Derry Girls

16 year old girls, boys, nuns and the IRA. What could possibly go wrong?

E4 new comedy Derry Girls is only 2 episodes in and I already can't wait for the next episode. It is set in Ireland's Londonderry during the troubles, and centres around 4 teenage girls at an all girls convent school. But due to one of the friend's habit for finding trouble and the problems faced by the town they live in, their lives are rarely peaceful, and the chaos that follows is hilarious.

The 4 characters are all brilliant. You have the trouble causer, the one that is always panicking, the spaced out one, and finally, someone verging on sanity who tries to hold things together. Oh, and the English cousin who is slightly lost among so many girls! Together, they make funny yet believable storylines. It has been so popular that a second series has already been confirmed.

Here is the trailer below:

Derry Girls in shown at 10pm on E4 every Thursday night, and you can catch up on the first two episodes on E4.

Surviving The First Week Back

I have survived block week! My psychology mock was only 45 minutes long. I think her "The world will end if you don't pass this impossible exam" speech was just to scare us into actually doing some work. I find it a little annoying that they mislead us on purpose! Although it had a limited effect, so I think we may get death threats next time. At least I know to take it with a pinch of salt.

After that, I had a couple of days off, so I went shopping for the day and bought a very nice black lacy off the shoulder top and a new eyeliner with some Christmas present money. Next time there is a college band night I am ready!

Then it was back to college for a day of Graphics where we had to create our final piece (scary) and a more chilled out day of Photography where we worked on our digital sketchbook. Monday is back to normal, which is a shame, because I liked having a 3 day week!

Do you ever have teachers implying a test will be harder or more important than it is?

My Christmas Read

I got two new books for Christmas this year, and I have read both of them already! And one of them was John Green's latest release, which I think is well worth you reading.

The book is called Turtles All The Way Down, and is quite different to his other books. Gone are his usual badass girl and wimpy boy characters from Looking for Alaska and Paper Towns, and even more shocking, there is no mention at all of "how to live life to the fullest", which is his usual theme of choice. Instead, we have something that might actually be original.

Don't get me wrong, I love John Green Books. But they do tend to be quite similar to each other and although that does not stop me obsessing over them, it was nice to have such a refreshing change.

This story focuses on a 16 year old girl called Aza, who is a long term sufferer of Anxiety. And this is what makes this book so unusual, as the book tells you exactly what it like to suffer from a mental illness, which is very eye opening. Along side this, there is a very complex plot involving a billionaire's son, a national manhunt, lost family members, astronomy and falling in love, as well as the usual teenage dramas about working out what you want to do after school finishes, friendship and family. But it is the thought by thought account of how anxiety invades your brain that really set this book apart.

I recommend this book to all teens 14+, as although it had less adult content than his other books, it still has some quite grown up themes. Let me know in the comments if you read it!

A New Year Ruined By Mocks

It's 2018, and unfortunately for me, this new year of potential greatness is being kicked off by my first ever A level mock. And it turns out they are a lot harder to revise for than GCSEs, because even though I am only revising one subject, there is still so much to remember! 

For each of the case studies, you have to remember every little detail, including all the exact statistics for the results of each study. At the moment, we only have to know 5, which is bad enough, but there are 20 in total! Luckily for me, the second part of the test, research methods, is easier because I studied GCSE Statistics, but I am still a little panicky. 

The good thing is though, it is so much easier to remember when there is only one subject. And my new college is a lot less forceful with their idea of a revision plan than my school was! Not that my mum played along with their rules anyway, but still.... nice not to be told your only day off is Christmas day! Do you have mocks? 

The Music of 2017

I have had a great Christmas! Have you? I got a camera for my photography, as well as clothes, concert tickets for the Vamps and other bits and pieces.

This year has been a great year for music, from Ed's new album to summer hits like Despacito As it is the last day of 2017, I thought I would share what I think are the best 10 songs released this year, compared to the top 10 from the sales charts.

2017s best songs according to record sales:

1) Shape Of You - Ed Sheeran

2) Despacito - Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee, Bieber

3) Castle On The Hill - Ed Sheeran

4) Galway Girl - Ed Sheeran

5) Unforgettable - French Montana Ft Swae Lee

6) Symphoney - Clean Bandit Ft Zara Larsson

7) Human - Rag'n'bone Man

8) You Don't Know Me - Jax Jones Ft Raye

9) Something Just Like This - Chainsmokers and Coldplay

10) I'm The One - Dj Khaled/Bieber/Quavo/Chance

My top 10 from 2017:

1) Castle On The Hill - Ed Sheeran

2) Shape Of You - Ed Sheeran

3) Perfect Places - Lorde

4) Galway Girl - Ed Sheeran

5) Power - Little Mix
6) Skin - Rag'n'bone Man
7) Something Just Like This - Chainsmokers and Coldplay
8) What About Us - P!nk
9) Sign Of The Times - Harry Styles
10) Your Song - Rita Ora

Christmas Eve

For once, I am scarily organised this Christmas Eve, with cards written and most of my presents wrapped.  My Christmas nails are done and I even know what I am wearing tomorrow. The only slight disappointment is I have no party to go to on New Years Eve.

Still, the rest of my Christmas plans are pretty exciting. For the first time ever, we are having Christmas lunch with my Gran and Grandad, which means we will all be given more food than we can possibly eat. Then we have boxing day at my Grandma's house, bubble and squeak here we come! On the 27th, we have a family tradition called Pyjama day, were we stay home and play all the games we have received that year. A few days later, we will go up to Somerset to visit my cousins and aunty. How are you spending Christmas?

Disorganised this Christmas!

I am so disorganised this Christmas! At my old school, I would have finished for the term last week, so would have plenty of time to do present wrapping and other preparations, but at this college, I don't break up until Thursday! And to make it worse, I have mocks to revise for in January. Luckily, where I only do one academic subject, I have less than some people, but I still have to learn 5 case studies and research methods.

On top of that, I have plenty of Graphics and Photography to do. However, I am happy to do that kind of homework, as it is just sketching ideas and a photoshoot. But still, it is more things to do! So you can imagine how much I panicked when they told us that if we did not pass our mocks we would not be allowed to progress to the next year of study! However, passing just means scoring grade E or above! Although that does still mean getting 40%, but as I have got Bs and Cs in everything so far for psychology, I am ok with it.

I am still far less worried than when we had our year 11 mocks! Do you have mocks after this Christmas?

Plenty Of Perfume

This year, I have been celebrating December with an unusual advent calendar and it is lovely. So far I have had perfumes in a variety of fragrances, from fruity ones such as pink grapefruit, to flowery citrus blossom and even chocolate!!! And for when summer finally comes, I have a tropical coconut and peach so I can pretend I am on holiday in the Caribbean, even if I am quite clearly not.

However, I do have a festive disappointment. At my previous school, we had nice long Christmas holidays, but this year my last day is on the 21st! I only have 3 days off before Christmas! No longer can I leave all my Christmas shopping and think, "oh, I'll do that when school is over." I need to get organised!

Even worse, here in the south we are the only part of the county to not have any snow! Apart from a little sleet yesterday, we have had no sign of the white stuff. Such a shame, I could do with a few days off college! Have you had any snow?

My Christmas T-Shirt

Firstly, I would just like to say I am very shocked that Becky left the camp the other  night in the Jungle. I really liked her and thought everyone else did too. Why are they getting rid of all the girls!? I want Amir to go, the more I find out about him, the less I like him. As for the Winner, I would like to see Toff of Jennie get it. Who do you want to win?

And secondly, in the spirit of getting in the mood for Christmas, here is my new Christmas T-shirt I wore to college! It features Pusheen, the cat who has a collection of stickers on Facebook of him in various different moods and positions. Here is he saying that he wants a place to sleep, a proper Christmas dinner and a box as presents rather than a Christmas jumper, cat treats and a scratching post. It is a shame it is so cold my hoodie covered it for most of the day!

Have you worn anything Christmassy to college yet?

10 Things To Get You In The Christmas Spirit

It's December today! Woohoo! I have opened my new advent calendar! I had no idea what was in it because my mum covered the back over with Christmas wrapping paper. Today's treat was a mini bottle of perfume. I am not sure if they are all perfume or a mix of things. I will tell you when I open some more doors and find out.

By this time of year, many people will be getting really excited about Christmas. But not all of us will be feeling Christmassy. If you are struggling to get in the mood, try these 10 ways to get in the Christmas Spirit.

1. Put up your decorations - apparently this has been proven to make you happier!
2. Do some Christmas baking. Last year I got particularly ambitious and attempted a gingerbread house, but simple gingerbread biscuits could be an easier option.
3. Write your Christmas cards, or make them if you really want to feel festive.
4. Go Christmas jumper shopping. If you are now at college, you could wear one every day!
5. Listen to some Christmas music. Or, if you are musical, you can learn to play some Christmas music.
6. Light a Christmas Candle. I love the Yankee gingerbread fragrance. Perhaps to simulate the baking if that is not something you are good at!
7. Watch a Christmas film. My favourite is the Polar Express, but there is always Love Actually if you want to be grown up.
8. Watch some old Christmas specials. You'll find everything from Doctor Who to Call The Midwife.
9. Wrap your presents - it has to be done at some point.
10. And finally, as we have some chance of snow this week (YAAAAYYYYYYY), build a snowman!!!

Do you have any ideas? Post them below in the comments.