I've been thinking a lot about silence recently, especially in light of the two minutes the UK observed at 11am today in order to honour and remember those soldiers who lost their lives during the First and Second World Wars, as well as every conflict that has followed. Silence is one of the most powerful tools available to us, yet it is so often forgotten in the face of noise and, more importantly, it is routinely underestimated. This has become painfully apparent in light of both the Brexit vote in the summer and the most recent US presidential election. None of the polls predicted the outcome of either of those votes accurately because of a silent mass of individuals who chose not to let their voice be heard until the moment when it really counted - in the polling station.
So often we are told to speak up, stand up, be counted. Both Brexit and the election campaign were dominated by highly vocal voices, whether that sound was coming from an inflammatory right or a defensive left. Both votes were ultimately won by the silent masses. All too often, silence is conflated with passivity but these instances show that being passive is ultimately being active. In an age when mass communication is the bread and butter of daily life it becomes almost impossible to imagine that anyone can be silent. The truth is, and it might feel blindly obvious to say this, we notice the voices we hear and we forget about the ones we don't. It isn't even that we simply ignore the absence of sound - we simply don't even think to think about it.
This is partly why the internet is so important and it is also why the internet can be so easily abused. It is so easy to get trapped in a bubble of the same opinions and the same thought cycles. The internet amplifies certain voices, giving them precedence over others, as well as muting other voices. However, it also makes us forget that the voiceless exist.
Whether the voiceless are voiceless by choice or because they have no access to the internet or other public, we cannot picture them existing. We cannot even begin. This is why it is so easy to underestimate the power of the silent. It's why the pollsters have gotten it so wrong. We don't even know the silent are there.
I don't even know how to go about hearing people who aren't talking, but we need to start. If we don't listen to them they will never listen to us - and the only way we are going to get through this is by listening and trying to understand what we hear.
I hope that this makes sense. I've been trying to unpack my feelings around the presidential election and I don't know if I'm any closer to understanding what happened - but I would like to at least understand why. If you were anything like me, you would have been sat in a blissful bubble, hearing the vile fear spew from the opposition but comforted by voices around you speaking much, much louder. The shock that I felt when I realised my bubble wasn't as representative of the world as I had hoped was just as devastating as the realisation that the world was heading down the path of fear.
So let's listen and try and hear the silence. Let's try to hear the absent voices.
Showing posts with label comment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label comment. Show all posts
Friday, 11 November 2016
Friday, 14 October 2016
On Perfectionsim
It happened. It was inevitable that it would and it finally did. I missed a day of blogtober.
I am sorry that I missed a day, but I'm not entirely surprised and, whilst I was thinking it over this morning when I woke up and remembered I hadn't posted anything, it got me thinking about perfectionism.
I am a perfectionist, but I don't think it is out of any desire to actually get things 'perfect'. I'm very lucky in that I was a naturally bright child - I never really had to work too hard through school and college in order to get high grades. I wasn't one of those students who didn't put any effort in a sailed through, don't get me wrong. I revised really hard for my geography and history GCSE's (my weakest subjects where much of the test was based on facts and figures) and I got my legs chopped from underneath me when I got a D in my first AS politics exam (I naively thought that performing well in discussion in class, when I had others around me to help stimulate my ideas, was as good as knowing the information myself) so I revised extremely hard for my retakes.
I think I am a perfectionist because I have been told that I am good at things, so I don't want to let others down. I act like a perfectionist because I 'should be perfect', rather than because I think I am or because I particularly want to be. This can mean that when I think I've done a task to a high enough level I'll stop. It won't necessarily be the perfect end-result, but it will be 'good enough' to make them (whoever I'm performing the task for) think I am good at it. This is my perfectionism struggle - because if I'm unable to get a task to a certain level I tend to shut down. I get angry and upset at myself. I think I've failed. My own expectations of what I can do, and the expectations of others around me, really impact on my emotions and feelings of self-worth. I also struggle with the inevitability of failure and it can sometimes stop me from doing things. For example, I knew that I would fail when I came to completing my New Years resolution of running 365 miles this year, so I barely started.
However, my coping strategy for this isn't always the best. I can be very 'brush-off-ish' of my failures, presenting my internal disappointment as a kind of blase rudeness (at best) or anger (at worst).
This is something I've been working on a lot over the past few years, particularly during my time at uni when I happily sat in the middle of the pack for most of my time - surrounded by people who were significantly more intelligent than me in a myriad of ways. It helped me to understand that my perfectionism didn't have to be about being the best of everyone or, more importantly, being the best FOR everyone, it could just be about being the best for me,
This means that my 'best' can change day-in, day-out. It means I can give myself mental-health days when I need them, knowing that my 'best' on that day will be getting up, going to work, and getting an early night. It also means that I can push myself when I know I'm just being lazy and it will spur me to make the most of my time, getting up, going to work, coming home, writing a blog post, applying for an internship, reading a book.
I don't know if any of that made sense, but what I'm trying to say is this:
Don't let the thought of failure stop you from trying.
Don't let other people's expectations control your life.
Your expectations for yourself don't need to be constant. You can change them daily.
What are your thoughts on perfectionism? Do you struggle with it in the same way as me? Or do you have different experiences? Let me know on twitter @vickimaitland or in the comments.
I am sorry that I missed a day, but I'm not entirely surprised and, whilst I was thinking it over this morning when I woke up and remembered I hadn't posted anything, it got me thinking about perfectionism.
I am a perfectionist, but I don't think it is out of any desire to actually get things 'perfect'. I'm very lucky in that I was a naturally bright child - I never really had to work too hard through school and college in order to get high grades. I wasn't one of those students who didn't put any effort in a sailed through, don't get me wrong. I revised really hard for my geography and history GCSE's (my weakest subjects where much of the test was based on facts and figures) and I got my legs chopped from underneath me when I got a D in my first AS politics exam (I naively thought that performing well in discussion in class, when I had others around me to help stimulate my ideas, was as good as knowing the information myself) so I revised extremely hard for my retakes.
I think I am a perfectionist because I have been told that I am good at things, so I don't want to let others down. I act like a perfectionist because I 'should be perfect', rather than because I think I am or because I particularly want to be. This can mean that when I think I've done a task to a high enough level I'll stop. It won't necessarily be the perfect end-result, but it will be 'good enough' to make them (whoever I'm performing the task for) think I am good at it. This is my perfectionism struggle - because if I'm unable to get a task to a certain level I tend to shut down. I get angry and upset at myself. I think I've failed. My own expectations of what I can do, and the expectations of others around me, really impact on my emotions and feelings of self-worth. I also struggle with the inevitability of failure and it can sometimes stop me from doing things. For example, I knew that I would fail when I came to completing my New Years resolution of running 365 miles this year, so I barely started.
However, my coping strategy for this isn't always the best. I can be very 'brush-off-ish' of my failures, presenting my internal disappointment as a kind of blase rudeness (at best) or anger (at worst).
This is something I've been working on a lot over the past few years, particularly during my time at uni when I happily sat in the middle of the pack for most of my time - surrounded by people who were significantly more intelligent than me in a myriad of ways. It helped me to understand that my perfectionism didn't have to be about being the best of everyone or, more importantly, being the best FOR everyone, it could just be about being the best for me,
This means that my 'best' can change day-in, day-out. It means I can give myself mental-health days when I need them, knowing that my 'best' on that day will be getting up, going to work, and getting an early night. It also means that I can push myself when I know I'm just being lazy and it will spur me to make the most of my time, getting up, going to work, coming home, writing a blog post, applying for an internship, reading a book.
I don't know if any of that made sense, but what I'm trying to say is this:
Don't let the thought of failure stop you from trying.
Don't let other people's expectations control your life.
Your expectations for yourself don't need to be constant. You can change them daily.
What are your thoughts on perfectionism? Do you struggle with it in the same way as me? Or do you have different experiences? Let me know on twitter @vickimaitland or in the comments.
Monday, 10 October 2016
Women on the Internet whom I Admire
I wanted to write something for mental health day, but my thoughts are no solidified enough to even begin to turn them into something legible here. However, what I will say is this: if you are suffering from any kind of mental health issue (even if you think 'well, I'm not feeling as bad a X person in my life so I'm juts making a fuss over nothing') PLEASE talk to someone. I cannot state enough the importance of telling somebody the words 'I'm not okay', even if you sob them out. By saying the words out loud you make them real, and admitting to another person (or people) that something is wrong is the best way to enable yourself to start getting help.
But, now, on to the real crux of this post: Women on the Internet whom I Admire.
This list is by no means exhaustive and I'll literally only be talking about YouTubers (sorry, fellow bloggers, I admire you very much too). It's also in no particular order.
Sadie - defense360
Sadie is a woman who is wiser than her years. I admire her art, her passion, and her creativity. Here is her most recent video:
Linda Barsi
Linda quickly became one of my favourite people on the internet when she started giving out excellent writing advice and her position there was solidified when she opened up about her struggles with mental health. Funny, unafraid to open herself up, and, once again, creative - there is plenty to admire in Linda.
Rosianna Halse Rojas
Rosianna was one of the first British female YouTubers that I watched religiously and still do. Rosianna is insightful, driven, and honest, and I strive to read as deeply and as eloquently as she does. All her videos are rather excellent, but I'm glad that I get to share this most recent one with you.
Leena - justkissmyfrog
Leena is funny, intelligent, and sarcastic. Her 'stupid questions' series is excellent and her 'banging book club' with Lucy and Hannah (two other women who I've had to miss off this list or else it would be far too long) is brilliant.
Lex - tyrannosauruslexxx
One of the things I admire most about Lex is the fact that she hasn't changed her inexplicably complicated YouTube name... Her sense of humour is so perfectly dry and I really aspire to live in as moral a way she does. Her most recent video speaks volumes on the kind of person she is:
Estee Lalonde
I bought Estee's book, Bloom, the other day and I'm already loving it. She is a young woman who speaks and acts with great poise and dignity - even when she's pulling faces and making fun of herself. I adore how down to earth she is and her relationship with her boyfriend, Aslan, is the ultimate #couplegoals in my book - two people who respect and admire each other for everything they do. Her most recent video is a classic beauty guru makeup look, but her channel is so much more varied than that.
Jessie Cave
I discovered Jessie through her Instagram account and immediately fell in love. It wasn't really until I went on her YouTube channel that I recognised her as 'the girl from Harry Potter'. I haven't been watching her videos for very long but her Untitled Vlogs series cracks me up no end. Her editing style is brilliant and I love her creativity.
Jen Campbell
Jen Campbell is another woman I admire because of her talent and insight all at once. I have been watching her videos for a while now and they just keep getting better. I aspire to read as widely and deeply as Jen.
Margaret - JustMargaret
Margaret makes videos very rarely nowadays but when she does I devour them within moments. She is a young woman who has been through an awful lot and I admire her tennacity, her honesty, and her passion - among other things.
I am going to end this list here, although it could very easily go on to include Kristina Horner, Kayley Hyde, Carrie Hope Fletcher, Sanne Vliegenthart, Hannah Witton, Lucy Moon, Jean (bookishthoughts), Lauren (renkellym), Lauren (readsanddaydreams), Fran Meneses, Louise Pentland, and many, many more besides.
(Edit: Can't believe I left Amanda (shessomickey) off this list first time around. I'm also sure this won't be my first edit because there are so many brilliant women on the internet doing clever and interesting things.)
Watching women on YouTube has been one of the most important aspects of my own personal growth and it is fair to say, especially for my longtime loves, that without these women I wouldn't be the person I am today. Thank you, ladies, for shaping me.
But, now, on to the real crux of this post: Women on the Internet whom I Admire.
This list is by no means exhaustive and I'll literally only be talking about YouTubers (sorry, fellow bloggers, I admire you very much too). It's also in no particular order.
Sadie - defense360
Sadie is a woman who is wiser than her years. I admire her art, her passion, and her creativity. Here is her most recent video:
Linda Barsi
Linda quickly became one of my favourite people on the internet when she started giving out excellent writing advice and her position there was solidified when she opened up about her struggles with mental health. Funny, unafraid to open herself up, and, once again, creative - there is plenty to admire in Linda.
Rosianna Halse Rojas
Rosianna was one of the first British female YouTubers that I watched religiously and still do. Rosianna is insightful, driven, and honest, and I strive to read as deeply and as eloquently as she does. All her videos are rather excellent, but I'm glad that I get to share this most recent one with you.
Leena - justkissmyfrog
Leena is funny, intelligent, and sarcastic. Her 'stupid questions' series is excellent and her 'banging book club' with Lucy and Hannah (two other women who I've had to miss off this list or else it would be far too long) is brilliant.
Lex - tyrannosauruslexxx
One of the things I admire most about Lex is the fact that she hasn't changed her inexplicably complicated YouTube name... Her sense of humour is so perfectly dry and I really aspire to live in as moral a way she does. Her most recent video speaks volumes on the kind of person she is:
Estee Lalonde
I bought Estee's book, Bloom, the other day and I'm already loving it. She is a young woman who speaks and acts with great poise and dignity - even when she's pulling faces and making fun of herself. I adore how down to earth she is and her relationship with her boyfriend, Aslan, is the ultimate #couplegoals in my book - two people who respect and admire each other for everything they do. Her most recent video is a classic beauty guru makeup look, but her channel is so much more varied than that.
Jessie Cave
I discovered Jessie through her Instagram account and immediately fell in love. It wasn't really until I went on her YouTube channel that I recognised her as 'the girl from Harry Potter'. I haven't been watching her videos for very long but her Untitled Vlogs series cracks me up no end. Her editing style is brilliant and I love her creativity.
Jen Campbell
Jen Campbell is another woman I admire because of her talent and insight all at once. I have been watching her videos for a while now and they just keep getting better. I aspire to read as widely and deeply as Jen.
Margaret - JustMargaret
Margaret makes videos very rarely nowadays but when she does I devour them within moments. She is a young woman who has been through an awful lot and I admire her tennacity, her honesty, and her passion - among other things.
I am going to end this list here, although it could very easily go on to include Kristina Horner, Kayley Hyde, Carrie Hope Fletcher, Sanne Vliegenthart, Hannah Witton, Lucy Moon, Jean (bookishthoughts), Lauren (renkellym), Lauren (readsanddaydreams), Fran Meneses, Louise Pentland, and many, many more besides.
(Edit: Can't believe I left Amanda (shessomickey) off this list first time around. I'm also sure this won't be my first edit because there are so many brilliant women on the internet doing clever and interesting things.)
Watching women on YouTube has been one of the most important aspects of my own personal growth and it is fair to say, especially for my longtime loves, that without these women I wouldn't be the person I am today. Thank you, ladies, for shaping me.
Tuesday, 2 February 2016
January Wrap-Up
We haven't had one of these for a while, have we?
This year I want to make monthly wrap-ups more of a feature on this blog. I really enjoy watching favourites, wrap-ups, and monthly review videos on YouTube, so I thought I'd have a crack at it on this blog too. My wrap-up's used to be purely book based and, whilst I'm still going to use this space to talk about the books I've loved, I'm going to start integrating other aspects, they might very well change each month, to remind me of where I was at throughout the year.
Books
I'm trying to do the 50 books challenge again this year - after my very unsuccessful attempt last year. I've deleted Goodreads because I never really used it properly, so instead I'm tracking my books in my bullet journal (there will be a post about my journal at some point in the near(ish) future once I'm settled into it).
I've read four books (almost) this month - two fiction and two non-fiction.
1) 1984 - George Orwell. This is a book that's been on my 'to read' pile for donkey's years now, and I actually bought it for my Dad for his birthday a couple of years ago. For those who don't know, this is basically the original dystopian. I really enjoyed this book - its a really easy read for a modern classic, and if you enjoyed things like 'The Hunger Games' and 'The Maze Runner' this is a good leap into the adult fiction version of dystopian novels.
2) Bad Feminist, Essays - Roxane Gay. I started reading this book way back in the middle of 2015, but at one point or another I put it down and never picked it back up again. I have somewhat mixed feelings about this collection of essays, but it was certainly an interesting perspective. Gay is a black American woman who has been sexually assaulted in her past, so her view of the world (and the way the world views her) is completely different from my own. In places I felt like the essays could have done with another edit just to tighten them up a bit, and some of them I felt could have been cut altogether as they repeated points already mentioned, but on the whole I enjoyed reading this book.
3) Purple Hibiscus - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. I have now officially finished reading all the novels Adichie has published, so you could say that I'm a bit of a fan. Set in Nigeria, this novel is a coming of age about a young girl living in a very strictly Catholic family. Sometimes painful to read, Adichie's writing is vivid and beautiful, and I feel like I'm learning a lot more about Nigerian history and culture from reading her books.
4) Inside Team Sky - David Walsh. I'm actually just over 3/4 of the way through this book at the time of writing, but by the time you read this post I should have finished. Following Team Sky cycling team during their 2013 Tour de France, Walsh is the journalist who uncovered Armstrong and is trying to confirm his beliefs that Sky are a clean team. As you know, I'm a big cycling fan, but even for me some of the names go over my head! If you are interested in cycling, though, its a fascinating insight into how the teams operate.
Beauty
This was the month of Dirty perfume. I picked it up from Lush Oxford Street when I was there over New Years, and I've literally worn it everyday since. It's a really fresh and herbal scent - a minty rosemary, if that makes any sense. I love how clean it smells, and I can see myself continuing to wear it non-stop for the foreseeable future. I might even invest in the smaller size to use on the go!
Music
One of my friends Maddie hosts a podcast called 'The Late Night Tea Party', and I've been discovering some excellent music thanks to her, as well as reminding myself of artists I used to listen to whilst studying last year.
Life
This was the month of booking. I booked my first hair cut in a proper salon (and loved the results). I also booked my holiday to South Africa, including all the internal flights and 90% of the accommodation. To say I'm excited is an understatement.
This was also the month that I moved into the marketing office at work. I'm a copy writer for the UK's largest fishing tackle company, and whilst it's certainly not thrilling it's excellent experience.
Finally, this was the month that I stuck to my New Years Resolutions. I've been doing well at running a couple of times a week and keeping my bed made, which is a shamefully big thing for 21 year old me to admit to!
So, as always, stay sunny
xx
This year I want to make monthly wrap-ups more of a feature on this blog. I really enjoy watching favourites, wrap-ups, and monthly review videos on YouTube, so I thought I'd have a crack at it on this blog too. My wrap-up's used to be purely book based and, whilst I'm still going to use this space to talk about the books I've loved, I'm going to start integrating other aspects, they might very well change each month, to remind me of where I was at throughout the year.
Books
I'm trying to do the 50 books challenge again this year - after my very unsuccessful attempt last year. I've deleted Goodreads because I never really used it properly, so instead I'm tracking my books in my bullet journal (there will be a post about my journal at some point in the near(ish) future once I'm settled into it).
I've read four books (almost) this month - two fiction and two non-fiction.
 |
| Thanks to my sister for being the disembodied arm holding these books. |
 |
| I love the cover of this book; there are so many great 1984 covers out there! |
2) Bad Feminist, Essays - Roxane Gay. I started reading this book way back in the middle of 2015, but at one point or another I put it down and never picked it back up again. I have somewhat mixed feelings about this collection of essays, but it was certainly an interesting perspective. Gay is a black American woman who has been sexually assaulted in her past, so her view of the world (and the way the world views her) is completely different from my own. In places I felt like the essays could have done with another edit just to tighten them up a bit, and some of them I felt could have been cut altogether as they repeated points already mentioned, but on the whole I enjoyed reading this book.
3) Purple Hibiscus - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. I have now officially finished reading all the novels Adichie has published, so you could say that I'm a bit of a fan. Set in Nigeria, this novel is a coming of age about a young girl living in a very strictly Catholic family. Sometimes painful to read, Adichie's writing is vivid and beautiful, and I feel like I'm learning a lot more about Nigerian history and culture from reading her books.
 |
| I had to hold this book at an odd angle because the cover reflected the entire window! |
4) Inside Team Sky - David Walsh. I'm actually just over 3/4 of the way through this book at the time of writing, but by the time you read this post I should have finished. Following Team Sky cycling team during their 2013 Tour de France, Walsh is the journalist who uncovered Armstrong and is trying to confirm his beliefs that Sky are a clean team. As you know, I'm a big cycling fan, but even for me some of the names go over my head! If you are interested in cycling, though, its a fascinating insight into how the teams operate.
Beauty
This was the month of Dirty perfume. I picked it up from Lush Oxford Street when I was there over New Years, and I've literally worn it everyday since. It's a really fresh and herbal scent - a minty rosemary, if that makes any sense. I love how clean it smells, and I can see myself continuing to wear it non-stop for the foreseeable future. I might even invest in the smaller size to use on the go!
Music
One of my friends Maddie hosts a podcast called 'The Late Night Tea Party', and I've been discovering some excellent music thanks to her, as well as reminding myself of artists I used to listen to whilst studying last year.
Life
This was the month of booking. I booked my first hair cut in a proper salon (and loved the results). I also booked my holiday to South Africa, including all the internal flights and 90% of the accommodation. To say I'm excited is an understatement.
This was also the month that I moved into the marketing office at work. I'm a copy writer for the UK's largest fishing tackle company, and whilst it's certainly not thrilling it's excellent experience.
Finally, this was the month that I stuck to my New Years Resolutions. I've been doing well at running a couple of times a week and keeping my bed made, which is a shamefully big thing for 21 year old me to admit to!
So, as always, stay sunny
xx
Tuesday, 19 January 2016
Best Of: 15 of 2015
I'm back! Sorry for the hiatus - it was planned but it wasn't executed quite how I had intended. I'll explain all next week, but I thought I'd put this post up before the year grew too old.
Here's my top 15 of 2015.
Beauty
TopShop Smokey Eye Palette - Golden Aurora
Lush R&B Hair Moisturiser
Barry M LipLiner - 9 Russet
Too Faced Mascara - Better Than Sex
Collection Eyebrow Kit
I got the TopShop Pallette for Christmas 2014 and I've worn it every season since. The mix of colours means its pretty versatile, even if the dark colours are too dark for an all-over lid look. Looks I've used it in can be seen here and here.
R&B was something I'd picked up in April, and one small pot lasted me till Christmas. I've already got a new pot. It is the best thing for dry hair, in my opinion, even if the smell is a little funny.
Barry M products have really impressed me all year, but none more than their lip liners. This one, Russet, is my particular favourite as it's really adaptable under different colours of lipstick.
I had a mixed reaction to the Better Than Sex mascara at first, but now I can't imagine my make-up look complete without it.
Collection are the only brand in this list with a somewhat dubious cruelty free policy. Both this eyebrow kit and their concealer have stayed in my make-up kit all year, however, so at least one of them deserved a place in my favourites.
Books
How To Be Both - Ali Smith
Americanah - Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche
The Book Theif - Markus Zusak
The Direputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks - E. Lockhart
The Age of Earthquakes - Coupland, Basar, Obrist
I loved Smith's There But For The, and I picked up How To Be Both when it was on offer in Waterstones. It's a very intelligent book, as all of Smith's are, and I'd really recommend it.
Americanah was a bit of a revelation for me, as I'd never read anything with African leads outside of school, and certainly nothing by an African author. This had been something I was looking to change, and I made good moves to change it in 2015. Looking forward I want to continue to diversify my reading.
I got The Book Thief Christmas 2014. When I read it I sobbed and sobbed. No book since has had that visceral reaction in me, so it had to go in my favourites.
The Disreputable History is a book I own on Kindle, but it's one that I've recommended over and over again ever since I read it. I read it on busses, trains, and a plane as I made my way to Lyon and it captivated me throughout.
I've lent The Age of Earthquakes to Katie, so I don't have a picture, but you can read my review here. This book was one of the first truly non-fiction books I read last year, and to read more non-fiction is one of my reading goals for 2016.
Other
Filler Podcast - Harry Hitchens and Matt Shore
No Such Thing As A Fish - QI Elves
Necklace
How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful - Florence and the Machine
Darling Magazine
It was really lovely to reflect over some of the things I loved over the year. I could add in so much more, including all of the National Theatre Live cinematic productions I've seen, all of the plays and musicals I've gone to, and plenty of other artists (including Lorde, Haim and Paolo Nutini).
What were some of your favourite things from the last year? I'm still on Twitter and Instagram - @VickiMaitland everywhere. I'm no longer doing Goodreads as I found it a pretty ineffectual way of tracking my reading personally, but you can follow what I'm reading by following me on my other social media, as I tend to write about the stuff I'm loving.
Next week I'll go into more depth about my haitus, but for now, stay sunny.
x
Here's my top 15 of 2015.
Beauty
TopShop Smokey Eye Palette - Golden Aurora
Lush R&B Hair Moisturiser
Barry M LipLiner - 9 Russet
Too Faced Mascara - Better Than Sex
Collection Eyebrow Kit
I got the TopShop Pallette for Christmas 2014 and I've worn it every season since. The mix of colours means its pretty versatile, even if the dark colours are too dark for an all-over lid look. Looks I've used it in can be seen here and here.
R&B was something I'd picked up in April, and one small pot lasted me till Christmas. I've already got a new pot. It is the best thing for dry hair, in my opinion, even if the smell is a little funny.
Barry M products have really impressed me all year, but none more than their lip liners. This one, Russet, is my particular favourite as it's really adaptable under different colours of lipstick.
I had a mixed reaction to the Better Than Sex mascara at first, but now I can't imagine my make-up look complete without it.
Collection are the only brand in this list with a somewhat dubious cruelty free policy. Both this eyebrow kit and their concealer have stayed in my make-up kit all year, however, so at least one of them deserved a place in my favourites.
Books
How To Be Both - Ali Smith
Americanah - Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche
The Book Theif - Markus Zusak
The Direputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks - E. Lockhart
The Age of Earthquakes - Coupland, Basar, Obrist
Americanah was a bit of a revelation for me, as I'd never read anything with African leads outside of school, and certainly nothing by an African author. This had been something I was looking to change, and I made good moves to change it in 2015. Looking forward I want to continue to diversify my reading.
I got The Book Thief Christmas 2014. When I read it I sobbed and sobbed. No book since has had that visceral reaction in me, so it had to go in my favourites.
The Disreputable History is a book I own on Kindle, but it's one that I've recommended over and over again ever since I read it. I read it on busses, trains, and a plane as I made my way to Lyon and it captivated me throughout.
I've lent The Age of Earthquakes to Katie, so I don't have a picture, but you can read my review here. This book was one of the first truly non-fiction books I read last year, and to read more non-fiction is one of my reading goals for 2016.
Other
Filler Podcast - Harry Hitchens and Matt Shore
No Such Thing As A Fish - QI Elves
Necklace
How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful - Florence and the Machine
Darling Magazine
Filler is a creative industries podcast hosted by Harry Hitchens and Matt Shore. It's so intelligent and inspirational, and as a young creative myself I love listening to how my sucessful peers got to where they are today.
No Such Thing As A Fish is a podcast by the QI elves. Four of the QI researchers meet to share their favourite facts from the last week, and not only is it interesting but it frequently has me giggling my socks off.
This necklace was a gift from my parents for my 21st. It's diamond cut gold - a cut that was popular in the 70's but less so now. I wanted it because my Mum has a similar one, that she got for her 21st too, and I like that it's a tradition to be passed down.
How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful as an album is beautiful, and the title track is my favourite from the whole. Florence always creates poetry rather than lyrics, and I love how she just goes for a note. The album contains so much emotion, it's stunning.
Darling was something I became aware of to the end of last year, but because of the price of shipping I was really wary of ordering it. I'm so glad I took the plunge, and strongly recommend it to anyone looking to read a magazine that truly celebrates the art of being a woman. None of their images are doctored in any way, and the magazine is divinely edited.
It was really lovely to reflect over some of the things I loved over the year. I could add in so much more, including all of the National Theatre Live cinematic productions I've seen, all of the plays and musicals I've gone to, and plenty of other artists (including Lorde, Haim and Paolo Nutini).
What were some of your favourite things from the last year? I'm still on Twitter and Instagram - @VickiMaitland everywhere. I'm no longer doing Goodreads as I found it a pretty ineffectual way of tracking my reading personally, but you can follow what I'm reading by following me on my other social media, as I tend to write about the stuff I'm loving.
Next week I'll go into more depth about my haitus, but for now, stay sunny.
x
Monday, 14 December 2015
Blogmas 14: Vic's Tips - How to Survive the Office Party
Another new series for the blog, this time one that I have shamelessly ripped off from my wonderful wifey, Vic's Tips!
I've been to a few office parties in my time - including one which ended with the store manager giving lap dance to another member of staff in the back of a mini-van, so I think I've pretty much sussed my way around them!
1) Make sure you know the dress code - you don't want to be the one who is way over/under-dressed. Most office parties will be smart/casual, but if in doubt, check! Even googling the venue might give a hint as to the dress code.
2) Don't assume everyone will know your name/role. This is especially key in a big company, so don't be afraid to introduce yourself/ ask someone else their name and job. This also lets you network a bit to see if there's any other area of the business you think you'd enjoy. Some office parties will share a space with a couple of other parties, so the person you're talking to might not even work for the same company as you, so they won't be offended if you ask their name!
3) Be cautious with the free drinks. Most office parties will provide some sort of free beverage - whether it be wine on the table or a tab behind the bar. Don't go overboard - you're going to have to see these people on Monday morning! Even if you're friends with people you work with an office party is never a purely social occasion.
4) Try and talk about things other than work. You're all connected by the common theme that you work in the same building/company, but you're not going to actually make friends with people if all you do is talk about work and office politics. You also avoid moaning in ear-shot of the wrong people (the boss) if you avoid work in general.
5) Don't hook up with anyone! If you find yourself 'getting along' with another member of staff take their number and arrange to meet up after Christmas. Messy office hook-ups cause tension for months afterwards, especially as most office parties won't allow you to bring your significant other.
There you have it! If you have any tips for surviving the office party, leave a comment below or tweet me @VickiMaitland.
I've been to a few office parties in my time - including one which ended with the store manager giving lap dance to another member of staff in the back of a mini-van, so I think I've pretty much sussed my way around them!
1) Make sure you know the dress code - you don't want to be the one who is way over/under-dressed. Most office parties will be smart/casual, but if in doubt, check! Even googling the venue might give a hint as to the dress code.
2) Don't assume everyone will know your name/role. This is especially key in a big company, so don't be afraid to introduce yourself/ ask someone else their name and job. This also lets you network a bit to see if there's any other area of the business you think you'd enjoy. Some office parties will share a space with a couple of other parties, so the person you're talking to might not even work for the same company as you, so they won't be offended if you ask their name!
3) Be cautious with the free drinks. Most office parties will provide some sort of free beverage - whether it be wine on the table or a tab behind the bar. Don't go overboard - you're going to have to see these people on Monday morning! Even if you're friends with people you work with an office party is never a purely social occasion.
4) Try and talk about things other than work. You're all connected by the common theme that you work in the same building/company, but you're not going to actually make friends with people if all you do is talk about work and office politics. You also avoid moaning in ear-shot of the wrong people (the boss) if you avoid work in general.
5) Don't hook up with anyone! If you find yourself 'getting along' with another member of staff take their number and arrange to meet up after Christmas. Messy office hook-ups cause tension for months afterwards, especially as most office parties won't allow you to bring your significant other.
There you have it! If you have any tips for surviving the office party, leave a comment below or tweet me @VickiMaitland.
Friday, 11 December 2015
Blogmas 10: Norwich Nosh Episode 1 - Frank's Bar
Recently I've found myself in a position where I've been able to eat out more, which is a very lucky position to be in! Norwich, where I live, has a cafes and bars on every corner. Norwich Nosh is a new series where I'll essentially do mini reviews of some of my favourite places to eat in Norwich.
Episode 1 - Frank's Bar
Where: 19 Bedford Street, NR2 1AR
When: Tuesday - Sunday (Closed on Monday)
How (much): £5 for a light bite - £12 for a main meal. £2-3 for a soft/hot drink. £4 pint. £6+ cocktails.
Who: Frank's Bar invites a relaxed crowd of people - arty but not pretentious. The venue is small, so it employs a shuffle up policy and seats multiple groups to a table (they do ask first though).
What: There is a decent range of food, mostly Mediterranean inspired. Their bread platter (with olives, hummus and balsamic oil) is particularly lovely. They change their menu seasonally, so you can be assumed all their food is fresh as it comes. They have a pretty good range of vegetarian, vegan and gluten free meals, and most of the meat dishes they have use 'unusual' meats, so they're not reliant on the over-farmed few (I've seen both pigeon and rabbit on the menu).
Why: Frank's Bar is a truly lovely little venue. They have a fully waiter-ed service, but you do have to go to the bar to collect your bill. The atmosphere is cosy and warm. I particularly recommend the hot chocolate (which you can have with soya milk and vegan mallows - although I personally can't resist having it topped with whipped cream).
I love Frank's Bar and have been going there for brunch, lunch, dinner, drinks, and coffee's for years now. It's always a solid choice - even if you have to wait a little while for a seat at busy times.
Visit their website here.
.
Episode 1 - Frank's Bar
Where: 19 Bedford Street, NR2 1AR
When: Tuesday - Sunday (Closed on Monday)
How (much): £5 for a light bite - £12 for a main meal. £2-3 for a soft/hot drink. £4 pint. £6+ cocktails.
Who: Frank's Bar invites a relaxed crowd of people - arty but not pretentious. The venue is small, so it employs a shuffle up policy and seats multiple groups to a table (they do ask first though).
What: There is a decent range of food, mostly Mediterranean inspired. Their bread platter (with olives, hummus and balsamic oil) is particularly lovely. They change their menu seasonally, so you can be assumed all their food is fresh as it comes. They have a pretty good range of vegetarian, vegan and gluten free meals, and most of the meat dishes they have use 'unusual' meats, so they're not reliant on the over-farmed few (I've seen both pigeon and rabbit on the menu).
Why: Frank's Bar is a truly lovely little venue. They have a fully waiter-ed service, but you do have to go to the bar to collect your bill. The atmosphere is cosy and warm. I particularly recommend the hot chocolate (which you can have with soya milk and vegan mallows - although I personally can't resist having it topped with whipped cream).
I love Frank's Bar and have been going there for brunch, lunch, dinner, drinks, and coffee's for years now. It's always a solid choice - even if you have to wait a little while for a seat at busy times.
Visit their website here.
.
Thursday, 10 December 2015
Blogmas 9: On High School, Grades, and Popularity
I work two jobs. One as an admin assistant in an office. The other as an English and Maths tutor for an agency.
My second job means I spend a lot of time working with children and teenagers, and it often makes me think back to when I was in their shoes.
Today I was sat with a girl who wanted help with her GCSE English. She opened up to me and my boss about how nervous she was about doing her exams, how she was unsure of how well she would do. I remember taking GCSE's very seriously, and shared her fears when I was her age (15-16). Looking back, it's easy to say that I shouldn't have worried so much. At the time, getting good GCSE's felt like the most important thing in the world. As soon as I got to sixth-form, no-one asked me about my GCSE's, and although they helped me get in to the college they didn't do much else.
High school is a funny and fascinating time, in that sense. It's like this little bubble, where you're not yet an adult but are desperate to be, not a child yet still want a certain degree of comfort and 'mothering' (for want of a better world). You're trying to disciver yourself but at the same time you desperately want to fit in. Being 'popular' is often the most important thing.
Of course it's not unnatural to want to be liked, but there is something strange about high school's particular brand of 'popularity'. If you're a girl who's either good at sports or ridiculously 'girly' then you're likely to be considered 'popular'. If you're a boy, you need to be good at sports or funny.
The thing is, from where I sat anyway, being popular never looked that much fun. There seemed, to me at least, to be a lot of in fighting, the kind of drama you'd expect in a teen soap rather than on a playing field.
I was in this weird zone of not being popular in the traditional sense, but I was pretty well respected by most of the popular crowd and never got an hassle from them the way some of my peers did. I think my school year was pretty out of the ordinary when it came to the traditional popular/nerd divide. There were a lot of the popular crowd in the upper sets, and there was a certain degree of respect between the two groups. At the end of the day, both wanted the same thing - to get decent GCSE's and be well liked.
If you want some perspective on my school life, YouTube's Lucy and Lydia were two of the popular girls in my year. As popular girls go, they were pretty tame, and a pretty accurate reflection of the group as a whole. But they seemed to have more falling's out, tiffs, and silly fights than any of the people in my friendship group.
I don't really know what all of this was trying to say. Except, perhaps, that high school is a unique experience, which is probably why there is so much literature, film, and music about it. And that GCSE's, whilst sort of important, aren't nearly as important for the person as they are for the school (provided you're predicted about a C grade in English, Maths and Science, that is). And finally, that popularity is never really about the size of your friendship group but the quality of the friends in it.
My second job means I spend a lot of time working with children and teenagers, and it often makes me think back to when I was in their shoes.
Today I was sat with a girl who wanted help with her GCSE English. She opened up to me and my boss about how nervous she was about doing her exams, how she was unsure of how well she would do. I remember taking GCSE's very seriously, and shared her fears when I was her age (15-16). Looking back, it's easy to say that I shouldn't have worried so much. At the time, getting good GCSE's felt like the most important thing in the world. As soon as I got to sixth-form, no-one asked me about my GCSE's, and although they helped me get in to the college they didn't do much else.
High school is a funny and fascinating time, in that sense. It's like this little bubble, where you're not yet an adult but are desperate to be, not a child yet still want a certain degree of comfort and 'mothering' (for want of a better world). You're trying to disciver yourself but at the same time you desperately want to fit in. Being 'popular' is often the most important thing.
Of course it's not unnatural to want to be liked, but there is something strange about high school's particular brand of 'popularity'. If you're a girl who's either good at sports or ridiculously 'girly' then you're likely to be considered 'popular'. If you're a boy, you need to be good at sports or funny.
The thing is, from where I sat anyway, being popular never looked that much fun. There seemed, to me at least, to be a lot of in fighting, the kind of drama you'd expect in a teen soap rather than on a playing field.
I was in this weird zone of not being popular in the traditional sense, but I was pretty well respected by most of the popular crowd and never got an hassle from them the way some of my peers did. I think my school year was pretty out of the ordinary when it came to the traditional popular/nerd divide. There were a lot of the popular crowd in the upper sets, and there was a certain degree of respect between the two groups. At the end of the day, both wanted the same thing - to get decent GCSE's and be well liked.
If you want some perspective on my school life, YouTube's Lucy and Lydia were two of the popular girls in my year. As popular girls go, they were pretty tame, and a pretty accurate reflection of the group as a whole. But they seemed to have more falling's out, tiffs, and silly fights than any of the people in my friendship group.
I don't really know what all of this was trying to say. Except, perhaps, that high school is a unique experience, which is probably why there is so much literature, film, and music about it. And that GCSE's, whilst sort of important, aren't nearly as important for the person as they are for the school (provided you're predicted about a C grade in English, Maths and Science, that is). And finally, that popularity is never really about the size of your friendship group but the quality of the friends in it.
Thursday, 3 December 2015
Blogmas 3: On Syria
I've had a hard time thinking about what to write today, because I simply can't get away from the events of last night.
Last night it was announced that the UK would become involved in aerial assaults on Syria. This is despite a large opposition to the decision from the general public, as well as the opposition leader.
I'm not going to claim that I'm a font on Syrian politics. However, I do know that personally I believe violence begets more violence,
I can't support bombing Syria. This is a nation in peril, a nation that literally millions of people are fleeing, a nation controlled by what is essentially a militia.
Isis is a terrorist machine that runs on propaganda. By bombing Syria, all we are doing is creating the propaganda for them. Isis tells the people of Syria that the West is terrible. The West closes its boarders out of fear and bombs the innocent. We're creating the propaganda for them.
David Cameron says air strikes are more accurate than ever. But if you're pointing a missile at, say, the house of a known terrorist, who's to say that it won't also damage the innocent homes either side. Who's to say it won't cut off their water, electricity. Who's to say that it shrapnel won't injure or kill the innocent person living next door.
I don't have the answer to what we should do to stop terrorism, except provide asylum to those who are so desperate for it. We're self-obsessed enough to think that everyone wants the Western lifestyle, but how many of those millions are fleeing to take advantage of the crisis? What was to stop those millions fleeing before the crisis? I'm reminded of the now famous quote by Warsan Shire: No-one puts their children in boats unless the water is safer than the land.
I don't really know what else there is to say. Here's a pretty unbiased article (thanks Katie for pointing me in the direction of this) to help explain the situation.
Tomorrow I'll try and be a little more festive, but today I can only be afraid.
Last night it was announced that the UK would become involved in aerial assaults on Syria. This is despite a large opposition to the decision from the general public, as well as the opposition leader.
I'm not going to claim that I'm a font on Syrian politics. However, I do know that personally I believe violence begets more violence,
I can't support bombing Syria. This is a nation in peril, a nation that literally millions of people are fleeing, a nation controlled by what is essentially a militia.
Isis is a terrorist machine that runs on propaganda. By bombing Syria, all we are doing is creating the propaganda for them. Isis tells the people of Syria that the West is terrible. The West closes its boarders out of fear and bombs the innocent. We're creating the propaganda for them.
David Cameron says air strikes are more accurate than ever. But if you're pointing a missile at, say, the house of a known terrorist, who's to say that it won't also damage the innocent homes either side. Who's to say it won't cut off their water, electricity. Who's to say that it shrapnel won't injure or kill the innocent person living next door.
I don't have the answer to what we should do to stop terrorism, except provide asylum to those who are so desperate for it. We're self-obsessed enough to think that everyone wants the Western lifestyle, but how many of those millions are fleeing to take advantage of the crisis? What was to stop those millions fleeing before the crisis? I'm reminded of the now famous quote by Warsan Shire: No-one puts their children in boats unless the water is safer than the land.
I don't really know what else there is to say. Here's a pretty unbiased article (thanks Katie for pointing me in the direction of this) to help explain the situation.
Tomorrow I'll try and be a little more festive, but today I can only be afraid.
Tuesday, 25 August 2015
Rules of the Road (Bike)
If you're reading this post then it's official. I have survived the 42 miles of the Tour de Broads! Now that I've taken part in not one but two sportives, I think this gives me enough authority to talk about it - right?
Pre-Sportive Prep.
1) Get the miles in. No matter how long you've been cycling for it's always a good idea to test out the distance before you ride. You don't necessarily have to do the whole whack (before the Tour de Broads the furthest I'd ridden was 33 miles), but the more miles you can get in your legs the better prepared you'll be.
2) Practice the simple things - signalling, getting your feet in and out of your pedals (particularly if you have cleats), cornering, drinking/eating on the go. The last one is particularly important - most sportives will have a drinking stop (depending on the length of the ride) but it's a good idea to keep energy and fluids up whilst you ride.
3) Ship shape! Make sure you check over your bike and gear the day before you ride. You wouldn't want to come unstuck by a flat tyre, rusty chain or dodgy cycle shorts five miles into your ride.
On The Day.
1) Arrive early. I think this goes for everything, but depending on how big the event is you need to allow time to unhook your bike from your bike rack, or re-attach that wheel if you've got something a little fancy.
2) Keep hydrated. Electrolyte drinks will give you a sugar kick as well as hydrating you. Apparently you're meant to drink 500ml for every hour in the saddle (depending on your pace and how much you sweat).
3) Know your pace. Don't get caught up in the excitement of the day and set of too fast. You'll pay for it later! On one of my training rides I set off at 15 mph, only to struggle in agony barely grinding 10 mph for the final few miles. Remember, it isn't a race!!
4) Be considerate. One thing I've noticed confident riders with low handle bars do is drop their hand off the bar if they are coming up to a potential hazard in the road. This no only lets the rider behind them know they are about to change course slightly, but also gives them advanced warning of the pot hole/ man hole cover/ road kill a couple of meters up the road. Shouting 'clear!' at junctions as you cross to let the riders behind you know the way is safe, and shouting 'on your right' before you pass a rider are also things that help everyone stay safe on the road.
5) Obey the highway code. Even though there may be a lot of you on the road, unless you're in a really big event chances are you'll still be sharing it with cars. This means you'll need to signal clearly and promptly, and have an awareness of vehicles which might be a little intimidated trying to pass a large number of cyclists.
6) Take advantage of better riders. If you're struggling, try to follow the back wheel of a fellow cyclist. Not only do they act as a carrot for you to stick to, but you'll be doing less than half the work as they act as your wind break.
7) Have fun. Sportives are really friendly environments full of like minded individuals. You might get a few competitive teams, but for the most part you're among small groups of friends who want a fun day out. Most people will be up for a chat as you cycle along - unless they're going uphill!
That's all! Next week you should see a combination of August Book Haul/Wrap-up/September TBR, so stayed tuned!
Pre-Sportive Prep.
1) Get the miles in. No matter how long you've been cycling for it's always a good idea to test out the distance before you ride. You don't necessarily have to do the whole whack (before the Tour de Broads the furthest I'd ridden was 33 miles), but the more miles you can get in your legs the better prepared you'll be.
2) Practice the simple things - signalling, getting your feet in and out of your pedals (particularly if you have cleats), cornering, drinking/eating on the go. The last one is particularly important - most sportives will have a drinking stop (depending on the length of the ride) but it's a good idea to keep energy and fluids up whilst you ride.
3) Ship shape! Make sure you check over your bike and gear the day before you ride. You wouldn't want to come unstuck by a flat tyre, rusty chain or dodgy cycle shorts five miles into your ride.
On The Day.
1) Arrive early. I think this goes for everything, but depending on how big the event is you need to allow time to unhook your bike from your bike rack, or re-attach that wheel if you've got something a little fancy.
2) Keep hydrated. Electrolyte drinks will give you a sugar kick as well as hydrating you. Apparently you're meant to drink 500ml for every hour in the saddle (depending on your pace and how much you sweat).
3) Know your pace. Don't get caught up in the excitement of the day and set of too fast. You'll pay for it later! On one of my training rides I set off at 15 mph, only to struggle in agony barely grinding 10 mph for the final few miles. Remember, it isn't a race!!
4) Be considerate. One thing I've noticed confident riders with low handle bars do is drop their hand off the bar if they are coming up to a potential hazard in the road. This no only lets the rider behind them know they are about to change course slightly, but also gives them advanced warning of the pot hole/ man hole cover/ road kill a couple of meters up the road. Shouting 'clear!' at junctions as you cross to let the riders behind you know the way is safe, and shouting 'on your right' before you pass a rider are also things that help everyone stay safe on the road.
5) Obey the highway code. Even though there may be a lot of you on the road, unless you're in a really big event chances are you'll still be sharing it with cars. This means you'll need to signal clearly and promptly, and have an awareness of vehicles which might be a little intimidated trying to pass a large number of cyclists.
6) Take advantage of better riders. If you're struggling, try to follow the back wheel of a fellow cyclist. Not only do they act as a carrot for you to stick to, but you'll be doing less than half the work as they act as your wind break.
7) Have fun. Sportives are really friendly environments full of like minded individuals. You might get a few competitive teams, but for the most part you're among small groups of friends who want a fun day out. Most people will be up for a chat as you cycle along - unless they're going uphill!
That's all! Next week you should see a combination of August Book Haul/Wrap-up/September TBR, so stayed tuned!
Tuesday, 28 July 2015
Scenes from an Amsterdam Coffee Shop
Amsterdam. The city of water. The ultimate contradiction combining regimented canals and identical streets with it's blase attitude and penchant for weed.
It's hard to believe that it's been over a month since I visited this beautiful city. It feels like no time at all and all the time in the world has passed, which, coincidentally, is how the city feels. Amsterdam manages to hustle and bustle in the most relaxed way of any major city. There is always movement but it's at a pace which doesn't disorient. I think that's partly to do with the amount of bicycle traffic - things feel busier than a pedesterianised city yet not as hectic as a capital where cars pump poison into the air. The ring of a bicycle or tram bell is less imposing than the blare of a car horn or the clamour of tube trains which rumble beneath the pavement. If you get the chance, I recommend renting a bike and cycling around the city for a day. It allows you to experience life as the Dutch do - with ultimate right of way over the roads - and Amsterdam is small enough that you can cross it numerous times in one trip. On our bicycle adventure we cycled out beside the Olympic rowing lake and through a small forest to get to an amazing pancake house (a bonus of visiting the city with a boy who grew up there).
If you do know a local I'd really recommend visiting the city with them. The fact that Kyle knew his way around the center really helped us not to get lost in the maze of canals. They really all do look the same, although by the end of the week I like to think I could indentify the Keizersgracht from the Prinsengracht. 'Like to think' being the operative phrase in that sentence.
You won't be short of things to do and see in Amsterdam. If you have an afternoon to spare, I'd really recommend visiting the Rijksmuseum. It boasts a massive collection of art from the 1600's to the present day, and is well worth spending your time over. I found the pre-renaissance art especially hilarious - in particular these chaps who are all sat on each other and look confused at your judgement of them, or this guy who looks an awful lot like Rowan Atkinson.
In short I had a thoroughly good time in Amsterdam, and it is one of the few major foreign cities I could imagine myself living in (partly because the Dutch speak such good English). I'd love to go back some day, and pick up some of the delicious cheese!
It's hard to believe that it's been over a month since I visited this beautiful city. It feels like no time at all and all the time in the world has passed, which, coincidentally, is how the city feels. Amsterdam manages to hustle and bustle in the most relaxed way of any major city. There is always movement but it's at a pace which doesn't disorient. I think that's partly to do with the amount of bicycle traffic - things feel busier than a pedesterianised city yet not as hectic as a capital where cars pump poison into the air. The ring of a bicycle or tram bell is less imposing than the blare of a car horn or the clamour of tube trains which rumble beneath the pavement. If you get the chance, I recommend renting a bike and cycling around the city for a day. It allows you to experience life as the Dutch do - with ultimate right of way over the roads - and Amsterdam is small enough that you can cross it numerous times in one trip. On our bicycle adventure we cycled out beside the Olympic rowing lake and through a small forest to get to an amazing pancake house (a bonus of visiting the city with a boy who grew up there).
If you do know a local I'd really recommend visiting the city with them. The fact that Kyle knew his way around the center really helped us not to get lost in the maze of canals. They really all do look the same, although by the end of the week I like to think I could indentify the Keizersgracht from the Prinsengracht. 'Like to think' being the operative phrase in that sentence.
You won't be short of things to do and see in Amsterdam. If you have an afternoon to spare, I'd really recommend visiting the Rijksmuseum. It boasts a massive collection of art from the 1600's to the present day, and is well worth spending your time over. I found the pre-renaissance art especially hilarious - in particular these chaps who are all sat on each other and look confused at your judgement of them, or this guy who looks an awful lot like Rowan Atkinson.
I'd also strongly suggest spending some time in the Anne Frank House - although be warned about the queues. Me and Rosie stood in the line for two and a half hours to get into the house, but it was worth the wait. Obviously I don't have any photos from inside the house, but I was struck by how bare it was. At the request of Otto Frank (Anne's Father) the rooms have been emptied of all furniture. I have conflicting opinions of this, as it simultaneously made the house feel very clinical and very large. With furniture I think the rooms would have felt a lot more cramped, yet it would also have felt homely. I was most struck by the pictures Anne had taped to the walls. It reminded me of how very young she was - just a teenage girl sticking pictures to her wall, writing in her diary about her life. Anne was remarkable but also completely unremarkable, which is what is so sad about her. Her name could be replaced by countless others and the story would still be filled with sorrow. Yet, I am glad that we celebrate the life of this young girl, and her spirit against adversity.
Here, I am going to take a moment to remember Anne, and the millions of others who died at the hands of the Nazi's.
 |
| Picture obtained from www.annefrank.org |
Yet, if Amsterdam is a city bound by its history, it is also a city bound by the present - and one glance down the Red Light District is enough to show that. It's a peculiar place and not at all what I was expecting. The girls in the window (although as scantily clad as I had expected) looked... bored. Most of them were on their phones, or painting their nails. They looked like shop girls stuck on the till during a particularly dull evening shift. It made me feel really uncomfortable, but at the same time it stopped me from dehumanising them. Sex workers are very easy to disregard - and are often done so in the media. Sex is a business in Amsterdam, and it is treated like a transaction. Thinking of it in such clinical terms is odd for me, but somehow makes perfect sense in this city. The girls look like their on a boring shop shift because they are, and whether or not they enjoy their line of work is neither here nor there. Personally, the fact that the female body (and it is the female body) is being sold more male pleasure (and it is male pleasure) makes me very uncomfortable. At the same time, walking around those streets, I found it hard to criticise.
You also cannot escape weed in this city. The smell of it drifts by down the canal and through the park. Clouds of sweet smoke escape from coffee shops. It is as integral to the city as it's waterways are. I really admired Amsterdam's attitude to drugs. There is etiquette about where to smoke (not in shops, not around children) even more so than Britain's attitude to cigarettes. Even if you don't want to participate, I'd recommend sitting outside a coffee shop with a glass of fresh mint tea and enjoying the atmosphere.
I stayed at Hostel Orfeo, in between Museumplein and the city center. It was as you'd expect from a hostle - ie simple breakfast, simple rooms, simple beds, simple shower. It was comfortable enough, though, and the staff were all very helpful (some slightly too helpful - I fully realised I was bad at drafts and didn't need to be explained how to play, thank you!). I couldn't fault it's location.
In short I had a thoroughly good time in Amsterdam, and it is one of the few major foreign cities I could imagine myself living in (partly because the Dutch speak such good English). I'd love to go back some day, and pick up some of the delicious cheese!
Tuesday, 21 July 2015
Le Tour De France (2015)
** Some of the images in this post contain blood and gore **
It's that time of year again. The sun is shining. The birds are singing. And 190 or so men have donned their lyrca, picked up their bikes, and began the most epic sporting event of the year. Le Tour de France!
As its the second (and last) rest day of the race, with another week left of biking to do, I thought it was about time for my annual gushing about the event.
The racers have dropped from 198 to around 176. The number of dropouts include two yellow jersey holders, the first (Fabian Cancellara) after he somersaulted over his bike and fractured two vertibrae. The second (Tony Martin) after he crashed and broke his collar bone. Both men finished the stage before the doctors ordered them to abandon the race.
Many men race on through their injuries, however. Indeed, none of the riders can hope to come out of the race unscathed. One rider, Romain Bardet, rode with sun stroke, vomiting every few miles, and the next day came third on the stage. Another, Jean-Christophe Peraud, took off a vast amount of skin, and found himself (heavily bandaged) in the breakaway the next day.
These men are hard core.
The dedication to their sport is why I love it. They put their bodies through torture every single day, and for many the reward of crossing the line on the Champs-Elysee is enough.
The work the domestiques put in (often to their own detriment) in order to get their team leader in the coveted yellow jersey is epic. It is over twice as hard to ride on the front of the pack than on the second wheel, so these men put themselves in front of their main guy in order to save his legs, whilst they work themselves till all they can do is swing off and slide down to the back. It says a lot about the skill of Geraint Thomas that he is in sixth place whilst his team leader is in first - few domestiques can rank so highly after spending an hour protecting Chris Froome up a 6% climb.
They race at speeds averaging 40kmph. Even uphill. The motorbikes can't keep up with them on the descents.
Its hard not to have respect for those men who race clean and push their bodies to the limits for the love of the sport. When urine was thrown in Chris Froome's face the other day it was hard not to be furious. When Mark Cavendish gave his post-stage-win interview it was hard not to smile with him.
This is a sport that inspires emotion. You only need look at the 10-12 million fans who line the backroads of France to get a glimpse of the race to see that.
If any of this has stirred anything in you, I urge you to tune into ITV4 at 7pm, if nothing else than to hear Phil Liggett's dulcet tones.
Tuesday, 7 July 2015
A Letter To July
Dear July,
You are always the month of exhaustion and optimism. I spent many stuffy school days waiting for release so I could go and play in your warmth. Now I'm an adult, and school has closed it's doors, but you are still filled with the hopes of summer holidays, of barbecues, of languishing in parks and on beaches with best friends and family, and of good books waiting to have their pages turned under your sun.
The exhaustion is still there too. This year, I am filled with the exhaustion of moving. Boxes upon boxes of possessions requiring homes. Drawers filled to bursting with 21 years worth of memories to sort and discard. I am filled with the exhaustion of my impending future. The great unknown that raises me onto my tip toes in the hope of viewing it more clearly. I want so badly to rock back onto my heels, to feel the solidity of earth beneath my feet, yet I totter up here.
July, you are also the month of Le Tour de France. Every year it captures me and sweeps me along in its epic 3 week long madness. This year will be no different, and already as I write this letter to you the men in lyrca are racing on the television screen behind me.
You are going to be different this year though, July. You will forever be the summer I graduated from University. You will hold a special place in my heart, and you will stand out from summers past and future.
July, you smell of hot tiles, beaches, and flame cooked food. And I can't wait to spend the month with you.
Yours, as always
You are always the month of exhaustion and optimism. I spent many stuffy school days waiting for release so I could go and play in your warmth. Now I'm an adult, and school has closed it's doors, but you are still filled with the hopes of summer holidays, of barbecues, of languishing in parks and on beaches with best friends and family, and of good books waiting to have their pages turned under your sun.
The exhaustion is still there too. This year, I am filled with the exhaustion of moving. Boxes upon boxes of possessions requiring homes. Drawers filled to bursting with 21 years worth of memories to sort and discard. I am filled with the exhaustion of my impending future. The great unknown that raises me onto my tip toes in the hope of viewing it more clearly. I want so badly to rock back onto my heels, to feel the solidity of earth beneath my feet, yet I totter up here.
July, you are also the month of Le Tour de France. Every year it captures me and sweeps me along in its epic 3 week long madness. This year will be no different, and already as I write this letter to you the men in lyrca are racing on the television screen behind me.
You are going to be different this year though, July. You will forever be the summer I graduated from University. You will hold a special place in my heart, and you will stand out from summers past and future.
July, you smell of hot tiles, beaches, and flame cooked food. And I can't wait to spend the month with you.
Yours, as always
Friday, 12 June 2015
Loosing Rhythmn
You may have noticed that over the last month my posts have become more sporadic - not only have I missed posts but, on a less noticeable level, they have been appearing later in the day. This is something that really bothers me, as I'm very proud of what this blog has become over the last 11 months and I'd really like it to continue on its upward streak. It also bothers me because you guys, my very lovely readers, have been noticing my slip ups and asking me where my next post is. That isn't really fair on you, and I don't expect you to keep my diary for me.
I've been trying to think why my blog has become so irregular, and I think I've pinned it down to a couple of reasons.
1) I don't have to procrastinate any more. Blogging was one of the best forms of procrastination for me at uni because it was a productive creative outlet. Now I don't have anything to procrastinate from, so have turned to procrastinating from blogging, which isn't very good.
2) I've been busy enjoying my last few weeks of being a student. All my friends from uni are going home soon and I'm going to miss them terribly, so I've been trying to fit in as much as possible, which means that...
3) I'm missing my rhythms. I always say that every person and place has a set of rhythms, and lately mine have been out of wack. I was so used to getting up at 7:30 every morning, being in the library by 9am (okay, maybe more like 8:30 and 10am, but I'm going on my good days!). As soon as the work load dropped off I began going out later and waking up later too. A couple of days I even slept in till gone midday, which is unheard of for me!
I'm going to try and get back in order. Next week I'm away in Amsterdam, then I've only got one more week in my student house before I move back home. Going home will force me into a different routine as my house is up and busy by 7:30am (and I have an east facing window), which I'm really looking forward to.
Until then, I'm going to try and get a good nights kip, write up and schedule next weeks blog posts so you don't miss out while I'm away, and get my life back on track.
With that in mind, Tuesdays post will be the travel make-up bag post, and Friday's will be the 15 favourite feelings.
I'll see you on the other side of Amsterdam!
I've been trying to think why my blog has become so irregular, and I think I've pinned it down to a couple of reasons.
1) I don't have to procrastinate any more. Blogging was one of the best forms of procrastination for me at uni because it was a productive creative outlet. Now I don't have anything to procrastinate from, so have turned to procrastinating from blogging, which isn't very good.
2) I've been busy enjoying my last few weeks of being a student. All my friends from uni are going home soon and I'm going to miss them terribly, so I've been trying to fit in as much as possible, which means that...
3) I'm missing my rhythms. I always say that every person and place has a set of rhythms, and lately mine have been out of wack. I was so used to getting up at 7:30 every morning, being in the library by 9am (okay, maybe more like 8:30 and 10am, but I'm going on my good days!). As soon as the work load dropped off I began going out later and waking up later too. A couple of days I even slept in till gone midday, which is unheard of for me!
I'm going to try and get back in order. Next week I'm away in Amsterdam, then I've only got one more week in my student house before I move back home. Going home will force me into a different routine as my house is up and busy by 7:30am (and I have an east facing window), which I'm really looking forward to.
Until then, I'm going to try and get a good nights kip, write up and schedule next weeks blog posts so you don't miss out while I'm away, and get my life back on track.
With that in mind, Tuesdays post will be the travel make-up bag post, and Friday's will be the 15 favourite feelings.
I'll see you on the other side of Amsterdam!
Tuesday, 9 June 2015
Undergrowth Launch
Today's blog post is going to be a little bit of promo, so I'm sorry if that sort of thing bothers you. Feel free to click away - try reading this blog (if you enjoy pearls of wisdom), or this one (for student lifestyle hilarity). They're both very good.
Tonight I'm attending, and reading at, the anthology launch for Undergrowth, the second edition of UEA's Undergraduate Anthology. If you're someone who's interested in creative writing and discovering new, up-and-coming writers, then you're in for a treat. UEA's creative writing MA is world famous, and their undergraduates reflect that.
I've been lucky enough to study alongside some of the fantastic writers featured in the anthology, and it means so much that my work is listed next to theirs. I've had a wonderful time at UEA. I've seen my writing develop into something more sophisticated and with it's own voice. But my writing wouldn't have changed unless I was surrounded by the exceptional talent that is UEA's creative writing undergraduate programme.
If you're in the Norwich area, please feel free to come along to the anthology launch. It's being held at the Norwich Arts Centre at 7pm and entry is free.
If you're interested in buying a copy, you can order one here, or they're available on Amazon shortly after the launch.
That's enough gushing from me. Friday's blog post will be the fifteen favourite feelings tag, and next Tuesday will be my cruelty free travel make-up bag.
Tonight I'm attending, and reading at, the anthology launch for Undergrowth, the second edition of UEA's Undergraduate Anthology. If you're someone who's interested in creative writing and discovering new, up-and-coming writers, then you're in for a treat. UEA's creative writing MA is world famous, and their undergraduates reflect that.
I've been lucky enough to study alongside some of the fantastic writers featured in the anthology, and it means so much that my work is listed next to theirs. I've had a wonderful time at UEA. I've seen my writing develop into something more sophisticated and with it's own voice. But my writing wouldn't have changed unless I was surrounded by the exceptional talent that is UEA's creative writing undergraduate programme.
If you're in the Norwich area, please feel free to come along to the anthology launch. It's being held at the Norwich Arts Centre at 7pm and entry is free.
If you're interested in buying a copy, you can order one here, or they're available on Amazon shortly after the launch.
That's enough gushing from me. Friday's blog post will be the fifteen favourite feelings tag, and next Tuesday will be my cruelty free travel make-up bag.
Tuesday, 2 June 2015
On Caitlyn Jenner
The big news at the moment is that Bruce Jenner has officially changed her name (and therefore pronouns) to Caitlyn Jenner. This follows her interview about a month ago in which she had kept her birth name and pronouns, but stated her intent to transition.
Support for her has largely been very positive (and she even broke the record on twitter to reach one million followers in less than four hours). That's not to say that there hasn't been a lot of transphobia too, as well as a lot of plain ignorance too (I'm looking at you, Drake Bell).
As a cis white woman I can't possibly understand how much Caitlyn must have been through in her 65 years of life. Having to hide your true identity for whatever reason must be a terrible thing. To feel like a lie every time someone calls you 'he', or every time someone uses your name, is unimaginable for those of us lucky enough to identify with the gender we were assigned at birth.
The sheer amount of (largely positive) media coverage Caitlyn is getting will hopefully result in better education about transmen and transwomen and the struggles they got through. People's ignorance will diminish. It'll take time, for sure, and some people won't change, but it will diminish.
I don't really know what I'm trying to say with this post other than this: I support Caitlyn Jenner, and I will support anyone else who doesn't identify with the pronouns they were assigned with at birth. If I ever misgender you, please call me out on it. It will have been an error and I want to work on that.
If you're reading this and are confused by what I mean when I say transman or transwoman, what I means when I say 'assigned with at birth', or what I mean when I say cis, feel free to comment below or tweet me, and I'll be more than happy to educate (in private if that is what you would prefer).
And finally, here are a couple of articles about Caitlyn Jenner:
Tuesday, 26 May 2015
On The Big Weekend
When it was first announced that Radio One's Big Weekend was not only going to be in my home city but actually on my university campus I was so excited it was unreal. My city is relatively small, so to have a big event like that is really special. The morning the tickets were released I spent over an hour on my laptop, but to no avail. Excitement changed to sadness. Half an hour later, and I was back on the excitement train again - one of my very kind friends had a spare Sunday ticket and was offering it to me!
This Sunday felt like the most perfect end to a degree anyone could ask for. Taylor Swift stood on stage saying 'Hello Norwich' was the culmination of three years worth of hard work. I actually welled up when I caught a peek of her through the crowd. Not only that, but I was stood with my two beautiful housemates (and another of our lovely friends) who have been there for me the past two years we've lived together and are the best friends a girl could ask for!
There aren't words to describe how the day felt as a whole, so I'm just going to share a few highlights with you.
1) Olly Murs. I loved him when he was on X-Factor and always thought he'd be amazing live, and he really didn't disappoint! He was every bit the cheeky chappy I thought he'd be, and he did an incredible funk medley.
2) At the front for Rita Ora. The stage was at the bottom of a hill and we got to get to eye level with Rita! I'm not a huge fan, but it was pretty incredible to be able to say that I've seen her.
3) Catfish and the Bottlemen. I hadn't heard of this band before and was surprised when I recognised most of their songs. I officially have a crush on their lead singer - his baby blue's had such long lashes on them, and I'm a sucker for pretty eyes.
4) George Ezra has one of the most lovely voices. His set was more of a mid-afternoon chill than a prelude to Taylor Swift, but it was wonderful all the same.
5) TAYLOR SWIFT. I've loved Taylor since her first album and she put on the most incredible show. Her set felt slightly shorter than it should have been, but that could just have been because I was loving it so much! She is amazing live and it was a really special experience.
6) Foo's to finish. I'm not a massive Foo Fighter's fan but Dave Grohl is great at talking to a crowd. His repeated dedication of songs to Taylor Swift was hilarious, and there was a moment when he called the band to go silent and the whole audience sung the riff/bridge (I don't know the technical term) of his song.
So, despite the rain, I had an incredible day. I am so grateful to my friends for giving me a ticket, so happy I got to spend the day with people I love, and so in awe that this was all happening on my doorstep.
Sorry I forgot to post on Friday - I completely lost track of the days of the week. As per usual, there will be a bonus Sunday post at some point in the future to make up for it.
Tuesday, 12 May 2015
Thoughts on the Election #GE2015
As a 21 year old, this was the first year I was allowed to vote in the UK general election. Like many, I entered the polling station with hope and optimism. And like many, I ended the day with disappointment, disillusioned by the whole process.
Needless to say, I wasn't one of the 11 million or so who voted for the Conservative party. I was one of the 18.9 million who voted for an alternative party.
This is where my disillusionment comes from. Not the fact that the party I voted for didn't get in, but the fact that a party got in with only 36% of the electorate supporting them. That's 64% of people who voted against them. The Conservatives received 34,000 votes per MP. The Liberal Democrats received 301,000 votes per MP. The Greens received 1,000,000 votes, yet only got one MP. To me, that seems wrong.*
I'm not going to lie. I'm afraid of how this country will turn out being run by a Conservative government for the next five years. It will doubtless mean more cuts to the poor, the young and the vulnerable: benefit cuts, cuts to health services, cuts to education, a rise in tuition fees. At the same time, it will provide tax breaks for the richest. It will re-instate fox hunting. It will repeal the Human Rights Act. It will campaign to have us leave the EU.
But I'm more afraid to see that my voice hasn't been heard in this election. In UK politics we have scarce opportunities to see that happen and the general election is the biggest opportunity for the general public to be listened to. There have already been protests outside Downing Street, protests the mainstream media have either ignored or else only shown one side of (such as a WW2 monument being graffitied or the fact that five police officers were injured).
The next five years are going to bring about a lot of change. It's a shame that this change will reflect the views of a minority, rather than giving equal representation to the views of the electorate.
* As bit bit of background, the UK is run on a constituency based election. The country is split up into 650 areas of differing sizes but (in theory) equal population (so there are a lot more constituencies in London than there are in Scotland because the population density is so much greater in London). Each constituency then votes for the political party they want to see represent their constituency, which means that not all political parties field candidates in all constituencies. Because of this, a party can become elected with less than half of the population voting for them - for example:
If party A received 40% of the vote, but parties B, C and D received 35%, 15% and 10% respectively then party A gets elected, despite 60% of voters voting against them. If we pretend that there are 100 people in a constituency, this could mean that party A only needed 40 votes to get an MP.
If you spread this across the country with a similar vote break down (say, out of ten 100 person constituencies, 55 seats went to party A, 20 seats to B, 15 seats to C and 5 seats to D) then parties B, C and D needed a lot more votes to get fewer MPs.
The government only needs 326 seats to have a majority - which means that provided all MPs from the party in power vote for a law then it will be passed. The Conservatives currently have 331 seats, which is a majority albeit not a strong one, so if six MPs vote against party line then laws can be blocked, but that's a big if, and relies on opposition parties also voting against policies.
In short - we need electoral reform. 'First Past The Post' is an outdated system that was formed when there were only two political parties (the Tories and the Whigs). We now have a multi-party system, and the way we elect our politicians should reflect that.
Got opinions? Tweet me @VickiMaitland or leave a comment below.
Needless to say, I wasn't one of the 11 million or so who voted for the Conservative party. I was one of the 18.9 million who voted for an alternative party.
This is where my disillusionment comes from. Not the fact that the party I voted for didn't get in, but the fact that a party got in with only 36% of the electorate supporting them. That's 64% of people who voted against them. The Conservatives received 34,000 votes per MP. The Liberal Democrats received 301,000 votes per MP. The Greens received 1,000,000 votes, yet only got one MP. To me, that seems wrong.*
I'm not going to lie. I'm afraid of how this country will turn out being run by a Conservative government for the next five years. It will doubtless mean more cuts to the poor, the young and the vulnerable: benefit cuts, cuts to health services, cuts to education, a rise in tuition fees. At the same time, it will provide tax breaks for the richest. It will re-instate fox hunting. It will repeal the Human Rights Act. It will campaign to have us leave the EU.
But I'm more afraid to see that my voice hasn't been heard in this election. In UK politics we have scarce opportunities to see that happen and the general election is the biggest opportunity for the general public to be listened to. There have already been protests outside Downing Street, protests the mainstream media have either ignored or else only shown one side of (such as a WW2 monument being graffitied or the fact that five police officers were injured).
The next five years are going to bring about a lot of change. It's a shame that this change will reflect the views of a minority, rather than giving equal representation to the views of the electorate.
* As bit bit of background, the UK is run on a constituency based election. The country is split up into 650 areas of differing sizes but (in theory) equal population (so there are a lot more constituencies in London than there are in Scotland because the population density is so much greater in London). Each constituency then votes for the political party they want to see represent their constituency, which means that not all political parties field candidates in all constituencies. Because of this, a party can become elected with less than half of the population voting for them - for example:
If party A received 40% of the vote, but parties B, C and D received 35%, 15% and 10% respectively then party A gets elected, despite 60% of voters voting against them. If we pretend that there are 100 people in a constituency, this could mean that party A only needed 40 votes to get an MP.
If you spread this across the country with a similar vote break down (say, out of ten 100 person constituencies, 55 seats went to party A, 20 seats to B, 15 seats to C and 5 seats to D) then parties B, C and D needed a lot more votes to get fewer MPs.
The government only needs 326 seats to have a majority - which means that provided all MPs from the party in power vote for a law then it will be passed. The Conservatives currently have 331 seats, which is a majority albeit not a strong one, so if six MPs vote against party line then laws can be blocked, but that's a big if, and relies on opposition parties also voting against policies.
In short - we need electoral reform. 'First Past The Post' is an outdated system that was formed when there were only two political parties (the Tories and the Whigs). We now have a multi-party system, and the way we elect our politicians should reflect that.
Got opinions? Tweet me @VickiMaitland or leave a comment below.
Friday, 17 April 2015
Priorities
Michael Aranda posted an interesting video on his WhatI'mDoingRightNow channel the other day where he talked briefly about the way we think about time (and, more importantly, our free time). If you want to watch the video, the piece I'm referring to is 2:25 in, and lasts for about a minute and a half.
I am always moaning that I don't have time for things. Mostly, I moan that I haven't had the time to read for pleasure. I love reading. Curling up with a good book, a cup of herbal tea, and a couple of chunks of dark chocolate or a couple malted milks is honestly one of my favourite ways to spend an evening. At uni, I rarely do that. I claim that it's because I haven't go the time, but as Michael so astutely pointed out, it's because it's not a priority.
I'm not going to claim it's as simple as that. I have leisure time at uni. I just choose to spend the vast majority of that time on the internet watching people like Michael, or else socialising with my friends and housemates. I regret the amount of time I spend on the internet, and it honestly saddens me when I look back on my day and see how many times I've checked Facebook, or else count up the minutes (sometimes hours) I've spent watching YouTube videos.
I don't necessarily prioritise these things over reading because they are more important to me or because they give me greater pleasure. I mostly prioritise them because they give me the kind of stress relief that I need.
My degree is very reading heavy. I spend hours of my day either reading my own work or the work of others. By the end of that day, as much as I adore reading, I am fed up of it. I want to have a break and wind down, not only my mind but also my eyes. Watching YouTube on a low light setting is a lot kinder on my eyes than continuing to read. That's the sad truth.
So, yes, priorities have something to do when choose our activities, and they definitely have a part to play in picking our work activities. But they aren't the be-all and end-all, and it's interesting to look at the other reasons you may have for picking one task over another.
However, it's important to remember that you also need to look after your mental health. Sometimes prioritising an activity that might not be important in terms of school or your career but is important to your well being is an important thing to do. Taking time out for yourself (in balance) is such a healthy way to live. Don't always push your favourite things down your priorities list, or else they might drop off altogether, and take your well being with them.
What fun activities do you wish you could prioritise over practical things? What is your favourite way to spend your 'Me Time'? Leave a comment below, Tweet me @VickiMaitland, or tag me in an Instagram photo of your doing your favourite thing!
As we're thinking about Me Time, my next post will be the Me Time Tag - started by two of my favourite beauty YouTubers Estee and Amelia.
On a final note, Michael Aranda, whose video inspired this post, is one of the most consistent YouTubers I've ever seen. His daily vlog channel is very well edited (I find a lot of daily vloggers to be very rambling), and although due to technical reasons he's a couple of weeks backlogged, his videos are always entertaining. Or, at least, I have become invested enough in his life that I find them interesting. If you are able to prioritise watching a YouTube video, check out his channel, he really is very good.
I am always moaning that I don't have time for things. Mostly, I moan that I haven't had the time to read for pleasure. I love reading. Curling up with a good book, a cup of herbal tea, and a couple of chunks of dark chocolate or a couple malted milks is honestly one of my favourite ways to spend an evening. At uni, I rarely do that. I claim that it's because I haven't go the time, but as Michael so astutely pointed out, it's because it's not a priority.
I'm not going to claim it's as simple as that. I have leisure time at uni. I just choose to spend the vast majority of that time on the internet watching people like Michael, or else socialising with my friends and housemates. I regret the amount of time I spend on the internet, and it honestly saddens me when I look back on my day and see how many times I've checked Facebook, or else count up the minutes (sometimes hours) I've spent watching YouTube videos.
I don't necessarily prioritise these things over reading because they are more important to me or because they give me greater pleasure. I mostly prioritise them because they give me the kind of stress relief that I need.
My degree is very reading heavy. I spend hours of my day either reading my own work or the work of others. By the end of that day, as much as I adore reading, I am fed up of it. I want to have a break and wind down, not only my mind but also my eyes. Watching YouTube on a low light setting is a lot kinder on my eyes than continuing to read. That's the sad truth.
So, yes, priorities have something to do when choose our activities, and they definitely have a part to play in picking our work activities. But they aren't the be-all and end-all, and it's interesting to look at the other reasons you may have for picking one task over another.
However, it's important to remember that you also need to look after your mental health. Sometimes prioritising an activity that might not be important in terms of school or your career but is important to your well being is an important thing to do. Taking time out for yourself (in balance) is such a healthy way to live. Don't always push your favourite things down your priorities list, or else they might drop off altogether, and take your well being with them.
What fun activities do you wish you could prioritise over practical things? What is your favourite way to spend your 'Me Time'? Leave a comment below, Tweet me @VickiMaitland, or tag me in an Instagram photo of your doing your favourite thing!
As we're thinking about Me Time, my next post will be the Me Time Tag - started by two of my favourite beauty YouTubers Estee and Amelia.
On a final note, Michael Aranda, whose video inspired this post, is one of the most consistent YouTubers I've ever seen. His daily vlog channel is very well edited (I find a lot of daily vloggers to be very rambling), and although due to technical reasons he's a couple of weeks backlogged, his videos are always entertaining. Or, at least, I have become invested enough in his life that I find them interesting. If you are able to prioritise watching a YouTube video, check out his channel, he really is very good.
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