E2 290

Living Food Travel Style What’s On

UBTV/ Jack Deslandes

2.0

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LIVING

Editor Rashina Gajjar

Deputy Editor Amber Roberts

Online Editor Will Soer

rgajjar@epigram.org.uk

aroberts@epigram.org.uk

wilso@epigram.org.uk

@e2living

05.10.2015

Epigram Living Section 2015/16

First Year Accomodation: What to do if you don’t get your first choice would be someone I would like. In fact there were several, many of whom I still see now, but I did leave.

Students stress and stress and stress about which halls they are going to be in, and if they don’t, their mums do. If there isn’t enough hearsay about the university you’ll be going to, there’s a shitload of hearsay and rivalry about which hall you live in. I guess the reason people stereotype universities and halls is because they want to know what they’re like, and the only feedback people can give them is a sweeping old generalisation. But these rigid boxes we use to define halls are never very accurate.

I think this was due to the realisation that, despite some amazing people and a very cool location, this was not the university experience I wanted or hoped for. Most people in Northwell house (or so it appeared to me) didn’t even leave their rooms. It was a struggle to convince more than two people to come to Bunker with me on a Monday. It was a struggle to convince people to leave Northwell in general (partially due to the green substances involved) and there was no bar or communal space that anyone really used.

Many people argue that being in Stoke Bishop is the be all and end all, forgetting that there are 22 other halls dotted all around Bristol. As well as stereotyping halls, people tend to freak the fuck out when they don’t get into the hall they wanted, or the en-suite bathroom they wanted, forgetting that it’s a university not a hotel. However, double beds and en-suites aside, there is a genuine reason for people to worry because your hall of residence could very easily define who your best friends are later in life, the experiences you have, and in many ways, how you are viewed by other people.

I didn’t want to leave my friends, but I felt it was the best thing to do. When I told them, many understood, but many were angry, one boy repeatedly calling me ‘Judas.’ However this boy was later to tell me that, in retrospect, he understands why I left and thinks maybe he should have done the same, something that three other Northwell residents have admitted to me.

Wikimediq

My friend Bea didn’t get her first choice of halls and was in the Rackhay for three months.

‘I met lots of nice people but no one that I clicked with or felt entirely comfortable around. I went to the accommodation office every week, yet I was not issued a move to University Hall for three months after freshers,’ she explained.

Moving halls a month into uni is tricky, it’s like restarting university and making new friends a second time. Alongside this were questions like: ‘Why did you move?’ and ‘Were you bullied?’

No, I was not bullied, I just wanted to be in a bigger hall with more of an atmosphere. Although at the time it seemed very late, moving halls a month into university isn’t actually that late at all. It takes people much longer than a month to really find their best mates and form connections and after a while people just assumed I had been there from the beginning.

I too did not get any of my first three choices. I had envisaged myself as a ‘Goldney girl,’ strolling around the gardens of Goldney hall and up to the tower, doing something poetic like reading Nabokov with a glass of wine. Some of the Chronicles of Narnia, Skins and the wedding scene in Sherlock were filmed there, don’t you know.

Wikimediq

I had failed to realise that there were at least 700 other young girls and boys who had probably envisaged the same Goldney fairytale as me, despite the capacity for Goldney being only 269 students. So when I was given Northwell House, a hall in the edgy hive that is Stokes Croft, a hall I had never heard of, I was confused.

After thinking about it, I decided I was up for it; I was going to go with a view to stay. Out of the 118 people there, surely there

Ask Auntie Amber Hi Auntie Amber,

”

I have recently started seeing this girl who’s a couple of years below and had a really good time, but I’m a bit worried she’s a bit too keen and I’m starting to think I’ve made the wrong decision. She isn’t at my Uni and her older sister already doesn’t like me too much. How can I sack her off without being too harsh on her, and without getting it in the ear from the older sis and others? Please help me out, thanks!

Got any problems for Auntie Amber to solve? We can help you out, just send your dilemma’s to aroberts@epigram.

I do not mean to slag off Northwell House in any way whatsoever, or the people who are there and love it there. A few people actually moved into Northwell House and many people move from catered to self-catered halls. A friend of mine was in Northwell last year and seemed like he was having the best time ever. It goes to show that not every hall is for every person; each person in each year will have a very different experience.

”

I guess what I’m trying to say to people is, if you don’t get the hall you want and you’ve really considered it, don’t be afraid to move, however late in the day it is. I’m much happier for moving and don’t regret it for a second. At the same time, if you don’t get your hall of choice, at least give it a chance, because it may be right for you.

Amber Roberts

Firstly, it’s a shame you can’t get girls your own age, but not everyone is so lucky. To be honest, I think you should take what you can get, even if she’s keen, at least you’ll get some attention.

It does make it a bit difficult to keep a relationship going if she isn’t at your uni, so all I can suggest is maybe skype sex or something of the sort. I hear it’s all the rage with young people now. That’s a shame her sister doesn’t like you too much, but when you film girls giving you head, it’s not really a surprise.

If you are sure that you want to ‘sack her off’ as you say, you should simply tell her. My policy tends to be: be honest, but not too honest. So tell her you just want to be single and it doesn’t seem to make sense for you to be together when you’re at different unis. Or the fact that she watches the Kardashians every day cringes you out. Don’t tell her she’s too keen because that might make her cry and that wouldn’t be ideal.

In terms of not pissing off the older sister, I don’t think she will care if you are with her sister or not. It’s not her life, it’s her sisters, and I’m sure she is good looking enough to find another boy in no time. Perhaps find a girl that you aren’t punching so hard with. Hope that helps!

Amber Roberts to her sister’s boyfriend.

05.10.2015

21

Are Rowers Just Masochists who Enjoy Dressing Up in Lycra?

Tom CLark

Steve Selwood

‘Harmony, balance, and rhythm. They’re the three things that stay with you your whole life. Without them civilisation is out of whack. And that’s why an oarsman, when he goes out in life, he can fight it, he can handle life. That’s what he gets from rowing.’ — George Yeoman Pocock.

I have to admit, to the everyday observer, rowers must be a bit of an enigma. Over the years I have been asked in disbelief: what kind of sane person chooses to get out of bed at 5am on a freezing Sunday morning, dress in lycra, drive ten miles and row up and down a river for two hours?

Charles Cox

The answer is complicated but here I’d like to give you some idea of who rowers are and why we do what we do. I started rowing at Bristol exactly two years ago after being approached by one of the senior rowers at freshers’ fair, and two years on I have decided to continue rowing in my third and final year.

I suppose you have to be a little strange to want to train twice a day, six days a week. Because of the training demands, every waking hour needs to be used. Sadly, this usually involves pre-9 a.m. lecture river outings with a 5:15 a.m. meet not being uncommon.

Like any rational human being these early morning training sessions are enough to make anyone want to dropkick their alarm clock and pull the duvet over their heads. Many times I had to cycle past my fellow drunken or wide-eyed students returning to their beds just as I was making my way to the pickup point to head down to the river. But it’s not all bad, you appreciate your lie-ins even more when you have them and you learn to appreciate the beauty of a winter’s sunrise on the river, even if it is -4˚C. The camaraderie that operates within rowing is also something special and makes rowing worthwhile for me. This camaraderie grows when a group of people face tests and come through together. Individual effort is crucial, but as is the realisation that you need each other and that you are really only as good as the collective effort; rowing allows you to see and feel this for real.

Fitness tests exemplify this ‑ only when the final person has taken their last stroke do you stop shouting your encouragement. A two kilometre test hurts like nothing else I’ve ever experienced; it’s a heady concoction of lactic acid, mental anguish, fire in your lungs, the thundering of your heart and the hope that, if you’re lucky, you might just be able to break into rowing Nirvana.

The tunnel vision that you experience in the last 500 metres feels much like the Battle of the Black Gate from Lord of the Rings, where all the Orcs are about to converge on Aragorn’s army. Every fibre of your being tells you to stop putting yourself through this hell, but deep down you know you can’t stop.

After all the land training, the actual act of rowing in a VIII on the water and especially in competitions is something special; each crew member has to contribute something to the rhythm, movement and balance of the boat. When it’s going well you know that not only are you doing your job right, but so is your whole crew and the boat responds magically in the form of a satisfying surge as the boat drives forward through the water.

This experience goes someway to explaining the ongoing joke that rowers have ‘no friends outside of the sport’ because they spend so much time training together. On reflection I think this is true; once you’ve experienced what it actually feels like, the feeling of being part of a functioning team, there’s nothing better and inevitably you want to do this more and be with people who also enjoy these experiences. The shared experience ultimately justifies any clichéd claims of ‘brotherhood.’

If you do want to give it a go, visit uobboatclub.org and sign up.

Damn boy, that kicking you been doing is fiiiiiiiine.

Any red blooded man watching the Japan - South Africa match must have felt a rush of admiration for this guy, admiration that is liable to turn into lust.

Rugby has always been a rather homoerotic sport after all… According to his teammates: ‘He is very relaxed, very calm. But when he has something to say, he makes himself heard.’ Sounds dreamy…

Will Soer

Wikimedia

While there are grim times as you build up your stamina and fitness these are easily balanced by the fun of competition and, once in a while, the joy of winning! Rowing is an endurance sport that requires commitment and yes, Rowers might have a funny thing going on in the way that we put ourselves through all kinds of pain, but for me it’s all worth it. So that’s something of why I row and if you want to give it a go we’d be pleased to see you down at the boat house – remember to bring your own Lycra!

Crush of the week: Ayumu Goromaru

05.10.2015

22

Love at first sight? Potentially not...

Rashina Gajjar shares some of her top tips for dealing with tricky student crushes

Crushing hard on someone is a bit like Lizard Lounge- we’ve all been there. Whether it’s the raving phase, the ‘I must mention them at every opportunity’ phase, or the virtual/semi-real life stalking phase, crushes-like it or not-tend to form a very large part of our student existence. Perhaps you had a crush on that astonishingly handsome lecturer you once saw for an enthralling lecture, the subject of which you can no longer remember due to your raging hormones (and, of course, their heart meltingly casual quiff). Or perhaps, like many of us, you’ve been crushing your classmates, friends of friends, or even (sadly) people you’ve never even met.

Although we all know about crushes and how they end (generally, they don’t really go anywhere, whilst still managing to make you feel as emotionally and physically drained as though you’d been in a full blown relationship), it is important to consider how to continue life as usual when you’re in the middle of a huge, heart stopping crushathon. How do you go on, when you are constantly thinking about that beautiful hunk of a man (or woman) and trying to work up the courage to finally ask them out? How can you give yourself the best possible chance of getting on with life in the meantime?

So, to help you out, here are a few thoughts on how to effectively manage a crush:

Never,ever, let the crush take over your life I know this is tricky, because it’s nice to have someone to think about when you’re bored or lonely or going about your daily life. It’s nice to feel like you’re the main character in a romance film based on your inner romantic torment. It is.

However, this person may not know that you even like them, so you’re spending hours and days of your existence imagining that there is a powerful, unspoken and world-changing connection between you and this person who may not speak to you, ever.

I’m not saying this is a bad thing, because imagination is a powerful tool, and if you channel it you can always write a killer romance novel, finally get rid of that overdraft, and look into buying yourself an appropriate amount of shoes or coats to replace your crush. But if that fails, then you need to realise you can’t make your life about someone that isn’t you. Especially if they don’t know you like them.

It’s time to admit it: you actually like the feeling you so love to complain about. You’ve grown rather fond of those butterflies, and it’s so nice to feel attracted and drawn to someone. This means that a) when the scales inevitably swing in one direction or another, some of the fun may get sucked out, and b) they may not be the very perfect, invincible and gloriously unadulterated human being you thought they were. This is not a bad thing. We are all human, so if anything this makes people more accessible.

Be kind to yourself This is always a hard thing to do, particularly as people rarely realise that they aren’t doing it. Having a crush brings back all of those insecurities you never really let yourself think about and suddenly can’t get out of your mind. If you like someone, you may start to see yourself through their eyes. Only it’s through your own, deeply critical eyes.

You may become self-conscious of your behaviour, or your dress sense, overall coolness or face. But what you need to remember is that nobody has the right to make you feel like that. Not your crush, and not even you.

Having a crush can be fun, but it shouldn’t be an excuse or means for you to hate on yourself for what you think you should be but aren’t.

Remember, you are great. You are a star. Nobody can take your coolness away from you.

Matt Wharton

Accept you like it, and that part of the fun is not knowing

Actually do something!

I am no dating guru, but I’ve found that the best way to take action is to take action. If you start talking to someone, they are rarely going to make a disgusted face and walk away. By the same token, if you ask someone to do something with you, it is highly improbable (unless of course, they’ve already been warned about your punching people while dressed as a smurf antics) that they’re going to say no. Or, of course, they could have a girlfriend, in which case: at least you know.

Be friendly and ask away. Some people are shy, so there will be times when it will be up to you to take the initiative. But that can be rewarding, and it will help you get used to making the first move. Making the first move isn’t something only one gender should do. There are no rules. I once asked a boy to go for lunch with me based on him offering me a hug. I didn’t realise that he thought it was a date, but if I had wanted it to be a date, clearly this would have worked.

Let your friends help you

Do not change yourself

People are often scared to admit that they have a full blown, body-gripping crush to their friends, either because they think it makes them sound like a desperate teen or because they don’t want to be bothersome. Do not worry about this. If your friend can no longer bear to hear you mention their name, they either aren’t a very good friend, or you really are being excessive.

This seems obvious, but nevertheless important to highlight. Do not, under any circumstances, attempt to change yourself or your interests, or make a special effort to appear in a certain way if it absolutely doesn’t sit right with you (think, that time you pretended to be a lover of the great outdoors when you actually hate tents and insects).

If the latter, consider that it may be turning into an obsession and amend this (perhaps becoming preoccupied with yourself or getting a new hobby would be a good alternative). If you haven’t been doing this, however, then it is perfectly fine for you to ask for advice and talk about the person you like. This is normal (even if your friends don’t talk about their crushes, they have had them. Trust me).

Daniel Eliasson

Even if you get rejected, or the person you like doesn’t appear to like you back, this does not change the fact that you are you. It doesn’t make you any less amazing. Trying to be someone else to maximise the chances of someone liking you would mean that you aren’t doing yourself justice, or being natural. Do your own thing, and if you find that the person you like doesn’t like you back, then pick yourself up and move on. Better horizons lie ahead.

Interested in writing for Living? Yes? We thought so too. Come and say hello on Facebook (Epigram Living 2015-2016) or email us with your ideas at rgajjar@epigram.org.uk

23

Welcome to the Food section. The place to go for student friendly recipes and advice! Check out our website for more information on our food editor vacancies.

Follow us at: epigram_eats_out

Five tips for a quick foodie freshers fix Fresher’s week is over, Fresher’s flu is decreasing and slowly but surely, all you newbies out there are settling into the lifestyle of a UoB student. This transition, although amazing, can be hard for some people. There are however, ways to make the hardest parts a little easier.

there’s something better for you out there! Go get some bags of salad from the supermarket and mix it in with tomatoes, carrots and a dressing of your choice! If you’re feeling tropical you can also add some pineapple and mango. A nice afternoon treat in between your 9 to 5.

For those of you in catered halls, you’ve got one less problem to worry about. Food. For those of you who love to cook and have helped out your mothers on Sunday meals before coming to Bristol, you’ve also pretty much got your life sorted. And for those of you who have never even touched a pan in their lifetime apart from the occasional washing up chores at home, I’m sure you’re all thinking the same thing.

How do you find the time to cook and eat Flickr: KnitSpirit in between all of the societies you’ve just joined, and going to your lectures and being a part of Bristol’s amazing lifestyle?

3. Dinner

Well… here are some top tips for making and eating healthy, easy and even occasionally delicious food:

This is finally the time for all you keen beans to cook up something elaborate! But if you’re tired and you don’t want to do anything but minimal washing and minimal waiting, then tortellini is your best bet. Just boil some water in a kettle, pour your pasta in the saucepan, grate some cheese over the top…

And you’re ready to go!

Flickr: Paul Saad

Flickr: Gail Flickr: Ali Edwards

Flickr: John Watson

4. Drinks Coffee might be your saviour over the duration of your course but it shouldn’t be your only option.

For something to cool you down and freshen you up at the same time, make your own smoothie!

Experiment with all different kinds of fruit, and remember to shoot down anyone that tells you certain fruits don’t go together. You’ll never know until you try!

5. Snacks There are bundles of snacks 1. Breakfast Who’s bothered to make pancakes out there in any supermarket you Flickr: John Watson and eggs every morning before a choose to go to. If there’s any need for 9am? The easiest way to cook up something advice here, you’re stressing out too much! in the morning is to get some warm milk and mix it Go grab what you like! in with oats. A quick and healthy porridge!

That’s all I’ve got for you I’m afraid, but I hope that it 2. Lunch helps you until you’ve found your feet in the kitchen If you’re one of those people who don’t want to spend department! So, as a final message to all of you wonderful money on source café food in the university, or doesn’t freshers and even the rare second and third years who want to walk to the triangle to try out the endless cafes haven’t gotten around to cooking yet: Eat, drink and most there, you’re going to have to pack in the morning. importantly, enjoy yourselves!

Sandwiches will probably be your first port of call, but Sohini Paul

24

Coming back to Bristol after the summer holidays, it’s always exciting to see what has changed whilst you’ve been away. This year it only takes a- slightly out of breath- walk up and down Park Street to see a whole host of new foodie places, opened for exploration. Epigram Editor Sarah Newey and I visited one of the, quite literally, freshest offerings at the launch night of Superfoods. Becki Murray When you think of fast food no one could blame you for immediately imagining the ‘Golden Arches’ or a Big Mac and a side of fries. You probably wouldn’t, however, envisage quinoa, kale and other health foods which are still dominating the Instagram’s of our favourite health bloggers.

But that’s exactly the fast food Superfoods serves and sees as the future of the healthy eating industry. The company wants to cause a revolution in how young people think about food with not only a restaurant but a health supermarket, sports nutrition store and treatment rooms all coming to Park Street this year.

The venue is open and fairly bare, more like a warehouse than the gaudy coloured rooms that most fast food chains seem to favour. At the launch at least, there was a stark lack of menus or crowded-looking seating- the latter of which is all downstairs.

This was a refreshing if not slightly odd sight to behold. In fact, the whole set-up is fairly minimal with the self-service counter tucked into the left hand corner almost out of sight. It reminded me of a cleaner-lined Subway.

Before tucking into any proper grub, we had the chance to experience the wide range of products Superfoods will soon be selling. To say the selection was wide and impressive is an understatement. From a range of refreshing green juices- not smoothies as we are quickly corrected- to high protein bread provided by sporting professionals, there was something for new and old ‘health junkies’ alike.

We were served on the night but in future the restaurant will be self-service

The chickpea curry accompanied by heaps of salad

Sukhi- a particularly popular guy as he was serving many of the samples- quite simply overwhelmed us with knowledge about the product’s aims, which stretched way beyond tantalising our taste buds.

One particular treat were The Primal Pantry Bars, especially the Hazelnut and Cocoa Raw Paleo Bar flavour. Despite their dense texture, they reminded me of a mix between chocolate and cereal bars- without grain or chocolate that is! As the brand endorses, they are certainly the bars for your inner caveman! Furthering this trend for a Raw Food diet were the company, Fermentation Fetish. They make tasty chutney using mainly honey and various herbs, which aim to add excitement to your salads and sandwiches. All of Superfood stocked products it seems are made to be simple, unprocessed, nutritious and 9/10 times they are definitely yummy!

All this taste-testing and professional chit-chat really got our stomach’s growling and both Sarah and I could hardly wait when we discovered our ‘main meal’ would soon be served.

Whilst I wouldn’t particularly call the food fast in this instanceour inpatient hunger pains had to wait awhile in the queue- I am willing to write this off as a factor of too many greedy press teams! In fact, this wait can probably be attributed to us being served our food on the night, which was quite a shame considering I personally love Superfood’s fairly unique idea of allow customers to prepare their ‘fast food’ themselves. All you have to do is decide on a box size and choose from over

80 options. That’s an awful lot considering that the event only offered a handful and it was still difficult to decide.

Sarah’s particular highlight was the chicken which had been covered with a quinoa crumb. Neither of us had conceived of the idea before and it certainly acts as a healthier option to Co-op’s ever-popular chicken goujons, especially as it had been baked not fried. On the other hand, as a vegetarian, I tasted their chickpea curry. It was a surprisingly light and tasty dish, if not quite unusually paired with heaps of green salad. This combination occurs because the restaurant seeks to ensure you get a balance of carbohydrates, proteins and vegetables in their meals. Saying that, I enjoyed it immensely but for those looking for a delightfully thick, carby (and calorific) curry, I’d go elsewhere.

In my opinion, Superfoods is definitely a place you should boldly venture to at some point this year. They’ll be things you like, things less to your taste, but overall they offer a whole range of healthy food possibilities. So step away from your chocolate bars, put down that packet of crisps and see for yourself what the healthy fast food revolution has to offer!

Just some of the amazing snacks on offer at the launch night

Racks £5 Deal

Lunch out for a fiver? Where do I sign up?

Everyone loves eating out, but whether our bank balances enjoy it quite as much is a different story.

Fortunately, if you search for them, there are countless meal deals that enable students to eat out at a fraction of the cost, including the £5 lunch menu at Racks.

Served between 12pm and 5pm Monday to Saturday, the deal should certainly be on your restaurant bucket list. With an impressive 20 options to choose from - ranging from wild mushroom risotto, to mussels, to sausage and mash - Racks caters for pretty much everybody. If you fancy it, you can even have a classic fish finger sandwich.

Racks’ Chicken Pie is large especially for a lunchtime menu. A perfect meal for hungry students!

I went during freshers week with a group of eight friends. We were in need of a pick me up after the night before, which we certainly got. I chose a chicken and mushroom pie; not my usual choice, but I was very happy I went out of my comfort zone.

It was served with carrots and green beans, and,

unusually for a lunch menu, the portion was big enough that I was not actually able to finish my meal.

Turns out pies can be deceptively deep.

There were a few of us less pleased with our choices though. The satay chicken sticks were disappointing - basically a plate of unflavoured chicken - and the game pie didn’t go down as well either. That said, the chilli beef pie got an overwhelmingly positive review, as did the sausage and mash, (despite complaints of not enough spinach).

The service was fantastic, to the extent that half the guys came away in love with the waitress.

The lunch menu is definitely worth the £5, especially when you compare it to Racks normal prices - which range from £7.80 to £16.85 for similar sounding dishes. Located on St Pauls Road, behind the Victoria Rooms, Racks is also in an ideal location for a mid day break from Uni.

Sarah Newey

25

Editor Camilla Gash

Deputy Editor Ella Ennos-Dann

Online Editor Annabel Lindsay

cgash@epigram.org.uk

eennosdann@epigram.org.uk

alindsay@epigram.org.uk

@e2travel

@epigram_travel

05.10.2015

Epigram Travel Section 2015/16

Amsterdam: the seven things you’ve simply got to do

Charlotte Wass

If you haven’t yet been to Amsterdam then I strongly recommend you get onto the EasyJet website pronto and book yourself a little weekend getaway. Amsterdam is becoming an increasingly popular holiday destination as it is the perfect place for a short city break. To maximise your holiday potential it’s essential to get clued up on the best things to do in Amsterdam before you get there! Here are my top seven recommendations:

something for you. One place that I would recommend to everyone is the Anne Frank House and Museum. Navigating your way around the famous bookcase which hid the entrance to the annex and continuing on through the house where Anne and her family hid is really quite a moving experience. However, you need to book well in advance if you want to avoid the queues, so be prepared!

1. Canal cruise: Amsterdam is famous for its many beautiful canals, and what better way to see them than by boat? Going on a canal cruise is a great way to start your visit as it gives you a chance to find your way around the city without spending hours on your feet. If you want to make your trip along the canals a little bit more special you could always try out the Pizza Canal Cruise, where you can enjoy pizza, ice cream and unlimited drinks along the way!

4. Cycle around the city: Another thing Amsterdam is famous for is the abundance of bikes. Since the city (and the whole country) is so flat, it’s an ideal way to get around. It’s also really good fun and a great laugh. It might be worth doing a couple of laps around Vondelpark before you head out onto the busy streets and make sure you know where you’re going, as

2. Vondelpark: Away from the bustle of the city centre, Vondelpark is a great place to take a stroll, have a picnic or people-watch with a beer in hand (obviously it has to be a Heineken). Vondelpark is a truly beautiful place — be it rain or shine — with fountains, flower gardens and sculptures around every corner. It is also the perfect place to let your inner fouryear-old shine through as you clamber across willow branches hanging over the water’s edge, race through the tree top trail, or battle your way through jungle-like foliage in search of a cute little rabbit you saw hop across the path. Vondelpark is definitely a must.

juggling a bike and a map is really rather difficult!

5. Visit a windmill: De Gooyer Windmill is the tallest windmill in the Netherlands, and with a brewery situated right next door you can sample some locally brewed beer as you admire the view. The windmill is really easy to get to and it’s a great place to soak up the sort of Dutch culture that you can tell your grandparents about (if you don’t fancy telling them about the Red Light District or the coffeeshops. Which leads nicely on to…

6.

Red Light District: This is a remarkable area of Amsterdam to visit; whether you’re simply curious and fancy a look around, or whether you’re looking for something a little fruitier. Despite its reputation the area is very safe and visiting this district is a great way to step out of your comfort zone a little and experience a culture in direct contrast with that of prudish Britain!

7. Coffeeshops: Not your typical Costa or Starbucks! If you’re the ‘when in Rome’ sort, make sure to check out the many Amsterdam coffeeshops which sell cannabis in a range of forms. There are still plenty of regular and really lovely coffee shops and it’s easy to identify between the ‘coffeeshops’ and the normal cafes so no need to worry about getting into any awkward situations!

Charlotte Wass

3. Museums: There are a number of museums in Amsterdam, from the famous and beautiful Rijksmuseum (good luck pronouncing that when you’re asking for directions) and the Van Gogh Museum, to the Sex Museum and the Hemp, Marijuana and Hash Museum. Whatever your cup of tea, there’s

Deep in the wilds of Borneo

Amsterdam is such a vibrant and diverse city with so much to offer. The city has established the perfect balance between contemporary and traditional values and attracts people from all over the world. So if you fancy a little trip away to somewhere totally unique — and only an hour by plane from Bristol airport — then Amsterdam is the place for you.

Charlotte Wass

- TRAVELGRAM -

Camilla Gash reminisces about an unusual party in deepest darkest Borneo disappeared and returned moments later, each one cradling a huge vase of rice wine, the overpowering smell of yeast entering the room before they did. A huge cheer went up and for the next few hours villagers sat in clusters on stools, drinking through bamboo straws.

Others danced, sang karaoke (Daniel Powter’s Bad Day got an outing or four) and munched on a variety of lovingly prepared snacks and sweet treats. Shortly after three, a woman started wailing – perhaps not so unusual an occurrence at a party— however, as a second villager joined in, taking her hand and replying to her in chant, I began to realise that something pretty special was happening. Before I knew it, I too was pulled into the circle, along with twenty other villagers holding hands and swaying around the ceremonial valve, four or five village elders leading the rest of us in prayer. The men would chant and the women, with their betel-stained mouths, would answer them in the same indescribable mixture of what sounded to my ears like a war cry crossed with Gregorian chant.

Mr. Stephen’s younger daughter, Ika, whispered to me that they were communicating in an old, forgotten tribal language, and that the younger villagers were as clueless as I was as to what was being said. All she knew was that they were giving thanks to the gods for the water. For a full hour this mesmerising, hypnotic prayer went on, until, in a very familiar scene, some of the teenagers started rolling Tag your travel photos with #epitravel to be featured on our their eyes and demanding that the karaoke be turned back on, and account. Each issue, we’ll print the photo with the most likes. just as quickly as it had started, it was all over.

Hoi An lanterns, photo by Sarah Newey @sneweyy

It isn’t every day that you find yourself holding hands and chanting with village elders in a remote corner of the world, but this was the scene I found myself in at three in the morning in the tiny kampong (village) of Imusan, deep in Malaysian Borneo, three years ago.

I was in Sabah with the organisation Raleigh International, and this particular evening there was a ceremony to celebrate our completion of the village’s first gravity water-feed system: an arrangement of tanks, taps and pipes which wound down from a waterfall above the village through five kilometres of boggy jungle, sprawling palm plantations and dusty roads until it reached each house, as well as the village hall, where the whole community had gathered for the symbolic turning-on of the tap by the village head.

Mr. Stephen, a man not averse to performing an energetic solo or two during our nightly sessions of karaoke, nor to starting loud, giggly water fights during dam-building sessions up at the waterfall, was not about to play down the occasion. Sure enough, at his request the simple ‘ceremonial tap’ we had erected was hurriedly dismantled and replaced with a huge valve flamboyantly wrapped in pink and purple ribbons, with which he delighted in drenching the assembled guests.

With this formality over, the party commenced: singing, drumming, dancing, and of course, drinking. Twelve of the men

05.10.2015

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The delights of the Dordogne

Annabel Lindsay gives us an insight into one of the most-loved holiday destinations in France

The Dordogne, in the South West region of France, is known for its charming villages and green rolling hills. It looks, in some ways, like our glorious English countryside (when we have the sunshine, of course).

The sheer scale of the place is amazing, as are the colours of the limestone, which is lit up to make it look all the more spectacular. You can wander around freely, down a secret passageway and up to a higher gallery platform to get an even better view.

I spent about two weeks here staying in a lovely converted farmhouse. Based miles away from any big city - the nearest commune being Allemans (population: 500) - it was a rather relaxing break. Settled into a little hamlet, I was surrounded by an eclectic mix of neighbours with whom I became acquainted one evening after an invitation to a soirée of middle-eastern music followed by cake and wine. Random doesn’t quite cut it. I later learnt that the host and hostess of the soirée, a retired French couple, had built and furnished their entire house, and they couldn’t have been more blasé about it. In my eyes, they were the quintessential French couple - naturally he was also the mayor of the local village.

A trip to the Dordogne wouldn’t be complete without a canoeing excursion. Rent them at Brantôme, get driven eight kilometres upstream and make your way back to the town. Make sure to get a one-man kayak as you can’t get over the weirs in the bigger ones.

Once stuck, the only way over these concrete weirs is by thrusting yourself – not an ideal situation when there’s a bridge full of French people pointing and laughing from above. However, this just adds to the fun of it. Sort of.

I also want to recommend some of the few restaurants where we ate. I say few because eating at home in France is almost like going out for a meal: the bread is fresher than anything you could ever get at home in the UK, the cold meats and pâtés are infinitely better and don’t get me started on the cheese. Feeling rather cultured-out after visiting the Monolithic Church in Aubeterre, we thought we deserved some coffee and cake. Stumbling upon a Swedish-run place with a Harley Davidson outside, we were intrigued.

Fortunately the offer of warm, Swedish chocolate cake did not disappoint, and neither did the sun terrace.

What particularly struck me about the Dordogne region was the sheer abundance of these so-called magasins de brocante (which we cynical English folk call junk shops). Despite the competition they all seemed to be doing surprisingly well, shifting their 16th century mirrors and 18th century chairs daily. Perhaps it was something to do with the Dordogne’s rural character, but I did not encounter nearly as many junk shops or flea markets in Nantes, North West France, where I spent my year abroad.

Annabel Lindsay

The thing about holidaying in the Dordogne is that beach and sea are quite a distance away (and being Atlantic facing, not hugely enticing). Thus, pool and book are, I would say, a necessity. As well as taking time to get lost in the delightful Dordogne villages, there are several must-dos and must-sees, number one being the Monolithic Church of St-Jean in Aubeterre, one of the most impressive churches I have ever seen. Built into a cliff face in the 12th century, it is a subterranean church — one of a few of its kind still standing in the region.

Down the road, we found another terraced restaurant, La Crêperie de la Source, where the crepes are unbeatable. My final recommendation, bizarrely, is a Vietnamese restaurant near Epeluche. It was a generic café-cum-bar inside with only 3 tables (including us) of punters outside (all English). However the food was delicious and full of flavour; we shared a spicy mango, pineapple and prawn salad to start and I had beef for my main course. It was very much a laidback family affair and the lack of menus made it all the more authentic and special.

The ups and downs of flying solo Anya Frude weighs up the pros and cons of travelling alone

For some, the thought of travelling alone arouses fear. For others, it is freedom from the shackles of unnecessary loo and food breaks, all-round compromise and the resentment that follows. I fall into the latter category. When the clock is ticking in a place I may never set my watch to again, my feet get a little uncompromisingly itchy. The thought of an unwilling travel buddy holding me back in this scenario is an unappealing one. I recently decided to set off on my first solo trip: a three-week stint in Poland. Here’s what I learnt…

CONS In a far-off land with only a backpack for a best friend (hopefully a reliable one) you will inevitably encounter feelings of loneliness. Even if you generally find your own company is the best company, the sunset shared really is more spectacular and— contrary to calculative logic—so is a bottle of wine. Sometimes it’s just nicer to have a comrade to gush over the deliciousness of a sight or a soup with you.

The lack of a consistent pal has its plain old inconveniences as well as provoking the odd emotional hour. When I described your bag as being your best friend, it’s a needy type: the sort that can’t be left alone in a bus station, the sort that must muscle its way into a toilet cubicle with you. Everywhere you go, your cumbersome and conspicuous backpack just screams ‘solo traveller,’ which leads me onto my next point…

As much as one might try, a traveller can only refute safety concerns for so long, especially when travelling alone.

Guidebooks generally give reasonable suggestions about solo safety, but being streetwise is predominantly the key.

Having said that, if you’re travelling alone, there won’t be the guarantee of someone to carry you home if the night happens to go that way.

“

PROS The first pro is an obvious one – simply the ability to do what you want, when you want and how you want. Although the lack of a friendly and familiar face can often leave a gap in an otherwise wholesome experience, there are ways to combat and convert lonesomeness into something positive.

The sunset shared really is more spectacular, and -- contrary to calculative logic -- so is a bottle of wine

provide a more communal and friendly atmosphere and encourage guests to remain in the hostel and speak to you! A conscientious hostel should have friendly, enthusiastic staff.

These guys are good to make friends with. They’re always around to chat to and, if they like you, they may show you some cooler, local locations post-shift.

•

FINAL TIPS Be prepared to start conversations. Asking a nearby stranger what they’re planning for the day and whether you can go with them isn’t common behaviour in the UK but hey, you’re not there any more!

•

…And considering you’re not in the UK any more, there’s no need to be constantly concentrated around other Brits. Solo-status often provides greater opportunities to step outside social comfort zones. Travelling with a homegrown buddy can mean sticking to homegrown social territory.

Whilst treading very carefully past certain gap-year phrasing, it really does allow you to develop the perhaps neglected relationship with yourself. What really saved me from my most self-pitying of solo wine sessions was my diary – and what better travelling memento is there?

•

In terms of accommodation, a central hostel is generally a good strategy all round. It saves you from walking alone at night through dodgy backstreet alleys, and it’s far more pleasant to be in the heart of your temporary home anyway.

Of course,hopefully not every night would involve indulging in time alone. There is also the likelihood of meeting fellow travellers. Hostels are the perfect environments for doing so and those with spacious common areas, kitchens and bars make the process far easier. These amenities generally

•

For me, the most important aspect of travel is embracing the differences – realise that you’re going to be out of your usual comfort zone and instead of letting it freak you out, go with the flow. Before long you’ll find yourself a complete convert to solo travelling.

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05.10.2015

Chasing sunrises in Myanmar Jade White

countryside (feeling like I was in a scene from Indiana Jones), trying to find a new Pagoda upon which to watch the sunrise. Entering these pagodas, you often find small, hidden passageways that lead to narrow stairs so you can climb to the top. Watching the sunrise (or sunset) illuminate the temples from these points creates a scene of complete serenity.

Inle Lake is another part of Myanmar that felt a world away from anything I knew. The locals took us on a boat trip around the floating villages where small, self-sufficient villages line the lake’s shores. Wooden houses on stilts stand tall above the lake, leaving a community where the only mode of transportation is by boat. In wooden boats, families paddle to their neighbours houses, to their local convenience store, and to their local temples on a daily basis. Fishermen stand and paddle on one leg, using a spear to catch fish in the lake. It’s a unique way of life. There are also many restaurants lining the shore, allowing visitors to enjoy the local produce of the fishermen, which in turn helps to support the community. Although there are increasing numbers of tourist attractions – such as silk and silver workshops — I found the authenticity of life on the lake to be all encompassing and captivating, as the area remains unspoilt by visitors.

My visit to Myanmar felt akin to a step back in time. It’s an authentic Asian country where the local

culture, customs and traditions still shine through.

Before visiting I didn’t know exactly what to expect, but in every sense, Myanmar did not disappoint.

Jade White

Jade White

Enigmatic and elusive Myanmar is a relatively unknown region whose charm bowled me over during the final leg of my Southeast Asian adventure. As far as I was aware, I was venturing into an unspoilt, authentic land — a world away from some of the heavily Westernised regions of Southeast Asia constantly consumed by tourists.

Venturing around the ancient city of Mandalay, it became apparent just how little of Western life had infiltrated the country. Locals approached us with an air of curiosity and we were greeted with smiles and handshakes wherever we went. Women largely still wore face-paint upon their cheeks, and most were dressed in traditional clothing.

Monks wandered the streets, collecting their food donations from the community. Children playing outside waved as we passed by, and we were welcomed into the local temples and even people’s homes. Myanmar is a country known for its political unrest, but in Mandalay I felt fully safe and welcome.

The highlight of my time in Myanmar— and perhaps my whole year abroad— was my time spent in the ancient city of Bagan. Here, thousands of pagodas (temples) stretch beyond the reach of the eye over the land and glitter in the sunlight, creating an awe-inspiring scene that cannot be done justice through a camera lens. Every morning before 6 a.m., I rented a moped and drove around the beautiful

15 things that happen on your year abroad

Camilla Gash has recently returned from a year abroad in France, where she learnt that life on the other side of the Channel is more different to home than you might expect 1) Let’s start with the biggest: you’ll be endlessly frustrated by the amount of time it takes to get anything done. Speed and efficiency do not seem to be qualities highly valued by the French. Everything is ‘pas possible’ and deadlines/start times are more of a guideline, really.

2) You’ll incur unexpected costs, such as getting fined at the train station after failing to realise you have to validate your ticket before travelling. In fact, just prepare for train travel in general to be another source of frustration!

3) You’ll make a completely innocent yet highly embarrassing error: ‘Je suis pleine’ = I am pregnant, not full,

Camilla Gash

and ‘Je suis excitée’ is not what you think either. All you can do in these situations is laugh and move on. At least you’ll never make that mistake again!

4) One you probably didn’t even think to expect: you’ll completely lose the ability to type. Going from a French keyboard in the office to my QWERTY laptop at home left my fingers in a permanent state of confusion. Another complaint: WHY did French keyboard makers think shift + full stop was a good idea?! It’s one of the most commonly used symbols, yet one of the least convenient to type.

5) Half the time, you’ll feel as though you’ve stepped into a time machine. Why do French teenagers all look like they’re auditioning as Clueless extras? And are they not aware of any music post - 2005?

6) You’ll get caught out by the everything-closes-ona-Sunday rule and have to sadly piece together a Monday morning breakfast of stale bread and a week old banana.

7) You’ll have a love/hate relationship with Skype. We’re very lucky to live in this day and age and be able to contact family members and friends halfway across the world at the touch of a button, but let’s be honest: they haven’t quite ironed out ALL the problems, have they? I don’t think there’s anything quite so exasperating as a Skype call freezing constantly when you’re trying to catch up on a friend’s news…

8) You will find yourself in a situation where you just don’t have the vocabulary you need, and you have to resort to a mixture of mime and broken French to get your point across. My own red-faced moment came while searching unsuccessfully for drain unblocker in the supermarket and having to act out using a plunger, much to the shop assistant’s amusement.

9) You’ll experience FOMO when you see your friends back at uni all hanging out together in Facebook photos or Ella Ennos-Dann you get an invite notification for an event you can’t go to.

10) You will forget the word for something and come out with some totally garbled sentence structures – and this is in your OWN language. Gaining French skills without totally losing a hold on English is a daily struggle!

11) You’ll have a moment of feeling completely overwhelmed and out of your comfort zone. It happens to everyone. Uprooting yourself and moving to a new country on your own is no mean feat, and you should give yourself credit for that.

12) You’ll miss home comforts… For me, it was salt and vinegar crisps. The garlic, bolognaise and jalapenos options in my local supermarket just didn’t quite hit the spot in the same way.

13) …But you’ll find new favourites. Why do we not have Speculoos-flavoured ice cream and chocolate in the UK?! And how am I ever supposed to go back to sliced bread?

14) You’ll end up speaking a bizarre dialect of Franglais with English friends, littering your speech with awful abbreviations and using words you definitely wouldn’t have before, such as ‘super’ (my own shameful habit: describing things as ‘top’).

15) You’ll feel a twinge of jealousy when you see photos of other people’s year abroad while you’re stuck at work/in a boring lecture/home alone without plans for the evening. But remember, you’re probably falling into the trap of comparing your ‘behind the scenes’ to someone else’s ‘highlight reel’ and before long it’ll be you heading off on a city break or meeting new people.

A version of this article appeared on thirdyearabroad.com.

Epigram invites you to our COFFEE AFTERNOON! Do you want to meet the team and other writers?

Do you want to get more involved with Bristol’s best society?

Then look no further…

Head to Mocha Mocha at 3pm on Friday 9th October for coffee and FREE cake!

*Cake free when you buy a coffee

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Editor Hattie Bottom

Deputy Editor Plum Ayloff

Online Editor Phoebe Jordan

hattie@epigram.org.uk

payloff@epigram.org.uk

pjordan@epigram.org.uk

05.10.2015

@epigramstyle

@e2style

Epigram Style at London Fashion Week London Fashion Week is and always has been a pioneer in the most adventurous but also the most classic of fashions. This year saw no diversions, other than one teeny tiny, rather important change; the location. Gone were the hallowed halls of Somerset House, fashionistas were treading new soil in the heart of bustling Soho, heading for giant Brewer Street Car Park. With the popularity of Bold Tendencies car park art gallery in Peckham, it is no wonder gentrified car parks are London’s best new trend. Although fashion week veterans will mourn the cobbles of the Courtauld Gallery, the correlation of art and fashion in London Fashion Weeks new location is undeniably ingenious. Attracting a younger, more experimental crowd, along with a few unsuspecting locals, Brewer Street car park captures what London Fashion Week is all about, being your crazy self.

Burberry Prorsum SS’16, Vogue/ Indigital

London Fashion Week is no longer just for the fashionable elite, it spans the board, with many more students and break through bloggers hitting the streets waiting for their turn to be street style snapped. And this we did. A fantastic array of outfits passed through, from elegant all black to colour that would make your eyes water, and one particularly cute accessory; bringing a dog is a sure fire way to be photographed.

Much of the action was centred around the car park, the home for most of the shows alongside the Designer Showrooms. The showrooms took over the entire second level of the car park with countless accessories, fine jewellery and clothing designers exclusively showcasing their SS’16 collections.

Designers from around the world choose to bring their work to London, for the arty and open mindedness of London Fasion Week. Jordanian designer, Nafsika Skourti is now on her third season showing in London, a Central St Martins graduate with a beautifully curated and thoughtful collection led our favourites. Scottish label Le Kilt also stood out, reworking classic tartan and kilt styles for the modern day woman, meanwhile new designer Hayley Menzies won our approval with her adorably furry pastel hued shearling accessories.

For those fashion week frequenters not using the showrooms, a variety of free events were taking place at

Golden Square. Only a five minute walk from the main London Fashion Week action, the square was taken over by pop up cafes and shops, but the main attraction was the cinema sized screen, live broadcasting London Fashion Weeks most lusted after collections. Despite rainy tendencies, on the hour a new show would begin and the square would fill up. Free Propercorn popcorn was aptly handed out to the audiences watching the shows to keep hunger at bay and their fashion minds focused.

To sample the action ourselves, we settled in to Golden Square to catch the Simone Rocha show, popcorn in hand, and we were not disappointed. An abundance of feminine lace and laser cut dresses in neutral pink and terracotta to military khaki and jet black. The collection was extremely wearable and traditional yet had a brilliantly earthy edge to it. We all instantly fell in love.

With over 250 shows and only 5 days it can be more than a challenge to get to each show, making a ticket like gold dust and Golden Square an essential!

Collections varied from wild and colourful to perfectly simple- Rocha’s collection sitting nicely in the middle.

In the latter department Burberry dominated. The show took place in their usual location in Kensington Gardens and as always was one of the most sought after events.

This season did not falter, Alison Moyet serenaded the audience with a variety of acoustic songs, accompanied by her own orchestral team, whilst models glided down the runway. The collections sang of hazy summer days at music festivals, yet possessed a simplicity that is not so usual for Burberry’s summer collections.

Meanwhile lesser known designer Ryan Lo went for soft rainbow colours and lots of ruffles in his Harajuku meets East London girl SS’16 work. Colour and texture were not scarce her, with everything from knitted dresses, to parkas and Victorian style nighties.

For a bit of fun Lo’s collection is a one to watch.

As we pass the baton on to Milan, it is pretty safe to conclude that the ever evolving London Fashion Week 2015 was a raving success and AW’16 collections cannot come soon enough!

Phoebe Jordan Online Style Editor

Simone Rocha SS’16, Vogue/Indigital

Photos, unless credited, taken by Epigram Style at London Fashion Week

Ryan Lo SS’16, Vogue/ FirstVIEW

05.10.2015

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Instagram users get front row access at fashion week Georgie Wooton explores the change in catwalk coverage

Instagram/ Mochino

Instagram/ Blonde Salad

Instagram/

Instagram/ Blonde Salad

Instagram/ Kristina Bazan

Instagram/Kristina Bazan

Instagram/

Instagram/ Pandora Sykes

and-you’ll-miss-them trendlets, combined with the enormous social media marketing efforts behind every post, tweet and photograph is enough to turn one into a cynic. I can’t be the only one who wonders if some designers simply want to see how far they can push the Instagram generation before they stop taking the bait?

The most successful fashion houses know that in this day and age, a savvy marketing department is just as important as a skilled design team, and the most important steps are an active Instagram account (the notable exception here is Celine) and ensuring that the right people are seen wearing your clothes, both on and off the runway. This means using buzzy models (from the omnipresent Gigi Hadid and Kendall Jenner to the edgy Issa Lish, all of whom are enthusiastic ‘grammers) as well as sending clothes to street style stars and bloggers, who, with their hundreds of thousands of followers, are an invaluable tool both during and after fashion month.

It’s not just brands that recognise the app’s power: Chen recently left her job as editor-inchief of Lucky Magazine to accept a new job as Instagram’s director of fashion partnerships, which is sure to become a huge part of the company as we notice more and more sponsored – and shoppable – posts appearing on our screens. Therein lies the core of the app’s appeal: we are living in an age of instant gratification, and Instagram is bringing us right to the heart of the action, and letting us have a piece.

Instagram/ Eva Chen

Instagram is the biggest thing to hit fashion since the advent of women’s trousers in the early 20th century. When I was 15, I only had one other friend who watched catwalk shows. Only a few were made available online (not live streamed) and it wouldn’t have crossed most people’s minds to watch them; newspapers and magazines provided satisfactory summaries of the coming season. Now, thanks to Instagram, the latest fashion is available live, and from every angle possible, including backstage During New York Fashion Week last February, over 100,000 Fashion Week related photos were shared on the social network, ready to be viewed by users across the world of all ages and backgrounds. We can observe collections through the eyes and lenses of long-time fashion heavyweights such as Eva Chen, bloggers such as Chiara Ferragni of The Blonde Salad, and models.

The most significant advantage of this new dawn of social media is, in my opinion, the ‘de-snobification’ of catwalk fashion, evident in playful collections such as those of Jeremy Scott for Moschino or Ashish, as well as the appearance of high street brands on the runway (think Topshop Unique), and action shots of street style bloggers showing tricky to wear pieces such as Marc Jacobs’ questionable knitted flares, or must-haves like Kenzo’s tiger sweater.

However, there are consequences: the race to produce the most eye-catching and shareable collection has arguably led to an acceleration of the trend cycle, and many trends are only ‘in’ for one season. Think about it: when did you last see anyone wearing the aforementioned Kenzo tiger sweater? These blink-

The new kids on the block, mixing up Savile Row Facebook/ Ozwalk Boateng

Josh Prior Style Writer

Facebook/Richard James

Since the late 18th century, a small street in the centre of the west end of London has dominated its field almost entirely. Savile Row is, of course, well known for the quality of its suits and is an ubiquitous name in the British men’s fashion scene, growing now like almost never before. But the appeal of Savile Row is far more widespread than many of us know. The Japanese word for western-style men’s suits is in fact “sabiro”, derived from the famous street name itself, and patrons from all over the world flock to W1 in search of the finest bespoke suits.

However, its place at the forefront of popular men’s fashion has not always been so clearcut. Once the preserve of well-heeled gentlemen, a small group of rebels and modernisers are responsible for its transformation into an integral part of modern British fashion.

Richard James is one of these tailors. Now seen as one of the big names on the Row, and the founding member of the Savile Row Tailors Association, he was once an outsider to the closed world of tailoring. Approaching fashion from an artistic background at the Brighton College of Art, creativity and flair were two clear influences on his work. Known for eye catching colours and prints, he strove to maintain classic style, whilst using small changes to the cut and unique patterns and fabrics to make the Richard James suit distinctive.

Supported early on by Sir Hardy Amies, himself a Savile Row innovator, and the first to sell made to wear suits from his premises on the Row, he expanded the label quickly over the course of a decade. Not only did he establish a significant made-to-wear presence in high-end department stores globally, he also engaged with the public through advertising. His willingness to break through the perceived closed nature of Savile Row created a significant public presence, and his suits are worn by household names from Mark Ronson to P Diddy, and Jude Law to Mick Jagger. Now a stalwart of his field, his influence on the style and composition of British men’s tailoring will never be lost.

Perhaps the most extreme influence on Savile Row, however, can be seen in no. 30.

Born in North London in 1967, Ozwald Boateng was inspired from an early age by the sharp sartorial style of his father, who only 15 years earlier had emigrated from Ghana with Boateng’s mother. By 16 he was designing and cutting his own suits, and ended his

education in computer science to switch to fashion and design. By 27 he had staged his first catwalk presentation, in Paris Fashion Week, the first tailor to do so, and only 6 years later had his premises on the Row. But his most significant legacy is not the speed of his progression to one of our foremost tailors; it is the clothes he produced. An Ozwald Boateng suit is not one forgotten easily. Indeed, his early work used shockingly bright, acidic colour in all aspects of the suit, abandoning entirely the traditional sets of blues, greys and blacks that Savile Row was used to. But this new world of aesthetics never came at the cost of quality; rather he underscored the originality of design with the traditional dedication to details, quality of fabric, cut and execution. He is now widely acknowledged as having entirely changed the game, and brought the sartorial scene to a new artistic level.

As men’s tailoring gains a larger audience the legacy of tailors like Boateng and James, amongst others, becomes truly apparent.

05.10.2015

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A look at local Bristol designer Alice Menter During a fashion internship in London this summer, I was tasked with sourcing a jewellery sponsor for our London Fashion Week show. After many glittering searches through the jewellery departments at stores such as Selfridges and Liberty I came across a designer called Alice Menter. Not only are her jewellery designs absolutely exquisite but after some research, I discovered she is a Bristol-based designer, with a love for British made fashion.

unique to passing trends, has led her to make pieces that encapsulate both modernity and a sense of timelessness in their design, a perfect addition to any wardrobe.

Alice Menter jewellery from left to right, Cherry £350, Anya £205, Frida £240, Clari £79, Lilly £56

Alice’s designs are bold, luxurious and elegant and made from very unusual materials. Her work is inspired by the Yao Mien Tribe in Northern Thailand that embellish their clothes with small silver pieces to create a chain mail effect. Alice loved this effect so much, that she began to cast her magic, and created a luxurious jewellery range out of items as non-descript as nuts, bolts and zippers to create the same kind of effect. Her inspiration, which is utterly

Alice is passionate about encouraging the growth of British made luxury labels and every one of her pieces are handmade in her workshop in Bristol, producing truly unique results. She has been featured in publications such as Elle, Grazia and Harpers Bazaar, to name a few, and her designs continue to flourish with each new collection. She still remains true to her West Country roots and stocks her pieces in Diana Porter on Park Street, Harvey Nichols in Bristol and Magpie and Bear in Bath.

Alice is definitely a sparkling hidden gem in the vast array of home grown Bristol fashion.

Alexandra Keates Style Writer

Stalk the most stylish students at Bristol’s freshers fair

Epigram/Christy Nunns

Max Brooking, First year Economics

Douglas Gray, Second year English

Epigram/Christy Nunns

Epigram/Christy Nunns

Epigram/Christy Nunns

Chante Joseph, First year Social Policy

Ned Lloyd, Third year Philosophy

Epigram/Christy Nunns

Rebecca Irwin, Second year English

Epigram/Christy Nunns

Epigram/Christy Nunns

Epigram/Christy Nunns

Orla Kelly, First year History

Benjie Beer, Second year English

Ellie Taverner, Second year Geography

Editor Ben Duncan-Duggal whatson@epigram.org.uk

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05.10.2015

DANCE

CINEMA

There’s a heap of great nights out this coming fortnight. As well as the obligatory Motion and Lakota contributions - the highlights from the two venues being Apex with Groove Armada (16.10) and My Nu Leng (17.10) respectively - there are several interesting nights out that the more discerning clubber/edgier fellow might want to check out.

If you think that the cinema begins and ends at the Multiplex, you’re missing out.

Not only is there something unarguably peaceful about visiting a cinema with as little as 20 seats, it’s also often cheaper.

The highlight of these has to be Boogie Nights Part 3 – Sexually Transmitted Disco (09.10). It takes place at Old Crown Courts, which is quite literally an Old Crown Court which has been left almost untouched, right down to cells. It should be a cosy atmosphere with funk/disco music – i.e. you’ll want to dance no matter what state you might be in.

DANCE There’s a heap of great nights out this coming fortnight. As well as the obligatory Motion and Lakota contributions (the highlights of the two being Apex with Groove Armada (Oct 16) and My Nu Leng

Flikr/Anirudh Koul

If you want be able to say ‘I saw them first’ (as well as have relaxed midweek night out), you might want to check out Rotation Policy Bristol’s Launch (14.10), at The Love Inn. It features new DJs selected from an open competition. Let’s just hope they had a decent amount of entries.

Chuck in the often relatively radical selection of films such as Me and Earl And The Dying Girl at The Cube (06.10) or 99 Homes at The Watershed (Various Dates throughout October) and the fact that many of these cinemas are run by charming elderly volunteers and you’re on for a winner.

A special mention should go to the ‘LOVE Is Like… Late Nights’ season at The Watershed, a series of films at 11 p.m. on a Friday, all of which are of a romantic nature but explore areas far beyond a stereotypical romantic film. Blue Is The Warmest Colour is one such film which follows a french teen who forms a deep emotional and sexual connection with an older art student will be shown on 16th October.

GIGS Perhaps one of the most mouth-watering appointments over the next week in the Bristol music world is not even one with a original band. Definitely Mightbe (17.10) are playing Thekla and are one of the most widely known touring Oasis tributes, and surely can’t put on a bad show. Just don’t look too closely at their faces.

The opportunity to see one of the best masters of texture in guitar music ever, Mercury Rev (05.10), is not to be missed.

Furthermore, the opportunity to see them in a former church (Trinity Centre) means their sensitive dreamscapes will fit their setting perfectly.

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Whilst Lethal Bizzle (08.10) is 1. a crap version of Rage Against The Machine and 2. crap full stop, he retains a committed fanbase, containing both those who grew up on diet of grunge and those who grew up on rap. Once again, Bristol’s collection of great venues are being used in the best possible way – where better to see this aggro-laden artist than in a huge, earthy warehouse that is the Marble Factory?

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thursday 29 octobEr | 6:30pm GraduatE school of Education, 35 bErkElEy squarE, univErsity of bristol

For further information, contact Katherine: kbond@teachfirst.org.uk To book your place, sign up via our website: teachfirst.org.uk/graduates

so you havE a GrEat dEGrEE

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whErEvEr you’rE hEadinG, bEcomE

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Toib Olomowewe Teaches: Business Studies

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A taster from Bristol 24/7

Temple of sound 576 hours of continuous performance in Bristol’s famous bombed-out church?

Robin Askew salutes the smorgasbord of sound that will be Sanctum What was interesting is that he’s very straightforward. He said, ‘Why should I come to Bristol? Why do you want me there?’ He’s also quite cautious about going to another city and just trying to replicate what he’s done in his home city, because he would be an outsider.’

Theaster was sufficiently intrigued about a city he knew about only via Massive Attack (Not Banksy? ‘A bit, although his music interests outweigh his street art interests’) that he pitched up for a nose around. Situations took him on a tour of various potential sites, but Temple Church was the one that piqued his interest.

This preference for a Grade II-listed building in the centre of the city might seem surprising, given that he made his name working in derelict, run-down and deprived communities in Chicago. After all, we’ve got plenty of those too.

It’s been described by The Guardian as ‘one of the most ambitious art events likely to happen this year.’

They’re not kidding.

‘We did look at other locations around the city,’ counters Claire.

‘But one of the things I felt quite passionately about was that the artwork needed to grow from somewhere where it had a real heart. He responded to this burned-out ruin of a church – particularly to the idea that the church itself had this former life and was no longer being used for worship. So the question then was: could we build something together which had a programme that reached out across the city? Locating it in the city centre was a very positive thing in saying: why shouldn’t people with incredible musical talent be showcased in the centre?’

It took eight months of negotiations to secure government permission to use the church, which entailed submitting detailed structural plans to protect the building. Some 350 local performers then applied to take part in the project, the remainder being approached to do so. ‘The best way of describing what we were looking for was the ‘sound of Bristol’,’says Claire. ‘So it’s as diverse as possible, and we’ve been as open as possible. We tried not to select too much. There might be some pop-up surprises in there, and people we don’t announce ahead of time.’ Like Theaster’s great mates Massive Attack, for example? ‘Ha ha ha. We’ll see…’

Max McClure

You walk through the entrance of Bristol’s only English Heritage property, normally closed to the public. Inside there’s a new structure, raised off the ground to protect this scheduled monument’s valuable archaeological remains. It’s a bijou patchwork, put together from scavenged materials – factory floorboards and doors, bricks from a Salvation Army citadel.

The maximum capacity of this novel performance space is 50 people. But with no official programme, there’s no way of knowing who’s on when. You might get a poet, a choir or a heavy metal band. And since admission is free, you can keep on coming back to experience the changing atmosphere at different times of day and night. Welcome to Sanctum.

It’s been described by The Guardian as ‘one of the most ambitious arts events likely to happen this year’. They’re not kidding. For 24 days, from 6pm on October 29 until 6pm on November 21, this temporary space will be filled with sound 24 hours a day. That’s 576 hours of continuous performance. More than 500 local artists are taking part.

Best known for Michael Sailstorfer’s headline-grabbing burial of gold on Folkestone Beach last year, Bristol-based arts commissioning organisation Situations has never organised a large-scale project in its home city until now. What’s more, they’ve succeeded in luring lauded US ‘socially-engaged artist’ Theaster Gates (it’s pronounced The-aster, fact fans) from Chicago to stage his first UK public art project amid the dramatic, bombed ruins of Temple Gardens’ 14th-century Temple Church.

‘I’ve been following Theaster’s work for some time,’ says Situations director Claire Doherty. ‘I was particularly interested in him because he transformed this area of deprivation on the south side of Chicago into a thriving cultural hub. He didn’t do it in a standard regeneration way. He actually used materials from all over the city to rebuild these various little houses along Dorchester Avenue.

‘But he didn’t only transform them architecturally: he created employment for locals. What’s interesting about Theaster is that he also plays the art market very cleverly, so he’s become a bit of an art star. He’s exhibited around the world and he channels the money that he makes back into these other projects. As a charismatic figure making artworks in completely different ways, he felt like an artist that Situations would want to work with. But I also knew he was in heavy demand. So I went over to Chicago and persuaded him to come to Bristol.’

Word is, you stalked him. ‘I did,’ she laughs. ‘I sat on his front step for a couple of hours. He knew I was coming, I hasten to add.

But he’s a very busy man, so I just waited until he came back.

Performance slots will range in duration from 15 minutes to three hours. ‘I think the really interesting thing will be the handover between performers. So you might get a gospel choir handing over to someone making a speech handing over to a death metal band. It won’t feel like a gig, where you’re waiting for them to start. It’s much more like a jamming session.’

Making a speech? Yep, that’s right. The artist has said this exercise in ‘Bristol speaking to itself ’ could also be a platform for protest. Any limits to that? ‘Well, there are practical things.

Children are very welcome to come along throughout the programme. We just advise parents that after 9pm there might be adult content. And as we know from John Wesley’s New Room chapel, this has always been a platform for dissent.’

It’s shaping up to be quite an event, and certainly promises to be particularly interesting after the clubs start tipping out in the small hours. ‘You do get a different kind of audience at night, but, perhaps surprisingly, our experience is that it becomes kind of self-policing. Obviously, there’s going to be security on site 24 hours a day, but it will feel like a very welcoming space.’

So what does Claire hope will be Sanctum’s legacy? ‘I hope all sorts of things will come out of it, from connections between performers to amazing transformative experiences for the audience. In regard to the arts in Bristol, there are one or two moments that really stand in my memory – whether that be this summer’s Fog Bridge or some amazing underground theatre performance – and I hope that Sanctum will be similar.’

Sanctum Performers

Here are just five of the 500 local performers you can expect to find at Sanctum Dr Edson Burton A writer, storyteller and historian who’s equally at home on radio, stage and screen. His work often explores power, as manifested through race, class, gender and sexuality.

Jilk A collective who trade in “ambient soundscapes of washy synths, insect-like clicks & cuts, and huge gorgeous waves of all-encompassing experimental noise.”

Samesouls Melodic, alternative acoustic pop with upbeat reflective lyrics.

Samesouls

Shagufta K. Iqbal Lauded poet who explores gender, race and culture from a fresh, invigorating perspective.

Verity Standen Award-nominated composer, musical director and performer whose work, such as the immersive choral piece Hug, explores the intricacies of the human voice