Student Pocket Guide Winter 2022 #48 | West Midlands Student Magazine by Student Pocket Guide

STUDENT POCKET GUIDE WINTER 2022 #48 WEST MIDLANDS

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With 2021 behind us, we’re feeling positive. Let’s kick-start this positivity by telling you we have within this very edition of SPG, a selection of amazing competition prizes up for grabs... Our front-cover global superstars Gorillaz have teamed up with us to give you the opportunity of winning a limited edition 10 x LP vinyl boxset entitled ‘G Collection | The Studio Albums’. It’s worth £149.99 and you can win the collection for FREE! We also caught up with Murdoc from the band to talk all things Gorillaz, alien species and top tips for students who dream of making it big. Next in the competition round-up this issue: a signed book by bestselling author Jason Fox aka Foxy, the TV presenter, adventurer and former British soldier. We also had a deep conversation with him about his time in the Special Forces, mental health and his successful television career. If you are starting the New Year with a health kick and tness routine, then you NEED this! The Pulseroll mini massage gun is a compact and powerful massage gun that will help you to feel amazing before and after a workout, and is backed by pro boxing champ Anthony Joshua! Read on to nd out how to win this nifty product. If that’s not enough for you, we caught up with Example to talk about his new album, UK tour and his journey thus far. Cel Spellman talks to us about the climate crisis and what changes we can make to help save our planet, and Jessika The Prankster reveals her new book and best pranks! Keep reading for all this, plus top tips on decking out your student digs, living with atmates, preparing for job interviews and of course, how to save money using the exclusive discounts we have for you! Don’t forget to follow Student Pocket Guide on all socials for more student discounts, competitions, exclusive interviews and performances.

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All Rights Reserved © Pocket Media Group Ltd 2022. The entire contents of this publication are protected by copyright. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form. The publishers do not accept responsibility for any of the views or opinions expressed in this guide, errors or omissions which may have occurred, or accept liability for any services or facilities featured. Whilst every effort is made to ensure that all information is correct, changes may and can occur.

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This might seem like a no-brainer, but simply changing your curtains can completely alter how a room looks. Once the old curtains are removed, you’ll see the room in a whole new light – literally. There are plenty of budget options for curtains online, ranging from £15 to £30. The type, colour and length of your curtains are entirely up to you, but a great start would be to match the colour to your bedding.

If your student accommodation is anything like ours was, then your floor is likely an old, prickly carpet in a dark blue or brown shade – yuck! Unfortunately, it’s not like you can tear up the carpet and replace it (we wish), but you can at least do your best to hide it with a rug. If you’re planning to follow tip #1, matching your rug to your curtains can be a great way to tie the room together. This rug probably won’t be staying with you for long, so opting for a cheaper, low-quality rug can be a great choice. And it’s likely a much better alternative to whatever flooring you have right now!

Living in student accommodation, you won’t have the luxury of replacing your furniture. However, you can always try to dress them up to at least bring them into this century. Blankets, throws and pillows are an excellent way to hide the true nature of your chairs, and there are tons of cheap choices to choose from online! As for your bed, try to pick bedding that stands out. Matching your bedding to your rug and curtains can give your room a complete look. It’ll also distract attention away from the parts you can’t change like a bulky dresser or a miscoloured table.

This may seem like an impossible task, but there are some simple and effective ways to add personality to your room. Paintings, posters and pictures are all excellent examples. And, if your landlord hasn’t given permission to hang posters or pictures on the walls, then simply putting up fairy lights or LED strips can be a good alternative.

If you’re planning on following all these tips, then your room will likely be looking pretty put-together at this point. Now all that’s left to do is add your own unique flair. Boho-lovers could look at purchasing some cute succulents, crystals and a diffuser. Whereas artists might opt for tiny art easels and canvases. Whatever decoration you decide to add, make sure it’s something that resonates with your hobbies and personality!

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G Collection: The Studio Albums Celebrating 20 years since their ground breaking self-titled debut, Gorillaz have released a special edition box set inclusive of the virtual bands six studio albums, exclusively for Record Store Day 2021. Each album draws from various styles of music and their discography is impressively diverse - this collection features the most complete way to enjoy the musical excellence of Gorillaz.

Pulseroll Mini Massage Gun Designed not only to level-up your recovery routine but also to be your pocket-friendly ally. It helps to keep aches and pains at bay wherever and whenever they occur. The mini massage gun is small but mighty with 4 speed settings, an LED screen, and a built in rechargeable battery. It’s easy to use, super portable and extra lightweight.

Signed copy of Life Under Fire Build resilience and learn to thrive in any situation with the powerful and inspiring book from the number one bestselling author of Battle Scars. Recounting stories from high-stakes operations and expeditions, Foxy draws on the practices of the British military and the skills he developed during his career to show how to respond positively to life’s challenges.

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HEY ELLIOT, IT’S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE WE SPOKE! I THINK THE LAST TIME WE MET WAS AT CREAMFIELDS AND OUR JOURNALIST ACCIDENTALLY STEPPED ON YOUR BRAND-NEW WHITE TRAINERS AFTER YOU SPECIFICALLY ASKING HIM NOT TO (SORRY). I HOPE THEY WASHED UP OK! SO, HOW ARE YOU KEEPING? EXCITED ABOUT STARTING YOUR UK TOUR LATER THIS MONTH?

I’m not sure I meet people and specifically ask them not to step on my trainers, haha!! No seriously, if I actually was wearing brand new white trainers to a festival then I probably deserved to have them ruined! I’m great actually. UK summer was amazing, so good to be back in front of huge crowds again. Australia has been slowly opening back up again. I’ve been playing loads of shows here at weekends as the Australian summer starts as the UK winter does. Always weird adjusting to being back home with the wife and kids but it’s part of the job, I guess. This UK tour coming up is going to be the biggest, boldest, brightest, most energetic I’ve ever done. It’s organised pandemonium. Playing every hit and all the new bangers. IT’S GREAT TO SEE YOU’RE PERFORMING AT OUR HOMETOWN NORWICH ON TUESDAY 8TH FEB, A FEW OF THE TEAM HAVE BOOKED THE WEDNESDAY OFF, HA. WHAT’S IT LIKE FOR YOU WHEN YOU ARE ON TOUR. IS IT ALL WORK AND NO PLAY OR DO YOU AND YOUR CREW ALSO LET YOUR HAIR DOWN AFTER YOUR GIGS?

It depends. Most nights it’s important I eat something substantial because 90mins on stage is a proper workout, so I need to get a good feed in after the show. I’d say half the gigs afterwards we’re pretty sensible and half of them we’re pretty wild. Especially the big cities like Birmingham and Manchester and London, there’s always so many friends and family knocking about backstage who I haven’t seen for ages because I now live on the other side of the world.

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WE’RE REALLY EXCITED TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR NEW ALBUM! CAN YOU TALK TO US ABOUT IT PLEASE? WHAT’S THE STORY BEHIND IT AND THE STYLE OF SONGS FEATURED?

It’s a really mixed bag - mostly UK garage or 2-step. A few drum and bass songs. A few French house / funk style as well. I’m singing a lot softer and laidback on this album compared to previous albums. There’s not a lot of rapping but whenever I do spit, I’m really going hard with it… The story you’ll have to wait and see… but let’s just say it’s about not wanting to grow up. YOU’VE OBVIOUSLY RELOCATED TO BRISBANE WHERE YOU LIVE WITH YOUR WIFE AND CHILDREN. DO YOU FIND THAT YOUR SURROUNDINGS EFFECT YOUR WRITING AND WHAT IMPACT HAS YOUR RELOCATION HAD ON YOUR MUSIC, IF ANY?

I thought it might do at first but really, it’s just about finding the right space to write in. It could be a park or my balcony or whilst I’m jogging by the river where I might think of a song idea or melody. Also, getting plenty of sleep and exercise actually makes me more creative. I used to think it was the opposite! Late nights and too many parties. I can’t do that anymore and still be productive. WIKIPEDIA TELLS ME IT’S YOUR BIG BIRTHDAY COMING UP! SORRY TO HINT AT THE AGE, BUT TO MAKE IT FAIR, I CAN TELL YOU IT’S MY (SAME AGE) BIRTHDAY ON MAY 30TH, SO I MIGHT STILL BE CELEBRATING BY THE TIME YOURS COMES AROUND. DO YOU HAVE ANY BIG PLANS FOR YOURS?

Haha. You’re trying to be discreet and respectful I like it! The big 4-0, yes. Erin’s is May 22nd and mine is June 20th, so I think somewhere in between we’ll do a big joint celebration. Probably a boat party in the sun. HERE AT SPG WE GENUINELY ENJOY FOLLOWING YOU ON SOCIALS. YOU UPLOAD A REALLY NICE MIX OF FUNNY AND COMPASSIONATE POSTS WHERE YOU INTERACT WITH, AND SUPPORT YOUR FANS. AS SOMEONE WHO CLEARLY HAS A GOOD SENSE OF HUMOUR, WHAT IS THE FUNNIEST STORY YOU CAN TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF?

Every day there is a funny story for me. I’m pretty weird and full of energy. I talk to strangers, do random acts of kindness, treat people who aren’t expecting it. There’s too many to choose from really.

LOOKING BACK AT YOUR EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL CAREER, WHAT HAVE BEEN THE HARDEST LESSONS YOU HAVE LEARNED, AND WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY, IF ANYTHING?

The main lesson I’ve learnt in life is to listen. I was never a good listener. I always rushed around everywhere and second guessed everything and finished peoples sentences. It got really out of hand. I’m much more relaxed now and more secure in myself and in all surroundings. I don’t actually regret anything and wouldn’t change a thing. It’s all part of the journey to learn from your mistakes and your triumphs. AS SOMEONE WHO’S WON NUMEROUS AWARDS, HAD 3 UK NUMBER 1S AND 8 UK TOP 10S, WHAT WORDS OF INSPIRATION CAN YOU SHARE WITH STUDENTS WHO MIGHT DREAM OF A CAREER IN MUSIC?

Well firstly I’d say that I wouldn’t measure success or achievements based on the charts or awards. You can have a successful career in music without ever winning an award or being in the charts. In today’s market you may just have a tonne of streams on Spotify or Apple Music and never be on the television. You may sell loads of gig tickets and not be played on radio. You may be huge on TikTok and not even have a Twitter account. The key thing I would say is to constantly hustle, ask other people questions, ask questions about yourself, constantly evolve, never give up! But most important of all be true to yourself, never release a song that you don’t actually feel represents you, never agree to a collaboration that doesn’t seem organic. I just worked everything out myself at the start but now have an amazing network and team around me. I am probably more ambitious than ever and I’ve been doing this 15 years now. THERE’S A LOT GOING ON IN THE WORLD IF EXAMPLE WAS PM FOR 1 DAY, WHAT WOULD BE THE FIRST BIG DECISION YOU’D MAKE, OR THE FIRST PERSON YOU WOULD CALL?

I’d call my mum and ask her how I became PM lol!? I think the first thing I’d do is make sure there weren’t super rich people living in the UK and avoiding paying tax. We could solve a lot of our problems if we properly taxed the loophole thriving super rich.

HAVE YOU ALWAYS BEEN A CONFIDENT PERSON – WHAT WAS YOU LIKE AS A KID?

I’ve always been a bit of an attention seeker and a performer. I wasn’t always confident though. I would often be shy depending on the situation or group I was in. Over time though I’ve become more comfortable in my own skin… I don’t think there’s a specific age that someone should expect to be fully certain of themselves. I’m 40 this year and still trying to be a better person and listen to advice. CAN YOU REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME YOU EVER SANG IN PUBLIC AS A KID, AND CAN YOU DESCRIBE THAT MOMENT?

I can remember singing in a school assembly. My mum put me in a drama group when I was 8 so I’ve never had stage fright. When I was 12, I think my voice started breaking and it went so deep in such a short space of time there was a moment where I didn’t want to sing publicly. I don’t have perfect pitch even now, but I think it adds to the rawness of my performances, almost like grunge meets the blues. I sing how I talk and I’m happy with that. I don’t have to put on a stage voice. WHAT’S THE BEST THING ABOUT BEING EXAMPLE?

My wife and kids. And having the best job in the world. We have a nice cat as well now. BEFORE WE GO, 2022 IS CLEARLY A BIG YEAR FOR YOU WHAT WITH THE RELEASE OF YOUR NEW ALBUM AND UK TOUR, BUT CAN YOU LET US INTO ANY POSSIBLE SECRET PLANS OR PROJECTS YOU MIGHT HAVE COMING-UP THIS YEAR AFTER YOUR TOUR?

I am launching a new initiative which is part charity and part foundation, giving opportunities to undiscovered raw talent all across the UK and eventually the globe. More info soon!

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For a few years now, the popularity of older styles has been growing. More and more often we are seeing people wearing outfits akin to those worn 20, even 30 years ago. Even celebs on the cutting edge of fashion are embracing this, unafraid to look older or even unfashionable. This could all be due to nostalgia, a craving for the life and culture back then. Which has since become legendary. Whatever the explanation, the ‘90s/’00s invasion is in full force, and here are the looks that are leading the charge…

Taking inspiration from the 1970s flared style, bootcut jeans took the early 2000s by storm. They graced the legs of the biggest stars, from Mariah and Britney – to Jlo and Beyoncé. As of recent years, they have slowly-but-surely crept their way back into the limelight. Even fashion houses such as Versace and Dolce & Gabbana have created modernised versions, signing their seal of approval for this look.

Perhaps the most iconic staple in most ‘00s wardrobes were the graphic tees. Popularised by stars like Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan, graphic t-shirts were a quick and sassy way to get your personality across to others using clothes. With phrases like “Stop Being Desperate” and “Queen of Everything” being regularly plastered across them, the shirts were virtually inescapable. Recently, graphic tees, most often paired with mom jeans, are making their comeback. Though, with less matter-of-fact phrases, and more interesting designs and colours.

As I mentioned before, the mom jean + t-shirt combo is on the rise! A few years ago, jeans or trousers were worn tightly. In fact, the tighter the better. Skinny jeans were very often on the outfit of the day roster, no matter the gender. But again, we have pinched some styles from decades ago to use as our own. Not only have sightings of baggy jeans and trousers increased, but so have the designs incorporating this style. From pleated culottes to large dungarees, most high street shops now sell this loosey-goosey trend.

The past decades eyewear has been characterised by chunky, sometimes obnoxious frames covering a lot of the face. Designer’s have pushed this trend, with larger and larger frames being churned out. But over the past couple of years, we have seen a branching out back into ‘90s style by the fashion forward community. Interesting lens shapes and colours are synonymous with ‘90s fashion. Dark, tiny-lensed glasses perched atop the nose, or flaming coloured and shaped frames as a statement piece. No matter the look, it’s as if they’ve been snatched right from a ‘90s music video.

The late 2010s heralded sleek, refined footwear from the likes of Balenciaga and Yeezy. Mostly in muted colours, these uncomplicated shoes dominated the feet of many. Though with the rise of streetwear brands, chunky and eye-catching trainers are once again mainstream. Brands like Off-White and Gucci are helping to revive this trend, featuring unique designs and colours, bringing this ‘90s trend straight into the 2020s. Since a lot of fashion became mainstream in the 1950s, the industry has always been cyclical. From ‘60s fashion in the ‘90s, and the ‘70s in the ‘00s, we always see a re-embrace of old fashions. This could be put down to a brand-new market for them, years younger than those who formerly wore them. This lack of fashion memory means old ideas will always make a comeback. And being able to see and wear them is all a part of the fun!

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Sometimes an older game is so good that it just needs to be remade with updated graphics and controls. While this doesn’t always turn out as planned, here are my top picks for the best remastered games.

The Uncharted trilogy was a huge series by Naughty Dog, so people were excited for remastered versions on the PS4. These games got a big upgrade, with entire character models being overhauled to create the best possible looking game. Along with this there were also improvements to other visuals such as lighting, and all the other small bits and pieces that you find changed in most remasters.

Spyro was a large part of my childhood, as it was for many others, so it was really exciting to see it being completely remastered. Toys For Bob managed to do it nearly perfectly: the art style was kept the same but upgraded to a higher resolution, controls were improved, and they even threw in the option to listen to the new soundtrack or the original.

The Legendary Edition was completely unexpected when it was announced, and yet it was something most Mass Effect fans had been wanting for years. While the original games are fantastic, they’re certainly dated. The remaster took the three games and all their DLC and put them together, making a great bundle. The updated graphics, significant changes to camera shots and lighting, and even fixing bugs that were never sorted in the originals make this one of the best remastered games ever.

Final Fantasy VII is probably the most popular game of the series despite its age. It’s because of this that Square Enix decided it needed a remake, and remake it they did. Almost everything about it is perfect. In fact, the only reason it isn’t number one is because it’s split into three parts, and the latter two will likely be PS5 exclusive, despite the first part being on the PS4. The upgraded visuals looked stunning, and there was also the option to use the old gameplay instead of the new.

Skyward Sword HD made the top of this list because Nintendo listened to their fans really closely. Skyward Sword first came out for the Nintendo Wii in 2011, and people almost non-stop complained about how bad they found the motion controls to be. When the remaster got announced, many people were concerned that the game would once again rely on those. However, Nintendo took heed of their fans’ complaints, and brought the game out with the option to play using joysticks. For many, this was their first time playing the game, and it was only made possible by this improvement. Personally, I love seeing games get remastered. When the community and the developers care about one of their games so much that they want to bring it into the modern age of gaming, it shows real passion. I can’t wait to see what other games are up for being remastered soon.

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HI JASON, FIRSTLY THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, I’M REALLY EXCITED TO HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY. I WAS HOPING TO START FROM THE BEGINNING - WHAT WAS YOUR CHILDHOOD LIKE GROWING UP PRIOR TO YOU JOINING THE SPECIAL FORCES? I had a pretty standard childhood, it was a good upbringing. My parents were good, they were always wanting me to get out and about and enjoy the outdoors. One thing I would say is that I grew up in Luton, it wasn’t the most affluent area at the time, and through certain influences at school I was destined to get into trouble, because of the person I was. And I wasn’t very good at school, not academically anyway. I was more of an outdoorsy person. At 16 I had a subconscious presence of mind to get myself out of that so joined the Royal Marines.

WAS THIS A PIVOTAL TIME OF YOUR CAREER AND HOW DID IT EFFECT YOU, MAKING THIS TRANSITION AT THAT AGE? It was the thing that made me a man, I had to grow up really quickly. There was a lot that I struggled with, especially the personal admin. I found it very difficult but over a period of time I embraced it and then started to enjoy it and realised being a soldier is something that I wanted to do and wanted to keep pushing myself to see how far I could get, what level I could get myself to.

YOU LATER WENT ON TO PASS THE GRUELING SELECTION PROCESS FOR THE SPECIAL FORCES, SERVING WITH THE SPECIAL BOAT SERVICE. WHAT WAS THE SELECTION PROCESS LIKE? Absolutely horrendous. Selection is an absolute slog, it doesn’t matter how good a soldier you are, how much experience you have got, it’s designed to be monotonous, there’s no real encouragement, there’s no one telling you that you have to be there, and I think that is what makes it harder because it’s all on you. The motivation comes from you. The monotony of getting up at 4:30am when it’s absolutely pouring with rain outside and you’ve got to get up and go on a 20 or 30km march takes its toll. And then after that phase, which is 4 weeks long, you move to 6 weeks of living in the jungle and you’re being assessed constantly. It was tough, but it’s something that I’m glad I did and I am very proud I was able to grit it out.

CAN YOU GIVE US AN EXAMPLE OF THE PHYSICALLY TOUGHEST AND MOST EXHAUSTING CHALLENGES YOU’VE FACED DURING YOUR CAREER IN THE SPECIAL FORCES? There is a lot of stuff that is tough and physical but I would say that going away on operation, war fighting in the Special Forces. Not only is it physically demanding, but it’s psychologically demanding as well, as you are always thinking about the prospect of getting seriously hurt or killed, you’ve got to remain switched on and look out for your mates.

I’M NO EXPERT BUT I’D PRESUME A LOT OF THE WORK INVOLVED IS NOT JUST STRENGTH AND FITNESS RELATED BUT TACTICAL PLANNING AND CRUCIALLY TIMED DECISIONS. WHAT KIND OF ATTRIBUTES ARE REQUIRED IN ORDER TO FULFILL YOUR DUTIES WITHIN THE SPECIAL FORCES? A lot of tactical planning, mindset and being able to make decisions in high stress environments. The attributes that make up a Special Forces soldier are obviously physical and mental robustness but also having the ability to remain comfortable in uncomfortable situations - having a flexible mindset that isn’t governed by a plan, so if something goes wrong you are able to remain focused on what you need to do and what you need to achieve. I think also a little bit of stubbornness, but also people seem to forget that the job entails working with other people, other nationalities, so there is a high level of empathy, trust and loyalty involved - all these skills come into it on a daily basis.

IN YOUR AUTOBIOGRAPHY, BATTLE SCARS YOU TALK ABOUT GUNFIGHTS, HOSTAGE RESCUES, DARING ESCAPES AND HEROIC ENDEAVORS. WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST DANGEROUS MISSION YOU HAVE BEEN ON, OF THEM ALL? They’re all dangerous, but my last tour which was in 2009/10, was probably the most intense, the operational tempo was very high, it was very kinetic which means we were going out on operations regularly and getting involved in fire fights. We probably lost around 25% of the squadron to either death or life changing injury which takes its toll on you psychologically. I was involved in a hostage rescue mission at the beginning of that tour. It was probably one of the most intense short periods of time I ever experienced. Normally when you are in battle it comes in waves, there is a burst of gunfire, then it will calm down, whereas this was just constant aggression and violence from start to finish.

YOU WERE SADLY DIAGNOSED WITH PTSD, AND NOT ONLY ARE YOU OPEN ABOUT YOUR STRUGGLES BUT YOU HAVE PARTNERED WITH MENTOR360, A MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING APP, PROVIDING TAILORED SUPPORT FROM INDUSTRY LEADING MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, FOR SILENT MENTAL HEALTH SUFFERERS. WHAT IS THE VISION OF THIS VENTURE IN TERMS OF THE PEOPLE YOU ARE TRYING TO REACH AND HELP? I left the military with PTSD, after I had done that, and then decided to speak out, which took a little bit of time because I was uncomfortable with why I left. I was then asked to go back to my unit and talk to the commander about what to spot within individuals that could be suffering from mental health issues. It was when I was doing that, a good friend of mine, Bertie, was sat in on one of those presentations, and we discussed my journey, and he was like, “why didn’t you say anything?”. I said I didn’t know I could, and that sent Bertie on a journey of being interested in people’s welfare, especially psychologically and that, coupled with his own dealing of his dad’s suicide and the fact that he has got a step son who has suffered from mental health made him come up with the idea of MENTOR360. We were just discussing it, and I really thought it was something that was genuinely worthwhile because of how much help it could offer people, so I wanted to get involved. The vision is for it to be accessible to as many people as possible, from children to people who are entering old age, because I genuinely feel MENTOR360 is something that can guide you through life and it’s never too late to have something or someone there to help you through difficult times.

WHAT DO YOU DO TO KEEP YOUR MINDSET IN AS BEST A PLACE AS POSSIBLE? The best thing for me is routine, that doesn’t mean it’s a set routine, I mean a flexible routine so if something happens which means I can’t stick to a certain routine I’m not phased by it, I adjust it and still keep myself in a routine. The routine will involve healthy eating, positive good habits such as getting up early, doing exercise regularly, generally just giving my own mind the time it deserves to explore certain emotions if I’m feeling negative about something and that in turn puts me on the path to getting myself back in a positive mindset.

AS WELL AS YOUR EXCITING NEW MENTOR 360 VENTURE, MANY WILL KNOW YOU FOR YOUR MULTIPLE TV APPEARANCES, INCLUDING THE TV HIT SAS: WHO DARES WINS AND MORE RECENT FOXY’S FEARLESS 48 HOURS WHERE YOU TOOK CELEBRITIES OUT OF THEIR COMFORT ZONES, FOR SCARY PHYSICAL CHALLENGES. ONE OF THESE CELEBS JUST HAPPENS TO BE MAYA JAMA WHO WE RECENTLY INTERVIEWED FOR STUDENT POCKET GUIDE. WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO WORK WITH HER? You know what, I went into the Maya episode with apprehension because I was worried there would be very little we would have in common. It actually turned out that we had a great laugh, she’s a very easy going person, she was up for doing anything even though she was absolutely petrified at times, and I really enjoyed the 48hrs I spent with her.

YOU WERE ALSO A PRESENTER IN CHANNEL 4’S MEET THE DRUG LORDS: INSIDE THE REAL NARCOS. IN THIS SERIES YOU VISITED MEXICO, COLUMBIA AND PERU MEETING THE VERY PEOPLE YOU ONCE FOUGHT AGAINST, FROM CARTEL LEADERS TO HITMEN, SMUGGLERS AND DEALERS THEY EMPLOY. WHAT WAS THAT LIKE, MEETING THE VERY PEOPLE YOU ONCE FOUGHT AGAINST? It was a fascinating experience. It gave a bit of context to the war on drugs for me, which I have lots of different opinions on. It was also very scary, because ultimately I’m there in a different capacity to what I was before - unarmed, without the backup of an entire military operation behind you. I was there to speak to and find out about people who probably just want a bit of attention, so as long as we played things right, which we did, because I’m still here, we were going to be fine. And it was all about relationship building, some of those skills I learned in the Special Forces.

THROUGHOUT YOUR CAREER, YOU’VE TRAVELLED TO MANY PLACES AROUND THE WORLD – WHERE IN YOUR OPINION IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACE ON THE PLANET? It’s difficult, because I love the jungle, but it’s not beautiful, it’s raw. I love the desert but that’s not beautiful because it’s just boring, but in a nice way. It’s probably the very north west of North America. So Canada, Alaska. I did a trip to the Yukon where I canoed the length of it and that was pretty awesome.

WHAT IS A PERFECT DAY FOR YOU? Get up nice and early. Take a cold shower, I love a cold shower in the morning now. Then Coffee, breakfast, a decent training session, bit of work then home, dinner, Only Fools and Horses and then bed.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR FOXY DURING 2022 AND BEYOND? Foxy Life at the Limit Tour, starting in January with over 30 dates. Hopefully filming more SAS, and of course the one we have just filmed will be airing. I have a few other projects bubbling away, hopefully they’ll come off but you never know, and I’m writing another book.

No matter who you are or what you do, absolutely everyone deserves their own quiet time and space to escape to and decompress after a long day. While you may have your own methods of achieving serenity and relaxation, I’m here to show you how with five simple items, you can transform your house and home into a calm zone.

Though I can sense your alarm bells already ringing, fear not. Owning and caring for a pet such as a cat or dog can indeed be stressful yet rewarding work at times. However, caring for a fish is, quite literally, an entirely different beast. The rewards and benefits towards mental health you can reap from keeping a fish tank include a reduced heart rate, and reduced symptoms of anxiety and panic disorders as a result. All in all, keeping fish means you gain lively companions for your room who will help calm you in dire moments of panic. A worthwhile investment if you ask me. All necessary items available at your local pet store. Check with your landlord before purchase.

If caring for fish is a little too high maintenance for your serenity, there is another, much simpler, solution. Whether you have had little to no interest in gardening before, the scientific benefits for your mental wellbeing that caring for a bonsai tree provides, are proven and documented. Benefits include but are not limited to – physical benefits such as helping to cure coughs, fatigue, and sore throat, as well as psychological benefits such as reducing the effects of mental stress. A relatively low-maintenance decoration, and one that will aid your mental and physical tenfold for the foreseeable future. Available at in-store and online gardening retailers for <£50.

For a lot of us, our bedrooms and houses are safe spaces that can provide much needed respite and relaxation after a potentially frustrating day. That being said, a change of scenery is never a bad thing. Investing in a mood light may just provide you with exactly what you need in that department. It’s easy to look at one and dismiss it as being ‘just a bunch of colours’, but mood lighting can greatly benefit the chemicals in our brain, as different colours can emulate different warm sensations just by looking at them. For instance, yellow can represent cosiness and warmth, whereas red promotes production of the hormone melatonin, which can cause drowsiness and help sleep deprivation and insomnia. To me, this is a definite case of ‘don’t knock it until you try it’. Available on Amazon for <£30.

Having trouble with sleeping due to noise, or lack thereof? Whether it’s the hustle and bustle of the city, noisy neighbours or an uncomfortable dead silence, there are many ways our hearing can impede a good night’s sleep. That’s why a white noise machine is an essential purchase. A simple audio device with a built-in speaker, this machine provides you with a soothing constant hum or buzz at various frequencies or volumes to drown out the noise, or indeed provide you with noise where there is none. Everyone needs and deserves to have a good night’s sleep each night and, thanks to the white noise machine, nearly everyone finally can. Available on Amazon for <£30.

I don’t mean to insinuate anything about anyone reading this when I say that you could really do with a scented candle, but it’s true. Whether you have issues with the natural smell of your house/room or not, the existence of the scented candle proves the importance of giving your nostrils a treat. Smelling certain aromas have also proven to improve your general mood and stimulate your memory, helping to remind you of the happiest times of your life so you can truly relax and unwind. Available in about as many flavours as Ben and Jerry’s ice cream, you certainly won’t be short on choice of aromas to decorate your house and home with. Available at Amazon and other online stores for <£20.

BACKED BY FORMER HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD ANTHONY JOSHUA, THIS MINI MASSAGE GUN USES VIBRATION TECHNOLOGY PROVEN TO HELP MUSCLE RECOVERY. APPROVED BY PHYSIOS AND PRO ATHLETES, THE MINI MASSAGE GUN INCREASES BLOOD FLOW MAKING YOU PERFORM BETTER WHILST WORKING OUT AND PROTECTS YOUR MUSCLES, REDUCING NEXT DAY SORENESS. THE PRODUCT HAS A BUILT IN RECHARGEABLE BATTERY, 4 SPEED SETTINGS, IS PORTABLE, LIGHTWEIGHT AND COMES IN A TRAVEL-FRIENDLY CARRY CASE. KICKSTART YOUR FITNESS ROUTINE WITH THIS COMPACT AND POWERFUL MASSAGE GUN THAT WILL HELP YOU FEEL AMAZING BEFORE AND AFTER A WORKOUT.

You could be living with friends or people you’ve never met before at university. To preserve harmony in your household, it goes without saying that you should be friendly and communicate with your flatmates. Here are some extra tips to help you live comfortably in a shared household.

Learn what your flatmates enjoy and dislike since this will save you time and hassle throughout living together. Try to get to know each other and see if you have anything in common. The more you have in common, the more you can do together.

The greatest approach to maintain a positive living environment is to spend time with your flatmates. Quality time is crucial for establishing friendships, so try to spend time with your flatmates in addition to spending time with friends across the university, focusing on your academics and extracurricular activities. Make time for your flatmates because they are important.

When it comes to living in shared housing, sharing truly is caring. Communicate with your flatmates about what you will be sharing whether it’s milk, bread, cleaning supplies, or kitchenware. This will help to avoid future arguments between your flatmates.

Make a financial contribution to household items and cleaning supplies. Create a money jar and mark your name whenever you’ve contributed. This demonstrates that you are aware of what must be done and paid for around the flat/house. No one should be left to buy all the household necessities on their own.

Set boundaries and communicate them to your flatmates. You and your flatmates must express your boundaries to one another so that you are both aware of what you can or can not do. This talk may be difficult to start, but it is important as it can help avoid future conflict. Keep your flatmates’ boundaries in mind and don’t cross them.

It is useful to know your flatmates’ schedules so you can plan when to do something together. It may be beneficial to arrange to use the bathroom around each other. If your flatmate has a 9 a.m. class, you can let them use the bathroom before you because they have an earlier start time.

Living with a group of people is ideal as it means you will have plenty of social time. Remember that everyone requires downtime, so schedule some time for yourself to focus on your needs and studies.

Being kind and friendly is the greatest approach to maintain harmony. Being patient is also essential while living with others. To avoid a heated debate, remember to be rational in each situation that you are confronted with.

By being at ease in your environment, you can make the most of your living circumstances. This means being open, friendly, and respectful to those with whom you share your accommodation. Try to be honest about anything that may upset you and resolve difficulties as soon as possible.

When living in shared housing, everyone’s opinions and feelings must be considered. So, compromises are required. When these scenarios happen, keep a good attitude in mind. Remember, at university, you will meet a wide range of personalities and characters. If you can be adaptive, this will be beneficial to your personal growth. We hope these tips help you have a happy and stress-free experience when living with flatmates!

HEY MURDOC, LET’S GET STRAIGHT TO IT - I KNOW YOU’RE A BUSY MAN, AND 20 YEARS AT THE TOP OF YOUR GAME IS ONE IMPRESSIVE STINT! LOOKING BACK OVER YOUR HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL CAREER, ARE YOU ABLE TO EXPLAIN WHY YOU THINK THE BAND HAVE BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL DURING THIS TIME?

Nicely worded question, mate! Impressive for a student. I reckon you’ll go far, if you ever manage to pay off those crippling loans. Speaking of onerous debts, let me just state, for the record, that my own incredible success has absolutely nothing to do with the rumours that I signed some Faustian pact with a higher – ok, lower – power. YOU’VE HAD AN INCREDIBLE JOURNEY, AND I GUESS THE FANS ONLY REALLY SEE (OR ASSOCIATE WITH), THE HIGHS? WHAT HAVE BEEN THE HIGHEST HIGHS, AND LOWEST LOWS SINCE STARTING OUT WITH GORILLAZ?

I like you. Another top-class question. I won’t traumatise your readers with the highs, but one low sticks in the mind. 2D and I were having a few sambucas after a show, we must have got carried away because we woke up a few days later in a two-man submersible at the base of the Mariana Trench. Doesn’t get much lower than that, especially on a hangover. YOU’VE TOURED THE WORLD FROM SAN DIEGO TO SYRIA AND MONTEVIDEO TO MANCHESTER. YOU MUST HAVE SOME EPIC STORIES! WHAT’S IT LIKE BEING ON TOUR WITH YOU GUYS AND CAN YOU SHARE ANYTHING WITH THE FANS FROM YOUR ADVENTURES THAT THEY MIGHT NOT ALREADY KNOW?

I’m going to defer this question to my former colleague and dear friend Hamish, who was Gorillaz’ head roadie for years until several incidents left him incapacitated. Hamish very generously recounted some of our larks in the Gorillaz Almanac, a little book we published in 2020. It’s all in there, have a butchers.

THE LAST TIME WE SPOKE TO GORILLAZ WAS BACK IN FEB 2019 WHEN WE HAD A CHAT WITH NOODLE WHO WAS COMPLAINING ABOUT YOU AND I QUOTE “WHETHER HE’S LYING ABOUT WHAT HE DID LAST NIGHT, OR JUST EXAGGERATING THE TRUTH. HE’S ALWAYS UP TO NO GOOD WITH THAT MOUTH OF HIS.” WE WONDER WHAT YOUR OPINION IS TO THIS AND ARE YOU AND NOODLE GETTING ON ANY BETTER THESE DAYS?

Come on, mate, that was 2019! We’ve moved on, capiche? What happens in the past stays in the past, that’s my motto. It’s a philosophy that helps me remain in the moment while giving me licence to behave exactly as I like without having to worry about guilt or regret. LET US TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME BECAUSE IT’S NOT OFTEN WE GET TO TALK TO SUCH HIGH ACHIEVING ARTISTS. 7 ALBUMS, 43 SINGLES, 2 DOCUMENTARY FILMS, OVER 175 LIVE SHOWS, 24 MILLION RECORDS SOLD GLOBALLY AND 5 BILLION+ GLOBAL SPOTIFY STREAMS AMONGST MANY OTHER HUGE ACHIEVEMENTS – SIMPLY INCREDIBLE! HAS THIS ALL BEEN A PART OF A LONG DOMINATING PLAN, OR HAS IT UNFOLDED AS YOU’VE GONE ALONG?

Couldn’t have put it better myself! In fact I think I’ll copy and paste that onto my LinkedIn profile. FYI you missed off 3 Rear of the Year awards (Staffordshire Gazette) and my Nobel Peace Prize (pending). But fair’s fair, I can’t take all the credit, Gorillaz is a team effort and the other three have def chipped in along the way. Ball park estimate, I can take about 97% of the credit. (I’ll let you students do the maths.) GORILLAZ RECENTLY LAUNCHED A LIMITED-EDITION CLOTHING LINE CALLED G FOOT COLLECTION TO CELEBRATE 20 YEARS OF YOUR UNIQUE STYLE. ON THE G FOOT WEBSITE, IT MENTIONS THE CLOTHING LINE IS “REAL STYLE IN A CARTOON WORLD.” HOW MANY REALMS DO YOU THINK ARE THERE IN THIS CRAZY WORLD, AND IF YOU HAVE PRETTY MUCH DOMINATED THE CARTOON WORLD, WHAT’S NEXT?

Always fancied doing a tour in Hell, actually. We’ve got a massive following in the netherworld, and it couldn’t be much worse than some of the places we’ve played, especially in the early days. Saw fewer pitchforks in Hell than at some of our gigs in rural Stoke.

HOW DO YOU THINK LIVING BEINGS FROM ANOTHER GALAXY MIGHT PERCEIVE GORILLAZ IF THEY HAD NEVER HEARD YOU BEFORE, AND HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELVES TO THEM?

Depends very much on the alien species in question, mate. If we’re talking an advanced, super-intelligent and incredibly sexy species, they would naturally feel a kinship with me, plus probably wonder why I’m not the frontman. But if it’s a rudimentary species like a single cell organism or some pathetic space blancmange, they would find something relatable in 2D. Gorillaz has something for everyone, that’s why we transcend all boundaries. GETTING BACK TO REALITY AND ASSUMING WE DO NOT FIND ANY NEW DIMENSIONS, TO FINALISE THIS INTERVIEW, MAYBE YOU CAN SHARE SOME WORDS OF WISDOM AND INSPIRATION TO STUDENTS READING THIS, WHO DREAM OF MAKING A SUCCESSFUL CAREER IN MUSIC…

Talent is not enough. Hard work is not enough. Bribery, extortion, and blackmail are not enough. Success requires the lot of them. But you’re probably thinking, ‘Another great quote, Murdoc, inspiring as always – however, I’m a dreadful musician with no talent at all! What can I do?’ Well, don’t be disheartened – take inspiration from my bandmates Russel, Noodle and 2D, attach yourself to a meteoric talent and ride their slipstream all the way to the stars. Failing that, try something else. I hear they need lorry drivers.

First things first, make sure you are prepared. This is so important to allow you to be your best on the day of your interview. With the right preparation, you should be at least slightly relaxed, knowing you’ve given it your all. Here are my top tips on how to be best prepared for an interview and armed with the right mindset.

As I mentioned in my previous article (about landing your dream job), make sure you do a bit of background check on the company you are applying to join! It is so obvious and not a good look when an interviewee tries to blag their way through the question “what do you know about us?”. So, spend some time visiting the company’s website, searching their socials (they will have searched yours!) and just being able to give a reasonable answer to the question - I doubt the interviewer will mind if you don’t nail it, but at least having checked them out online shows you’ve gone to the effort. And if they don’t ask it, you still have the understanding of the organisation which should bolster your confidence. This might also lead onto my next point….

Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Obviously, see how things go, because you will no doubt be able to ask questions at the end, but if the timing seems right, and you’re on a topical subject you’d like to explore a little further, why not ask? The interviewer is checking if you are the right person for the job. You should also be checking that the job and company is the right fit for you!

Take water with you for two reasons, obviously to keep hydrated but it’s also a wise move to have a sip of water after being asked a question, should you need to think for a few seconds before answering. Listen to the question, and give a concise and clear answer.

Make sure if your interview has an allocated time, to be able to get across in that time what you set out to. For example, if the interview is 30 minutes, and you have two questions and some work you wish to present, try to plan ahead to make sure you can fit it all in whilst giving the interviewer enough time to ask their questions!

Never turn up late! And also, don’t arrive too early! 15 minutes early is in my opinion, the earliest you should arrive. Make sure you know where the place is. Check out the location on Google maps, arrange your transport plans, and if it’s local take a test trip and time it! You don’t want any unforeseen slip ups on the day.

Try to be yourself whilst also showing professionalism and enthusiasm for the role. Make sure you understand the role and requirements. Sometimes jobs do and sometimes don’t offer progression opportunities, and you might be being interviewed by your potential manager, so saying you want progression, if the job doesn’t offer it might mean you want their job. So just understand the situation and opportunity to avoid any embarrassing or awkward moments.

Turn off your mobile phone!

Have a positive mindset. Whether it’s raining and miserable or you couldn’t find parking (shouldn’t be an issue if you follow point 5 above), just leave the negativity at home. Think positive. Be positive. Be confident but not arrogant. Be armed with enough background on the company, be prepared with what you want to ask, and communicate effectively why you are the right person for the role.

Look the part, feel the part, and leave no doubt in your interviewer’s mind that you are the person for the job! Good luck.

HEY JESSIKA, HOW ARE YOU DOING AT THE MOMENT? I’m doing great. Grateful for this moment in my life.

LET’S BEGIN BY TALKING A LITTLE ABOUT HOW YOUR CAREER BEGAN. WHERE DID YOU GET THE IDEA TO START VLOGGING YOUR PRANKS ON YOUR MUM? I decided to prank my foster mom only a few months after living with her. I brought an incident at school to her attention, and she went off on me. She didn’t know I had a camera recording the whole time. People thought it was so funny, so I decided to keep making them after the first video. It brought us closer together and we really got to know each other.

WAS IT ALWAYS AN AIM OF YOURS (WHEN YOU BEGAN CREATING THE VIDEOS) TO BECOME A VLOGGER? I realised people began to really enjoy the videos, so I wanted to make more of them. It wasn’t the aim in the beginning, but it was fun.

WHEN DID YOU REALISE THAT YOUR VLOGS WERE BECOMING SUCCESSFUL AND WHAT AFFECT DID THIS HAVE ON YOURS AND YOUR FAMILY’S LIVES? Well, the videos went viral immediately. I started to realise we made people feel good. Laughter is good for the soul; I enjoyed brightening someone’s day. It pretty much changed our lives. We then started to get recognized more and it added a new sense of purpose to our lives; to help people.

DID YOUR YOUTUBE AMBITIONS EVER CAUSE A RIFT BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR MUM (WHAT WITH HER BEING THE VICTIM OF YOUR PRANKS)? There have been a few pranks that made my mom really, really angry. But she’s a good sport, so she would get over it pretty quickly.

IT’S CLEAR TO SEE YOUR MUM IS A MASSIVE PART OF YOUR YOUTUBE SUCCESS, AND THAT YOU HAVE A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH HER FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS. INTERESTINGLY, I HEAR THAT SHE HAS ALWAYS WARNED YOU TO REMAIN HUMBLE DESPITE YOUR GROWING POPULARITY. HOW DO YOU STAY HUMBLE WHEN BECOMING AN INTERNET SENSATION?

She definitely helps me stay humble; I have chores and rules to follow. There’s no ‘Jessika the Prankster’ without my mom, ‘Momma Redd’.

HOW DID YOU FIND IT WHEN YOU MOVED HOME TO HELP FURTHER YOUR CAREER?

Well, my mom and I moved to Atlanta, and we had a team of people that really supported us. They helped us a lot. You really cannot be successful without support.

LET’S TALK ABOUT YOUR LATEST VENTURE AS A WRITER. WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO USE YOUR CAREER AS A WAY OF HELPING OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE? So many people would DM me and tell me how depressed they were and how our videos cheered them up. Even kids were depressed, so I wanted to do more to help them. That’s what birthed the idea.

HOW DO YOU THINK YOUR OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCES HAVE HELPED YOU WRITE THIS BOOK?

I have had my share of dark days. I would always write things down, but I felt lost. I didn’t know how to express what I was feeling. So, I wanted to give people a guide, something more specific to help them express themselves, ask more questions, and make it fun. It helps to pull out your emotions.

HOW DID YOU DECIDE WHAT YOU WANTED TO FEATURE IN THE BOOK AND WHO DID YOU WORK WITH TO MAKE IT A SUCCESS?

I have a solid support system and when I shared my idea, they loved it. I just wanted it to be more helpful than what was already on the market. My team helped my ideas come to life.

IS THIS SOMETHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE DOING IN THE FUTURE AND CAN WE EXPECT TO SEE MORE YOUTH WELLNESS BOOK RELEASES SOON? I feel like my purpose is to help my generation as much as possible. I want to bring a smile and healing to people. Of course, I have other things I want to do, but it will always be to inspire the next person.

WHERE ELSE CAN YOU SEE YOUR CAREER HEADING - ARE THERE ANY OTHER PATHS THAT YOU’RE EAGER TO EXPERIMENT WITH?

Acting for sure. I have been auditioning and working on some indie projects. I love that right now, but I want to continue to be an entrepreneur as well; I have so many business ideas.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST INSANE MOMENT OF YOUR CAREER AS AN INFLUENCER AND VLOGGER SO FAR? (A PINCH ME MOMENT PERHAPS) Becoming an author. In My Feelings is a dream come true. I’m so happy people are using my journal as an outlet to express their true feelings, so they don’t keep them bottled in anymore.

FINALLY, WHAT IS YOUR DREAM GOAL IN LIFE AND WHAT SHOULD WE EXPECT FROM JESSIKA FARRELL IN THE FUTURE?

To be on the big screen or a TV show, that’s what I’m working towards now…

The end of the year is hot for Max M! Two times Unsigned Only 2021 winner, MusicBeatsCancer Challenge winner, the French emerging producer is collecting the awards! While he has just released his new ‘80s inspired song ‘Any Other Night’ his track ‘Under Water’ is about to enter the Clubbing TV top 10. This does not stop Max M moving forward as he is preparing big things to be released soon...

Love this! Itʼs as if the 80s have been modernised.

Emotional and Outstanding track. Amazing masterwork!

A V A I L A B L E O N A L L M A J O R P L A T F O R M S

We all enjoy a bit of a wild night out from time to time. There’s something fun about losing your inhibitions and letting go for a good time. But one bad experience can often put a dampener on future nights out. Whether you got too drunk, or your night ruined by others, the case can often be a traumatic situation spoiling your plans. So, avoid these misfortunes, and follow these simple and easy steps for a safe sesh…

This may seem like an obvious one, but you’d be surprised by how many people think they’re sober enough to drive. Even when they’re really not. With drink driving rates increasing, staying safe on the road is of the upmost importance. To ensure this, plan your taxis to and from venues with plenty of time to spare. Being stuck without a ride home isn’t the way to finish off your night.

There’s nothing worse than reaching your venue of choice, getting settled, and then being left alone by friends. Under normal circumstances, friends wandering off wouldn’t be as much of an issue. But in a busy club, being by yourself can leave you vulnerable to the more sinister side of club-going. Avoiding this, choose trustworthy friends to go out with, who will look out for you if needs be. This way you’ll worry less and stay safe. Plus there’s less chance of getting lost!

Most of us have heard the horror stories of being spiked on a night out. Some may only result in a harsh hangover, but others can have more menacing endings. A simple solution to this is keeping your drink with you at all times. And keep an eye on it as you do. A further step would be covering any lids or rims of cups, eliminating the risk altogether. And if your drink tastes slightly different after your last sip, get rid of it!

Of course most decent nights out involve alcohol. That’s a given. And it is very hard to avoid. Getting drunk and having fun is the basis of a night out for many. Alcohol is a great catalyst for letting your hair down and enjoying yourself. But with one-shot-too-many, the enjoyment can turn into regret very quickly. When things start getting a little messy, it may be best to take a break from the booze and drink some water. Don’t spoil your own fun, or anyone else’s for that matter. Pace yourself!

Things can quickly begin to get overwhelming in the party atmosphere. It can be as simple as a panic from bright lights and loud music. Or worse, a creepy individual trying to make advances. Either way, clubs can become scary, quickly. To take precaution for this, your group should decide on an easy-to-find emergency meeting spot. So if you get broken up, or just feel uncomfortable, there is an easy way out. As a back-up, many bars and clubs use the Ask for Angela policy. Approaching a bar tender, and asking for someone called Angela will signal your stressful situation to them. And they’ll take it from there… Hopefully by now, you have noticed most of these tips just rely on some minor pre-planning or small decisions. So why not take the time before and during your night to keep safe? It could make all the difference and ensures a night you’ll remember. For all the right things.

Youngr Oasis Mashup | SPG Exclusive WATCH NOW! Muszic Al - This is gonna be massive. Well done! Live Forever! Music Videos, DJ Mixes & Interviews - Wow! Superb. Edgar P - Biblical! Daniel C - That’s some talent you have mate Youngr - Thanks dudes!

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CEL SPELLMAN IS A HUGELY SUCCESSFUL ACTOR APPEARING ON OUR SCREENS IN PROGRAMMES SUCH AS WHITE LINES (NETFLIX), COLD FEET (ITV), AND WATERLOO ROAD (BBC). SPELLMAN’S TALENT ISN’T JUST LIMITED TO ACTING. AS AN AMBASSADOR FOR WWF HE LAUNCHED A PODCAST ENTITLED CALL OF THE WILD, WHERE HE DISCUSSES THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE WITH TOP ENVIRONMENTAL EXPERTS, INCLUDING SIR DAVID ATTENBOROUGH - TOGETHER THEY TALK ABOUT THE DEVASTATING EFFECTS HUMANS ARE HAVING ON EARTH, AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP SAVE OUR PLANET BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE. I CAUGHT UP WITH CEL SPELLMAN TO TALK ABOUT HIS PODCAST, CLIMATE CHANGE, TURNING THINGS AROUND, AND HOW MEETING HIS HERO SIR DAVID ATTENBOROUGH WAS SOMETHING HE WILL NEVER FORGET… HEY CEL, CAN WE START BY TALKING ABOUT YOUR INVOLVEMENT WITH WWF - YOU’RE AN AMBASSADOR FOR THEM, RIGHT, HOW DID THIS COME ABOUT? I’ve always had that love and passion for the environment growing up, particularly around wildlife and the great outdoors. I remember always having some sort of adoption pack when I was growing up. As I got a bit older and began learning about climate change (global warming when I was in school) and the impact we are having on our planet and resources, I felt more and more compelled to help and try do something about it. It was either that or bury my head in the sand. Around aged 15 when I was working for the BBC in children’s TV, I reached out to WWF. I said you probably won’t know who I am but I work quite closely with young people and if there’s any way I can support your work and help a bit, then I’m here. 10 years on I’m a proud ambassador and have launched a podcast with them – Call of the Wild!

YOUR WWF PODCAST ENTITLED CALL OF THE WILD ABOUT THE DAMAGE WE ARE CAUSING TO OUR PLANET HIGHLIGHTS SOME ALARMING TRUTHS! WHAT IS THE BIGGEST DRIVER BEHIND THIS PODCAST AND WHAT DO YOU HOPE FOR IT TO ACHIEVE? We are experiencing a climate crisis and for us to make the change we need to see, it’s going to require everyone getting involved. For me, education, storytelling, conversation and awareness are some of the key components that will help us readdress our relationship with the natural world and help reverse the effects of climate change. That, combined with the massive rise of the podcast as a medium make it a perfect fit for what we are trying to do with opening up the conversation around environmental issues. Each episode we talk to a different famous face, someone experiencing the impacts of climate change and top environmental experts to learn about a different area of the environmental conversation from deforestation, to fast fashion, to plastic in the oceans. I hope people get some tangible things they can implement in their everyday lives and come away armed with some facts and more of an understanding about what’s happening with our planet, while at the same time feel hopeful we can turn things around and make that change that we need to see sooner rather than later.

IT’S AMAZING TO SEE YOU HELPING RAISE AWARENESS OF SUCH IMPORTANT ISSUES, AND TO FEATURE SIR DAVID ATTENBOROUGH AS YOUR FIRST GUEST, WOW! WHAT WAS IT LIKE MEETING YOUR HERO, WHO I CONSIDER AS BEING ONE OF THE BEST PEOPLE ON THE PLANET? I completely agree, he really is one of the best. I can wholeheartedly say he’s everything you want him to be and more. That clichéd thing of ‘do not meet your heroes’, does not apply here; he’s absolutely one you should meet. In fact, he’s even better in person. It feels surreal it happened but it was an opportunity I felt so lucky to get. To say he is 95, he was so kind, present, generous and made everyone feel at ease. When he started talking, we all know the power of his voice but through his energy too, you’re transfixed, hanging off his every word. It was a dream come true and it’s something I’ll never forget. YOU DISCUSS A LOT OF THE ALARMING ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES INCLUDING THE DEVASTATING EFFECT CLIMATE CHANGE IS HAVING ON PLANET EARTH. SIR DAVID ATTENBOROUGH IN HIS OWN WORDS EXPLAINS HOW BY “DAMAGING THE NATURAL WORLD, WE ARE DAMAGING OURSELVES”, AND “WE HAVE BEEN DOING THAT, WITHOUT CARE, FOR DECADES”. IS THERE STILL TIME TO TURN THINGS AROUND BEFORE THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON OUR PLANET ARE IRREVERSIBLE? Yes 100%. Scientists say we may have as little as 8 years left to reverse the effects of climate change and repair our relationship with the natural world. All the systems and tools we need to make that change are available to us, it’s all out there. What it’s going to require is us putting it at the forefront of our thinking, lifestyles and legislation. We absolutely can turn things around. We all have a duty and responsibility to be accountable for our actions and be more thoughtful in our decisions but it also requires the same mass commitment and action from governments, politicians and big decision makers to accept that there is a climate crisis and to implement the things they have the power to implement to create that systemic change we and the planet need to see. Between governments and individual action, the space for us to turn things around is every much there but it’s now or never.

WHAT SMALL THINGS CAN PEOPLE DO IN THEIR DAY-TO-DAY LIVES TO HELP TACKLE THIS GLOBAL ISSUE IN THE FIGHT TO SAVE OUR PLANET? Reconnecting with nature straight away! Getting back in the wild and enjoying wild, green spaces are so important. On the podcast, David Attenborough says this is one of the biggest things we can do to repair our relationship in with the natural world. Go out into nature, sit for 10 minutes, don’t move, just listen. Reconnecting with nature will allows us to be more conscious and thoughtful of our impact on the natural world which is fundamental to seeing change. Then, if you can, look to incorporate a more plant-based diet in the food you eat. This is one of the single biggest things you can do to reduce your impact on the environment. If not plant-based then maybe trying to eat more seasonal. Then, money talks. Look at where you’re spending your money and if it’s going to companies that are working with or against the environment. Businesses respond to consumer demand. If, for example, we stopped buying products that used Palm Oil, if we stopped using companies that invested in fossil fuels, if we moved away from fast fashion, businesses would then stop doing it and have to change. Use your voice, write to your local MP and sign petitions on websites such as Change.org and petition.parliament.uk. Finally, there’s lots of smaller changes you can make, like cutting down on single use plastic, looking at your travel, looking at if your energy is coming from renewable sources or not, see if there are any re-wilding or tree planting projects around you or in your local area. We’re not all going to be the next Greta Thunberg but we can all do more than we currently are. AS SOMEONE WHO IS A VERY SUCCESSFUL ACTOR, AN AMBASSADOR FOR WWF AND NOW MAKING A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE THROUGH YOUR PODCAST, CALL OF THE WILD, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU OFFER TO ANYONE OUT THERE WHO WANTS TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN WHATEVER INDUSTRY THAT MIGHT BE? First of all, David Attenborough says it in the podcast; find that thing that you love, your passion, whatever makes you tick, and follow that. Don’t let anyone or anything let you deviate you from following your heart and going after dreams. Then off that, commitment, hard work and belief are instrumental in getting you to do what it is you set out to do. Then don’t take no for an answer. You can do and be whatever you want and set your mind too, the potential you have has no bounds and really is limitless.

The years 2020 and 2021 have been utter bummers, especially for students. But what if we told you there was a way you could make up for the last two years after graduation? Travelling the world may seem like a distant dream, and if you’re reading this thinking it’s impossible; we’re here to tell you it’s not! Plus, you 100% deserve the break after these last two years. So, how do you get started? Where can you go? And most importantly, how do you get the money to fund such an exciting adventure?

the best way to get started is to lay out your expectations but be realistic. Consider how long you want to travel, as the length of time you’re away could increase how much money you’ll need. But if you’re willing to put in a little work, there are ways around this. Countries like Australia are popular travel destinations, and you can stay for up to a year so long as you’re working. Farm jobs are often the work of choice for backpackers, and in countries where English isn’t the primary language, you may also be able to find employment as an Au Pair. We know working while travelling may not be the dream, but it can be a fantastic experience! There’s no better way to experience a country’s culture than working alongside the people that live there, and you’ll have the opportunity to meet so many exciting and unique people.

But what about funding the travel itself? To start, set up a savings account specifically for your gap year. Setting up a separate account will allow you to easily track how much money you have and how much you need. Next is to consider your options. There are many ways to go about funding your gap year; you could get a job to save up before you go, research sponsorships, or try fundraising. Of course, getting a job and saving up can take some time, so this might not be the favourite option. Some universities offer grants for their students to volunteer abroad for charitable organisations, so this is the best place to look for sponsorships! But you could always consider running a fundraising event if this isn’t available to you. Some great event ideas include running a marathon, cake sales or selling your old, unused possessions. These types of events are great fun, and they’re a brilliant way to raise money!

So, you’ve got your funding and travel expenses sorted. Now all that’s left is to decide your destination and where to stay. Some of the most popular countries among students include Australia, Canada, and the Netherlands, but really, the world is your oyster! Plenty of places offer charity-based travel opportunities, and some even pay you to work abroad. And, when it comes to accommodation, there are some great low-budget alternatives if you’re willing to sleep “rough”. Hostels are one option, and camping is certainly a brilliant option with little to no costs involved! Many options are available to students and graduates hoping to beat the blues and get their 20s back on track. Travelling abroad might feel daunting and impossible, but it doesn’t need to be! And just like that, you’re ready for a gap year. Yep, it’s that simple! Like we said, travelling is not a distant dream; it’s something anyone can do. Follow these tips, and you’re sure to have a fantastic year. So good luck with your adventures, and don’t let anything hold you back!

WITH THE MORNINGS STAYING DARKER FOR LONGER, EARLIER SUNSETS ENSURING NIGHT-DRIVING CONDITIONS FROM MID-AFTERNOON, AND WINTERY WEATHER CONDITIONS UPON US, ALL UK VEHICLE DRIVERS NEED TO BE AWARE OF THE “SHOULDS AND SHOULDN’TS” OF DRIVING IN WINTER. SO, FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE, TEAM PLANET HAVE COMPILED THE FOLLOWING COLLECTION OF WINTER DRIVING TIPS AS A TIMELY REMINDER OF THE DANGERS WHILST USING OUR ROADS AT THIS TIME OF YEAR.

THE FOLLOWING GUIDELINES WILL ASSIST YOU PREPARE FOR WINTER TRAVELLING:

Prior to the journey thoroughly check the tyres, brakes, lights, anti-freeze, windscreen and windscreen fluid. Pay special attention to your windscreen wipers to ensure these are working efficiently. Slow down! Keep a larger than usual gap from the vehicle in front, drive defensively and give yourself and those around you more time to react. Get there later rather than not at all! Switch your headlights on as soon as you notice poor visibility. If vehicles approaching in the opposite lane have their lights on, it probably means that you should too, as visibility ahead will be poor. Only use fog-lights in extreme conditions, and always remember to switch them off when conditions improve to remove the nuisance factor. If your vehicle is not equipped with an ABS system, if your wheels lock, release the brake briefly so that you can steer. With an ABS system you can ‘stomp and steer’ so you are able to keep braking and steering in the direction you want to go. Take regular breaks, even if you’re in a hurry. It will help your concentration, especially on long drives in poor conditions.

WHEN THE ROADS ARE ICY OR SLUSHY

Icy roads present a number of problems, so please be aware of the following: It can take up to ten times longer to stop in icy conditions than on a dry road

Manoeuvre gently, avoiding harsh braking and acceleration

Drive slowly, allowing extra room to slow down and stop

If you start to skid, ease off the accelerator but do not brake suddenly To brake on ice or snow without locking your wheels, get into a low gear earlier than normal, allow your speed to decrease and use the brake pedal gently

Use the highest gear possible to avoid wheel spin

*DISCLAIMER: THE ABOVE-MENTIONED WINTER DRIVING TIPS ARE BASED UPON FREELY AVAILABLE INFORMATION AND GENERAL COMMON SENSE. WHEREAS PLANET LEASING LTD HAS TAKEN IT UPON ITSELF TO COLLATE AND PROVIDE THIS INFORMATION, IT IS IN NO WAY OFFERING EXPERT ADVICE ON HOW TO DRIVE DURING WINTER/POOR ROAD CONDITIONS AND CANNOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY MISHAP OR ACCIDENT RESULTING FROM DRIVER ERROR OR ADVERSE ROAD CONDITIONS.

2020 AND 2021 TOOK QUITE A SPIN. WITH COVID 19 CAUSING ON AND OFF LOCKDOWNS, UNCERTAINTY, AND A LIFESTYLE CHANGE FOR MANY, IT HAS BEEN A TIME OF COPING WITH A LOT. DESPITE THE LOWS, THESE LAST TWO YEARS HAS MADE US AWARE OF HOW PRECIOUS LIFE IS – YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT’S AROUND THE CORNER. COVID HAS CAUSED MANY STRUGGLES BUT HAS CERTAINLY HIGHLIGHTED THE THINGS WHICH TRULY MATTER. STRIPPING BACK TO A LIFESTYLE WITHOUT ‘NORMAL LIVING’ ACTIVITIES HAS PROVIDED US WITH A CHANCE TO CHANGE OUR PERSPECTIVES. THEREFORE, FOR THE YEAR 2022, IT’S TIME TO START SEEING THINGS DIFFERENTLY AND FOR THE BETTER. MAYBE YOU ALREADY TAKE ON THESE VIEWPOINTS, BUT IF NOT, IT’S TIME TO START DOING SO...

With the pandemic causing life to slow down, this has allowed us to appreciate the things that often go unnoticed. These little things can be as simple as your morning cup of coffee, the sound of the rain hitting the window or a hug from a loved one. Appreciating these will open your eyes and value life much more. You will feel more fulfilled and content with your day – give it a go and notice the longer-term happiness.

That’s right, stop thinking too ahead. You will save a lot of unneeded stress if you start focusing on what is happening in the present. We often get so fixated on what is going to happen in the future that we forget to remind ourselves of the NOW. I mean, can you blame us after these two years full of unpredictability? Living in the moment will reduce your worries, calm your mind, and benefit you mentally.

Saying positive affirmations can help overcome negative thoughts and make progressive changes in your life – but why? When affirmations are repeated, it’s proven that you start to believe in them. It can seem a little awkward at first saying them aloud but getting over the initial cringe can help improve self-confidence. In simple terms, they are positive phrases or statements used to challenge pessimistic thoughts. Affirmations can be said daily to focus on specific struggles. Whether this is confidence, body image, or personal growth. Take some time out of your day to say your affirmations and notice the changes in you. After all, it is scientifically proven to do so!

No more thinking “I can’t do that.”, or “They’re better at this than me.” Are these comments going to benefit us? NO. Ever wonder why successful people succeed? Persistence and believing in themselves. You might not yet be the next Pablo Picasso or Alan Sugar, but this does not mean you should start talking down at yourself or give up. Keep going. Every person is uniquely different, why would you want to follow the crowd? Be yourself and trust that you are capable.

These perspectives are great to take on. Remember that it can be hard to always have a positive mindset, let’s be realistic. Allow yourself to feel how you need to feel. But by taking on different ways of thinking and how we perceive a situation is what makes a bad day into a good one. Here’s to acing 2022 and bringing you lots of unforgettable moments!

Editor in Chief: Ben Farrin Graphic Design: Make North Editorial: Courtney Jennings, Jack Smith, Jessica Doran, Madeleine Newton, Skylar Grace, Tom Naylor, Tosan Ebisan Photography: Jane Stockdale, JTP Collection, Mitch Lowe.

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