Festive Playlist!

 

One of the things that I genuinely like about Christmas is listening to Christmas songs; I'm not one of those massively into Christmas time and don't have many traditions as such, but Christmas songs are something that me and my family always listen to in the run up to Christmas Day. We're one of those families who sits in front of the tv on Christmas Day and watch all of the music trivial programmes and realise that we know, love and hate most of them. The songs below are in no particular order, they're just a mix of songs that I've loved this year.

1. Christmas Time (Don't Let The Bells End) - The Darkness
2. All I Want For Christmas Is You - Mariah Carey
3. Somewhere Only We Know - Lily Allen
4. Let It Go - Demi Lovato
5. Stop The Calvary - Jona Lewie

6. Your Song - Ellie Goulding
7. Fairytale of New York - The Pogues (feat. Kirsty McColl)
8. Merry Christmas Everyone - Shakin' Stevens
9. Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree - Brenda Lee
10. The Power of Love - Gabrielle Aplin
11. Let It Go - Idina Menzel
12. I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday - Wizzard
13. Angels from the Realms of Glory - Annie Lennox
14. Stay Another Day - East 17
15. Last Christmas - Wham!
16. Il Est Ne Le Divin Enfant - Annie Lennox
17. Do They Know It's Christmas? - Band Aid
18. As Joseph Was a Walking - Annie Lennox
19. Wonderful Christmastime - Paul McCartney
20. Merry Christmas Everybody - Slade

 

The Christmas Tag

 

1. What is your favourite Christmas Film?

My favourite Christmas film is definitely Love Actually; I watched it when it first came out with my family over Christmas and I've loved it ever since... I've actually lost track of how many times I've seen the film. I love everything about it, the plot is so sophisticated.

2. Do you open your presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?

I've never opened presents on Christmas Eve... Well actually I've never opened presents earlier than Christmas afternoon as in my family we have a tradition of either being lazy and having a good sleep in on Christmas morning after midnight mass or going to church on Christmas Day and celebrating as a family later.

3. Do you have a favourite Christmas memory?

As I've got older I've definitely started to dislike Christmas time a lot... It either meant exam season approaching or I just felt the need to relax and catch up on sleep. My family is very small so my favourite Christmas times were probably when I was younger. There was one Christmas that I remember vividly as a child in primary school as I had the lead part in the school play and I was so excited for the whole of December. I don't think Christmas has the same magic once you're an adult.

4. Favourite festive food?

In terms of Christmas dinner food, I love pigs in blankets and Yorkshire puddings... They're the two things that I look froward to seeing on my plate at the dinner table whilst watching crap tv, but I also love the excessive chocolate and sweet side of Christmas like raspberry pavlova, Ben and Jerrys, celebrations and pringles.

5. Favourite Christmas gift?

At 23 I've obviously had years of different gifts... Going back to last year, my favourite gifts were some Pandora charms, some woolly socks and an illustrated book of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. I've got a nice collection of sketchbooks too, from various years.

6. Favourite Christmas scent?

I don't have any perfumes that really remind me of Christmas, although I think ME by Lanvin is probably the closest to a festive scent for me a the first time that I smelt it I was at a Christmas event in selfridges with my friend and so I often think of that when I wear it. Plus the gold and black bottle is rather 'festive party season' as it's glittery and fancy.

7. Do you have any Christmas Eve traditions?

As I child my family would always attend the parish carol service, christingle service, crib service and midnight mass and as I've grown older it became just midnight mass. Although that said, I'm working for the first time ever on Christmas Eve which feels so strange and I'm not looking forward to it. I feel like delving into my faith always helps me look to Christmas and I've missed it this year. 

8. What tops your tree?

As a family we've been using the same fairy/angel wit a massive red velvet puffed out dress for the past few years. I'm not actually that keen as I was obsessed with the Nutcraacker as I child so I've always dreamed of having a massive star on the top of the tree, preferably a real tree to as ours is fake. There's something much more lovely about the real trees.

9. As a kid what was the one (crazy, wild, extravagant) gift you always asked for but never received?

I always had a fairly long wishlist but never massively asked for anything. I remember lusting after an iPod for about 4 years bout I eventually got it as a birthday present. At Christmas the best presents are the smaller, unexpected surprises.

10. What's the best part about Christmas for you?

I like being able to wind down and relax and watch tv for once, whilst bonding with my family. Since I've started working, I've definitely seen less of family as I work really unsociable hours so it's a nice catch up time. I'm looking forward to this year as we have a family of four, not three so that's going to be different but in a good way.

1. What is your favourite Christmas Movie/s?

Ah, there's SO many, I love National Lampoons Christmas Vacation, Home Alone, Elf, The Santa Clause etc. but one that I watch every year, without fail is The Snowman on Christmas eve. I absolutely adored the Snowman and The Snow dog. My dad bought me the little plushie last year, so cute.

2. Do you open your presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?

Always on Christmas morning (usually whilst scoffing Christmas chocolate) We usually get new Christmas Pyjamas on Christmas Eve, but we save the present opening for Christmas day morning.

3. Do you have a favourite Christmas memory?

My parents always used to go all out at Christmas. We'd come downstairs to presents, balloons, reindeer prints made out of glitter, red and white tape for the north pole, it was so magical as kids! 

4. favourite festive food?

Aside from chocolate...Roast potatoes during Christmas dinner, so many roast potatoes.

5. Favourite Christmas gift ?

I can't remember how old I was, but it was the year of the Furby. I'm sure there were small riots amongst the shelves in Toys R us. My parents pretended they couldn't get me one but then it was hidden behind the sofa! (anyone else hide theirs in the wardrobe at night, they were so creepy!)

6. Favourite Christmas scent?

Christmas dinner cooking, mmm or the smell of the Christmas tree! 

7. Do you have any Christmas Eve traditions?

Just that it's family time, we'll usually all have wine, the fire on, lots of yummy food and sit down in our new pyjamas to watch Christmas films.

8. What tops your tree?

For years and years it was a little gold vintage angel, my dad always lifted me up to put it on the tree, when I was a kid... at the very end of decorating everything. She was always kind of wonky and worn looking, but it was tradition. These days it's a big gold glittery star.

9. As a kid what was the one (crazy, wild, extravagant) gift you always asked for but never received?

Not in an ungrateful way. I mean, I used to circle half of the Argos catalogue!But every year I would ask for a dog, without fail. One year my parents brought it a huge box, with holes in and something was moving. I was certain it was a puppy...it was a rabbit ha ha Still one of the best pets I've ever had though. Then last year, I finally bought myself my own Christmas puppy :) Oscar on the 21sr of December. He was certainly worth the wait.

10. What's the best part about Christmas for you?

Spending time with my loves ones, friends and family, after eating Christmas dinner, watching Only fools and Horses episodes that we've seen ten times already. Watching the snow fall and generally having a lovely time. 

- See more at: http://milkbubbletea.blogspot.co.uk/#sthash.eOak9PKB.dpuf

1. What is your favourite Christmas Movie/s?

Ah, there's SO many, I love National Lampoons Christmas Vacation, Home Alone, Elf, The Santa Clause etc. but one that I watch every year, without fail is The Snowman on Christmas eve. I absolutely adored the Snowman and The Snow dog. My dad bought me the little plushie last year, so cute.

2. Do you open your presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?

Always on Christmas morning (usually whilst scoffing Christmas chocolate) We usually get new Christmas Pyjamas on Christmas Eve, but we save the present opening for Christmas day morning.

3. Do you have a favourite Christmas memory?

My parents always used to go all out at Christmas. We'd come downstairs to presents, balloons, reindeer prints made out of glitter, red and white tape for the north pole, it was so magical as kids! 

4. favourite festive food?

Aside from chocolate...Roast potatoes during Christmas dinner, so many roast potatoes.

5. Favourite Christmas gift ?

I can't remember how old I was, but it was the year of the Furby. I'm sure there were small riots amongst the shelves in Toys R us. My parents pretended they couldn't get me one but then it was hidden behind the sofa! (anyone else hide theirs in the wardrobe at night, they were so creepy!)

6. Favourite Christmas scent?

Christmas dinner cooking, mmm or the smell of the Christmas tree! 

7. Do you have any Christmas Eve traditions?

Just that it's family time, we'll usually all have wine, the fire on, lots of yummy food and sit down in our new pyjamas to watch Christmas films.

8. What tops your tree?

For years and years it was a little gold vintage angel, my dad always lifted me up to put it on the tree, when I was a kid... at the very end of decorating everything. She was always kind of wonky and worn looking, but it was tradition. These days it's a big gold glittery star.

9. As a kid what was the one (crazy, wild, extravagant) gift you always asked for but never received?

Not in an ungrateful way. I mean, I used to circle half of the Argos catalogue!But every year I would ask for a dog, without fail. One year my parents brought it a huge box, with holes in and something was moving. I was certain it was a puppy...it was a rabbit ha ha Still one of the best pets I've ever had though. Then last year, I finally bought myself my own Christmas puppy :) Oscar on the 21sr of December. He was certainly worth the wait.

10. What's the best part about Christmas for you?

Spending time with my loves ones, friends and family, after eating Christmas dinner, watching Only fools and Horses episodes that we've seen ten times already. Watching the snow fall and generally having a lovely time. 

- See more at: http://milkbubbletea.blogspot.co.uk/#sthash.eOak9PKB.dpu

 

Education; a blessing and a curse.

 

I would say that I received a reasonably good education, even if I went to one of the worst secondary schools in my local area. Let's be completely honest, most inner London schools at any level are not exactly seen as fantastic; many people would argue that unless you pay a significant amount of money you don't get a good education. From the age of 5-8 I went to a Church of England Primary School and hated the majority of my time there, mostly because I was bullied for most of the years spent there. Aged 8-11 I went to a school in the neighbouring borough and statistically it was the best school in the surrounding area. I was probably my happiest at school during this time, for no particular reason. I excelled and genuinely enjoyed learning at this point, possibly because I felt settled and had a good group of friends.

At 11 years old, I went back in the Church of England School system and although the school went from being statistically excellent to inadequate I did enjoy my time there. During this time I definitely found myself and my interest in art... In fact I never really did anything but art whilst I was there but it was actually comforting to be encouraged to do well at something I loved. The school itself was very regimented, even to the point the amount of stripes on your tie were counted as you entered the school gates and naturally I rebelled.

Unfortunately I'm one of those people who doesn't enjoy being told what to do, what to dress or how to behave and obviously at a strict school that doesn't go down well and I struggled to fit in with the expectations given to me through the 5 years I spent in secondary education. It was during my secondary years that I realised that I have more mental health problems than the average person but somehow I managed to pass all subjects, with my highest grade being A and lowest being a D. I had the potential to do better but lacked the necessary self control to do better. Basically, I focussed on subjects that I wanted to do well in and had planned to later study at A-level.

Moving on to sixth form, I would say these years were the worst two years of my life. I enjoyed my studies, actually. I studied English Literature, Art and Photography but ultimately I really struggled to fit in, having not attended the school before, everyone already had friends and no interest in including me in anything. Sounds strange but it ruined my confidence and definitely had a negative affect on my mental health and in all honesty I was just desperate for those two years to be over to move on and go to university. Since the age of around 14 I had been interested in perusing a career in teaching and so going to university was the obvious next step, and I somehow managed to pass my A-Levels with reasonably good grades and gain a place at university.

In all honesty I wasn't exactly overjoyed with the university I went to; it wasn't a university I applied to thinking 'I would love to go here', but out of 5 choices I was accepted into 2 and so I made the decision to choose whichever I preferred of the two. Looking back I actually regret not taking a gap year and re-applying to university, but at the time I was thinking, well next year the fees are increasing and I was determined to graduate with the least amount of debt that I could, to the point that I refused to consider to apply to universities outside of London, or even move out of my family home during university. As I chose to study Art, I had to first complete a foundation year and this was a year that I really enjoyed. I love being about to learn about all kinds of art and exploring what form of art suited me and what I wanted to persue. I passed my foundation with a B and I was actually so happy when I saw I got 100% in a photography module. During this year my mental health was at its most controlled and a that definitely shows through my results and how much I learned during that year.

After that I decided to study BA (Hons) Fine Art and I chose not to change universities because of financial reasons and having such a amazing time during the foundation year that I was genuinely excited for what laid ahead. During my first year at university, I really enjoyed the work and found that drawing and photography were my main interests. It was more difficult than most people would assume, as everyone that I knew outside of art college always had an assumption that art is easy, when actually I always had a literal mountain of work to complete, alongside essays. I passed the year with good grades and was looking forward to starting second year, having enjoyed the first.

Second year was where it all went a bit downhill; I struggled with my mental health again after the realisation that this course wasn't really what I had hoped. After discovering my love for drawing in first year, I then found out that drawing was not an option in second year and I chose to dabble in sculpture... However the kinds of sculptures that I created were not exactly typical sculptures and i had to argue my way a lot, which was a nightmare. I also began having panic attacks and struggled to speak out loud or voice my opinions. I debated dropping out many times, but I suppose what kept me going was not only the fear of 'failure', but also a hope that if I made it to the final year, that it was be better towards the end.

In all honesty, third year was strangely bittersweet. On the one hand, I realised that I absolutely detested the practical work. On the other hand, I realised that my dissertation was the most interesting part of the university experience for me and I'm still proud that I managed not to drop out and finish the whole four years, somehow. Throughout my education I was never top at anything, always slightly more remarkable than average but I never really achieved anything of importance. Now that I've finished education (unless my crazy self does eventually follow through with a masters) I can that my fear of failure still exists, albeit in a different context, but I'm not longer afraid of being average. In fact I've learnt that I have to accept it. It didn't matter how much or little was paid for my education, my grades wouldn't have been better or worse as it is dependant on me and not a financial situation.

Something a little different ● Using a film camera!

Hi Everyone!

So, this is a little bit of a random post, but nevertheless it is a post at least! I recently found an old film reel from when I was doing an Art Foundation - it pretty much sums up that year for me, (2011-2012) getting the district line regularly to and from university, Pippa on the tube, my house and trinkets inside it, the street I grew up on, redecorating the living room, my eldest cat, South London streets, more underground, working at the London 2012 olympics… It's also obvious I have a love for photographing trees, haha.

Overall, it was a pretty good year and an eventful one, and finding the film was so good as I thought I'd lost it. What I love the most about film cameras is that you never know what you might find until you develop the film, it's like playing a game of chance. My camera is a canon 5000 SLR that I bought on eBay for roughly £20 including the lens, so it was an incredible bargain really as they stopped making them in the early 2000s. I remember my Uncle having a similar camera when I was growing up and desperate to have a similar one, and during Foundation my childhood dream came true.

I've always had an interest in Photography, which really began during my A-Level; my sixth form had a darkroom and I'm fairly practised at developing the films myself, which I did with this set around two months ago at university. In truth, I'd forgotten about most of the memories on it, but what I enjoy about developing the images myself is that they're a little rough around the edges which kind of matches the images too, bizarrely. I always find that the colour on film is more saturated and richer, and the shadows more prominent. What I love most of all about film is how long and concentrated I am on capturing the perfect moment, whereas using digital SLRs I literally take thousands of photographs without thinking. It makes me more creative using film as there is no delete button, no second chances.

Every so often I delve back into film photography and relish the creativity of it which I feel I lack when using digital, and so when I'm at university I generally use film photography more for that reason, as I'm studying Fine Art. However, for this blog on the whole it will be digital, but I simply fancied experimenting with something completely different for this weeks blogpost, and also showing my more creative side. If you liked (or disliked!) this post, let me know with a few comments.!

See you soon, Rach x x x