21 Has Begun

The beginning of my turning 21 was incredible! Although my birthday isn't until 13th April, Alex's parents very kindly got us tickets for England versus Lithuania at Wembley, the final group stage match of Euro 2016. Football, basically. Lots and lots of the beautiful game in it's English home. I really appreciate that they made so much effort for me, and that we can share a love of football. I'm a scouser, Liverpool has two stadia and two cathedrals, I believe in Jesus and football.

The match kicked off after 7pm, but we arrived early enough to take in the incredible structure that is Wembley.

I am a terrible traveller, I get sick pretty easily so I need to just fall asleep or I feel rotten and get grumpy. However, even when I can't sleep Virgin trains are definitely my preferred mode of transport to get me to London. They're really comfortable seats, and there's a well stocked little shop on board rather than someone with a trolley to wake you up as they blunder through the carriages. It was only a twenty minute walk to our hotel, which was a Ibis about 5 minute walk and well within site of Wembley stadium. The hotel was smart, clean, spacious, but I had a terrible night's sleep, as the room was boiling with no obvious way of cooling it down. This did not ruin my experience at all though. Especially as my experience included Harry Kane's debut, England winning 4-0 and dinner at the Handmade Burger Company. I highly recommend going to your local Handmade Burger Company, the food is damn tasty, reasonably priced, they have a 7.2% beer, and if you're watching your waistline, they have bunless burgers. 

The atmosphere at a football match is rivalled by almost no other, especially an international match. Looking around you could numerous different city teams advertised, but all of their names were on the England flag. Unfortunately, one of the last places a person can show their pride to be English without being attached to the BNP, is an international football match. It was brilliant feeling, such a sense of unity. I couldn't stop smiling the whole way through. 

The next morning, we breakfasted at Pret a Manger and then Virgin trained it back to Wolverhampton. For that evening, Alex's dad had bought Alex and I tickets for a club night in Wolverhampton called Blast Off. Until recently, it was the longest running club night in the world, only rivalled by a club night in Ibiza. Unfortunately, last year it decided to end, however, Saturday night it reopened to hit it's millionth 'bloffer' and gain a Guinness world record. I was so grateful I got to experience this night out that Alex has often raved about. 

The music was a brilliant mix of old school, dancey, indie tunes. In the civic hall where it was held, there were enough bars that we never queued for long, nor where they too expensive. I came home with a tenner in change! We stayed until closing and loved every minute of it. I greatly advise you keep an eye out for tickets, should they decide to do any more events. Also, have dinner first at the Bilash as we did, literally one of the best Indian restaurants I have eaten at everrrrrr. Their biryani is beautiful. 

90s and a Hint of Friends

The event that inspired this post happened about 10 days ago, but because I am the worst and second year is bloomin hectic, I have only had chance to get round to writing it all up now. It also doesn't help that I did a version of this last week, that then didn't save so I've had to go aaaaallllll the way back to square one. Something I am loving about second year, and quickly approaching 21, is that I really am at that stage of life where I am not only finding out who my real friends are, but also what I want in friends. This is hit me pretty hard at the 90s themed social I had with cheerleading two Fridays ago. I really started to connect with some of my squad like I haven't had the chance to yet. They were just honest with me, and they have my utter respect for that. I also saw a toughness and maturity I haven't seen in them before, which I really appreciated. In friends, I really do look for people who want to be honest about everything, and who aren't so oversensitive you can't call each other out on your shit, who will take responsibility for their actions, so we can all move on and be happy. On a less intense note perhaps, the night was also a cute reminder of the 'Dance of the Ages' party I went to in Texas.

What I Miss About the 90s:

Sleeping in plats
I have really odd mainly straight, with a bit of a wave usually, kind of hair. It can't make it's mind up and it bores me so much. Back in the 90s, when crimped hair was in and I could sleep in plats and the brush it out cos thanks to Hermione Granger, no one mocked frizz, I was so happy with my hair. Those were literally the days. 

Tamagotchi
I had a tamagotchi, namely because everyone else did so I thought, why not? But I'm not sure I ever learned how to use one, and if you gave me one now I would certainly have no clue what to do. Having said this, the fact that Sheldon Cooper's tamagotchi is still alive makes me super jealous.  

Nintendo
You can rant and about your Xbox's and whatever all day long, but Nintendo will forever be my favourite. Over time I had a game boy colour, a game cube and a DS, and I will forever hold on to them and adore them.  

Denim
In the 90s, I had red denim dungarees that matched my red leather clarks shoes. It was the most incredible outfit, and so practical too, that I nearly bought a corduroy grown up sized pair from Primark last summer. Don't worry you fashion nerds, I didn't, you can chill. 

Starting school
Being born in the April of 1994, meant I started school in September 1998. It was a magical time. I went to nursery from about 7 months old until school, so I was purely excited to make even more friends, and do big girl activities. My primary school experience in the 90s was pretty awesome; I broke my arm on my first school trip so got to sit on a chair at carpet time, I got my first hamster and named him Hafferty after the book we were reading in school, I was one of the first in my class to learn to tie a tie as my dad taught after I'd been the enormous star in the nativity play, complete with solo and I got to go to Colomendy on my first school overnight trip. Such a good few years! 

Disney Films
It was during this time that I called Snow White and the Seven Dwarves the Hi-Hos, that I had my first heartbreak through Mufasa's death, and I was ridiculously attached to Merryweather from Sleeping Beauty. Twas a glorious time! Now you can tell me to let it go all you want, but the new Disney films are good...just not that...

Blue Peter - Neighbours - The Simpsons - Fresh Prince - every night
You know you did it, you know you loved, you know you miss it.

All The Women Who Independent, Throw Your Hands Up At Me

Women get told they can do it, that there as good as men, better than men, stronger, smarter, in no need of the beauty standards set. Why? Because feminism is beginning to tip the scale, no longer is it equality being sought after but certain neo-feminists want women to be better than men, a woman's world. Why? I literally have no idea.

*shock horror* people; MEN AND WOMEN ARE DIFFERENT. THAT'S OK.

How annoying is it when you find someone exactly the same as you? I mean, yeah for the first week or so it can be great, but after that? Ridiculously irritating. Imagine every single time you wanted to eat pizza they did, every time you wanted to go shopping they did, every time you got an A on an essay they did, every time you started or ended a relationship they did. Nothing would be yours and nothing would be theirs, it would be so frustrating. You want differences in your relationships in general, in fact, you embrace them, so why can't we do the same with gender?

We've come leaps and bounds in terms of race equality, can we now do the same with gender? Please!  Yes, some of us have dark skin, light skin, straight hair, an afro, but no longer does that mean our pay cheques for the same job are different, or that one of us must serve the other. Yet, our genders still, apparently demand those differences.

I am woman so I can carry a child for nine months and then birth it, that doesn't mean that the child's father does not have the right to stay at home to care for the child while I work.

A man can sleep with whomever he chooses, whenever he wants and he is praised, if I do that as I woman I would be slut shame though I perfectly capable of doing so. Both of us are also always entitled to say no.

I am a woman and have been degraded for centuries so I deserve to be empowered, but a man is still a human, he deserves encouragement too. We shouldn't need international woman's day, every day should be international humans day.

 It sickens me that I have a driver's licence and received one with no opposition but if I were Saudi Arabian woman driving I would have gone through hell.
It hurts that I am free to marry whomever I choose but if I married a Christian, a man of my faith, in Sudan I could have given birth to my second child whilst in shackles.
It upsets me that if I became Chief Commissioner of the Met Police (life goals), it's highly unlikely I will receive the same wage as Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, and it will take me longer to get there as I will be penalised every time I need maternity leave.
It kills me that I'm going to have to teach my future children that no means no.

Sort it out people, please. So many want to take this journey to equality but we're not prepared to do it together, we need to though. Only together will our goal be achieved.