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On Tuesday 24 November, 2020, Scotland became the first country in the world to make free period products available to all menstruating people. This landmark step in the global fight against period poverty was met with wide celebration by campaigners and activists, including Labour MSP Monica Lennon, who has been fighting for the cause since 2016. Continue reading Scotland’s Period Poverty Bill
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Beth Harmon stares over the chessboard at the man opposite her, fingers laced beneath her chin. They play in silence. Her big, mesmerising eyes display every glimmer of emotion, no words necessary. Continue reading Review: The Queen’s Gambit
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It’s the most wonderful time of the year to stare longingly into Jude Law’s eyes, and there’s no better way to do so than by watching The Holiday this Christmas. I religiously watch The Holiday every year, and it’s particularly great for the beginning of December when you’re easing into the Christmas spirit because it isn’t that Christmassy. It’s one of those Christmas films that happens at Christmas but could, equally, happen at any time of the year. This year, while watching The Holiday with my housemates, I realised what makes it quite so enjoyable — it is absolutely ridiculous. Continue reading Festive Favourites: The Holiday
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With the nights getting darker and term one at its end, it is inevitable that people’s thoughts are turning towards Christmas – the food, the presents, and the celebrations. But have you ever stopped to consider the environmental impact of this widely celebrated holiday? From the perspective of sustainability, the real cost of Christmas stretches far beyond the financial implications of the day, and translates into increasing amounts of plastic waste, uneaten food, and energy consumption. While businesses and manufacturers need to accept the burden of responsibility and develop more sustainable products and packaging, there are also several things that you can do at home to have a more environmentally friendly Christmas. Continue reading Bleed Greener: A Very Sustainable Christmas
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When deadline season came in November, I went to get a Pret coffee in the forum to get me through the day. I saw Mince Pies in the glass case and a smile filled my face. At this point, I knew that my addiction would begin again. Every winter I fill my cupboards with mince pies to bring me joy in a dark and gloomy … Continue reading Mince Pie Munch Test
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Nick Hornby’s A Long Way Down may be one of his less well-known novels, but for me it is his best. It combines all of the essential qualities of Hornby’s work: the dark comedy of About A Boy, the subtle humour of How To Be Good, and the characteristic literary style seen in his first novel, High Fidelity. I was left thinking about this book a long time after I had finished the last page, so much so that it even inspired one of my undergraduate creative writing pieces (but maybe don’t tell that to my tutors). Continue reading Review: A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby
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During the first few months of the pandemic, many of us made banana bread and sourdough starters, and probably achieved little more creative output than choosing which pyjamas we could seamlessly transition into being daytime wear. Meanwhile, Taylor Swift wrote, produced and recorded not only one, but two albums, the second of which was released last week. Continue reading Review: evermore by Taylor Swift
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Most of us know the feeling of listening to an old favourite song that transports us back in time. Every time I hear “Sun” by Two Door Cinema Club, I am back in my first-year bedroom, packing a bag for the first beach day of the year with my new friends. I can smell the sun cream, taste the strawberries, remember the games we played, everything. All from one song. And it always, undoubtedly, makes me feel happy – a nostalgic kind of happy – but happy nonetheless, because it’s not just the memory these songs evoke, but the emotions we were feeling at those times as well. Continue reading The Power of Music
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In 1843, Charles Dickens published a novella which defined Christmas for its readers as a time for being surrounded by family and friends. With these timeless themes at the centre of its storyline, it is unsurprising that it has been adapted to film 29 times, not counting the ludicrous number of stage and TV adaptations. However, for me, there is only one definitive film adaptation, The Muppet Christmas Carol, because it would not be an accurate depiction of Victorian London without singing vegetables. Continue reading Festive Favourites: The Muppet Christmas Carol
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With autumn coming to a close and the winter holidays in the not-so-distant future, we all need some good reads to occupy our time with. From cosy classics to horror novels, here are some of the books that will be keeping me entertained this season. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens A classic which fully embodies the essence of Christmas – introspective and heart-warming, this book is a must-read for the holidays. I highly suggest lighting some candles, making yourself a hot beverage, … Continue reading Reading Corner: Winter Recommendations
