The Young Lady's Guide to... Stuff to do in London // The Prince Charles Cinema Movie Marathons

 Hey guys,

I’ve recently attended two all-night movie marathons at the Prince Charles Cinema in Leicester Square (@ThePCCLondon). The first was a halloween “Pyjama Party” scary movie marathon (line-up below); the second was a Quentin Tarantino all-nighter (line-up also below) both of which were incredible, and I would highly recommend to any Londoner (or tourist!)

I’ll start by saying that The Prince Charles cinema is a really lovely place. The staff are all very helpful, and all clearly big film fans themselves, which makes the whole atmosphere a cinephile’s dream! The auditorium is a bit weird – instead of the usual tiered seating, it dips in the middle then goes back up, like an awkward V, but somehow this works. I don’t know how, it just does. You can see the screen from any seat in the house (I tested when bored between films at the Pyjama Party) so no worries there. The refreshments are also ridiculously cheap – a large popcorn for £3.70?! You wouldn’t find those rates at my local Odeon. Adding to the atmosphere is the fact that all the films are played on 35mm rather than digital, which, combined with the ‘rustic’ décor in the cinema, makes you feel like you’ve been transported to the 90s! It’s a cinematic experience vastly unlike the corporate shininess of the behemoths, Odeon and Vue. (Not that I don’t appreciate a nice, slick night at the movies – it’s just nice for a change sometimes!)

PCC Pyjama Party:

Scream  9/10

The Faculty 9/10

The Craft 7/10

Carrie 7/10

Fright Night (1985) N/A

The Lost Boys N/A

My lovely boyfriend bought me tickets to this for my birthday. Scream is one of my all time favourite films, so I was way too over-the-top excited to see it on the Big Screen!! I hadn’t seen any of the other films, with the exception of Carrie, though I have seen the remake of Fright Night and some excerpts of The Lost Boys, so it was really the first half that I was more excited about.

I have to say, the audience was bloody mental. Scream was peppered with shouts of “don’t pick up the phone, Sydney!” and “what’s your favourite scary movie?!”, jokes which I appreciated but Alex, who had never seen it, didn’t really understand. It did add to the atmosphere for me, but I’d advise someone who hadn’t seen the films to avoid such audiences. They were also drunk, since the marathon started at 9pm and the bar was open all night, which probably didn’t help matters…

It takes a good heap of will-power to stay at a cinema from 9pm til 8am, and unfortunately Alex & I did not possess that kind of stamina. We checked out at 5am, following Alex’s first viewing of Carrie, deciding that 8 hours of back-to-back films was enough for us. I wasn’t that fussed about Fright Night or The Lost Boys, so that was okay with me! The other films were absolutely brilliant though – The Faculty might now be one of my favourite horror films, while I was surprised how much I enjoyed The Craft. I’d definitely recommend anyone who loves horror films to go to a marathon like this, as you’re introduced to new films which you might not have otherwise tried.

PCC Tarantino Marathon:

Reservoir Dogs 6/10

Pulp Fiction 9/10

Jackie Brown 7/10

Kill Bill Vol. 1 8/10

Kill Bill Vol. 2 7/10

Death Proof 9/10

Inglorious Basterds 0/10 (just can't.)

The Tarantino Marathon was absolutely amazing. Beginning at 6pm on Saturday with an expected finishing time of 10am on Sunday, 16 hours of films is a lot, even for me. Josie and I managed 6pm ‘til 8am – 14 hours! – with minimal napping (she slept during Jackie Brown, I clocked out during Kill Bill, Vol.2). I did drink 2 bottles of KICK to keep me awake, and slept for most of Sunday, but damn, was it worth it.

Now, I wouldn’t class myself as a hardcore Tarantino fan. Granted, Pulp Fiction is one of my favourite films, but other than that, I had only ever seen Kill Bill (both volumes) and attempted Inglorious Basterds (not even Brad Pitt could make that film watchable). I do have a crazy amount of respect for Tarantino, however; he really loves his craft and is such a film fan, which you can see in all of his movies. He also got 9/10 in the Empire “How Well Do You Know Your Films” quiz, which is a feat not to be sniffed at. After this marathon, I can say with some certainty that I absolutely adore him. None of his films (except Inglorious Basterds) are anything other than awesome. Yes, they’re a bit violent, and yes, they’re quite pretentious, but I still love them. If you haven’t seen Pulp Fiction, go watch it now, mostly for the “SAY WHAT AGAIN” Samuel L Jackson scene, and Marcellus Wallace vs Zed (“I’ma go Medieval on your ass). Death Proof is also an awesome film – it’s not one I would’ve watched by myself, but I will definitely see it again; a solid 9/10.

To conclude, an all-night movie marathon is not for the faint hearted. Go prepared with bags of enthusiasm, lots of Red Bull, and a Sunday which you can sleep through. Make sure you’re going with someone you get on with, and prepare to soak up the atmosphere, because everyone there is going to be buzzing with anticipation, so don’t be that one loser who doesn’t get really into it. I can’t underline enough how awesome all-nighters at the PCC are. Seriously, go now. 

Love, 

Blaise

Useful Links:

http://princecharlescinema.com

www.imdb.com

UPDATE:

The next PCC Pyjama Party is a JOHN HUGHES ALL NIGHTER!!!
So that means... 

WEIRD SCIENCE
FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF

PLANES, TRAINS & AUTOMOBILES

PRETTY IN PINK

UNCLE BUCK(1989)

THE BREAKFAST CLUB

!!!!!!

Plus a fancy dress competition, and audience-wide Pass the Parcel!

Who wants to come with me? ;)

(Feb 2nd, 9pm - 7:30am)

https://www.facebook.com/events/532950050067275/

http://www.princecharlescinema.com/events/events.php?seasonanchor=pyjama

The Young Lady's Guide to... Remembrance Day

As some of you might already know, Dan Cooper, acting President of University of London Union – who represents around 120, 000 students in London – decided to boycott a remembrance service in London last Sunday, refusing to lay a wreath on behalf of our fallen servicemen (and women). This is particularly sickening considering the latest British victim of the war in Afghanistan was a UCL graduate, Lieutenant Edward Drummond-Baxter.

Some may argue that Cooper has the right to freedom of speech, and the right to boycott that which he does not agree with. Fair enough; I understand that. However, if you’re supposed to be representing a large group of people – if it is your JOB to take these peoples’ views into account – then it is also your job to ensure that they are all comfortable with your stance.

The point of Remembrance Day is not to share political views. It is not to vilify war, or those who have chosen to fight. Remember, many servicemen during the World Wars did not choose to fight – there was mandatory conscription, and it could have been anyone’s brother, father or uncle who fell. We take one day a year to thank them for their contribution, for ensuring Britain remains a free land, one where you can be gay/black/Jewish without fearing for your life. We are one of the most cosmopolitan countries in the world – and we owe that, in large part, to the courage and bravery of those who fought in the past century.

For Dan Cooper, the representative of many, to refuse to participate in this one day of thanks purely for his own political views, is disgraceful. If he were to have boycotted just himself, sending a different ULU representative in his place, that might have been forgivable. However, it was unconscionable to decide to disallow ULU to send a delegate. It was not his place to declare that ULU does not support our fallen troops.

I cannot stress enough how disgusted I am. Although I am fortunate to say that none of my immediate family has lost their life to war, my Father was a Captain in the British Army for several years, and even now works for the Territorial Army. He has never been to war, but he knows many who have, and many who have given their lives to protect the weak.

What do you think? Do you support Cooper’s right to free speech? Or do you think that, as a representative of a massive student body, he should have consulted the members of the union before making such a bold statement? Is Remembrance Day even relevant now? Let me know your views: theyoungladysguide@gmail.com

Love, 

Blaise

Useful Links:

http://www.facebook.com/DanCooperMustResignAsUluVicePresident

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/richard-pass/university-remembrance-da_b_2114903.html?utm_hp_ref=uk

http://dancooperulu.wordpress.com/2012/11/09/why-i-declined-an-invitation-to-lay-a-wreath-at-the-uols-rememberance-service/

The Young Lady's Guide to... Living with Type One Diabetes

Hey everyone, 

Today's post is a very important one. My good friend Kayleigh (@dailykayleigh) was recently diagnosed with Type One Diabetes, which came as a massive shock. In order to deal with this crazy change in circumstances, Kayleigh has started a blog (BeteIt.wordpress.com) to share her experience as well as getting advice from those who have had the disease for longer. Here I have interviewed her briefly to give everyone an idea of what it's like to have your world turned upside down and how it is to live with Type One Diabetes...

What exactly IS Type One Diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes is a lifelong condition caused by the pancreas failing to produce any insulin, which is the hormone which allows glucose from food to enter your cells to give you energy. This means that before diagnosis, none of the glucose from the food you eat gets converted into energy, so the treatment is insulin injections for the rest of your life. The cause is unknown, but I’ve read about all sorts of theories so far, from a vitamin D deficiency to genetics. Apparently another potential cause is that some people’s immune systems can be so strong that they start attacking the (healthy) pancreas, effectively killing its ability to produce insulin, but nothing’s really been proven yet.

What is the difference between Type One and Type Two Diabetes?
Type 1 is also known as juvenile diabetes because it tends to show up in younger people, and the cause hasn't yet been pinpointed. It means you don't produce any of your own insulin, so all type 1s have to inject.
Type 2 tends to be linked more to lifestyle and is more often found in overweight people, and it's when the pancreas creates some of its own insulin, but not enough, or the body can't use the insulin as efficiently as it should. It can be controlled with diet and exercise to a certain extent, but lots of type 2s eventually have to take tablets and insulin injections as it progresses. There's a lot less flexibility in the type 2 diet if they're not injecting insulin, because they can't adjust their insulin based on what they eat. 

How did you discover you had the illness?
I found out I was diabetic in a ridiculously dramatic way, and I’m so tempted to sell my story to a tacky women’s magazine under the headline ‘Skipping a lecture saved my life’! I was feeling a bit woozy one day before a lecture as I was fighting off what I later found out was pretty bad tonsillitis, and decided to bring forward my plans to visit home for the weekend to that day, rather than going to my lecture and heading home the next morning as I’d originally planned. It turns out it’s extremely lucky I listened to my body, because early the next morning I was barely conscious and couldn’t stand up. My mum called an ambulance, and I don’t remember anything about the journey or being in A&E, but the next thing I knew I was in intensive care being rigged up to numerous drips (including one in my neck – arrgh!) I didn’t really know what was wrong with me until the next day, when the diabetes team came to visit and told me I was suffering from severe diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). This is when the body is running off its emergency fat supplies for energy because it’s not getting any from food, and when the fat breaks down it produces toxic ketones, and the blood becomes really acidic, which in the long run will lead to diabetic complications such as blindness, nerve damage, organ damage and heart disease. I stayed in intensive care for a few days being rehydrated and on antibiotics to get rid of the tonsillitis (which had triggered such an extreme bout of DKA – illness pushes the blood sugar up even further – not ideal when you’re already running with very high blood sugar!) and IV-administered insulin, before moving onto the endocrinal ward for a few days before being set free.

How has having diabetes affected your diet?
The diet is a bit of a minefield for the newly diagnosed, because the NHS advice is in direct contrast with what actual diabetics find works for them. The main focus is on carbohydrates, which provide most of the insulin. The main changes are making sure you opt for low-GI carbs, like wholegrains, and monitor your intake of overall carbs. When my blood glucose is a bit more stable, I’ll be going on a carb counting course, meaning I’ll be able to adjust my insulin to match the amount of carb I eat in a meal. I can’t really eat white bread anymore as it’s a really high-GI food, and I’m only allowed to use sugary drinks like Coke to treat a hypo, which is when the blood sugar is too low, but otherwise I should eventually be allowed to eat pretty much normally!

What effect has it had on your family/friends?
People keep on saying that they wish they could take my place so I could stop being diabetic (not the best illness for someone as needle-phobic and blood-phobic as I was before diagnosis), but I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. People seem to feel guilty about eating sugary things in front of me, but they really shouldn’t! It’s just like having a food allergy: you wouldn’t eat nuts if you were allergic, and I can’t eat too much carb (starch and sugar are considered equal in carb terms these days), so I don’t! It’s been quite a learning curve for my family, going from normality to suddenly having to help me read (my vision was quite badly affected for a while, as fluctuating glucose levels change the shape of the eyes’ lenses, so I couldn’t read anything at all for a few weeks) and learning about what to do in an emergency etc. I’ve yet to tell most of my friends how to deal with my medical emergencies, but the best thing people can do for me is to carry some jelly babies or other fast-acting sugar in case my glucose drops too low... exciting!

What advice would you give to someone in your position?
The main piece of advice I have is ask questions about everything. At my appointments at the diabetes clinic, I go in spouting question after question, from ‘Is there a reason everyone else in the waiting room is about 50 years older than me?’ (answer: they were mostly type 2 diabetics) to ‘What do I do if my blood sugar drops when I’m swimming?’ (answer: eat a couple of extra carb servings, or drop your mealtime insulin, as the exercise will have the same effect in terms of bringing down blood sugar). It makes me feel SO much better getting that reassurance from someone who deals with people like me every day!

So there you have it; a first hand account of Type One Diabetes and the effect it's had/is having. If you would like to keep up to date with Kayleigh's progress, check out her blog (beteit.wordpress.com)!

If you have anything to say on this subject, would like to find out more or would like to submit your own account of dealing with an illness, please write to me at theyoungladysguide@gmail.com

Love,
Blaise

Useful Links:
beteit.wordpress.com
soupdujournalism.wordpress.com
http://www.diabeteschallenge.org.uk/challenge/tannertakesthebridgechallenge

The Young Lady's Guide to... Interrailing

Interrailing. Also known as “taking a month to travel round Europe on a series of occasionally-dodgy trains”. It’s not the sort of thing you could imagine a true Young Lady doing… However, I can promise you, it’s something every Young (or not so Young!) lady MUST cross off her bucket list.

My personal experience of interrailing occurred in June 2012. My boyfriend, Alex, and I, embarked upon 23 days of sun, sea, and… sight-seeing. We made the decision to primarily stick to Western Europe, though we spent about a week wandering around Budapest, Prague and other Eastern cities.

This post will just be a little introduction to the Interrailing Etiquette, and I’ll do some more indepth posts on each place we visited.

Rules of Interrailling;

• ·      ALWAYS book a seat, especially on night trains
• ·      Against popular opinion, DON’T just pitch up and hope to find a cheap hostel. They will all be full, and the ones that won’t will be full of bedbugs
• ·      DO wear suncream. Exhibit A: Alex’s neck (don't ask)
• ·      DON’T feel like you have to spend loads of money! Some of the best things to do are free – walking around, getting picnics in parks
• ·      DO pack light. You WILL be hauling those bags everywhere, and if you can’t lift it (and don’t have a lovely boyfriend who will carry it for you) you’re basically screwed
• ·      DON’T be afraid to take valuables with you; so long as you’re not a twat who throws them about everywhere, people aren’t likely to mug you
• ·      DO hit up relatives and friends etc for places to stay
• ·      DON’T be afraid of booking hostels if that’s what you like; personally, staying in hotels was always more fun for me, but that’s because I didn’t feel like socialising!!
• ·      DO go with someone you know you’ll get on with, even when you’re smelly and grumpy enough to kick a bin (which I actually did in Vienna). You’re going to be spending a LOT of quality time together, so make sure you actually really like them…
• ·      DON’T forget your camera! There will be so many incredible memories, it’s only right to capture them on film
• ·      DO consider bringing your iPad (if you have one) – it’s small enough to hide in a day bag, and you can connect to wifi everywhere to show off about how cool your trip is. Plus you can play endless games of chess during your endless train journeys (Alex won every time… I just didn’t get better!)
• ·      DO plan! Trip Advisor should be your NBF 

So there you have the basic rules for surviving an Interrailing trip! If anyone has any questions, don't forget; theyoungladysguide@gmail.com

Love,

Blaise

useful links:

http://www.interrailnet.com/interrail-passes/interrail-global-pass

http://www.tripadvisor.com

http://www.booking.com/

http://www.hostelbookers.com

The Young Lady's Guide to... Writing the Perfect CV

Hey guys!

One of the most important things you will ever learn is how to write a CV. I can’t even count the number of CV drafts I’ve made over the years, from the usual “I am a hard-working student” to something a little more sophisticated. I’m not going to pretend to be an expert on CV writing – I’ll leave that to the grown-ups – but in the endless rounds of careers clinics I’ve attended I’ve picked up a few tips, which I’ll try to share properly here…

• ·      ALWAYS USE EXAMPLES. Don’t just say “I have great customer service skills”; write something like “Demonstrated great customer service skills during my time at *****. This led to additional time spent in customer-facing roles” or such-like. Employers don’t care about your opinion – you need evidence.
• ·      A subsection of the above is write in the past tense. I don’t know why this is a thing; it just is.
• ·      Get your formatting right. If your CV looks ugly/messy, they will chuck it in the bin.
• ·      Get your grammar perfect. Maybe it’s just my grammar-nazi tendencies, but there is nothing more annoying than someone what talks like this. Not cool.
• ·      Start with your most recent roles. That way, your employer can see who you are/what you’re doing now, rather than the person you used to be.
• ·      Be concise. Use 3 bullet points per role; only use more if you were in it for a long time or you were ‘unofficially promoted’ during your time there. Your CV should not be more than two sides of A4. Get rid of “babysitter” or anything that’s not relevant to what you’re applying to.
• ·      Don’t feel you have to provide references on your CV. Most companies will ask for it separately anyway, and it takes up precious room.
• ·      Don’t lie. You will be caught out; it will be embarrassing.

And that’s my two-pence worth! Your CV is one of the most important things you own; take your time on it, get your friends/family/dog to read it, and check it every couple of weeks to see if you can add anything new! Good luck... And if you've got any more tips, you know what to do; theyoungladysguide@gmail.com

Love,

Blaise