ISSUE 168 - APRIL 2018 - QUENCH MAGAZINE

ISSUE 168| APRIL 2018

Emotional Abuse:

The Aftermath and Steps to Recovery

Quench Interview

Julia Michaels

Top 10 Meals for

Graduation

+ Quench’s Cardiff Awards

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letters from the editors Editor-In-Chief Bloody hell. What a year.

To those of you who have been with us since issue 164 this year (fist bumps you all), I promised you I would tell you in this issue how this year has gone.

(And for those of you who haven’t… well, you know what’s coming). In a nutshell; It’s been eventful, but unforgettable. Uni as a whole has been a rollercoaster for me, but Quench has been the one thing that has always kept my feet rooted into the ground. Keen bean fresher me would be dreaming about filling the Editor role’s shoes, but now ya girl’s been walking in them for almost a year! I have had the absolute pleasure in working alongside the most delightful and inspiring Quench team, as well as my partner in crime, Deputy Editor, Molly Wyatt, who is so freakishly on the same wavelength as me she even finishes my sentences (and asks me if I need coffee exactly when I need it – a true babe). And don’t you worry, there have still been evenings of Co-op pasta pots, very little sleep and high blood-pressure, but it’s all been worth it.

Now, I don’t mean to be a tear-jerker here, but let’s take a trip down memory lane. First of all, I am so proud at how Quench has really encapsulated its brand this year. Lucy, Katie and the rest of our design team have worked endlessly, producing not only a new logo, but solidifying a professional, polished and pristine aesthetic throughout. I can’t go without mentioning our venture to London for our special edition issue, which is another achievement I am incredibly proud of. And above all, the content this year has strengthened from issue to issue, exploring the nooks and crannies of societal issues that come from a place in our hearts. Looking back to when I walked into that interview room a year ago, I couldn’t be more honoured to hold these five completed issues in my hands.

Working alongside such a magnificent and harmonious team not only in Quench, but the entirety of Cardiff Student Media has been an absolute pleasure. I like to describe CSM as my family because that’s exactly what they are. I wish all the best of luck to section heads Emma, Charlie, Liz and Liam. It’s been a dream working alongside Liam as two print editors #PRINT’SNOTDEAD. And of course, a mahooosive congratulations to our current Food & Drink Editor, Nadine Pinnock, who will be Quench’s next Editor-in-Chief for 2018-19! She’s been a true asset to the team this year, and I can’t wait to see where she will take Quench next year.

I’ve promised myself I wouldn’t cry when sending off this last issue to print, but who am I kidding… pass me the tissues. Maybe that’s why it’s called Quench. Ironic, huh?

Enjoy this last one (of the year… I’ll stop being dramatic now).

Special thanks to: ELAINE MORGAN, you are the backbone to Cardiff Student Media, and to be quite frank, we would all fall apart without you. Molly Wyatt & Lucy Aprahamian, the true dream team. All my supportive friends who even zoom into my Instagram posts of Quench to try and read my work (it makes my day, honestly).

Cover photography by: Harry Bligh

3 INTRODUCTIONS

Deputy Editor Holy moly macaroni, I can’t believe this is already the final issue of Quench this year. Having been writing for Quench since I started university back in 2014 (I am so old), it’s going to be so odd leaving Cardiff and not being part of the team.

Quench has been my life jacket the past two years; sounds odd and a tad dramatic but it has helped me in so many ways. As most of you know, (I rant about it a lot), I have been recovering from an eating disorder and have been in and out of hospital the past few years. Even when I had to defer my final year last year due to being hospitalised, the Quench team still took me under the wing and allowed me to continue being Columnist. My column gave me a platform to voice my try-hard humour and experiences, to which my confidence in writing grew. So, thank you George Caulton and Alice Dent for keeping me in the Quench team last year.

This year has been a whirlwind; full of stressful, hilarious, exciting and memorable moments. From staying in the office til 4am, to going to London, I have lived and breathed Quench. I am so immensely proud of everybody in the Quench team for all their hard work; witnessing the section editors grow in their writing and editorial skills has been a delight. With focuses on mental health, animal cruelty and equality for women, I dare say Quench has kicked arse with its content this year.

Now, to my other half, Rachel Jefferies – firstly, thank you SO much for hiring me as your Deputy Editor. I think collectively, we have consumed about 67,000 cups of coffee this year. You should be the proudest woman in Cardiff right now at what you have achieved; you are so talented and I know, whatever you do, you will go far.

Lastly, thank you to the Quench team, the readers of Quench (yes, you guys!), my housemates, my darling Lewis, ELAINE MORGAN (you are a real-life angel), and my family for encouraging me in all I do.

Now for the next chapter, where I will be working at NBCUniversal in London, living with the love of my life (gross) in a studio flat the size of toilet cubicle, eating Tesco reduced pineapple.

Over and out,

Head of Design Is it really nearly May? Is this year of Quench really done? No more nights of worrying whether I mistakenly moved a text box 2mm to the right? Or whether someone will be able to tell that the underlining on one of our pages is, in fact, a heavily edited carrot?

This year has been challenging, fast-paced – and absolutely incredible. From redesigning the magazine’s logo (and learning to not always trust my grungy ideas of style) to putting together this very page (the last one I’m designing), I couldn’t have imagined a more exciting way to procrastinate from coursework.

I have enjoyed inserting little “secrets” – assembling illustrations by stretching around a single line, drawing elements to imitate a social media screenshot, or creating paint splashes which were originally a maths graph. My favourite part, however, has been working on such a feminist magazine – instead of having fashion and beauty articles which pressure women to conform to certain stereotypes, for example, we have discussed the effects of Time’s Up on fashion (see page 53). There couldn’t have been a better team to work with. Speaking of which…

I’d like to thank the entire design team - notably Ashley, whose work progressed so shockingly much with every issue that I’ll be shocked if she doesn’t take over my job next year; and Katie, wonderful, hard-working Katie, who saved my social life and sanity. Above all, an enormous thank you to the people who continuously thank everyone else. Rachel and Molly, thank you for dedicating your year to creating the best possible issues.

Thank you for motivating all of us, for pushing us to do better than what we thought was our best. Thank you for all late nights you spent in the media office.

Even though it feels like I’ve been in Cardiff University for about half of my life, I somehow still have a year left. Something tells me it’s not yet time to say my final goodbyes to Quench…

I’m not particularly good at sentimental sign-offs, so I’ll leave you with some artwork instead – hopefully it’s a touch sunnier.

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If you were a cocktail, which one would you be and why?

Editor-in-Chief:

Twitter: @QuenchMag Instagram: @quenchmagcardiff

Rachel Jefferies Sex on the Beach - a little peachy, a little beachy, somewhat cheeky Twitter: @RachJefferies_ Instagram: @rachel.jefferies

Deputy Editor: Molly Wyatt An Expresso Martini because you can have me in the morning Twitter: @mollymokkamole Instagram: @mollywyatt

Head of Design: Lucy Aprahamian I would be Buffalo’s Goblet of Fire - nerdy on the surface but vibrant, strong - and just a touch too much.

Contributors: Gemma Gibson Harry Bligh Becca Moody Esther Morris Rachel Jefferies Jacob Morris Ifan Prys Lleu Bleddyn Sarah Harris Ashley Boyle Jess Bragg Matt Lewis Natalya Sareen-Kadach Lottie Clark Karis Pearson

Martha Hughes Nadine Pinnock Holly Weeks Erin Brown Rowan Lees Charlotte Minett Bethan Clark Sydney Bailey Chloe Francis Sion Ford Eva Kwatek Jodia Barnard Joshua Ong Luca Peluzzi Rachel Nurse

Page Designers:: Lucy Aprahamian Katie Huxtable Ashley Boyle Lleu Bleddyn Lisa Doran Stephany Rowe

Twitter: @LucyAprahamian Instagram: @lucyaprahamian

Deputy Designer: Katie Huxtable I’d be a wetherspoons blue lagoon because my face is PITCHER perfect!!

Twitter: @katiehux Instagram: @katie.huxtable

Head of Illustration: Lisa Doran A pina colada because I don’t mind being caught in the rain Twitter: @L_Doran95 Instagram: lisadoran95

Clebar Editor Lleu Bleddyn ‘The Dead Canary’ in Cardiff have a cocktail menu inspired by the Welsh folklore tales of the Mabinogion so there’s probably one named Lleu in there somewhere. t @QuenchClebar

5 INTRODUCTIONS

Q3 Editor & Deputy Editor Sarah Thompson & Josie von Jascheroff Sarah: I’d be a strawberry daquiri because I have too much sugar and I’m RED. (I blush a lot...)

Josie: Vodka coke, I’m simple but you’ll keep coming back for more. t @Q3_Online | i @Q3_Online

Travel Editor Molly Geddes A VK cocktail bucket, because like a VK I don’t belong anywhere outside of the SU t @quench_travel | i @Quench_Travel

Music Editors Erin Brown, Charlie Minett & Rowan Lees Erin: I would be a Margarita because I would be both salty and refreshing and loved by Alex Turner and I don’t know what more from life you could possibly want.

Charlie: I’d be a cosmopolitan because I’m a city girl with a love for a lil bit of vodka.

Rowan: A Wetherspoon’s Woo Woo because you’d rarely find me at an actual classy cocktail evening t @quench.music | i @Quench.Music

Features Editors Esther Morris & Becca Moody

Food & Drink Editors Nadine Pinnock and Lottie Clark

Technology Editor Rebecca Cornish

Esther: I would be a mojito because no one can ever seem to spell my name right.

Becca: I’d be a rum punch (I’ve got a powerful right hook). t @quenchfeatures | i @QuenchFeatures

Nadine: Pimms & Lemonade (not strictly a cocktail but) I hibernate in the winter and I’m always present at a summery BBQ. Lottie: A vodka martini, shaken not stirred, in the hope i’m served on a tray to Daniel Craig. t @quenchfood | i @Quench_Food

Suffering Bastard, because I’m an acquired taste and, well, the name says it all doesn’t it? That’s exactly what I am this time of year. t @Quench_Tech

Culture Editor Andrea Gaini

Fashion & Beauty Editors Bethan Lawrence & Bryony Stephens

Agony Aunt Rachel Nurse

I’d be a Negroni because I’m grom Florence, I’m sweet, but I can also be bitter if in a bad mood. t @QuenchCulture | i @QuenchCulture

Bryony: A spoons pitcher, a sucker for anything a little bit tacky!

Bethan: Mojito, always better in the sun! t @quenchfashion | i @QuenchFashion

Cosmopolitan - I spend my free time travelling, I’m not afraid to speak my mind and throughout the weekend I’m a vodkaholic! t @QuenchAgonyAunt

Columnist Gemma Gibson Purple Rain - like the song super sweet and somewhat legendary. I like to think that anyway, realistically I just turn purple in the gym.

Film & TV Editor Molly Jackson A pina colada!!! Because if you like pina coladas, and getting caught in the rain, and if you’re not into yoga and have half a brain, I’m ya gal. And also, I like pineapples. i @QuenchFilmTV

Copy Editors Hannah Stait, Courtney Bridge, Holly Weeks and Kate Eagleton Hannah: I’m a Margarita because I’m always salty and I’m also made up of 90% tequila!

Courtney: I’d be a gin fizz because I can’t say no to a classic G&T, especially with a sweet tooth like mine and a bit of added sugar in it.

Holly: Pimms, because I love living up to the Great British stereotype wherever possible Kate: Expresso Martini because I’m not complete without coffee!

Prejudice isn’t funny and shouldn’t be used as the punch line to a joke. cardiffstudents.com / itsnojoke

7 CULTURE

Column

Travel

8 The Dancing Journalist

35 Say Yes to Solo Travel!

37 Quench’s International Festival

Features

Hot List 2018

9 Interview with Scott McGlynne

39 48 Hours in Rome

10 Getting to The Heart of Organ

40 Travelling, Cinema Style

Donation

12 Emotional Abuse: The Other Side

Music

of The Story, The Aftermath

41 It’s Hard Out There For a Bitch

& The Steps to Recovery

43 Battle of The Festivals 45 Julia Michaels (interview)

Culture

47 Milo in 600 Words

14 Young Adult Fiction: Damage or

48 Live Reviews

Development?

Contents

16 The Magic of Circus 18 The Legacy of Talent Shows

Fashion & Beauty

20 An Italian in Wales

49 White Weddings

21 Spring Crush

51 Is Depop The New Ebay?

53 Who Are You Wearing?

Clebar

55 Fashion Photoshoot

22 Bywyd Y Glamyfyriwr: Sut Mae Goroesi?

Film & TV

23 Caerdydd 2k18: Ifan Prys

58 An Evening at Banff

24 Netflix Cymraeg

Film Festival

59 Quench’s Top Five Films Food & Drink

60 Are Game Shows Pointless?

25 Top 10 Meals for Fraduation

62 Semesters on Screen

26 Just Like Nan Makes

63 Film Reviews

28 Food & Drink Editors: Our Favourite Spots

Technology

29 What to Eat This Summer Abroad

65 The Bizarre Implications of GPS

31 Food Photoshoot

67 The Show Musk Go On 69 Technology: Servant or Master?

33 Quench’s Cardiff Awards Photography by: Harry Bligh

71 Agony Aunt

8 COLUMN

COLUMNIST GEMMA GIBSON TALKS ABOUT BEING A DANCING JOURNALIST...

It is safe to say in our beautiful world of random snow storms and overpriced sandwiches that every single living person has two things to be proud of: 1) just living - usually with ridiculously unreasonable parents, and 2) bringing to the world incredible, unique skills and talents. And yes that was plural, because you are allowed to strive in more than one thing. For some unknown reason it is becoming less and less congratulated to enjoy more than one interest or hobby, but why is that?! I love writing and I love dancing, problem? Friends and family don’t understand how you fit it all in, worry that you won’t do as well in your studies, you’re working too hard. Don’t tell me how to live my life, Susan.

I love having more than one passion, so as long as I’m achieving acceptable results on assignments I will continue doing whatever I want.

Gemma Gibson is Quench's columnist this year. Third year Journalism student, she is here to discuss (or rant about) anything and everything on her mind.

Find her on Twitter @ GemmaaGibson or on her blog http s : / / g e m m a g i b s on 9 5 . blogspot.co.uk Illustration by: Lisa Doran

I don’t really understand why, but as a child we are introduced to so many extra-curricular classes and clubs - arts, sports, music, even youth club- and as soon as we are over fifteen our parents completely rebel and insist we are doing too much and should prioritise school. And it’s not only parents; I feel like I talk about High School Musical way too much but isn’t the whole movie focussed on Troy’s struggles balancing performing arts and basketball? Why is it painted as such a problem all the time?

Everyone has more than one hobby which they should be allowed to embrace.

Half my life consists of sitting in the library writing countless articles, blogs and essays, and the other half running (and, well, dancing) around a dance studio. After all I’ve been dancing since I was merely six years old. I mean I’m going to be honest, I HATED dance throughout the primary school years. There were the elegant, lean ballet girls who probably twirled out of the womb, and then there was me stomping around in a leotard like a potato, stuffing my face with chocolate when Mrs White wasn’t looking. But when I finally stopped faking injuries every class and started to actually pay attention I kind of got okay at it, and now I’m always the first one up to have a boogie. And if I’m not dancing at least once a day something is WRONG so you should probably ring a doctor.

Obviously dancing isn’t everyone’s cup of tea BUT students still have other hobbies and skills alongside their degree that deserve to shine. There may be law students who love nothing more than starring in musicals, math students spending their extra time at the tennis courts, or French students who can bake an apple crumble to die for. Don’t hide these talents or feel they can’t be prioritised because these are part of you so need to be treated just as importantly. Obviously I’m not saying choose rehearsals over submitting an essay on time (you are not holding me responsible hun), but it is crucial to nurture and treat these special abilities basically like they are royalty to you.

Don’t get me wrong, it can be hard to balance fun hobbies with the hardships of a degree. With dance competitions once a month it becomes tiresome for me to juggle daily rehearsals with fastapproaching deadlines, and with writing there is mental exhaustion and with physical exhaustion, so all I want to do is sleep, sleep and sleep. And of course, both journalism and dance mean late

nights and long hours. In these scenarios, we tend to forget why we signed up to things in the first place because the pressure of being busy gets too much. Just remember you are doing activities you love, and there will always be a reward at the end.

Our wonderful and talented species should not feel greedy, embarrassed or stressed about having multiple passions, because these things make us who we are and help us to inherit new, exciting qualities. Writing has made me more creative, reflective, and opinionated, which is not always a good thing I know - once I had an argument with a complete stranger about whether Costa or Starbucks was better. I use dance however as an escapism and stress release, and it has improved my confidence, introduced me to friends for life and makes me happy and comfortable in my own body. Besides if I know I have an hour of dance in the evening I’m allowed a naughty takeaway straight after.

Maybe you don’t feel like you necessarily have what is considered ‘a talent’. Maybe it’s more of an interest, like reading or a TV show, but make it count! Regardless, don’t let someone tell you it’s not important. As long as you can prioritise, have time management and can multi-task, you can do anything. Hypocritically, I do none of the above and get by fine (just about), although all-nighters in the library to complete essays do crop up more than I’d like them to. These teeny-weeny interests may not be considered a priority during Uni but even if it means just a daily doodle or running once a week, make sure your special talents are constantly acknowledged. And hey, if we’re having fun taking part in things we love, who’s the real winner here?

Even after university it’s so important to keep these passions and hobbies alive, because when we’re all in our dream careers these are going to be the outlets that keep us sane. When I’ve got my super-duper job and swanky mansion with six or seven cars parked outside (all mine obviously), every night I’m going to get home, pull on my joggers and head straight to the nearest dance class, leaving all my work pressures on the kitchen table with my six cats. If we just stick to the same interest day in day out life would be pretty boring and people would probably get bored listening to you blab on and on about all of your assignments and job aspirations. I for one do not shut up about dance ever, can you tell? Thankfully I’m so invested in writing and other obsessions like festivals and Drag Race now and again I do try my hardest to talk about other things, I promise.

Everyone has more than one talent, hobby or passion, so even if you haven’t found yours yet IT IS THERE SOMEWHERE. It’s hidden deep down waiting to be nurtured and shown off. So the next person who comes up to your talented self and says: “How do you do it all?” or even worse, “I wouldn’t be able to do all that!” throw a pair of socks at them (used) and tell them to sort their life out.

And Mum, Dad, you forced me to do ballet as a child so this is entirely your fault.

9 FEATURES

You may have heard of Scott McGlynn, he’s a writer and blogger amongst many things, but he also hosts one of the top podcasts on Apple Podcasts society and culture charts. ‘The Scott McGlynn Show’ is an LGBT+ and Celebrity Talk Show To Share Stories, Coming Out Experiences, Careers and Celebrity Gossip.

In his words, “This Very Relaxed and Real Talk Show Brings Our Listeners To Feel More Comfortable and True To Themselves”.

Scott about his work;

Interview with

Scott McGlynn

Quench Magazine spoke to

What’s the target audience for the podcast, who are you reaching out to?

The podcast is LGBT+ based, 80% of my guests are LGBT+ and they come on to share their stories. I also get reality stars on there to interview. So its a wide range of people that listen. Ive had comments online from people who are 16 and people who are 40, its good because its not targeted to a certain age. Its important to me to get the stories out there for anyone who wants to listen, because everyones different!

Where did the idea come from, where was the inspiration come from?

In 2016 I released a book, a memoir about my coming out story. I had such a hit form there, people wanted to know more. A lot of people said to go down the youtube route, because obviously everybody likes youtube, but then I thought lets make a podcast, it can be shared around the world, anyone can listen anywhere in the world.

Your show, it mentions coming out experiences for the LGBT+ community, whats your story?

I didn’t know what gay meant, but even in year 7 we are so young, I was getting called different names, “girl”, “puff ” , I had to look those words up. I was in denial for a long time until around year 10, 11 where I came out as bisexual, which is what a lot of people do that in this position. I went through a rebel stage in year 11, an emotional wreck , very depressed. I only had a handful of friends, who I still speak to but I was still very much alone, my confidence was so low, I couldn’t be open until I was hitting the clubs. It felt more comfortable to come out as gay at this point. I then met my partner and bought him to my mums 50th birthday party! And then they knew, they knew straight away. That was in March, by May, Justin was at our family holiday. He and my family bonded straight away. Now we are years down the line and still together.

Where do you hope to take the podcast in the future?

I am hoping to do live shows, I want to do what I do on the show and have it open to all ages, we can talk about first time experiences, stories, what its like to be a new face on the gay scene. I think I am going to do a few in London as well. Think of it like ‘alcoholics anonymous’ , its going to be so down to earth, like a chat.

What would you say to the readers who want to start their own podcast?

Research, definitely research. I found that there isn’t another podcast out there which is similar to mine.

photography by: Sally Nguyen

Scott’s book, ‘Outcast’ is due September this year. You can find his podcast on Apple Podcasts. You can find Scott on social media, his Twitter is @scottymcglynn and Instagram @scottmcglynnofficial

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Getting to the of Organ Donation

WORDS BY: BECCA MOODY & ESTHER MORRIS ARTWORK AND DESIGN BY: LUCY APRAHAMIAN

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Organ donation can occur when a patient dies from either a severe brain injury resulting in no further brain activity, or from a cardiac arrest (where the patient’s heart and lungs fail). This is because in these cases, often some of the other organs aren’t affected and can still be transferred to another body. There are even some organs you can donate while you’re still alive, such as a kidney, a small section of your liver (because the liver is the only visceral organ in the body that can regenerate itself) and even, ladies, your placenta.

We surveyed a group of 100 participants from across Wales and England, with an age range of 17-54 (an estimate of just under half of them were Cardiff University students), about their thoughts on the new opt-out system. From the results of our survey, several conclusions can be determined. 48% of participants either live or study in Wales, but only 54% of the entire group surveyed were aware of the opt-out system. A whopping 84% thought that England should also partake in the opt-out system, with several arguments being presented in our responses: ‘If people are strongly opposed to the idea, it’s for them to remove themselves from the system instead of us relying on people to sign up, which for a number of reasons, including laziness, unawareness or lack of access to technology, would prevent thousands of organs saving lives.’

‘It’s fundamentally so much easier and thorough this way. If somebody doesn’t want to be involved then they can choose not to be. I think that a lot of people are unaware of the system but would be happy to be donors.’

‘For those of you who have watched love ones wait and sometimes be unsuccessful in gaining an organ, it is clear it is needed. I personally think it’s selfish not to donate. Once you’re dead you don’t need it!’

‘Donating organs after our death is a social duty of cooperation. Once we’ve lived our life, it is right to give the opportunity to someone else to live their life happily.’

‘Opt-out leads to far more people being on the register; if countries all over the world can do it then I don’t see why England can’t.’

However, recent statistics have confirmed that Wales’ opt-out system hasn’t had an immediate dramatic effect on the number of Welsh organ donors. This data was published in a Welsh Government report*, which states that in the 21 months before the opt-out law was introduced, Welsh hospitals had access to 101 deceased donors, whereas this has only increased to 104 in the 21 months after the law change.

Despite this, the same report also showed many positive changes; for example, the number of NHS staff who are in favour of the new opt-out system has increased from 71% to 85%. As well as this, more and more families are choosing to consent to donation (from 44.4% in 2014 to 64.5% in 2017).

In contrast to the information above, 12% of our participants thought England should maintain an opt-in system, with one person stating it could be a ‘slippery slope to the state having control if one had to opt out of a register they were put on without their consent.’ This argument certainly must be considered, as the opt-out system does raise questions about government control over our autonomy. That said, only 4% of survey participants weren’t sure whether England should be opt-in or optout.

Interestingly, many participants in our survey stated that they wouldn’t want to donate their eyes, and some stated that they wouldn’t want to donate their brains. Furthermore, of the 100 people we surveyed, 95% said that they would be happy to donate some or all of their organs when they die, with the remaining 5% saying they were unsure; nobody said they would refuse to donate any organs. Despite this, only 77% of our participants said they were on the donor register. Evidently, this raises questions.

These statistics simply do not match up. If such a high percentage of our subjects are willing to donate their organs, why haven’t they taken the steps to sign up to do so?

It is of course possible that something as simple as laziness is responsible for this result, as some people might not take the time to sign up to the organ donation register; but perhaps the issue is really to do with the fact that organ donation is not discussed enough. Many people we surveyed said that the process of registering for organ donation is relatively simple, but that it is simply not publicised enough, resulting in many people not realising how easy it is to become an organ donor.

But hopefully that will gradually change over the coming months and years. For example, Organ Donation Wales released a television advertisement in November 2017 that stressed the negative effects of not having your own say when it comes to what happens to your body after you die. The advert features a young man speaking to camera, while his distressed family members shout over the top of his voice with conflicting views on what should happen to their loved one’s body. The message

of the advert is to encourage people to speak to their loved ones, so that the number of cases where family members overrule the deceased’s previously-made decisions to donate organs can be reduced.

One prominent method England has of making people aware of organ donation occurs when applying for a provisional driving license. The predominant recipients of these invitations to sign up for organ donation will be young people of seventeen and eighteen years old who want to learn how to drive (or want some form of ID for when they start hitting the clubs). But what about those who, for whatever reason, haven’t applied for a driving license? And what about older people who have never registered in the past, but would do so if given the chance?

From the results of our survey, it is not ridiculous to suggest that additional advertisements for organ donation would be beneficial in raising awareness of the scheme and how simple it is to become an organ donor. Although Wales’ opt-out system has not majorly altered the number of organs available for sick patients in the two years since its implementation, we must consider that, as Health Secretary Vaughan Gething states, it’s ‘too early to know the true impact’ that changing the Welsh donor register from an opt-in to an opt-out system might have in the coming years. Whether or not you agree with the concept of an ‘opt-out’ system, it has certainly increased conversation around the topic if nothing else, which can only be beneficial in raising awareness of organ donation. And, in agreement with Gething, it’s vital that we encourage discussion about organ donation, as it could prevent a vast number of unnecessary deaths in the UK. So, if you are happy to be added to the organ donation register but don’t know how to do so, it really is as simple as visiting https://www. organdonation.nhs.uk and filling out your preferences. You can opt to donate all organs on the list (kidneys, corneas, heart, lungs, liver, pancreas, small bowel and tissue), or just some of them if you would prefer.

We need to talk to our family members about our wishes to make sure that if the worst does happen, we get a say in what happens to our bodies. Even if you are not on the register your family are able to have your organs donated on your behalf, but only if you inform them that this is what you wish to do. But regardless of your personal views about donating your own organs, it’s vital that we keep this discussion about organ donation going. Death is a terrifying prospect, but by saving another life, maybe this cloud can have a silver lining.

* BBC News Wales (2017) ‘Wales’ organ donation opt-out law has not increased donors’ <http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-42213813>

FEATURES

S

ince December 1st 2015, Wales has been part of an ‘opt-out’ system for organ donation, meaning that all adults who do not actively remove themselves from the organ donation register are presumed to have legally consented to donating their organs after they die. So, if you live in Wales and you have not recorded an organ donation decision on the NHS Organ Donation Register – choosing to either opt in or out – you will be treated as having no objection to donating any of your organs. But just how many people are aware of this system, and what exactly does it mean for the direction of our society in Wales?

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EMOTIONAL ABUS MOTIONAL ABUSE The other side of the story; the aftermath, & the steps to recovery.

WORDS BY: RACHEL JEFFERIES DESIGN BY: KATIE HUXTABLE

TRIGGER WARNING: This article may contain sensitive content.

The repercussions of experiencing emotional abuse isn’t like ripping off a plaster once a wound has healed. Your body doesn’t just fight the pain and it disappears. Often we’re told how to recognise signs of domestic abuse and how to seek help, but we’re not advised how to recover. We’re given the ladder to get out the ditch, but there’s no one to guide us up the steps.

You hear about it, you read about it, but you never think it’ll happen to you. Well, I didn’t think so, at least. I had read about it in books, I had seen it on adverts, I even recognised the controlling power in Anastasia and Christopher’s relationship in 50 Shades of Grey for God’s sake. He determined what she could do, where was appropriate for her to go, who she could see, who she could talk to, whether she could go on nights out. I knew this was controlling behaviour, but I couldn’t recognise it in my own relationship. Well unfortunately, that, my friend, is manipulation.

You’re blindfolded so tightly; you can’t see it happening in front of you.

Hello, my name’s Rachel and I was in an emotionally abusive relationship. There we go, I said it. I’ve just stripped myself

bare to you and I can’t undo it. I’ve opened a door of my personal life, so you may as well come in, sit yourself down and get comfortable. I could embellish that first sentence with rainbows of excuses and blossoms of doubt – “it’s fine, I didn’t want to go out with my friends anyway, it saved me an argument”, or “maybe I’m just being dramatic, it wasn’t physical abuse” – no, it wasn’t physical, but it still as sure hell still hurt. Instead of dressing my wounds with a bandage, I had to dress my face with a smile and pretend I was okay. So when you strip everything back, the reality you will see is still that ugly first sentence I still regrettably had to type. And that was the first step that I struggled to embrace. Denial.

COMING OUT FROM THE OTHER SIDE Step 1: Denial Denial and stubbornness are best friends. And I’ll tell you something else, they’re little shits too. Denial will carefully wrap the blindfold over your eyes, and stubbornness will tighten the knot. And when you begin clock that something

Background Image by The Naked Ape via Flickr

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Step 2: Detection Once the thoughts creep in that maybe this relationship isn’t a healthy one, you start comparing yourself to others around you. You might begin to put your life into perspective, realising the values behind what you want in life. Well she’s allowed male friends, AND she’s in a relationship. Odd. Maybe my male friends just drifted away? Enough of the excuses. Would you let any of your best friends or family members be treated this way? No. So why is it okay to let yourself? And that’s when I knew.

THE AFTERMATH Step 3: Acceptance Realising when it is time to take off the blindfold and open your eyes again is terrifying. It may feel selfish or like you’re giving up, but sometimes being selfish means being happy. It’s tough coming to terms with it, but once you do, you can finally exhale. It took the majority of my friends, my family and three qualified counsellors to say the words “emotionally abusive” and “manipulative” for me to confirm and accept that that is what the relationship was. If a professional says it was abusive, it must have been, right? Unfortunately, that was my green light in verifying that I was a victim. Like I said before, you don’t ever picture yourself in these situations. You used to feel sorry for anyone who’s gone through it, and now you’re that person being felt sorry for. Of course, denial will try to creep back in, but it’s important to remember how far you’ve come, and most importantly, how no one should have to live their life explaining themselves.

STEPS OF RECOVERY Step 4: Healing yourself It’s a scary one, I know. Where do you begin? How is it going to affect you? Not in the short-term, but in the long-term. It’s common to feel confused, overwhelmed and guilty. But one of the most crucial things I realised was the need to regain the self-love and self-worth I neglected during the relationship. It’s important to take time to yourself. Whether it’s taking a walk by yourself, reading a book, or even going to the cinema alone (yep, it’s really not that lame!). After isolating myself for so long and losing contact with so many friends, I was still shocked at how many people offered support. I not only rekindled friendships, but I found new ones. I began to say yes to opportunities I’d have never even considered or thought I could achieve. And whilst there will be days you just want to bury yourself in your duvet, and the thought of communicating with another human makes you feel sick to your stomach, it’s important to know that things will get better. Whether that’s in a week or a month’s time. Humans are designed to survive – it’s why we eat, it’s why we breathe and it’s why we process feelings, whether they’re positive or negative. It just takes a little time and self-love.

Step 5: – The Ice-Cream Theory When it comes to working on yourself, this may be challenging. Whilst everyone’s experience may be different, it may be difficult to exit the mindset you’ve been living in for the endurance of your relationship.

Saying yes to opportunities and making new friends is uplifting, but living inside a warped perception of yourself isn’t. Let me explain. Imagine you went your whole life blissfully enjoying an ice-cream. You enjoy the cold creaminess that lingers on your tongue and the satisfyingly bland crispiness from the cone. Yet you are told over and over that loving ice-cream is bad for you. You shouldn’t eat it. It’s unattractive to. You should feel ashamed for all the ice-creams you’ve ever eaten in your life, and you will be judged if anyone knew you ate ice-creams. And suddenly the sickly milky texture on your tongue makes you cringe, and the cone feels gross and soggy between your lips. See, the important thing to remember here, is that everyone else sees icecreams as normal. And they eat them and think they’re delicious too. But you’re now influenced to think it’s something you shouldn’t like. And you’re not even sure if you enjoyed ice-creams in the first place. So when you break free from the relationship, and you finally build up the confidence to eat an ice-cream again, you grimace whilst eating it, still wondering if you’ll regret it, or you’re unattractive eating it. Consciously recognising this is a huge step in your recovery, because you know the negative voice in your head is separate to your own voice. Bingo. That disruptive voice is the manipulation.

Step 6: Talk about it Step 5 was undoubtedly the hardest part of my recovery.

No matter what I did, no matter how many friends I

asked, no matter if I said the words “it’s fine” out loud, I still could not remove guilt from normal situations.

Making things ten times harder for myself, I didn’t want to help myself. The truth of it, is that I felt sorry for myself.

And because of that, I had no desire to try and better myself. Anyone experiencing anything similar, I have two words for you. Seek support. Talk about it. Friends and family are great, but sometimes it just doesn’t cut it. After exhausting the subject with friends and family, seeking support was one of the most beneficial things I did. I soon realised that I couldn’t expect anyone else to help me if I wasn’t willing to help myself, so I booked a referral and I didn’t look back. Counselling allowed me to explore why I was experiencing this two-step thought process rather than getting frustrated at the fact I was having these thoughts. I learned to become comfortable in the decisions I make without needing to prove I’m entitled to to anyone, especially myself.

Step 7: Be proud Whilst this journey will be a bumpy one, and you’ll experience good days and bad days, you should always be proud of yourself. For a start, recognising the warning signs is a task and a half thanks to that pain-in-the-ass blindfold. So whether you’re on step 1, step 5, or you’ve had a step that’s not even been mentioned here, always be proud of everything you’ve overcome. Always. You might be asking for some pizza with that cheese I just dished out, but you know it’s right. Friends would say “well at least you know the warning signs for next time”, I’d give a nod whilst internally screaming BUT WHY DID I HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS TO ‘KNOW FOR NEXT TIME’?! It used to make me want to rip my ears out. But as I processed, accepted and learned from the (quite frankly) shit situation I was in, I finally accepted it did happen. And nobody can change that. And now I do know the signs of a toxic relationship (whether it’s friends, family or romantic), and I know I will not stand for it a second time around. I have reached the end of the storm, and for that, I’m fucking proud. (Yes, that expletive was necessary, sorry mum and dad). These steps may not be for everyone, but it’s important to know that recovery has to happen. You can’t ignore it. And whilst you might jolt down a step, or find a splinter in your hand, you’re closer to the top of that ladder than you think.

According to the Crime Survey of England and Wales (CSEW), approximately 1.3 million women experienced domestic abuse during 2016, and 4.3 million women have experienced domestic abuse at some point since the age of 16. On 29 December 2015, the government established a new criminal offence in England and Wales regarding domestic abuse, under “coercive and controlling behaviour”, consequenting in a 5-year imprisonment and/or a fine. If you or a friend/family member is experiencing emotional abuse, please find some helpful sources below:

FEATURES

isn’t quite right, denial will convince you otherwise.

Soon enough, you’ll be admiring the colour of the back of your eyelids, and begin telling your friends and family how beautiful and bright the blindfold is. You know deep down, that behind closed doors, the blindfold is causing you weekly pain, stress and tears. It’s holding you back from opportunities. And most of all; you’re the one always ending up feeling like the problem. You’ll shift your lifestyle to avoid any minor problem at all costs. It’s your fault a boy liked your picture, so you stop posting photos of yourself. You’re active on Facebook so it must mean you’re talking to someone else, therefore you avoid using the app. You’re told you spend too much time on work and with friends, so you cram both all into a window of time in order to make time for your relationship.

And despite all of this, you wake up and force a smile on your face and tell yourself it’ll get better. That one day, maybe just one day, you won’t feel drained anymore.

That if you have to cancel seeing friends because you’re “feeling ill”, you’re genuinely ill. That you can curl your hair because you fancied it, and it doesn’t mean you’re looking for attention. It has to get better, right? It has to.

Because that’s what ‘real’ love is. Eventually, you manage to convince yourself it’s something every couple goes through, and your relationship is more passionate than anyone else’s. You manage to convince yourself, but you struggle convincing anyone else around you.

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Esther:

As a young girl, I would read anything and everything I could get my hands on. Books were my absolute favourite thing; I’d spend hours in bookshops, admiring the many beautiful covers and hungrily reading the blurbs of novels that caught my eye, and in secondary school it wasn’t a rare occurrence for my English teacher to announce that our class would soon begin studying a book that I’d already read. But in that period before puberty really hits, when you’re no longer a young child but not quite on your way to reaching your teens, curiosity about the world and the experiences that lie ahead of you begin to bloom; at least, it did for me. There are several authors whose works I look back on fondly, and whose characters feel almost like old friends left behind in my childhood without so much as a second glance.

DESIGN BY: LUCY APRAHAMIAN

Young Adult Fiction:

Cathy Cassidy was one such author whose stories I would seek out one after another, my mind jumping from one character to the next. In preparation for writing this article, I visited Cassidy’s website in order to refresh my memory and transport myself back to my younger self, and in doing so, I surprised myself with my own reaction: being met with images of covers of the many books I read as a child was a strangely emotional experience. I found myself gasping and chuckling as the memories of these stories came flooding back, and I realised I’d read far more books than I even remembered. Cassidy’s website also allows you to read extracts from her novels, which I gladly did, and was pleased to find that the writing is in fact still enjoyable, even at my grand old age of twenty (whether or not I’m biased, I couldn’t say). Cassidy’s stories tend to use a first-person narrative, and are often led by a young female protagonist. It makes sense that I would have enjoyed these stories, as I imagine I probably saw aspects of myself in each of her protagonists – or in the case of her novel Scarlett, saw a character I’d like to imagine myself as: a cool, red-haired rebel with a tongue piercing – otherwise known as twelveyear-old me’s ‘goals’.

Cassidy’s stories deal with a range of themes; often, it seems, with a focus on difficult parental relationships and unhealthy friendships. It’s hard to say that these books helped me as a child, because I was lucky enough to have a largely pleasant primary school experience; I was happy both in my school and home life and thus never felt the urge to seek consolation in these stories. But for the same reasons, I’m sure that there’s a good chance that if I hadn’t read these stories at the age I did, I may not have even been aware of some of the issues they presented. For example, if a friend’s parents were getting a divorce, I’m sure my knowledge and understanding gained from these stories would have helped me to sympathise. I could even have recommended the book to my friend, and they might have found some comfort or sense in it. Cassidy’s website also shows comments from readers, primarily young girls between the ages of ten and fourteen. I found it incredibly touching to think of these girls reading these stories today and finding friendship, solace, and comfort in the pages, just as myself and so many others did a decade ago.

Damage or Development

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Jacqueline Wilson played a massive part in my emotional learning as a child. Not only did I adore reading her books, but they challenged my naïve assumption that the world as it was for me, is the world as it is for everyone. She’s written over one hundred novels since she began writing in the 1980s, and I certainly read a large percentage of them. Her stories give children an insight into a completely different world from their own: The Suitcase Kid taught me about divorce and family break-up; Bad Girls taught me about bullying; The Illustrated Mum taught me about mental illness and alcoholism. I wasn’t really upset by any of the content; perhaps we are too naïve to notice these serious themes at such a young age. We seem to take everything at face value at that age. I don’t think I ever imagined myself in the situation of any of the children in these books; my perspective now is not as it was back then.

But perhaps if I had known of somebody who was going through a difficult time with their family or was being bullied, I might have been in a position to help them. Teaching children about these real world issues can, in some cases, help ensure that they are looking out for one another, learning to care about other people and thinking about lifestyles different from their own. These novels make for more sensitive and compassionate children, I believe. They give young children an insight into different lifestyles and the problems that come along with them.

That said, I remember being of primary school age and thinking that periods had something to do with bleeding from your boobs. I can’t remember which book it was now, but it involved a girl of secondary school age starting her period whilst at school. I must have been skim-reading at this point, or perhaps this was a belief I, for some reason, already had, and I just reflected that belief onto this book. But it is the most prominent example I have of feeling misinformed as a preteen, although the doing might have been on my own part. At this stage in my life, around year five of primary school, I was most certainly reading books that dealt with content more suited to teenage girls. For example, I first encountered the topic of eating disorders in the Girls series by Wilson, at the age of ten. But when you’re an avid reader like I was, it’s not unlikely that I, and my parents and teachers who facilitated this reading, assumed that if a book suited my reading age, then it must also suit my level of maturity.

However, I have since come to wonder how dangerous this assumption might be.

Should today’s children (particularly preteens) be sheltered a little more from the harsh realities shown in these novels? Or perhaps this sugar-coating could be a danger in itself?

Focus Group:

We held a focus group consisting of six women between the ages of 19 and 21 (some of whom are students at Cardiff University, and others not), to find out about their childhood experiences with these kinds of books. Authors such as Jacqueline Wilson, Cathy Cassidy, Lemony Snicket and Louise Rennison were mentioned multiple times by our interviewees as having a big impact on them.

All of the people we interviewed told us that, at some point during their childhood and preteen years, they had read books that were probably designed for an audience older than themselves. A few people credited this to parents or older siblings passing on books that they thought they would enjoy, while others actively sought out this material themselves, because they found it interesting or enjoyable.

The overwhelming attitude from the focus group was that books aimed at children and young teenagers should feature challenging content, whether that be about sex, divorce, cancer or alcohol, for example. Books are an essential source of education for young children (or, at least, they certainly were back when we were young), so perhaps these authors have a responsibility to educate our children about the truth of the world they live in?

One participant told us: ‘I think that children should be introduced to these themes from a young age to ensure that they are prepared to fully understand them without becoming overwhelmed; for instance, they should be allowed to read books aimed at children which deal with these issues, which are generally less explicit than books with these themes aimed at an older audience.’ It seems that the general view is that difficult topics should be covered in children’s fiction, because they are things that children might experience, and could therefore give them the tools to talk about their problems, as well as sympathise with others.

This was nicely summed up by one of the people we interviewed: ‘The situations discussed in these books, although serious, are relatable for children at and below this age.’

One participant, however, worried that introducing new and potentially scary topics may induce stress or anxiety in children. Likewise, another person suggested that children who read books that are designed for children older than them may end up confusing themselves with regard to the content discussed, which could cause upset. So, it is clear that authors need to be careful not to be blunt with their depictions of serious life issues, but rather, remember that a great deal of care and consideration can go a long way. In a similar vein, one of the two participants who talked about the books that helped them deal with situations where their family members were ill with cancer expressed that she would read these books very quickly (often finishing them the same day she started), in order to check the book had a happy ending.

The subtle education that these books provide are a great way for children to learn a little about puberty, sex and relationships in a safe environment, without them having to engage in embarrassing conversations with their parents (which, let’s face it, we all wanted to avoid as preteens). And, as well as this, they show young girls that they are not alone; we all have insecurities and they’re completely normal, so it’s reassuring to read about characters in similar situations to us, or with a similar outlook on themselves and the world around them.

All in all, we just hope that the next generation of children’s fiction is as thoughtprovoking, yet sensitive, as ours’ was, so that children and preteens can continue to learn more about the world in a safe, interesting and enjoyable way.

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Becca:

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The Flying Trapeze was invented in 1859 in France by Jules Leotard, who had the idea of holding a bar up with ventilator chords above a swimming pool in his father’s gym in Toulouse. After practicing here, that same year he performed his tricks at the Cirque Napoleon and he was a hit. He would wear a tight costume, which is where the word leotard came from to describe what he wore. In the act, traditionally opposite the flyer is a catcher, who is usually seated on a catch bar. Once the catcher gives a signal, the flyer releases from the fly board, does a series of aerial tricks in the air, then is caught by the catcher. If you’d like to be a trapeze artist in Cirque du Soleil today, they are typically recruited acrobats from gymnastic competitions and usually have a background in gymnastics, ballet and other dance forms. You need to be able to cope with intense physical training and have a light body weight so your partner can catch you easily. Once you have the job, you will practice on stage for 45 minutes each evening. You perform the act once or twice a day, so nine or ten times a week and before each show you do a half an hour warm up which consists of handstands, abdominal push ups and flexibility exercises. After the show you practice again for half an hour, as your muscles are at their warmest, so you can push yourself further and try out new skills. Oh, and you’d also need to make sure you don’t have a fear of heights!!

By Stephanie Rowe

Fire eating is the act of placing lit torches in the mouth or swallowing them and fire breathing is the act of ejecting fuel from the mouth over a flame, so as to look like the performer is exhaling fire just like a dragon. It is not surprising that fire breathing is the most dangerous of all of the fire arts. These fascinating acts have a long history and first mentions appear in ancient Egypt. There are a lot of captivating tricks, for example tricks using fuel vapours in the performers’ mouth. A fiery kiss uses a little of fuel on the performer’s hands that is set on fire and then the performer blows on it is creating a kiss of fire. Interesting methods of transferring fire from one torch to the other are body, finger, tongue and floor. Using these body parts and the floor , the performer transfers the flame. One of the traditional methods of extinguishing torches is multiple fire eating, where the performer consumes fire using multiple torches.

There are a lot of courses and activities available at a fairly low price to learn this amazing trick. To master these dangerous acts, it takes a lot of practice and courage.

By Agata Tilky

Animal acts are an essential part of any circus, the type of animals used in each act tend to vary from one circus to another but some typical public favourites are elephants, horses, wild cats, birds and sea lions. Since the early eighteenth century animals have been transported across the globe to perform and demonstrate their skills for a live audience. What many people don’t know is the degree of training that goes on behind the scenes to prepare animals for their debut on stage, take sea lions for instance, sea lions are trained using a method called target training. Target training is the act of rewarding animals with food for positive behaviour, experts have unanimously agreed that sea lions are very intelligent creatures and possess problem solving capabilities which make them experts at lifting objects to find food. Likewise, lion trainers use similar positive reinforcement techniques to encourage their big cats to behave in a certain way. Henri Martin was one of the first performers to incorporate wild cats into his live performances, many of Martin’s training techniques remain largely relevant today. Martin believed in developing a trust between himself and his cats, building a relationship on repetition and encouragement that allowed him to bond with his animals on an intimate level. It is no lie that animal acts bring with them a high level of controversy, but one thing is for certain, animals are definitely a sight to be marvelled at.

By Kyra Elston

Roll up! Roll up! This issue sees Quench explore the tricks behind some of our most loved circus acts!

Contortionists are skilled at stretching their body into unusual, often unbelievable shapes. A skilled contortionist must have a very flexible spine. However, anyone can learn basic contortion movements with enough practise. There are two types of contortionists; front-benders and back-benders. The names basically explain themselves; front-benders are better at bending forward whereas back-benders are better at bending backwards. In general, back-benders tend to be female. However, it is possible for men to become good back-benders too, and the earlier someone starts training to be a contortionist then the more skilled they will become. A good contortionist should practise between one to three hours a day. Without this vigorous practise, the body won’t continue to be stretchy enough. Skipping just one day of practise can reduce flexibility in the body.

By Dylan Graham

In many circuses there is a lot to see. The artists impress and surprise us in various ways, but sword swallowers especially take away our breath. They amaze repeatedly, leaving the question of “How does he do that? Is this a trick or even a real sword?”.

Everybody knows sword swallowers at Luna Parks usually use a blade which slides into the handle while hitting the back of the throat. However real sword swallowers risk their lives every time by pushing a real sword down their mouth to their stomach only a few millimetres away from vital body parts like the lungs, the aorta or even the heart. In order to do this the sword swallower has to lean their head back, relax the involuntary muscles in the throat and bring up all his concentration to control retching while inserting the sword into the mouth and past the throat. The hardest part is done after the sword has passed the muscle in the throat. Now it’s a breeze to slide the sword with the help of gravity until the beginning of the stomach.

By Fabian Gademann

Human cannonball, one of the most exclusive acts at the circus- with only less than a dozen human cannonballs now left in the industry. It is well known that performers pack themselves into the tight confines of huge cannons, which shoot them high into the air. The impetus of the cannon is not gunpowder like it looks but compressed air. To learn the cannonball there is no easy way, like Arial acts where you learn a simpler act your first time. With the human cannonball, there are no training wheels, only weaker propulsive forces. So, on your first few flights, your range is shorter. Your height is lower. To a cannonbilist the strain on the body is enormous, but that the brunt of it is absorbed by ankles, knees and glutes. The cannon with all its visual glory is one of the most risky and dangerous acts there is. Cannon related deaths are not unusual in circus life - In 2011, a cannonball named Matt Cranch was performing one of his first shots when his net collapsed. He landed on his head, and later died of his injuries. The safety net and the strong relationship a cannonballist has with his or her trigger person (who fires the cannon) is what can prevent a disaster. The most dangerous part of the cannon act is sticking the landing, so if you are considering running away and joining the circus – probably best to skip the human cannonball.

By Ashavari Baral

Knife throwing gained popularity in the late 19th century thanks to a rise of circus groups like “Barnum and Bailey” and “West Wild Show” and reached the peak of their fame a century later. The purpose of such shows is to demonstrate the marksmanship of a thrower and to hurl knifes as close to a target as possible. Firstly, only objects like balloons or wood were involved, but with time throwers expanded their tricks to those engaging humans, calling it “Impalement Arts”. The classic and most common trick performed by marksmen is called “The Profile”. An assistant, known as a “target girl” stands side-on to the board and bends backwards when performer throws a series of knives starting around her leg, and finishing at her throat. “The wheel of death” is described as the most famous, the most dangerous and the most difficult trick.

During this complex challenge, a target-girl spins strapped to the board while knives are being thrown at her in a rapid succession. Only one man “The Great Throwdini” who is described as “The world’s fastest and most accurate knife thrower”, took it to another level, performing “The Veiled Double Wheel of Death” by adding a second target-girl strapped to the spinning wheel behind a paper veil.

By Urszula Rodakowska

CULTURE

DESIGN BY: ASHLEY BOYLE

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THE LEGACY OF

Talent Shows have always held an appeal for wannabe performers who have stars in their eyes; from this, we have seen some great musical talent go global as a result. Girls Aloud, One Direction and Little Mix are groups that all received their start thanks to talents shows and went on to become some of the UK’s top artists, smashing the music charts.

However, with the number of views dropping for shows such as The X-Factor, what is the appeal of talent shows?

If you’re good enough or wacky enough, you are sure to get your five minutes of fame. However, some people with big dreams and big talent feel like there is no other option than to apply to these talent shows.

A glaring problem with TV talent shows is that they are created to entertain an audience at home, and ultimately not scouting out the true talent. This was made clear during the 2016 run of The X-Factor when audiences complained of ‘joke’ acts taking up too much airtime and the judges weren’t putting through those singers with real talent. While Honey G made headlines, The X-Factor earned its lowest ratings in that run of the series. The same can be said about the previous year with Reggie ‘n’ Bollie, seeing a drop compared to previous years’ ratings.

Looking at TV talent shows from a different perspective, what is the quality of the acts being produced yearly by such shows? At this point, with all the ‘pop-stars’ that The X-Factor has produced, which is quite a bucketful, they have ultimately resulted in sprouting out similar singers who produce similar songs. Aside from the formation, what is the difference between Little Mix and Louisa Johnson? They have slightly different voices, but are producing the same type of music.

If we look at the very basic idea of talent shows, they were designed for

children to have the chance to show off their talents and skills, gaining confidence and pleasing a crowd. And of course, talent shows are usually about variety! Britain’s Got Talent is the closest mainstream talent show based on the traditional idea.

The first three seasons of Britain’s Got Talent brought us Paul Potts and Susan Boyle both who gained recognition for their classical and operatic voices.

Dancers such as George Sampson, Flawless and Diversity, are still making a career for themselves in the entertainment industry, but interestingly many have taken different routes through to judging dance shows, acting, presenting and even appearing on I’m A Celeb!

Talents of all variety have walked across the Britain’s Got Talent stage and while the shows ideology is to entertain and gain wide viewership, the ‘main’ purpose supposedly is to find an act for the Royal Variety Performance.

It is debatable whether a dog that can walk on its hind legs is really enriching the performing arts world, but we’ve got to give credit to the programme as unlike singing contests, we are being introduced with new and exciting types of performances.

A prime example of such originality, was the shadow theatre group Attraction who won the series in 2013 and introduced audiences to an incredible, unique vision of storytelling.

Not only was it entertaining but it was a creative piece of art that demonstrated the effectiveness of skill, hard work and imagination. Similar acts have stormed the show, like Another Kind of Blue, a multimedia dance company and Spellbound, a gymnastic base performance group. While these groups have been heard of very little prior to the show, they raised the level for talent on our screens.

The majority of talent shows lend themselves to singers and such shows like How to Solve a Problem Like Maria and Any Dream Will Do, were particular crowd pleasers which sought to find the next West End Star. The proof is in the pudding with this show, as it produced many house-hold names of the West End; Connie Fisher, Jodie Prenger and Lee Mead all came from these BBC talent shows and went on to have very successful performance careers both on and offstage!

Looking at talent shows such as Britain’s Got Talent and How to Solve a Problem Like Maria, they have proven to contribute and enrich the world of performing arts and have widened audiences’ perception on what awardwinning talent should consist of.

However, looking at The X-Factor, Britain’s most popular talent show, it is lacking the variety and fresh idea of talent within music and performing arts. It does nothing to enhance the performing arts world with its primary focus on popular music. While the show continues to revamp its appearance and structure to make sure it retains its audiences, it does nothing to invite new and different styles of singers to nurture their talent. Sure, spend thousands of pounds flying your contestants out to L.A but perhaps invest the same amount of energy in scouting for exciting musicians?

With shows such as Any Dream Will Do no longer gracing our TV screens, Britain’s Got Talent and The X-Factor are the main performing arts based shows. With both producing different ideas of art, some arguably less impressive than others, based on the volume of production for The X-Factor, it can be viewed that such a show is degrading the fresh and exciting opportunities of performing arts.

When Will Young faced Gareth Gates in the 2002 final of Pop Idol, the British public watched in anticipation from their living rooms. 12 million viewers tuned in. Fast-forward to 2017, only 5 million viewers tuned in to watch Rak-Su win season 14 of The X-Factor.

19 CULTURE

WORDS BY: ELIZABETH BECKETT DESIGN BY: ASHLEY BOYLE

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Being an Italian living in the U.K. is difficult. Why? Well, first of all, food: eating in Italy is not simply about having a nice meal composed of pasta, pizza and some good Chianti. Eating is about spending time with the people you love, having a laugh and telling each other about our day. Certainly, the student life and the British culture does not accommodate these things. Lectures take place at any time during the day, and often we don’t even have the time to sit down and have some pasta. Each family around the U.K. eats at a different time and with different traditions; I dare any Italian to find a time to have dinner with your housemates without a 4-week notice on the group chat.

Second of all: the language. Now, I’ve been studying English ever since I started school and yet when I first got to Cardiff, I had no idea what people meant with certain words. Let’s talk, for example, about the meals of the day, just because food is my favourite topic. After you’ve given the 4-week notice on the group chat and you’ve finally decided to have a nice dinner altogether on a certain day, you show up in the kitchen at 6 pm (the stereotypical time we mistakenly think British eat their dinner at) and yet you find one of your housemates sitting on the sofa saying: “Hey, where were you today? We had a lovely dinner at 1pm!”. You, the Italian stallion (yep that’s what they call you, cos you are steaming hot!), didn’t realise that dinner, lunch, tea, supper have no specific time for the Brits and change randomly according to how people feel, and sadly, missed it, whoops.

Now, living in the U.K. is also quite cool. Brits are a lot more introverted than Italians, therefore, the social interaction is way more encouraged. The Students’ Union and the innumerable societies in it create a very enjoyable atmosphere and lots of chances to embarrass yourself. Out of these, pub crawling is surely my favourite, that challenge of making it to the final pub on your feet is such a fun and sociable activity to do with a group of friends or even with people you don’t know (never actually made it to the final pub, dang it!).

Finally, you may wonder why the title says, “Diary of an Italian living in WALES”, but I haven’t talked about Wales specifically yet. Well, that’s because Welsh people are rare, magical red-dressed leprechauns. For some strange reason you don’t seem to be able to find them everywhere (apart from literally every house), but when you do find them, they enrich and brighten your life with their funny accent and charming positivity about life. Special thanks to my Lady Jam (the lady I buy home-made mixed berry jams from) for keeping me sane with her delicious Welsh jams.

The best thing about Cardiff? QUENCH, of course! For an aspiring magazine journalist, this is certainly the greatest opportunity I have ever received! And I’m not just saying this because I’m writing this for our last issue of the year and I want my Editors and colleagues to tear up (I totally am).

Jokes aside, dear diary, living in Wales is great. I’ve met great friends and had the best time of my life.

I can’t wait to start my final year, do a Masters, find a job, buy a house, get married, have three kids, in Cardiff! Ok, that’s a bit too much, but Cardiff and Wales will always have a special space in my heart.

Thanks a lot,

WORDS BY: ANDREA GAINI

DESIGN BY: ASHLEY BOYLE

21 CULTURE

Spring Crush WORDS BY: HANNAH STAIT

CONCEPT BY: ASHLEY BOYLE DESIGN BY: LUCY APRAHAMIAN

PHOTOGRAPHY BY: STEPH ROWE MODELS: GUILLAUME GOUGEON & RIMANTE ELLA BIVAINYTE

#1 Lana’s hope for the day was only to get some studying done, and the only way she knew to get it done was on her own in the quiet of the park - but the loneliness was killing her, and boredom was slowly settling in. It had been hours since she had talked to another person and she longed for something to change up her day.

#2 After an hour of mindless scrolling on social media, two legs came to stand beside her, blocking the sun, and she looked up to find someone staring down at her, her smile bright as he waved.

#4 They both explored around Cardiff, and Lana’s competitive side came out as she challenged Stevie to a game of mini-golf. However, Stevie soon realised that she had never played before as her ball shot straight into the water. After they both laughed about it, he offered to teach her and even let Lana in.

#3 She’d seen Stevie around campus and she knew that he was new to the area. He needed help finding the castle, and all it took to start the adventure were two words.

“Let’s go.”

#5

#6

What started as directions grew to be a new friendhip and a fun day out - coffee, doughnuts and laughs being shared. It’s crazy how two people who hardly know each other can connect so deeply. Sharing childhood stories and future dreams can take away the loneliness and fill that space with a whole new person.

A friend was crossing the park to reach where she was led under a tree, drool falling from her mouth as she rose from her grassy bed. Her dream guy was nowhere around her.

#7

#8

Boredom was far from her mind and she silently urged Stevie to ask to see her again.

“Lana?”, he asked, and she waited in hope.

“Lana?... Lana?” Sadly, this adventure was going to have to wait.

And he had be en

just that. A drea m

...

Clebar

22

GEIRIAU GAN : JACOB MORRIS LLUNIAU GAN : Y GYM GYM

Teg yw dweud fod y misoedd diwethaf wedi bod yn newid byd i bob Glas Fyfyriwr. Gyda chyfarwyddo i brysurdeb bywyd Caerdydd, byw’n annibynnol a chwrdd ag amryw bobl o bedwar ban y byd, fi’n siŵr fod eich byd wedi troi ar ei ben. Ond tra gwahanol yw profiad y myfyrwyr Cymraeg eu hiaith o gymharu â’i cydmyfyrwyr eraill. Yn ei hanfod, mae bywyd myfyriwr Cymraeg y brifddinas i bob pwrpas gan-gwaith gwell - a jiw, rhaid ichi gyfaddef mai’r rhai’n fu misoedd gorau eich bywyd!

Pell yw’r diwrnod ers i’ch rhieni dagreuol eich gollwng yn eich cell o ystafell wely, ond bellach mae’n siwr eich bod wedi llwyr ymgynefino yn drigolion y brifddinas.

Ond wrth i’r flwyddyn gyntaf prysur nesáu at glo, sut felly mae cael y gorau o fywyd prifysgol fel glas myfyriwr Cymraeg eich iaith? Mae bwrlwm Caerdydd yn dipyn o addysg, ac mae byw’r bywyd dinesig fel myfyriwr yn agor byd o gyfleoedd.

Y Gym Gym: yn syml dyma yw uchafbwynt bywyd prifysgol os ydych yn Gymro neu’n Gymraes balch sydd wedi llwyr ymrwymo at y sesh. Er bod angen morgais i fod yn rhan o’r gymdeithas, heb os dyma’r nosweithiau gorau gewch chi fyth! O ddiolch i waith diwyd y pwyllgor maent wedi sicrhau llwyddiant llu o grôls a thripiau gan gynnwys Crôl Teulu, Degawdau, Calan Gaeaf, Tair Coes, Nadolig, Chwe gwlad a’r Sgymgym.

Heb anghofio tripiau Rhyngol i’r Ddawns Fawreddog yn Aberystwyth a’r Eisteddfod yn Llambed does dim diwedd ar feddwi yng nghwmni eich cyd-Gymry. Taith fythgofiadwy oedd dilyn y dorf i’r Ynys Werdd a phrofi twrw bariau Temple Bar yn Nulyn. Dywedodd Nest Jenkins a fu’n adrodd hanes y daith ar BBC Radio Wales ‘Ni wna’th sgor y gem effeithio ar yr awyrgylch o gwbwl – roedd O’connels a Temple Bar yn llawn dop o Gymry gwyllt! Penwythnos gwych o ganu, chwerthin a chrwydro’r ddinas’.

Coron yng nghalendr y Gymgym oedd y Ddawns ym mis Ionawr, cyfle i bawb ymbincio yn eu ffrogiau a siwtiau ac eleni cynhaliwyd y Ddawns yng Ngwesty’r Park Plaza. Uchafbwynt y noson oedd dysgu am hynt a helynt rhai o aelodau adnabyddus y gymdeithas drwy seremoni wobrwyo.

Heb anghofio ochr ddiwylliedig bywyd y myfyriwr sef Aelwyd y Waun Ddyfal sydd wedi cynnig cyfleoedd gwych i ganu mewn amryw gyngherddau. Eleni cafodd y côr y fraint o berfformio i Russel Watson, yng Ngŵyl Gymreig Disney, ac yn Eisteddfod yr Urdd.

Dyweodd Meleri Williams sy’n astudio Cymraeg a Newyddiaduraeth ‘mae’n anodd credu fy mod ar fin gorffen fy mlwyddyn gyntaf – mae hi wedi hedfan!

‘Dw i ‘di gwneud ffrindiau oes, cael profiadau gwych gyda’r gymgym a chyfeilio i Waun Ddyfal sy’n fraint a dweud y lleia’! Blwyddyn fythgofiadwy!’

I’r flwyddyn gyntaf mae lletygarwch yn rhan greiddiol o fywyd myfyriwr ac er mai Talybont sy’n hawlio’r en suite a’r cyfleusterau gorau, does dim dadl mai Senghennydd yw calon y gymuned Gymraeg. Heibio’r gatiau dur fe ddewch ar draws rhai o gymeriadau mwyaf nodedig y flwyddyn gyntaf, ac yma ceir yr unig fan lle fydd pob prinks yn cynnwys o leiaf tair cân gan yr anfarwol Caryl Parry Jones.

Yn syml, er mwyn goroesi’r flwyddyn gyntaf fel myfyriwr y flwyddyn gyntaf, yr hyn sydd angen arnoch chi yw meddwl agored, parodrwydd i gofleidio bob cyfle ac afu o haearn.

Felly, pob clod os ydych wedi llwyddo cyflawni’r flwyddyn gyntaf, ac ymlaen i’r Ail!

Y

dy, mae hi’r adeg hynny o’r flwyddyn unwaith eto – gyda Dydd Gŵyl Ddewi a Sul y Pys wedi hen basio, mae’n debyg mai’r digwyddiad mawr nesaf ar y calendr ydy’r Eisteddfod Genedlaethol, neu’r Royal Welsh (yn ddadleuol).

Ta waeth am hynny, y mae dychweliad y Brifwyl i’r Brifddinas ym mis Awst wedi codi sawl cwestiwn, gyda theimladau cymysg yn y gwynt am yr hyn fydd gan y digwyddiad i’w gynnig mewn lleoliad sydd mor wahanol.

Ond, onid yw hyn yn gyfle i arbrofi gyda thraddodiad, a meddwl ymlaen yn hytrach na meddwl yn ôl trwy’r amser?

“Yntydi’r maes carafanau yn uffernol o bell o bob dim eleni?!” – Wel, na phoener, oherwydd mi fydd yn bellach fyth y flwyddyn hon, wrth i’r digwyddiad orfod addasu i amgylchedd dinesig sy’n golygu gwasgaru rhai o brif elfennau’r Eisteddfod megis y bar a’r wal ddringo ar hyd a lled Caerdydd. Er bod cyfleusterau trafnidiaeth y brifddinas yn galluogi ichi fynd o un ardal i’r llall o fewn munudau, y mae lleoli’r gwersylla ym Mhontcanna a’r cystadlu yn y Bae yn golygu na fydd modd cadw golwg ar y plantos sy’n dwyn cwrw o oergell y garafán cyn mynd i Faes B (lle bynnag y bydd) - tra mae’r rhieni’n mwynhau darpariaeth gyfoethog y Babell Lên.

Yn fwy na hynny, dyma’r Eisteddfod gyntaf o’i math a fydd heb faes penodol, sy’n golygu bydd rhaid cynnal nifer o ddigwyddiadau’r ŵyl mewn adeiladau amrywiol.

A thra bydd rhagbrofion y dawnsio gwerin yn cael eu cynnal yn Wagamama’s, mae’n debyg mai cartref y Pafiliwn eleni fydd Techniquest. Nid Eisteddfod draddodiadol mohoni o bell ffordd felly, gan fod y digwyddiadau fel arfer yn cael eu cynnal mewn pabelli sy’n crynu’n swnllyd pan ddaw diwrnod y glaw mawr.

Ond, wrth gwrs, ni fydd rhaid poeni am y glaw eleni ychwaith, canys na fydd yr Eisteddfod ar gyfyl unrhyw gae.

U-WA? TI BETH? DIM CAE? Na - dim cae.

Mewn gwirionedd, dyw hyn ddim yn broblem enfawr, ond ni ellir, yn anffodus, osgoi cariad y Cymry Cymraeg tuag at gaeau. Felly mae’r syniad o gynnal y Brifwyl ar goncrit wedi achosi drwg deimlad ymysg y rhai sydd methu’n lân â thynnu eu welingtons i ffwrdd. Ond, na phoener, oherwydd bydd digon o gyfle, yn ôl y sôn, i drochi yn y mwd yng nghaeau Pontcanna gyda’r nos.

Roedd yna goblyn o hwyl yno yn 2008 yn ôl y sôn pan

gynhaliwyd cystadleuaeth gwneud cacen fwd dan ofal, neb llai na Gerallt Pennant ac Ifor Ap Glyn. Be gewch chi well?!

Yn ogystal â hyn, ni fydd angen hyd yn oed agor eich waled er mwyn mynd mewn i’r Eisteddfod eleni, gan na fydd Prif Fynedfa. Er bod y brif fynedfa yn ganolbwynt i’r Eisteddfod, yn ddrws ffrynt i’r Cymry ac yn dardis dosbarth canol, y mae’r ffaith na fydd pris mynediad, yn golygu y bydd y Brifwyl yn agor ei drws i gynulleidfa newydd.

Mae lle felly i adlewyrchu iaith a diwylliant Cymreig ar ei orau i’r rhai sy’n anghyfarwydd gyda’r parti, ac mae hyn wir yn wych.

Mae rhai, ar y llaw arall, yn parhau i fod yn styc yn eu ffyrdd, ac yn ofni gweld unrhyw newid. Wel, peidiwch â bod mor gul, a diolchwch fod Caerdydd yn rhoddi cyfle i ŵyl o’r fath arbrofi gyda thraddodiad, ac ymestyn pwrpas yr Eisteddfod ar lefel ehangach. A phwy â ŵyr, efallai y bydd modd cynnal yr ŵyl yn yr awyr erbyn 3018!

GEIRIAU GAN : IFAN PRYS LLUN GAN : MAP Y BRIFWYL

24

Platfform ble mae modd dod o hyd i raglenni, ffilmiau a chyfresi teledu Cymraeg ar alw unrhyw bryd. Rhyw ddelfryd a all ond cael ei ddisgrifio fel y Netflix Cymraeg.

Wedi’r cyfan, mae’n syniad sydd wedi profi yn boblogaidd iawn yn ddiweddar wedi i rai o ddefnyddwyr Twitter rannu eu gweledigaeth o be hoffai nhw ei weld ar wefan debyg.

O ‘Jini Me’ i ‘Syr Wynff a Plwmsan’, roedd yn amlwg i tweet Yws Gwynedd sbarduno atgofion am gyfresi euraidd ein plentyndod, a’r ysfa i’w hail wylio. Fel fi, mae’n siwr fod mwyafrif ohonom â rhain i gyd ar hen dapiau VHS yn cuddio mewn rhyw focs yn yr atig. O na fyddai’n wych pe byddai modd dod â nhw i gyd ynghyd mewn un lle er mwyn i ni allu eu hail wylio ar un platfform.

Yn gyfreithlon neu peidio, mae peth cynnwys o’r archif yma eisoes wedi profi yn boblogaidd iawn ar wefan YouTube gyda ‘Pobl y Chyff’ a chlasuron ‘Cefn Gwlad’ yn cael eu gwylio filoedd o weithiau. Mae’n amlwg fod galw i ail wylio rhai o’r clasuron hyn, ond er fod y Gwyll eisioes ar wefan Netflix mae’n annhebygol iawn y byddem yn gweld ‘C’mon Middffild’ a ‘Chefn Gwlad’ naill ochr â chyfresi poblogaidd fel ‘Black Mirror’ a ‘The Crown’ yn fuan.

Er efallai nad oes lle i raglenni Cymraeg ar wefan Netflix,

does dim dadlau fod ein harferion gwylio ni yn newid wrth i ni ddewis gwylio cynnwys ar lwyfannau ar lein ac ar ddyfeisiau amrywiol yn hytrach na defnyddio dulliau traddodiadol fel teledu lloeren.

Nid y set deledu, ond y ‘box set’ sy’n mynd â’n bryd ni bellach.

Mewn ymateb i hyn mae S4C eisoes wedi datblygu Hansh (sianel Pump gynt) a lansiwyd yn 2016 sydd wedi profi yn hynod lwyddiannus gan ddenu miloedd o wylwyr ar wefannau cymdeithasol. Mae hyn, ynghyd â ffrydio, yn rhai o’r datblygiadau mwyaf mewn darlledu, ond i fy nghenhedlaeth i mae bron fel petai yn fwy o ffordd o fyw wrth i ni ddisgwyl dod o hyd i gynnwys ar lein. Er hyn, mae S4C yn parhau i fod un cam tu ôl wrth iddyn nhw ddarparu mwyafrif o’i cynnwys trwy ddulliau traddodiadol.

Wrth i bencadlys S4C symud o Gaerdydd i’r Egin yng Nghaerfyrddin, mae Owen Evans, Prif Weithredwr newydd y sianel, eisoes wedi cydnabod bod angen i S4C newid, gan ddatgelu yn ddiweddar fod S4C yn datblygu sianel ddigidol newydd. Er ei fod hi’n weddol aneglur beth yn union a olygir wrth hyn ar hyn o bryd, troi at ‘BBC Three’ maen nhw er mwyn dod o hyd i ysbrydoliaeth ag enghreifftiau.

Mae hyn yn gam ymlaen ac yn amlwg fod buddsoddiad mewn platfform tebyg yn flaenoriaeth gan S4C ar gyfer sicrhau dyfodol cynnwys Cymraeg, gan hefyd gynnig cam sylweddol ymlaen wrth geisio cyrraedd y nôd o filiwn o siaradwyr Cymraeg erbyn 2050.

Felly, beth fydde chi’n ddewis ei wylio ar sianel ddigidol Gymraeg?

GEIRIAU A LLUN GAN : LLEU BLEDDYN

25

1. MILGI – This is the perfect place for the vegetarians and vegans out there. Milgi’s entire menu is completely plant based and even if you aren’t a vegetable lover, you’re guaranteed to come out with nothing but high praise. The layout is super cosy and homely with comfy sofas draped in warm blankets. It’s also a hidden gem so unlike most other places, it probably won’t be super busy, and you don’t need a reservation either. Located on City Road (aka Kebab Heaven) Milgi is perfect if you want to prove to your family that your vegan/vegetarian diet consists of something other than pasta and lettuce or if you are in need a healthier option for your diet-obsessed sister.

2. SARAY – Being a huge lover of Turkish food, I was eager to find a restaurant that matched the levels of my beloved Turkish restaurants back in my hometown and I was lucky enough to find Saray. With its traditional décor, Saray is one of the few places in Cardiff that has truly authentic Turkish food from it’s Iskenders (bread soaked in butter and topped with meat and yoghurt) to its Pide (Turkish pizza), this has something for everyone! You also get a free starter of freshly baked bread and dips and complimentary baklava and Turkish Tea to top it all off. Although they’re not needed, reservations can be made via phone and you can find the restaurant on City Road. Saray is also certified halal.

3. THE BRASS BEETLE – Despite its limited food menu, this restaurant and bar is home to some of the best pizzas in Cardiff. Having just recently opened, The Brass Beetle has already made its mark on the Cardiff food industry and prides itself in its fantastic service. The cocktails are also said to be some of the most delicious cocktails in the city and will definitely result in the whole table getting a little tipsy. Located a little further away from Cathays on Whitchurch Road, this place is great if you want a nice evening with your favourite people. Oh, and did I mention, they have Halloumi fries?

4. THE HELLENIC EATERY – This place is heaven if you come from a family of meat eaters like I do. The Hellenic Eatery is a small alternative Greek restaurant situated on the forever busy, Crwys Road. It’s known to be a favourite amongst students, especially when it’s date night so you won’t leave disappointed. With their generous portion sizes, you’ll probably struggle to zip up your trousers once you’re finished and may even end up in a small food coma. However, as the restaurant is pretty small, you should definitely call in advance to reserve a table to avoid disappointment on the day.

FOR

5. MOKSH – If you’re looking to go all out and do some fine dining, Moksh is a modern and unique Indian restaurant located in Cardiff Bay. With a pretty swanky tasting menu priced at £45 per head, Moksh is great for some instagramable worthy photos and of course the tasty food. They also have a wide variety of meals available to vegetarians and can cater to dietary requirements if you call up at least 48 hours beforehand. It’s great for a modern take on your favourite curries and is a delightful experience for everyone at the table. You can make a reservation on the website or by calling up.

6. SHAKE SHACK – Cardiff also happens to be home to one of the few Shake Shacks located in the UK. If you want a decently priced meal and are craving a dirty burger, this place is perfect. Their cheesy fries will also put the ones from Family Fish Bar to shame and their homemade lemonade and iced tea are perfect if you’re graduation happens to land on a sweltering summer day. You don’t need to make reservations and it’s located in St David’s so you can follow your meal with some well deserved celebratory

shopping.

7. KIMCHI – There is nothing bad to be said about Kimchi and if you’re yet to sample the latest food trend, which is Korean cuisine, this is certainly the place to go. The portions are pretty big, so it’s the perfect place to hit up after a 3 hour graduation ceremony. You also get to cook a lot of the food by yourself whilst sat at your table which is exciting to say the least. Located on Cowbridge Road in artsy Canton, Kimchi is usually always busy so it’s better to call up at least a few hours beforehand to reserve a table or check for availability.

8. TINY REBEL – Tiny Rebel is one of the few breweries in Cardiff that depicts what craft beer should be like. With a great atmosphere, incredible staff, good music and of course, a fantastic menu, Tiny Rebel is perfect if you want to kick back with some great junk food and a cold beer. They also host buffets at £9 a head in case you have family coming down from every corner of the UK but they have to be booked in advance and it’s better to reserve a table beforehand due to its popularity amongst students.

9. THE CLINK – The Clink has been on my list of things to experience before I leave Cardiff since I moved here 3 years ago. If you haven’t heard of this of The Clink, it’s a fine dining experience, staffed by prisoners from HMP Cardiff. Located just outside the walls of the prison on Knox Road, dining at The Clink is most definitely an experience you won’t forget. Understandably booking needs to be made in advance and you have to read a security guideline before your visit. However, the food makes up for it with it having been voted as one of the top 10 restaurants in Wales.

10. COCO GELATO – Of course, there is always room for dessert and where else to go other than the beloved Coco Gelato! Ice cream, sundaes, freakshakes, cake – what more do you need? Fingers crossed it will be a sunny day on your graduation, and what’s better than authentic ice cream on a sweltering summers day?! Located on Crwys Road, Coco Gelato is the cherry on top to your special day.

Image - Corpuzzle via Flickr.

Words Words by

by Sarah Sarah Harris Harris Design Design by

by Katie Katie Huxtable Huxtable

FOOD & DRINK

Graduation day25 is a monumental occasion, that marks the end of a stressful yet unforgettable few years as a university student. Being the millennials that we are, we like to celebrate everything with food (and alcohol) but mainly food and gradation day is your chance to impress your family and friends with your knowledge on the fine culinary Cardiff has to offer. However, if you’re struggling to find a place to take your loved ones on the momentous day, Quench has kindly compiled a list of the best restaurants Cardiff has to offer and they’re definitely not going to leave you disappointed.

26

Just Like Nan Makes Food is irrevocably connected to our emotions.

Here, we wanted to share the special relationship food has with our own family members and treasured memories.

DESIGN BY: LISA DORAN

Granny June’s Famous Roast Dinner – Ashley Boyle My Gran is my go-to if I need any advice on cooking. From cakes to turkey, my Gran has given them all a go, and mastered every recipe. One of my favourite meals my Gran makes is ham, mashed potatotato and egg sauce (doesn’t sound great but tastes it, trust me). She would make this for me when I was in secondary school nearly every Thursday.

I’d give her a hand with the hoovering and cleaning. After, we would sit for hours in the kitchen chatting and laughing at the silliest of things, and we still do now.

As well as going to my Gran’s for food, she loves to go out for a meal. Any excuse and she’s out the door, handbag at the ready, beaming from ear to ear. With us all living so close to the sea, fish and chips is the number one choice of food when we’re out. She is also partial to a Toby Carvery every now and again, but nothing compares to her Sunday roast dinner. I don’t know why, but there’s something special about a gran’s roast. I am lucky enough to have my grandparents and great grandparents around (my Gran is actually my great grandmother), and I’ve had many a roast from different members of my family, but still nobody does it quite like her. Maybe it’s her oven? Maybe it’s her pans? Or maybe its because she’s had so much practice? I don’t know. What I do know, however, is her stodgy Yorkshire puddings are by far my favourite and always will be.

P.S. my Gran’s Sunday dinner is better than yours.

Nan’s Bake-Well Tart – Jess Bragg Ever since I can remember, my Nan has baked cakes for the entire family. She would whip up a batch of simple fairy cakes on a lazy Sunday afternoon, glaze them with lemon icing, and spare a few plain cakes for my plain-tasted brother. But my favourite of her creations was her classic bake-well tart. I would always accompany her in making them, and eagerly wait to lick the spoon from the batter mix (though she never wasted a single spoonful of it, so that would have been a rarity). She would bake the crust until golden, and then line the bottom with a thin layer of jam before pouring in the creamy mixture. It was such a simple recipe, but the fact that she would always make it upon request (if she wasn’t making one already) that reminded me how grateful I am to have such a thoughtful family. When battling a terrible eating disorder, I remember hiding food from all my family, including my grandparents. I would shovel potato waffles and all sorts into my bag-lined pockets and throw them away at school, but I never turned down a slice of my Nan’s bake-well tart. I think because I knew it was made so lovingly and knowing my Nan just wanted to see me better, I simply couldn’t turn her offer down. I think, if I were to have stopped accepting that tart, it would have felt like I wasn’t accepting my family, their love, and their help. To me, eating that tart meant that I still had an essence of myself inside of me, even if my eating disorder didn’t let it show. I am so grateful for my family sticking with me through that tough time, but I will always be especially grateful for the baked goods, and the magic inside those bake-well tarts.

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Despite having a long career as an amateur food critic, (aka: a fussy eater), I have always been drawn to one particular meal that has stood out in its very own league of tastiness. This is mainly down to the shocking fact it has never, ever let me down.

Unfortunately, my childhood (and embarrassingly more recent) obsessions with lasagne led to a ridiculous but infamous league of lasagnes, judged by yours truly, (albeit existing in my carefree imagination). Obviously in my head this competition was an extremely serious and competitive tournament, with the winning chef earning themselves the highest of accolades in the fierce world of fine dining. More surprisingly though, the competitors actually began to recognise my super league, and I managed to find myself embroiled in a world of constant lasagnes delivered to my plate. All of them were of course delicious, however a few stood out as the front-runners of the competition, and only one ever held the top spot. This was of course my wonderful mother’s.

Without a doubt she faced some serious competition over the years, with M&S holding a surprising second place for most of my young years, and various restaurants jostling it out for third place.

It genuinely was a tense ordeal that was probably the most important thing in my life as youth, but sadly my passion for lasagne has now been overcome by alcoholism and money worries. I will always have a soft spot for my mum’s lasagne though.

Grama’s Hot Chocolate – Nadine Pinnock My grama was an incredible cook. The world’s best chef could never compete with her perfect scrambled eggs (atop flaky croissants) or her soul-warming mashed potato. But, there was one thing that my sisters and I didn’t love – one inevitable thing that would appear on that kitchen table every night we stayed at grama’s: hot chocolate.

After long days playing with our cousins and tiring escapades to the shops, grama loved to comfort us at the end of the day with a steaming hot mug of Cadbury’s Bourneville drinking chocolate. A bitter, sugarless and expired cocoa powder intended to be mixed with milk, sugar – anything to add some flavour. With most of her food being creamy, colourful, sweet or salty, her techniques were abandoned when it came to hot chocolate. Simply add some hot water to the powder. My sisters and I would lock eyes as the mugs were placed in front of us, and the waiting game ensued. It had to get cold enough to be able to gulp down as much as possible so as not to seem ungrateful for the loving gesture, without letting it settle on your taste buds. We’d listen adoringly to the stories of her life grama told us, fake sipping at our cups while she was distracted by the small details of her favourite blue dress. The hot chocolate wasn’t great, but the memories of it are perfect. When my grama passed away in January, my sister and I sat in her empty kitchen, our broken hearts longing for some comfort. We flicked on the kettle and reached into the cupboards to find the Bourneville (out of date since 2012), and drank almost half a mug.

FOOD & DRINK

Mum’s Winning Lasagne – Matt Lewis

Food & Drinks Editors Food & Drinks Editors: 28

WORDS BY: Lottie Clark & Nadine Pinnock DESIGN BY: Katie Huxtable

our favourite spots

our favourite spots

It has been an amazing year as Food and Drink Editors! From working alongside Nadine and the rest of the Quench team, trying new cuisine and restaurants, to writing for the magazine and having my own space to channel my creativity.

But enough of that sentimental stuff… you’re not me so the chances are, you don’t care! So, if you’re still reading this… what do you care about?

Food and Drink content? I’d like to think so. We’ve brought you a whole host of reviews and featured articles across this year and these are my favourite places, meals and experiences from my year as Food and Drinks Editor – I hope they get you on your feet and exploring new places!

Quench Food & Drink was the guardian angel I needed during my first year to figure out where to go for the best indie coffee, tea and veggie treats. To be able to edit for Quench Food & Drink section, spread my love for vegan life and spend time with fellow foodie Lottie, has been a dream!

I’ve challenged myself to venture to places I perhaps wouldn’t have discovered inside of the student bubble, and haven’t once been disappointed.

CHAPEL 1877

How could this place not steal my heart, really? Restaurants are great and all, but you can’t cuddle a cat at a restaurant. Feline Good has an array of loving, adorable and well-looked after cats that made it an absolute pleasure to spend an hour and a half in their company. With a simple but delicious café menu of sandwiches, toasties and cakes, the food is just the side dish to the real attraction. The cats are just so damn LOVELY, I cannot express that enough so please get down there, support the cause (they’re all rescued by the lovely café owner and need customers to get all their needs attended to!), have a cuddle and a cuppa.

My first ever Quench Food outing – I was excited and a little bit nervous, and brought my pal along with me for a confidence boost. Greeted with zingy cocktails and treated to a three-course meal and many courses of wine, Chapel was the classy, sophisticated start to a great year with Quench. I practised snapping food pics in the ambient lighting – a new struggle - and chatted to some of the experienced food critics at our table to get an idea of what my future role was going to entail. Wonderful food and friendly company meant my first review at Chapel was a very positive one indeed. Would definitely recommend hinting for your parents to take you there next time they’re in the Diff!

YAKISOMA 1 SUSHI RESTAURANT

200 DEGREES

The best sushi I have ever and probably will ever have. It is probably no secret that in the food reviewing world, it is often arranged that reviewers (i.e. me) will receive complimentary food in exchange for the review to be published across the magazine’s platforms. That’s not something we hide, and in this circumstance, it was basically essential. For me to be able to whole-heartedly give my opinion on the food I ate, I needed it subsidised ‘cause hunny I haven’t got two pounds to rub together! Without ripping them off, I got to try 3 small sushi dishes that were out of this world!! The quality was divine, the location in the bay was beautiful and the service was impeccable. This is not a ‘midday snack’ for us students (although they do offer a great student discount), this is a date night, a place to take your parents, somewhere where you will really treat yourself. If you’re looking for somewhere to host your special occasion meal, this is the place.

If you know me at all, you’d have expected this to crop up.

I’ve spent so much of this year at 200 Degrees I probably owe them rent money. The coffee is one of a kind, the only thing strong enough to keep this caffeine addict satisfied and let’s be honest, the latte art is unrivalled. They also have a great food selection – sandwiches and baguettes are on the everchanging menu, but luckily for me the vegan banana loaf is pretty constant. Mostly, though, I love the baristas. They’ve genuinely put many smiles on my face when I’ve been (probably quite visibly) stressed out by deadlines and other general uni-life-problems. 200 degrees is my third home.

MUNCHIES

I’m not going to lie, I’m quite emotional thinking about Blanche. Having followed their Instagram for a while, I knew their pop-up stall at Castle Emporium was the first place I wanted to get in contact with as Food & Drink editor. I picked up a cupcake, took a few photos and chatted to the lovely Amy and Remed about their upcoming project. Now I get to see it for myself! Blanche Bakery is open and thriving, and completely irresistible if you’re anywhere near Roath. The 100% vegan coffee shop and bakery has a mouth-watering array of treats – from mock meat sandwiches to their famous doughnuts (my fave being the French toast doughnut.

FRENCH. TOAST). Regardless of your veggie, vegan or carnivorous status, Blanche pleases everybody, and you can’t deny it’s one of the most aesthetic spots around. I’m probably not allowed to have favourites, but if I was, Blanche would be it.

THE FELINE GOOD CAFÉ

This place just holds a special place in my heart. This is a personalised article according to my tastes and what I enjoyed so I’ve chosen Munchies.

The food was great, but that’s not the reason it was so lovely. It’s because I took my best friend and we co-wrote the review article together and it was just one of the happiest afternoons I’ve had in third year! Looking back on my final year and year as Food and Drinks Editor, (and if we’re getting real deep, my life in general), all that matters is the memories! Quench has been great for my present and future career, but what I’ll remember in 50 years is the opportunities I was given from it and the memories I made in each restaurant, café and bar. I had a great day that day in Munchies and the food, service and ambience there was the catalyst in that. Thanks, Munchies.

In fact, thanks to every restaurant, every server, bar staff member, manager, cleaner and anyone else that helps the places I’ve visited run so well.

Thank you to my friends, and Nadine, my fabulous co-editor, for always providing the best company in these reviews. Thanks to Quench, for all the opportunities and for allowing me to fill your pages with my wittering-ons for the last year!

Over and out,

lottie

(Thing 2/Thing A/ Super Thing/Chocolate Thunda) of the Food and Drinks team.

BLANCHE BAKERY

The Cardiff food and drink scene is unlike any other – there’s so much loyalty for the local and the independent, and with that comes unique food, drink and amazing experiences. My life completely centres around food, so to be able to express that love has been such a fun opportunity for me. Even more so was being able to share this foodie love with Lottie, the amazing food & drink contributors, and the rest of team Quench.

nadine

29 FOOD

If you’re spending your summer travelling, gear yourself up for some exotic eats and probably a good few drinks too.

Quench Food’s top tips are to stay hydrated (whether you’re somewhere hot or cold), hunt out the local cuisines, and try things outside of your comfort zone – you never know where you might find your favourite new dish! But let’s see what our writers recommend…

Malaysia is a beautiful and diverse culture with plenty of food to be excited about, so long as you’re careful.

Do not drink the tap water! This includes being aware of drinks in restaurants, and salads that may have been washed in tap water. It’s safe to buy fresh fruit and vegetables from the local markets, just wash them before you eat them, in clean water (not from the tap!).

The rule of thumb for hawker markets is to go where everybody else is going. In my experience, the busier markets will have so much choice, and a lot of them are selling similar things. It just makes sense to buy from the busy ones, even if it means waiting slightly longer, and not the empty ones. The locals know where to eat – and if you’re in Kota Kinabalu, visit the Tanjung Aru Market for amazing food and fruit smoothies!

Travelling around Malaysia, you will at some point come across a foul-smelling aroma that induces feelings of sickness. This is durian; a super-fruit native to Malaysia that is loved by locals and braved by some tourists. Give it a try and see what you think!

By Karis Pearson

I haven’t yet been to India, but it’s on my bucket list almost entirely because of the food. To be able to eat an abundance of authentic Indian food created by passionate cooks at such a small price is honestly a mouth-watering thought. But be wary (read: be veggie) if you are travelling into smaller parts, as some dishes may be kept stirring all day, including those with risky ingredients such as meat and prawns. My friend spent New Year’s Eve travelling back to the UK from India so ill from food poisoning that he had to be escorted between flights and was almost stopped from getting on the plane – all over what he thought was a pretty tasty curry. His parents had a good laugh though.

By Nadine Pinnock

30

Bali is the main island of choice for young travellers first visiting Indonesia, along with neighbouring islands such as the Gillis. When eating/drinking on these beautiful islands, it is important to avoid ‘Bali belly’; always ask for drinks without ice (which can be made from unclean tap water). Be wary buying fresh fruit from street vendors, some are washed in dirty water; fruit from larger stores or cafes is usually safe. The best cafés for fresh, healthy food are probably ‘Café Organic’ near Seminyak or ‘Pelaton Supershop’ in Canggu (lots of amazing smoothie bowls and fresh juice). Because food is not very expensive, the best way to keep your weight up is to order plenty, snack and drink water regularly throughout the day and, when going to more remote areas, always take plenty of provisions with you as shops/restaurants can be few and far between.

By Martha Hughes

If you’re heading for a relaxing holiday somewhere hot, the key thing is to stay hydrated.

Keeping salty snacks on hand all day will ensure you’re thirsty enough to be downing the bottled water! Although all-inclusive can be tempting, we really urge you to venture out and see what your surroundings have to offer. Greek food can often be overlooked in favour of hotel burgers, but fresh olives, feta and gyros on every corner is really too good to pass on. Most Greek islands will have towns with food markets – the perfect time to venture out and try what the locals have to offer!

And the fresh fruit offerings are SO much better than our local Tesco: juicy watermelons the size of your torso for about 50p? Yes please!

By Nadine Pinnock

DESIGN BY: ASHLEY BOYLE

31 FOOD & DRINK

Left: Vegan creme egg doughnut Above: Vegan lemon drizzle doughnut Drink: Soya chai latte Location: Blanche Bakery Cardiff Photographs by: Lucy Aprahamian

32

Right: Garlic chestnut mushroom bagel Above: Scrambled tofu bagel Location: Blanche Bakery Cardiff Photographs by: Lucy Aprahamian

33

Quench’s Cardiff Awards Best Iconic Welsh Food

by Kate Eagleton-Etheridge

by Holly Weeks

W

Awarded the Best Comedy Club in Wales and the West for three years running, Buffalo offers acts from across the broadening international circuit and places them in this intimate and sociable venue. Located near the centre of the city, this comedy night is the perfect location for a date night with the option to continue drinking into the night at their bar or head off into town for more. Charging approximately £6 a ticket, this night filled with up and coming names on the comedy scene is an utter bargain for the level of laughter on offer.

RU DESIGN BY: LUCY APRAHAMIAN

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Located in Cardiff Bay, The Glee Club offers three fun-filled nights of comedy a week; Pie-Face Thursdays, Foodie Fridays and Stand-Up Saturdays. By the end of 2018, The Glee Club will have hosted comedy greats such as Joe Lycett, Lee Nelson, Sara Pascoe and Shappi Khorsandi. This venue is great for big parties of people but is equally perfect for more intimate outings in conjunction with romantic restaurant setting of the Bay.

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Wales may not have a long list of dishes that it’s famous for, but what it does, it certainly does well. Rarebit, the heavenly combination of melted cheese or béchamel sauce with mustard, smothering thick toast: what more could you want? This indulgent dish is certainly a treat for the taste buds, guaranteed to brighten any rainy (classic Welsh) day and make worries and stress just melt away (if you’ll pardon the pun). I recommend a trip to Madame Fromage in the Castle Arcade, where you can delight in their delicious take on the Welsh classic, served with lashings of chutney.

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Best Comedy Night/Venue

Welsh cakes are the perfect snack-sized treat, great with a cuppa at any time of day. These moreish delicacies are a guilt-free size, unlike the Rarebit, so they’re a Welsh speciality you can enjoy on a daily basis – making us the real

winners! Cardiff Market hosts a range of stalls

where you can buy fresh, deliciously fluffy Welsh

cakes.

Keep your eye out in

the Christmas markets too, where you

can buy these little cakes hot off the pan!

34

One of the holy grail hideaways in Cardiff nightlife is Clwb Ifor Bach. First opened in the 80’s, it is a hidden gem boasting a variety platter of music that appeals to the truest of music fans with an intimate feel and an amazing sound system to boot. Clwb is a standout venue for those who thrive on live music in good company with a night out to follow that will leave you with lifelong memories! It’s a real part of Cardiff ’s history having hosted some amazing gigs over the years, from Welsh musicians to artists from all parts of the world, continuing to make music loving students happy with emerging talent all the year through!

RU

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Revolution or Revs as we know it, the place that offers a enormous variety of different vodka flavours. Either in shot form or diluted with your choice of soft drink, this club caters for every partygoer. Nothing beats a Tuesday student night here with your best pals. Get ready for a photo shoot by the ‘love life, love vodka’ wall, a dance on its multiple dance floors and a trek down to the bustling and atmospheric outside smoker’s area (the kind of place even non-smokers venture to). Therefore it is rightfully receiving first place as our top club night out in Cardiff from us here at Quench.

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If you’re looking for a special gem in the music scene in Cardiff, head to Gwdihw for a night out with great vibes, reasonable prices and a fun crowd. This quaint and intimate venue offers lots of themed nights that cater to everyone’s music needs!

Gwdihw offers a chilled atmosphere - it’s a regular haunt for the most passionate of music fans! The fact that it’s hidden away from the busy streets gives it a charm that invites the most interesting of folk!

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by Courtney Bridge

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by Hannah Marie Stait

Best Club Night

RU

Best Music Venue

Buffalo, possibly the forgotten gem of Cardiff clubs since it is positioned away from the main clubs. It is that one club where that wandering drunk friend of yours can’t venture too far. They have the best music and a pretty cool and very Instagramable ‘What the funk’ wall, I see a pattern here… Last but not least it is one of the latest closing clubs in Cardiff, closing between 3-4am!

49 CULTURE

Say YES to Solo Travel!

WORDS BY: MOLLY GEDDES DESIGN BY: LISA DORAN

Going travelling alone is probably something most people wouldn’t even begin to consider. The idea of stepping onto a plane by yourself is something that can seem incredibly daunting. Although I understand it may not be for everyone, I’m here to reassure you that it’s really not as terrifying as it all seems.

I booked my first solo trip when I was just 17, despite the fears of my parents. I knew I wanted to travel before I went to uni, but none of my friends were in positions to do so. I’m sure this is the same for many students. The desire to travel is there, but with financial and academic constraints, it can often be hard to find a companion. I set off six months later on a 24-hour journey to other side of the world with nothing but my backpack to accompany me. I think the biggest hurdle to overcome with solo travel is the actual booking of it and then actually going through with it; but once you’re on your way, you’ll never look back.

For me, solo travel has been the most empowering experience of my life. You truly don’t know your own strength until you’ve had to overcome something on your own, in a strange country or situation. It provides you with the most incredible sense of confidence and independence, unachievable by anything else. It teaches you to be street smart, and aware of your surroundings at all times. Most importantly it teaches you that once you’ve made it to the other side of the world by yourself, you can do just about anything.

However, solo travel does not of course mean that you spend the entire duration of your trip completely alone- that’s a sad fate for anyone.

After all, so much of a journey is who you spend it with. Solo travel allows you to broaden your horizons and meet and interact with people that you otherwise might not. It pushes you out of your comfort zone and forces you to meet new people. If you were to travel with friends, you may be less inclined to socialise with others, whereas solo travel allows you to create deep bonds with complete strangers. Whilst travelling alone in Indonesia I stayed in a hostel with a funky on-site bar; I stayed up the entire night drinking beers, sat around with complete strangers from every corner of the globe, sharing stories about our homes and cultures. I could easily say it is one of the best nights of my life. Travelling alone introduces you to the most interesting and inspiring people and creates lifelong friendships.

The biggest obstacle to overlook however, is how safe can I really be in an unfamiliar place by myself. Of course, like in any situation, there are risks, but there are also lots of ways to travel by yourself safely, whilst still having the most fulfilling experience.

CULTURE

Organised Trips If you’re not ready to take the big leap and travel completely by yourself, plenty of organised trips are perfect for solo travellers. If you check out websites like Real Gap, Topdeck, Gap 360 or Plan My Gap Year, they run trips of all different lengths all over the world that welcome individuals. This not only makes finding friends a whole lot easier, but it also means that a lot of your travel is organised for you making it far less stressful. Although slightly more expensive than backpacking or travelling yourself, the process is probably a lot less smooth. Organised trips are ideal for a first time solo adventure.

Accommodation If you are going to brave it alone and avoid doing solo trips; accommodation is a huge factor to consider. When I’m alone and looking for places to stay, I always look for hostels rather than air bnbs or private accommodations as I believe they are safer. I will also never book a hostel without reading the reviews. You want to make sure your hostel is in a busy location, so you can safely walk around by yourself without having to tackle dingy back streets and dark alleyways.

Also, as a solo traveller my main priority is meeting people and making friends, therefore I always look for youth or backpacker hostels that I know will be holding guests in similar positions to myself. Again, read the reviews and it will be clear if it’s a social, party hostel or not.

Communication Make sure you’re always in contact with someone back home; whether it be your parents, a relative, a friend- make sure someone knows where you are! When I leave one city and move on to the next, I’ll make sure to tell someone at home where I’m going, how I’m getting there and where I’m going to be staying when I arrive. Not only is this the safest way to go about your travels, it also stops the poor sods at home worrying their days away.

Transport Wherever you can, take public transport; not only is it much cheaper but also much safer. Mastering public transport in foreign countries is also a satisfaction like no other, so why not try every type they possibly have to offer.

Overnight transport (the ULTIMATE saviour) is also worth a try, even just for the experience. Whilst inter-railing, taking an overnight train maximises the time you get to spend in each place. Sleeping AND transporting at the same time? Efficiency at it’s prime! In popular backpacker destinations such as South East Asia you even have the option to take overnight busses, equipped with reclining chairs so you can get a good night’s sleep. Dedicated overnight transport options are a YES. In places blessed with the wonder that is Uber, always take a registered Uber rather than a random street cab. This way all of your details, and your drivers, are recorded safely on the app, and they can’t mug you off with an extortionate fare!

Confidence The most valuable bit of advice I would give anyone who wants to travel alone is to always be CONFIDENT. If I am walking around in an unfamiliar place, completely lost, I will still be strutting around like I know exactly what I’m doing. NEVER look vulnerable, no matter how scared or unsure you feel, this makes you an easy target. Stay calm, remain cool and make sure you keep your confidence.

When done right, travelling by yourself provides you with experiences that will benefit you in every aspect of your everyday life. It teaches you to overcome things independently, approach and talk to just about anyone, and rely on your own instincts. It equips you with awareness, strength, independence, friendship and confidence. So next time you’re desperate to check out a new city and can’t persuade your mates to come along, JUST GO. I promise you’ll never look back.

Quench’s international Quench’s international festival hotlist festival hotlist 37

TRAVEL

2018 2018

Words by Molly Geddes & Molly Wyatt Design by Katie Huxtable

Images by: Ellen Munro via Flickr, Lady May Pamintuan via Flickr, and Carl Nenzén Lovén via Flickr

38

Primavera , Primavera , Barcelona Primavera , Barcelona

Barcelona 30th May – 3rd June 30th May – 3rd June

With the beach to your left, the city to your right, and a heap of stages with some of musics most talented artists, how could you say no? Set in the much-loved city of Barcelona, Primavera is back this year with a phenomenal line up; Tyler the 30th May – 3rd June Creator, Arctic Monkeys, Haim, A$AP Rocky and Beach House to name a few!

Just as importantly, with some of the best street food you’ll ever lay your hands on, an abundance of bars, and a pretty cracking view of the harbour, you’re sorted for the night. What sets this festival apart however, is that it is no-camping festival site. Which means you can go crazy on finding a quirky AirBnB or a fancy hostel; the festival itself is located right near the Metro, and there are numerous shuttle buses, so it’s easy to get to and from the site. Moreover, the festival takes place from about 8pm-3am which means you can spend your day exploring all that Barcelona has to offer! ... Or if you’re hanging from the night before, you can just sunbathe on the (artificial) beach! Full festival tickets cost €215, and considering the unimaginably buzzing atmosphere - you could just bottle that up and make your money back. Easily.

By Molly Wyatt

Coachella, US 13th - 22nd April

The festival of all festivals. Home to anyone who is just about anyone. We care more about what Vanessa Hudgens will wear to Coachella this year than we care about what we will wear on our own wedding day. Slightly further afield than our other suggestions, but we all know there’s a reason the student loan drops so late into the term (hint: it’s to book flights to California). The Weekend, Queen Beyoncé and Eminem take the top three spots on the Coachella stage this year. With a juicy celeb line up and an even juicier celeb guest list, Coachella really is unlike any festival we have in the UK. Incorrectly labelled as the US version of Glastonbury, you will probably be harshly judged for drop kicking your mate through a tent at Coachella.

By Molly Geddes

Tomorrowland, Belgium

Tomorrowland , Belgium Tomorrowland , Belgium 20th – 22nd July

20th – 22nd July

20th – 22nd July

As one of the world’s largest festivals, the electronic and dance festival Tomorrowland is nothing short of spectacular. Their message is living life to the fullest, respecting mother earth and contributing to the well-being of future generations. Famous for their attention to detail, the creators of Tomorrowland pull out all the stops with their sensational stages, décor and tickets. Set to be a big one, 2018 will see Axwell Ingrosso, Hardwell, Steve Aoki and Carl Cox take to the main stage, amongst others. The return of Tomorrowland means the return of Dreamville - the renowned campsite. With even the standard tents in Dreamville being nicer than my uni room, it’s impossible to have a bad camping experience. With pre-sale general festival access priced at 225 euros, a trip to Tomorrowland is one of the pricier festivals; but they do say, you get what you pay for.

By Molly Geddes

Secret Solstice Iceland

Secret Solstice Solstice Iceland Iceland ,

21st – 24th June

,

th June 21st – 24 ,

21st – 24th June

With Cardiff based funk and disco suppliers Get Funky heading to Iceland this summer, Secret Solstice definitely deserves a mention. After the success of the Get Funky X Secret Solstice launch party I’m in no doubt that half of Cardiff will be flocking to Iceland to continue the party. The upcoming festival has attracted big names such as Stormzy, Steve Aoki and Gucci Mane to its 2018 line up, amongst a huge array of artists and DJ’s. Perhaps the coolest part of the festival is that the sun doesn’t set. You will be partying under the midnight sun, a rare natural phenomenon - if you’re sober enough to notice!

By Molly Geddes

Outlook, Croatia 5th – 9th September

Can’t decide whether you want to go to Boomtown, or a lads holiday to maga?

Outlook is the perfect compromise. A festival that celebrates sound system music and all things bass set on Croatia’s Adriatic coast. 2018 headliners, J Hus, Andy C, SASASA and DJ Hype and AJ Tracey aren’t the only thing drawing Brits to Outlook. Guests enjoy beach parties and boat parties under the Croatian sun in this festival/holiday hybrid. If camping in blazing summer heat isn’t for you, Outlook provide on-site hostels, mobile homes and even 2 man LUXPADS, if you’ve got cash to splash. A standard weekend ticket to Outlook will set you back £126; worth it for the tan though!

By Molly Geddes

39

48 Hours in Rome WORDS BY: MOLLY GEDDES DESIGN BY: LISA DORAN

A city filled with rich culture, a deep history and some of the best food in the world. Rome really is a MUST visit. I sometimes find with city breaks that by the end of the second day I’m running out of things to do and see; this is not the case with Rome. You could spend a month exploring the city's charming streets and divulging into its fascinating past. However, most of us only have weekends off before dashing back to uni on Monday for a full week of lectures. In order to make the most of 48 hours in Rome, you need to efficiently plan your trip to cram in as much as possible. You really don’t want to miss a thing in this wonderful place.

Firstly, when you book your trip make sure you check on the map that your hotel is in a central location. It’s best to be near one of the main attractions or the central train station, Termini. This way it means you will never be far from a metro station. When trying to get around Rome, the metro is a real lifesaver. It’s quick and cheap, and unlike the web that is the London Underground, it has only two lines making it easy to follow. When purchasing your metro ticket, you don’t pay per stops you plan on making, but the length of time your ticket is valid for. I would recommend buying a 48 hour metro ticket, meaning you can use it for the duration of your trip. This makes the whole process quick and seamless and maximises the time you get to spend enjoying Rome.

Rome’s main attractions can, of course, get very busy, especially in the Spring/Summer, so it’s definitely worth booking in advance to avoid queues. The Colosseum, if booked in advance, can get you multi-entrance tickets to the Roman Forum as well, saving a nice sum of money.

An unmissable part of a trip to Rome, the Colosseum is like stepping back in time. It’s sheer size and scale is completely overwhelming and its gruesome past will make you glad you were born last century.

The Vatican city is also something that no trip to Rome is complete without. To take a tour of the Vatican, including its famous museum, the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica, I would highly advise booking before you go. Regardless of your religious convictions, the Vatican will take your breath away. The city is a display of beautiful artwork and architecture, and if you’re lucky you might even catch the Pope. It’s best to book both your Colosseum and Vatican tour for as early in the morning as possible, before the crowds start to gather throughout the day.

Your afternoons in Rome can be spent enjoying the many other iconic attractions it has to offer. A stop off at the Trevi Fountain via metro is crucial for capturing a profile picture worthy candid. Feel like Lizzie McGuire as you throw a coin in and wish for an upgraded version of Pablo. Another free attraction popular with tourists and locals alike are the Spanish steps in Piazza di Spagna. What can be so special about a flight of stairs you ask? Topped with a picturesque white church, the Spanish stairs are a worth the trip, just to chill out in the cool district. Piazza di Spagna also marks the start of a small street lined with every designer brand you could possibly imagine. Chanel, Gucci, Prada- every shop on this small street has it’s own doormen and security guards.

If you aren’t spending your evenings in Rome eating your bodyweight in pizza and pasta and drinking enough Pinot Grigio to fill a winery then you’re definitely doing it wrong. The cities Trastevere area is the perfect place to spend an evening in Rome. The bohemian area of the city is the ideal spot to chill out with a beverage or six. It’s small cobbled streets are lined with bars, restaurants and artisan shops.

This is also the place to be if you want to continue the party until late-late, as it’s popular with a younger crowd.

However you choose to spend your time in Rome, it’s impossible not to be won over by the city's charm (and cheap pizza), whether you spend a lifetime there or even just 48 hours.

40 TRAVEL

Travelling, Cinema Style Coming of age in the 21st century has blessed us with growing opportunities to travel. It is now cheaper, easier and far more common for us to pack our bags and disappear. Along with the ability to travel, the turn of the century also provided us with a new wave of cinema. The early 2000’s brought us a range of cinematic classics that still remain highly praised in pop culture.

Sometimes the realities of life can be enough to push us on a plane away from our responsibilities. If you really want to escape the ordinary, why not take a visit to the set of your favourite early noughties film. You’ll really feel like you’re in another world as you walk amongst your favourite characters and relive your favourite film moments.

DESIGN BY: LISA DORAN

Amelie (2001), Paris Paris: love, lights and freshly baked baguettes. This is a capital city that thrives on tourism, boasting beautiful parks and iconic landmarks that Instagram can only dream of.

However, the plague of tourism that the summer brings can make it tricky to find spots to relax and take in your surroundings. There are certain hotspots you’ll want to see (who travels to Paris without paying the Eiffel Tower a visit?), and immersing yourself in the tourist scene can be exciting – head to Les Deux Magots in Saint Germain for a hotspot famous for its popularity with writers, or to Café Des Moulins in Montmartre to be transported into Amelie; (but be prepared to splash your cash!). On the other hand, if you’re searching for that true Parisian culture or want to spend a little less of your holiday Euros, try the underrated Musée Rodin: average, but with free entry and set in luscious green gardens, away from the busier museums of its kind. Another Parisian staple is Shakespeare and Company, an English bookshop near the iconic Notre Dame. As well as selling books, they also have a huge secondhand collection, plus an upstairs with decorated reading rooms for ideal relaxation. Not only is there a bookshop cat, but there’s an open piano there too (look out for the guy who goes there regularly purely to play). Steer clear of the coffee shop next door though - it’s fairly pricey and not particularly nice!

Words By Ella Clucas

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001-2003), New Zealand The film that made us all fall in love with Orlando Bloom and spend every birthday wish hoping that our dream of becoming an elf would come true. However, whilst six-yearold me was gazing into Legolas’ piercing blue eyes, I completely missed the jaw-dropping filming locations. If you know someone that’s visited New Zealand, I can assure they will have very few negative things to say about it. It offers bustling cities, tropical beaches, thundering mountainous regions and an overall tint of green from the thriving wildlife.

A must visit location for Lord of the Rings fans is the volcanic Tongariro National Park, on the The North Island the star of the Lord Of The Rings films and home to some of the most breathtaking views. There are very few other countries in the world that allow you to hike mountains and swim with dolphins just a short distance from each other, making New Zealand and it’s diversity a true spectacle. Accompanied by local experts, you can take to the waters of Ankaroa and join an endangered and protected species of dolphins out in their natural wild habitats; a once in a lifetime experience. The cuisine is also quite the culinary experience, especially for meat eaters. The islands are famous for their delicious seafood due to their endless coastline, and New Zealand also places great appreciation on the humble fish and chip - that gets a massive YES from me.

Words by Molly Geddes

The Beach (2000), Thailand Thailand is one of the most popular destinations for young people travelling South East Asia; it has the perfect mixture of sun, beaches, parties, food, culture, diving, nature AND MORE. Whatever type of holiday you’re looking for, Thailand can probably provide it. Bangkok is a must with floating markets, beautiful temples and the infamous parties on Koh San Road. There are plenty of local eateries offering amazing pad thai and thai curry dishes; you can even participate in cookery classes with the locals to learn how to make your own!

But beyond this, north of Bangkok is the serene area of Chang Mai, perfect for any lover of yoga, nature and elephants (be sure to visit elephant sanctuaries rather than elephant trekking as these establishments are often cruel). The south of Thailand also has plenty to offer, on the East, islands such as Koh Samui and Koh Phangan have a mix of peaceful beach resorts by day and parties on the sand at night (including the famous ‘full moon party’). The South-West offers calmer islands such as Krabi and Koh Phi Phi, perfect for adventures such as sailing, snorkelling, diving, waterfalls and more, and of course... home to Maya Bay the famous filming location for The Beach.

Phuket is situated on the mainland but is close enough to these two islands if you want to stop for some shopping and partying on the way! When staying in Thailand, hostels are extremely affordable and a great way to meet new friends, but for those who may be more comfortable starting off in a hotel, there are plenty of inexpensive places to stay too!

Words by Martha Hughes

41 MUSIC

It’s Hard Out Here WORDS BY: ERIN BROWN DESIGN BY: LUCY APRAHAMIAN

For aB*tch

First came Diana Ross, Janis Joplin and Stevie Nicks to Amy Winehouse, Lily Allen, Kate Nash and to now Lorde, St. Vincent and Dream Wife to name just a small handful. Additionally, further strands of the music industry brought us Fearne Cotton, Lauren Laverne, Annie Mac to highlight a microscopic example of musical, female talent. The music industry is compacted with a plethora of talented, female, musical geniuses. However, if this is the case, why is the music industry so saturated with sexism? With the extensive number of female artists within the music industry taking over our airwaves, featuring on music magazine covers or raking in the music awards; majority of music fans are ignorant to the existing inequality amongst the music industry.

Currently, in 2018, despite an extensive selection of female talent, we seem to be existing in an incredibly unequal era for gender and music.

To put it bluntly, our music scene has got an attitude problem. Notions of women in music are still in today’s modern society distorted as female talent amongst the industry is still not valued to the level it should be both in the limelight and behind the scenes. Music’s ladies are feeling underappreciated, underrepresented and seemingly uninvolved in music. Over the years, many musicians have spoken out about their frustration of this gender inequality.

Worryingly, back in 2014, Lily Allen stressed about what she described ‘The man behind the woman piece’ as she said to NME “You will notice of the big successful female artists, there is always a ‘man behind the woman’ piece.

If it’s Beyoncé, it’s Jay Z. If it’s Adele, it’s Paul Epworth. Me? It was Mark Ronson and the same with Amy Winehouse… You never get that with men”.

Similarly, eccentric queen Björk faced the same issues again in 2015 with the release of her Vulnicura album as the media consistently claimed producer Drew Daniel was responsible for the album despite the fact he contributed two weeks towards an album which was three years in the making! Now, in 2018, this issue has not gone away as pop sensation Dua Lipa comments in an interview with the BBC “For a male artist, people instantly assume they write their own music, but for women, they assume it’s all manufactured”.

Our media are suggesting that our much-loved female artists are incapable of actually doing anything for themselves, which of course, is not the case!

Speaking to Quench on this issue, Dream Wife’s fiery frontgal Rakel Mjöel expresses her frustration as we discuss one of the largest gender issues the music industry has to face; festival line ups “it’s not just about the line ups it’s about the headliners…even though there has been a new discussion with this due to PRS (Performing Right Society) and yes festivals are signing this agreement to make women more present in festival line up but what’s the point when all your headliners, all ten of them are only males. There’s enough amazing women that people listen to all the time who could headline”.

In addition to this, it is just not our female musicians that are facing this problem as there is a complete lack of women amongst the ‘behind the scenes’ roles within this industry. A recent PRS study highlights there is a lack of female sound engineers, producers and technicians as it is classified as a stereotypically closed shop. This issue was then emphasised by Laura Marling at a conference we attended last year as she stated, “Very rarely have I not

“You will notice of the big successful female artists, there is always a ‘man behind the woman’ piece.”

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at a conference we attended last year as she stated, “Very rarely have I not walked into the studio and not been the only woman” whilst stating she has “never seen a female producer”.

Moreover, it is not just the black and white statistics which highlight this major issue but the experiences female industry workers have had to endure. In an interview with Quench, legendary music journalist Sylvia Patterson mentions her experience working at NME “I was actually told the only reason why I got the job is because they needed more female writers, not because I was very good, because I was a female writer and this is something that has never changed” whilst commenting on her time there “they did make you feel like you were quite belittled because you were a bit of a novelty[…] I remember I brought my first feature into an editor it was 116 words over and he just told me to ‘fuck off and get out of my face’ and I’m not sure if he would have said that to any of the boys”. However, Sylvia stresses that actually, the issue is worse today than what it was like when she first started out in music journalism as she comments on the experience of some of her journalist friends who have actually ended up leaving the company due to gender issues. “They told me some horrendous stories about some real bullying and belittling” for instance, “If they ever wanted to put a female artist on the cover, they were really pushing their feminist agenda… and that was in the last five years”. Additionally, BBC Radio producer Lee-Ann Howieson, speaks out about her experience as a female radio producer “People automatically don’t trust your opinions and choices because you are female and you have to prove yourself in your music knowledge”. She adds, “a lot of the time when bands have come in the studio, they think I’m just a female working on the show, I’ve definitely had people coming into the studio and speaking to my male assistant as opposed to me as a producer, they maybe assumed because they’re male, they were the one in charge… don’t worry though, they absolutely got told who was in charge!”

Furthermore, as a young woman myself, delving into the music industry, I too have experienced this shitty attitude the music industry has to offer towards women. I’ve experienced walking into a venue to interview the artists of the night and feel like from an initial greeting you’re not taken seriously, you’re just a fan and you have to go to extra lengths to prove that you’re not a groupie and in fact a knowledgeable music journalist.

Or being in a mosh pit, and having to prove that you belong there. I remember being at the Motorpoint Arena to see Kasabian in the winter. As the crowd parted to form an explosive mosh, individuals would drift in and out of the empty circle, hyping up a zoo which was about to be unleashed. Boy after boy would enter this empty, dangerous space. Then, my female friend follows suit, why wouldn’t she? She likes the band just as much and yet she was met with a frosty response, pushed out like she didn’t belong there. Nobody else was pushed out, everybody was welcome, accept the girl. Then again, only a month ago, attending the Cardiff Music Awards I saw a reoccurrence of this bad gender attitude we have. Local female DJ duo GRLTLK rightfully won the award for ‘Best DJ’ in a category full of men. After witnessing their DJ sets, I feel this award was rightfully awarded which was echoed as it had been reported the pair raked in the highest votes of the night. Despite this, their success was met with ‘boos’ and a claim that all they do is ‘press a button’ when in reality the duo did what everybody else did and evidently better! Of course, this wasn’t an explicit act of sexism but it felt that night, something was wrong. They weren’t taken seriously because of the fact they’re two girls who like glitter and who ever said glitter diminished musical talent? Evidently, music is facing a very sexist, unequal storm which has stemmed from overall cultural attitudes.

To change this, it is going to be a long and slow battle but if us girls and boys, joined together and educated one another, we could eventually one day, reach true equality so in years to come this discussion will not even have to exist.

Come on music… it’s time you grew a pair of tits x

“Very rarely have I not walked into the studio and not been the only woman”

Sadly, when women do become immersed in the backstage of the music industry, they’re thrown into a sexist concoction of significantly lower pay and a lack of appreciation.

For instance, a recent study from the Music Business Worldwide have highlighted that amongst the industry’s top three labels; Universal, Sony and Warner UK there is an average pay gap of 33.8%, with the issue lying in the lack of female executives within music. For example, the highest earners at Universal Music UK are 70% male and only 30% female whilst the average hourly pay is almost 30% lower for females in comparison to males. Then in Warner women are paid, on average 85% less than their males counterparts when it comes to bonus pay. Stemming from this, it is not just the big companies as Live Nation has a leadership team which is 41% female and yet they still have an 88% difference in bonus pay when it comes to gender. So, women are working for the record labels but for some reason for significantly less than the ‘music men’. Are you mad yet?

4343 MUSIC MUSIC

DESIGN BY: KATIE HUXTABLE

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Trailing through book after book, editing word after word as you revise for tedious exams and type up mind numbingly long essays. The only thing getting you through is the anticipation of what summer holds.

Sitting in the garden until the sun goes down talking rubbish with your friends, acceptably going to the pub no matter what time of day it is and stocking up on pots and pots of hummus for those sunny picnics. Although, everybody knows that festivals are the be all and end all of summer holidays. Wellies, camping, glitter, lidl cider, moshing and great tunes makes for a tasty concoction for the perfect summer. However, festivals often come with the reality of forking out a little bit and with so much on offer it’s often difficult to decide what to put your money on. So to save the stress, here at Quench we have created our very own festival chart’s based on Quench’s festival shortlist created by our contributors!

#1 MAD COOL FESTIVAL This year it can be said that the best lineups are existing overseas. Mad Cool Festival is definitely triumphing as this year’s super festival! Having a lineup made up of the modern day gods of all corners of the western world; Alex Turner, Kevin Parker, Josh Homme and Jack White as they bring their bands to the Madridian sun. This festival includes sunshine, generous spanish drinking portions and the most iconic artists living right now for only 150€. Sadly, the festival is not camping but a cheap Airbnb will keep costs low and luxuries high. It’s a two birds, one stone effect as it is the sunny holiday and crazy festival all in one and let’s be honest an Arctic Monkeys comeback is enough motive to get on that plane.

by erin brown #2 LOVEBOX From the festival that brought Frank Ocean to the UK, Lovebox has maintained it’s status as London’s coolest festival with a stellar line-up. This year they have enlisted the likes of Childish Gambino, SZA, and N.E.R.D. to get things bouncing in Gunnersbury Park plus, by some booking miracle, the Wu Tang Clan who will be making a rare appearance on a festival stage. Cash it appears, does rule everything around us however, entry for both days setting you back £115. But with such an eclectic mix of Grime, Hip-Hop, RnB, and Dance artists at the peak of their careers, in my eyes that’s a price worth paying.

Once you’ve got your ticket you’ll be counting down the days until the 13th and 14th of July, perhaps including in that daily count a small prayer to the weather gods to keep things warm, no-one wants to be jamming out to ‘Redbone’ in the mud.

by rowan lees #6 KENDAL CALLING Kendal Calling is a brilliant festival because of its location in the beautiful lake district, consisting of a fairly intimate sized site featuring a great variety of from acts across the rock, Indie and dance genres, meaning its

perfect for stumbling across your new favourite band!

This year it is headlined by Indie classics Catfish and the Bottlemen and the Libertines, plus hip hop pioneers Run-DMC! The rest of the line up features a mix of rock classics from James, upcoming indie from the Sherlocks and DJ sets from the likes of Basement Jaxx. For four nights of such a wide variety of music acts the price of £145 per ticket, which includes camping, won’t even break the bank! General sale has sold out but watch out for the resale coming at the end of June.

by bethan clark #5 Y NOT FESTIVAL In addition to Kendal Calling, we have their sister festival, Y Not, to look forward to. The line-up includes The Libertines, Catfish and The Bottlemen and also Jamiroquai and as headliners. It has an eclectic mix further down the line-up which includes Nadia Rose, Razorlight, Shame and Circa Waves. There is something for everyone. Even though the festival takes place in Derbyshire, you can catch some of our city’s well-loved local bands there, Astroid Boys, Bryde and The Estrons will be playing sets.

by charlotte minett #3 GREEN MAN Supporting our locals we’ve chosen Green Man as one of the best festivals of the year! The lineup has a mixture of Wale’s very best local bands as well as some legendary headliners from all over the globe. With outstanding acts such as The War on Drugs, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard and Boy Azooga this line up provides a certain level of niche. To put it in simpler terms, if you like BBC 6 music then this is the one for you! An eccentric, eclectic, indie alternative concoction for only £155 for a student ticket with camping included. This is the perfect festival if you’re on the scout for something new!

by erin brown #7 BIG LOVE Taking place on the early May bank holiday weekend and set in the stunning Baskerville Hall, get yourself a ticket to Big Love and you’re essentially going to a private party in a country mansion. Lovingly crafted by a Cardiff collective, Big Love offers a top line-up for a budget price (previous acts have included Ibibio Sound Machine, Afrikan Boy, Bodhi, Horse Meat Disco, Flamingods, and KRS-One). Punters can either camp, glamp or go all out and stay in one of the Hall’s swanky rooms. Tickets are £85 and this year’s line-up sees Joy Orbison as one of its headliners.

#4 BARN ON THE FARM Yes, it’s me again talking about Barn on the Farm in Gloucester. I have always loved a good festival but cannot stand the presence of the younger generation doing things that they should not be doing. Barn on the Farm has changed my outlook of UK festivals in the best way possible. There are only three stages and the mainsstage is nothing to phone home about it’s size. However, the line-up is always on point, this year showcasing Tom Grennan, Mystery Jets and Pale Waves along with many others. The atmosphere made the most chilled out I have ever been (this may have also be due to the pimms on tap that they were serving, who knows). But basically go to this festival if you like more of a relaxed vibe.

by charlotte minett #8 2000 TREES 2000 trees is a Rock festival situated at Upcote Farm, Cheltenham. It’s considered one of the smaller UK festivals (it’s 5000 capacity) but they still manage to get some big names to playpast headliners have been Twin Atlantic and Slaves- as well as giving local bands the chance to get their music out there. However, the best thing has to be the price…3-day tickets are only £100! And with no gates between camping and the arena it’s BYOB- the dream. The only downside, you may struggle to find it as it is quite literally in the middle of 2000 trees!

by sydney bailey #9 READING AND LEEDS FESTIVAL Traditionally your go-to rock/alternative festivals, Reading and Leeds have faced controversy this year, becoming so rap and grime-heavy with the likes of Kendrick Lamar, Travis Scott, Skepta, J Hus, etc. It’s no secret that other headliners have been slightly underwhelming. Fall Out Boy, Kings of Leon and Panic!

At the Disco have all been announced, yet possibly a little too ‘teenage’ in comparison to previous line ups.

Nevertheless, these festivals are definitely an experience.

A weekend ticket will cost you £205; however it’s recommended to purchase early entry as well to secure a reasonable camping spot. The twin festivals take place on 24th-26th of August.

by chloe francis

by sion ford COVER IMAGE BY: DASPUNKT VIA FLICKR BACKGROUND IMAGE BY: ELLEN MUNRO VIA FLICKR

45 MUSIC

Words and interview by Charlotte Minett You may not know, but Julia Michaels is the mastermind wordsmith behind Justin Bieber’s hit Sorry, Selena Gomez’s Bad Liar and Hands to Myself, as well as songs for many other artists including Demi Lovato, Fifth Harmony, Hailee Steinfeld, Britney Spears and Gwen Stefani. She is a big deal.

Her first single, as an artist, Issues, reached 11 on the US chart and was grammy nominated. Since then, she has released her debut album Nervous System and has appeared on tracks with Kygo and Clean Bandit. And now she is touring with Niall Horan on his “Flicker” world tour.

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Having battled the fan-girls waiting outside the motor point arena, all waiting to see Niall Horan on his ‘Flicker World Tour’, we met Julia Michaels backstage in the venue. She was running a bit late and we were told no photos as she hadn’t been through hair and make-up yet. At this stage I had no idea what to expect. But when she bounced into the room she was a bundle of joy. She said they had got up early to explore the beautiful city of Cardiff and have a coffee in the arcades which, in her words are “so nice”. We love her already.

How do you write for other artists?

It depends on the day, sometimes I’ll have voice note or write on the piano.

I listen to everything that the artist says and I compile their memories with mine so it’s relatable and verbal vomit happens and hope that they like it.

Any song writing tips?

What’s your general process for writing?

For ‘I Miss You’, with Clean Bandit, I had never met Jack (from Clean Bandit) before. I asked if he could play some chords and I went up to the mic, in my own little atmosphere, and I wrote ‘I Miss You’ in under an hour. For songs that are so personal, for me it’s like those big spinning wheels that have things on you that you can win, it’s like that in the studio for me. When I’m on the microphone, it’s like all these memories accumulating at once and it slows down into one that I can use for the song.

What is it like touring with Niall Horan?

It’s been really awesome, he’s really goofy and really fun. Sometimes I’ll just be doing my make-up and he’ll walk in in like “what’s going on” and I’m just like “get out, you’re so annoying”. I had met him previously at award shows and events. We’re always, like, buddies and he asked “come on tour with me” and I was like “eeee”. It’s been great. He’s been trying to get me to sing a song with him for his set, but I’m such an insecure piece of s*** that I haven’t’ done it yet.

This is really cliché, but my top note is that a lot of people think that something is ‘of the now’ and that they have to do that ‘of the now’ sound. I would say if you do one thing, and you do that “WHEN WE TOUR AMERICA thing well, don’t think you have to conform to what other people are doing, ‘cos even WITH MAROON 5 IN THE if it’s not the ‘of the now’ sound, music is always evolving and constantly changing, SUMMER WE ARE PLANNING that sound could be huge next year, you just never know.

TO GO TO A BIG DEPARTMENT

And ifwondered you wondered wha And if you what Julia And ifAndyouifwondered whatteam JuliagetJulia andup her you wondered what toandonwhihet team get up to while : team get up to while on tour STORE AND BUY LOADS OF team get up to while on tour: Do you thinksong female songare writers are -writers - under Do you think female under LASER TAG EQUIPMENT.” ou think female song-writers arerepresented? under song-writers are under- represented? represented? ... sented?

You know, it’s funny, I don’t. If you look at the top 40 radio right now, some of the biggest female type-liners are on every song. ‘Never Be Same’ with Camila Cabello is Sasha Sloan, there’s Emily Warren who just did the Dua Lipa song ‘New Rules’. I think, over time, female writers are the ones who usually keep music evolving, including Dianne Warren, Lindy Robbins, all these women have been huge pioneers for song writers. There’s people I look up to like Linda Perry. She was a songwriter turned artist, turned songwriter and that’s something a lot of songwriters dream about doing many don’t actually do it.

We’re goofy we just do things on the road to make us not miss home so much. When we tour America with Maroon 5 in the summer we are planning to go to a big department store and buy loads of laser tag equipment.

We were lucky enough to go to see her perform later that evening at the filled-up Motorpoint Arena. As soon as she jumped (quite literally) onto the stage you could tell that she was adored. She sang all the tracks from her short album ‘Nervous System’. Her energy was enviable and proved even a bit too much for her, as she did mime the angelic whispering in ‘Pink’ and most of the chorus of ‘Uh-Huh’. She tried to disguise this by getting the audience to sing the “uhhuh”s with her. However, if she was to sing it, it would have been super-human as she was continually bouncing up and down whilst doing so. A highlight was certainly a performance of mash-up of the most famous songs she had written for other artists, this included ‘Hands to Myself ’ and ‘Bad Liar’ by Selena Gomez and ‘Sorry’ by Justin Bieber. This went down very well and seemed to shock the audience as they are all such big hits, and song-writers are often hidden and unknown to fans of the songs. It was great to see Julia getting some well-deserved credit for her work. She ended her short and sweet set with her biggest hits that she had written for herself; ‘I Miss You’ and ‘Issues’. By the time her set was over it felt like most of the crowd had actually forgotten that Niall Horan was about to come on, Julia Michaels stole the show.

How did you know that Issues was the song How did you know that Issues was the song you know that Issues was the song for you? for you? for you?

I tend to write very personally, but I never write things so personal that I can’t give them away. But that happened when I wrote Issues. I have had a few people that wanted to cut it, I even had one artist who did cut it, but I looked at it and I felt so strange about the idea that someone was singing my story.

I sent it to Charlie Walk from Republic Records and I was like “what do you think of this song” and he asked “what do you want me to think about this song” and I said “let’s put it out” and so we did. I had no idea that it would reach as far as it did. I was in LA in one of my favourite studios, and my exboyfriend, who I wrote the song about, was in the next studio at the time haha.

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Milo Milo

In In600 600Words Words Milo, Scallops Hotel, Rory Ferreira to some, has been steadily building himself a lifelong career in rap. Building a fanbase from making mixtapes in a university residence, Milo was able to juggle university and music for a short while, writing essays on the tour bus and returning home with $1000. “I knew that was enough money for me to live for at least 2 months... I knew I could make whole rap tapes in a week, I know bandcamp can get me like two or three hundred dollars. So it was like, whatever, as long as I don’t quit this shit I can eat off of it”.

Post performance, Milo welcomes me with a warm smile and a calm demeanour into the low roofed green room of Bristol venue, The Fleece.

He performed tonight as the opener for Open Mike Eagle, his idol-turned-friend who brought him on his first tour across the Mid West of America. Reminiscing on these first tour dates it’s clear OME was a big mentor, “One of things people don’t get is, when you’re a black kid in America you’re conditioned to hate yourself, especially in this age where self deprecation is like cool ...I tell you the first tour I went on with OME had such an impact on me I started letting my unibrow grow out like, I don’t need to look like these people!”. “Our first show in Cedar Rapids changed my life, there was a bar fight at the spot and we packed up in the middle of a freestyle, and I knew I wanted to do this shit forever”.

The show that night in Bristol wasn’t quite as violent, but it doesn’t appear to have brought the same relief it used to for milo. Relaxed back in his armchair he told me “I have a baby so my mind ain’t really here man, from 19-24, being on stage was mostly jubilation and therapy and exorcism of all these negative feelings, now when I get on stage I just be feeling a little pissed, and I don’t know why!”. The last words come as a whisper, before a cackling laughter. “Maybe before I never felt like I had a home so I liked touring, now I definitely have a home, and I am away from it, and it is very obvious”, he ends this sombre statement with honest laughter.

Although now, he is less ‘nomad’ and more ‘town man’ as he gleefully describes himself, there is still a wonder to connecting with people over the globe through art which won’t leave. Having just trail-blazed through London playing two sold out shows, recording at Red Bull studios with Vels Trio, and meeting with visual artist Eldon Somers, he is full of this artful wonder, declaring with genuine amazement, “To connect with someone, through art, in London, man! I’m from Chicago. My parents ain’t never been to London! You know my dad ain’t never been to California”.

Much of this pathway to the world has been built by Rory himself, building a roster of artists on his own Ruby Yacht label, including the tapes of “collaborator in life and all art, safari al” which sold out through the European tour. He is now beginning to build a family life for himself and with that comes the record shop Soulfolks, opened this Spring in Biddeford, Maine with an upstairs HQ for scheming. With more music to follow the groundbreaking 2016 release Who Told You To Think??!!?!?!?! it’s exciting to follow Milo, the unapologetically ‘out there’ artist reaching uncharted areas of rap. And with the Ruby Yacht in full sail, it’s not too late to come aboard.

Words and photograpgy by: Rowan Lees Design by: Lucy Aprahamian Image: Milo’s things that happen at day // night (double cassette)

48 MUSIC

Rejjie Snow @ Motion, Bristol Words by Charlotte Minett

Li ve Review s Design by: Lucy Aprahamian

After an interesting support act, who began his set wearing an England football top and a modest pair of jeans and finished wearing only his plain white boxers and asking the crowd if they know of any drug dealers, Rejjie Snow took to the stage.

Tom Grennan @ SWX, Bristol

As the first date of his ‘Dear Annie’ tour he played the majority of tracks from the album but played older songs, such as ‘Loveleen’ as a tribute to his fans that have been alongside him from the beginning. He mixed more mellow songs, such as ‘23’ with upbeat ones such as ‘Rainbows’ and his newest single ‘Egyptian Luvr’, during this one he gets the crowd dancing by announcing “come on I made a two-step song for you to dance to”. Various other artists, who must have been the ones featured on the album, joined him on stage for a handful of songs which was added an exciting touch to the gig.

It was only six months ago we were at The Globe watching Tom Grennan make somewhat of a debut, with only a few songs released such as ‘Something in the Water’ and ‘When It All Goes Wrong’ Grennan was only known for a few songs whilst playing to a capacity of only 350 people. This gig was not a sell-out gig and the punters were uncertain on Grennan’s true ability as the gig was one of discovery. Now six months down the line, playing a sold-out gig at Bristol’s SWX; a capacity of 1100 how things have changed! As this gig was part of a sold-out UK tour in an array of venues similar to this all over the UK. It is evident that the UK have boarded what Tom likes to call ‘The Grennan Train’ as he hails “All aboard the Grennan train” to the Bristol crowd, who might I add, were very diverse as he seems to be providing for both the indies and the mainstream punters as an array of varying individuals in the Bristol crowd screamed out his lyrics. However, it is evident as to why Grennan has turned into such a sensation. With his rustic, soulful voice and memorable songs such as ‘Make ‘Em Like You’ and ‘Old Songs’ his efficient success is well deserved. Now with his debut album Lighting Matches due out on the 6th of July its clear Grennan-mania will only continue to grow in explosive force.

The most special moment was the encore. He simply played his favourite oldie ‘1992’.

He sang a few verses and left the stage during Loyle Carner’s verse without uttering a word.

Paloma Faith @ The Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff Words by Eva Kwatek

On a cold, semi-snowy March evening fans queued impatiently, yet orderly, outside the Motorpoint Arena, and walking past the mile long queue you could see the excitement in each and every one, for what was ahead of us was a truly magical evening. Something truly extraordinary is created when a musician wants to give something more than just music, when a musician wants to share a feeling- and that’s exactly what Paloma Faith aims to do with her heartfelt, thought provoking album The Architect. Having gone to gigs from my early teens, I always said that you listen to the album to hear it, but you go to the gig to feel it, and on that Saturday night we all surely felt every single word that Paloma sang. Nothing could have shone brighter in the whole arena than Ms Faith herself, with the super glittery jumpsuit especially designed to fit around the holographic, intergalactic stage setting, she was a star from head to toe. In between songs Paloma explained the meaning and story behind each song, and expressed her wish that if we take anything away from this night, it should be the need to spread kindness; and with her closing song she made us sing the lyrics “I want you to love me as I am” back to her, like we really meant it.

Milo @ The F leece, Bristol Words by Rowan Lees

Rap tour partners Open Mike Eagle and Milo are no strangers to the road. Having travelled the lengths of America on many occasions the two have honed their live show craft down to a science. Back in March they arrived to a sold out crowd at The Fleece, a venue not exactly known for their hip hop gigs, an brought together an awkward bunch of previously disbanded indie rap fans from all corners of the South.

The show was a display of striking lyrical ability and impressive live beat manipulation, with moments of aggression, humour, and wonder. He occupied the stage armed with only a SP-404 and a microphone, seeming to choose his set-list on the spot from an array of Milo and (self producing moniker) scallops hotel projects “nah fuck it we’re not playing that one anymore”. All tunes were delivered to the expectant and enthusiastic crowd with an unerring confidence that bordered sometimes on rage. Milo moved in the silence between songs with the finesse of a stand up comedian, one time replying to an audience member that his drum machine was actually just a huge iPod and, after further friendly heckling, auctioning it off to a winning bid of £421.

Although OME was by all accounts brilliant, debuting new works and standouts from Brick Body Kids Still Daydream with gorgeous live instrumentation, I fell short on my live reviewing duties in order to chat to Milo himself post-gig (which you can read all about online at cardiffstudentmedia.com/quench/category/music).

Words by Erin Brown

The Script @ The Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff Words by Steph Rowe

Back in February, I went to go see The Script at Cardiff Motorpoint Arena. I knew I would have a brilliant time as I love the venue; there isn’t a bad view in the whole building which is essential when you’re as short as me! Plus, it’s only a short walk away from the centre, so after the concert you can walk quickly into town and continue to boogie the night away! Being a huge fan of the script when I was younger, my 15 year-old self was loving all the old songs such as ‘The Man Who Can’t Be Moved’ and ‘Breakeven’. They started the night by appearing on a big podium at the back of the arena, which was great as even those who weren’t at the front got a good view at some point in the evening! Then the band walked through the crowd to the main stage where they did most their songs. They were so good at interacting with everyone as Danny threw his jacket into the crowd (I was very jealous when I found the girl who caught it wearing it in Live Lounge later that night), he walked through the screaming fans to get to the front stage and then later took photos with the lucky people who had seats in the balconies. It was a night that I think all ages could enjoy as confetti came down from the ceilings driving everyone wild, and let’s be honest, who could resist screaming out the lyrics to ‘Hall of Fame’!

Sigrid @ Motion, Bristol Words by Charlie Minett

Norwegian pop-sensation Sigrid bounced onto the stage oozing the most modest dose of confidence you will ever see. She began by performing her second single ‘Plot Twist’.

She has only released a handful of songs, therefore, most of the gig was dedicated to showcasing her unreleased material, dangling hints of an album in each member of the audience’s impatient faces. The set-list was very varied, going from a jumpy pop song to kicking her band off stage and performing acoustically. A particular stand-out moment from the show was her acoustic track Dynamite. The whole crowd was swaying and gracefully singing the entire song back to her and you could hear a pin drop in the brief moments of silence. This followed onto another unreleased acoustic track. Or at least we thought it was an acoustic one, until the thudding bass startling the crowd and the drum beat picked up, out of absolutely nowhere. But Sigrid knew this was coming and dramatically stamped in perfect timing with the sudden beat. Even though she is a small, innocent girl, wearing plain clothes and a simple ponytail, she has so much stage presence. This is due to her sassy dance moves and lyrics, infectious smile and pure shock when anyone gives her a round of applause. We love you Sigrid.

49 FASHION & BEAUTY

Words by Elizabeth Beckett Design by Katie Huxtable From a young age we hear “here comes the bride, all dressed in white.” Traditionally, brides would wear white dresses to prove their innocence and virginity to their husbands-to-be. A very outdated idea, western culture is still following this idea that women should have white traditional weddings. I can put my hands up and say that I am one of them.

Today in 2018, we still believe in wearing the white dress, long veil and having the perfect wedding. While brides no longer wear white to prove themselves, there is something about conforming to the idea of a perfect wedding that still appeals to many.

When else can you wear a white dress?

Hollywood has continuously fed us the idea of the perfect wedding. With romantic comedies such as Bridal Wars, there two women literally fight against each other to have the perfect wedding, to 27 Dresses where the protagonist dreams of finally have her own perfect wedding while dealing with her ‘Bridezilla’ of a sister. Bridesmaids, Muriel’s Wedding, Wedding Crashers and Father of the Bride all center around these ideas of perfects weddings, brainwashing us to believe that, as women, it what we should have for our own weddings. And it works!

Watching Bride Wars recently, I can admit that I cried a little at the end when they have their weddings…while my partner scoffed and informed me that he thinks weddings are pointless…. His idea of a perfect wedding is popping down to the registry office and going for drinks at our local Spoons. He’s so romantic.

Speaking of romance, Sex and the City: the Movie gave hope to single women all over the world. Audiences finally got to witness Carrie Bradshaw and John James Preston, aka Big, get married. But when Carrie ‘found the dress’; a simple, white tea length dress in a vintage shop, best friend Charlotte couldn’t hide her disappointment.

“It’s pretty, but it’s so simple.” The film concludes with a simple wedding, at the courthouse, in her simple dress.

That was what works for them.

IMAGE BY STEVER- VIA FLICKR.

50

Sex and the City: the Movie revolutionized the idea of the perfect wedding, moving away from the big white wedding to something more personalized.

However, TV shows like Say Yes to the Dress and I Found the Gown are killing this idea of the creative bride and a non-white wedding. Whenever alternative brides arrive at the salon and ask for a dress with a bit of colour, the sales assistants panic. They don’t have any. Brides are shown a small handful of dresses; mostly either off-white or pastel coloured dresses. Bridal boutiques are unable to supply a wide range of dresses that fall outside of the traditional bridal look.

Controversial and audience favourite TV show Don’t tell the Bride, find the grooms planning out of the box, nontraditional weddings to surprise their bride with. While the majority of brides’ hate what has been planned, these are the styles of weddings that couples are choosing to have; underwater, while on a bungee-jump or while floating around the lazy river at Universal Adventure Island (yes these weddings actually happened.)

However, brides are now daring to be different and putting a spin on the idea of a white wedding. A lot of modern brides are choosing to wear pastel coloured weddings dresses instead of the traditional white. Celebrities are particularly guilty of pink dress; Jessica Biel wore a pink Giambattista Valli haute couture gown when she wedded Justin Timberlake in 2012. Kaley Cuoco wore a pink Vera Wang gown in 2013 at her wedding to Ryan Sweeting and who could forget, the bubblegum pink ball gown Katie Price wore to her wedding to Peter Andre.

As we enter a new age for women, with the rise of #MeToo and #TimesUp, traditional ideas of how women must look, particularly at weddings are being thrown out the window. Luckily, celebrities are leading the way in

outside the box weddings and the idea of the bride.

Amber Tamblyn wore nameless, simple yellow dresses to her non-tradition wedding, walking barefoot up the aisle during her outdoor wedding next to a lake.

Instead of carrying bouquets of flowers, Brides are wearing colourful broaches, folding flowers made from different fabrics or jewels or even carrying feathers down the aisle.

Kristen Bell married Dax Sheppard wearing a black trouser and top set with a large silver statement necklace, her husband wore a black tux complete with a bow tie as Bell held a single flower during the ceremony.

Tradition for men has been known to change. Once made to wear top hats and tails with gloves, men are now opting for simple, classic suites and in other colours than black. Beach weddings often see men in no suit at all but in linins and even shorts.

And most recently, Emily Ratajkowski married her boyfriend in a £120 mustard yellow Zara pantsuit, paired with a black floppy veiled hat; her small box veil the only thing that could allude to her dressed in a wedding ensemble. Emily rocked that pantsuit in a way only she could and while she looked fabulous, personally, I’m still not convinced.

Today, you can even find couples planning their wedding around their favourite television programmes or films.

One couple dressed as John Snow and Daenerys Targaryen to wed and another wedding saw the Joker and Harley Quinn final get married. If I were to renew my vows in the future, this I definitely something that I would look into!

There is nothing to say that there is anything wrong with the traditional wedding and white wedding dress.

Celebrities get the chance to wear these amazing dresses all the time so they can experiment when it comes to their wedding. Us lowly normal people dress up for prom and our wedding. I am among the many women who have been planning their wedding for years, even though I am not even close to getting engaged. Almost every detailed of my dream wedding is planned to a classical T, but many women are finding different ways to break away from the tradition and are putting their own personalities into their weddings instead of losing themselves to the idea of what a wedding is and should look like.

Couples are moving away from the perfect white wedding and doing what suits them as a couple. As we all know, the idea of a wedding is to marry the person you love. Whether you do that naked or in a fashionable yellow Zara suit, you are still having the perfect wedding.

Brides with tattoos, instead of hiding them away, are embracing the beauty of their ink and bearing for all to see.

While bridal magazines are publishing articles about wedding ideas of ‘offbeat’ ‘non-tradition’ and ‘the antibride’, these ideas are becoming the new normal and tradition is being lost to individuality. With all the publicity received from Emily Ratajkowski’s forward thinking and stylish wedding, this will hopefully give future brides the confidence to deviate from tradition.

I, however, will be sticking to my guns and get married in a beautiful stately home, carry a classic bouquet of red roses and wear a gorgeous white dress that I will only wear once.

51 FASHION

words by sarah harris design by katie huxtable

Over the years, Depop has become a revolutionary app amongst today’s youth.

Having scored a few Huda Beauty Liquid Mattes for less than £10 and an Anastasia Beverley Hills Glow Kit for a whopping £15, the app is my go-to when I’m looking for high-end makeup and clothing at an affordable price. Not only that but it’s also incredibly useful when I’m doing a bit of spring cleaning and want to send some preloved pieces from my wardrobe to a new home.

If you’ve never heard of the app, it’s described as “part Instagram, part eBay,” and basically allows for users to buy and sell whatever they want. Of course when selling an item, they take their own small cut but considering the ease and accessibility of the app, it’s not really a huge deal. Like Instagram, you can like and comment on the pictures too, as well as being able to follow fellow users. The plus side however, is you could actually own all the pretty items you admire and usually for a fairly decent price too.

Depop’s ethos boasts individuality and creativity and it is the perfect playground for emerging designers and artists who need a starting point. But what makes the app so successful that over years since its launch its managed to build a user base of over 8 million people from all corners of the world?

Why choose Depop over similar outlets such as eBay or Etsy? User @plusvintage told Quench that they chose Depop, “because it has a really unique social aspect to it that you don’t see on other websites. It’s great to be able to create your aesthetic and brand and have a style people recognise as yours”.

‘Plus Vintage’ has a following of over 3000 people on Depop, a number which is rapidly growing day by day. “I think the reason I’ve grown so fast is because I’ve stuck to a certain look and refined it as much as I can.

I love that I’m able to interact with people by following and private messaging them. It really helps to build a personal audience and makes every sale feel a lot more personal and involved”.

It’s clear Depop is doing something right which is attracting today’s millennials. But it’s not just the latest generation that’s using the app, with celebrities taking to the platform in hopes of selling their own personal items and often raising money for charity.

Retired NBA star, Shaquille O’Neal uses Depop to sell beloved basketball memorabilia and current IT girls, Lottie Moss and Emily Ratajkowski sell once loved items that were hiding away in the corners of their wardrobes.

Depop, in its own unique manner reminds us that even the most iconic of celebrities are just like us.

IMAGE - Bohemian Futurist via Flickr (https://flic.kr/p/QGJQKw)

52 Over the years, Depop has become a revolutionary app amongst today’s youth. Having scored a few Huda Beauty Liquid Mattes for less than £10 and an Anastasia Beverley Hills Glow Kit for a whopping £15, the app is my go to when I’m looking for high-end makeup and clothing at an affordable price. Not only that, but it’s also been incredibly useful when I’m doing a bit of spring cleaning and want to send some pre-loved pieces from my wardrobe to a new home.

If you’ve never heard of the app, it’s described as “part Instagram, part eBay,” and basically allows for users to buy and sell whatever they want. Of course, when selling an item, they take their own small cut but considering the ease and accessibility of the app, it’s not really a huge deal. Like Instagram, you can like and comment on the pictures too, as well as being able to follow fellow users. The plus side however, is you could actually own all the pretty items you admire and usually for a fairly decent price too.

Depop’s ethos boasts individuality and creativity and it is the perfect playground for emerging designers and artists who need a starting point. But what makes the app so successful that over years since its launch it has managed to build a user base of over 8 million people from all corners of the world? Why choose Depop over similar outlets such as eBay or Etsy? User @plusvintage told Quench that they chose Depop, “because it has a really unique social aspect to it that you don’t see on other websites. It’s great to be able to create your aesthetic and brand and have a style people recognise as yours”. ‘Plus Vintage’ has a following of over 3000 people on Depop, a number which is rapidly growing day by day. “I think the reason I’ve grown so fast is because I’ve stuck to a certain look and refined it as much as I can. I love that I’m able to interact with people by following and private messaging them. It really helps to build a personal audience and makes every sale feel a lot more personal and involved”.

1. @CLUBTROPICANAVTG This is one of the best accounts to follow for all things vintage, colourful and funky. Priding themselves in their wide range of gender-neutral clothing, Club Tropicana has everything from oversized jumpers to dungarees. Each item is unique and quirky and begging for a place in your wardrobe.

2. @THEMARCONCOURTPROJECT Recycling existing clothing to create original pieces, accounts like this are the reason Depop is so great! The Marcon Court Project aims to reduce waste in the garment industry and they’re doing a great job so far! For edgy clothing, this is the account to follow.

3. @IDEASTORE Based in London, IDEA Store don’t only sell their own branded clothing, but vintage copies of magazines from all over the world. It’s perfect for gifting and they have some issues dating back to the mid 90’s. If anyone would like to buy me the May 1993 issue of Vogue Italia, you know where to look.

4. @ABINAGENDRAM If you’re a book lover, Abi’s Books should be the first account you should follow. The concept is simple and charming, avid book lover Abi finds books and wraps them in plain brown paper and writes 2-3 bullet points, hinting at the genre of the book. It’s an exciting way to find your next read and a great way to keep buyers on their toes.

5. @LANABERRY Lanaberry Online makes the cutest, and I mean the cutest accessories from brooches to sunglasses. They’re cheap, pretty and will definitely have people asking you where you got them from!

6. @SOLDSOLES Depop has made a huge mark in the sneaker industry and Sold Soles is one of the many success stories. Featuring induvial pairs from Nike to New Balance, Sole Soles is a great account if you’re in the market for a new pair of creps at an affordable price.

Image by ZCOOL via 7482.net.

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WORDS BY:BETHAN LAWRENCE DESIGN BY: LUCY APRAHAMIAN

Awards season is typically the time for actors and actresses to adorn glamorous and elaborate gowns, competing for not only best acting awards but best dressed. However, recently the red carpet conversation has been transitioned from “who are you wearing?” to “what are you standing for?”

In recent months, there has been a massive upheaval in the conversation that dominates Hollywood. Every week brings another highprofile reminder of patriarchal entitlement, from the expansive sexual misconduct of one of the most powerful men in the film industry Harvey Weinstein to to the former Oxfam boss Roland van Hauwermeiren, it is clearer than ever that something needs to change in a culture where those in power systematically seek to oppress and exploit. Since this news was coming so often, the #MeToo movement, originally started by Tarana Burke, picked up speed and started to gain a lot of attention. The #MeToo movement, focuses on the solidarity of women who have been sexually assaulted. All over the world, women have been identifying with the stories shared. Maybe you found yourself nodding as you recalled similar moments in your own might have seen #MeToo. You may have said: “Me too.” Having become a worldwide phenomenon, searched for on Google in 196 countries in the past year, the cultural and social shift has been undeniable. For the first time ever, women’s movements has been made centre spotlight. With people finally listening.

Tarana Burke’s #MeToo campaign became the forefront of the red carpet with with ‘Time’s Up’. The movement was started by the actresses of Hollywood that stand in solidarity with victims of sexual assault at the Golden Globes.

Most, if not all, of the guests attending the awards wearing black in an act of resistance.

Furthermore, actresses including Emma Stone, Meryl Streep and Angelina Jolie brought activists along to the awards, with Michelle Williams bringing Burke herself. It is the actresses taking a stand with all the people who have been victims of sexual assault, and is a call to prevent it along with standing in solidarity with the victims. Thus it is no surprise that black featured heavily on the FW18 catwalks, with the Saint Laurent show dominated by black, Tom Ford featuring a bag that says ‘Pussy Power’ and Alexander Wang even dedicating his collection to the women he works with.

FASHION & BEAUTY

WHO ARE YOU WEARING?

54

At the Oscars, the campaign didn’t cease, with the reversal of the all-black dress code to incorporate a prism of colour, with the Time’s Up campaign tweeting “Tonight, our sisters will be wearing a festive array of colours and TimesUp pins, representing this vast movement of women everywhere”, and at the Grammy Awards, musicians including Lady Gaga and Cyndi Lauper donned white clothing or carried a white rose.

For many, it may seem futile that a dress code dominates a campaign, however what is important is that the privileged women in the entertainment industry are wearing the plight of not only their afflictions, but the universal struggle of women to avoid assault and harassment. And since Time’s Up movement entered the spotlight, more than $21 million has been raised to enable women in less fortunate occupations to pursue workplace harassment cases.

Sexual harassment hits close to home, with 62 percent of students and graduates having experienced sexual violence whilst at university, and a third of students feeling pressured into doing something sexual. It is even more alarming that only 2 percent of those experiencing sexual violence felt happy with the university reporting process and, more importantly, 57% of these instances, the perpetrator was known to the student. Lad culture, for example, is yoked in the deluded privilege of misogyny, and remains a dominating force at universities. With many millennials still subscribing to toxic masculinity, the terrifying truth remains that patriarchal entitlement has become indoctrinated within a society that aims to repress the female voice.

Therefore, the women of Hollywood wearing black is so much more than another outfit.

Rather it is key to a groundbreaking anti-sexual assault and women’s empowerment movement that has initiated palpable upheaval in public conversation about women’s issues around the world, elevating the global consciousness surrounding the plight women suffer on both personal and professional levels. As Oprah Winfrey stated at the very end of her recipient speech of the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the Golden Globes, “a new day is on the horizon.

And when that new day finally dawns, it will be because of a lot of magnificent women, many of whom are right here in this room tonight, and some pretty phenomenal men, fighting hard to make sure that they become the leaders who take us to the time when nobody ever has to say ‘me too’ again.”

55 FASHION & BEAUTY

Models - Chloe Francis, Grace Knight, Rosie Dawson, Meg Sharma Photography - Rachel Jefferies

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Blue trousers - Topshop Tall ÂŁ19 Bandeau top - Depop

Lilac bandeau - Depop Trousers - PrettyLittleThing

Glitter - Dizzy Pineapple

Blue bandeau - Clueless Crowd Pink + purple eyeshadow - BH Cosmetics Sixth Edition 120 palette Orange eyeshadow - Morphe 35B

CULTURE

“Clothes aren't going to change the world, the women who wear them will” - Anne Klein

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2.5 Million

BANFF

Pedal Pedal Taken by Scott Hardesty Taken by Scott Hardesty

“We always have a fantastic audience in Cardiff, filled with dynamic and active people who can really appreciate the incredible films on show” – Nell Teasdale, Tour Director The latest instalment of the extraordinary outdoor documentaries from the Banff Mountain Film Festival tempted hordes of gore-tex clad disciples to watch the antics of their outdoor heroes.

Known for its prestigious status as one of the greatest film festivals in the world, this year’s showing of the Banff Film Festival, at Cardiff St David’s Centre, definitely did not disappoint. The festival has toured over 600 locations, with showings in every continent, and included a programme of nine incredible stories.

The first film Ace and the Desert Dog featured the comical duo of adventure photographer Ace Kvale and his trusty sidekick Genghis Khan (AKA Desert Dawg) and their 60 day backpacking trip around the Utah Canyon Country. The film captures stunning scenery, a couple of hill top singing sessions (by both dog and man) and highlights the deep and special connection between man, animals and nature.

Up next was the bitesize, but no less stunning, documentary Johanna by freediver Johanna Nordblad. Through truly spectacular cinematography, Nordblad shows how a tragic biking accident led to her discovery of another otherworldly sport. As an audience member, you could not help but feel your heart race as she span through the water, her hands pressed up against the underside of the ice. At moments she looked trapped beneath the ice, but by the end of the documentary you knew that she was exactly where she wanted to be. Every audience member was left envious of her skill and how a single breath transported her to a world of liquid silence.

After a couple more fantastic showings, there was a break where I was able to ask one of the main Banff sponsor Cotswold Outdoor what they thought of the event: “Banff is a fantastic and inspirational festival which really encourages people to get outdoors and make their own adventures”. Attendees were also encouraged to make a donation to the Central Beacons Wales Mountain Rescue service, in order to rebuild and replace equipment lost in a recent devastating fire. After chatting to their team about their cause, I would encourage you to make a donation at www.cbmrt.org.uk and also to find out more about their work.

After a prize draw, it was back to business and we were treated to the main feature documentary DugOut. The film showcased British filmmaker Benjamin Sadd and artist James Trundle’s unusual challenge of building a traditional dugout canoe and then

paddling it through the jungles of Ecuador. Spending a month with Bay Nenquiwi, dugout expert from the Huaorini territory, and his family Sadd and Trundle adapt to a harsher existence and skilfully capture an extraordinary landscape and way of life. Yet, after completing their boat, their challenge has only only just begun as they set off along the breath-taking rivers of Ecuador. Through striking cinematography - and a couple of close shaves - this documentary highlights the beauty, ferocity and durability people are capable of and provides a glimpse into a disappearing way of life.

The final film of the night, Safety Third, captured an entirely different message to those in previous documentaries. While others focused on the emotion felt in each adventure this documentary was much more technical and down to earth. It simultaneously managed to highlight the danger of the solo rock climbing sport whilst also demonstrating its’ peculiar beauty, of how being being one slip away from serious injury makes you take a breath and live in the moment. The documentary presents the story of Brad Gobright one of the most talented US climbers, and probably one of the craziest - who knew that stale doughnuts are an excellent sources of climbing energy? It follows the journey of an unexpected, unorthodox and unknown climbing legend and his fight to overcome serious injury and conquer his most difficult adventure yet: a free solo of El Dorado Canyon, one of Colorado’s most dangerous climbs.

The films this year were astonishing, pushing the limits of adventure sports, expectations and even world records. Each story was engaging and transported the audience to different stunning worlds where incredible feats were being performed.

I cannot wait to attend next year’s screening.

Words by Ilona Cabral

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THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER WORDS BY HARRY DIXON

PHANTOM THREAD WORDS BY JOSH ELLIS

The Killing of a Sacred Deer is a film which oozes tension from every frame. Its fundamental premise is taken from the Ancient Greek myth of Iphigenia, and director Yorgos Lanthimos recalibrates it into a film which gives a sense of foreboding with an air of David Lynchian uncanniness to it; everything seems slightly offkilter and the grumbling, imposing soundtrack keeps tone tightly-wound.

Colin Farrell leads the film as an empathetic neurosurgeon with Barry Keoghan delivering a soul-curdlingly sinister performance as the ominous, enigmatic young man whose interest in the doctor is dubious. A very strange tale of revenge which is worth investing the un-comfortability into.

I never imagined loving a film about dressmaking as much as I do, but in Phantom Thread, Paul Thomas Anderson has created a picture as delicate as the act of dressmaking itself. Phantom Thread is tightly woven, with delicate measures of perfection laced throughout. From the razor-sharp dialogue, to the stunning soundtrack composed by Johnny Greenwood. The acting is supreme, with the brilliance of Daniel Day Lewis very nearly outshined by excellent performances from Lesley Manville and Vicky Krieps.

A beautifully spun and eccentric narrative with lavish visuals of cursed love; Phantom Thread has become an Anderson favourite of mine.

CALL ME BY YOUR NAME WORDS BY FIN STOCKTING

THE GREATEST SHOWMAN WORDS BY JOANNE BROCKBANK

Call Me By Your Name depicts a sun blushed summer in 1980’s Northern Italy, and the blossoming relationship of a precocious 17-year-old student (Timothee Chalamet) and a visiting archaeologist (Armie Hammer) to his parents’ home. Set to a backdrop of crystalline rivers, the ripe fruits of sophisticated culture and a timeless Sufjan Stevens soundtrack, Luca Guadagnino’s homoerotic masterpiece dares to grapple with themes of identity, desire and the volatile nature of beauty in a way that feels deeply personal, yet allencompassing. The pinnacle of cinema last year, CMBYN also further exemplifies the wonderful progression being made with LGBT representation in film.

I hate The Greatest Showman. I hate how I loved the songs, and now impulsively sing them around my house. I hate how I told myself I would hate it but secretly loved it. The thing is, it’s not like your standard musical.

It’s not over-hyped and incredibly boring like La La Land was. It doesn’t make you despise every time they burst spontaneously into song, and it doesn’t feel like it drones on for 18+ hours. If anything you kind of want it to go on for longer. Anyway, it’s amazing. 10/10, go and see it ASAP.

Quench’s top five films.

THE SHAPE OF WATER WORDS BY RACHEL SHUTTLEWORTH I really enjoyed this film! The acting by Sally Hawkins as the main character Eliza was incredible. Viola Davis’ performance as Zelda was honestly one of my favourite things about this film - her character and her acting complimented Sally Hawkins’ character so well and vice versa. The special effects were incredible in the film with the amphibian man’s suit looking like a homage to the Creature from the Black Lagoon. The soundtrack by Alexandre Desplat complimented it so well by giving the two main characters a voice in the film’s soundtrack. Overall, it was a brilliant film.

FILM & TV

The time has come folks, to round up our favourite films of the year since our first issue of Quench. We’ve seen some incredible films, from remakes of old classics to some movies we can’t remember life without. Here are some of Quench’s favourites since September.

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61 FILM & TV

DESIGN BY: ASHLEY BOYLE

“I’ve finally come up with a pointless answer - who needs a degree?”

“But Richard Osman is a national treasure!”

“Say it with me,

“They’re all the same and

Bradley, let The

definitely not as good as they

Chase, begin!”

were!”

These are only a few comments said when we’re granted the pleasure of finally agreeing on something to watch with your housemates. After scrolling through endless Bargain Hunt, Emmerdale omnibuses and Homes Under the Hammer from 2006, Alexander Armstrong has won again. You may feel educated, informed and smart after guessing a few questions right in a row on Who Wants to be a Millionaire, but we do need to ask ourselves, are they really as beneficial as we once thought when we got a £1,000 question correct.

You sit down in the living room with your housemates, turn on the telly and no one can decide what to watch. After ten minutes of channel flicking, Netflix browsing and IMBD scouring you finally settle on a programme… looks like you’re watching The Chase, again. Why? Well, because game shows are undeniably a crowd pleaser for many reasons.

First of all, game shows are, in their own way, educational. The knowledge they provide us with may sometimes seem a little redundant, but still, they are teaching us something and more importantly, stimulating our minds.

They have also taught us that our mental maths skills will never compete with Rachel Riley’s brain, and let’s not forget Loveday teaching us that ‘hapax legomenon’ is not a spell from a JK Rowling novel, but in fact a real word (although most of us are probably still wondering what it actually means).

Game shows are also great because they make you feel good. Whether it’s answering a series of questions correctly and wondering why on earth you didn’t apply to Oxbridge, or whether you invest your whole heart into supporting the underdog, game shows are made to bring a little bit of joy to our day. Yes, some people might snigger or stick their nose up at the ridiculousness, but that’s what makes them so fun.

Which brings us to the next point: fun! With nothing actually at stake when you’re shouting what your answers at the television, you’re can’t deny that you’re having a blast. Because really, is it possible to watch a game show and not participate? If ever there was a time where you can get out your borderline maniacal competitive side and not be judged, this TV viewing experience is it.

And lastly, at risk of sounding too cliché, game shows bring people together.

Let’s face it, the sacred act of sitting down with your nearest and dearest to watch your favourite evening gameshow is - arguably - ingrained in British culture. Looking back on their childhood, most people can remember watching a game show: Who Wants to be a Millionaire?, The Weakest Link, Mastermind. It’s a tradition. It’s an institution that’s almost as old as the television itself; the first ever game show called Spelling Bee was aired 80 whole years ago, in 1938.

Granted, game shows are never going to be the epitome of quality TV, even with Paxman as host, but they could be compared to a good pop-song; people hate to love them, but nevertheless, the love is there. Long live the game show!

There was a time, not so long ago, when quiz shows were genuinely enjoyable to watch. Whether witnessing another trademark Anne Robinson burn on The Weakest Link, keeping up with Chris and Judith on Eggheads, or watching Jasper Carrott oversee some downright heartless deceit on Golden Balls, you knew where you stood. The formats were straightforward, the cash prize was relatively large, and the stakes were high. Unfortunately, those heady days are now but a distant memory. The quiz show genre has enjoyed enormous success since the 1990s and has also proved hugely financially rewarding for producers, with the aforementioned Carrott selling his shares in Celador, the makers of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? for £10 million in 2006! This success has left everyone wanting a slice of the action, leading to a saturation of flimsy and confusing shows, made simply in order to compete with rival broadcasters, in which the speed of production takes precedence over content. This leads to boredom amongst audiences and, subsequently, early cancellations – cases in point include Sky One’s One Hundred and Eighty (8 episodes), BBC One’s The Guess List (6 episodes), and ITV’s 500 Questions (4 episodes). Remember them? Thought not.

But what exactly makes these shows so bad?

Put simply, there is just no excitement anymore. Whilst each show attempts to stand out with their own innovative quirk, the majority ultimately follow the same general format of simple questions, low money and easy ways out. For example, The Chase, ITV’s flagship tea-time quiz show, is hosted by the lovable Bradley Walsh, and showcases some of the finest (and not so finest) minds on TV. However, it is also a breeding ground for cowardice and inequity. Any show that presents an opportunity for contestants to take a MINUS OFFER in order to progress to the final and split a prize fund to which they have contributed nothing to is bound to make my blood boil. Oh, you took the -£2k offer did you Paul?

Well done, help yourself to fifty percent of Jenny’s hard-earned £60,000. Seriously, where’s the justice there? Even when there is no treachery afoot, some prizes aren’t even worth competing for. Take Pointless, for example, a brilliantly innovative show that tests its contestants and the audience at home. Jackpot starting at a grand? Not worth it mate. Perhaps I am missing the point of such quiz shows, but I want to see more drama, more tears, more explosions. I want to see someone on the verge of winning it all, only for their dreams to come crashing down at the last moment. And so, I end with my rallying cry: BRING BACK DEAL OR NO DEAL. Just without Noel Edmonds.

By Nadia Steggell

By John Jones

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Semesters on Screen words by

elizabeth beckett

Thanks to film and television, we all have a preconception on what we think our life at university will be like before we’ve even got there. Drinking, sex, drugs and parties are the four staples of university and college life.

But how do these preconceptions measure up in real life?

Currently a Masters student at Cardiff and having completed my undergraduate degree in America, I have had the opportunity to experience two different kinds of student life.

It’s safe to say that I had a very stereotypical idea of what it would be like as a student in America but also as British student in America. You wouldn’t believe how many times I had to say ‘tea and crumpets’ or ‘Doctor Who’. But the reason I had all these preconceptions of American university was thanks to Hollywood.

Teen blockbusters like Bad Neighbors, The House Bunny and Sorority Row illustrate a glamorized and over-the-top sorority/fraternity party culture. No one can forget the huge blacklight weed party thrown at the end of Bad Neighbors. Using the house as one massive bong is outrageous but it is still an extreme expectation of American university.

Somehow, Bad Neighbors managers to capture all the main stereotypes we imagine about American universities.

I have to say, that my first weekend on campus was the first time I had smoked weed…I was pretty much Nora from Bad Neighbors 2. America has a huge drug culture in college, whether it is film or reality. Very straight-laced while at school, I took advantage of all new experiences and by my first weekend, not only had I smoked for the first time, I had been to a fraternity, been to a football game and partied at the swim team’s house whilst playing beer pong, an American college staple, and played Kings (Ring of Fire in the UK).

Having attended a few ‘Football House Parties’ it’s clear that the majority of football players think they are the shit. I just liked to remind them that rugby players pretty much do the same thing without all the padding. However, there is a very strong sense of school spirit in America with tailgates for every football game and the homecoming football games turning into a whole weekend event, as seen in Bad Neighbors 2.

Although, once again, I had been unlucky to never see Zac Efron gyrating in the middle of a tailgate. While sports aren’t as funded and supported overall in the UK, we do have a few sporting events that bring students together to support their school. Cambridge and Oxford have their boat race and we have the much loved Cardiff versus Swansea rugby match. Go Varsity!!

Just going to throw in a mention for Gossip Girl…while they eventually all move on to university, I think we can all agree that there is no way that anyone who isn’t filthy rich can relate to their lifestyle…apart from maybe the sex.

So let’s actually talk about sex. Sex is featured in every college and university film and television programme.

“And remember, once they start kissing, we’ve only got a few minutes before they go upstairs and start fucking” - Bad Neighbors.

Sex in university is exploited as slutty, dirty and incestuous. Probably because it is.

Eskimo brothers and Pogo sisters are everywhere unless you are one of those beautiful people who are in a loving relationship during university. I salute you! And it isn’t just in America because of course, what else would connect the US and the UK other than portrayal of student sex?

One thing I would like to say about Bad Neighbors; frat boys don’t look like Zac Efron… unfortunately. Very disappointing really. Completely and utterly devastating.

The House Bunny also focuses on sorority Greek life. Set in LA, the Sorority Zeta end up throwing a huge Aztec party, complete with erupting volcano. In reality, sororities don’t tend to throw parties. It mainly comes down to the fact that sororities aren’t allowed to have alcohol in their houses and can be fined or put on probation if this rule is broken.

Sororities focus on sisterhood and philanthropy. But it’s fine for fraternities to throw parties, where they have special ‘jungle juice’ only for ladies. As Chloe Grace Mortez’s character in Bad Neighbors 2 says, “this is a sexist and restrictive system”.

Fresh Meat is possibly the best but one of the very few university student orientated sitcoms to be on British TV and the most relatable representation of student life in Britain. A bunch of strangers are thrown together and end up becoming really good friends, occasionally hooking up and enjoying casual drink and drug together. One aspect of University that is demonstrated perfectly in Fresh Meat, aside from the drinking, drugs and sex, is the bonding of friendship. Looking at JP, he starts off as the most hated person in the house and the others attempt to get him to leave the house but the series ends up with them all as close friends…but still think JP is a bit of a twat.

This is one of the main concepts of university that is overlooked in film and television.

Sporting culture in American universities is also widely depicted on screen. Blue Mountain State highlights the American Football culture in college, along with the staples of sex, drugs, binge drinking and parties. Football players are portrayed as the top dogs on campus…and unfortunately in reality, they are and they’re not shy about it going to their heads.

Often university films end up concluding with the newly formed relationships that have been built during the characters time as students, something that we can all relate to, from first year bonding to third year goodbyes. The girls of Kappa Nu in Bad Neighbors 2 learn about sisterhood, as do the sister of Zeta in The House Bunny. Brian mends his relationship with Alice in Starter for 10 and even the Kings and Queens of Gossip Girl who somehow managed to breeze through university way too easily, prove that everything turns out right in the end and that’s something we can relate to.

63 FILM & TV

This delightful film ran us back to fanciful childhood memories, touring Windermere in search of a furry friend we all hoped to be real.

Those dreams appeared to come to life in this spectacular film. With multilayered humour that on the surface made Peter Rabbit initially look to be a relaxing and fun childhood adventure, adults were too, amused, with a plethora of witty jokes and clever puns. It seems as though the screenwriters did not write this film just for children, but for us oldies as well.

The film begins with Peter and his friends rumbling through Old McGregor’s garden when a slight dilemma gets in the way, forcing Peter to come up against a younger, more valiant opponent in the never-ending competition for the garden. However, the giggle-worthy film becomes a heart-warming memoir and even includes Beatrix Potter’s original illustrations!

And, of course, there’s a tear-jerking plotline that will make your heart melt.

This film combines memories of your favourite childhood stories for its adult audience with the playful and clever scriptwriting, but can also amuse the younger target audience. With sentences like, “the ice cream truck, with the flashing lights!” is immediately is recognised by the older demographic, other lines are more obviously funny for the little ones. Altogether, the film is a feel-good comedy that children can enjoy whilst the adults too, can enjoy themselves.

By Hollie Winstanley

Alicia Vikander does not disappoint in this latest film adaptation of the classic video game.

The film follows Lara Croft (Alicia Vikander) as she travels to a mythical island off the coast of Japan in order to find her estranged father (Dominic West). Things on the island are not all that they seem, however, with Lara’s arrival putting the fate of humanity to the test.

Tomb Raider certainly stands out from previous video game adaptations. The story is convincing and exciting and does not rely on the viewer having previous knowledge of the video games. Vikander’s Lara Croft is fiercely independent and well-developed throughout the movie – a strong female character we can all get behind. Moreover, Walton Goggins does an excellent job portraying the effortlessly creepy Vogel, driven insane with loneliness after being trapped on the island at the mercy of his boss.

This film will have you on the edge of your seat and recoiling in horror as it follows Lara’s journey to find out the truth behind both her father’s disappearance, and the island itself. If you’re looking for a little excitement on a dreary Sunday afternoon then I cannot recommend Tomb Raider enough.

By Bethany Griffiths

This inspirational interpretation of Mary Magdalene’s journey as she becomes one of Jesus’ apostles, demonstrates how a historical and educational film can also be entertaining.

Joaquin Phoenix’s portrayal of Jesus stands out, as he encapsulates the role of the Messiah perfectly; through His preaching of God’s word and his true passion as He heals the community.

On the other hand, Rooney Mara’s depiction of Mary herself demonstrates Magdalene’s ability to be strong and equal to the male apostles around her and therefore displaying her power as she is not to be placed in anyone’s shadow which allows the film to become uplifting and empowering. Mara illustrates a tremendous likeness to her character, as she implies an undeniable and clear devotion to both her faith and love for Jesus, even seen from her first meeting with Him. Although this film was incredibly interesting and accurate to the story told in the bible, I would have liked to have seen more of the story. Perhaps through concentrating more on Mary herself or maybe if they told the story of what happened after Jesus’ resurrection. As a whole, this film definitely made me ask a lot of questions and even inspired me to look more into the history of Christianity.

By Indigo Jones

DESIGN BY: ASHLEY BOYLE

64 A plot as experimental, mind-expanding and boundary-breaking as the world of contemporary art itself, The Square must be watched with the uttermost of open minds.

A film written and directed by Ruben Ostlund, The Square is a bizarre yet profoundly insightful satirical take on the concept of contemporary art, methods for marketing it, PR and its relationship with the public. We follow the everyday life of Christian (Claes Bang), leading curator of Stockholms X-royal art museum, in his bid to advertise to the public the latest installment to the museums collection; ‘The Square’ by artist Lola Arias. Ostlund satirises the artist’s desperately docile and unassuming manifesto - “The Square’ is a sanctuary of trust and caring. Within it we all share equal rights and obligations” - and therefore the museum’s difficult task, aided by a PR agency, is to raise discussion and attention around the piece.

Amongst Christian’s daily responsibilities to the museum as curator, yet, there crops up a series of peculiar and disconnected events; the robbery of his wallet and phone in broad daylight as well as his involvement with American journalist Anne (Elisabeth Moss). As the plot unravels, it becomes clear that the director’s seemingly irrelevant focus on the robbery allows the audience to witness the disastrous political and social consequences of mismanaged PR and media activity.

Christian’s clouded judgement and awakening to his own selfish prejudices allow for his oversight of the museums reputation to fall by the wayside.

Advertising for ‘The Square’ becomes rapidly outlandish- if you had kept up this far then you are truly in for a rocky cinematic ride whereupon a performance artist (Terry Notay) is called upon to entertain the collection of affluent museum donors and friends. Based upon the true story of Russian artist Oleg Kulik’s infamous artistic performance of a dog, the violent and shocking animalistic performance demonstrates PR gone too far. Much of Ostlund’s satirical depiction is derived from true events in the sphere of contemporary art that raised particular media attention and controversy. Therefore, the film almost becomes a lesson; a parable for the those in the creative and communicative industries warning of mismanaged powers and responsibilities.

Extravagantly surrealist, generous in its dark humour and at 2 hours and 31 minutes long, this film may not be described as ‘light viewing’ and rather, requires a committed, yet crucially open, mind.

By Natalya Sareen-Kadach

There is no denying that Wes Anderson had set the bar high with his impeccably crafted stop-motion film ‘Fantastic Mr Fox’ back in 2011. Therefore, it goes without saying that ‘Isle of Dogs’ had a lot to live up to, and it sure didn’t disappoint. The minute detail that has been crafted into each shot is paramount to what has culminated this film as an artistic masterpiece. The storyline is enchanting; set in a dystopian nearfuture, the authoritarian town mayor of Megasaki in Japan, has taken a disgust of dogs and by using their ‘canine diseases’ as an excuse to dump them on the newly named ‘Trash Island,’ the dogs are left to fend for themselves. The nephew of the town mayor flies himself to the island in search for his banished dog but in doing so, ends up crashing, resulting in a group of dogs looking after him. The film follows the boy and dogs searching the island for his dog Spot, when in the meantime, in Megasaki, protestors and scientists work to both formulate a cure for the sick dogs, and bring them back to their owners. The political readings into this film would perhaps require another viewing and are somewhat open-ended; at one level it could be taken as a story of morals whereby the dogs are representations of humans being pushed into the margins of society. Moreover, the cultural appropriation may be of bad taste to some audiences but that does not disparage the universal feeling that this film provides; the loyalty between a dog and its owner.

This film has Anderson’s style splattered all over; he finds the beauty in the ugly, garbage landscapes of rotten food and grey skies are the paradox of the warmth that dogs provide. Woozy tones from the soundtrack and the musical cadences within the dialogue inject the film with a hazy ambience, providing the film with that 60’s style that Wes Anderson always achieves so charmingly. Keeping in line with his tradition of using the same actors from his previous films, Bill Murray, Edward Norton and Tilda Swinton to name a few make a reappearance. Yet there are those making their Wes Anderson debut who steal the hearts of the audience; YOKO ONO (yes, the real Yoko Ono!) plays an assistant scientist, who experiences heartbreak and then there is Koyu Rankin, aged just eleven, he voices the young boy Atari, speaking in Japanese throughout the film. It is a delightful watch, with the little quirks and ghoulish behaviours, at heart it still retains a slapstick finesse. It’s easy to forget that you are watching a stop-motion film due its fluidity and discrete details. However, the amount of time, equipment, energy, hard work and imagination that has been put into the creation of this film is remarkable and makes it an absolute must-see.

By Molly Wyatt

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The Bizarre Implications of (and Accepting That I’m a GPS Snap Maps addict) WORDS BY: JODIE BARNARD DESIGN BY: STEPH ROWE It’s hard to imagine 21st century life without GPS technologies. Whether we’re swiping right on Tinder, ordering Ubers or checking whether our friends got home safely - GPS is a key component to how our generation functions. The increased use of GPS receiving apps has sparked public concern, as every aspect of our lives is influenced by the satellites above us. Whilst seeking advice about this paragraph, I used Snaps Maps to check whether my bestfriend was in a lecture when she didn’t immediately answer my call. I learnt that she was at home before she’d had a chance to answer. We’re able to watch as our friends move around Cathays when at university, and watch as they move all over the globe when returning home. We can identify people’s exact addresses in both locations. Fun, right? Yet, this new age of technological tracking has some worrying implications.

GPS technology was originally developed for the US military in the 1970s. However, GPS is now of use in almost all industries and in applications that were unimaginable when originally devised (think Nike Run and Pokémon GO). The system includes 32 satellites and works to identify a point on earth in relation to 4 satellites at one time. All phones register their location with mobile networks several times a minute. This was explored in an episode of Gossip Girl that was aired in 2010.

Serena tracks Gossip Girl using her phone number, in an attempt to identify her.

However, the episode, despite being preGPS-receiving-

apps, explores its implications. Serena is lured to a dangerous party, mirroring stories of real life stories using GPS such as Pokémon GO. Where players in search of a Charmander risked their personal safety.

GPS receiving navigation apps and Sat-Nav systems have changed how our generation travel. They provide on-the-move navigation and have rendered asking for directions extinct.

This became especially evident to me only yesterday when my grandparents became lost in the maze of Cathays for two hours trying to find me (as they’re not equip with Google Maps, they relied on asking for directions).

Despite this implication seeming minor, it first drew my attention to that the use of GPS technology in creating an isolated generation.

We no longer ask for directions or even text a mate to ask where they are, we consult our satellite operated maps. The reliance upon GPS was further highlighted in Melbourne, Australia when a GPS navigation system guided a driver onto train tracks, narrowly avoiding death (there are SO many similar incidents).

In 2015, Chrome introduced a Facebook add-on named “Marauder’s Map”, an ode to J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter.

The add-on utilized Facebook’s pre-existing Messenger data, which tracks user locations by default, and used it to pinpoint individuals on a map. Messenger itself tracks location using GPS where longitude and latitude values have five decimal places, identifying locations to an accuracy of less than a meter (shocked? I was too). However, Facebook requested that “Marauder’s Map” was deactivated due to questions of user privacy.

What strikes me the most is the inherent similarity to Snapchat’s Snap Maps.

Snapchat launched the feature in 2017 to encourage users to facilitate social lives. After spotting a party on Snap Maps, Snapchat envisioned people going along to join (and not just sitting on their beds with an extreme case of FOMO).

Snap Maps has brought the implications of GPS to the forefront of public concern.

The feature uses your phone’s GPS sensor to display your location with friends on a street map. The feature is arguably the most simple and accessible use of GPS tracking technology. Snapchat itself has over 10million users within the UK each day. The feature enables people to build a profile of someone’s life; where they live, go to school or work. The implications on personal security are undeniably scary. I’m shocked that there has not been a serious incident as a result, and I wonder whether it’s just a case of time.

Snapchat opposes the security concerns as users can enable ghost mode, which prevents users being displayed on the map (guess who’s now in ghost mode).

Yet, despite the obvious security concerns, one of the more bizarre implications of Snap Maps are compromising friendships. The feature enables us to view who’s hosting a party we’re not invited to, whether people’s reasons for not attending our events are legit (are they actually at the library?) and to be spotted not leaving the house for a week in a hermit-like fashion, despite claiming to be busy (oops). I again, used Snap Maps whilst writing this segment of the article to check whether my mum was home (yes, my mum has Snapchat), before ringing her to ask her advice. She wasn’t, so I didn’t. Despite the novelty of Snap Maps, it’s impossible to deny that the use of GPS in this way has some serious implications.

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GPS technology has even more bizarre implications. One suggested idea for GPS technology is the development of robotic bees, programmed to pollenate specific flowers using GPS trackers. The idea is to counteract the predicted extinction of bees. However, scientists warn that with the ease of GPS hacking the ‘beebots’ could be programmed to deliver fatal poisonous stings.

Despite appearing a little sci-fi, when all is considered the poisonous robotic bees are possible thanks to GPS. Another unsuspected implication is one devised by the Met Police that uses GPS to track hundreds of phones in one location, allowing police to identify people in the areas, such as members of occupy movements, compromising individual’s privacy.

However, GPS is a positive development, especially in military operations and first aid responses. GPS has also been developed beneficially by companies in some more unusual ways:

· Bluesmart has devised luggage which can be tracked using GPS, meaning lost luggage is a thing of the past! · Ocearch has developed technology that tracks sharks and alerts if one becomes too close to the shore, avoiding potential fatalities. · AngelSense has devised a wearable devise to track autistic children and dementia patients who are prone to wandering off and endangering themselves.

This article has only scratched the surface of the bizarre implications and the benefits of GPS. It is undoubtedly a positive development preventing fatalities through first aid responses, aiding dementia patients and preventing shark attacks. Yet, whether you’re in search of gossip girl, sharing your location on Snap Maps or being stung by poisonous ‘beebots’, GPS technologies could potentially be life-threatening. I believe that exploiting GPS whether for entertainment or solely relying on it is where the implications lie rather than within the technology itself. As a result, we need to be cautious with our use of GPS.

67 TECHNOLOGY

The Show Musk Go On THE METEORIC RISE OF SPACEX, SOLARCITY, NEURALINK, OPENAI AND TESLA. THE GENIUS, BILLIONAIRE & PHILANTHROPIST WHO SHOWS NO SIGN OF STAGNATION. WORDS BY: REBECCA CORNISH DESIGN BY: STEPH ROWE Once described as ‘the real-life Iron Man’ by the Guardian, it’s easy to understand that if there were to be anyone in the world who would own a real Iron Man suit, it would be him. His remarkable rise in becoming the standard bearer for sweeping technological advances has been sudden, yet forthcoming.

Despite his current £51 million Bel Air residence, Elon Musk’s origins are somewhat humble and epitomise the very grassroots nature of the effects that mere hard work and determination can produce. Growing up in suburban South Africa with a single parent did not make for an easy upbringing. Especially considering the unpleasant bullying he faced, which once left him unconscious at the bottom of a flight of stairs after being knocked out cold by some rather vicious bullies. This didn’t stop him teaching himself programming and having sold the code for his first game at the tender age of 12. Skip forward a few years and he’s sold his first company, Zip2, for the small price of £221 million.

Arguably, this is the start of Elon’s revolution. The capital gained from the sale of this first company allowed him to endeavour into the depths of his ambition and transform in to the Elon we E-love today. His second company created, X.com, was his first area of technological revolt; banking. Unbeknownst to most, this company would merge to form one of the most used mediums of money transferral in the modern world, Paypal. Once Ebay purchased the website in 2002, Musk found himself £119 million better off. Not exactly a bad way to be in at 31 years old.

The familiar public territory of SpaceX has only really entered the public eye over the last two years, yet Musk’s ambitions of deep space exploration and utopian Martian aspirations can be traced back to as early as 2001 with his Mars Oasis project. Such ideas of creating a greenhouse on Mars to grow crops were done in the name of generating greater interest for space exploration, something which he felt was necessary as it had been almost 30 years since the last Apollo mission and the consequent cosmic interest surrounding the field. His early endeavours were arguably unsuccessful to the point of humour. In an attempt to purchase disused long range rockets from Russia for use in space, his ineptitude in the matter resulted in him being

spat on by one of the chief designers. Fortunately, this did not discourage him from founding SpaceX in 2002 with £72 million of his previously generated income.

Since then, the company has only continued to grow and break new boundaries. The first landing and successful landing of a reusable rocket stage in December of 2015 saw the first glimpse into the interstellar dynasty which Musk had been establishing outside of the public eye.

Subsequently, Musk has since landed the Falcon 9 on and unmanned drone ships as well as the Falcon Heavy (effectively three Falcon 9s attached to one another) in February earlier this year, the landing of which created one of the most visually pleasing sights of all time. If you’re going to do anything today, I sincerely consider you watch the video of the landing.

The thinking behind the Falcon series of rockets served as one of materialism and reduction of waste. From within the early stages of SpaceX, Musk had calculated that the greatest cost of rocket building came from the wasted elements of boosters that previously crashed and burned down to earth once used. This mindset can arguably be seen in his ventures into other fields. He is well known for his progressive mindset regarding climate change once stating that the move away from fossil fuels was ‘inevitable.’ His adoption of Tesla and foundation of SolarCity, which has since been subsumed by the former, show his dedication to the matter. Where Musk differentiates himself from the majority of eco-warriors is his approach. Despite the modern Teslas following a fairly rigid template of safe, advanced ‘everyday’ cars, the first Tesla served as a sports car, and a very fast one at that. Until this point, almost all electric cars had been diabolically slow, unreliable and required you to recharge them far too frequently for hours on end. Naturally, Tesla’s first car had its faults yet the car still served a key demonstration of the potential of electric cars and how they could be, dare I say it, cool.

Tesla’s supremacy recently expanded beyond the automotive industry solving a looming energy crisis within Southern Australia after a coal plant failed to supply enough power to 170,000 homes. What started as a small Twitter joke, turned into a wager of promising to solve the issue in ‘100 days or it’s free.’ Much to the displease of the fossil fuels lobby of the Australian parliament, the company successfully created the world’s largest sustainably powered battery ahead of schedule, capable of responding to any drops in overall power within milliseconds. Once more Musk had

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demonstrated his personal desire and enthusiasm in helping to advance the field of science and technology in a forward thinking, sustainable manner.

Notably, Musk has further ventured into the fields which have yet to produce any notable advances but are undoubtedly bound for prosperity. Whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the advancement of brain related artificial intelligence in his foundation of Neuralink in 2016 or The Boring Company to accommodate his Hyperloop concept for ultrafast travel, he clearly shows no signs of stopping in his personal desire to reform accelerate all sections of science and technology. His current achievements across all fields are unparalleled . Yet, arguably his real success stems from the impact that these advancements have had on public perception. Whilst the majority of people within this lifetime will not be affected by any of these changes, Musk has successfully regenerated long overdue interest around areas of the past and the future.

Whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s selling flamethrowers to fund his tunnel-digging enterprise or live streaming all SpaceX rocket launches for the whole world to eagerly watch on, Musk is prevailing in inspiring a whole new generation of aspiring innovators.

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WORDS BY: LUCA PELUZZI DESIGN BY: STEPH ROWE Before the Industrial Revolution, people lived more or less with the same technology their grandparents had grown up with. But in the last century, and very much so after the development of the Internet, technology has started to evolve with a frenetic rapidity.

Even though it has undoubtedly enhanced our opportunities and made our lives easier, this high-tech world has transformed many into technological servants.

But itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not the technology itself that has such an effect on us, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s how we master it that makes the big difference. Technology and social media today have huge implications on our political scene and the commercial word; data has been described as the new oil of our times, and it influences how we behave in our everyday life.

TECHNOLOGY

Technology: Servant or Master?

70 TECHNOLOGY

For example, shocking figures come from how we actually use our phone, and how more interestingly, how we think we use them: studies show that people use their smartphones roughly twice as much as they estimate that they do.

Two-thirds of mobile users check their phone for messages, alerts and calls even when it’s not ringing or vibrating, according to Pew Research Centre, and the average smartphone user checks their phone every six and a half minutes (that’s up to 150 times a day). In particular, social media usage is a dopamine gold mine; dopamine is a neurochemical known as the ‘reward molecule’ and so we cannot help but get a ‘high’ from its use.

However, fatally accusing an undefined technology of our addiction problems will not help. We have to admit that there is no such a thing as a capital T “Technology”; it isn’t a monolithic concept. There are a lot of technologies, and everyone of those is a human creation, operating in a human context, with a social and human purpose built into it from the very start. We often talk about technology as if it is a large disembodied force on which we have no control, but there are no technologies without a social purpose. One easy step is stopping to uncritically accept whatever new product a cool Silicon Valley-based start-up is trying to make us think we cannot live without. We are at the peak of what the Gartner research firm calls a “hype cycle”, when expectations of new technologies rise giddily. Often, when a potential technology breakthrough emerges, early proof-of-concept stories and media interest trigger significant publicity, but often no usable products exist and commercial viability is unproven, or a sober realism emerges after the initial discovery.

One of the most appealing promises that many technology

enthusiasts love to talk about is the Internet of Things. Early this year two reporters at Gizmodo made an experiment. One of them converted her flat in San Francisco into a “smart home”, connecting as many of her appliances and belongings as she could to the internet: an Amazon Echo, lights, the coffee maker, the baby monitor, kid’s toys, the vacuum, a TV, the toothbrush, a photo frame, a sex toy, and even her bed. The other reporter checked constantly all the information the house was releasing: he built a router with a WiFi network to which the householder connected all of her devices, so he could capture the smart home’s network activity.

This is not just an experiment of two geek reporters: smart homes are supposed to reach a $27 billion market by 2021.

As a result of the apartment upgrade, she could watch what was happening in the house when she wasn’t there. She could use voice commands to turn on the lights, coffee maker, and music, exchange voice messages with her toddler through a toy, get reminders from the toothbrush to brush and tips on how best to do it. But then she discovered having a smart house was a nightmare: “The animate objects in my home were becoming a constant source of annoyance. I thought this was going to be a story about privacy, but instead I was finding out how infuriating it is to live in a janky smart home. I had to download 14 different apps to my phone to control everything which meant creating an account for each one of those apps”.

And then she realised her friend was having access to a lot of information: even though most of the appliances’ information were encrypted, the majority of the data turned out to be visible. The so-called metadata - the volume of data being sent and to where, which is like seeing the outside

of an envelope but not being able to read the letter inside - were saying a lot. Someone could see when the family wakes up, what they watch on Hulu (a streaming service similar to Netflix that is not encrypted), when they turn their lights on and off, when their child wakes up and falls asleep. And this information is pretty valuable, both to intelligence agencies and the advertising industry. This little experiment shows that not all the exciting developments technologies firm try to sell us are effectively rising our well-being, sometimes they make us servant of the technology itself.

Thinking to stop using social media or many technologies is today unthinkable, for their pervasiveness and utility in many of our activities, both at work or in our leisure time. But deciding to reduce our technology usage time is not so difficult: many people are trying to conduct a technology detox that can help release some of the negative build-ups of the technology use and give them the break they need to make better choices in going forward.

The view that technology is too complicated for the public to understand - a matter for experts and scientists - is widely common.

This idea might be a misconception: there are certain scientific areas very hard for an individual citizen to master, but many aspects are ordinarily political and social decisions that everybody should have an opinion about, such as the direction in which the technology should be developed, whether we do or do not want to control its side effects, the cost we are willing to pay to introduce something new or to stop something bad. We will be servants of the technology but only if we want to.

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Rachel, Quench's very own Agony Aunt, is here to answer any pressing questions you might have.

I’m worried about how I’m going to be able to fund my masters next year. I don’t know how I’ll be able to afford rent, food and of course to pay for the course. Do you have any tips on how to save or best ways to fund myself for next year?

Quench would like to welcome Rachel Nurse as our first-ever Agony Aunt! She is in second year, doing an English Literature degree, and is here to answer all of your questions about uni life.

Do you have something on your mind? Are you struggling with university or with your finances? Quench's Agony Aunt is here to help!

To submit your questions, please get in touch via the link: https://t.co/bf5lOrvn2i or email Rachel at: agonyaunt@quenchmag.co.uk Illustration by: Lisa Doran Photograph by: Samuel Capper

The Master’s Excellence Scholarships Scheme commits to investing a total of £500,000 to home and EU students who are planning on studying a Master’s programme in September 2018. If you haven’t applied you definitely should! The Scholarships are worth a minimum total of £3,000 and you will be awarded a tuition fee discount.

The deadlines for the applications are Wednesday 7th March 2018 and then Wednesday 4th July 2018. Having this support would be a great weight off your shoulders, and it’s definitely worth a try. The UCAS website has great useful advice in regards to Postgraduate fees and funding. There are tips such as choosing your bank account wisely, making and sticking to budgets, keeping an eye out for money-saving incentives and many other ways to know to save money!

I’m not interested in a relationship or an active sex life but everyone I know is. I enjoy sex and find others attractive but have no desire to chase people and physical relationships, is there something wrong?

There is absolutely nothing wrong with you. Everyone is different, with different personalities and most importantly - different sex drives. We live in a very sexual world, and while that means that we can talk about sex a lot more openly, it doesn’t mean that you’ve got to be having sex all of the time. Relationships aren’t something you should seek out, if it’s meant to happen, it will happen. If you find yourself actively seeking a relationship then you might find yourself rushing into something that you might not really be ready for.. You shouldn’t ever feel bad about not wanting a relationship or sex, it’s not the be all or end all of life. Sometimes having some time to be yourself can be the best thing you do - you might even learn some things about yourself. As much as sex is fun and can bring two people together, it can also be great to focus on your well-being for a while, and there’s nothing wrong with that. You need to have a connection to be able to be with someone that way. There’s something brilliant about the world we live in, and now sexuality can be discussed openly with less fear of ridicule. You do you, and don’t let anyone tell you any different!

I have no idea what to do in the summer.

Any ideas?

The summer holidays are the best time of year for gaining experience and adventures. If you’re not exactly sure what you want to do, ask some of your friends what they’re doing. This might spark some ideas for you or even form a plan. If that doesn’t work, think about things that you have enjoyed before but don’t do much anymore or even something you have always wanted to do but haven’t tried yet! You can spend barely any money and have the best summer of your life. During the summer you can make a small fortune too! Apply for internships, part-time jobs or work experience to fill up your time. By doing this, you’re preparing yourself for the future and enjoying your summer break. Book that holiday you’ve been uncertain about, go to that festival you’ve been desperate to go to for years or even something as small as stargazing on a warm summer night. Make this summer your best summer yet and enjoy being a university student!

I want to move away from my home town and Cardiff, but scared I’ll lose my friends and that I won’t see my family much.

As someone who has moved away from home before, I know exactly how you feel. What I can tell you is that moving away can sometimes bring you the independence that you didn’t know you had in you. You’ll learn new skills and gain fundamental life experience that will grow you in ways you never imagined! In terms of the friends element, not only will you stay in touch with friends you already have (something that is made even easier through Skype and Facetime!) but you will also make new friendships and new memories that will last for years to come. You’ll grow in confidence and find new favourites that you might never have experienced otherwise. With family, it’s slightly harder to pull away, but all this means is that when you do see them, it will be even sweeter and you’ll find new ways to connect that you might not have had before. Moving away can be one of the scariest most brilliant things you’ll ever do - and the great thing is that no one will judge you if you realise it’s not for you, you’ve got to be happy with how you live your life and the best way to do that is to take risks!

Keep your chin up, take a deep breath and start the new chapter of your life!

AGONY AUNT

Agony Aunt