[Lifestyle] BBC Good Food Show 2014

The BBC Good Food Show is a foodie's dream. Floor to ceiling, wall to wall, the place is stuffed with stalls selling and sampling the widest variety of delicious things. I didn't go along with the intention of buying anything, but it's amazing what a breakfast of cheese and gin samples can do to a girl's willpower.

And oh my there was a lot of cheese. A couple of my favourites were the Snowdonia Cheese Company's Amber Mist, a mature cheddar made with whisky, and the Them Krystal six month mature from Danish company Jutland Highland Cheese. Just as I did at Wapping Market, I was pulled into the stand selling a range of obscure herbs and spices. The habanero chillies I bought there have gone down very well in my flat, so this time around I bought Naga Ghost Chillies. Dizzy on the excitement I stupidly tried one tiny spot of Juju sauce from Mushemi Fire. Good God. It is a heat that builds until my nose ran, my eyes were watering and I was unwittingly producing an abnormal amount of saliva. And I can't emphasise this enough, it was literally ONE tiny drop on a strip of flour tortilla. Thankfully there was a delicious apple juice sample next door to help me recover a bit quicker!

Speaking of drinks, there were some cracking choices to be had. I've seen Belvoir cordials before, but the apple, plum and cinnamon variety was served up with hot water instead and was amazing. I snapped up a bottle all ready for cold Winter evenings when I don't want all the sugar in a hot chocolate or the caffeine in a cup of tea. I also tried Rebel Kitchen's dairy free chocolate milks, which I've actually had before. Made with coconut milk and flavoured with cocoa, matcha green tea or chai, they are a great adult lunch box alternative, but they're not quite a tasty as a regular milkshake; my friends loved them though - I think it's because I don't like coconut.

On the upper floor of Olympia centre there were a lot of booze brands, including London's first winery, London Cru and some gorgeous packaging on numerous bottles. It was also packed with sweets and chocolates and cakes, but the stall that excited me the most was Spice Drops. This company creates concentrated extracts of spices from the real product, taking actual flavour not just creating an essence. I was intrigued and tried a few, sniffed many, and bought two: saffron and nutmeg. I'll report back here when I've used them.

The pièce de résistance though was a live cooking demonstration with the Great British Bake Off legends Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood. When there was an opportunity to get up on stage with them I practically pimped out my friend to get a chance, but to no avail. It was really exciting to see them in person though, and their chemistry together on stage was great. Lots of taking the mick out of each other and lots of great tips on how to get a great bake. Paul Hollywood even went into detail about why they picked Nancy as this year's winner as he's clearly been on the negative end of the whole 'Richard should have won' camp.

All filled up on samples, star struck by my favourite TV chefs and lugging bags full of my own lack of willpower, I left the Show a very happy foodie indeed!

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[Opinion] Tatler's Guide to Being a Slut

After a nice Monday evening of casual household rivalry watching University Challenge, my boyfriend insisted on watching 'Posh People: Inside Tatler' on BBC2. Having read the magazine a number of times in hairdressers and train stations (not their target distribution hubs, I'm sure), I am fully aware of the honking great line that they happily carve between 'them' and 'us'. A stand-out piece for me, I remember reading an article outlining various things that you are allowed to complain about. In case you're worried, rest assured that you ARE allowed to complain about warm champagne, however you are NOT allowed to complain about sciatica pain. 

I feel that gives a pretty good overview of their priorities.

Anyway, I can deal with photos of over-privileged rich kids getting their arses out and snapshots of professional party-goers wearing risque fancy dress to the opening of a gold-plated envelope. I'm not offended by their interests in blood sports and choice of ridiculously priced chinos; we all have our hobbies, and they're all tailored to upbringing and environment. What I AM offended by though, is Tatler's blatant gender stereotyping and in particular, their use of the word 'slut'.

On the front of July's edition of Tatler (the one with your own cut-out-and-keep Kate Middleton doll *squeeeeeeeeeeeee!*), the focus of Monday's episode of Posh People, there sat the headline, 'Are you a slut? 10 surefire signs.' 
HOLD UP. 
What? 
A supposedly respectable British institution, Tatler was shamelessly using a word that is now synonymous with branding sexually active women as immoral, wrong and unequal. ON IT'S FRONT COVER. The wonderful new online magazine AFT wrote a brilliant piece asking 'When is it OK to call a woman a slut?'. This line from the article sums up the word's usage perfectly: "It’s just using sexually promiscuous as a lazy short hand for a girl who you don’t like, and it’s time to start being more accurate and realistic with your descriptions."

I couldn't find the Tatler article online (although I found plenty of angry tweets from when it was first published), but searching for the word 'slut' on the Tatler site showed some brilliantly insightful results. Here's a couple of snippets: 

- The tiara wearing slut

"Long ago, at a university May Ball, I bumped into an old friend who was wearing a tiara. Because of this - the tiara - all my new friends thought she was a bitch. Go figure.

Actually, if you're a woman, this possibly doesn't perplex you at all. 'The 1990s?' you're probably thinking. 'A student? In a tiara? Slut!' Or something like that."

- The cotton bud using slut

"Because what if you're the kind of slut that cleans your ears with a cotton bud and leaves it lying on your dressing table, before using the VERY SAME cotton bud to artfully smudge your eye make-up?"

- The Made in Chelsea slut (in fact, when searching for 'slut' on Tatler's site, the majority of the articles actually refer to Made in Chelsea, and one character in particular)

"Settling their differences over that slut Lucy. Whoopsie I didn't mean that. For legal reasons, she's probably not one. And anyway Spencer said it first."

"More Lucy drama, and she gets all upset at being called a 'slut.' Burn the witch, I say."

Can you imagine the uproar if The Sun had this word emblazoned across their front page? What if Cosmo separated this year's must-have Christmas party dresses into 'slutty' and 'not-slutty'? To casually throw this word out into the public domain is just as ill-thought out and offensive as calling somebody a chav or a gypsy - it implies that you know the intimate details of somebody's life and then ignorantly assumes that you actually have the right to comment on it. It tells the world that it's OK to judge women who are sexually promiscuous, or in Tatler's case, that it's OK to judge any woman about anything that is remotely against 'proper' etiquette.

Tatler may show how the other half live, but I really hope it doesn't represent how the other half think.

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British Comedy: Keeping it in the Family

With the recent untimely death of Rik Mayall occurring on the same day that I went to a Spaced themed pub quiz, last week involved many conversations about British comedy, and for me that included talking about the cultural significance it's had on my life. Growing up, I was surrounded by a healthy diet of homegrown comedy, filtering its way into my everyday vernacular and inciting fits of giggles at many an inappropriate moment. 

Three of our team of five - we came third in the Spaced pub quiz!

My stepdad influenced my sense of humour through a steady introduction to all things funny. I have clear memories as a child in the car with him, listening to Alan Partridge cassette tapes (it was that or ABBA Gold in my mum's car - either work for me!), and his constant reference to Dingly Dell, the mystical pixie land referred to in one obscure Monty Python sketch. We couldn't (and still can't) watch Mastermind without referring to Ronnie Corbett, or University Challenge without reminding ourselves of The Young Ones. And let's try to forget the time he imitated Eric Morecombe's sneaky drinking sketch with a full bottle of Jack Daniels at my little sister's 18th birthday party! British comedy has infiltrated it's way into the very fabric of our family, with quotes and lines being bandied around without a second thought. They never need a proper reference; we all know exactly what show it's been lifted from. 

And that's just how it all started. Since I was a teenager, comedians have been like rock stars for me; I've waited outside gigs to meet them and been to DVD signings and Q&As. I still adore the older comedies that my stepdad introduced me to, but there are a few shows that summarise my young adult years; shows that me and my friends would watch entire series of in one sitting, or be able to recite word for word. These are the shows that I can always go back to and never get tired of them, and Channel 4 dominate their creation. Brilliant and ascerbicly witty comedies like Black Books and Green Wing; shows that commented on the real world like Brass Eye; and timeless observational genius like Spaced. Even comedy dramas like Teachers continue to strike a chord with me, and they play a huge part in my life even now. 

For a long time there wasn't a comedy that touched these, all of which came out between the mid 90s and early 00s. Panel shows took over on TV, and cracking American comedies like It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia were smashing away at the UK's feable attempts. There does seem to be a resurgence to some extent, although I don't watch much TV anymore so I'm not really up to date. I do know that the fantastic Friday Night Dinner is returning, and I fully welcome a comedy that doesn't just involve teenagers doing gross things or humiliating members of the public. 

Comedy is so inherently British; we are well known for our unique style of humour - those dry, sarcastic, surreal laughs that baffle parts of the world but reduces me to a quivering wreck in search of the nearest loo. Long may we continue not mentioning the war, kicking Bishop Brennan up the arse and drinking plenty of Bolly, sweetie darling!

Eurovision Song Contest 2014 Fancy Dress Party

"It's the most wonderful tiiiiiiiiiiiime of the yeeeeeeeeeear!"

I'm pretty sure that song was written for Christmas and Eurovision. Both are times for stupid outfits, lots of food and alcohol-induced group singing, so they're obviously two of my favourite holidays. This year we saw Eurovision in in style and had a party to see the wind machine and pyrotechnics accompanied by a few European beverages.

Fancy dress is an almost essential part of any Eurovision party and what's the point in it if you take it too seriously?! Serious is not in the nature of this wonderful musical event, and my outfit cost me a grand total of £0. Any idea who I might have been supporting?! We had all sorts make an effort including the Swedish chef, Manuel from Fawlty Towers who made his Spanish speciality of sangria (special ingredient: whatever induces a massive hangover), and a UK patriot who embraced all the sequins in true Eurovision style.

I even managed to do a pretty good Conchita Wurst impression with the help of an odd sock and a GCSE in Drama enabling me to cry on the spot.

In all seriousness though, her win is an amazing step in the right direction for humanity and a huge kick in the proverbials for LGBT haters. As one of the biggest UK fans of RuPaul's Drag Race, I love that drag as an art form is being embraced on a global stage. It's more than just putting on a dress, it's about being comfortable with who you are and being a damn good entertainer. She sums up Eurovision pretty perfectly, so bring on Vienna 2015!

Life: January 2014

One month in already! Isn't January the longest month in the whole year? Six weeks from payday, miserable weather, everyone detoxing; it's essentially a 31 day countdown to February. I didn't get up to much this month, but believe me I have some big plans coming up this year and I need to keep this blog going to record it. Watch this space!

T-R: It took 24 hours and a lot of elbow grease but my apple and cinnamon rolls actually turned out really well! You can find the recipe on my Pinterest board here
T-L: This month I joined my colleagues to volunteer at a homeless shelter and it was extremely eye-opening. I heavily encourage everyone to help out at their local shelter
B-R: I've fallen in love with a sofa. It's 'only' £10,000, would you like to buy it for me?!
B-L: My mum's tea treats are awesome. Homemade fudge and chocolate chip cookies, banana, honey and pecan bread, and rock cakes

T-L: Delicious salt beef bagel from Nana Fanny's in Borough Market
T-R: I finished all of Gossip Girl on Netflix. My new aim in life is to be Blair Waldorf
B-L: Dinner in one place and dessert in another - a habit I've got into with my wonderful friend Claire
B-R: Ultrabalm from Lush is the best thing for sore noses that have been spending too much time in tissues

Goodbye 2013 (and good riddance!)

Finally, 2013 has come to an end!

This year has been full of huge ups and downs, and frankly I cannot wait for it to be over. 

On the downside, I've had to deal with relatives and friends being seriously ill, resulting in me knowing the hospitals of London a lot better than I wish I did. On the plus side, I earned my first ever promotion! It's obviously come with a lot more work and pressure, but it's a big step in the right direction for my career.

On that note, let's keep it positive! Here are my top 10 moments from 2013:

1) Retreating to the idyllic silence of the Lake District twice, once in January and then again in December

2) Taking an epic road trip to Scotland with my wonderful housemate and being proper tourists

3) Learning to ski in Austria at the Snowbombing Festival

4) Buying my beautiful Mulberry Del Rey!

5) Camping out on the Sherlock set (twice) and meeting Mr Cumberbatch himself!

6) Revisiting my old uni town of York, remisicing about days gone by and catching up with distant friends

7) Spending a solid seven days on a beach in Spain with my boyfriend

8) Getting tickets to see Nine Inch Nails at their tiny sold out Scala gig (and then again at Reading Festival a week later!)

9) Exploring Cornwall and eating my weight in pasties and ice cream

10) Dancing like a crazy lady at Future Cinema's Dirty Dancing event

2014 so far promises more Nine Inch Nails gigs, a big house move and an amazing month long trip to Australia! It's looking great already.

Happy new year!

xxx

Style inspiration: Clarissa Explains It All

Who else remembers this show? I used to watch Clarissa Explains It All on Nickelodeon back in the day, and I completely idolised Melissa Joan Hart. Even then I loved what she wore. I insisted that I wanted to wear stripy tights under shorts with a big floppy velvet hat to non-school uniform day, and my ever wonderful mum let me as well! The other day I had a search on YouTube for old episodes and was so excited to find some.

I had no idea that I would still find Clarissa's wardrobe iconic and inspirational, even 20 years later! Excuse the dodgy screen grabs, but these are some of my favourites from my recent trip down memory lane.

Check out that shirt! Native American influenced patterns with embroidered collar. Awesome.

Denim dress with braces? Clarissa might as well be the face of ASOS right now.

I love me a patterned white jumper and with a full skirt Clarissa looks ace once again. A big chunky gold watch makes me wish I was this 12 year old.

A band tee and plaid shirt is essentially what every fashion magazine is telling me I should be wearing this Autumn. But I think I'm more interested in those AMAZING leggings. 

With all the 90s chic and grunge influence in high fashion and on the high street right now, Clarissa explains it all when it comes to being on trend. Time to settle down with some more episodes on YouTube!

TV: The Borrowers - Christmas 2011 Preview

On Tuesday through the magical power of Twitter I won two free tickets to a preview screening of one of the BBC's big Christmas productions for 2011, a brand new adaptation of classic children's story The Borrowers.

Everybody knows the story of the little people living beneath the floorboards whether it's through reading the books by Mary Norton, the numerous TV productions or, like me, from the 1997 film starring Jim Broadbent. Despite the Borrowers not being magical the story is a fantastic fantasy tale and is perfect for Christmas broadcasting.

This adaptation has a great cast including Christopher Eccleston, Sharon Horgan and Robert Sheehan (the main reason I was interested in seeing it I'll be honest!) and has cameos from national treasures like Victoria Wood and Stephen Fry (always a guaranteed crowd pleaser!). It also has a particularly fantastic performance by young boy whose name I can't find on the normally reliable IMDB but who plays the main 'bean' role.

The Clock family hide under their jam jar lid table

The story follows the same plot as most other adaptations with the Borrowers living happily under floorboards before being discovered and being forced to move out of the comfort of their own home. It's a tale of discovery and growing-up as Arriety desires to meet other Borrowers and escape the family home, but when the opportunity actually presents itself it shows the importance of family and the strong connection between the 'little people'. It's predominantly an adventure that is great fun to be involved with and keeps you running with it, managing to keep up and waiting to see what comes next. 

The scenery is absolutely fantastic - it must be such great fun to create props that would be the right size for us, but are huge for the Borrowers. Scenes where Arriety is kept in a shoe box, and her parents are kept in a specimen jar are very cleverly done, even down to how their voices are projected from behind glass. The finest detail is paid attention to, even down to the large stitching and zips on clothes and the consistency of water, which is much thicker for the tiny Borrowers.

The preview screening was held at BAFTA and was followed by a Q&A with the writer, director and two actors. They clearly had a ball working in such an imaginative playground and seem very proud of the outcome, as they should be. The Borrowers is a great family-viewing experience for all ages and will certainly go down well after all the turkey sandwiches I'll be stuffing down my face on Boxing Day!

The Borrowers screens on BBC1 on Boxing Day at 7.30pm.