A whirlwind…

I’ve been absent for a very long time. I wrote a post to explain dropping water on my laptop but I never got round to posting it. Sorry.

Easter went very quickly for me (with just reading for my course), and now I’m back into the last term of my 2nd year! I finish by the end of May so it’s not even a particularly long term. One thing you can be sure about Uni is there really isn’t much of a term sometimes.

Having started this blog with not a lot of idea what I wanted to do as a Career, having had ideas, scrapped them, I’ve finally found a field I want to go into. It has all become a bit manic recently though obviously quite exciting! In mid April I did work-shadowing in the Human Resources department of my University. I thoroughly enjoyed it – it gave me an insight into 8 different roles they have and their advice was amazing. I know now more than ever that it is something I want to do  – I still get people trying to sway me, but I’ve had that all my life so it’s water off a duck’s back.

I also applied for a position in the Student Union known as a Student Voice Advocate. Student Voice is a free and confidential service available to all Loughborough Students Union members, offering information and advice on issues or conflicts that students have with their college or university. I had an interview yesterday, which I was a little nervous about but it went really well and I had an email in the afternoon that I had been successful! woo! I really wanted the position to give back to my university, and though it means another commitment in my final year of uni, I’m excited by it and trying to take every opportunity of my final year at uni. Training begins next week.

When I typed ‘water off a duck’s back’  earlier, I will admit it initially came out as ‘duck of a water’s bottom’. Not a lot of sense there at all. I’ll admit – I’m stressed out with now looming deadlines only 26 days away (yes, I’m counting).

I suppose I should stay faithful to my blog and talk a little about literature – my modules are proving interesting. But why did no one tell the Victorians that novels didn’t have to be so long?! It is probably the biggest difficulty this term, in finding the time to get through 400+ page novels and balance everything else. I have to say even my short weird tales have been neglected and they’re often a measly 40 pages. What has maintained my interest is my African American Culture module. I really enjoyed Walter Mosley’s The Long Fall  and we’re also looking at films and rap culture too – it brings back my love of history studying how the culture has grown and become rooted within American society.

One last update – my fundraising for the London to Paris! It’s actually gone wonderfully, and I’ve raised £856! I have to say there is a lot you can do but always get your family and friends on board. I am so grateful for my parents’ support, they have helped me so much.

Enjoy the summer – it seems to finally be here!

Love E xx

Food heaven…

A regular lifestyle blog I check out is TheLondoner. And by check out I mean ferociously stalk, like some mad lioness.

Rosie takes beautiful pictures, visits amazing places, but the posts that grab me the most are the foodie ones! (any surprises there?!)

This dish is a recreation of a wonderful idea of hers, to wrap a Camembert cheese in croissant dough and bake it. I couldn’t resist when it cost me less than £3 to whip up this delicious snack!

You can find the recipe here.

I didn’t have any apricot jam at the time, but found it’s not necessary – I put a little pickle in but it didn’t change much. As you can see there’s a mound of salad with mine as I find the cheese strong and like something quite subtle with it.

Seems extravagant for a student hey? It’s a bad habit of mine – to buy fancy stuff and more than enough for one. But food is the one thing I can’t seem to skimp on, and whilst others are out drinking I’m enjoying my meat, vegetables and innocent juice…

At one point I was almost tempted by a weekly delivered fruit and veg box! Madness.

My sweet tooth is also awful in the way of chocolate. I CANNOT RESIST.

The lovely Caroline Mili Artiss, a professional chef and Youtube star, recently released an incredible recipe that I’m intent on making this week. Caramel Salted Brownies. These three words could not sound more amazing together!

I’m excited to make caramel, I’m excited to mix it with brownies and I’m excited to feed it to my friends!

You can get the recipe on her website, with many more fab creations.

See how much I love food? No wonder my spending is through the roof…

Love E xx

Valentines!

I know it’s a little early, and I’m not a big fan of this holiday, but it’s nearly Valentine’s Day!

I can’t say I even know the story of why we have Valentines, but I can see it’s commercial importance in our current culture! Out come the flowers, chocolates, cards…but that’s not why I like it (or what I even want). I like the creativity of the holidays, the wackiness on Halloween and the girlyness of Valentines! I go mad with decorating and love hand making an outfit or gift. So here’s a little post of something creative I’m doing this Valentines and this ones for the girls!

Following Michelle Phan’s method, I decorated my nails for Valentines, and aren’t they cute?

I chose to go for a dark red (just a cheap nail varnish I stole from my sister!) and then a statement nail (appropriately my ring finger!) with a coat of Barry M limited edition Silver Glitter. I then used Michelle’s plaster method to make a love heart and used the previous red. Love! It took a bit of patience and a few plasters but I got there and very happy!

I also came across another goregous but little more funky look by Kandee Johnson with a slightly different method, do what works for you.

(I love my Youtube Makeup Gurus – head to these girls if you ever need anything, it’s sure to be in a video there!)

Valentine’s day is actually my brother’s birthday (he doesn’t half look popular with all the cards) so I normally push the lovey dovey stuff to the side (single or taken). This year though it’s off to London for a get away from uni life and boyf and I will have a good dinner – food is the way to my heart!

Love E xx

The other reading list…

As an English student, there is one main, and I think huge downside, to the degree. The majority of the time we’re being lazy, doing as we wish.

Uni can be a bit of a holiday. 

This is not just my assumption –  a lecturer said this! ‘we may not do a real degree, but we have a bloody good holiday’ to paraphrase.I love all the freedom we have. Semester 2 is 6 hours a week for me, over monday and tuesday. Pretty absurd – and plenty of jealous comments from the mechanical engineering students!

I chose English because I love reading. I love having my nose deep in a book and learning something new. I think books are a learning experience, a chance at self-development even if they’re fiction. Literature, particularly the novel, is still in my eyes a form of entertainment to be enjoyed by all for a writer’s talented artistic and creative ability.

But the problem is at University is i’m not reading out of choice. Each module forces me to digest 10+ books as quick as I can and vomit up a decent essay.

Having spoken with other English students, I am not alone. The thing with English students is, we have an addiction. We like reading. We LOVE reading. And an English degree’s required reading cannot deter us from buying more books. I have bought a lot recently and received a fair few for Christmas and my birthday. I love a printed copy of a book, the freshness or the worn pages. I love having a full bookcase to admire from time to time. The sad thing is – I don’t have the time to read any. 

Even as a good reader, the demands of my degree limit my ability to pick up a book I want to read out of choice and instead I must slog through the  required reading list. A first world problem, I know. But for us literature lovers, it’s a struggle! 

My list is forever growing, and it’s a depressing thing to see.

Here is how my list stands (in no particular order):

1. J.K. Rowling’s Casual Vacancy
2. Irvine Welsh’s Trainspotting
3. Bret Easton Ellis’s American Psycho
4. Philip K. Dick’s The Man in the High Castle
5. Doris Lessing’s The Memoirs of a Survivor
6. Gustave Flaubert’s Madame Bovary (trans. by Adam Thorpe)
7. Mitch Winehouse’s Amy, My Daughter
8. J. R. R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings Trilogy
9. Arthur Miller’s The Crucible
10. Steig Larsson’s Millenium series

These are just the ones I own. There are titles I have written down that I hope to read one day when I have a copy.

This is not to say I haven’t had time to read anything of my own choice, or that I don’t enjoy the literature on my modules. That would be wrong. But as a lover of reading, this hoarding of literature sometimes gets me down when I just want to pick up these books and enjoy them. I do enjoy the books on the modules, but you resent them slightly when you know you have to read them.

Note to prospective English students: you may end up hating reading. You may miss reading what you want. You will not have much option other than to accept this, and learn to read faster.

Love E xx

London to Paris update!

I wanted to share my progress with my London to Paris bike ride I’ll be attempting in June!

I took my fundraising bucket into my part-time work near my home home (not uni) and have been really surprised with the generous donations! It has really helped me on my way to £800 target! I’m doing lots of cakes when I get back and a street collection is also planned for friday 8th!

In terms of fitness, I recently have been out on my bike to practice but it’s definitely lagging. It’s amazing how quickly you can lose your fitness if you stop for a week. I’m going to try and maintain riding my bike everyday even if it’s just a short distance.

In terms of long distance, to prepare for the achy bottom I’m no doubt going to have, I have been given a fitness bike by my dad. I’m taking it up to uni to have in my room and hopefully work up a sweat! It has a computer built in which is what I really want to keep track of my progress.

The most important thing for me now is to reach the March 29th deadline of raising £400. Now I’m halfway to this target it seems a little less scary, but I still need all the support I can get!

You can visit my fundraising page here, please spread the word or donate if you can!

Love E xx

Toad diaries…

I just wanted to rave about my diary – and it reminded me I haven’t written in it today!

This little beauty is from an online supplier of customised diaries. I wrote about my stresses of finding a diary that was just like the one I successfully kept last year. Well I simply googled (the obvious answer to everything these days) and this UK based company have many options for journals, planners and diaries. You can have them start halfway through the year, change the length of time, the layout, the overall appearance.

I wanted something discreet and simple (very much my style!) and it arrived perfectly. A little slow delivery but the sent an email apology, so I am a very happy girly! If you want to check them out visit their website here.

Off to write in it now!

Love E xx

troubles of making and baking…

Getting back to what I enjoy writing and reading about- food.

Over Christmas, I am always far too ambitious in what I can get done in the very little time I have. Christmas 2012 I tried to make a few delights but had to accept perfection comes with practice…let me explain…

A tomato tart was the first dish from a Delia recipe in her Christmas cookbook, it looked delicious for a teatime treat. It has a delicious tomato filling with a layer of Emmental cheese and crispy pastry (she seems to have tweaked the version in her Christmas cookbook but here is a similar one). The filling went very well…the pastry not so much. Delia reccommended using ready-made, which I did but I later realised she said use all-butter. The hunt I had to go on to find all-butter! At least 3 supermarkets (thank you Morrisons) and I made another with determination to do that filling justice.

I guess sometimes you really have to follow every last detail….

Which brings me to the nightmare known as Nigella’s Maple Cheesecake (can be found here). Simple you say? It possibly would have been if I could have found any ovenproof cling film….does the stuff exist?! I’ve yet to track it down and can’t even find where Nigella gets it herself. I double wrapped with foil but that let me down and the bain marie let itself in, happily enjoying the perfect cheesecake.

We still ate it. It was edible, just the pecan biscuit base was a little soft, no crunch. Such a shame when the top ‘cheese’ part was so good. Still, it looked lovely for Christmas and the family were very comforting when I was having a tantrum….yes I really did.

The only thing that did go well, as usually expected, were Delia’s sausage rolls that I have no doubt mentioned. I haven’t made anything new in a while, but this week we’re having mexican night (before I head back to uni) and I hope to make something yummy!

Love E xx

Lots of changes…

I have neglected my little blog but that is something I’ll come to explain. It’s been a period of self growth for me and I have a lot to tell…

 

I’m finally done with Semester one which means I’m halfway through my degree!  A little scary but exciting now. So far this year I’ve hardly been a student and more of a hermit, getting on with essays and rarely out partying. But I’m looking more to my future now and what I need to do to be ready for the next exciting stage of my life!

Next Semester I have modules called ‘African America Culture’, ‘The Weird Tale’ and ‘Victorian Literature’. The African American culture module has some really interesting texts including Jay-Z and Obama. I love getting a history lesson from literature as much as an understanding of the literature itself. I loved history at school so I am so glad that it still comes up in my degree.

So far I have bought the books for just Victorian Literature and am halfway through Anne Brontë’s The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. I was worried about Victorian Literature as it is my compulsory module, but it seems to be like British Drama in that I am really enjoying it! I didn’t realise I enjoyed classic English modules and wondering whether I should have taken more of them.

The Weird Tale seems to overlap nicely with this module as it is similar victorian novels.I can hardly put down Anne Brontë’s novel at the minute, I take it everywhere. Having read her sister Charlotte’s Wuthering Heights I can appreciate a similar style and love of writing and they were truly talented. I don’t want to give much away but I’m currently stuck in the second volume and loving it.

In the reading weeks to prepare for these coming modules we have had career related talks and a work shadowing opportunity to apply for. Awful student that I am I didn’t go to any of the career talks – Im currently at home enjoying a life of luxury instead of poor student and it was difficult to go back for. Awful yes, but recent developments have led me to know what I want to do. 

I did apply for the work shadowing. Having looked through the many options and then researching the types of jobs I feel I’ve found more of a focus of what I want to do as a long term career. I have come to accept my job my not be riveting, the excitement that everyone dreams of. But I think it will keep me quite content. I want to go into Human Resources. 

People often tell me from my skill set and personality that I should look into Human Resources – I like workigpeople, am a lover of organisation, multi-tasking and helping others solve problems. I understand it’s not all fun and games –  but I don’t suit a role where I sell or am in others faces. I’m good at co-ordinating people and team work.

Having looked at the placements there were Human resources within my university which is the work shadow placement I really want. I understand that the job can differ due to organisation but some experience would be ideal right now. My focus is to build my experience now to make me a suitable candidate for a graduate scheme. This is another part of my future that I am not set upon. When I graduate I hope to find a graduate scheme that will help me become settled in a large corporation. I realise this is all very hopeful but I want to be optimistic and proactive – there is no way I’ll reach my goals if not!

So I’ve neglected this blog because my love of writing is starting to wane. I don’t want to write rubbish, especially as my heart is no longer in a career in journalism. I have been finding myself, my direction. It’s something I’ve needed for a long time, a life so far with no idea has been hard. Thankfully things are coming together.

Please forgive me? New posts soon

Love E xx

P.S. If anyone has any advice on my career choice, negative or positive, please share!

New things….

A little late to get to it but I’ve been trying some new things this year already. Resolutions for me are new things – not getting fitter, breaking habits, working harder (all things I need to do anyway!) but trying new things, making new things and going somewhere new.

My list so far:

1.Go to Nottinghill Carnival – it’s been on the list a few years now and it seriously, seriously, needs to be done.

2.Alton Towers – As a lover of rollercoasters, it’s a bit of an embarassment that I haven’t been yet. Thorpe park is close to me so I’ve done it a million times, but this year I’m promising to myself I’ll go.

3.Complete my bike rides – with one in April through the New Forest and one in June to Paris, I have my work cut out! My fundraising page is here:

4.A holiday somewhere new –  sadly I didn’t go abroad at all in 2012! Though 2011 was a blowout (Japan,Dubai and Italy…), so I’m really hope to visit somewhere new this year. A family holiday is normally in the UK but I’m going to do my best puppy eyes! (if you’re reading this mum, SPAIN! SPAIN!)

5.New Years with the girls – I had a great New Year in London, celebrating with my boyfriend on Lambeth Bridge. This year girls and I have already agreed to go to London together, as I think that would be the perfect combo.

6. Visit uni friends more – I want to see my home friends at their universities and I want to make sure over the holidays I visit my uni friends! It means lots of new places which is always fun in my eyes….

I’m continuing to keep my diary, as I detailed in a previous post. I managed to order one online from toad diaries that I was able to customise to my liking – perfect.

I’ve been trying a few new meals back at university, to keep eating healthy with my imminent deadlines. There is a brilliant app called Photo Cookbook that I’m really liking at the minute, which has brilliant pictures and works really nice as an app. I’ve made the turkey and broccoli gnocchi, but swapped turkey for chicken…still great.

Also a new thing for me, Chicken noodle soup, from the wonderful londoner. It was delicious even on a student budget! I didn’t have time to buy the sesame oil or fish sauce, but enjoyed it more than once all the same!

I encourage anyone reading to make it a year of new things and saying yes to opportunities. You’ll meet these goals instead of focusing on what you’re not and your weaknesses.

Make it positive!

Love E xx

An Indian Thali…

I am a big fan of trying food from all over the world. I have a real love of culture, and food is a big part of that. In the UK we have lots of restaurants that serve interesting foreign cuisine, and I always like to try something different that I wouldn’t cook at home.

My boyfriend loves (I’m serious when I say loves) Indian food. It’s probably the most common type of meal we go for.

We’ve tried quite a few places now, takeaways and restaurants, that are local to him in Wimbledon, London– he’s practically a Connoisseur, though dish-wise he like’s to play it safe 😉 I on the other hand go mad for something unusual but always want a variety of flavours to enjoy – one curry dish and rice is lovely, but I prefer lots of warm naan or chapatti to dip in different flavours.

That’s why I have to share my new found love when I have an Indian meal, a Thali. I can’t say I’ve seen Thalis in many restaurants, but they’re quickly becoming more popular. It suits me perfectly,as it is made of a selection of dishes. I’ve seen vegetarian, meat and fish Thalis, but most come with a vegetable curry, a Daal dish, salad, bread and rice.

In and around London, the restaurant Masala Zone is a great restaurant that creates brilliant Thalis to get you started. I visited the Masala zone restaurant near to Baron’s court tube station, and left very impressed. A modern yet beautifully decorated restaurant, brilliant service with a detailed explanation of what a Thali was and the food was delicious! I was converted!

I’ve since been to Chutneys which is in Wimbledon, a popular and delicious Indian restaurant. Exploring the menu and finding Thalis was a great surprise! Whilst the fish thali takes a while to cook, it came with a whole tandoori fish and beautiful dishes with the best rice I’ve ever tasted! Unfortunately I didn’t take a picture but I totally recommend!

Thalis provide a lot of food, so I would suggest skipping starters and even poppadoms! Look out for them after specials on menus.

Happy Holidays!

Love E xx

Birthday time and Christmas…

I’m finally back home and I’ve turned 20! It was my birthday last Friday, I had a surprise visit from my mum, out for a lovely dinner and a relaxed evening. Perfect for me, I’m a laid back kind of girl…

I’ve been reading a lot lately, books of my own choice I must say. I have got course reading (and big summative essays to be writing, sigh) but I just really fancied something to satisfy my own taste. I’ve finished Nothing to Envy by Barbara Demick. I have a real love of culture and learning about modern history. It was really fascinating to read about something quite unknown in the world, cut off from most. Whilst she supports her findings with references, the focus of six individuals kept it at a personal level, though become a little fiction. It’s sometimes hard to remember in such extreme and unusual circumstances, this was all real life.

For my birthday my boyfriend bought me Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, which I’ve wanted to read for a long time. Another text with historical background, the allegory of McCarthyism is perfect. I’m surprised in fact how much I’m enjoying it! This play is a winner for me.I’m trying to really broaden my literature knowledge. I feel my degree does really give me a lot of time to be reading all sorts and I’ve got more novel ideas as I learn about literature and the world around me. Expect exciting things…

Christmas is soon upon us and we celebrate within my family as a time of giving, being together and happiness. My favourite part unsurprisingly, is the food. I love to cook a lot at Christmas, helping with the main dinner but also tea and snacks and cakes! Lots of fun to have in the Kitchen. Every year one thing I ALWAYS make is Delia Smith’s Sausage Rolls. Homemade are the best and Delia’s recipe has been well used in my family – I’d say her recipes are foolproof! Funnily enough today’s recipe on her website is these wonderful treats, check them out here. Her Christmas pudding is a cracker too! 😉

Enjoy the festive season!

Love E xx