Week 1 - The Top 100 Film Challenge

Happy Halloween, y'all! It's been a week of fervent film watching for the Top 100 Film challenge that I set myself last week. For those of you who haven't read what this is (where have you been...), the post can be found here. Things kicked off with The Godfather (Parts I & II) last Wednesday, swiftly followed by The Good, The Bad and The Ugly and The Usual Suspects on Thursday. Keeping up the pace on Friday, I watched Taxi Driver on the train to Nottingham, continued with Reservoir Dogs on Monday and Pulp Fiction on Tuesday. Phew! So, as promised, here is my first review of the films I've watched this week.

1. Film: The Godfather (1972)
Deserves its place in the Top 100?: Yes.

Why?: "A man who doesn't spend time with his family can never be a real man." Boy is this film a lesson in family values. For those who haven't seen it, The Godfather centres around a New York Sicilian mafia family, the Corleone's, the head of which is played by Marlon Brando - who, once you get used to his accent (which sounds like he's speaking through a mouth full of cotton wool), is an incredible character. It's a film all about the importance - and influence - of family, and what happens when anyone tries to knot those family ties. Well, don't mess with the best - the best don't mess. While family definitely comes first in this movie, food - in typical Sicilian fashion - comes a close second: "Ok, so you shot two of 'em, now what ya gonna do?" "Sit down and finish my dinner." Damn straight. If nothing else, watch it just to gaze at a young Al Pacino, who plays Don Corleone's 'good-guy-gone-bad' son. Bonafide eye candy.

2. Film: The Godfather: Part II (1974)
Deserves its place in the Top 100?: No.

Why?: The film is split between the 'current' dealings of the Corleone family, who have moved to Nevada, and a retrospective of Vito Corleone's (Marlon Brando in the previous film) early life. Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) is badder than ever, knocking out his enemies left right and centre, but for me, the story just doesn't work when taken out of New York. The flashbacks of Vito's early life (who is played by a rather handsome Robert De Niro) are the best part of the film - reminiscent of Gangs of New York, but less stagey. The other half kind of just drags on a bit, and you find yourself realising that Michael Corleone has not only murdered most of the characters, but also your afternoon. The storyline is same-y and there is no real plot or psychological evolution like there is in the first film. Best line? "If anything in this life is certain, if history has taught us anything, it is that you can kill anyone."

3. Film: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (1966)
Recommended by: Edmund
Deserves its place in the Top 100?: Yeah...

Why?: I have two dislikes in film. One is anything set in space. The other is Westerns. I can't stand the 'piow piow' of the gunshots, the cheesy one-liners, and the next-to-none dialogue; obviously The Good, The Bad and The Ugly was going to test me. For those who haven't seen it (i.e. pretty much any female), it's a film about three men in the WWW (that's the Wild Wild West, for those not in the know) at the time of the American Civil War, who are all after some buried treasure. A fairly simple storyline, you might say. I would agree with you. Which is why it is mightily puzzling as to why it takes over three hours to complete. I am putting this down to the inordinate amount of time spent on slow panoramas of the desert, close-ups of squinted eyes, and duels with people who are inconsequential to the overall plot. However, there is a flip-side. Firstly, the score. The film opens with that famous theme tune - you know the one:
 
and, to be fair, the music doesn't disappoint throughout. It's dramatic, and it works. Secondly, young Clint Eastwood is a hottie. He's one of those brooding silent types. Kind of like Angel in Buffy, but more tanned and with a gun instead of a piece of wood. Thirdly, even I, with my hatred of Westerns, can tell this is an iconic piece of cinema. It's what all subsequent Westerns have tried to copy - without much success. It IS cheesy as hell, I won't lie. And after this, you would be hard pressed to make me watch it again. But, if for no other reason than its status in cinematic history, it does deserve a place in the Top 100. 

4. Film: The Usual Suspects (1995)
Recommended by: Will
Deserves its place in the Top 100?: Yes.

Why?: If you look up 'mindfuck' in the dictionary, this film would be its definition. It's a story about five criminals, told in a series of intricate flashbacks by Kevin Spacey's character (Verbal Kint) from an interrogation in a Californian Police Department - centring around the arson of a boat. Flicking backwards and forwards in time is a little disjointing at the beginning, but you soon get used to it and find yourself totally immersed in the incredible storytelling of Verbal Kint. It's a masterclass in complex plot lines, with a twist at the end which will have you mouthing "No fucking way" at the screen when the credits roll. If you haven't watched it - do. If you have - watch it again; that's what I'm about to do right now.

5. Film: Taxi Driver (1976)
Recommended by: Tom
Deserves its place in the Top 100?: Yes.

Why?: Another film starring the young Robert De Niro, this time playing an obsessive taxi driver who has a problem with the world around him: "All the animals come out at night - whores, skunk pussies, buggers, queens, fairies, dopers, junkies, sick, venal. Someday a real rain will come and wash all this scum off the streets." Likened to an American Clockwork Orange, it's pretty shocking for something filmed nearly 40 years ago; sex, violence and expletives feature heavily, against a backdrop of 1970's New York. The character of Travis Bickle is both terrifying and fascinating; you know from the start that something is not 'right' with him, and throughout the film you are kept guessing what big thing he's going to pull off. For me, the suspense really wasn't worth it. The climax - a shoot-out at a prostitute's apartment - just was not big enough. This having been said, De Niro's character is brilliant and unforgettable, and 1970's New York is amazing to see. So, for those reasons, it deserves to be up there.

6. Film: Reservoir Dogs (1992)
Recommended by: Natalie
Deserves its place in the Top 100?: Yes.

Why?: I'm a massive girl when it comes to blood and violence, so when I found out that this was a Tarantino movie, I expected to spend most of my time hiding behind a pillow. However, this is no Kill Bill bloodbath. Granted, there are some pretty gory scenes in the middle - namely when a cop gets his ear sliced off - but the rest of it is pretty tame, by most standards. What really makes the film is the dialogue. The script is genius, full of clever banter and anecdotes between the characters: "Hey Joe, you want me to shoot this guy?!" "If you shoot me in a dream you better wake up and apologise." The film centres around a jewellery heist gone wrong; someone in the group has tipped off the police, and the men have split - some are dead, some are dying, and a couple wind up in a warehouse together. The backstories of the thieves are told in a series of flashbacks under their aliases (Mr White, Mr Pink, Mr Orange, etc) until we eventually find out who the rat is. Visually, it's not all that impressive or exciting, but the screenplay pushes the film on regardless. Personally, I've never seen a film like it, so for its script and originality - it's got to be in the Top 100.

7. Film: Pulp Fiction (1994)
Recommended by: Pretty much everyone.
Deserves its place in the Top 100?: Yes.

Why?: Another day, another Tarantino movie. But what a movie. Pulp Fiction is, in many ways, very similar to Reservoir Dogs. But it's bigger, better and way more cinematically evolved than the earlier film. For starters, it looks better. The scenes are more visual (and therefore more memorable), the costumes are brilliant, and the actors - and acting - are world-class. Secondly, the story is better; instead of flashbacks, the film works like a roundabout book of short stories - a complex web of scenarios with one big fat spider in the middle: the mysterious Marcellus. It covers love (both requited and un-), revenge, crime, homosexual rape, and much more - all tied together with lots and lots of angry violence. Thirdly, the soundtrack is iconic. Credits roll to what more modern readers will recognise as the sample from The Black Eyed Peas Pump It, which, now that I've seen the movie, I basically think is musical sacrilege. Another sample is used in a more respectable song - Fun Lovin' Criminals's Scooby Snacks. There are others you will recognise in the film, but it's an example of just how far this movie's cultural reach is. Finally, the screenplay is just out of this world. Sharp, quick exchanges and long, epic monologues - if you ask what Shakespeare would be writing if he lived in the 90's, this would be your answer: 
"You know what's on my mind right now? It AIN'T the coffee in my kitchen. It's the dead nigger in my garage. When you came pulling in here, did you notice a sign on the front of my house that said 'Dead Nigger Storage'? DID YOU NOTICE A SIGN ON THE FRONT OF MY HOUSE THAT SAID 'DEAD NIGGER STORAGE'?" 
"No. I didn't." 
"You know why you didn't see that sign?" 
"Why."
"'CAUSE IT AIN'T THERE, 'CAUSE STORING DEAD NIGGERS AIN'T MY FUCKIN' BUSINESS, THAT'S WHY!"
Now that's some effing poetry.



Keep the recommendations rolling in, guys. 7 down, 58 to go.

Love,
Belle x

Tune Tape Tuesdays #2

For some of you, this week marked the start of university Reading Week - or in other words, a week-long holiday from your 'studies'. Let's be honest - no one's going to be working this week. In light of this, I thought I'd put together a little party playlist to get you crazy kids in the mood for some late nights and bad decisions. There's something in there for everyone, so fill up your glass, put on an inappropriate outfit and get ready for a night you'll probably not remember.

Stude (feat. Peedi Crack & Chinko da Great) - Two Fingers

1991 - Azealia Banks

Love,
Belle x

Wish List Mondays #2

I swear it's not supposed to be this cold in October. The sudden drop in temperature this week has had me diving into the back of my closet and fishing out my warmest jumpers to hibernate in. But this also means that Winter - and therefore Christmas - is approaching, which is my favourite time for fashion. Think sparkles for night and chunky knits for day, rich prints and 70's hats - and layer, layer layer! Here's what I'm wishing for this week:

1. White Side-Zip Cable Knit Jumper, H&M, £15. Snow White here.
2. Strapless Print Dress by Mary Katrantzou, Harvey Nichols, £1240. Celebrate in style here.
3. Green Jumper by La Couture, Topman, £70. Buy it and hide it from your boyfriend here.
4. Navy Fedora Hat, French Connection, £40. Get ahead, get a hat here.
5. Printed Jeans by Current/Elliott, Net-a-Porter, £190. Print it out here.
6. Sequin skirt, H&M, £35. Shine on here.
7. Crystal-covered Bow Court Shoes, Topshop, £55. Make like Cinderella and buy them here.
8. Liberty for Nike Free Run 2, Office, £100. All the gear, no idea here.


What's this weather got you craving?

Love,
Belle x

Parisian Onion Soup

1000 Pageviews in 1 week! Thank you to whoever is reading! To celebrate this monumental occasion, I thought I'd give you guys a recipe that I'm obsessed with at the moment. It's inspired by a French Onion soup I had on a trip to Paris this time last year, in Cafe Hugo - a gorgeous little restaurant in Place des Vosges. If you find yourself in Paris with no idea where to go, go there. It's uber romantic and very reasonably priced. I haven't got the recipe from anywhere special, I just thought I'd have a go one night and it turned out rather well. So, with no further ado, here is a little something for those cold Sunday nights - I hope you enjoy it; please send your compliments to the chef.


You will need:

5 or 6 Onions, depending on how 'oniony' you like your soup. I like mine very oniony.
Garlic. Similarly, it depends on how much you like garlic. I heart garlic, so I use half a bulb.
Red Wine. You will be drinking nearly all of this bottle yourself. 
Beef Stock. Doesn't matter whether it's cubes, stockpots, a fancy-ass one you've made yourself...it's all good.
Worcester Sauce.
Balsamic Vinegar.
Oil.
Gruyere Cheese. Although I have used a mix of cheddar and mozzarella in the past and it was ah-mazing
Thyme. Fresh or dried, whatever your preference.
Parsley. Optional, for decoration/sprinkling.
Salt & Pepper.


You will also need:

A big pot/wok/saucepan.

A knife.

A chopping board.

A garlic crusher.

A grater.

A wooden spoon.

A ladle.

What do I do?

1. First up, pour yourself a big glass of wine. Getting drunk is half the fun.

2. Chop those onions and cry about your ex-boyfriend - no one's gonna know those tears are real.

3. Crush some garlic.

4. Put the onion and the garlic into a cold pot/pan/whatever you're using with some oil, salt & pepper. Turn the heat onto medium/low. You don't want the onions to brown. Keep them pale and interesting, like this:

5. In about 10-15 minutes, or after another large glass of wine, your onions should be pretty soft and nearly see-through. Now is the time to add your thyme (see what I did there). 

6. Stir this around with a wooden spoon so the onions get all thyme-y.

7. Add your stock!

8. Add the wine! (Not too much, because you want to save some for the meal.)

9. Add a splash of balsamic vinegar and Worcester sauce.

10. Relax and play some music for however long you want. The soup isn't going anywhere.

11. After about half an hour, or when you've finished dancing, you are good to go. Turn on your grill oven and get some bowls out.

12. Spoon the liquid love into a bowl - preferably a big one - and sprinkle with grated cheese. Place this under the grill.

13. Have another dance.

14. When the cheese is going golden, take it out. Be careful though, because by this point you're probably pretty drunk.

15. Place some parsley on the top, or simply dig straight in - all that dancing has made you pretty hungry.

What it should look like

Instagram makes everything look better

Bon Appétit!

Love,

Belle xx

DJ? FO.

I’m a big fan of the series Portlandia, a sketch show that takes a look at the different lives of the people of Portland, Oregon - the hipster capital of the US. I’ve just started watching the second season (even better than the first), which includes this sketch...

...and I realised - that is pretty much my life. It seems like you can’t go anywhere these days without bumping into someone who ‘DJ’s’. It used to be just nerds and loners, but now every house has one, and each claims to ‘mix’ different genres; Minimal, Drum and Bass, Dubstep, House (probably the worst offender), Techno - whatever you’re into, someone will DJ it. Students, naturally, make up the majority of this new craze, and, not to be sexist, but they’re mostly male. When asked why they started ‘DJing’, the most honest reply was “the girls”. Ladies, WTF. Apparently, some of our gender are guilty of leading these poor guys on to believe that blending some tunes will result in them being dragged off by the nearest nymphomaniac. Well, in the immortal words of Shania Twain: “that don’t impress me much.” You like pressing some buttons and playing two songs at the same time? That’s great. You’ve got some ‘sick’ speakers? A ‘fat’ deck? The latest version of Traktor/Virtual DJ/CD Pro (delete as appropriate)? Good for you. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t lack respect for those who are good at DJing. It’s just that the majority aren’t; they have simply spent too much time in their rooms, wondering why they don’t have a girlfriend, and one day decided to call themselves a DJ. They impress each other by boasting that they’re playing a ‘set’ at a student night, that they’ve perfected the ‘double drop’, or they’ve got a new mix up on SoundCloud - when really, does anyone care? Who is honestly going to continue this Disc Jockey charade after university? Pretty much no one. You know why? Because it’s just not that cool. So, let me give you some advice. Instead of practicing how to mix David Guetta with Beyonce, which no one really cares about, why don’t you practice talking to some girls. Or better yet, why don’t you take up an actual instrument? Who doesn’t want some oboe playing at their next house party! In fact, that’s exactly what I’m going to do. Watch out Manchester - the next time you invite me to a party, I’ll be bringing my cello with me. You can expect some heavy Bach, mad Beethoven and a smattering of crazy Mozart. Yeeeeah buddy.

Love,
Belle x

School Daze

Here's something I've been writing for a job application, but I thought I might just put it on here as something for y'all to read and think about...

A friend said to me the other day, “you’re going to look back in 20 years and think of your school days as the best days of your life”. This sentence struck terror in my heart. Am I alone in hoping that every year will be better than their school years? Am I the only person who would prefer to never see anyone they went to school with again? Was my negative experience of school all that unusual? I decided to ask around. 

My experience of school was at an all-girls boarding school, set in 100 acres, and surrounded by absolutely nothing. It’s a well-known school, one that has seen Kate Middleton, Clare Balding and Lady Gabriella Windsor come and go, and has produced two members of the reality TV show Made in Chelsea. I had moved to the UK from Australia, to take up a music scholarship that had been offered to me, and prior to arriving, I had hopes that attending a boarding school would be an experience akin to that of Hogwarts, or Mallory Towers. And I’m sure, to most of my year, it was - it’s just that my experience was very different. Coming from Australia to an all-girls boarding school can lend you a certain caché - if you fit the stereotype of blonde, lithe and tanned, and came shooting out of the womb ready to master every sport. Unfortunately, this was not me. I was awkward-looking, to put it lightly: long red-brown hair, pale, freckles and sticky-out ears, with low self-confidence and bad posture (to try and conceal the fact that I already had tits, age 11, how embarrassing). I also knew no-one, and everybody seemed to already know each other. It was a club that I was not a member of, a party that I wasn’t invited to. I will not bore you with the details of bad episodes at the hands of other girls - I will only say it did happen, and it made my life very hard and very lonely. I arrived an intelligent girl, ahead in all her studies, and quickly became the class joker - sacrificing my academic performance for a performance I hoped would gain me some friends. Popularity, both in and outside of school, ruled my life, and I spent years ‘perfecting’ myself for others’ approval. I left school with one good friend, and with a burning desire to never return, and to distance myself entirely. I was also tired. Tired of the cruelty that comes from girls who spend 24 hours in each other’s company with nothing else to do but form social hierarchies. I was tired of trying to be someone else for someone else, and the never-ending pressure that puts on oneself. I was ready for a change, and university offered me a clean slate to do so. I had escaped from the spider’s web that is the public school network, and, for the first time ever, decided to just be myself. Ironically, I now find it easier to make friends than I did at school, because I’m not bothered about whether they think that reply to their question was ‘weird’, if my outfit is too over-thought or contrived, or whether my ears stick out too much with my hair tied up. 

This isn’t to say that I look down upon, or pity, those who can reminisce about their school days as their ‘golden years’. I wish I had such fond memories as many of you do. But ask yourselves this: if your ‘best days’ were those spent in an institution as an awkward teen, where do you go from there? How can you put the most into your life, here and now, if you believe that it’s never going to improve on what it was at 18? For me, my many failings and unhappiness at school have spurred me on to seek success through happiness for my future; to focus not on what I haven’t had, but focus on what I could have. My very own pursuit of happiness, if you will. But don’t just listen to me. Here are some of your thoughts on the subject.

“Would you say your school days were the best days of your life?” 

Edmund, 21: I was indifferent towards my time at school. I didn’t have a bad experience, but I prefer my life since school. I’d probably say the best days of my life were on my Gap Year - no responsibilities, and the ability to do whatever I wanted.

Rosie, 21: YES! not the classes but 6th form was the best time ever. Turning 18, big parties and with everyone. You see everyone you're closest to every single day and you don’t miss them! I loved school.

Harry, 21: I had a great time at school, it was awesome fun - but I’ve had a better time at uni so far. Why would I resign myself to the belief that was as good as its going to get - I’m not even a third of the way through my life!

James, 20: The first six years were tough, but I look back proudly at where I've come from - living with your friends for 7 years was a good experience and prepared me well for the future. Some of the best and worst days of my life no doubt.

Hannah, 21: Yes, but only the last two years.

Louis, 17: School is food on your plate, money in your bank account, clothes on your back, a nice warm bed just for you, and a house full of love. The only thing you have to worry about is whether or not your doing well at school, or petty arguments that you have with your friends/enemies. Even if you fall out with someone, nothing really matters, as soon those will all be in the past. The things which will later tear you apart, such as job interviews, extra work, and true love crisis' are long in the future. All you have to worry about is yourself, and even though that might seem selfish, it’s really a huge relief. Childhood and your school days are a dream come true.

Claire, 20: I'd say that upper sixth, along with my experiences at university, would be what id call the best years of my life so far. the years before are just full of awkward  trying-to-fit-in moments and bratty young teenage girls!

My Friend's Mum (age withheld, obv): Are you serious!! I am very nostalgic about school days but they are nothing like what your generation will have as even a remotely similar experience...

Iona, 21: It’s like marmite...I love it because I met some interesting people, and learnt the occasional interesting thing, and I never had to pay bills, or check the oil in my car. Everything seemed more exciting with rules you could break without a spell behind bars. However, kids are mean, and money was available from a tap only my parents could turn on. All in all you could say that they were, although, there is no time but the present, and when school was my present I couldn't wait to leave. So on that note, no - school days were not the best days of my life, I'm still looking for them.

Then and Now - what a difference 10 years makes.

What was your experience of school? 

Love,

Belle x

The Top 100 Film Challenge

Anyone who knows me knows that I love film. And no, not just Disney films, you smart arses. Every Orange Wednesday - and most Saturdays and Sundays - you'll find me at the cinema, large popcorn in hand, settling down to watch the latest flick. Before today, I would have probably told you I was a bit of a film buff, but that changed when I decided to have a casual look at what the top 100 films on IMDB were. You might imagine my shock and amazement when I realised I had seen precisely 35% of these. So, obviously, this has to change. I've decided to set myself the challenge of watching the 65 films I haven't seen before Christmas this year. Seeing as there are only 61 days until Christmas (I know right? So exciting!) this averages out at very slightly more than one film a day, so I've got some work cut out for me.

My plan is to share with you, every week, my thoughts on the films I've seen, and whether or not I think they deserve their place in the 'Top 100'. So you guys can chart my progress, I've made a wee website, with all the films I have still to watch in red, and all those I have seen crossed out (it's not rocket science). Admittedly, there are some pretty embarrassing things I have never gotten round to watching, which include: 

• The whole Star Wars sextet (yep, even the new ones with Ewan McGregor)
• The Godfather Trilogy
• Any Indiana Jones.
• The Terminator Movies
• Back to the Future
• Pretty much anything from the 80's or set in space.

I've decided to start with The Godfather (Parts I & II), and then I thought you guys could give me direction from there. Comment, tweet or FB me your suggestions and recommendations for this week, and I will do my best to watch them. Also check out the IMDB list (here) - how many have you seen?

Love,

Belle x

Tune Tape Tuesdays #1

Listen up, peeps - it's time for the first instalment of 'Tune Tape Tuesdays' (like a mix tape, but instead of 'mix' I put 'tune' so all the words started with 'T' - clever, no?). 

So, music-wise, I tend to flit all over the place. I love a bit of acoustic folk just as much as my smooth DnB, or electro house. It just really depends on my mood and what's going on in my life.  So I thought I'd share with you some songs that have been playing on my iPod this week - I hope you enjoy them, a few are free to download if y'do. Stand out of this week goes to the incredible Rhye (like him on Facebook here.). This song wraps you up in a soft, cashmere rug of happiness that makes your ears smile. Mark my words, he's gonna be big. You heard it here first, folks!


Love,
Belle x

Wish-List Mondays #1

Happy Moan-Day everyone. The week has begun again, and it's time to restart the count down to Friday. Much like Maria in The Sound of Music, thinking of my favourite things always makes me feel a little better - hence why my Mondays are nearly always spent trawling the internet and making wish-lists and imaginary 'baskets' left right and centre. Cyber retail therapy, if you will. So, here are my top finds for this week:

1. Geek Jumper, Topshop, £28. Get some geek chic here.
2. Shearling-collared wool & cashmere-blend coat by Maje, Net-a-Porter, £445. Treat yourself here.
3. Sheep Thrills Jumper, Topshop, £48. Be a shepherd, not a sheep here.
4. Tartan Miniskirt by McQ Alexander McQueen, Net-a-Porter, £515. Go back to school here.
5. Red A-Line Skirt, Comptoir des Cotonniers, £110. Red Dead Redemption here.
6. Bib-front Shirt, The Kooples, £150. Shirt up here.
7. Tiffany Blue All-Stars by Converse, Office, £25 (on Sale!). Breakfast at Tiffany's here.
8. Black YSL Tote, Net-a-Porter, £1395. Put it on your Christmas wishlist here.
9. Fluoro Satchel, The Cambridge Satchel Company, £115. Brighten up your day here.


What's on your fashion radar this week?

Love,
Belle x

For the Love of Disney

Before you read on, let me just clarify a few things. Liking Disney films does not make me sad, uncool or immature. Nor am I one of those girls who believes that her Prince Charming is just around the corner, a fairy godmother is going to pop up on my doorstep, or that all stories have a happy ending. Got it? Great. Now we can continue. If you, like me, grew up in the 90's, I'm sure your childhood was made up of many happy memories watching Disney films on VCR - so many times that the lines, tunes and words of songs are all permanently stamped on your brain. Although the digital age has moved us all on to DVD's and .avi files, there still remains that undeniable sense of enveloping calm and happiness when the titles start to roll, which no other children's film house (is there any other?) provides. Just FYI, I'm talking about the hand-drawn, 2D animation films here - not the live-actions or infinitely inferior 3D's of the more modern films. To me, these later offerings are total sacrilege, and probably would demand a post all to themselves. So, you might ask, what is the point of this post? It is not, as you might expect, to rave on about how much I love Disney (which I do, but that's a bit dull and boring, isn't it.), rather I'd like to share just what I have learned, or gained, from Disney, and I guess to kind of say thanks for that.

1. The Lion King.

Hands up who doesn't like The Lion King. No one? Yeah, that's right. With voices from the likes of Jeremy Irons, Whoopi Goldberg and Rowan Atkinson, and music from Elton John, you'd be forgiven for forgetting that it's actually an adaptation of Hamlet! Yeah! Bet you wish you'd used that in your English GCSE. I mean, now that you know, how could you have missed it: your father's brother kills your dad and sends you away, you return as 'the prodigal son' to see that your uncle has shacked up with your mum and has totally mucked up the kingdom, Pumba and Timone are Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Raffiki is 'the gravedigger' through which Simba achieves his 'Yorick' moment... Of course, Nala can't exactly be equated with Ophelia - probably because suicide isn't really one for the kids - but you get the gist. 


2. Beauty and the Beast.

You know what Beauty and the Beast taught me? That smart girls choose the 'Beast' over the 'Beauty'. Arguably, Belle ended up with the ugliest of the Disney Princes - even after his transformation back into the long-haired, Michael Hutchence lookalike at the end of the movie. But you know what? Prince Charming never built Snow White a library, or had a snowball fight with Cinderella, or took Sleeping Beauty out for dinner and a dance. So the real moral of this movie? Choose the underdog, ladies - you'll have a better time.


3. Aladdin.

Aladdin. The perfect example of how a relationship should not be. Can I just point something out? Aladdin lies. The whole time. He also steals that magic lamp when we've just been shown that he's a known criminal. He's not exactly someone you want dating your daughter, let alone leaving your carefully tended kingdom to. If Aladdin was transposed into modern day, Aladdin would be the hooded drug dealer in the suped-up Suzuki Ibiza you see driving around, asking anything in a skirt "Wot u doin' l8r, sxy?" Nothing. Please go away.


4. The Little Mermaid.

You know what? Sometimes parents know best. I don't know if you saw, but there are plenty of good-looking mermen swimming around Atlantica for Ariel to choose from. But no. She had to fall for the only guy who doesn't accept her for who she really is. If that's not an unhealthy message to send young impressionable girls, I don't know what is. Also, she totally blows off her best friends for some guy she's only met once. I'm not saying that I've not made that mistake once or twice, I just didn't move away and marry the douchebag. 


5. Peter Pan.

Guys do not like girls who mother them. Simple as. Wendy needs to learn how to cut loose and get a little crazy. Take a leaf out of Princess Tigerlily's book. You're only young once. Unless you live in NeverNeverLand, in which case - party on.


6. Hercules.

Sometimes girls make some truly terrible life decisions. I mean, Meg sells her soul to Hades for some twerp she used to date. But I'll finish with this final note: the real hero is not the one who can kill a multi-headed monster, or defeat the Titans, it's the one who will love you despite your indiscretions. Also - keep an eye on the nerdy-looking gangly guys, they usually go pretty far.


What have Disney movies taught you?

Love,
Belle x

Daydreams of a Traveller

I'm not ashamed to admit that I am a hopeless romantic when it comes to travel. I'm a natural-born explorer; one of those people who enjoys getting up early or staying up late just to see a city in it's 'natural state' - without the noise and the crowds that descend during the daytime. I travel alone, and prefer it that way. Perhaps it sounds antisocial and pretentious, but I like to feel invisible when I go to a new place - and it's easier to do so without a companion who reminds you that you are not from here. I don't go travelling to get a tan, or go shopping, or even relax - for me, the sign of a good trip is to come back more exhausted than when you left! But the point of this post is not to preach - I promise! I thought I'd share some places that I've been dreaming about seeing - or returning to - in the near future. So without further ado, here is my Travel Wish List for 2012-13:

1. New York.

The other day I watched the film adaptation of Jack Kerouac's On The Road. I love the vibe of 1950's and 60's New York - one of my favourite films is Breakfast at Tiffany's, and my favourite author is Truman Capote. I imagine myself wrapped up in a wool coat, making waves through the steam from pot-holes, reading books in a tiny bar and eating a pastrami sandwich wrapped in a brown paper bag. 

2. Petra, Jordan.

This has always been high on my travel to-do list, but I recently stumbled upon a travel guide of the area that reminded me just how much I want to see this place. Being an ancient history freak, I love anything that looks 'undiscovered' and 'Roman' - so this fits the bill. The site of Petra is huge, but a three-day pass to the site is apparently cheaper than buying a 'day trip' ticket... Just imagine yourself exploring these amazing buildings, your head chicly wrapped up in a scarf, your kaftan blowing behind you as you ride a camel or donkey through the orange desert before sleeping under the stars. 


3. Paestum and the island of Ischia (Nr. Naples), Italy.

Climbing on ruins - because you can!

My friend Ed - doesn't he
look straight out of the 50's?

Now I know what I said about travelling alone, but when the opportunity arose to go visit my friend's cousin in Naples, could I really turn it down? My mum first travelled to the South of Italy when she was my age, and I was always captivated by her stories of Paestum - a town that was originally an Ancient Greek colony, absorbed into the Roman Empire, but lay abandoned, forgotten and dormant in a forest until the 19th century. The temples, which are older than the Parthenon and in way better condition, are breathtaking in their size and beauty. The best part? It's not on the tourist trail, so security and social etiquette is at a minimal - meaning that you can really explore the site without fidgeting sheepishly next to a burley security guard.
The Island of Ischia is one of the three islands that lie just off the coast from Naples. Capri is the most famous, but don't let that fool you into thinking it's the best - it's the most crowded, the most spoilt, and the most expensive. Ischia, on the other hand, is heavenly. It's cheap and easy to get to, not overrun by tourists, and still retains that 1950's 'island vibe' with its sun-bleached pastel painted houses, dusty roads and quaint seaside bars full of local fishermen. We rented a gorgeous little motor-boat (€10 each, for three hours) and sailed just round the corner from the harbour to a secluded bay, where the water was an azure blue, and the rocks that lined the bay were at perfect diving-height.


4. Varanasi, India.

India is the land of colour - and who doesn't like colour. For three years now, ever since my friend scrapped our plans for trekking round the country together (starting to understand my penchant for solo-travelling?), I have stared at our plans every day with the promise of one day fulfilling them. Varanasi was the jewel in this trip's crown. Not as hot, crowded and busy as New Delhi, it still has the Ganges - which flows like a vein through the city, giving life to its inhabitants. I want to smell the unfamiliar spices whose colours match the houses, trail my hand through the Ganges while gliding on a little boat, and watch the sun set from a window high up above.


5. Pyramids of Giza & The Temple of Hatshepsut, Egypt.

Because who doesn't want to see these. Seriously.

6. Rome, Italy.

The sun rising on a deserted St Peter's Square

I bloody love Rome. If I could be from anywhere, I would be from here. Its people fascinate me: they live like there is no tomorrow, while walking amongst millenniums of history; they drive with no regard for anyone, en route to a long lunch with their family and friends; are smart enough to fleece the obvious tourists but dumb enough to follow that gorgeous, but totally uninterested, girl around all night. Its a city of passionate contradictions - from the people to the food to the architecture, and everything in between. For the best experience of Rome, GET UP EARLY. I cannot stress this enough. One of the most memorable moments of my life was walking into St Peter's Square (for those who have been to Rome, it is usually unbearably crowded and packed with tourists) and being completely alone. Seriously, not a soul in site. It was like a scene from 28 Days Later; everyone had caught some fatal disease overnight and I was the only person left alive. Definitely worth experiencing. Another tip: don't take the metro, walk instead. You get a way better feel of how the city is laid out, plus you see things that you wouldn't if you're on a sweaty metro carriage underground. 

What's on your travel wishlist?

Love,

Belle x