The Croft - issue 21

Balloons of encouragement | Cover art by Brooke Lewis

the croft

Lifestyle

p. 4 Autumn: cuffing or culling season?

Style

p. 6 Dressing for selfconfidence

Wellbeing

p. 11 Finding my gender identity

Food

p. 14 Student cupboard essentials

Travel

p. 18 Eco-friendly European travel issue 21 24.11.21

2 lifestyle 6 style 10 wellbeing 14 food 18 travel top stories

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The power of the suit

17 Cornbread recipe

18 Eco-friendly European travel

Editor’s letter

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ovember has always been a tough month in the university calendar.

In previous years I have felt myself fall into the winter blues. When summer comes to an end and your social calendar is looking sparse while your academic calendar is overflowing, it’s easy to lose a little bit of your usual spark.

As someone who didn’t grow up in the UK, I also find the darkening skies gloomy.

After the sun is gone at 5pm it’s hard to be productive and all I want to do is climb into bed and binge watch Masterchef.

With assessments getting serious, it is very common for university students to start struggling. We encourage you to reach out to your loved ones and to remember that things always get better.

This is the season for self-care.

With this in mind, we’ve themed this issue around how to look after yourself and your mental health as the days get darker.

We look at self-love, confidence, self-care and more.

On p. 6, Style speaks about dressing to boost your self-confidence and express your sense of self. On p. 11, Arri Monica Deng discusses finding their gender identity at university in our Wellbeing section. For some proper student-friendly comfort food, look no further than the Food section’s Minestrone Soup recipe on p. 15. If you’re just looking to escape it all,

Travel has a great piece on eco-friendly European travel on p. 18. As for the Lifestyle section, we look at ‘self-love’ (read: masturbation) in the sex column on p. 3 and the best Bristol comfort spots on p. 4.

We hope that The Croft brings you some comfort this November. The reality is that Teaching Block 1 is actually almost over. Not long to go now!

THE TEAM The Croft Co-Editors-in-Chief ROSIE ANGEL-CLARK and SAVANNAH COOMBE Deputy Editor SANJANA IDNANI Chief Proofreader CIARA ALLEN Sub-Editor ELIN ALEXANDER Style Editor JENNY GALLAGHER Style Digital Editor ANIA TOWNSIN Style Deputy Editor ANNA JOHNSON Style Sub-Editor FARAH THORNDYCRAFT Wellbeing Editor EMILY FROMANT Wellbeing Digital Editor CHARLIE TONKS Wellbeing Co-Deputy Editors ASHA SULLIVAN and MADDY WHEELER Wellbeing Sub-Editor ELLIE SPENCELEY Food Editor MADDY CLEGG Food Digital Editor LOU CRAVEN Food Deputy Editor DANIEL BARGIONI Food Sub-Editor PHOEBE ALTMAN Travel Editor XANDER BRETT Travel Digital Editor MIA AUSTIN Travel Deputy Editor LUCY RAWLINGS Travel International Deputy Editor JENNY BARRUOL Travel Sub-Editor ORLA MCHALE Puzzles Editor PATRICK SULLIVAN Puzzles Sub-Editor GRACE BARNES Front Cover BROOKE LEWIS

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Bethany Marris

inside

the croft

by go Lo

Co-Editor-in-Chief ROSIE ANGEL-CLARK Co-Editor-in-Chief SAVANNAH COOMBE Deputy Editor SANJANA IDNANI

Pillow Talk Column:

lifestyle

Masturbation

The Croft's resident 'sexpert', Carrie Brizshaw, on masturbation

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t’s a common piece of self-help advice that ‘you cannot love someone if you do not love yourself’. Well, the truth is that you can, but it won’t be very good.

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Masturbation has long been thought of as taboo in our society and even though this belief is slowly disappearing, we are often filled with internal shame. This is especially true for women whose right to pleasure has historically been downplayed. Due to the social stigmas, a lot of people are hesitant to explore the topic and experiment with themselves. I’ve put together some tips for getting it on with yourself. r

Ma dd

yourself

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change it up: Just like sex, it can be easy to get into a routine with masturbation. Simply lying flat on your back and thinking of England. If masturbating has become boring, you might want to try out some new positions. Get on your hands and knees, do it at a desk or even in the shower. The possibilities are endless. Introduce sex toys or try using old ones in new ways.

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in itself:

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See it as an activity

Force

Part of why a lot of people struggle to fully enjoy masturbation is because they rush through it and focus on orgasming.

This can put a lot of pressure on the situation. Rather slow it all down.

Remember that you are in a relationship with yourself. Masturbation is a part of that and can be an amazing bonding activity. As partnered sex is the mainstream norm, it might help to think of masturbation as you ‘having sex’ with yourself.

How do you approach sex with a partner? How do you pace yourself? How do you set the scene with candles and music, etc? It shouldn’t be a race to the finish line.

Get to know your body first: If you struggle to know where to begin, it might help to start from a simply exploratory perspective. Get a mirror down there and look around. Take things slow and really get to know your own body. One of the most enlightening parts of masturbation is how it can improve your self-confidence and bodily awareness.

Enjoy it as an activity, not just because it’s ‘good’ for you: dopamine levels, improving partnered sex and clearing your skin. While all this is true, I reject the notion that we can’t just enjoy pleasure for pleasure’s sake. Masturbation is fun, it feels good, and it isn’t harming anyone. You don’t need more of a reason to do it than that.

Just do it: If you are struggling to masturbate sometimes the best thing you can do is just start. There is a lot of built-up pressure around masturbating or not masturbating. At the end of the day, you do not need to feel any shame. It’s your body and your choice, do what feels right.

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Feeling the seasonal blues?

Co-Editor-in-Chief ROSIE ANGEL-CLARK Co-Editor-in-Chief SAVANNAH COOMBE Deputy Editor SANJANA IDNANI

I

Marta Torch highlights the best comfort spots in the city

think we could all do with some time to relax, de-stress, and show ourselves a little self-care. Watching your favourite comfort shows like Modern Family or The Office is great for that sort of thing, until Netflix asks you that dreaded question, ‘Are you still watching?’. In moments like these, we must pick ourselves up and head outside for a change of scenery, and here are some of the best spots in Bristol to do just that: Calling all foodies! Swoon Gelato, located at the bot-

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tom of Park Street, is hidden gem. Browse a great range of flavours, from sorbet to indulgent chocolate, and make sure to bring a student ID for money off ! They have seating outside, or you can get a take away and sit on the beautiful College Green, with views of Bristol Cathedral.

I’m sure you’re aware of the ways in which exercise can help reduce stress. Not only does it improve cognitive

function, it also pumps up your endorphins, and in turn, elevates your mood.

For those of you that love something a little more active, get a group together and head down to Ashton Court Estate. Open all days of the week, footgolf, which is pretty self-explanatory, is a chance to kick footballs into a 9-hole golf course, for just £7 a person.

Sometimes the best way to clear your head is to get some fresh air, which leads to another favourite of mine, Clifton Observatory. With views of the iconic landmark, Bristol’s Suspension Bridge, this stunning view is a perfect spot for meditation and reflection. If you manage to go for sunset, you’re in for a treat.

If you’re into walking, an alternative option is a picturesque walk around Brandon Hill with the central feature of the park being Cabot Tower. With running streams, beautiful still ponds, and 360° views, it is a tranquil green

Cl ifto n Observatory space located right in the heart of Bristol.

Time to get creative! For £7 per person, Purdie Life Drawing classes take place at the Jam Jar running on Monday and Tuesday evenings.

Head over to their Facebook (@ purdielifedrawing) to book tickets for a relaxed evening where all abilities are welcome. If you’re a beginner, all basic drawing materials are already provided, so no stress!

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lifestyle

Autumn: cuffing or culling season?

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Emily Herbert discusses the pros and cons of each option

t the end of hot girl summer, people begin to talk about ‘cuffing season’ again. As we go into the winter months, it’s customary to find your winter boo to take home to the parents, watch fireworks with, and cuddle with through winter - until Valentine’s Day, at the very least.

As the winter setWe’ve watched the rom-coms The end of lockdown restrictions is a test tles in, you might year on year, and it seems like find yourself stuck betradition – when of how you interact back in the real world tween two contradictory you’ve maybe impulses; you’re interested finished your in trying out the solo lifesummer style, but you also love the old, familiar patterns of cosy intimaof freedom and meeting new people, it’s cy that comes with your relationship. time to settle down.

My advice?

However, this autumn is unlike If you find a person that you really like this winter, that’s any other – coming out of lockdown great, but make sure you’re in it for the right reasons! Everyone (properly) for the first time in 18 needs time to heal, and to adjust to being single months, your whole life situation has changed, and – even if you were the dumper. you have to re-evaluate how your partner fits Dating two people back to back into it. can create a weird blur in your Perhaps you’ve been together m e m o ries and emotions. If for several years, a n d you’re debating breaking up you’ve both changed over with your partner, think about the course of university the person you’d be by yourself and lockdown. Or it’s an exciting prospect. maybe you got together Don’t just think ‘could I have a betduring lockdown, and you don’t ter relationship than this’, think know what life looks like outside coabout what you would habitation gain from not being Just as lockdown with them. Being alone was a test, the end can be a gift, and an opof lockdown restricportunity to build your tions is a test of how own independence as you interact back in t h e well as connecting with your friends more. ‘real world.’

Detoxing can be a great way to ‘find Having a partner can provide a great source yourself’, but it’s not the only way to do so. of comfort through the winter months, but You just need to think about what is best if you have realised that, post-lockdown, for you at this moment, whether that’s you don’t want that cushion a n d cosying up for the winter or see what need some space for yourself, it happ ens when you go it might be time to cull. alone for a little It’s harsh, but bit. it’s true.

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Editor JENNY GALLAGHER Digital Editor ANIA TOWNSIN Deputy Editor ANNA JOHNSON

Dressing for confidence Ben Carpenter explains how he uses style to reflect his own sense of self

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For me, and I don’t doubt for countless others, moving to Bristol triggered a stylistic shift from H&M to UO and vintage stores, but it didn’t take long to realise that despite fitting in amongst the student population, I felt like I’d done myself an injustice.

As someone who has long prided themselves upon being true to who they are and allowing my personal style to reflect that, the subliminal pressure of the edgeless edgy looks sported by the student population had managed to push me off kilter.

With an abundance of baggy denim and other Y2K nonsense hanging in my wardrobe and my aesthetic confidence at an all time low, I channeled my inner Carrie Bradshaw and couldn’t help but wonder: I may look confident, but why don’t I feel it?

The answer: None of my current outfits reflected who I was.

It’s easy to think that due to Bristol’s position as an alternative fashion capital that you’ve avoided fashion perceived as ‘basic’ when in reality, Bristol has very much built its own definition of said term. It’s also easy to think that adopting such a perceivably alternative style is the answer to that craving many have for individuality. But for some that’s just a plaster, a veil of confidence

Epigram/ Ben Carpenter

ristol is a unique place; liberal politics, diverse communities and a devotion to the arts are just a few reasons why. But when it comes to assessing the surface level, there is simply nothing more iconic to Bristol than the ‘unique’ fashion of its people.

that slips upon Brandon Hill's slightest gust of wind.

I took to the drawing board. From my favourite shows to my closest friends, I found myself on a mission to have my outside

Epigram/ Ben Carpenter

I may look confident, but why don’t I feel it?

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appearance match how I felt inside. And honestly, I found that the problem wasn’t with what I owned but how I used it. In trying a wide range of new outfit combinations and adopting subtle yet valuable accessories, I found the best way to feel truly confident day to day is to see clothing as a costume of sorts.

A range of bags for different occasions and a range of jewellery that matches both my outfit and my mood allows me to feel excited about my appearance every day. As simple as it may sound, I started to buy clothing I actually liked as opposed to clothing we’re told to want. Of course I’m no psychologist as those two are bound to intersect, but I immediately felt more like Ben when I made myself smile with my clothes, rather than relying on the opinions and glances of relative strangers.

Dressing for yourself is nothing new, but boy does it feel good.

style

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Wet weather wear

Laura Hartig gives the low down on what to wear when it's rainy es, Bristol in the rain is less than ideal, but unless your crystal for perfect weather starts working soon, there’s not much we can do to change the course of Mother Nature. So I’ve compiled a list of the best pieces to wear to avoid being caught out in the rain…

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On Cow lyMake b r Mar oy Boot Red s, AS ketp lace O £49. S 99

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Whilst I might suggest leaving Hunter wellies in the Alexa Chung era of Glastonbury 2010, a pair of Chunky Chelsea rain boots nod to the Bottega trend that filled everyone’s insta feeds last season.

Considering a black boot is a staple in nearly every wardrobe ever, why not use the rain to try a fun lime or a lilac…

Or… if you still fancy making the last use of your summer dresses in the wet, pop on a pair of cowboy boots with some fun tights and you’ll be sorted for your walk to uni. Try Depop for the best place to find a pair no one else will have.

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It would be a shame to be caught out in the rain with perfectly blow-dried hair so why not opt for a fun bucket hat of sorts.

Sticking with the vinyl trend of course, Fiorucci offers one to ensure the rain bounces right off you.

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As much as it may be Afghan coat season, I can’t imagine they’ll look their prettiest after being soaked in rain walking down Whiteladies. Try swapping anything with fluff for something sturdier like a vintage leather trench or an oversized bomber; the bigger the better, as it only means there’s more room to layer knits underneath.

When it comes to the perfect pair of trousers to wear in a downpour, I’m tempted to find something as close to your DofE gear as possible. A pair of vinyl trousers look sick with a casual knit whilst also providing protection from the rain and look ever so slightly cooler than the pair of walking trousers you borrowed from your brother back in Year 10.

And if all else fails, make sure to always carry an umbrella in your tote to save you rocking up to your seminar and looking like you took a dip in the Harbour ten minutes prior.

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Th e Power Suit:

Theano Dimopoulou takes a look at the 'then and now' of power suit dressing

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he power suit was designed to give women a bold and powerful appearance. To many, it represents blurring boundaries between conservative patriarchy and female empowerment. A traditionally male-dominated piece of clothing can cause an interesting conversation around what a modern woman identifies with in showcasing her true power and character.

Is it possible for a woman to feel more powerful through her clothing?

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The peak time for the female power suit was during the 1980s as the show Dynasty was putting shoulder-pads back on the map.

Giorgio Armani was trying to figure out ways to use a masculine shoot for a woman’s unmasculine figure. Armani managed to completely revolutionise women's Black pinstripe halterneck fashion, showcasing the rise of waistcoat, £34, Black pinthe career woman. His new tai- stripe puddle trousers, £45, both Urban Outfitters lored trouser or skirt suits took the gender out of fashion.

Women had gained power in the working world but had to hide behind pinstripes.

These big, shouldered jackets and trousers disguised a woman's figure and took the focus off her gender, creating a feeling of authority as the traditional sex roles continGin Platform Military ued to blur. boots, KOI, £35

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A crucial part of the powersuit history takes place in 1966, when Yves Saint Laurent introduced le smoking, designed specifically for women. Its name nods to the 19th century, meaning smoking jacket. Due to details of the design such as the silk lapels any ash falling from after-dinner-cigars could slide off, keeping the men’s out clean. The brand received a lot of criticism, as many believed women should not be able to take something so iconic and masculine and adapt it for feminine wear.

Despite the criticism, le smoking is now considered one of the most recognizable pieces of fashion.

suit represented a serious woman, as more and more women were entering the workforce and invading the 'boys club'. The suit became a symbol of acceptance, approval even – they were just as serious and capable as the man working next to them. During the 1970s, some women introduced 'Annie Hall' clothing. These women were carefree and fought against society's gender ideals by wearing typically male clothing in a plain, everyday style. This is an example of the reclamation of power women were gaining over male clothing at this time. Wearing business attire as an everyday outfit was a sign of bold defiance at a time where women weren't allowed in restaurants wearing trousers.

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The first appearance of the power suit was introduced in the 1920s by Coco Chanel, the first to take on more masculine, but still wearable, designs for women. At the time women wore corsets, and Coco gave them more comfortable jackets and skirts, allowing them to breathe. Women started to enter the job market and this new design was named 'the new woman’s uniform'. The look became more androgynous with wider shoulders and straighter lining.

Katherine Hepburn proved that a more masculine fit could still be sexy and feminine. The recognizable aggressive power suit of the 1980s exists only because of designer Marcel Rochas. She introduced wide-shouldered suits and a more masculine cut to female clothing. Similar to the effort of Coco Chanel, the masculine, wide-shouldered cut was an effort to reflect women's needs to showcase their development into a role outside of the home.

In 1970, things began to change. The

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Today, women’s fashion in the workplace is pretty much fully immersed - the need for strict blazers and heels isn’t there as strictly anymore. Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of Vogue since 1988, can be described as one of the most influential women, as well as a fashion icon, and she’s rarely seen in a traditional power suit. She is seen wearing elaborate patterns and prints.

At the same time, women still choose to wear power suits, such as former presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. She supports

style

that she wears suits because they make her feel professional and ready to go.

She views their versatility and simplicity as a 'uniform' that allow her to both fit in with her counterparts but also stand apart when she wants.

A very important part of her attire is her want as a woman running for president to equip a 'visual cue', that translates her difference to men but also her familiarity to them.

Hanukkah: seasonal outfit ideas

Milan Perera describes traditional outfits worn for Hanukkah

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'Deck the hall with matzo balls' 'Keep calm and eat latkes'

out with a blue tie. There could be stars of David or eight branched Hanukkiahs in various patterns. This theme could be extended to ladies' skirt or dress printed with Hanukkiahs and stars or David.

As with green and red Christmas jumpers, the casual wear could follow a variety of humorous captions and symbols associated with Hanukkah in blue and white. For example, as seen in the lifestyle magazine Elite Daily, the captions below are sure to raise a smile among friends and family.

Alternatively, a dress or a suit in the classic Hanukkah colours of white and blue is a common choice.

As far as ladies’ seasonal jewellery for the feast of Hanukkah is concerned, the traditional star of David pendant could be worn alongside a Menorah pendant.

Epigram / Milan Perera

hough in the hierarchy of Jewish Festivals, Hanukkah does not top the list where Passover, Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur are of greater importance. But out of all major Jewish Feasts, Hanukkah is the most “visible” of festivals. As it falls near December, the analogy with Christmas is inevitable. Though Hanukkah does not correspond to Christmas in shape or form, it too is often represented with a combination of colours; blue and white.

The feast of Hanukkah is a moving feast due to the use of the lunar calendar as opposed to the Gregorian calendar. It normally falls at the back end of November and the beginning of December and is celebrated over eight days. The origin of the feast goes back to second century BCE where a group of Jewish warriors called the Maccabees defeating the mighty Seleucid armies as detailed in the Apocrypha.

Although Hanukkah does not correspond to a specific traditional outfit, rule of thumb is to use a combination of blue and white colours in your dress or outfit. Colours blue and white hold a great symbolic significance to Jewish people. As described in Cahabad.org, the Jewish prayer shawl, is customarily made in a white fabric with black stripes and one blue string. Most visible manifestation of this phenomenon is the flag of Israel.

In gents' formal attires a white shirt worn with a blue tie and blue cap marks the basic level of visibility. There is an infinite variety of designs one can try

The limit of your imagination is the limit for outfit ideas.

'Dreidel, dreidel, dreidel' 'Love you a latke'

'Eight nights, eight lights'

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Editor EMILY FROMANT Digital Editor CHARLIE TONKS Co-Deputy Editor ASHA SULLIVAN Co-Deputy Editor MADDY WHEELER

WHO WE ARE...

‘Finding yourself’ at university: Lois Ryan discusses the idea of 'finding yourself ' at university

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e’ve all heard of that person who ran off to university and ‘found themselves’. This is often accompanied by a hair transformation, an Instagram post, and a new outlook on life. So, what does it actually mean to ‘find yourself’ at university? And how do we go about the task of finding our true selves? can mean many things to different people, but among students generally relates to finding authentic, innate identity. Attributing this feeling of an individual identity to the circumstances in which it prevails is common. It has led leading thinkers to view identity as something we can only acquire through consumption. We have to buy this mindfulness class, or get this gym membership, buy this new alternative wellness object, or complete this huge task. Are people really talking about university as the place to find yourself? Or is it just another fake opportunity to acquire a new identity through consumption?

An uncomfortable but important question. Speaking from experience, finding yourself’ at university can more relate to your emotional response from literally finding yourself in a new city, surrounded by new people, with new independence and freedoms and ways of thinking. In moving away from all the things which previously confined and defined you.

For example, how others see you at home, the standards you’re used to, the beliefs pushed on you from all directions. In moving to university, you are in a sense given a fresh start to carve your own sense of self. You are prompted to question your own perspective, your own opinions, and start to realise what kind of person you want to be.

‘Finding yourself’ can feel like an overwhelming task to embark upon, but the process consists of a natural unlearning of things in your head you now deem ‘not you’, in favour of gently feeling out the things that are ‘you’, whether that’s to do with your appearance, your beliefs, your hobbies, or anything else you feel is a part of your identity. The end goal of ‘finding yourself’ is misleading, the idea that you will somehow in your limited time at university be able to work out who you are and what you want.

But the process consists of small natural changes and adjustments, almost universally experienced amongst comingof-age adolescents. By moving away from your home to university, you are already on the path. So, whilst fixating on an end-goal of a ‘new you’ glow-up just adds pressure to students already feeling the pressures of adjusting to university life, we might find some peace in trying to embrace change as it comes, and in trying to just trust the process.

... AND WHO WE wellbeing WILL BECOME Finding my gender identity Arri Mongok discusses a pronoun change in light of November and trans awareness week

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Epigram /

Em il

ovember is a month filled with kindness and actaching that label to myself at all times feels restrictive. That is ceptance, with both trans awareness and World not me.

Kindness Day falling in November.

My struggle with gender roles and confidence started when I Gender roles shortened my first name from and gender identity are ‘Aruay’ to ‘Arri’. It felt good, I All in all, I still misgender myself today, but I therefore a huge part of liked just being ‘Arri’.

November. It gives many Sometimes I add a cherry know who I am and how I feel. I am confident of us a chance to reconsidemoji. It felt like a character and comfortable being 'Arri' er how and why we portray that reflected my personality, ourselves a certain way, and fashion, and aura better than ant what feels right to us. One anything I have ever been rem ro yF huge issue I encountered ferred to as. How is this relwhen writing this article evant to gender roles? Well, was where I should begin, I also started to question my and how to talk about it. pronouns.

I could start by saying I am Arri, not she, not he. Just that gender roles are a prodArri. Targeted ads seemed to uct of the patriarchy and have read my mind and started that we should ignore them, showing me videos about being I could detail how limiting non-binary or identifying as gender roles can be, how ‘they/them’ and it all just made constricting. All of this is sense. Before I told my friends true. However, in identifyabout my new pronouns, I testing the root of gender roles, ed the waters with my Instawe must also analyse how gram handle and loved seeing we can recover from the the ‘Arri’ *cherry emoji* ‘they/ expectations and standards them’. I felt confident. that they create.

Battling with pronouns creWhat are femininity and ates a disconnect between who masculinity? And how did you are and what you are used we come to attach expecto being seen as. Personally, tations to these labels? mine started with my name Honestly, I have no clue and branched from there. how I would describe femiLabels and difficult conversaninity or masculinity withtions can be had after self-love out sounding like a kinderis established. Cliché? I know. gartener.

I’m not suggesting you reach They are delicate terms that mean much more than the laself-actualisation before changing your pronouns on your Inbel we attach to biological females and males. Once you start stagram. But I am suggesting you think about how you fancy becoming semi-comfortable with your body and appearance presenting. and learn how you like to dress, present, and have your hair, should that not be just you?

Who are you? Then think about all the labels People can be feminine presenting. I usually am. But atand details later, or even remain label-less.

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a MO SAVE a BRO

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ovember is the self-proclaimed ‘leading charity changing the face of men's health’. Their three main focuses are men's mental health and suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer. They have funded over 1,250 projects globally to support efforts to help men live longer and allround healthier lives. There are lots of ways you can help in their efforts to address the global men's health crisis. Here are our three favourites: 1. Grow a Mo this month, whatever shape or size, to raise funds and awareness.

2. Get moving and run/walk 60km this November - a number chosen to represent the 60 men lost every hour to suicide.

3. Donate: whether monthly or just once it'll make a difference.

For more information visit their website at: uk.movember.com

Movember: Men's Mental Health m Som Tea e m ing en told The Croft Wellbe

It raises awar eness to blok es like me that ca n try to act all tough

It remin ds me I' and that m not a lo it's ok to talk abou ne, t how I feel

It's a reminder to check up on your friends

to me that it's ok It reinforces to e ar e w at th d not to be ok an not invincible

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Accept yourself even when you're struggling

It lets me know that I can ask for help if I ne ed it

Emily Fromant sheds light on the current Movember fundraisers that are taking place at Bristol University

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ristol University has been heavily involved in Movember each year, and this year is no different. Last year, the sports teams joined together and raised £55,000, and this year they are already well on their way to raising just as much!

The official Movember Bristol Instagram account (@movemberbristol) began its countdown earlier this month, and have already started their fundraiser which you can find located in their bio.Earlier this month, the official Movember Instagram actually interviewed our own Bristol University men's football club.

This year, Movember has taken on a new, deeper meaning.

The Bristol Football team are taking part in Movember for Olisa Odukwe, their team mate, who passed away earlier this year. In honor of Olisa, many will be growing their 'Mo' in his memory.

Cam McEwan told the Movember account about how the team

'came together' during such a hard time in March, detailing how much it impacted their own mental health after the loss of their team mate.

Niko, the team fundraising Secretary, explained to the Movember team a message for those who are struggling: 'it's not always going to be like that, there's always a way to solve the problem.'

The Ultimate Frisbee team is holding their own Movember.

Last year, the team raised over £3,000, and are already on their way to reach their new goal. They have introduced awards for each milestone, with team members pledging to dye their hair or wax their bodies when a certain amount is raised.

There are so many ways to get involved this Movember; whether it's growing your own mo, buying Movember merch, or giving to a fundraiser: it is all going towards a deserving cause.

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Editor MADDY CLEGG Deputy Editor DANIEL BARGIONI Digital Editor LOU CRAVEN

A student kitchen cupboard: the absolute basics Aruay Mongok breaks down the bare essentials for your cupboard

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tudents can sometimes cook the worst meals known to man. Too dramatic? Maybe, but with the right essentials in your cupboard, you’ll always be able to whip up a decent meal and save money on takeaways.

The Essentials:

Spices - paprika, cumin, cinnamon, turmeric, or spice mixes like

Pesto - ah, our trusty pesto! It never lets garam masala and ras el hanout you down so make sure you always have a spare jar for an emergency ten-minute meal.

Baked beans - on toast with cheese after a night out, hangover? What hangover?

Flavoured syrups for coffee - this will save you a fortune,

fewer Starbucks and Costa trips means more money to spend on books (haha!)

Epigram / Maddy Clegg

Editor’s Pick: for when you’re feeling a little more adventurous:

Lime and lemon juice -

great for vamping up instant noodles and is also essential for teas during freshers flu season, as well as making impressive cocktails.

Ketchup and mayonnaise - needs no explanation

Dried herbs - oregano, thyme, basil, mint or get your hands on a herb de provence for a nice mix of them all Tinned tomatoes - the base for a simple pasta sauce which will taste far better than any you’d buy in a jar Balsamic vinegar - because you can be that boujee student, great for drizzling over salads or adding some depth to sauces Honey - a versatile addition to your kitchen cupboard; drizzle over porridge in the morning, add to the dressing of your salad for lunch then marinade your chicken in with some ginger, garlic and soy sauce for dinner

Soy sauce - stir-fry in no time

Foodie to Follow: Jack Munroe

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Maddy Clegg introduces us to Jack Munroe to spruce up your feed!

_ ck @ja

hope I’m not the first person to introduce you to Jack Munroe. If they aren’t already on your radar, then get ready for them to become your go-to cookery companion (and saviour) for cooking on a student budget. Jack first became known for their blog ‘Cooking on a Bootstrap’ which detailed how they navigated cooking for themself and their young son on a frugal £10 weekly budget.

Jack demonstrated how anyone can make nutritious, delicious and appealing meals from sticking to tinned goods and jazzing them up with some fresh ingredients paired with a bit of creativity. Take a look at their website and you’ll find their ‘Vegan Pastitsio’ for 77p a portion, mun

roe

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‘Mushroom Soup’ for 48p per serving and their ‘Vegan Rainbow Dhansak’ taking top position at a mere 31p a plate.

I know as students we’re good at being lazy, but there really is no excuse for that ready meal anymore.

I would apologise, but the alternative is a delicious meal and more pennies in the bank...it’s a no brainer!

Instagram - @jack_munroe Twitter - @BootstrapCook Blog - https://cookingonabootstrap.com/

Minestrone: The student soup

food

Phoebe Altman talks us through the soup of all soups, her warming minestrone

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oup season is well and truly upon us. We’ve been trying to hold onto packed lunch salads for as long as we can, but it’s now time to let go and say goodbye until next year.

This minestrone is the perfect student lunch; cheap, easy, warming and healing. Plus, all you need is one big pot, no blender is required, making it perfect for a crowded student kitchen!

This will make enough for your lunches throughout the week.

Ingredients

Method

Olive oil

1tsp paprika

1 onion, finely chopped

Tin of chopped tomatoes (400g)

2 carrots, roughly chopped

1-1.5 litres veg stock

2 sticks of celery, roughly chopped

100g small pasta shape

1 courgette, cut into rough chunks

Tin of beans (400g)

Rosemary, finely chopped (or any other

Couple of handfuls of leafy greens, chopped

dried herb)

(eg. kale)

1tsp chilli flakes

Salt and pepper, to taste

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Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a large pan over a medium heat then add the onion, carrot, celery, courgette and cook slowly for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until the vegetables have softened but not taken on any colour.

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Add the chopped rosemary, chilli flakes and paprika and cook for a further 5 minutes.

Add the cannellini beans, tin of tomatoes, pasta, leafy greens and enough vegetable stock to cover. Bring to the boil then simmer for 10 minutes or until the pasta is cooked.

You may need to top up with more stock as you go, as the pasta will absorb quite a bit.

Season to taste with salt and pepper then serve with a grating of parmesan, a hunk of bread or, like I have, a drizzle of pesto.

Store in a Tupperware in the fridge and heat it up on the stovetop or in the microwave as and when you need it.

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How to love your freezer!

Milan Perera tells us how to best use your freezer, save costs and reduce wasteage

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ith an online supermarket shop now only a few clicks away it seems we are neglecting the food we already have, leaving it to rot in the back of our fridge only to be replaced by a new food shop each week. The answer to this problem? Your freezer. An underused and undervalued appliance in your kitchen, knowing how to use it right could save you a lot of money and a lot of time.

Fruit:

If your bananas are beginning to brown, cut into chunks, freeze and blitz them into your favourite smoothie to make it extra creamy, or try making some n’ice cream by blending with a splash of milk until ice cream consistency. Frozen berries are far cheaper and more sustainable to buy then their fresh counterparts, blitz into smoothies, bake into muffins or microwave with your morning porridge.

Here is my quick take on how to make the most out of your freezer before you order your next shop and more fresh ingredients that are bound to go off, unused and unloved.

Batch cooking:

Veg:

The holy grail of student cuisine. Making dinner? Make more and freeze it. Don’t throw away the tupperware boxes your takeaway curry arrives in, instead, wash them out to be reused. Freezing meals in portions means you can have dinner ready in a matter of minutes when deadlines approach and cooking is the last thing on your mind.

Make sure to label the lid with a sharpie before you freeze in order to avoid a game of freezer roulette. To defrost, leave at room temperature for a couple of hours or stick in the microwave on the defrost setting for a couple of minutes. Aim to eat things within six months.

Bread: Got a loaf that you won’t be able to eat before it goes stale?

Slice before freezing then toast straight from frozen. The same applies for pita, naan, bagels, crumpets; any bread product really!

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Epigram / Maddy Clegg

Frozen cauliflower florets could be used to prepare cauliflower-cheese, frozen peas and broccoli can be the base for a delicious wintery broccoli, pea and mint soup and not forgetting frozen oven-cook chips: a student necessity.

To freeze any leftover fresh potatoes, peel, boil until tender, drain and freeze once cooled; they can then be cooked straight from frozen. If a bag of spinach is beginning to go off at the back of your fridge, this can be put straight in the freezer as can any herbs too; finely chopping before freezing will make them much easier to use. Stir into curries or sauces straight from frozen.

So, declutter your freezer and make room for some delicious, quick and wallet-friendly food!

food Thanksgiving: an annual celebration centered around food Lou Craven and Phoebe Altman tell us all about the festival and ways you can celebrate

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hanksgiving is a largely American tradition celebrated annually on the 4th Thursday of November (25th this year) as a way to give thanks and blessings for the year just gone.

The origins of the tradition relate to the Pilgram’s harvest meal, giving blessings for the recent harvest; hence a central part of the modern celebration is food and what better way to bring people together than a table full of delicious, comforting food!

A few key contenders in the Thanksgiving meal are roast turkey, stuffing, cornbread and pumpkin pie, most of which are not the easiest to whip up in a student kitchen.

So, here’s a super simple recipe for cornbread to try out yourselves - go all out and make a full roast turkey and all the trimmings to accompany it, or simply use it to mop up chilli or dip in a warm bowl of soup.

Ep igr am / Phoeb e Altman

Ingredients 200g polenta 200g plain flour 2tsp baking powder 1tsp bicarbonate of soda 2 tsp sweet smoked paprika ½ tsp salt ½ tsp black pepper

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

75g butter, melted and, slightly cooled 400ml buttermilk 2 eggs 100g cheddar cheese, grated 170g sweetcorn (tinned or defrosted)

Method

Preheat your oven to 180C and grease a 20cmx20cm square tin with butter and line with baking parchment so that it hangs over the edge, making it easier to lift out of the tin once cooked.

In a large bowl, mix together the polenta, flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and paprika, salt and pepper until combined (have your butter on the hob gently melting whilst you do this) Measure your buttermilk into a jug and whisk in the eggs.

Add this to the dry ingredients along with the slightly cooled melted butter and mix until you have a smooth batter. Don’t over mix – just until the lumps have gone.

Gently stir in the grated cheddar and sweetcorn and fold into the batter until evenly di tributed. It will be quite a wet batter, but don’t worry that’s how it’s meant to look!

Pour into your prepared tin and place in the oven for 40-50 minutes until the top is golden brown and askewer comes out clean.

Cool in the tin for 10 minutes then transfer to a wire rack.

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Editor XANDER BRETT Digital Editor MIA AUSTIN Deputy Editor LUCY RAWLINGS

The Travel Team urge you to follow Greta Thunberg and take trains to transport you across the Continent

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here’s a word in Swedish called flygskam. Literally, it means ‘flight shame’. And shamed you should be if... well, like everyone else at the moment... you’re still using budget airline tickets to get around without thinking. They’re cheap, easy and effective. But this month world leaders met in Glasgow for the COP26 climate summit. Among the statistics presented was that aviation contributes 2 to 3 per cent of the world’s total carbon emissions. It’s percentage, however small, we can do without. And this one is not their responsibility to solve, but ours.

The budget airline phenomenon has only been with us since the turn of the Millennium. It’s easy to forget, as in twenty years, it has created out of nothing a new way to rival luxury extravagance, totally eclipsing the old way. The tickets are dirt cheap, and it has opened up travel (sadly, perhaps, if the beaches of Spain are to go by) to the average commoner.

The Americans don’t yet have them, nor do either of us have low-cost alternatives to travel intercontinentally. But there’s no denying the criss-cross myriad of routes across Europe has turned this part of the world into an airspace that operates much like a bus network. Well, we got rid of Concord, unravelling decades of human technical progress. And now it’s time to get rid of budget airlines too... I mean, would we really call the cattle class of Ryanair human progress anyway? We’re not removing the slick Franco-British elegance of Concord. We’re asking Stelios, Michael O’Leary and their army of eastern aircrew to get looking for new jobs.

And what will we do when they’ve gone? Well, we’ll take the trains of course. Greta Thunberg only travels by train... so does Michael Portillo. And what a role model he is, gliding effortlessly south with a glass of champagne, reading his Bradshaw and gazing occasionally out of the window. You might have noticed that Boris has stealthily renationalised our rail network, but for the time being it remains outrageously expensive. Well, that’s as may be. Because we’re an island on a drip. And, from London, you can travel onto a Continent where trains are interconnected, cheap and (thanks to a multitude of decisive dictators), incredibly efficient.

We’re not suggesting sailing to New York. But next time you plan a trip to Europe: ask not for the flight times, but for the train times instead. Laziness doesn’t solve emergencies.

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Lily Porter in Madrid

’m working as a teacher, and the kids don’t hesitate to correct when I get my Spanish wrong… which is quite embarrassing but very entertaining! I think the majority of British students here are on 90-day tourist allowance at the moment and are hoping to get their applications through.

When I visited the consulate, it was absolutely overwhelmed… it was chaos really. I hope that’ll start to improve. This obviously is the guinea pig year, so fingers crossed for everyone still trying to get through.

King Juan Carlos left last year due to allegations of tax fraud.

He was the king from 1975 to 2014, which meant he led Spain’s transition from their dictatorship under General Franco. He’s living the life of luxury in Abu Dhabi, which doesn’t seem too bad, on the island of Zaya Nuri I think. He has handed in a total of €8m to the tax agency to regularise any undue payments and settle difficulties, so there are rumours he’ll come back for Christmas, and I think he probably will. The public seem surprisingly in favour, given the allegations.

Epigram / Lily Porter

Stop using planes as if they’re buses!

On the Ground: Spain

Carles Puigdemont is an interesting one. In 2017, he also had to leave Spain. He was prime minister of Catalonia and held a referendum to ask firstly if Catalonia should be a state, and secondly if it should be an independent state. The result was 90 per cent ‘yes’ to independence, but not even half the population voted and there was lots of disruption. Despite that, he declared Catalonia sovereign, which was illegal under the Spanish Constitution. In the constitution, it stresses the indissoluble unity of the Spanish nation. He went into exile in Belgium and Germany, and recently travelled to Italy where he was arrested, then released, but not quite pardoned. He’s allowed to travel, and a decision has been delayed about what’s going to happen to him.

It seems like he’s carrying on with his separatist motivations, continuously criticising the Spanish government in the press, so I think it’s likely he’ll be brought to justice and punished for the declaration.

Finally, the La Palma eruption was a tragedy for Spain, and reading about it you heard of the massive numbers of people who’ve had to be evacuated, which became increasingly difficult as, with the ash cloud, they had to cancel flights.

Listen to our ‘On the Ground’ reports via the Burst Radio website and wherever you get your podcasts.

travel

Post-Erasmus blues

Mia Austin would give a lot to go back to her placement city of Uppsala, Sweden, and to take a coffee once more on the Stockholm waterfront

Epigram / Mia Austin

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my second-year self. Without a doubt, Bristol is a pretty great place to live, it’s just hard to appreciate it sometimes. My advice: be a tourist in your own city. Visit one of Bristol’s many galleries or museums, or treat yourself to that coffee in the sunshine. Seek out new places, rather than settling back into old habits.

After all, while Stockholm is stunning, there’s no denying the beauty of Ashton Court or a sunset walk to the Observatory.

Epigram / Mia Austin

ringing as the words come out of my mouth, explaining to yet another person why I’m still in Bristol.

Guiltily, I can’t help but confess a part of me loves to be asked about it, for a chance to tell a funny anecdote or even just to slide in a Swedish cultural reference. Undeniably I miss it. And while I love Bristol, it’s hard to find the positives walking home, soaked through, in the dark to your cold student house. At times like this, I can’t help but be nostalgic for my year abroad.

This time last year I was studying in Sweden on a weekend away in Stockholm. Walking along Strandvägen in the sunshine, under the autumnal trees, admiring the classic boats, feeling like something out of a film. When you’re away it feels as though there’s no end to what you could do. Whether it be a wander through the cobbled streets of Gamla Stan, taking in the history of the city. Or a visit to Södermalm, to check out some bars. Or taking the ferry to Djurgården to spend an afternoon getting your culture fix. Even small things felt like a novelty.

What could be better than sitting in the autumn sunshine under a cosy blanket, having fika (coffee and cake with friends) and taking a break from life’s busyness?

Now I’m sitting with a soggy umbrella, stressed about university work, feeling less than ecstatic to be back in Bristol. It’s fair to say the Erasmus blues have hit. Maybe its missing the weather, or the friends you made, or the new culture.

But there’s an itch to travel again. Coming back, it’s hard to escape the feeling like my world has shrunk a little, and I’ve taken steps backward and somewhat inadvertently reverted back to

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Travelling up the coast of North America’s Eastern Seaboard Xander Brett takes a literary journey past long sandy beaches lined with flags

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New Brunswick and Nova Scotia (where I hitchhiked around Cape Breton, went to a ceilidh and had a close encounter with a coyote), and north to Newfoundland (closer, apparently, to Dublin than Vancouver). These poets speak of the pan North American identity, and the artists, too, recognise that, though one nation is a monarchy and one a republic, they share a common culture. Below the 49th Parallel, it’s Edward Hopper and Norman Rockwell who depict the pristine pasture, above it’s ‘The Group of Seven’.

Staring over the Atlantic, at North America’s most easterly

Epigram / LXander Brett

was 18 when I landed in North America to start my gap year. But, like everyone else, I’d grown up seeing the United States dictate life daily: in films and on television, in music and on the news. As I flew down to Sewanee, Tennessee, I turned on Supertramp’s Breakfast in America… the sound of my excitement to finally touch, feel and smell the country in the flesh.

Stepping off the jumbo down south, I drank milkshakes and ate comfort food at 3am by a jukebox off the highway. Then it was up to Washington DC, touring the Capitol and, outside

the White House, being moved aside as President Trump took a walk to the Eisenhower office block. Then, from the majestic swamp (I’m a sucker for a monumental, symbolic capital), it was up to the bright lights of New York City. Here I was treated, perhaps for my accent, like a prince. I was given the run of an apartment off 5th Avenue and driven to recordings for Late Night with Seth Meyers before, after a few days – real-life already merging with movie – it was up to Boston on the underused Amtrak, attending a baseball game, walking the ‘Freedom Trail’ and uncovering the extraordinary waste of tea back in 1773.

Boston is centred around Harvard University, and it’s where Sylvia Plath came of age (though it was in London she finally shoved her head in the stove). Further north is the land of Elizabeth Bishop, whose poem The Moose captures the cosiness of long-distance overnight travel, wrapped alone in the snug warmth of a bus driving past ‘clapboard farmhouses and neat, clapboard churches’.

Up and over the border in Canada, after a weekend skiing and day trips to Ottawa and Quebec City, I ventured east to

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point, almost (well, culturally at least) in Scotland and Ireland, I was certainly aware that I stood at the edge of a vast continent.

It’s often said that if America had been settled west to east, New England would still be uninhabited. With its lush maples and rolling hills, that’s hard to imagine today. It’s something I’ve spent the last few weeks considering, rewatching Alistair Cooke’s marvellous history of America, and reading almost twenty books on American art and diners, in preparation for my dissertation. It rekindled my fascination with the land of the ‘long tides’. For the Eastern Seaboard is the home of American art, the diner, and, consequently, the American spirit.

On the long shores of Long Island, Gatsby gazes longingly to the green light at the tip of Daisy’s pier. He tells of America before The Fall: a restart that led to the ‘New Deal’, allowing the state to create a society that could embrace cut-throat capitalism and create the modern image of the United States. We in Britain are all too aware that this colourful culture – and its undeniable superiority – sits alongside an often-terrible reality. It’s why the world’s superpower is to me, as to many, a nation that at once enthrals and appals.

From the archives...

A charity bike ride through Europe

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How wrong we were. Germany offered some breath-taking couny tryside, with our route taking us through the Black Forest, over the Rhine and into the Bavarian hills. It was here we met our biggest challenge of the trip: an 800m climb which severely tested our ‘no stopping until the summit’ philosophy.

But the feeling of achievement at the top was more than enough consolation.

After ten long days and 712 miles, we finally reached our destination: Oktoberfest, a beer festival with a daily capacity of 100,000 spread through fourteen themed tents, serving beer by the litre and meat by the half or whole animal. It’s an experience like no other. er m sE me / Ja

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t’s 1,146 kilometres and 1,736,381 revolutions of a bicycle wheel. That’s approximately how far it is from London to Munich by bike. The idea was to raise money for Cancer Research UK. The reality of how much time, effort and expense this decision would ultimately entail eluded the four of us until we were too far in, and peer pressure alone stopped us backing down.

Departure day came for our first destination: Calais. Passing through the ‘garden of England’, we soon realised how tough these long days would be… some over a hundred miles. As the days progressed, we passed through France (a lot friendlier and accommodating than expected) and entered Belgium.

For a country famed for chocolate, waffles and beer, the Belgian people proved surprisingly unfriendly, and the majority of them took great pleasure in beeping and swearing at us, hastening our decision to push on to Luxembourg: a breath of fresh air.

As we rode through the cobbled streets of the capital city, we had a feeling that it would all be downhill from here.

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To celebrate Epigram’s 360th edition, we’ve extracted an article from exactly ten years ago, when Dave Walker and friends set off from London to Munich to raise cash for charity

travel

London Calais Brussels Luxembourg Munich

... total: £4,000 Oktoberfest 2022 This year’s celebrations were cancelled for a second time, but organisers say the event will be going ahead next year, taking over Munich from 17th September to 3rd October 2022.

Celebrations also take place across the world, including the UK (the largest gatherings are in Edinburgh and Exeter).

Visi t Faroe Island

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Epigram / Dave Walker

Fly from Bristol, via Amsterdam or Frankfurt, or choose the environmentally friendly option and take a train from London, via Paris.

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My top five reasons to stay single Lola Caitlin Annesley reminds us of the value of time spent outside romantic relationships

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e all love a relationship. The dates, the attention, cosy nights in, holidays, good sex, someone to chat endless shit to. These are the same things that suck us into the relationship safety net.

We’ve all fallen victim to it. If you’ve ever stayed in a relationship when you know it’s past its due date; begged an ex to take you back; kept seeing your sneaky link who treats you like a last; started dating someone who you know you aren’t compatible with just because why not: then you’re in the right place.

1.

Y o u have all the time in the world.

e mb Coo ah Epigram / Savann

Here are my top five reasons to stay single: (Especially during cuffing season)

Uni is a time in your life where there are endless possibilities. It can be spent going on nights out, self-care days alone, having a sofa day with flatmates, taking yourself to the cinema, and, yes, getting stuck into studying and societies. Your time should not be spent worrying if you should spend Friday night with them or your friends (it’s a waste of time, and if you even have to ask the answer is obvious.)

2.

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You take more risks.

You’re no longer in your safety net, so you put yourself out there more. I made tons more friends when I became single, tried new things that scared me, and generally live a more interesting life now because I rely solely on myself. Independence is freeing!

3.

You focus more on your friendships.

Instead of falling into the toxic trap of only relying on that person to be your source of emotional support, you realise your friends are valuable pillars off strength too.

If you’re having a bad day or just need a hug or to chill and watch a movie, it’s your friends who have your back.

4.

Dating.

People see dating as a desperate way to try and escape being single. If done in the right way, I see it as a way to thrive in singledom.

Look at dates as an experience for you. See it as a chance to take control over what you like in a person.

Awful date? It's a good story, not a failed romance.

Download your dating apps and see it as a bit of fun.

However, this is only if you feel ready. Some people just hate dating, and that’s also completely valid.

5. You

learn to love yourself.

It’s the most cliche but by far the most important. Being single allows you to focus on the most important person in your life- you. It’s a chance to grow into a more abundant version of yourself without relying on someone else to make you realise your worth. At times it’s challenging, sometimes lonely, yes – but you need to feel lonely sometimes. It’s when you discover more about yourself. Also, without challenge, isn’t life boring?

And so, next time you find yourself alone, walking back through empty streets with no one's arm to cling onto, with that sinking feeling in your heart and the screaming in your head, (‘help me! I’m single!’) take a deep breath, perhaps even a seat on a nearby bench and remember my words. Because staying single will be the best thing to ever happen to you.

Credit: Grace Barnes, Puzzles Sub-Editor

lifestyle

Confidence Positive Cuffing Celebration Hannukkah

Words to find Power dressing Suit Identity Cornbread Minestrone

Thanksgiving Masturbate Movember Festive

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Secrets of the cosmos

The Croft’s resident clairvoyant explains what the stars have in store for you in December

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22 A ug u Luck is on your side s

this month and you’ll find things just fall into place – last minute gifts are a breeze and family arguments over the roast potatoes are laughed off. Your natural magnetism is obvious to all around you – expect an exciting New Year’s Eve: whether it’s a kiss, a dance with your best friends or a sweet message, 2022 will be off to a bright start.

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You’re ready to lead this month thanks to bold Mars boosting your confidence. If you’ve been stalling over a group project, know that you’re the best candidate to rally people together. The solar eclipse on the 4th brings luck to your finances – a job offer or promotion is on the cards! On the 13th, you’re keen to plan ahead with loved ones: maybe a trip for next year’s sunny summer days.

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Early in the month your written communication skills are off the charts – perfect timing for those assessments! Your ruling planet Venus goes retrograde from the 19th, bringing up old emotions, arguments and (possibly) exes. You’ll likely have an opportunity to rekindle things, but ensure it’s really what you want before you go ahead.

It’s possible that romance feels a little routine this month, but stability might be just what you need.

You’re feeling introspective with the full moon on the 18th: if you’ve been wanting to get into meditation, this is a perfect time. December carries a mysterious air for you – prepare for secrets to be revealed…

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December speeds past as you rush to accomplish everything on your to-do list. If you can fit it in, Venus urges you to leave your comfort zone to find people you’re destined to meet. On the 4th, an uncharacteristic recklessness pushes you to get flirty. Your home life may demand attention with a serious but solvable issue – use your powers of rationalisation to help get back on track.

Relationships border on the karmic as Venus’ retrograde shines on your house of mystery and completion.

Health and routine improve as Mars charges your energy for self-improvement. Later in the month you’re feeling reclusive – take some time to reflect and rest before you’re summoned back to the outside world for New Year’s celebrations!

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December is all about the physical for you, and you’ll find opportunities for socialising, dating and dancing abound. Festive spirit radiates from you, but beware of overdoing the mulled wine! Relationships take a meaningful turn with the solstice on the 21st – a crush or fling may become serious dating potential.

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Self-expression and romance are top of your list this month as the full moon on the 18th blesses you with magnetism and luck.

Friends and potential partners are flocking to you: expect multiple parties, messages and calls with those important to you. A new friend proves themselves to be indispensable and you’re unsure how you ever lived without them!

ru eb 8F

ni

ne

For the first half of the month, your ruling planet Mercury provides you with free-flowing conversations, and socialising is a breeze. With the full moon on the 18th comes a sense of fulfilment and possibly endings – you may feel you’ve come to the end of an important cycle, clearing out the clutter in time for the new year.

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Your hard work is paying off this month as grades and feedback improve with every piece of work you complete. There’s plenty of time for fun too, as Venus’ retrograde from the 19th brings up feelings for someone you may have once dismissed, providing plentiful opportunities for romance and adventure.

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Festivities abound for the rest of term as Mars charges up your house of sociability! Christmas parties and reunions with old friends help you feel connected. You’re the centre of attention, so don’t be surprised if you’re met with declarations of love. As the holidays begin you may feel overwhelmed with studying, but you’ll fall into a comfortable routine once Christmas has passed.

s riu ta cember

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Your radiance this birthday season is hard to miss as those around you shower you with affection. The solar eclipse on the 4th provides a new beginning – if you’ve been hung up on a past relationship (or have been dwelling on the one that got away), it’s time to let go and recognise the many romantic opportunities coming your way!

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Ca p - 2 ri

22 Decem ber

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Illustrations by Alice Proctor

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22 Novem ber