Epigram 357 - The Croft 18

the croft Up, up and away...

Starting a new chapter

Lifestyle • Style • Food • Wellbeing • Travel

issue 18 27.04.21

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

top stories

8 retro

moment 13 let's taco 'bout it 14 shots of hope inside

2 lifestyle 6 style​ 10 food 14 wellbeing​ 18 travel​

editor's letter

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obody likes a goodbye, do they? Well I certainly don’t.

I am conservative. No, not in the political sense, by any stretch, but certainly in the nature of my personality. For some unknown reason I was cursed with an unattractive aversion to change. I find it agonisingly difficult. I am deliciously happy in my comfort zone, thriving off stagnation.

I know, right? Mortifying. In a world of revolutionaries, I am quite happy to have worn the same nail varnish for the best part of a decade. (Sally Hansen’s Double Duty, FYI.) My unique hatred for even the most miniscule of changes truly knows no bounds. Case in point: my ingenuous five-year-old brain could not even begin to understand why anyone in their right mind would get a haircut when one could quite simply avoid the crippling feeling of loss by instead: embracing split ends. While my mother could never comprehend my questionable logic, in the interest of continuity, I’m sure you’ll be

Logo by Bethany Marris

the croft

pleased to know that I am still violently allergic (self-diagnosed, of course) to trips to the salon.

On closer inspection, it’s not necessarily the change but rather the thought of it that makes me uneasy. The change itself is often never as bad as I anticipate. In hindsight, practically weeping at the news of the big Topshop’s closure seems a bit dramatic considering I only visit it about three times a year. Likewise, in spite of my initial reluctance, nothing too awful has happened since my boyfriend introduced me to a variety of exotic fare, namely: actual butter, mashed potatoes and savoury croissants. (Don’t tell him, but I actually rather like them.)

And do you know what the worst part is?

I have painstakingly learned that change is good for you. It ‘enables you to grow’.

(Blech.) In our final issue of this academic year, The Croft is embracing the new. Style celebrates curly hair, Food investigates a recent taco venture, Wellbeing documents that post-vaccine feeling and Travel dreams of this year’s summer holiday.

All good (see also: excellent) things must come to an end! We hope you’ve enjoyed The Croft this year, we’ve certainly loved showcasing our beautiful city.

Until next time!

Orin x

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 Digital Editor MIA MUSA-GREEN Travel Deputy Editor REBECCA PARDON Travel Sub-editor SANJANA IDNANI Illustrator ALICE PROCTOR Front Cover HARRY BOUCHER

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lifestyle

Illustration by Lizzie Burgess

Pillow Talk Friends with benefits

By Carrie Brizshaw

the dawning realisation of how turned off I am by the person lying next to me. The power of a horny pussy is strong and in that state I was willing to sleep with any old Joe. Looking at all the emotional work you have to do before even entering a casual relationship, I would say it’s probably not worth the emotional damage. Sure, it works for some people but personally, if I’m single again I’d have to pass.

Carrie's top pick For divine inspiration This movie candidly portrays two individuals who add sex to their friendship, expecting it to go plain sailing. The reality? Not so much.

One of my favourite films to dive into time and time again, a classic romantic comedy.

Friends with Benefits (2011)

Sony / David Giesbrecht

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s casual sex worth the emotional damage?

No. It isn’t, say goodbye to Dave from Lounge, he’s not worth more than your wellbeing. The lucky ones don’t catch feelings, just a body. The formula to success? Pick the person carefully, someone you would never in a million years date but with enough sauce to seduce you into bed. It’s not guaranteed to stop you from catching feelings but it’s a preventative measure.

The plan is to enter the casual relationship with no feelings from the beginning. If you’ve been living in this universe, you know that these things don’t usually go to plan. My boyfriend’s last friends with benefits ended in flames and getting kicked out of Lakota when the girl got with someone else. Which is totally within her rights, you can’t expect the full benefits of a relationship if it’s just casual.

Well, what about a course mate? I hear you say.

Think twice before you sleep with someone that you will have to see at a 9AM the next day. Don’t shit where you eat. In the moment, you might be too busy getting acquainted with their lips to think about the consequences. It’s only when the new seminar list goes up on Blackboard that you will realise that fortune doesn’t favour the bold.

Somehow, the universe always manages to pull one or two ex-lovers into my seminar. While the rest of the class are having a raging debate, all I can think about is how I have been licked out like a cat by these men. You would think I had learned my lesson but now I’m dating a course mate whom I met on Tinder. Although with Zoom university, is it actually that deep?

You also have to consider that post-nut clarity.

Many a time, fresh from the orgasm, I have had

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Unsplash / Windows

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ooking back at my time at university, there are countless experiences that physically make me cringe. But before I slip into a 3AM self-pity session, I have to remind myself that without these experiences I would be a pretty boring person with no stories to tell, so here's some advice on how to handle those fateful first year experiences.

I found that there's a certain toxicity that hasn't left our systems when we first arrive at uni. For me, I was still trapped in the grim secondary school mindset that makes you think you need to befriend every single person who walks onto the U1. Luckily I snapped out of this mentality fast and in doing so, I found my best friends. My first piece of advice is that university isn't a popularity contest. You don't need to know everyone and not everyone will like you - this took me a while to accept but it comes with time and a little bit of ego-taming.

I still remember a moment in Lakota where I drunkenly approached some random group and the side eye judgement I received is still burnt into my brain to this day. But laughing

about this painful event with my friends does bring me some peace of mind. Secondly, growth is something I value a lot and uni is possibly the best place to do it. Learn, make mistakes, make shitty decisions and forgive yourself! We’re all so young and now is the best time to learn from our past behaviours and grow into good people; this by no means is me encouraging you to be an arsehole, but to rather accept your bad decisions and learn from them, we all make stupid choices, it just matters how you move on from them.

First year is literally like starting school again, trying a little too hard to fit in, but that's ok!

I wish someone had told me this when I was a little fresher stranded in Stoke Bishop, imagine all of the free space my brain would have if I hadn't dwelled on that embarrassing night for three months straight. I may not be good at taking my own advice but I do know that when I give it out, it's top notch, so lovely readers please take it and remember to forgive yourself, because you're stuck with you forever baby.

What I wish I'd known Lucy James reflects on her time as a Bristol student

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Images: Epigram / Orin Carlin

lifestyle

Aceing your interview

Freya Scott-Turner shares her advice on how to nail that interview

A

s we plough through second term at terrifying speed, many of us are scrambling to secure some sort of summer placement so that we can finally take ‘babysitter’ off our CVs. Those of us unfortunate enough to be final years might be applying for jobs or postgraduate courses anything to avoid having to move back home.

Being in this unfortunate position myself, I turned to friends and family for interview preparation advice.

These are the top tips I’ve compiled from the consummate professionals around me.

Do your research When you’ve applied for several internships or graduate schemes, they sometimes start to blur together.

Companies want to know what you will bring to their workplace specifically, and this requires knowing a bit about them. It’s not uncommon to be asked what you like about their company or what you would change.

Going beyond a cursory Google and entering the interview armed with a few opinions can go a long way.

Practice!

You can have all the answers in your head - your strengths, weaknesses, or a time when you showed particular leadership flair – but delivering them fluently and articulately is another matter. However cringe-inducing, doing a run-through with a flatmate or alone is essential. A rehearsed pause, or ‘hmm,

that’s a good question’ while you deliberate an answer you already know by heart ensures your performance appears natural and relaxed.

Prepare a few questions for them. We’ve all sat through agonising painful silences in seminars, don’t let your interview die the same death. Far from looking ignorant, a candidate with plenty of questions looks engaged and proactive. Avoid topics like pay or employment benefits until you’ve actually been offered the position.

Suitable questions are quite jobspecific, but a few universally applicable questions include ‘what is the workplace environment like?’ or ‘what would you ask if you were in my position?’

Wear shoes.

This nugget of wisdom is courtesy of my sister. Pre-coronavirus - when interviews required leaving the house, maybe boarding some form of public transport, and travelling to a workplace in which a basic level of professionalism is expected - this would have been blindingly obvious. Yet, the pandemic has brought the interview to the bedroom. It may be tempting to capitalise on the home comforts and include fluffy cow slippers in your interview outfit ensemble.

Yet my sister has just smashed a swathe of art school interviews and swears her success was down to the shoes. A pair of power shoes is a mental state, and they help you to exude preparedness and professionalism even through a laptop screen.

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Editor MANON WILIAM Digital Editor MORGAN COLLINS Deputy Editor MAY GARLAND

June 21 ready?

Bring on The Roaring 20s Our Style editors are stepping out of lockdown in style

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If you want to stand out, these gloves will seal the deal. An ode to the 60s, these groovy mesh gloves will add a punch of colour to any outfit. If you can picture Twiggy wearing it, then it’s a must buy.

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Fast-growing Spanish label Gimaguas has the fashion world hypnotised with this trippy pattern. A staple of 70s fashion, the flared silhouette is uber-flattering for all body types.

With a restock due in April, it’s one not to miss. Have a look at Urban Outfitters for further flare inspiration.

A blast from the past, this Hawaiian print screams nostalgia. Expect to see this pattern plastered all over your feed. I’m wearing a sunny Morgan De Toi piece that I got from @foreveramira600 on Depop.

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If you’ve been on Instagram, then you’ll understand my obsession with Mimi Moocher and her headscarves.

Summertime, we wore them as tops; come spring, we'll wear them as head scarves. Find stunning prints on Depop for under £10.

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No, seriously! A classic print from the 70s, this mini skirt from Urban Outfitters oozes flower power. I recommend sizing up as, true to its name, this skirt is as mini as they come.

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Tshokey Mindara shares the funky pieces, inspired by the 6os and 70s, that she's loving right now

Luscious lockdown locks Dayana Soroko ditches the straighteners and embraces her curls / Dayana Soroko

With Olivia Andrews

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After giving myself a plethora of hairstyles over my teenage years, from fashioning a short bob to wonky fringes, I decided that it was time to grow it out to test my inner strength. I had never seen my hair longer than my chest and I wanted to see if I could resist the impulse of reaching for those blunt Ikea scissors in the middle of the night.

With my boyfriend’s expertise and knowledge on curly hair, we both upgraded our hair routines together, calling each other to boast about not washing our hair for ten days straight! I had decided to shampoo my hair less, as well as ditch heat completely, to resurrect my curls. I would decorate my greasy head with headbands and hair wraps and doing conditioner washes in between shampoo washes. Soon enough, I had evolved into my true form – with hair only getting greasy on the fifth day!

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The media, of course, idealises Western beauty standards. Coils, curls and waves are wrongly perceived as ‘unkempt’ in workplaces and schools. I had internalised this false idea that having straight hair made me look more clean, professional and essentially more beautiful.

If you’ve always struggled with frizz, maybe it’s time to ditch the heat and swap it in for some moisture!

Here are some that I use on my hair – I find that the Cantu range with Argan Oil is lighter on my hair than the Shea Butter, but both smell incredible and provide that much needed moisture.

Fake tan lover Molly-Mae has invested her Love Island (2015 present) fame into create her own business, Filter by Molly-Mae, which has great reviews for giving a natural looking bronzed effect.

Rimmel Sun Shimmer Instant Tan, £6.99 | Look Fantastic This one’s for the go-getters, the ones who don’t plan before a night out and are in need of something more instant.

Tan-Luxe Gradual Tan Butter, £24 Look Fantastic This gradual tanner is a heavy moisturiser, perfect for dehydrated skin in desperate need of hydration. It has micro-reflecting particles to add an extra illuminating glow.

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Editor SAVANNAH COOMBE Deputy Editor TIM QUINEY

Bean there, done that!

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Robin Connolly puts Bristol’s takeaway coffee options to the test

t seems I’ve accidentally become The Croft’s resident coffee expert, first writing for Travel on my favourite ‘déjà brews’ from Dublin to Rome and now returning in full, caffeinated force to give you the low-down on all of the best takeaway coffees in and around the Bristol campus. This week, while all of you have been ‘grinding’ away, I have ‘bean’ (apologies for this one), procaffeinating by taking regular breaks and hunting down Bristol’s best brainjuice. To ensure that all your coffee-related desires are covered as soon as libraries and study spaces start opening up, all of the following are situated with in a 20-minute walk’s radius of the ASS library.

In order to pass any level of (very serious and highly critical) judgement on the state of each Bristolian brew, I propose five categories, for each of which a score has been selected out of ten, namely: price, taste, distance from campus, smiley-ness of barista (always a tricky one to gauge behind a mask) and queue to get in.

If anyone takes issue with this methodology or would like to propose an improved scoring system, then don’t hesitate to get in contact at editor.epigram@gmail.com, or via our social media.

Epigram / Savannah Coombe

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Parsons, St Michael’s Hill Price: 10/10. It doesn’t get more budget-friendly than Parsons’ sacred £1 coffee.

Taste: 4/10. Remarkably similar to dishwater.

Distance from campus: 10/10.

Smiley-ness of barista: 8/10. However, I do live round the corner so that may well have been a smirk of overly familiar recognition.

Queue to get in: 2/10. Totally my fault for going at lunch time and forcing myself to battle with a stampede of hungry, sausage-roll-devouring finalists.

The Cloakroom Café, Woodland Road Price: 5/10. £3.60 for a coffee and a pastry – not bad, all things considered.

Taste: 8/10. My tastebuds were left feeling blessed afterwards.

Distance from campus: 6/10.

Smiley-ness of barista: 4/10. Perhaps not reflective of café staff – I was remarkably grumpy as a result of my yet-to-bewritten dissertation .

Queue size: 8/10.

Spicer and Cole, Princess Victoria Street Price: 4/10. The definition of paying for what you get.

Taste: 8/10.

Distance from campus: 2/10. The distance to Clifton is most certainly worthy of the title ‘trek’.

Smiley-ness of barista: 7/10. No, thank YOU, Mr. Cole.

Queue size: 6/10.

Rolling Italy, Woodland Road Price: 5/10.

Taste: 7/10.

Distance from campus: 11/10. Mightily convenient and was always a lovely pit-stop during the pre-COVID Woodland Road 9am pedestrian-jam.

Smiley-ness of barista: 8/10.

Queue size: 8/10.

The Colombian Company, Whiteladies Road Price: 7/10.

Taste: 8/10. Made the walk back up Cotham Hill (almost) enjoyable.

Distance from campus: 6/10. Second furthest away of this list, but very convenient for the quick ‘Big Sainos’ drop in.

Smiley-ness of barista: 7/10.

Queue size: 8/10.

Take what from this what you will. Arguably not the soundest of experimentation systems and there is presence of a fairly considerable unconscious bias. Test subject somewhat unreliable and 100 per cent unqualified – it might be worth going yourself to make your own judgements!

food​

Classic dahl

Phoebe Altman teaches us to make the best student staple in her repertoire

Ingredients

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Method

Add extra chilli flakes for a spicier dahl

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1 white onion, finely chopped 1 garlic clove, finely chopped 1 tbsp curry powder 1tsp garam masala or cumin 1tsp turmeric ½ tsp chilli flakes 400g can chopped tomatoes 1tbsp mango chutney 400g red lentils 800ml-1.2l vegetable stock (depending on how thick or soupy you like it!)

2 big handfuls spinach Salt

Top Tip!

1

Fry the onions in olive oil over a medium-low heat until they begin to soften, this should take around five minutes. Add the chopped garlic and continue to cook for a further two to three minutes, being careful to not let it burn

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Meanwhile, rinse the lentils in a sieve under cold water and keep to one side To the onions and garlic, add all of the spices and stir for 30 seconds then add in the red lentils and stir until coated in the spice mix. Add the chopped tomatoes and mango chutney along with enough stock to just cover. You can and may need to add more as the lentils cook and absorb the liquid Bring to the boil then reduce the heat down to a simmer and leave it for around 20 minutes, stirring occasionally and adding more stock if necessary Once thickened and the lentils are cooked through, stir in the spinach until wilted down and season to taste Serve with rice, naan or both and top with more mango chutney, a dollop of yoghurt, a fried egg and a scattering of coriander

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‘Feel good food, feel good farming’ Mary White sheds light on The Community Farm’s vegetable box scheme

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Spilling the tea: Tim’s tasty tips That’s it. We’ve made it through winter and the bleakness is over. Spring brings with it so much great seasonal produce in the UK and in great abundance, so prices are usually low too. For the past few weeks, greengrocers around Bristol have been stocked full of Europe’s best citrus: oranges, lemons, grapefruits, limes and blood oranges. I love citrus fruits and try to make the most out of this crop as soon as the season starts in mid-end of winter.

I know grapefruit is hit and miss for some, but I like it for breakfast as its bitter sourness seems to actually wake me up. Whatever your favourite citrus is, you can swap it into pretty much any recipe to make the most of spring’s arrival your way. Think juices for salad dressings, salsas and cocktails/sodas, or whole citrus charred in the oven for one sheet pan dinners. The brightness of citrus means it can pick up savoury dishes with rich meats like pork or fatty fish, as well as in tangy, sweet desserts and breakfasts with yoghurt, etc.

I had a whole bunch of grapefruits, oranges and lemons to use up, so we found a vegan citrus curd recipe using cornflour instead of egg which was really nice and simple. Spread on toast, with yoghurt, swirled into desserts like cheesecake or even as filling for cake: it is like spring in a pot.

Once citrus season fades out, it only gets better with produce like rhubarb and asparagus ready next, and before you know it, it’s summer. It’s only upwards from here.

Images: Epigram / Tim Quiney

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he Community Farm is a food box scheme based in Chew Magna, Somerset. With their slogan of ‘Feel good food, feel good farming’, they run their social enterprise with the values of sustainability, ecological friendliness and community building in mind.

Sustainability really is at the heart of the Community Farm as they strive to reduce food miles, trade ethically, cut down on the use of fossil fuels and limit waste.

All the products are organic and local to the south-west, and their profits fund activities for children, adults and vulnerable people. They have a variety of organic boxes you can subscribe to, from vegetables to fruit to meat.

My subscription is the ‘All For One’ box; it gets delivered on a Friday, costs £7.60 and includes four to six types of vegetable. The Community Farm delivers to Bath, Bristol, Frome, Weston-Super-Mare and the Chew Valley, and they also have a farm shop in Bath.

What I really like about this scheme is that because it’s local and organic, I can get creative in the kitchen and make seasonal, sustainable and delicious dishes.

The ‘All For One’ box is perfect for students and people living by themselves as it’s affordable and provides plenty of meals.

But equally, the other boxes cater to larger households of all dietary requirements. Also, you can add extras to your box either on a one-off or weekly basis. This ranges from fruit and vegetables, to dairy, eggs and other groceries. Personally, I add a carton of Minor Figures oat milk each week which, in my opinion, is the best out there.

The Community Farm website states that ‘you’ll enjoy fresh, tasty crops that are better for you and kinder to the environment. You’ll be supporting farmers and the local economy too’.

They certainly don’t underdeliver on this promise, and in a time of globalised food culture and environmental uncertainty, supporting a scheme like this is a fantastic way to spend your money in a positive way whilst also getting inspired in the kitchen.

food​

Let’s taco ’bout it Tim Quiney asks Carlos Rivas of Basement17Tacos about his new venture on the lookout for a little kitchen we could hire to make the process easier and more efficient. We are also looking for places where we could bring our tacos on a more regular basis!

Images: Instagram / @basement17tacos

We notice your menu changes weekly - what inspired you to do this?

We love to change one or two items every week. First of all because we have a number of returning customers who get our tacos every week, so it is great being able to provide something different each time. Secondly, we have a huge variety of fresh, amazing produce that becomes available every week as the weather gets better and better, as well as knowing the best suppliers in Bristol for meats and dairy products too.

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arlos Rivas, previous Head Chef at both Bravas, in Cotham Hill, and Masa and Mezcalin Stokes Croft, shows how he has taken action following the impacts of lockdown.

What prompted you to start up your own taco business?

Being on part-time furlough during lockdown gave us the time to cook and try things that I missed growing up. The flavour profiles that come with the food are quite hard to find in Bristol, so we thought to give it a try and showcase it to our street neighbours in the form of tacos, which are a great vehicle to transport flavour. So more than making it a business, it has given us a space to create a product and try things we like, to see how customers respond to it, which has been beyond what we’ve expected.

What is the best way to order from you and when is the menu released?

We aim to release our menu each Sunday evening. Sunday mornings we usually visit veg suppliers and cook lunch with new items we get and have a little think on how we can give them that Mexican twist!

Though, there are only so many orders we can take and we work on a first-come-first-served basis, so we ask if you are placing very small orders, it is a good idea to join them together with the rest of your household, so other people have a chance to book a time slot as well!

Follow @basement17tacos on Instagram to see the weekly menu and order!

What has it been like transitioning from commercial kitchens to working primarily from home?

I haven’t made a full transition from commercial kitchens yet, so cooking from home has had many challenges. We’ve had to make some adaptations and get some extra equipment to comply with food safety regulations. I don’t think it would be a sustainable option to cook from a home kitchen on a full-time basis, however, we’ve managed to create tasty products despite the limitations and doing it one day a week is really fun!

Your pop-up taco stall at Otomi in Clifton Village on Saturday was a great idea – could this be a regular thing to look forward to each weekend?

We would love to make it a regular thing, and we will be

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

o t s h s e l t t i L of hope

Max Rowlands and Megan Petche discuss the vaccine’s impact on medical students

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despite the hectic atmosphere, they put all of the patients at ease.

Everyone said we’d feel invincible once we had it. It was only in the waiting room that the leaflet enlightened us that it takes two weeks to build immunity – a somewhat slow rise to invincibility.

The question we were then asking was, how much protection does the first dose offer? Studies were throwing numbers ranging from 52-85 per cent. We didn’t know what to believe but just felt thankful that we were privileged enough to receive what felt like a miracle injection.

It’s been amazing to watch the beginning o f the roll-out led by the incredible NHS staff and volunteers.

We have a renewed sense of confidence on the wards knowing that the risk of contracting the virus or passing it on to patients has been significantly reduced. It seems that t h e vaccine has offered the entire country hope as we move towards a brighter future and a return to normality. ngel -Cl

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t’s been a year since we packed our bags and returned to our hometowns in the student exodus of March 2020.

Returning in September, we knew being on the wards would be different: less patient contact; PPE; fewer surgeries and clinics. Gone are the days of a gaggle of medical students joining on to a ward round – now only one student can, in keeping with social distancing measures.

We would be lying if we said it wasn’t scary, at times, speaking with COVID-19 patients when we were unvaccinated, but that was the risk we took to continue our medical education – along with thousands of other amazing NHS workers.

Family and friends were so excited at the prospect of us getting the vaccine in mid-January, right as the UK was getting into the swing of mass vaccinations.

It was a strange feeling leaving the GP practice with the little blue card confirming that we were some of the lucky few to be injected. We were in and out so quickly we didn’t even have time to process what had just happened, only that the staff at Bridge View Medical were incredible. They kept so calm and were very reassuring;

hen I rocked up for my vaccine at 8:30 in the morning, I sat down with an older woman who admitted that this was her first day back at work in five years.

She apologised for being flustered and we laughed a little and I joked that she shouldn’t worry because I trusted her. I was so surprised and impressed to find that people were coming back to work after retirement to help with vaccinations.

Especially in the case of this lovely woman who was clearly a bit nervous, but had nevertheless volunteered her time for this cause, she probably had a hundred people to vaccinate after me that day.

When I rolled up my sleeve and turned away, a woman who was stood over her with a clipboard leaned in and I heard her whisper ‘don’t jab it in the whole way!’ I had to stop myself from bursting out laughing that no one had gone through this with her before giving her a needle.

Luckily, I couldn’t see or feel anything that was happening. I’m sure the rest of her appointments that day went smoothly and I was very glad to be her guinea pig that morning.

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After being reminded of my second jab in 12 weeks, I left: with a deep sense of privilege, huge respect for the people carrying out the programme and only a barely-noticeable scratch in my arm. It was a reminder too that one day, in the not-(at-all-)toodistant future, we can get back to our human embrace and be with everyone we love.

Emily Fromant

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shares her relief for her grandmother

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t has been 358 days since I hugged my grandmother, despite living 15 minutes apart.

So many other elderly people are suffering because of this situation. My grandmother lives alone, and her main source of contact for a year has been through a window. She spent Christmas, New Year’s and her birthday separated from her loved ones.

I can only imagine h o w difficult this must have been. She is one of t h e

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nd just like that. After a mere pinprick I was officially jabbed.

Considering it wasn’t too long ago when such a shot in the arm was viewed in the same way as a global effort to shoot to the moon, it was all quite understated. Certainly not underwhelming; I was under no illusion that the clear liquid inside a small glass vial on the table was the product of unthinkable scientific efforts and skill.

But the simple checklist I had to fill out, the orderly queue I waited in for ten minutes (socially-distant, of course) and the pleasantries with the GP who would vaccinate me were all rather sedate for an event that would protect me from a pernicious virus – a virus I had over Christmas and wouldn’t wish on anyone. ‘It must have been quite extraordinary doing this?’ I asked her, after she told me her name was Dr. Guinness, which of course reminded me of the fun to be had as a real-world consequence of all this effort – drinking Guinness and more. ‘Oh, it has,’ she said, ‘especially to have seen old people get their jabs and be protected has been quite special’.

bravest individuals I have the pleasure of loving. I know she misses being held, something that many of us take for granted. She told my mum she had dreamt someone had hugged her and how lovely it had felt.

Three weeks ago, she had the vaccine.

I asked how this changed her situation, and she said: ‘How quickly the new norm became normal. I was surprised how agoraphobic I'd become. I’d felt afraid to shop and not allowed to enjoy my social life.

Now I frequently forget about COVID except when I need to wear a mask and sanitise. I walk by the river and relax among other people’.

She is most looking forward to a hug from her daughters: ‘In over 50 years we have parted with hugs and kisses, and it’s the one thing everyone is longing for.

Soon we can meet in gardens and feel ‘I love you’, not just say it from two metres away’.

Soon it will be zero days since I last hugged my grandmother. I hope that all those with isolating loved ones have the vaccine too. Give them a big hug from me.

wellbeing​ Letting go of what you’re ‘supposed’ to like Caitlin Palmer O’Shaughnessy Wellbeing Columnist

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arlier this week, a friend revealed to me that she was worried she wasn’t having the ‘typical university experience’.

Not because of COVID (although it’s been a big hindrance to all things that typify the typical university experience), but because she doesn’t enjoy the things students are stereotypically meant to.

This got me thinking; there is this picture of the ideal university experience and if your experience doesn’t live up to it (by choice or not) then you’re apparently not doing university right. Take your flat, for example: you hear about those people who become lifelong best friends with their flatmates and spend all three years living together. Think about it: you’re randomly placed in a flat with a number of other overwhelmed individuals who will most likely also be living away from home for the first time. The chances that you are soulmates is slim to none, but if we don’t have that magical initial connection, then we feel as if we’re doing something wrong.

Alternatively, what about clubbing?

As students, we’re meant to jump at every opportunity to go out. Again, if you enjoy this then that’s great – we all love a good boogie – but if you can’t imagine anything worse than piling into a sweaty room with strangers who are far too drunk, then that’s also ok. The idea of the perfect university life means that if you don’t enjoy these things you feel as if you’re doing university wrong.

No two people are the same, so why should any two university experiences be the same? Embrace what you like, own your choices and, rather than stressing over doing university right, you’ll find yourself enjoying the moment. I know this isn’t easy – it’s only after almost two years here I can say I’m properly just doing what I enjoy without worrying if I’m doing uni right – but once you stop caring, it’s great.

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our judgment.

Firstly, ask yourself ‘will I be feeling this way in a week?’ Half of our problems can be eliminated with this question. Our emotions are so intense at the climax of a setback that we overlook the fact that the following week we could be in a radically different headspace.

However, if you think that feeling of ‘jealousy’ or ‘bitterness’ will still be haunting you it is essential to reach the core reason of why it is there. Many times, we think we understand the reason we experience negative emotions, but in reality, it can go much deeper than the surface level.

Take the time to sit down with no distractions and think peacefully, retracing all the reasons for the way you are feeling. You will surprise yourself at how often you are mistaken about the genuine reason that your ‘ugly emotion’ has materialised.

Lastly, if, after any of the above, you still seem unable to resolve your negative feelings, reach out to a close friend. Often, an outside perspective can be all you need to grasp the crux of your ugly emotion. In the summer, it took two weeks of me having the same unpleasant emotions for my best friend to enlighten me as to why I was feeling miserable. I have learned never to underestimate the way our friends understand us, it is sometimes on a level that we cannot access ourselves. While it is a journey, once you acknowledge the reasons behind your emotions, you will begin to feel so much better.

Whether you accept, confront or reach out to somebody, ultimately our emotions are transient and, once we recognise this, our ‘ugly emotions’ seem much less daunting.

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ourselves why we are in a negative mindset, we can then overcome our unpleasant emotions.

Thus, it is vital to confront our ‘jealous’ or ‘bitter’ feelings as soon as

ds u emin w e s of our r n recognise they in sto are beginning to cloud

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ur emotions fluctuate daily with negative and positive sentiments making up the way we perceive the situations we find ourselves in. We live in endless cycles of, in very simple terms, feeling happy and sad. Our lives are made up of feelings and it is learning how to deal with emotions branded ‘ugly’ that allows us to lead abundant lives filled with as much happiness as possible.

Each issue one faces is distinctive but what remains consistent is having uncontrollable, unpleasant feelings that supersede rationality so powerfully. During this time, we can feel extremely overwhelmed by ‘ugly emotions’.

What I have started to realise is what we internalise is transpired in our view of the external. What I mean by this is that our world is coloured by the way we feel inside. Often these feelings of jealousy or any other ‘ugly emotion’ can lead to an overpowering feeling of anxiety. It is a state that we, as humans, seem unable to control. Whether we are jealous of a friend or expressing bitterness towards a family member, it is extremely hard to repress these emotions.

Instead, it can be easier to accept the way we feel. To acknowledge you are experiencing a certain emotion and knowing that indisputably most things are temporary can be comforting. Although this is what I believe to be the easier approach. One can learn to accept the way they are feeling; the challenge is in confronting why. Once we ask

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Dealing with ‘ugly’ emotions

Another round of wellbeing​ online exams?!

Isobel Edmondson advises on assessment season /E v eC

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f, like the majority of us, you struggled with the online January assessments this year, you might not be looking forward to those in summer – just around the corner. I especially feel for those in their final year, whose degree classifications will potentially depend on this work. While some issues are out of our hands and perhaps need to be dealt with by the university, I’d like to offer some suggestions of how we can make the next few (hopefully sunnier) months more bearable.

Find a

Over Christmas, I felt quite detached from uni as I was no longer in my bubble of Bristol students. I found it more difficult to hold myself accountable when I knew I was procrastinating (I’d blame lockdown for my TikTok addiction) and since one of my housemates felt the same, we decided to call on Zoom and work ‘together’ as we normally would in Bristol. For the most part, our mics were off, but just having each other there reminded us that we weren’t alone, and it made our tasks less daunting. I would recommend having your camera on so that you can both see when the other gets distracted. It’s also beneficial to take breaks to chat without going on your phone so that you remain somewhat in the zone.

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aw As I find tasks like ay someone who essay writing always has a to-do list much less tedious etched in the back of my with music; it can realmind, I should take my own ly help with motivation. advice on this one. It’s easy to Lyrics can be too distractbecome fixated on one task and ing for a lot of people, so I reclet it take over your life, but I believe ommend classical instrumental E igr that taking a whole day here and there playlists, lo-fi or house, depending am / Is to shut your laptop and do something on your tastes. I was surprised to find ob e l E dmonds on completely different can only be beneficial. If that house could help me focus, so if you you feel that your mental health and academfind that slower music makes you sleepy, I’d recic performance go hand-in-hand, disconnectommend looking for something more upbeat. If you are lucky enough ing from academia for a bit can allow you to to have a decent desk and chair, make the most of this space and try to view whatever you’re working on with fresh keep your phone out of reach. Likewise, bringing your work to bed is eyes. It’s important to remember that even if usually not a good idea as each space needs to be associated with a a source of your sense of achievement in life different area of your life. This is easier in theory than in practice, is academia, you are not what you produce but could be the switch you need to improve your at university. Time outside of your studies work-life balance. is just as valuable, in the present and the long run. p

Epigram / Isobel Edmondson

Well done for what you have already achieved and good luck!

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Bristol’s best running routes Jessica Li sums up the best running routes in Bristol

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ike most people during lockdown, my passion for running was reignited, not only as a way to keep fit but also as a hobby and a great way to explore the city for all its hidden away paths and sudden inclines. If you’re lucky and smart enough to bring a mask, you may even spot a new café or two to grab a takeaway coffee at the end of your route as a wee treat.

For the novices, don’t worry, we have all been there and, honestly, it’s not as daunting as you may think. Yes, it may feel odd at first but give it a few tries and you might find that you get into the groove of things. Just grab some comfy trainers, leggings and a breathable top – nothing too fancy – and you’re ready to go! As Emerson once said, ‘It’s not the destination, it’s the journey’. So lace up and give it a go; after all, what have you got to lose? Perhaps some muscle aches here and there (if you forget to stretch), but the running will help strengthen your muscles in the long run, so it’ll be worth it.

A nice route worth trying in Bristol includes a short and flat 5km loop around the Harbourside, which is especially nice on a clear day at sunset, as the river reflects the view perfectly.

“Lace up and give it a go, after all, what have you got to lose?”

If you up it one notch to ~6/7km, the Downs is especially lovely at quiet times (starting from one end of Ladies Mile and looping around). It’s potentially a bit pedantic, but worth noting that the meandering curve on the circular road can get quite windy at times, which is a bit of a downer for earphone wearers because of the echo. But perhaps that’s just another incentive to train up your pace to get that bit over and done with quickly.

Some longer routes include Victoria Park, Ashton Court, Eastville Park, the ~10K towpath alongside Leigh Woods and, if you are really brave, then you could even give the Bristol-Bath old railway path a go. I believe that’s nearly a half marathon at ~13 miles.

There’s really no perfect time for a run, which is another bonus, as you can tailor it to anytime that suits you. This could be a midday run, as a nice relaxing way to take a break from all that screen-time, or perhaps it could be a sunrise or sunset run to either start or finish the work day.

If all this hasn’t swayed you yet, then maybe, if you enjoy reading, have a flick through What I Talk About When I Talk About Running – a great, yet distinct, Haruki Murakami memoir.

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A Farewell to France Xander Brett Travel Columnist

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ugh Schofield said over coffee: ‘The thing about France is that Brits are either overly dismissive or overly infatuated by it. It’s the job of the journalist to be dispassionate.’

I fell in love with France aged five, and I love it just as much today.

My life in Paris showed me it’s still the nation of good wine, classic literature and fine romance. But France’s endless bureaucracy ceased to be quaint…

Paris, it turns out, isn’t the capital of style and the French are infuriatingly law-abiding.

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

Epigram/Rebec ca P ard on

I said in my first letter that I hoped my stereotypes of France would be challenged. Well, they certainly have been. Challenging them during a global pandemic, with the absence of tourists, was an easier process.

Our two nations have a long history.

1066 may be almost a thousand years ago, but we still have much in common.

France is European, and the Channel divides us, but it’s worth remembering how much the French admire us, and how much we (however secretly) admire them too.

Over the past months, I hope I’ve managed to report France dispassionately. I’m no longer overly infatuated by it, but living in Paris remains a dream come true.

travel​

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Rebecca Pardon shares some of her favourite bedroom views from her trip around Italy

Travel plan mock up Ruby Batt shares where she will be jetting off to this summer

Photographs : Epigram / Miranda Daniel

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orona regulations permitting, my boyfriend and I are hoping to make the most of our summer by heading to the magical Greek island of Santorini.

While it may be a romantic cliché, it’s one I will happily bow to. Imagine tiny winding streets lined with beautiful white-washed houses, the gleam of the Mediterranean sea under the warm September sun and the smell of delicious Greek food, who wouldn’t want to go?

Having done extensive research on the best things to do in Santorini, during many hours of procrastination, I’m hoping the trip will be magical. After an eventful and downright stressful year, I think a week of relaxation and chill sightseeing is more than needed.

“We will be taking advantage of the sun before having to return to not so sunny Bristol” The plan is to stay in a local hotel in Thira, which is one of the bigger and more famous towns in Santorini. At the very top of our list of things to do is watch the sunset in Oia, a slightly smaller but equally beautiful town.

Watching the sunset is a tourist favourite, which means it can get rather busy.

Luckily for us, a friend has suggested we avoid the main sunset spot at Oia castle and book onto a boat tour which lets you take in the incredible views from the sea. Packing swimwear is a must for this trip, as we plan on doing just as much relaxing as sightseeing.

Santorini is famous for its black sand beaches and crystal clear water, which we intend on making the most of.

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Whether it’s by lying beside the pool or on the sandy beaches, we will be taking advantage of the sun before having to return to not so sunny Bristol for our third and final year of university.

As for the days that aren’t spent by the water, simply walking around the pretty streets of the various different towns will most likely take up a fair bit of our time and provide us with some incredible memories.

Having said that, there are a few other specific things that we don’t want to miss out on. The short hike up to the top of the Santorini volcano is one of those; it’s only 2€ to be admitted onto the volcano and the views are meant to be lovely, not to mention the reward of swimming in the hot springs on the way back down.

“It would certainly be a crime to leave Santorini without trying lots of traditional Greek food”

It would certainly be a crime to leave Santorini without trying lots of traditional Greek food in the various local restaurants, making that another important thing on the list. Not forgetting going to a wine tasting at one of the local vineyards; if you can’t be fancy on a Greek island, then where else, right? As magical as this trip sounds and despite how long I’ve been wanting to go, we’re still remaining rather cautious.

Our going will very much depend on coronavirus regulations, but also on whether we believe it to be truly safe and fair to take such a trip. However, if it’s not this summer then it’ll certainly be the next, and Santorini will still be there and as beautiful as ever.

The excitement of a new adventure. I miss that feeling when you’ve landed and thought: ’You’ve arrived, you are actually here now’. There’s something so magical and surreal about travelling and seeing how beautifully different our world is. It feels like you are part of something bigger, truly living life.

travel​ Photographs : Epigram / Miranda Daniel

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hen travelling, you are put in a situation where new stimuli and novelty comes to you so fast.

I miss the thrill of the unexplored yet to be explored and the growth that occurs from being almost forced out of my comfort zone.

Travelling is stimulating and memorable, from all the new connections to the experiences and knowledge.

The surprises. I miss the feeling of spontaneity, having a plan but no obligations. Whether I’m forgoing a trip I had planned because time flew by in conversation with a local at the park, or missing a train and ending up in a different city.

The new cultural experiences. The different air as I take deep breaths, new odours as I walk through the local food market, new sounds as I listen to the language spoken and new sites I see on my visits. I love how every destination is different from the next.

The new perspectives. I miss always meeting new people.

A place where everyone and everything is unknown yet soon to have some familiarity. It’s just as much the people I meet as the places I visit that make the trip for me. It’s crazy how much you can bond with other travellers or locals when you put yourself out there. I will never forget those interactions, they are some of the most genuinely beautiful, fun, kind people I’ve ever met.

The airport. I miss the familiar airport rituals of arriving way too early just to make sure I’m not going to miss my flight, checking I have my passport every hour and buying a weeks worth of snacks for a couple of hours on an aeroplane.

I miss the anticipation. Airports are like an entry to a whole new world of new experiences. I know that once I step in the airport I am one step closer to a new adventure waiting ahead of me.

Victoria Rochelois discusses what she loves most about travel

What I’ve been missing most about travel

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lifestyle

Just keep swimming...

Freya Scott-Turner reflects on the suprising highs in a year of lows

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On arrival, my first thought was… is this a swamp?

Certainly the water, in all its brown sludgy-ness, left much to be desired. But cleanliness-wise, this was likely no worse than my local lido, brimming as it is with toddler urine and discarded plasters. Armed with this comforting comparison, I took the plunge.

Beyond the first couple of seconds when I thought I actually might die, it really was okay. Besides stubbing my toe on a protruding hunk of stone lurking beneath the water’s surface, I emerged completely unscathed.

Afterwards, I even felt the euphoric feeling that wild swimming regulars wax lyrical about and Bristol in March could have been the Grand Canarias in July.

Since my first foray, I’ve been several times and enjoyed each one more than the last. I can now skip the hovering on the riverbank self-psyching up session that used to last ten minutes. I’m staying in longer each time and preparing to abandon the wetsuit. Wetsuits are so allowed, whatever some people may try to tell you.

Ultimately, this article is not an informative instructional tool in river swimming. It’s not even really intended to expound its benefits, although they are numerous. Cold water swimming is said to help combat depression, boost your immune system and even enhance your libido. Yet, this isn’t some motivational – bragging tale in which my newfound zeal for rivers transforms me from an ordinary girl to Olympic water goddess.

We’ve all felt under intense pressure to ‘make the most’ of this time and ‘smugsolation’ or hustle culture posts on social media only serve to make many of us feel inferior. What I have been doing though, is having fun. I said earlier that time is ‘on pause’ right now, but things like this remind me that’s simply not true. This last year hasn’t turned out how any of us planned, but the time hasn’t been wasted. My housemate – more otter than girl – a picture of pure joy swinging from a branch, was the comic relief I needed at that moment.

Looking back, we will see this as a time of growth and change, no matter how small. However bad this general fiasco seems, there are positives to be found. Frankly, if I could be persuaded to submerge myself in a freezing cold river, there must be something quite miraculous going on.

Epigram / Freya Scott-Turner

iger King? Old news. Sourdough… Who is she? The fortunate among us - for whom the worst coronavirus symptom has been boredom – have found ourselves lacking in direction since the world was placed on pause.

Staggering blindly with our hands outstretched, we have desperately turned to whatever fad we think can best fill the void and help us to feel something. It could be a passionate weekend painting-by-numbers, after which we get the ick and threaten to grind any paintbrush that crosses our path into sawdust. Then it’s on to the next short-lived enterprise, such is the nature of lockdown.

Well, river swimming is one fad that’s seemingly here to stay. Granted, as long as there’s been rivers and things that swim in them, there has been river swimming.

Yet, three lockdowns later, the aqua activity now has a new band of recruits. About a month ago, in lieu of eff-all else to do, I found myself, on a rainy Sunday morning, emerging – dripping and shivering - from some suspiciously brown cold water.

How did I get here? Rivers and I have had a somewhat tumultuous relationship. Growing up in Cambridge, summer swimming in the Cam was just like, the done thing. I’ve many fond memories of splooshing around with my fifteen-year-old mates (I was also fifteen), all of us hyper with anticipation for the night of Malibudrinking ahead. If however, like me, you lacked the ability to jump and keep your mouth closed at the same time, then you might have wound up with a waterborne disease. The three days I spent hunched over a bucket, expelling what felt like all of my internal organs through Weil’s diseasedinduced vomiting, was a distinctly less-happy memory.

So while I’m not a stranger to rivers, throwing this wintry climate into the equation felt like a step too far. I enjoy being in nature, but when it comes to more strenuous outdoorsy things, I’m curious but hesitant. More Louis Theroux than Bear Grylls. Yet, weeks upon weeks of nights-out-at-home do become repetitive and I realised I would say yes to nearly anything for the chance to spice up my life a bit. This desperation is how, at the suggestion of a couple of my more intrepid housemates, I found myself bundled into a car at 8 am, thermos in hand, destined for Conham River Park.

A love letter to Bristol

lifestyle

Emily Herbert pens an ode to a city all boarded up

Dear Bristol, Your glittering lights made the winter air feel warm on a late night out to Thekla. My flatmates knew that the Pop Confessional was the only way to drag me out when I had an essay due, and what I would do for another stolen cigarette on the railings of a boat again. I’ve met so many new friends on your shores with my head cloudy and my heart t full of wine. I can see my breath now in the cool er Ep rb e crispness of the Harbourside on a Friday night (or a igr H am ily Tuesday night) (or a Wednesday night). You tasted a little bit / Emily Herbert Epigram / Em like magic, and cinnamon, in the Christmas market by the Watershed, when I bought necklaces for new friends and earrings for old ones. I’d walk through the Centre every Saturday afternoon and smell the food stalls, home-cooked grub that I always wanted to try but was always on my way somewhere. Now, in your quiet, I trudge along by the river with my one friend on my daily walk and watch the grey waves lap in, and the seagulls that used to bang on our windows in halls follow behind us like ducklings, eyeing us up for crumbs. The Apple, where I first felt that I could maybe, one day, really feel Bristolian, and the novelty of drinking on a boat was so thrilling to eighteen-year-old me from the back-end of nowhere. I remember on frosty January mornings making my way up past College Green to 9am lectures. College Green, where I’ve met so many beautiful activist people. People yelling in powerful desperation, wielding witty placards, political people, scared people, people singing and dancing, huddling in a circle and strategising, people drinking and laughing. And Greta. I was a different person before I met you. You made me feel so much love and hopelessness for the world. Just past it, Mrs Potts, where I made a best friend out of a freshers friend, with hot chocolate and vulnerable conversations. Climbing (slowly) up Park Street, I gaze longingly through the windows of the vintage shops, the bright colours and passionate people who drew me to this city in the first place. Years ago now, when the sun was shining on a March morning, I knew somehow that this would be my home. Past my friend’s house just off the main road, where I’ve laughed and cried and passed out and dyed my hair after a breakup. Too many places on the Triangle. Wills, that I always loved to see lit up in pastel rainbow colours at 2am; the cafes we would pile into when we really should’ve made lunch this time; the walk back from Manor Hall when we pulled an all-nighter on election night. The walk stops here, it’s time to go home to the real world again, but I close my eyes and hope that one day soon I will feel your buzz in my bones once more, and breathe in the city again.

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Epigram / Alice Karslake

What’s your signature Bris-location?

Orin Carlin matches you up with your happy place

Slow and steady! You started your reading weeks ago.

Where did you live as a fresher?

Somewhere no one has heard of.

There are places other than Stokey B?

BoJo is unexpectedly doing a speech in Bristol, what you saying?

Nah. too hungeover.

I’ll be there with my megaphone and placard!

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CLIFTON SUSPENSION BRIDGE The epitome of the city itself. Some say you’re a basic bitch but really that insta shot of you, the bridge and your first year flatmates will stand the test of time, even if your friendship didn’t!

10 red bulls, an all-nighter and an 11.59 submission time.

It’s essay time, what’s your method?

COLLEGE GREEN You desperately want to be a BNOC, hence you’re on the committee of every society going. You have an unironic beard/beret and feel like you’re part of the Skins cast but really you’re just a 22-yearold who had to resit their A-Levels.

What’s the current state of your bank account?

Let’s just say, all the impromptu Parsons trips have added up....

No clue, Daddy keeps me topped up.

Nah, I’m way too cool for that...

How would you describe your caffeine habit?

LinkedIn or LinkedOut? Yeah, and I have a professional photo.

THE ASS So you spend a deccent amount of time in the library good on you! Though it isn’t 100% clear how much time you spend actually working as opposed to eyefucking strangers, trying to get them to write Briscrushes about you.

It’s a work in progress...

Never touched the stuff.

Hang on, do Jagerbombs count?

JASON DONNERVAN The closure of the clubs has hit you hard.

The best part of your night was drunkely arguing with the cashpoint to gain your cheesy chips.

Friends with the big guy himself, he would occasionally take pity on you when you were 20p short.

PRET You’ve absolutely taken the piss with their free drink scheme with your ten different aliases but for some reason you just can’t stop.

Your self-proclaimed caffeine addiction is not (much to your surprise) an adequate substitute for a personality.