Today I had a really fun day out with my family. We spent the day at Robin Hood's Bay, on the North-East coast of England. It's a lovely small town with small, second-hand book shops, cosy cafes and the occasional black jet jewellery shop/fossil museum/chocolaterie. So basically, what I'm trying to say is ... this is an epically photo-heavy post!
Emma digging into scampi, fish & chips
After a lovely stroll through the village and peering into the cute little shops, we stopped for lunch. Traditional fish & chips of course! What else can you eat at the beach? I directed dad to the one I stopped at last time as they were really good and we got a fish and chips each, whilst Emma and I went half-and-half on scampi & fish & chips. And what better place to sit? Then watching the waves and people playing cricket on the sand.
The village from the beach.
We had fun pulling silly poses on the little island rocks.
My sister actually seriously injured her leg at Leeds Fest the previous Friday. So whilst she was in A&E getting stitches from a guy who got excited about the fact the blue plastic thing he found was a pair of scrubs & wanted to wear them whilst teaching others (I kid you not), she was missing Muse play. Needless to say, when she called up the house late on Friday with the rain pouring down outside her tent & she was in tears about getting stitches, I freaked.
This is also the reason why a lot of the pictures here are people walking. Because she walked like a pirate with a wooden leg, which was hilarious to the rest of us. So we did pirate impersonations all the way down the beach and back. She wasn't impressed, so threw seaweed at my dad.
Ah the age old question, do I push him/her/both off the rock or not?
(Neither of them seem to be able to decide.)
Aka, where my father fulfils his unknown (even to himself) desire to be a Bond Girl
and my sister is a praying on the loo with a wooden leg. Nice.
I just act a bit mad and jump around a lot. I can fly!
Mums like hugs. Even if their daughters are patronising idiots.
Emma goes to sneak up on my father, who had so far managed to escape some of the madness.
Sick of being teased for walking like a pirate, we take pity
and they have their own three-legged race.
After that, the tide began to come in quickly, which meant I had to get out of there sharpish if I were to remain clean and dry for the theatre that evening and not get stranded.
Aka, Sarah showcases her ninja moves once more.
Me: What are you. some sort of diseased, ugly turtle?
Emma: No, I'm a dinosaur. Rawr!
As soon as her back was turned, we started throwing pebbles/small boulders in the water. She only realised when a large splash got her jeans wet. That's how we bond in my family. :)
What the camera doesn't show is her trying to throttle me
10 seconds later and me stamping on her foot in retaliation.
Left to right: Me, dad, Emma. Mum made the smart decision to 'observe' and photograph.
One game my family and I love to play at the seaside is a variation on the classic 'chicken'. We all pick a rock of similar height and distance from the sea, or at least ones which will submerge under the rising tide at the same time and wait for the tide to come in. The one who flees first looses and the one who lasts the longest, wins. It's as simple as that. The only question is, do you wait long enough and win? Or scarper first and save your feet from getting wet. Your choice.
I'm probably the most stubborn member of my family and so won by balancing on the tip-toe of one foot whilst the other two fled for the big rock (on the left in the photo). It's fun and a good laugh. Especially if you're spectating (like my mum) and you can throw things to get us off balance (small pebbles, shells, bits of seaweed, big rocks - in the surrounding water so that they splash us).
Emma eating again. Are we seeing a theme here?
After that we walked back up and into the village for a lovely hot drink and a sugar pick-me-up. Two pots of tea, one coffee, a coke and three chocolate & caramel shortbreads later we hit the road back to York so I could go see Peter Pan at York Theatre Royal.
On the way back we got to see the heather on the North York Moors at its best. It was like driving through a sea of purple. It was beautiful, like a purple version of the poppies in The Wizard of Oz.
My lovely friend, gleek and fellow Phan Florrie, of Intrinsically Florrie, is hosting a giveaway! And what a pretty giveaway it is!
Florrie is very kindly giving away a beautiful Paul & Joe Nail Enamel. It's limited edition (hence the pretty pale-blue lid). Judging from the bottle, it appears to be a dark, sea-green colour, with teeny tiny specs of glitter within the varnish, with some larger specs in there too.
So, how do you win? Well it's simple!
First of all, the competition is open internationally, which is lucky for you if you're not a resident of the UK, and will close at 12 noon (UK time), Tuesday 6th September (so you've got two whole weeks). There's four different ways of entering. You can:
Follow Florrie's blog on Google Connect on BlogLovin. So if you're new to her blog and haven't read it before, you're welcome to start now. :) You simply have to sign in with your google e-mail address - if you don't have one it only takes a couple of minutes tops - and hit follow. Simple as that. As for BlogLovin, we'll she's here.
Blog about the giveaway. Just like I'm doing right here.
Yes, it really is as simple as that. Once you've done any of the above, just pop on over to her competition page and leave a comment saying which of the above you've done and how to contact you (twitter, e-mail address, website. it doesn't matter!) and you too could be in with the chance of winning the nail varnish.
So, the time has finally come. You’ve survived primary school, secondary school and even 6th Form or College, and are finally flying the nest and off to learn some more at University. Only problem is, what do you take? That’s where I come in to help.
I find that a list is the best thing for me in terms of packing for trips as I can see what I have and haven’t got and means that I don’t miss out or forget anything. I posted this list last year on my previous blog and I found that it really helped me. Not only did I not need to search around for bits of paper (which no doubt would have been found folded and crumpled in a back jeans pocket) but it's always viewable. Just a couple of clicks and whoosh, it's here.
It would hardly be fair for you to read my messy handwriting now would it?
(Although if you click here it should appear larger/full sized.)
This list isn't just for those starting at University, I've edited it to include things which second year or even third year students might need. I hope it helps!
The lists below are sorted into categories, so hopefully that’ll help you. I have these all written on paper, but just in case you can’t read my handwriting, I’m typing them out for you.
Passport (and photocopies)
Spare passport photos (always good to have some spares)
Driving license
National Insurance card
Young Persons Railcard
Local Library card
Discount Travel cards (e.g. Arriva)
Credit/Debit cards
NUS/Student Card
NHS Number
E111 card
Copies of your CV & references
Bank Account details
Local & new doctor/dentist details
Exam certificates (and copies)
Accommodation contract
Room insurance
Vaccination details (dates of jabs, e.g. Tetanus, HPV etc)
Other University details
Relevant old textbooks and notes
‘What’s on’ in the area (theatre, museums, gigs etc)
Local Map (city centre in detail, very useful)
Diary
Calendar
Academic Year Planner (more useful than you'll guess)
Emergency contact details (make them readily available)
Address Book (incl phone numbers, e-mail addresses, birthdays, anniversaries etc)
Reading List
Organ Donor Card
You may not want to purchase everything on your reading list, as not all texts will be relevant to your course and may be optional for light reading. You may also want to see how many of the books are available in the library or second hand from students who have just finished the module/year/course. I didn't buy anything on mine and was able to get an essential £80 Biology textbook out the library for the whole year (renewing when necessary). Also, please sign up to be an organ donor. It takes no time at all and might save lives. It’s entirely unselfish, as what exactly are you going to need your liver for if someone out there is dying because of your selfishness. So please, become a donor.
Desk lamp
Notice board & push pins
Whiteboard & erasable markers
Diary
Academic Year Planner (this is essential when working with deadlines)
Dictionary & Thesaurus (if you prefer the old-fashioned way)
Lined paper
A4 white (printer) paper
A4 folder/ring binders
Scissors
Sellotape
Stapler (& staples)
Staple remover
Hole-punch
White labels/stickers
Post-it notes
Paper clips
Safety pins
Blue tac/white tac
Stamps & envelopes - because letters are fun!
Big pieces of paper - A3
Clipboard (I do a lot of field work on my course)
Plastic wallet
Little potted plant (I'm taking my orchid!)
Pencil case (incl all stationary, e.g. pens, pencils, highlighters [ x5 if your name is Amy Claire Thompson] ruler, rubber, pencil sharpener, sharpies, ink cartridges, Tipp-Ex etc)
Thermos (for tea/coffee/hot chocolate/soup. This will be a godsend in your early morning lectures in winter)
Some things you aren't going to need in your first year, i.e. noticeboards are generally provided in University or student accommodation so the whiteboard becomes unnecessary, but ask permission if you can put the whiteboard on your door. This means that way if you’re out, people can leave a message. It's also great for communal areas for those in private accommodation, such as the kitchen or hallway so that you can leave each other messages. Also, find out the rules about putting posters/stuff on the wall and hanging up things in your room. If you’re going to be charged £60 for a repaint at the end of the year then you need to decide of it is worth it.
Biscuit/cake tin (remember to fill it before you leave home!)
Bin-bags
Cleaning supplies
Flask/thermos
Recipe book/folder
Some things on this list you aren't going to need in your first year, such as the kettle, toaster or microwave. However in your second, third or even fourth year these are essential kitchen appliances that you're going to need. The main thing to remember is that if you're sharing a house, there is no point in purchasing duplicate items. You don't need five potato mashers, five tin-openers and five colanders. It's impractical and just silly, plus there won't be that much space for storage. So if possible try to arrange with your new housemates who will bring what, or head to the nearest supermarket to get what you need and then split the cost between you. It is as simple as that and it just makes things a little easier.
One tip I'd stick by is to take something for the first night as it moving in and meeting new people might be a bit hectic and tiring. I’d recommend cooking some things and putting them into containers/freezer bags so that you’ve something to eat which can be quickly heated up with little effort on your part. And do a shop at the local supermarket when you get there (or better yet, take your parents and let them!)
You also need to remember that you are a student, and as such if you're sharing a kitchen, you may find yourself and your flatmates borrowing each others things. That's fine, but please bear in mind that others may not treat your things with the same level of care and respect that you do. Last year I went with a cheap, basic cookware set from Sainsbury's for a bargain £6.66 (three saucepans in various sizes & a small frying pan). This was fine for the first few months. After that, the non-stick began to, well, lose it's non-stick and instead decided to stick to my food. So this year, I'm buying good quality kitchenware from places like TK Maxx, where it'll be cheaper than it's retail price.
As someone with long, thick hair an en-suite bathroom in my first year was essential. I like being able to use the bathroom whenever I chose and know that it will be nice and clean when I do. I also like have space to leave my shower things without having to take them with me every time I want to use the bathroom and take a shower. A bathroom at university is no different from a bathroom at home, you are still going to need all of the things that a bathroom needs, such as ...
Bath mat
Body & hand towels
Flannel/sponge
Basket (for shower supplies)
Wash bag
Shower gel
Shampoo
Conditioner
Curling crème
Moisturiser
Tooth brush
Toothpaste
Soap (& soap dish)
Beaker/glass (for toothbrush)
Toilet roll (not something you'll want to run out of)
Tissues
Deodorant
Perfume
Hair spray
Hairbrush
Comb
Razors
Lip balm
Nail varnish
Nail varnish remover
Cotton wool/buds
Bleach
Toilet brush
Rubber duck (not optional)
Just remember that all cleaning supplies, be it for bathroom, kitchen or the house in general, can be shared by everyone in the house. So set up a cupboard in the kitchen/bathroom/under the stairs and keep everything nicely organised together. Also, because they're shared you simply share the time cleaning and the cost of replacing them when they run out. Simple.
Keep your bathroom cabinet tidy so that you can find things when it's early and you're tired.
Also, it's just nicer not to keep the bathroom tidy for you and others, wouldn't you agree?
Painkillers
Vitamins
Solarcaine (treats burns and bites and stuff. It’s amazing!)
Basic First Aid (plasters, antiseptic wipes, bandages)
Paracetamol
Cold/flu remedy (Fresher’s flu)
Cold/heat pack
Hot-water bottle
Afterbite lotion
Suntan lotion
After sun
These are just basic little essentials that one should always have in a medicine cabinet at home, so why would it be any different? You’ll still get ill and you’ll still need to stay safe. So bring some sort of basic First Aid kit with you.
James patiently has his arm put in a sling by Jamie
I would also recommend taking some form of basic First Aid course before you leave for University. When I undertook Accident and Emergency training with St John's Ambulance (see above) it was fun and I learnt things. ( I learnt not to let Jamie bandage me up. He cut of blood supply for five minutes, my arm went purple and the instructor panicked as she couldn’t find and scissors. Thank fully, my arm is OK, and didn’t require amputating.) Don't wait until the middle of September and you're triple checking that you have everything. Grab some friends and do one last thing together before you all split for Uni.
You may also need to bring electrical items, so check out the number of plugs when you get a quick look at your accommodation or ask the owner.
Alarm clock
Calculator
Laptop (as well as a bag & charger)
Mouse
Blank CDs
USB ‘pendrives’
Printer (don't forget paper!)
Camera
Network Cable (access to the Internet - if not provided or there's no wireless)
Mini fridge*
Desk/Bedside lamp
Mobile phone (and charger)
Speakers
Headphones
(Rechargeable) batteries (and the charger too, duh)
Multi-plug adapter or an extension cord
iPod
Hair Dryer
Straighteners
Curlers
Iron
Batteries
*A mini-fridge is not essential and you must remember that it will make some humming noise in your room, possibly keeping you from sleeping. Also, some places do not allow them, so check with the company before you bring one. Also it obviously depends on your hair and how you like to wear it as to what electric styling devices you bring. I gave up with trying to make my hair manageable a few weeks in and simply enjoyed the extra time in bed on a morning. Priorities, I got em.
An average student room (yes, they really are that big)
And here’s everything else that a student will need in their bedroom that wasn't included in the studying part at the top of the page.
Bedding (including spares of sheets, duvet & pillows)
Cushions
Toys
Sleeping bag (when you have someone stay the night & you don't have a double bed they're going to need to sleep somewhere)
And anything else that will help make your room seem more homely
The first thing I thought of when I saw my University accommodation for the first time was 'I'm going to need some more storage'. And I was right. All I had in my room was a large cupboard (with one shelf at the bottom and one at the top for towels & bedding & stuff), a desk with three drawers and two shelves above the desk (one of which I obviously couldn't reach). So I shopped around and found this four drawer storage set, which I can store anything and everything (that will fit in it) for just £12 from Morrison's and I guarantee I'll be using it again this year.
Argos do similar storage units, available with three drawers, four drawers and five drawers. They also do a large, seven drawers unit, but it's a lot more expensive, so I'd advise you to shop around & check out supermarkets before you buy one, because you're going to be using it a lot.
There are items which do not fall into any sort of category, so they’re all being written here :)
Washing Liquid/Powder
Laundry Bag
Clothes rack to dry them on
Clothes hangers (and possibly pegs)
Tissues
Extra storage (boxes, shelving etc)
Holdall/weekend bag/suitcase/rucksack etc
Torch
Sewing Kit
Candles & matches/lighter
Watch
Hooks
Superglue
Glasses/Sunglasses
Shoe polish
Now, I don’t think I really need to tell you what clothes to bring. Check out the climate for where you’ll be studying and compare it to where you currently live. Manchester is on the other side of the Pennines to York which meant that I was no longer in the rain shadow so there was the shock of windier, wetter weather. Instead of summer dresses with thick tights in October, I now have to bundle myself up with thick, knitted jumpers and coats and boots.
Keep your wardrobe neat, tidy and organised and you'll do fine.
My tip for you is to simply go through your wardrobe, section by section deciding how many of which items of clothing you want to bring. Remember, you'll need the same as you do at home, some nice clothes to wear out and some for just being round your flat (I mean, you don't want to wear out the nice new skirt before you get a chance to really show it off now do you?). So pack short sleeve and long sleeve T-shirts as well as strappy and tanks tops for layers. Bring cardigans as well as hoodies. Jackets as well as coats. Jeans as well as skirts. Dresses and plenty of accessories. Don't forget to bring spares too. Also, you may want to take up swimming or something if there are facilities nearby, so don't discount swimwear or gymwear either. I plan on taking up dancing (modern, jazz, tango, ballroom) as soon as I get back as it's a great way of meeting people.
Amy and I dressing up to raise money for charity. I'm Titania, Queen of the Fairies and she's a witch.
Also, a lot of student events and clubs are themed for certain events/times of the year. Manchester has it's own Cirque Du Works where everything in Circus themed. At university dressing up isn't just for halloween.
I hope that this is helpful for all of you, and if there is anything that I have forgotten, just let me know. Or, if there's items on here which I've reminded you about. Best of luck to everyone, whether it's your first year of university or your last. Whether you're leaving this weekend or in a few weeks.
I'll leave you with some shopping tips from Taylor.
Yesterday afternoon Rachel, Hannah and I went to go see Legally Blonde the Musical on Tour at The Grand Opera House, York. It may not be the West End Cast, but it was still very enjoyable.
Having previously watched the entire musical online (the original Broadway version which was recorded and put onto YouTube along with behind the scenes sections and the lyrics on the screen for the audience at home watching it on the television) I was pleasantly surprised. I watched the film many years ago and whilst it may not be a favourite (I'm not a fan of films which are too predictable) it was enjoyable. It was silly and girly and fun, because the film didn't take it too seriously, but there were elements of meaning and significance with a little moral education at the end.
We get a little excited, waiting for the show to start
Overall, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the musical. Several of the songs are catchy but not as memorable as others and whilst some have elements of wit, they truly are moments. But it works, because it is not something which is supposed to be taken seriously (unlike the film), it's a musical! The opening number is entitled 'Omigod' after all, and it truly is an opening.
Having both versions of the soundtrack on my iPod (The Original West End cast with Laura Bell Bundy as Elle and the Original London Cast with Sheridon Smith who won an Olivier for her version of Elle) I was curious as to how the touring group would do. And I was pleasantly surprised. As critical as it sounds, I was not prepared for how good it would be. Sure, the sets were not as impressive as the ones in London or San Fransisco, but it is a touring group and therefore was expected. The cast however, did surprise me ... and in a good way.
L to R: Serena, Kyle, Elle, Paulette, Margot, Pilar, Vivian & Sassy gay hairdresser.
Little things that I loved:
o Kyle (Lewis Griffiths): the sexy new UPS delivery man. He certainly had the package and let me just say, his ass was mighty fine in those very tight shorts. The show was almost worth it alone for that.
o Paulette's gay assistant: unfortunately I don't know his name, but my goodness did he make us laugh. From the tight, sleeveless T-shirt, even tighter acid-wash jeans and *gasp* sequined Ugg boots he was a riot, even if like Kyle he had few lines.
o Serena (Sinead Long) andPilar (Micha Richardson): whilst their parts were few, they both demanded the stage (and not in an overpowering way). They were both incredible singers and managed to belt out their numbers powerfully and the acting was flawless (and I did like their outfits). Mad props ladies!
o The sets: Whilst some I was a little disappointed with, having seen the filmed performance at the Palace Theatre in San Fransisco. However, they still worked really well. We all laughed when the court room was transformed into a bathroom, meaning that the judge had been seated on the toilet the entire time and the minutes were recorded on toilet paper, genius!
o How tasteful Elle's outfits were: Being a stage production, I was expecting all sorts of fashion atrocities, considering they needed to be viewed from a far. These were kept to a minimum (with the worst by far being the one worn for Elle's first day at Harvard) and some I would even wear myself, such as Elle's navy pinstripe business suit (the pencil-skirt flared at the bottom and the matching jacket had suitable strips of pink, it worked!) and even her bright pink sheath dress (similar to this L.K.Bennett's Tina Dress).
So would I recommend it to a friend? Yes I would. It was a funny, feel-good fun musical which requires little to no concentration (so appropriate for most ages) and you don't need to know any background plot. The choreography was amazing! Does this mean I'd advise you to bring your boyfriend, even if it's 'something different to do together'? No. This isn't Mamma Mia!, you can't get away with it. Just use it as a night out with the girls, be they friends or family or workmates.
Hannah and Rachel have fun whilst we wait for the show to start
Rating: four stars out of five. It was thoroughly enjoyable but it would have been nicer to have some slightly more impressive sets and some costumes were a little too in-your-face for me, but that's due to the style of the musical. Favourite Song:Positive (showcases the roles of Margot, Serena and Pilar - see above) Favourite Part: When Kyle would deliver his package. Worst Part: How flushed we got at all the arm candy on stage. Those men knew how to move!
'Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end.' - Seneca
Spring is the time for fresh starts. The trees are sprouting leaves, the lambs are leaping in the fields and there a sounds of baby birds tweeting from the trees. The time for new life and new starts. However, it is summer and this is when I feel most alive and as such when I shall be starting my new blog. (And besides, when did the weather put a damper on plans, we're British after all! The weather is never what it should be.)
Source: The Gaurdian website. Photograph: Chris Radburn/PA
I am closing down my old blog and beginning a new one, here. I've a new Tumblr and whilst my Twitter is remaining the same, I am hoping that this new beginning will be a good one.
