Introducing Ben Howard

It’s pretty difficult to come up with a single word to accurately describe something. But in this instance it couldn’t be any easier. The adjective is AMAZING, and it is used to illustrate the sheer brilliance of Mr Ben Howard, a 23 year old with a big voice, a pretty face and a cracking attitude to music.

Having released his album Every Kingdom in October of last year, Ben entered the UK charts at a very respectable number 7. Considering the country boy from Devon did very little in the way of commercial promotion, he certainly deserves a pat on the back for the albums immediate success.

Having been introduced to the beautiful sounds of Ben in early November, the last 4 months have been a case of Every Kingdom overload, notching up over 40 listens on my iTunes and leaving me constantly humming the sweet tones of my favourite tracks Diamonds and Keep Your Head Up.

Having been on the road for several months, Ben has been entertaining fans at sold out gigs across the UK. A brief stint at the Pyramid Centre in Portsmouth was the perfect opportunity for me to sample the mesmerising sounds of Every Kingdom live, I simply couldn’t resist.

An extremely talented singer- songwriter, Ben certainly didn’t disappoint. The intimate venue allowed fans to get up close and personal with the handsome fella and I for one was blown away by his sheer brilliance. As his eerie folk inspired tones filled the room, Ben made his way through the entire album, charming us with his unique voice and proving that every song was as sentimental to him as the next. Acoustically, this surfer dude is up there with some of the world’s greatest musicians.

Having attended several festivals and gigs over the years and seeing a wide array of big named stars, who knew that one man on a cramped stage with just a stool, microphone and guitar, could blow A- list divas with their expensive pyrotechnics and swarms of backing dancers out of the water? A young star who was genuinely grateful to every single person in the room for their support, Ben Howard is a refreshing addition to the music industry.  

With further tour dates across the UK scheduled for early November, if there’s one artist worth watching this year its got to be this man. Simply AMAZING.

The power of the golden balls

Beckham fever strikes again as Britain’s favourite footballer strips down to his undies and reveals all to the world for his latest fashion campaign with H&M. With his toned torso currently reaching every form of media advertisement, (from TV commercials to window displays and billboards) what is it that makes everyone, including our friends, mothers, grandmas and boyfriends swoon over Mr David Beckham?

The perfect torso? Check. Enough tattoos to fill a small child’s entire body? Check. Millions of pounds in the bank? Check. A family man? Check…I could go on, but I won’t.

As you can probably tell, I’m slightly obsessed with Mr Beckham, an obsession which has reared its ugly head once again since he re-entered my life wearing nothing but his crisp white boxer shorts. David seems to be one of those lucky guys that gets more handsome with age. Looking back at his disastrous hair styles and outfit choices over the years who would have thought that at the tender age of 36 he could become an international sex symbol once again?

David’s success lies in his ability to appeal to an extremely wide audience. Men like him for his long and successful football career and us women love him because he looks beautiful in his underpants. David Beckham/Golden Balls/ Becks/Davey Baby, (whatever you wish to call him) will always remain a household name. I’m definitely no expert, but I believe that it is this close relationship that David has with his UK fans that makes his projects away from the pitch so successful. Many of us feel like we have grown up with the Beckham’s and for this reason alone we feel obliged to check out the couples latest fashion campaigns.

A pair of £7.99 pants and apparently you can have your very own golden balls…you should be so lucky. An example of image lead false advertisement at its very best, but its okay, because its David Beckham and for this reason all shall be forgotten.

A typical Bernard’s watch moment

So the third year countdown has well and truly begun. Coursework deadlines fill my diary and I fear for the day that I turn my One Direction calendar (don’t be jealous) to the 1st July signalling the end of my student days. Hello big, bad, scary world!

University life comes with its ups and downs, and I’ve certainly had my fair share of both. But one thing’s for sure, it teaches you how do be independent, a case of sink or swim, man up or go home! The sudden realisation that you can no longer depend on your parents to do everything makes you wake up and realise that the grown up world is far from simple. Bills, washing, cleaning, cooking, money…it’s tough.

July marks the start of a new chapter in my life and although I don’t want this story to end, I know that nothing lasts forever; after all there’s only so long I can play the ‘student’ card for. Memories last a lifetime and with hundreds of photographs from the last three years, I’m sure I shall never forget the drunken haze of first year or the wonders of Just Dance on the Wii, before a night out.

The last three years have been everything I could have ever hoped for, and I shall be extremely sad to say goodbye to student life. My aim for the next five months is to make every moment matter, allowing me to walk away in July with a smile on my face, confident that I have put everything into my time at university.

Hello Library, it’s time to get my geek on!

A few of my favourite things...

Music is my life. It may sound like a soppy cliché but it’s true,the sheer power of music overwhelms me. Its ability to alter your mood, tell a story, bring back memories and evoke questions…pretty clever eh? Bands of the moment: The Vaccines, (above) Two Door Cinema Club and Noah and the Whale. And not forgetting my all time favourites Mumford and Sons


I love everything about winter. Cosy evenings in front of the fire with a box of chocolates and your favourite film...bliss! Coats, scarves, hats, jumpers, boots...fashion at its best! Long country walks with the family...delightful!



Gossip Girl, TOWIE, The Hills, Made in Chelsea, the list is endless. I am a sucker for car crash TV and i'm not afraid to admit it. There is something about these programmes that are just so enticing. Maybe it's the glamorous lifestyles and pretty dresses that draw me in, who knows. But one things for sure, I am addicted!



Even though I rarely take photos (often because I'm so forgetful) I can always rely on my good friends to save the day and take TOO many pictures on a night out. Memories last a lifetime and I often spend hours looking through old photographs, remembering eventful nights out, family holidays and random day trips. Without photos life would be a dull place, memories would fade away and stories would remain untold. Above is a selection of my favourite pictures.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder

So, I’ve been absent from the blogging scene for almost a year now, pretty shameful it has to be said. And to be quite honest, I can’t fill this post with excuses, because I don’t have any. Quite simply, I am lazy!

As I prepare to return to University in order to complete my final year, the reality has suddenly hit me that this time next year it’s all over. No more fun and games. No longer will I be happily living the student lifestyle, knocking back vodka shots and strolling in at 3am without a care in the world. In less than 12 months it’s time to face reality and enter the big bad world, a thought, which if I am quite honest scares the living daylights out of me!

But until then, I am determined to enjoy my final year of university, putting everything into my studies in order to leave Southampton next July with my head held high and a positive future ahead of me. It’s going to be a struggle but I’m hoping it will be worth it!

IM BACK!

Well it would seem that my blogging skills have let me down. My last post was back in April, a time when I was obsessed with Gossip Girl and looking forward to the summer. Now that this rather unhealthy obsession has tamed itself (for the moment) and the summer is almost over, I return to my blog to update you on my life! These last five months really have flown by!

Since April I have been busy turning 19, finishing my first year of university (yes, I am about to enter my second year, crazy I know) and getting drunk and dirty at several music festivals!

Now that I have successfully removed every inch of mud from my body and packed the wellies away for another year; I am busy working on my very poorly bank balance, trying my hardest to get it back into a healthy state ready for another crazy year at Uni. However, amongst this hard work, it would seem that my social life has been misplaced under a pile of dirty plates, cappuccinos and chocolate muffins (yes I do work in a coffee shop!) At present, I seem to be working every hour known to man, which in turn means I am tucked up in bed before 10pm most nights, with very little energy or motivation to head out partying into the small wee hours. As you can imagine this has left me feeling down right miserable and depressed, but I know that it will all be worth it when I head back to Southampton with some much needed money!
So I have two weeks left in good old Somerset and am prepared to regain my social life and enjoy every single second of it. Now that my closest friends are heading to uni, it has suddenly struck me that this is our final summer together and soon each of us will be sinking alcoholic beverages in different parts of the country. Definate sad times.

I have neglected this blog for over five months now and after recharging my batteries and restoring my bank balance, I am back and ready for a second year of university and continuous blogging, so watch this space!

xx

Two words... Chace Crawford! I think im in love!
I know im a bit slow in hoping on the old Crawford love train, and clearly
ive been hiding in a dark room for several months... which is kind of true (my uni
rooms pretty dingy) but i am overwhelmed by his beauty! Definitely going to
start engrossing myself in Gossip Girl just for the cuteness!

.....Obsessed