Tips For Surviving University Life

With September approaching, many people are preparing to take the new and exciting step into University life. Being a recent graduate myself, I thought I would take a trip down memory lane and give people essential advice for surviving the transition to student land.

It is most likely that if you are going to University for the first time, you will be living in student accommodation. Obviously with so many students staying in so many rooms, your place of residence is not going to be the Ritz, so don’t go away expecting luxury. Of course some rooms are better than others, however, they are usually very basic.

There are a few ways you can prepare, in order to assure you do not want to leave after your first night. Firstly, bring you own pillows. It is more likely than not, the one you will find upon your arrival will be as flat as a pancake and will not make for a comfortable night’s sleep. Secondly, if possible bring two duvets, one to put underneath you and one to cover you. Don’t worry, beds don’t usually have metal springs sticking out, however, the mattresses can be very thin, making the bed hard and lumpy. I actually found my bed was pretty comfortable, however, for added luxury create a cocoon for yourself. This can also help in the Winter, as rooms can sometimes get cold. Make sure you bring a hot water bottle with you as well.

A necessary at University is a washing basket. This sounds like a dull item to buy, however, if you have one you will be very grateful for it. It becomes quite an inconvenience having to search around for black plastic bags, which look unsightly in the corner of your room and rip when you pick them up to go to the laundry room. Furthermore, you do not want to have to take up the draw space you have, hiding away dirty clothes and stepping over clothes left on the floor just makes it more difficult to get to bed after a drunken night out. Before you leave home or as soon as possible after you arrive, why not take a quick trip to Wilkinsons, to buy one of their latest pop up baskets.

It can often be scary and unsettling moving away from home for the first time. Therefore, to make an empty shell feel homely make sure you come fully loaded with photographs, posters and personal trinkets. Covering your walls with removable decorations is not usually frowned upon and some kind of board is often provided for you to pin things too, but don’t forget to bring plenty of blue tack and pins. I would also recommend unpacking and personalising your room, as soon as possible, to lesson the chance of feeling uncomfortable in your new surroundings and lonely.

A further tip to feeling less segregated from your close friends and family is to find an internet connection quickly. If you are lucky enough to have a lap top, combined with internet access in your own room then great, however, if not just find out the nearest place you can access it from. Having MSN Messenger and Facebook at your finger tips can mean you can keep in touch easily with those you miss and for free.

The internet is indeed great, but there is just a small word of warning i can offer. Try not to rely on your family and old friends for comfort too much. It is better if you put aside a small amount of time to communicate with them or save it for if you are feeling particularly low and concentrate on making new friends. The quicker you socialise, the easier you will settle in your new environment. Although it can be tempting, make an effort not to hide away in your room. On the same note, if you have come to University with a friend, try not to spend all of your time with them. It will be better for both of you to form friendship groups and then you will both have people to introduce to one another. This could potentially form a large social network.

If in Fresher’s week you feel that everyone around you has already formed big groups of friends when you haven’t, don’t panic. More often than not they have just grouped together with fellow house or hall mates. You may do the same, however, you will find as the weeks go on, people will break away and become friends with the people they want to be with. On many occasions, your fellow house mates will become some of your closest friends, however, they may not. There are so many other opportunities, as well as so much time to settle in and get to know different people properly.

Upon your arrival at University, there will most probably be some kind of “Fresher’s Fair” promoting every kind of club available. Many societies are keen to attract new members and joining one is a great way to meet new people. However, if you simply do not want to, don’t worry. You will not be alone in your decision. Many people are just as happy staying at home or going out partying of their own free will. If you do not like being alone, however, why not invite a few people you have met over to watch a DVD, suggest going to a house party or a night out clubbing. If you make the effort you may well find you have more in common with certain individuals than first thought and it is likely that your invitations with eventually be reciprocated.

When your student loan comes through, it is very easy to get carried away and feel like the richest person on earth. If your anything like me, you will end up with a load of DVDs that you wanted at the time, but have watched about once. Furthermore, spending £50.00 on alcohol in one night may seem good at the time, if not so great the next day. Without sounding like a kill joy, be careful about what you spend your money on. It is not pleasant when you reach the last few weeks of term and have no money to even buy food. There are only so many occasions you can eat 7 pence noodles.

Where food is concerned, try to shop sensibly and not just waste you money on other things so that you are forced to survive on the bare necessities. Moreover, remember your parents taught you that fruit and vegetables were good for a reason and just because you live on your own does not mean you should stop eating them. Living off bread alone is likely to give you scurvy. One of my house mates tried to live off bread whilst simultaneously taking vitamins to substitute the goodness he was lacking. The results were not pleasant. Extreme vomiting and stomach cramps.

There is one final thing I will mention to help you prepare before you embark on the adventure that is University life and that is the joy of fire alarms. Weekly fire alarm tests took place at my University. Sound good? It definitely is a necessity, however, at 9am in the morning, it is not welcome. A few times I had only just gone to bed and it took me quite a while to realise where i even was, so be aware. I don’t know why they insist on doing it so early, I think it is just their joke on students. Furthermore, don’t expect these to be the only times the alarm goes off. It can sound in the middle of the day, when you are trying to write an essay in the library and everyone has to evacuate outside. The middle of the night is not a nice time to be woken up either, especially when you have to stand outside half asleep in the rain and snow.

University is a great experience and one that you will never forget. I hope with these few tips and warnings you can go away feeling just a little bit more prepared for the craziness that lies ahead.

From Rags To Riches

Looking at the world today it is clear to see that there are so many inequalities and injustices of all degrees, ranging from bullying at school to full blown war. Since the existence of mankind we have been fighting each other for power, dominance, control and resources. Dominant individuals and countries, enforce their power over the more vulnerable, spreading corruption and violence. Peace has been hard to come by, as people continuously attempt to fight for equality and eradicate issues such as slavery, racism and sexism to name but a few examples.

Human beings have become their own worst enemy and the prospect of ever living in a world where everyone is equal seems unfathomable. The different extremities people live in are hard to comprehend. Nevertheless, it is vital that we are aware of what is happening in the world around us and continuously strive for change. The worst thing we can do is fall ignorant to the world’s problems. It is also equally important to know the facts but not to stereotype. For instance just because someone is poor it does not mean they are unhappy and similarly rich does not automatically mean happy.

There are many people today that live in extreme poverty. Large families live in single wooden huts, smaller than most garages in the United Kingdom, with no beds, no running water and no sanitary toilet. Poor hygiene conditions lead to the spread of diseases and with medication being either too expensive or simply unattainable, the results are disastrous. Food for many is a luxury and people still die every day from starvation and malnutrition.  Chicken bones that are not considered good enough to give the dogs here would be a dogs Christmas in continents such as Africa.

On the reverse side of the coin, there are a significant number of people who are unbelievably rich. They dine in the fanciest restaurants, live in the largest mansions where one marble bathroom is not enough. They would prefer at least one on each of their five floors complete with jacuzzi and the best bathing products on the market. In fact, for many, one house or one car is simply not enough.

Divisions between the rich and poor have spiralled out of control. At the same time a child is playing amongst rubbish and glass with bare feet another person is logging onto the internet to buy their pet dog a new outfit. There are many people who do not have to worry about money. They can afford designer clothes, not just for themselves but for their pets too.

Animal lovers are going crazy buying the latest Puchi for man’s best friend. t-shirts are available in all sizes and can come plain or with slogans such as Little Madam, Rich Bitch, ASBO, Jimmy Chew, Available For Parties, Kiss Me Quick and Does My Bum Look Big In This? Accessorise are also available in the form of fancy collars and leads. There are even dog treats available in the shape of burger and fries and donuts. Furthermore, it is possible to get Darling Puchi handbag and Jimmy Chew toys.

Some people can not afford clothes or shoes and yet others spend hundreds if not thousands modelling their pets in the latest fashions- Parka coats and hoodies included. These lavish purchases may not break the bank for some, however, they do induce many questions over the morality of our world.

Maybe people should consider not overindulging themselves or their pets so much and instead think of ways their money would be more useful. That is not to say if a person has money they should feel guilty or should not treat themselves, after all it is often not solely down to the individual whether they are rich or not. A poor and a rich person might work just as hard as one another, yet their wage depends a lot upon the economy, wealth and corruption of their county of habitation. Nevertheless, for those fortunate to have enough spare cash there are so many projects around the world that are crying out for volunteers and rely heavily on donations. Orphanages, care centres, woman’s refuges and schools are some of the places that could benefit from and appreciate money far more than your pooch will from his new army uniform.

There are people in the world who do not know when their birthdays are or how old they are. They may have been orphaned or abandoned before ever being told. However, in America they have created a programme called “My Super Sweet Sixteen”, which features the lavish gifts and parties of people “coming of age” in style. One girl was bought a 67,000 doller Lexus, showing her thanks by screaming that her mum had “ruined her life” because she had given her the gift before her party. The words spoilt and ungrateful come to mind, I refrain from using the words “privileged” or “lucky”, because is it “lucky” or a “privilage” to be turned into a brat? The appalling behaviour of this birthday girl leaves us to question what it means to be fortunate in some way.

There are many different levels of being privileged. Someone may feel blessed because they have parents that are not suffering from HIV/AIDS, another person may be grateful to have escaped physical or sexual abuse. Alternatively, a graduate may feel proud on graduation day and a teenager bought lavish gifts may be thankful. It often depends on the circumstances of our individual lives and our characters, as to why we may or may not appreciate certain things. However, we should take a moment to think about the things we do have and not take anything in life for granted.

In the UK today science techniques have been developing rapidly and off the back of new discoveries have come possibilities such as that of designer babies. Many people like the idea of being able to chose certain characteristics of their next child. The wonder is, that whilst decisions are being made by future parents over which hair or eye colour would be preferred, other parents are praying that their baby will not be born with HIV like their mother. Surely a child free of illness or disability is what is important rather than paying so much attention on body beautiful ideas. There needs to be some return to reality and quickly otherwise where will the line be drawn? Will babies begin to have cosmetic surgery at the request of dissatisfied parents?

There is no escaping that the world we live in today suffers from incredible inequalities. However, we can all help the situation by being aware of what is happening around us and trying to help where we can. It is important to keep a check on reality and not get caught up in superficial trends and worrying scientific advances that may and do develop.

Body Image Versus The Media.

No matter what shape, size or height you are there always seems to be a multitude of ways to “improve”, “fix” or “change” your image.

The media bombards us with the latest diet trends, detox techniques and exercise regimes. It is very common to see pictures of a celebrity on the beach looking toned, tanned and happy with a caption next to it implying you too could be like that if you follow their simple food rules. It is continuously portrayed that if you have the “perfect” body you must have the “perfect” life.

The problem is, who decides what is considered “perfect”?

The same celebrity photographed on the beach one week, could be the same celebrity that was captured looking too thin or too fat previously, surrounded by cruel comments. It seems the acceptable way to look falls between extremely narrow boundaries.

The message that size 0 or size 00 is wrong has been rife for months, yet if someone’s size increases from an 8 to a 10 they are called fat. Should we follow our favourite celebrities and make ourselves worryingly thin, or should we stay a bit bigger and face the risk of being criticised for being overweight, if just slightly?

The term “plus size” is one i detest due to it’s highly negative connotations.  It implies that people who are “plus size” should be ashamed that they are wearing larger sizes. This is completely ridiculous when considering “plus sized” applies to anyone who wears a UK size 14 and above. When considering the average size of ladies in England is a 16, people should not be made to feel bad.

It is, of course, important to eat well, stay healthy and exercise. However, many people also have different sized frames and so even if they had a skeletal frame would not be able to fit into a size 8. It can be very insulting when a celebrity is shown “at their fattest” accompanied by an insulting article, only to find out they have reached a clearly massive, size 12.

Many of the images used in the media portraying female beauty are simply unattainable for the majority. Many of the images have been altered and show backs which would be too weak to support the upper body and a body too narrow to contain more than half a liver and literally a couple of centimetres of intestine. In reality, if a lady had these dimensions she would suffer from chronic diarrhoea and malnutrition. Therefore, the images we often see, portray a false perception of reality. Beauty should not be judged, especially against material that does not represent real life.

It seems the media have gone mad when it comes to body image and so what are the possible repurcussions of such an image conscious society.

Eating disorders such as Anorexia and Bulimia have been around for many years, however, with the ever increasing message that thin is in, is there any wonder as to why this problem is not going away. Fasting, skipping meals. excessive exercise, laxative abuse and self induced vomiting are all attempts to stay thin. Men and women are both affected by these issues, as are children as young as seven.

Pro-anorexia web sites have appeared on the internet. People spur each other on to eat less and help each other to become as thin as possible. These sights are clear evidence that people look up to thin celebrities, with Victoria Beckham being used for “thinspiration” on many occasions. Surely, it is therefore increasingly important to place more emphasis on positive body images rather than negative ones.

Amongst all the crazy media hype of what size we should all be there has been an increasing attempt to tell people they are beautiful no matter what size they are. Gok Wan as well as Trinny and Susannah, attempt to give the nation body confidence, telling them they do not need to always “correct” themselves, change, or aspire to be like someone else. Instead they should feel good in their own skin. Dove’s campaign for natural beauty is also a very positive step in the direction of helping people accept who they are. Things have even started to change in the modelling world with Milan banning size 0 models from the catwalk.

So, we can only hope that people will try not to aspire to be something that is more often than not unattainable. Many celebrities that are super toned have home gyms and time to work out. For the average Joe, juggling work and family life leaves very little time to focus solely on yourself. Furthermore, many of the images you see in magazines have been altered presenting a false image of beauty. Hopefully one day people will learn to love themselves regardless of their size.

Has The Internet Gone Too Far?

It is hard to imagine in this day and age how we ever survived without the internet. An incredible amount of information is now at our finger tips and all we have to do is push a few buttons and click the mouse several times. What could be easier. Within seconds you can find anything, from the latest news stories to the best places to go on holiday.

Search engines like Google, Yahoo and MSN are names familiar to most, as are social networking sites such as Facebook, Bebo, Hi-5, Friends Reunited and MSN Live Messenger. Internet chat rooms are thriving, E-mail has taken over in the home, as well as in the workplace and if you have never spent a night laughing at the weird people on YouTube, reading articles on Wikipedia or buying, selling, auctioning and bidding on eBay then where have you been? Everyone seems to be caught up in this rapidly advancing and expanding cyber world.

The question is why not?

The internet can be extremely informative if used sensibly, e-mail is incredibly fast and efficient and social sites do indeed help people keep in touch, without the costs of a mobile phone. It is now easier than ever to book a holiday online or to buy theatre, cinema or music festival tickets.

Sites such as eBay allow people to sell all sorts of things and buyers can look for both specific second hand and new items they may not be able to find, or afford in shops. You can scan through all the pages for hours searching for the cheapest goods on sale, or can try and get a ridiculously cheap bargain by taking part in an online auction. This way you can control how much you are willing to spent and who knows, you may end up buying something you have wanted for ages for only 5p.

So, what could possibly be wrong with this popular and modern craze?

Take Facebook for example, how many times have you heard people boasting about the fact they have 300 or 500 friends. How is this possible? Surely this simply means that they have 500 odd people who have the ability to snoop into your life activities and if you don’t censor your profile, they can find out a lot of information about you. Furthermore, if you are not careful with the details of your settings, the whole Facebook universe can send you a message, poke, see your profile picture and even your photo albums. This is a scary thought. I am not denying the fact that I have an account- after all it is very addictive, but i only accept people i actually no and have stopped people i don’t know bothering me or viewing my photos. If i want you, as a friend, i will add you.

Then there is YouTube. Whilst many of the video clips are informative and interesting others are purely ridiculous. Is it fair of us to laugh at the fat kid on a roller coaster, the Grape Lady, or Speak The Hungarian Rapper? Are we not just exploiting people for our own entertainment on a world wide scale? Again, I am not saying that I do not log onto YouTube and watch these videos- I even laugh at them, as many are very funny. However, when i stop and think for a minute, what I am watching can be considered a form of bullying and humiliation regarding the people concerned. YouTube is monotered, however, where are the boundaries drawn?

Take a look at Wikipedia. A very interesting web site with a lot of articles filled with fascinating and thought provoking facts. Nevertheless, often there are many statements made, which are not backed up with a source. Although, it is usually stated when the source is missing, be careful not to read everything as absolute truth. If you are interested, back the statement you have read with further research. For instance, read credible historians books or look for original or officially documented facts.

What about eBay? A massively successful buying, selling, auctioneering and bidding online business. Nevertheless, have things got out of control? Take for example the man who recently sold his life online because his marriage broke up. He sold his three bedroom home in Perth with everything inside it, including his Mazda car, morobike, jet ski and even parachuting gear. His life package unbelievably incorperated an introduction to his friends and a trial run in his sales assistant job at a rug shop. To me this is compeltely mental, again, although this site is monotered, where are the boundaries drawn?

On an increasingly serious note, the vast amount of disturbing sights easily accessible on the web, is a clear problem. You may be innocently searching for something and be plagued by obscene links and descriptions making you feel quite uncomfortable. It is becoming increasingly important to block inappropriate sites from your PC, especially if your children are using the web too.

Then there are internet chat rooms. Although they seem innocent enough, people can take on any personality and identity they desire, without the person they are talking to knowing. This has proven to be very dangerous, particularly when young girls arrange to meet their new “friend” or “lover” to find out that they are fifty plus, with questionable intentions.

If you are a parent it is always important to know exactly what your child is doing and posting on the web. Make them aware that they should never post flirtatious photographs or give contact details away over the internet- not even to friends, as these may end up in the hands of people they don’t want.

All in all, whilst the internet is an extraordinary invention and one that helps run today’s modern society significantly, it must be respected. Whilst there will always be people who push the boundaries with crazy, e-Bay sales and funky YouTube posts, that are themselves morally questionable, there are more dangerous aspects of the web, which need to be bought to people’s attention.

People need to be made more aware of it’s dangers and to know, without question, what to avoid. EBay and YouTube usaully have good safety filters, however, web searches can be dangerous, as they can lead you to sites, which are disturbing but remain on the web. Chat rooms can moniter conversations but not who is talking. Chat rooms are therefore extremely dangerous and social sights could potentially encourage serious stalking if not used correctly. The internet can be fun and informative so long as people are aware of the real dangers.

Hair Fashion Throughout The Years

The hairdressing industry is thriving. Whilst some people prefer to pay £10.00 for a quick trim, others are prepared to spend thousands of pounds to get the most modern, stylish or unique look. Our high streets are full of salons, covering their windows with photographs of the latest doo and promoting their newest offers.

Whether you want your hair neatly trimmed, drastically cut, dyed, spiked, shaved, waved, curled, straightened, extended or plaited, there is always somewhere close by you can go and get your new look.

Hair products also over rule our shelves. There is wax, moose, styling sprays, heat protection sprays, shining sprays. However, it does not stop there. For instance, wax is not just wax. You have to chose which type you require, be it strong, wet look, non sticky or fluorescent.

Is this fashion craze a modern development, or has hair been a great cause of concern and a victim of experimentation for years?

The answer is, hair consciousness has been around for years. From Ancient Civilisations to modern day, people have been flaunting and developing new and bizarre styles.

Take yourselves back to the Fifteenth Century for a moment- the era of Christopher Columbus. European craze at this time in history was to pluck your hairline to create a high forehead. Sounds strange today but back then it was the thing to do.

Wigs have been very popular all over the world for centuries. In Ancient Egypt Pharaohs used to wear long wigs, complete with plaits and accessorise. Other ancient peoples, including the Assyrians, Phoenicians, Greeks and Romans also wore wigs. Curiously, wigs are principally a Western form of dress — in the Far East they have rarely been used except in the traditional theatre of China and Japan.

After the fall of The Roman Empire the use of wigs vanished from the West for a thousand years, however, they were revived in the Sixteenth Century. People used them to hide their hair loss and to improve personal appearance. Hygiene conditions could be pretty poor with many people suffering from head lice. Therefore, one of the best solutions was to shave all your hair off and replace it with a wig. Genious. Fashionable and practical.

Wigs remained popular throughout the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries, becoming even more extravagant. In the Seventeenth Century Queen Elizabeth was famous for her red wig,  whilst King Louis X111 and King Louis X1V of France set the trend for male wig-wearers.

Wigs were often full, thick and fell below the shoulders. White powdered, long ringlets were the order of the day often tied back with a black bow for men or decorated with flowers and garlands for women. Elaborate wigs worn by ladies consisted of mile-high coiffures and highly decorated curls to emphasise their social status. The fancier the better was the fashion with many ladies modelling “bird cage’ or maritime hair doos complete with model bird or boat.

There was, however, one problem with the large elaborate wigs. They took a long time to complete and often became the very favourite nesting place for vermin. Nice.

Male wigs became more subtle, as the Eighteenth Century continued and were adopted by many professionals. Full Female wigs were not in fashion in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries. Women would simply wear them if they had lost their hair and they were often connected with the symptoms of diphtheria.

During the early Twentieth Century, wigs were exchanged for regular trips to the salon to have hair curled and set by a large hair dryer. This would take up a lot of time, however, women were prepared to sacrifice their days to make sure they were in fashion.

The ‘Roaring Twenties’ saw a change in hair trends, curls and ringlets were swapped for short, sleek bobs or short, tightly waved, tight curl styles, continuing into the 1930s. More ladies had access to the cinema and were keen to follow the styles of their actress role models. Males wore shorter, rather conservative short back and side styles.

The war meant both ladies and gentlemen had to be practical due to warfare, hard working conditions and lack of shampoo. Many women opted to hide their hair away in a hair net or a head scalf, just exposing their fringes.

Post war saw the introduction of home hair curlers, reviving the curl. Although, curlers were practical, they were difficult to get used to and led to many an uncomfortable night, sleeping on the rollers for the price of fashion. Think Sandra Dee type curls and flicks. Eventually one of the first hand held hairdryers came on the market, connected to a pink plastic bonnet that fitted over the woman’s head to help with drying and setting styles at home.

Males donned crew cuts and thick sideburns, as well as the famous “duck tail”. The “porcupine” was also a hit. These styles were complete with excess starch and bryl cream. Think Elvis or James Dean.

The 1960s ladies exchanged ringlets for the beehive. The bigger the better was the trend and the most important product was hairspray. Mountain like styles were often complemented by blond streaks. Men proffered choppy, side-parted, bed-head styles.

The bouffant styles were soon replaced by long straight hair. As people got caught up in the progression of civil rights and women’s movements, fashion also adapted. Ladies skirts became tighter and shorter and their hair became longer and sleeker.

The rebellious nature of society continued throughout the 70s and 80s, with long hair remaining a feature of the hippy movement. Long, flowing, natural styles were preferred, accessorised with flowers and multicoloured headbands. Madonna helped set the trend in the eighties with her ever changing styles.

The 90s was almost a free for all with people experimenting with all kinds of ideas, yet there were still those styles which were more popular than others. Tight pony tails with two, bleached strands of hair framing the face was a popular look amongst teenagers. The guys also thought they were cool when they shaved their heads leaving just a thick fringe at the front- this was almost always bleached too.

So, it seems that hair trends constantly change. So what is next? People rule out the Chav look. However, give it a few more years to catch on and the impressively slicked down, comb streaked, high pony tails, complete with mis-matched scrunchies may come into fashion. I believe the large silver hoop earring and tracksuit attire compliment this look even further.

Sit Back, Relax And Enjoy A Cheap Flight To Your Holiday Destination.

Squeezing down the aisle of the aeroplane you search for a seat, whilst trying not to bash people who are already sitting down over the head with your hand luggage.

First choice is clearly a window seat, yet finding one proves more difficult than you initially thought. People are either sat on their own in the middle of a row, or have already taken their positions next to the windows. You consider climbing over those individuals hogging the rows to prove a point, however, you quickly reconsider. Maybe just a little inappropriate. After all, this is the start of your holiday, a time to chill and relax.

Making your way further down the plane, you suddenly spot an empty seat by the window. Hurray. Smiling, you put your bags in the over head locker, leaving out your i pod for later and of course some sweets for take off. Strapping yourself in and feeling pretty happy, you press your nose against the little plastic viewpoint you strove so hard to get. Oh great a magnificent overlook of the wing. Fabulous. You curse those over excited holiday makers, who have taken prime positions on the plane.

So now you are officially on board, strapped in and ready to go. Your holidays have began, perfect. You sit back, relax and wait to take off into the distance. The seats are surprisingly roomy and comfortable. Happy days.

Suddenly your chair jolts and your body is jerked forward. Opening your eyes and turning around you realise Mr and Mrs fidget are sat behind you. Oh no! There is no rest for the wicked and you watch in disbelief as two parents accompany two screaming children down the row in front of you. What’s more, the couple with the sneezes have chosen to sit next to you, feeling compelled to spread their germs. Could you have possibly chosen a worst place to sit. Oh well, this is just a small price to pay for the holiday you are about to enjoy.

You may not be able to chose your fellow travellers, but who cares, suddenly your mind is distracted by the delicious looking pictures of drinks and snacks featured in the in-flight magazine provided, all tempting you to chose your favourite ones.

After a smooth take off, there is no turning back. To avoid the risk of the people surrounding you grating on your nerves, you decide to make full use of the in flight services.

This may only be a cheap flight, however, the air stewards and stewardesses who have begun serving people are dressed to perfection and make every attempt to ensure you enjoy your holiday. It is good to see staff behaving politely and professionally, regardless of the rude or difficult people they may encounter.

The question “any drinks or snacks” rings down the aisle. Perfect, yes. You order the white wine, which looked so refreshing in it’s picture. Bit pricey, but your on holiday so what’s the problem. Nice and cold. There is quite a range. Chardonnay, Merlot, Rose. Impressive. Feeling a little peckish you eventually chose Pringles- a hard choice considering there was a a rather large selection of appetising treats.

Feeling the calming effect of the alcohol, munching Pringles and enjoying the various travel stories from the in-flight magazine, you have forgotten about your fellow travellers. Listening to Cliff Richard’s “Summer Holiday” on your I Pod, which you embarrassingly downloaded in preperation for this trip, you start to relax into the flight.

Before long, you realise you have already began your descent. That was quick. Things pick up even further when you hear the Captin make an announcement. Due to the crackled over head sound projection, you only hear every third word. Nevertheless, you get the gist- the weather is going to be great upon landing and they are expecting to arrive on time, if not a few minutes early. Good news all round.

Relieved to hear the exciting news you finish your drink and return the tray to it’s folded position, in preparation for landing. You had previously been sceptical about booking a cheap flight, having images of landing in Cairo or Istanbul, instead of the Costa Del Sol. However, as the plane touches down and you are welcomed to Spain by a smiling air stewardess things are looking up. Walking out into glistening sun you head towards the airport feeling content.

It has been proved that you can get fantastic, efficient and reliable flights for great prices- having more relaxing company would have been a bonus, but the dramas are all part of travelling. There are bound to be some irritations even when travelling in first class or with friends. Maybe one day you will be able to chose who you travel with to try and maximise fun. However, as far as the cost, flight and service itself is concerned you are pleased. With extra money in your pocket, luggage collected and sunglasses on your head, you go out to meet the transfer to your hotel. You are ready for a holiday full of Sun, San and of course Sangria.

A Break From The Norm- A Lesson In Food Appreciation, Preparation And Dining.

Fatigued physically and mentally from a second strenuous days trekking, tackling steep gradients and negotiating the rough terrains of the Chiang Mai Jungle, everybody began to crave for a good rest and most importantly a good meal. 

Lunch time on our trek was non existent and I found myself reflecting upon home life. The smell of slow cooking lamb shanks filling the kitchen, whilst the potatoes crackled and the vegetables waited, freshly chopped, in the steamer. However, I could not help feeling a twinge of sadness, acknowledging how my home life had been taken for granted. I underappreciated the food that was always available to me, as I had never been in want of anything.

Entering cultivated paddy fields which indicated civilization, I became elated at the possibility of having something to eat. I could not help but note the irony of failing to appreciate the mouth watering, well-balanced meals previously experienced, when now a bowl of plain rice would have been enough. 

Thoughts ran through my mind of how a multitude of dinner times in England had been ruined, as a consequence of trivial events. The image of my Dad pursing his lips and the sound of his heavy sighs ran through my mind. I felt, once again, the lingering tension that filled the room, as a family member strolled in late to the table or continued answering the dreaded, inappropriate rings from a mobile phone. 

Eventually we reached the hut we would be staying in, which was owned by a Thai family and situated right next to their family home: both lodgings were wooden huts on stilts, barely the size of a horses stable, ours being slightly larger thankfully, as it had to occupy nine of us.

Later that evening I went to find some of the boys who had disappeared into the hut of the family. Entering I saw the father of the family. He was clearly in charge of preparing our meal and as I curiously examined him I noticed his eyes appeared very much unfocused and it it was clear he was intoxicated. I suspected that what he was smoking in his right hand, as he half heartedly prodded the contents of a pot with a long wooden spoon was not tobacco. My eyes burnt with the essence of chillies that perfumed the stifling hut. 

Instant comparisons entered my head between the culinary preparations embarked upon by this man and those made by my Dad. On a typical Sunday, Dad would spend his day alternating between watching sport on the television and preparing our meal for that evening. Everyone knew that the kitchen was his terrain and we must not touch, taste or interfere with anything that was clearly left out for dinner.

This homely routine that I had become accustomed to could not have been any more different to what I was now witnessing in this hut. There were about six of us surrounding him, laughing, joking, taking it in turns to stir, whilst to my surprise the radio played a muffled ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ and Ollie simultaneously serenaded us with the guitar he bought from a market at the Burmese border. 

I could not help but think how busy, yet how calm this scenario was. Everyone was so laid back- some a bit more than others depending on their intoxification levels- and as Noi sang the same line ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ repeatedly throughout the entire song, failing to have learnt the rest of the lines, I smiled with contentment. Despite the fact this family had cooked for their village and now had nine hungry foreigners to feed, the atmosphere was relaxed and we could not have felt more welcome, as we prepared to satisfy our hunger. This moment was only spoiled by the recollection of home, as I could not help thinking how stressed my Dad got when preparing food just for the four of us. 

If I could have frozen time during this moment in the hut, the scene captured would have reflected a true picture of euphoria, telling a story of social bonding and depicting true appreciation. We were strangers who would not usually talk about private issues, however, in this setting we were able to bond and open up to each other about homesickness and such like, with ease. We were involved in the cooking procedure and thus were actively absorbed into the Thai culture. Witnessing the methods of their cuisine increased our gratitude.

I longed for my Dad to witness this sight and felt sad that he had been pushing us away, unknowing that this was going to limit our appreciation of food and thus have a nock on effect at the table.

The food I received that night exceeded my expectation beyond belief and not simply because of hunger. The uppermost levels of admiration for these benevolent people seized my thoughts, as regardless of the laid back approach the food was astonishing, cementing how dining should by no means be stressful.

Darkness was now fully upon us. The balcony outside our hut was lit with candles and the rains of the monsoon season began to fall heavily around us.

A curry and a large pot of soup was bought out. We laughed, as the intoxicated man mimed and acted out several movements indicating that this dish came with a hot chilli warning. This i found ironic considering the family and Noi were not going to eat with us, as they had their own hotter dishes to be eaten in the smaller house.

My taste buds tingled with delight as I took mouthful after mouthful of different flavours, enjoying the constant burn of chilli an ingredient which undoubtedly played the leading role, while the ginger and lemon grass took their turns to perform. 

During our meal I was overcome by contrasting emotions. On one hand entire happiness came over me, as I was now eating food that could have been served in a gourmet restaurant, tasting great after a long wait. However, on the other hand I could not understand why we had been given so much when the families here had nothing. The irony seemed immense.

My thoughts twisted and turned, as I tried to make sense of everything, Did this food taste so good because i was out of my familiar setting? There was no denying that what I was eating was incredibly delicious, however, when before had I sat in Thailand, in the middle of an unfamiliar hill tribe village, outside a hut which just about protected us from the downfall of the rainy season, in candle light, feeling hunger like never before? 

Once some rational thoughts began to form I concluded that my relaxation and gratitude for everything I saw and tasted was the result of being redistributed away from the mortal ignominy of the family dinner. It was now clearer than ever how important it had been for me to break away from the routine of family life, in order to learn different ways of interaction and find out my own vices, increasing my ability of appreciating what i have. It was a lesson of gratitude I will never forget.

Experiencing Bangkok in Style.

Arriving at a surprisingly posh looking hotel in the centre of Bangkok, i paid the taxi driver far too many Baht, dropped my heavy back pack in the room allocated me and headed straight out to see what the city had to offer. I can not have been walking for more than two minutes when a man began talking to me, who i later realised worked for the notorious Tuk Tuk company. He began pointing at the city map i had, repeatedly saying i was very lucky, as it was a religious day. He gave me some information about how i should not miss visiting the three Buddhas saying they were open for viewing because it was the Monks day off- or at least that is my interpretation of a speech i only half understood. I did not really understand where he wanted me to go, despite his attempt to explain in detail where each of these things were on the map. I felt lost. 

 

Feeling very confused i was given no time to work out my thoughts as almost immediately  i heard a man cry “Tuk Tuk, you want Tuk, Tuk”. Looking around i saw he was now following me down the road and looking right in my direction. I glanced at the small, three wheeled vehicle, painted in a rainbow of colours. The man was hanging out the open sides waving his arm around trying to encourage me. I simply wanted to laugh. How could he possibly think i could take him seriously whilst he was sitting in such a ridiculous looking vehicle?  Carrying on walking i tried to hide my amusement, whilst he repeated his question again “Tuk, Tuk, you want Tuk, Tuk”. From the determined look on his face i could tell he was serious. He wanted me to travel with him, yet he too could not help smile, as he acknowledged the confused look on this tourists face, even though, to him, this mode of transport was completely normal. 

 

Quickly realising he was not going to let my custom go easily, i decided to throw myself into Thai culture and jump into this muliti-coloured source of amusement, with this comic man. Still unsure about what the first guy had tried to tell me, i decided to visit one of the spectacular temples i had read so much about. Attempting  to show my driver the map, he nodded his head with agreement before, telling me once again about these three Buddahs. Seeing as this was the second time i had been recommended to visit these places i agreed. Well, i say i agreed, when in fact i had very little choice in the matter. The Thai man was already pulling out into about six heavy lanes of traffic, at as fast a speed as the little Tuk Tuk could manage. My interest now was to hang on to the open side of the vehicle, making sure my arms and legs remained firmly inside, so as to save them from a brutal mutilation from ridiculously close passing traffic.

 

Speeding diagonally across the busy road, dodging everything which seemed to be coming right towards us, we pulled to the side of the road and came to a halt. First stop- a jewellery shop. The man started saying something about fuel and tickets. When i remained seated he stated in  quite a frustrated manner ” i help you, you help me….yes”. We both got out the vehicle and he shouted to his friend, while virtually pushing me up the stairs to go take a look around. Nervously looking round a dark shop, filled with jewellery of all sorts sparkling from every corner, underneath harsh, bright lights, i wondered what i was doing there. Feeling uncomfortable i turned round to find a lady, presumably the owner, following me with her eyes and an evil stare. Sternly she said if i was not interested in buying anything, i should leave, whilst virtually pushing me back out of the shop. Standing, once again, back outside in the sun, i didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. However, before i got the chance to do either, my driver finished talking with his friend and ushered me back into the Tuk Tuk. 

 

Showing me the tickets in his hand, he explained further how he was able to get commission for fuel at each place he stopped. I now realised how important these detours were to him and was happy to go with the flow.Presumably the lady who i took to be the owner of the jewellery shop was far less passionate about this arrangement, as i can imagine not many tourists could afford what she was selling. Admittedly, the Thai Baht still confused me, however, i believe that like myself, most travellers would be put off by the numerous zeros on the price tags and i can only assume the Tuk Tuk drivers do not pull the same trick on the locals. Alternatively, the lady was just an unimpressed, bored shop assistant. I guess i will never know.

 

On we went. I was now beginning to enjoy the little Tuk Tuk and was filled with adrenaline every time we escaped being crushed underneath another vehicle. Coming to a halt the man pointed down a dark alley way and after walking in between two rows of very run down shacks crammed with large families i saw an amazing sight. An absolutely enormous golden Buddah towering above me. This was really spectacular  and it took me a while to fully appreciate it’s astonishing proportions. Eventually i made my way back to greet my driver and thank him for his guidance, however, i was yet again rushed into the vehicle. On to the second Buddah, without time to waste. This time i viewed a massive stucture laying on is side. When i returned to meet my guide i was shocked to find he was not there and began to search around frantically because i had no idea where this place was exactly. All of a sudden another man pulled up beside me and ushered me into his little Tuk Tuk painted even more brightly then the first one. Not having any time to think i got in and later realised my first guide must have had another customer and asked his friend to look after me. Immediately we sped off and i came to the third and final sitting Buddah just as spectacular as the other two.

 

Feeling pleased with what i had seen i saw the Thai man once again and gave my thanks. The driver offered to take me somewhere else, however, i declined the offer despite having had so much fun. I was exhausted and did not feel like visiting another jewellery shop on my way home. Laying back on my hotel bed that night i smiled at the adventure i had just been on and how i had experienced Bangkok at its best, without even planning it. This was certainly a mad city and i could not wait for the rest of my trip.

Sleeper Train fun!!

Finding myself once again on the notoriously small top bunk of a Thai sleeper train travelling South from Bangkok, i began to search for a place to put my small bag. My friend had been suffering from a sickness bug for the duration of our trip, so i did not mind her having the large bottom bed. This was partly because i felt sorry for her and partly because i did not fancy a shower of vomit over me in the middle of the night. Struggling to take the old, worn blankets out of their plastic in such a small space, without giving myself a black eye, i became distracted by a strong smell of urine and realised we were not far from the toilets- this was going to be a highly unpleasant night. The air conditioning had turned the cabin into arctic conditions. Feeling exhausted i decided to try and change quickly  and get into bed. Drawing the curtains i began to negotiate how to put on a pair of shorts and a t-shirt, as the clothes i had on were uncomfortable to sleep in. Far from being an easy task i twisted in every direction and position possible- some of which i didn’t even think possible- my head bashing on the ceiling and my arms poking out the curtain into the aisle. By the end of this challenge i was left feeling and no doubt looking a bit worst for ware. I had to laugh at the ridiculousness of the situation.

 

Wrapping the blankets around me, i found they gave me little warmth and were instead course and itchy. I laid back and being tall, could not stretch but had to draw my knees so they were bent. Leaning my legs to the side meant they were already hanging way out of my bunk. Looking to my right a smile came over my face as i once again saw the two large seat belt straps clipping from the top to the bottom of my bed. Believe it or not they were designed specifically to stop people from turning over in their sleep and falling to the floor, yet they were so widely spaced that you were more likely to fall through the middle, get your foot caught in them and end up hanging in the walk way by your ankle.

 

The continuous shaking of the carriage was so monotonous that it became almost relaxing. With thoughts of the following days adventures running through my head i shut my eyes and tried to sleep. I felt happy and content, as i began tof relax after a busy day. However, having entered a slumber my dreams of staying in jungle huts and trekking through the wilderness were soon over taken, as i boarded a vigourous roller coaster ride. Speeding over old rail tracks i was thrown from left to right repeatedly. Having been thrown sharply to the left i tried to calm myself only for the train to run over a bad join on the track. The jolt sent me flying to the right, but this time bouncing me high into the air. I longed for the ride to finish, yet it just kept on going, faster than lightening through a never ending, dark tunnel. Panic set in as images of the carriage caving in entered my mind.

 

Waking up slightly, feeling frightened and confused i looked up at the ceiling and remembered once again that this was a sleeper. Remaining in a fatigued state, my body was frozen and my hands gripped the side of the bed, knuckles white due to the fact i had clearly been holding on for some time. I still was unable to comprehend what had just happened and was convinced that i was on the death train from Hell. Why was no one coming to tell me we had to exit the cabin immediately? Gathering a little courage i was able to move enough to poke my head out of the curtain to take a look around the train. I was convinced there would be many worried people like myself, awake and seeking reassurance. However, to my absolute surprise, there was not a sole awake. They were all still sleeping soundly. Nausea welled up inside me, as i simply couldn’t believe that we were not all fatally plummeting into a dark abyss. This feeling was soon over taken by a sense of stupidity, as i began to reason that my sleep had enhanced the movements of the carriage, turning it into a nightmare. Eventually i was managed to muster a smile and maybe a little giggle, as i recovered from my own personal adventure, relieved i had survived Thailand’s newest theme park attraction.

 

I managed to get a little more rest that night, however, in the morning i still could not help but check if other people had been woken up by the ride. Most people slept soundly, whilst others said they had been awake all night, but had just been reading. Feeling a little embarrassed i shared my night adventure with the group, which entertained them for many hours, as we made our way to Kaoh Sok National Park.

Fashion Faux Pas And How To Avoid Them.

 

Fashion has been around for centuries, with many new images, styles and collections being developed continuously. There are so many TV programmes and magazine articles guiding people on the best way to dress that it almost seems impossible to go wrong. Our nation is swarming with fashion Gurus such as Trinny and Susannah, offering advice on what patterns, cuts and designs to chose for your particular body shape. Love him or hate him Gok Wan does wonders for many women’s confidence leaving them looking fabulous at the end of the show. His repetitive “ding, dong” may grate on you, but the guy knows what he is talking about when it comes to fashion.

Every where you turn there are billboards with stunning models, photos of what items look good together and how to accessorise. So, the ultimate question is, how can people go so wrong?

You only have to spend an afternoon walking through the city centre where you live to see some horrendous sights. It really makes you wonder whether they own a mirror at all.

I know we all have our off days and having been a student myself I know what it is like to have no money at all to buy the newest trends. Faded, slightly old looking clothes are sometimes an unfortunate part of life and a certain amount of scruffiness can be acceptable. It is also inevitable that when you pop out to the shops, looking a state, you will see everyone you did not want to see when looking so bad. Unfortunate, yes. Forgivable? Just about! There are some fashion crimes, however, that deserve to be mentioned in my fashion faux pas hall of shame. 

I apologise in advance for those people caught out wondering the streets in dark shades, after a heavy night, committing one of my dress disasters. However, those of you who regularly leave the house in some of the ways i am about to mention. Be warned. The fashion police are on patrol.

First things first- VPLs. We all know that this stands for “Visible Panty Lines”, however, it seems many people do not know that they should be made illegal. Please, when wearing fitted trousers make sure you have  the right underwear, so as not to leave an unsightly view. If you are wearing white trousers skirts or dresses, don’t parade around in red, black or mulit-coloured underwear, people can see them through your trousers and this is neither cool nor sexy. Knickers and thongs protruding from the top of your choice of a bottom half is also a big no, no.

Sitting behind a half exposed bottom is bad enough, but when a pair of mismatched pants are sticking out the top it churns my stomach. This really is a sight i could do without on my way home from work.

Whilst we are on the subject of underwear another fashion faux pas is dirty bra straps combined with strappy tops. This is unsightly. Particularly during the summer months there are too many women walking around with discoloured bra straps, which are usually far too thick to even be combined with a strap top. Once-white bras that have turned grey, or colours that have been changed or faded in the wash are not accceptable. I’m not talking about those items that are just a little bit lighter than when you first brought them or have a twinge of another colour. Yes, this is bad enough, however, I’m talking about bras that have changed so badly that their original colour is unrecognisable- these belong in one place and one place only. The bin.

Ladies, please listen to Trinny, Susannah and Gok when they tell you a case of uni-boob or four boob syndrome looks ghastly. It takes two minutes to get measured and a decent bra will save you from being talked about.

So, the leggings from the 80s have returned. Wonderful. I am not being sarcastic when i praise them, i actually think they are a necessary wardrobe item. They look fabulous with above the knee dresses or combined with shorts and heels for a party outfit. they can also be worn with more casual daytime skirt, flip flop combos. However- this criticism i am about to make is inevitable considering the tone of my article- leggings are not acceptable with short tops. Too many people think they can get away with wearing leggings and strappy tops, or dressy tops that simply do not come much lower down than their hips. Who told them this looks good?

Leggings have returned but the day of wearing them as an entire trouser substitute have not. I have a vague memory of seeing the terrible stirrup leggings of the 80s- complete with a loop attatched to the bottom, to enable each foot to slip into each one- in a shop a while back. I refused to acknowledge such a catastrophic fashion choice. Disaster. Please avoid them at all costs.

I could go on, however, i will save my final criticism for the out of date, Chav- style belly tops. Exposing your belly button is not cool, whether you have a severe muffin top or well toned abs. It should be avoided at all costs. My particular hate is when girls tie up their shirts on purpose. There is no need and it is not classy. I express my opinions loud and proud, even if i do sound like an old lady. Less is sometimes definitely not more. 

If your clothes are just too small, it is time to buy a replacement. Don’t worry about the size of the garment, just ensure it fits correctly. No unnecessary bulges from tight clothes or baggy bums needed and on that delightful note i will draw this article to a close. One final request this summer, please no socks and sandals, please no ankle swinging trousers with garishly contrasting socks- you are not Michael Jackson. Lastly, please, please, no tie dye.