The Croft - issue 24 by Epigram

North Street | Cover art by Gloria Wong

the croft

Lifestyle

p. 4-5 Secret Bristol walking tour

Style

p. 6-7 Bristol’s best vintage spots

Wellbeing

p. 10 Secrets of the friend who has it all together

Food

p. 15 Mysteries of the elusive campus microwaves

Travel

p. 18 How interrailing changed my travel outlook

issue 24 17.3.22

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

Fringe styling tips

11 Living with a binge eating disorder

17 Bristol’s best

food markets

Editor’s letter

elcome to our special ‘Secret Bristol’ edition of The Croft! We’re often told how valuable it is to escape the ‘student bubble’ – but sometimes this is easier said than done. Also, the student bubble can be a lot of fun – there’s nothing wrong with sticking to your old haunts and never venturing further than the Triangle (perhaps with the occasional trip to Big Sainsbury’s)! However, if you are feeling the need to venture outside the everyday, this is the issue for you. Our gorgeous cover by Gloria Wong shows the eclectic North Street in Southville – the perfect starting place for your tour. To kick things off, we’ve got a map of our favourite lesser-known spots, from the City Farm to Greenbank Cemetery (p. 4-5). If you’re keen to seek out the city’s best vintage finds, Style reveals all (p. 6-7). Wellbeing takes another angle, questioning the reality of the friend who seems to have it all together (p. 10) and digging into the oft-neglected topic of binge eating disorders (p. 11). Food highlights the hottest secret on campus: the locations of the elusive microwaves (p. 14), and also spills your secret kitchen disasters (p. 16). Travel looks into how interrailing can switch up your attitude to travel, and we also have a dastardly difficult Bristol postcodes puzzle (p. 23) to entertain you once you’ve completed the Wordle. This term is never an easy one, with assessments looming ever closer and the realisation for those of us in our final year that time is slipping away starting to hit. Our hearts go out to all students affected by the invasion of Ukraine. It’s hard to fathom how difficult it must be for those connected to Ukraine. If you’re struggling for any reason, remember there are always people who want to help – you can submit a wellbeing support request form on the university’s website or for outside help, mental health charity Mind is contactable on 0300 123 3393 and the Samaritans are 24/7 available on 116 123. Getting out of of the student bubble is fun, but prioritising your mental health is vital. Wishing everyone a peaceful and productive few weeks.

THE TEAM The Croft Co-Editors-in-Chief ROSIE ANGEL-CLARK and SAVANNAH COOMBE Deputy Editor SANJANA IDNANI Chief Proofreader CIARA ALLEN 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-Editors ELIN ALEXANDER and 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 GLORIA WONG

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: role play

lifestyle

The Croft's resident 'sexpert', Carrie Brizshaw, tells us how we can add a bit of drama to the bedroom

ecrets are sexy. They are also not particularly conducive to healthy connections. So how can we emulate the intrigue of having a secret without the damaging side effects? Introducing…roleplay! Creating a character for yourself is the perfect way to invent a second personality without inflicting any real-life harm. Many people find the concept of introducing a fantasy world scary, so here are some basic steps to help you gently dip your toes into the practice:

Define your fantasies first It’s hard to communicate your desires to a partner when you don’t know them yourself. Have a think about what really turns you on. Is there a specific show you watched or book you read that transported you into a sexual fantasy? Figure this out for yourself so that you can describe it clearly to a partner (although it is also fun to figure it out together and have your fantasies merge). Also remember that roleplay isn’t exclusive to partnered sexual activity, letting your mind wander in solo play is also super sexy.

Watch a film or TV show together Struggle to find a fantasy or speak about what you want openly a with a partner? Try watching a transporting TV show or film that carries you to a sexy fantasy land. Something like the TV shows Vikings and Bridgerton, or the film Troy is perfect to take your brain to a faraway place. You don’t have to pretend to be a specific character but putting yourself in the mindset of

Start in public If you’re too nervous to go for a full on in-person fantasy scene, starting in public with a relatively normal scenario can take some of the pressure off. Pretend to pick your partner up in bar or vice versa. Another great form of roleplay is to redo your first date. How did you feel? Where did you go? The butterflies of a first date turn a lot of people on.

Dress up Although dress up might seem intimidating, it can gently introduce a roleplay scenario without too much pressure. This can start in one of two ways, maybe you attend a dress-up party together and decide to take it further, role-playing as your characters. This is a very organic way to enact your fantasies. Alternatively, slowly introduce costumes to your sex life, for example a tie to introduce a power dynamic (and maybe some BDSM at the same time…?).

Don’t take yourself too seriously

Remember, sex is meant to be fun and not serious. If you break character that is more than okay. Roleplays don’t Still stuck? only work if you are super stern and intense the whole time. Go with the flow and Here are a few roleplay ideas to get you into the let the roleplay guide mood: you, not inhibit you. If you enjoy the above, you might Your ‘first time’ be ready for a full-on Leia-Jabba reErotic massage therapist and customer enactment.

Romeo & Juliet star-crossed forbidden lovers

Bristol’s bestkept secrets

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Rosie, Savannah and Sanjana pinpoint the best spots outside the student bubble

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I used to live next door to this café in Redland and it holds so many happy memories for me. Through the lockdowns you could stop off at the window, pick up coffees and pastries (their almond croissants are always my favourite) and go for a lockdown-approl priate walk. Now restrictions have ended, you can sit inside or in the little garden (complete with kookaburra mural) and enjoy one of their fantastic brunch or lunch dishes. The staff are so friendly, it’s a Burra, 7 Lower Redland lovely environment, and it’ll always reRoad, Redland mind me of the good times (and many stresses) of my third year.

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

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Cllifton Community Bookshop

Tucked away just by The Mint Room is Clifton Community Bookshop – a cosy, volunteer-run, second-hand bookshop. Set up to contribute to community cohesion, reduce isolation, and to provide a space for community events, Clifton Community Shop runs events and intimate concerts as well as selling low-cost books from day-to-day. All proceeds go to the mental health and art therapy charity, The Studio Upstairs. It is truly one of the most wholesome and friendly places in Bristol and epitomises everything I love about this city!

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h Ep igram / Savanna

lifestyle

Werburgh’s City Farm

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I’ve mentioned St. Werburgh’s city farm to a few friends recently and have St. been met with looks of great confusion – a farm, in the middle of Bristol? Well, don’t go expecting a multi-acre farmyard adventure, but a trip here is like stepping into a little rural escape. With sheep, pigs, goats, chickens and even a little herb garden, it’s a real escape from the student bubble. When you’ve had your fill of gazing at the animals, try the café that looks like it’s been lifted out of Hobbiton, or The Farm pub around the corner for a giant pub garden, fantastic halloumi fries and roasts on Sundays. It’s just down the road from St. Werburgh’s eco village, or The Yard, an area full of beautiful self-built ecohomes. You also have to stop at ‘The Mound’, a hill with an incredible view of Bristol. o

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St Marks Rd & Greenbank Cemetery St Marks Rd is (in my humble opinion) the coolest place in Bristol. Right next to Black Swan (which many students will know), this street is packed full of places to explore. Go to Bristol Sweet Mart for all your grocery needs (any I mean all. This place has spices you’ve never even heard of). Otherwise, Garden of Easton is there to satisfy your brunch or dinner cravings. There are plenty of other cool takeaway joints and cafés to explore too and the vibe of the street itself is wonderful. It’s a five minute walk from Greenbank Cemetery – an expansive and interesting cemetery with many dips and valleys to explore. It’s great for a walk and chat with friends while you ponder the meaning of life (not in an existential way... or maybe a little).

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Known as Bristol’s mi lkt w o r s t his gr tlebristol am kept secret /S speakeasy, The ava nna h Coombe Milk Thistle is hidden in plain sight on Colston Avenue in the City Centre. The venue has a hidden vault, a decadent lounge bar, a cocktail bar, and a restaurant and bar perfect gr am for private dinner parties called The Attic. The /S Milk Thistle will charm you with its eclectic ava nna h Coombe décor, amazing architecture, and stunning outdoor terrace overlooking the Milk Thistle city. Definitely the place for a snazzy ‘Secret’ Bar We couldn’t fit even half our recommendations on this and special night out! @

map... but we hope it inspires you to find your own favourites!

Editor JENNY GALLAGHER Deputy Editor ANNA JOHNSON Digital Editor ANIA TOWNSIN

Secret vintage

Bristol is renowned for its eclectic fashion statements, but you may not know the best places to secure top vintage pieces...

e all know the importance of shopping second hand by now, and for any fashionista, it’s a fairly fail safe way to eliminate at least a bit of shopper’s guilt from some of our impulse buys (although it’s important to remember that our most sustainable option is, of course, to reduce shopping altogether, second hand or not). And, in typical Bristolian fashion, a city famous for championing all things eco, a wave of new vintage concept

The Thrift Store, Park Street

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Kelly Sikk ema

A firm favourite of many students, the thrift store is two levels worth of 80s décor surrounded fun. Sure, everything’s a little all over the place, especially downstairs where you have to really comb through the many cardigans and skirts, but that’s part of its charm. There is an eclectic mix of pieces at extremely reasonable prices. Though some higher end brands reach the £40 mark, a pair of Levi’s will only set you back about £30, which compared to London prices (often up to £50 on a good day) is a bit of a bargain. The variety also means that there’s more scope for more ‘mature’ vintage (i.e. moving away from the bright neons of the 90s) and the two for £10 deals save a lot of money, especially when you nab some killer finds, and considering how often this happens (the variety is really that good), it’s a no brainer for vintage lovers.

Urban Fox, St. Nick’s Market Find this gem next to St. Nick’s Market. It’s pretty hard to miss since it usually has a delightful rack of faux fur jackets and graphic knits outside its shopfront. Opened by the owner of Gloucester Road’s RePsycho, Urban Fox is full of more traditional ‘true vintage’ pieces, which appeal to perhaps a wider customer base of all ages. Here, you can find unique, timeless investment pieces that even your mum would approve of (aviator jackets, Levi’s, and dungarees aplenty), as well as an array of rare vintage Converse and cowboy boots. One thing’s for sure, the key word here is quality. Even better, there’s a fabulous selection of hats, caps and ties to peruse and, despite its size, two changing rooms to prevent IPS (impulse purchase syndrome).

spots in Bristol

style

Molly Grogan breaks down where and why to shop vintage stores have popped up in and around Cabot Circus, giving the retail shopper a more conscious alternative to fan favourite high street brands like Zara or Bershka. Still, it’s no secret that they can be pretty hit or miss. It’s easy to end up trawling through racks and racks of ugly sweaters (which even the most fashionable should not attempt to pull off, even “ironically”). So, to help all you avid thrifters out, i’ve ranked and reviewed a few of my favourites, some new, some old (and it gave me an opportunity to do a cheeky bit of shopping too).

Epigram/ Molly Grogan

Loot Vintage, Park Street

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Loot’s success as a brand has grown impressively in the past few years, so much so that it opened a sister store in Covent Garden and an online store. Now, there’s a brand-spanking-new branch on Park Street! Lucky us. The store is curated to the ‘t’, with women’s clothing on the first floor and men’s on the second, offering a more mainstream, and perhaps more palatable, spot for shoppers not so used to second hand shopping. It is brightly decorated, offering both true vintage and reworked clothing and seems to be quite enamoured with the sportswear aesthetic, showcasing bright shell jackets and (maybe a few too many) American collegiate t-shirts. It’s easy to find a beautiful floral summer dress though, or a floral shirt (for spring? Ground-breaking), though the prices are a little steep, with some graphic tees looking to set you back about £27. However, you pay for its careful selection and the ease it offers to shoppers looking to break up with the high street. pl ns

All things fringe Maddy Wheeler shares her top tips for keeping an unruly fringe in check

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t’s been about two years since I decided to take the plunge, embrace my inner Dakota Johnson, and cut a fringe. Hairdressers seem to style them effortlessly. However, once the blow-dry wears off, it’s not always easy. Here are the three types of bangs I’ve had and how they worked for me…

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Long bangs Possibly the easiest to maintain. They fall comfortably down and when they grow out, they simply add a sexy, seventies curtain-type layering. I was told I looked like Bonnie Tyler in the mornings - I liked that feedback. Styling this fringe did not require much more than a set of straighteners.

Short and thick I walked out of the salon feeling fabulous. I was a new woman with a distinctive artsy cut and thought there was nothing stopping me. Until the thickness of the fringe introduced an unwelcome middle parting that resulted in a look resonating a banana peel. What made matters worse is this type of fringe does not go away. It only grows into more aggressive ruler like bangs that have no purpose other than getting in the way. My advice? Keep the fringes thin not thick.

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John Frieda Featherlight Smoothing Créme | Superdrug, £6.99

If you like to tie your hair up, have hair shaping your face as well as the fringe. This is easier to wear and softens the look.

My golden rules for fringes?

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Now, I have met my match. She is easy to style and she makes me feel like the edgy English student I was born to be. I simply use a tiny bit of John Frieda Frizz Ease crème and my straighteners for an effortless cool girl look. (Please do not overdo the product, fringes get greasy easily so less is more).

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Wispy straight edge

Not so much of a rule but a bonus, you only have to put makeup on half of your face! The fringe acts as an accessory and elevates the depth of your makeup look overall.

Seriously, seriously do not add any oil-based serums. It will go greasy while the rest of your hair looks slick, and that’s annoying.

Babes on a budget

style

Emma Vincent explains how she manages a typical uni student's number one firstworld problem: how to maintain both a sexy wardrobe and a healthy wallet

H ow ell

The emergence of second-hand online clothes stores such as Depop or Vinted have changed the way many of us shop. Not only is this better for your bank account, but this way of shopping is also much more environmentally friendly because it means you are not contributing to fast fashion. Sites such as Vinted allow you to swap and sell your unwanted items as well as buy second-hand goods. With the large number of sellers that already use these platforms, there are so many cool pieces to discover! And of course, if you want that authentic shopping experie n c e,

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We have all been guilty of spending an unnecessary amount of money after an afternoon at the shops, particularly when this is the easy option to satisfy our fashion desires. But with a little more understanding about the impact this can have on both the environment and our bank accounts, it is so easy to make conscious changes that will benefit our lives.

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2. Use second-hand clothes stores

Why not get creative and restyle your old clothes into new pieces? This could be a great activity to do with friends, and you can create something entirely unique. Recycling old fabrics is another great way to reinvent your style if you are conscious about the environmental impacts of constantly buying new clothes; not to mention it would be healthier for your wallet too!

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Try to create a weekly or monthly budget. In doing so, you will be able to track your spending and feel more in control of your money. As clothes are one of the things I love to splurge on, I put aside some money each month so that I can treat myself every now and again. This helps keep my spending healthy, but also to continue to keep up with the latest fashion trends.

3. Use what you already have

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1. Stick to a budget

why not head to a charity shop or thrift store?

Unsplash | Prudence Earl

f, like me, you are a bit of a fashionista and spend way too much money on clothes – don’t panic! There are many ways you can continue to buy the things you love on a budget.

After all, we have no excuse: it has never been so easy to bargain hunt for clothes.

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

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To Do: - Work out - Buy lunch - Work on editorial work - Upload group work to drive - Check through presentation - Go on walk - Go for coffee with Anna - Go to evening drinks “If you rc does no ompassion ti self, it i nvolve yoursi - Jack K ncomplete” ornfield

Epigram / Zara Whistler

n the surface, being viewed as the friend who ‘has everything under control’ seems like such a positive characteristic. It could mean being highly organised, completing lots of productive tasks in your day, getting good grades or having a regular routine. Alternatively, it could mean appearing to have everything together, being able to cope with emotions, and appearing perfect to others. What’s misunderstood is that underneath the appearance of someone who appears to have it all together, they have often created an intense, unrealistic pressure to maintain this sense of control. Why is it unrealistic? Because we can’t always be productive and stick to a fixed routine: we all need time to rest. Because we can’t always control our emotions, and experiencing heavier feelings is normal. Because we all make mistakes, we say the wrong thing, don’t do as well in an exam as we’d hoped, feel uncontrollably angry or sad or anxious. Because not everything is in our control, and we cannot control everything going on in our life in one moment. So, what is the truth behind that person who seems to have everything in their control? Firstly, they don’t, no matter how much they appear to, particularly as we can only know the surface of another person’s life. Secondly, this pressure to be in control is exhausting. Striving for control but due to unrealistic expectations being unable to achieve it may lead to feelings of guilt and anxiety. The need for control can originate from a negative place. When someone doesn’t trust or believe in themselves, they can attempt to lean towards control to create a false sense of safety to compensate for this lack of confidence in themselves. An example of this is someone not trusting in their own intelligence and so attempting to control the amount of effort they put into their work to compensate. This could also develop from a lack of compassion and empathy towards oneself: for example a person might judge themselves harshly for feeling a certain way and so consequently attempt to control or hide certain emotions rather than feeling them openly. There is clearly a lot more going on under the surface of someone who appears to have everything under control and it’s important to acknowledge this, to allow yourself to re-evaluate this unrealistic ideal of having everything together. I think it’s much more important to develop trust in yourself and lean towards compassion when things do feel slightly less in our control, and accept that it is perfectly normal to feel this way.

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Zara Whistler explores the secrets of being the friend who ‘has it all together’

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From the diary of the friend who has it all together...

I am ashamed wellbeing I am brave Content warning: this article contains references to eating disorders.

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ating disorders afflict a huge portion of the population every year and present themselves in all kinds of ways. You’ve probably have heard of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, both of which are treated (medically and socially) with utmost seriousness because of the clear harm they cause to individuals. Binge eating disorder is cast in the shadow of these other illnesses, and is often thought of as something less severe, less disabling, and perhaps not as ‘legitimate’ as these more widely recognised eating disorders. The common misunderstanding that binge eating is as simple as overeating shrouds the illness with an aura of shame; trivialising a disorder which can dominate and dismantle a person’s life. Far from simply ‘overeating’, binge eating is characterised by a loss of control of eating over a short period of time as well as compensatory behaviours, such as severe food restriction between episodes. These symptoms can certainly vary in severity, but can nonetheless be as harmful, debilitating and as fatal as any other eating disorder. It’s important to educate young people about this, especially in our uncertain and rapidly changing times, the anxiety surrounding lockdown and, not to mention, the obsession with the toxic dimension of social media. It extensively understood that more and more young people are at risk of developing disordered eating in the present day. A culture of shame is fuelled by the lack of medical clarity about what characterises binge eating disorder. In the USA, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders only saw the categorisation of BED in 2013. In other words, it appears that binge eating only received visibility and a legitimate status in mainstream medical discourse in shockingly recent times. Although this does indicate some form of progress, this is still

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Katherine Howatson-Tout explores the secrecy and shame that can come with a binge eating disorder

far later than the clear definitions given to anorexia nervosa which entered the manual in the 1950s and 60s, or bulimia nervosa, which was entered in the 1980s. A certain neglect of binge eating in medical discourse still resonates in outdated social codes which discredit the truly burdensome toll that this illness can have, even if it’s now fully medically recognised. A person may be discouraged from addressing their binge eating tendencies out of fear of being dismissed or ridiculed under the warped notion that binge eating simply is not serious enough an illness. So how do we address this? When looking at the bigger picture, it only makes sense to start at a systemic level. Teaching young people about it in school, just as we’ve been taught about anorexia for example, will shape how this debilitating illness is discussed in wider society. More directly, however, speaking to a trusted friend or family member is also a great place to start. There are also online organisations. Although it may feel isolating to be in the throes of a binge eating disorder, it’s important to know that more people suffer from this (almost invisible) illness than you may think. The emergence of these services shows a hopeful future towards fuller representation of – and education about – the illness. You don’t need to feel shame or suffer in silence. There are many services out there, including NHS services and charities that offer support. talkED is a national eating disorder organ- i sation, not only offering personal support but also support for friends and families for those affected. You can book a one-to-one call on their website. Beat is also a great source of support, as the UK’s leading eating disorder charity, they provide webchats and a helpline on 0808 801 0677. The Samaritans (116 123) are recommended if you or your friend are in immediate danger.

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Secret self-care tips Emily Lidgard offers some alternative self-care routines that stray away from the stereotypical

hen was the last time you did something just for yourself? For your own enjoyment? Many of us struggle to answer that question. In the midst of university deadlines, strikes and socialising, we are left with little time to spend on ourselves. Instead, our days are filled with tasks and routines centred around making other people happy. It can be difficult to navigate how to spend time on yourself; we are consistently bombarded with gimmicky self-care tips ranging from extravagant, exotic-sounding skincare to vague, New Age mantras. Rather than cycling through hackneyed habits that most dedicated Goop followers would struggle to complete, let’s look at some of the strangest, secret self-care tips to get you feeling better instantly.

Dancing

Taking yourself for a date

The phrase ‘dance like nobody’s watching’ may be a cliché, but it’s a cliché for good reason. Exercise can have powerful effects on mental wellbeing: studies show that those who participate in daily physical activity have a 20-30 per cent lower risk of depression and dementia. Stray from the clinical gyms and aggressive sports matches and spend a few minutes of your morning feeling the music, getting in touch with your body and getting creative! It’s not the self-conscious, performative dancing from nights out but instead fresh, loose, and lively.

Retreating to the natural world With the massive rise of ‘cottagecore’ emerging in 2020, who can argue that nature is back in a big way? And two years on, it’s obvious that it’s with good reason. Activities include everything from pressing flowers, to growing plants, to feeding birds and animals. These natural activities inspire in us a sense of caring, a feeling of growth and renewal, and an offline, tangible connection to the environment. Join me in disconnecting from the hecticness of life for an hour or two and discover the world around you in a meditative walk.

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Consider the amount of energy we give to romantic partners and friends. Most of us dedicate ourselves to making them happy almost semi-religiously with perfectly planned dates. Though it sounds odd, try to conserve some of this energy and instead recentre it on your own wellness for a little while. It’s about performing the ritual of a date and finding comfort in your own company. So, go out to the theatre or the museum, buy yourself some flowers and treat yourself to a beautiful day.

Seeking help:

wellbeing

The importance of finding alternative outlets when dealing with self-harm Content warning: this article contains multiple references to self-harm

An anonymous writer reveals their struggles with selfharm and the many ways to seek help

yourself is the only thing that can help, and yet so many people go through this every single day. I always used to be afraid of using the Samaritans helpline: it seemed like a solution for other people, who were more suicidal than me, who needed the help more than me. But seeking help is crucial. Samaritans have helped me to deal with tough emotions a lot at university, especially as I, like m o s t students, live apart from my family. It can be tough to ask for help from people close to you – I struggled for years to open up to my family and friends. Regardless, finding someone to talk to, whether it be someone you know or not, is vital to wellbeing. If you are seeking an alternative to self-harm, be aware that therapy is not a one-size-fits-all trick: while I found solace there, many friends

did not all reap the same benefits, opting instead to delve into music, reading, artistry and other passions. For me, the best solution is to seek other outlets in order to alleviate suffering, whether this be through counselling, therapy, or immersing yourself in things that make you happy. Seeking help when you are thinking about self-harming is the first step towards a healthy and happy recovery and believe me – it’s so worth it. If you are struggling you can call Samaritans on 116 123 at any time of day or night, 365 days a year. You can also call Bristol Nightline, which is specifically

Epigram / Ash a Sullivan

have a distinct memory of being eleven years old the first time I hurt myself. It was in retaliation to a nasty threat I’d been given from a boy in my class for no apparent reason. The only thing I could think of to do was to inflict pain on myself in order to get rid of the emotional pain and make it physical instead. And to people that haven’t self-harmed before, it can seem like a ridiculous solution. But it was the only thing that made sense at the time, and the only way I could possibly come to terms with this hurt. Over the next few years, it became a constant for me to use self-harm as a way to both punish and console myself. A big misconception about self-harm is that it just involves cutting yourself; self-harm takes the form of anything that jeopardises your wellbeing. And it is never the answer. In moments of grief, it can feel like you are the only person to ever experience these feelings. But once the initial high of self-harm fades, all that’s left are the physical reminders of your pain. I have years’ worth of irreparable scarring that remind me of when I was at m y lowest point, and I know that I am not alone. It is a terrifying, alienating feeling to believe that inflicting pain on

for students, on 01179 266 266 on Tuesdays, We d n e s d a y s , Thursdays and Sundays from 8am to 8pm. Mental health charity Mind has helpful resources for resisting self-harm on their website, and is contactable on 0300 123 3393.

Editor MADDY CLEGG Deputy Editor DANIEL BARGIONI Dgital Editor LOU CRAVEN

A foodie’s guide: Gloucester Road

Rosa McKay shares where’s best to indulge in breakfast, lunch and dinner on the infamous Gloucester Road Lunch - FED

Dinner - Koocha

Not only does this quaint little café serve up the most delicious and affordable breakfasts, At the Well doubles up as a launderette meaning you can enjoy some good quality munch whilst you’re waiting for your clothes to wash!. It’s a great place to save a few pennies since every breakfast option is under £10 and you can eat for as little as £5.

If you’re looking for somewhere to rinse your student loan, then look no further – FED is the perfect place. This eatery is without a doubt my favourite place to feast at in Bristol. Even their grilled cheese toasty is out of this world – mustard, garlic and the clandestine FED touch transforms what can so often be a boring and basic sandwich into something quite revolutionary.

This colourful and quirky Persian-inspired restaurant can be enjoyed by all as it is exclusively vegan and is great for a group trip since their food is great for sharing. The flavoursome mezze plates are enough on their own to tingle your tastebuds, but don’t let this dissuade you from trying one of their signature cocktails – the ‘Strawbrizzle’ is a particular favourite of mine, although this one is slightly more spenny so you’ll need to save up those coins…

Rosa’s recommendations:

2. Peas Say It’s Vegan (£8) – arguably the best vegan breakfast in the whole of Bristol. It consists of toasted sourdough from Joe’s Bakery topped with At the Well’s signature smoky beans, fried mushrooms and a herby pea crush (this is to die for). Or, if you’re a meat-eater, splash out on the Brunchy McBrunchface – the meaty version of this delicious meal (pictured above). 3. Chai Dalgona (£4.30) – iced milk flavoured with their homemade spiced chai, finished with crunchy honeycomb – trust me, it’s worth every penny!

Rosa’s recommendations:

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1. Osaka-style Pancakes (£9.50) – Thick and fluffy, Japanese-style pancakes served with a Clarence Court egg, smoked streaky Buxton Butchers bacon, Okonomiyaki sauce & Japanese mayo, topped with peppery spring onions and black sesame seeds.

Epigram / Rosa

Breakfast - At the Well

1. The FED Bowl – a FED staple. Changing weekly, each bowl consists of three gourmet salads that often include their classic panzanella – a sweet combo of heritage tomatoes, roasted red pepper and pickled red onions; this bowl could convince even the biggest salad-phobe. 2. Nduja baked pastry – airy puff pastry smothered in a spicy nduja paste, baked in the oven with an egg on top. 3. V e gan chocolate cake – rich and tasty, my goto sweet treat whenever I visit.

Rosa’s recommendations: 1. Artichoke dip (£4.75) – creamy, salty and nutty perfection. Walnuts and artichokes are blended together and garnished with pomegranate seeds to create the dreamiest dip you could ever imagine. 2.

Gaymeh (£4.75) – a traditional Persian dish made up of a tomato-based aubergine and yellow split pea stew. 3. Za’atar Flatbread (£3) – this stuff is addictive. Tangy, lemony and flaky bread that works beautifully to mop up your mezze.

Microwaves: hot food, food even hotter topic – where are they all? Daniel Bargioni investigates microwave spots on campus, or lack thereof...

to set the record straight and highlight our favourite spots to transform yesterday’s leftovers into today’s delicious lunch. Without the luxury of living close to uni and rising food prices epitomised by the £3.75 Co-op meal deal, preparing a packed lunch for many has become a necessity. There are endless possibilities with sandwiches and salads, but they can get boring over the course of a week. Adding a microwave into the equation allows a more varied range of possible lunch options. Maybe try spiced cauliflower steaks with bulgur wheat or a soup such as the utilitarian minestrone – recipes for both are available on

Epigram’s website. Growing up I never wanted to be an investigative journalist. I much preferred the idea of being a pilot or a chef or Deputy Food Editor for The Croft… And there I found myself at my desk, submitting a FOI (Freedom of Information) request to the university asking for the locations of all microwaves on campus accessible to students in shared areas. This was after I had sent a slurry of emails to the university, all of which were unsuccessful – all this for some hot soup! After submitting the FOI, I had a new-found feeling of journalistic responsibility, on a crusade for truth and in search for the answers that really mattered. Besides, if I wasn’t asking these questions, who would? Without hearing back from the Freedom of Information team, our own favourite microwave locations across the university campus will have to suffice. Epigram / Daniel Bargioni

icrowaves are a student’s best friend, yet their locations on campus seem to be shrouded in mystery. We’re determined

‘The Loft’, Senate House

Located at the heart of campus on the ground floor, ‘The Loft’ has a pair of microwaves accessible to all students. This is undoubtedly everyone’s favourite spot to warm up some food as the queues peak at lunchtime.

Richmond Building, Second Floor

Located in the SU, this is a useful spot for those who like to study in a more quiet area. A quick swim and a hot lunch anyone?

Humanities Building, First Floor

The new humanities building has a microwave on the first floor and is also a great low-key place to study.

Physics Building, Physbar

The Physbar is a real secret on campus, with two microwaves and a tea for less than £1 it’s the ideal spot for heating up lunch and enjoying the Royal Fort Gardens when the weather gets better!

Hosting horrors in the kitchen

Maddy Clegg gets students to fess up to their kitchen disasters

e’ve all been there. Guests are sat at the table patiently waiting for the dinner you promised them 3 hours ago, the cake you’ve made for dessert is flat as a pancake and you suddenly remember why restaurants exist and regret not booking a table. But, we’re students living on a budget and experimenting in the kitchen. Mistakes are bound to be made! Don’t lose hope – there is equally a lot of fun to be had and some great stories to be told. I asked students to share some of their biggest hosting mishaps in the kitchen with The Croft. Anonymously of course, your secrets are safe!

‘At a dinner party, I took the sweet and savoury trend to the next level and accidentally served gravy with sticky toffee pudding instead of toffee sauce.’

Epigram / Holly Beaumont

‘I was making a Christmas dinner for my friends and set the pigs on blankets on fire!’

‘In my gap year, I worked as a chef and used to host supper clubs which people paid to attend. The main was an absolute disaster. I plugged it as the best lasagna you’ve ever eaten but it turned out to be a total flop and can only be compared to school meals before Jamie Oliver saved the day. I had to maintain face and serve it but was so embarrassed. The final nail in the coffin was when a guest said ‘I actually quite like it’!’

‘I once made the crispiest roast potatoes with duck fat and served them forgetting that one guest was a vegan, and had been for her entire life… She confirmed that they were the most delicious roast potatoes she had ever eaten and we couldn’t summon the courage to confess to our disastrous mistake. To this day she still doesn’t know, ignorance is bliss... right?’ ‘My mum served frozen berries for dessert & my family friend cracked his tooth when biting into them.’

‘I made a big curry for my friends (one of whom is allergic to nuts) and accidentally put nuts in it… She very gracefully said ‘don’t worry just shove some bacon under the grill and I’ll have that with the salad’. I then forgot about the bacon and burnt it to a crisp.’ ‘Instead of baking my boyfriend’s birthday cake, I ended up grilling it.’

‘Once we were so behind on serving dinner for people when cooking we changed the clocks and took the batteries out so they said 8pm (it was 11pm at the time) and hoped that people were so fuelled with cocktails that they wouldn’t notice!’

Hopefully, when you’re next covered in flour in the kitchen and setting off the smoke alarm, you’ll feel a little less alone. Cooking is about making memories, trying new things and having to be flexible when it’s not going your way and your Ottolenghi creation looks nothing like the pictures (disclaimer: this is an impossible task, undertake with caution and remember, your secret is safe with us).

food Best of Bristol’s food markets Phoebe Altman reveals where you can source sustainable, local goods

here’s something about speaking to the person who got up at 3am to knead the dough of the loaf of bread you’re buying to make your Saturday morning breakfast with that just makes you feel good inside – call it the power of human connection. It’s so easy to detach the producer from the product when buying food in a supermarket and with Bristol hosting one of the best local food scenes in the country, it seems a waste of living here to pass on the opportunity to learn where your food has come from, directly from the person who made it. That’s what makes food markets so great; if you’re wanting a wholesome Saturday morning or an adventurous midweek lunch, head to one of Bristol’s food markets and strike up a conversation with the person behind the stall – I promise you’ll feel better for it.

The Lunch One: Temple Quay Street Food Market When? Thursdays, 12pm-2pm Where? The Square, Temple Back East, close to Temple Meads Station Located in the heart of the Temple Quay business quarter, Temple Quay market feeds the working lunch-rush every Thursday. With a different line-up each week, you can expect the best of Bristol’s street food scene with stalls ranging from mac and cheese to Chinese dumplings, from smashed burgers to vegan brownies. Make sure to follow them on Instagram (@templequaymarket) so you can keep an eye out for what’s being served up each week!

The All-Rounder: St Nicholas Markets St Nicholas Street Food Market When? Tuesdays and Fridays, 11am-2:30pm Where? Wine Street With around fifteen stalls to choose from including Eatchu, Toff’s Pasta, and the student favourite, Eat a Pitta, you’ll struggle to choose just one. St Nicholas Farmers’ and Producers’ Market When? Wednesdays 9:30am-2:30pm Where? Corn Street and Wine Street This is your opportunity to buy local produce, such as meat, fish, cheese, fruit, and vegetables, directly from the producers so bring your tote bag and stock up!

Organised by local people giving up their time to promote the market and help on the day, this market champions Bristol’s produce, supports local farmers and creates a regular community event that is focused on sustainability. Organic vegetables, cheeses, pastries from Farro Bakery and even bacon rolls for when you’re feeling a little delicate after your Friday night.

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When? Saturdays, 8:30am-1pm Where? On the corner of Whiteladies Road and Apsley Road, by the bus stop

Epigram / Lo

The Community One: Whiteladies Road Farmers Market

Editor XANDER BRETT Deputy Editor LUCY RAWLINGS Digital Editor MIA AUSTIN

Sophia Choudhury reminisces on her gap year: the first time she travelled without parents or teachers

Epigram / Sophia Choudhury

merging from A Level exams and finishing school, my friends and I embarked on our three-week interrailing trip through Europe. It would take us from Belgium to Croatia, through all the classic cities on the way. We’d spent months planning out the route and the accommodation, so all that was left to do was to pack everything and get going. For me, this trip was the first time I’d travelled abroad without adult supervision, so excitement was mixed in with some apprehension. Luckily, though, this would not be the trip where my bag was stolen from a train, or the trip where I lost my passport. It actually ran quite smoothly. pre-departure forethought was intrinsic to our enjoyment of the trip, and from it I’ve learnt there’s no such thing as over-planning. In hindsight, we could’ve spent longer still considering the exact locations of our apartments and hostels to minimise travel time within the cities. The way we managed to decide the length of time in each city, pick what to do when there, and assess outfit choices to accommodate city exploration (an electronic festival in a former mine, and sunbathing on beaches) went exceptionally well. We also managed to capitalise on the many hours spent on trains, using the time to plan our adventures in the upcoming cities. The second thing I learnt is to hold onto curiosity as if your life depends on it. While the first experiences of travelling without parents or teachers can involve nights out, we wouldn’t have returned with so many stories and experiences if we didn’t make the most of the daytimes too. Many of the museums and galleries had student discounts, allowing us to explore the histories and cultures of the countries on our budget, trying the local cuisine at lunchtimes.

Theano Dimopoulou in Amsterdam

n The Netherlands, the first anti-restriction riot was in January 2021. On 16 January 2022, around 15,000 people marked it by staging a peaceful protest through the streets of Amsterdam, finishing in the touristic centre, near the museums. For the 18+ age range, 86 per cent are fully vaccinated (for the 18-33 age range, it’s 73 per cent). We’re in a transitional period. Before Christmas, the only shops open were essential. Now, restaurants and museums have reopened, so our social life is getting back to normal. I’ve been looking at the website for the Anne Frank House, and it seems all the data is based on testimonies, as no documents have been preserved. Of course, for a very long time betrayal was considered the reason for discovery. The findings were based on the testimonies of her father, Otto Frank, and in 2017 the FBI opened an investigation. Sadly, though, with no official documents we can never be sure, and everything is based on speculation.. Epigram / Theano Dimopoulou

How interrailing changed my outlook on travel

On the Ground: The Netherlands

Another, more light-hearted topic of conversation has been the request of Jeff Bezos to dismantle a bridge in Rotterdam so his yacht can pass through. The bridge is called De Hef... it was built in 1878 and was bombed in 1940, renovated in 2017. At the time, the city promised it wouldn’t have to be dismantled again, so I think this is somewhere between seriousness and a joke!

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

Valencia: out of the city travel and into the province Lucy Rawlings spent her year abroad on Spain’s east coast, taking trips out of the city and into the surrounding region

back down to enjoy Arabic sweets and arroz al horno (oven-baked rice with pork and potatoes). Venturing even further south, take a trip to the beautiful Calpe (‘Calp’ to the locals). Once an ancient fishing village, Calpe has now transformed into an upmarket resort, but remains true to its scenic origins. One of its attractions is the towering rock of Ifach (Penon De Ifach). Heading north to the region of Castellón, Peñiscola is a postcard-perfect destination, filled with winding cobbled streets. This town is located on Costa del Azahar (aka the ‘Cherry Blossom Coast’) and is a Game of Thrones filming location… for good reason. At its stunning Templar Castle, placed high on a rock overlooking the sea, you feel you’ve stepped back in time. Not only is there an amazing history to this town, but there’s also outstanding natural beauty. Take a walk along the miles of sandy beaches or begin a slightly more challenging hike along one of the many trails to discover the true beauty of this area. The views are spectacular. Besides the castle, also look for Casa de las Conchas, a house with the facade completely covered in shells. And hear ‘El Bufador’, a curious sound made by the waves when hitting a rocky cavity. E am gr pi

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alencia is a wonderful destination, but once you’ve enjoyed the busting metropolitan life, you might be ready to explore some of the surrounding countryside. One of the easiest destinations is the Albufera Natural Park. The park is centred around the Albufera, the largest lake on the Iberian Peninsula, and offers the perfect opportunity to escape the fast pace of city life. As the birthplace of paella, you can’t miss tasting the local dish in one of the dozen restaurants of El Palmar and El Saler: traditional villages surrounding the lake. At Bon Aire, you can enjoy a traditional Va l e n c i a n paella (for lunch not dinner!) surrounded by rice fields. Further afield is Xátiva, though still accessible by train (35 minutes from La Estació del Nord). It’s a town steeped in history, and its castle is perched on a double-peaked hill overlooking the city. You can easily spend a few hours walking along its wall, wandering around the patios and photographing the fountains, vegetation and flowering plants. Take a stroll

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’ve said before that Europe is characterised by its ‘clusters within a cluster’. Well, the Baltic Entente, clinging to the side of Russia, is one such cluster: bridging the divide between Finland and the rest of the Continent. It consists of three small nations: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. They’re countries thirty years from splitting free of the Soviet Union, and twenty years from joining the European Union. But, while all have joined the single currency and liberal social structures, Lithuania and Latvia still look like outposts of the Communist empire, while Estonia has obliterated its twentieth century to rise a mini-Nordic-wannabe. In August 2020, I bridged the gap: travelling from Vilnius, through Riga, to Tallinn, along the route of the ‘Baltic Chain’: the line of the human hands, formed by two million people on 23rd August 1989, demanding independence from the Soviet Union. Unlike Prague, these cities haven’t become a party capital post communism, and still hold underdeveloped infrastructure clinging to conservatism with a small ‘c’, inhabited by a fair smattering of gopniks. Landing at Vilnius Airport, I was driven to my hotel in the city centre (a vast former monastery, where I was the only guest). The next morning, I awoke to a broken city of run-down, overgrown, freezing homes covered in a layer of industrial dirt, with the occasional dot of Catholic colour. Lithuania, indeed, is the only Catholic country in the region, a by-product of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, with a single monarch from 1569 to 1795. Anyway, after dodging the president’s small motorcade, I walked through a forest to the Vilnius television tower, the socialist structure characteristic of Communist cities. On a revolving ice cream parlour, 165 metres up, I looked over a sea of concrete blocks to Belarus. Then, after a lunch of cepelinai

dumplings, back in the medieval centre, I stocked up on newspapers and food for the bus journey up. This southern leg was one of vast fields and decrepit wooden houses with Russian-style windows. Falling asleep, with the day darkening, I crossed the border and cruised into Riga. With Lithuania’s relative modernism gone, Riga’s monetary and cultural poverty was all the more apparent. This backwater of strong balsam and dried fish is ruled over by the giant structure occupied by the Latvian Academy of Science, known to locals as ‘Stalin’s Birthday Cake’. Escaping on a 70s train more suited to the Third World, I had lunch at Jūrmala, where some money had trickled through to create a seaside resort town. Then it was back to pick up my suitcase and head to my final stop. The northern leg was through forest dotted, after crossing the border, with the occasional white town. Here in Estonia, the roads were smooth, the language Finnic, and the people pretty. With a population of just one million, it’s a microstate occupying a normal landscape. Tallinn (with its cobbled streets and Vana Tallinn liquor) still feels cut off, though the self-driving buses, proper services and good food in palace grounds welcomes you back to civilisation. This is a nation where residents even vote online and, with Skype and its start-ups, it’s clear Estonia has successfully launched into the future, leaving its southern neighbours struggling behind. And, though its constant wranglings to snuggle up to Finland (they even share a national anthem tune but, trust me, it’s a one-way admiration) are irritating, you can’t help but admire them rising up from the rubble. Estonia: a small country which, now I come to think of it, isn’t too dissimilar to Slovenia in the Balkans… which I’ve also had the pleasure of visiting (truly one of Europe’s hidden gems). Well, extending that trip, I took a ferry from Tallinn, over the water to

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Helsinki, to record an episode of my Nordic podcast. Finland is the Nordic mainland, geographically linked to Scandinavia, but kept apart by its status as a republic and its use of the common currency. Finland’s centuries of occupation have left it with a determinedly independent culture, but one that feels it can only survive when part of a collective. Finland formed part of the Russian Empire from 1809 to 1917 and, before that, it was an outpost of Sweden. Indeed, its famous authors and composers, its upper class, and its communities on the western ‘Moomin coast’, still speak Swedish, along with the semi-autonomous territory of Åland, halfway to Sweden, but linked to the Finnish mainland by a rough extension of the Turku archipelago. It was in Norway, in 2012, I fell in love with the Nordics. In Tvedestrand, on the south coast, I was whisked by boat around the summer isles, stopping only for aquavit, dried lamb with sour cream and smoked salmon with pickled herring. Later, in 2016, I travelled north from Bergen, through the Jølster mountains to Førde, researching for an essay. This country, 117 years on from their union’s dissolution, also still feels a poor substitute for powerful Sweden next door. Norway broke free of Denmark in 1814, only to be handed to Sweden, who would rule until independence in 1905, when the Norwegian people voted by 79 per cent to bring over a Danish prince to act as their head of state (his grandson is now on the throne). Norway has stayed outside the European Union and makes much of the 10,000 Swedes forced to live and work here in their processing plants. Its oil wealth, which makes it one of the

world’s richest nations, is also a source of pride… as is its status as the world’s most successful country in the Winter Olympics (beating, importantly, Sweden). But there’s still a political inferiority complex… an idea that, as a nation with half the population, it’s Sweden’s job to rule the region, and Norway is third in command after Sweden and its junior partner: Denmark. There’s similar sentiment in Finland. A country that, during the twentieth century, played fiddle to the Soviet Union (simply to avoid occupation) and, now in Europe, stays largely in step with the neighbours. Last summer, after living in Stockholm for a month (and travelling all over Sweden), I voyaged through the Åland Islands (full only of snakes and forests) to Turku, taking a bus north to Pori and a train south through Tampere and Hämeenlinna to Helsinki Airport (flying home the next day). Just a short trip north, in the undergrowth of Finland’s confused geographic and cultural landscape, my expectations were quickly confirmed. There’s nothing here. The Finns have Nokia (in fact the town was one of the train stops), the Moomins and cold long drinks with saunas. I’ve grown to love Finland, and to accept it’s a shadow Sweden. That’s not me being harsh, it’s what they’ve set themselves up to be. And to be honest, who could blame them? Sweden has a population of ten million people. Norway and Finland have half that (Iceland, Denmark’s colony to 1944, has under a tenth). The Swedes and I, therefore, think it right these countries, even in independence, sit under the one true Nordic power. Luckily, it appears they agree.

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STAY COMFY WITH YOU

YOU WILL PROBABLY NOT SUCCEED AND THAT’S OKAY

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Bristol postcodes set square

puzzles

Patrick Sullivan brings the city together with a postcode challenge Place one each of the digits 1 to 9 in the grid to make sure all of the sums work. Sums should be solved from left to right, or from top to bottom. BODMAS does not apply. Under each digit is an anagram of a landmark or area in the relevant Bristol (BS) postcode, e.g. Clifton would correspond to (BS)8.

Look out for the solution on our website: epigram.org.uk

Secrets of the cosmos

The Croft’s resident clairvoyant reveals what the stars have in store for you in April Ta u 20 r

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Your friends are your driving force this month, and you’re reluctant to leave the party behind, even if you know you must (exams and dissertations won’t write themselves!). You’re hit with an unhelpful feeling of restlessness – but with a bit of planning (ask your best Virgo friend to help you out here), you’ll be on track for hitting all those deadlines.

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A host of planets stir up your studious side and your vision tunnels to focus. With such intense study can come burnout: don’t overdo it or shut yourself away. From the 20th, you’re feeling more relaxed and able to let others in as the Sun moves into your house of communication, reminding you that relationships can get you through the most intense times.

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Your focus is on co-operation this month, but others around you may not be so enlightened. Keeping your cool will help soothe any tensions in your flat or friendship group, and by the time the gentle full moon rises on the 16th everything will feel much more personable. Thoughts about your future plans may be a source of stress, but just remember none of us really know where we’re headed.

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Early in the month you’re feeling dedicated and methodical with your work, but remember to rest or you could hit a wall later. Where wires may have been getting crossed for you and a partner or loved one early in the month, by the time the full moon on the 16th rolls around any issues will be ironed out – expect a potentially intense conversation that will clear the air.

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Poor communication and fluctuating moods could be hindering your studies, work and relationships this month, and misunderstandings are rife. Sitting down and working out what you need is the best place to start: the last thing you want is presentation stress due to a messenger mix-up! Mars’ fiery energy both inspires and riles you: channel it to your advantage and you’ll be sending out all those smouldering vibes!

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The desire to hold everything and everyone you love close to you may be overwhelming this month, as Venus shines on your house of relationships. Showing your love is always a good thing, but try not to stifle your favourite people. If you’re looking for love, it’ll come hard and fast: unexpected infatuation could hit your heart faster than you thought possible.

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You might be hitting a milestone this month, perhaps celebrating an anniversary or coming to a realisation about where you want your work to take you. It’s all about patience, and your efforts are finally paying off in an area of study or work that you’ve been putting your all into – get ready for some well-earned recognition!

You don’t usually have a problem asserting yourself, but something about a close relationship is making you hide your powerful feelings. It’s good to be diplomatic, but don’t let someone walk all over you. The full moon on the 16th encourages your decadent side – treat yourself to that rave skincare item or try a new restaurant… you deserve it.

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Travel is one of your priorities this month: if you have time over the busy Easter holidays, a short trip could help you relax and sharpen your focus. Your moods are quite temperamental at the moment: let yourself feel your emotions, but also be aware of how those around you are affected. You hate petty arguments – so don’t let them spiral!

23 August

After a slight health dip last month, April brings a peaceful but dynamic energy that helps you bounce back. Venus’ influence stirs a sense of courage, and if you’re looking for love, it’ll come from an intellectual connection. Unexpected expenses could come out of nowhere, and anyone moving house (or perhaps arranging next year’s flat) should be very aware of hidden costs.

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Relationship stresses could get on top of you this month, but a close friend provides a supportive ear and you’re feeling optimistic in no time. April surprises you with an unusual spontaneity, and a last minute adventure could be on the cards. As the Sun moves into your sign on the 20th, you’re feeling more settled and peaceful, ready to conquer the last few months of term.

It’s your birthday season and you’re rejuvenated with a sense of excitement for what’s out there. This enthusiasm could lead you to splurge on something impractical – it might be worth budgeting at the start of the month! You may feel compelled to stand up for someone who’s being walked over. You’re a fierce advocate for your friends – they’re lucky to have you!

21 May

Illustrations by Alice Proctor

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