Read Me, Go On!

I have lots of blog posts to follow in the next few days! 

I have been a busy bee watching the Olympic Flame travel through Barnsley - (which was especially fun, considering we had sun loungers set up at the side of the main road!) - not so fun that I wanted a flag to wave and I didn't get one - but putting that aside. I have also been to Blenheim Palace GE Triathlon, which was an extremely fun and exciting day - cheering on all the athletes that have been training for this event for months. Bleak waters, long distances, yet, great achievements. I am also going to do a review of the Greek island Zante - in particular Laganas - which may give you a taste of where to go this season. Boozy holidays and none stop dancing at the ready. I am currently reading the last in the series 'I Heart London' by Lindsay Kelk of which I plan to review. Also look out for lifestyle and culture reviews and - as always - lots more news and current affairs. Bed time for this kid, I get my University results tomorrow... going to be a long night...

50 Ways to Find a Lover by Lucy-Anne Holmes 

REVIEW

LOVE LOVE LOVE this book. Don't know how I came across this, but the synopsis was enough to have me clicking on Amazon. The main character - Sarah Sargent - is the kind of girl you probably want to be best friends with. Her witty persona, crazy friends and fit flatmate are an hilarious bunch that manage to get themselves in the most outrageous situations. Sarah's black shadow cast on her love life lands her in some serious trouble - yet thoroughly magnificent positions. 

Therefore, she decides to start a blog, broadcasting all the details of her slightly exaggerated yet unfortunate love life. Sargent begins to investigate different methods to find her perfect man - a way a day. From speed-dating to hanging at the pub with soggy crisps, warm pints and football hooligans; she meets some interesting characters. Even though ridiculously funny and crazy to read, she becomes obsessed with getting readership on her diary and so her romances begin to suffer. 

With a few blokes on the go and her unimaginably handsome room mate at the back of her mind, Sarah has extremely amusing and comical problems to solve - blog or a boyfriend? 

The book is well-written and the author is laugh-out-loud witty! With many twists and turns - it is a perfect summer read to lay by the crystal blue pool with this summer. 50 Ways to Find a Lover in one hand and cocktail in the other, its definitely a page-turner. 

ENGLAND 1 FRANCE 1

EURO 2012 has arrived. Yes, it's that time of year where our streets are lined with England flags, the pubs crowded with beer-filled fans and our Facebook feeds dotted with constant match updates. Though, we would be lying if we said that we didn't love it. Yes, no matter how many times England's - and indeed the fans' - dreams are shattered, we keep going back for more.

Let's hope that manager Roy Hodgson dropping half of the England team pays off and that the new talent can shine through. Joe Hart is proving a valuable asset in British football, having just won the Premier League with club Manchester City. Playing extremely well tonight, he saved several strikes from the France's many attempts at England's net.

This is despite Joe Hart letting Samir Nasri's strike in the 39th minute slip through and so cancelling out Joleon Lescott's header nine minutes later. It appeared that towards the final minutes of the match, England were willing to settle for a draw with France. The latter team were dominant throughout the game and so both teams were probably happy with the final tie.

One thing is for sure, we need to up our game ahead of the next game with Sweden on Friday - hopefully this time we won't have a rather controversial referee! So in the meantime, while the country is in full patriotic swing, get everyone together, pull on your England shirt and enjoy a packed summer of sport - well, while it lasts...

                                       Diamond Jubilee

WOW. What a fantastic weekend of celebrations for good old Queen Lizzy! I’m pretty sure that everyone was sat on the edge of their seats, watching the festivities unravel. Sadly, Prince Philip was taken ill for the majority of the celebrations, which really reflected in on the Queens strength and determination to prevail with event. I think at times it was evident that she was slightly emotional, but it was nice to see the crowd cheering the Duke of Edinburgh’s name. 

For all those who say, the Queen was pretty miserable and didn’t smile much, I think is an unfair statement. Imagine your Grandma sitting through loud music and cold weather. Plus, she is the Queen and, therefore, has to, very much, uphold her reputation of staying professional and for lack of a better word - proper. 

The great thing about the Royal’s is that they fight to serve their role and their duty. Maybe Prince Philip didn’t have to stand in the cold for four hours - being 91 years old - but he probably would do it all over again. The Queen said that she would never leave anything left unfinished and never quit. It’s important for all those who think that the Queen does nothing, to realise the significance of her role. Yes, she isn’t plastered all over the press. But she does many things to keep up relations with other countries, including visiting countries, the common wealth, poverty stricken nations and also has meetings with world leaders. Not to mention the hard work she did in the war. 

Sixty years is a fantastic milestone and she deserves a good old celebration! The concert was fabulous and the fireworks at the finish were outstanding. 

I for one had a cheeky glass of vino in celebration, and to me personally, I think Britain remembered who they were again.

Finished uni? Now what?

No longer drowning in dissertation notes or gallons of alcohol which ease the pain of having no life? No more ‘awkward moments in the library’statuses? No more dreaming of the day you reach the 10,000 word mark? We have craved this moment for so long that when it comes around; it smacks you in the face. What next?

Well the obvious answer is get a job- which is a lot harder than it appears. So while you get yourself accustom to the shock of having a life again – a slightly strange feeling – here are some things to keep you busy while you look for that dream career. You know the one you have always dreamt of and worked yourself to death for these past three years. 

Update your CV – Now you have a bit of spare time on your hands get applying for those graduate jobs. Obviously, you can’t do this without making your CV the best that an employer can receive – you can be Albert Einstein if you so wish! I read an article recently in a magazine with huge employers explaining their ideal candidates for a job role. Make sure you research, research and research the company you are applying for – it shows that you have invested time into getting this job. Start your CV off, initially, with something interesting or the work experience you have. Some employers may only read the first page so this is vital. Get your family, friends, dog, cat and fish to check for spelling mistakes – any incorrect words may see your CV being instantly discarded. Lastly, make sure you sound interesting, if you love anything from sky diving to Zumba then make sure you come over like an approachable, friendly and exciting person.

Re-vamp your room – With the end of an era, comes a fresh start. Put your energy into bagging up all those teddies and give them to charity. I know, I know, teddies are the worst! They stare at you, begging for you to leave them nicely on your bed – or maybe I’ve just watched Toy Story too many times. Get down to discount palace ‘B & M’ and find some nice city landscapes, crisp bed covers and squishy pillows. Now all you have to do is kick-back and relax in your new and improved haven.

Clear out your clothes – Don’t lie to yourself, your never going to wear that Topshop dress again – you know the one you haven’t wore for 2 years that reminds you of your last boyfriend. It’s sat there lonely at the back of your draw and would look much better on some less fortunate child in Africa. So get a black bin liner and throw in all them clothes you haven’t wore in 6 months because if you haven’t wore them since then, you never will again. After all, it’s all for a good cause and it will class as your good deed for the day. It also means you can buy more clothes to fill those empty spaces in the back of your wardrobe. Bonus!

Catch-up with friends – Get down to the local pub, crack open the rose and have a good natter. You probably haven’t seen each other in ages because of university commitments, so discuss the new Made in Chelsea episode, how you are DEFINITELY over your ex or plan for a massive group holiday. Happy days!

Visit your Grandparents – I can guarantee that you probably don’t do this enough – especially if you have been living away from home. However, you know that they are going to throw sweets and chocolate at you, and quite frankly, what’s a bigger incentive? Any excuse to break that summer body diet.

Make those big plans happen – Want to go travelling around Europe? Do it. Want to work abroad? Do it. Want to spend a year in Australia? Just do it. Now you are thinking about what you really want, make it happen. Once you are in a full-time career it will be much harder to make those plans occur, so get researching. Visit the travel agent, scan the Internet and get some magazines. If your big plan means you travelling alone, brave it. It is scary – I know – but it’s your dream and your life. You live once, so take every opportunity.

Leaving university means that you can literally take any path you like. Whether it is travelling the world, working for charity or being a high-flying businessman or woman; take every opportunity that approaches you. 

In the end, we just regret the chances that we didn't take.

Animal Cruelty

More of a rant, but here goes... someone tell me how it's fair to massacre elephants- or just animals in general. 

Twenty-two elephants where slaughtered in the North-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo this week.

Their ivory tusks make them a huge target for hunters in the area. 

Elephants and Rhinos are amongst endangered species dying out due to the rising number of killings. 

Tom Milliken, who manages TRAFFIC's Elephant Trade Information System, said since 2004, 'the trend has been escalating upwards again, dramatically so over the last three years.'

It is thought that organised crime groups are behind the massacres and not just regular poachers in the area. 

Meanwhile, in the UK, the RSPCA have seen a large increase in animal cruelty.

The numbers of those convicted of  these crimes have risen by almost a quarter this year.

The RSPCA- which looks after 120, 000 animals a year- is struggling to cope with the huge rise. 

The charity are currently receiving 160, 000 complaints of animal cruelty and neglect. 

..........

This link to a Daily Mail article on elephant poaching shows the brutal images of the murders. 

I honestly cannot bring myself to post them individually, as I cannot look at them again. 

Animal cruelty has to stop.

These type of incidents are unimaginable and - in some cases - barbaric. 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2134696/Scene-unimaginable-horror-helicopter-borne-poachers-massacre-22-elephants.html?ITO=socialnet-twitter-mailonline

British Pubs

Just where are all our British pubs disappearing to?
You can't walk past a single pub nowadays without the sad look of boarded up windows and closed doors. Those closed doors that were once open, open to adorable couples, bustling families and giggling children. The roundabouts in the playground blowing eerily in the wind- haunted with the memories of a once animated playground.

Children begging their parents for 10p calypso pop cartons and 30p packets of crisps. Families arriving early on a weekend just to get a seat in lounge or communal room.

Of course, nowadays, crisps can cost up to 80p and cartons of pop may reach £1.
Kids don't want to play in the fresh air- they want video games.
Families can't afford to pay their mortgage- never mind a few pints.

And all this comes down to the recession. The economic climate that we have tried so hard to fight. The public and small businesses are paying the price for this banking crisis and for what? So bankers can pay themselves- still- nice little bonuses in their back pocket?

It is sad so see and there is nothing we can do about it. Maybe, those days are over. Those days the upcoming generation will never know of. There is nothing worse than seeing a unique little British pub- once thriving with life and excitement- crumble slowly. Years of success lost. Peoples lives in ruins, who have worked so hard to build a business that aims to bring the community together. Maybe that's what we need again.

I can remember being about 4 years old at a local pub in Barnsley named the 'Oliver Twist.' The pub thrived daily with families and couples- that's when people could afford to pay for a nice day out. My brother was pushing me on the roundabout and me and my best friend were holding on for dear life. I had a headband in, as well as a chequered dress. It was my friends birthday party. Many kids and families turned up to the celebrations and I can genuinely remember the feeling of being young and excited- like I had no care in the world. I will treasure that specific memory as I had great fun with my family and friends because of that treasured British pub.

Needless to say, the pub has now closed down. Suffering in the recession- the pub which is older than I am- will now become a car park or maybe some flats. We all know how much the council love finding new land for housing. So I guess there is nothing else left to say other than make Britain British again! We need to find our heritage and all those small things that make us unique. That make us special. Of course we can't do this until we fight the recession, but while that day comes- as Churchill once said- we will fight!

Fight negativity with positivity and keep the dream alive.