, and is there for two years of her life.

This film is based on a true story and I also highly recommend the book. Angelina Jolie and Wynona Ryder deliver truly powerful and resonant performances in this drama.

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy: The Fellowship of The Ring, The Two Towers and The Return of the King

This one should be rather obvious by now. I'm a bit of a Tolkien nerd and these films are like comfort food to me. Peter Jackson took on a monumental task in translating Middle Earth for the silver screen and did it elegantly and faithfully.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

I really enjoyed the first part of this new Peter Jackson trilogy. I actually began to tear up in the cinema; firstly when Thorin and the dwarves brought out the map of Middle Earth and secondly when we reached my favourite chapter of the book, "Riddles In The Dark"
I'm optimistic for the two films that lie ahead and you can believe I'll be seeing them as soon as they're out.

The 'Underworld' Saga

I like to think of myself as a connoisseur of the vampire genre. Since my early adolescence I have been reading vampire literature, watching vampire flicks. I don't know why - I've always loved it. No, before you ask, I don't like the Twilight saga/franchise. Trust me, darling... I was a vampire nerd before it was cool 
These films are full of attractive people with guns and lots of action scenes. What more do you need?

The Breakfast Club

It should need little or no explanation.
This film is a classic, a must see for any teens or young adults.
In fact I'd be slightly dubious of anyone who openly claims that they have not seen this film. John Hughes was an excellent film maker and this movie is arguably his greatest.
If you've not seen it then I assure you that you've missed out.

Labyrinth

We all have that film that we love and consider it a guilty pleasure, right?
Well this is mine.
Love it, watch it at least once a year, I even own the soundtrack.
I'm a fan of Bowie and Jim Henson so anything that combines them obviously makes me a happy lady.






Moulin Rouge!

Moulin Rouge is such a moving and beautiful film and will forever remain a favourite of mine. Every little aspect of the film is so visually stunning that it is a feast for the eyes.
In fact everything Baz Luhrmann does is beautiful. The Great Gatsby had the same effect on me. I felt like my eyes were feasting.
It's like scenery/costume porn.

Thank you, Baz,








What are some of YOUR favourite movies?
What do you like about them?
Let me know in the comments or tweet me your answers.

Song of the Day: Lambada by Kaomo

Sounds familiar?
Isn't that just the pop music industry for you...
I hope my holiday has been like this - full of joy filled dancing on the beach.
Back from holiday soon.

It's Nice To Be Nice.

The world, at present, easily becomes a breeding ground for negativity. The comments section of the internet, be it on YouTube or news articles, are often full of criticism, rudeness and pointless hatred. When did we become a part of this strange hate culture where we're so happy to be mean to our fellow man? Even "humour" nowadays seems to too often stem from making fun of others more and more cruelly. I suppose I write this because I'm tired of seeing people surreptitiously hating on each other on social media sites or leaving disrespectful comments on YouTube videos.


Instead why not spread positivity? It's so much more productive to go out of your way to build someone up than to spend your time tearing them down. Surely it's a better thing to do to be nice to others rather than tearing them down. If you give it some thought I'm sure you can find something nice to say to someone. Even Thumper, an animated rabbit from the film Bambi, has nailed the general idea. Just be nice to people. If there is some karmic force in the universe then it'll probably do you some good.

Why not try to make someone's day by leaving a nice comment on their YouTube video, giving people a thumbs up or passing on a compliment. It can really make a day for someone just to have that little pat on the back and if you were having a bad day I'm sure you'd appreciate the same. The world is full of people trying, doing, remaining enthusiastic and they're worth more than all of the people who just sit around trying to bring them down.

July Favourites

Hello, lovelies!
It's a new month so here are some of the items that I'm currently thankful for or have recently purchased for myself. Most of these are items that are currently framing my holiday.

After seeing the wonderful Oona Chaplin wearing her white dress and black bowler hat ensemble at the Game of Thrones Season 3 Red Carpet Premiere I suddenly knew I wanted a bowler hat. It so effortlessly adds a little something extra to an outfit.
I managed to find one for £16 in Camden that actually accommodates for my stupidly large head.
Of course not everyone can just head over to Camden Market.
If you're looking for something similar, why not take a look over at Amazon where you can find plenty like these?

Sometimes knowing too much about something can totally spoil it.
I often find that trailers these days seem to give away so much of the plot of the movie that there's almost no point in seeing the film itself. Because of this I like to buy a book every now and then that I know absolutely nothing about.
I recently bought Far Afield by Susanna Kaysen.
I really enjoyed her memoir "Girl, Interrupted" and the later movie adaptation starring Angelina Jolie and Wynona Ryder.
I hope that I'll enjoy reading something else by her and look forward to the adventure of exploring unknown content.

I am still hopelessly addicted to all things Gatsby, including the fantastic soundtrack to the film. I love Sia. I love Gotye. I love Lana Del Rey and Florence and the Machine and Emeli Sande... It feels as if someone sat down to make this soundtrack and specifically chose contemporary pop acts that I appreciate. In fact I'm listening to it as I write this. Give it a listen, it's pretty darn great.

For some time I had looked for a portable hot drink container like this. I found this in New Look for £5.99 and it says "NERD" all over it. Perfect! I keep drinking out of it when just sitting at home...

Avon Skin So Soft is an absolute life saver when you're going somewhere with a hot climate and lots of insects.
This product, initially intended to be more of a spray on skin moisturiser, actually repels a lot of insects which means you'll survive your holiday or a general stroll outside with less or no insect bites! The insect repellent qualities were, apparently, an accident but have served my family well for many years and I shall be packing some to take on holiday with me.

I'm currently in love with Argan Oil shampoo.
I dye my hair a lot and apply heat and products to it. It's often full of chemicals after a night out. Because of this I need a shampoo that really softens my hair and gives back the love I often take away. This is where Argan Oil works really well.
I also use the thicker Argan/Argon Oil that you smoothe onto dry hair as sold in Primark. It leaves my hair pleasantly fragrant, soft and glossy. It also handles any hair knots quite well.

Song of the Day: Boys Boys Boys by Sabrina

I was trying to think of cheesy holiday songs to leave here whilst I'm away in the sun and sand.
Then this came to mind.
If you're unaware of this song it's pure cheese and a rather dreadful choice of bikini leads to numerous awkward nip slips in this bouncy 80s hit.

Apparently this is what Sabrina looks like now.
Forever beautiful:

Recommended Reads

Don't you know how the game is played, reader?
It's Wednesday.
Here, every Wednesday, I give you stuff to look at, watch and read on the internet.

Obviously this is a scheduled post as I'm off gallivanting around Corfu probably cuddling turtles and swimming lots. There is a slight travel theme in the recommended reads this week to match my current state which I hope you enjoy. Maybe it'll inspire you to go travelling soon or get you looking forward to future holidays. Either way I fully endorse travel because it somehow has this strange ability of putting life into perspective.


Here are my recommendations:

• I Long To Travel The World - this is simply a blog with beautiful pictures from places all over the world that sparks up that feeling of wanderlust inside most of us. This blog makes me want to travel further abroad and explore places I'd never even considered.
• Ever heard of canyoneering? I hadn't, but after seeing this video I'd consider it. It looks pretty fun.
• Cruise Critic - if cruises are your thing, why not read up before booking?
• CrankyFlier.com - for those who travel but are, you know, a bit grumpy about it all.
• Le Fooding - a wonderful French food blog discussing Parisian restaurants and gastronomic experiences in the city.
• Why not click here and go look at booking your own holiday?

The End of University: A review.

Reposting for those finishing university and graduating. Similarly this post is for those preparing for university right now. I'm sure you're all applying for student accommodation and preparing for the adventure ahead. This is merely my experience of university. I don't want to deter or worry you. All experiences are different and, should you start uni and feel lost, you're not alone.


*****



It's done.
It's over.
I've finished university. 
Ok, sure, I've not officially graduated yet but as of about a week ago I've submitted the last piece of university work ever. I feel as if I'm still recovering. Is it...really over?

I'd like to take a moment to reflect on this long journey with you if you will allow me this small indulgence.


When I was a little girl my Dad took me to meet J.K Rowling at a book signing. The world of Harry Potter had utterly enchanted me and quickly become my favourite book series at the time and they are books that I still hold dear. I recall my brief moment in front of J.K Rowling, her tired smile after having signed hundreds of books, and holding the newly released copy of The Goblet of Fire in my stubby hands.
That was the moment I realised I wanted to be a writer. In fact, to this day, if you open up my copy of The Goblet of Fire you'll see J.K Rowling written in bold, black ink and my name scrawled in messy handwriting beneath it, an inked aspiration of my desire to be an author.

With this dream still in mind I applied to universities that offered specific modules in creative writing that focused on the creation of fiction rather than journalism or strictly scriptwriting and writing for screen only. I have previously I considered pursuing law like my mother had. Well... I was partly inspired by my mother, partly inspired by Legally Blonde. At the time I loved the idea of going into criminal law. After three days of work experience in the wonderful world of litigation I decided against it. I came to realise that most law isn't exciting and wild. It's filing paperwork and boring cases.

Huddersfield offered the course I was interested in doing and was close to Leeds with events of the music subculture I was deeply rooted in. Arriving at the University of Huddersfield to complete my degree in English with Creative Writing, I was more than ready to plunge myself into the realm of academia. Sitting in a lecture theatre for the first time felt exhilarating. I had hopes of becoming a teacher of English literature when I began the course. I was more than ready to surround myself with like-minded folk and open my mind to explore the depths of human conciousness and challenge myself. Sadly it wasn't as easy as I'd hoped.

In first year the grades we received didn't count and so the shiny, impressive grades that I did receive meant nothing. Similarly the mediocre grades I received posed no threat. It was a year of jumping through

hoops and meeting deadlines to prove that we were able to continue on to the next academic stage. This was a good year for my growth in many ways. I moved across the country. Pushing myself into halls I was excited to meet new people and to search out the so called 'student experience'. Storthes Hall was the student accommodation for me: like my family home it was surrounded by forest. Set in the middle of nowhere I expected a nice, quiet home where I could study and go on long walks on the weekend. Unfortunately if you isolate students and give them the privacy to make as much noise and mess as they can... they will. I lived with eight other people and yet I'd never felt so alone. I eventually caved and bought pets to have a friendly face to come home to. That's when I bought my three rats: Mekare, Maharet and Rabies. This was the only year I had exams which I really studied hard for despite the fact the grades for them wouldn't contribute to my overall degree. Focusing on my key interest, creative writing, I tried to remain positive. The first year of creative writing as a subject was a strange experience. Many approach writing as something very personal that they've created and to share it is to leave yourself open for criticism on something very personal. Writing had to be done to weekly deadlines, a forced creation made solely for classroom criticism. Work would be returned with the arbitrary yet ever popular motto: show don't tell, but always without explanation of what it meant or how to do this. Writing began to feel like something formulaic, something simply to be criticised, where the joy of writing itself had been taken. It may be the first instance where aspiring writers show their work and receive criticism and have had no prior experience of such a process. We had one tutor who I shan't name who was notoriously awful. There was once a two hour seminar in which the tutor told us to write a scene with a character we'd previously created waiting to meet someone at a speed dating event. Then he left the seminar room for about 20 minutes. Then he came back in and told us to create a new character and bring them into the situation for the speed dating, someone who the first character didn't like and thus created some tension. Again, he vanished for about half an hour, and we sat and wrote wondering what the point to all this was. Over the next hour or so he kept doing this. He'd simply pop up and say 'Now have a new character come into the scene and interrupt them' before running off. At the end of the seminar, when he asked us what we thought the point of the exercise was, someone piped up saying it had been pointless and the characters he had put together would never be in that situation in real life.
'Aha!' the tutor exclaimed 'that is the point of the lesson'
Then once more he vanished, the lesson was over.
Yes. This actually happened. At university.
It didn't shock us that he didn't return to the staff the following year.

First year was good, but very challenging. I was doing modules I'd never done before. We would study everything from literary theory to speech therapy foundation skills. At this point, because there was little stress, I found enjoyable. It was a challenge but I found myself able to cope with it.

Second year was Hellish. In fact half way through second year I considered dropping out completely. I started to wonder if I was on the wrong course and doubted my place at university at all. I began to realise that I was out of my comfort zone. Academia was never my thing and I found myself wondering why I decided to put myself back into the realm of education and essays. My confidence began to dwindle and soon I found myself unable to even speak in seminars. I went from the girl who studied Theatre Studies at A Level and performed daily to someone that sat at the back terrified of saying the wrong thing.

The only reason I stayed was knowing that I didn't want to be the girl who decided to quit half way. I certainly didn't want to disappoint my parents either. I knew if I quit then I'd hold the shame forever. Hell, if I was already half way there that was half the battle fought. I went through some sort of small emotional breakdown I'd rather not discuss fully. Eventually I found myself not caring about work until the very last minute. I received no help, no special treatment, no deadline extensions. I wish I'd said something and maybe asked for help and extensions. How else would they have known I was drowning in my own fears? I remember having minor worries I now recognise as small panic attacks and my sleep pattern was eventually totally messed up. I did well enough in second year, but not as great as I could have done. In creative writing we looked at script-writing which was certainly new and interesting. Creative writing was the only module I enjoyed or even felt a spark of confidence in but during my first and second years my tutors didn't like my work. The grading for the creative writing portfolios often seemed arbitrary. How exactly does one grade something so open to opinion? The critical and cultural theory module was fascinating but I was perpetually unable to articulate my thoughts in class. Renaissance poetry and the Romantics were modules I suffered through. None of this study, it felt, would ever benefit me later in life. I had abandoned my dreams of teaching for fear of a total loss of sanity; the last thing I wanted in life was more grades and exam papers floating around my conciousness.

In third year I was desperate to improve my grades and found myself getting firsts and 2:1 grades. I tackled a dissertation and regained my confidence in creative writing. Academia forces us to look at art through a specific lens, to jump through hoops, to gain marks. To judge any form of art to a grading scheme seems arcane. What is artistic and beautiful to one person may be a hopeless travesty to another. Take my third year writing portfolio, for example: I wrote a story filled with violence, inappropriate sex scenes and a barrel-load of swear words.

It received top marks. 

In fact it was this moment that I deem so important to my education. It was a story I had written because I wanted to do something different. The module itself was concerned with experiments in narrative. My confidence had slowly been torn down, my passion for writing sinking with it. All it took was one zany tutor to re-build my lost hope. His praise and encouragement for my  third year portfolio got me writing again. Without him I would probably not have started blogging or even writing again. He made me believe my work was worth publishing. He reignited a dream I thought had burned out. The story in question is an experimental piece I wrote called 'One' which I'll be seeking publication for this summer. This year, apart from in creative writing modules, my confidence hasn't grown much. In fact the other day I had a horrible string of panic attacks over the simple completion and reading of a conference paper. I still can't speak up in class, still find myself with feelings of severe anxiety and inferiority. I'm not sure where this sudden crippling anxiety came from when it was never present at any previous stage of my education.

To this day I've never failed an exam, I've never missed a university deadline. I do, however, feel that university has somewhat damaged my confidence. At Sixth Form College I was the girl in Theatre Studies lessons who would gladly get up and perform before an audience, in English class I spoke through many presentations, I was the girl who would often speak her mind in class. Since coming to university I've become that person at the back with their lips sewn shut, raising their hand once every now and then for some input when I can give it so that the tutor is less likely to call on me later for being previously silent. I've hardly been able to engage with seminar discussions. Before university I don't think I had ever had a panic attack. Being surrounded by those with more confidence and intelligence than me created a shrivelled wallflower of me; voiceless and defeated I struggled.

There are days when I question why I came to university, specifically for a literature course. I have a really short attention span when it comes to reading. I enjoy reading, it's true, but I struggle with it. It takes such dedication and commitment to settle down and focus on a book. My mind is too easily distracted to commit wholeheartedly to a book. A course where I'd have to read to deadlines, whole novels and epic poems for around four modules a week, was a reality I was all too disillusioned with once my education at university began.

Since the start of university some friendly faces have vanished either from quitting the course or dropping back a year. Some people have changed/tweaked their modules. Not all of us who stood in the Creative Arts Building back in 2010 will reach the finish line together but I'm glad to know I'll be graduating with my friends. We've worked hard to get here and I'm sure for all of us there will be a shared sense of pride.

I may sound awfully pessimistic, but I promise you it's not all bad. I do have very mixed emotions about this time of my life but I have come to learn a lot. What I have gained from university is some wonderful friends and contacts. What I have learned about creative writing has been invaluable. Do I wish I never came to university? Sometimes. But I remind myself that I shall go on to be a better writer because of what I've learned here. Sure - it may mean that only six modules will have benefited my future career path as a writer. There are days where I wish I had simply taken a creative writing course. My hope is that having a degree will help me to secure a good graduate job somewhere so that I can work whilst I write. I've also met such wonderful friends and made some great connections here suggesting that it is the people we meet that shape the university experience. If I never came to university I wouldn't have had the chance to work with a radio station for the three years I've been here. I wouldn't have written some of the stories or poetry that will hopefully be published some day. I would have missed out on so many friends and the things they themselves have taught me. My education wasn't simply what appeared in the lecture theatres at the university; I have learned so much more about myself during this process. I was given an opportunity to examine my weaknesses and consider my strengths. I'm still not entirely sure how I feel on the matter. Perhaps I'll never have a settled opinion. I'm currently looking forward to leaving my student life behind and moving onto what lies beyond. I've been a student all my life until now. I want to take my degree, find myself a graduate job and work whilst using my creative writing skills to finish a novel and a few collections of stories and poetry by the end of the year.

It's only now that it is over that I can feel how much I've learned. University has really opened my mind to a lot of things and given me some wonderful opportunities. I've made wonderful friends and explored part of the country I had only previously heard of. There was a lot of stress and sadness during the process but I am confident in the knowledge that it has made me a better person.

My advice to anyone considering university is to give real thought to the decision. This is something you will spend several years of your life doing. It will test you. It must, therefore, be something worth committing to and only you can decide how much worth it is to you. Many of us go to university because we're not sure what we'd do otherwise, it may seem logical for the job we want to do or everyone around us is suggesting it as the path for us. The only person who should decide your university education for you is you.

If you're part way through your higher education and having doubts or worries, remember it's not just you...

If your happiness and mental health are seriously at risk then don't feel bad about dropping out if that's what you really need to do. You could even speak to the university and see about taking a year out or getting help specific to your needs. It is imperative to ensure that you get the most out of the university experience.

Ultimately, the decision is yours. I simply urge you to think through the decision. It may be the best and most influential period of your life, but it could also be a time of trials and regret. Just ensure to be careful in your decisions. I hope that if you choose to study it brings you the keys to unlock your future. If you choose to not study I wish you the same. 

To all the students graduating this year - congratulations! You did it! I hope whatever lies ahead brings you great joy and that you never forget this process. I hope you got as much out of this time as possible and that it benefits your future. To all those considering a place at university I simply urge you to question whether the course, or university itself, is right for you and your goals.

This was a long post. Kudos to anyone who stuck with it.
Thank you, blog-ghosts.