HONOUR MITCHELL: TEEN PICKS

FUTURE GENERATION HONOUR MITCHELL: TEEN PICKS IN LOCKDOWN

Isolation, or whatever you call this period of hunkering down at home that has become Aucklanders' daily life, comes with a dose of mind-numbing boredom.

While writing this article in September, I have no certainty for when we might be out of the current Level 4 or Level 3 crisis. To pass the time I have found it necessary to engage in some new activities to stay cheerful and get through the seemingly endless weeks. I will share my top four:

Knitting What I used to think was a Grandma-dominated hobby has turned out to be very relaxing and a great way to get off the screen. It all started when I saw a lonesome pair of knitting needles sitting in my room, a remnant of a workshop I attended many years ago. So after ordering some fun coloured yarn I got to work! At first I was quite frustrated with myself. It seemed that my knitting was getting wider with each stitch. But never mind that, I kept on going and started to improve.

Soon I was knitting perfectly formed squares! My next goal is to make a scarf - ahem - we could be in Level 1 by the time I finish that! I now have a newfound appreciation for everyone out there who can knit a jumper or really anything beyond a lopsided square. Knitting is a “splendid" way to relax and get in touch with your more “mature" side. Soon enough you’ll find yourself sitting up in bed with a cup of tea, your knitting needles, and not a screen in sight!

Rice Paper Rolls Meals in confinement can become quite repetitive, so why not start experimenting? Have you ever been to a foodcourt or an Asian eatery and ordered those delicious rice paper rolls filled with flavour bursting ingredients. Making these tricky little parcels requires a fair bit of skill, plus loads of practice, but they have become my new favourite recipe this lockdown. Not only will all the trial and error cure your boredom, but they also taste exceptionally good! Below I have outlined my personal take on rice paper rolls; but there are no limits, just choose or add the flavours that you savour the most.

Firstly, grab a packet of Valcom Rice Paper from Farros. Then start by thinly slicing three of your favourite vegetables (I normally go for cucumber, carrots and capsicum and perhaps some herbs). Once you have your vegetables ready, you could add your favourite protein, such as chicken or perhaps some avocado. Personally, I prefer just veggie rolls for a fresher taste. Next comes the important part: what flavours do you put inside your rolls? I gravitate towards sesame seeds, tamari, coconut aminos and peanut butter. And finally the tricky wrapping process: Once you’ve soaked a wrapper in warm water, add your chosen ingredients then fold in two ends and roll to form a cylinder shape (see packet instructions). Make sure you wrap them tightly, but not so tight that you rip the rice paper. Phew! This is stressful work, remember to breathe!

Just Dance Exercise workouts Just Dance Exercise workouts at home can get repetitive and sometimes lack the desired sizzle - I mean press-ups and planks to get a sweat on can be too much on a lazy afternoon. Thankfully I have a solution for you - Just Dance. It has been around for as long as I can remember and there is a reason it has stayed popular - the fun-factor. Think easy to follow dance videos with upbeat songs you can jive along to - and no shame or judgment from others. In my opinion, it is a superfun way to exercise, and puts you in a great sing-song mood (and I think we need that at the moment). By simply searching ‘Just Dance’ on YouTube you can get grooving right away, I guarantee it will heighten your spirits. Or if you happen to have an Xbox or PlayStation you can purchase a Just Dance CD. It will provide live critique on your performance and give you a score. But beware, it will get competitive fast - my sister and I have become obsessed with being the reigning champion.

TV Shows There is so much choice in the online streaming world: Netflix, Amazon, Neon, Disney+, the list goes on. All these services are meant to make it easier to find a good show to watch, but in reality it makes it harder. It's rather overwhelming, making it challenging to dig, decide and persist. It was my parents who first introduced me to Downton Abbey; apparently their generation was obsessed. (I believe therapy was legitimately required for one of their friends after the final credits rolled.).

Initially I was a bit reluctant to watch a six season show about a wealthy 1920s family, after all - I am a teenager. But I'm glad I did, because I could not have predicted the intense attachment I developed (not felt for a show since ‘Friends’). The scandals and plot twists really kept me hooked until (SPOILER ALERT) my two favourite characters died. Since these tragedies occurred around the halfway mark, I had to undergo a grieving process and even considered dropping Downton, but I just couldn’t. I continued on and found two new favourite characters who, thankfully, did not die. Safe to say I experienced a rollercoaster of emotions throughout the show and was very reluctant to disembark.

I hope you can now sit down with your knitting needles, rice paper rolls and travel back in time to watch Downton Abbey with the help of ‘Neon’. And if you were wondering - there’s also a follow-on movie on Netflix! (HONOUR MITCHELL)  PN

FUTURE GENERATION I Love Lucy Book Review:

“I’ll try and be what he loves to call me, 'a little woman,' and not be rough and wild; but do my duty here instead of wanting to be somewhere else."

Little women is considered to be a best selling treasured classic, originally published in 1869. There are six adaptations of the film, the most recent one being produced in 2019. This shows you how even though the book itself is set in 1868, we are still able to enjoy the story and relate to the characters today. Louisa May Alcott was approached about writing a book ‘for girls’ which she originally declined to do, fortunately for us changing her mind at a later date. While the book was originally written for younger girls, it is most definitely a book that is for anyone of all ages.

The story follows the four March sisters, Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy, as they live their lives, explore their adolescence and attempt to grapple with the concept of having a father at war. When you read this book you feel as if you are there, experiencing everything with them. In my opinion this is part of the appeal, as out of the four sisters' characters you can find someone to relate to. Jo is the main character of the novel and has been named as one of the nineteenth century's most enduring and lovable characters.

Little Women is a book that I would recommend to everyone to read at least once in their lives. Even if you don’t like to read, or if you consider it might be ‘sappy’ or ‘girly’, I promise you that you will enjoy reading Little Women. It truly changes the way you perceive the world around you, and at the very least will expand your vocabulary. While some books written in the same time frame as little women are hard to comprehend because of the style of old English, this book is easy to understand and feels like you are reading something written in the last few years, set in that time period. I have read this book again and again, and it has provided great comfort for me - I hope it does for you too.

I highly recommend this book, and I give it five out of five. (LUCY KENNEDY)  PN

www.lucykennedywriter.wixsite.com/reviews instagram @lucykennedybookreviews Available at www.dorothybutlerbookshop.co.nz out of 5!

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