tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56301210023654137812024-02-22T16:11:08.574+00:00mo'adoremòraghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11050134196927758040noreply@blogger.comBlogger641125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630121002365413781.post-89187051523725251032023-03-01T22:01:00.002+00:002023-03-01T22:01:24.046+00:00My Scream 6 hopes and predictions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6GY4bvzplXMjGC_AocqcK4B0HojvdyciPQcHHdvHmwsrjM-QWHRtwYUQwIKQ4GtQsO_OOytDREc1d8SKlCzD7Mf8LCAA7Oa_qFt99c-WM9ExyGwLORjXfdxwtUnCkAupyLoUFxjaYjiY9kBsuBkUpUgXQk653kzhVsHy-hVDPQVKWc-7_9DvCkcJd/s1600/scr620469r.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6GY4bvzplXMjGC_AocqcK4B0HojvdyciPQcHHdvHmwsrjM-QWHRtwYUQwIKQ4GtQsO_OOytDREc1d8SKlCzD7Mf8LCAA7Oa_qFt99c-WM9ExyGwLORjXfdxwtUnCkAupyLoUFxjaYjiY9kBsuBkUpUgXQk653kzhVsHy-hVDPQVKWc-7_9DvCkcJd/w640-h427/scr620469r.webp" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Long gone are my days of beauty reviews and rambling personal essays; if my latest blog posts are to be believed, my tiny part of the internet is now exclusively for my thoughts on upcoming <i>Scream </i>installments. </p><p>And I'm not mad about it. </p><p>In case you live under a rock or your TikTok algorithm isn't as gory as mine, the next installment of the <i>Scream </i>franchise is out next week. As a <i>Scream</i> fangirl since my teen years (in the 00s, I'm still young enough not to have watched Scream when it first came out thankyouverymuch) I've watched every single trailer and read everyone else's thoughts on what's going to happen. </p><p>Whether you want me to or not, I'm adding my thoughts to the noise. </p><p>Thankfully the marketing team for Scream 6 has scaled back the trailer. Last time, the trailer gave<i> far</i> too much away. <a href="http://www.moadore.co.uk/2022/01/scream-5-predictions.html">More than half my predictions were correct</a> and even though my original suspect pre-release wasn't the killer, I still correctly guessed the killer halfway through the film. Not because I am amazing, but because between the attacks you saw in the trailer and the attacks so far in the film...there weren't really many people left. </p><p>We don't have that problem this time and all my predictions for Scream 6 are complete guesses. </p><p>Let's get into them. </p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Samara Weaving isn't the opening attack...Gail is</h2><p>Most commentary online believes that Samara Weaving - who can only be briefly spotted in the trailer - will be the opening attack. I absolutely see why this is likely, and may well happen. But I think they might do a reverse Drew Barrymore and give a well-known scream queen like Samara a more prominent role that just hasn't been publicised (I think she might be the person Sam is talking to about her darkness). </p><p>But who is the opening kill? Well, we see that Gail definitely gets attacked in the trailer. AND OMG HER FIRST PHONE CALL WITH THE KILLER! Gail has never really been a target of Ghostface; she inserts herself in the chaos for journalistic purposes and then ends up saving the day. She could literally leave the whole thing alone and the killers probably wouldn't care to find her. But since she is now the only returning character from the original film, she'll be a much more intentional target. I'm looking very forward to seeing it! </p><p>But she'll survive, since we saw her in other trailer shots and press photos. She's also now the only long-term legacy character so the film studios probably want her to survive. </p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Stu isn't in it</h2><div>I <i>loved </i>the original concept for Scream 3, where it turns out Stu Macher survived the events of the first film and was orchestrating the new murders from behind bars.</div><div><br /></div><div>That would have worked back in 2000 because not a lot of time had passed since the first film. Now? Too much time has passed and we've had four films where no one has made any passive comment about him being alive - and no I don't count that easter egg in Scream 5. It's believable that the characters in Scream 2 didn't mention him, but to not mention him at all even when his old house was used in Scream 5? California also has the death penalty. If the TV didn't fry him, the state did. </div><div><br /></div><div>Worth remembering: even in Scream 3 he was never going to be Ghostface. He was going to a Roman Bridger-esque character orchestrating it. Not physically doing it himself. </div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Kirby isn't the killer</h2><div>One of my incorrect predictions last time was that Kirby wasn't coming back either. Turns out she's alive and well! I've read though that she's effectively taking on the storyline that Sidney was meant to have, but then Neve Campbell decided not to return. </div><div><br /></div><div>I believe she might be a victim though, with a gory kill. </div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Detective Bailey or Dr. Christopher Stone is one of the killers</h2><div>Why do we need two new middle-aged men introduced for this installment? Middle-aged men are hardly the staple of a typical Scream cast. Dewey was a young cop who lived at home in the first film! </div><div><br /></div><div>One of them is up to something. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm inclined to say Detective Bailey since 1) he's on the poster and 2) how would you be able to create the Ghostface shrine like the one in the trailer without some kind of access to the case files or inventory? He also works with Kirby, a Woodboro survivor, so maybe he's also some creepy mega fan. </div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">The other killer is one of the new cast and I don't have a scooby</h2><div><br /></div><div>All Ghostface killers to date have been new characters. While it would be interesting to see them have a returning character put on the mask, I can't see what the motive could be for any of the returning characters. Maybe someday we'll get this set up, but I don't think it'll be this time. </div><div><br /></div><div>The only new character I'm ruling out is the guy in the trailer who appears to be Sam's new boyfriend. They did the boyfriend thing in Scream 5 and the original Scream. They also tried to make the boyfriend a red herring in Scream 2 and Scream 4, so let's just leave the boyfriends alone for a while. </div><div><br /></div><div>I do think this might be the film where we have three killers: one middle-aged man orchestrating, and two younger characters carrying out the killings. The idea of three killers has been a popular idea in the fandom for a while and with a high number of new characters in this film maybe Scream 6 will be the one to branch out. </div><div><br /></div><div>I also don't think it's Sam. She'll use her darkness to defeat the new killers, but I doubt she's the killer. </div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">But please flesh out the characters this time</h2><div>This is less a prediction and more a request (I know they've finalised the film, leave me alone). My main gripe with Scream 5 (aside from the warts-and-all trailer) is that the characters all felt a bit lifeless. In the original film, you felt like you really knew all the main characters. We just didn't get that vibe in the fifth installment. </div><div><br /></div><div>It's a shame because strong characters have been one of the reasons why this franchise has stood tall above other slashers. A lot of slashers have their masked killer and the final girl as their two stand-out characters, with some forgettable side characters. Scream has always made an effort to develop multiple characters, which is why their sequels don't get tiring. And, honestly, that is why they'll be okay without Neve Campbell returning as Sidney - Gale has always been just as much a final girl! </div><div><h2>Chad's a goner</h2><p>Out of the four returning characters who were introduced in Scream 5, Chad is the least fleshed out and least popular with fans. He lifts right out. Sorry!</p></div><p><br /></p>mòraghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11050134196927758040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630121002365413781.post-72229006395323802272022-01-07T17:32:00.001+00:002022-01-12T11:19:24.496+00:00My predictions and wishes for the new Scream film<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgLsGmr2JxDv9xQYOFpCtDWYnQzO9f7vRptb08-5lzwrbPHiOeH97QA54DZzHJV6neV2J9Do5KZBsbdSWX_FFFP3zTe0_OHS4KDTg4DojumAaEcp5ou3kbQuSnV5gzPlvMbpslw2Q3gHBe2nSL8zUnEo41PpHJKtFSdB_vZDJk1CZYshO-QbNQLVO1Y=s3120"><img border="0" data-original-height="1307" data-original-width="3120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgLsGmr2JxDv9xQYOFpCtDWYnQzO9f7vRptb08-5lzwrbPHiOeH97QA54DZzHJV6neV2J9Do5KZBsbdSWX_FFFP3zTe0_OHS4KDTg4DojumAaEcp5ou3kbQuSnV5gzPlvMbpslw2Q3gHBe2nSL8zUnEo41PpHJKtFSdB_vZDJk1CZYshO-QbNQLVO1Y=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>If you’re new to this place, allow me to introduce myself: I’m Mòrag and I’m a Scream fanatic. I am too young to remember Scream 1, 2 and 3 being released but during the 00s - when I began to explore my taste in films as a teenager - Scream 2 was the first slasher I ever watched and I’ve remained hooked on the genre ever since. And even though I watched the first three Scream films in entirely the wrong order, they’ve remained my favourite because 1) they’re incredible and 2) it was this franchise that introduced me to the genre I’d develop a lifelong love for.<br /><br />To say I’m excited about Scream 5 in an understatement. I love Scream to the point that I’d still enjoy Scream 5 even if it's a massive hot mess (I like Scream 3, for an example of my loyalty). Obviously, however, I still have predictions and hopes for the new film - and here they are! <br /><br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Sam replaces Sidney as the final girl</h3><br />I absolutely love Sidney Prescott, no word of a lie - however, it may be time to hand over the baton to a fresh face. The original film is 25 years old and Neve Campbell is now in her forties. It’s not unreasonable at this point to consider a restructuring to the cast. <br /><br /><br />Even in the trailer we see Sidney and Dewey providing advice and counsel to the new group of teenagers. While a bittersweet change, I think it will be a necessary one if we want to see more Scream films in the future. I just hope they do the transition smoothly. <br /><br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Dewey will die</h3><br />Fans were angry that Randy was killed off in Scream 2. However, with a new generation of teenagers in town I think the writers might be safe to shock us by killing one of the main three. And my money’s on Dewey. He’s been almost killed twice, so I think this time they might just end him. <br /><br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Stu and Kirby don’t turn up alive</h3><br />There’s a fan theory that Stu and Kirby are still alive because we don’t see their deaths 100% confirmed (despite all the blood and a massive electrocution). I’m actively against the idea of Stu turning up, even if his farm mansion is being used in the new film. I just think it would be cheesy. He disappears into the night for 25 years only to show up and finish the job in middle age? Aye, okay.<div><br /></div><div>Edit: I support Stu making a cameo and providing guidance to new killers. If done right that could be awesome. But I still think him being the killer it too far fetched given his age and that he'll be in pretty bad shape after the first film. <br /><br />As for Kirby, Wes Craven himself said that he considered letting her live. If Scream 5 was coming straight after Scream 4, it would have been a good decision to have her become the sole survivor. But Scream 4 was over a decade ago…and I think that ship has sailed. <br /><br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Tara is the person in the wheelchair. </h3><br />The internet has been fighting about this, and I’m team #TaraInWheelchair<div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">The commentary will be on the media</h3><div>Scream has always been known for being meta, but I have a feeling Scream 5 might try and move away from this. Scream started the meta trend, that eventually went on to become a bit overdone. But what I think they might do is add commentary on the state of the media, rather than horror films specifically. And remember: the original Scream was made under Weinstein, which makes the comments Milton made in Scream 3 even more horrific. </div><div><br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">All the new cast are related to characters in the first film</h3><br />This is pretty much said in the trailer but not all the new characters share surnames with the characters in the first film. It's been confirmed that Mindy and Chad are related to Randy Meeks. Obviously family members don’t always have the same surname and I’m hoping that Sam does have a blood connection to Stu, since she appears to live in his old house. <br /><br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Stu’s house is the final scene</h3><br />Even as a teenager watching Scream, I was in awe at how beautiful Stu’s farm mansion is. And it's got several hiding spots - remember how long it took to notice that Tatum was dead in the first film? And Sidney’s dad was stuffed in a cupboard, undetected? Plus, it’s a great homage to the original. <br /><br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">We know who Ghostface definitely isn’t</h3><br />The trailer maybe gave a bit too much away. In it we see multiple cast members being attacked or running away: Tara, Vince, Chad, Richie (maybe?), Dewey, Sam, Mindy, Amber, and Sidney. <br /><br />However, I think that the shots of Amber and Vince are there to confuse us. In the shots, there’s some wiggle room to believe that they are the second ghostface. Vince simply has Ghostface standing behind him and Amber is seen clutching herself (think about how the two ghostfaces always stab each other to create their cover story). They are attacked in some way, but not in the conclusive way that the other characters are. <br /><br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">I don’t confidently know who Ghostface is, but I have a favourite suspect</h3><div><br /></div>And it’s Wes. My only reasoning for this is because in the trailer you see him neither being attacked or looking particularly shifty. In all the Scream films certain characters are written to look shifty, and they rarely end up being Ghostface. They’re designed to throw off the audience. I’m suspicious by the way in which Wes just gets to hide in the background. And Dylan Minnette has already proven himself as a good actor and he’s one of the more recognisable members of the younger cast. <br /><br /><br />I’m not the only one: <a href="https://draft.blogger.com/#">YouTuber Zack Cherry thinks Wes and Judy become a mum and son murdering duo</a>. I’m not against it, though I’m not dedicated to it either. <br /><br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">But there will be two killers</h3><div><br /></div>I love that Scream has two ghostfaces; it makes it much harder to guess who it might be. The only solo killer we’ve seen is Roman in Scream 3 and we all know that was a low-point for the franchise. And in the TV series I correctly guessed the solo killer in the second season while it was only halfway through. <br /><br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">And the killer isn’t Gail</h3><br />I will rage if Gail is the killer. We know it can’t be Sidney or Dewey because they get attacked in the trailer, but what (non-cheesy) motivation could the writers come up with for Gail to suddenly become the killer after years of surviving these killings? I will RAGE I tell you! <br /></div></div>mòraghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11050134196927758040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630121002365413781.post-18515230955506797922021-10-04T13:13:00.012+01:002021-10-04T14:14:07.541+01:00Vegan eating and things to do in Fort William and Lochaber<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-15OLi_7tXpc/YVrrW60qVII/AAAAAAAAJKw/zRerh8xLh-ABY7xVrC_yfRRP7jczePfuACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210907_175954.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-15OLi_7tXpc/YVrrW60qVII/AAAAAAAAJKw/zRerh8xLh-ABY7xVrC_yfRRP7jczePfuACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h640/20210907_175954.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>If you follow me on <a href="https://twitter.com/moadore">Twitter</a> or <a href="https://www.instagram.com/moadore/">Instagram</a> (or even <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@moadore?">TikTok</a> since I did recently make my debut) you'll know that me and my parents took a wee trip to the West Highlands in September. We decided to stay in Inchree, which is about 10 minutes south of Fort William (via car) and used that as a base to explore the wider Lochaber area. </p><p>If you've never explored this area of Scotland then let me post a spoiler and say that it is absolutely stunning, even after summer has passed. There's also a lot to do and the three days we spent there still weren't enough to cover everything. It's also very touristy, with Fort William known as The Outdoor Capital of the UK, so you'll be spoiled for choice when it comes to attractions, accommodation and dining options. My dad has been to Fort William many times in his life and even he was finding new spots to visit. </p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Eating vegan food in Fort William</h3><p>Whenever I come back from holiday the first question I get asked is: how was it for vegans?! Fort William was amazing and while the wider Lochabar area isn't great it's not undoable. We had a cool box with us so we packed sandwiches and snacks for road trips and I'd recommend you do the same. However, I did manage to find a few gems. </p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The Wildcat</span></h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xBUbFZqHNic/YVrofBQ1FCI/AAAAAAAAJJs/QxrdQzOHn2wpX7Z5nM9z3L_t7qwwdfpLQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210910_114220.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xBUbFZqHNic/YVrofBQ1FCI/AAAAAAAAJJs/QxrdQzOHn2wpX7Z5nM9z3L_t7qwwdfpLQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h640/20210910_114220.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Fort William's dedicated vegan café was just as good as I had heard it was. It's very popular though and even though me and my mum arrived only an hour after opening we were told to leave our numbers and we'd be called when a table became available. Thankfully we got a call ten minutes later and hadn't went too far.</p><p>I had the avocano which is fake avocado made from (if I remember correctly) mashed up edamame beans, peas and seasoning. It was very believable and a lot more sustainable. I also had a beetroot latte and a handful of raw cakes. Their Facebook page however makes it look like they switch up their menu regularly so check before you visit as what I had might not be available. </p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Ben Nevis Inn</span></h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid8QSf_zhcd3F6oxH_P5ByUxWusT-G94eatRWnP67i96x3FUGJlE4fISH9PN2Zrru2h40tY8jtOMrVUf0-tOSKDrT2nWRzEdgMJtw0gFl-yd4uJI1PFVYSyBcdqqNBxY_-39uMPWBzLN0/s2048/20210909_145128.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid8QSf_zhcd3F6oxH_P5ByUxWusT-G94eatRWnP67i96x3FUGJlE4fISH9PN2Zrru2h40tY8jtOMrVUf0-tOSKDrT2nWRzEdgMJtw0gFl-yd4uJI1PFVYSyBcdqqNBxY_-39uMPWBzLN0/w640-h640/20210909_145128.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>If you had told me a month ago that I'd eat one of my best vegan meals at a small inn on a rainy day at the base of Ben Nevis I wouldn't have believed you. This cozy cottage has a separate vegan menu (remember to ask for it) and I opted for the wild mushroom and asparagus gnocchi which was glorious. My mum, who is not vegan, opted for the veggie burger and thoroughly enjoyed her meal too. My dad had the regular beef burger and was also pleased with his choice. This place isn't the cheapest but was well worth the extra pennies. They also have a generous selection of local alcoholic beverages on tap. </p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Ben Nevis Bar</span></h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xl7nN4IPMZY/YVrowQnnqcI/AAAAAAAAJJ8/LA-RhIYBhpQMRsHYnUutgDrAakJkaVUqQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210907_184159.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xl7nN4IPMZY/YVrowQnnqcI/AAAAAAAAJJ8/LA-RhIYBhpQMRsHYnUutgDrAakJkaVUqQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h640/20210907_184159.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>The Ben Nevis Bar in Fort William, according to my dad, is one of those quintessential Highland pubs that has been there for decades. Apparently he's had many drams and pints there over the years. They also have a vegan option in the form of a curry (they were only offering their reduced menu that day but on the website there's also a veggie chili bean burger). It was marked as vegetarian on the menu but I was assured it was vegan and when eating it I couldn't taste and dairy. </p><p>On the whole, the Ben Nevis Bar is lovely and I can understand why my dad has popped in numerous times over the years. Even if you're not hungry, it's still well worth stopping by for a look at the whisky bar. </p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Aroma</span></h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9UCaTPRrp-M/YVro1TgXcSI/AAAAAAAAJKE/dlAg2mYUWtIWXO6DnWZ96YnE3YzxItpjACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210910_203503.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9UCaTPRrp-M/YVro1TgXcSI/AAAAAAAAJKE/dlAg2mYUWtIWXO6DnWZ96YnE3YzxItpjACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h640/20210910_203503.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Sorry but it's time for a bit of a meh review. Aroma is a Chinese takeaway in Fort William which we popped by one night to grab something to take back to our chalet. It wasn't horrible and was definitely edible and did the job for a takeaway but I have had a lot better. Sorry. </p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Sound Bites</span></h4><p>Okay, so a bit of an honorary mention here. I didn't actually stop in by Sound Bites while in Arisiag since we had food in our car and our priority was getting out to Mallaig - but the menu looked lovely and I kind of wish I had delayed Mallaig for it! If I'm ever in that area again I'll make it a priority to stop by for some vegan haggis bon bons. </p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Things to do</h3><p>Fort William and Lochaber have no shortage of things to do, even if you're not particularly outdoorsy. Believe me, I had no intention of walking up Ben Nevis (my parents have both attempted it in the past but had to turn back due to bad weather and safety concerns). Here's what you can do on a slightly more chilled holiday in the West Highlands. </p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Glenfinnan</span></h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f0pl4RU5S5M/YVro-GZUOYI/AAAAAAAAJKI/HoUQdvXa9HEZB1nupEook2q_Uh3qLwKEgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210908_111143.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f0pl4RU5S5M/YVro-GZUOYI/AAAAAAAAJKI/HoUQdvXa9HEZB1nupEook2q_Uh3qLwKEgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h640/20210908_111143.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Glenfinnan is a lovely hamlet a few miles west of Fort William and is home to the Glenfinnan Monument, the Glenfinnan Viaduct, the Glenfinnan Museum and some lovely walking trails with beautiful views. Yes, this is also the location that is used for the Hogwarts Express in the Harry Potter films but the viaduct and Jacobite Train have a much longer and very important history in Scotland. </p><p>Remember to look up the time of the Jacobite Train so you can watch it glide across the viaduct (and you can even book a seat on it to boot!). As for the walks, I was wearing gym leggings on this day, but still had on my Converse and my handbag and got on okay along the Viaduct Walk. And remember to stop by the Glenfinnan Museum at the operating Glenfinnan Railway Station. It's small but talks you through the history of the viaduct and railways in general. The entry fee is a donation of your choice. </p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Loch Morar</span></h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oERcA9RR_4Y/YVroFXUe0oI/AAAAAAAAJJM/wnUUwIBlp206SMvtJmG0H4gEHUy1Ue27gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210908_133358.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oERcA9RR_4Y/YVroFXUe0oI/AAAAAAAAJJM/wnUUwIBlp206SMvtJmG0H4gEHUy1Ue27gCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h640/20210908_133358.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>The whole reason we were in the west Highlands to begin with was so I could visited Loch Morar, aka the home of Nessie's lesser-known cousin Morag! Loch Morar is a much calmer spot that Loch Ness and in fact, the road doesn't go very far round it; if you want to see it all you'll have to get your walking boots on or bring a canoe! I also popped on my swimming costume on for a bit of wild swimming! </p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Silver Sands of Morar</span></h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jAhRh1uLlaA/YVrp_0CpVmI/AAAAAAAAJKg/N96jqEypIRsxkmsFSqOgYB-T_HD0xEXdACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210908_163946.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jAhRh1uLlaA/YVrp_0CpVmI/AAAAAAAAJKg/N96jqEypIRsxkmsFSqOgYB-T_HD0xEXdACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h640/20210908_163946.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>More wild swimming! The Silver Sands of Morar were much chillier than Loch Morar (though lacking its own monster!) but the incredibly soft sand made up for it. Like Loch Morar just a few minutes away, I consider the Silver Sands to be a must visit. And similarly to Loch Morar, wasn't overrun with people. </p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Glen Nevis</span></h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0VAr1BJhKiI/YVroOLD5i_I/AAAAAAAAJJg/l-stAA2byPIKYJnhndaqY22TkWNqwJzZwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210909_115843.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0VAr1BJhKiI/YVroOLD5i_I/AAAAAAAAJJg/l-stAA2byPIKYJnhndaqY22TkWNqwJzZwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h640/20210909_115843.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>There was no way I was climbing Ben Nevis having only ever completed one other Munro back when I was sixteen (it was Lochnagar). But I'm glad my mum mentioned Glen Nevis to me which is an easier walk (a mix between uphill and downhill) into a beautiful glen that isn't reachable any other way. I was wearing my gym trainers, gym leggings, waterproof jacket and a small rucksack with water and snacks. It isn't the hardest of walks but you definitely need a reasonable level of fitness and weather-appropriate clothing that you can move in. I also wouldn't recommended if you have young children. </p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Nevis Range Gondola</span></h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9wpm2fpUatU/YVroUUR5RZI/AAAAAAAAJJk/me9oJs0k_KYl82Qt3bS_UYmU3bFoLYeFQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210910_142904.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9wpm2fpUatU/YVroUUR5RZI/AAAAAAAAJJk/me9oJs0k_KYl82Qt3bS_UYmU3bFoLYeFQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h640/20210910_142904.jpg" width="640" /></a><p style="text-align: left;">So, uh, we made the decision to go up the cable car on a cloudy day praying that the clouds would split before the top. They didn't so my review is lacking. Though there were vegan options in the mountain top restaurant.</p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">West Highlands Museum</span></h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ku89xITiSD8/YVrqmzL1K2I/AAAAAAAAJKo/GNkDU-AIsmYZImYVIIfjxgeJl91x4oZTgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210910_103827.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ku89xITiSD8/YVrqmzL1K2I/AAAAAAAAJKo/GNkDU-AIsmYZImYVIIfjxgeJl91x4oZTgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h640/20210910_103827.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">I adored this pint-sized museum in the middle of Fort William. It focuses primarily on the Jacobites but it also hosts a few extra pieces of local history. I loved the fashion room where I learned more about tartan and the various outfits of Queen Victoria. Entry is donation only and I picked up two new books in the gift shop.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Where we stayed</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-peQ1RlczdCE/YVrpUZnWEwI/AAAAAAAAJKY/NbkZiNFqslIManLR3ZmdjXtc9DJ40Gy_ACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210911_093725.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-peQ1RlczdCE/YVrpUZnWEwI/AAAAAAAAJKY/NbkZiNFqslIManLR3ZmdjXtc9DJ40Gy_ACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h640/20210911_093725.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Whenever I go on holiday I avoid staying in accommodation that should be someone's house, especially when I'm visiting somewhere where there is a housing shortage. The West Highlands has suffered because people are buying holiday homes and AirBnBs making it harder for locals to stay in the area, and I point blanked told my parents I wouldn't come if they booked a holiday home. </div><p style="text-align: left;">We settled on the <a href="https://www.inchree.com/">Inchree Chalets</a>, which were just lovely. They are self-catering and the kitchen came with everything we needed to create simple meals (okay, my dad moaned that there were no whisky glasses). The chalet we stayed in (Glen Crenan) was home to three bedrooms: a master double downstairs and two bedrooms upstairs with two single beds each. The living room was also home to a couch, tv and dining table. There's also a separate building with laundry facilities if you're staying longer. I was with my mum and dad, but this would have also been a lovely chalet for a group of friends, especially if there was a couple who could take the downstairs bedroom. Me and parents all agreed we would consider staying here again. </p><h3 style="text-align: left;">What to pack</h3><p style="text-align: left;">The West Highlands is one of the wettest areas of Scotland, so take waterproofs and sensible shoes even if you're travelling in summer. As for evening outfits, no one was particularly dressed up while dining in Fort William and a lot of people were still wearing their walking gear at the pub. If you really want to look more put together for dinner, jeans and a nice top is probably your best bet (anything more than that and you'll be overdressed). </p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Etc. </h3><p style="text-align: left;">Fort William is very popular and can get extremely busy in the high season. We visited just outside of high season on purpose so we could avoid the crowds. It was still busy and we got stuck in a few traffic jams. We also managed to book our accommodation with only two months notice but my parents know, from personal experience, that you sometimes have to book summer accommodation a year in advance. I wouldn't recommend just turning up and hoping to find something.</p></div>mòraghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11050134196927758040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630121002365413781.post-76793754938199009702020-11-28T12:39:00.003+00:002020-11-28T12:44:53.906+00:00Esty Wishlist: Gàidhlig Goodies<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">If you follow me on Twitter then you'll have noticed that my, uh, brand has changed slightly this year. Apparently, the ups and downs of learning </span>Gàidhlig are now the delightful mini-thoughts I treat my followers to. </p><p style="text-align: left;">It was only in March, after witnessing a few people I follow using Gàidhlig as their default language, that I began to realise how <i>silly</i> it was that I couldn't speak the other official language of the country I live in (especially a language that hovers close to extinction). I was only ever planning to teach myself tourist-centric phrases, but eight months on I'm full steam ahead and aiming to become fluent. Anyone who says learning Gàidhlig is pointless will love the day when I start refusing to speak English (I've also been brushing up on my Doric, just to really piss off the Beurla speakers). </p><p style="text-align: left;">Naturally, I've found myself searching Etsy for cute Gàidhlig trinkets to bring the language into my home. Here's just a small selection of my favourites!</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Colzie Mug</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGkVVWnEFviPcsLsW4lNfgz1BIHs45cU0vWkVbhWMvu1p5w8p5ywE3nFmGlszTfAlZvwkaBF4DaXS_FYkplHawoWPCcRlgez_bOzlrZ0tHMqUBNsCXMcIA_GbLqh4hpTF7cuq0y_c4YfM/s794/il_794xN.2595650883_sniv.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="529" data-original-width="794" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGkVVWnEFviPcsLsW4lNfgz1BIHs45cU0vWkVbhWMvu1p5w8p5ywE3nFmGlszTfAlZvwkaBF4DaXS_FYkplHawoWPCcRlgez_bOzlrZ0tHMqUBNsCXMcIA_GbLqh4hpTF7cuq0y_c4YfM/s16000/il_794xN.2595650883_sniv.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>Cute mugs are a must-have for winter in my opinion and this colzie mug looks would be a great addition to any mug collection. I might personally skip it because it makes direct reference to highland life and I'm, uh, not from the Highlands (or should I say Gàidhealtachd?) but it's a cute gift for your Highland friend! </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/876102001/colzie-mug-scots-gaelic-for-cozy?ref=user_profile">View the Colzie Mug here</a>. </div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Pure Dead Brilliant Badges</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-abonhznfamQ/X76JVBVqR4I/AAAAAAAAI44/NSWBgTlfd3AEtBOOqy7tN3DMeQfzZ3FIACLcBGAsYHQ/s794/pure%2Bdead%2Bbrilliant.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="794" data-original-width="794" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-abonhznfamQ/X76JVBVqR4I/AAAAAAAAI44/NSWBgTlfd3AEtBOOqy7tN3DMeQfzZ3FIACLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/pure%2Bdead%2Bbrilliant.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>The lovely Càra is a friend of mine and was also a recent guest on my podcast, <a href="https://www.bagenda.co.uk/">The B Agenda</a>. Like me, Càra is learning Gàidhlig and, unlike me, she has been turning some of Duolingo's best phrases into cute badges! Tha Niseag ag òl uisge-beatha is my favourite.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/884044585/scots-gaelic-duolingo-button-badges?ref=user_profile">View the badges here.</a></div><div><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Mamaidh Tree Decoration</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e_WmEoTbUKw/X76J0aILxEI/AAAAAAAAI5E/30pkQwmKN-w_HKHxo3uE_w7upTvFE7XQwCLcBGAsYHQ/s794/il_794xN.1442628578_i8wb.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="692" data-original-width="794" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e_WmEoTbUKw/X76J0aILxEI/AAAAAAAAI5E/30pkQwmKN-w_HKHxo3uE_w7upTvFE7XQwCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/il_794xN.1442628578_i8wb.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>This is a super cute decoration to buy for the family tree but it's also subtle enough to have up in the house all year round. Bookmark it for Mother's Day. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/597823215/scottish-gaelic-birchwood-mothers-day?ref=user_profile">View the Mamaidh decoration here</a></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Christmas Tree Decorations</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GWN45Hj7OUc/X76J57NzXHI/AAAAAAAAI5I/xxjfn601LxAQqMJM8M3aYEP8Nw9wurWYQCLcBGAsYHQ/s794/il_794xN.2641971315_srx7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="596" data-original-width="794" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GWN45Hj7OUc/X76J57NzXHI/AAAAAAAAI5I/xxjfn601LxAQqMJM8M3aYEP8Nw9wurWYQCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/il_794xN.2641971315_srx7.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>On the theme of tree decorations, here is a set of five white and gold tree decorations with Gàidhlig words on them. Definitely very Christmassy. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/874042834/individual-scottish-gaelic-christmas?ref=user_profile&pro=1">View the tree decorations here</a></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Taigh ùr card</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lDO2frK-doE/X76KLd9igVI/AAAAAAAAI5Y/bOPd-nJuUpI2j_v_2zqaO-YrFeId9HChQCLcBGAsYHQ/s794/il_794xN.2589763648_5oaw.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="794" data-original-width="794" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lDO2frK-doE/X76KLd9igVI/AAAAAAAAI5Y/bOPd-nJuUpI2j_v_2zqaO-YrFeId9HChQCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/il_794xN.2589763648_5oaw.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>Moving away from the Christmas theme here's a cute card for someone who is moving into a new home. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/881128419/new-home-card-taigh-ur-scottish-gaelic?ref=user_profile">Taigh ùr card</a></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Gaol Card</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IxXSOc22J9U/X76KTuec9TI/AAAAAAAAI5c/ouBuV0dGVswrJPj4b9492WJeUS_tUG_aACLcBGAsYHQ/s794/il_794xN.2637343989_gq7i.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="794" data-original-width="794" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IxXSOc22J9U/X76KTuec9TI/AAAAAAAAI5c/ouBuV0dGVswrJPj4b9492WJeUS_tUG_aACLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/il_794xN.2637343989_gq7i.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Another cute card, but this time one that is perfect for a new arrival! </div><div><br /><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/867207686/love-card-gaol-scottish-gaelic?ref=user_profile">View the goal card here</a></div><div><br /></div><div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Alba mo ghràidh sticker</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k4c0abYlHLE/X76KgeexkoI/AAAAAAAAI5k/W5cHg3HE2XgV5g0QGdZMDpILhD7j5epEwCLcBGAsYHQ/s794/il_794xN.2567664526_jblg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="794" data-original-width="794" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k4c0abYlHLE/X76KgeexkoI/AAAAAAAAI5k/W5cHg3HE2XgV5g0QGdZMDpILhD7j5epEwCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/il_794xN.2567664526_jblg.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>Finally, I have the Gàidhlig stickers from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/KenspeckleArt?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=867253730">KenspeckleArt</a>. There are several to choose from (and they are all fabulous!) but this Alba mo ghràidh stick is my favourite. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/867253730/alba-mo-ghraidh-die-cut-sticker-o">View the sticker here. </a></div><div><br /></div></div></div>mòraghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11050134196927758040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630121002365413781.post-85375146684799083082020-11-10T10:00:00.005+00:002020-11-10T10:00:05.603+00:0030 Things I've Learned in 30 Years<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bjzw0yriS14/X6l_thMg46I/AAAAAAAAI34/2rdnRXHvNHsJW_-t1IXeg2moIK4a0SPWgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20201108_140316.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bjzw0yriS14/X6l_thMg46I/AAAAAAAAI34/2rdnRXHvNHsJW_-t1IXeg2moIK4a0SPWgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h640/20201108_140316.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Today, I’m saying hello to my thirties. </div><br />I can’t say I feel particularly different today or woke up with a new mature outlook on life, but I’m not going to pretend that I didn’t spend yesterday sitting wide-eyed and muttering “holy fuck I’m 30 tomorrow”. <br /><br />Turning 30 never scared me, or, more accurately, it hasn’t scared me in recent years. My 20-year-old self was certainly aghast at the idea that I’d ever turn 30. I remember having a conversation with someone when I was 19 where I said: “I can’t imagine my life beyond 30, what do you do with your life when you know you don’t want children?”. <br /><br />I don’t know exactly what I’m planning to do with the next decade of my life, but I’m no longer looking towards my 30s as if it’s a big black hole. I still feel relatively young in the grand scheme of things, even if I still don’t really understand TikTok. <br /><br />Back when I was 21, I wrote a blog post called <a href="http://www.moadore.co.uk/2011/11/21-things-ive-learned-in-21-years.html">21 Things I’ve Learned in 21 Years</a> and then another similar one when I was 25. I stand by most of the advice in both of these posts (even if my writing skills have improved since then). Both of these posts were inspired by the ever-incredible Sarah Von Bargen, who penned her own <a href="https://yesandyes.org/2010/09/things-ive-learned.html">31 Things I’ve Learned in 31 Years</a> post over a decade ago. She’s one of my favourite bloggers of all time and I’m now almost the same age as she was when I started reading her blog (seriously, read her blog, it’s life-changing stuff and a lot of her advice-column style posts have helped shape the person I am today).<br /><br />So, naturally, I’m writing another one to mark my 30th birthday because that’s how I roll. <br /><br /><b>1. Sometimes, things just aren’t meant to be. <br /></b><br />That person wasn’t right for you. Friends grow in different and incompatible directions. You failed that course because your brain isn’t naturally inclined towards that topic. You didn’t get the job because they felt someone else just had the right (not more!) experience. You fell madly in love and then three years later discover that it wasn’t forever. <br /><br />Maybe you did do everything you could: completed all the recommended reading, carried out your fair share of the cleaning, wore the perfect interview outfit and it still didn’t work out. This happens and it’s not a reflection of your own talents, personality, merit, or qualifications. <br /><br /><b>2. But always give things your best shot</b><br /><br />While it’s true that some things are just not meant to be, it’s also true that sometimes you didn’t give things your best shot. Always work hard enough that you can walk away knowing that it just wasn’t meant to be. <br /><br />Most of the regrets that follow me around to this day are situations where I know I could have tried harder, but didn’t. In contrast, I have always made my peace with failed projects, bad grades, and break-ups where I knew there was nothing else I could have done. <br /><br /><b>3. Skinny isn’t always healthy</b><br /><br />At 20-years-old I was the skinniest I’ve ever been and was approached romantically and sexually on the regular. At 20-years-old I was also very stressed, in a bad place, and didn’t eat very much. I also fell ill with a big case of tonsillitis which left me bed-bound for two weeks. Healthwise, I was actually at my lowest. <br /><br />Fast forward to today, and I’m probably the biggest I’ve ever been (even though I’m still relatively skinny in the grand scheme of things) but I’m also at my healthiest. I eat when I’m hungry and swim regularly - and haven’t had tonsillitis in years. <br /><br /><b>4. My longest-running friendships were the ones I never saw coming</b><br /><br />Have you ever met someone and immediately thought “I want to be this person’s friend!?”. I have! Alas, these friendships very rarely worked out long term. All my closest friendships are with people who were pretty unassuming at first glance and the connection deepened naturally and gradually over time. <br /><br /><b>5. There’s a difference between giving up and walking away from something you’ve outgrown</b><br /><br />“Finish what you started” is actually pretty shit advice. Yes, you should always work hard and keep going even through the tough bits if it will help you reach a larger goal. But don’t confuse this with staying in a relationship/finishing a degree/maintaining a blog that is weighing you down and doesn’t contribute to a longer-term dream. <br /><br /><b>6. A degree is a lot of time and money if you don’t need it</b><br /><br />Since graduating from university over 8 years ago, about 10% of my degree has been useful. I work in a field where rising to the top without a degree is not unheard of. I could still be in the same place today without my degree (and minus the debt). So much of what I know about marketing and communications has been learned from on-the-job training, mentorship, online courses, books, and industry magazines. <br /><br />The government will pay your tuition fees in Scotland (we still have loans for living costs, which is where my debt lies) but the universities are still private institutions that exist to make money. Therefore they’ll run courses that they know fine well won’t make someone more employable in the real world. <br /><br />If you need a degree to pursue your chosen career path then I wish you all the luck in the world. I’d however advise any school leavers who don’t know what they want to do long term to stay away from further education and only return if you require a specific qualification. You also never know: you might end up finding something vocational that you love and never have to pay back a single penny of student debt. <br /><br />(For any wannabe marketers: the most straightforward route to a job is a marketing degree from a respected university but it’s not the only way). <br /><br /><b>7. If you’re at university, do more than just get your degree</b><br /><br />While I might not use my degree all that much, the extracurriculars I took part in while at university have contributed towards my success in the real world. When I started attending graduate interviews for marketing roles with an International Management degree, they didn’t ask much about my degree because, well, it wasn’t very relevant. But they did always want to know more about the Cupcake & Baking Society, which I founded. I also blagged myself a fairly professional part-time job in my university’s Careers Centre, which was also relevant and a great talking point in interviews. <br /><br />Everyone I went to university with who became successful in the real world did a lot more at university than just getting stuck into academia. If you are going to university I would 100% recommend getting involved in some way: whether it’s a sports team, class representative, working part-time in the university, or running for the Student Executive. <br /><br /><b>8. Treat yourself the way you would if you were dating someone</b><br /><br />I first came across the concept of dating yourself in my early 20s and it’s one of the best self-care principles I’ve ever engaged in. I keep my room tidy even if no one else will be inside my bedroom. I shave my body often and always wear nice underwear (except when on my period). I also have one tattoo that no one is ever going to see unless they see me near naked. And I make myself beautiful dinners that are usually associated with entertaining. I deserve to feel good, even when I’m by myself. <br /><br /><b>9. Opportunities to have sex while single can be, uh, rather spontaneous</b><br /><br />I’ve heard people mutter that when you’re single you don’t need to shave your legs or keep your bedroom tidy. In my experience this is bullshit. When you’re in a monogamous relationship you sort of know when you might be getting laid (partner away on a work trip? No sex for you! Partner ill? Probably not.). <br /><br />When you’re single (and open to casual sex), however, you don’t always know when the next opportunity for sex will occur. I’ve certainly woken up not expecting to get laid that day but somehow did (sometimes without much effort on my part). <br /><br />If you’re single, open to casual sex and that sex will likely involve penetration, keep a condom on you at all times. <br /><br /><b>10. Stay on good terms, unless they were an asshole</b><br /><br />When I was young and petty, I would fully remove people from my life just because we hadn’t spoken in a while. This led to some regret and awkward moments when I visited my hometown. I then sheepishly re-added some people on Facebook. These days, I only go no-contact with people who have caused harm to myself or others.<br /><br />My childhood best friend has taken a very different life path from myself, but we still tag each other in fun 90s memes. Someone who I had a fling with at uni is still my friend to this day, even if we didn’t speak for a few years while we let the dust settle. It’s lovely to still have these connections years into the future even if the relationship itself had to shift a little bit to allow it. I’m grateful I never ended things with these two people. <br /><br /><b>11. The scariest self-development is the most worthwhile</b><br /><br />Decorating your room, drinking enough water, engaging in meaningful movement, developing your personal style, signing up for a night class, and going or a walk in the morning are all great things to do in pursuit of mental, physical and emotional health. <br /><br />However, I owe most of my modern-day happiness to the scary self-care: confronting myself about times where I’d been the screw-up, coming out as bisexual, and telling some people to get the fuck out of my life. The little things helped me get closer to the day where I’d have the courage to tackle the big stuff, for sure, but for me to really feel myself shift into place I’d have to take a deep breath and do the shit that was scaring me. That’s where happiness was waiting for me. <br /><br /><b>12. Platonic relationships can be just as fulfilling as romantic and familial relationships</b><br /><br />As someone who lives far away from their birth family and hasn’t been in an official romantic relationship for a decade, my friends have become my main source of social and emotional support. And they’ve done a bloody good job of it. <br /><br />When you really think about it, a lot of the roles we assign to family members or romantic partners can be fulfilled by platonic friendships: living together, financial support, a plus one to a wedding, baring your soul, daily communication, an emergency contact, visiting you in hospital, and a travel buddy. None of these roles inherently require the relationship to be romantic, but we are socialised to think that they should be. <br /><br /><b>13. People aren’t mindreaders</b><br /><br />Is your partner not quite hitting the spot in bed? Is your bestie overstepping your boundaries? Is your flatmate’s music a bit too loud? Was your interns work not quite up to scratch? You can frown about these things and bitch to your friends, but if you want to solve the problem you need to speak to the person. <br /><br />If you speak to them and they still don’t sexually satisfy you/respect your boundaries/turn the music down then you are free to begin questioning whether this person is right for you (or your business). <br /><br /><b>14. There is an art to giving constructive criticism</b><br /><br />Giving feedback (especially negative) is fucking hard and I wouldn’t claim to be great at it. However, I have improved over the years and have a few tips: <br /><ul><li>feedback should be given with the aim of improving the situation</li><li>use a friendly (potentially firm) tone </li><li>give specifics</li><li>do it to their face</li><li>if it’s feedback on a professional piece of work, back in up with experience, data, and previous campaigns (“I don’t like it” is not feedback)</li></ul><b>15. Don’t ever beg for the bare minimum</b><br /><br />You may occasionally need to have difficult conversations with people in your life about their behaviour. This is normal, don’t panic about it. But if you have to ask somebody for something extremely bare minimum, you might need to think whether you want this person in your life. If they can’t get the bare minimum right sweetie then they aren’t going to get the big stuff right. <br /><br />Bare minimum behaviour includes basic kindness and respect, not invading your privacy, not cheating on your spouse, not lying outside of white lies, letting you know where you stand, not gossiping, respecting your time, saying please and thank you, not mocking your hobbies, allowing you to be your honest self, not controlling you, respecting personal boundaries, and physical safety. You should never have to ask for these things. <br /><br />I used to think I was being unreasonable when I would get angry at people for small things. Now I realise that if someone can’t reach a bar that’s lying on the floor I have even more of a right to be annoyed. If you’re not asking for a lot then it’s even more of a joke. <br /><br /><b>16. You can’t be an expert on everything</b><br /><br />No fully grown adult has enough hours in the week to become an expert on 10 different topics (even on furlough I didn’t have that kind of time). At most, there will be three topics you can become proficient in, one of them being your profession. <br /><br />From a career standpoint, I’ve learnt that it’s best to have a specialism within your field, but have two other areas that you can fall back on. My specialism is copywriting and website maintenance, but I’m also skilled enough in social media and SEO that I can bring the skills to the table if need be. I have little Google Ads, graphic design and PR experience - and I don’t apologise for it.<br /><br /><b>17. Know when it’s better to ask for help or pay someone else to do something</b><br /><br />I used to be stubbornly independent and would attempt to do everything myself. I was an independent and capable woman who didn’t need no help! As a result, I ended up with some disjointed blog layouts, dodgy haircuts, and once mildly electrocuted myself!<br /><br />This is also applicable to your professional life. If you’re a freelancer, know when to outsource different tasks and don’t attempt to be a Jack of All Trades. If you work in an office, know the different strengths and weaknesses in your team and recognise when someone else should take on a particular project. <br /><br /><b>18. Know your weaknesses</b><br /><br />Everyone has weaknesses and there’s no shame in admitting them. As I’ve grown older, I’ve learned that people will respect you more if you just say that you’re not that good at driving/cooking/talking to strangers/maths rather than faking it. <br /><br />In my professional life, I have sat in on interviews where the candidate’s response to “what are your weaknesses?” is “I just work a bit too hard, you know?”. Just be honest that you’re not good at presentations or excel calculations. You’re actually more likely to get the job because maybe your weaknesses aren’t that big a deal to them or something they can put you on a training programme for. <br /><br /><b>19. Older men who date much younger women are usually immature af (or really shallow)</b><br /><br />When I was in my mid-twenties I dated two guys who were older than me by a decade. Obviously, at the time I thought it was because I was super mature and a boy my own age couldn’t offer me what I needed. <br /><br />Lol. <br /><br />Now that I’ve just turned the same age that one of them was when he met me, I can confidently say that both of them were emotionally immature. Neither would get anywhere near me now and I now understand why they were hanging about with people who were much younger (older people wouldn't tolerate them). <br /><br /><b>20. Embrace the boring</b><br /><br />I’ve always been an introvert, but for years I tried to convince myself and people around me that I was a fun and outgoing person. I’m not, and I’m now okay with that. I like to spend my days reading non-fiction books, fucking about online, and baking - and nobody can stop me! <br /><br />I’ve learned over the years that healthy relationships should be calm, and sometimes a little boring. It’s not normal to have drama every second day. I had some pretty dramatic platonic and romantic relationships in my late teens and early 20s, which feel nauseating in hindsight. <br /><br /><b>21. The secret to finding real friends is being yourself</b><br /><br />I have a relatively high number of ex-friends. Some of that has been caused by moving to a new city (twice!) and biphobia/queerphobia - but a lot of it was caused by my very weak self-identity and hiding who I really was. <br /><br />When I began to really embrace the real me, for the first time in my life I felt popular and loved. The wrong people dropped off my radar pretty easily, but the right people began flocking to me in a way that they hadn’t before. <br /><br />Turns out, some really great people love the real me. <br /><br /><b>22. Finding yourself can take a long time</b><br /><br />I spent years trying to discover who I really was and learning who you are is not that simple. Cultural conditioning, expectations from your parents, oppression, and toxic friendships/relationships can really hamper with your ability to know exactly who you are and what you want. <br /><br />I was 20 when I first really realised that I didn’t have a clue who I really was or what I wanted. Then I went on a massive journey of self-discovery. There was no strategy really: I began reading self-development blogs, experimented with hobbies, switched up the way I looked, and put myself out there socially. Then piece by piece things began to fall into place. In hindsight, the process might have been quicker if I had paid a therapist or life coach for guidance - either way though, I got there. <br /><br /><b>23. There’s nothing wrong with not coming out</b><br /><br />I might be an out and proud bisexual now, but I only came out three years ago (despite having known when I was 13). Coming out is my proudest achievement and massively improved my mental health. <br /><br />It would have been great if I could have come out sooner, but I don’t regret waiting until I did. It wasn’t entirely safe for me to come out until I was almost 27. Just before I came out I ended some friendships. Within those friendships were people who had negative opinions of bisexuals and/or fetishised us. The friendships in question ended for other reasons but the night I refused to go to a birthday party was the same night I changed my dating apps to reflect who I was really interested in. <br /><br /><b>24. Don’t make excuses for creepy men</b><br /><br /><i>[content warning for sexual assault]</i><br /><br />If you’ve read a lot of what I’ve published in the last few years, you might have gathered that three years ago I ended a longterm friendship because that person was convicted of sexual assault (and still denied it). I also had to end friendships with people who stood by that person. <br /><br />When people ask if this news was shocking, the answer is logically no. Yes, it took me a few days to pull myself together after finding out (I hadn’t even known there was a court case), but the red flags had been there all along. The person in question had crossed the lines of personal boundaries many times before, one of his friends had personally harassed me, and just weeks before the conviction I witnessed them grab someone’s face and force a kiss on them. <br /><br />It’s weird to write this on the internet as a proud feminist: but I let small creepy behaviours slide over the years. Then it turned out a lot worse was going on behind closed doors. These days I give very little chance to people who engage in creepy behaviours, regardless of how big and small they are.<br /><b><br />25. Start saving money</b><br /><br />I hate that we live within a capitalist system where not everyone earns enough to even create savings (sound on Universal Basic Income!). But if you’re capable of creating savings, then do so. It’s an amazing comfort to know that you can handle periods of unemployment, a flatmate moving out or even own a house one day. <br /><br /><b>26. It’s more important how your life is IRL than how it looks on social media</b><br /><br />I love to share my life on social media, but I like to think that I share a mix of the good and bad, and I definitely don’t portray my life as more amazing than it actually is. <br /><br />I used to though. The root cause of doing this was, uh, wishing my life was better than it was. Instead of dealing with the parts of my life that I was unhappy with I’d just make it look like I was happy on social media. As I became genuinely more content with life my social media began to present a realistic snapshot of my life. <br /><br />My younger self isn’t alone in this. I’ve seen couples splitting up when they were gushing about each other two days earlier on Instagram and I’ve weirdly had people digitally present themselves as a good friend but when cameras were turned off they very rarely showed up in a meaningful way. In contrast, I have friends who rarely talk about me on their social media, but behind the scenes they are pulling their weight in ways that are just spectacular. <br /><br /><b>27. If you can’t adapt and grow then you’re going to get left behind</b><br /><br />I’m someone who has been committed to growing since I was 20, and I vow to never stop growing. I’ve proven myself to not be a static person. Some people never change and in my experience, people who are resistant to change get left behind. Whether that’s in friendships, academia, the workplace, or in romantic relationships. <br /><br />All my longest-running friendships are with people who know how to adapt and grow in ways that we maybe weren’t expecting when we first met. This is a crucial part of why these friendships worked out while others didn’t.<br /><br /><b>28. The best revenge is genuinely moving on</b><br /><br />Your ex-partner can tell if you’re throwing yourself over a new person to make them jealous. That ex-boss has probably forgotten that you exist. The teacher who was mean to you in primary school might not even be alive by now. <br /><br />People can be horrible. We’ve all been hurt by callous people. But whenever you do something in life to “show them” or post something petty on social media in hopes that they’ll see it, you’re only admitting that you’ve not really moved on (and that might please the person who hurt you). Just focus on your own healing and journey. <br /><br /><b>29. Life doesn’t end at 25</b><br /><br />I remember having a conversation at uni where me and my then friends were thinking about going to a festival because apparently if we didn’t do it while we were at university then we would be too old. <br /><br />Now that I’m 30 this just seems laughable. While I still haven’t been to a festival ever it’s because of ticket prices and the fact that I don’t like camping, rather than feeling too old. <br /><br />You have plenty of time to tick everything off of your list. Turns out that my major achievements in my 20s would be figuring out a lot of emotional shit and building myself a solid foundation to jump from. Hopefully, my 30s will be the decade where I start ticking boxes and moving up in the world - and I’m not embarrassed that I’m running behind society’s schedule. <br /><br /><b>30. It can* get better, but only when you choose it</b><br /><br />I spent most of my teenage years unhappy with a side helping of low self-esteem. Just before I turned 20 I would have both a romantic relationship and friendship break down on very bad terms, with two people who came with a bunch of red flags that I should have seen. This was my wake-up call, and I made a conscious decision to improve my life. <br /><br />My motivation was the belief that things could get better. And they did get better, in a big way. For three years now I’ve been happy in a way that I would never have predicted. Things aren’t perfect, but I feel a calmness in me that I never felt when I was younger. This didn’t magically happen and no white knight came along to save me. It was my own doing and I’m really proud of myself. <br /><br />For any young babes who are struggling to find their feet in this world, stick in there. You got this.<br /><br />Love to everyone, whether you've passed the 30 mark or not x <br /><br />*I want to acknowledge that things don’t always get better, as there are people facing tougher circumstances than I was. <br />mòraghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11050134196927758040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630121002365413781.post-61808257135727811612020-08-05T17:42:00.000+01:002020-08-05T17:42:38.050+01:00Review: Love Watercress [Gifted]<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tcQaMJ_1eoo/XyrYDM78oPI/AAAAAAAAIzk/_w9CzWc6QvUXRgHJVnA2H6mOfeEBCanZgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200709_122047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tcQaMJ_1eoo/XyrYDM78oPI/AAAAAAAAIzk/_w9CzWc6QvUXRgHJVnA2H6mOfeEBCanZgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/20200709_122047.jpg" /></a></div><div>As far as vegetables and herbs go watercress hasn't really ever been on my radar. I grew it on my parents' kitchen windowsill as a kid (didn't we all?) but I can't say I've given it much thought over the years (I'm foodie, so I think of food a lot - more than most people would). </div><div><br /></div><div>Apparently, though, watercress is extremely healthy for you. According to <a href="https://www.watercress.co.uk/">Love Watercress, </a>the benefits of eating watercress include: </div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Helps stop and slows skin ageing</li><li>Helps Lower Blood Pressure</li><li>Helps fight Breast and Colon cancer</li><li>Improves Eye health</li></ul><div>Love Watercress is a website set up by <a href="https://www.thewatercresscompany.com/">The Watercress Company</a> who grow and sell watercress from their farm in Dorset. Their customers include restaurants, caterers, individuals and the NHS. Recently they got in contact to offer me a few bunches on them and try out the recipes on their website. Here's how I got on. </div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Red Onion Tart with Watercress Pesto</span></h3><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YiqaFBfMHDU/XyrYiZ5lffI/AAAAAAAAIzs/P0vh9cqp9i4K-jYTiqCcdsFIPZfqQVaegCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200713_205956.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YiqaFBfMHDU/XyrYiZ5lffI/AAAAAAAAIzs/P0vh9cqp9i4K-jYTiqCcdsFIPZfqQVaegCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/20200713_205956.jpg" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div>I love a simple tart recipe, where the tart is just puff pastry with ingredients on top. Looks a lot more impressive than it actually is. This red onion tart was just as lovely as any others I've tried, and the pesto was my favourite use of the watercress. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.watercress.co.uk/blog/2019/1/27/red-onion-tart-with-watercress-pesto">Recipe here.</a> </div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Black bean & watercress burgers</span></h3><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ht6lm4yWdLo/XyrYwjTn0XI/AAAAAAAAIz0/jGyY84IfnOYDyEOLvR0kSaviWOP3nqikQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200725_194906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ht6lm4yWdLo/XyrYwjTn0XI/AAAAAAAAIz0/jGyY84IfnOYDyEOLvR0kSaviWOP3nqikQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/20200725_194906.jpg" /></a></div><b><br /></b></div><div>This was the most labour intensive recipe out of the three I chose, still very lovely though. You don't really taste the watercress as much with this one; it was the spice from the chillis that my taste buds were picking up on!</div><div><a href="https://www.watercress.co.uk/blog/2019/1/4/black-bean-amp-watercress-burgers"><br /></a></div><div><a href="https://www.watercress.co.uk/blog/2019/1/4/black-bean-amp-watercress-burgers">Recipe here.</a></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Pasta primavera</span></h3><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dnt3WdtNAo0/XyrY6f6teHI/AAAAAAAAIz8/mbQZx9qbcvwZq6LQ7u-Bn75G_SGvr81YgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200709_172050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dnt3WdtNAo0/XyrY6f6teHI/AAAAAAAAIz8/mbQZx9qbcvwZq6LQ7u-Bn75G_SGvr81YgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/20200709_172050.jpg" /></a></div><b><br /></b></div><div>This was the only recipe I wasn't as keen on - only because the overall flavour was just a little bit too sharp for my liking. Between the fennel, the lemon and the parsley it was maybe just a tiny bit too much for me. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.watercress.co.uk/blog/2018/10/30/pasta-primavera">Recipe here</a>. </div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Watercress Jacket sweet potatoes</span></h3><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cpLUAPc2MHw/XyrZeqPrQcI/AAAAAAAAI0E/e_A-Pudfp6ouuHO1warlaEVozaB3ZTA6ACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200802_204929.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cpLUAPc2MHw/XyrZeqPrQcI/AAAAAAAAI0E/e_A-Pudfp6ouuHO1warlaEVozaB3ZTA6ACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/20200802_204929.jpg" /></a>This was such a beautiful combination of flavours. There were chickpeas roasted in paprika, tahini and soya yoghurt in the sauce and watercress sprinkled amongst it. </div><b><br /></b></div><div><a href="https://www.watercress.co.uk/blog/2018/7/17/jacket-sweet-potatoes-with-watercress-tahini-sauce-and-roasted-chickpeas">Recipe here</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div>Having cress delivered to your door is a really great idea if you have a lot of mouths to feed. Admittedly as a single person, I had to really rush to get through it all without waste. You're also given instructions on how to store it so that it can last as long as possible. <a href="https://www.watercress.co.uk/where-to-buy">You can have a look on their website for where you can order your own bunches from. </a></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>What's your favourite recipe to use cress in? </b></div><div><br /></div>mòraghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11050134196927758040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630121002365413781.post-9361615367772107292020-06-30T11:42:00.001+01:002020-06-30T11:52:45.607+01:00June Linkables<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUcSqthN1NXNiwR43mL9Zn2si_DplIznzLRABmsj0rN7eV2lis03FvW3m2AqBCB43OYQ-8pqBjBAOBM2OzNKVbjX2dsflAIwUoutCaRkKIEdOYh7ms8Ty7_z2qWnJjxJL_h0smmuP3jcs/s1600/il_794xN.1749179418_agij.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="794" data-original-width="794" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUcSqthN1NXNiwR43mL9Zn2si_DplIznzLRABmsj0rN7eV2lis03FvW3m2AqBCB43OYQ-8pqBjBAOBM2OzNKVbjX2dsflAIwUoutCaRkKIEdOYh7ms8Ty7_z2qWnJjxJL_h0smmuP3jcs/s640/il_794xN.1749179418_agij.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/623475678/hanging-plant-print-a4-monochrome?ref=user_profile">I recently bought this beautiful print from here. </a></div>
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I think we can all say that 2020 has been a failure of a year. There was Brexit (remember that?), a pandemic, a civil rights movement, Australian bush fires, and just last night there was <a href="https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/aberdeenshire/2298038/pictures-video-funnel-clouds-spotted-by-weather-watchers-across-the-north-east/">a tornado going around my home of Aberdeenshire!</a> I'm past the point of being surprised by anything anymore. As a distraction, here are some of my favourite internet links!<br />
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First off: I released a new episode of my podcast, The B Agenda. <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-b-agenda-podcast/id1498311598?ign-mpt=uo%3D4">This one is on Online Dating! </a><br />
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American friends: <a href="https://www.pride.com/news/2019/8/20/5-popular-companies-helping-fund-trumps-2020-campaign?fbclid=IwAR2vR_v1FRPq1IXNdtMWVpRx4TE0YpL0rOY4MRybRWqmqoSpZgmuTvqT1Oc">5 popular companies funding Trump's campaign</a>.<br />
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Bookmarked for when we can travel around Scotland again: <a href="https://veganbandb.blogspot.com/2020/06/vegan-friendly-places-to-eat-out-in-mid.html?fbclid=IwAR0_YMzwziJaKjOpAWojR_9qwE7A9PZY5plAsUaE68Jbjx0cQQmpXaKVbHg">vegan-friendly places in Argyll</a>.<br />
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The police forced have regularly oppressed the LGBTQ+ community.<a href="https://www.advocate.com/politics/2017/3/01/30-infamous-police-raids-gay-bars-and-bathhouses?fbclid=IwAR2vhCotGHL89iU_t1Q1lMbG0ZUgvhJe4qpIc8eoVtzewl3IMWUvA6jRwPw"> 30 Infamous Police Raids of Gay Bars and Bathhouses</a><br />
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I visited Berlin a few years ago and the city doesn't hide its dark past. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/jun/13/germany-confronted-racist-legacy-britain-us?fbclid=IwAR2gYH0UgrmeIffXWndIdc5UrpUZ2sa_-4iTVnjFWdt2_A1VJHsYI2OytSU">The UK (and Scotland) does ignore its dark past and it's about time we stopped it. </a><br />
<br />
Related: <a href="https://amymuz.wordpress.com/2020/06/09/glasgow-celebrates-a-slaver-once-a-year/?fbclid=IwAR3FttaiS9wUbUwkJoHwnS7PNyoQ7ganQtclMDh7mQWJOT2QQgYbB45GZmA">Glasgow Celebrates a Slaver Once a Year</a> (yep, it's the Orange March).<br />
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<a href="https://fitisafeministissue.com/2020/06/07/exercising-while-black-a-few-womens-stories/">What it's like to exercise while black. </a><br />
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<a href="http://how%20glaswegians%20can%20support%20the%20black%20lives%20matter%20movement/">How Glaswegians can support the Black Lives Movement.</a><br />
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A large part of being an ally is knowing when to be quiet. <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/sfrost/2020/06/03/black-lives-matter-if-youre-white-pass-the-mic/#3992ab716945">This article sums it up nicely</a>.<br />
<br />
I've just finished Season 3 of <i>13 Reasons Why </i>and Ani was SO ANNOYING! (spoilers). <a href="https://www.refinery29.com/en-gb/2019/08/241846/ani-13-reasons-why-season-3-narrator-worst-character">13 Reasons Why Needed To Invest In Its Black Girls — But It Didn't Need Ani</a><br />
<br />
If you spotted the vegan German Chocolate Cake I baked at the weekend and fancy trying it yourself, <a href="https://www.vegansociety.com/resources/recipes/cakes-meringues-and-desserts/german-chocolate-cake">here is the recipe. </a><br />
<br />
I had a Twitter rant recently about Nessie being the only Loch Monster anyone ever knows about (including Scottish people!).<a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-21603269"> Here's a wee guide from the BBC if you don't know anything about Nessie's cousins! </a> One of them is a fellow Mòrag!<br />
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Related: <a href="https://theconversation.com/have-scientists-finally-killed-off-the-loch-ness-monster-123075">Have scientists finally killed off the Loch Ness Monster?</a><br />
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Melissa A. Fabello is my favourite online writer and <a href="https://greatist.com/connect/friendzone-myths#tl-dr">she just hit it out of the park again with this article on the friendzone. </a><br />
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<a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/healthy-sex/coronavirus-pandemic-anxiety-low-libido-change">My sex drive has dropped during the lockdown - and I'm not alone! </a><br />
<br />
Social skills were something I had to work hard at over the years and I am worried that while in lockdown I might have lost them,<a href="https://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/12-ways-improve-social-skills-and-make-you-sociable-anytime.html"> so it's worth a re-cap on how to improve social skills</a>.<br />
<br />
A few weeks ago I found myself researching how the <a href="https://www.referendumanalysis.eu/leave-versus-remain-the-digital-battle-eu-referendum-analysis-2016/">Brexit campaign used social media to win the referendum</a>. It's very interesting!<br />
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I hope you're all keeping safe, and I'll see when we're allowed to mingle again.<br />
<br />
Love Morag xmòraghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11050134196927758040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630121002365413781.post-26237496438746656612020-05-13T12:56:00.000+01:002020-05-13T12:56:03.167+01:00Mini-reviews from my latest Lush haul<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SMhZp-rO7-Q/Xrq63bK_hoI/AAAAAAAAIvw/KsWxOKkiZyoI6eiNs9zPiFan9RPPo3RxgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/lush%2Bhaul%2Bmay%2B2020.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="537" height="632" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SMhZp-rO7-Q/Xrq63bK_hoI/AAAAAAAAIvw/KsWxOKkiZyoI6eiNs9zPiFan9RPPo3RxgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/lush%2Bhaul%2Bmay%2B2020.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />
Like a lot of people, I've been finding myself in need of extra self-care during the lockdown. For me personally, this has partially shown up as ordering in some extra Lush goodies to help me feel a little bit more glamorous while stuck inside and bring some extra aromatherapy into my life.<br />
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I've been seeing a lot of people on Twitter saying that they've been struggling with their body image while inside - and I get you! Being stuck inside has led my brain to nitpick at everything I don't like about my flat, my life, and my body! My Lush order did help a little bit with this as I've been maintaining a stricter skincare regime while in lockdown than I did before - and my skin is thanking me for it.<br />
<br />
I did however like some products more than others and have rounded up my thoughts below.<br />
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<h3>
<b>Caca Rouge Henna Hair Dye</b></h3>
<br />
If you've been following me for a while, you'll know that this is my all-time favourite hair dye. I started using it in 2011 and even though I've occasionally strayed, I always come back to it. The auburn tones it adds to my hair are very realistic and you aren't left with harsh root lines.<br />
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/moadore/">I have a story over on my Instagram of how I use it</a>.<br />
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<h3>
<b>Cup O'Coffee Face Mask</b></h3>
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My favourite Lush facemask of all time is Cupcake, but it was out of stock so I decided to give this one a shot instead. As a warning, it <i>really</i> smells like coffee but my skin was incredibly soft when I washed it off. If you can stomach the smell of strong coffee, then this facemask comes recommended by me.<br />
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<h3>
<b>Jade Roller Cleansing Balm</b></h3>
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Not going to lie, I was sceptical about using a solid cleansing bar as opposed to my usual favourite Herbalism (which was out of stock). While this was weirder to apply (I was rubbing a solid cleanser across my face after all) my skin has been looking a lot better since. Was it because of the facemask, or the cleanser, or a mixture of both? I don't know, but I do have clearer skin now.<br />
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<h3>
<b>Sea Vegetable Soap</b></h3>
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I love this soap! Generally speaking, soap isn't the easiest thing to review because, you know, it's soap. But I love its beach-side smell and how well it lathered. I definitely see myself repurchasing this.<br />
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<h3>
<b>Magic Crystals Shower Scrub</b></h3>
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If you're looking for a shower scrub with a smell so strong that it will definitely wake you up, then look no further than this. It is minty and tingles on the skin. I'm not usually a fan of minty scents but I'd love to buy this again simply because I become so alert after I've used it.<br />
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<h3>
<b>Argan Dragon Shower Oil</b></h3>
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This is the only product that I don't really rate. In fact, I've used very little of it since I bought it. It smells a little artificial, it doesn't leave my skin softer than it was before, and you have to rub to get the purple off of your skin. Meh. I don't see myself ever repurchasing this.<br />
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--<br />
<br />
All in all, I really loved my latest Lush haul. The shower oil was a bit of a dud, but the Sea Vegetable Soap and Magic Crystals shower scrubs are likely to be repurchased. And the Caca Rouge Hair Dye is as lovely as ever.<br />
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Hope you're all okay xxmòraghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11050134196927758040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630121002365413781.post-57169877487693094112020-04-30T14:49:00.001+01:002020-04-30T14:59:42.465+01:00April Linkables<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ujxM2DbK3Gk/XqrX6Q8HpaI/AAAAAAAAIuM/14OmrFhw7nENiuyGVJzQtLZ1hxJ5yWccACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/water%2Bme%2Betsy.jpg" /><br/>
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/555527414/plant-markers-water-me-plant-topper?ref=hp_merch_co-3&frs=1"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Buy this here. </a></span></div>
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Well, the last few weeks have been a <i>ride</i>. I've been on furlough and in between managing existential fear and struggling to sleep, I've been throwing myself behind creative projects, baking, learning French on Duolingo, and making my way through everything on <i>Netflix</i>. I've also apparently been reading a lot of articles online! Here's a round-up of the best things I've read recently.<br />
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First off, did you know that I've started a podcast? It's called The B Agenda and it's just a bunch of bisexuals talking about any topic beginning with B. <a href="https://thebagenda.podbean.com/e/bisexuals-on-blink-182-the-b-agenda/">You can listen to our first episode, Bisexuals on Blink 182, here</a>.<br />
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You might have noticed the drama on Twitter over the 'Karen' meme. <a href="https://www.bitchmedia.org/article/very-online/the-karen-meme-isnt-a-slur-its-a-social-critique">Here's a great overview of the meme and why it is definitely not a slur. </a><br />
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Co-signed:<a href="https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/wjwbxn/if-you-dont-want-to-have-kids-you-dont-have-to-want-a-career-instead"> If You Don't Want Kids, You Don't Need to Want a Career Instead.</a><br />
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As an LGBTQ+ person, <a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/pretentious-is-not-a-sexual-orientation">I can assure you that sapiosexual is not an orientation.</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/apr/11/secret-weapon-fight-against-coronavirus-women">Have you noticed that the countries that are successfully fighting coronavirus are lead by women</a>?<br />
<a href="https://thoughtcatalog.com/jordan-windnagle/2020/04/5-virtual-tours-that-allow-you-to-visit-the-scariest-places-on-earth/"><br /></a>
<a href="https://thoughtcatalog.com/jordan-windnagle/2020/04/5-virtual-tours-that-allow-you-to-visit-the-scariest-places-on-earth/">5 Virtual Tours That Allow You To Visit The Scariest Places On Earth</a><br />
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Important: <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/coronavirus-productivity_l_5e712a89c5b6eab7793de6c7">Please Don't Be Guilted Into Being More Productive During The Coronavirus</a><br />
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I recently low-key updated my pronouns to she/they, and <a href="https://www.teenvogue.com/story/gender-variance-around-the-world?">this is just a reminder that Gender Variations have been around for years. </a><br />
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I pay attention to Scandanavian politics a bit more than the average person as they've already implemented a lot of the progressive policies that I campaign for. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2019/jun/03/its-a-miracle-helsinkis-radical-solution-to-homelessness">Here's how Helsinki has eradicated homelessness. </a><br />
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Solidarity to men who have been victim to sexual coercion. <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/why-bad-looks-good/201911/how-men-respond-sexual-coercion">Here's a quick look on Psychology Today on how men react to being sexually coerced. </a><br />
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<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/21/opinion/scott-kelly-coronavirus-isolation.html">Tips on isolation from an astronaut who spent a year in space</a>!<br />
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If I was to meet a partner, I'd only agree to live with them if we could afford a flat with multiple rooms. <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/why-happy-couples-sleep-separate-bedrooms_l_5e556a71c5b64c1d5620d71a">Here's an article about couples who don't sleep in the same bed</a>.<br />
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I've not watched <i>Love is Blind</i> because I think it would annoy me. If you do watch it, <a href="https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/pkeqjn/psychology-behind-love-is-blind">here's a guide to the psychology behind the show</a>.<br />
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Personally, I don't do friends with benefits. It really isn't for me. <a href="https://www.autostraddle.com/6-easy-steps-for-fucking-your-friends-without-fucking-up-the-friendship/">But if you are curious here's a guide to getting it right. </a><br />
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I've been using a lot of my downtime to research Instagram tips.<a href="https://later.com/blog/apps-for-instagram-stories/"> Here's a Later blog on improving your Instagram Stories game that had a lot of advice I'd never thought of. </a><br />
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You don't need me to tell you that blogs are not nearly as popular as they once were. <a href="https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/why-do-people-read-blogs">If you run a corporate blog, here are the top three reasons why people might still be reading</a>.<br />
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Over on Youtube I really rated this video on the Scots language.<br />
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YPq3UegiTa4" width="560"></iframe>
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And this unaired Buffy Pilot from 1996 which doesn't include Alyson Hannigan?!?!<br />
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I hope you're all staying safe and staying inside. Much love to everyone xmòraghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11050134196927758040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630121002365413781.post-42918992921449903132020-04-23T13:37:00.001+01:002020-04-23T13:37:39.658+01:0025+ things I've been doing during lockdown to keep myself occupied, healthy and entertained<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nhb-ia3S-Wc/XqGDlSQTzrI/AAAAAAAAIts/kKHs-q-pOG0tRC3-4nzcjr8Kv-wgy5ioACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/lockdown%2Bactivities.jpe" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nhb-ia3S-Wc/XqGDlSQTzrI/AAAAAAAAIts/kKHs-q-pOG0tRC3-4nzcjr8Kv-wgy5ioACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/lockdown%2Bactivities.jpe" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>First off, I hope everyone is coping as best as they can in these trying times. This post is only an overview of what I've been doing and I have zero expectations placed on other people. This is meant as potential inspiration only. </i><br />
<br />
As an introvert, nerd, only child and hayfever sufferer, being inside all the time didn't sound particularly daunting.<br />
<br />
But then I was forced inside for weeks, alongside having to give up my extroverted hobbies (I miss restaurants) and not be able to see my friends. <br />
<br />
Then two weeks ago my flatmate came down with several symptoms and we had to stay inside for two weeks (tomorrow is my release date) and rely on other people for food. This has been challenging and that's when the severity of the pandemic really began to hit me. I'm okay at being inside because I did a lot of that anyway, but not even being able to nip to the shops did rock me and forced me to step up my self-care routine.<br />
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There is no correct way to handle this situation. In the grand schemed of things, I've coped fairly well. And a lot of that is tied up in privilege. Everyone needs to do what is right for them, and this list I've compiled is just what has worked for me and could be of use to other people. Leave me a quick note with what you've been up to to see if it can inspire anyone else!<br />
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<h2>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Self-Care & Comfort</span></h2>
I'm starting here because self-care is important - especially during a pandemic. Two weeks in I began to struggle to sleep - but with a few tweaks, I managed to start falling asleep again. Here's what I've been doing to keep myself emotionally healthy.<br />
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<b>Open all the windows</b><br />
<br />
As soon as I'm dressed I open my bedroom and living windows and let all that fresh air breeze in! If you're living in a flat, remember to stick your head out occasionally and feel the fresh air and sunshine on your face!<br />
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<b>Keeping some structure to my day</b><br />
<br />
I'm not jumping out of bed at 7am ready to start 'work' at 9am. But by midday, I'm usually dressed, showered and working on my laptop. Because I'm furloughed I have zero actual work to do but I'm choosing to concentrate on my creative projects during the same hours that I'd usually be at work. Then leaving my evenings and weekends free for things that are strictly just hobbies. This has also helped me stay quiet while my flatmate works from home.<br />
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<b>Only using my bedroom for sleeping</b><br />
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After one week in lockdown I began to have trouble sleeping. I'm thankfully out of that funk now and the one best thing I did to combat it was using my bedroom only for sleeping and changing.<br />
<br />
My flatmate is working from home while I'm on furlough, so we did need to come to a few agreements. As we speak right now she's working with headphones on at the kitchen table and I'm typing this on the sofa. We're also repainting the spare room and once that's done I can lounge about in there too.<br />
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<b>Not wearing a full outfit, but not wearing pyjamas either</b><br />
<br />
It's perfectly acceptable to put on a full outfit to stay in your own house (my parents are doing it!) and it's also acceptable to lounge around in your pyjamas. I personally have been opting for something in the middle. My day outfits now consist of leggings, baggy t-shirts (those weird t-shirts I accumulated while at university are now coming in very handy!), and socks.<br />
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<b>Putting a bit of effort into my beauty routine</b><br />
<br />
I'm not sitting at home with a full face of make-up on (unless I'm filming) but I've not thrown my beauty routine out of the window either. I'm still showering daily, washing my hair every two days, facemask once a week, plucking my eyebrows, and moisturising my body. I also apply a tiny bit of winged eyeliner every day.<br />
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<b>Creating an at-home spa</b><br />
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I put in an order on Lush a few days ago and I can't wait for it to arrive. I've ordered some body oils and shower bombs to help create a calming environment in my bathroom. If you're out shopping for food, Holland & Barratt usually have some vegan spa-esque products you can pick up.<br />
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<b>Aromatherapy</b><br />
<br />
I know people laugh at me for ironing my bedsheets, but hear me out. Two weeks okay I filled my iron with water mixed with lavender Zoflora, and it was the first night in over a week where I slept smoothly. I also found a lavender sleep balm in my cupboards that you rub into your temples before bedtime. My mum has also had some luck with a lavender pillow spray she found in her cupboard.<br />
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<b>Tidying up my space</b><br />
<br />
I don't know about you, but staying inside has made me notice every mark on the wall and narrow in on the ornaments I don't really like. So I've done some work to improve my space. I've painted the skirting boards so they're now sparkling white and I had a mini clear out* of both my bedroom and the spare room. I've also been eyeing up some candles online, but I've not decided on which ones to buy yet.<br />
<br />
*the only things that have been chucked are things that were broken, I've filled a bag with stuff to take to a charity shop once this is over.<br />
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<b>Snacks!</b><br />
<br />
It didn't take long for me to start getting hungry. Estimating how much food to buy when I'm relying 100% on homecooked meals wasn't easy. To be honest, I'm still not great at this. But one thing that has helped has been buying more snack food! Next time you're shopping treat yourself to some snacks to munch on during the day. Oreos, Doritos Chilli Heatwave, and Bourbon Biscuits are all vegan!<br />
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<b>I've stayed sober, sort of</b><br />
<br />
When lockdown started I began drinking wine on the daily, which is not my usual behaviour. I stopped after a week and have been spending the last two weeks stone-cold sober. Everyone's relationship to alcohol is different, and if someone wants a wee bevvy to get them through, that is fine by me. Personally, I've preferred to stick to my usual routine of barely touching the stuff, despite initially falling off the wagon.<br />
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<b>Standing on my balcony</b><br />
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I have a balcony, which is on the small side. It's not big enough for lounging on but I do make sure I take some time to stand outside for about ten minutes every day. If you are lucky enough to own a garden, remember to get outside for a few minutes every day.<br />
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<b>Accepting my weight gain</b><br />
<br />
There's been <i>a lot </i>of fatphobia online recently, with excessive jokes about gaining weight in lockdown. I've gained weight since lockdown started and I'm planning to do fuck all about it.<br />
<br />
I know the feelings that can be triggered by gaining weight might be difficult for some. If you want to do fitness classes in your living room to prevent it, then you do you. But know that there is nothing wrong with gaining weight, especially in the middle of a pandemic.<br />
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<b>ASMR</b><br />
<br />
I am a big fan of ASMR and have been watching more than usual during the lockdown. <a href="http://www.moadore.co.uk/2017/08/favourite-asmrtists.html">I wrote a blog post a few years ago about my favourite ASMRtists.</a><br />
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<b>Not spending too much time outside</b><br />
<br />
Wooahhhh there! Are you suggesting we don't go for our daily walks? Sort of. Even before I was forced into 14 days of isolation, I was still only really leaving the house to buy some food every few days. My mum (who is a psychiatric nurse) suggested that not witnessing the outside world first hand was probably why I was so calm. Ignorance is sometimes bliss.<br />
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<b>Not watching the news</b><br />
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I don't watch the daily updates. I just trust that Twitter will tell me if there's something I definitely need to know.<br />
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<h2>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Hobbies & entertainment</span></h2>
I'm pretty introverted so I already had several inside hobbies prior to lockdown, and I've been taking my extra time to indulge in them. Here they are.<br />
<br />
<b>Reading</b><br />
<br />
Everyone knows that I love a book, and I've been using my downtime to get through my reading pile. Unfortunately, finances have permitted that I can't afford more books than usual (boo!).<br />
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<b>Films & TV</b><br />
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I already had Netflix and NowTV subscriptions before lockdown, but I've now added a cheeky Disney+ subscription into the mix too! Oft!<br />
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<b>Podcasts</b><br />
<br />
Despite starting my own podcast in February, I don't actually listen to that many podcasts. They just don't hold my attention unless they are <i>really </i>good. Two podcasts that I have been listening to during lockdown are <a href="https://twitter.com/diminishingpod"><i>Diminishing Returns</i></a> (a film podcast) and <a href="https://twitter.com/AngryScotland"><i>Angry Scotland</i></a> (politics).<br />
<br />
<b>Baking</b><br />
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I used to love baking (I even founded my old university's Cupcake & Baking society back in the day!) and I've spent my Saturday's exploring my old hobby. So far I've made a Red Velvet Cake (which turned out very badly), Focaccia (which turned out okay) and some Tiramisu (which turned out amazingly well!). I'm working my way through <a href="https://www.worldofbooks.com/en-gb/books/emily-mainquist/sweet-vegan-70-delicious-dairy-free-desserts/GOR004972809?msclkid=76efe67703e212e4f3b3b8d68bd0af10&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=SP%20-%20Books%20-%20Desktop%20-%20%C2%A310.00%2B%20-%20Bing%20Only&utm_term=4575686360341153&utm_content=%C2%A310.00%2B-%20RLSA%20Test" style="font-style: italic;">Sweet Vegan </a><i> </i>and <i><a href="https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/92986877?iid=361855892657&chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&itemid=361855892657&targetid=876875609442&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9046953&poi=&campaignid=9794911176&mkgroupid=101625062564&rlsatarget=pla-876875609442&abcId=1139126&merchantid=7135424&gclid=CjwKCAjw-YT1BRAFEiwAd2WRtl-FWJ3JMmpW8HaRRVX5wGF5DJ4D8hHrkEJC91YrAZUbfNYW_dW4kRoC7IcQAvD_BwE">Taste.Baking</a> </i>(I can't find the second one online, aside from eBay)<br />
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<b>Growing my own food</b><br />
<br />
Every year I try (usually unsuccessfully) and grow food on my balcony. When lockdown started I got to work on this year's attempt: with rocket, raspberries, lettuce, cress and tomatoes. Top tip: rocket grows really well and is a great place to start!<br />
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<b>Mini-home improvements</b><br />
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I've touched on it slightly already, but I've been making some changes to my flat. Mainly repainting my bedroom, spare room, and hallway. These rooms were in need of a freshen up and it has been so satisfying painting over the dark marks.<br />
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<b>Duolingo</b><br />
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I first downloaded Duolingo in 2012 (!!) and spent most of my unemployed life between graduating university and moving to Glasgow on that app. Since then, I'd dip into it occasionally but in the large scheme of things, maintaining my high school French wasn't big on my agenda. Since lockdown started I've been really getting into it. I had also previously downloaded Italian, Swahili, German, Greek and Valyrian - but lol fuck learning five languages from scratch during the lockdown.<br />
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<h2>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Creative projects & career-related stuff</span></h2>
I want to make something clear: if you aren't up for being productive right now, that's okay. This is a pandemic, not a productivity contest. If you want to wrap yourself in a burrito blanket and stay there for the next three weeks, you do you.<br />
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Personally though, throwing myself into my projects has been keeping my brain occupied and helping alleviate any job security worries (I work in an industry that has been badly impacted and I want to make sure that I'm all set if I need to job hunt). If like me you're a social media-y creative type, then here's a little insight into what I've been working on.<br />
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<b>I finished my online writing course</b><br />
<br />
Back in December, I signed up for Melissa A Fabello's <a href="https://www.melissafabello.com/course"><i>Breaking into Freelance Writing</i> course</a>. It's very comprehensive and it takes a bit of time to finish. I highly recommended the course if you want to learn more about building an online writing career.<br />
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<b>Developing my podcast</b><br />
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Back in February, I launched my very first podcast, <a href="https://twitter.com/bagenda_pod">The B Agenda</a>. Admittedly I flung myself into the project with limited research, but this week I took some time to sketch out a longterm plan. I've also planned out my next episode, me and my guest just need to decide when we're recording. P.S. <a href="https://thebagenda.tumblr.com/"><i>The B Agenda</i> is now on Tumblr</a>.<br />
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<b>Planning a few website re-designs</b><br />
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I (because I love a project) have two websites that I would like to re-design and two others that I would like to create from scratch! One of them is mo'adore itself, as I've been unhappy with it for a while and want it to be *more* than just a blog, with more space to advertise my other projects. At this moment in time, I've only begun planning and researching each project, but hopefully, it'll be completed soon!<br />
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<b>Gave my Instagram a makeover</b><br />
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/moadore/">Over on my Instagram</a>, I've been doing a bit of work. I've made story templates for people to fill in, bought some new presets to edit my photos with, made new story covers and researched new hashtags. I've also been making my way through the <a href="https://later.com/">Later.com blog</a> to see if there are any tips I've missed!<br />
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<h2>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Life Admin</span></h2>
How boring! But to be fair, most millennials have a ton of life admin. I've been using the lockdown to check things off my list. And by things, I mean upgrading my phone and clearing out my e-mails.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">
Most importantly though, look after yourself</span></h2>
<br />
Everything I've listed above works for me. It might not work for you. We all have different needs, emotionally, spiritually, sexually and socially. How you get through this pandemic will be personal and never let anyone tell you that you're handling it wrong. You do you boo, and I'll see you on the other side.mòraghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11050134196927758040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630121002365413781.post-4162875867120404952020-02-01T19:41:00.001+00:002020-02-01T19:41:58.671+00:00Veganuary Weekend at Achray House Hotel, Perthshire<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z_vat0IRKZg/XjXK1_BK1dI/AAAAAAAAIp0/uMsTgDcpMMonndeAaJ9dOWqHSdOz2O16ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_20200118_153648_846.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z_vat0IRKZg/XjXK1_BK1dI/AAAAAAAAIp0/uMsTgDcpMMonndeAaJ9dOWqHSdOz2O16ACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_20200118_153648_846.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Veganism has grown so much in the past few years and the Veganuary campaign (where people pledge to go vegan for one month) has been one of the major drivers behind the movement. For better or worse, some of the world's biggest food retailers announce new vegan products every January (this year we've had the vegan KFC burger, the steak bake from Greggs, and the meatball sub from Subway) making veganism more accessible than ever before.<br />
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But it's not just the big chains in the cities that cater to veganism. For many years veganism has been easier if you live in a city, especially a major one. That, however, is changing as well.<br />
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Achray House Hotel on the banks of Loch Earn is one rurally-based establishment looking to make veganism more accessible for people who prefer the mountains and country roads to bustling city streets. The owners, Laura and Panu, kindly invited me to visit free of charge for their Veganuary weekend - and I fell in love with the food, the hotel itself, and the surrounding areas.<br />
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If you're not familiar with Perthshire, it's in Central Scotland and covers a massive amount of ground (2528 sq. miles to be exact). It's part of the Highlands geographical area and is home to beautiful mountains, glens, and lochs - it is very much the Scotland you see on postcards.<br />
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Achray House Hotel is located in the southern parts of Perthshire and is not far from the tourist-favourite of Stirling. As mentioned already it overlooks Loch Earn, but it also looks out onto Ben Vorlich! The wider village is called St Fillans, which is home to a handful of houses and businesses (but most people go to the nearby Comrie for day-to-day stuff). If you're looking for a calming escape amongst nature then you won't get much better than this. </div>
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The owners operate a pick-up service if you don't own a car. They need three days notice and can meet you anywhere within 7 miles (Panu picked me up at Stirling Railway Station). If you have a car, the hotel is just over an hour from Glasgow or Edinburgh. </div>
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<h4>
The Hotel</h4>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MeZs4R0SJv0/XjXLAwLTXoI/AAAAAAAAIp4/4TvV_CVq4QMkGXva5PX8hl-I2A6v0aJbwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20200201_150131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1080" height="470" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MeZs4R0SJv0/XjXLAwLTXoI/AAAAAAAAIp4/4TvV_CVq4QMkGXva5PX8hl-I2A6v0aJbwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/20200201_150131.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The hotel itself is a charming white building with a restaurant, bar, front lounge and an outdoor patio. One of my favourite moments was eating my breakfast while watching the sunrise behind Ben Vorlich and over Loch Earn! </div>
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I was staying in the Economy Room which has a double bed, en-suite, Sky TV, an ironing board, iron, a small tea and coffee station, and an Alexa! What makes it an Economy Room is that I didn't get a view of Loch Earn (which I was perfectly okay with as I could just wander through to the bar). The room would normally cost £86 per night Sunday to Thursday and then £96 per night for Friday to Saturday (for single occupancy). </div>
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One of my favourite features of the hotel were the two dog-friendly rooms. These two rooms are downstairs and have an extra door that allows you to take your dog straight outside for a walk without having to walk through the hotel!</div>
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The owners also have their own dog, whose company I very much enjoyed on the hill walk. </div>
<h4>
Food</h4>
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I'm a massive foodie so for me the main draw of any trip will be the chance to try some new food. One thing that made this Veganuary Weekend special was that their new chef (who will officially join them in mid-February) made his way there on Saturday night to host a special five-course vegan tasting menu. The vegan menu consisted of: </div>
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<ul>
<li>Konbu and miso broth, pickled mushrooms, paysanne vegetables</li>
<li>Sweet potato falafel, apricot puree</li>
<li>Salt baked butternut squash, toasted pine nut and spinach strudel, kale pesto and crispy kale</li>
<li>Raspberry Eaton Mess</li>
<li>Pineapple and coconut arancini</li>
</ul>
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The salt-baked butternut squash was one of the best vegan dishes I've ever eaten (and the two girls I met while on this trip agreed). The restaurant definitely leans towards fine-dining and is geared towards people who want high-quality cuisine. The 3-course tasting menu was £29 and the 5-course tasting menu was £35. </div>
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The chef came out to speak to us all after dinner and told us that he'll be taking on the restaurant side of the business (allowing the owners to concentrate on the hotel side). There were two dining rooms and they have plans to turn one of them into a formal restaurant and the other into casual dining. The restaurant is also open to people not staying at the hotel, so if you live nearby or would prefer to stay in one of Perthshire's other hotels, then you can still pop by to sample some of the delicious food. </div>
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On Friday night I chose something off of their regular menu. I went for carrot pancakes, tagine, and chocolate mousse. Two courses were £29 and three courses were £35. They also have a breakfast bar and a hot food menu. I'm a breakfast gal so I helped myself to a bowl of cereal and freshly squeezed orange juice - and then treated myself to a cooked vegan breakfast because I'm worth it! </div>
<h4>
<br />Drinks</h4>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VUE7HQBXigs/XjXLrWYsfbI/AAAAAAAAIqM/VYAu_JGd1aA1vsCAUCuly65YOkWW9C0vgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20200118_223254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VUE7HQBXigs/XjXLrWYsfbI/AAAAAAAAIqM/VYAu_JGd1aA1vsCAUCuly65YOkWW9C0vgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20200118_223254.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favourite wine of the night</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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My drinks (along with the yoga class, more on that in a second) was the only part of the weekend I paid for, so I decided to treat myself a bit. I had orange juice on Friday night with my dinner (living life on the edge) and the waitress came back with freshly squeezed orange juice!</div>
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The owners of Achray House Hotel kindly marked out their vegan-friendly wines. The waitress also allowed me to sample the wines before I purchased. I was also allowed to have a glass from a wine that was officially sold by the bottle because it was already opened. One of the owners, Panu, was very knowledgable on wine, which is very helpful for people like me who are a bit wine-snobby. </div>
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If wine is not your tipple of choice, their bar is well stocked with spirits (many of them made in Scotland). I'm a rum girl at heart, so I tried the rum from Aberdeen-based Brewery, Fierce Spirits. Officially it is coffee and vanilla-infused, but I personally think it had a caramel taste (still lovely though!). </div>
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I can't remember the price of each drink, but my drinks bill was £19 when I left (one rum, one orange juice, and two glasses of wine). </div>
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<h4>
Activities</h4>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_ywiXtZa4VM/XjXL4Z2aEBI/AAAAAAAAIqQ/VBhHbTsPeIYdG3A4dQvdg2ebBEGTkaybwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20200201_145734.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1511" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_ywiXtZa4VM/XjXL4Z2aEBI/AAAAAAAAIqQ/VBhHbTsPeIYdG3A4dQvdg2ebBEGTkaybwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/20200201_145734.jpg" width="604" /></a></div>
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As part of their Veganuary weekend, there was the option to take part in a yoga class and an escorted hill walk. The yoga class was hosted by Pamela from Buddha Bodies, a local yoga class that takes place just next door. Pamela specialises in Hatha Yoga, which was absolutely fine for me despite having not touched yoga for seven years (I used to be a dancer so did yoga as part of my training). I'm still a swimmer and that came in handy for the balance poses! </div>
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Now, hillwalking. I know this is very un-Scottish of me but I don't hill walk...ever. I haven't climbed a hill since I was probably 19. I wasn't originally going to sign-up until I happened to be in the foyer at the same time as two girls who were going on it, who talked me into it. </div>
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It was okay in the end, as we did stick to a gentle incline with a well-marked out path. The views of Loch Earn made it worth it. Then we went on an off-path adventure where my trainers became covered in mud (the mud washed off though, but take proper hillwalking shoes). For any keen hillwalkers, there are about 50 Munros (mountains over 1000m) within an hour’s drive of St Fillans. </div>
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<h4>
Who would you say Loch Earn House Hotel is for? </h4>
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Anyone looking for a vegan-friendly, high-end hotel amongst calming Scottish scenery. Especially if they require somewhere dog-friendly. </div>
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You can visit the <a href="https://www.achrayhouse.com/">Achray House Hotel website here</a>. I've also added a Story Highlight to my <a href="https://www.instagram.com/moadore/">Instagram </a>so that you can re-visit my stay at the hotel. </div>
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<b>P.S.</b> Full disclosure: the owners paid for my food, transport from Stirling and accommodation in return for promotion. I paid for my drinks and yoga class. This is not a paid promotion. </div>
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mòraghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11050134196927758040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630121002365413781.post-61340285560937689812019-12-13T22:07:00.001+00:002019-12-13T22:20:48.573+00:00The UK is now a Tory heartland - where do we go from here? <br />
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I don’t think I need to tell you why I spent an hour this
morning crying like a fucking baby. <o:p></o:p></div>
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It wasn’t even just the fact that a party whose austerity
measures have killed <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">120,000 people
according to Medical Journals</i> managed to win (in a First Past the Post
system) by a landslide. It’s also that I don’t really…understand. I can’t
articulate what happened. I’m an over-thinker and if I don’t have an answer to
something, I’ll find one. My brain usually creates one, but my brain isn’t
getting any further than “some people really do like the idea of Brexit, aye?”
The polls said the Tories would probably win it, but that a hung parliament was
likely. Boris is a racist, a homophobe, and a snob who wouldn’t even agree to
TV interviews (I might not agree with the other Tory MPs but at least they’ve
never hidden in a fridge). <o:p></o:p></div>
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If you’re here for a hot take on what went wrong, I don’t
have one. My brain is fried from all of this (and I was up all night at the
Glasgow count). My only conclusion is that we (including myself) underestimated just how many
people wanted Brexit (given that the Conservatives made gains in places with a
high Leave vote). What I am going to talk about is what we do moving forward. <o:p></o:p></div>
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But, hey, at least Jo Swinson lost her seat (but I was in
the fucking toilet when it happened!). <o:p></o:p></div>
<h3>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">If you have a
political party that you truly believe in, join them</b></h3>
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I’ve been a member of the Scottish Green Party for over 5
years. Not only that, but I was elected onto the Glasgow Greens Committee as an
Ordinary Member a few months ago. If you join a political party, you don’t need
to be as involved as I am. Plenty of members just donate their yearly fee to
help with the finances. If you do want to get involved though, there are plenty
of ways to do so as political parties and their local branches need a variety
of skills sets. This includes marketers, data analysts, election organisers,
candidates (!!), secretaries, event organisers, treasurers and confident extrovert types to knock
on doors!</div>
<h3>
Or join a campaign or pressure group</h3>
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They also need people with a variety of skill sets. </div>
<h3>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Consider donating
time and money </b></h3>
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I still 100% believe that you should be talking to your
friends and family about their vote. This includes posting on social media.
Saying that, unless you are a public figure or influencer with a wide reach,
you might only change the minds of a handful of people. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I know not everyone can, but if you’re in a financially
comfortable situation please consider donating money to your candidate or party
of choice in the next election - in order to help reach a wider audience. If you also have a particular skill set that
could be of use during a political campaign, get in touch with your local
organiser to find out how you can get involved. <o:p></o:p></div>
<h3>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Don’t think Scottish
independence is in the bag</b></h3>
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I’ve seen a lot of posts on social media today claiming that
Scottish independence is now inevitable. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hold on a second. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The SNP did make big gains last night in terms of the number
of seats won – but their share of the vote was 45%. While this is an impressive
number, it isn’t high enough to start running around screaming Freedom. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I support Scottish Independence and in the event of a referendum being called, I will 100% be out campaigning. With a smart campaign,
the Yes side may swing it (and remember, we only need to convince the
electorate once, Better Together need to keep convincing voters over and over).<o:p></o:p></div>
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I know the thought of Scottish Independence is what’s
keeping people going right now. Unfortunately, this could lead to complacency
where we think we’re going to fix this mess by leaving. It’s not that simple. Public opinion
still looks like it hovers around the 50% mark. <o:p></o:p></div>
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If you want independence, you'll need to restart the campaign. Don't wait for it a new Independence Referendum to be announced either. A lot of Scottish people still need convincing (more on that later!).<br />
<h3>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Start laying the groundwork for Holyrood 2021</b></h3>
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The next election in Scotland will be Holyrood 2021 (but who
knows if another General Election will be called, I’ve voted in more elections
in the last few years than I’ve had foreign holidays). The political parties
are gearing up for this already, with candidates selected and members collecting voting data at counts across the country. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The Tory vote share in Scotland last night was 25%. Do not
kid yourself if you think Scotland doesn’t like Tories, because they came
second in both terms of seats and vote share. We have over a year until we
decide who is elected at Holyrood (with a form of proportional representation),
and if you want it to be a left-leaning government (yes please) then now is the
time to start educating people around your on why the left is best (or donating time and/or
money). <o:p></o:p></div>
<h3>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Use the time between
elections to talk about the issues</b></h3>
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One problem I did spot during the campaign period was just
how much voters aren’t really clued up on the issues. It’s hard to convince
people during a snap General Election on why broadband for all is a good idea,
why the Greens are the only party who really have a plan for saving the planet,
why Universal Credit must go, that there is a lot of economic research that
supports socialism, other countries have already proved that equal
societies are possible (English voters were saying that free university tuition
is far-fetched despite Scotland having had it for years?), why Trident is a
waste of money, why the Monarchy has no place in modern society, and that
immigration is not the threat to the working class that they’ve been made to
believe that it is. <o:p></o:p></div>
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That’s why, between now and Holyrood 2021, we should be raising awareness
of issues and educating those around us. Closer to the time we can start campaigning
along party lines, but if we want to reduce the number of Tories in Scotland we need to start shifting public opinion towards
the left in general. <o:p></o:p></div>
<h3>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Understand the root
cause</b></h3>
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As I said, I don’t really understand what went wrong last
night. In order to fix it though, we need to travel into murky waters to find
out. What makes a working-class person vote Tory? Why do people want
Brexit, when there is no economic justification for it? Why are people ignoring
that we only have 10 years before climate change is irreversible? <o:p></o:p></div>
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One of the biggest shifts in my own personal political
beliefs was Scottish Independence. I used to be a hard-lined Unionist (and a
Liberal Democrat hahaha hahaha oh god) and changed my mind with only two months
to go. Shockingly enough, it was not the Twitter Nats shouting off about
Unionists being cowards that made me change my mind (imagine that).
It was, and this is random, attending a Republic Scotland debate covering what Scottish
Independence could mean for the monarchy. I was really taken by what the Green
representative said and that night I walked home feeling the shift in me. I
joined the Scottish Greens after the referendum and maybe would have never voted Yes had it not been for the alternative Green Yes campaign. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Granted, I had been questioning my Unionist beliefs in the
months leading up to this (with so much discussion going on around me it was
hard not to) but this was the moment where I crossed over the line. Later on in
the campaign, the straight-up media bias and lies would become apparent
(remember when the BBC claimed that Alex Salmond didn’t answer a question but a
foreign journalist uploaded a video of his answer in full?) and I was a Yes for good. Nothing was going to convince me otherwise after that. <o:p></o:p></div>
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One of the reasons the Yes campaign was so successful (it
might not have won but it did rapidly increase the support for Yes) was that it
covered <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">everything</i>. There was the
white paper, the tv debates, books, the Green Yes campaign, Radical Independence,
English for Yes, and the other offshoots that represented different demographics. Almost no stone was left unturned. It wasn’t enough to convince everyone, but
it turned this once staunch Unionist into a Yes voter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
As someone who knows what's like to switch sides on a massive issue, I can tell you a few things. Don't be a dick to people. Share your opinions in a well-researched manner. Understand why people vote the way they do and then build a campaign around it.<br />
<h3>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Look after our most
vulnerable</b></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I want to pay more tax. I’ll happily take home slightly less
money if it means a fully-functioning NHS, that the Masters I’m thinking of doing
can be paid for by the state, cheaper (or free!) public transport,
a good care home for my parents (I don’t live near them and can’t look after
them myself), and a safety net waiting for me if I was to fall ill and couldn’t
work (I have savings that I'd ideally use for buying a flat but I'm still hesitant to part with it in case something happens).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m making a commitment to donating to charities and food
banks. The extra money that I would pay in tax is still going to be directed
towards society’s most vulnerable people. My political opinions are firm on the
redistribution of wealth (not that I’m wealthy by any stretch of the
imagination, I’m just comfortable) and I’m planning to put my money where my
mouth is. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
__<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m not going to pretend that the result of the General Election
last night wasn’t fucking disgraceful. It’s disgusting that a large percentage<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of the UK population (and that includes
Scotland!) wants to see disabled people on the streets or children only eating
one cooked meal a day. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It doesn’t have to be this way, but if no one takes action (in a strategic way) then this is very much the future we are looking at. Start having a think about where you can help the cause in your own beautiful way: whether that's through using your expertise in your profession to pen thought-pieces, talking openly about how Tory rule has impacted you, donating money to a campaign you really care about, sharing your skillset with a campaign group or political party, volunteering at a local charity or your community council. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It's bleak right now, very fucking bleak. But it's been bleaker before and society has - in many ways - made leaps and bounds even in my own lifetime. It's not over yet. </div>
<br />mòraghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11050134196927758040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630121002365413781.post-6606928776253356362019-11-17T17:53:00.002+00:002019-11-17T17:58:20.375+00:00Why Scottish Green Party supporters don't owe the SNP their vote<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ3ERgkMMWZ4T0KeYe7xq1vboUxBdyBh0d55AsIwWloGvIPV3247yjzrGdWKb0Wjp-qfTWpxBg9PxUoTZvPmBvrapSXtQ8ooBT-ut-O4dTihVbNYskrSCVVaEE03CFpHlwmzQ_c0KkhXE/s1600/grene+party+votes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="539" data-original-width="539" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ3ERgkMMWZ4T0KeYe7xq1vboUxBdyBh0d55AsIwWloGvIPV3247yjzrGdWKb0Wjp-qfTWpxBg9PxUoTZvPmBvrapSXtQ8ooBT-ut-O4dTihVbNYskrSCVVaEE03CFpHlwmzQ_c0KkhXE/s640/grene+party+votes.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
My Twitter feed has been filled with politics recently, and with good reason. The UK is having a General Election on the 12th of December.<br />
<br />
This General Election is more crucial than usual due to the looming monsters that are Brexit and the Climate Emergency (you know that in 10 years time climate change will be irreversible, right?). Not to mention that the Tories have thrown some of the UK’s most vulnerable citizens into the gutter.<br />
<br />
Oh, and we have a bumbling buffoon as a Prime Minister.<br />
<br />
Emotions are high (mine certainly are) and political Twitter has been, shall we say, contentious. It’s darker here than it usually is.<br />
<br />
For me personally, the deepest darkness has been from SNP supporters coming out in force to attack the Scottish Green Party for daring to partake in democracy by standing in an election.<br />
<br />
Who on earth do we think we are? A political party standing in an election? How preposterous!.<br />
<br />
Their argument essentially is “you’re splitting the vote” (with no actual examples or statistics to back it up). I’ve become used to the bile that Twitter nats sprout about the Scottish Green Party over the years, but this time it has been more forceful than usual and has left me shaking in rage.<br />
<br />
The thing is: this is a democracy, and if the Scottish Green Party wants to stand then they should. Nobody owes anyone their votes. This includes all parties since I have also spotted Labour voters annoyed at the Liberal Democrats and the SNP, the Tories annoyed at the Brexit Party, and the Scottish Socialist Party voting not to stand candidates to avoid splitting the socialist vote.<br />
<br />
But “splitting the vote” is a tired excuse and an affront to democracy, and here are 13 (!!!) reasons why (using the SNP vs Greens as my primary example since that is the debate I’m closer to).<br />
<h4>
<br />We’re a different party with different policies</h4>
This feels like the most obvious point, so I’m going to get it out of the way first.<br />
<br />
The Scottish Green Party might agree with the SNP on Scottish independence and Brexit. However, the two parties disagree on a lot of other issues.<br />
<br />
First up is climate change. The SNP’s approach to climate change is to do just enough to for some good press and to appeal to voters who think banning plastic straws is the answer (it’s not) - while still keeping their mates in the oil industry happy. Case in point: their recent climate conference was sponsored by BP and Heathrow Airport, those famous beacons of environmental concern.<br />
<br />
Very recently, the Scottish Parliament passed a Climate Bill, which was drafted by the SNP and backed by all other parties aside from the Scottish Green Party. The reason the Scottish Green Party didn’t back it wasn’t because we don’t want to reduce emissions, but because the bill was very weak on how to go about it. Targets can be moved around and while the targets do make good headlines, they don’t mean anything if the SNP keep allowing oil companies to drill in the North Sea.<br />
<br />
Nicola, if you’re reading: we’ve only got 10 years to save the world, so get a move on.<br />
<br />
The Scottish Greens, on the other hand, have launched the Green New Deal. It focuses not only on reducing emissions but refocusing Scotland’s economy in a way that can save the planet (I repeat: we only have 10 years to fix this) while still protecting workers who make a living in engineering, oil and gas etc. It is based on a report by the <a href="https://neweconomics.org/2019/11/re-energising-manufacturing">New Economics Foundation that is available here</a>.<br />
<br />
Another recent example of the Scottish Green Party going up against the SNP is the Gender Recognition Act. The planned update to the Gender Recognition Act 2004 would allow trans people the right to legally self-identify, as opposed to medical professionals deciding for them (a process that many trans people have described as traumatic and stressful).<br />
<br />
The SNP shelved it after giving in to pressure from TERFs but that’s not all, they have “gender critical feminists” in their highest ranks, such as MP Joanna Cherry (for Edinburgh South West) and MSP Joan McAlpine (South Scotland region). So much transphobia, that a trans SNP councillor in Dundee quit the party, citing the party’s “institutional transphobia” as his reason (<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/oct/14/snp-women-close-to-quitting-gender-recognition-proposals-trans-rights-scotland">and let’s not forget the problematic Women’s Pledge</a>).<br />
<br />
This is in direct contrast to the Scottish Green Party. The Scottish Green Party is committed to the reform of the Gender Recognition Act, and our policies are voted on at our conferences. When Patrick Harvie spoke in support of trans rights in his speech at the Autumn Conference in 2018, the crowd cheered, when we passed a motion supporting trans rights at the same conference, it passed without a blip.<br />
<br />
I’m not going to sugar coat this: the SNP’s failure to reform the Gender Recognition has been utterly disgusting. I am a bisexual woman, and I forever and always stand with everyone who falls under the LGBTQI+ banner. That includes trans people, and their right to decide their legal gender for themselves.<br />
<br />
The SNP’s treatment of trans people is the number one reason why I can’t just hold my nose and vote for them (especially since I don’t even live in a risky seat, but we’ll get to that). The climate emergency and Scottish independence are both complex matters - politically, scientifically, and economically. There’s a lot to flesh out and it’s going to be a long journey. But respecting a trans person’s right to live their life as their chosen gender? Why is this even up for debate? This isn’t complex economics, this is basic human dignity.<br />
<br />
<h4>
Not that long ago the SNP were standing for Westminster knowing they couldn’t win</h4>
The earliest election I ever remember was the 1997 General Election when Tony Blair achieved his landslide. I’m still under 30 so in the grand scheme of things this election wasn’t that long ago.<br />
<br />
In that election, the SNP stood 72 candidates but only won 6 seats. In the 1992 General Election, they also stood 71 seats and won 3. Within my own lifetime (and I repeat: I am under 30) I have seen the SNP grow from a fringe party with a handful of seats to a political powerhouse. And you know how they did it? Their own determination for one but also because people were willing to believe in them and voted for them even when they were told that it was a wasted vote. Where would the SNP be if they’d listened to all those Labour campaigners telling them not to split the anti-Tory vote from 1935 until 2015?<br />
<br />
The Scottish Green Party are just doing exactly the same thing a generation later and would appreciate the same level of respect.<br />
<h4>
<br />Scottish Independence isn’t the only issue on the table (and we’re not going to win an independence referendum anytime soon, anyway)</h4>
I get it: the SNP’s central policy is Scottish independence and if you’re a candidate, member, or supporter of the SNP then Scottish independence is probably high on your political priorities.<br />
<br />
And you have every right to make that choice.<br />
<br />
But so does everyone else, and Scottish independence isn’t that important to some voters. Yes, I support it but I have other issues that are more pressing right now (like, uh, stopping the world from imploding). I don’t support Scottish independence in principle. I support it because the UK is a hot mess of a country and I believe that Scotland is being held back by Westminster.<br />
<br />
But if the UK stopped being so wild, I’d maybe change my mind. Who knows.<br />
<br />
However, the main reason why I’m not putting Scottish independence higher on my priorities is this: we probably wouldn't win a referendum at this point. Polling (depending on who’s doing it) still hovers around the 50% mark. Even if we did get a mandate for a referendum, there’s a real chance that it would still be a no.<br />
<br />
We’re going to have to be patient. Support for Scottish independence is higher amongst the younger generation, and it feels naturally inevitable. Yes, support seems to have increased since Brexit but it still isn’t high enough. And if being pulled out of the EU against our will, a blonde rubber duck as a Prime Minister, the Eton elite as his backing dancers, the dismantling of the NHS, and the rise of the far-right still haven’t convinced voters that Scotland is better off as an independent nation - then I’m not entirely sure what will.<br />
<br />
You know what is inevitable? The planet overheating. An overwhelming majority of scientists have said that we have 10 years to fix this mess or the damage becomes permanent (and we die). We literally do not have time to be sucking up to the SNP’s mates in BP. There is a deadline here. Scottish independence doesn’t have a deadline. We’ll get it when we get it (which we probably will, eventually, after the planet is officially dying).<br />
<br />
And even if we did magically win a referendum, we wouldn’t become independent overnight. The 2014 Independence Referendum had an 18-month campaign period and in the SNP whitepaper, it was suggested that the process of leaving the UK would take 18 months. That then leaves us with 7 years post-independence to save the planet (bearing in mind that even more damage might have occured in that time). Saving the planet will require a complete overhaul of our infrastructure and energy sources. Not a ban on plastic straws or whatever else the faux-eco warriors are suggesting these days. A change in infrastructure is not a simple process and certainly can’t be done overnight. If we want to save the planet, we have to act now (not when we get independence because by that point Scotland might have already sunk into the North Sea).<br />
<br />
Before I say my next point I want to make it clear that I say this as a person and not a Scottish Green Party member: I believe that referendums that propose a big constitutional change (such as Scottish Independence and Brexit) shouldn’t rely on a simple majority. If I was in parliament drawing up an independence referendum bill I’d be looking for a supermajority, somewhere between 60-70% of the electorate. Just look at Brexit as an example of what happens when a referendum that demands constitutional reform wins by a small margin.<br />
<br />
I’m also going to share a little tidbit about the Scottish Green Party that you might not know about. The Scottish Green Party is officially a Yes Party, by virtue of having voted overwhelmingly in favour of independence multiple times at our conferences. But we are okay with our members voting no. No one will get chucked out if they choose to campaign for Better Together. There are probably a small number of no-voting Greens (albeit I don’t have data) who are very unlikely to vote SNP purely on constitutional grounds, never mind our other points of divergence.<br />
<br />
Finally, some people vote SNP because they like the candidate or the party’s social democratic policies. Not necessarily because they want independence. How people decide to vote isn’t as simple as “independence = good, UK = bad”.<br />
<h4>
<br />The Scottish independence movement needs alternative voices </h4>
I might be pro-Scottish Independence now, but I used to be a hardline Unionist (sad trombone I know). What made me change my mind?<br />
<br />
The Green Yes campaign.<br />
<br />
I had always found (and still do) the mainstream Yes Campaign to be a bit lacklustre, and only strives for an independent Scotland that would be mildly better than the UK. The Green Yes movement, however, offered a vision of a country that I want to live in - but makes the clear point that Scotland can’t become a progressive beacon for the world while still ruled by Westminster.<br />
<br />
If you want the support for independence to grow, you need to stop shouting over the top of other pro-yes voices. The SNP aren’t the only voice in the Scottish Independence movement (and thank god, because some of us would have never been convinced otherwise.)<br />
<br />
<h4>
You lost seats in the last General Election...and the Greens only stood three candidates</h4>
I have two tables below showcasing the overall vote share in Scotland in 2015 and 2017 General Elections. Have a look at them.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M-VVIaLNvkY/XdGCniNVD0I/AAAAAAAAImU/VBNyDNkRMp47pwBmaIRsd1WkmMAPFizIwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/snp%2Bvotes%2B2015%2Bvs%2B2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M-VVIaLNvkY/XdGCniNVD0I/AAAAAAAAImU/VBNyDNkRMp47pwBmaIRsd1WkmMAPFizIwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/snp%2Bvotes%2B2015%2Bvs%2B2017.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Do you see it?<br />
<br />
Do you see that the SNP lost votes in the 2017 General Election?<br />
<br />
Do you see that the Scottish Green Party stood in fewer seats in 2017?<br />
<br />
According to SNP Twitter logic, the SNP should have performed better in the 2017 General Election, since the Scottish Green Party were standing in fewer seats and weren’t “splitting the vote”. But that didn’t happen.<br />
<br />
What the SNP should be doing right now (instead of harassing Green candidates and voters on Twitter) is working out what went wrong in 2017, so that they can perform better in 2019. Why did you receive fewer votes despite fewer parties standing?<br />
<br />
<h4>
Scotland doesn’t have a big impact on the outcome of elections</h4>
It’s well documented that Scotland doesn’t have much of an impact on which party forms the UK government. There are 650 constituencies in the UK, but only 59 are in Scotland. So in percentage terms, that means that only 9% of MPs are elected by Scotland. Even if Scotland sent down 59 SNP MPs something really bizarre would have to happen in the rest of the UK for the SNP to become a Westminster powerhouse.<br />
<h4>
<br />If you want to block Brexit, Labour is your best bet</h4>
Labour can be just as bad as the SNP-ers in regards to complaining about “splitting the vote”. In reality, both parties should respect democracy and campaign on the positives of voting for their party.<br />
<br />
However, I can understand Labour’s logic. You can’t vote for the SNP in other parts of the UK, so if you want a pro-Remain majority in the House of Commons, well, it might be best that Scotland holds its nose and sends down 59 Labour MPs.<br />
<br />
If the SNP won’t consider standing aside for Labour, then the Scottish Green Party shouldn’t stand aside for the SNP.<br />
<br />
(P.S. I wrote this post before there was<a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-50332391"> talk of SNP backing Labour</a>).<br />
<br />
<h4>
Glasgow Central won’t elect a Tory</h4>
On a personal level, I live in a constituency where a Scottish Green Party candidate is standing. So I’ll be voting for them and before you claim that I’m splitting the vote, let’s look at some stats from my own constituency.<br />
<br />
In the 2017 General Election, the SNP candidate won with 44.7% of the votes. In the 2015 General Election, the same SNP candidate won with 52.5% of the vote. Labour came second in both elections, and then the Conservative party were third (but a very far behind third).<br />
<br />
By voting for the Scottish Green Party in Glasgow Central, it’s very unlikely that I’ll be letting a Tory through. In fact, I would pay good money to see a posh Tory knocking on doors in the area I live in.<br />
<h4>
<br />If Greens can’t vote Green they won’t necessarily vote SNP</h4>
First Past the Post is an unfair system that lends its hand to tactical voting. As much as I don’t like tactical voting, I sometimes do it and if I was living somewhere where a Tory might slip through, I’d consider voting for the lesser of the evils (even if it meant not voting Green).<br />
<br />
However, my vote might not necessarily go to the SNP.<br />
<br />
This is what some SNP-ers don’t seem to grasp: if the Scottish Green Party didn’t stand that doesn’t mean that they’ll vote for the SNP.<br />
<br />
Let’s nip back to my own constituency of Glasgow Central. The Scottish Green Party stood someone in the 2015 General Election, but not in 2017. If you were to apply SNP theory, this means that the SNP vote share should have increased because Green voters naturally flock to the SNP when they don’t have a Green candidate on the ballot paper.<br />
<br />
Reader, the SNP vote in Glasgow Central dropped by -7.8% between 2015 and 2017. On top of that, the vote share of Labour, Conservatives, and Liberal Democrats all increased. This is despite there being five fewer parties on the ballot paper. Granted the turnout was higher in 2015 (maybe because there was a wider option of candidates and we’d just held the Scottish Independence Referendum?). But their drop in vote share has nothing to do with the Scottish Green Party (because we didn’t even stand).<br />
<br />
I’m also going to point out that the Scottish Green Party isn’t standing a candidate in Glasgow North East, a constituency served by Labour MP Paul Sweeney. I feel roughly the same way about Labour as I do the SNP (in that I can tolerate them), but I do have soft spots for certain figures within the party. Paul Sweeney is one of those people. He is a capable politician who shares a lot of my values. I know Greens who live in his constituency who are happy with his performance and intend on voting for him. If I was living in his constituency I’d also be “lending” him my vote.<br />
<br />
<h4>
The Green voice is always important, and it shows people care about climate change</h4>
Honestly, I’d be shocked if Glasgow Central sends a Scottish Green MP to Westminster. I’m not going in there actually thinking we’ll actually win.<br />
<br />
What having a Scottish Green candidate on the ballot paper (and at debates and at local hustings) does is helps keep green issues on the table for discussion. If people vote for the Scottish Green Party knowing that they can’t realistically win? Well, that just proves that there is an appetite for green policies that can’t be ignored. It might encourage other parties to increase their own commitment to climate change (which no other party is doing).<br />
<h4>
<br />Keep abusing us on Twitter, and we might not ever vote SNP again </h4>
One of the most common threats I keep seeing on Twitter is that SNP voters will no longer vote for the Scottish Green Party on the Regional List (a few of them have even said they’ll vote for the transphobic Wings Over Scotland instead, Lord give me strength).<br />
<br />
That is a risk the Scottish Green Party need to be willing to take.<br />
<br />
However, this works both ways. The SNP is sometimes lent votes from the Scottish Green Party supporters. In the 2017 General Election, I voted SNP and I vote for Nicola Sturgeon on my constituency ballot in the Scottish Elections (I have my issues with the SNP as a party, but I believe Nicola to be a solid leader).<br />
<br />
The Council Elections have a much fairer voting system where we rank candidates in preference. I always vote Scottish Green Party first (and Allan Young in my Govan ward is a very solid councillor) but after that, all bets are off. Councils have diddly squat influence on Scottish independence and Brexit, so those issues don’t influence my decision in an election about play parks and bins.<br />
<br />
Maybe some SNP voters will never “forgive the Scottish Green Party” for potentially splitting a vote. But you know what? The Scottish Green Party candidates and their supporters won’t forget the vile we’ve been receiving on Twitter in a hurry either.<br />
<br />
<h4>
If you want to win, get out there and win fair and square</h4>
Sometimes when you’re campaigning for a party, you do need to point out the failures and problematic policies of other parties. In a constructive way. Heck, I do it myself. But, as I said, in a constructive way.<br />
<br />
SNP voters: if you want people to vote for you and not the Scottish Green Party explain to us why in a constructive manner. Don’t angry tweet us complaining that it’s personally our fault if Scotland isn’t independent within your preferred timeline.<br />
<br />
<h4>
Scotland voted Remain</h4>
It’s well documented that Scotland is being dragged into Brexit by other parts of the UK. As a nation, Scotland largely voted to remain.<br />
<br />
So when Scottish voters come at me with “this election is about Brexit and I don’t want to let through a Leave party” I like to remind them that this mess was caused by the other parts of the UK, and Scotland can’t do much about it.<br />
<br />
We are relying on England to vote for the Remain parties in order to stop this national embarrassment. Maybe take to Twitter to try and persuade English voters to vote Labour? I’m followed by a lot of English people on Twitter and I regularly post political content that is more relevant to them than my Scottish followers.<br />
<br />
<h4>
The alliance with the Green Party of England and Wales is about cooperation, not shutting someone out</h4>
The Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru, and the Green Party of England and Wales have created a Remain Pact to keep out MPs who support Brexit and that is great. I am not against it.<br />
<br />
(Though I could go on a rant about the Liberal Democrats being untrustworthy).<br />
<br />
What makes this different from the Greens “splitting the vote” is that the SNP is not interested in working alongside the Scottish Green Party to keep out Tory voters - they are straight up just telling us not to stand. That is not the same thing as the Remain Pact.<br />
<br />
<h4>
It’s just not democratic</h4>
Bottom line: asking a party to stand down because you want their supporters to vote for your party (even though there is no evidence that they would) is a slap in the face to democracy.<br />
<br />
If you want your party to win the election, then get out there and earn those votes and if the Scottish Green Party (or whoever else) is “splitting the vote” that you feel undemocratically entitled to, then your party needs to attempt to understand why people would rather vote for them than you (especially if it’s for a party that won’t realistically win).<br />
<br />
That’s how democracy works. You’re not entitled to anything.<br />
<br />
That includes my vote.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
mòraghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11050134196927758040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630121002365413781.post-70621473599849447442019-11-02T10:30:00.000+00:002019-11-02T10:30:02.911+00:00REVIEW: The Big Vegan Cheese Making Kit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_HGnMzl_ERQ/XbhloQz-yCI/AAAAAAAAIgA/QioImeDkDoAknG14fojAJhruTdKLnvrwwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191029_154447.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_HGnMzl_ERQ/XbhloQz-yCI/AAAAAAAAIgA/QioImeDkDoAknG14fojAJhruTdKLnvrwwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/20191029_154447.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
"But I can't give up cheese"<br />
<br />
This is one of the most common excuses you hear from vegetarians or meat-eaters who would like to be vegan but just...say they can't. I do sympathise, to an extent, as I was once a major cheese lover. In fact, I didn't make the full switch to veganism until Violife came onto the health food shelves. But since then many other brands have also launched new cheeses, some very similar to the dairy versions.<br />
<br />
But if the (many) shop versions aren't doing it for you, there is another option: making your own.<br />
<br />
A while ago the makers of the <a href="https://www.bigcheesemakingkit.com/shop/the-big-vegan-cheese-making-kit/">Big Vegan Cheese Making Kit</a>* got in contact asking if I'd like to try their product. Obviously, I said yes. Between being a vegan who does miss cheese and someone who loves to experiment in the kitchen, this sounded up my street.<br />
<br />
The kit comes with six cheese recipes - and another six recipes showing you how to use the cheese in regular dishes! The six kinds of cheese this kit can make are mozzarella, ricotta, mascarpone, halloumi, feta and parmesan. The kit also includes a muslin cloth, a thermometer, and some of the ingredients you'll need: Anhydrous Citric Acid, Organic Sea Salt, Agar Powder, Tapioca, Nutritional Yeast, Dried Basil, Dried Paprika, Lemon pepper. All the cheeses are nut-based, and you will have to buy the cashews and macadamia nuts yourself (along with plant milk).<br />
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The cheeses themselves are simple enough to make, but you do need to be above intermediate in the kitchen and own a powerful blender. You also need to set time aside because you will need to soak the nuts overnight to soften them (or quickly boil them in hot water, that does the trick).<br />
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Out of all the cheeses, my favourite was the feta. In fact, when I crumbled the feta into my Greek Salad (a recipe that came with the pack) it tasted the same (and I used to love a Greek Salad!). It's probably because feta has a dry, savoury taste anyway so this nut-based recipe worked well as a substitute.<br />
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The parmesan was a close second, as it was very believable.<br />
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I also liked the mascarpone and ricotta recipes but (there's a but here) I can't remember eating the dairy versions. So I'm the wrong person to ask.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4GYw28kgRF0/XbhjaDQQ_6I/AAAAAAAAIfY/DCIMcijlDH8eywJfsV8_C980x5uweJ7CQCEwYBhgL/s1600/20181119_110936.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4GYw28kgRF0/XbhjaDQQ_6I/AAAAAAAAIfY/DCIMcijlDH8eywJfsV8_C980x5uweJ7CQCEwYBhgL/s640/20181119_110936.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I also enjoyed the Halloumi. But (big but here) it didn't resemble dairy-based halloumi, as it lacked the squeakiness. Saying that it was still delicious - but in its own way.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4gg0FuH5xOo/XbhjL_heCOI/AAAAAAAAIfg/NsaRq74J9vwkjhVoRM5qzAd8fLzk7FwkQCEwYBhgL/s1600/20180722_162854.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4gg0FuH5xOo/XbhjL_heCOI/AAAAAAAAIfg/NsaRq74J9vwkjhVoRM5qzAd8fLzk7FwkQCEwYBhgL/s640/20180722_162854.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The only cheese I didn't enjoy was the mozzarella. Not only did it not really resemble mozzarella but it also didn't really work as its own unique thing.<br />
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Now, I love cooking and experimenting with tricky recipes but the negative of this kit is that it was just a bit of a fuss. I have made each recipe only once and it is a bit of a novelty. And there are more and more pre-made cheeses coming out that are very believable and tasty. In fact, the only time I'd whip out this kit in future is if I was wanting to show off at a dinner party or was making something for someone with allergies where I wanted to be really sure there were no harmful ingredients.<br />
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Do I recommend this kit? It depends. You need to really love cooking. And have a bit of time on your hands. Maybe if you're retired, or you have a partner who you split up the household chores with (someone marry me and take on all the cleaning, and I'll cook every meal for you for the rest of your life). As mentioned, it might also be a good shout for people with allergies who really want to be sure their cheeses have no trace of dairy. As a vegan, I think there are some really good cheeses on the market now so I'd only go for this kit if you really don't like anything store-bought and like to know what's in your food.mòraghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11050134196927758040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630121002365413781.post-76257408509781623552019-10-27T20:43:00.000+00:002019-10-28T18:11:52.780+00:00I watched all the Friday the 13th films and here are my thoughts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/732819576/is-halloween-over-yet-friday-the-13th"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Buy this t-shirt here. </span></a></div>
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I love horror films - specifically, slasher films. As much as I have a place in my heart for creepy girls climbing out of a television or, uh, experimenting with a crucifix, it's the slashers that have my lifelong love.<br />
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Primarily, it's the slashers that were created between the mid-90s into the early 2000s that I love the most. With <i>Scream</i> being not only my favourite horror franchise - but just one of my favourite franchises, period. But I know that those films wouldn't exist without the golden oldies.<br />
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But I've not watched that many of the old slasher films, because I'm a bad horror fan. I've seen about half of the <i>Halloween</i> series (but let's be real: that franchise got wildly out of control), a few of the <i>Nightmare on Elm Street</i> films and only half of <i>Psycho</i> because I didn't actually like it. Until very recently, I had only seen two <i>Friday the 13th</i> films (the first one and <i>Freddy VS Jason</i>). That changed when I randomly stumbled upon the entire <i>Friday the 13th</i> series on NOW TV. So if you've not seen me recently and thought I had died, that is actually what I was up.<br />
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My perception of<i> Friday the 13th</i> before this was...meh. I had seen the original and <i>Freddy VS Jason</i> and had never quite taken to Jason. Personally, I prefer my villains to have more complexity, with a backstory, and the ability to talk. So I never gravitated towards the man-child that is Jason.<br />
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But, I am a big horror fan. And as a big horror fan I have still always appreciated that <i>Friday the 13th </i>was one of the earliest slasher films created and that, without it, many of my favourite films would not exist. Many of the horror tropes used today were developed from <i>Halloween </i>and <i>Friday the 13th</i>.<br />
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Here's the thing though: despite its commercial success, critics hated it. And fair enough. From a critical and artistic standpoint, it's a pile of shite. Even Betsy Palmer, who played Pamela Vorhees, didn't expect it to be a hit and only took the job because she needed money for a new car! It's not a good film, in the technical sense. But what people who graduate from film school don't always understand: what is good from an academic or professional standpoint isn't always what audiences want.<br />
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And that's where marketing comes in. Or, more accurately, understanding supply and demand. The creators of <i>Friday the 13th</i> admit that they wanted to create something similar to <i>Halloween</i> (largely regarded as the film that created the slasher genre). Audiences wanted more and the creators saw the gap in the market; there was the demand but not supply. A large part of <i>Friday the 13th</i> success was the right time and the right place.<br />
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When talking about slasher films, especially the older ones, the book <i>Men, Women and Chainsaws </i>will come up. I actually own this book and read it several a years ago. And in it is the answer to why audiences loved the low-budget slashers of the 80s: they were simple, accessible, and lacked pretentious art school vibes. So pretty much: the very reason film experts hated them was the same reason mainstream audiences loved them. The book also calls <i>Silence of the Lambs</i> a "slasher film for graduate students" and I've always lol'd at that. I love the <i>Silence of the Lambs</i> film (it's actually a favourite) but let's not pretend that Hannibal Lector isn't a pretentious snob.<br />
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Regardless, Jason became a horror icon. Which is strange to anyone who has seen the <i>Friday the 13th</i> series and/or the opening sequence of <i>Scream</i>:<br />
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Maybe I love <i>Scream</i> so much because I don't mind spoilers.<br />
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Jason didn't actually show up until the sequel, which I knew because of my aforementioned love of <i>Scream</i>. But what did surprise me while watching the series is that (spoiler alert) he doesn't get his iconic hockey mask until the third film. And even then it's not until a good chunk of the way through the film. All that iconic imagery that I had been familiar with since my teenage years showed up later in the franchise.<br />
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/P0Z16McOg0I" width="560"></iframe><br />
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But I love this scene. Not just because he obtains his mask, but also because of the nonchalant way he waddles back to the house.<br />
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And then he uses the hockey mask to cover his disfigured face for the rest of the franchise.<br />
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Speaking of the entire franchise...do you want to know which of the films I actually liked?<br />
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The one that stood out for me, and a lot of horror fans, is the 6th film: Jason Lives. Yes, it's very random that six films in they created something that received some positive reviews from critics. It's slightly humorous in a passive way, the kills are gory, and there is more characterisation. While it was released in 1986, it's humour and meta dialogue make it look like a film that could have been made in the late 90s in a post-<i>Scream</i> world. And I love <i>Scream</i>. <i>Scream</i> in the best.<br />
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It's also the film where Jason is resurrected and would remain immortal and powerful for the rest of the franchise.<br />
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Who doesn't love watching a bunch of annoying company execs being killed in the woods?<br />
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The other film I really liked, and I might get some flack about, is<i> Jason X</i>. Some fans really hate this film. Like, really hate it. But I like it. It's Jason in space which is a ridiculous idea, but the film knows that it's ridiculous so, in my opinion, they get away with it. And Jason gets a make-over and becomes futuristic Uber Jason. Okay, I know that's probably why people don't like it. As mentioned, slasher flicks started out as simple films without anything too out there. So sending Jason ino space and having him become half-robot was going to anger the purists. But,I.do.not.care. I like this film. It's silly.<br />
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Sadly, Uber Jason was only seen in this film and <i>Freddy VS Jason</i> decided to old old-school Jason.<br />
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And while <i>Jason Takes Manhattan</i> is probably the worst film in the franchise because HE SPENDS MOST OF IT KILLING PEOPLE ON A BOAT that one scene where we see Jason standing in Times Square was incredible. And I just love that people don't bat an eyelid because...New York. That city sees dressed up weirdos all the time.<br />
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One of the main criticisms you hear about the Friday the 13th films is WHY SO MANY BOOBS! The whole franchise has a lot of naked chicks, and this has been up for academic and feminist critique. There's a horror trope about "sluts dying first" that really needs to get in the bin (and has done so, to an extent). But the <i>Friday the 13th</i> series is probably one of the boobiest horror franchises out there.<br />
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My opinion: the critique on the naked chics being mostly young, white, conventionally attractive, thin women is valid. When you're going to have sexualised characters, have a bit of variety. But also: stop being prudes. It's not just about the "male gaze". I'm a queer woman and I'm not going to pretend I didn't enjoy the boobs. Boobs are nice. And I like hot naked chics as much as any straight dude.<br />
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Though race: the third film has black characters...but they are gangstas. Okay then. I was hoping for a tiny bit of diversity. Thanks to <i>Scream 2</i> we know that horror is a white-centric genre:<br />
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You tell them, Jada Pinkett Smith!<br />
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My main bug bearer about <i>Friday the 13th</i> is small, and pedantic. I was wondering how big Crystal Lake actually is? And how many houses can you fit around one fucking lake? And how did Jason hideout in the woods that long with no one finding him? And in the ninth film, there's a Vorhees Estate that fell into the hands of a random half-sister? Half-sister I can believe but this massive mansion? Why did Jason live in the woods when there was a mansion that was rightfully his? Blah blah blah artistic license blah blah blah.<br />
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Would I say that the <i>Friday the 13th</i> franchise is going to become a personal favourite? No. But I did enjoy my binge, even if it was only from an I'm a Horror Fan and Really Enjoy Watching All the Horror Movies Because I Just Love Horror That Much sort of way. For me, my binge was a massive geek sesh.<br />
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P.S. you can buy<a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/715762418/camp-crystal-lake-theme-inspired-soy-wax?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=friday+the+13th&ref=sc_gallery-1-1&plkey=67df8dcbbe5f8e6490d39d050120410fd490210a%3A715762418&pro=1"> a Camp Crystal Lake candle</a>.<br />
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<br />mòraghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11050134196927758040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630121002365413781.post-64018336526312612922019-10-20T10:00:00.000+01:002019-10-20T10:00:03.613+01:005 things that helped me accept that I am bisexual and come out the closet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9lEos8kdkow/Xas1ILVJ6hI/AAAAAAAAIeQ/01gizVU5g7YCdHLZCi1KEnrqffXiJef-gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/jpeg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="539" height="632" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9lEos8kdkow/Xas1ILVJ6hI/AAAAAAAAIeQ/01gizVU5g7YCdHLZCi1KEnrqffXiJef-gCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/jpeg.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">A flashback to a selfie taken around about the time I came out. My face says everything about how I was feeling at that point in my life. </span></div>
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Last week I wrote a <a href="http://www.moadore.co.uk/2019/10/bisexual-outiversary.html">long, rambly 4000+ word post</a> about my decision to come out as bisexual two years ago, and what life has been like since.<br />
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In that post, I shared that my decision to come out was directly related to my decision to end some questionable platonic relationships. While this was the critical moment that pushed me over the edge, it wasn't the only thing that had happened in recent years that would get me closer to accepting what I had known since high school. Here are five other things that helped me accept who I really was, and result in me coming out of the closet!<br />
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<b>1. Open-bisexual public figures</b></h3>
While I was growing up, there weren't any bisexual public figures to look up to. At least not any who were explicitly bisexual. I've known for decades that Angelina Jolie and Drew Barrymore are bisexual - but their sexuality is not well publicised.<br />
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Fast forward to the last few years and there are two prominent bisexuals in the media who everyone knows are bisexual: Kristen Stewart and Cara Delvigne. I mean, sorry if this is how you found out but anyone who follows celebrity gossip even <i>slightly</i> knows that these two ladies love people of any gender.<br />
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Bi-erasure is still a problem. <a href="https://www.advocate.com/bisexuality/2018/9/24/seeing-through-bi-erasure-swirls-around-cynthia-nixon">Cynthia Nixon is one of the most prominent examples</a>. She's been married to a woman for 11 years and has to correct people who assume she is gay. I mean, she was with a man for 15 years (which was during her <i>Sex & The City</i> fame) that you think would be a giveaway - but nah! I've even had to personally correct someone on Cynthia Nixon's sexuality. <br />
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People, not even public figures, should never feel pressurised to be loud about their sexuality if they don't want to be. And they shouldn't really have to, in an ideal world anyway. But having celebrities who are loudly bisexual was a turning point for me.<br />
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<h3>
<b>2. LGBT+ people coming out in later age</b></h3>
I came out a month before my 27th birthday. And part of my fear was people asking me why it took me so long - or, god forbid, using it as a reason to not believe me. Any, yes, I was asked by people why it took me so long. Not all of us get it done the first day of university, okay?<br />
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In 2015, YouTube sensation <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eh7WRYXVh9M">Ingrid Nilsen came out as gay at the age of 26</a>. Granted this was two years before I would eventually come out myself but it did serve as a small nudge that it's okay to come out in your late 20s.<br />
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A slightly more low-key coming out story was from local Glasgow blogger Sophie. Sophie is a friend these days, but at the time they were no more than someone I followed on Twitter. But seeing someone who was my age publicly document their coming out story was the second most important thing that helped me accept myself, only losing out to ending shitty friendships.<br />
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I came out of the closet a year after Sophie did, and their story was an important part of mine. Sophie sharing their story helped me rattle on the closet doors while ending ugly friendships was the thing that made the doors throw open. If I was to write a book about my life as a bisexual - from the moment I knew to the present-day - Sophie's influence would have a dedicated chapter.<br />
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And that's why I'm a fan of people sharing my own story. Sophie isn't a public figure. They were a random person on Twitter, albeit one that I would consider a friend now. In the past week since publishing my anniversary blog, I've had two bisexuals (one closeted) come into my DMs thanking me for putting into words what they've struggled to say. You never know who your story could help.<br />
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<b>3. Online dating</b></h3>
I would like to give a friendly shout out to my good friend Tinder (and OkCupid) for making it easier to chat to girls when I still wasn't ready to come out publicly. How did queer people meet people back in the day? Especially those of us who don't look queer? And weren't confident enough to be out? Heck, I'm still rubbish at chatting up potentially queer girls in the real world.<br />
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<h3>
<b>4.</b> <b>Better bisexual characters</b></h3>
Again, growing up there weren't many bisexual characters in tv and films. Sure, there were characters who experimented or randomly came out as gay after having a healthy hetero-relationship (looking at you Willow Rosenburg). But those characters typically enforced negative bisexual stereotypes.<br />
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But a few years ago I got sucked into the Arrowverse and the bisexual character of Sara Lance. For the first time, I witnessed a bisexual character portrayed really well. She doesn't have a long-term partner on the show, so we see her date people of multiple genders - and she never "picks a side". And her sexuality is very rarely mentioned specifically - aside from an evil character here and there - it's just <i>there. </i><br />
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Since coming out I've dipped my toes into <i>Riverdale</i>, which boasts the bisexual characters Cheryl and Toni.<br />
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And while I haven't watched it, I've heard that <i>Emmerdale</i> of all things has a bisexual character now.<br />
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That's why I firmly believe in representation. Because when people can see themselves in things, it lifts them up.<br />
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<b>5. My self-confidence</b></h3>
In last week's post, I shared that I struggled with self-confidence and anxiety while I was in the closet. But truthfully, my anxiety and my sexuality is a bit of a chicken-and-egg theory - which one came first? Because in the years prior to coming out my confidence had grown bit by bit. Yes, it grew exponentially the day I came out. But some of the work I did on growing my confidence since high school did lay the groundwork for me having the confidence to eventually come out.<br />
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<h3>
And one thing that definitely did not help me get there sooner: </h3>
<b>People speculating about my sexuality</b><br />
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Despite being femme presenting and not obviously queer, I am more than aware that my sexuality was speculated about more than once. And I know the people who did so had their heart in the correct place, but it actually made me find a dark place at the back of the closet where no one would ever find me. The idea that people knew terrified me. Even on the odd occasion where I was specifically asked I laughed and denied it.<br />
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I won't name the family member specifically, in case I have the story wrong. But there is an older family member who has acted as if they have known since my mid-teens, but never directly asked. They did, however, start showing more of an interest in LGBTQ+ issues and stopped teasing me about boys. And that was the way to do it. Allowing me to know that they knew, they loved me regardless and would be there for me when<i> I was ready.</i><br />
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Coming out is a personal choice that should be made by the person. And one of the best ways to be an ally is to give them the space to figure it out in their own time.<br />
<br />mòraghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11050134196927758040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630121002365413781.post-21007686422895564452019-10-13T10:00:00.000+01:002019-10-13T10:00:01.649+01:00Two years. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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October is a bit of a funny month for me. It's home to a few major anniversaries and memories - some of which I'd like to forget. My childhood dog was put down in October, I've been dumped (twice!) in October, I was burgled, I've been made redundant, and (a good one this time) it's the month I moved to Glasgow. While I wouldn't consider myself to be a particularly paranoid person, I do feel like waving sage around my house when October comes around each year.<br />
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But there's another anniversary that makes me incredibly emotional - and in a good way.<br />
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And that's my outiversary.<br />
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While I might be unapologetically bisexual now: it was only two years ago, a month before my 27th birthday, that I stood in my kitchen one Friday night and decided I was done.<br />
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Last year, on #BiVisibilityDay, <a href="http://www.moadore.co.uk/2018/09/my-first-bivisibilityday-out-closet.html">I wrote a blog post explaining why it took me so long to come out</a> and I'm not planning to re-hash the entire story. What I'm going to focus on in this post is the coming out itself and how my life has changed since that night.<br />
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My coming out wasn't entirely out the blue and was a progression (or a reaction!) to another major decision. Somewhere in late summer 2017, a memory came up on my Facebook from many years ago. In the photo, were me and a frenemy who had been in my life since 2009. The person in question is a highly problematic individual and when I looked at the photo, I felt something switch in me. My awkward and shy face. Their creepy fucking smile. The timestamp that reminded me that I had put up with their shit for far too long.<br />
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While I had tried to distance myself a few times in the past, I had always ultimately chickened out. But something about the painfully awkward facial expression of my 19-year-old self made me snap. This time I was walking away from that person for good and anyone who enabled them.<br />
<br />
Fast forward a few months later and I'm in my kitchen just minutes away from the moment where I'd snap about my sexuality.<br />
<br />
You see, the weekend I came out was the same weekend as their birthday party. I wasn't going. I had been chased to go by mutual friends and I hadn't caved. <i>I was really walking away. </i><br />
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And within the adrenaline of all this, I found the strength to do something else: that night, I became an openly bisexual woman. The moment was so poignant to me that I remember that I was looking in my fridge when I made the decision. There's a running joke with my friends that I came out of the fridge rather than the closet.<br />
<br />
My coming out was subtle and many people probably missed it. That night all I did was change my sexual orientation on my dating apps. And I only began to actually tell people when I began meeting girls off of Tinder. It would still take me another year to become the proudly in-your-face-bisexual that I am today.<br />
<br />
The next four months of my life were some of the most emotional of my life. This is the time period where I began to come out socially. I mean, I count my outiversary as that moment in my kitchen but there was still some work to be done. I began dropping it into blog posts (<a href="http://www.moadore.co.uk/2017/10/batgirl-joss-whedon.html">the first time is here</a>) and then told people as I began to go on dates. If you're one of the friends who I came out to directly (rather than just finding out from a blog post) I can remember exactly how it was done. Maybe you don't. But I remember where I was when I did it, and how the conversation got to that point. Those moments have never left me.<br />
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I also began seeing girls I knew on dating apps, so I guess the news was going to get out.<br />
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And while I'm at home with my story now there are still those moments where I look back - with an actual tear in my eye - and think: <i><b>holy fuck I actually did it. </b></i><br />
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For those of you who have never had to come out, the emotion I feel around this anniversary might be hard to understand.<br />
<br />
But the impact coming out has had on my emotional and mental health has been profound. While, yeah, coming out might seem no more than a moment where I can go "woohoo, I get to date girls now" it was a lot more than that. In the year that followed that night, I felt like I was being reborn.<br />
<br />
If you've known me for more than two years, you might recall how awkward a human I used to be. I never went to the GP so I'm hesitant to use the term and self-diagnose, but my younger self very likely suffered from social anxiety. The link between LGBTQ+ individuals and mental health problems are well documented. And for me, that manifested in struggling to connect with people, overthinking absolutely everything, being scared people were judging me for the tiniest of things, and struggling to make chit chat. I also suffered from arachnophobia (which, no, not officially diagnosed either but on more than one occasion I was left sobbing uncontrollably because a spider was in the house). I'm not a psychiatrist and have no idea if this medically adds up: but sometimes I think spiders were the physical manifestation of my anxiety. Either way, I don't have the phobia now (just a strong dislike).<br />
<br />
Very recently I read <i>Brave New Girl </i>by Chloe Brotheridge. Chloe is a therapist who specialises in anxiety disorders and there was one tidbit in this incredible book that hit me right in the sweet spot: carrying a massive secret around can sometimes be the root cause of anxiety.<br />
<br />
Oh.<br />
<br />
A lot makes sense now.<br />
<br />
The thing is: after coming out I found confidence for the first time in my life. I began to move around the world with more ease, rather than shuffling around like I had done before. I looked people in the eye when they spoke to me. I could talk back if I needed to. I felt less weird having serious conversations. I could actually connect with people on a deep, emotional level.<br />
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Having the confidence to be honest about who I found attractive opened up the door for me to become honest about who I was in every sense of the word. I ditched hobbies that I only had a passive interest in and focused on my passions instead. My clothing choices became more consistent. I became confidently vegan rather than awkwardly pretending I wasn't hungry. I've also shared publicly that I would consider an open relationship. I applied to a university course last year that would have resulted in a change of career direction. I post things online that I know my family won't like, but I know now that I don't live for them.<br />
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I've become the most honest version of myself in every way possible. And, fuck, does it feel good.<br />
<br />
And the thing is? Nothing bad came from coming out. All those years I was scared to be myself because I felt like I was too nerdy, too bisexual, too introverted, too awkward, or too vegan. Truth is: the only people I lost were the people I chose to walk away from in the summer of 2017. In the two years since I've come out, I've developed - for the first time in my life - a proper support system. Not just people to hang out with or people I talk to in a superficial way. But deep, emotional, and authentic relationships.<br />
<br />
High school me would think you were lying if she was to be told that the 28-year-old version of her would say these words but...<br />
<br />
....I'm popular now?<br />
<br />
People like the real me. They really like her. Some people actually <i>love</i> her.<br />
<br />
One of my friends Abbey - who I met about eight months after I came out of the fridge - told me that her favourite thing about me is that "Morag is just so Morag". I almost cried when she told me this as less than a year before I met her I was only just beginning to embrace the honest version of myself.<br />
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I've also received DMs from people thanking me for how open I am. And that shit always makes me cry happy tears. I want to hug the younger version of me and everyone who feels they have to hide from the world for something so trivial.<br />
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Coming out of the closet also helped clear up another issue that had followed me around for years: my inability to commit to someone romantically. I've only had two official relationships in my life, but these were both when I was a lot younger. I have spent the bulk of my twenties single. Which has been fine, as being single is not a bad thing. However, one reason I was hesitant to commit to anyone was that I wasn't being honest about who I was attracted to. Yes, I could have just married a man because, duh, I have always been genuinely attracted to those creatures. But I couldn't do so while knowing that I hadn't given myself to full opportunity to date all the genders that I really wanted to before picking that one special person. There was that nagging thought "do I really want to end up with a man, or would I prefer a girl?". If I end up with a man now, I'll confidently know that it's just how things worked out.<br />
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A few months after coming out I started dating a girl in the late spring of 2018. It ended a few months after it began, and after we parted ways the idea of a serious romantic partner to whom I was committed to was no longer scary. I no longer felt like I would be missing out on something that I secretly craved. Bisexuals don't have to have slept or dated a person of every gender to be valid but, for me, I didn't want to go to my grave having not done so.<br />
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Since then I've been fine with the idea of romantic commitment. I've not found anyone, but I have given random suitors a real chance. Not long after things ended with that girl, I began to develop my first big crush on someone in years. It was a man, and the idea of committing to him didn't seem scary. I mean, it didn't work out in my favour but it was nice to have a big crush on someone without being scared to do something about it (new Morag wasn't scared to pursue and did speak up!)<br />
<br />
I've also given some thought as to how I would like to identify. I love that language has evolved to include new identities that explicitly describe someone's sexual attraction. I've chosen bisexual mostly because its the mainstream term and you don't need to explain it to people. Though the word bisexual does come with stigma, because when you get technical (and pedantic) about it: it means attracted to two genders. I do not believe there are only two genders and I am attracted to people across the gender spectrum. But I wouldn't say I'm gender blind, which is why I've always rejected the term pansexual. But there is a power in reclaiming words that have negative connotations and I would love to see the meaning of the word bisexual shift to reflect the modern world. But sometimes I worry that this is my cis-privilege showing (call me out if I need it).<br />
<br />
However, two other identities I feel comfortable with are polysexual and fluid. Polysexual means attracted to many genders, but not all. Which does more closely sum up how I feel. But I have had to explain what it means to people - even people on queer dating apps! And fluid means that someone's sexual orientation can shift. My attraction has always been fluid, and I have no "fixed point" on how attracted I am to different genders. Months can pass by where I feel monosexual, but then I shift back into the centre.<br />
<br />
Coming out about my sexual attraction also created an environment where I began to explore my romantic attraction and attitude towards relationships in general. I wrote about it <a href="http://www.moadore.co.uk/2019/04/romantic-attraction.html">in-depth earlier this year</a>. When I began dating a girl in spring 2018, it was the first time where there was a big conversation about what we were, rather than just making assumptions based on labels. We were romantically and sexually involved, but we agreed that we were not life partners and were free to date other people (but be honest about it). To be fair, I had mentioned in passing before coming out that I felt curious about polyamory and open relationships (me and my first ever boyfriend talked about it!). Since we parted ways a year ago, I have tried to make a habit of talking openly to any sexual and romantic companions on how we show up on each other's life. This chat always goes down better with queer people. Even bisexual men are in tune with the idea that it's not okay to assume what you are to someone (straight men are still very bad at assuming).<br />
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Dating as bisexual woman has had a few pitfalls. I'm now a prime target for those pesky unicorn hunters. And while threesomes are a very valid sexual fantasy, the way these couples go about wooing bisexual women is so...odd. So odd, in fact, that I have a half-written guide in my drafts about how to do it ethically!<br />
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And then there's the Gold Star Lesbians who would never touch a bisexual girl. In fact, the bulk of girls I've flirted with online have been bisexual (or something similar). Very rarely do I have gay women in my DMs.<br />
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But here's my personal favourite: straight dudes who I've matched with asking what my preference is. One, it's a very personal question to ask someone who is no more than a Tinder match. And two, it stinks of the myth that bisexuals can't help themselves and will ultimately cheat on you with someone of another gender so, hey, let's check that she's more into men than girls so that I can trust her. Okay, I don't know their reasoning behind asking that question, but that's how it feels to be asked. Also: my preference doesn't stick for long (this week alone I've switched my Tinder back and forth between men and women).<br />
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Near the tail end of 2018, one of the mutual friends with the aforementioned frenemy popped up in my Messenger Inbox. We'd remained friendly-ish but she ultimately acted as if she expected me to change my mind and come running back (probably because I had in the past). I was invited to her NYE party, where I knew that person would be. I declined. Right after the new year, she messaged me pleading saying that she missed me and that she would ditch this person if it meant getting me back.<br />
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Ultimately, I didn't take her back (but hear me out).<br />
<br />
A lot had changed since that night in my kitchen. She didn't miss me. At least she didn't miss the real me. She missed the super obedient, shy, and non-confrontational version of me that I used to be. She missed a girl that was similar to me, but ultimately wasn't me. Not true me, anyway. And our friendship had always been wooden because of that.<br />
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But also, I knew from my days in the closet that she doesn't believe bisexuals are real. As in, I've heard her say that word for word. That's the thing with spending a chunk of your adult life in the closet: you know who the secret bigots are. And she was one. You don't need to be a brain scientist to make the connection between my decision to walk away from that particular group of people and my decision to come out.<br />
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And when I turned her down, she stayed friends with the person who was stood with me in that photo - despite knowing how badly they had behaved over the years. She was never going to walk away from that person because it would have been the morally right thing to do - she was only offering to walk away if it meant salvaging a friendship that lacked any real depth (hi if you're reading).<br />
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These days I am loud and proud about my sexuality. And I know that annoys some people. There are the flat-out bigots who just want everyone to marry someone of the "opposite" sex and make babies (they probably believe women should be in the kitchen too). Then there are the "I'm not against it but why do we need Pride" types.<br />
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Quite frankly: fuck you.<br />
<br />
I spent my teenage years terrified that someone would catch on to the fact that I fancied a girl two years above me. I tried to fight it for most of my early twenties. It caused me to have social anxiety. I became frightened of my own feelings. I've missed out on pursuing girls who I liked in a mushy way because I didn't want to admit that I liked girls in a mushy way.<br />
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I was scared to love. And no one should be scared to love.<br />
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Coming out is my proudest achievement, but it shouldn't be. What kind of world are we living in that someone's proudest achievement is learning to love themselves in a world that still tells them not to? Or overcoming the gaslighting from a society that tells us that bisexuals don't really exist?<br />
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Coming out is bullshit and shouldn't be a thing. It's easier now to come out of the closet than it was a decade ago. But not everyone can live life freely. Even though I'm a millennial and don't belong to a generation fuelled with hatred, it still took me over a decade to come out. I also live in a safe enough country, but it still took me over a decade to come out. Yes, society's changing attitude helped me slowly get there - but ultimately it was letting go of the wrong people.<br />
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But despite coming out on the internet, there are still situations where I choose to stay quiet.<br />
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I'm lucky enough to be out at work. It's the travel industry, an industry that is typically dominated by women and a lot of the men that do work in it are LGBT+ themselves. I also work in digital marketing, which is hardly the most corporate occupation ever. But I do sometimes fear the day when I move on and have to come out all over again (or choose not to!).<br />
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But I have also discovered bi-erasure first hand. Very recently I met a new person who, when I mentioned I was going on a date, immediately used male pronouns. On this occasion, I was going on a date with a man but I wasn't sure if I wanted to randomly start a conversation saying "hey, on this occasion, it is a man I'm going on a date with but just so you know...".<br />
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And then there are the people who know fine well I'm bisexual but still seem to forget.<br />
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I have made the decision, however, not to explicitly come out to my family. Since I'm loud about it online, I know a lot of them must know. It's not a secret; they are allowed to know. Largely the reason I've never told them is that the topic has never arisen. When I came out to my friends, it was when I began going on dates with girls and non-binary people. I didn't say anything until there was something to tell them. But because I've never had the kind of relationship with my family where they'd know about random flings and Tinder dates, the natural opportunity has never come up. They only know when I'm dating someone if the person I'm dating becomes an official partner - and that's why I've ultimately made the decision to only explicitly say "I like girls" if I meet a girl I want to commit to on a serious level.<br />
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And I know there might be an element of "bi-privilege" to this but: I might still end up with a guy anyway, and I'd rather not put myself through an awkward conversation with family members about liking girls only to never bring one home.<br />
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Saying that I am very grateful for the family members who have liked posts on Instagram and Facebook that acknowledge my sexuality. That's all I'm looking for. I don't really feel like having an in-depth chat about my sex life with family members, thank you very much. I chose to come out in a natural way, and I'd prefer for it to be acknowledged in a natural way.<br />
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Would my life be different if I had come out sooner? Yeah, probably. But given I was surrounded by biphobic assholes for years, I was never safe to. And I stand by that. Words can be weapons and having friends who denied the existence of bisexual people caused me to doubt my own sense of self. I've not forgiven the people who made me feel like I had to hide the real me - and probably never will.<br />
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There is nothing wrong with not being out. We all have different stories and varying levels of safety. I'm not even sure if I would come out sooner if I could do my life again. All I care about is that I am out now and sharing my story loudly so that fewer people have to feel the way I did for over a decade. If just one person accepts themselves after reading this 4,000-word ramble then I consider the multiple re-writes to be worth it.<br />
<br />
When writing this post I chose to not hold back. Part of me did almost remove certain anecdotes (mainly the parts where I discuss family and ex-friends) but I wanted it to be the real story of how coming out changed my life. Not a wishy-washy version of the story where I'm like "yeah, everything's great now and I'm not angry at all".<br />
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But all things aside, the last two years of my life have been the happiest and most peaceful of my life. I'm finally sitting right in my own skin and I'm no longer frightened of everything. And all because I did something as simple as admitting to myself that I could fall in love with someone regardless of their gender or sex.<br />
<br />
That night in my kitchen I never imagined that coming out would lead to the level of happiness I now feel. The idea that finally accepting the very thing that I had tried to run from for over a decade was the very thing that would set me free still seemed too bizarre. I was scared really fucking scared, but it turned out I had nothing to be scared about. Because that night was the night my life really began.<br />
<br />
Anniversaries are always special, no matter what they celebrate or mourn. But some just hold a larger significance.<br />
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And for me, the most special anniversary of all is the one where I took a deep breath and gave myself permission to love. Not just permission to love people of all genders, but permission to love myself in all my bisexual reality.<br />
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13th October 2017.mòraghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11050134196927758040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630121002365413781.post-8818179624627329792019-09-28T15:33:00.004+01:002019-09-29T20:00:07.929+01:00A Batgirl fangirl's guide to starting a comic book collection<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rrTmxuR6IvM/XY9uWDQb6vI/AAAAAAAAIdk/pn52pva5S_06jV1RXFi5xuXgxTzN4-PsACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/batgirl%2Bcomics%2Bblog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rrTmxuR6IvM/XY9uWDQb6vI/AAAAAAAAIdk/pn52pva5S_06jV1RXFi5xuXgxTzN4-PsACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/batgirl%2Bcomics%2Bblog.jpg" /></a></div>
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Society might tell you that comics are for children and emotionally stunted men who live in their mums' basements.<br />
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I am neither a child nor an emotionally stunted man, but I love comics. In fact, I collect Batgirl comics and it's one of my life goals to collect every single issue. Including the variant covers. I'm saving to buy my own flat right now and when I finally do have my own place I intend to display my collection in a way so that everyone who visits will be graced with Barbara Gordon's amazing wit and intellect. </div>
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Maybe I am a nerd who needs to get out more. </div>
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But if you thought this was a childhood obsession that got a bit out of hand once I was a grown-up with my own income, you would be wrong. I started reading comics at the age of 24. </div>
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Yes, at the age of 24 I randomly decided that I wanted to become a comic reader. I didn't know specifically at that point that I'd end up collecting Batgirl comics but something about reading comics spoke to me. I had always been obsessed with pop culture and over the years began to gravitate towards superhero films and comics were a natural progression.<br />
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But it took me a <i>long</i> time to find out what comics appealed to me, and that I wanted to pursue a Batgirl collection. There are a lot of comic genres and creators out there, and even if you have a rough idea of what you want to read you still have to find out what issues to start on and where to buy said issues.<br />
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I have girls in my DMs every now and then asking for my advice on this very topic because it can be confusing knowing where to start. And a lot of the guides out there are male-centric. So I've pulled together my own guide to help anyone who might be struggling to find a starting point.<br />
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<h3>
Know your comic book terms</h3>
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First things first, know the lingo. <a href="https://www.howtolovecomics.com/comic-book-glossary-of-terms">Here's a fantastic reference sheet for you</a>.<br />
<h3>
<br />Start with graphic novels</h3>
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Step away from the single issues! I only recommend you start collecting single issues when you've settled on a character or universe that you absolutely love (like me and Batgirl). Graphic novels are a great way to read a whole story run in one go and get to know different characters, universes, and locations. Many graphic novels are actually single issue comics brought together once a whole run has finished publication - it's like waiting to binge the entire box set rather than watching something episode by episode.<br />
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If it's DC you're looking to get into <i>Batman: Year One</i>, <i>The Long Halloween</i>, <i>Batman: A Death in the Family</i>, and <i>Batman: The Killing Joke</i> are generally considered the best of the best.<br />
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<h3>
Look into the comics of your favourite film and TV shows</h3>
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While I might be a big DC fangirl now, when I entered the world of comics I kept an open mind between DC and Marvel. I loved Rogue from X-Men and purchased a few graphic novels that focused on her, but then discovered that film Rogue and comic Rogue were very different. Batgirl hasn't been in that many film adaptations so I wasn't prepared for the idea that I'd fall in love with the character. But I've always loved Poison Ivy in the films, and I love her just as much in the comics.<br />
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While you might end up surprised by the differences between the source material and the Hollywood reincarnations, I'd still recommend picking up a graphic novel that focuses on a character that you're already familiar with.<br />
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Other films and TV shows that have comics as part of the shared universe includes Buffy, Transformers, Star Wars, Riverdale, Sabrina, and The Walking Dead.<br />
<h3>
<br />Find characters that are similar to you</h3>
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When I began dipping my toes into Marvel and DC I focused on the female characters. It's natural to favour characters who are similar to you and I know my fondness of Barabara Gordon is because I see parts of her in myself.<br />
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Here's a mini-guide the main DC ladies:<br />
Poison Ivy - eco-warrior, sexy, redhead, scientist<br />
Harley Quinn - giggly, gymnast, hyper<br />
Catwoman - sexy, morally ambiguous<br />
Batwoman - lesbian (since 2006 anyway) and strong as hell<br />
Wonder Woman - a bit self-righteous, beautiful, strong<br />
Black Canary - feisty but heart in the right place, and a rock chick<br />
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<h3>
You don't need to start at Issue #1</h3>
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Some comics and characters have been around for decades, so a few re-boots have been in order. Some characters have managed to die several times, then the whole thing is re-booted and they're back. Or they get paralysed, are in a wheelchair for years and become the brains of the organisation. Then the comic gets re-booted and they can walk again with no explanation. Just saying.<br />
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In the comic book world, series are called "runs" and what is more important is that you start at the beginning of run - but it doesn't matter which run that is. <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/superhero-comic-books-100-best-934371/item/watchmen-alan-moore-dave-gibbons-934865">Here's a list of the 100 best runs to start your imagination</a>.<br />
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<h3>
Feel free to Wikipedia the character's backstory</h3>
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I mean, if you insist on reading all of DC Comics from day one, be my guest. But if you start somewhere in the present day you can stop by Wikipedia to read up at some of the character canons.<br />
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<a href="https://hobbylark.com/fandoms/">Hobby Lark</a> is also a great resource for filling in the blanks. As is <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmA-0j6DRVQWo4skl8Otkiw">Comicstorian</a>.<br />
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<h3>
Know which superheroes cross-over with each other</h3>
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Even though X-Men comics and the Avengers are both Marvel, you won't find much cross over. In the world of DC, Batgirl is regularly joined by Black Canary, Dick Grayson, and Batman - but you probably won't find The Flash or Green Lantern popping up too often.<br />
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DC's publications, post-New 52 at least, are split up into the following 7 categories.<br />
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<ul>
<li>Justice League</li>
<li>Batman</li>
<li>Superman</li>
<li>Green Lantern</li>
<li>Young Justice</li>
<li>The Edge</li>
<li>The Dark</li>
</ul>
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Personally, it's the Justice League and Batman categories that I read. Batman tends to focus on characters that are in the Bat-family (Batgirl, Robin, Alfred, etc ), their nemesis (Joker, Penguin etc) and other characters who canonically live in Gotham (e.g. Detective Jim Gordon). While The Justice League is made up of the big-name heroes who have shown up in the films, such as Aquaman, Superman, and Wonder Woman.<br />
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<h3>
Comic cons are great for picking up back issues</h3>
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When you've read a few graphic novels and have decided on the characters and story arcs you'd like to focus on, then I recommend attending a comic fair or con. Generally speaking, comic shops sell graphic novels and new single issues, so if you're wanting to collect back issues then it's either online shopping or comic con.<br />
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A few shops that sell back-issues include Plan 9 Comics in Aberdeen, Forbidden Planet in Manchester, and a random one-man comic shop in the Afflecks Centre in Manchester.<br />
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<h3>
Some comic book shops are better than others</h3>
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There is a little bit of truth to some of the negative nerd stereotypes. Some comic shops do smell bad and are looked after by people with questionable people skills. There was a comic shop in Dundee that barely had any lighting, was dusty af, and was owned by a guy with the social skills of a rabid hyena. Then another comic shop was opened in Dundee by a woman who painted the walls light blue and actually looked after the damn place. I think you know which one I preferred (and which one no longer exists).<br />
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My favourite Scottish comic shop is Plan 9 in Aberdeen. They sell a good mix of back issues, new issues, and graphic novels - as well as geek memorabilia and board games. I always make a point of stopping by when I'm visiting my family.<br />
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Forbidden Planet is a chain and is usually new issues and graphic novels. Though the one in Manchester sells single back issues.<br />
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<h3>
Digital Comics are half the price</h3>
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I still love the feel of a physical book or comic in my hands, so I've never got into the e-book craze. But there are a lot of comics on offer in digital form, and usually for a fraction of the price. <a href="https://www.comixology.com/">Comixology</a> is one of the best places to start looking for digital comics.<br />
<h3>
<br />Libraries sometimes have free comics</h3>
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Many government-owned libraries have a graphic novel section. It's worth stopping by your local library to see what they have.<br />
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<h3>
Borrow comics from your friends</h3>
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Admittedly I wouldn't lend out my single issues, but if we're IRL friends I'm more than happy to lend you a graphic novel (or three).<br />
<h3>
<br />Free Comic Book Day</h3>
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Admittedly, I don't make use of this as I usually have a list of issues I want to buy and don't want to clutter up my room with comics I won't read. But I know some long-term nerds who always head out on this day. It usually falls in late spring and early summer and a lot of comic shops will hand out free single issues to customers.<br />
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Some more resources</h3>
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My guide only scratches the surface of the world of comics - and, uh, mainly focuses on DC and Batgirl. There are several guides out there that cover the medium more widely from people have been into comics since childhood. Here are some of muy favourites:<br />
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<a href="https://www.comicbookherald.com/">Comic Book Herald</a><br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=820&v=FYnkpCfKuDw">Patrick (H) Willems</a><br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCURz5rKDgt7YibUSageNhEw">Nerd Sync</a><br />
<a href="https://www.howtolovecomics.com/2019/01/02/start-reading-comics/">How To Love Comics</a></div>
mòraghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11050134196927758040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630121002365413781.post-52816273154564074442019-08-24T17:43:00.002+01:002019-08-24T17:51:50.221+01:00Is Final Destination 5 the best sequel ever made? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AAC35tg_2d0/XWFpBNCzdNI/AAAAAAAAIck/nm04vw3k-DEXxzwpuRPP0NDPsuR-l2akgCLcBGAs/s1600/final%2Bdestination%2B5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1148" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AAC35tg_2d0/XWFpBNCzdNI/AAAAAAAAIck/nm04vw3k-DEXxzwpuRPP0NDPsuR-l2akgCLcBGAs/s1600/final%2Bdestination%2B5.jpg" /></a></div>
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The <i>Final Destination</i> franchise - where every film starts with someone having a premonition, a bunch of teenagers escape death, but then death catches up and kills them in elaborate ways - has always sat on my "yeah I like it, but don't fangirl for it" film list.<br />
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I've always loved the concept of the films - that death has a design and no one can cheat it - and the kills are always brilliantly creative (if unlikely), but the annoying teenage characters grated on me. And, unlike many franchises, there wasn't a consistent final girl to root for or a villain to hate. What all the films have in common is the idea and concept, rather than a character, location, or backstory.<br />
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Currently, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2IYWWifoIht9T47z1Z5lJw">James A Janisse of Dead Meat YouTube fame</a> (who is one of my favourite creators and every horror fan should be following him) is covering the Final Destination franchise on his Kill Count series. So far he has covered films 1-4, all of which I have seen and I pleasantly enjoyed James's snarky commentary. So in preparation for him covering <i>Final Destination 5</i> next week, I decided to pop it on Netflix for some Friday night wild times. </div>
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Since the fourth film, <i>The Final Destination, was</i> a hot piece of garbage (and just the low-standards that tend to plague sequels in general, let alone the 5th instalment) I went in there with really low expectations. </div>
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But instead, </div>
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I found, </div>
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potentially, </div>
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the world's </div>
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greatest film sequel, </div>
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ever. </div>
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I'm going to warn you now, that this blog post is not a review but instead a mind-dump of <b>OHMYGODHOWFUCKINGCOOLWASTHAT? </b>There's a massive twist at the end, which is foreshadowed throughout but I still didn't see it coming, and I will be revealing it in a few sentences. </div>
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So, like, go watch it first and then come back and squee with me in the comments. </div>
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You also need to very familiar with the franchise to appreciate the twist when it comes.</div>
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But those of you who know what happens, let's hyperventilate over everything <i>Final Destination. </i></div>
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Are your eyes away now?</div>
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The outdated cultural references felt out of place but I put it down to poor scriptwriting. Even when they talked about moving to Paris the whole fucking movie I didn't make the connection with the first film. When they got on the plane my initial reaction was "why are they doing a plane scene again? You did that in the first fucking film. Have we ran out of elaborate death ideas?". </div>
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It wasn't until I saw Kerr Smith being dragged off the plane by security that I was like HOLY FUCKING BATMAN THIS WAS A PREQUEL THE ENTIRE TIME AND THEY ARE GOING TO FUCKING DIE ON THE PLANE CRASH FROM THE FIRST FILM. </div>
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It hit me like a bus. </div>
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<img border="0" data-original-height="140" data-original-width="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6jjBI7bEM5KTElYCi8ZZAnRY3LnspvwCLYf3VnT8P4Rjf3P1_JNMxsubJpJKGro_8x_TFYp2SZiclGxsaMTHmhItLanEw6QQP3DGq6oSyHcA2zJMs1ZxYaohhmnkfWBOs1d02V0RI5T0/s1600/final+destination+bus.gif" /></div>
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LOL. I make myself laugh (if no one else).<br />
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The only clue in the film that really stood out to me, but I ultimately put it down to a scriptwriting choice, was that they never made reference to the other films. In the other sequels, the teenagers received guidance from news stories and commentary about Flight 180 - and in the second film, they even sought the consult of a survivor. As noticeable as this was to me, I just got annoyed about it rather than making the connection that this film was set before the events of the first film. My internal dialogue was wondering why the characters weren't Googling their way out of this situation - but duh: smartphones weren't a thing circa the millennium and most homes still had dial-up.</div>
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The only advice they received was from the Coronor who randomly walks up to them at a funeral.<br />
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The filmmakers also created a nice balance between sneaking in a few nods to early 00s culture and technology, while not going so overboard that you immediately realise that this film is set in the past. There was a flip cell phone at one point (which I didn't notice), and there was a Lisa Lobe reference (which I did notice, and was like "wasn't that the chick who had one big song in the 90s then...nothing" I was nine when the millennium passed, so I wasn't super culturally-aware yet).<br />
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But there was something about the decision to return to the first film that stood out to me culturally, but only after I realised what was happening. Both films are set in 2000, but the second film was actually released in 2009. And between 2000 and 2009, the world witnessed 9/11 which had a big impact on the entertainment industry.<br />
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The first <i>Final Destination</i> film is painfully pre-9/11. To clarify, the first <i>Final Destination</i> film, where an aeroplane blows up, was released 18 months prior to 9/11 - which is uncomfortably close. If someone who is old enough to remember 9/11 watches Final Destination, without knowing its release date and storyline, they might find it a bit jarring as clothing, actors, and technology give away that its an early 00s film and was culturally in the same time frame as 9/11.<br />
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<i>Final Destination 3</i> did come under fire for referencing 9/11 in a photograph.<br />
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(We also know, that these days, someone screaming "the plane will crash" will probably be shot straight in the chest, even in films.).<br />
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But because 9/11 is too powerful an event to ignore, filmmakers tend to stay clear of blowing planes up. That's why the return to the first film took me a little by surprise. The first film was made in a pre-9/11 world, while the last was made in a post-9/11 world (even if it was set at the turn of the millennium). But they looped it right back. Don't get me wrong, I'm not offended by it and I don't think we should ban film producers from using planes as plot devices, but it was a reason why the decision stood out to me. </div>
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However, it wasn't just the twist at the end that made <i>Final Destination 5</i> such a great sequel.<br />
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Firstly, the opening sequence. Most of the opening premonitions in the <i>Final Destination</i> franchise play on our biggest fears: flying, car crashes, and rollercoasters (but weirdly the fourth film went for a race track blowing up?). The final film goes for a bridge falling apart. Now, I don't know about you, but bridges have always made me feel uneasy. I'm not afraid of them to the point where I'll plan my entire journey to avoid them. But when I'm on one, I am consciously aware of how far off the ground (or water) I am. That's why this opening sequence unnerved me more than the others.<br />
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Secondly, the characters are fleshed out. As mentioned at the start, the <i>Final Destination</i> films throw stereotypical teenagers together, then concentrates on creating gory deaths. That's cool. But it's also the reason I don't think I've ever been a massive fan. They spend a lot more time on character development in this film, where the characters all know each other already (through work). Especially Peter, who develops trauma off the back of his near-death experience where he then has to discover that death will catch up with him anyway! Once upon a time, we showed trauma survivors to be "strong" and ready to prove everyone wrong, but it's becoming more common to show characters with PTSD symptoms.<br />
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Then there was the extra mythology. Since these young adults, are (chronologically) the first people to cheat death in the franchise, they don't have previous experiences to rely on. So the writers had some fun with the advice given by the coroner. The new tweak to the formula? If you kill someone else you can take their place within the living, as death will accept their life instead. This is questionably not correct as Peter does take the detective's life and then Sam takes Peter's life - but Sam and Molly still die? But it was still an interesting take on how death works and adds an extra philosophical question to the theory of death's design.<br />
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Then finally: the elaborate deaths. Now, this has always been something that the Final Destination franchise has done well. But what I really liked about the deaths in <i>Final Destination 5</i> is that they were in, some ways, more believable. I, for one, am creeped out by the concept of laser eye surgery (or things coming near my eye, full stop) so a death scene involving a burnt eye got right under my skin. Then there was a gymnastic routine gone wrong (though, I did burst out laughing) and there was a straight-up murder. Then the eventual plane crash that killed Sam and Molly wasn't overly far-fetched either (previous instalments have had people flattened by signs and bathtubs falling through ceilings). It taps into real fears, albeit in an elaborate way.<br />
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And oh, the final scene of <i>Final Destination 5</i> is in sync with the plane crash from the first film:<br />
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lwkFCJxvcnw" width="560"></iframe>
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<i>Final Destination 5</i> wrapped up the franchise nicely, and I hope it gets left alone. A reboot in another decade could work. As would a tv, stage, or graphic novel adaption. But this timeline of events is one that has nicely tied up loose ends and it would be great to see it left the way it is. </div>
mòraghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11050134196927758040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630121002365413781.post-18952393463030944512019-08-15T21:28:00.001+01:002019-10-29T16:36:45.208+00:00Fringe Favourites: Cruel Intentions the 90s Musical<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-evTVVP8dmqE/XVW_ZE8IPuI/AAAAAAAAIcU/d1GurW2w7jILc6DGWHkPhhi9KoWVT3AUgCLcBGAs/s1600/cruel%2Bintentions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="324" data-original-width="620" height="334" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-evTVVP8dmqE/XVW_ZE8IPuI/AAAAAAAAIcU/d1GurW2w7jILc6DGWHkPhhi9KoWVT3AUgCLcBGAs/s640/cruel%2Bintentions.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.328px; text-align: start;">Cruel Intentions</em><br />
<span style="background-color: #efefef; color: #333333; font-family: "open sans" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.328px;">© The Other Richard</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Love or hate it, nostalgia is big right now. Film directors, theatre companies, games producers, and record labels are cashing in on our desire to relive decades gone by. And why not? It's a widely known part of the human experience that we hold the biggest place in our hearts for the pop culture of our childhood and teenage years. I can't name a single Billie Ellish song (but I know who she is, I'm not that out of touch) but ask me to recite every song from Green Day's <i>American Idiot</i> album and I'm your girl.<br />
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So obviously the Edinburgh Fringe is chock full of acts attempting to tap into everyone's inner teenager. But the performance that is shouting the loudest (if posters could shout) is the musical adaption of <i>Cruel Intentions</i>. </div>
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<i>Cruel Intentions</i> is a bit of a random film to adapt. I was just short of being a teenager in 1999, and while the film did perform well, it didn't have the same pop culture influence that <i>Clueless</i> or <i>Mean Girls </i>did.<i> </i>And as much as Sarah Michelle Geller was in her prime in the late 90s, these days we never really see her (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuPyqM0z0_I">see this YouTube video for a quick analysis as to why</a>). Despite being a film I've always enjoyed, it doesn't stand out as one of the big ones. </div>
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But the producers were smart and decided to tap into the audience's nostalgia for <b>all</b> things the 90s. In addition to bringing the story and dialogue to the stage, they sprinkled some of the most recognisable pop songs from the 90s into the script. We're talking Britney Spears, N*SYNC, TLC, Goo Goo Dolls, Natalie Imbruglia and the Dawson's Creek soundtrack. And they made reference to AOL Chat and other 90s peculiarities. </div>
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Before I went into the theatre, I knew that this formula had the potential to really work...or fall flat on its face. </div>
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Thankfully, it<i> really</i> worked. </div>
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The singing from every cast member was on-point, Rebecca Gilhooley perfectly impersonated Sarah Michelle Geller's accent, Sophie Isaacs physically resembles Reese Whitherspoon, and a special shout out to Evelyn Hoskins for nailing the cringier scenes in her over-the-top take on the naive Cecile.<br />
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The musical adaptation also stays true to the original film but does soldier through it at a very quick pace (there's no interval). And as you would expect from any musical adaption, it is much campier than the original film (which wasn't very campy at all).<br />
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They performed the musical adaption in a pop-up marquee in George Square Gardens, which did mean they were limited by their performance space. Throughout the performance, they kept the same set that consisted of two chaise lounge-style benches (which wouldn't have looked out of place in the original film). A great set is difficult to acquire if you're limited by cost or space. And sometimes stretching a production budget to create visual set changes can make the audience painfully aware of how little budget you have (or at least it can for me). But the decision to make just one setup work for the entire show simplified the performance and meant the audiences' focus was on the story.<br />
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Saying that, if this musical gains traction (which I think it will) I would love to see what they could do with a proper stage set up and team. But I'm thankful the kept it simple at this stage.<br />
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Was it a high-brow Shakespearean play? Absolutely not. Was it fun? Hell yes. If fun pop songs make you break out in a rant about manufactured bands who don't write their own songs, then Cruel Intentions The 90s Musical is not for you. And if you didn't live through the 90s (did you know that people born in 2000 can now legally drink alcohol? Mental) then some of the references might be lost on you. </div>
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But if you like the original film and still boogie in your room to the Backstreet Boys, then Cruel Intentions The 90s Musical comes highly recommended. </div>
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mòraghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11050134196927758040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630121002365413781.post-19368886744825498152019-07-31T19:49:00.002+01:002019-07-31T19:49:26.695+01:00July Linkables<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sAwaLBgNQ9I/XUHh45MCNlI/AAAAAAAAIbI/i16dVDE26P4xKfPDhxKVfDb4-6D7hrpKQCLcBGAs/s1600/lgbt%2Bpins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="794" data-original-width="794" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sAwaLBgNQ9I/XUHh45MCNlI/AAAAAAAAIbI/i16dVDE26P4xKfPDhxKVfDb4-6D7hrpKQCLcBGAs/s1600/lgbt%2Bpins.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/593133131/love-is-love-enamel-pin-lgbtq-pride?ref=user_profile&pro=1&frs=1">Buy your pin here.</a> </div>
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I would ask if everyone has been enjoying the hot weather we've been having in Scotland. But because I'm me (me being a killjoy) I'm going to draw your attention to global warming. Like this is not good people. And now we're expecting a storm. A storm and a heatwave within a week of each other? The planet is dying.<br />
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Anyway, links.<br />
<h4>
Sex & Relationships</h4>
Something I've wondered a few times: <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/when-in-a-new-relationship-should-you-bring-up-past-traumas_uk_5cf1414be4b0e8085e38f976?">when in a new relationship do you bring up past traumas</a>?<br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Co-signed: </span><a href="https://thoughtcatalog.com/heidi-priebe/2016/05/moving-on-doesnt-always-mean-finding-a-new-relationship/" style="font-weight: 400;">moving on doesn't always mean finding a new relationship</a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. </span></h4>
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Captain Awkward hitting it on the head: <i>“<a href="https://captainawkward.com/2019/07/15/1218-irritability-and-constant-criticism-in-a-marriage/">Dear What’s Wrong With Me,</a><a href="https://captainawkward.com/2019/07/15/1218-irritability-and-constant-criticism-in-a-marriage/">What if nothing is wrong with you and the problem is you’re married to an asshole?That’s it, that’s my whole answer.</a>”</i></div>
<h4>
Social Justice, Equality, & Politics </h4>
If Brexit wasn't humiliating enough, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jul/30/boris-johnson-no-deal-preparation-leaflets-advice-brexit">here's Boris Johnson's take on it</a>.<br />
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In case you weren't aware: I'm a member of the Scottish Greens and <a href="https://www.thenational.scot/news/17784302.green-msp-39-s-fox-hunting-bill-attracts-big-response/">their new fox-hunting bill is one of the many reasons why</a>.<br />
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Stonewall shares <a href="https://www.stonewall.org.uk/truth-about-trans">the Truth About Trans</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://vegan-connections.com/idiots-abroad-the-myth-of-ethical-tourism/">How to actually engage in ethical tourism</a> (hint: it doesn't involve elephant sanctuaries).<br />
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Black women are angry - <a href="https://www.teenvogue.com/story/serena-williams-us-open-mistreatment-op-ed">and they have every right to be</a>!<br />
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Homophobia isn't dead: <a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/were-young-gay-and-looking-over-our-shoulders-35qtbkn9q">we are young, gay - and looking over our shoulders</a>.<br />
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If your precious union of the UK means anything real then <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/oct/19/brexiters-theresa-may-northern-ireland">start giving a shit about Northern Ireland and the politically-sensitive border.</a> This article is amazing, even if it makes me angry.<br />
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<a href="https://www.vox.com/the-highlight/2019/5/28/18629833/climate-change-2019-green-new-deal">A reminder that recycling doesn't do that much environmental good</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/jun/14/the-mindfulness-conspiracy-capitalist-spirituality">Selling mindfulness as a product is dirty capitalism</a>.<br />
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Articles I wish I had written: <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/may/24/moby-natalie-portman-master-class-beta-male-misogyny">Moby's treatment of Natalie Portman is a masterclass in nice-guy misogyny</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/voices/stop-using-phony-science-to-justify-transphobia/">A reminder that biological sex is not binary and you shouldn't use it to justify transphobia</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jun/12/want-to-be-a-male-ally-start-by-helping-clean-the-house"><i>The Guardian</i> published an article asking male feminist allies to start cleaning around the house</a>. And while I think there is a lot more to supporting women, I'd say that sharing domestic duties is a fucking good start!<br />
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Surprise, surprise: <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/jun/28/dunes-at-trump-golf-course-in-scotland-to-lose-protected-status">Dunes at Trump's golf course due to lose protected status</a> (I grew up near here).<br />
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Not sure why there are protests in Hawaii? <a href="https://www.vox.com/identities/2019/7/24/20706930/mauna-kea-hawaii">Here's a foundational explanation</a>.<br />
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Woke-ness is such a big thing now that even brands are getting in on it. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/business/m/grow/reports/woke-me-up">Oliver Franklin-Wallis looks at why</a>.<br />
<h4>
Geek & Pop Culture</h4>
Part of me loves this, but part of me hates that it has to be said too: <a href="https://www.bustle.com/p/why-bend-it-like-beckham-is-just-as-huge-a-deal-for-women-today-as-it-was-15-years-ago-8463794">Why Bend it Like Beckham is still a huge Deal 15 Years Later</a>.<br />
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Food & Veganism</h4>
Stop the press: <a href="https://www.veganfoodandliving.com/tesco-announces-its-festive-vegan-christmas-range-for-2019/">Tesco is launching a vegan Christmas range</a>!<br />
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Must read: <a href="https://greatist.com/live/toxic-diet-culture">diet culture is toxic - even for those of us who don't diet</a>!<br />
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<a href="https://www.kerrang.com/features/why-every-metal-and-hardcore-fan-should-consider-going-vegan">Why every metal and hardcore fan should consider going vegan</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://minimalistbaker.com/how-to-make-vegan-parmesan-cheese/">4 ingredients vegan Parmesan cheese</a>.<br />
<h4>
And...</h4>
<a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-48216116?fbclid=IwAR1lz8ocOwCmPI7_TpsCKFKj2o_EOxmTu8eKXr16kyeaVSN1HRKVRaPq-Uk">Things that shouldn't need to be explained</a>.<br />
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<b>What have you been reading online this month? </b>mòraghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11050134196927758040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630121002365413781.post-73698172170048749582019-06-29T10:30:00.000+01:002019-06-30T21:38:58.777+01:00How to spot a Feminist Ally in the streets, but a Misogynist Wanker in the sheets<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-alUAJonJTiI/XRULERL2p2I/AAAAAAAAIZ0/GeVQJpzFJ3Q99zuxlq6fc0N4Je6nYA_8ACLcBGAs/s1600/awards%2Bfor%2Bgood%2Bboys.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="273" data-original-width="640" height="272" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-alUAJonJTiI/XRULERL2p2I/AAAAAAAAIZ0/GeVQJpzFJ3Q99zuxlq6fc0N4Je6nYA_8ACLcBGAs/s640/awards%2Bfor%2Bgood%2Bboys.gif" width="640" /></a></div>
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Feminist men. <br />
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It’s a good idea in theory and it looks good on paper. <br />
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But in practice? Not so much.<br />
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I’ve come across my fair share of self-proclaimed Feminist Men in my time. Granted, many of them appear (to the outside eye) to carry out great work and seem to have a true understanding of how gender inequality works.<br />
<br />
But I’ve also met several self-proclaimed Feminist Men who use it as a badge of honour. A bragging right. A way to appear more attractive to women. Even a dangerous smokescreen. They’re the Political Nice Guy if you will. <br />
<br />
But any man can stand there and say he is a Feminist Man. That’s pretty easy. But we all know that many men can lie - and will lie - to get women into bed. The news stories on Ryan Adams and Moby have thrust beta-male misogyny in society’s consciousness. We’re now waking up to the idea that men don’t need to be loud, alpha males who shout “grab them by the pussy” to be a threat to women. <br />
<br />
They can be shy with a sweet demeanour. A musician who writes love songs on an acoustic guitar. He might get along with his mum. Skinny and couldn't physically assault you if he tried. Not be sexually promiscuous. Votes progressively and goes to protests.<br />
<br />
And boy, have I been caught out. <br />
<br />
I’ve dated and been friends with several men over the years who like to think they are woke af but actually treated me like shit. Three men stand out in particular: two sexual/romantic and one platonic (but wanted to be sexual/romantic). Between them I’m owed money, been kept from speaking to other people at parties, intellectually insulted, demeaned, spoken down to, mansplained, scared to date other people, and been pressurised into sexual acts that I wasn’t comfortable with.<br />
<br />
It wasn’t a fun ride. <br />
<br />
And what makes these memories so difficult to carry around with me is that I know these men will fool other women in the future. I've dated numerous shitty men in my time but some of them were obviously shitty and I can't believe I was ever fooled. But these men: they play a pretty tight game. They know how to play the Feminist Man card to their advantage.<br />
<br />
But women talk, and we like to keep each other safe. So I've taken a look back at these Fake Feminist Men and tried to identify the warning signs that I could have seen.<br />
<br />
So ladies, if the Feminist Man you've just started dating showcases more than four of the following traits then he might be a phoney.<br />
<br />
<h3>
<b>He expects a cookie for being a good person</b></h3>
<br />
Great, you respect women - but fuck receiving praise for being a good person. Similar to Nice Guy Syndrome, Fake Feminist Guy expects a cookie because he knows rape is wrong. The real Feminist Dudes know y'all don't get praise for being a fucking decent person.<br />
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<h3>
<b>His definition of feminism doesn't get any deeper than "women should have access to abortion"</b></h3>
<br />
I appreciate that people who are new to social justice might have a shallow understanding of the topic. But feminism is a lot more than not groping women in nightclubs. There's mansplaining, Gender Pay Gap, sex workers rights, beauty image, body politics, not talking over the top of women.....<br />
<br />
If you're talking to a new guy who wants to learn more, offer him some advice and resources (<a href="https://everydayfeminism.com/">Every Feminism is a great one</a>). If you're speaking to someone who is a long-established, self-proclaimed Feminist Guy and he still isn't past the basics you should just roll your eyes and refuse that second date.<br />
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<h3>
<b>He takes a sulk when called out</b></h3>
<br />
We all get called out from time to time. It can be a chance to grow or a chance to sulk. Which option your dude chooses says a lot about is his commitment to the cause.<br />
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<h3>
<b>He can't admit to a period in time when he wasn't a Feminist Man</b></h3>
<b><br /></b>
Controversial.<br />
<br />
But even the most social justice orientated of us are not immune to the effects of the patriarchy or social conditioning. We've all fucked up at one point. I've dressed up as a Native American for Halloween, claimed that Silence of the Lambs wasn't transphobic, and voted Liberal Democrat.<br />
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And I'm okay admitting these things because a true social justice warrior knows that in order to undo oppressive structures we need to confront ourselves about the role we play in them. I probably still do oppressive shit that I'm yet to unlearn.<br />
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If he can't give you an example of his own personal growth as a Feminist Man then he's very likely not the real deal (and has very low levels of self-awareness).<br />
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<h3>
<b>He doesn't support sex-positive feminism</b></h3>
<br />
The feminist hill that I am willing to die on is that sex-negative feminism and sexual assault go hand in hand.<br />
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Let me break it down.<br />
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Sex-negative feminism argues that there's a right way to shag. It turns sexual preferences into a theoretical debate. It tells consenting adults what they can and can't do in their own bedroom. It tells us that women don't like rough sex, making money from sex, or watching porn - despite anecdotal evidence.<br />
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Sex-positive feminism, on the other hand, lets individuals decide for themselves what sex acts they like to engage in. It encourages open communication and seeing people as unique human beings. Though saying that, "sex-positive" men sometimes use feminism as a guilt trip to make women do kinky things they are not into but blah blah blah liberated feminist women embrace their sexuality blah blah blah don't be a prude and have sex exactly the way I want to blah blah I don't care about your needs.<br />
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Bottom line: you're looking for someone who respects your sexual choices, whether that's dungeon orgies or missionary with the lights off.<br />
<br />
<h3>
<b>He brags about eating pussy</b></h3>
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Eating a girl out does not make you a Feminist Man. Fucking shut up.<a href="https://splinternews.com/against-the-cult-of-the-pussy-eaters-1793855807"> Read this article for more</a> because I don't have the energy to deal with these men anymore.<br />
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<h3>
Doesn't take bisexuality seriously (or any LGBTQ+ identity)</h3>
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How a guy reacts to me mentioning my sexuality is a make-or-break for me. If his eyes light up, I'm out. If he asks if I have a preference, I'm not out but he's getting called out. In practice dating me is like dating a monosexual. It won't affect the relationship so I don't want much of a reaction.<br />
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<h3>
<b>He listens to your romantic and sexual needs</b></h3>
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Feminist Men like to think they treat women well. It is sort of the idea. But then they get it into their heads that "treating women well" means following a bullet-pointed list and treating women as a homogenous group who all have the same sexual and romantic needs.<br />
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That's still patriarchy at play, y'all.<br />
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A man who has truly unlearned the whole Women-Serving-Men thing will be up for honest communication about your needs and won't just arrogantly assume them.<br />
<b><br /></b>
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<h3>
<b>He just mansplains in general</b></h3>
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Whether it's how to do your job or the politics of your home town, don't put up with that shit.<br />
<h3>
<br /><b>He's friends with creeps</b></h3>
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You can tell a lot about someone by the company they keep.<br />
<br />
One of the Fake Feminist guys I dated didn't even have any friends, which should have been a massive warning sign. While the other had a wide social circle. But that social circle included men who were creepy as fuck in blatantly obvious ways. If he was fond of a guy, he wouldn't speak up - but couldn't wait to verbally jump on men who he already disliked for another reason.<br />
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And the guy I mentioned in the introduction who wanted to be romantic/sexual with me rather than just platonic? Since cutting him from my life he made the decision to stand by someone who was convicted of sexual assault!<br />
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<h3>
<b>Has no platonic female friendships</b></h3>
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Men that are desperate for a girlfriend to the point where they will approach anyone (including swiping right on every fucking girl) irk me. It still showcasing an inability to see women as people if he's wondering if every new woman he meets might be his next romantic or sexual conquest.<br />
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A true Feminist Man isn't looking to date every woman that walks past him because he sees women as more than that. He knows what he wants in a romantic partner and recognises that not every woman will fit that criterion. And you deserve better than someone who will say yes to a date because he would say yes to anyone1<br />
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<h3>
<b>He thinks all relationships should look the same</b></h3>
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I want to make this abundantly clear: I do not, by any means, think that anyone is less of a social justice warrior because they want an opposite-sex marriage where they move to the suburbs and have two children (and maybe a dog).<br />
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But a social justice warrior respects alternative relationship styles and won't react negatively if you want to check in on the first few dates that you want the same things long term (wanting children, opinions on marriage, polyamory/monogamy etc). Even better if he's had an active think about different relationship styles and has a good idea about what he would want. It's 2019, we can't assume everyone wants the same thing anymore!<br />
<h3>
<br /><b>Is intimidated by your success</b></h3>
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I've dated (or even just met) several men who like me because I've "got depth" and "not a bimbo". But the moment they realise there's a chance I might be <i>smarter</i> than them they shuffle their feet or start mansplaining.<br />
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A true Feminist Man won't worry about you outperforming him. Or earning more. Or getting better grades.<br />
<h3>
<br /><b>Insists on paying</b></h3>
<br />
When I'm in a formal relationship, yes, I think the higher earner should pay more. And thanks to the sneaky Gender Pay Gap it will usually be the man. But when I'm on the first few dates with a new person I don't feel comfortable with them paying. How they react to this can demonstrate their attitude towards money within a relationship, and whether they would be comfortable with a woman earning more.<br />
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It's the same reason why I tend to swipe left on men who brag about being homeowners on their Tinder bios.<br />
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<h3>
Judges your taste in pop culture</h3>
I'm not entirely sure how this came to be, but I've met a lot of "Feminist Men" who act as though pop culture that is aimed towards women is the stuff of immaturity. Think boybands and chick flicks (but not female superheroes because the Feminist Men like that stuff because, duh, comics are generally male territory and female superheroes are tough, not "fluffy"). This is not behaviour saved for nerds who live in their mother's basements; I've met a lot of progressive men who seem shocked when they learn that I enjoy stereotypically girly pop culture. I've never sat a man down to get to the bottom of this phenomenon, but my hunch is the persistent idea that feminine and feminist can't go together.<br />
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Also applies to any man who takes it far too personally when you don't like his favourite bands or whatever. For me, it was a Feminist Men perplexed by the idea I didn't like Star Wars. I don't like things set in space so I've never bothered. He was too bothered about this.<br />
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<h3>
<b>Has a house that is growing mould</b></h3>
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When I'm dating someone new, I judge them by how clean their house is. I don't expect high-end art pieces on the wall or their kitchen to be filled with every gadget from Argos. But I expect it to be clean and functioning. You're an adult who knew they were having a guest round so make sure you have a toilet roll for Pete's sake.<br />
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Many men don't pull their weight domestically - even when they are single and living alone. It's almost as though they consider cleaning to be so unmanly that they still won't do it even when there's no woman around. The earliest warning sign that he'll expect you to do all the cleaning in a relationship is if he didn't even do it when he was single!<br />
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<h3>
<b>He is offended when you say "men are trash"</b></h3>
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A true Feminist Man will understand your frustrations. A person of colour can say "white people are trash" to me and I'm okay with that - because we are. These statements are about systematic problems, not individual people.<br />
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<h3>
<b>He amplifies the rumour that only alpha-males can be sexist</b></h3>
<b><br /></b>
One of the beta-misogynists I dated once said "of course he's the type to sexually assault, he is a footballer" in relation to the Ched Evans case. This same guy ignored my verbal no in the bedroom and assaulted me. Rolling my eyes at the irony helps with the trauma.<br />
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(Same guy also refused to get a Tinder account "because only creepy men use Tinder").<br />
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If a beta man actively and explicitly says that it's only alpha men that are the problem then run for the fucking hills. Don't wait for any other point on this list to show up - just go. This is a big warning sign. Get out.<br />
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<h3>
<b>He tells you to wear less make-up</b></h3>
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I've noticed this thing with Feminist Men who try to rip down bullshit beauty standards by telling women to wear less make-up.<br />
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News flash: women don't necessarily wear make-up to attract men.<br />
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Yes, it's a personal choice that can be layered with patriarchal bullshit. However, it can also be worn for purposes of self-expression. I quite like looking a bit like a badass hipster. It gives people I've just met some non-verbal queues about me as a person.<br />
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True Feminist Men let women do what they want with their bodies.<br />
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<h3>
Has a history of dating younger women</h3>
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I'm not explicitly against age-gap relationships, but they are worth thinking about.<br />
<br />
Most people's maturity plateaus around about 25, so your typical 31-year-old isn't going to have much in common with your average 23-year-old - but that was exactly the age gap with a Fake Feminist Guy of my past. I was still finding my feet in the world and hadn't fully matured yet, making me a prime candidate for someone who was incredibly immature for his age (and, uh, likes to attack people's self-esteem).<br />
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But the big warning sign is if they have a history of dating younger women.<br />
<br />
And any man who admits that his Tinder is set to only show younger women.<br />
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<h3>
<b>His appearance is a bit scabby but doesn't fancy low-maintenance women</b></h3>
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<a href="http://www.moadore.co.uk/2018/03/men-we-need-to-talk-about-feminine.html">I once wrote a blog post on this</a>!<br />
<b><br /></b>
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<h3>
<b>Has ever muttered the phrase "real women have curves"</b></h3>
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Go away and die.<br />
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<h3>
<b>His feminism isn't intersectional</b></h3>
<br />
Ask for his opinion on Trans Rights, Black Lives Matter, and trade unions.<br />
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Because if your feminism isn't intersectional then it's bullshit.<b> </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
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<h3>
<b>He doesn't understand the role of an ally</b></h3>
<b><br /></b>
Sometimes being an ally means doing nothing. It's knowing when to shut up and let the oppressed group do the talking. It's not something you "are" just because you say you are. It's a label you earn -and you earn it through actions. Ultimately, if the Feminist Guy you've just met won't STFU and can't provide a basic level definition of an ally then he, sadly, probably isn't one.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<h3>
<b>And finally, some things that don't indicate how feminist a man is: </b></h3>
<ul>
<li>how promiscuous he is</li>
<li>likes football, rugby, golf, and other manly sports</li>
<li>gets along with his mum</li>
<li>enjoys kinky sex</li>
<li>cuts down trees with his bare hands</li>
<li>if he's LGBTQ+ in anyway</li>
<li>is a vegan</li>
<li>owns a dog</li>
<li>supports other progressive movements</li>
<li>how much effort he puts into his appearance</li>
<li>has been to a strip club</li>
</ul>
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<br /></div>
<div>
What have I missed? Probably a lot. I like to rant. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Men are trash. Especially Nice Guys. </div>
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mòraghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11050134196927758040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630121002365413781.post-13090099151925900132019-05-25T13:53:00.000+01:002019-05-25T13:53:03.248+01:00Who I'm currently supporting on Patreon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zgjk-IYvdxA/XNgWpKP6rXI/AAAAAAAAIVA/i5noWw3WzPEiIKqwnBr2-KCOWOQJnhlBACLcBGAs/s1600/patreon%2Bsupport.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zgjk-IYvdxA/XNgWpKP6rXI/AAAAAAAAIVA/i5noWw3WzPEiIKqwnBr2-KCOWOQJnhlBACLcBGAs/s1600/patreon%2Bsupport.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
I'm a big believer that creatives should get paid for their work. Unfortunately, it's a well-known reality that creatives need to hustle (especially full-time creatives). As a social justice activist, I love to support creators whose work is designed to move society forward. But these creatives have the shortest end of the stick as the Powers That Be would prefer to silence them (hence why creative careers are less profitable than corporate ones).<br />
<br />
This is where <a href="https://www.patreon.com/home">Patreon</a> comes in. It's a platform where you can pledge a particular amount of money per month to your favourite creators and provide them with a paycheck (and some financial stability!) for their projects. It also allows them to create content that is for their readers/viewers/listeners, rather than magazine or television execs who might try and censor them. In return, creators also provide perks and rewards for people who pledge certain amounts of money.<br />
<br />
I currently support five people on Patreon. This might change as time goes on (I've actually pulled support for someone before) but, at this moment in time, I am happy to continue supporting these creators.<br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Rowan Ellis</span></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLrBBD3RqIHldiUdnXTgKKI0iUpzMwRNM7Gmhmaw45xDFaEntTjX_Bu2XZmESCdJJO6EyH1d2v64Jq8C9Hn499v5p7Amq0gCmJ19Yph6cHv-QEZjbYkjhe1zmo-2_05FpcZpUJi0aTJC8/s1600/rowan+ellis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="415" data-original-width="1347" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLrBBD3RqIHldiUdnXTgKKI0iUpzMwRNM7Gmhmaw45xDFaEntTjX_Bu2XZmESCdJJO6EyH1d2v64Jq8C9Hn499v5p7Amq0gCmJ19Yph6cHv-QEZjbYkjhe1zmo-2_05FpcZpUJi0aTJC8/s640/rowan+ellis.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<b><br /></b>
<br />
I've been watching Rowan's videos on YouTube for years and always find myself nodding my head in agreement. I also love that she is UK-based because so many big-name activists are American and their content isn't always relevant to me.<br />
<br />
So when I found out she had a Patreon I had to support her. I chose her $10 a month Recommendation Station package, which includes private blog posts, scripts of her YouTube videos, upcoming video schedule, the chance to vote on future topics, monthly recommendations (books, recipes etc), and a monthly book giveaway (which I won last year and the books she chose for me were on-point!).<br />
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<h3>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Riley J.Dennis</span></h3>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CzK-WSqYlc4/W54r6avI2OI/AAAAAAAAIIc/kBGSHy6_kVglEKFmP_OXSyvzamdy1abXgCEwYBhgL/s1600/riley%2Bj%2Bdennis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="411" data-original-width="1353" height="194" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CzK-WSqYlc4/W54r6avI2OI/AAAAAAAAIIc/kBGSHy6_kVglEKFmP_OXSyvzamdy1abXgCEwYBhgL/s640/riley%2Bj%2Bdennis.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<b><br /></b>
<br />
Riley J. Dennis is an amazing activist. Not only do they create amazingly informative content, but they're funny to boot too! Riley is a queer, trans, nonbinary, polyamorous lesbian, and it's important to support activists who are oppressed in multiple ways, as they usually have the hardest time making money in the real world. I opted for their $5 Wonderful Human package, which gets me access to all private Patreon posts.<br />
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<h3>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Marina Watanabe</span></h3>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9GJr-s4BhGg/W54r5xVcMYI/AAAAAAAAIIU/sKA62uunI9k7oUfDNeEfVHuGAl4EGcQ3ACEwYBhgL/s1600/marina%2Bwatnabe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="409" data-original-width="1343" height="194" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9GJr-s4BhGg/W54r5xVcMYI/AAAAAAAAIIU/sKA62uunI9k7oUfDNeEfVHuGAl4EGcQ3ACEwYBhgL/s640/marina%2Bwatnabe.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<b><br /></b>
<br />
Admittedly I'm a fan of Marina more for her personality. While her work is great, it's not as in-depth as I'd prefer - but she's a great choice for people looking for an introduction to social justice. Plus she's bi-racial and bi-sexual so has first-hand experience of two forms of oppression. I chose her $5 a month pledge, which provides me with access to longer videos and personal vlogs.<br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Dead Meat</span></h3>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xkzeegQI0B4/W54r5iayG-I/AAAAAAAAIIQ/t5rRaMcQTqURLgpHP6a_Lj320QXh2xZ_gCEwYBhgL/s1600/dead%2Bmeat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="413" data-original-width="1351" height="194" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xkzeegQI0B4/W54r5iayG-I/AAAAAAAAIIQ/t5rRaMcQTqURLgpHP6a_Lj320QXh2xZ_gCEwYBhgL/s640/dead%2Bmeat.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<b><br /></b>
<br />
James A Janisse is the only creator I support who doesn't specialise in social justice issues. Instead, he runs a YouTube Channel about horror movies. His channel has a variety of playlists, but it's his Kill Count that I'm always checking in on (where he "tallies up the kills in all our favourite horror movies"). James, however, is very socially and politically progressive so calls out sexist and racist bullshit during his commentary, and he has refused to produce videos on horror films produced by problematic individuals. I can get behind that.<br />
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<h3>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Melissa A. Fabello</span></h3>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oU29GVU_bLY/W54r52MZROI/AAAAAAAAIIY/AdAvCpD-YLEo6zrlOGxcOhh_eMqNu9Y_ACEwYBhgL/s1600/melissa%2Bfabello.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="403" data-original-width="1344" height="190" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oU29GVU_bLY/W54r52MZROI/AAAAAAAAIIY/AdAvCpD-YLEo6zrlOGxcOhh_eMqNu9Y_ACEwYBhgL/s640/melissa%2Bfabello.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I first discovered Melissa's old YouTube channel four years ago and was blown away by her content. She has a knack for breaking down academic and complex ideas into bite-size pieces written in layman's terms. Thanks to her I've developed a higher understanding of the world around me, protected myself from societal brainwashing, and been able to verbalise experiences that previously irked me but I couldn't explain why.<br />
<br />
Most of her work centres around body image activism and beauty culture, but she also touches upon media literacy and human sexuality (she holds a PhD in this field). I currently support her for $2 a month, which allows me access to her private Patreon posts. Though I have considered her $5 tier, which would allow me access to her book reviews.<br />
<br />
<b>Who are your favourite creators on Patreon? </b><br />
<br />mòraghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11050134196927758040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630121002365413781.post-28742995560520592152019-05-14T21:30:00.002+01:002019-05-15T20:00:33.703+01:00The 10 best Eurovision songs ever, according to me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-08W_LIt_Kw8/XNsjn7KF_PI/AAAAAAAAIVY/HlekbPf5k68QQs6KVQv8yXCGXsY7xqzSgCLcBGAs/s1600/eurovision%2Bgina%2Bg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="539" data-original-width="531" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-08W_LIt_Kw8/XNsjn7KF_PI/AAAAAAAAIVY/HlekbPf5k68QQs6KVQv8yXCGXsY7xqzSgCLcBGAs/s640/eurovision%2Bgina%2Bg.jpg" width="630" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">If you don't immediately recognise the dress, it will make sense when you find out my favourite Eurovision act.</span> </div>
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<br />
If I were to list my favourite yearly events, Eurovision would come second (the first would be Halloween). And I dgaf what anyone thinks of that. Years ago, I once even <a href="http://www.moadore.co.uk/2013/05/things-i-love-thursdays-eurovision.html">wrote a blog on why I love Eurovision so much</a>. It's great and I will not hear a word against it.<br />
<br />
With it being this Saturday and everything, I thought I'd mark the occasion with a list of my favourite Eurovision songs ever. Because I am the sort of person who thinks about these things. And if you thought that I thought about this for the sole purpose of this blog, you would be mistaken. I've long kept a mental list of my favourite Eurovision songs that I can recite when needed. This is just me putting it on paper. I might print it off later and laminate it.<br />
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In no order, until my favourite - which is at the end.
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Lordi</h3>
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Poor little Finland: until 2006 it had never won the Eurovision Song Contest and it doesn't even make the final half the time. But Hardrock Hallelujah was a stomper of a tune. I also went to see Lordi in 2015 when they were on tour in Glasgow because I am that cool.<br />
<h3>
<br />Jedward</h3>
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I'm not apologising for this. They've been in it twice, and I prefer Waterline to the other song. It's happy and reminds me of falling in love. That's nice.<br />
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<h3>
Lena</h3>
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Germany's song from 2011, which won them the title. This song was so good that my Eurovision-hating dad actually picked up the phone to vote for it. It's the only time he's ever voted.<br />
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<h3>
Softengine</h3>
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/a-NSVFBKU-4" width="560"></iframe>
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Apparently, when Finland do make the final I really like it.<br />
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<h3>
Ruth Lorenzo</h3>
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Everyone loved this one too. It's a power ballad.<br />
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<h3>
Hanna Pakarinen</h3>
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This was Finland's entry the year after Lordi won them the crown. It didn't do nearly as well. But it's still gothy because you can trust Finland to bring the goth. I voted for it.<br />
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<h3>
The Ark</h3>
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/r02Lg8JIco0" width="560"></iframe>
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Also in 2007 was The Ark from Sweden with a bit of glam goth rock. The next day I downloaded it to the family computer from Limewire (probably with some viruses too) and it's still on my iPod to this day (it's a nano, and I still use it).<br />
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<h3>
Precious</h3>
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The first ever Eurovision I remember watching was in 1999, where the UK's entry was the girl band Precious. It's a happy pop song about saying I Love You for the first time. And one of their members is a pre-Atomic Kitten Jenny Frost, so what's not to love?<br />
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<h3>
Selma</h3>
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RHUVKooZUOU" width="560"></iframe>
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Alas, however, we cannot vote for our own country. So during the 1999 Eurovision, my mum let me break my voting virginity and I chose Iceland. Here is Selma with All Out of Luck (she came second, but Sweden won).<br />
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And my forever favourite Eurovision song...<br />
<h3>
<br />Gina G</h3>
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I have a slightly weird fangirl love for the one hit wonder that was Gina G. So much so, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/3CVBWYLS2r/">that I dressed up as her for Eurovision one year</a> when we had to dress up as past Eurovision acts. The dress is the one in the picture at the start, and I intend on getting married in it.<br />
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She came second to Ireland and I believe she was robbed. I will die on this hill.
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<br />mòraghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11050134196927758040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630121002365413781.post-78116143457360467232019-05-11T12:53:00.000+01:002019-05-11T12:53:35.161+01:00My earliest fandoms and pop culture obsessions<div style="text-align: right;">
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t2zjbciwKLM/XNa0HckbWOI/AAAAAAAAIUo/9Rj8xyKh3BMIneGJNXdRemwSuEYoPPu9gCLcBGAs/s1600/babysitters%2Bclub.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t2zjbciwKLM/XNa0HckbWOI/AAAAAAAAIUo/9Rj8xyKh3BMIneGJNXdRemwSuEYoPPu9gCLcBGAs/s640/babysitters%2Bclub.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I've been pop-culture obsessed as far back as I can remember. As much as society, teachers, and parents tried to present tv watching as The Lazy Child's hobby there was no keeping me from new films or spending my pocket money on every magazine ever.<br />
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When I say tv watching and magazine reading, I'm not referring to the typical adolescent behaviour that most people aged 12-16 exhibit; I <i>devoured</i> the pop culture that surrounded me. While I wouldn't identify as a geek until my early 20s it's safe to say that I already was. </div>
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Saying that, I didn't grow up in a pop culture obsessed house. My parents aren't particularly big television watchers so we never had Sky with my mum even stating that if we were multi-millionaires she still wouldn't sign up for anything other than Freeview (though my parent's do now have Netflix...which only my dad uses). So there were some late 90s and 00s fandoms that I didn't have access to. </div>
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But like every teenager ever, I found a way around everything.<br />
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I also have a crazy good memory.<br />
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As you'll find out. </div>
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<h3>
<b>The Babysitters Club</b></h3>
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I wasn't a massive bookworm as a child and even as an adult I gravitate towards non-fiction, but my earliest fandom ever was <i>The Babysitters Club</i>. I remember randomly picking up <i>Claudia and the Great Mystery</i> as my library book and it ended up being love at first page.<br />
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After speed-reading that first book, I would pick out another book in the series until I had read everything that was on offer in the school library (which I think was a measly six books; I grew up in a village so, naturally, our school library wasn't all that brag-worthy). Then whenever we had those school jumble sales it was copies of <i>The Babysitters Club</i> that I would scout out.<br />
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As an adult I have even purchased a few of the books to help fill in the gaps. <i>The Babysitters Club</i> has become a book series that I appreciate more as an adult. The characters are diverse, each with their own personalities and quirks. Plus, they weren't all white and there was a boy babysitter too. I also first heard about diabetes from <i>The Babysitters Club</i> and several diabetics around my age have confessed that <a href="https://www.healthline.com/diabetesmine/babysittersclub#2">Stacey was a character who helped them through their diagnosis</a>. </div>
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<h3>
<b>Hollyoaks</b></h3>
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I want to pretend I'm joking here, but I'm not: I was full-on obsessed with <i>Hollyoaks</i> as an early teenager and would consider it a major fandom of my adolescent years. Every weeknight at 6:30pm I would purposefully sit down to watch it, and would even tell my friends they weren't allowed to come in for me until 7pm! I don't watch it these days as all my favourite characters have left, including the only real celebrity/fictional crush I've ever had: Craig Dean aka Guy Burnett! </div>
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<h3>
<b>Scream</b></h3>
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<a href="http://www.moadore.co.uk/2016/11/whats-your-favourite-scary-movie-my.html">I've blogged about my love for the <i>Scream</i> franchise before</a>, including the new television show (they can re-boot the premise as many times as they want and I'll still be its numero uno fan). I explicitly remember flicking through the channels one night in my mid-teens and Courtney Cox appeared on screen pacing through the college corridors. Thankfully I don't mind spoilers, including watching things in the wrong order, so starting on <i>Scream 2</i> didn't prevent me from falling in love with its clever genre-bending horror-comedy storyline. </div>
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<h3>
<b>Friends</b></h3>
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I think everyone was obsessed with <i>Friends</i> - but did you spend New Year's Eve inside by yourself watching a programme on its effect on western culture? No? Step aside. </div>
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<h3>
<b>Buffy the Vampire Slayer</b></h3>
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I was in two minds about including this. I do indeed love Buffy and believe it is one of the greatest television shows ever made (<a href="http://www.moadore.co.uk/2017/03/why-buffy-vampire-slayer-is-one-of-best.html">did you catch my 20th-anniversary blog</a>?). However, my lack of access to digital channels did mean that my viewing was patchy, and I didn't watch it episode-to-episode until my early twenties. Either way, I will never tire of dissecting Buffy. </div>
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<h3>
<b>Veronica Mars</b></h3>
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We all remember our first attempt at illegal online streaming, and this was mine. I caught the first season of Veronica Mars on E4 then.....nothing. So sneaking around online it was. But in all seriousness, this show was smart, had a sassy female lead (with a funky name) and a brilliant soundtrack. What's not to love? </div>
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<h3>
<b>The Powerpuff Girls</b></h3>
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I told a white lie earlier; we actually did have ITV Digital for one year when my dad managed to blag a year's free subscription. Much to my parent's dismay, I glued myself to the Cartoon Network with <i>The Powerpuff Girls</i> being my programme of choice. I was a tomboy for a bit and fancied myself as a bit of a Buttercup even though I could barely throw a punch. I ended up with the nickname Mojojojo (naturally) for the last bit of primary school (I've never quite forgiven my childhood best friend for that one). </div>
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<h3>
<b>Bliss Magazine</b></h3>
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Do magazines count as a fandom? Because I bought them religiously and even marked the release of the upcoming issue in my diary. <i>Girl Talk</i> was my natural introduction to magazines, before a brief fling with <i>Shout </i>during the summer between primary and high school, then finally settling on the monthly <i>Bliss</i> and weekly <i>Sneak </i>as my magazine subscriptions of choice.<br />
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I know neither could be described as 'geeky' per se, but when you're growing up in a non-geeky household and your friends also don't fit the geek mould, that was the best pop culture literature I had access to. Saying that, teenage magazines were amazing and I still firmly believe they were largely a good thing. </div>
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<h3>
Harry Potter </h3>
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I actually didn't get into Harry Potter until my late teens...and I started by watching 5th film in 2007 because why the hell not? The final two films were the only ones where I had read the book beforehand. </div>
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<b>Can you remember your earliest fandoms?</b></div>
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mòraghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11050134196927758040noreply@blogger.com