1) Meeting Méline | So, I've probably mentioned that I study A Level French and will be studying it at uni next year. As part of the French course at my Sixth Form, you can opt to participate in a French Exchange programme where you're paired up with a French student and you spend 4 days living with them and basically shadowing them and then the favour is returned a few months later. It all sounds very 'Taken' but it was one of the best experiences of my life, I was truly lucky to get paired with someone I get on with so well and have so much in common with. Her family were so lovely and have invited me to Paris with them in the summer of 2013! She'll then probably come and stay with me for a week. She will definitely be receiving an invite to my future wedding (whenever that may be). I know I've met a lifelong friend. (criiiinge)
Méline and I at the Tim Walker exhibition at Somerset House in October when she visited me. (the most magical exhibition ever, if not a bit freaky)
Snowing in France! Méline and I and some other exchange students in Lille when I visited her, February.
2) Reading Festival | Just a great weekend of drunkness, my favourite bands, Chinese food for breakfast, free bacon rolls and being a tramp. I've already posted about how mind-blowingly great Kasabian were but other great acts were Florence + the Machine, Bombay Bicycle Club, Two Door Cinema Club, Of Monsters And Men, The Black Keys, Kaiser Chiefs, Azealia Banks and loads more. I discovered that not showering or having my bed for 4 days didn't really bother me, the main thing I missed was a decent cup of tea. I've never been able to look at Strongbow the same way since.
3) My cousin's wedding | This doesn't sound like a huge event but it was such a good day! My cousin, her fiance and their two kids live in Australia and haven't been to England in 4 years. Obviously the wedding was only one day but their 3 week stay ensured the festivities carried on a lot longer. The wedding wasn't technically themed but it may as well have been as I've never seen anything more quintessentially English in my life. A traditional church in a small quaint town, bottle upon bottle of Pimm's, a cricket team playing on the field, you name it.
My mum and I at le wedding
4) Radio 1's Hackney Weekend | I was lucky enough to be one of the 50,000 people to get tickets for this incredible £2.50 annual music event. My friends Ellie, Sarah and I spent the WHOLE time at the barrier of the In New Music We Trust stage and saw Bombay Bicycle Club (I'm a big fan), Ben Howard, Sub Focus, Enter Shikari, Magnetic Man, Lana Del Rey and Chase and Status. Despite being a big Lana and Bombay fan, my favourite act was easily Chase And Status, I've never seen a crowd so hyped (or should I say next hyped har har) and their songs are definitely songs made to be sung by a huge crowd. Being as unhealthily obsessed with Lana as I am, the security guard gave me her used coffee cup at the end of her set. Yes, I kept it. Us 3 were also on TV loads as we were at the front and literally couldn't avoid the camera woman shoving it in our faces.
Me, Ellie going caaarrazyyy and Sarah being blocked by someone else. I realise I look like I'm literally having the most boring time (look at that enthusiastic half-raised hand) but I promise I wasn't.
Lana's coffee cup sitting in pride of place on my shelf.
5) Pinterest | Pinterest is THE best photo website since, well, Tumblr. But it's way better because you don't have all of the melodramatic emotions, people boasting about how socially awkward they are and people making photo collages of themselves telling us how they would treat the opposite sex. Another good thing about it, although dangerous, is that the photos are always linked to the source, so if you think "I need that dress", most of the time you can just click and buy. I seriously find Pinterest so addictive; it's a simple way to visually organise your ideas in a place where others can see them.
6) Cara Delevingne | It has been Cara's YEAR. Those in the know would obviously have had Cara on their radar before 2012, after having featured in Burberry's Spring/Summer 2011 campaign, but now everyone has heard of her, and whilst I'm sure this is absolutely nothing to do with the fact that she dated Harry Styles and became bezzos with Azealia Banks and Rihanna, she seems to have everyone completely infatuated with her (maybe not all the broken hearted 1D fangirls). A big gig she bagged this year was being the face of Chanel's Resort 2013 campaign, after transforming into Marie Antoinette avec Creepers in the Cruisewear show in Versailles - one of the most beautiful shows I've ever seen. More recently, she's been named as the new face of DKNY for their Spring/Summer 2013 campaign. Can I be her yet?
7) Patriotism | DON'T WORRY I'M NOT ONE OF THEM. Usually my patriotism doesn't really go beyond Union Jack bunting (such a kitsch vibe) and I wasn't exactly glued to the Olympics when they were on TV. However, with the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics being held in London, there was certainly a patriotic buzz and a small time period that was almost like Christmas, in that we seemed to stop caring about our everyday lives because these huge events had taken over them. Yes, it was a little annoying. And yes, we never really cared about these things before they took over every single media platform. BUT IT BROUGHT US TOGETHER. And my mum did us a great Jubilee buffet. And we had a family gathering in celebration the next day.
Typical cheesy disposable camera photo. My friend Amy and I when we took a very impromptu trip to Brighton (with Ellie) on one of the hottest days of the year, the day after we'd finished our exams and celebrated in my back garden (by which I mean we sat in my garden drinking and singing until like 3am). Also a great memory from 2012.
8) Skater Skirts | I had to include a trend. I love skater skirts and ever since Topshop and River Island have been producing them in different prints like there's no tomorrow, everyone seems to be wearing them. They're cheap, it's only Jersey, and can be worn in so many different ways. With the right top you can turn it into a dress, with coloured tights you can emulate Gossip Girl preppiness, the possibilities are endless. It's also very flattering when worn with a crop top as it hides any sign of a belly and makes your midriff look super thin.
9) Jake Bugg | This guy. I don't want to go all Zane Lowe and start preaching about how "you've got to respect all the amazing things this guy's done" but Jake Bugg is definitely refreshing to hear on the radio, and his songs 'Two Fingers' and 'Taste It' are literally impossible not to whine along to. Aged only 18, he's already supported Noel Gallagher and The Stone Roses, soundtracked a beer advert, appeared on Later... With Jools Holland and released his stunning debut album. If you still haven't heard of him, check him out because 2013 beckons stardom.
10) Motivation | If you'd have asked me at the beginning of 2012 what I wanted to do after finishing Sixth Form, I'd probably have mumbled something about going to university. Whilst I've always known that I want to go to university, I wasn't sure exactly what I wanted to study, had NO idea which universities to look at and wasn't sure of a future career path either. The whole uni application process (viewing universities all the way from Edinburgh to Exeter, pinpointing my degree subject, writing a personal statement about why I want to study it and what I want to do in the future) made a lot sink in and feel more 'real' as I realised this was The Important Time Of My Life. The time where you have to work hard to get to the place you want to be later on down the line. I realised in 2012 that my interests are and have always been around language; I love reading and writing. Combining this with my love of French (that must be a personal statement-ready phrase), it seemed obvious to study French and English Literature, and the future career path that's most appealing to me is journalism. I worked hard in my first college year and achieved good grades but this needs to step up in 2013 as I'm realising more and more every day what kind of lifestyle I want when I'm older, and how much that lifestyle is gonna cost...
And now some things I didn't love so much...
Leave It In 2012...
1) 'YOLO' imprinted clothing
How is this actually a thing? Who allowed this? Who condoned it? I think 'YOLO' in general should just be left behind.
2) X Factor
Seriously, how is this show still running? It hasn't been good since Sharon Osborne left and everyone hates Louis Walsh and the same stereotyped acts that we see every. Single. Year.
3) #ONEDIRECTIONFAMILY
I see this trending on Twitter more than anything else. I just don't understand the worldwide obsession with One Direction. There hasn't been hysteria like this since The Beatles. A lot of people hate me when I say this, but here's my beef with One Direction:
1) Their songs, which they don't write, are sooooooo obviously aimed at naive 12 year old girls who think there may be some slight chance of marrying them.
2) They're incredibly overrated in the looks category.
3) They really are not this squeaky clean image they try to represent.
4) Their song "LET'S GO CRAZY CRAZY CRAZY" sounds like it was written for a 7 year old's McDonalds party. And has noone picked up on the lyrics "tonight let's get some" what?
5) They never make the effort to go and talk to their fans (apparently).
What's made your 2012?
Bises,
Riona
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