My Bucket List

I think it is important to have in mind a few things to work towards.

And whether that's holidays, day trips, careers...anything really, I think its useful to have a few ideas to keep you motivated through some of your most emotionally and physically exhausting years.

Sitting in my bedroom trying to make sense of 10000000000000 pages of Russian history makes me want to cry..

BUT:

I know that if I keep going, there's a better chance that I'll do well.

Carrying plates of food in and out of a restaurant kitchen for 8 1/2 hours on a Sunday also brings me close to tears..

BUT:

I know that more hours means more pay, and more pay means more trips.

Having ideas to work towards makes all of the miserable stuff easier. It gives you motivation. 

SO! 

Here is my most up to date bucket list:

Top 10 Things On My Bucket List:

1. Nail my A Levels and get into university- I want to study Broadcast Journalism. Where I will go with that I am yet to find out. But that's what I've decided I want to do. Therefore another few months of hard work and stress are inevitable. 

2. Keep up my singing and performing as much as I can- it's important not to lose the things you love when you get busy or your life changes. I want to make sure I keep the music in my life. 

3. Beat my Emetophobia- my life would be completely different and I can't wait for the day when I can overcome it and start living my life properly without worrying about everything I eat and everyone I see. 

4. Skydive & Bungee Jump- I'm an adrenaline junkie and I've always always always wanted to do these two things! Hopefully one day I'll get the opportunity.

5. Travel- I want to travel the world. I know that is a big want but I hope to achieve close to it as possible. I travelled a lot as a child and I want to continue that now with my friends! I can't wait to get going! 

6. Be a freelance journalist in New York- This has been an aspiration of mine for a while now. I don't think I'd want to do this for my whole life, but I'd love to do what I'm so passionate about in such an incredible city. Experiences 'n all that! 

7. Own a sports car- This has been a childhood dream since I can remember. It is completely ridiculous but I'd hope to one day own a sexy car. Completely impractical but a bit of fun!

8. Own a golden Labrador from a puppy- inspired by the Andrex advert obviously. I've always had dogs growing up and to one day own one of my own would be looooovely.  

9. Go in a shark cage- bit of a random one but wouldn't it just be so cool?! 

10. Attend the theatre as frequently as possible- I feel as though this is something that should be done. My dreams of performing on the West End have died and now I'm ready to express my love of music and theatre through appreciating other people's work. Especially experiencing an opera or a ballet.

There are many more things that I want to achieve in my lifetime and this is a very small list. 

What would you put on YOUR Bucket List? Let me know! 

'til next time..

Hannah xox

General Election 2015

I have to admit, I'm not proud of it, but I know nothing about politics.

With 10 months until I can legally vote, I wouldn't have a clue how to.

My politics knowledge is made up of little snippets of the news I catch, the odd article and overhearing my parents at dinner parties. 

I know I'm not the only person my age in this position so therefore- what's gone wrong?

I don't want our girl power ancestors' efforts to have gone to waste! After all the brave women across the globe went through to grant us this liberty, I'm not even making the effort to understand it.

Should we be making more effort independently to educate ourselves? 

Should we be learning this at school?

I've made it through school with one year to go and still my knowledge of politics is limited to GCSE History: The Liberal Reforms. 

SO! After a chat with my wise father and a bit of research, I strive to now help you (as well as myself) in understanding the basics..

My Top 10 Tips to understanding the General Election

1. The UK is split into 650 different constituencies (areas/regions). The people within the constituency vote, the candidate with the most votes within the constituency wins a place or 'seat' in the House of Commons. They also become the representative for everyone within that constituency.

2. The leader of the party that wins over half of the constituency votes, becomes the Prime Minister. There are certain exceptions to this such as coalitions in which two parties combine and work together, and 'hung parliaments' in which none of the candidate parties win more than half of the constituency votes. (All gets a bit complicated here).

3. A few months before the General Election, the parties begin campaigning. This can involve travelling around the country and speaking to the general public. A few weeks before the election, they launch their manifestos. (These lay out all of their aims for what they want to achieve if they were to come into power). 

4. There are many parties that can run in the election. There are a few that you are probably familiar with, the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, Labour, UKIP (UK Independence Party),the Scottish National Party and the Green Party to name a few. There are also 'independent' candidates. These people run their own campaigns about things they're passionate about and local issues to gain support. 

5. Each party has different policies and different reasons for why you should vote them in to run the country (doesn't necessarily mean they'll stick to these policies!). 

6. Policy summaries:

The Conservative Party

'As Britain's main centre-right party, it has traditionally stood for free trade, private enterprise, individual liberty, low taxation and strong defence.' BBC Policy Guide 2015

The Liberal Democrats

'One of Britain's oldest political institutions, the Liberal Party, which stood for free trade and individual liberty, and the Social Democratic Party, a centrist offshoot of the Labour Party.'BBC Policy Guide 2015

The Labour Party

'To give workers a voice in Parliament, the Labour Party is Britain's main left wing party. It has moved towards the centre ground in recent decades but wealth redistribution and social justice remain key aims.' BBC Policy Guide 2015

UKIP

'For Britain's withdrawal from the European Union. That remains its core aim but it has a full range of other policies, with particular emphasis on cutting immigration.'BBC Policy Guide 2015

Scottish National Party

'Its central belief is Scottish independence.' BBC Policy Guide 2015

The Green Party

'The party in England and Wales has expanded from its core environmentalist message under leader Natalie Bennett, to present itself as a more left-wing alternative to Labour.'BBC Policy Guide 2015

(there are lots more parties with many different intentions and policies, these are just a few that I hear about frequently)

7. The election happens every 5 years, one candidate can stay 'in office' (in power) for as many consecutive terms as voted in (as opposed to the USA system of two terms)

8. Many of these policies surround financial aspects of the economy, such as taxes. The different parties have different intentions surrounding how the money will be distributed across the economy and your job is to decide what allocation would be the most beneficial to you- if any of them are. 

9. However, if none of the policies do appeal to you and none of the candidates' campaigns get you interested then what you can do is 'Spoil your paper'. This way, you're still putting your opinion across and not wasting your opportunity, but without settling for something you're not entirely happy with. Therefore if you're indecisive- go and vote, but spoil your paper. (Draw a line through it or fill it in wrong in some way- protest votes count!) 

10. And finally my main advice is, VOTE. Take the opportunity to potentially make a difference. Whether that's through voting or spoiling your paper, don't miss your chance to have a say.  

I hope this helps you to understand the basics- I'm no expert and a lot of research went into this before I wrote it just to make sure I'm not getting it wrong! 

If you get the chance, have a read up on some manifestos- they're blummin' long and formal but at least get an idea! 

I won't be voting until the next election now, gives me time to build up my knowledge a bit more. 

'til next time...

Hannah xo

Lunch out at Bill's

On behalf of one of my best friends' birthday, we took a trip to Bill's.

There has been a Bill's in the city I live in for a while now but I haven't yet got round to trying it out for myself..until today.

Many a time I have walked past and had a little nosey in and seen that the food looked amazing- and it really was. 

The staff were really friendly and helpful and made our visit a blummin' good one!

Inside there was also a deli selling all sorts of delicious foods, drinks and jams!

(demolished)

Mini Cinnamon Doughnuts..mmm

The weather is beautiful and the food was delicious.

I'm feeling very contented!

Could this be the beginning of summer? 

What would be your perfect summer?

Let me know!

'til next time

Hannah xo

Berlin in 4 days

Last Thursday, my alarm rang at 12:30am and I went to school.

From there we travelled through the night down to Heathrow Airport and boarded a plane to Berlin.

We spent 4 days travelling around and it was genuinely amazing. 

Despite the chilling stories we encountered in various museums and the life changing experience of visiting Sachenhausen Concentration Camp, the memories we all made are unforgettable.

We stayed at a youth hostel called Aletto Schoeneberg, despite anticipating the worst...it was actually pretty good! 

SO:

Here are a few snaps from our trip....

Photography by Erica Guarnieri

 A Holocaust Memorial

Photography by Erica Guarnieri

Photography by Erica Guarnieri

 The Berlin Wall (what's left of it)

Photography by Erica Guarnieri

 Checkpoint Charlie

Photography by Erica Guarnieri

 Bowling Trip

Photography by Erica Guarnieri

The Reichstag

 Squad Goals

The Brandenburg Gate

Photography by Erica Guarnieri

Favourites

Photography by Erica Guarnieri

Berlin Squad of 2015

Photography by Erica Guarnieri

I obviously wasn't able to take any photos in museums or in the concentration camp, but these pretty much sum up what we did when we weren't being intellectual! 

It was an awesome few days and I'd highly recommend Berlin, the history is fascinating and the architecture is stunning.

I know this post is a little different to normal but- I have been busy! 

However to make up for it, I did vlog this trip! 

Berlin Vlog: VLOG

Thank you to Erica Guarnieri for some of the photography! Find her at @HeyEricaHere

'til next time ..

Hannah xo