MONTHLY LOVES: September

September is over, and it's strange to think that this time a month ago I wasn't even back at college yet. Now I've fully started my A-Level courses and I've applied to uni. It's safe to say that the start of A2 has been much more stressful than the beginning of AS; a lot can change in a year. September is never a particularly fun month because the academic year takes a little getting used to and the weather is so temperamental. That said, it's been rather eventful with the 18th birthday of my best friend and my sister moving to Spain, and I have a few monthly loves:

PURCHASES 

While my mum (Mare) and sister (H) were browsing apartments in Spain, my dad and I (Will) spent some quality time playing squash and shopping so that I could pick up some new A/W clothes before the start of college. Side note: how nice are Topshop Meadowhall's new fitting rooms? Very snazzy, however the lighting is still as unflattering as before, unfortunately. Will replaced my grey cropped sweater from last year which he shrunk in the wash, and I picked up a leather skirt with pockets (I am loving the pockets), a checked biker skirt and a pair of flat Chelsea boots, from Topshop. I later found out that I bought the wrong size boots as they were on the wrong hanger, but I'm still wearing them because I don't want to waste the £40.

(Outfit post to come,)

FOOD

This week I tried out the Bakedin mug brownies. I wasn't sure what to expect after years of failed cakes in mugs made from scratch, and I was very pleasantly surprised by how good they were. They took no more than 10 minutes to make (including the 5 mins cooling time); all I had to do was melt some butter in the microwave in the mug then stir in the mixture and a little water. After 45 seconds in the microwave (mine is 1000W so takes less time) they were ready. The little chocolate chunks had melted, the brownie was spongy, and my kitchen was clean, which is extremely rare after I have baked. Actually, it's unheard of. All in all: a pretty good brownie. Not as good as my mum's homemade recipe, and they probably need a scoop of ice cream or a dollop of cream, but it's a fab idea to have a kit in your cupboard for sudden cravings, or to give as a quirky gift.

The box comes with 4 pots of powder brownie mix and easy-to-follow instructions.

Ft. my favourite mug

MUSIC
For the past few months I have been listening to How Deep Is Your Love (Calvin Harris & Disciples - not the Bee Gees), so for once a song I actually know and like has been played on a night out. My song for the summer was also Cool for the Summer and, since cutting my hair cut short, I have been trying to do Demi Lovato-level hair flips in my mirror. It's just that kinda song.

BOOKS
I read it a few months ago, but it deserves a mention, so Funny Girl by Nick Hornby is my book of the month/summer. Set in 1960s London, the novel follows a TV comedy actress, Barbara from Blackpool, as she makes it big. She's an endearing character and I was quick to love her sense of humour and drive for success. I found the sixties setting exciting and I would definitely time-travel to that era if I could, but the difference in attitudes to gender was evident throughout the novel. The constant sexualisation of Barbara and the frequent comments on her looks and body, rather than on her talents, subtly reminds us of how women were treated only 50 years ago. This was my first Hornby so I can't compare it to any of his other books, but if you want a funny, easy read, I would recommend this.

September's reading included Woolf's A Room of One's Own and various works of Franza Kafka. Having never read any Kafka before, I was surprised and intrigued by his, well, just plain strange stories. I can't think of a similar writing style that I have read and his use of symbolism to comment subtly on human nature and societal attitudes in The Metamorphosis was clever and I was quickly drawn in. I was also quickly confused.

Summer is well and truly over, the year has officially begun and this year will not be an easy one but, for now, I think I'll try to come up with a good Halloween costume idea. Time to get thinking.

SURFING, SCONES, AND OTHER STORIES

Cornwall is one of my favourite places to visit for many reasons, and this year I avoided falling seagull faeces which I did not manage Polperro 2k13. 1 point to Lydia. The beaches are buzzing in summer and there is always a plentiful supply of scones and pasties; my personal pasty of choice is steak and stilton (why hello there, cheese and carbs). And fresh seafood is always on the menu: crab claws, fish cakes, paella, chilli fried squid, mussels.  I must say, despite my food overload – I’m looking at you, moules marinière – we must have fitted in enough exercise to destroy those calories. This has to be the holiday that has caused the most physical pain.

We arrived on Saturday to a late lunch of baked brie and fresh bread in Port Isaac, where we were staying in a seafront house which was not quite ready for us yet. Tired after a 5 hour car journey in a cramped backseat with my sister, H, and her boyfriend, George (known as ‘G’ or ‘Geo’, as we are too lazy for three extra letters), I had a nap. I was on holiday, I had an excuse. Sunday was a chilled day also, which meant plenty of time to read my latest book: Funny Girl by Nick Hornby (review to come). We made plans to surf the next day and prepared for the physical challenge that would be pulling wetsuits on and off.

Walking to the pub; H and G didn't realise I was taking this

Mary was loving this heart-shaped puddle on the beach







Surfing on Monday was incredibly fun but also incredibly difficult: as soon as we had finished the introduction on the beach and made our way into the water I completely forgot what we’d been taught. Do surfers just get on the board and then surf? I soon found that it is possible, but not likely, after an hour of salty attempts choking on sea water. I was finally on the last wave, kneeling, about to stand up when I saw a guy from college/the ex of one of my friends and, confused, I wiped out. Mascara (and probably snot) down my face, we said hi. Waterproof mascara is not the miracle we are tricked into believing it is; it certainly cannot stand an hour and a half in the surf. I like to think I worked the 'drowned rat' look though.

Still sore from surfing, the next day one genius family member suggested a coastal clifftop walk. It was not only ‘clifftop’ as we went up, down and all around those freaking cliffs. I admit, I was a bit grumpy initially but I was grateful that my glutes were having a better workout than a Davina McCall exercise DVD could give them. All this in the particular type of thin, wet rain which soaks through every item of clothing until you are, officially, a human raisin ready to be thrown into a bowl of muesli. Yes, all rain is wet, but this rain was wet. In order to keep the team moving, Dad and I sang ABBA's ‘Super Trouper’ – complete with dance routine – at the top of a hill to my mum, Mary, struggling at the bottom. It cheered her up, but she laughed so much she nearly wet herself on the side of the cliff, and we didn't need any more water to fall. 4 hours and 5 miles later, we reached a bee centre where I finally had a much needed bacon sandwich. We then limped to the side of the road to pray for a bus to take us back home. We weren’t walking; ain’t nobody got time for that. Mascara down my face again, I saw my friend’s ex again, as we were getting off the bus. How small is this world? It’s big enough for plenty of irony at least.

Navy raincoat (ASOS), cherry red Doc Martens (Office), ft. the castle from Poldark





Casual dinner: sailboat print peplum top (ASOS), high waist mom jeans (ASOS), heeled lace-up sandals (Office)

Chilli fried squid at the Golden Lion in Port Isaac

Moules marinière

After the devastation caused by all that physical activity, the next day was a leisurely trip to the small town of Wadebridge to scour the gift and charity shops for board games and DVDs to take back to the house. I picked up a wooden postcard printed with a photo of some girls on the street in the 60s (#sixtiesstreetstyle) for my wall, and 4 clam shells for £1, to use as tealight holders, from a fish shop. On Thursday, we arrived at the beach to a non-existent surf: 0 waves. Nada. Content, I laid in the beach tent all day with mint choc chip ice-cream and my book.



Tim's Place in Wadebridge for a tea and cake pit stop



Wadebridge finds on my desk at home

Friday, I went for a walk with the 'rents along the headland of Port Gaverne as we were trapped in the village all day with the car in the garage. It was, in Dad's words  as we crossed the rocks on the beach "something the Secret Five would do!" No, the Secret Five is not a Yorkshire gang, I'm pretty sure he meant the Famous Five, however I doubt that the Famous Five would have taken #ootd photos on the rocks mid-adventure. We had a nervous journey the next day, wondering whether the car would make it, but we made it home safe and sound. Now, a couple of weeks later, I have just recovered from my food coma, but seeing Cornwall all over my Instagram timeline, I want to go back.





(I told her to point)



High neck crop top (Topshop), high waist denim shorts (ASOS), white leather converse (Office), tortoiseshell sunglasses (Next)

I told him to pose like it was for Vogue; Will wears Fat Face shorts and Timberland boat shoes



Hopefully see you next year, Cornwall,

 L

Go H, it's yer birthday, gotta shake yer butty like it's yer birthday

Due to my having more chemistry with my science revision guides than I do with another person, and also my having exams in less than a month, this week has mainly been revising. As a fake birthday celebration for my sister, H, (as she will be at uni when it is her birthday) and as an interruption to my studying, my family and I stayed in Manchester for a night. Our floor of the hotel was called ‘The Smiths’ and opposite was ‘Joy Division’ which had to be a good omen.

A blurry lift selfie with the 'rents

After milling around Manchester city centre on Thursday afternoon and acquiring a new pair of black Topshop joni jeans, we got ready at the hotel and then made our way to San Carlo’s for dinner (involving many family selfies in the lift down in the hotel). Owing to the heavenly food, I loved San Carlo’s so much I had lipstick all over my face by the end of the meal (I am ashamed to say).

H and I shared the battered prawns, scallops and calamari for starter. I totally took advantage of my sister by eating way more than my share (at her birthday meal - sorry, not sorry, sis). For main I had the pizza San Carlo: parma ham, buffalo mozzarella, tomato, rocket and parmesan shaving, which was equally delicious. Unfortunately, as I had filled up on the starter, I could barely get halfway through the pizza. However it was still lovely and in my father’s words: “the perfect fusion of flavours with the pink and yellow stuff.” Well done Will, it’s called cheese and ham. I was on lent when we were given our dessert menus which meant I could not have a pudding and I had to sit for the last course, surrounded by tiramisu and crème brûlée, and keep my spoon to myself whilst inwardly crying in pain. I would definitely return to San Carlo’s, that crème brûlée has my name all over it.
 

Friday's barmy breakfast

The café

The highlight of the stay: I am very pleased to announce that I have had my first ever barm! On Friday morning, we found a cute café (which I cannot remember the name of) for breakfast in the city centre and I ordered the bacon  sarnie (despite it being Good Friday – whoopsies?). As I live so near Manchester it is strange that I have never come across “bacon barm” on a menu before. Of course, I had heard that people called them barms but I had never witnessed it first-hand. One of the greatest British conflicts: is the classic teacake bread a barm, a bap, a bun, or a butty? Personally, it’s a butty for me but I like to mix it up now and again and ask for a bun or a bap, just to introduce some spice into my breakfast ordering. It was a big moment for me, as I am rather the bread enthusiast, to ask for a “barm” for once and so that is officially the highlight of my holidays.

L