So here it is, 2016! The questions which are flowing through are heads are the same as every year- what will this year bring? Will I be in a relationship or single by the end of the year? And most importantly, what will I achieve in one year?
One year is plenty of time, 365 days, all of which can be used effectively. However we are restricted by money, work and other commitments.
The idea of the achievements jar is to write down something you have achieved, even if its something as simple as 'went for a country walk' to something as wild as 'went diving in the great barrier reef'. Once the year is up, empty the jar and read all your accomplishments. You can also make something you do every week, so in total you will be able to reflect on 52 achievements or as and when you feel proud of something.
I think this idea is truly fantastic and will allow you to reflect on the amount of goals you can reach in a year.
So good luck, and lets make this year one to feel proud of.
I only recently managed to watch this masterpiece after many people either quoted it or urged me to watch it, claiming it to be a 'classic' of the later 20th century. I was not disappointed. The film is truly a gem of the industry and this year celebrates thirty years from its release in 1985. Written and directed by John Hughes, the film focuses on a group of five high school students who are thrown together in a detention session held on a Saturday. Each student represents a stereotype of the conventional American high school. You have the jock or athlete (Andrew Clark), the princess or prom queen (Claire Standish), the criminal or bad boy (John Bender), the brain or the geek (Brian Ralph Johnson) and finally the outcast or basket case, (Allison Reynolds).
At first the film seems to have little content, just showing kids messing around in a library. However as the film progresses each character begins to emerge and it seems that they have more in common than they previously thought. After destroying parts of the library, making trips about the school in secret and smoking cannabis, the students begin to open up about their lives behind closed doors and reveal their inner demons. Although from the outset you understand that all the students are to do a day in detention, you are never told why. The creativity of Hughes's script allows the viewer to continue to be gripped to the screen, longing to find out why the students, some of which have unsuspected behavioural problems, find themselves in detention.
As each student shares their problems with the rest of the group, the narrative begins to finally piece together. We learn that Andrew is easily influenced by others and is constantly concerned with his image and is hammered by pressure from his father to excel as a wrestler. Claire is worried over her status as a virgin and hates the fact she frequently finds herself in the middle of arguments between her divorced parents. Allison is a compulsive liar who is ignored by her parents and therefore struggles to fit in. Brain attempted suicide due to a bad grade he received and from the building pressure of his parents to achieve a high GPA. Finally, John is often subject to abuse from his father and watches his mother being beaten by him.
This film really does capture our hearts and minds as I'm sure we can emphasise with at least one of the characters and their daily struggles. But what message is Hughes's attempting to portray in this film? Ultimately these five students act as a microcosm of western society. Each individual is a stereotype and placed into a certain clique, which is consequently echoed in society when people are placed in to a group due to their distinctive traits, talents or wealth.
What can we learn from 'The Breakfast Club'? We learn that it is incorrect to judge anyone on their appearance. By the end of the film Brian completes the task set by the principal to write an essay on 'who they think they are'. Brian adequately answers this question in simple terms that no matter who he thinks he is, he will still be judged in the eyes of others as a stereotypical geek. This certainly made me reflect on these words, and led me to believe this is entirely true. People who do not know definitely judge you on your appearances, which is now elevated through social media. Additionally, this film teaches us that everyone deserves a second chance. When Andrew first meets Allison he, as we all do, judges her on her appearances and social behaviour. The last thing he does is consider her as a romantic interest. By the end of the film, once barriers between the characters are dissolved, Allison allows Claire to give her a make over. Struck by her revealed beauty, Andrew totally changes his mind and ends up kissing Allison at the end of the film.
This film is ingenious in many ways but particularly as it is set in one day and in one room. Hughes's exceptional script has helped it develop in to one of the best films ever made which is still relevant today. Some people believe that brilliant films are defined by amazing graphics, famous actors or packed with plenty of action. Although these types of films are often great, its the films that offer a didactic message and connect emotionally with the viewer that are my favourite. For me, 'The Breakfast Club' is one of the best realist films of the 20th century, along with When Harry Met Sally of course.
Since watching the new release starring Carey Mulligan, I believe Hardy's tale has a well known truth woven within his narrative. Although this book was released in 1874, approximately 150 years ago, we can still apply the moral message it showcases to our society today. It is timeless.
The three candidates for Miss Bathsheba Everdene, the lead role in this tale, sum up stereotypes we come across each day. They may already inhabit a place in your life at this current moment.
Firstly we encounter Mr Oak, with the forename Gabriel he is automatically depicted as the 'angel' or hero of the story. Gabriel is fiercely loyal to Miss Bathsheba Everdene and falls in love with her almost immediately on her arrival at her aunts farm. He proposes to her shortly afterwards but she declines as they were little acquainted. He is six years her senior and a quiet man who lives a frugal and simple life. However he is kind, and caring and most importantly a gentleman. Played by Belgian actor Matthias Schoenaerts in the film, he is quietly handsome and rather rugged as a shepherd which has its own charm. In the modern day, Gabriel represents the friend or the guy that is always there for whenever you need him most.
Secondly we have William Boldwood, an older and wiser man with plenty of money who inhabits a nearby successful farm. Boldwood becomes obsessed with Miss Everdene after she sends him a valentine card, but she does not accept his proposal as she does not love him, although she thinks over the offer as he is the most eligible bachelor in the district. Michael Sheen portrays the character very well in the recent film. Today Mr Boldwood I'm sure is equalled by people similar to his situation, a wealthy man is always attractive although as the saying goes, money cannot buy you happiness.
Thirdly we meet Sergeant Troy, an obviously attractive man and a deadly charmer. Tempted by his alluring character and his dangerous profession, Bathsheba finds her infatuated with Troy and marries him through jealously as he explains of the woman he once loved. After all, women love a man in a uniform. His formidable character however becomes too much and Bathsheba simply falls out of what was a hasty attachment with him. He is eventually killed off by Mr Boldwood who shoots Troy when he grabs Miss Everdene in a rather violent manner. The classic tall, dark an handsome stereotype played perfectly by Tom Sturridge remains supreme in this tale. These traits are still pursued by women in society today; not much has changed. Although we may deny it, its true, women love the bad boys, that element of unexpected and the daring behaviour still impresses women. The lesson we learn however is looks are not everything and being risky or unstable is certainly not the best either. Despite Troy's charm he finds himself in binary opposition to our hero Gabriel; he is most definitely not a gentleman.
So what is the message Far From the Madding Crowd leaves us to reflect on? Ultimately the good guy wins over the girl after her dismissal of him originally. The moral of the story is, don't be fooled by the flashy guy. The guy who gets all the attention, and possibly loves himself more than he loves you. Bathsheba was right not to agree to the marriage with Mr Boldwood who she knew would not make her happy, even with his copious amounts of money. Finally we turn to our hero Gabriel. His loyalty, gentlemanly manner and his kind and humble approach to life is after all what we all desire. Once he decides to leave, it dawns on Bathsheba that she cannot be without him and is ardently in love with him. Whilst this story is a didactic tale, it also embodies the perfect and realistic fairytale but rather than the 'prince' being a man of wealth, he is our simple farmer, a 'prince' I'm sure we all have or will have in our lives.
I'm officially on my campaign to reach that desired 'summer body' which is so heavily publicised in the build up to the summer holidays. As a student, my summer holidays are very loooonnnggg but great as they are filled with chilling with friends in the sun, trips out on bike rides and walks, and of course flying off aboard to see some more guaranteed sunshine.
So, why am I blogging about fitness? I feel women are pressured to 'look good' physically. I agree men also experience this pressure however all over Twitter, Instagram and in the press are images which show the 'ideal' women's body, basically an image of an athletic woman complete with six pack. Moreover in magazines, frequently across the front pages show women of the celeb world who have 'put on weight' or 'lost their shape'. I'm no fitness fanatic, but with all the fitness promotions appearing in the media in the run up to summer I have been inspired to partake in more physical activity, including spending half a dozen hours a week in the gym. I don't believe everyone needs to be going to the gym every day, but I do think partaking in some form of physical activity once a week has no end of benefits. Women especially are being targeted in these campaigns as surveys demonstrate that so many more men exercise on a weekly basis than women. Recently we witnessed the release of the Sport England's 'This Girl Can' campaign which was aimed at everyday women, who work full time, are single parents or simply want to go and get fitter to exercise. It shows women playing sport, on runs, in the gym; they are all simply participating in exercise.
The recent release of the Nike advert also perfectly summarises the plea for ordinary women to get fit, with each individual participating in activity that is not necessarily intense, but is right for them. The group of women are endeavouring to 'get fitter' although they are no gym addicts themselves. The slogan and message emphasised by the video is 'Better For It' which promotes the idea that no matter what exercise you do, you will feel the benefit.
So what are the benefits of exercise on a regular basis?
Sense of achievement
Reduces heart disease
Reduces risk of cancer
Helps you to to set goals
Reduces the risk of dementia
Reduces the risk of osteoporosis
Reduces likeliness of depression, stress and anxiety
Enhances mental perfomance
Improves you skin
Prevents muscle decay
So go on, get out and there and get fit. Even if your playing tennis once a week, going swimming on the occasion or going for regular jogs. Trust me- you will feel 'better for it'.
As a young and rather carefree twenty year old nearing the end of her second year of university many ask, have I given thought to my future? And the answer is always is of course I have! (followed by a list of a series of jobs I would like to do, which I continually add to the more people ask me this question), although I always think to my self, the future scares me! Only the other day a group of friends and I discussed silly things like, who out of all our friends is most likely to have children first, become famous, get a tattoo, become a millionaire... then we got on the dreaded subjects of weddings. You must not deny it, and gentlemen if your reading this, yes it goes through our heads... the image of the perfect wedding. Obviously this image is imagined with money as no object as it often involves brass bands, beautiful country estates and the 'perfect' dress which funnily enough doesn't have a price tag. I agree as many people do that your wedding day is the best and most memorable day of your life, however its those little moments with others that you should treasure. I think everyone forgets this and before you know it, life has gone from under your feet and your nearing the end. As much as talking about weddings and other things excite me, knowing I have some wonderful times to look forward to, we should cherish the unknown and the time we sit talking about these events.
I'm sure this 'wow, I'm no where near achieving my goals yet' feeling or anxiety is fairly normal with many young people, but all you can do is take steps in the right direction.
Lets think about it this way; one of the most beautiful things about life is you don't know where your going, if you did, wouldn't it be dull?
Below is the John Lewis advert from 2010. Although you may think this is fairly random, don't worry its very relevant. Its shows exactly how people perceive life to be, following through from one life stage to the next. The reality is, life stages don't exist. Many people (well girls) say, 'by the time I'm 28 I want to married with my first child on the way', however if you knew that, wouldn't you just be anticipating the event? Think about life as a train. You get on at one platform (your birth) and then its a continuous ride until you get off at your final destination. It may slow down at points, but it picks up again. It may break down, but don't worry, it gets repaired. This advert is the perfect summary of what everyone wants life to be, and what life essentially should be. Also the soundtrack, 'Always a Woman', originally sung by Billy Joel is a beautiful song.
Think about what now means for you. For me now, life is about music, plenty of it, listening to anything and everything at every opportunity. I love finding new bands or songs by upcoming artists. Its about going out, with friends, if its to the local pub, for a coffee or out on the town. I love spending time with friends, each one of them inspires to do something differently or enlightens me on a alternative perspective of the world. Its about watching films. I love finding films on Netflix which date back to the eighties and nineties, or watching new releases at the cinema. Its about fashion. I love reading about upcoming trends, what celebs have been wearing on the red carpet, and new techniques on how to look after yourself with home remedies or how to get fit quick, I love trying out these techniques basically to see if they are any good. Life is about enjoying the moment.
John Lennon famously said 'Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans' which I believe perfectly summerises how life really happens.
After watching Clueless a couple of nights ago, I was suddenly transported back to the 1990's. I was born in 1995, so I was practically a baby for most of it however I remember some of the trends and the big countdown to the millennium. I particularly remember dancing round to Cher's Believe which was released in 1998 and is now named one of the most annoying songs of all time! Growing up in the 00's however was great, some of the greatest bands hit the charts, especially for kids. Some of these names I'm sure you'll remember: S-Club 7, Steps, Busted, Black-Eyed Peas, Backstreet Boys, Westlife... ring any bells?
Although today these old ways seem worlds away with technology moving so fast, a new iPhone being released every two years, music being purchased in majority online and with the invention of social media we are living in a revolution of our own. I'm sure ten years from now we will be thinking about how far technology has advanced from this current moment. But lets cast our minds back to a time where mobile phones had one game of 'snake', hair gel sold out in shops as men across the country spiked their hair like a hedgehog and demin littered the shops. As we all like to do once in a while lets look at some of our favourite things from the 90's and 00's, heres my list, feel free to comment!
Favourite...
Disney Film: The Little Mermaid. Although The Lion King, Robin Hood, Snow White and Cinderella are all up there. Oh I love them all!
Children's TV show: The Tweenies with my favourite being Jake, the one with the big mohawk. I actually went to see them live, yep... a true fan. Although I only really remember watching this coming home from my very first days at school, before this it would have to be the Teletubbies, with La La being my favourite there. I also remember having a Teletubby toast cut out so I could have Tubby toast every morning.
Cartoon: Spongebob. One of the funniest and oddest cartoons around. I think I saw every episode at least twice over.
Sitcom: No doubt with this one, F.R.I.E.N.D.S.! In fact I believe it is the best TV show of all time.
Sweets: Those little packets of fun gums that used to come in the shapes of teeth and toothbrushes were always nice and a popular choice at school discos, although slightly ironic thinking back as sweets are bad for your teeth...
Author: I remember being in primary school and the Jacqueline Wilson craze starting off. I think I read pretty much all of her books. I also adored the books by Roald Dahl especially The Twits and The BFG.
Meal: Something like Tuna Pasta Bake I would have enjoyed. I always liked pasta and people that know me now can support me on this, particularly at university, when looking for an easy dinner, pasta is always the first port of call.
Item of Clothing: It has to be my purple velvet top which spelt out 'Party' in stick on gems. As tacky as that may sound, I loved that top and it has be said velvet was very on trend and has made a comeback in recent years. I was also very proud of my total 90 shoes, silver and red ones to be precise, which seemed to become a massive trend with both boys and girls, as a bit of a tom-boy back then I thought they were the best thing since sliced bread.
Teacher: Mr P. Best teacher I've ever had. Even as a young seven year old he inspired me to pursue History with his practical approach to the subject. We frequently listened to old music, often by Elvis Presley as his favourite ever artist, watched films on spies in the Second World War and even dressed up as German soldiers for our assembly on Remembrance that made it into the local paper!
Songs: Ooo this is tricky as many of my favourite songs from the time would have changed now. I'll have to spilt it into two parts. As a child in the 90's- probably ...Baby One More Time by Britney Spears, a very catchy song released in 1998. From the 00's, wow thats hard as I remember so many songs- I'll narrow it down to 5 songs, the first one being Kylie Minogue- Can't Get You Out Of My Head (2001), Busted- Year 3000 (2002), Beyonce- Crazy in Love (2003), The Black Eyed Peas- Where is the Love? (2003), Your Beautiful- James Blunt (2005).
Guilty Pleasure Song: The Ketchup Song released in 2002 - although it was so bad, it was just so good wasn't it?
Artist/Band: Well its going to have to be S-Club 7, they dominated my school disco days. Everyone loved a bit of Ssssss-Club. Remember, there ain't no party like an S-Club party? Although Busted were a top band of mine, I even had some bright pink Busted pjs, yeah I was a cool kid.
Subject at school: History, always liked it and thats what I'm now studying it at degree level! Not so much dressing up involved though.
Day of the Year at School: It has to be Sports Day. Loved competing with my friends for little medals and being treated to a 99, which then were true to their name, only £1.
Male Celebrity Crush: Its gonna have to be Mr DiCaprio, who wouldn't fall for that cute face in Titanic?
Toy: As the young 00's girl I was, I had a Baby Annabelle that I loved and wanted to buy everything for, the bed, the clothes, the pram. But do you remember Furbies? I had one of those and I thought it was the best thing ever. I was also very original (not) with a collection of Barbies.
Console Game: Sims was my all time favourite game. However in the days of the Playstation 2, which my brother had, we would often play Crash Bash, a game of mini challenges with that fox like creature Crash Bandicoot. Also on Nintendo DS, the original one which I was fascinated by the touchscreen, I loved Animal Crossing. It seemed all the kids at primary school had this game and we would visit each other and stuff and whatever else you could do!
Rom-Com: The age of Rom-Com was the 1990s. Now this is bit of a retrospective question as I obviously didn't really watch romantic films when I was little. The traditional British ones are all so brilliant such as Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994), Pretty Woman (1990) and Notting Hill (1999), which is my all time favourite. However She's All That (1999), which I heard they are remaking soon, She's the Man (2006) which sparked my love for Channing Tatum, and 13 going on 30 (2004) are some of my ultimate favourites.
Thing you miss most about the 90's/00's: As much as I love Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and the so many more social media websites, a world without it was in effect is so much easier, maybe for my age group anyway. So many times I hear girls saying 'don't put that on Facebook' or 'I'll edit that and post it later', 'they have more likes than me' or 'wow, she has 143 likes, she must be pretty'. Should we really be thinking like this and did people in the past think like this before modern technology? I just sometimes think that sites such as Facebook etc. can be compared to a giant interview room where everyone is competing for attention. Are therefore the children of today pressured from an early age to be modelled for these sites, educated on how to pose for a selfie or is it all just a bit of fun? Anyway this could spark a whole new debate. Saying that, as an avid user of all these sites does that mean I am just an average consumer of the social networking culture of the 21st century or I have fallen in to the trap of social competitiveness? I do like the fact social media allows you to share events, photos and well your opinions openly, helping you to connect with others around you, but I do miss the innocence of the 90's which did not have such social pressures, especially on young people. Also I miss the great, although somewhat cheesy music!
So, have a go answering the favourites for yourself, trust me its really fun :) and as ever feel free to make any comments.
On Monday 12th January I will be turning 20! Now for me, a mere 19 year old that seems old! Although Im sure many of you would argue I have my whole life ahead of me still, which I know is true, its still fairly daunting! But thats also what makes this birthday all the more exciting! Although I'm reluctant to leave my teens behind, which have been full of some great memories, embracing the big 20 means the beginning of adulthood. I know I'm not turning 21, which is the key transitional point into adulthood, I'm leaving one decade of my life and entering another, which seems possibly even more scary!
At this stage of your life people are asking me: what are you going to do once you've finished your degree? Have you got a boyfriend? What career path are you wanting to follow? Do you have a job currently?
This bombardment is a constant reminder I haven't exactly got my life planned out, I know the answers to those questions, but its just reaching what I really want out of life. For me, this birthday is not only about getting drunk with some mates to celebrate, although that will be happening I'm sure, but about trying to take the small steps to reaching the larger goals.
Not only this, but I have lived for twenty years, isn't that also cause for celebration? I have survived 20 years of life, with whatever it has thrown at me, I've continued to surpass it. I've witnessed many changes, events and disasters since 1995 and have continued to watch and be part of the development of the society and the world around me. Over these teenage years and particularly recently with moving out and studying at University, I have begun to find myself, what I want, who I am.
So what can I look forward to in my twenties? Here is the top advice about life in your twenties:
Friends will soon be about quality not quantity. Surround yourself with people who make you laugh and make you feel good about yourself. Cherish them, your are in this journey together.
You'll begin to love people for their soul, not whats on the outside.
You'll experience greater equality with people around you. Its not longer about if they are popular, nerdy or sporty, its about who they are.
Do things that make you happy.
Take chances (to an extent), you'll regret it later on if you don't.
Enjoy the moment. Although you may be worrying about the future, don't ignore what is going on in your life at that current moment.
'I thought I knew everything about love and relationships in my 20s, the ignorance of youth is bliss. As you get older, you start to realise that you don't really know anything and life is a great traveling journey. Life is unexpected…you just never know whats going to happen'.Reese Witherspoon
Check out Buzzfeed for other articles about entering your twenties! Heres a few of my favourites:
Soo, we are in the final days of 2014! How exciting! But this is also very scary?! Where has this year gone? It is certainly true that with age the years go quicker. So with that Christmas chaos over, everyone is turning their thoughts to the new year. How are you going to celebrate it? Is 2015 going to be a new start for you? I have listed some new years resolutions for those of you struggling out there! Now, as everyone promises at the beginning of each year that they will stick by their resolution and by March they can't even remember what it was in the first place, this year I am actually going to abide by it! Remember its small steps that help you achieve your overall goal.
My new years resolution: Take more advantage of the opportunities presented to me in all aspects of life.
Here are five resolutions to think about:
1. Get Fit- probably the most popular new years resolution that almost everyone promises to themselves, and possibly the one most commonly broken! Getting fit is not just about hitting the gym for two hours a day, its the small things. If you can, choose to walk or cycle to work/ uni/ school, walking is one of the best ways to get fit. Replace toast for breakfast with muesli or porridge, both of which slowing release energy throughout the day. Don't snack past 9pm, a late night nibble is always tempting I know but try and hold off until the morning! Exercising can increase your serotonin levels by releasing endorphins which make you a generally happier person! Start slow with a walk/jog and then increase your milage or alternatively join the gym and build up your fitness level. Also, there are so many sports clubs out there go along, you never know you may love it!
2. Travel- This is really reliant on time and money, but if you can experience somewhere new! This isn't just about holidays either. I know in my head I'm desperate to go to New York as soon as I can, however I'm rather restricted in the financial department being a student, so I'm gonna start saving in the new year! However, even spending those Sundays with family or friends in different cities in the UK or at places you've always wanted to visit makes such as difference to your life in 2015, making you feel good about yourself for visiting somewhere new out of the monotonous routine.
3. Learn Something New- Now this may be the easiest and possibly cheapest resolution you can take on. Learning little things from baking different cakes, or knitting some socks to learning to play a new sport or gaining a qualification can make a difference to your life with that great feeling of achievement. Achieving something instigates that sense of pride, and its always nice to feel proud of yourself once in a while.
4. Be More Positive- With every problem, or everything that hasn't quite gone your way try and think of one positive outcome, even if it is to learn from your mistake. That way, those day to day things won't feel so bad, and you'll become more of a positive person.
5. Take Care of Yourself- Maybe once per week treat yourself to some 'me time'. If you have time, take a relaxing bath with some amazing smelling bubble bath, a bit of music, I recommend a bit of Norah Jones, its so relaxing! Take care of your skin by using moisturiser and cleansers and if you have ten minutes, a face mask does the world of good. You will notice a change in your skin, and this will help you build confidence, you will feel better about yourself and it is worthwhile!
So 2014 is coming to a close and its around this time we all begin to reflect on the year. There is currently a trend circulating on Facebook naming seven things you have done this year, so I thought I would share them on here first... here goes!
1. I kicked off my year with my 19th birthday (12th January) and went to see Les Mis on the West End. It was absolutely fantastic and I may have to say the best musical I have seen ever?
2. In March I visited one of my good friends at her uni in Cheltenham, unfortunately our other friend became very ill very rapidly, and no it was not due to alcohol! The weekend was spent caring for our mate, with a trip to hospital thrown in, whilst trying to avoid catching his illness. I spent a rather large section of the weekend on the phone to NHS direct, although it was all very hilarious constructing some sort of sleeping area in the corridor to avoid catching said illness which the doctors suggested was 'highly contagious'. Maybe 2015 will be my year to explore Cheltenham? (bar the hospital of course!)
3. I went punting in my university city of Oxford with a group of friends and luckily no one fell in! It is such a great way to see the city, and yes I did have a go although I was better at taking photos.
4. I passed my first year of university with a solid 2:1, kinda wish that year counted now...
5. I had the best cinematic experience of my life in May. On a whim, my mum and I went to see 'The Other Woman' in the directors lounge. With the choice of a drink from the bar and free popcorn, not to mention the sofa type loungers you sat on. Although I had already seen the film, it is so hilarious which obviously made the experience so much better! I recommend it for a treat.
6. I went on my first holiday abroad without my parents. In August I jetted off to Malia with a bunch of friends and no, its not exactly how they make out in the Inbertweeners movie! Despite waking up feeling very rough each morning, I had one of the best weeks ever, filled with sunshine, fun and great company.
7. Finally I began to pursue my passion for writing. Back in May I decided I wanted to join the blogging craze and divulge my opinions over matters that are often interesting topics of debate, hence the name 'Those giant questions'. I have also recently submitted an article to the student newspaper here at uni and I'm looking forward to it being printed (fingers crossed!)
That was rather difficult trying to narrow it down! I recommend everyone should give this a go, even if its brief. Its always nice to reflect on the year you've had and what you've achieved.
Im getting in the Christmas mood so I thought I would have a go at the 'Christmas tag' post recommended to me by my friend and fellow blogger Lauren. Have a go at answering these yourself and feel free to disagree with any of my answers! Merry Christmas!
What is your favourite Christmas film?
Oo this is a rather tricky one! But as I'm quite a hopeless romantic at heart I will have to go for Love Actually, which I pick not only for its many story lines and clever plot, but also its humour! We all love the scene with Rowan Atkinson in Selfridges! Not to mention its array of brilliant famous faces. Any film starring Colin Firth and Hugh Grant is bound to be good right? However, I am quite a fan of The Holiday, the one where Winslet and Diaz swap houses for Christmas, it again is very funny with a great story line and stars the lovely Jude Law!
Have you ever had a White Christmas?
Sadly no, not that I recall. I think the closest I have come to it is having a very thin layer of snow on the ground but I am sure that doesn't count!
Where do you usually spend your holiday?
I have spent Christmas in various houses however it is often spent in either one of two places, at home or down in Surrey with my Auntie. The usual crowd of relatives gathers which is nice because with being away at university I see them even less than I did before so Im looking forward to it!
What is your favourite Christmas song?
I think it may have to be Last Christmas, if I had to pick from the classics we hear each year, mainly because I like the video where they all spend Christmas in that ski lodge in the mountains, how cool would that be?! However, I am a big fan of Michael Buble and his Christmas album is the best! Its always on in our household when decorating the tree, well actually its on throughout most of December!
Do you open any presents on Christmas Eve?
No! I can wait until the morning! Do people do this?
Can you name all of Santa's Reindeer?
There is definitely a song to remember this with...
Erm, Comet, Donnor, Vixen, Blitzen, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer and Rudolph?
What holiday traditions are you looking forward to most this year?
I love buying people gifts, especially when you find something which you know they will love, but my favourite bit is giving it to them and seeing their smile, aww how cheesy! Oh, and not forgetting the Christmas food! That excess of chocolate, turkey and those Boxing Day leftovers!
Is your Christmas tree real or fake?
Real! I love the smell and picking the tree is always hilarious as there are often arguments over which tree to buy. We also put up a fake tree in the dining room to keep up the Christmas spirit over dinner.
What is your all time favourite holiday food/ sweet treat?
Hmm, a tradition in our house is to have Turkish Delight on side for helpings, and this is the only time of year its in our house! Im also a fan of cheese at Christmas, which may sound odd, but we always have a wide selection of cheese in stock for the Christmas day cheeseboard. Yum!
Be honest: do you like giving gifts or receiving gifts better?
As I mentioned earlier, it has to be giving. I love seeing that smile on peoples faces!
What is the best Christmas gift you've ever received?
I think as a kid, it has to be the Nintendo DS, that very first edition! I remember looking at them in a shop a month or so before and being fascinated with the game Nintendogs, and as a big lover of dogs I thought as I don't have a dog, this game may the closest I will ever get! Luckily a couple of years later we visited my mums friend, who owned a Norfolk Terrier who had just had puppies, it was literally love at first sight, and Tilly came home with us a few weeks later.
What would be your dream place to visit for the holiday season?
Somewhere snowy so I can experience that 'White Christmas', maybe Canada? Another obvious choice would be New York, ice skating in Central Park, Christmas shopping in Bloomingdales, New Year in Times Square! That is something for my bucket list.
Are you a pro present wrapper or do you fail miserably?
I would like to think my present wrapping is not too shabby, but I am a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to things like that. I can do that clever trick though of not cutting the wrapping paper but slicing it in one smooth motion.
Most memorable holiday moment?
Hmm this is a hard question, as Ive experienced a fair few Christmases now! I think dressing up as Rudolph and Santa with my brother and decorating the tree when we were little, and probably not doing a great job! Also when my cousin was born on December 3rd and her arriving at the house still so tiny, dressed in a Rudolph baby grow, adorable!
What made you realise the truth about Santa?
I think I began to work it out when I noticed the writing on the labels on presents addressed from Santa was very similar to the handwriting of mum and dad... Although I didn't want to admit he wasn't real just in case he was, plus I wanted to keep it alive for my younger brother.
Do you make New Resolutions? Do you stick to them?
Yes, I try to make resolutions, this year is to take advantage of the opportunities that come my way and try not to let them pass me by. Do I stick to them, well I think in the first month I will try, as everyone does, new year, new me thing, but I'm sure as time goes on I might forget... But I am really going to try this year!
What makes the holidays special for you?
I think the whole Christmas spirit, and the attitude of 'c'mon its Christmas'. I think that people become more optimistic, and generally happier, despite those who hate this time of year. The whole idea of being brought together, whether it be friends or family is great fun, and its always nice to treat people who are great to you all year round!
Thats right, this year marks the 20th anniversary of the first airing of the American TV sitcom F.R.I.E.N.D.S! Back on the 22nd September 1994, the first episode ' The Pilot' hit American TV screens for the first time, and 10 years later the show ended. With over 200 million views across all ten seasons in the US alone, it was undoubtably a hit. The final episode of F.R.I.E.N.D.S was watched by 54.46 million people across the US, which made it the fourth most watched finale of any television series in history! But why was this American sitcom so successful, not only in America but internationality? Why do people such as myself continue to watch F.R.I.E.N.D.S?
This show just doesn't get old! Why is F.R.I.E.N.D.S still appearing on our screens everyday? In the UK, the show appeared on E4 from 2004 through to 2011 repeating the ten series and then this role was taken on later that year by Comedy Central UK in high definition and is on going. F.R.I.E.N.D.S is still watched by so many! I think the main reason being is because it has such a strong link to reality. The producers behind the show, David Crane and Marta Kauffman claimed the show was about '...sex, love, relationships, careers, a time in your life when everything's possible. And its about friendship because when your'e single and in the city, your friends are your family'. What the creators of the show refer to, is the most exciting time in your life. People can relate to the experience of the feeling of the unknown and making your way in the world. Even as a university student I agree that your friends really do become your family when you lead your own life as an individual and yes, it is very exciting. Most people understand and can relate to this statement because we have either been there already, on that journey currently, or are about to begin it. This time in your life can be lively, thrilling and most of all unpredictable. People love to revisit the years of fun, parties, the series of boyfriends or girlfriends, when in all you were living your life as an individual and experiencing everything yourself and growing as a person to become who you are in later life. This is one of the reasons F.R.I.E.N.D.S is so successful, we can watch each character grow into who they are, as they are shaped by their experiences.
Season 1- episode 1- 'The Pilot' (1994) From the very beginning, in 'The Pilot' episode, each character is portrayed differently with different qualities. This is another reason which can be attributed to the shows success. Each character has individual traits which can be related to your own friends, family or even yourself.
Season 10- episode 18- 'The Last One' (2004)
Firstly, you have Monica Geller (Courtney Cox), who acts as the mother of the group, with her bossy, and obsessive nature. Monica almost holds the group together originally, Ross as her older brother, she is friends with Chandler through Ross, and Joey through Chandler, Rachel as her old high school friend and Phoebe as her ex- flatmate. She is often made fun of for her obesity when she was younger and for her compulsive behaviour surrounding cleanliness. But Monica has a very caring heart. Feeling broody throughout all ten seasons, Monica falls in love with Chandler and marries him and goes on to adopt twins with him in the final episode.
On the contrary, Rachel Green (Jennifer Aniston) embodies many things Monica does not. She was the popular girl at high school, successful with boys and in the beginning is very much a 'daddy's girl'. Once moved in with Monica, Rachel learns to become independent in the city, working her way up in the fashion industry. Rachel is romantically involved with Ross in season two, and later has a baby, Emma, with him as a consequence of their on and off relationship and a couple glasses of wine... Rachel is sweet natured and fun loving and learns to thrive in the city.
Character Phoebe Buffay (Lisa Kudrow), the most eccentric of the characters, had a rough upbringing, with her mother committing suicide and her father leaving home. She is innocent in nature and is very kind but with a strong backbone. Phoebe sings, although very obscure songs rather badly, at the Central Perk coffee house, where the group often hang out. Phoebe has an identical twin Ursula, who unlike Phoebe is cold hearted and selfish. She has a few serious relationships throughout the ten seasons and eventually marries Mike Hannigan in season ten.
Above- The F.R.I.E.N.D.S cast in 1994- from the top left,
Matt LeBlanc, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer,
Matthew Perry, Courtney Cox and Jennifer Aniston.
Chandler Bing (Matthew Perry) is the 'funny one' of the group due to his very sarcastic humour. He is known for having bad luck with women and for his annoying ex- girlfriend Janice who he dates in season one. He later falls in love with Monica after they begin seeing each other after Ross's wedding in London. Chandler is sweet, understanding and has a good heart.
Joey Tribbiani (Matt LeBlanc) is a typical ladies man and food lover. He is an actor who gets a big break on the television show Days of our Lives. Joey is Chandler's room mate for most of the seasons, however Rachel moves in for a while in later seasons. Joey and Rachel have a brief romance, but they decide to just stay friends. Although simple-minded, Joey is affectionate and warm hearted.
Ross Geller (David Schwimmer), is Monica's older brother is the most academic of the group, working as a palaeontologist. This is coupled with his geeky behaviour, often boring the group with stories about dinosaurs. However, Ross is warm hearted and sweet but can be socially awkward and a little clumsy. Ross has three failed marriages throughout the ten seasons, which is often made fun of by the others. Ross has an on and off relationship with Rachel throughout all ten seasons, and frequently gets jealous of Rachel's boyfriends. Ross and Rachel confess their love for each other in the final episode.
Above- the F.R.I.E.N.D.S cast in 2004,
at the end of season ten.
So why else has F.R.I.E.N.D.S been so successful?
The shows story lines are certainly very relatable. They focus on the 'everyday', for example the struggle with jobs, such as Rachel's hate for waitressing, Chandler's boring job, or Monica's struggle to find work as a chef. They look at simple things such as dealing with parents, we see this with Rachel's difficult father and Monica's nitpicky mother. There is the focus on various relationships in the group, with many of the members having a few serious relationships such as Ross and Emily, Monica and Richard and Phoebe and David.
Moreover, the relationship story lines within the group, such as Ross and Rachel hooked us to the show. They were constantly on and off but they knew they really wanted to be together and so did we! They were such a perfect couple in season two, and everyone loves a bit of romance! However, the reality of witnessing the break up of Ross and Rachel in season three added a huge sense of realism to the show as it is not in keeping with the traditional fairytale ending. Their love for each other is a constant theme of the show, with them getting back together briefly at the beginning of season four even the group visit the beach, Ross saying Rachel's name at the alter when marrying Emily, the drunken Vegas wedding and divorce and having baby Emma in season eight. As Phoebe says in 'The One with the Prom Video'- 'he's her lobster!', meaning they are meant for each other and should be together forever.
The unexpected relationship that forms with Monica and Chandler after a drunken night in London is again in keeping with the reality theme. This couple formed not by meeting eyes across a room, but in a way suited to the modern day. They found something they had always wanted but never realised it was so near. Monica and Chandler show real love, especially when Chandler confesses his love for Monica when kissing Phoebe and when Monica tries to propose to Chandler after Richard asks her to marry him. Their relationship was one we could track in the show, right from them hiding it from the group, to their wedding in season eight. In their wedding vows, we almost feel a little emotional when we realise how far this couple has come and how all the characters had really grown up. Back in season one, I think I personally, and many more of you may agree that insecure and commitment afraid Chandler wouldn't be one to get married whilst the show aired. But then who knew it would last a decade, a lot can change!
F.R.I.E.N.D.S has been so successful it has a song totally attributed to the show. 'I'll Be There for You' by The Rembrandts is the introduction song to the show and it became an instant hit, remaining in the top 100 chart songs in the US for 8 weeks. Additionally, further afield came number three in the UK singles chart, reached third in Australia and seventeen in the US billboard top 100. Its a classic, now only ever associated with the American sitcom!
Not only has F.R.I.E.N.D.S impacted people with its own song, but it has set trends internationality! We all remember in season two, Rachel's layered style hair cut? This was such a huge hit with women across the US and in other countries where the show was popular, it became known as 'The Rachel'. Moreover, Joey's catch phrase 'How you doin?' became such a popular line, it is instantly recognisable by any person who has seen the show and frequently used across Western cultures. On and off relationships can be commonly referred to a 'Ross and Rachel', with the famous line 'We were on a break' cropping up. People often describe people as 'just like Monica or Joey from F.R.I.E.N.D.S'.
Most importantly, F.R.I.E.N.D.S is hilarious! Every episode there is something to laugh about! If its not the running jokes, such as Ross's failed marriages, Chandler's lack of of luck with women or Joey's luck with women! Its the celebrity guests, such as Brad Pitt or Reese Witherspoon who add extra humour to the show. The one liners such which all cast members execute so excellently stick in our minds. The big episodes such as 'The One Where Rachel Tells Ross' or 'The One with Ross's Wedding Part 2', although they have a serious undertone, are hilarious!
F.R.I.E.N.D.S is a show that is going to be remembered for a long time. I presume it will continue to be showed for many years to come! I believe the true success of the show is due to its clear link to reality. Its focus on the life of young people, who are living unstable lives, both with relationships and with careers is highly relatable to many young people of our time, and for that matter, older people who can relate to this setup. F.R.I.E.N.D.S demonstrates the modern lifestyle many people lead today, showing that our friends can become your family. Its emphasis on the daily troubles of life makes it even more relatable to audiences watching. The University of Buffalo, USA, claimed that F.R.I.E.N.D.S changed American culture forever. It is evident this American sitcom has had a huge impact on many people and is part of our generation we will never forget. It as one of the best comedy series if all time, teaching us all sorts of life lessons along the way, and most of all demonstrating how important your friends really are!
Happy twenty years F.R.I.E.N.D.S! I am sure you are going to be around for a long time yet!
An interview with the cast back in 1994- no one knew then the impact this show would have on western culture, the international success and how long it would appear on our screens!
Summer is the best time of the year right? This is often a debate people differ on, with some claiming Christmas is the most exciting time of the year. Although its very lovely to stay in and cosy up in front of the fire, whilst being swamped with blankets and hot chocolate, watching the traditional Christmas TV on those winter evenings, does that compare to those long summer days? As much as I enjoy listening to George Michael's Last Christmas and watching the multiple TV Christmas specials, it seems that winter is stereotypically a time to retreat from society, stay indoors and well, keep warm! Summer is about exploring, spending time with friends and enjoying Pimms o'clock whilst watching the Wimbledon mens final!
Even though I was born in the middle of January, the winter for me does not simply match up to the summer for my favourite season. I think for many young people this is the case, the holidays, the house parties, the going out and seeing the sunrise. Just the prospect of summer excites many people! The whole build up to that anticipated season is huge! The initial excitement for summer really begins when the summer clothes catalogues begin to appear in shops or in the post if your a bit of a shopoholic like myself. Then there is a holiday to consider, where will you go? That first warm day when the sunglasses are rediscovered in a draw, the shorts are first out and that smell of BBQ in the evening, coupled with that sip of cider makes us feel content right? That day only heightens our anticipation for the peak of the summer months when the majority (as I am British) of days are like that. It has actually been scientifically proven that exposure to the sun, makes us happier! Those winter blues are not just myth but are true. The lack of exposure to the sun can lead to such things as vitamin D sufficiency, fertility problems, general poor health and most significantly depression.
So despite science, why does the summer make us feel good? Maybe its because we can finally enjoy that holiday which has been booked since February and we have worked hard for. Or its because we can sit out in beer gardens in the late evening and not feel cold. For me, summer is the biggest party season of the year. As a university student, its true, I party all year round, but there is most certainly a significant difference to going out in a coat and jeans to going out in a skirt and cami! Trust me it makes all the difference. Summer is about festivals, good sport, sunning it up and comparing your glow with friends and enjoying those drawn out evenings with most probably an alcoholic beverage of some sort. As I said previously, summer is the time for parties; parities by the pool, house parties or just evenings with friends. I mean I'm not even talking about a Project X style house party, just summer sunshine, friends and the summer charts. Now, when hearing old songs play, they transport you back to a memory or event, for example Daft Punk's Get Lucky takes me back a year to last summer, but there is something about music in the summer which just makes it more special. There has always been a song from recent summers which reminds me of all those memories, and whenever I listen to it I am transported back to that summer heat and I love that!
Well, what about this summer? So its still very early, however I am sure you are all counting down those days until your holiday, I certainly am! We are currently on the brink of summer, that final stage of anticipation, now the summer clothes have taken over our shops and have entered our wardrobes, along with the sandals and sunglasses. The evenings are long and beautiful and we can now eat ice cream with an excuse for it being a snack which will cool us down. The only thing left to do now is gather those last holiday goodies, enjoy the sunshine (how infrequent it may be) and smile, because summer has virtually arrived!
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