So Summer is here! Why not make it your best one yet? I have come up with a summer bucket list for you to follow to try and make this summer the most memorable ever. Remember you only live once!
1. Sleep under the stars
2. Go camping with friends
3. Go on a European city break (or several for that matter)
4. Pick strawberries and eat them (with cream in a true British fashion)
5. Go swimming in the sea (In Britain)
6. Go swimming in the sea (somewhere hot where it is not so painful)
7. Try a new sport
8. Take a summer walk one evening
9. Stay up all night and watch the sunrise
10. Watch a television series you have always wanted to see but never had the time
11. Go for a picnic
12. Go for a luxurious picnic with champagne and smoked salmon and cucumber sandwiches
13. Go for an evening drive
14. Go out and roll in at 6am
15. Go to the races
16. Go to a concert or festival
17. Watch that film you have always wanted to see
18. Have a BBQ with friends
19. Have a BBQ on the beach with cider
20. Play Beer- Pong
21. Throw a party
22. See in a West End show
23. Go on a long bike ride
24. Hire a boat for the day and sail upon a river for the day (I recommend the river Dart in South Devon)
25. Host a meal for your friends
26. Learn to make cocktails
27. Have a Pimms evening
28. Try to eat healthier- make plenty of fruit salads
29. Collect shells at the beach
30. Play beach volleyball with friends
31. Have a waterfight
32. Listen to Jack Johnson- trust me he is the sound of summer!
33. Kiss a stranger (thats if your single, I am not encouraging cheating)
34. Take a walk along the sand barefoot
35. Go somewhere completely new
36. Take a road trip and take a couple of pairs of clothes to see you through
37. Make a campfire in the woods and melt marshmallows on sticks
38. Take a trip to an outdoor cinema screening or create one yourself
39. Go to an airshow
40. Get a golden brown tan
41. Make your own ice lollies (lemonade ones are amazing)
42. Go skinny dipping
43. Release lanterns into the sky one evening
44. Go jet skiing or surfing or some type of water sport
45. Eat an ice cream or fish and chips on the end of a pier on on the beach
46. Go on a girls/ lads holiday
47. Visit those friends you hardly ever see
48. Read books- at least one for those of you that don't read
49. Make an effort to form better friendships with people
50. Have fun whatever the weather
So how many have you done so far?
The aim is to tick off as many as you can! That way you can see what you have achieved and if you are having the summer of a lifetime!
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!
As I have mentioned in previous posts, we are living in the age of consumerism. Having material goods make us feel good, doesn't it? Most of us take pride in our possessions, especially the expensive ones! This is one of the reasons for the rise of 'designer' products in our society. We can now show off our wealth through a Louis Vuitton handbag or a Babour jacket! However is this healthy?
The craze of designer products, which has only really took off in the last ten years is purposely demonstrating to others the amount of cash we have. If you saw somebody with a Mulberry bag on one arm and a Chanel bag in the other, coupled with a Ralph Lauren shirt and a Michael Kors watch, it is natural to assume they are rather affluent! Designer sets us apart. It gives us, and indicates to others a sense of the position we hold in society. To see your friend in a Jack Wills dress from the new summer collection can indicate to you how much money they have, even if you don't think about that it, you do subconsciously.
Why do we wear designer? Apart from demonstrating social status, designer has the trait of being a quality product. Designer products are sturdier than your average H&M jacket! Brands such as Jack Wills prides its self on being 'Fabulously British'. Additionally, there are now different stages of designer, each which aim at different target markets. Many young people of today are attracted to brands such as Hollister, part of the Abercrombie and Fitch group, which comes under the group of the affordable designer brands. Designer also encompasses its own identity. Not many people will own the same Vivienne Westwood dress which gives you, the buyer, an advantage of a rare product which people are more likely to comment on, and who doesn't like compliments?
One of the main reasons of the designer mania is the role it plays in the lives of celebrities. We read about, see pictures of and hear of celebs attending the Oscars in Alexander McQueen or in a Harvey Nichols. Celebrities set the trend for many things, the main one being fashion. If Zac Efron is wearing Rayban aviators, then it becomes a popular item to purchase. Moreover, if Emma Watson wears a Chanel dress to her latest premiere, then it is publicised in magazines. You get the jist. If the people we desire to look or behave like are wearing it, then we should be right?
This new 'designer' craze has resulted in an increase in designer outlets such as Bicester Village, a favourite of mine! This is a shopping experience delegated to a series of famous brands. Brands such as Ralph Lauren to Chanel all in one place. As a student, I'm not particularly interested in the top brands, such as Gucci or Prada but I'm more of the Jack Wills, Cath Kidston, Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger type I suppose.
Anyway, designer is becoming more and more popular and it is constantly gaining a larger target market. We are hooked on designer. It surrounds us each day, and is becoming part of our consumerist culture. Our desire to have the best material goods, is embodied in our shopping experiences.
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!
Seventy years ago today, June 6th 1944, was D-Day, the beginning of the end of war in Europe. This day, to you that do not know, was the giant aillied assault on Normandy France, codenamed operation Overlord. This invasion was conducted both by air and by amphibious landings on five beaches and parachute drops across northern Normandy. It is estimated that 15,000 men at least, were killed on this day alone.
So, you may ask what is the importance of this day seventy years on? The sacrifice of so many stopped Hitler in his tracks of deploying more troops to the Eastern front, which would have meant the war would have most certainly continued, killing thousands more on the home front and in action. Therefore, our freedom even now should be attributed to this day, and to the British, American and Canadian soldiers who liberated those beaches.
I visited Normandy ten years ago, on the 60th anniversary of the D-day landings. Even though I was only young, it struck me how recent those sacrifices were. When visiting Normandy, the five beaches and the coastal towns, it is like walking into a time capsule. It feels, when walking around the towns and along the beaches, and as a child running down the bomb craters that you can sense the pounding of feet, the sound of shells and the firing of guns. The floating harbours, built to contain military vehicles still stand as they were once put 70 years ago. Furthermore, the gun battlements, built by the Germans to defend the Atlantic coast, still prevail on the top of the cliffs, surrounded by bomb craters created by the British airforce. Most importantly, the tales of the veterans who still live today is our most prominent reminder of this monumental invasion. This is why I believe it is important to remember these events, as we can witness first hand, the history of D-day.
The famous film Saving Private Ryan (1998) and television series Band of Brothers (2001) give a realistic and hard hitting portrayal of operation Overlord and I most defiantly recommend you give those a watch to at least have a glimpse into the horrific chaos these young men endured.
As a 90's kid, I grew up in a fairly secluded environment, as children in previous generations did. The reasons for this are simple. In the 90's there wasn't half of the communication media we have today. People were only just getting to grips with the internet let alone the likes of social networking sites, such as Facebook and Twitter! Today, information is circulated dangerously quickly! Only last week we witnessed a video of the UK band- One Direction smoking illegal substances. However, is the transition to a 'digital' society proving rather unhealthy for children growing up this decade and the ones to come?
The idea of our society becoming much more liberal is emphasised all the time in many different ways. For example chart music of this decade, the most popular music listened to by young people, contains many precarious lyrics which are possibly unsuitable for young people. The release of Rhianna's S&M (2011) for example, sparked much debate over its sexualised lyrics, along with a ban on the video for containing too much sexual content. Furthermore, artists such as Eminem, Drake and Nicki Minaj often use lyrics which contain offence language. Is the exposure of such material not terrible for children? It surely portrays unsafe messages? This type of music was not witnessed in the industry in the 90's, and if it did exist it was not particularly popular. Bands such as Take That, Wet Wet Wet, and the Spice Girls ruled the charts! Slightly later bands such as Atomic Kitten, S-Club 7 and Westlife captivated my childhood, all of whom stressed harmless messages such as 'Reach for Stars'. The music I listened to back then is beyond compare to what I listen to now as a young adult!
Is the social media revalation of the 21st century also damaging to children of today? The
significant increase in use of sites such as Facebook and Twitter has dramatically changed the rate at which information is spread. Children of today are accessing all sorts of things which they never have before. The increase of social media sites and sites such as Youtube expose material which parents try to protect them from! Social media sites such as Facebook also encourages low self esteem amongst young people. There is a constant state of competition by watching other peoples, it naturally leads you to compare your life to theirs. The obsession with appearances, from small things such as how many likes one may receive on their new profile picture may determine a child's confidence on how they look and may make them feel very self conscious. This, combined with today's consumerist society, focused on what you own, can lead children to feel embarrassed about their way of life and doubt about who they are.
Moreover, because of such quick communicative methods, children can witness the demise of their favourite idols which may possibly lead them to believe that their behaviour is acceptable. For example, the transition of Miley Cyrus from innocent American sweetheart to a devious and defiant young adult. Not only are children able to witness the classic 'bad' habits such as drinking, smoking and taking drugs; they see people such as Miley becoming very popular through it, even though perhaps infamously. Yes, I am not suggesting this is a new trend, this happened in the past. I mean the transition of the Beatles from a young and upcoming British band to new international superstars led them astray along the way, entering into a world of many drugs. Moreover, in recent times such cases as Lindsay Lohan demonstrates the stress of fame, however is publishing these images good for children? Is our society suited to children?
Our emerging society, one of communication, is incredible in a sense that we are able to communicate with people all over the world! Social media allows us to learn of events breaking out across the world within seconds, along with the latest gossip which may not be an entirely good thing. As a young adult, I do not condone the world of social media as it proves very useful in my life. However, I do witness the excessive gossip through sites such as Facebook. Unlike my childhood in the 90's and early 2000's, children of today are exposed to much more corruption, wether it be through google images of celebrities taking drugs or youtube videos of Miley Cyrus 'twerking' on Robin Thicke, or music videos such as the one recently posted by Route 94- My Love (2014) of young people being promiscuous. It seems the more liberal society of today does not do enough to protect the innocence of children as children have been in previous generations.
20. Play Beer- Pong
28. Try to eat healthier- make plenty of fruit salads
35. Go somewhere completely new
41. Make your own ice lollies (lemonade ones are amazing) 
49. Make an effort to form better friendships with people
