#106 - Riots

I'm sure you've all heard about the awful riots that took place yesterday and early this morning in London, which started out as a mere peaceful protest that got out of control and even caused riots in Birmingham, Bristol and Liverpool.
I don't understand how people can just do things like this and think it's a good way to behave, it's disgusting.

London bus set alight
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It started in Liverpool at around 11 last night, near Smithdown Road and slowly made its way through the city centre, smashing in windows, setting cars on fire, anything they could think of.
Places like the Tesco on Park Lane and Baa Bar on Myrtle St were still open at this point but the staff couldn't leave and any customers were pretty much sitting ducks, waiting until it was safe. People shouldn't have to live lke this, it's appalling.

Gangs gathering together in Liverpool

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My boyfriend and his friend's actually walked down Smithdown Road literally minutes before the violence kicked off. I felt sick to my stomach until he text me to say they were all safe. Yesterday was his 21st as well, just the luck hey.

People's cars were being burned and bricks thrown through house windows, and all they could do was stand by their windows watching it all and sending out photos to show people what was happening.

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There are community clean ups happening all day I presume, to try and put some kind of order back into the cities. These are the kind of people who started the peaceful protest in London, not wanting to harm anyone or do anything but get their voices heard, and sadly it was ripped apart by mindless "people" who just wanted to do as much destruction as they could, despite their rioting having no real meaning behind it.
It's disgusting to think that we live in a world where this can happen so easily and spread throughout the country so fast.

I hope that everyone in the affected areas is doing ok and that nobody's seriously injured. I'm still unsure on what exactly got burnt and smashed up in Liverpool, it's hard to tell fact from rumour at half 3 in the morning.
This needs to be dealt with soon, it can't happen again, there'll be nothing left at this rate.

Liverpool Vintage Fair!

This Saturday the Big Vintage & Fashion Fair is coming to Liverpoo's Met Quarter!
I've never been to a vintage fair before so I'm really excited! I'm also getting to finally meet Alex from Life After 20; she's lovely :)
They're also holding model castings for their next fashion show which is on 11th November, so if you interested get down there early to snap up the little bargains!

If you do fancy going, leave me a comment and I'll keep an eye out, always nice to put a face to the blog :)

For more information on the day, check their Facebook page here.

#63

I apologise in advance for the mass amount of writing this post has!

As previously stated, I pottered along to Russell Brand's book signing on Thursday, I wasn't that excited until we got into the Waterstones, when my hands were shaking like leaves in the breeze!
Anyway, myself and Heather got to town about 12ish, and went for tea and bacon on toast in Soul Cafe; such a gorgeous little hideaway on Bold Street, I reccommend it highly, for the fantastic food as well as the friendly staff. (reviews can be found here)
We then stocked up on magazines and sweets to keep us occupied in the queue, goodness knows how long we'd be there for! Danni rang us, fresh from a uni lecture, and joined us in sitting on the pavement, while a multitude of people walked past, asking what we were all doing, when someone told them, they'd either scoff and call him something tedious, or pull a face and go "Oh right, Russell Brand..." I'm aware some people hate his guts, but at least have the decency to accept that lots of people enjoy his humour!

Thankfully we weren't that far from the front, and he kept to his word, and arrived at 3pm.
Strutting down the road like some kind of king, surrounded by bodyguards and hoards of screaming girls (and an equal amount of boys!) I snapped a blurry photo of the tall drink of water himself, and proceeded to wait until we were due to enter the shop.

As we got closer to the front, the more nervous we got - What would I say to him? Am I allowed to hug him? What if he doesn't laugh at my joke? I hope he doesn't spell my name wrong!

Once inside we weren't in fact waiting all that long, were given a post-it with our name on it on the right page, to quicken the process.

When it got to my turn, I was shoved into his face, handed him my book and proceeded to stare at him in the most gawky fashion. I asked if he enjoyed Liverpool, and said something about a roast dinner, what a boob!
He signed my book, and held my hand while talking to me, said I was lovely, thank you for coming and gave us a smacker on the cheek. I then walk away slightly starstruck and find my friends, we then skipped off for a chinese all-you-can-eat, yum!

My friend Danni getting acquainted with Mr Brand.

Apparantly it looks like we're just staring at each other, haha I was listening intently!

He's really a lovely guy, I can't fault him, especially now he's no longer bed-hopping round Europe and has settled down! I'm looking forward to finish reading the book tomorrow night after a hair/beauty show in Manchester with my mum, auntie and cousin that I had no idea was even going on, but I'll inform you all about it tomorrow night!
Below is the outfit I had planned on wearing to the signing, but I spilt toothpaste on the skirt as I was leaving, so made a hasty change and dashed out for the train, so as above I was in all black.

Top, Tammy, BHS - £7; Skirt, Necklace, Bracelets, H&M.

I'm trying out different places and angles to shoot my outfits; not very adventurous, but I don't have much space to work with when the family's in the house!

What do you think? Where do you usually shoot your ootd?

#62

Since Shorthand has been cancelled for this week due to my tutor swanning off to London, I have enough time to get my to-do list underway - I find making lists and spider-webs easier to manage than saving random notes in my phone!

I'm spending today updating this with a couple of posts, and sorting my room out and hoovering the house.
Tomorrow however, I am spending the morning stood outside Waterstones in town in single-file, to see Russell Brand at a book signing! I know he's not everyone's cup of tea ( the Mother said "Oh, never mind, you'll soon see sense" when I told her about it) but I find him hilarious, especially in Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him To the Greek - two of my favourite movies!

But enough of the incessant typing and chitchat, I have been inspired by Laura at Romance is Boring to do a tongue-in-cheek post on "What's in My Bag" as I also don't own luxurious hand creams and whatnot; the fanciest thing in my bag is my perfume and River Island purse, which was a treat to myself last year.

From top left, clockwise:
- River Island purse, with Voodoo Doll Sagai Warrior Girl attached
- An ever-so attractive buspass for the free uni bus
- Pink notepad
- Mini post-its/Page notes
- Caramel Squares bar
- Yesterdsay's Metro, handy for swatting the swarms of horrible schoolboys off the train!
- Hairbrush and comb
- Keys
- Carmex lip balm
- Lush Lip Scrub
- Nail File
- Hairclips
- Amor Amor perfume
- ELF "Complexion Perfection" Face Powder - absolute lifesaver, definite HG product
- Boots Powder Brush
- Glasses, just incase my lense pop out; it's happened before, rather embarrassing!
- Make up bag (A sneak peek of my make up can be found here)
- Fizzy strawberry sweets

What's in your bags, any goodies I should be looking out for?