'Mockingjay Part 1' Review

So after a really busy end to the term, I've finally got a little free time (aside from mock revision & interview preparation!) this holiday to put up my promised 'Mockingjay' review. I'll try to keep it brief, as I don't want to give anything away to those who haven't seen it yet.

To be honest, I wasn't expecting much from this. I loved the first two novels and subsequent movies, however there was something about the mood of the last book that I just didn't love. I found it a bit slow paced and depressing. But this movie was great from start to finish - the vast majority of the acting was superb, particularly from the film crew and Liam Hemsworth. I enjoyed the really uniquely shot scenes, and the score was atmospheric and helped to bring an underlying tension to the film, which perfectly reflected the thrill felt throughout the film.

For me, the highlight was 'the Hanging Tree' and the scenes around it. It was beautifully orchestrated and arranged, and it's use in the film was ingenious and chilling. Definitely the best bit, in my opinion. A lot of my friends found the ending to be the best bit, however, for me, it didn't really strike a chord. I've never loved Katniss & Peeta's relationship massively, so it didn't have the same effect that it could have done.

All in all, it was a good film that I really enjoyed, and I am looking forward to the penultimate film a lot more than I previously was!

Have you seen 'Mockingjay'? What did you think? Drop me a comment and let me know!

Life Update

So...

These past few weeks have been absolutely manic! I had my grade 6 last Saturday, which went really well! The following Monday, I popped out to see Mockingjay part 1 and got a Nandos with some friends, which was lovely, and the film was amazing! Stay tuned for a review coming up soon (hopefully...).

Then, on Tuesday, something amazing happened. Well, it probably doesn't sound that fab to everyone else but I was super chuffed! I got an email inviting me to interview at one of the medical schools I applied to! I'm thrilled, and I can't wait to head up North in December and attend. So this was the special point of my week by far.

I also chatted to a surgeon on Thursday, and that was really interesting. It was great to get an insider's view into the profession and he also suggested a few things that I should check out in order to improve my general knowledge!

This week's also looking pretty good to be honest! I've got my staff Christmas party in the middle of the week, followed by performing with the chamber choir in a concert in a church at the weekend, then a friend's 18th birthday meal! All in all, looking pretty exciting!

Short Girl Problems

As someone who teeters on the shorter edge of normal, I know all too well some of the problems that can arise from being... petite in stature. Highlights of this particular gene quality include:

1. Being an arm rest for anyone above six foot. If you do this, please remove your arm and exit my life ASAP.

2. Similarly, having your hair ruffled or being referred to as 'cute'. The five year olds are that direction, thank you.

3. Having to stand on the bottom shelf at the supermarket and jump in order to have any chance at reaching the ONLY product you want on the top shelf. Where are the steps when you need them?!

4. Not wearing heels on a night out and subsequently being on armpit height with everyone else...

5. That dreaded moment when you're told to 'stand in height order'. The only faint bonus is that you always know where you're going to be standing. Right. At. The. End.

6. The fun game in school called 'how many year sevens are taller than me this year?'. It loses it's appeal after the first five or so.

7. Your younger brother grew taller than you before he even hit puberty. 

8. Your younger sister probably did too.

9. Having to adjust your car seat after someone who's six foot odd has driven it. And the steering wheel. (Try sharing a car with a twin brother who's 6"1!)

10. And finally, kissing. Enough said. 


Hope you enjoyed! Have you got any short girl problems of your own? Or maybe even tall girl problems? Let me know!

Helena x

Coram Boy

I'm writing this at 11PM still filled with an incredible high... Can't get over how amazing the past three nights have been!

After 3 months of rehearsals, our school production was finally performed and it was great! It was such a good cast and we all worked together so well to pull it off, I'm so so proud of everyone involved. I especially loved the familial atmosphere and how we were making friends with people we would otherwise never have spoken to.

For four of my friends and I, this last night was particularly poignant. It's our last school show, ever, as we're in year 13, and we've all been taking part/helping backstage for years now. It's devastating to think there'll never be another fish and chip rehearsal!

Included below is a little photo of the five of us, after tonight's performance.

10 Books That Changed My Life

I saw this on Facebook, and I thought it looked pretty interesting, so I thought I'd give it a go. I'm an avid reader and have read so many books in my lifetime, it will be tough to list only 10!

1. Enid Blyton's entire works - these pretty much sum up my childhood. I was obsessed by it all, the Famous Five, Secret Seven, Mallory Towers and the Magic Faraway Tree to name but a few. My brothers and two of our close friends made our own secret club to mimic the famous five, and my brothers and I watched the video over and over again! Enid Blyton was a huge part of my childhood, and it's something I look back on nostalgically as I come nearer my eighteenth birthday.

2. 'To Kill A Mockingbird' by Harper Lee. This might be a common one, but nevertheless I loved it. It's definitely true that the books you study at school stay with you, and I really enjoyed looking at this, and I loved the message it gave out.

3. 'Night Road', which is (as far as I know) a not very well known book. I picked it up on a deal in Sainsburys a few years ago, and it's haunted me ever since. It's the story of two fraternal twins, and their friend/girlfriend. It's literally my worst nightmare in a book as one of the twins is sadly killed in a freak car accident (her twin brother was supposed to be driving but was too drunk) so her best friend is to blame. Heartbreaking and beautiful, I can't read it without crying my eyes out as the thought is a little too close to home for me. 

4. The Harry Potter series, by JK Rowling. Again, I'm cheating a little by listing a series rather than a book, but I kinda think it counts... The Philosopher's Stone was the first 'big' book I ever read by myself (aged 4), and it was instantly love. My dad used to joke about how I knew more about Harry Potter than JK Rowling, and I remember him ordering me my copy of the Order of the Phoenix so I could get it the day it came out - I read it in about two hours! When I was in year three, I got the Prisoner of Azkaban as a present for getting a good parents evening. And yet, I've still never been to Harry Potter Studios. The injustice is unreal!

5. 'A Prayer for Owen Meany' is another indescribably amazing book. My English teacher recommended it to us in December 2013, and I read the majority of it wondering when the action would start. I admit, I found the character of Owen Meany incredibly irritating, and the way that John Irvine wrote his speech all in capitals frustrating. There were quite a few points where I was wondering why the author was telling us this, but I did persist as my teacher had raved about it so enthusiastically. And then, literally in the last four pages, everything was revealed. It was the kind of huge jaw dropping bombshell that made EVERYTHING fall into place, and the sudden realisation of the masterpiece that I'd been reading for about a week suddenly hit me. The skill with which Irvine crafted that novel was immense and I recommend it to everyone I know!

6. 'Charlotte Gray' by Sebastian Faulks was another novel that I discovered in English GCSE. We were given an extract as part of our language paper, and it's war setting immediately intrigued me. I'm a huge fan of Sebastian Faulks' work, and I really wasn't disappointed by this. It's a thrilling book with many location changes, keeping it fast paced and fresh, and like so many of my favourites, it isn't afraid to get emotional and harrowing. One of my favourite aspects is that Sebastian Faulks writes from a female perspective, and this isn't the only book where he does similar things with the narrative, which is refreshing. It's Alexander McCall-Smith esque in a world filled with men rarely writing from women's perspectives, or with female central characters.

7. As an aspiring medic, I must admit that any scientific books not directly related to the human body, I find a little dull. I just prefer fiction to read. But, I read 'Human Genome' by Matt Ridley, and that was awesome. Sorry for the poor use of vocabulary, but it was seriously great. It held my interest throughout and I loved the unique division of chapters into separate genes - it was really clever. It was scientific, but allowed those not studying it at a higher level access to it's information by means of an explanatory prologue or introduction of sorts. It was definitely useful for me to make sure I'd covered it all.

8. 'Wonder'. It may be a children's book, but that doesn't stop it being one of the most heart-warmingly, heart-breaking WONDERFUL books I've ever read. So lovely, and a really great way to subtly teach children about acceptance. Seriously. It's divine.

9. 'The Girl You Left Behind' by Jojo Moyes. Love dem war books. I thought this was so unique and it beautifully intersected the past and present with a very clever link. 

10. I saved this spot for one of my most recent favourite books, that I've already commented on in a review on my blog - 'Captain Corelli's Mandolin' by Louis de Bernieres. Check out my thoughts on it for more depth, but it's incredible. Funny and sweet and tragic all at the same time, it reminds you of first love, and those familial relationships that you don't give much thought to, all hanging under the shadow of war.



Have you seen this tag before? Which books are on your top ten? I'd love to know!

Winter Wishlist

It's November now, so I'm officially allowed to call it winter (and sing christmas carols!), and to celebrate I thought I'd do a winter wish list. These things will definitely be appearing on my Christmas list if I don't cave and buy them sooner!

The first up is this Nars eyeliner. I tried it out at the counter in John Lewis on a shopping trip with my mum,  and it was the only time I've ever worn a cat eye and had it look good. Serious result.

I also love this bag from Accessorise; it's so versatile for all through the year, and I think it would go with nearly anything!

I've had my eye on the Daisy perfume by Marc Jacobs for quite a while, and I love the look of this little spray bottle. It's so handy for your handbag, especially as I find scent tends to wear off throughout the day.

Winter wouldn't be complete without a wintery scented candle - that's always when it starts to feel like Christmas! I love cinnamon on everything; French toast, hot chocolate and especially when it's in chai tea! The smell is just gorgeous so this Yankee Candle is perfect for the winter months. I've just got to finish my current blue linen one at the moment!

Finally, I've been looking at this book. For those who don't know, I'm applying to medical school this year, and I've heard so many great things about this book. It offers a really unique and humorous insight into what it's genuinely like to be a junior doctor, and I know I can't wait for my (hopeful) time to come!

How about you? What's on your winter wish list? Drop me a comment and let me know!

Currently reading...

Hi all,

I'm a massive bookworm and always have a book on the go, so I thought I'd share something that I'm absolutely loving! It's actually a book for my A level English Literature, and I'd never heard of it before the summer, but I think it's amazing.

It's 'Captain Corelli's Mandolin', by Louis de Bernieres. The wikipedia page for the film advertises it as a 'war epic', but I can't begin to state how much I disagree with that! The war is a major background theme that impacts the characters, and this is emphasised by the sarcastic comments made by the doctor. But in reality, the novel is so much more.

Set throughout and after WWII, the war hangs in the background at all times, and we are never allowed to forget the different lives the two lovers hold, which in itself is heartbreaking yet beautiful. It also emphasises how bloody it was, and how even after it was, over, remnants still hung in the air; the destruction of towns, babies born out of wedlock, families being broken, and of course, the millions of deaths that ensued. De Bernieres is also not afraid to touch on the indoctrinated fear that the characters still have of their opponents, even years after the war has ended and their lives have altered hugely.

A prominent theme of course is love. Why else would we be studying it under the subject 'relationships that cause powerful emotions'?! The central relationships, both familial and romantic are beautifully set out, showing both the shifts in lust and passion, and the long-lived love that is established near the beginning and continues throughout. In particular, I love the character of Carlo and the way his homosexuality, as a soldier in the army is portrayed. Especially in earlier history, where many were nowhere as accepting, I feel that it was wonderfully conveyed and the character's bravery and sacrifice for the name of love were incredibly moving. Carlo's narratives were some of the most poignant and beautifully descriptive, and even though he wasn't a central character, his storyline was absolutely crucial to the rest of the plot. It would not nearly have been so tragic and passionate had his story been excluded, even though not always relevant to the rest of the events.

I will admit, this book did take me a while to get into. I read about three chapters a few months ago, and decided I should finish it this half term, and I'm so glad I did. When it gets going, it is outstanding and is not afraid to inflict pain or death on its characters, which merely emphasises the realism of their lives and how they suffered. The detail with which they think and de Bernieres comments on their emotions varies from humorous to devastating as the reader is allowed real insight into their lives.

I don't hesitate in saying that this is one of the best books that I've ever read, and I would recommend it to anybody in the mood for some deep reading. The only thing that I would say is that some footnotes or maybe some historical notes would have been handy. Maybe it's just me and my lousy general knowledge, but I was very confused when the Germans started attacking the Italians - I thought they were both on the same side in WWII? Mum clarified it for me, and apparently they were originally, but it shifted part of the way through the war. It would have been helpful to have that somewhere, although that may just be me, like I said!

'Fury' Review

This evening, my family and I took a trip to the cinema to see 'Fury', Brad Pitt's latest film, together. I knew it was about a group of American soldiers in WWII, and had seen the trailer when I saw 'Gone Girl' a few weeks ago, marking it as one to watch. But I hadn't been expecting anything like this.

The month before the 100 year anniversary of the beginning of WWI, any war film has a greater resonance than it would have in other years. However, 'Fury' went beyond this and far exceeded my expectations. It was a harrowing, yet beautifully shot piece which genuinely made me question my own beliefs and gorgeously documented the futility, tragedy and brutality of war, as well as the incredibly bravery and spirit of the men fighting on the front line, and how they refused to be defeated.

Brad Pitt portrayed the tough leader incredibly well, and his emotional connection to the war was felt very strongly. The poignant moment at the crossroads where Collier instructs his crew that he will hold the crossroad until the end, even as the hoards of SS soldiers come marching towards them, really struck a chord. It was also moving to see the veteran's softer side as he takes the rookie, Norman under his wing in the German town and protects him from some of the worse ribbing he receives from the rest of the crew.

I admit to being a big fan of Logan Lerman, and I was not disappointed. This is a role in a very different genre of film to any I've seen him in before, and he played it with an expertise and a vulnerability that was heartbreaking to watch. He exemplified the youth of many of the soldiers, and it was easy to imagine him as a brother or a son of anybody in the audience. Especially in some of the more emotional moments, his depth of character and skill as an actor really shone through. In every part he plays there is an honesty to the role; the viewer feels a strong connection and he is not afraid to bare his soul, and I think this is the reason I enjoy his work so much; there is such a strong genuinely to it. The character arc of the young soldier who was merely eight weeks into army life was amazing to watch, but also slightly unnerving as you watched his almost overnight maturity.  

Shia LaBeouf was unrecognisable (to me) as 'Bible', and his character showed the gentle nature that so many of the men had, and how this was forced into redundancy as they had to change in order to survive. The frequent religious references he made were also poignant and inspiring, without being preachy and irrelevant, and I felt they added a beauty to an often coarse and vulgar dialogue.

The relationships between the crew were fantastic; strong, like you would expect, but also realistic. Being cooped up with the same people hours on end would cause tension, and the writers recognised this and acted accordingly. The new love destroyed by war was shocking, but sadly reflected the realism of the piece and the reality of the world outside the fighting. All in all, it was a beautiful and cleverly constructed piece, with superb acting from every single member of the cast and incredible camera shots. I would thoroughly recommend that you catch it while you can!

Babysitting Essentials

Hi all!

When it gets to the winter months, I always seem to be inundated with babysitting requests, and I'm not particularly sure why. But out of an intense level of procrastination, I'm currently typing this on the first of three consecutive Saturdays of babysitting. Also slightly sleepy from an intense week of work experience followed by a seven hour shift today, hence a potential lack of coherency in the following post...yawn.

Anyway, I do feel very strongly that there are certain things that are super important whilst babysitting. If you're being paid to not sleep (difficult for me, as spending quality time in my bed is one of my favourite hobbies), then there are important things you need (want).

A cosy blanket is SUPER important. If I can't be in my bed by about ten o'clock, the next best thing is  a sofa and a fluffy blanket. I'm not joking. It also gets so cold late at night, especially if you don't know how to turn the central heating on! I also like to bring snacks with me too, as I always feel a tad awkward nicking food out of other people's fridge. Even if they've said I can. Tonight's are a bar of mint aero and some sweet and salt popcorn, which is my fave. Seeing as I get no service anywhere that I spend long periods of time (all of my three jobs, school, babysitting, my dad's house...), I am attached to my laptop for however long I am babysitting for. I do super important things like marathon watch tv series or Disney films, and mainly take advantage of the fact that everywhere in the world gets better wifi than my bedroom. Sob.

BUT, I do take some pretty dull stuff with me. Although I don't tend to do much (oops), I always bring books for school or any tests I've got, anything I have to read for English, a script that needs learning...you get the picture. My life is just one thrilling escapade after another, as you can probably tell.

This is a bit of a random post as you can probably tell, due to the fact that I'm slightly low on ideas at the moment, due to the lack of excitement and general events in my life. I will try and get something more interesting up during this week for anyone who wants to read it, although not sure what that would entail!

Until next time,

Helena

Monday Funday: Life Update

I've now had all four of my medical schools confirm that they received my application, so I've just got to sit tight for the time being. I'm operating on the 'no news is good news' policy - I know, I know, it's only been a week! Even so, it's scary stuff.

Today I started some work experience in the corneoplastics unit of a hospital and even had the opportunity to sit in on some eye surgery - wearing scrubs! It was definitely exciting and nerve wracking at the same time, and I'm looking forward to the rest of my week.

Another thing that's been taking up some time recently is our school play - Coram Boy. It's getting slicker now and I'm so excited to open mid-November! My character is an aristocratic mother and she's a lot of fun to play. 

Recently I've also been thinking about the people in my life, and I've realised how lucky I am to have such a loving and supportive family, and such great friends. It does sound cliche, but honestly my family mean the world to me and I love them to pieces. 

Something I'm feeling a little bit nervous about at the moment however, is my grade 6. It's my first music exam that isn't a theory, and I'm nervous about the idea of performing four different characters and discussing all my choices. I don't know when it is yet, but it's definitely within the next couple of months!! 

I guess that's all from me today - just a quick post to comment on what I've been up to & what's coming next.


Anything fun happened to you lately? 

Autumn Favourites

Autumn is finally in the air, which excites me greatly as it's my favourite season! I love the layering of clothes and snuggling up inside with a good book under my duvet, so to celebrate I thought I would do a few autumn favourites.

My first favourite is a TV show that has been around for a while, but I've finally started watching it and I am hooked! I'm on season 3 after watching it avidly for less than a month... oops. It is of course Pretty Little Liars, and I am loving the drama and romance (as well as the outfits!). Plus I definitely have a thing for Keegan Allen, who plays Toby Cavanaugh. What a babe.

Of course when you're watching a TV show, you need a good hot drink. And some snacks. My go to drink is the Pukka liquorice and cinnamon tea - so cosy and it gives you such a warming feeling in the back of your throat after each mouthful!

My snack of choice tends to be my homemade popcorn: a few kernels in a pan with some warm oil and you're good to go! It's super easy to make and so much healthier (and cheaper) than the pre-popped/microwaveable popcorn you get in the shops! I also like it cause it's plain, although sometimes I add my own sugar and salt, depending on my mood.

My favourite fashion choice (or fashion faux pas, to be quite honest) is my new Primark leggings - with fur inside them. They're insanely cosy and are perfect for a sofa day, or homework in the evenings when it's dark. Paired with my leavers hoodie, I am pretty much living in them at the moment!

I'm absolutely loving listening to one particular song at the moment, and it's always on repeat. Although I'm usually a musicals gal (good male harmonies are pretty much the best things on earth), there are a few songs recently that have slipped through that Broadway net. My current fave is 'All About That Bass' by Meghan Trainor! I originally heard an awesome cover of it by Disney's Ryan McCartan and Dove Cameron (don't judge me), and it's such a feel good, body positive song!.

In the autumn, it's also great to curl up with a book, and whilst nothing can beat the feel of an actual paperback, I've gotten back into using my kindle recently. My mum and I share an account and she's got tons of books on there that I've not read so I'm attempting to catch up! During term time I don't read that much, cause although I love it, I don't get much time and I'm normally quite tired in my free time, so I prefer to watch a film or some tv. But I'm doing my best to get back into it as it's been a huge passion of mine since I was three or four. I'm currently reading a fab book called 'Ties That Bind' by Catherine Deveney. It's similar to The Wife That Ran Away and has a good mix of emotional parts and sweeter, more cheerful bits.

My final favourite is also new - my L'Oreal primer. It comes in a little pearly bottle with a pump, and it's great. It keeps my makeup on all day and the slight shine it has means that it's also great as a highlighter!

What are your favourites at the moment? Anything to recommend?

Musings

So, my UCAS application is finally sent off and dusted, and now all that's left to do is wait (well, and take my BMAT).

I've applied to Sheffield, Manchester, Brighton & Sussex and Bristol- a mix of UKCAT, BMAT and neither, and all the ones that I've chosen are integrated. They balance lectures with smaller tutorials and research based learning, which sounds perfect for me.

I suppose that now I've just got to play the waiting game. Going to be honest, it's pretty nerve-wracking to think about it. My future can be changed just like that, and it's scary to be detached from the process as an applicant. However, having such a definitive career in mind does give me a lot of motivation for my studies. It's what keeps me going when I turn off my phone and study, or redo homework questions that I didn't get right. The knowledge that I am capable of achieving these grades encourages me to work harder; it is down to me how well I do.

However, I know that a large proportion of my application is also NOT down to my academic performance. They look at everything I submit, and as such, rejection is going to be hard on me. Medicine is such a competitive course, and with so many capable applicants, it's important to pick those that they think will be right for their course, not just a career as a doctor. As such, it will be hard not to take a rejection due to my personal statement personally - it is such a personal and individual piece that it can feel as though it's a direct criticism of you.

With all that said, I'm going to do my best not to be disheartened by a 'no'. Medicine is my dream and I won't give up easily on the only thing I want to do for the rest of my life. I'm praying for offers, but I know that if I don't get them, it won't be a direct reflection on me. 47 lines can never sum up the intricacies of your personality: how you can make even strangers smile with a joke, or how your bouncy personality fills any room. It doesn't show how you're the first person people come to in a crisis, or that you keep a level head even when everyone around you is having a melt down. In short, it does not define you. Of course, it does to some extent, and at the end of the day, it's what they have to realistically use to assess your suitability. But it does not show how wonderfully unique and infinitely lovely YOU are! So, like me, pray for those offers and interviews. But take comfort from the fact that it does not make you a bad candidate, and it does not mean you won't get accepted from somewhere else, or next year.

I'm aware that saying this is a lot easier than putting it into practice. But at the end of the day, until I get rejections/interviews, saying it is all I can do.

So remember, chin up and fingers crossed!

Student Discount Spending!

Ok, I'll be the first to admit it. I LOVE online shopping. There's just something so exciting about receiving a parcel in the post, tearing open the plastic and finally seeing your latest purchase - it can't just be me!

I especially loved shopping this month as I was invited to a multitude of discounts thanks to my account on Unidays. It's this awesome website where students can access loads of reduced prices on popular stores - think Topshop, Jack Wills, ASOS and loads more! Naturally, as soon as I got my pay check (my first since starting my new job!), I had to have a cheeky look, and somehow, things just fell into my basket...

The first thing I picked up was this super cute Cath Kidston travel mug. Autumn has definitely arrived and the chilly early morning sixth form starts mean I cling to my cup of tea for as long as possible. This is perfect - it's such a handy size and I just pop it in my locker when I'm not using it. It's really well insulated - my hands never burn and my drink is never cold, and I love being able to sit in my frees doing work safely with my tea!

Ok, these two were probably a bit extravagant, but my reasoning is that I need to 'build up a winter wardrobe' - that's totally a thing, right? But 20% off Topshop - who can resist? These jeans are great, such a lovely colour for winter and are super high waisted, which suit my hourglass shape without being too bulky and making my stomach look bigger than necessary! The stretch is also amazing - finally a pair that are small enough for my ankles but big enough for my hips! I'm also in love with this jumper - the colour is so autumnal and reminds me of October leaves, and the knit is so cosy and soft. I think it will look great with brown boots, a parker and scarf on colder days, or maybe a cream/white shirt buttoned up underneath with a statement necklace for a smarter look.

Mummy was very lovely and offered to buy me some new winter shoes, and I'd had my eye on some Chelsea boots for a while! I just think they're so versatile and can be dressed up or down, with trousers or with some skirts. These were also leather, which were slightly pricier, but I am hoping that they will stay in better condition so won't need to be replaced!

So that's my shopping pretty much done for the month (unless I go out at the weekend...)! Is there anything you've seen recently that you're waiting for your next pay check to buy?!

Open Day Tips

So for those of you are just entering sixth form, and maybe just starting to broach the topic of university in your mind, I thought I'd compile a few tips that may help with open days. These are a crucial part of your application experience, as they give you a real feel of the course and the university and you can decide if you can imagine yourself living here for the next 3 years (5 if you're an aspiring medic like me!).

- Get there early! This is super important, especially if you're anywhere near what I'm like on the stress scale (a proper stress bunny). For most open days that I've been to, I've driven up/taken the train into London that morning, and it did involve a few pretty early starts (I think it was half four for Bristol..?). You need to build in time for traffic/transport problems and wasting time parking, finding the campus etc. Getting there early also means you can get to any talks you've booked on time!
When I went to Sheffield, my mum and I drove up the evening before and spent the night in a Premier Inn - this was relatively expensive as it was short notice, so if you're thinking of this, it's always useful to book in advance. However it meant we had a stress free experience as we were near the campus (handy in the pouring rain!) and had a place to park our car all day, meaning we could take as long as we wanted wandering around.

-Book talks! They don't all have to be relevant to your subject, there are loads of useful ones on student finance, life at this uni, etc, but they are essential in my opinion. Lectures give you a taste of the university and course, and you're often spoken to by students there about their experiences. I find that often, the lecturer gives you some more information than is featured in the prospectuses/online. There's also the opportunity to ask questions, which is great to clear up anything that you're uncertain on.

-Look around your department. Doesn't matter what it is, just have a good look around! Check out the general university facilities too, and see what you think of those too. There are always friendly students around, and it's definitely much better to ask what you think may be a stupid question and get a genuine answer than staying confused!

-Finally, my family always like to have a wander round the general university too. Check out the student union, and just get a feel for the place. My mum and I like to sit and have a coffee and just gauge the atmosphere, see what the food is like...these are all important things in the university process! The town you'll be living in will be your main home for the most part of your time at university, so it's important to have a brief look at that as well. If you don't have time, do a little bit of research, and find out what it's good for. If you're going to live there, you want to enjoy it!


But my last tip is to relax. Whilst it is a stressful process, it is honestly exciting too! I can't wait to start university and start the next chapter in my life. Just enjoy the open days, and don't let anyone pressure you into applying somewhere for their reason and not your own! At the end of the day, your course is what you make of it!

A picture from my lovely, albeit rainy weekend in Sheffield.

Brain Explosions

So I've not been very active in the past week or so. Not that I was particularly active before that, having started this blog about a month ago. But you catch my drift.

Anyways, I thought I might offer a bit of an explanation. You see, I was busy spending all my waking hours preparing for the UKCAT. Those of you who may have read my 'about me' will know that I'm starting my final year of school - year 13 - on Monday. This is the year where (dun dun dun) we start applying to university through UCAS. The process itself is relatively straight forward, however it is a little bit more complex for medicine, which is my dream.

There are around 30 universities that offer medicine in the UK. They have three choices for admissions tests; the UKCAT (by far the most common - around 20 use this), the BMAT (less popular, places that use this include Imperial College, Oxbridge, BSMS etc), and then no admissions test at all. At the moment, I'm looking to apply to Sheffield, which requires the UKCAT.

The UKCAT is an incredibly time pressured exam - over 200 questions in an hour and a half! There are five areas with the main ones being: verbal reasoning (comprehension style), quantitative reasoning (maths), decision analysis (code cracking) and abstract reasoning (shapes and patterns) - my least favourite section! The final area is 'Situational Judgement', a fairly new part which incorporates medical ethics and applying your views on behaviours to various (medical related) examples. If I'm honest, being a bit of a geek myself, I find it quite enjoyable to do most of these sections as I like the challenge it gives, however the time constraints make it a tremendous ask to finish everything properly!

Having done it several weeks ago, I'm pleased to report back good news. Although I do get my results on the day, I've just been so busy with rehearsals, school work & starting my new job that I've not found time to write at all! But my average across the first four sections (each scored out of 900) was 697.5 - I was pretty chuffed! Different medical schools request different cut off points, and luckily for the ones I am primarily looking at, my score is well above the cut off point. The Situational Judgement test is marked quite differently, with scores being in bands from 1-4, 1 being the highest! Having only seen these style of question a few days before the exam, I was surprised and thrilled to get a band 1 score!

All in all, it was a pretty good day, topped off with a celebratory Nandos with my family - and that can never be a bad thing!

My next post will hopefully be up before the end of the week, although I can't promise anything, and it will probably be open day related (i.e. my experiences, and how to make the most of them!)

I like mine... #totesbig!

Some of you may be reading the title of this post and thinking, what on earth?, but I promise, it's not as weird as it seems!

Cath Kidston are currently running a promotion for their new range of tote bags; encouraging girls to snap a picture of what's currently inside their bag of choice, and which they prefer - big or small. The contents range between all kinds of things, and although mine is pretty standard* (*boring), I thought I'd give it a go anyway! Apologies for the awful quality of the photo, I'm not a photographer in anyway. 

My bag itself is a results day treat to myself from Accessorize. It's on the larger side, with two large pockets and a middle section. It's a gorgeous tan and has handles the perfect length to carry on your should. It cost me just under £35 with student discount.

• In my bag I normally carry a few things. I'm never without my iPhone 5 & of course, earphones. I love listening to music, especially on the go, and never fail to post a quick tweet, or miss an Instagram opportunity!
•  I've also popped in a bottle of water - I find it really difficult to keep hydrated on the go and so I try to carry water with me, especially if it's a day where I'm singing or performing. 
• My house keys are just next to the bottle of water - I'm absolutely useless at remembering these and am permanently locked out/having to bang the door down before I can get back inside! The key ring attached is a cute tortoise made out of coloured beads that a friend brought me back from a trip to Zimbabwe.
•  Underneath those is my notebook & a fine liner. I got this notebook from John Lewis & I love the print on it. I use it to scrapbook/document my day to day life, and also to make notes of anything that I've got to do.
• My sunglasses also go in on sunny days- these are a couple of years old now, from Topshop. They're black with gold hearts on the sides.  
• Below my sunglasses is my purse - I hate carrying cash as I find that it's easier to spend, but my cards & any loose change are just in this Cath Kidston coin purse. I like that it's oil cloth and I think the pattern of the fabric is really cute, but I'm currently looking at saving for a purse that's more of a wallet, so it's easier to find things.
• If I'm going on a longer journey, like over to my aunt's or up to London on the train, I'll pop my current book or my Kindle in my bag as well. This is 'Oryx & Crake' by Margaret Attwood, that I'm reading for English next year. I really like using my Kindle on journeys because it's so light, and I have so many books on there that I can pick whatever I fancy. It's a lot less bulky than a paperback, although I still don't think anything can beat holding a book whilst you read. 
• Finally, I've just got a lipgloss (a lovely Bourjois pink, which is my current fave).

How about you? What do you keep in your bag? And perhaps more importantly...are you totes big or totes small?! Let me know!

Helena x

Dogfight at the Southwark Playhouse

On Friday the 8th August I headed up to London for the day. I had two plans; take my driving theory test, and to see the first preview of the European premiere of Dogfight - one of my favourite shows! Sadly, I'd never actually seen it before, due to its only prior performances being in America, although the cast recording has been on repeat for at least a year. Needless to say I was incredibly excited for this, although slightly nerve wracked by the prospect of my theory test!

Luckily I passed my driving theory, and with a few hours to kill in the London Bridge area, Mum & I grabbed a quick drink in Costa (their ginger beer is gorgeous!), and headed down to the Hayes indoor shopping area. It backs directly onto the River Thames, right next to the HMS Belfast. It was quite touristy, but lovely & definitely worth a visit. I picked up a book for English & then we walked about a mile down to the Southwark Playhouse.

I'm by no means a theatre critic/professional at all, and I want to make this short, so I will just give you a few of my thoughts on the production!

Personally, I absolutely adored it. I thought the casting was brilliant, down to each ensemble member - you could really see exactly why they had picked each actor. 

It was quite a small performance area, with a cast of around eleven actors. However, this definitely worked in it's favour as it gave the performance a very intimate, personal feel, which made the stark contrast of war very shocking and emotional. The audience on three sides also meant that there was a lot of movement by the actors, which kept it energetic and meant it was very naturalistic. It was an incredibly clever use of space and the choreography especially really enhanced this - it felt like such a big cast and it really conveyed the excitement of these six laddish young marines, heading off to war! The set was very simple but worked effectively, and the pieces, such as a bed, a few chairs and a table enabled layers to be used well to create interest.

I've not gone into the plot in much detail at all as it's pretty easy to find with a quick google, so my parting remark will just be to urge you to go and see this show. Full of emotion, and superbly acted, sung & directed, it's definitely a must-see! 

Dogfight is running until the 13th September at the Southwark Playhouse & tickets can be bought directly from their website. ☺️