Monday Meet the MondaY Team! STIX Festival! UnI Budgeting! Muggle Quidditch! Music Art And More!
Hey, my name’s Emma I am currently studying History, English and Psychology A-Levels at Stowmarket High. I am known for always wearing a smile on my face, and for being a generally happy person. Cheese and crackers,
Irish accents, and tea are among some of my favourite things. I write some of the social issues articles in the magazine, including the University article.
Hi my name is Rebecca but everyone calls me Becca and I am mainly involved with the fine art side of the magazine. I’m 17 years of age and I am currently studying towards my A-Levels. In my spare time there’s nothing better than
going to gigs, travelling, movies, restaurants and simply partying in the sun with friends. I hope I help this magazine to be funny to read as the friends always tell me I’m mad and say that I say the weirdest things. Thanks for reading!
I’m Ellie, the ginger one. I love cats, peanut butter and Harry Potter. I’m an aspiring artist so spend most of my time with a paintbrush in my hand, but aside from that I like to watch good films, eat good food, and procrastinate. I love going
to gigs and local events, my favourite recently was seeing Pulled Apart by Horses at the Waterfront in Norwich.
Monday is a free quarterly magazine created by The Mix volunteers based in Stowmarket. We cover the local music and arts scene. fashion. social issues. embarrassing stories and loads more! Harriet/Hari, 17. I have a huge passion for live entertainment, you’ll be sure to find me at gigs and festivals all over the place. I’m into everything from plastic bubblegum pop to sweaty, tattoo adorned rock bands, as long as a song can make
me cry or want to get my dance on I’m happy. I also love to write about anything music related and other cool life stuff, which is where I come in for the magazine! I love being around brilliant people and I’m forever fueled by inspiration.
FACEBOOK.COM/MONDAYMAG
Shout out to my cat Bobby, he’s pretty damn cute and awesome.
Grace. 17. I’ve been going to local events and our own events, such as the Mix gig and STIX festival and documenting them with photographs for the magazine. I’ve also been taking photos for articles and writing some articles myself. In my free time I
listen to music, read, go out with friends, do more photography and edit my pictures :)
Hi, my name is Rebecca Watson and I’ve helped with creating ideas and the title of the magazine. I’m 17 and am currently studying towards my A levels and want to go to college to do Art afterwards. I am very creative and arty, and
Hey, I’m Kimberley but people just call me ‘Kim’. I’m a sixth form student inspiring to make it big in the journalism world. Everyone who knows me tends to tell me that I laugh, talk and shop too much but... Isn’t that what being a girl is
about? I’m probably seen as quite weird but I refer to it as ‘unique’ and you’ll find there’s never a dull moment! My role in the Mix is to look after the artists at our events! The best thing is the things I have learnt and the people I have met!
Hey I’m Sophie! Not a lot to say about myself except I’m the one that never stops talking/ laughing/joking with everyone so if you hear someone loud, it’s more than likely me! In the mag, I’m working on the layout and some articles
love designing new things. I’ve done a bit of photography for the magazine at the Stix festival and I would love to one way travel the world.
such as the fashion ones. Enjoying my time with The Mix very much, hope you enjoy the mag!
Meet The Monday Team! I’m Rosie. 17, tall and have an unhealthy obsession for creativity; whether it’s art, fashion, music or writing about all three. I like to laugh and to make other people laugh. I enjoy taking pictures but prefer to be behind the camera. I am a
movie fanatic but cannot and will not watch horror. I also want to make something of myself so being a part of The Mix brings me that one step closer.
Rosie Cooper Rosie Cooper is a nineteen year old photographer from Suffolk whose work captures elements of vintage style, dreamy hues and high fashion portraits. Hi Rosie, what got you into photography? The relationship between art and time has always captured my imagination, to be able to capture a specific point in time, and to alter that fixed moment, which allowed me to use and manipulate that image into my work. By photographing people’s personal objects, I gain an insight into their life and their past. Claiming a new reality for the lost past that once lived. Photographing people and capturing their feeling they can hold on forever or a moment. My mum who works alongside me supports me, and I wouldn’t have got as far as I have without her. We are both driven by each other’s curiosities and our surroundings. What type of photo would you take and why? Over the past few years I have been experimenting and finding out who I am as a photographer, I would say that I have developed a location-based Fashion/Editorial style focusing on derelict surroundings and set up, I am extremely interested in set ups, and compositions. Minor white- “I’m always mentally photographing everything as practise” Do you do photography in your spare time or study it? I study Fine art at NUCA (Norwich University College Of Arts) and I incorporate my photography in but it’s also something I am always doing, Fashion/Make up shoots, collaborating with other artistic people, or just equipped with my film camera, I’m also busy running a small business of wedding and family photography that has really took off this past year!
What’s the best piece you have done and where? I don’t know about a piece but, one of my first photo-shoots I did back in 2009, was at Broom Hill which was amazing, just because the history behind it and we had too models in 1940’s50’s costume and my Nan gave me loads of her 1940’s-50’s things including newspapers, swimming hat, magazines we also went to a little shop that sold herbal 1950’s cigarettes, it was like we went back to the swimming pool in the 1950’s!!! What do you like about photography? It’s so open to versatility; you can grab a moment that you want forever, represent something or create an illusion, capture something that someone might not had looked twice at. Is there anything you dislike? No, you are in total control of what you do. Photography is so open, there is no right or wrong way, it’s a way of expression and communication and like an instrument, practice makes perfect. Do you believe photography is an art form? Of course it is, photography is an instrument to capture something that people would have never looked twice at, just like a painter they decide how they want it to be framed, the colours they use, the style. Photography can express more to what is being represented, creating a strong statement or simply making a beautiful picture with the nature of lights and the world around you. What is your preferred style of photography? Old vintage photographs from family albums, or photographs from the past took in such places that no longer exist.
Molly Wilson Molly Wilson is an aspiring photographer from Stowmarket. Hi Molly, how is your photography going? Great thanks! I’ve been taking photographs for 4 years, which is when I got my first camera! When did your love for photography first begin? My uncle is my inspiration. He’s a professional photographer and has taken some amazing extreme sports photographs, which has led to him winning ‘world’s best photographer’. Those photographs inspired me as an amateur to try new types of photography and to generally think outside of the box. How does your work differ from other local photographers? My work has hidden meanings. An example of this can be seen in my final piece in AS art. I took a picture of my friend Eve with her body quite exposed, however there is a hidden meaning. Eve is sixteen and has a tattoo of a lily on the right side of her ribs. This is for her best friend, Lily Grace Webster, a 15-year-old girl that died under tragic circumstances. The necklace that eve is wearing around her neck is Lily’s favourite ring that Eve was allowed to keep after Lily’s tragic passing away. These accessories are linked to the emotion of pain that is displayed on Eve’s face, the pain of losing her best friend, somebody who is and always will be special to her. The way you make your photographs personal is very
interesting! From looking at your photography page, Molly Wilson Photography, I noticed that all of your models are girls. Is this deliberate? I haven’t really thought about using boys. I think girls like to have their photos taken whereas guys don’t. My photographs are very current, most of them involving fashion, which is why I think teenage girls are more appropriate. Approximately how long does it take to get each of your models hair, make-up and clothes ready for each photo shoot? It really depends on the person and how confident they are. Having your picture taken isn’t an easy thing for some people, especially insecure teenage girls, which we can all relate to. On the other hand some people love to be in the camera and have no issues with their photograph being taken. Eve, who I spoke about earlier on, has been modeling for me for around 4 years, and it’s amazing to see her confidence grow in front of the camera. She actually really enjoys modeling now and at one stage was going to pursue it as a career. It sounds like photography is one of your favourite things to do, interesting your viewers by portraying messages and mainly just having fun with photography… I don’t have a technique and never have done. I take pictures of what I like and what looks good and that’s all I’ve ever done. My favourite part is actually getting the feedback. I don’t plan my photographs; they are mainly spontaneous, which in my eyes make them a lot more interesting. Therefore at the end of a photo shoot getting positive or negative feedback is a lovely feeling.
out in the STIX STIX hit Stowmarket this summer, with the help of the MONDAY team. The festival showcased the crème de la crème of local talent and creativity; well and truly putting Stowmarket on the map. Held at the Museum of East Anglian Life, STIX combined live music, film, performance, art and loads of other activities across the festival arena. Here’s a taster of what went down...
The Glade Simon Lucas Hughes KeirAn Devlin
erson
Will And
Nik Lowe How was your performance? I really enjoyed it, bit croaky to start of, but just woken up! I thought it was really good! I liked your cover of Paolo Nutini. What made you do that song? Well, um… I have been listening to it from a young age really just thought I would develop it into my songs. It’s obviously a good cover because everyone knows it! Everyone started singing along when you played it! Awh did they?! They did indeed! What was your inspiration for your other music? Um... The Beetles mainly… I LOVE THE BEETLES! You’re my best friend right now (laughs). My parents introduced me to them at a young age and played it in my ears constantly when I was kid, so it was like a daily bit of life for me. I try to incorporate stuff into my music and think of how they made their songs so good and base it around that, but nowhere near as good or talented as The Beetles! It was really good, I loved it! Ah cheers! Where is the best place you have ever performed at? Probably the 02. It was a competition thing. It really helped build my confidence performing in front of 800 people. Do you have any comments about today? I really like it! It is such a well put together event. I liked playing outside in the wilderness as well!
Adam Aljidy Did you like doing your performance? I did! I was horrifically nervous and I felt I messed up a lot but I liked it. You didn’t, you were brilliant! I particularly liked all of the Bon Iver songs you did! I opened with Flume which is one on their first album… I think you should do Perth next time! I was thinking of doing Perth but it’s quite hard to do without electronics and stuff. Ah touché! How did you get into music? Umm, I didn’t listen to much music as a kid but when I was 13 all of my friends were listening to rock music so I started giving that a try . How did you get into Bon Iver and that style of music? Umm I was on last.fm and it tells you what to listen to basically, and I was listening to Bombay Bicycle Club and it told me to listen to Bon Iver, and I have been listening to them so much since then! Have you performed anywhere else? This is my first real gig. I have performed in front of my friends before, but this is my first acoustic gig. Ah cool! Thank you very much for your time Thank you Emma!
Abbie Broom Did you enjoy your performance? Yeah it was really good! Have you done a lot of stuff like this before? Umm not so much the outsidey stuff but I did lots of festivals over the summer, but this is a pretty cool setting! I like this bit better than the main stage bit! How did you get into music? I started playing guitar when I was 6. That was like classical acoustic guitar, but sort of high school I started writing my own songs and sutff and just sort of haven’t stopped. That’s cool! Do you do anything other than music? Well apart from performing music, I study music technology. Where do you study? West Suffolk College. So yeah it’s pretty much all music based really (laughs) Ah cool! Thank you very much! That’s alright!
Cathedrals And Cars Did you enjoy your performance? Yes! It was very good! When did you get into music? I liked music when I was a little kid. My favourite toys were like guitars and shit… I collected my dads records and still collect them now. That’s really cool actually! Do you have any musical inspiration? John Peel. Ah he’s the guy from the big building! (laughs) Yep that’s him! What does the inspiration for your songs come from? It’s very broad because we are all individuals, we draw influences from different people and different acts. Lyrically, it’s a more abstract concept, I don’t write from personal perspectives. Do you have any future plans or anything? We are planning to go to Europe next year, but that’s in the works though and yeah more gigs around England really, and possibly writing the second album already- we are a 5 piece now. Oh yeah, what made you get some extra people? We wanted to express it how it is because on the E.P. It is quite a delicate sound and with 3 of us it’s harder to get that sound across as it is on record. We wanted the live show to sound how the album did. It’s disappointing when you see an act live and they are shit compared to the album.
Pistols and Vultures How was your performance? Yeah it was good! Do you do a lot of stuff like this? We did Colchester free festival the other day, which had lots of people, it was good! But yeah it’s cool here, quirky! It’s cool because lots of people in Stowmarket wouldn’t have heard of you as much, so now you might have more of a fanbase here. We used to gig in Ipswich a lot, but not so much anymore. When did you guys start music? I don’t know really, musics always been there but I guess I started about 7 years ago, like finding my voice, I did a national diploma course in Colchester, then did a degree which is where we met Alex. We all have the same kind of drive and passion so it works. When did you do your first gig together? Ipswich I think, I remember the free alcohol! Ah clearly, something you would never forget then! (laughs) They gave me this band, and Fred was driving and Alex didn’t drink at the time at all and I drank a lot so I drank everyone elses share. That was about 3 years ago, we hadn’t really written much, but we wanted to do a live-loungey type thing so we did a lot of covers. Where did you get the inspiration for your music and lyrics?
Lyrics are mostly auto-biographical to be honest. I thought it might have been, lots of people say that! I went through a tough few years with my little boys mum, like getting divorced and stuff so part of it came from that. I think that’s the best thing about music, its an outlet for your emotions. When it is something you have been through that comes across in the performance and people can believe it, rather than lying about going to the shops to buy some chips or something (laughs). Musically, I have so many different influences, different bands and like walks of life and stuff… Who was your favourite band as a child? I haven’t come from a band musical background really. I grew up in church, my mum and dad brought me up on soul. When I started finding my own like musical preferences, it was more hiphop and the 80’s like English soul like Vandross and Marvin Gay, who both made me want to sing. I was brought up with The Beetles and Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin and stuff so I brought the rock sort of part to the band and he brought more of a soulful feel. I like the combination, it’s nice! We both sort of exchange notes. I was always into a bit of Marvin Gay but it wasn’t really my thing. We taught Fred, the drummer, everything he knows (laughs) Because we come from different walks of life we kind of met in the middle, we introduced each other to a lot of artists they may not have heard of. Now my musical taste is so broad.
Lewis Mokler
Stix Review! Stix Festival hit the Museum of East Anglian Life in Stowmarket, with truly brilliant results. Things kicked off in The Glade area, playing host to creative delights including an illustration jam with Mister Millerchip, Critter making with Lucy Selina Hall, a local film showcase and workshops with Tom Newman. The crafty activities went down a treat with the young people of Stowmarket. Music was kept chilled and relaxed for the afternoon with acoustic performances from singer-songwriters, including Nik Lowe, Will Anderson, Abbie Broom, Simon Lucas Hughes and local favourite Adam Moss. The audience were seated on hay bales and logs, making the most of Suffolk’s countryside element. But it was the main stage which sparked the most enthusiasm and interest, as the evening drew in so did more people to enjoy the impressive line-up. Cathedrals & Cars opened the stage with their beautiful yet melancholic sound. Pistols and Vultures brought their own mix of ska and punk vibes to the festival. A clear favourite was acoustic sweetheart Lewis Mokler, bringing in the largest crowd of the festival as he wowed with his seemingly effortless performance and wit. It’s fair to say those who weren’t a fan of Mokler when they arrived, certainly left as one. As it got later, the music got more upbeat and the festival atmosphere that we all know and love was in full swing. Popelectro band Whisky Jax brought the party from Peterborough to Stowmarket, encouraging all festival goers to get on their feet. Their dancey-techno beats and cool attitude made for a great set and a fair few more fans no doubt. The night ended on a high with an awesome DJ set from Refracture, turning the Museum’s grass area into the likes of a mini countryside rave. Overall the first Stix Festival was a great success, showcasing impressive local talent and creativity with the backdrop of a lovely sunny day. What more could you want from a festival?
Rosie
Harriet
Emily
Top- New Look Skirt- Matalan Shoes- Converse Rings- h&m
Hat- h&m Jacket- h&m Dress- New Look Boots- Vintage Ring- Internacionale
Top- River Island Skirt- h&m Shoes- River Island
Rosie dresses down her maxi skirt with Converse. Tying it up looks great and makes it more practical for day-wear.
Dress down pretty fabrics by adding denim and some biker boots.
A simple black skirt is a wardrobe staple and goes with everything. Swap the wedges for boots, add some tights and you’re winter ready.
Stix it up! Festivals are a great opportunity to put your best fashion foot forward and make an impression. Heres what the MONDAY team wore when we went down to the woods for the day at STIX festival...
Ellie
Sophie
Cobi
Blouse- Charity shop Cardigan- ASOS Shorts- h&m Shoes- Topshop
Shorts- Topshop Top- New Look Shoes- Office
Jacket- Topman Vest- Topman Jeans- Primark Shoes- Office Necklace- New Look
Charity shops are great places to find basics if you’re on a budget. This blouse cost £2!
Sophie adds a pop of colour to her outfit with bright trainers.
Camo print is still big for A/W. This jacket is great for adding interest to an otherwise plain outfit.
s e u l B g n B Buuddggeti We realise that when students are preparing to embark on their upcoming university lifestyle they may have different queries, such as how to manage whilst away from the luxuries that a family would usually provide. For these reasons we have asked current university students about how they are coping with the strains of budgeting.
TOP TOP 1. Make sure you get clued up on what financial help is available to you 2. Only you can decide if a part-time job is right for you, but make sure that you don’t put too much pressure on yourself. 3. Work out a shopping routine that is best for you and your housemates. Write a list of the essential things that you need, but make use of deals when you see them- you can never have too much food! 4. Put money aside each week to allow you to socialise and make the most of your university experience.
TIPS TIPS
Lorna Buckle, 20 Graphic Design undergraduate student Lorna Buckle, attends Kingston University and has just completed her first year there… I don’t really budget myself. For the past year I have only been shopping for food as and when I needed it so maybe once every 2 weeks and I’d spend a maximum of £30. However, that doesn’t mean I haven’t just popped into the odd shop every now and again to pick up a couple of things! It’s hard to plan when you’re going to shop because the course has been so demanding, resulting in shopping whenever you get spare time. In addition, I don’t have a job and would not recommend it. I wouldn’t be able to manage the workload with a job as well. I also haven’t been out as much as some of the other undergraduate students, purely because we are in university Monday to Friday 10-5 most weeks and I am therefore exhausted by the end of the day. However, I will always try and go out on the weekend just into central London to exhibitions/shows/shopping etc. I have had loans this year and also a pretty substantial grant/ bursary. This has been great! Without these loans/grants I would not have been able to live! Student finance is the only way to get these loans. It can be a lot of hassle but will be worth it once all the paper work is done!
George Waine, 20
Selina Taylor, 20
Currently finishing his second year at University studying French and German at Oxford.
Currently finishing her second year at Staffordshire University studying photography.
Instead of budgeting for food, I’ve found that it’s much simpler to ‘buy in bulk’, which will be able to last you for several weeks. I would say I go out on average twice a week. With student deals, a good night out can be as little as £5, so it’s not always necessary to worry about budgeting for it.
I budget about £20 a week for food, because I like cooking properly (although a cheeky takeaway once in a while is always good!) It always works out cheaper if you cook meals with your housemates.
I don’t have a job at university, and in fact at Oxford, it is strongly recommended we don’t have one because we simply wouldn’t have time to fit in all the work/reading and be able to have steady hours. I know people that do have jobs though, and I think they can be a great source of income to prevent having to worry too much about expenditure. I’m not entitled to a grant, but the majority of universities have a diverse range of them for students who are. I would thoroughly recommend getting a student loan to the majority of prospective students. Accommodation in college is charged per term, rather than monthly, so you end up paying three sums over the course of an academic year. They usually cost around £1000 per term. The priority when you start at university is to try to throw yourself into everything- go to Freshers’ fairs, events, nights out: there is always something for everyone. Even if you sign up to something you end up not continuing, it’s a great way to meet new people and have a great time from the offset. I would also say not to pressure yourself- going to university is a big step from 6th form (not just on the academic front), and it is important to realise that it is not a transition which happens overnight: it takes time to acclimatise to it all, so you might as well have fun doing it!
On average I go out about once a fortnight, though it’s more often to the student bar than out clubbing. I’m not a heavy drinker either - I’ll usually have 3 or 4 alcoholic drinks a night so it doesn’t work out too expensive. A long-term job would be a bit of a challenge with my course as I have to spend most of my timing taking or writing about photographs, and the end of semesters can get very stressful! I’d definitely recommend that every student gets a job at university though; it helps you meet new people and gets you out of the university ‘bubble’ for a while! I don’t get any grants, but I do receive a student loan every term- it usually lasts me all semester. In my first year I lived in en-suite student accommodation, the rent was £380 a month, and that included all the bills. Compared to other universities I think this was quite cheap. I now live in a terraced 4-bedroom house with three other students, and I pay £240 a month. That doesn’t include bills though, but saying this it still works out a lot cheaper than student halls. We all share a bathroom, but the bedrooms are bigger and we have a big living room and kitchen to socialise in! I use Student Finance to access my maintenance and tuition fee loans, but there are also loans and grants that universities give out in certain circumstances. If you’re struggling with your finances there is usually a department that can help - at my university there is a group called Money Doctors who let you apply for a grant if you’re struggling. It’s easy to get down and worried about money problems.
A Flaming Good Day Abi Whitefield, aged 16, was one of the lucky 8000 inspirational people in the UK to carry the Olympic Flame across the country.
Abi lives in Claydon with her sister and brother in law and has just completed her GCSEs at Stowmarket High School. She was nominated as a torchbearer by her brother Andrew, the Chairman of Suffolk Volleyball Association (SVA). She is both Secretary and IT director of the SVA and has been a committed volunteer for 5 years; she has won their ‘Young Volunteer of the Year’ award for the past three years. She has also had a long association with the Museum of East Anglian Life as her mum was a volunteer there and Abi continued in her footsteps. When her mum was diagnosed with a serious form of cancer Abi became her carer. When Abi was nominated, she first had to agree to her name being put forward and then had to wait to find out whether she had been shortlisted. Finally, she was told that her application had been successful and she was now one of the official London 2012 Olympic torchbearers. She simply had to confirm her ID and pass a police test. It was also intended that she undergo training for the event; unfortunately, due to time constraints, she was unable to complete this training. When I asked her about this lack of training she responded “I ran up a 300m hill once... And I’ve practiced holding my arm in the air for periods of time!” However, she admitted that running 300 metres in front of so many people seemed like it would be a daunting experience. Although she is a resident of Suffolk, Abi was allocated to carry the Olympic torch in Colchester, Essex. Attending on the day to provide support and sporting red ‘Team Whitefield’ T-shirts,
were members of her family. She was also cheered on by some of her school friends and teachers who had met at the school early that morning to travel to Colchester especially for the occasion. Other friends and supporters watched the event live online and followed news coverage on local television. I spoke to Abi three days prior to her torch-bearing and asked whether she was nervous or excited, and she replied: “Both! At the moment I think I’m more nervous, there’s so much I could do wrong!” The 6th of July was a long day for Abi who had to be in Colchester for 5.15am, about 3 hours before her run. She and other torch bearers for that day were transported on a shuttle bus to their individual start positions across the historic town. When her turn came, she ran directly behind the Olympic sponsors and the media. Abi was one of the more eager torchbearers who actually chose to run with the torch; in fact she was asked to slow down in order that they could keep to the schedule! As she ran, some of her school friends and teachers ran alongside her. Abi described her experience with the torch as “frightening yet exhilarating. It was amazing knowing I was the only person in the world holding the Olympic flame at that point! The crowds were all fantastic- they knew my name!” After her 300m run, Abi joined family and friends at the Univer-
sity of Essex. As she entered the cafe it erupted in cheers and applause. She was interviewed by the University Press Secretary and bombarded by requests for pictures with her and the torch. “We had to sneak away� she said. Later on in the day she visited the Museum of East Anglian Life and her High School, where she was congratulated by her peers. Participation in the event was free, but torchbearers were required to purchase their torches if they wished to keep them. Kindly, her school paid to keep her torch, which will be displayed there for two years while Abi continues her education as a Sixth Form Student. After its two years at the school the torch may be donated to the Museum to exhibit. Abi was able to keep the custom-made white Olympic Tracksuit she ran in. In addition, torchbearers were also able to purchase memorabilia such as T-shirts, badges and handbooks, to commemorate the occasion. Abi has gone on to talk about her experience at local schools and Brownie packs, becoming rather a local celebrity! She is a true inspiration to many young people in her community. Abi, her friends and family will never forget the incredible, once in a lifetime experience of participating in such a monumental event.
Anyone for Quidditch.. ? If I was to say ‘Quidditch’ roughly 98% of you reading this would
years to intermingle with a little bit of healthy competition of a new
know exactly what I was talking about; but I’m sure not nearly as
kind. Bruce Thomson, or ‘The Prince of Fun’ brought this wonderful
many of you would know that ‘Muggles’ can play too!
recreation to Thurston as he is often referred to as.
Yes I know, we can’t actually fly and with the health and safety
I had a chat with him to learn how this awesome alternative sport
laws in England today it’s a given that the ‘Beaters’ won’t actually
came about at Thurston. Bruce being the charming guy that he is
beat you to a pulp using wooden bats and heavy solid balls. But
was happy to give me the details.
never the less the game is still as close as you can get to the Harry Potter phenomenon without the magic that is a Warner
“So I’d known about Muggle Quidditch for ages, but it was only when
Brothers editing room.
I became Prince of Fun (officially “Head of Social and Sporting Events for the Sixth Form”) that I realised I could make this sport actually
In case you’ve never quite understood the game from watching
happen. So I organised a tournament, with the help of the two guys
or reading Harry Potter, or perhaps you’ve been locked in the
that helped out with the Ladies’ Sixth Form Rugby Team, Steve Smith
cupboard under the stairs for the past 11 years or so, cut off from
and Alex Cresswell. We organised our year (the year above had left
modern day life; let me break it down for you.
for study leave) into forming 10 teams, then had a partly knockout and partly round robin tournament on the last day of term. We had
Teams are made up of 7 people: 3 Chasers, 2 Beaters, a Keeper
to call meetings to explain the rules, make risk assessments for the
and a Seeker. If you’re a chaser your aim is to get the Quaffle (in
sport, and purchase all the equipment, but the tournament went off
Muggle Quidditch it’s a football) through one of the hoops at the
without a hitch, and people were buzzing for more, which is why we
opposing teams end of the pitch. Beaters try and stop the other
started up this year as well!”
teams Chasers as well as protecting their own Chasers as they head down the field. The Keeper is pretty much what it sounds
Now that Quidditch is in full swing at Thurston, they’re already
like, your job is to stop the Quaffle going into your rings, you
thinking about its future and possible expansion. Hopefully this
are essentially a goalkeeper. The Seeker is probably the most
alternative delight will continue throughout the season, although it
important player on the team. Their job is to “fly” after the Snitch
was said that they don’t know how the sport will thrive in the winter
(which in Muggle Quidditch is a person with a ball in a yellow
months.
sock) if the Seeker catches the Snitch the game is over and their team wins. In the story, Harry Potter is a Seeker although he
Personally I think it will be just fine. Bruce went on to say that him
chases a magical flying ball, which isn’t quite doable in the real
and Steve Smith are trying to contact other sixth forms throughout
world, hence the yellow sock.
Suffolk in the hopes of eventually having a Suffolk-wide Quidditch tournament in the future. “But these are early days, who can tell!”
A local school, Thurston Community College has been drawn into this magical world of Quidditch and is now starting its second
With creative team names such as “Slytherin-my-hufflemuff”, “Give-
year of playing. The sixth form has now begun a new tournament,
me-Hedwig” and my personal favourite “Hagrids-Hoes” which to
with teams of year 12s and 13s, this is a great way for the
be honest, only a teenager could come up with; it is quite clear that
this game is bringing out the fun side in everyone. My friends are loving it and cannot wait to play, and I must confess, I’m looking forward to it too. Even the teachers are infected with the Quidditch bug, last year Thurston’s vice principle Mr. Potter (I know, how perfect is that) took part and when Bruce came on the tannoy, backed by the Harry Potter theme tune to announce the start of the magic the majority of form tutors couldn’t help but smile.
If you’ve read this and suddenly feel the need to play Muggle Quidditch, believe it or not, there is an “International Quidditch Association” website you can go on to read more about it (www. internationalquidditch.org) And if you’re feeling really into it, why not start up your own team, if you’re at sixth form you could spread the word and the Suffolk-wide tournament may actually happen. Who knows?
Five minutes Wituhn. . aka Bruce Thomson! The Prince Of F
Who is your favourite Harry Potter character and why? “Dumbledore, of course. There ain’t no shenanigans that bro can’t pull off!” If you could be in any Harry Potter house, which one would it be? “Slytherin, not because I’m evil, just because green’s my favourite colour” If you could go out for a coffee and a chat with anyone, dead or alive, fictional or real, who would it be? “The complete goddess that is Penelope Cruz. Why do you think I’m taking Spanish?!” Out of all the mystical creatures in Harry Potter, which one would you most like to have as a pet? “I have no idea… A dragon, I suppose!” And finally I asked him on a scale if one to ten how psyched he was for this year’s Quidditch and this was the response I got: “This is like asking someone how many zeroes there are in zero, the number is TOO BIG!” I think this translates as being SUPER psyched…
Gig Reviews! Gig Rev Marina and THe Diamonds. The Waterfront Norwich. Tonight is the first night of The Lonely Hearts club tour, following the release Marina and The Diamonds’ second chart topping album, which debuted at Number 1 in the charts. But first, the support comes from female fronted, grunge-tastic FOE. Clearly majorly influenced by Nirvana, you’d be forgiven for thinking FOE’S male members are merely insanely long fringes playing their instruments. It’s clear they have talent though and although it’s a bit of a mystery as to how they connect with Marina and The Diamonds’ pop fuelled music; they impress a fair few in the crowd. Front woman Hannah Louise Clark’s vocals are filled with darkness and there’s almost the feeling that the crowd are falling victim to a curse. The one track that stood out to me was ‘Black Lodge’ which coincidently is the title track of their E.P, set to be released in July. Gracing the stage ever so elegantly, Marina sends her Norwich fans into an adoring Frenzy. Looking stylish as ever in a bubble-gum pink shift dress and a bride’s veil falling down her back as she kicks it all off with ‘Homewrecker’. The show is a pop spectacular showcase of Marina’s incredible vocal talent, with all the right notes in all the right places. The Waterfront stage has never looked so glamorous, a purple velvet couch, martini glasses, pink fluffy carpet and the unmissable flamingo-pink neon Electra Heart sign make up the set design. And who could forget Marina’s sidekick Marilyn?! The fluffy toy poodle with a pink studded collar and a talent for yapping along to ‘Primadonna’. The show is full of imagery and visual delights, which are extremely fitting with Marina’s personality and her music. The set consists mainly of songs from Electra Heart as well as a handful of tracks from her debut album The Family Jewels, including an utterly beautiful acoustic version of’ ‘Obsessions’. Marina has her adoring crowd mesmerised from start to finish and it’s clear that everyone will be back for more next time she’s in town.
The Mix Gig. John Peel Centre Stowmarket. The atmosphere was full of anticipation and excitement, as the event team prepared to set up for The Mix’s first ever gig night. Multi-coloured lights were being strung across the walls, balloons covered the floor and we even had our own sandwich production line going, so there was no chance that the artists would go hungry. It’s a satisfying turn out as the venue floor begins to be taken over by acoustic music fans, mostly teenagers, as they eagerly wait to soak up the talent on offer. The music kicks off with the oh so smooth Adam Moss, who effortlessly romances the crowd with his acoustic pop. Next on the line up are three piece, Cathedrals and Cars and it’s clear why they’re local fan base is ever evolving as they deliver their unique mix of beautiful melodies and melancholic lyrics. Headliner of the night, Lewis Mokler, steals the show and certainly a few hearts. Lewis lets his talent take over The John Peel Centre, playing not only tracks from his three E.Ps which have gained him the support so far, but also gives us a sneak peak of a few from his debut album later released on 25th June. Opener act, Adam Moss later joins Lewis on the stage for a gorgeous duet and then ends his memorable set by asking the audience to form a circle in which he performs a fantastic cover of Alex Clare’s hit, Too Close. Overall, the night had a lovely, intimate, gathering-like feel to it. With the success of tonight, I feel proud to be part of The Mix event team!
views! Gig Reviews! By Harriet Bradley
McFly. The Ipswich Regent. With a tour name like ‘Keep Calm and Play Louder’ McFly’s fans of Ipswich expected nothing less, and they did nothing but deliver. The Regent was full to the brim with ecstatic fans, of all ages. Of course you really can’t miss the immense screams from the teenage girls who’ve been following the pop rock band since day one. Opening support band, The Hype Theory, get a great reception from the crowd. The Chelmsford grown, female fronted band have all the right ingredients for what makes a good power pop punk performance. The second support band Ivyrise bring a brilliant, crowd pleasing performance and will have no doubt have hundreds more likes on their Facebook page by the time the night has come to an end. The band play upbeat tracks from the debut self-titled album including ‘Yes To Running’, as well as a cover of Adele’s ‘Set Fire To the Rain’ which goes down a storm with the crowd. Just before the band is set to take to the stage, the classic ‘YMCA’ takes over the speakers and everyone joins in. Opening with ‘Nowhere Left To Run’ the whole theatre are on their feet, singing every word as loud as their bodies will allow and once they get started, the high energy and enthusiasm just doesn’t stop. Fans are treated to songs from all five studio albums produced over the almost nine years of McFly hitting our airwaves and TV screens. There’s even sneak peeks of new songs ‘Red’ and ‘Touch the Rain’, which are to be featured on the sixth album released later this year. A medley of chart topping hits including songs from One Direction, Gotye, Rihanna, Bon Jovi and Busted, is met by screams of joy. The boys of McFly are great performers, delivering an electric energy show for their fans old and new. There is great, cheeky banter throughout the show with the crowd, and high celebration of Dougie the King of the Australian Jungle and Harry the King of the Strictly ballroom dance floor. Eight years on and McFly are still playing sold out venues and are as popular as ever, thanks to their brilliant live performances and love for making great music for their fans.
Recommended venues to check out for live music and entertainment! The Apex, Bury St Edmunds: The newest venue on the block may lack in size but this is not necessarily a disadvantage, as this creates a lovely intimate atmosphere with the performers. The Apex has played host to popular big names such as Funeral for a Friend and most recently Mumford and Sons. New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich: Those of you who are into theatre, the New Wolsey is a great place to catch plays both modern and classic. Productions such as Camp Rock, Romeo and Juliet and the upcoming Mods and Rox show the diversity of genre that takes to the stage. The Steamboat, Ipswich: Famous locally for its regular live music, there is something going on here almost every night of the week. Local favourites Underline the Sky count The Steamboat as their loyal home ground, frequently playing throughout the year to their mass of fans and friends. As well as UTS, The Steamboat regularly hold showcases for the musical talent from local colleges and touring artists from all over the UK from a vast range of genres.
r u o j Bon Le ! e c n Fra
As part of The Mix project, the MONDAY team (above) got to take part in an exchange trip to France this summer. Here’s a little taster of what they got up to...
I’m glad I got the experience to travel to France in order to build connections with the other youth groups; I enjoyed not only learning a new culture but also meeting new people. By partaking in a range of activities, such as cooking, motocross and bowling, we got the chance to get to know the youth and the staff working there; building connections and friendships with them. Rosie Highlights from the trip to France include being able to understand the majority of what the French people were saying – my years of learning the language haven’t been as wasted as I thought! Learning new words like ‘tope-là’ meaning ‘high five’, interviewing for the media team, designing logos for each activity, learning how to belly dance, then street dancing which Becca and I couldn’t stop laughing through - we had to give up on half way. Living off French stick all week because I didn’t like the food and meeting some great people, both French and English! Rebecca W
The friendly atmosphere that surrounded every aspect of the trip to France was contagious. We all learnt new skills including cooking, dancing, motocross, media related tasks and music performances. The combination of these skills and the lovely new friendships that were established caused for the trip to be a complete success. The French culture also contributed to an enjoyable stay, as we experienced some traditional French food, the learning of another language and lovely weather! J’adore France! Emma
Just got back from France with the Mix team and I can honestly say it was such an amazing experience; Meeting new people, trying the French food, learning a new language and enjoying all the activities. My favourite activity was communication as I got taught how to edit photographs and Video, which can help me with my future career .The best part of the trip, was when we all went bowling. It really helped us to make new friends and it was so much fun! Rebecca M
France was an amazing experience! Though there were some ‘not so’ highlights involving getting the wrong food in the restaurant, cutting out transfers all day and the bumpy ferry home! It was lovely to meet some new people and there were some great moments, including telling the French people how old I was in German, attempting to belly dance, taking pictures of everyone else belly dancing and couscous overload!
Highlights of our time in France include attempting to converse with the French (with mixed results... turns out the only French I know is ‘Bonjour! Je m’appelle Ellie...), preparing apple tart for 200 people (peeling apples wasn’t fun, but eating it was.), learning to belly dance, wooing the Mayor of Arques with our language skills, being interviewed for T.V, croissants for breakfast, and meeting some lovely people - both English and French- along the way.
Grace
Ellie
We’ve all had them, that massive CRINGE moment when you want the ground to swallow you up. You are not alone, Rosie Burgess shares with you the stories of some other unfortunate souls...
Lol!
Holiday Havoc
Date Disaster
So, going on holiday for the first time without your family can be a daunting experience right? For me I’d made sure I had everything ready the night before, literally by writing a check list and going through them one by one. The morning of my first independent holiday had arrived; I wanted to prove to my parents that I was capable of carrying on with it. Turning up to airport and unloading my bags went surprisingly quickly and swiftly. The moment came where I had to hand over my passport; at this point I wasn’t worried as I had it safely in my front pocket. I opened up the passport and to my horror, there was my brothers face smirking up at me. I HAD TAKEN THE WRONG PASSPORT. Through checking my list the night before, I must have forgotten to look at the passport picture. I guess this is a sign that I am still not ready for a solo holiday.
Looking good is important for a girl. The hours leading up to a first date are dramatically different for a boy and girl. For the guys, putting a freshly ironed t-shirt and some cologne is enough but for girls everything is different. The outfit choice begins and then you have to find a matching bag, this also has to complement your makeup - natural looking beauty of course. Smooth legs are a big MUST however being late as always I was in a rush so I quickly slapped on the hair removal cream to my legs, then without knowing the biggest itch began just above my eyebrow. Scratching it I looked at my clock, I was so late! Finishing my legs I moved on to my makeup but as I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror, horror struck. NO MORE EYEBROW. Let’s just say I didn’t have a date that night and also for the next 4 weeks.
A Birthday To Remember Myself and my family go to watch drama performances every year at Rendalsham forest. The announcement came on that the show was about to start so I thought this would be the best time to pop to the loo. As I walked back from the toilet, I noticed random people staring at me from the audience. As I sat down, I was about to ask why people where staring - only at that point cast members had come out and began serenading me with Happy Birthday. I didn’t know that some of the cast members had come out to meet and greet with the public beforehand and f it was your birthday the cast members sing to you and give you a gift. However it wasn’t even my birthday - my family had decided to play a joke on me, but I don’t think they knew everyone was watching!! After the singing I had to pretend like it was my birthday, even when they pulled out a card and a box of chocolates from behind their backs! Not only did I feel embarrassed, but also very guilty for taking their chocolates!!
They Say You Get Your Moves from Your Mother When you go clubbing with your friends what’s the worst that could happen? You spill drink on a brand new dress? Or you trip in those new super high heels? I can top all of them! Getting invited to a friends’ 17th, you have that new dress and those new shoes (that you have practiced walking in!) Nothing could go wrong. I couldn’t have been any more mistaken! Both my mum and dad are friends with the birthday girl’s parents so they got asked to tag along to keep an eye on things and keep them company, I wasn’t too worried about that as long as they stayed a clear distance away from me. To my surprise, and I mean surprise, people started pointing and laughing at the cages (where I had just come from.) First of all I thought it was me, turning round I saw my own MOTHER dancing - in the cages - in front of everyone. Two months later I still have not shifted that memory and neither has half of my year a school!