Kate Winslet gives birth

She was doing so well, she was my favourite actress, she killed it in Titanic, she played the incredible Iris in the Christmas classic "The Holiday" and she's basically incredible and really attractive. Therefore when I found out that she had given birth to a bouncy baby boy on my birthday I was very happy. Elle magazine said that the name was "pending" and I've just found out what it is and I want you to all brace yourselves. I was thinking a lovely name like Elliott, something classy but unique. However, she's married to a Ned Rocknroll and the baby, is called Bear. That is Bear as in polar, koala, grizzly, teddy... Bear. I am speechless, Kate, you have well and truly let me down, I do still love you however but that name choice Bear Rocknroll is just awful. Nevertheless a lot cuter then Kimye's choice of North West but we cannot judge and we must let mummies and daddies decide for themselves but this name thing is so getting out of hand. From Peaches and Apple to Blue Ivy (really Beyoncé? I learnt as a seven year old that the plant Blue Ivy is highly poisonous, nice one B!). I'm never having a child but It will definitely be a cutesy name, I'm in love with Felicity for a girl, it means intense happiness whereas Bear means a large, heavy mammal which walks on the soles of its feet, having thick fur and a very short tail. Nice one Kate. 

Name wisely!

RHS x

Christmas Fitness

Don't moan! You all knew this was coming... I don't know one person that hasn't overindulged this Christmas (and I really don't blame you) but I heard this new diet thing on the grapevine about two months ago and thought that it would be a good one to try around Christmas and it is so easy to follow I tested it for three days in October (but I didn't have any scales then and I was going for a run a lot so not sure if it worked for me! but you can always give it a try!).

Its called the 10:14 diet - like the 5:2 but far easier and no calorie counting! yay! 

The idea is that fasting for a certain amount of time is good for us as it burns fat (as does interval training but who has time for that?...). This doesn't mean however it is a good idea to not eat for a whole day because then your body will begin to store everything and you'll put on weight, or it will begin to burn what you have stored and turn it into fats or sugars - there is a process I learnt during Biology but I definitely cannot remember that, anyway, no one wants to fast for 24 hours! 

So you stop eating at 10pm (every night, or at least five days a week to start with), you're still allowed water or herbal tea but then you can't eat until 12pm the next day, a good time to have porridge or eggs or something energy/protein-rich. Then (this is the best part) eat normally for 10 hours (till 10pm again), normally as in relatively healthy however still "normally" - have a biscuit, glass of vino, don't go to the gym (rebel) then begin to fast again for 14 hours from 10pm to 12pm. 

Simples. The best thing about 10:14 is that you can alter it so not eating from 8pm to 10am - just make sure you get 14 hours off and 10 hours of eating normally. 

Fitting this in with a couple of runs a week (when I tried it I got up and went for a run at 10am, had a shower etc then by that time it was time to eat - so that stops you feeling so hungry) and with your 5-aday (a smoothie would be a good snack during the day to get your fruit in, although however many fruits you put in a smoothie it will only ever be a maxim of 2 of your 5 a day because of the fruits being broken down). 

Also as a late Christmas present to yourself get the Nike Training App - use the 15 minute strength exercises after a 30 minute cardio session to tone. 

I hope this helps to fit into your LBD on NYE! 

RHS x 

Merry little Christmas

  It was one of those Christmases where you say it was a "quiet one" - the close family and watching the King's Speech by 8pm, in bed by 10pm reading one of the books you were brought for Christmas. After an evening of too many Scrabble competitions, teaching Grandma how to play Boggle and still explaining the rules by the last round and teaching mother how to calibrate her new iPad. Obviously all of that was after a lavish meal of, of course, turkey and all the trimmings. The turkey was in the oven by 9:45am - I know. It was huge, we got it from a farmer who lives in the village and we said we wanted one to feed five, so he chose us one that would feed 12 "just in case" - we now have 3/4 of a turkey left and I've had a turkey sandwich every day since Boxing day. Soon we will be having turkey curry, a stir fry and then no doubt the bones will be used to make father's delicacy of turkey gelatine (mm-mmmm) and stock - used for Sunday roast to make the gravy ("jus"). Aside from sounding undoubtedly Southern there, we did partake in the classic hat wearing, joke telling, cracker pulling pre-dinner entertainment. Which, by the time 2pm came around we'd already had three bottles of champagne between five of us and we still had a bottle of white and three bottles of red to get through - it was quite a merry morning. We had my suggested healthy starter of salad. Yes, really, smoked salmon, prawns, avocado, pea shoots washed down with Chablis. We never usually have dessert but this time we took the plunge and opted for Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Christmas Pudding - it was delicious (it said it would feed eight, we scoffed the lot). We turned the lights off and poured over the 40 year old Hennessy XO and lit it, it was a glorious sight that went on for a good minute, blue flames and the smell of burning cognac with the taste of cranberries, pecans and spices, doused in madagascan vanilla cream - it was a great ending. 

 I then retired to the drawing room - HA - the spare bedroom to play Christmas carols on the old Joanna and then it was time to watch the Queen's Speech - which we watched on Demand as 1) we forgot to record it because 2) we forgot it was on because 3) it wasn't the best speech in the world. Something about a man with a cast on - not sure what the wider metaphor was about but lo and behold Kate and Walter were mentioned with their new born Ronald and their first Noel. Yawn, I did actually yawn, who cares if it was Ronald's first Christmas! It was my 21st and Liz didn't mention me, or anyone else for that matter. Ronald stole the show and he's only five months old. 

 I don't know how others start their Christmas morning but we open presents first, after I've woken everyone in the house up with a hot drink - its not the same as being five and running into your parent's room screaming - you have to be a little more mature at 20 (apparently). I was working Christmas Eve and got home at about 12:30. I got myself a night cap (rosé) and heard a "Ruthie!" from the living room (It was dad, he doesn't sleep and he always calls me Ruthie, mum calls me Rufus - please don't call me either unless I really really like you). I went into the living room to find the old man wrapping presents! I thought, well this has blown Santa out the window hasn't it! He asked if I could put ribbons on a few presents because I'm "the best". So I helped him, to find out in the morning I'd actually put a ribbon on MY OWN PRESENT, the cheek! We then watched a bit of TV about some people having their own Christmas lights turn on at their own house - I know, lets kill the polar bears and let our grandchildren deal with climate change whilst we use 10 times the amount of electricity we use in one year in one month. 

 That aside, we went into the living room (everyone with their hot drinks me with my orange juice and a banana - start the day right!) to open our presents. It was a different year this year, my parents had inherited some money, so whereas the last few years it has been satsumas and nail files, this year it was mangos and a full nail set! So mother got her new iPad and dad got one of those electric golf trollies (he's getting on) I got a Nike+Fuelband - get one, you will want to exercise ALL THE TIME. No really, I've been to the gym twice and had a run once since Christmas day! - See. Nike have kind of invented their own metric system of "Fuel" points which in turn leads to steps and calories etc. Everyone needs to asses their food intake after a Roses chocolates, Foxes biscuits and Thorntons excessive indulgence, however it is the season to be merry (and bright - just whack on some more Touche Eclait on those dark circles!) so I'll let you off if you've put on half a stone because I'm right behind you! Lets all just drink a ridiculous amount and eat till we feel extremely ill and cannot move until out stomachs settle and we have another mince pie. 

 I hope you all had a very enjoyable Christmas, I hope you all were on Santa's nice list and I wish you a very happy New Year,

with love

RHS x 

Term 1, Year 2

I went back to University on 20th September, two days before rep training began and the fun started. Freshers arrived sometime after that, then it was Freshers' week, then it was the start of term, 10 lectures and four seminars down for each module down, three KitKat ChitChats (don't ask), one Pub Golf night, one trip to A&E and too many "on a scale of one to ten"'s. The first term has gone and there are five days left till Christmas and my bank balance is at an all time low. So instead of shopping in the ASOS sale I thought I would go through some of the best moments of the first term - in pictures. woohoo! 

Here we go...

Freshersss

We were christened Welfare Reps with our yellow t-shirts - me sporting a very deep tan. Sadly its faded, everyone else having "welfare bombs" consisting of red bull and coke - yum.

The reps got close at Pub Golf - involving downing pints of cider black, me downing a J2O as I can't have alcopops - drama and several TC's and far too many attempts at Zoolander - of which pictures cannot be put up, they are dreadful

The pub golf couples 

I just had to add this photo - Apols. 

Not as easy as you may think! it was rather cold 

Talks were in full swing with one couple about how many children to have. 2?

It was the first house party at the end of Freshers' week and it was safe to say everyone got rather too tipsy, to the point where it was normal to drink out of teapots and read books about "sexual fulfilment" - Natalie and I were far too busy hiding ducks and taking labels of tins to get involved with that. There definitely needs to be more house parties. 

Becca's house party was pretty amazing too. There needs to be a big house with lots of stairs to fit a lot of people in. Our flat party at the end of term got a little crowded with a capacity of only 25 people. 

"I promise you it is only water" 

"smooth drinking"

this picture sums up the sober-ness of everyone

Creeps

 CREEPS! HOW COULD I FORGET CREEPS. Nestled at one end of Middlesbrough is a bar called "Medicine Bar" and the medicine they serve is incredible (just the drinks, of course). Still a place that most people from Durham will refuse to go to because it involves mingling with Teeside University students - but everyone needs to try it once in their life. Natalie and I go as much as we can (that is, when there is a theme that I actually know, Arctic Monkeys sing "chasing cars" right?). We went twice this term, once it was Motown theme, which NEVER fails to disappoint (even with high expectations from February) and the time after that it was 90's theme? - actually I forget what theme but it is incredible, and the cocktails are amazing!

Before the Motown theme - something was funny. 

We always get bombed. 

The second creeps outing - always getting creeped on

Outside Trev's - looking like right tourists - which we were.

The "rep social" that turned into six of us (admittedly the President was ill and had to go home) on a Durham Colleges Bar Crawl - a very interesting night which involved us all trying very strange college drinks (and wishing we hadn't), running from bar to bar before they all shut, not telling anyone we were from Queen's Campus and spending far too long in Castle bar, because, lets be honest it is one of the best, apart from Chad's - that one was very interesting too. With a London Tube map turned into a map of Durham - très clever. 

Halloween

Halloween. Now that was an interesting night - cue me finding a Winnie the Pooh bear in a charity shop and pulling it to pieces, the poor thing. However, it was a great find because it was also a bag! (winning) So I really did look like a walking zombie, or at least something demented. This photo still scares me. Sarah and Natalie looking beautiful, me looking like something off The Purge. 

The Parents vist. 

With the Grandma during her visit. 

This is always a happy time. They take you shopping to buy food, they pay for you to have dinner at nice places and you get to stay in a nice hotel (thanks to my perks from work). We stayed two nights at the Marriott in Durham and got thoroughly spoilt by my mother and grandmother. This photo was taken at Gadd's Town House in Durham - probably the best restaurant there, its incredible (save the pennies to go though! Its not an everyday thing!) 

Winter Ball. 

It was 9pm on a Saturday evening and myself and Natalie had got a Dine in for 2 for £10 from M&S and were watching X Factor when the call came that helped us make our decision to go to the Winter Ball. We were too late to go to the drinks reception but we quickly got changed and went to pre's and had a pretty good night in Middlesbrough and what I was told by Ben was an old cinema... still not sure about that, it was more like a pub. But it had a pool table, a huge dance area and one of those photo booths... which some people didn't realise the photos would be made public the next day. Cue a Masquerade Summer Ball. 

"This used to be an old Cinema" 

The last few nights and turning 20. 

It was time for our first house party. Who am I kidding... we live in a tiny three-bedroom flat. What you can see from this photo is pretty much the extent of the flat. We invited 50 people, only expecting 25 and that was plenty, because after people turned up who we had no idea who they were (Thanks to the flat door being left open) it got quite warm and cosy in there. We had a DJ, Red Bull practically on tap and two of us turning 20. We were celebrating the end of term, the end of teens and the end of the year. 

I cannot believe how quickly this term has gone, or the year. It feels like yesterday that I was writing my candidate number of my Biology A Level exam and now its 18 months later and I'm nearly half way through year two. 

It has been a year of the unexpected and if there is anything I have learnt from Uni is that everyone who I know has left is very jealous. So enjoy it while it lasts! I'm planning my second degree already... or not. 

Now it is two days to Christmas, I'm sat here after taking four days to write this post, watching Christmas films, supposed to be wrapping my Grandma's presents (bird food... and other things, obviously), getting ready for work and praying I don't get blown away when I leave the house. Where is the snow?!

Anyway, I hope however you spend the last week or so of 2013 is pretty amazing and I hope you have a fabulous 2014. 

I will say that at least twice more before the end of the year! But you can't hear it enough!

Love

RHS x 

The in-between post

I have been writing a post for three days now, Its taking me ages to complete. So I thought whilst I finish it and as I try to restore my iPhone to actually hold my iTunes library (not going to happen is it?) this song came onto my iTunes and I had to share it. I used to hate it, I was never a big fan of the raps in it. But its grown on me. Beautiful song, from an artist with an incredible voice. 

Jessie Ware 'Wildest Moments' Feat A$AP Rocky (pronounced A-SAP, just clear up any confusion. He will always be A-S-A-P Rocky to me) 

RHS x

Tuesday is the day of rest

I'm exhausted. I actually have done very little today, there isn't much to do when you have no car and your parents are at work till 7pm each evening and the only friends you have near is 17 baa-ing sheep. 

However, I have actually been quite productive. I woke up at 8am - I'm quite shocked - from another nightmare! That is the second in two nights, hmm... anyway I couldn't get back to sleep so I got up had my thick porridge with honey, read four pages of last months ELLE magazine that I haven't got round to reading yet and jumped in the shower, threw on some clothes and decided it was time to finish my application for L'Oréal. I started this on 27th November, it said I had till 30th December so there was no rush. I got to the stage where it asked me for my CV and decided to save it there and come back. BUT I have finally submitted my whole application, I have also managed to apply to two more summer internships - Actually that does sound rather productive, one with a recruitment consultancy company and one with a bank in retail general management. 

After that I did feel quite accomplished, although when I received an email from all three saying I had to wait to hear anything till 12th January I was a bit like oh... great! Oh well... no online psychometric tests till then, which means I have plenty of time to start revising. Which I did, after a 30 minute walk in knee-deep mud and sheep and a tuna sandwich. I sat down to Law. It took me two hours to read eleven pages of the textbook (half a chapter, not even one lecture), not because I'm a slow reader or because I couldn't be bothered but because the stupid thing is so text heavy it almost sent me to sleep. 

So I stopped, ate two crackers with Wensleydale and cranberry cheese, a fruit salad, a GÜ pot, a banana, a biscuit and the last two days of my advent calendar (plus the cardboard). It sounds a lot but not really... hopefully we're having a full boar tonight, I'm so hungry! So then I wrapped mother and father's present and put them under the sagging Christmas tree (its a real one and its boughs are almost on the floor... we can barely fit presents underneath).

Two hours later, here I am, awaiting my mother's arrival home for some actual human communication (as opposed to Lady Gaga who tried to bite my hand off when I fed her, after which I got very itchy eyes and sneezed for about an hour). I am convinced I am going to start some more Law, but I just really cannot be bothered. 

I'm definitely feeling Love Actually tonight.

RHS x 

p.s. Congratulations to Natalie for passing her driving test. I'm so proud!xxx 

Happiness

Since my last post, I have returned from Uni, turned 20, been to bars in Derby that I have never ventured in before (and probably won't again until I take out a loan), had my nails painted, put up my first ever real Christmas tree, had a dinner party with close family friends and drank rather a large quantity of French red. 

20th Birthday drinks! 

And over the past two days I have been unbelievably happy, I thought I was before Saturday (which I was) but something that I saw on Saturday made me realise how happy I actually am (and you all will be as well!... or at least I hope - if not let me know and I'll whack out some warm fuzzies... ). 

So I woke up on Saturday morning, my 20th birthday, to be greeted by my parents with a Yves Saint Laurent gift and a Ted Baker gift bag, who doesn't love material items?! Then my mum handed me a voucher to get my nails done in my favourite spa in Derby. I was just going for a simple manicure when Mrs Lillian Bettencourt (look her up) walked in. Or should I saw Ms. She began ordering around the six-month pregnant manager of the Spa with all of these dates she wanted "beautifying" as she had a "ridiculous amount" of Christmas Parties that she simply must look fantastic at darling. She booked two pedicures in one week (how they are fitting her in, I do not know - unless it comes to monetary terms - the senior manager is on maternity leave and there are two junior therapists and the manager - who's pregnant). She also booked in four spray tans between now and New Years Eve, two facials between now and NYE and other things that I can't even pronounce or were just too extreme to contemplate. All this happened whilst she was checking her emails on her gold iPhone 5S and shaking her wrists whilst she showed off her rose gold Marc Jacobs watch and Links of London bracelet - which nobody asked to see. She then threw down her Prada and began taking off her boots to have a pedicure - which involved a serious amount of cling film, foil and what looked like soaked muslin. This was a serious pedicure for a women who's feet looked like they'd been pampered an hour previous. 

She then talked about her "breakfasts" with Mr x (not her husband, not sure whether it was her partner or not - sounded more like a business thing) - who does "breakfast"?! And then how she had started having botox in her nose... yes, not her forehead or crows feet (of which she had none because clearly she has had botox there)... she said it only bled for 20 minutes and she felt like she had a new nose... 

Whilst I waited for my nails to dry I was just staring in adoration at this woman who had clearly a ridiculous amount of money to spend on these kind of treatments and she looked incredible - her hair was perfect her make up was incredible, she wore Prada and a cute Joules knit. But there was no way she was happy. I could  see it in her eyes, especially when she looked at me like I was a piece of dust that had scraped her pedicure. It was like she was superior but actually she knew that everyone knew she was deep down trying to cover something up. I don't know what, thats obvs a bit deep for a spa, but it was interesting to see. I wonder how her pedicure held up and how her parties went. 

The pregnant woman was happy, she's wanted a baby for a really long time and now she's finally eight weeks away from the bundle of joy (errrr) entering the world. However she said she has been unbelievably sick since the first month of being pregnant, but she said it is so worth it. If you can be sick four times a day for five months and still be extremely optimistic and excited that is definitely pure happiness. 

Today, I am reasonably happy, I woke up with a pile of dishes to wash and champagne flutes to not break as well as having just compiling all of my assignments that are due in. I have six. Yes six. That have all been given to us in the space of four days. They range from 1,500 words to 4,500 words. The silver lining is that they are not due in till 10th March, some not till 2nd May! #winning. Still that is going to be a long Christmas of planning. BUT who cares... its Christmas! - that is very exciting news! 

It is interesting things that make up happy, usually the material, tangible things are only a temporary cure, I'm happy when people find mistakes in my blog posts because I can't be bothered to check them. At least you know they are written by me and not some robot I have employed! 

I hope you have a fantastic Christmas and a very happy New Year

RHS x 

Chanel No.5

It has been so long since I wrote a blog post that Blogger had logged me out. Thanks for that! But everyone starts their blog posts saying how long its been, but I have been far too busy to even call my mother (as she said was very sad on Sunday). Its been a mad few weeks of assignments and more assignments. 

But I thought this was definitely worth sharing. 

Anyone who knows me very well will know that I am in love with Coco Mademoiselle, this is also the reason why I am in love with Kiera Knightly as she looks incredible in the adverts with the camera man and her on her moped. I receive the perfume every Christmas from my Grandma. I have recently decided to venture out of Mademoiselle to see what Chance is like, however it doesn't live up. One of Chanel's oldest perfumes is No.5 - personally I am not a big fan, its a very mature scent, however the most recent advert for it is very powerful. 

It shows Marilyn Monroe being asked what she wears to bed... and "pyjama top and bottoms" is not her answer...

Enjoy

RHS x 

The most wonderful time of the year

Nigella's taking cocaine, Ryan Giggs has turned 40 (insert love or hatred for him here), Christmas trees are going up, lights are being turned on, Christmas songs are being played in stores, Movember is nearly, NEARLY over (cannot come quick enough!), my Christmas jumper has made its first appearance and yes, I have downloaded my Christmas album onto my iPod - however, I haven't yet listened to them (much). In my house the Christmas decorations go up around the 16th December, after my birthday, of course and we usually just have a modest tree and a nativity scene, however at Uni, as we are only here for two weeks of December, decorations have been up for nearly a week. Essays are due in, there are nights out to be had, naked calendar launches to be squinted at, birthdays to celebrate, secret Santa's, one too many glasses of mulled wine and an unhealthy amount of mince pies to be consumed. As well as about four traditional Christmas meals to be had before actual Christmas day. My mother rang me the other day to say she had ordered our turkey from a colleague who's husband owns a farm, she has called it Ethel and Ethel shall be £40. Forty pounds?! We'll have three... 

It is essentially time to start buying presents. I have already bought my flat mates' presents, they are hiding under my desk, away from prying eyes, awaiting to be wrapped. Talking of wrapping paper, B&M has the best deal: 12 metres for £1 - incredible, however, if you want a variety of wrapping paper, Card Factory are doing 3x3metre rolls for £1 - take your pick! B&M also do a box of four wrapping paper rolls with lots of bows and ribbons for £4.99 - I've done my research. I'm so sad. Its procrastination at its best. Boots also has Maximuscle Progain on offer HALF PRICE (£25) - so tempting. 

Two weeks now till it is the end of term (and my birthday woop) and although I went home last weekend there is always something nice about home (and the fresh air, free from ill Stockton-ers, someone in the shopping centre today just sneezed and didn't cover his mouth as I walked past. What is this country). There is always Ben and Jerry's in my favourite flavour - Blondie Brownie and food is on tap with a quick text to Dad asking him to pick up goats cheese, pâte and a small amount of caviar (only joking! we don't eat pâte that much). I have the house to myself in the day and it is so quiet. No one having far too much fun in the room above mine, no locals getting arrested outside, a clean kitchen and bathroom and not having to worry about how much electricity is being used. Bliss. 

I almost can't believe how fast this year has gone (yawnnn), yesterday I was at work for NYE, then I was in an exam hall, then I was in Marbella and now I am writing Christmas cards and finding the best wrapping paper deals - I'm actually an old lady, after all, my name is Ruth (expectation: Ruth sits quietly by the fire and knits, reality: Ruth sits by the fire (at home, obvs) and reads E.M.Forster... completely different people). 

The gym will also be packed after Christmas and the "post-Christmas lunch" workouts will go up with challenges including "run for four hours just to burn off one mince pie" - basically meaning I feel claustrophobic in the gym. Just don't eat too much! Last year was hilarious when I got a training schedule from Athletics for over the Christmas holidays which said "a steady 30 minute run on Christmas day is essential" - Sorry, what? Do we think Jesus would approve of missing his birthday for a training session, definitely not, I'll miss the jelly and ice cream. ha. 

I'm not saying M**** C********* before the 1st December, therefore, 

Much Love! 

RHS x 

My two most recent dreams

I have the weirdest dreams, Sarah and Natalie love hearing about them the next morning and saying "Are you ok?" - they sound like really deep, meaning full dreams but I just have an active mind, they don't mean anything! Or do they... I'll write this and have to go and freak out about the "meaning of dreams" - cue Freud. 

Dream One.

My most recent dream was two nights ago, when I decided I was going back to Sixth Form, but not to my actually Sixth Form, to my Secondary School (the confessions of an all Girls' Private School... yeah that one). I left there because I needed a fresh start, but apparently I wanted to go back there for Sixth Form. I'd dropped out of Uni, paid to be let back into Sixth Form, four years after I started and I was determined to get better grades than I did at my actual Sixth Form and I was also determined that I was going to Warwick. If no one is "Geeked-up" on Universities Warwick is THE place to go for Business (They require A*AA and at least a B at AS level) so I needed to up my game if I was going to get into Warwick. It was the strangest thing going back to that crazy mad house. I was in Sixth Form with all the people that were in year 9 when I left and there were boys in year 7, very strange. There were school bells and we had to stand when the head teacher came in - a new one, it was a man. Well odd. 

The rest of that dream continued with me bumping into a friend from Uni (a friend that I'm currently at Uni with, who will remain unnamed, I am yet to tell her this though haha). She told me that to pay for her weekly food shops she was (as she put it) "selling her body for money like the women in Stockton do" - yes. Really, that is what I was told, I highly doubt it's true, intact I know its not because she'd charge a FORTUNE. Funny though, dreams are so amazing. 

Dream Two - it gets better. 

I was getting married. End of NIGHTMARE. No really, I, Me, Ruth Hannah Smith the First was getting married (pause for a moment of confusion). I seemed very excited although it was the oddest experience ever. Firstly, we weren't in a Church - big no no. Secondly, my Dad was some kind of giant (he's only about 5'11'') and he was dragging me down this room to the room I was getting married in. The doors opened in this chateau-type place and I saw loads of people sat on chairs with an isle down the middle, but Dad walked me round the edge to meet my "husband-to-be" - well, I, never. He was about 55, 55 stone, grey haired, just no, basically. I was not impressed. I had basically had my marriage arranged for me. So I was forced into the middle with him and I started mouthing to mum "get me out of here" and she kept shaking her head. So I ran. To the toilets. Standard girl. Mum ran after me and said "you need to be careful of where you run out of" - to which I said I'm not getting married to him. Then I woke up in cold sweats.

Weirdest dream OF MY LIFE. I had to text my mother it was that awful. 

Ok, maybe that one sounded a bit distressing but still quite funny, but not as funny an ending as the first. 

Nevertheless, I may start posting my dreams more, they amuse me somewhat.

Sweet dreams 

RHS x 

zzzzzzz

Kalinka

I don't know why I'm writing this post. I think I might get rather told off if I don't write it (it isn't very much in my favour). This post is about last night, for the first time I went to Kalinka in Middlesbrough on a Saturday - the usual time to go is every 4th Thursday with uni, but I didn't go then either - My first impression was quite good - I learnt that anyone who lives south of Leeds is classed as "posh" - As my wrist was strangled with the wrist band he was putting on - but when I said I was from "Derbyshire" he imitated me in a very Chelsea-esque way and said anything with "shire" on the end is posh - there we go. Learn something new everyday. 

But I'm skipping about two hours here. None of my flat went out (Sarah was ill and snuggled up on the sofa watching X Factor with M&S chocolate rolls - I had one when I got back, thanks Sarah. Natalie was somewhere up North (further up North) watching someone at the Sage... Kodaline? - I felt like I was there after receiving about two minutes of their concert) so it was just myself, Rachel, Andy, Mark, Hazel (where did she go?) and Tom. I got to Rachel's to find I had forgotten my watch (I basically could have been naked - it was weird) but I wasn't harassed crossing the high street - maybe for the fact that there were Police everywhere - but still, quite a good crossing there. I had bought a bottle of wine (only half due to Tuesday's antics) and arrived to find Rachel FaceTiming (is this an official verb?) several people and already fairly squiffy, I needed to catch up. So much to say that I did and ended up taking several too many snapchats of Rachel dancing to her "commercial house" music and Tom trying to get his JD into his Coke can - this requires an immense amount of concentration. 

Moving on... We arrived at Kalinka and had the already stated "posh-banter" (panter? maybe not...) with the bouncers and headed to the bar - so it was £2.50 for a double vodka and mixer but £3.05 if you wanted it with cranberry juice! - what a rip off... It was a cocktail for £3 so I swiftly moved onto those for the rest of the night - I believe I was having a Strawberry Woo Woo, of which my second came in a glass tankard. Lad. The music was amazing, if you've been to Bijoux in Newcastle on a Tuesday night it was like that with songs mashed together, changing after a minute or so, that keeps the night going. Of course it was time for a Miley tune in which I had "TWERK"shouted at me... now, I know it is in my distant heritage to be able to but I really really cannot (sorry to disappoint) so I just said that I'd perform a "gym-esque" squat - which was accepted then I was accused of my squat being "more than a squat" - I was just performing my gym exercises - so embarrassing. I then initiated a tete-a-tete with my Kit Kat Chit Chat partners (I had to swap sessions so basically I am a traitor to Charlie and Tom was claiming he's a better KKCC partner - I didn't and will not disclose my opinion but it was funny to watch them) 

The night began to draw to a close when the boys decided they wanted a takeaway - we walked outside - I hobbled at this point, I haven't worn heels like those since the summer so my feet were broken and completely abused. I was on the verge of tears - far too much dancing is a great reason for your feet to hurt - so I did the unthinkable and the unforgettable and the unforgivable and took my shoes off - I thought this would be easier then it turned out to be, but it felt amazing to take them off. There is one thing that was worse than me taking my shoes off outside - Mark being sick in Middlesbrough Train Station - classy... especially when Tom screamed "did you hear that! haha he's just been sick!" it wasn't a pleasant sound. 

I was virtually carried to the takeaway (due to my feet hurting, not intoxication) where I put my shoes back on - I am a trooper - and sat whilst everyone else ate their takeaway - I was laughed at when I said I was going home to have porridge as my end of night "treat" - don't judge.

We got into the taxi and I realised that I had been tweeted saying that I hadn't ever been seen so tipsy or "drunk" as Tom put it and Andy saying that I had "twerked the life" out of myself - which I didn't, I was just giving my quads a good work out, which, last time I checked, isn't twerking. If you want Twerking, you need Tom Perkins - he puts Miley to shame. I explained my workout routine if I were to have a takeaway - It would last about 4 days and comprise of a 20km run - yes, really. Tom informed me that he ran home to begin to burn off his burger and said that I was an inspiration - I'm flattered that I reach so many people (just Tom) with my fitness beliefs. 

It was a great night. And no, I wasn't drunk or anything like that but in second year I haven't gone out very much so when I do I always make sure its a good night. Which it so was!

I am surprisingly awake, alive and un harmed considering the alcohol consumption #winning 

Time to finish that seminar work... 

RHS x 

Warm Fuzzy

Definitely time for another Warm Fuzzy (and not Ben May's version - thanks Ben.) 

I love this song, it a) reminds me of my dad singing it in the way Louis does and b) it was played at my Great-grandma's funeral in July, and whenever I hear it, it reminds me of them both. 

I found this version where Louis talks about what he means by "What A Wonderful World" and it's so cute. 

My favourite part of his speech is "Love, baby, love - that's the secret"

Enjoy 

RHS x

I am a woman and...

And for my 60th post - the most controversial yet.

(Excuse the tiredness exposed here, I've been bulking)

#IAMAWOMANAND I eat protein bars, I go into the weights gym, yes I do lift (bro), I will text you first, I want a six pack too, I am incredible at DIY (thanks MUM), I watch football and yes I do understand the offside rule, I love rugby, I can rap the words to "Make Me Proud" by Drake, I will wear what I want, and no, I don't want children.

As per, ELLE magazine comes up with an incredible collection of articles on what it means to be a feminist. They launched a campaign where women send in photos of what it means to them to be a woman. 

I really don't know if I'm a feminist, I did think it was for man-haters and was slightly let down when I found out it actually wasn't - I'd be so good at that. I'm not sure I know what it really is, let alone have time to act upon it. 

My favourite part of the article was from Jinan Younis (the founder of FemSoc - I should start this at Uni). She said that feminism is not accepting the stereotypes or the groups that we are put in, not just by men. For example we should be allowed to walk down the street without being wolf-whilsted at, or being degraded in some way. We're not an "apple" or a "pear" - although some people do have wider hips then others, and "pear" shaped is a nicer way then saying "look at that derrière!" HOWEVER, that's not the point, were not the "career woman" or "the one who doesn't want to get married" or the "slag". We're women and as Miley Cyrus says "only God can judge you" - preach it Miley. 

I've recently noticed since being at Uni that there are "lad" things to do and there are things the girls don't do. I have for the first time began using the weights gym at Uni - a very normal occurrence at home, however the boys in this gym are completely beside themselves when a girl walks in, they do not know what to do. They get awkward, they can't ask you to move so they can get some dumbbells, they breathe a sigh of relief when you leave and they certainly look at you like you're a martian. Personally I just think they wish they could put the size weights through their quads like I can. 

I was in the gym yesterday for example and there was a large group of six girls in the weights gym I was thinking "excellent! - the girls taking over the weights", only to walk in to find them gossiping about the boys and then proceeding to look at me like I'd joined the Bonkers Raving Looney party when I begin my circuit. They then left after not even picking up one weight. I was disappointed. However, I'm taking one for the team and going to continue using the weights gym. I get the weirdest looks when I say I use the weights room. Looks of surprise, sheer terror and questions such as "you lift bro?" - just to clarify, I have weakling arms, stronger then the average Eve, but thats why I'm a runner - hence the quads. So, bro, nah, I don't lift, much anyway... 

Another thing since I have been at Uni is the whole idea that it is not acceptable for girls to get with boys. Now, last time I checked we're all adults and no one can judge us so what we do in our own time is our own choices. Plus when a boy gets with lots of girls thats just normsville but a girl is instantly called a "slag" - and it is the girls that call the girls "slags" - I very very rarely hear a boy say it. So we're basically shooting ourselves in the foot with that one. 

Back to Feminism - can boys be a feminist? I guess so. Its about equality and respect. We have come along way (we no longer have to starve ourselves, or throw ourselves in front of a horse or burn our Victoria Secrets' to be heard) but there is still a ridiculously long way to go, apparently we're looking at 2057 before men and women in the same jobs are paid the exact same. Men are still paid nearly 15% more than women in some jobs, which is slightly sickening. I'd also be appalled if I was asked if I had any "baby plans" over the next five years, as a person who doesn't want children I'd say "no, but I'll happy take "maternity leave" to go on a cruise"

Food for thought.

I hope I've stirred some thought, or just made you scratch your head in utter confusion. But if any of that made even a teeny bit of sense, my work here is done. 

Here is the ELLE article containing pictures of ELLE employee's with their "I am a woman and..." posters. 

Happy Feminism!

RHS x

The Durham Colleges Bar Crawl

Outside Trevs - our first bar

 If you weren't aware that Durham University had colleges, think again. We're just like Oxford and Cambridge, only 10 degrees colder and less up ourselves (well, most people). 

There are 16 college in Durham University, I won't name them all, but I am in George Stephenson college to give it its correct full title or "Stevo" to the local inmates. 

So it was time for a Rep social - the right picture shows the cool kids that actually turned up. Admitted there was every sports' social under the sun taking place on Saturday evening, for example the Football initiation had to dress up as a female singer and sing one of their songs - there was a Miley Cyrus, with a grey fitness ball, I thought that was a good effort. Regardless of whatever socials were on, the rep team consists of nearly 50 people, there were 6 of us. Not the best turn out, but at least its over 10%!

The full social actually started at 1pm in Stevo bar, the idea being to go round all other 13 bars (minus John Snow because, well, its John Snow and their igloo is tiny and seriously lacking in polar bears and Grey's was closed due to the fireworks...) by 11:30pm when they all closed - this involved a one hour bus journey and stopping to eat... anyway... 

With our cocktails in Trev's

It was 18:30 and we (myself and Natalie Brown - thats Brown like the colour) went to catch the X1- now the X1 to non Durham-ers is a bus, not a very good bus as it is never on time, always full, always too hot and the driver is like some boy (or girl - equality) racer. So we got on after several locals with 15 children and endured screaming and shouting for 26 miles to Durham. 

We were hoping to see Grey College's fireworks, as they are supposed to be really really sparkly. Now, as we live in Stockton, who blow half of their yearly budget on their firework display to draw in the charvs from the local area to spend their moulah we had very, very, high expectations. 

We thought we'd missed them (thats the fireworks at Grey by the way). We got off the X1 at 19:25 and began hearing bangs and fizzes. Thankfully, we managed to have a great view of the fireworks which always get me emotional, Guy Fawkes was such a brave guy. There was clearly no safety precautions as we were rained on several times by glittering after-spray (is that the right word... ashes or light bits) - "Make it make it rain make it make it make it rain"- sing this and pretend you're throwing money everywhere, you got it. We made a wish whilst we were being rained on, so cute. 

Anyway, boring emotional part over it was time to go to our first bar to meet "everyone" - this was Trevelyan college "Trevs" where we got lost in all the anarchy of the masses leaving Greys and had to look at the map to find out where Trevs was thinking it was miles away. We got there eventually, after looking like right Stevo tourists (even more so asking posh Durham-ers to take photos of us outside every college sign) to see four others of the rep team (rep team most represented = welfare. Of course, I'm not saying were the best but the President was one of us, so that kind of does make us the best). 

We were greeted with "do not get the Trevs college drink - it tastes like e-numbers" - now to a girl who gets high on smarties this was great news, but it actually tasted like those Panda pops you got at your year 5 disco, or like R.Whites lemonade which had seriously gone out of date. Not nice, so we got a cocktail, we were going to get two Long Island Ice Tea's but then I was sure they didn't have coke in them (no caffeine allowed and all that) so I had a sex on the beach - in a pint glass, lad. 

Mary's had a Toastie bar! - mind = blown. 

We had to down those to keep up with the others - who had already been to about 5 other bars earlier that day, so were a lot of tipsy then ourselves. Next, after an awkward pose outside the entrance it was time for Mary's - the cutest college, ever. Like a Kiera Knightly film I was in love with the grounds. This college used to be an all girls' college. Which I think is lovely, its now President-ed by a boy - how lovely. We don't judge single sex schools. 

Mary's was slightly on the small side, nevertheless they had a good house shot called "the witch" which we were told was lovely, they meant to tell us it was horrible (Thanks Chelcie and Tom), but it was actually delightful - Archers mixed with Bacardi - mm. There we met El Presidente of the whole university, our very own Daniel Slavin (now pronounced Daniel SlaRvin - because he's not ultra posh), he used to be Stevo's president and now runs the whole uni and is loving it I hear!

So he joined us in our continued mission of the college bars - next it was Castle - in a Castle, yes, yawn, you have to hand in your campus card when you get in - after you have broken your back getting through that ridiculously low door, inside is like some wine cellar, with the proper aches are brick walls. Next it was Hatfield - whose college drink I have to say was incredible - I'm keeping the recipe for my own pleasure and refuse to share it with anyone - sorry! - go to Hatfield! We were entertained there with a few pub golfers after realising time was ticking we needed to get round the rest of the bars.

Me and Thee outside the Cath. 

Next was Chad's - like some weird greenhouse upstairs and then a home from home Durham tube-mapped-esque wall of all the "important" places in Durham - quite cool. There we only had time for a shot - Sambuca obviously - go hard or go home (we did shortly go home, we were slightly tipsy. And you know when Natalie is tipsy as she runs and with those knees she doesn't run when sober, so there we go) We legged it to John's college, to find that is was closed, sad face, then the last one was St. Cuth's, which, when we got there was more like an old mans social club, but hey, the drinks were £1.50, so who's complaining?

That concluded our college bar crawl, admittedly myself and Natalie didn't go to all of them, but the state of us after just six was plenty for one night. We then proceeded to head back into the centre of the city in search of some alcohol-soaking food. We all had noodles as Wok-Sup, mm, lavely - although the next day had that food smell on it. Oh my I cannot stand food smells, I have a change of clothes that I cook in to avoid smelling of food. Vile. 

It was then time for we six reps to go home, at about 1am - we were probably going to leave at 10pm, thats how good a night it was -reps you so missed out! The X1 took 20 minutes to get to the bus station, where I proceeded to shout at a fresher that I saw him in the gym earlier, he just looked at me blank as if I was some kind of freak - just because I was in the weights section! - boys are so mean. We also saw second year football boys in superhero outfits and Danielle Britton in a onesie running after the bus. Note to everyone - sitting on the road so the bus can't drive is NEVER a good option, ever. 

I have eaten half a Terry's chocolate orange whilst writing this and it's nearly time for MIC, so thanks for reading because that was a long one! If you didn't get this far, thanks for the view! 

Go to Durham Uni

Love
RHS x 

p.s. Don't choose John Snow 

The John Lewis Christmas advert is here!

The John Lewis Christmas 2013 ad is here - "The Bear and The Hare" shows a beautiful journey between two friends leading up to Christmas and the joys of giving. 

The cover of Keane’s “Somewhere Only We Know” by Lily Allen give the video an extra touch of sparkle and serenity. 

enjoy... and Merry Christmas?

RHS x