It always happens to me. I feel absolutely fine the night before an exam, but I wake up with this sickening feeling. I don't know if applies to only me, but I have compiled a checklist of stuff to before an exam.

1) It goes without saying, get some good sleep. But I am surprised at the amount of my classmates who don't abide by this golden rule. It becomes quite easy to study into the early morning when you're running out of time, but there comes a point where enough is enough, and the best thing to do is get some sleep. Make sure you have multiple alarms ready and at least one family member prepared to get you out of bed by whatever means necessary if you're the type to sleep in.

2) But before you turn in for the night, make sure your bag is packed with everything and anything you might need. Pens, pencils, erasers, tippex, ruler, highlighters, calculator. Not only do you need to bring all this stationery, but there are other objects I find essential. Always bring water to the exam, being hydrated can make a world of difference. Also, bring a watch. I once made the mistake of assuming there would be a clock in the exam hall, but I was seated in the one seat in the hall where you couldn't see it!

3) Get up in the morning with plenty of time to relax. Eat whatever breakfast you prefer (for me this is cereal and coffee) and never even think of skipping this oh-so-important meal. Keep calm, double check your bag, and get dressed comfortably for the exam. Just don't try to cram stuff into your brain. If you're going to do any studying, make it tiny bits and pieces: rereading a story or poem for English, going over some math formulas. Nothing that'll stress you or put you in a panic.

If you've got an afternoon exam, try to not stress out. I, for one, have my maths exam in three hours and am feeling quite panicky. I'm just trying to kill time and not panic. As I find writing calming, I've been writing this to settle my nerves and use an extra half hour. In fact, my leftover time is now an adequate amount to get ready to get to school and take the exam. So anyway, for all of you who are about to take an exam... Good luck!


-Barista Ellen-

Image: Francisco Osorio Read more »

Do not read if you haven't read Percy Jackson and the Titans Curse, Mockingjay or Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I really don't want to be the one to spoil them for you.

Our favourite book characters sometimes die. It wouldn't be right if they all made it out alive. But thankfully, over time the sadness fades, an example of this is Dumbledore's death: we were all upset at first, but the fact that he was dead settled in our minds and we got over it. There are deaths, however, that you just don't ever get over and you still feel sad when you think about them.

***Spoiler Alert***

1) Bianca di Angelo

In the world of Percy Jackson, I guess Bianca was a fairly minor character but she still managed to become one of my favourites before she became the series's first fatality (not counting monsters or Gabe) thirteen chapters into the book she made her first appearance in. I, for one, spent the rest of the book believing she was still alive, which is one of the reasons that I, six books on, still haven't gotten over her death. I can't believe Rick Riordan killed such a young, innocent character.

2) Primrose Everdeen

Another young, innocent character whose death still haunts me. Throughout the Hunger Games series, I found similarities between the Everdeen sisters and my sister and I. I'm dark haired like Katniss while my sister's blonde and pale like Prim. We even have the same age gap. So when I was reading the books, in my head, Prim looked like my sister. Imagine watching your sister blown to smithereens. Not pretty; even inside your head. I am not embarrassed to say I cried for an hour after reading that Prim had died. I still haven't gotten over this death because I can't comprehend my sister dying at thirteen, particularly as she's twelve now.

3) Fred Weasley

Sorry guys. It's kinda my fault that Fred died. Back in 2007, my dad was reading the Deathly Hallows to me (if you're wondering why my dad was giving me bedtime stories when I was ten, you never heard his Hagrid voice) my then six-year-old sister overheard Dobby's death and I had to comfort her. I said "it's okay, at least we've still got Fred and George, they're great!"
And we all know what happened after that.
By the time Fred died, I was so used to characters dying I never shed a tear. But thinking back, he's the one death I never got over. I'll think about the wonderful world J.K Rowling gave us and I'll think of all the antics of the Weasley twins. Then I'll remember, that that ended. There are no Weasley twins anymore, there's only George. Oh god, I'm starting to cry now, why J.K? Why?


-Barista Ellen-

Image: Florin Gorgan Read more »

I’m on the Easter Holidays, AKA study break (insert unenthusiastic cheer) and of course at some point during the vast piles of past papers, hunger will come. I have listed the foods I personality eat during studying, for my own personal reasons; no research has been done into what foods are beneficial, etc. (in fact some are pretty unhealthy).

1)      Tea

Yeah this is a drink, not a food but I drink so much of it during my study sessions. I don’t like drinking multiple cups of coffee in the day and hot chocolate can become a bit too sickly during studying so tea is the best option. I know, writing this, I sound so British, but I personally don’t know where that stereotype came from –I’m British and most people I know are coffee drinkers (if you know where it comes from tell me).

2)      Sherbet Lemons

I don’t come from a big, sweet eating house and chances are when we do have a bag of sweets it’ll usually be sherbet lemons. Don’t ask why. So when I want a sweet to suck on during my studies, this will be what I turn to. Plus you can pretend to be Dumbledore (Dumbledore loves them, remember?) with them and perhaps that Dumbledore-ish vibe will enter into studying.

3)      Tinned spaghetti

Back in primary, when I went home for lunch, I would have tinned spaghetti. So during study break, this is how I like to replicate this meal: Cheese melted in, burned bits at the edges and toast chopped into triangles. Lazy, quick food makes me remember I’m only on a lunch break and I have to get back to schoolwork pronto.


-Barista Ellen-

Image: Laurel F Read more »

Whether you’re a regular cinema visitor or just like to watch one once in a while, we are all movie fans. Now despite there being many brilliant (or not so brilliant) movies coming out all the time. There are several things I wish were movies but alas are not likely to ever be made.

1) The Chrestomanci series

Ever since I first read Witch Week by Diana Wynne Jones about a year ago, I thought that it would make a brilliant movie. But why just that book? Why not start at the beginning? With book number one: Charmed Life. The animated film Howl’s Moving Castle based on the Diana Wynne Jones novel of the same name shows that her work can work well on the screen. Why can’t we have an adaptation of the Chrestomanci books?

2) Whatever film this is advertising

It’s been nearly a year since My Chemical Romance's tragic break-up. What would be a better parting gift than a feature length movie based on the video for “I’m not okay”? Yeah, I’m being a bit too hopeful, but no My Chemical Romance fan would deny how amazing that would be. I for one am prepared to feel the romance.

3) The Subtle Knife

I adored the book Northern Lights by Phillip Pullman. In fact, I am currently re-reading my very, very worn out copy for the umpteenth time. The film adaptation for The Golden Compass was okay apart from the fact that IT FINISHED BEFORE THE ENDING OF BOOK!!! I was always disappointed that we never got to see the sequel and now at 19, Dakota Blue Richards has outgrown the role of 12 year old Lyra. I think people would notice the seven year gap as, if my memory serves me correct, The Subtle Knife starts about 3 days after the end of Northern Lights.


-Barista Ellen-

Images: via (The Chrestomanci series), via (The Subtle Knife) Read more »

I like to think that when it comes to most things, I am an optimist. Winter, however, is not one of them. Yeah, I enjoy building snowmen and sledging as much as the next person, but I despise winter when it comes down to the stark reality of the bitter cold season. I, for one, am glad winter is nearly over.

Firstly, I cannot deal with the cold anymore!!! Not only is it agonisingly cold when I’m confident enough to brave the outdoors, but for a few weeks in the dead of winter this year my central heating broke! I spent my study leave shivering in front of a little fan heater while trying teach myself inter tropical convergence zones and what not.

Secondly, I’m tired of all these layers of clothes! Sure, I love a cute jumper or scarf but there comes a point where you’re sick of being as padded as a snowman. I want to shed those extra layers. This winter I’ve worn:  Layers of jumpers, multiple cardigans, bobble hats, scarves, three pairs of socks and tights under my trousers. I guess it doesn’t sound so bad, but that was just for the indoors! I really don’t take to the cold well.

Thirdly, I can't stand the wet. I look forward to a good bit of snow in winter. I might be nearly 17 years old but those delicate white droplets floating to earth are enough to make me feel five years old again. However, how much snow have I seen this year? Not a drop. All I’ve had is rain, rain and more rain with maybe the occasional sleet or hailstone. Thankfully, I’m not in an area of Britain that has been flooded this winter, but the constant being rained on going home from school has dampened me both physically and emotionally. Not only that, but it has left me with a cold... again!

Boy, am I glad warmer weather is on the way.


-Barista Ellen-

Image: Thomas Frost Jensen Read more »

Word limits are the bane of my life (or one of them anyway). I find a certain joy in writing and when the time comes to write an essay for school I get a bit carried away –I could write until the cows come home. I simply ignore the limits and write until the essay seems fulfilled, which unfortunately is most likely several hundred words more than I’m allowed. The dilemma to me comes when the teacher yells that I’ll fail if I don’t get rid of 300 words. Here are some tips to cut down that lengthy essay to the correct limit.

1) Highlight the words you don’t need on a hard copy. The task seems more daunting when it’s on the glowing monitor. I find the task easier when I can hold it in my hands. Plus, I just love colourful highlighters! After working on the hard copy long enough, delete the highlighted words on your digital copy.

2) Colloquialisms and Hyphens are a god given gift. I know that colloquialism will make a teachers blood curdle, but using it’s, don’t, won’t etc. will save you those all so precious words when it matters. Use the hyphen whenever possible to turn two words into one.

3) Put phrases into your computer's built-in thesaurus so it spits out a one-word alternative. The thesaurus is another thing I'd struggle without in these essays both in writing and deleting words.

4) Look at each point of your essay and think --Do I really need this?

Come to think of it ,deleting parts of essays is something I really hate. It wastes good work and makes things seem like they're going backwards. My solution to this is after shortening your essay, write something else. No task, no word limit, no rules –it’s my way of giving the lost words new life. In fact, this post was my way of making up for the words I had to remove from an English essay and it was not even that many words I had to delete.


-Barista Ellen-

Image: Jessie Jacobson Read more »

Uniforms, uniforms, don't we hate them. You could say fashion isn't my thing. Well... it's definitely not my thing, but I am as fed up as anyone of wearing the mind numbingly awkward to tie tie and the dreaded school blazer. For that reason I have compiled a list of ways to spruce up your school uniform.

1) Scarves
I absolutely adore the variety of those patterned scarves you can get these days: flowers, skulls, abstract designs. Drape one of these on on a school day to really transform your attire into something unique. If silk scarves aren't your thing you can even wear a good old winter scarf in the dead of winter. I saw a kid in my school walking about in a Gryffindor scarf, something I don't have the courage to do (yes I own a Hogwarts scarf but you have to guess what house).

2) Badges
Even a single small pin will make your uniform different but with the size of blazer lapels, you can go full out crazy with them. Make yours into a shrine for your favourite music artist if you want: whether it's One Direction or Bring Me The Horizon or anything in between—if that's your kind of thing. Otherwise you can wear just a badge or two (I'm a fan of the ones with sarcastic comments).

3) Footwear
Once you get below the knee, the school uniform seems to become a lot more lenient. I personally stick to my black Doc Martins and black tights these days but when I was about thirteen of fourteen I used to wear rainbow striped, over the knee socks to school! Maybe wear some brightly coloured tennis shoes to add some colour to your school day. If your school has a policy about black shoes though, buy the most colourful shoelaces you can get.

4) Jewellery
I know teachers go on about not bringing jewellery into school in case you lose it, but I'm not talking about bringing in a 10 carat necklace! You can usually find some brilliant, colourful bracelets that are as cheap as chips. In fact, some of the bracelets I've seen in stores around the city centre are actually cheaper than a portion of chips from the local chippie! If your teachers are super strict on jewellery, buy a nice looking watch. There are some pretty cool watches out there, and what's more, it will improve your punctuality.

5) Hair
As far as ways to accessorise your school uniform goes, this one's pretty drastic. But if you've been wanting to dye your hair, why not make it something that'll match your school wear as much as your regular clothes? Back when I dyed my hair red, it was almost the exact same colour as my maroon school tie. It wasn't deliberate but I thought it looked good anyway. If hair dye's not your thing, find some hair accessories such as bows—much better than that dull ponytail.

6) School bag
Your school bag is the one bit of compulsory school uniform that will be unique (unless someone else gets the same one of course) so make it something that will show people what kind of person you are: are you practical, what's your favourite colour, what bands do you worship, do you have an obsession with cute animals, do you follow trends or are you a free spirit?

7) Personality
The most important thing is that no matter what you're wearing your wonderful, brilliant, unique personalty shines through. I know I sound all cheesy saying this but it's what's inside that counts. A good personality costs nothing and we all have it, at least most people, but I'm sure you are one of the people who do.


-Barista Ellen-

Image: Peretz Partensky Read more »

Every morning I and countless others go through that dreary morning routine:
Wake up, drag yourself out of bed, stumble into the kitchen and lay up the toaster with bread. Some people prefer cereal and there are those who somehow skip breakfast all together but what keeps me going through the long school days is a strong cup of coffee and some good old toast. Now I am not a morning person so I need something that could make my morning better. Or worse. I decided to rake around the kitchen to make new toppings for toast. Who knows what they'll be like. Is there a taste revelation in the making?

1) Pickled onion

This is very different from my usual topping of sticky sweet jam. Better than expected, then again I just LOVE pickled onion. I could actually eat it again. It is seriously good!

2) Hot Dog

Not as weird but still tasty, just like a hotdog in a bun which basically what it is. I think the idea of hotdog for breakfast sounds so unhealthy that I'll not use this one again.

3) Chilli sauce

AAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!
A piece of advice. When attempting to lightly  pour  chilli sauce on your toast, if you spill it all over it DO NOT EAT IT! In fact, don't eat it at all. It's disgusting.

That's enough concoctions for me, the real surprise today was that pickled onion on toast actually tastes nice. If you don't believe me, try it. It's good enough for a taste revelation. Put some pickled onion on your toast and spread the word!!!


-Barista Ellen-

Image: John McClumpha Read more »

A Christmas in Glasgow is cold, I know
But I wish it cold enough for snow
We trek through rivers of water instead
And wish we were back home inside our beds

But I stay out in the cold for a while
to see pale and gold light up the Style Mile
Lights all shine bright on this cold afternoon
Reflecting on the street like an iridescent moon

I'm getting a chill as the rain it does pour
The coffee shop queue is near out of the door
Oh No! The rain has now turned to sleet
Let's go, find shelter down Buchanan Street

The Christmas market, it is a clamour
Of sounds, sights,smells, tastes. A joyous uproar!
My dogs on the trail on discarded food
He's found half a burger. Oh that's not good

This city of mine I both love and hate
But at Christmas time when we celebrate
I love the seasonal atmosphere
Apart from the horrendous rain I fear

And to all of friends in Le Teen Café
Have a Merry Christmas and Hogmanay


-Barista Ellen-

Image: Cyril Ayroles Read more »

“What person real or fictional would you take to a desert island?” 

asked my younger sister the other day. At this point all my book-worminess burst out to the surface and I spent the rest of the day weighing out the pros and cons of which literary character could get me off the island fastest and kept on muttering on about other bookey stuff like how brilliant it would be if they made the Chrestomanci series into movies (it would be very brilliant in fact). I gave the matter enough thought to compile a list of the best fictional characters to bring to a desert island

1)

Name: Will Parry

First book to appear in: The Subtle Knife by Phillip Pullman

Will is one of the fictional characters who would get you off a desert island quickly, providing he has his knife with him. I always wanted to own the subtle knife and use it to travel to different worlds. If he, on the other hand, did not have the knife with him, I can imagine lying with him on a desert island beach watching the world go by. He went through so much for a twelve year old boy: he had to look after his mother and he worried about where his father disappeared to and then once the men came into his house everything just got worse. He deserves the weight being lifted from his chest.

2)

Name: Chrestomanci   

First book to appear in: Charmed Life by Diana Wynne Jones

The man of my mutterings himself has to make an appearance in this list. As the most powerful enchanter in all the different worlds, he'd certainly get you out in a jiffy and he's certainly not a boring person either!

3)

Name: Hermione Granger

First book to appear in: Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone by J.K Rowling

I always wanted Hermione to be my friend growing up. Like me, she was smart and she read a lot but she's also courageous and is a witch (although I'm still hoping my Hogwarts letter's delayed). Also, in the Deathly Hallows, she could cook meals for Harry, Ron and herself out of what she could find, so starvation seems less likely. Not to mention the fact that she can disapparate off the island and could take me home with side long apparition.

4)

Name: Leo Valdez

First book to appear in: The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan

I could make a whole list of characters from the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series and the Heroes of Olympus to take to a desert island but I've limited myself to one. Leo would not be the person who'd get you out fastest, but everything about his character is amazing and he is one of those fictional characters that you feel upset about when you remember that they're not real.

HOUSE OF HADES SPOILER ALERT!!

I finally read House of Hades! Now the thing that is creepy now is that Leo got stuck in Ogygia. Apart from being the sweetest, most heartwarming part of the book Ogygia is a desert island. I never found any spoilers (at least for that part of the book) but I am finding this seriously creepy. I must be psychic or something!

-Barista Ellen-

Image: Brian Johnson & Dane Kantner

Read more »

 

For days preceding the concert, I was too excited for words. I was going to see 30 Seconds to Mars for a second time. To make matters even better, they were going to be supported by You Me at Six. My two favourite number-related bands under one roof! Now that roof was exciting too. In October, the city's new concert venue, the Hydro, opened and I had heard stories about how good it was, how high up the seats were and how you could see well from any seat (I was really, really hoping the last one was true because I was in row V, which I later discovered was the very back row of the place!)

When I first heard about the Hydro, I was sceptical. What was the point of building a brand new concert venue directly beside the one we already have? I was also worried the very large building would block the view of some of the buildings in the Clyde Waterfront, which contains some of Glasgow's most iconic buildings. But as soon as I saw the Hydro from the train window, I knew it was going to be a very special place. I had not seen it since it was still being built, but what a transformation there had been! It glowed, flickering from green to blue. The only word to describe it is: magical! You Me at Six played brilliantly and I jumped about like I was on a trampoline despite most people in the seated section doing as the name suggests—sitting. Thanks to Scotrail (Scottish railroad)’s unreliability, I missed half their performance. But I thankfully caught all their best songs and I plan to get tickets to go see them when they return to Glasgow in April.

When 30stm started, it was one of those rare moments that is completely magical and stays with you for the rest of your life. The place went dark, the curtain dropped, the music began and there stood Jared Leto. But he wasn't standing on the stage. He was standing on the rigging above the stage! He was lowered down to stand beside his brother Shannon who began beating on his drums and Tomo who began playing his guitar, creating 30stm's amazing sound.

The whole concert was jam packed with brilliance: enormous balloons thrown into the crowd, so much confetti I couldn’t see the stage, and two acrobatic routines involving a hula hoop and a seesaw! But it was the music that I came for of course, and what amazing music it was. The real highlight was without the theatrics. Shannon and Tomo had left the stage and Jared stood there, one man and an acoustic guitar, taking requests—all the oldies like Hurricane and my old favourite: The Kill. There was also the most unenthusiastic rendition of Happy Birthday I have ever heard.

The night did have some slightly worse parts. For one, 30stm kept us waiting twenty minutes before arriving onstage. Also, they never sung This Is War, which is currently my favourite of their songs as well as From Yesterday.

All in all, it was a magical night and my only wish is that I arrived at the train station a minute earlier so I didn't have to travel on the next train (AKA the snail express). I hope the next concert I see, which will hopefully be You Me at Six, will be equally amazing.


-Barista Ellen-

Image: Kristina Cortez Read more »