Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Norway tragedy and Amy Winehouse

An odd grouping of people at first glance, but these deaths of course have both made the news within days of each other.

92 people have been killed in the massacring in Norway on Friday, and then a bombing happened too - my thoughts go out to their families. Of course, this has recieved a great deal of media coverage, as it is a terrible tragedy, but just two days later, Amy Winehouse was reported dead by Sky News, having suffered from an overdose on Saturday.

Tragedies happen at the same time all of the time, but these were both notable for one reason or another - and there has been a lot of controversy on Twitter from those mourning the Norway deaths, angry at the amount of mourners tweeting and reporting the death of Amy Winehouse. The fact is, that all deaths that occured this weekend were equally as tragic - whether self-induced or not, Winehouse suffered and her family are suffering, highlighted even more by the abuse that they're probably getting for their daughter having 'stolen the limelight' from the sufferers.

The world of celebrity is always going to be huge in the media, and although I wasn't a fan of Winehouse personally, many, many people are upset about her death as she was a huge influence and talent for this generation.

Rest in peace, people who suffered at the hands of Anders Behring Breivik, and also Amy Winehouse, whose death is still very sad, and doesn't deserve all the moronic comments such as 'wat about the ppl of norway its her fault fuckin druggie' etc. She was cremated after her funeral today, Tuesday.

Friday, July 22, 2011

I love festivals, but...

Having just been to 2000 Trees, a lovely festival in Cheltenham for underground and new music, and having written a review (soon on Beat Review), I compiled a list of festival pet hates.

1. The dreaded cry of 'Alan!' If you don't know what it is, it's this. Usually some equally hilarious creature retorts with 'Steve!' from twenty feet away. Universally moronic. Well done.

2. People with flourescent messages on their backs. They're usually not funny and make people want to hit you in the face, yeah? 

3. Putting the tent up / down. Something ALWAYS seems to go wrong. For example, this year so far, it has taken two hours to deflate the airbed and we tried to pitch the tent with the wrong poles. It. Was. SAGGY.

4. People who piss on your tent. This hasn't happened to me personally but I've many friends who've lost good tents due to a hefty piss. It's rank and lazy. Go and pee in a hedge or something.

5. People who sit on people's shoulders. It's great you're having a good time and everything, but please try not to kick me in the head.

6. Toilet habits in general. There is a good, clean toilet right there so why did you have to POO NEXT TO IT!??

7. Couples. You're in love, but that does NOT MEAN you can chew each other's faces off when I'm trying to watch Frightened Rabbit (They got their comeuppance).

8. Looking like shit. I love camping. I really do. But I look back at the photos and think, was it really too much to ask not to look like I've drowned and then been dragged through a hedge backwards?

9. People who have no idea who they're watching and act like their biggest fan. I have no problem with the first part but don't pretend you would travel the world to see them and scream in my ear - I JUST heard you say to your mate 'Who is this?' (I have to thank Mason for this one).

10. Really tall people. I know it's not their fault but I'm short and I can never see.

So, there are some annoying things about festivals. But then there are bits like this (that's a man from And So I Watch You From Afar lying down on some people's outstretched arms), and it all seems worth it - great bands, great people and beer.

Check back for my review of 2000 Trees which should be up on the Beat Review site soon. And more blog posts, of which there will be more as I have ideas and a laptop now (crucial).

NB: As always, I'm sure everyone (even me) is guilty of a few of these things once on a while, so this is jokes, yeah folks?

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Telegraph Supplement Contribution

Oh, and I feel that I should share that at my internship, I recently contributed to an interiors supplement in The Telegraph (just wrote a few reader offers and called in all of the items for the front cover shoot) and for that, I got a byline as a contributor on the inside cover. Not only that, I got to work with the print editorial team, who were great and very kind for letting me write.

My internship ends on Thursday. I can only hope I won't cry.

I'm the first contributor. Next to Orla Keily.



My New Favourite Places in London

This week I went to Cafe Boheme, recommended to me as 'louche' by my cousin - after I looked it up in the dictionary I knew I had to go there ( Disreputable or sordid in a rakish or appealing way). It's a fairly small place - one could describe it as cosy - we were a little too close to comfort to the couple beside us trying to eat one another's faces but the atmosphere was good.

I had a crab and avocado salad which was bulked out with a large amount of chicory, but not unpleasantly, and my friend had moules marinière (not bad) with a bottle of wine - twenty quid each wasn't bad for a meal and a bottle of wine. We were also seated next to Rich Fulcher (AKA, Bob Fossil from The Mighty Boosh) which helped the cool credentials.

We went on to Bourne & Hollingsworth for a few cocktails, which may well become a personal favourite. A cocktail bar in the basement, replete with ripped floral wallpaper and the smell of damp (easy to ignore after a few cocktails), it attracts the hipster crowd to some extent. Serving really good cocktails (avg. £7) in teacups and jamjars, with wartime-style pictures on the walls and secret doors and even a DJ, it manages to be both cool and unintimidating. And the tube journey home was more than a little wonky.


Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Doctor Who and Orbital

Just when I thought I'd heard it all, a remix of Doctor Who theme tune by Orbital comes on in my brother's car (amongst some other erm, questionable stuff).

This is possibly one of my favourite things at the moment - I'd love to go and see Orbital, I imagine it's a very calming but intense experience.

(And of course, sadly awaiting the time when I have an excuse to be sad on a Saturday night and stay in).


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