Christmas Dessert Recipes

Reindeer Christmas Cupcakes

Ingredients
• 125g/4½oz butter, softened
• 175g/6oz caster sugar
• 2 free-range eggs
• 200g/7oz self raising flour
• 2 tbsp cocoa powder
• 100ml/3½fl oz milk
• 100g/3½oz dark 70% cocoa solids chocolate, melted
For the chocolate icing
• 50g dark chocolate, chopped
• 3 tbsp double cream
To decorate
• giant chocolate buttons
• crisp-coated chocolates (such as Smarties or M&Ms)
• mini pretzels
• black writing icing
• mini marshmallows, sliced

Preparation method
1. Preheat the oven to 170C/325F/Gas 3. Line a 12-hole muffin tray with paper cases.
2. Beat the butter and sugar together until light and creamy. Gradually beat in the eggs until well combined. Sift in the flour and cocoa powder and mix until combined. Fold in the milk, and melted chocolate.
3. Spoon the mixture into the muffin cases and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until well risen and lightly firm to the touch. Remove the cakes from the tin and set aside to cool on a cooling rack.
4. For the icing, heat the chocolate and cream in a saucepan over a low heat until the chocolate has melted. Whisk the mixture until smooth and set aside to cool slightly.
5. To decorate the cupcakes, spread the icing over the top of the cupcakes. Spoon the remaining icing into an icing bag fitted with a small nozzle.
6. Press a chocolate button onto the cake as a nose, Then stick a crisp-coated chocolate on top using a little icing. Stick on two slices of marshmallows as the eyes, and use the black writing icing for the pupils. Stick on the pretzels as the ears.

Nutella Cheesecake

Ingredients
• 250 grams digestive biscuits
• 75 grams of soft unsalted butter
• 400 grams of Nutella at room temperature
• 100 grams of toasted and chopped hazelnuts
• 500 grams of cream cheese at room temperature
• 60 grams of icing sugar

Preparation method
1. Break the digestives into the bowl of a processor, add the butter and a 15ml tablespoon of Nutella, and blitz until it starts to clump. Add 25g of the hazelnuts and continue to pulse until you have a damp, sandy mixture.
2. Tip into a 23cm round springform or suitable container and press into the base either using your hands or the back of a spoon. Place in the fridge to chill.
3. Beat the cream cheese and icing sugar until smooth and then add the remaining Nutella to the cream cheese mixture, and continue beating until combined.
4. Take the springform/container out of the fridge and carefully smooth the Nutella mixture over the base. Scatter the remaining 75g of chopped hazelnuts on top to cover and place the tin in the fridge for at least four hours or overnight. Serve straight from the fridge for best results.

By Rebecca Knightsbridge

Christmas Around The World

In Australia, Christmas comes in the middle of the summer holidays. They
believe that when Santa gets to Australia he gives the reindeer a rest and uses kangaroos! They also believe he changes clothes so he doesn’t get too hot. Most families try to be at home together for Christmas then have BBQs at the beach with their friends on Boxing Day.

In Argentina, preparations begin in November. Houses are decorated with lights and wreaths of green, gold, red & white flowers.

In Finland, people believe that Santa Claus or Father Christmas lives in the north part of Finland called Korvatunturi (or Lapland), Santa doesn't have far to travel on Christmas Eve to deliver presents to people in Finland so often he will deliver presents personally! Animals are given their own Christmas in Finland; farmers hang nuts and pieces of suet on trees in bags from the branches. In the evening, a traditional Christmas dinner is eaten including casseroles with macaroni, rutabaga, carrot and potato in with some cooked ham or turkey.

In India, Christmas is quite a small festival because only 2.3% of the population are Christian. Instead of having traditional Christmas Trees, a banana or mango tree is decorated. Sometimes people use mango leaves to decorate their homes. Christians often put small oil burning clay lamps on the flat roofs of their homes to show their neighbours that Jesus is the light of the world. Christians in Mumbai often display a nativity scene in their front windows; there's great competition over this! Every household also makes sure that they have a stock of homemade sweets ready for visitors.

In Mexico, Christmas is celebrated from 12th December until 6th January. There are nine houses which are decorated with evergreens, moss and paper lanterns called Posadas (Spanish for inn). Children then perform Posada processions; this celebrates the part of the Christmas story where Mary and Joseph are looking for an inn. Children get their main presents at Epiphany (January 6th); these come from the three kings.

In Egypt, about 15% of the population are Christian and celebrate Christmas. For 40 days before Christmas they take part in something called Kiahk; this involves not eating any meat products except fish. Christmas day itself is celebrated on 7th January as opposed to 25th December like many other countries.

In Zimbabwe, Christmas day starts with a Church service. After the Church service, everyone has a party in their homes and people go from house to house, visiting their family and friends on the way home! At every house they have something to eat and exchange presents. People get their stereo speakers out and put them outside the house and play their favourite music loudly; it’s not just Christmas music that is played, but also the latest pop tunes and old African favourites! The special food eaten at Christmas in Zimbabwe is Chicken with rice. Chicken is a very expensive food in Zimbabwe and is a special treat for Christmas.

In Jamaica people hang new curtains and even paint their houses in readiness for Christmas celebrations. Traditional refreshments for the day are Jamaican red wine and a fruit cake which is soaked in wine and white rum for months beforehand!

In China, only 1% are Christian so only they celebrate. It’s only celebrated in major cities. Most of the world’s plastic Christmas trees are made in China but because the majority of them don’t celebrate Christmas, they often don’t know what they’re for!

Winter's Revenge

Are you ready for Winter? It’s that time of year to get wrapped up in woolly knits, throw on those royal reds and get glamorous with popping gold.

Whether you’re staying in or going out, love Winter or not, it is NOT an excuse to escape fashion and our wardrobes, so get digging! In fact, Winter is personally inviting you to show off those comfy cotton, bead-embellished, super-sized garments. So what are you waiting for?

Winter is personally inviting YOU to show off

Feeling chilly? Don’t freeze with freak. Laser-cut leathers are back to win you over; perfect for a crisp night or day. As the dark nights draw in, make time for those red-wine velvets, super-sized bags and detailed lace which I know you’ve been dying to wear. Perfect for

Christmas and posh parties!

Christmas is just around the corner, and yet again, there is no escape. So if you’re feeling festive, branch out and grab those royal reds represented by Giambatisa Vali or the jumpsuits by Viktor and Rolf with a unique twist of greens, gold and silvers. Luckily, greens, gold, reds and silvers all go well together so whatever you’re wearing, mix and match it up to create the perfect festive outfit.

Red-wine Velvets, Super-sized Bags and Lace; 
PERFECT for Christmas

Get up, get out and get going. If you can’t find anything you like for the price you’re willing to pay, get down to the charity shops and grab as much velvet, leather and lace as you can. So, what are you waiting for?

By Frances McClean

Christmas Creatures

Top 10 Christmas Songs

All I want for Christmas is you- Mariah Carey (1994)
Do they know it’s Christmas?- Band Aid (1984)
Last Christmas- Wham! (1984)
Fairy tale of New York- The Pouges (1987)
Merry Xmas Everybody- Slade (1973)
I wish it could be Christmas everyday– Wizzard (1973)
Wonderful Christmastime- Paul McCartney(1979)
Santa Claus is coming to Town- Joel Whitburn (2004)
White Christmas-Michael Buble (2011)
Sleigh Ride- Spice Girls (1996)

There’s nothing better to set a good Christmas atmosphere, whether you’re frantically late night shopping or relaxing round the fire, than your favourite Christmas tune.

There is such a wide variety of different genres ranging from slow ballads such as ‘Last   Christmas’ to the Irish Folk    classic ‘Fairy tale of New York’ possibly the most depressing  lyrics of a song ever written? One of my  personal favourite Christmas songs Is Mariah Carey’s ‘All I want for Christmas is you’. This upbeat and catchy tune has lyrics that are very relatable for women (including myself) who spend many Christmas occasions alone. This song tells a story of how you don’t care for the ‘presents underneath the Christmas tree’ and traditions such as ‘hanging my stocking there upon the fireplace’ but instead just want to be with someone on Christmas day.  I find these lyrics quite amusing as these are the traditions we all do that don’t  really mean anything, they are very true to life and I’m sure I’m not the only one to really enjoy this song!

One of the all-time classic Christmas songs though has to be Do They Know it’s Christmas? by Band Aid. First recorded in 1984 to raise money for the relief of famine in Ethiopia, this single  became the biggest selling single of the UK singles chart selling an amazing million copies in the first week alone! It stayed at number 1 for 5 weeks making Christmas number 1. The Band Aid group consisted of 44 big chart names; including the likes of Paul McCartney and Phil Collins. In all honesty there’s not really anything that gets me in the  mind-set for Christmas more than a good old Christmas song.

Love them or hate them, there really is no way to avoid hearing them. Those Christmas classics from Wham! The Pouges and Wizzard don’t seem to be getting old! And if anyone says they’re out of date then I beg to differ. From about the middle of November pretty much everywhere you go will be filled with the upbeat and catchy songs that we all know and love. If you’re hunting round the shops for them perfect presents you’ll be sure to hear these tunes, as Christmas music boosts sales... It’s been proven!

Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas without listening to these 10 songs that we all know and love, and it’s really only acceptable to listen to them from around 2 months of the year. so get  listening to these top 10 cracking tunes! I’m sure they’ll brighten even the worst of days!

By Charlotte Hampshire

The Unconventional Side to Christmas

Toys
4 million Chinese slave workers are employed by the toy manufacturing industry, with 80% of all toys sold worldwide being made here there is a huge pressure on workers to be quick and efficient while earning just pennies an hour. There are three Barbie dolls sold ever second, 80% of these are manufactured by Chinese slaves who work 12 hour days, six days a week for as little as 11 pence an hour. Some investigations have suggested these workers are so desperate for work they give into signing factories contracts which commit them to working illegal overtime. In 2010, 12 people from a factory in Beijing committed suicide after being verbally and physically harassed by their bosses in the slave toy factories. This is not a rare event; this appears to be happening all over the world, from China to Brazil, Africa and the rest of South East Asia.

Christmas dinner
It’s estimated that as a nation we eat 22 million units of poultry on Christmas day alone, including chicken, turkey and goose. These animals spent their short lives in appealing conditions and 10 months after their birth, they’re slaughtered ready to be served up on Christmas day. With more than 10,000 creatures in one barn, they are restricted from moving, socialising and performing natural behaviours. The cages become dirty and disease ridden very quickly. Many are physically abuses and mistreated. Around November they’re stunned, hung up and have their throats slit; many of them still live during the process and taking minutes to die from blood loss, ready to be served on your plate on Christmas day.

The global impact
We produce more CO2 in the build up to Christmas than at any other time of year. A fake Christmas tree may last longer than a real tree but the PVC of which it is made creates CO2 both in the production and incineration of the tree after you’ve finished with it. Studies imply that on average each fake tree generates 16KG of Carbon emissions. Investigations by private recycling companies tell us 60% of fake trees are sent to the dump within a year. Another thing which causes issues is wrapping paper; we used 600,000 tons of gift bags, wrapping paper and containers each year. The excessive amounts of paper and bags results in the deforestation of thousands upon thousands of trees, everything we consume uses resources and produces CO2.

Summary
Of course Christmas time is a time of indulgence and fun however just little changes could have a positive impact on a massive scale for the planet and its inhabitants. Not all of our gifts need to be store brought, we don’t have to buy as many factory made gifts and we do not need to consume as much meat. Creating your own gifts or buying more green and ethical products, swapping meat for alternatives or even having smaller portions and being wiser on what we use to wrap our presents, using recycled paper could have a huge positive effect for everyone.

Permanently Unique

Individualism. What does this mean? Definition: an individual quirk or peculiarity.

Not only does everyone seem to be striving for a sense of individuality but unknowingly to some of us, we all show this in a certain way. How, you may ask. If you think about it logically, it’s simple...

Beginning college, I saw everything from Nike Blazers to Military Jackets to Bobbled Beanies. Which may have been expected? People are following the ‘latest trends’. Aiming to stand out, we subconsciously buy clothes which are seen to be in fashion and by doing this, we represent our individuality. However, some of us want to rebel against this ‘following’ tendency and represent our own identities in a completely different way.

My thoughts about this continued throughout the days, weeks and first couple of months of college. Personally, I know how eager I was to represent who I am through what I wore, so I felt obliged to notice others, too.

The more I think about it, the more this intrigues me. Every day we wake up, each and every one of us think about what top or bottoms or shoes we’ll wear. We think about the colours, the materials, whether the outfit ‘goes’ (some more than others). We all consciously or subconsciously make the effort; we know we’ll be looked at by someone this day. So continuously we want to show people who we really are. We put up a front. We know that others who do not know us are going to judge us; not on our ‘personalities’, but by what we wear.

Thus, fashion plays an important role in how one is perceived and wants to be perceived.

None of us want to be ‘the same’. Some of us may choose to shop in TOPSHOP or River Island, others may prefer Charity Shops. And how interesting it is that each and every one of us has our own, individual preference. A question I constantly ask myself is ‘do others notice this?’

Perhaps we’re all caught up in worrying what we wear, that we don’t notice others. We’re all determined to represent ourselves through our clothes; do we really pay attention to the amount of effort one puts into them?

Although the case may be that we do not, I definitely feel that we should. Waking up every day I know that subconsciously my aim is to look my best. Yes, even when I’m at college, I’ll admit. So, if I were told that nobody ever looks at how I represent myself, I’d be truly offended, wouldn’t you? Being noticed isn’t a bad thing and representing our own identity is even better; so remember to embrace it.  Embrace the colours, the materials, the peculiarity or quirkiness and take time to notice how  each and everyone of us show our true selves.

By Frances McClean

How can I achieve the perfect look?

Above: Ginta Lapina AUTUMN/WINTER VOGUE 2012-13 - Shades of grey. 

Tips and tricks for perfect results: Alice Wood looks into the secrets of beauty to see what’s best for our skin this season.

According to the experts at Vogue, the secret to achieving flawless, healthy-looking skin lies with a good skin cleansing and moisturising regime. These days that means a bit more than dabbing your face with soap; the skin trade is now a multi-million pound business, with thousands of products promising to rejuvenate and revitalise your skin. All we need is a bit of time (and a few quid) and we too could be sporting that movie star ‘glow’.

But the reality is that most of us buy a product, use it a couple of times, forget to moisturise, moan when the spots appear and then have a panic attack with the concealer stick. Of course there is no quick fix. The advice from Vogue is to keep it simple. Once you find the cleanser and moisturiser that suit your skin type (and budget) it’s a question of adopting and sticking with a daily cleansing routine.

Building from the base

Choosing the right foundation - both colour and texture – is also key to achieving that perfect look. Vogue says that we should find our ‘true’ skin colour before buying a foundation. How? By testing the product (powder, cream or liquid) on the area of skin between your neck and ear, to determine exactly what shade you need. Who knew that? And does that mean an end to the tell-tale sign of bad foundation – the dreaded tide mark around the chin?

It’s all in the eyes

Foundation perfectly matched, it’s on to the eyes, or more specifically, the eyebrows. The golden rule here is simple: do not pluck your eyebrows too thinly, as they will never grow back properly. Eyebrows that have been drawn back do little to enhance your facial features. They can look quite scary too.

As for mascara, Vogue tell us to make our eyes ‘pop’, to make them more feminine and alluring. This means using a gentle, smooth brushing technique to lift and lengthen’ lashes, rather than short, dabbing movements – which leave unsightly lumps and clumps.

When it comes to choosing eye shadow, do you know your perfect colour match? Blue shades are a definite no-no for blue eyes, in the same way that excessively dark make-up does nothing for brown eyes – in both cases they make the eyes look smaller and less prominent on the face. If you use eye pencils, stick to brown, black or grey, as they complement the tones in your eyes, and effectively work with most outfits. Do not wear coloured eyeliner on the inner rim of the eye.

Violet and purple are this season’s shades; as all skin tones have a touch of purple, you should find they give you a warmer glow – and are definitely more funky than ‘safe’ old brown and grey.

Black should not be used as a shading colour, and should be limited to the lid, inner and outer rims – avoid any shading above the eyelid. For the final twinkling touch, don’t forget your eye drops!

Don’t be cheeky 

When it comes to blusher, less is definitely more. Tans are preferable to pinks and reds, to prevent the ‘clown’ look. However, a subtle blend of pinks and apricots, on the apple part of the cheek will give you a fresh, youthful glow.

Shimmering powders really do add an extra sparkle to skin on show. For best results, apply to your neckline, collar bone, sternum and arms.

So with all that in mind, (and all secrets revealed!) we too can achieve not only the model complexion but the complete look with professional tips to abide by, and used to achieve perfection! We also need not spend a fortune—all of these products are available to us on the market for a very reasonable price!  Get looking, get buying and get doing!

Orange Pumpkin Face Cookies Recipe

Makes 12 Cookies

Cookie
150g Softened Butter
175g Plain Flour
50g Icing Sugar
Zest of 1 Medium Orange

Filling
100g Mascarpone
1 tsp Icing Sugar
25g Plain Chocolate

Glaze
50g Icing Sugar
1 tbsp Orange Juice


1. Preheat the oven to fan 160C/ conventional 180C/gas 4. Put the butter in a bowl and beat with a wooden spoon until smooth. Add the flour, icing sugar and orange zest and beat together to make a soft dough. Knead into a ball and wrap in cling film. Chill for 1 hour.

2. Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface to a thickness of about 3mm. Cut 24 circles with a 7.5 cm round plain cutter. Put them on a couple of baking sheets.

3. Using a small sharp knife, cut out Halloween faces on 12 of the circles. Gather up the spare biscuit dough and press into pumpkin stem shapes, trimming with a sharp knife. Press to the top of each biscuit with a knife to join. Make lines on the face biscuits with the back of a knife, to look like the markings on a pumpkin. Bake all the biscuits for about 15 minutes until pale golden. Leave to set for a while and then cool completely on a wire rack.

4. Mix the glaze ingredients to make a smooth, runny icing, adding a bit more juice if needed, and then set aside. For the filling, beat the mascarpone with the icing sugar, then stir in the cooled melted chocolate.

5. Spread the filling over the cooled plain biscuits, then press the 'face' ones on top - do this just before you want to eat them, otherwise they go soft. Brush with the glaze, using a clean paint brush or pastry brush. Eat the same day.

By Kelly Thake

How Not To Farm

These are all real life experiences about farming life

Working hard, driving the tractor down the hill, then BANG. Sinking in the mud, not being able to move, and then the tractor tips, being held up by a tree. This is why you concentrate when driving a 120 horse power vehicle. Climb out the back window, the window shuts  after, and the keys are locked in…. Then falling over in the muddy puddle…. That was a good day.

Walking around the show ring at a farm show, this is make or break, the judge is looking, so stand up and make everything look the best possible. The judge comes to ask questions and all that is said is “can you hold this a for second”,  passed the judge the cow with a chance of winning and throw up over the fence… it was The National Competition, chance of being the best, and that failed.

It shouldn't have been too bad, I mean, just like getting ears pierced. That is all it was, a quick little ear tag, so the pig could go away, the brothers and sisters were good as gold. But there is always one, it is    cornered, stand on one leg to catch it, but it runs into the one on the ground, flipped over on the ground, in a pile of mud… never to be lived down.

Its not even dawn and there is work to be done: milking, feeding, mucking out, fairly easy and simple, yes? Get up at 4:30, not to be late for College, walk down the yard, to find all the cows, had escaped from the field. All alone, herding 50 cows back into the field…. That is mission impossible Tom Cruise.

Come of Age by The Vaccines - Album Review

Come of Age is The Vaccines follow up album to their debut album ‘What Did You Expect From The Vaccines?’ (Released on the 11th March 2011.) Their debut album reached no. 4 in the UK album chart, and received mixed reviews, although many listeners found that some of the songs were too short. However the latest edition from The Vaccines (which made it to number 1 in the UK album chart) delivered 11 unforgettable songs, all of which were over two minutes!

The album starts off with lead single ‘No Hope’ which was released on the 8th July. One of the lines featured in the song is ‘…when I haven’t got my own life figured out…’ When listening to the song for the first time it made me dubious that if Justin is writing about how he hasn’t sorted out his own life, how is he going to manage to write an equally (or even better) follow up album, in such a short space of time. However, as the songs keep playing you begin to realise that Justin and the rest of the band have really pulled together to sort out the album, and create an array of songs, that almost all fit together and work as a whole album.

As with almost every album there are a couple of songs that feel as though they were simply put on ‘just to fill space’ and for me these tracks are ‘Weirdo’ and ‘Bad Mood.’ Bad Mood is just 3 minutes and six seconds of erratic guitar playing, and Justin almost shouting into the microphone. Perhaps this song was recorded to vent out the bands frustrations, and I can’t help wondering if it should have just been left in the editing room?

Each song is different to the next, with the band attempting to establish a difference between then (What Did You Expect From The Vaccines) and now (Come of Age) and you can clearly hear the difference between the more structured  songs on their debut album and the more loosely structured songs on this album.

After the success of their debut album, and subsequent sold out venues, I can only hope and believe that 2012/2013 will hold great things for the album and The Vaccines, and who knows maybe even a number 1!

My Rating

Tracks to listen to:
No Hope
Teenage Icon
Aftershave Ocean

Tracks to Avoid:
Weirdo
Bad Mood

By Rebecca Knightsbridge

Natives - Band Review

A new band are emerging. Get ready to be excited!

Natives are a pop/rock band from The New Forest, Southampton who were   formally know as ‘Not Advised’ but changed their name to ‘Natives’ at the start of 2012 creating (in their words) "a new and fresh start!".

The band consist of Jim Thomas the front man, Jack Fairbrother and Ash Oliver on guitar, Greg Day on bass and last but not least Andy White on the drums. As a 5 piece they work together and give “20% each” to   create their inspiring lyrics full of pure passion.

They have recently supported Mayday Parade alongside The Summer Set which really helped to define their sound further and bring their message out to many more people. This touring experience should really help them to create the name for themselves they deserve.

In December they are going on a quick tour of their own in the UK to London, Southampton, Manchester, Glasgow and Birmingham playing material from their upcoming debut album. Seeing them live is something I’m definitely going to try to do!

So give them a try and check out the band’s latest self-released single – This Island. If you’re a fan of Deaf Havana then I’m sure you won’t be disappointed!

Check them out:
www.youtube.com/user/follownatives
www.facebook.com/follownatives

Reviewed by Harriet Stevenson

Fun things to do for Halloween

Halloween is fast approaching but traditions seem to be lost and people are running out of ideas so here are a few tips to stave away boredom this year!

Halloween gives way to a variety of amusing pranks. Below are a few favourites;

Caramel onions
A classic prank to pull on unsuspecting family and friends: Wrap an apple-shaped onion in a caramel-apple wrap (You should be able to fin these in your local super market). Add a Lolly stick, melt the caramel lightly in the microwave for an authentic look, and leave it to set. Then you are free to serve to your victim of choice.

Spooky Messages 
Visit friends' houses and write on the mirror with your finger, delivering a scary message such as "I'm watching you!" Breathe on the mirror and you can see your words. Let it dry naturally. When your friend takes a shower, the words will appear again when the mirror fogs up.

Living dead scarecrow
This timeless classic requires careful setup, but it scares the candy corn out of trick-or-treaters of all ages. Dress up as a scarecrow or other suitable character so your body and face are completely concealed. Slump down onto a hay bale next to your front door, as though you're a dummy. When visitors have rung the bell and await the door opening, you come to life in any variety of ways: jump up and scream hideously, slump over and moan, say "hello" as though you've been waiting for them to arrive...anything will get a good reaction.

Of course there is more to Halloween than pranking so here are a few traditional ways of celebrating the holiday!

Dressing up
One of the best parts of the Halloween season has to be dressing up as scary characters or well liked idols.

Apple bobbing
An old tradition; Unmarried people would attempt to take a bite out of an apple bobbing in a pail of water, or suspended on a string. The first person to do so was believed to be the next to marry.

Credit for the pranks goes to lolpranks.com

By Emily Thomas

V Festival Review

Now in its 17th year, V Festival returns with a huge line-up including The Killers, Nicki Minaj, David Guetta and Ed Sheeran.

The organisers of the festival could not have picked a better weekend to have the 2 day festival. It was possibly one of the hottest weekends of the summer, which makes a change compared to earlier years. While most people dressed as minimally as possible to keep cool, there was still the annual V Fest attenders who like to go dressed in crazy outfits - an example this year being a group of 15 Flintstones!

Although it was impossible to see everyone, I saw some really great acts, my favourite being one of half of The Last Shadow Puppets, Miles Kane. After seeing him join Arctic Monkeys on stage at V Festival 2011, I was really excited to see him again after hearing his album ‘Colour of the Trap’. And, despite being under the blazing sun and stuck in a sweaty crowd, everyone was singing and dancing along to hit songs like ‘Rearrange’ and ‘Inhaler’.

A minor down-point to the weekend was Nicki Minaj cancelling her set last minute due to a throat infection, which left some disappointed fans. Although, it wasn’t all bad. DJ Fresh did an extra set in order for LMFAO to take Nicki Minaj’s place, which brought most peoples moods back up. With dancers pouring champagne on the crowd, LMFAO got the whole crowd dancing too hits ‘Champagne Showers’ and ‘Sexy and I Know It’ , which for me, was a great way to end a really memorable weekend.

By Molly-Rose Gosling

Beacon by Two Door Cinema Club - Album Review

Finally, after 2 years, 6 months and 3 days we have at last been given a new album Beacon from the incredible Irish trio; Two Door Cinema Club. Even though the songs are not as upbeat like on ‘Tourist information’ the lyrics are still as meaningful to us and the songs are still as catchy as ever. Their Indie-pop sensational music is becoming more popular and well-known as they tour the UK where everyone can come together and relish their music by singing (or screaming) in unison. Since the album came out I have listened to it almost every day and can now order them with number one being the best and the last still being great but not as good as the first:

1. Next year
2. Pyramid
3. Sleep Alone
4. Wake up
5. Someday
6. Sun
7. The World is Watching
8. Spring
9. Handshake
10. Settle
11. Beacon

What do you think? How would you rank them?

Ironically the song ‘Beacon’ which is the name of the album is last on my list, as I don’t find it as appealing and memorable like ‘Next Year’ which always seems to be stuck in my head after listening to it once. As well as the song being catchy, I think many teenagers will be able to relate to the lyrics especially in the chorus:  ‘Maybe someday, you’ll be somewhere, talking to me as if you knew me, saying I'll be home for next year, darling I'll be home for next year.’ Whereas in ‘Pyramid’ ‘We have seen the world for what it’s worth’ and maybe they’re saying that the world is not perfect and we know it, but we can still live flawlessly good lives despite the depraved things on this planet. Even though ‘We have seen the lies beneath the earth’ it doesn’t stop us from living happily.

It is a very positive album as they are trying to pick out all the good things in life, which is maybe reflecting their optimism about their future careers and how they have a lot ahead of them. If they release another album which can top the last two, then I’m sure they will be just fine. Hopefully, we might not even have to wait another 2 and half years for the next album. But we will see.

By Mikaela Benson

Top 10 Movies to watch at Halloween

After the sweets, the slutty costumes, excessive drinking, pumpkin flavoured everything, and themed parties, the best part of Halloween is the scary movies! Scary movies keep you up late and give you an excuse to hold someone’s hand, so let Halloween be your excuse to throw a movie party. So here we have some of the best Halloween flicks of all time.

10. The Omen
A remake of the 1976 horror classic The Omen an American official realizes that his young son may literally be the devil incarnate. and as the child’s evil becomes more and more apparent in a world full of hate, the Biblical prophecies slowly begin to fall into place.

9. The Ring
A young journalist must investigate a mysterious videotape which seems to cause the death of anyone within a week of viewing it.

8. Jaws
The story of a Long Island town whose summer tourist business is suddenly threatened by a great-white-shark. This film may be old and the special effects may be less than impressive for the 21st century, but it’s still an excellent and truly terrifying film which will continue to remain a golden oldie for some time to come.

7. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
In the early 1980's, a psychopath named Freddy Krueger murdered several children with a glove fitted with razor blades attached to the fingers. When a foolish decision by a judge sets him free, Krueger is burned alive in the boiler room where he worked by an angry mob of the parents whose children he terrorized & murdered. Years after his death, the children whose parents were responsible for Krueger's death - including Nancy Thompson, daughter of the police officer who arrested Krueger - are experiencing terrifying nightmares about him and begin to die in their sleep. Nancy realises she must do something or die.

6. Coraline
A young girl walks through a secret door and discovers a parallel reality that is eerily similar to the life she already knows, yet deeply unsettling in a number of ways. As her ‘other mother’ encourages her to make her stay permanent, she begins to find out the unsettling secrets of this other world. This adaptation of Neil Gaimon’s best-seller is perfect for those who don’t like scary slasher films as it’s not classified as a ’horror’ but it’s still an excellent film perfect for Halloween.

5. Let the Right One in
Oscar, an overlooked and bullied boy, finds love and revenge through Eli, a beautiful but peculiar girl who turns out to be a vampire. This film is both scary and heart-wrenching as Oscar and Eli’s love is doomed from the start, it will have you in tears.

4. Pan’s Labyrinth
Like Coraline, this film isn’t a horror, but it’s still chilling and very dark. It’s one of the best films I’ve seen and completely appropriate for a night in on Halloween. In the fascist Spain of 1944, the daydreaming young stepdaughter of a sadistic army officer escapes into an eerie but captivating fantasy world.

3. The Shining
Another Golden Oldie, A family heads to an isolated hotel for the winter where an evil and spiritual presence influences the father into violence, while his psychic son sees horrific forebodings from the past and of the future.

2. The Exorcist
When a girl is possessed by a mysterious entity, her mother seeks the help of two priests to save her daughter.

1. The Silence of the Lambs
At number 1 we have an adaptation of the book, ‘The silence of the lambs’.A young FBI cadet must confide in an incarcerated and manipulative killer to receive his help on catching another serial killer who skins his victims.

By Ruby Butler

London 2012: Danny Boyle's Opening Ceremony

Danny Boyle’s £27 million  opening ceremony has caused a stir in the media. With Beijing’s spectacular ceremony what we have to live up to, is it really fair to compare? China spent £63 million+ on their four hour ceremony. With less than half the budget that China had, Danny Boyle doesn’t have as much to work with. The media have recently described it as “Looking like the opening title of Eastenders”. The ceremony is meant to show the quirky side of Britain.

Boyle recently had to defend his idea to use live animals in the show, writing to Peta to assure them they wouldn’t be killed after the performance.

Let’s face it, whatever happens I think we can be assured it will be quirky - in the way that Britain always is. And if Boyle’s adaptation of Frankenstein is anything to go on, we need not fear because that was visually amazing.

By Lucy Allen

London 2012: The Lesser Known Olympic Sports

Somewhat hidden behind the famous Olympics sports (running, jumping, swimming) lie many obscure, yet still prestigious sports - here’s your guide on different events to look out for this year!

Handball, as the title suggests involves a two teams (7 players each), touching a ball, using only their hands to try and score a goal – this is not a rare occurrence, most 60 minute matches endure over 50 goals! The sport is fast paced and physically demanding; it has appeared in The Olympic Games since 1936 in Berlin and is played on the largest court of all indoor sports – in the past, Russia has proven itself an excellent competitor, it may be the country to bet money on this year. The first Handball event is broadcast on July the 28th at 9.30am.

The aquatic love child of rugby and handball - male water polo - men have been competing for the gold Olympic medal since 1900 (women have had to wait until the 2000 Olympics in Sydney). The sport is ferociously played in a 2m deep swimming pool; and due to the level of intensity, all 14 players (7 on each team) must wear swimming caps and ear protectors – this is also a great way to distinguish between players as they one-handedly aim the ball into the goal. You can get your water polo fix on the 29th of July when the first men's team go head to head: the game starts at 10am.

Like sword fighting? Fencing is the hip, modern incarnation of said medieval sword fighting. Now aside from the insanely impressive metal spikes each competitor lunge at each other with, the sport has the coolest lingo associated to it: the “piste” is the area that the players must fight on (14m long, 2m wide), “foil” “sabre” “epee” are the types of weapon/category that you can use/compete in, and the “parry” is the defensive move used to block your opponent’s blade. The sport operates in a knock out format (where speed and wit is crucial) and hits on your opponent are recorded electronically. The first fencing fight kicks off on July 28th at 10.30 with the women's individual foil!

By Sarah Beard

New Girl: Zooey Deschanel

New Girl, Zooey Deschanel, is making a massive impact on our screens now. She has been up and coming for and while but recently come into the big time.

Zooey Deschanel, 32, was born into showbiz. Her father, Caleb Deschanel, is an Academy Award nominated cinematographer and her mother, Mary Jo Deschanel, is an actress. She got her first big break playing a model in a TV sitcom Veronica’s Closet. The following year she got a role in her first movie, Mumford where she played Nessa Watkins. She then made the decision to drop out of university and pursue her dream of full-time acting, a move which has clearly paid off. Zooey’s distinctly unique acting style found her voted Best Actress at the Mar Del Plata Film Festival in 2003.

After her role in 500 Days Of Summer, in which she played Summer Finn, a quirky young woman who does not believe in love or fate, her fame level shot through the roof. Since then she has stared in Bones, Funny or Die Presents…,    Drunk History,  Our  Idiot Brother  and Your Highness, before now taking up her leading role in the US sitcom New Girl.

In keeping with Zooey’s unique style, she now plays Jess, a very quirky woman. Jess breaks up with her boyfriend of six years and moves in with three guys she met on the internet. The show tells the comical story of how they get along living together and her life. Zooey brings to life the character beautifully.

New Girl is on Channel 4, Fridays 8.30pm  

By Jess Embrey

Bringing it Back: Pretty in Pink

Old School Films You Don't Want To Miss

Review of Pretty in Pink

‘Pretty in Pink’ is this issues Valentines offering and although it is a story of teenage romance, it bypasses the dreamlike, Disney fabrications of modern Hollywood and instead bestows a little bit of golden eighties romance along with one interesting pink dress.

Andie is the leading lady in this film and she is your average outcast; less than popular, looking after her heartbroken dad she works in a record store to help keep herself above water as the family’s finances are struggling.

Helping to keep her spirits up are best friends Iona and Ducky. But Ducky wants to be more than her good time guy as he is totally and madly in love with her and has been since they were kids. But Ducky can’t compare to popular and rich Blaine, who despite Andie’s social status, signals his interest and starts to make a move. Like any girl Andie can hardly believe her luck when he asks her out and to Ducky’s disappointment she’d thrilled.

This is all until Blaine takes her to a party and his friends are less than pleased with his new choice of girl and don’t take warmly to Andie, wounding her pride. Hastily Blaine whisks Andie away to one her favourite places. A live music bar but there Blaine is the one with the frosty reception as Ducky doesn’t take kindly to his presence. Despite all the hardship Andie and Blaine want to make the best of it and so Blaine asks Andie to prom. But Blaine hasn’t got the courage and with the goading of his friend Steff he breaks the date with Andie.

Initially inconsolable, our Andie isn’t discouraged and with her hand crafted, bubble gum pink prom dress she sets out alone to prom head held high. There she meets Ducky and to repair the damage done from the other night.

Seeing Andie pretty in pink causes Blaine to realise how stupid he was so he rushes to apologise but it’s too late. It is then up to Ducky to put his friend first and selflessly he tells Andie to go after Blaine. The car park is the setting to Andie and Blaine’s reunion and they make up passionately settling everything perfectly in place once more.

Cute and quirky this film is the perfect alternative to sickly love stories and also has that nostalgic feel and awesome soundtrack that all eighties films seem to have. All in all it’s a winner for this Valentines.

By Katherine Cudmore

Worst Films of 2011

The Roommate

‘The Roommate’, loosely based on the 1992 film ‘Single White Female’ follows college student Sara as she discovers her new roommate, Rebecca, has an obsession with her. I wasn’t expecting a huge amount of this film but what I found was that the film itself, contained no chills, thrills or excitement of any kind, and the only shred of praise I can give is of Leighton Meester’s (Rebecca) performance.

She really does add a hint of fascination to the entire film. The sad thing is, the film desperately longs to be a successful thriller amongst the rest when in reality, it doesn’t deserve even the slightest bit of our attention. The only time the film picked up was in the last 10 minutes and even then, it wasn’t enough to save it from becoming another film thrown on the pile of boring re-makes we could’ve lived without seeing.

The Tree of Life

Upon first hearing of ‘The Tree of Life’, I had heard mixed reviews of those saying it was particularly awe-inspiring and of those saying it was not worth the watch. My guard was up whilst viewing; I didn’t want to get my hopes up too high.

However, I was pleasantly surprised. The acting finesse of Brad Pitt, Jessica Chastain and Hunter McCracken is shown in every single scene; they are the cream of the crop when it comes to emitting emotion.
Also, you will not get another film that contains so much visual imagery that may appear disjointed but is in fact, the most beautiful piece of artwork you will see in modern day cinema.

For those viewers who are patient enough to sit and relax for a couple of hours and are willing to stick it through till the end, then you won’t be let down I assure you because nothing will compare to the stunning and poignant acting and cinematography that is thrown together in ‘The Tree of Life’.

By Will Jennings

Valentine's Day Planner

If you’re in a relationship...

Option One

A romantic day spent with your loved one.. If the weathers good this could include a picnic in castle park.. Or if the weather is not so good, a trip to the cinema to see one of the new romantic comedies coming out in time for V-Day: The Vow (with Channing Tatum ;)) or Like Crazy!

Option Two

If you are unlucky enough to be working on Valentines (or have a loved one that is), maybe a dinner out would be best suited? Choose from a wide range of restaurants sure to be doing Valentines discounts..Ask, La Tasca, Nandos, Pizza Express, Pizza Hut, Coco Cabana & many more!


Option Three

If you can financially afford it, a bit of time away would be a magical way to spend Valentines Day! A night in London, with a show, a trip on the London Eye!..ahh romance!

Option Four

A day in with your loved one.. Watching movies, cuddling up.. You know the drill. Just make sure nobody winds up feeling bad about themselves because they don’t look like Taylor Lautner or Megan Fox.. -_-

If you’re a single pringle...

Option One

Get all your single ladies together *cue Beyonce* and make a dive for the popcorn and everyones two favourite guys..BEN AND JERRY. I’m thinking lots of movies (rom coms or horrors, depending on your style), lots of food & lots of smiles! If you don’t have a man, why not dribble over Ashton Kutcher instead? ;)


Option Two

Since option one is relatively girl aimed, GUYS, (or girls).. What about a day spent paintballing with you buddies? £8.99 including lunch and 100 paintballs!


Option Three

Looking for a fun way to spend it with your friends? What about a day at Go Bananas! A fun way to spend the day, with all your friends! Definitely breaks the v-day blues!

Option Four

If you can afford it, take a pampering day with your friends, lots of deals this time of year! Recommending ‘Clarice House’ in Colchester, with 2 for 1 deals at the moment! If thats a little out of your price range, take a go with your girls, face packs, eyebrow plucking & makeovers! Ensure you have a date for next years Valentines Day!

Happy Valentine's to you all!

By Paisley-Rose Tedder

How to Survive Valentine's Day Alone

Valentine’s Day: A day filled with love and warmth for that special someone... Or simply a “singles awareness day”? Yes, that time of year is here again. The overly commercialised mush fest where everyone around you seems to be head over heels in love. You see them holding hands through town, you sigh at the heart shaped cards in the shop windows and the stuffed animals that say “I LOVE YOU!” Valentine’s day only adds to the growing feeling of loneliness in many of us, and the fact that there are approximately 2 billion singletons feeling the exact same way, does not help in the slightest. So, to stop you from resorting to digesting a whole freezer full of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream this holiday (and then complaining you’re fat and THAT’S the reason you’re single...) follow these simple steps on how to survive valentine’s day if you’re single and try to, dare I say it, have fun?

Be your own Valentine – when you wake up, go straight to the mirror and tell yourself you love you, because then at least someone does. Treat yourself to remind you that you are special, whether or not no one else sees it. Buy yourself a rose or some yummy chocolate, but not too much!

Share the love – at work there will be many couples parading their diamond bracelets, endless bouquets of roses or singing telegrams, but there will also be those who are like you, dateless. So, we say you show them some love and give the unlucky ones a chocolate too. BUT at all costs do not engage in conversation with them. They will only gush about their promise ring or their shock that their shnookums said they love you for the first time! These conversations are equal to those had in hell for many of those singletons. So try and bury yourself in your work so as to avoid that awkward question everyone asks, “Did you get any valentines cards?” (Sigh.)

Spend the night drinking martinis and watch some movies. Steer clear of the chick-flicks! Comedies, dramas and even horror movies would make a much better choice for the occasion. The last thing you want to do is cry over some silly movie that makes you wonder why you can't find a guy like the one in the movie! Try The Exorcist to put you off men for life.

Hit the clubs - What better way to celebrate your single-ness than going out and having some fun! Hit up the local bars to spice up the night. Not to mention that the alcohol will probably help you forget all about Valentine's Day. Chances are the majority of the people there will be single too. So who knows, maybe you will meet your next Valentine there!

Celebrate with friends - While your ‘taken’ friends are out with their other half, round up your single friends for a fun night. Just because you are single doesn't mean you have to spend the day or night alone!

The Morning After - It's February 15th. You can healthily resume all normal daily activities and safely leave Valentine’s Day behind you. Look, act, and feel your best -- Valentine's Day is over, and you now have a year to prepare for the next one! And with careful preparation, you won't spend it alone! After all, we don't enjoy wallowing, the only reason we hate Valentine's Day so badly is because we have no one to love it with!

So, this year instead of moping around on Valentine's Day, make it a day to recognize how great it is to be single. There are many different ways to make the holiday more exciting if you are single. It doesn't have to be a day designed only for couples anymore. Let it be a day to love yourself and have some fun....because those guys and girls out there don't know what they are missing!

By Vicky Golding and Abi Harley

Chinese New Year: Year of the Dragon

This Chinese New Year it’s the year of the Dragon. According to Chinese astrology to be born under the Dragon seems to be a double edged sword.

Dragons are said to be intelligent, generous and charismatic not to mention also charming, confident, eloquent, and artistic. But with every quality given it seems the stars take it away. Dragons can also become tyrannical, prejudiced, deceitful and ruthless.

Overall it’s pretty clear we’re dealing with some intense and powerful individuals, capable of great good or great evil. Which figures when you think of their symbol. Still they’re highly potent energy and unpredictability makes any dragon seem spontaneous and exciting.

But why should we  let the Dragons have all the fun?

Nothing is stopping you from making these gloomy mid winter months a little more firey with some Dragon magic.

Spicing up the winter isn’t hard although it may seem so when it it’s either drizzling or sleeting. Trying something totally new adds another dimension to your life and adds a bit of spontaneity.

It doesn’t have to be ridiculously cliché like learning French or sky diving . Throwing fancy dinner parties for your friends, going to a jazzersize class or trying charity shopping will suffice.

But the real trick is to capture a Dragon’s confidence and try that thing you’ve wanted to do for ages but never have, buy that dress that is so not your usual style or carry on trying when it seems like everything is against you.
 
Live like a Dragon this year but just remember to tame to tyranny.

By Katherine Cudmore

On the Road – Film Preview

The film adaption of Jack Kerouac’s famous American novel is not due to be premiered until the Cannes Film Festival, but it is already ringing with promising contributions for those with a penchant for travel movies.

Its director, Walter Salles, is no stranger to adapting raw literature onto the big screen, having previously directed The Motorcycle diaries – a film made from the early diaries of Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevera. And poignantly, the soundtrack for both films was composed by Argentine Gustavo Santaolalla. Furthermore, the role of Marylou is played by Kristen Stewart; whose pre-Twilight works included a cameo in backpacking film Into the Wild. The film also stars Viggo Mortensen and Kirsten Dunst, while protagonist Sal Paradise is played by English actor Sam Riley.

Some novels just translate naturally and effortlessly onto the big screen, and having recently read Kerouac’s masterpiece of ‘spontaneous prose’ for the first time, it instantly struck me as a potentially great screenplay. And soon, fifty years after the story was first told, we will have the opportunity to judge that for ourselves.
On the Road is the largely autobiographical tale of Sal Paradise – a reflection of Kerouac himself Neal  Cassady. And – and his adventures ‘on the road’ with zestful friend Dean Moriarty – a fictionalised portrayal of   Neal Cassady. And the relationship between those two characters is at the heart of the story, as they hitchhike repeatedly between New York and the Great American West. And their wanderlust is something to which we can all relate.

Jack Kerouac is heralded as the leading figure of the ‘Beat Generation’, inspiring hundreds of kids to hit the road. It is a tale full of sex, drugs and jazz. But the author once described himself as ‘a strange solitary crazy Catholic mystic’. And that is what really lies at the heart of his travels; a spiritual search for man’s own role in the universe.

Kerouac typed On the Road, the story of seven years’ worth of travel, in three weeks on a 120-foot long scroll of paper. And as such, he just wrote whatever formulated in his mind, giving life to long, vivid descriptions of jazz performances, people, and the Mexican heat. And undoubtedly this film will see those descriptions transcend words and adopt a whole new significance.

The original novel, first published in 1957, has influenced and inspired multiple generations of young people, and that is a lot to live up to when it is finally screened. But with Walter Salles behind it, I can see it becoming a fitting tribute to the late author, as well as introducing a whole new generation to the genius of Jack Kerouac.

By Martin Greenacre

Ben Howard: Every Kingdom – Album Review

Nothing epitomises Ben Howard’s debut album, Every Kingdom, more than the way they celebrated its launch. A few songs from his Totnes living room where the album was masterfully written, together with Chris Bond on double-bass and cellist India Bourne, streamed live to their rapidly growing fan base. And it was apparent that they are just three good, grounded friends who appreciate every second they spend performing.

And celebrate they should – because this album does not disappoint. In this industry there is inevitably a barrage of comparisons to other artists. But the band’s soft, melodic folk sound deserves to be praised and appreciated in its own right. After all, comparisons are odious. I feared that to a degree the stripped-back element may be lost in production – or over-production – but Island Records also deserve credit for resisting that temptation, and it shows through for the duration of the album.

The record opens with Old Pine, a song written about a young Ben’s surf trip to France. It is a beautifully melodic track which captures the essence of being young and carefree.

The better known The Wolves has also been re-recorded from the single, and extended by a further two minutes, inspired by a live performance. . And here we see the choir-esque backing vocals of Chris and India, which help cement the view that the trio are a match made in heaven. Those backing vocals also make a significant appearance in Keep Your Head Up, and if anything I would have liked to have seen them utilised even more throughout the ten tracks. The Wolves has also been adopted by Surfers Against Sewage, a campaign for which Ben has expressed his support; not only vocally, but by holding free, barefoot beach gigs around the country to clean up Britain’s beaches.

The album really does take you on the clichéd proverbial rollercoaster; from the sombre Black Flies to the inspirational Keep Your Head Up. This song should be remembered for whenever you are far from home and feeling defeated. It really is a true ‘traveller’s song’.

So if you are yet to listen to Every Kingdom, you can expect intricate guitar playing, soft but uplifting vocals, and meaningful lyrics. It may have been released too late to be the album of your summer, but it will no doubt be the album to get me through the harsh winter. After all, it grows more and more powerful with every listen.

By Martin Greenacre