Things We’re Loving!

Things We’re Loving!

I relationship with lockdown. It’s been cool to have the time to brush up on my French, paint, bake and read more. But still, there’s that deep-seated yearning to break up the days by going to the cinema or a restaurant with your friends and doing those ‘normal’ things that we always took for granted. To get me through this weird time, I’ve learnt the importance of choice; choosing to keep yourself energised and choosing to keep feeling fresh in the face of monotony. To help me, here’s some things that I’m loving…

Watch

Since the beginning of January, my best friends and I have got into the rhythm of a weekly Sunday night film night. We set up a group video chat on Messenger, and then group watch a film. Most recently we got through ‘Little Women’, and it’s Saoirse Ronan as Beth who really takes the biscuit for me in this movie. The love between the four sisters is palpable, and every scene is a feast for the eyes; there’s a vibrancy and energy that I didn’t envisage when I read the old and charming book back in Lockdown 1.0. ‘Princess Diaries’ 1 and 2 were also great in our group watch party, Julie Andrews is of course a total diamond as the Queen of Genovia, and I think we’re all a little envious of Princess Mia (Anne Hathaway aka Catwoman) who gets to have a grandma as cool as Julie. If you’re finding it hard to mentally separate one day from the next, schedule some virtual weekend fun every weekend with the gals and guys you love, and give yourself something to look forward to on a weekly basis.

Read

Even though French wasn’t my strongest subject when doing my A Levels, I’ve begun reading ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’ in French. It’s not as leisurely as reading a book in English, as every paragraph I’m finding a new word and writing it into my vocab book. However, it’s an enjoyable challenge, as ever since I was a child, I’ve loved Harry Potter, and if you’re learning a new language or wanting to challenge yourself, I would definitely recommend giving it a go! Choose to push yourself.

Listen

Like all of my fellow Falmouth University graduates, my degree was presented to me by Falmouth University’s Chancellor, Dawn French. Having grown up watching ‘The Vicar of Dibley’, this was a great honour and only deepened my love for the Cornwall-dwelling actress and comedian. Therefore, when I stumbled across ‘Titting About’, French and Saunders’s hilarious podcast, I swallowed all six episodes in 24 hours. The series consists of the charismatic duo chatting away and generally titting about, and the listener is privy to be a fly on the wall. To add to this, Dawn French also features on Chris Evans’s podcast ‘How to Wow’. Each episode is an hour and a half interview with a celebrity; other favourites so far include Graham Norton, James Blunt, Dame Emma Thompson and Dame Judy Dench. Chris Evans and his deep-rooted interest in other people always brings out the best of his interviewees, which makes for fun conversation to keep you company whilst you’re doing the cooking, going through your morning routine, or on your daily lockdown walk. When out for runs and exercising I’ve (ironically) rediscovered Daft Punk’s ‘Discovery’ album. Wow. If there’s any song that can failsafe get your blood pumping and muscles moving, it has to be the groove of ‘Digital Love’. Head over to our playlist page for more musical inspo.

By Editor and Illustrator Sophie Freestone

Playlist

Listen on Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3B5bkUoRD7IDxdz0ImNYhz?si=MC0F7wRzRQu1O_YUYCKetw

Digital Love - Daft Punk Face to Face - Daft Punk Mirrorball - Taylor Swift ‘Tis the damn season - Taylor Swift Billie Jean - Michael Jackson My Humps - Black Eyed Peas Tilted - Christine and the Queens Non Believer - London Grammar Champions - James Blunt Angel Eyes - Mamma Mia 2: Here We Go Again