Epigram 356 - The Croft 17 by Epigram

the croft

I'm a real spring chicken And I'm having a ball Lifestyle • Style • Food • Wellbeing • Travel

issue 17 23.03.21

Editor ORIN CARLIN Digital Editor ALLEGRA LETTS Deputy Editor FREYA SCOTT-TURNER

editor's letter

top stories

7 wardrobe

spring clean 11 TikTok pasta 14 graduation blues inside

2 lifestyle 6 style 10 food 14 wellbeing 18 travel

ife is frightfully dull at the minute, isn’t it? I simply can’t bear it. Therefore, I’ve taken it upon myself to inject a delicious concoction of pizzazz and artistic license into my otherwise tedious existence. Cue the technicolour! For better or for worse, I am a child. Albeit a 20-year-old, student-child – but a child nonetheless. I don’t understand what cryptocurrency is (pretend money?), I can't drive (it’s a sensitive subject) and when a clock face has no numbers, I genuinely can’t tell the time. Without wanting to fully expose myself, it would be remiss of me to sweep over the fact that I also shop in Zara Kids and have just finished watching the Tracy Beaker (2021) reboot. Let’s just say, I’m still in the midst

Logo by Bethany Marris

the croft

of adjusting to adulthood. But it’s not all bad! What I lack in common sense (I’m famously bad at crossing roads), I certainly make up for in a world of pure imagination. Sprucing up the mundane is my area of expertise and at it goes without saying that we could all do with a pop of colour at the minute. Even if you don’t feel like you’re necessarily that way inclined, try to ‘get in touch with your creative side.’ (Dreadful phrase, I know.) You don't have to be knocking out Michelangelo-standard sculptures from your student bedroom! Rather, in The Croft this fortnight, you could be jazzing up your Zoom background with Style, attempting to make the iconic TikTok pasta with Food, foraying into the world of healing crystals with Wellbeing or perhaps (optimistically) planning your summer holiday with Travel. Whatever it is that provides you with a bit of respite, allow yourself to indulge. A little nugget of unadulterated joy can go a long way. And if all else fails? There’s always Disney+.

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THE TEAM The Croft Editor ORIN CARLIN The Croft Digital Editor ALLEGRA LETTS The Croft Deputy Editor FREYA SCOTT-TURNER The Croft Chief Proofreader ANNABEL MORGAN Style Editor MANON WILIAM Style Digital Editor MORGAN COLLINS Style Deputy Editor MAY GARLAND Style Sub-editor OLIVIA ANDREWS Food Editor SAVANNAH COOMBE Food Deputy Editor TIM QUINEY Food Sub-editor PHOEBE RANSOM Wellbeing Editor ROSIE ANGEL-CLARK Wellbeing Digital Editor EVE COLEMAN Wellbeing Deputy Editor ELENA VENTURELLI Wellbeing Sub-editor SANJANA IDNANI Travel Editor DAISY GAME Travel Digital Editor MIA MUSA-GREEN Travel Deputy Editor REBECCA PARDON Travel Sub-editor SANJANA IDNANI Illustrator ALICE PROCTOR

lifestyle

Illustration by Lizzie Burgess

Pillow Talk Yee-haw or yee-naw? By Carrie Brizshaw

f there was ever a time to purchase that pink cowboy hat, now would be it. We’re going to unpack a position as old as time: the cowgirl. As early as the Stone Age, imagine that the homosapiens were riding each other like equestrians. I can see why the cowgirl has lasted through the centuries, it’s all about control and maximum pleasure. If you get your angling right – please do avoid ending up on Sex Sent Me to the ER (2013) – it gives you the ultimate g-spot stimulation. What more could a girl want? A power move. You’re in control of the pace, the movement and the stimulation. Just what could go wrong? I personally love to play with my boobs and suck my finger seductively when I’m on top to add some flavour. If you’re new to the cowgirl life, don’t worry! It might take some practice to finetune your rodeo skills. I probably don’t look as sexy as I think I do, but ignorance is bliss. One of the many reasons you won’t catch me filming a sex tape is that I’d rather not have my illusions shattered. My friend watched her sex tape back and, instead of seeing herself, saw The Hunchback of Notre Dame. If only the eyes could unsee. Sometimes just grinding won’t cut it for you and you want more. I understand. For deeper penetration and an intense orgasm, just squat and bounce up and down your partner’s penis – this allows you to go faster and deeper. Be careful what you wish for though; I used this move on the biggest penis I’ve ever laid my eyes on and I pulled my pelvic muscle. I couldn’t poo for days. It took my special chilli sauce to get things working again. It’s not stopped me from whipping this move out though! If a lack of confidence when on top is hurting your performance, you’ve come to the right place. The success to this position lies within a sprinkle of confidence; this really distinguishes veteran

cowgirls from amateurs. I find that if you fake it, you’ll soon start developing real confidence. If you’re struggling with body image, please try to take comfort in the fact that sex is a celebration of your body. Trust me, your partner does not care what you look like, he’s just thinking about where he’s going to cum. Be it on your boobs, face or in your mouth. So, saddle up for your next rodeo and use these tricks to rein in an orgasm.

Carrie's top tips For my lazy girls If you start to get tired, grind slowly and massage their balls while you’re on top. It’s guaranteed to get them to cum quicker. Make sure you pace yourself. Don’t start off super fast otherwise you’ll tire easy and it will be obvious when you start to slow down too soon.

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Breaking bad habits Elin Alexander shares her personal relationship with Lent

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ent is the 40-day period between Ash Wednesday (the day after pancake day) and Good Friday, which symbolises Jesus’ withdrawal into the desert. For Christians, it’s a time for reflection, penance and prayer, often marked by giving up something to replicate Jesus’ sacrifice. Today, when over half of the UK’s population identifies as atheist, perhaps the idea is a little less popular. I must confess that the only indication I had that we were anywhere near the Lent period were the hot cross buns being sold in the supermarkets, though ASDA does seem to have them all year round, so maybe that’s not the best indicator of time either. As a teenager, Lent felt more connected with diet culture than religion. Giving up crisps, chocolate or cake was maybe more of a bid to get rid of the things that were making us ‘fat’ rather than a time to reflect on another man’s struggle. It seemed more of a competition to see who could last the longest without indulging in their favourite treats, a façade if you will, as nobody talked about the midnight trips to the snacks cupboard when everyone was asleep. Well, I didn’t anyway. Lent and I never really got on. Deciding what to give up was the first hurdle and believe me, there

was an abundance of possibilities. I distinctly remember giving up milkshakes one year which actually went really well – probably because I had a milkshake once every four months so the whole 40 days thing was a piece of cake. I think I was looking for an easy escape after the previous year, where I gave up chocolate and resorted to eating around the chocolate chips of a chocolate chip cookie to try and trick myself into thinking everything was fine. Desperation is not a good look, let me tell you. Not long after this, Lent sort of went out of fashion in my social circles and everyone gave up. The excitement of a 13-year-old attempting to give up sugar isn’t quite the same as the excitement of a 21-year-old trying to give up drinking. Don’t get me wrong, everyone loves a challenge! But I think a challenge without appreciating why you’re doing it is maybe not the best kind. I think Lent, whether you’re religious or not, is a good way to remind ourselves to appreciate the little things. Whether that’s our favourite foods, pastimes or maybe some quality time with loved ones. Although it’s easy to forget the real reason behind it, and perhaps Lent’s origin story doesn’t lie within your belief system anyway, it’s a good way to test the resilience of the human mind. If you can keep to it, that is!

Editor MANON WILLIAM Digital Editor MORGAN COLLINS Deputy Editor MAY GARLAND

Flying high Morgan Collins shares the best ways to incorporate CBD into your routine

BD is an ingredient that has garnered a lot of attention recently within the beauty world, but what are its benefits? How does it work? And most importantly, will it get

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you high? Unfortunately, no, CBD will not get you high. An acronym for ‘cannabidiol,’ CBD is a chemical compound found in cannabis plants; it is completely legal in the UK and across most of Europe. Although initially cast off as a gimmicky ingredient, recent research has revealed CBD’s many beneficial properties. CBD is said to have multiple advantages when taken orally or applied topically; reduced inflammation and alleviated anxiety levels are among some of the benefits most likely experienced by users. On the whole, CBD is a non-irritating ingredient that is safe to use for those with sensitive skin; therefore, almost everyone could benefit from including it into their skincare routine. If you are someone with an acne-prone skin, CBD’s ability to reduce the production of sebum could have great results for you, especially due to the way it combats redness. Be aware, however, if you do struggle with acne, to look for ‘CBD isolate'. This is CBD in its purest form, so it won’t clog your pores like other heavy CBD oils. If you're still unconvinced, CBD has also been shown to provide similar benefits to that of antioxidants, which include evening out skin tone and brightening the skin. On top of that, CBD can be used to boost your sex life due to the fact that it promotes muscular relaxation. So, what are you waiting for? Inject some CBD into your routine.

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Spring clean: wardrobe edition Helena Reeds advises on how you can Marie Kondo your wardrobe for the new season

elcome to shopping addiction anonymous – it’s a safe space here – we don’t judge! Look, we’ve all been there: maybe you got bored during lockdown, just received your student loan or your first paycheck… and got a *little* carried away with the retail therapy. Next thing you know, your wardrobe door isn’t closing and your life is under threat from a mountain of clothes falling on top of you. Oh, just me? Well, whatever your wardrobe situation is, now is the perfect time to sort through your old clothes and have a spring clean. Here are my top tips on how to have a successful clear-out.

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Get in the zone

Be ruthless

Don’t underestimate the difficulty of the task at hand. It took me an entire afternoon to clear out my wardrobe – although I am probably an extreme hoarder in comparison to the average reader. Get a playlist ready, maybe some snacks or even a coffee. But most importantly, create four piles (you could use boxes or binbags too): keep, toss, sell, donate. Don't forget to wear something comfortable as you'll probably be trying on lots of pieces. Take everything out of your wardrobe or chest of drawers and get stuck in.

Just get going and start purging your clothes. Be ruthless here by considering a few criteria before keeping an item. Have you worn it in the last year? Does it still fit? Did you even know that you still had it? If the answer to any of those questions is ‘no’, then it’s probably best to toss. You can then decide if it’s worth selling, donating or tossing based on its condition. Items that are too damaged to donate can be recycled at clothes banks. In the UK, around 336,000 tonnes of our unwanted clothing gets thrown away each year.

Get organised

Once you’ve decided what you’re keeping, it’s time to organise your wardrobe. Firstly, if you have way too many clothes for the space, put your seasonal clothing into storage. As we come into spring, you probably don’t need all ten of your woolly scarves taking up a shelf in your wardrobe, do you? Have a look at some drawer organisers as they can really help to keep everything neat and tidy. Get creative too! You could colour code or move newer, unworn pieces to the front to inspire new outfits.

$ Make some cash $ And now for the reward. Whilst you’re still feeling motivated, take pictures of your old clothes and post them on any pre-owned clothing site to watch the money roll in. Personally, I use Depop or eBay for my old clothes. They are both really easy to use and I find that my items sell pretty quickly on both. You can also use Vinted, Facebook Marketplace and consignment sites. Just beware that you don't end up endlessly scrolling and therefore filling your own wardrobe back up again!

style Pop that zit! With Olivia Andrews

Acne Pimple Master Patch, £7 | Cosrx Covering an individual spot with a little sticker will allow it to heal faster. Just one thing don't forget that you've got the sticker on if you're about to run some errands!

Clearcalm Non-Drying Spot Treatment, £17.50 | REN This little bottle promises to rapidly sooth inflammation. Take a fresh cotton bud, apply a small amount of product and then dab it on to your spot.

Defense Antioxidant Pore Purifier, £31 Paula’s Choice This magic product protects spots from environmental aggressors and blue light, packed full of salicylic acid to decongest your pores.

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May Garland helps you to achieve that Instagramable living space

t seems like our social and academic lives have only existed through the virtual space of video calling apps. We now sit for hours in front of the uninspiring Blackboard Collaborate, reminiscing on the days when we could show off our impeccable sartorial choices for those in-person lectures. If you are fed up with appearing as a faceless voice in your seminars, try out these décor tips that will inspire you to turn on your camera for the visual pleasure of your peers.

Images: Epigram / May Garland

Declutter and tidy!

No one wants to see your dirty laundry carpeting your floor and furniture. Treat yourself to a spring clean for your hygiene and sanity.

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Spruce up your space!

Think art prints, posters, books, photos and cute cushions. For those who fancy themselves as interior designers, pick out a colour scheme or apply the sporadic approach to decorating and experiment with a spectrum of colours. I always find introducing accents of bright colours in the form of art brightens up and disguises those dreary cracked walls in student accommodation. Cushions can be used to introduce multiple textures to your room and accentuate the most important piece of furniture (and where we all spend most of our time) – the bed. Photos as well are not only decorative, but also an important reminder of the times when we could be close to our loved ones and of when we’ll be able to see them again.

Green living!

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Whether you’re a bunch of flowers, succulents or cacti person, plants are essential to freshening up the air in your e room and are aesthetically u h Ka pleasing. My room is slowly an g e becoming a jungle and I’m so M h/ here for it! las

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Good lighting!

Now that you have beautifully furnished your interiors, make sure you have good lighting to do it justice. This may seem obvious, but by placing your desk by the window, you will receive the flattering natural light. Alternatively, for those late calls in the long evenings, be sure to illuminate your room with the warm glow of a lamp or fairy lights. I advise against backlighting yourself; I know we’re all about making our backgrounds aesthetically pleasing, but avoid becoming a sinister dark silhouette of yourself in the process.

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Surround yourself with positivity!

Most importantly, decorate your room with items that bring you joy and spark inspiration. This is essential to curate a visually appealing living space and improve your mental wellbeing.

If after all this, you are still unsure of whether you want to share your surroundings with the cyber void, then choose a scenic virtual background for your Zoom calls, so you can sit serenely in your room and envision yourself lying on a beach in the Bahamas!

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Editor SAVANNAH COOMBE Deputy Editor TIM QUINEY

Bristol Bites Back Better campaign Emma Hanson discusses how Bristol is improving food sustainabilty

ristol Bites Back Better is a campaign that empowers Bristolians to create a more sustainable food system for the city. The University of Bristol and the University of the West of England have both committed to improve the sustainability of food on their campuses. At the University of Bristol, a university-wide Plastic Action Plan initiative will come into effect at the brand-new food court in Senate House, which will be entirely single-use plastic free. A new zero-waste section of the Stoke Bishop residents’ shop will also be opening, making zero-waste shopping easy and Epigram /

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accessible for students. Caroline Wynn, Head of Catering at the University of Bristol, comments on the significance of the Bristol Bites Back Better campaign: ‘Students in Bristol make up a significant proportion of the city, so the actions we take as a university and student body can make a real tangible difference. As a university we are keen to go further and conversations are already in the diary to discuss what other actions we can take, acknowledging that the time to act is now if we want to protect our environment and ensure the future sustainability of our city.’ The University of the West of England is also working to create a more sustainable approach to food on their campus. They have put together a Sustainable Food Plan, which is part of their aim to reach netzero emissions of greenhouse gases by 2030. They are working to ensure their students understand the impact of food waste and are bringing local Bristol food businesses onto campus to enable students and staff to spend their money locally. Joy Carey, the director of Bristol Food Network and coordinator of Bristol Bites Back Better says: ‘The actions already taken by the universities in the past few years and those planned for 2021 show real determination to do better.’ As big organisations, they are demonstrating how positive change can be made and we are excited to engage the student population further in the comingweeks and months as they too will be a key part of creating a better, fairer, and more sustainable food system for our city. We hope other organisations will look to this and consider how they could engage with the campaign and make positive changes for our collective future. Food is an integral part of our health and wellbeing, the environment, and many livelihoods depend on it. Bristol Bites Back Better brings together individuals and communities, local business and other organisations to build a better food system in Bristol, celebrate our food community and look towards a sustainable food future. It is a timely and exciting campaign, and we can all look forward to the positive change it brings.

food

TikTok pasta Savannah Coombe takes on the ridiculously simple recipe that’s taking the internet by storm

Ingredients

Top Tip!

Add chillies with the garlic for an extra spicy kick

Method

Add a tbsp of brown sugar at the end

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Whole block feta 2 packs cherry tomatoes 250ml olive oil (it’s a lot, but trust us) 250g penne pasta (or any type to your liking) 3 cloves garlic, crushed Fresh basil (fresh preferable, but dried will do too) Help! Salt and pepper Too acidic?

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1 Preheat oven to 200°C/180°C fan/gas mark 6 2 Put the tomatoes and olive oil in a baking dish and toss until the tomatoes are coated 3 Place the whole block of feta in the centre of the baking dish. Turn over to coat in the olive oil. Season everything with salt and pepper. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes 4 Turn the heat on the oven up to 240°C/220°C fan/gas mark 8 and roast until the feta is golden brown. This should take about 10-15 minutes 5 Meanwhile, cook the pasta. Save about 400ml of the pasta water. Drain well 6 Remove the baking tray from the oven and add the garlic. Stir everything hard until the tomatoes and feta break down and form a creamy sauce 7 Stir in the pasta, adding a bit of the reserved pasta water if the sauce is too thick. Garnish with the fresh basil leaves and salt and pepper to taste

Student wine tips

Illustrations: Epigram / Alice Proctor

hances are, if you’re reading this, you’re bound to have a love of good wine. You might even have some vague awareness of wine varieties too. Nevertheless, you’ve likely had more than one instance where your wine choice has fallen a little too far on the Echo Falls side of the scale. Here are a few tips to up your wine game. The key to buying cheap wine is to know which wines are more likely to be of a better quality, regardless of price. My general rule of thumb is that if you really don’t know what you’re buying, aim to buy cheap red over a cheap white, and don’t go near the watermelon-red rosés. If you’re going to venture into white wine territory, some of the best steals are available in Sainsbury’s and Tesco. They have a massive range o f prices, but you can get amazing wines for under 10 quid. One of my favourites is the Sainsbury’s Hock, it’s only about £4.50 and, although it doesn’t have a high abv%, it’s cheap and I’m yet to come across anyone who doesn’t like it. Tesco does the most delicious Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc that has a sharp but sweet passionfruit finish and is also under £10. In terms of white grape varieties, the key three to start exploring if you’re just getting into it are Chardonnay (unoaked = typically cheaper), Sauvignon Blanc (there’s a lot of range to this, can be sweet or dry!) and Pinot Grigio (especially delicious with food, it is more on the dry side than the other two). Sainsbury’s also have some amazingly cheap reds. At the moment, a gorgeous chocolatey Venetian Crianza 2018 is selling for £6, which is a real steal. The most interesting thing I have learnt about Wine 101 was about tannins. Usually no one has a clue what they actually are, but essentially, the longer they leave the skins in during the fermentation process, the stronger the tannin. When you eat just the skin of a grape you get the same sensation as a wine with a lot of tannins. The TV show Saturday Kitchen is my biggest source of inspiration. They buy their wines for generally under £20 and are sourced from all the usual UK supermarkets. Watching this will teach you so much and give you a heads up as to where to get good, cheap wine. The second thing is to familiarise yourself with Majestic Wines online store. You can properly start testing wines from all over the place: new world, old world, vintage, young; all wines that you don’t usually get at the supermarket. When everything opens up again, the local Majestic shop is in Westbury-on-Trym, close enough to save on delivery costs.

Spilling the tea: Tim’s tasty I think I am late to the party, but I h a v e only recently discovered the joys o f visiting Asian supermarkets. Now a trip just to browse is as regular as a café stop was pre-lockdown. I am a rookie when it comes t o knowing about all the products, but i t has definitely been fun buying and researching what to make with what we find, such as dried mushrooms, miso pastes and fun mochi flavours. My favourite purchase, though, has to be frozen dumplings. There are so many flavours, they cook in literally under ten minutes (either steamed or boiled) and come in bags of about 20 for less than £5. You can make them a fuller meal by steaming some veg on the side, or dropping them cooked into a ramen bowl, or you can just pan-steam/fry them alone for the fastest, most satisfying snack. My favourite dumpling flavours at the moment are spicy pork and the pork and chive, so naturally I chose to procrastinate from my dissertation and try to make my own. I cheated a little, buying premade frozen wonton wrappers from the market, and then found a few recipes online to base the filling off. There were actually not that many ingredients required: ground pork, ginger, garlic, green onions, soy sauce, sesame oil and some rice vinegar. I like them really fragrant so decided to add some extras for fun, like coriander, some lemongrass and chilli oil. Now, I’m not an expert - learning to fold them took a few YouTube tutorials and lots of trial and error - - but for my first time I was pretty pleased with the result and got an hour or so of therapeutic edible origami out of it too. I would definitely recommend firstly a visit to the Asian supermarket, and secondly making your own dumplings, as you can veganise/ vegetarian-ise the filling and freeze them to cook straight from frozen for whenever you might need.

Images: Epigram / Tim Quiney

Ellie Gladwin offers her guidance on buying wine on a student budget

food

Bad Oreomance Lady Gaga’s biscuits reviewed by Gaga fan Siavash Minoukadeh

Epigram / Siavash Minoukadeh

want your ugly, I want your disease, I want your everything as long as it’s free. However, one thing of yours I do not want, Lady Gaga, are your attempts at confectionery. Having been a Little Monster since I first saw the video for ‘Just Dance’ on 4Music at the tender age of eight, I am, in many ways, a ride or die for Miss Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta (better known as Lady Gaga). She was not only the top artist in my Spotify Wrapped last year, but I was in the top 0.1% of her listeners. I value this more than my degree. I have stanned her through the highs (The Fame Monster era) and the lows (A Star is Born (2018)); I’ve built up an encyclopaedic knowledge of her outfits and live performances, as only a gay man can. So, imagine my delight when I found out Gaga would be releasing limited-edition Oreos to go with her latest album, Chromatica (2020). I could finally not only listen to her hypercamp style, but taste it too. Sadly, though, having said I was a Gaga ride or die, these biscuits definitely pushed me into the die camp. Before we even get into the biscuits themselves, I need to deduct points for punctuality. Chromatica was released in May 2020. These biscuits started being sold in January in the US. It was not only until mid-February 2021 that this locked-down Brit managed to get his hands on some. Thankfully, I did finally find some in my local supermarket, marked down to just 50p a pack, half the price of the standard Oreos next to them. ‘There could be 100 people in a room and 99 don’t believe in you, but one does,’ Gaga famously said. Clearly that one person doesn’t work in a north London Sainsbury’s. Having belatedly secured the bag (and at a reduced price), I could actually start to see if the hype was worth it. They come in that recognisably Oreo-shaped wrapper, albeit in hot pink, so there’s no chance a straight man can pick them up by accident. There’s also a QR code that supposedly gives you the chance to win prizes with each pack. I had bought ten packs. I did not win a prize. For this, I deduct points. We’re also told twice on the packaging that the biscuits are a design “inspired by” Gaga. This is disappointing. Given she was busy singing at the Inauguration at the time, however, I am willing to overlook the fact that Gaga did not head into the kitchen herself.

So what do they actually taste like? Well, Oreos. What do the biscuits themselves look like? Again, Oreos. Like, exactly the same. I had seen photos of American Little Monsters with their Chromatica Oreos, which featured pink biscuits and neon green fillings and was expecting the same on this side of the Atlantic. Alas, these British biscuits are exactly the same as the standard Oreos, black with a white filling. Unlike the American ones, they don’t even have different designs on the biscuit moulds with Chromatica symbols. They are, and I cannot stress this enough, just standard vanilla Oreos in a pink wrapper. I don’t know if we got this deal because of Brexit. I think it may be possible. All of this is to say they taste great. You don’t need me to describe what they taste like though. They are Oreos. Not the weird golden ones (which apparently the American Chromatica Oreos were based off). Just standard vanilla Oreos. I feel misled sure, but mainly insulted. You gave us Brits the less exciting version, we’re used to that. It’s the vanilla flavour that irks me. Vanilla? This woman wore a meat dress, she sings in French and Spanish and doesn’t speak German, but can if you like. There is nothing about Lady Gaga that is in any way vanilla – we have all collectively agreed to blot out Joanne from our minds. Nevertheless, I am not disappointed. If anything, I feel closer to Gaga after this experience. She overpromised and underdelivered and did so after a months-long delay. I cannot think of another pop star who is as relatable to their fanbase of messy and chaotic gay men. Frankly, maybe I was wrong to expect the Chromatica Oreos to be sensational. Look at it another way. The supreme biscuit is, in many ways, the communion wafer. It’s simple, wholly flavourless and yet revered by all who have it. Nobody leaves church complaining about the dull designs on their wafer, it’s not about that. It’s about what it represents, not what it tastes like. So, think of the Chromatica Oreo as a Gaga communion wafer. Sure, it’s pretty unremarkable in terms of taste and looks. But it’s the symbolism that matters, the blessing you receive from your idol by eating it. At least that’s what I’ll tell myself to justify the fact that I spent £5 on copious amounts of what have since turned out to be ordinary biscuits.

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Editor ROSIE ANGEL-CLARK Digital Editor EVE COLEMAN Deputy Editor ELENA VENTURELLI

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Graduation blues

Lily Sheridan Power shares how she’s feeling about coming to the end of university

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ince starting university, I’ve met lifelong friends, fallen for a new city and learnt a tremendous amount (even how to use a tin opener). But with uni drawing to a close, I’m now being asked: ‘what are you going to do next?’ I’ve been cocooned by the regularity of terms. Even at the peak of summer, I knew come September, I’d be a student again. But this year, my student discount will be terminated, my LinkedIn profile updated and I’ll enter the ‘real world’. While this isn’t plain sailing in normal circumstances, a pandemic certainly hasn’t made it any easier. Juggling dissertation stress, online learning and graduate applications is exasperating. Although I am fortunate that I know what I want to do, I’m entering a fiercely competitive job market. My CV will land in an inbox alongside graduates from last year, and this year, and those recently made redundant. It’s challenging to stay motivated A ge while receiving a plethora l-C lar of rejection emails with the k words ‘I’m sorry’ and ‘an unprecedented number of applicants’ ringing through them all. ie os /R

Besides the obvious negatives of COVID-19, I’ve been robbed of interactions only possible between seminar friends who share resentment for the same tutor. Not to mention pub trips with course-mates and holidaying with housemates. In my final term, it’s difficult not to dwell on how it would be if things were normal. I’m having to accept I won’t have a graduation ceremony, let alone the opportunity to commemorate my uni experience at the pub. Third year should be celebratory, but we’ve been left to mitigate our government’s failings alone. And while it’s important to acknowledge it has been hard for us all, I’m lucky compared to others. I’m in good health, which is something to be extremely grateful for at the moment. In terms of university life, I know I’ve still had a relatively easy ride compared to first years. Although the pandemic has tainted my uni experience, I refuse to let it be ruined. Alongside making great memories, I’ve fallen for Bristol. Before uni, I didn’t know anything about the city yet I’m now planning on staying here next year. I’d like to remind myself that though people put mounting pressure on having your life sorted in your twenties and it may feel like a race against time, push back against this feeling. As long as you are willing to learn, explore and stay inquisitive, you will find your way. Run your own race and even then, don’t run. Walk. Stroll even.

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Crystals for subtle s wellbeing upport / am igr Ep E es Jam

Freedom on the horizon?

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Caitlin Palmer O’Shaughnessy Wellbeing Columnist

James Emery illuminates a little-known practice

It can also help relieve stress and even find love, depending on the intention you have whilst using it. I personally like to have rose quartz with me while doing something that I love to do, to charge the crystal with positive loving energy. The final type is amethyst, which is another strong healer that has been called ‘nature’s tranquiliser’. It is even worn in a ring by the pope. Amethyst promotes healing in the soul, body and mind, bringing serenity and clarity which can be useful when writing essays and dissertations. Its high frequency is also believed to cleanse the aura of negative energy, leaving you more balanced and better equipped to tackle your deadlines. My preferred use of amethyst is to always have it on me, whether as jewellery or next to me while I work, to bring a sense of calm. While using crystals, make sure to treat them with respect and cleanse them of any negative energies they may absorb. Cleansing can be done simply by washing them under cold water or with smoke from burning sage (making sure the sage is ethically sourced and you don’t set off a fire alarm!). Stones can also be charged to give them an extra oomph by leaving them in direct moonlight, or by anointing them with oils to strengthen their properties or give new ones. m Epigra

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he use of crystals to heal the body and mind is something that I have been recently introduced to and it has been really helpful to me, especially during this stressful time full of deadlines. Crystals have been used for centuries as a way to promote healing and relaxation, with different crystals being used to focus on specific ailments or emotions. I am going to tell you how to use and care for your crystals as well as about a few of my favourites that have really been a great help. First, let’s look at clear quartz, otherwise known as rock quartz, which is a stone that has personally been very helpful. Clear quartz is known as ‘the master healer’ and is believed to sharpen the memory, increase concentration and bring balance to the mind and body. In my experience, I have found that clear quartz is best used when meditating: placing the crystal on the forehead helps to clear and balance the mind as well as build focus. It is also a great amplifier, so any energy and intentions that you put into it will be rewarded back tenfold. Another of my favourites is rose quartz, which is also great for healing, but focusing specifically on the heart and emotions. It can be used to focus on self-love (something we all often lack when we are drowning in uni work) and allows us to take a little time for ourselves.

t’s finally here. The light at the end of the tunnel. The chance for – dare I say – a near return to normality. Of course, it’s the COVID-19 roadmap out of lockdown. Forget birthdays, we all have the 21st of June pinned in our minds. Don’t get me wrong, the thought of hugging friends, going to festivals and not having to think about COVID in everything I do is definitely exciting, but it’s also a bit scary. A return to how things were is actually pretty daunting. I don’t know about you, but if I find myself in a crowded supermarket aisle I start to panic, and I can’t remember the last time I socialised in a big group. Or perhaps you’ve had enough, you hate lockdown and are desperate to forget all about COVID. Either way, the 21st of June is a big day and will probably be pretty overwhelming regardless. It’s more than just a day: if all goes to plan it signifies a gloriously long summer of doing whatever you want, whenever you want. You don’t have to jump in, spend all your money, get blackout drunk and do everything you’ve been waiting a year to do in just a day. If you’re worried about returning to a fastpaced lifestyle, you can take things slow. If COVID-19 has taught us anything, it’s to appreciate what we have. So, savour the end of lockdown. Enjoy every hug with a friend and every pint in a pub garden with the sun shining. And remember, however you’re feeling, others are too. This year has been the weirdest year we could possibly have imagined; it’s totally normal to feel anxious about this huge change, even if it is a good thing.

Sweet

Eve’s tip: Queen of the Routine

The Editors give their favourite

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t’s safe to say that my sleep schedule is abysmal. In first year, I got into the habit of sitting up until 3am talking to my flatmates and my body naturally aligned itself to this night-owl pattern. Therefore, for the past three years, I’ve struggled to wake up before 11am and when my alarm goes off for an early morning class, I normally resemble the walking dead for the rest of the day. I know that I’m more productive earlier in the day, so this sleep schedule is certainly not beneficial to the third year workload! Copious amounts of caffeine are often needed to fuel my late library sessions and I have been known on several occasions to fall asleep upright while doing my readings. My desire to stay up socialising past midnight largely stems from a frustration with the constrictions around my days – the seemingly endless list of academic tasks that I have to check off before I can relax. The wee hours of the morning often feel like my only real free time. n lema e Co / Ev

Epigram / Rosie Angel-Clark

This week, I’ve been trying to combat this pattern by rearranging my working hours and setting boundaries around my free time. I set my alarm for 8.30am, do a few hours of work before breakfast, then take some time to relax and exercise before I sit down to my afternoon’s work. This pattern has allowed me to work ‘smarter’ instead of harder – completing my work in focused study sessions, then keeping the majority of my evenings free to relax and socialise. In order to make the early nights and mornings even more enticing, I’ve been trying to craft my perfect wind-down and wake-up routines. Before bed, I’ll make myself a non-caffeinated warm drink, take time to do my skincare and read a few pages of fiction before nodding off. In the morning, I try to avoid going on my phone when I wake up; instead, I write a page in my journal, drink a glass of water and try to get started on my course reading to start off my day in a productive way. I normally don’t eat breakfast until 11am and the desire for good food and coffee is the cornerstone of my early schedule! The bleary eyes are worth it for that first sweet sip of Lidl strong Italian roast – often accompanied by a quick episode of Gogglebox with my flatmates. With my better work-life balance and a good night’s sleep, I’m feeling like a new woman! I haven’t quite mastered the early-bird life – but it’s definitely a step in the right direction and my eye bags are looking significantly lighter!

Rosie’s tip: the tea on sleep

I’m a troublesome sleeper – I struggle to fall asleep, stay asleep and get up in the mornings. I’ve always been interested in complementary therapies to support wellbeing. Valerian root has been used to treat insomnia for centuries, and it is being researched for its beneficial treatment of mild anxiety and depression too. You can get it in a variety of forms, including capsules, but there is something comforting about a cup of tea that adds to the beneficial effect. I don’t use it often as I find it works almost too well for me, but on a particularly restless night, I have a cup about an hour before bed. I use Dr Stuart’s as it has a high potency and isn’t blended with other herbs, but there are many types available – I am usually fast asleep within the hour. It’s great for good quality sleep, too. One thing to bear in mind is you might not want to use this on a night when you have to be up at a certain time – it’s good to let yourself wake up naturally or you might feel extra groggy in the morning! In these times, in which we’re often in charge of our own schedules, though, it might be worth a try if you’re struggling with getting enough good quality sleep. Of course, this may not be suitable or work for everyone, and please make sure you contact a doctor if you’re having severe or long-term sleep difficulties.

Dreams

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tips for a great night’s sleep and easier wake-ups Elena’s tip: move your body! The hardest part of sorting out my sleep cycle has been getting up when my morning alarm goes off. Staying awake when I feel so tired feels impossible. Sometimes I snooze my alarm repeatedly every 10 minutes for a few hours straight and still don’t get up. Last week I tried a new strategy: massive movement. When I wake up now, I jump up from the bed as fast as I can and immediately get dressed as if I’m late for something important. Playing an energetic song or humming a fast beat in your head also helps. It only takes about one minute of continuous massive movement to destroy the invisible pull towards my bedsheets. I’ve found that the more energy I use, the better this works. Not only does this get me up on time, but it is a valuable life lesson that energy creates more energy! Now, even if I’m tired during work or after lunch, I jump around until I feel more energised.

Georgiana’s tip: give your brain a workout I am a chronic snooze button abuser. Every morning is the same: my first alarm goes off only to begin a tortured two hours of hitting the snooze button every five minutes. With coursework deadlines looming and my housemates getting increasingly irritated by the endless reverberation of ‘apex’ or ‘beacon’ that rings through my walls each day – I was willing to try anything. One friend suggested the app ‘Alarmy’ – where in order to shut off the alarm, you have to complete a series of maths questions. He claimed it had 'changed his life’, so I hesitantly downloaded it and gave myself three calculations set at a ‘hard’ level of difficulty. Instant regret. I had completely overestimated my mathematical ability at that time in the morning, and, through blurry eyes, I was trying to add up numbers such as 78, 67, 92 only to keep getting the same incorrect answer. Eventually, I stumbled through all three with sheer rage – why on earth had I voluntarily put myself through this?! I, of course, immediately tried to go back to sleep, only to be met by an alien feeling of alertness. Had it actually worked?! For the first time ever, my mind wasn't trying to drag me back to dreamland, but instead, it was racing with all the things I needed to get done that day. After a week of using it, the effectiveness did slightly wear off, but it continues to be a game-changer. And if it works for me, I promise it will most certainly work for you.

Editor DAISY GAME Digital Editor MIA MUSA-GREEN Deputy Editor REBECCA PARDON

The post-grad Jessica Li discusses journey potential plans for after m ra ig

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graduation this summer in an exploration of the student ‘journey’ after university

n the blink of an eye, a whole degree has passed by, and a lingering mix of nostalgia, uncertainty and excitement fills the impending void instead. This is the case despite a whole global pandemic. Sooo…what’s the plan? That scary question that every final year student either dreads or has a courageous answer carefully planned out. How can we kick these graduate blues? What are the potential options? Despite all the dubious chat about job-searching and feelings of uncertainty, there are actually several doors beckoning to be opened. Of course, there’s the obvious ‘Get a Graduate Scheme or Job’, which would be the ideal situation— both to save time arguing with the parents and doubting why you did a degree (unless you are one of the rare students who is “truly passionate” about their subject). Graduate scheme applications, however, as a pre-warning for any first-time applicants (we have all been in your shoes), are time consuming, require proper in-depth research and can be mentally exhausting. This is all worth bearing in mind before you hit the submit button. It is no joke when they tell you at Career Fairs to do your commercial awareness research, because that advice certainly comes back to bite you during final interviews if you are unprepared. So, don’t fret if you don’t have one, most graduates don’t and there are always more losers than winners in this game. On reflection, you may not even have applied for the right reasons and dodged a bullet. So, what are the other options? Perhaps, you feel robbed of the final year of university, or more sensibly, you want to gain more knowledge on a specific subject, then postgraduate study could be the way forward. Although it cannot be promised that the pandemic will certainly improve by the next academic year, it is definitely looking hopeful as vaccine distributions are rising globally and there is anticipation that the university experience will kick back into place for students. A postgraduate degree may not be your worst bet, especially if you are genuinely interested in your subject, have friends staying in Bristol or accompanying you elsewhere. It may even be helpful for gaining that ‘graduate scheme’ job. In such times of crisis, maybe the continuity and stability tied to a post-grad doesn’t look too shabby. If that doesn’t tickle your fancy either, and you need a break from the realities of adulting, then maybe take a gap year. It may be a tad idealistic given the global pandemic situation, but what’s the harm in dreaming a bit? If you find yourself procrastinating on your phone, why not give the internet a browse for potential opportunities abroad – perhaps teaching English abroad, volunteering at a farm in New Zealand or au-pairing in Europe (note: potential-visa complications re: Brexit). Who knows? The world is your oyster and as the Chinese idiom goes, ‘a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step’之行，始于足下.

Waking Up The Nation Xander Brett Travel Columnist

very few months in the UK, there’s a nervous press release: radio stations get their listening figures. As we head to school and work, the nation is kept entertained by a multitude of competing presenters. But, while Brits switch on the radio, we in France switch on the television. It seems a terrible habit the French have televisions in their kitchens, but it means Télématin can come through to the breakfast table. Télématin (on France 2, France’s premier public channel) is apparently under threat. But, after 30 years, it w remains the nation’s primary morning wshow. This is no Good Morning Britain (there’s no Piers Morgan for a start), it’s a televised magazine: informative, precise and impeccably produced. French television is smart, but its success means radio falters. Radio France has a current affairs channel (France Inter), a local network (France Bleu), a classical music channel (France Musique) and my pre-set: a pretentious arts and philosophy channel (France Culture). On Sundays, however, I tune into a cool alternative to modern jazz (Fip). It’s incredibly relaxing, but is, and as far as I can tell, staffed by just one woman… either she pre-records her links, or she pulls the longest shifts in broadcasting.

Bristol in spring By Beatrice Convert

travel Leigh Woods Have you ever looked across the gorge and wondered what on earth goes on in that great mass of trees to the right of the Suspension Bridge? Cross the bridge and take a road on the left that leads you up through a housing estate before hitting the entrance to Leigh Woods. If you can get your hands on a bike, the smooth and wide dirt paths through the trees provide a total change of scene and a pleasant escape from the hustle of the city. For the thrill seekers, the woods are home to ample mountain bike tracks of varying levels. Why not shock your friends by returning home rosy-cheeked and splattered in mud?

ow are we going to make it through the next few months? With the hotly anig ra ticipated date of June 21st m /O sparkling on the horizon, we still have rin Carlin some time to fill. Fear not: with spring rapidly approaching, life is on the up. As things are looking quite literally brighter, I’m going to be sharing five of my favourite outdoor spots in Bristol. The time has come for you and your housemates to stop bickering about whether or not to have the heating on and Epigram / Beatrice Convert get out into the sun. Aside from granting an excuse to parade around in your favourite shades, springtime means you can really start exploring what Bristol has to offer. I’m talking about more than simply grabbing a coffee in Clifton Village, so prepare yourself to put your knowledge of your beloved city to the test…

Narroway’s Hill Let’s begin with Narroway’s Hill, my most recent find. More commonly known as ‘The Mound’, this haven of greenery exceeds its underwhelming nickname. I set off with a friend in pursuit of this peculiar hill, situated amongst the maze of graffiti and livestock that is St Werburgh’s city farm. We climbed up the steep muddy slope and sat amongst the humdrum of happy people to watch the sunset. Nicely elevated, The Mound boasts amazing views of the east side of the city and its surrounding countryside. Shake up your routine, bid farewell to Brandon Hill and head east to discover this gem.

The top of my list of places when it comes to sunny evenings has got to be the Downs, a golden metropolis of student life. It is with great relief that spring has re-gifted us with this not-so-hidden treasure after a winter of too much time spent inside. If you haven’t done so already, I would highly recommend packing a rug and some drinks and setting off, housemates in tow, to experience the infectious evening buzz.

Goat Gully So, you’ve strolled diagonally across the Downs and hit the viewpoint, gazed at the bridge and gawked at the gorge. Now what? Get yourself a Mr Whippy from that trusty ice cream van we all love and check out Goat Gully. No, it is not a myth, and yes, there really are goats. The entrance is not obvious: walk left along the perimeter of the Downs from the viewpoint to find a kissing gate hidden in the hedge near the cliff. You have entered the magical land of the Gully Goats, who dutifully graze on the steep hillsides to promote wildlife growth. The rugged landscape is truly striking; sit on the rocks to peer down at the precipitous drop or venture down into the depths of the gully.

Clevedon: The Marine Lake and Ladye Bay I think we can all agree that lockdown life can get monotonous, and for me, there has been no better way to break the boredom than jumping into a cold body of water. The intoxicating rush is not everyone’s cup of tea, but as the weather improves, so does the appeal of a wild swim. Regretfully, Abbots Pool has been firmly barred off due to anti-social behaviour, so if you decide to jump the fence and risk the hefty fine, do so politely and at your own peril! For a salty dip, Clevedon Marine has been my go-to. Naturally filled up by high tides, the huge pool looks out over the gaping Bristol channel. Don’t be fooled; the water temperature is equally as breath-taking as the setting, and you will no doubt emerge giddy, numb and screaming for your towel. For a speedy recovery, wrap up and head to the chippy on the seafront. Around the headland from Clevedon beach lies a secluded cove called Ladye bay, and on a clear day, the sunset over the sea is worth waiting for. Make a fire or bring a barbeque to stay warm well into the evening.

Photograph: Epigram / Beatrice Convert

The Downs

Britain’s ‘Ocean City’ is not a common summer-holiday destination and with its city mall nce branded ‘Britain’s Ugliest Building’, it is easy to see why the city is an unpopular backdrop for summery Instagram selfies. However, venturing away from the city centre, you can encounter the charms of the south-west coastline: Plymouth is surrounded by beautiful bays and beaches, such as at Bovisand and Wembury, and only a short drive from larger, sandy beaches, Whitsand and Bigbury. If you fancy a break from sunbathing, take a cultured stroll through The Barbican’s cobbled streets and pay a visit to the internationally renowned Mayflower Steps, where the Pilgrims set sail from when embarking for America in 1620, (Plymouth’s only claim to fame besides Tom Daley). After you have filled an intellectual five minutes beholding the steps, head to the nearby National Marine Aquarium, the largest in the UK and home to over 40 sharks! Once the sun begins to lower and the temperature cools, treat yourself to a balmy evening at Royal William Yard, where you can overlook the harbour from some of Plymouth’s best restaurants.

Photographs : Epigram / Mia Musa-Green

Rebecca - Plymouth

Sanjana - London With the vaccine rollout going well, promises of a big British summer looks like it might be on the horizon, which is great news for us travel lovers. If people hope to visit my home city of London this summer, there are an interminable amount of fun and fabulous places to visit, but I’ve tried to pick a few of my favourites. As a theatre buff, one of the best places in London for me has to be Regent’s Park Open Air theatre, where you can enjoy Shakespeare in the Park performances; this is particularly great for plays like A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream! Another instagrammable evening out is a trip to Sky Garden atop The Walkie Talkie building. Despite priceless and spectacular views of the capital, entrance to London’s Sky Garden is free! A stroll through a lush indoor garden, a great view of the city and a bar where we can pick up a drink? Sign me up! London is full of magnificent places from vast skyscrapers to beautiful green spaces; whatever you want to do, something will be here for you.

A summer spent in our hometowns

As the summer months draw closer, the Travel Team share a travel guide for their hometowns. Mia - Birmingham As the second biggest city in the UK, Birmingham is most well-known for its bustling city centre and array of shops to explore. For a Stokes Croft-esque trip, begin by exploring Digbeth. Just a stone’s throw away from Birmingham Coach Station, Digbeth is packed with vintage stores, independent cafes and graffitied walls. Although the Bullring and Grand Central are great hotspots for tourists, I would urge you to also take a trip to the countryside! For some greenery closer to the city centre, try a walk in Cannon Hill Park. I’d also recommend Clent Hills, Uffmoor Woods or Lickey Hills! If you want to travel slightly further out of Birmingham, I would try the Long Mynd – part of the Shropshire Hills.

To book or not to book: Summer 2021

Theano Dimopoulou discusses her travel plans for summer 2021

he number one question this summer. Should you book the ticket for the rave you want to attend in July? Should you book the tickets for the fun summer trip with your friends? As much as I want a care-free summer, I am still wondering whether it’s worth booking hotels and planning trips so early. Usually, most people would plan their vacations several months in advance, but this year is different and the pandemic is the main factor one needs to take into consideration when planning a trip. Lockdown after lockdown and no clear plans about our future. Different tiers, restrictions, curfews and fines are familiar for almost everyone around the world, and it looks like they are going to be in place for the next few months. The pandemic has restricted my plans to travel to my home country and any plans for trips abroad have been indefinitely postponed. The uncertainty of the current events and the ever-changing restrictions in each country are some of the reasons why some people prefer to stay in their home countries. Tickets may be cancelled last minute, hotels may close and travel bans and restrictions can be put in place at any time. I wish I could just gather all my friends, choose a destination and get hyped up about it for months before our trip. This year, my plan is to have no expectations and try to find something to do regardless of what happens. That way, if my trip gets cancelled last minute, or if it starts pouring rain on my camping trip, I will not feel mad, sad, angry or frustrated and find a way to enjoy the time I have. I think most – if not all of us – have accepted this new "normal", but reminisce the time before COVID-19. Unavoidably, COVID-19 has affected all of us, whether it was ourselves or a family member that had to spend those magical fourteen days in quarantine. For me, those events were a wake-up call that we should learn to live in the moment and appreciate what we have right now. What people seem to forget is that humans are social animals. We need each other and we need connections. This crisis has challenged a lot of people both socially, financially

Photographs : Epigram / Theano Dimopoulou

travel

and physically. I try my best to check on my friends, and reach out as much as I can. So, my plan for this year is to try and live as much as I can, to not make plans and live life as it comes. I think not taking life so seriously, and enjoying every moment will not only allow me to go through this pandemic with better mental health, but it will also help me in the long run, even when this pandemic is over. What people seem to forget is that humans are social animals. We need each other and we need connections. This crisis has challenged a lot of people both socially, financially and physically. I try my best to check on my friends and reach out as much as I can. So, my plan for this year is to try and live as much as I can, to not make plans and live life as it comes. I think not taking life so seriously and enjoying every moment will not only allow me to go through this pandemic with better mental health but it will also help me in the long run, even when this pandemic is over.

lifestyle

“Hey Siri, are you spying on me?” “No, I’m a little busy right now.” Nadia Lovadinov weighs in on the risks of our increasingly technology-ruled world

hese past decades can be defined by extensive distrust in the world. Distrust of politicians, distrust of tech giants and concern over how technology or science can be used against us. From wacky, boomer conspiracy theories that Bill Gates is trying to control us all, to religious fundamentalists encouraging the rejection of vaccinations, or feminist literature such as Margaret Atwood's dystopian The Handmaid’s Tale (1985), which depicts women’s bank accounts being frozen with the conquest of Gilead. Distrust is apparent in all parts of society: we are living in a paranoid world and are a populace fearful of the future. The pandemic has birthed new anxieties and suspicions. On top of this we are battling with a new frontier: cyber security. The student exodus to digital learning has made universities more vulnerable to waves of cyberattacks than ever before. Some students have fallen victim to fake tax return emails or fraudsters attempting to steal their banking and personal details. Governments and companies have also been hot targets for these attacks. Personally, my anxieties of cyber security have been exacerbated by the extensive amount of Zoom meetings happening. From Zoom ‘quarantinis’ after work, to university research interviews and acrimonious parish council meetings, Zoom has replaced all social interaction. My father – who grew up in communist Eastern Europe and hates technology with a passion – has used Zoom. A side note to those of you still using Skype: grow up, we live in 2021! 'Shut up and Dance' is a Black Mirror (2016) episode that originally aired five years ago. It deals with mysterious hackers and spying webcams that collect evidence to be used as leverage against a poor, innocent and unwilling target.

But I mean…what can they do to me? Blackmail me for falling asleep during lectures, scrolling through Instagram reels every five minutes when I’m supposed to be doing work or watching Doctor Who YouTube edits? I mean, I do have a Dalek sticker on the webcam, and I worry about getting changed on Zoom with my camera accidentally on, but any hacker watching me would be disconcertedly disappointed with the content I provide. Next comes the question, do our phones listen to us? If so, who is listening? Unless you’re marked by the government and are planning to bring down the next president, I do not think that the secret service is that interested in listening to our commonplace conversations. Our phones most likely do listen in, but perhaps not in such a diabolical, unnerving sense. Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg was asked by the US Senate if microphones were being used to spy on us; his flat, lifeless denial of which brought the Zuckerberg alien meme to life. Facebook owns Instagram and its powerful algorithm. We have all experienced having a conversation with someone about vegan period pads or Calvin Klein’s new collection, and minutes later seeing adverts for that product popping on the Instagram timeline. Is the algorithm just extremely powerful, or is someone listening? In this age of technology, information is gold and we are producers and consumers of it. It is worrisome how easily we give away our information, so I do appreciate dystopian novels like Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale (1985) that warn against malicious use of technology. Yet it all comes down to the basic internet lessons we learned in primary school. Don’t give away personal details and keep your password protected. If you see an image that upsets you, tell a parent or an adult – ok, maybe not that last one. Be aware that everything you do online stays online.

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Light up character, £2 | Poundland These adorable little light up animals would be an adorable and understated way to spice up your room for Easter. They come in two different animals – a chick and bunny – and change colours from red to blue.

Green basket, £1 | Poundland Need something to carry all of your chocolate eggs in? This green basket from Poundland is perfect for the job! It reminds me of all my egg hunts as a kid, and outside Easter would make a cute storage piece for your room.

Paint-your-own egg, £1 | Poundland This decorative egg allows your creativity to run wild. It would be a sweet way to spend Easter with your flatmates. Why not create a competition with a prize for whoever wins? Whatever you decide to do with them, they are a great way to get your artistic skills flowing.

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Emily Fromant unearths the best Easter buys on a budget If you are like me, Easter has crept up on you. As students, our budgets for such celebrations are often stretched thin. So here I have collected some cheap but charming staples to celebrate Easter and the beginning of Spring. Hot cross bun s, £1 | Sainsbury's p ha y-s Bunn

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Bunny-shaped crumpets, £4 | Aldi These bunny-shaped ed crumpets are the perfect cr um pets way to start your Easter , £4 | Aldi morning. Each crumpet has been marked with an ear-resistible face to resemble the iconic Easter rabbit. Pair these with butter or Nutella for a delicious morning treat.

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Milkshake eggs, £6.99 | Aldi

The new range of chocolate Spring-inspired “eggs” in Aldi have caused a stir reusuable cup, £5 | with consumers, and rightfully Wilko so! These incredible eggs come The bees and flowers on in two flavours, cookies and this reusable cup really cream and strawberry, and sell feed into the spring for only £6.99. aesthetic, which is synonymous with Easter. Not only is it good for the environment, but Da iryf also its colourful design i ne m ilksh is sure to get you in the ake eggs, £6.99 | Aldi Easter mood.

Secrets of the cosmos

The Croft’s resident clairvoyant Rosie Angel-Clark explains what the stars have in store for you this month Ar ie

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2O Your adventurous side beckons you – even if it’s only for a day, a change of scene does wonders for your productivity. Mars stirs feelings of protectiveness: if anyone slights someone you love, they’re straight on your blacklist. Luckily, this uncharacteristic anger doesn’t last – you’ll be peaceful as ever once May rolls around! 22 Decem ber -1 9 Early in the month you have little time for anything unrelated to your studies. You may be hit with reading and deadlines, but remember to make time for the people in your life too. After a rocky few months, your relationships settle into comfortable companionship from the 23rd as Mars relaxes into your house of love and balance.

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er mb te

You’re swept up Exciting plans and aspirations in a romantic whirlwind arise from the 19th as the Sun and Venus this month – it’s fast, charge up your house of ambition. If but this doesn’t mean it you have the chance to network, won’t last! Work and study are this energy ensures you’re boosted from the 19th as the on top form. Friendly and Sun warms your house of education: you romantic relationships make a breakthrough with a dreaded may develop from events project (looking at those of you with you’d deemed practical – get dissertations!), or finally get through ready for a flirty encounter at to your slightly slacking presentation Sainsbury’s! group. 23 Oct 22 Nove obe mb rer April brings Your house of light-heartedness in health and routine relationships thanks is charged with the to the Sun and Venus’ energy of multiple fun-loving influence. If planets, propelling you towards selfyou’ve recently started seeing improvement. Mid-month, an old friend someone, the planets point to reminds you of your goals. The full continued enjoyment on both moon in your sign on the 26th stirs sides! You’re feeling reclusive at the your passionate side, and whatever’s end of the month, though, as the caught your interest right now full moon on the 26th encourages becomes your main focus – enjoy the introspection. intensity!

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23 Septem be r

23 Aug

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You’re uncharacteristically rash this month. Let your newfound attitude boost your confidence – just remember to take time to consider when it comes to any big decisions. The full moon on the 26th shines on your house of love and fun, so get ready for a playful, romantic end to April!

Ju Inner conflicts threaten to overwhelm you this month as important decisions loom. From the 23rd, you’ll feel confident in your choices. If you’re harbouring romantic feelings, you’re not inclined to share quite yet as Venus stirs feelings of nervousness. Relax and the time will arise in the coming months!

erly

Leo

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Can - 22

If you’ve been feeling a bit detached, there’s a sudden shift in your mindset as Venus and Mercury team up in Taurus from the 19th, reigniting your passion. As fiery Mars crosses your house of communication on the 23rd, it’s time to let your emotions out: you may receive exciting news in return!

As the astrological new year begins, get ready for a month in the spotlight! The new moon in your sign on the 11th provides an opportunity to remake yourself: whether you want to break a habit, meet someone new or start afresh with someone close, the moon is on your side! 21 June

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21 May

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21 Ma rch -

Epigram 356 - The Croft 17

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Spring clean: wardrobe edition

Breaking bad habits