My First Article For HerCampus

I have written an article for Bournemouth's chapter of HerCampus about Making Your Bedroom Halls Homely

Winchester- Bangarang Review

Getting a taxi to the Winchester to beat queuing in the rain, seemed like a good idea on Tuesday, as the latest event there, Bangarang sounded like it was going to be a good one. 

Although I think I was a bit premature, and turned up to an empty pub at 11.15 so I waited for it to get busier on the sofa and chatted away to the girls as they painted faces, gave head massages and braided hair all at cheap prices of no more then £3. 

The place itself had been transformed, and resembled the inside of an events tent, with different coloured material draped from the ceiling, and bamboo shoots stapled around every beam, and the name 'Bangarang' written in wooden pieces across the stage, which all helped to create a real festival atmosphere. 

Blues artist, Rag n bone man and  Rum Committee were headlining that night, but lost their star sparkle as you could see their dressing room at the back of the pub and they simply wandered to the bar to buy their own drinks, walking past us civilians as they did. None the less, when they got round to playing they were great, and had the crowd bobbing along with them. Chanting to some of their old songs, and enjoying some of Rag n bone mans new tracks from his album Bluestown, and they also got treated to some free styling from the pair. 

Charlie Postles drove up from Devon to see the gig and said 'It was wicked, they smashed it just like they always do.' 

Overall I think the night was a success with good UK music, some happy fans and hopefully a good amount of money raised for the organisers, Youth and Unity. 

My Published Stories:

No More Lads Mags At Uni [Buzz]:
http://buzz.bournemouth.ac.uk/lads-mags-sold-university/

What is it like for a Malaysian woman to study in England? [Bournemouth Rock]:
http://bournemouthrock.co.uk/like-malaysian-woman-study-england/

Music for christmas [Bournemouth Rock]:
http://bournemouthrock.co.uk/music-christmas/

Bournemouth Christmas Lights switch On [Bournemouth Rock]:
http://bournemouthrock.co.uk/bournemouth-christmas-lights-switch/

Review Marshall Mathers 2 LP[ Bournemouth Rock]:
http://bournemouthrock.co.uk/review-eminem-marshall-mathers-lp-2/

No more 'Lads Mags' at University?

Will Bournemouth be joining other universities like Lancaster in their student campaign to stop selling ‘Lads Mags’ on campus?

At last weeks ‘Student Shout’, a meeting held by SUBU to let students give ideas on how to improve their BU experience. Annie Hall, vice president for communications asked the question ‘ Should SUBU reconsider the choice to sell ‘Lads Mags’ like nuts and other page 3 publications on campus, as a statement of our belief that representation of women in media needs to change?’

BU student shop magazine rack

It sparked a big debate amongst students, Lei-Anna Bailey, the ethnic diversity officer, said: ‘If we stop selling these magazines there will be more space to sell specialised magazines relating to particular courses.’

Then the point was raised on whether the university should then stop selling glossy magazines as well, as they too display a bad representation of women.

Which Aaron Newbury, second year business student, then counter argued,  ‘There shouldn’t be a glorification of the sex industry, but if we stop selling these magazines then the shop wouldn’t have anything to sell.’

The argument to stop selling these magazines may have been prompted by the current ‘Loose the Lads Mags’ campaign going on across the country, with many of the posters being put up around the university.

However there was no agreeing conclusion made and the motion was put to a referendum, which will be left up to an all student vote on at the beginning of next term.

BOURNEMOUTH CHRISTMAS LIGHT’S SWITCH ON

http://bournemouthrock.co.uk/bournemouth-christmas-lights-switch/

Animatronic Santa climbs streetlamp. Photo Taken By Hannah Greenhouse

Although it’s only November the spirit of Christmas is definitely here, with the Bournemouth Christmas lights switch on, that happened this Sunday at 5pm in the Bournemouth square.

As I walked towards the town for the big Christmas lights switch on, I had to fight my way through the hundreds of people that populated the town square. The noise of excited children, EastEnders fans and general Christmas lovers surrounded me as they waited, with enthusiasm to see the big switch on and ‘semi-official’ Christmas countdown.

The switch on was hosted by Welshy from JACK FM radio and included celebrity appearances from EastEnders actor (Jack) Scott Maslen and Bobby Crush, who are also appearing in the pantomime Aladdin at the Pavilion Theatre. The event began with a countdown, with everyone joining in, and then the lights were turned on, in sync with fireworks and a Christmas song.

Garden of light pod. Photo taken by Hannah Greenhouse

Over the crowd of bobbing heads I could see the town’s decorations As I smelt the roasted chestnuts and looked up to see the town shining with Christmas decorations and a few animatronic Santa’s sliding up and down a street lamp and unicycling across telephone wires, I   felt as though Christmas is on its way.

After the hype of the lights switching on, a celebrity appearance and the short burst of fireworks, the people emptied the streets to go to their warm homes, leaving me to see the German market in all its glory. The row of quaint wooden huts all selling Christmas trinkets, such as snow globes, jewellery and the essential Christmas jumpers, all great and quirky presents for those people who seem to have everything.

Christmas lights switch on Photo taken by Hannah Greenhouse

To lengthen this festive family experience, Bournemouth is putting on the Garden of light in its grade 2 listed gardens. I went there and was overwhelmed by the amount of effort that had gone into it. The FREE interactive light pods, open from 10am to 9.45pm, and shine from a far, attracting people of all ages to go and play. One theme was a pod full of spinning disco balls, another idea was a pod set out as a kitchen, where children could crawl through the cupboard past a jungle-esque room and out into the que for Santa’s grotto. As no Christmas fair would be complete without a charming Santa’s grotto and a big ice rink, as well as an alpine bar, to finish the Lapland experience, and allow the big kids a bit of enjoyment too.

All of these spectacles will be open until the 6th January (apart from the 25th December), so that we all have time to visit and get into the festive spirit.