I do believe in Harry Potter, I do, I do!

First of all, apologies for not writing in so long, I have been snowed under masses of homework and various bit and bobs for college and then there's my place at BCB Radio which takes up a lot of brain space. Also, as I don't have a computer at home, I can only really get everything I need to do from Monday to Friday which is a near impossible task and I nearly always stay till closing time. Anyway, today I'm going to write about my first love and I made a promise on my UCAS application that I would begin to talk about books that I've read and films that I've watched so here goes!

I don't care what anybody says about the Harry Potter franchise, there is definitely something magic about it. J.K. Rowling is of complete literary genius and she has affected my life in a really big way. I've just about got three-quarters of the way through Order of the Phoenix after reading the previous four books and I am totally smitten. It has become routine for me to unwind with a chapter as soon as I get home from college and then another in the bath and then maybe another in bed; it pains me to put it down.

I swear that by reading the Harry Potter series, the coursework I have produced for college has improved. The way in which Harry, Ron and Hermione tackle their homework as soon as they get back to the common room has encouraged me to do the same, of course I don't live in a dormitory but the principle remains. I also feel real emotion towards each of the characters and even though it hasn't been mentioned explicitly, I know Ron and Hermione have got something going on, subtle though it may be.

Every night my dreams are somehow influenced by the magical world, either in a good way or a bad way but it's usually bad. For example, the night before last I dreamt that a rogue Hippogriff was trying to attack me - it somehow managed to get through the window of my bedroom (I was living at my parents house in the dream) and it really didn't look healthy, as if it had rabies or something similar.

The only thing I can fault about J.K. Rowling's creation is the constant re-iteration of certain scenes such as Privet Drive, the Gryffindor common room, the Divination classroom etc. However, I think this just adds to her genius as she does it less and less and the books progress, implying an element of maturing not only amongst all the characters but the book's audience itself. As a child, I read The Philosopher's Stone which I reread in later life and have grown up ready to take on the cement block that is The Order of the Phoenix. To be honest, I don't know what I'll do when I've finished reading the series, I'm worried I won't find a comparison and a Hogwarts-shaped hole will be left in my heart. Nevertheless, all good things must end if we are to truly appreciate them and J.K. Rowling, I salute you, I aspire to have talent like your and I want to have the power to make others share my imagination through their dreams.

Slop Music

I am madly passionate about music but I am concerned about what is becoming of popular music, most worryingly of all the messages they send to their audiences. Music is everywhere - public spaces, within the privacy of the home, the internet, television, radio. There's no avoiding it and you'd probably encounter surprise if you weren't to come across any musical material. Therefore, as music is so unavoidable, people of all ages have access to its content including the young and impressionable.


From simply browsing on BBC Radio 1's top 40 chart I can see that right now Pixie Lott is right at the top with smash hit "All About Tonight". Try as I might, I find it extremely difficult not to slag off its content. It promotes reckless nights out on the town as the result of a girl being messed around by a guy for the last time. On the surface there's nothing wrong being "so over you" and it's good that you're taking those steps to get over him, the problem I have is that the song suggests you "grab someone if you're single, grab someone if you're not" which is obviously not okay. Instantly rebounding with someone you just met at a club is not good advice for someone who's had a hard time and is probably up for anything including risking their safety. On the note of safety, the song also ushers its listeners to "climb onto tables" simply because its all about tonight. Any person with common sense knows that after a few drinks, most likely in heels you can barely walk in never mind climb in, it is not advisable to clamber onto a predictably wet surface just to emphasise how over him you are. Such a stunt would either break your neck or at least get you kicked out of the club.

I'm not trying to target Pixie Lott specifically but the whole of modern pop and club culture in general. People may be unwilling to accept it but music subliminally affects us and influences our actions. Consequently, if our idea of good music is urging us to go out, get wasted and risk our safety then people are going to get hurt. Music is a public service and in my opinion its lyrics and musical content should reflect the atmosphere in a positive, non-lethal way.

Image courtesy of the Daily Mail

Treat 'em mean, keep em' keen?

   I've had a really hard time trying to see sense in the phrase, to me there is no logic behind it. The definition of which being that if you treat your partner in a non-romantic way, they will be drawn to your arrogance and "power". I am sorry but what girl out there doesn't want to be swept off their feet, I would have a few things to say to the pigs that invented the phrase.

  I am in a relationship at the moment and I absolutely adore my partner, would do just about anything for him and I would like to think that I treated him thus - reminding him of my affections towards him. To deliberately do the opposite is not only deceitful but unkind and I don't understand how it would get a relationship anywhere. I've read guys that wouldn't buy women drinks in bars because if the girl's interested then she's interested, drink or no drink and yes I would agree with you on that but surely to offer the girl a drink is the more thoughtful and noble thing to do?

  I'm not trying to drag morals back to the middle ages where it would be impolite not to put your jacket down on the wet ground just so your ladies tootsies wouldn't get wet. I'm just imploring men to look into their hearts and ask themselves, where has the gentlemen era gone? There are too many black and white movies out there reassuring us that there is a prince charming in even the smarmiest of men to not find the "age of the dickhead" concerning.

  On the other hand, no one person in a relationship should be put on a pedestal and doted upon. That is  unless you don't mind an one ego-inflating nightmare floating upon your horizon. Obviously, there should be equality between two people and that is the principle I'm fully supportive of. The problem I have (and I tried not to make this particularly gender-biased, I'm talking as a woman) is when men feel emasculated by offering attention, affection and frankly goodies and so just don't. In conclusion, I just wish that before people go out of their way to be inattentive on purpose towards their partner, they tried a little empathy. If someone loves you, surely you'd want them to show it?

His Girl Friday (1940)

I want hide away for a bit

I really enjoy being on my own sometimes, especially when made acutely aware of how scary everything is. Just being able to hide under the duvet for a short while with a doughnut and a cup of tea whilst doing the gardening on Animal Crossing is just the ultimate luxury for me. I wouldn't let anyone in, I'd turn my phone off and lock the door, block the letter box and disconnect the aerial. Alienation is the most pleasant sensation when pretty much everything frightens you. From Thursday the 18th of August right up until Sunday the 28th, I'm going away, I'll only be at my house, but I might as well not exist during that period of time. Just me, my teddy bear and my tea!

Really poor picture of T.D. (Teddy) and I

Love amongst the youth

My childhood, looking back completely revolved around getting boyfriends and fitting in; education, friends and family seemed petty in comparison. I dated my first boyfriend when I was only 5 years old! I remember getting married to him in the playground and I actually went out and bought a plastic ring to give to my new husband, it felt great to be part of this ritual as all my friends desperately wanted to marry after this also. Of course, eventually person’s involved would get bored and casually fling their marital status aside to start afresh with someone else.

That was at a time when I was really still in infancy but once I reached the age of 11 that’s when things got serious. My first boyfriend of secondary school only lasted one week but the events that occurred within that week changed who I was completely. I was very shy and I believe that this boy used this to his advantage. After meeting his mum and his sister and then after he met my family we went to my bedroom to talk and cuddle like innocent 11 year-olds do and I after just a few days found myself falling fast and I found myself doing things I wasn’t mentally or physically ready for. When school came around again I quickly found out second-hand that I was dumped and that everyone was talking about what had happened. I spent most of the school day in the toilets and when I could bear to leave them I just went home, missing a whole day of school over a stupid one-week relationship. He meant so much to me so quickly and this scenario had shaken me to the core.

This is the issue that needs to be addressed, should boys and girls have to learn from mistakes as serious as relationships at such an early age?
There is a boy I know who started going out with a girl at a very young age and fell head over heels for her and they were on and off for a very long time. Eventually she broke his heart and now in early adulthood he finds himself bitter and unable to let go of the tragic events of his past. In this case his mental health: his confidence and his self-esteem have been crushed because of what happened to him, could all of this been avoided? Why do people still in childhood fall in love and how?

Prelude

I've launched my own review site of books, films, politics and whatever else i can come up with. The purpose of this is to enhance my writing and reviewing skills as this will aid in the success of the course I'm taking on Media Production at college. I'm hoping to become a journalist of some form but i haven't decided which specific area into which I want to "delve".

Signing off for now,

Nathalie.