Issue 10 by Flex Magazine

ISSUE 10

FLEX

DEC 2015

JESS DOHERTY

FLEX INTERVIEWS

MUSIC AND FILM DAWN FRENCH UNI EXPERIENCE FASHION IN FAL

EDITORIAL TEAM EDITOR - CHARLIE BOWN SUB EDITOR - CHRISTER DAVANGER FEATURE EDITOR - ANNE THORN DESIGN - THOMAS MILLS MARKETING AND PR - JORDAN STEVENS SECRETARY - KELLY-ANNE SEARYOH

CONTRIBUTORS ANNE THORN, JESS ERRINGTON, EMILY FURNESS, CHRISTER DAVANGER, EMILY JUGGINS, TOM VAUGHAN, KATIA DAMBORSKY, MICHAEL GREEN, KELLY-ANNE SEARYOH, PHILLIP RICHEY, JESS DOHERTY, ALANA BULLOCK, JAKE CHAPMAN, SHANARA PHILLIPS, ALYSA O’CONNOR

THANKS FXU, FALMOUTH UNIVERSITY, SCHOOL OF WRITING AND JOURNALISM, DAWN FRENCH, RICHARD STAMP AND EVERYONE WHO LET US USE THEIR INSTAGRAM POSTS

STAY CONNECTED

FACEBOOK /THEONLINEFLEX TWITTER @THEONLINEFLEX INSTAGRAM @FLEXMAGAZINE

CONTENTS 3

DAWN FRENCH

THE CAMPUS COMMUNITY

WHAT'S ON

#FALMOUTH

RICHARD STAMP - THE 8 BIT MAN

FASHION IN FAL

MUSIC

FILM

CHEAP EATING

STAYING HEALTHY ON A BUDGET

UNIVERSITY

CHRISTMAS ON A BUDGET

FLEX INTERVIEWS

DAWN FRENCH THE DAWN OF A NEW ERA FOR FALMOUTH UNIVERSITY ANNE THORN, JESS ERRINGTON FALMOUTH UNIVERSITY HAS PUT CORNWALL ON THE MAP AS THE NO. 1 ARTS UNIVERSITY IN THE UK. WHEN CHOOSING A CHANCELLOR TO ACT AS AN AMBASSADOR, IT MADE PERFECT SENSE TO ASK A PERFORMER AND WRITER WHO LIVES IN CORNWALL AND IS PASSIONATE ABOUT THE ARTS AND ALL THINGS CORNISH. DAWN FRENCH IS A COMEDIENNE, ACTRESS AND BEST-SELLING AUTHOR AND IS IN FALMOUTH TO PERFORM HER FIRST OFFICIAL

DUTY AS CHANCELLOR, HANDING OUT DEGREES TO GRADUATING STUDENTS. FLEX SPOKE TO HER OVER TEA AND SANDWICHES TO FIND OUT ABOUT HER PLANS FOR THE ROLE, HER NEW BOOK, AND HOW SHE GOT REJECTED BY A HIPPO. AS WE WALK THROUGH THE ENTRANCE OF A VERY PLUSH HOTEL IN FALMOUTH, A FRIENDLY DOORMAN IMMEDIATELY PUTS US AT EASE. “CAN I GET YOU TEA, COFFEE, WATER? WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO MEET DAWN, IS THE DINING ROOM OK?” THIS IS NICE AS WE ARE A

TINY BIT STAR STRUCK AND ANXIOUS. SITTING THERE EXPECTANTLY WE SEE HER ARRIVE IN THE DOORWAY AND THE FIRST THING I NOTICE IS HER DIMINUTIVE STATURE. ONCE GREETINGS ARE EXCHANGED SHE ASKS: “WHAT SHALL WE HAVE, TEA, COFFEE, CAKES?” I AM WORRIED I WON’T BE ABLE TO ASK QUESTIONS WHILE EATING BUT DAWN DECIDES ON TEA AND SANDWICHES ALL ROUND. AFTER A COUPLE OF MINUTES WITH HER, YOU

FORGET THAT YOU ARE WITH A ‘CELEBRITY’, AND IT FEELS LIKE A FRIENDLY CHAT OVER TEA. SHE EFFUSES OVER THE SANDWICHES WHEN THEY ARRIVE (“HOW LOVELY, THANKS SO MUCH, THAT’S PERFECT, NO THAT IS ALL THANKS”) FOLLOWED BY AN INVITATION TO “TUCK IN GUYS”. HER DARK HAIR GLISTENS EACH TIME DAWN TURNS HER HEAD AND SHE’S VERY SMILEY, AS SHE QUITE HAPPILY TALKS AND MUNCHES AT THE SAME TIME.

TION TO FALMOUTH UNIVERSITY IN A WAY IT DESERVES,”.

DAWN ADDS THAT SHE ___________________ CONTINUED OVERLEAF

DAWN WAS REHEARSING FOR HER ONE-WOMAN SHOW ’30 MILLION MINUTES’ AT THE UNIVERSITY LAST YEAR WHEN SHE WAS APPROACHED FOR THE ROLE OF CHANCELLOR. “I HAD HUGE RESERVATIONS AT FIRST,” SHE SAYS. “I DON’T COME OUT AS A CELEBRITY VERY OFTEN, IT IS THE THING I LIKE THE LEAST ABOUT MY WORK. I AM AWARE THAT BEING CHANCELLOR IS A KIND OF ‘EVERYONE LOOK AT ME’ ROLE, BUT WHEN I WALKED AROUND AND TALKED TO STUDENTS I REALISED IT IS A REMARKABLE PLACE AND THAT I COULD DRAW ATTEN-

NEEDS TO ‘NEST’ HERSELF INTO HER NEW ROLE, JUGGLING IT AROUND HER OTHER COMMITMENTS. “I KNOW WHAT I AM DOING VIRTUALLY EVERY DAY UP TO THE END OF NEXT YEAR APART FROM 8 DAYS OFF WITH MY FAMILY IN JANUARY.” HOWEVER, SHE EXPECTS TO GET MORE INVOLVED OVER TIME AND PLANS TO INVITE PEOPLE SHE HAS WORKED WITH TO GIVE MASTER CLASSES OR PERHAPS FACILITATE A CHANCELLOR’S DAY WHERE PEOPLE WILL BE ENCOURAGED TO SHARE THEIR SKILLS. WHEN SHE ENTERED THE LIMELIGHT IN HER 20S SHE SAYS HER CELEBRITY VALUE WAS ALL ABOUT HER WORK AND WASN’T ABOUT HOME OR PRIVATE LIFE. “I AM QUITE SURPRISED NOW WITH EVERYTHING THAT COMES WITH ‘CELEBRITY’ AND THAT NOW PEOPLE CAN JUST BE FAMOUS FOR BEING CELEBRITIES AND NOTHING ELSE BUT I HAVE TO ACCEPT THAT THAT IS AN INDUSTRY NOW.” DAWN INSISTS THAT SHE WILL ONLY GET INVOLVED WITH THINGS THAT SHE FEELS PASSIONATE ABOUT INCLUDING

COMIC RELIEF AND THE ORCHID PROJECT, A CHARITY WORKING TO STOP FEMALE GENITAL CUTTING. BEING CHANCELLOR AT FALMOUTH UNIVERSITY FITS WITH HER ETHOS AND VALUES SO EVEN THOUGH SHE TECHNICALLY DID NOT HAVE TIME TO ACCEPT THE ROLE SHE MANAGED TO SQUEEZE THINGS AROUND AS IT WAS SO IMPORTANT TO HER. “I WON’T DO THINGS UNLESS THEY ARE FUN OR I’M GOING TO LEARN SOMETHING,” SHE ADDS. AS FOR DAWN’S ‘OTHER’ CAREER IN PERFORMING ARTS AND WRITING, THIS IS NOW IN ITS 4TH DECADE. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS FILMS AND TV SHOWS, INCLUDING THE HUGELY POPULAR ‘FRENCH AND SAUNDERS’ AND ‘THE VICAR OF DIBLEY’. IF THIS WASN’T ALREADY ENOUGH, SHE HAS ALSO WRITTEN TWO BEST SELLING NOVELS AND HAS JUST FINISHED HER THIRD, AS WELL AS ‘DEAR FATTY’ HER AUTOBIOGRAPHY, WRITTEN IN THE FORMAT OF LETTERS TO ALL THE IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN HER LIFE. THESE LETTERS FORM THE BASIS FOR HER HIGHLY PERSONAL ONE-WOMAN SHOW ‘ 30

MILLION MINUTES’, NAMED FOR THE NUMBER OF MINUTES SHE HAS BEEN ALIVE (APPROXIMATELY). “IT’S QUITE AN EMOTIONAL SHOW AS IT IS BASED ON MY LIFE AND MY DAD, WHO DIED (SHE WAS JUST 19 YEARS OLD WHEN HE KILLED HIMSELF), AND WHAT IT’S LIKE TO BE A MOTHER, DAUGHTER, WIFE AND BEST FRIEND,” SHE SAYS. WHEN WE MEET SHE HAS JUST FINISHED HER NEW BOOK ‘ACCORDING TO YES’ WHICH IS RELEASED ON 22ND OCTOBER AND IS DOING REWRITES AT NIGHT IN HER HOTEL ROOM. YET AGAIN THE BOOK IS BASED ON A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. WHEN DAWN WAS 18 SHE WENT TO COLLEGE IN NEW YORK FOR A YEAR, AFTER WINNING A SCHOLARSHIP. SHE GOT A JOB AS A BABYSITTER FOR A COUPLE IN THE PROCESS OF DIVORCING TO PAY FOR HER KEEP. “I HAD NEVER BABYSAT ALONE AND I DIDN’T KNOW MANHATTAN AND SUDDENLY I HAD THE KEY TO THIS FAMILY’S FLAT AND WAS THRUST INTO A VERY INTIMATE PART OF THEIR LIFE.” THE MAIN CHARACTER IN ‘ACCORDING TO YES’ IS A WOMAN

WHO GOES TO LIVE WITH A FAMILY IN NEW YORK TO LOOK AFTER TWIN BOYS. “SHE COMES INTO THEIR LIFE ON A BIT OF AN EAST WIND AND SHE BRINGS FRESH AIR AND LIGHT AND CHANGE TO A VERY DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY. SHE HAS HER OWN FLAWS AND SECRETS TOO AND CAUSES A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF CHAOS”. DAWN ALSO CHEEKILY REVEALS THAT THE BOOK IS QUITE “SAUCY”. DAWN’S TYPICAL WORKING DAY REFLECTS HER STRONG WORK ETHIC. WHEN WRITING SHE GETS UP AT 6 AM DAILY AND TAKES HER LITTLE TERRIER FOR A WALK ON THE BEACH NEAR HER LUXURY HOME, PERCHED ON A CORNISH CLIFF OVERLOOKING THE SEA. SHE GRABS BREAKFAST AND IS AT HER DESK BY 9 AM SHARP. AS SHE LOOKS OUT TO SEA SHE CAN SEE A LARGE NOTE PINNED UP ON THE WALL WITH THREE WORDS ON IT ‘CHARACTER, CHARACTER, CHARACTER’. “EVERY DAY MY BRAIN JUST GOES INTO A COMPLETE CHUGGING FUG OF NOTHING, BUT IT’S LIKE DOING HOMEWORK; YOU JUST HAVE TO PULL IT OUT OF YOUR HEAD,” SHE SAYS. SHE BREAKS FOR LUNCH AND WATCHES

SOME TRASHY DAYTIME TELLY, THEN BACK TO HER DESK UNTIL 5 OR 6 PM, ADDING THAT “YOU CANNOT WRITE A NOVEL WITHOUT BEING DISCIPLINED.” DAWN DOESN’T BAT AN EYELID WHEN MY COLLEAGUE JESS SUGGESTS THAT STUDENTS MIGHT NOT HAVE HEARD OF HER UNTIL THEY ARE TOLD SHE WAS THE ‘FAT LADY IN HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN’. SHE TELLS US A TYPICALLY FUNNY STORY ABOUT HER STRANGE INCIDENT WITH A HIPPO ON THAT FILM. IT INVOLVED A SCENE WHERE DAWN HAD TO HIDE BEHIND A HIPPO AND AFTER REHEARSING THE SCENE A FEW TIMES THEY BROUGHT THE HIPPO IN. “WE WERE TOLD TO BE REALLY QUIET SO AS NOT TO UPSET HIM, THE HANDLER TOLD ME ALL THE THINGS NOT TO DO. DON’T RUN, DON’T LOOK IT DIRECTLY IN EYE AND LOOK OUT IF IT STARTS TO FOAM”. THE HANDLER ALSO TOLD DAWN THAT “IF ITS SKIN STARTS TO FOAM IT MEANS THAT HE FANCIES YOU AND THEN HE MAY TRY TO MOUNT YOU”. SHE LAUGHS AS SHE RECALLS THINKING THAT SHE COULD HAVE TO FACE THE DAUNTING PROSPECT OF SEX

WITH A HIPPO. “I AM NOW QUITE AFRAID OF THIS HIPPO AND IN COMES THIS HUGE LORRY AND OUT TROTS THIS DWARF HIPPO, IT WASN’T MUCH BIGGER THAN A BIG DOG AND ACTUALLY QUITE HARD TO HIDE BEHIND. IT WAS SURREAL, WE FINISHED THE FILMING AND I SAID TO THE BLOKE “HE DIDN’T FOAM” AND HE SAID “NO HE JUST DIDN’T FANCY YOU” AND I ACTUALLY FELT QUITE REJECTED, IT WAS SAD THAT I HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO TURN THE HIPPO ON,”. DAWN HINTS AT A TV SHOW IN THE PIPELINE, WHICH SHE CAN’T TELL US ABOUT YET BUT MIGHT BE SET IN CORNWALL, AND SHE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT SO MUCH TIME SPENT WORKING DOES NOT GIVE HER A HEALTHY WORK/LIFE BALANCE, ALTHOUGH WHEN SHE IS WRITING AT LEAST SHE IS AT HOME IN CORNWALL WITH HER HUSBAND AND SLEEPING IN HER OWN BED AT NIGHT. “I NEED TO GET LESS WORK, I JUST NEED TO OPEN UP MY DIARY A BIT MORE; IT’S VERY HARD,” SHE SAYS, BUT ADDS THAT IN HER INDUSTRY IT IS A GOOD PROBLEM TO HAVE.

DAWN'S QUICK FIRE QUESTIONS CREAM TEA OR CORNISH PASTY? Pasty - but hard to choose

JAM FIRST OR CREAM FIRST ON A SCONE? Easy - jam first, the Cornish way

HARRY POTTER OR LORD OF THE RINGS? Lord of the Rings, I think

DOOM BAR OR PROSECCO? Doom Bar

GEORGE CLOONEY OR MICHAEL BUBLE? The best kisser is not either of those, it’s actually Jamie Theakston, but I’ve stopped all that kissing nonsense now as it was getting out of hand

FALMOUTH OR FOWEY? Would have to be Fowey, as it’s my home, but Falmouth comes a close second.

BEING PART OF THE CAMPUS COMMUNITY: HIGHS AND THE LOWS EMILY FURNESS LIVING IN HALLS IS SOMETHING THAT ALL FIRST YEAR STUDENTS SHOULD EXPERIENCE; HALLS DON’T JUST MAKE THE TRANSITION FROM HOME TO UNIVERSITY A THOUSAND TIMES EASIER, BUT THEY GIVE YOU A SECOND FAMILY AND A SENSE OF COMMUNITY THAT YOU’LL NEVER FORGET. HERE ARE SOME PROS AND CONS OF HALLS THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO RELATE TO ALREADY, OR IF YOU’RE LOOKING TO JOIN THE CAMPUS FAMILY IN 2016, HERE’S WHAT TO EXPECT ... 9

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YOU CAN BASICALLY SEE YOUR LECTURE ROOM FROM YOUR BEDROOM. THIS GIVES YOU THAT EXTRA HIT ON THE SNOOZE BUTTON, A LUXURY STUDENT TOWNIES DON’T HAVE. SO WHILST YOU’RE ALL TUCKED UP BE THINKING OF STUDENTS CURRENTLY QUEUING FOR THE BUS IN THE FREEZING COLD. OH AND ASDA BEING A 10-MINUTE WALK FROM CAMPUS (IT’S ALSO OPEN 24 HOURS).

THE LODGE (YOUR LIFE SAVER). WHEN SOMETHING BREAKS YOU CAN JUST WALK ABOUT FIVE STEPS TO FIND A HANDY MAN THAT WILL USUALLY GET IT FIXED ON THE SAME DAY. UNLIKE CONTACTING LANDLORDS WHICH USUALLY TAKE DAYS, WEEKS OR EVEN MONTHS TO FIX SOMETHING.

COMMUNITY. WITH SO MANY BBQ AREAS AND SO MANY OTHER FLATS SURROUNDING YOU WITH LIKEMINDED FIRST YEARS, HALLS BECOME’S ONE BIG FAMILY. FLAT PARTIES ARE JUST ACROSS FROM YOU RATHER THAN HALF WAY ACROSS TOWN. ALSO, AFTER A STANNARY EVENT YOU CAN JUST STUMBLE STRAIGHT INTO YOUR BED.

YOU KNOW THE KIND OF FRIENDS YOU CAN LIVE WITH. TRY AND FIND A SECOND YEAR HOUSE WITH AT LEAST ONE PERSON YOU GOT CLOSE TO IN HALLS, AS LIVING WITH SOMEONE IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT BALL GAME TO JUST STUDYING WITH THEM.

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CABIN FEVER. YOU’RE SO CLOSE TO UNI, BUT YET WHAT FEELS LIKE MILLIONS OF MILES AWAY FROM TOWN. SO WHENEVER YOU FEEL LIKE A CHANGE OF SCENERY, IT CAN FEEL LIKE A MISSION JUST TO GET OFF CAMPUS.

LOTS OF MESS. THERE WILL BE DAYS WHEN NO ONE’S WASHED UP AND THERE’S ABSOLUTELY NO SPACE FOR YOU TO COOK. HOWEVER, DON’T GET INTO THE HABIT OF JUST WASHING UP EVERYONE ELSE’S STUFF. WE ALL HAVE A PRETTY BUSY SCHEDULE AND NO STUDENT NEEDS TO BE A FULL TIME CLEANER AS WELL!

TEMPTATIONS. YOU’VE GOT THE PERFECT FLAT, AND IN IS YOUR PRINCE CHARMING. YOU MIGHT BE THINKING “THIS MUST BE A PRO?” REFRAIN FROM STEPPING OUT OF THE FRIEND ZONE INTO THE DANGER ZONE, IT WILL ONLY END IN TEARS AND WILL ALSO MAKE EVERYTHING TENSE FOR THE REST OF YOUR FLAT. DON’T SH*T ON YOUR OWN DOORSTEP.

FLAT FIGHTS. SO THERE’S THAT ONE PERSON YOU REALLY DISLIKE, I MEAN THERE’S AROUND EIGHT OF YOU, THERE WAS BOUND TO BE ONE. HOWEVER, DON’T GET YOUR CLAWS OUT AND BADMOUTH THEM 24/7. IT CAN MAKE THINGS AWKWARD FOR OTHER FLAT MATES WHO ARE BOTH YOUR FRIEND AND THEIRS.

HOW FIRST YEAR WAS FOR SOMEONE LIVING OFF CAMPUS SHANARA PHILLIPS MOST FIRST YEAR STUDENTS WANT TO LIVE ON CAMPUS. FROM THE WAY IT’S ADVERTISED, WHO WOULDN’T? BEING ON CAMPUS IS PART OF THE WHOLE UNI EXPERIENCE. SO WHAT’S IT LIKE FOR FIRST YEARS LIVING OFF OF CAMPUS? A DISASTER SOME WOULD SAY. A HARDER SOCIAL LIFE, TROUBLES OF COMMUTING, AND BEING LEFT OUT ON CAMPUS EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES. SOUNDS LIKE A NIGHTMARE. WELL I HAPPENED TO BE ONE OF THOSE STUDENTS, AND I CAN HONESTLY SAY IT WASN’T ANYTHING LIKE THAT. I ORIGINALLY PLANNED TO GET ACCOMMODATION ON CAMPUS, BUT WITH SUCH HIGH COMPETITION I DIDN’T GET THE PLACE I WANTED. I WAS GIVEN A PLACE AT THE SIDINGS, AN ACCOMMODATION SITE 15 MINUTES AWAY FROM CAMPUS. I LOVED MY TIME AT THE SIDINGS AND I HAD NO ISSUES IN REGARDS OF UNIVERSITY. GETTING TO CAMPUS WAS NO PROBLEM, IT WAS JUST A POUND FOR A QUICK FIVE-MINUTE BUS RIDE, IF YOU’RE LAZY LIKE MYSELF,

OR A 15-MINUTE WALK THROUGH OUR BEAUTIFUL CAMPUS. THE SIDINGS IS IN A GREAT LOCATION, WITH PENRYN STATION RIGHT ON OUR DOORSTEP, FOR THOSE LIKE MYSELF WHO WOULD NEED TO GET TO PADDINGTON TO GET HOME OR EVEN JUST TO TRURO FOR A DAY OF SHOPPING, THERE WAS NO STRESS ABOUT CATCHING THE TRAIN ON TIME. GETTING TO FALMOUTH AND SUPERMARKETS LIKE ASDA OR LIDL WAS EASY TOO. WHAT I LOVED THE MOST ABOUT THE SIDINGS WAS THE GREAT SENSE OF COMMUNITY. AS THE ACCOMMODATION IS CONSIDERABLY SMALLER THAN GLASNEY VILLAGE, IT WAS EASIER TO MAKE FRIENDS, AND EVERYONE WAS ALWAYS SPENDING TIME IN EACH OTHERS FLATS OR OUTSIDE. THE ACCOMMODATION ITSELF WAS BEAUTIFUL, WHICH MADE ME GLAD THAT I GOT A PLACE THERE. ONLY BEING TWO YEARS OLD MEANT THAT IT WAS STILL MODERN AND FRESH WHILE I

STAYED THERE. WE EVEN HAD A LITTLE LIVING SPACE, WHICH I SOON FOUND OUT WAS APPARENTLY A LUXURY ACCORDING TO THOSE WHO DIDN'T LIVE AT THE SIDINGS. WHEN IT CAME TO CAMPUS PARTIES, MANY WERE AN OPEN INVITATION SO US SIDINGS FOLK HAD NO PROBLEM GETTING TO THEM. OR EVEN IF WE DIDN’T, WE STILL HAD OUR OWN. FOR THOSE NOT INTO PARTIES, BECAUSE WE WERE SUCH A SMALL COMMUNITY, PARTIES DIDN’T HAPPEN AS MUCH SO THERE WAS NO WORRY FOR THOSE WANTING A QUIET NIGHT IN. I CAN’T FORGET TO MENTION THE AMAZING STAFF THERE TOO, WHO DEFINITELY MADE YOU FEEL AT HOME. WHENEVER WE HAD ANY MAINTENANCE ISSUES, OUR GUY WOULD BE THERE IN A FLASH TO FIX IT QUICKLY. I DON’T THINK THERE WAS EVER A MOMENT DURING MY STAY THAT I SAID TO MYSELF THAT I WISH I WASN’T LIVING HERE.

LIVING IN TOWN FOR FIRST YEAR ANONYMOUS TO CUT A LONG STORY SHORT, FALMOUTH WAS NOT MY FIRST CHOICE OF UNIVERSITY. THERE WAS VERY LIMITED ACCOMMODATION LEFT AVAILABLE ON CAMPUS AND I COULDN’T EXACTLY DRIVE 8 ½ HOURS BACK AND FORTH EVERYDAY FROM CORNWALL TO THE MIDLANDS. SO I WAS IN THE SITUATION OF HAVING TO QUICKLY FIND A STUDENT HOUSE IN FALMOUTH ONLINE FROM DERBYSHIRE, A WEEK BEFORE UNIVERSITY STARTED. - I WAS STRESSED TO SAY THE LEAST. I WON’T LIE; I WAS GUTTED I WOULDN’T BE SPENDING MY FIRST YEAR IN HALLS. TO ME, THAT WAS WHAT THE UNIVERSITY EXPERIENCE WAS ALL ABOUT, BUT ONCE I WAS ALL MOVED IN AND SETTLED, IT DIDN’T SEEM SO BAD. IT WAS JUST BAD LUCK MY COURSE ONLY HAS 12 PEOPLE, AND I WASN’T SURROUNDED BY FIRST YEARS TO MEET SO EASILY. DURING FRESHER’S I THOUGHT THIS WAS THE END OF THE WORLD. HOWEVER, WITH TOWN A SHORT 5-MINUTE WALK AWAY, HOUSE PARTIES KICKING

OFF ON MARLBOROUGH ROAD AND ON TOP OF OGGIE OGGIE’S, A ‘DIRTY DISCO’ EVERY RANDOM FRIDAY AT THE RUGBY CLUB AND NOT HAVING TO GET THE LAST 2AM BUS TO SAVE MYSELF A £12 TAXI TO TREMOUGH, LIVING OFF CAMPUS SUITED ME FINE. I MET SO MANY LOVELY PEOPLE AND IT WASN’T LIKE I DIDN’T MEET MY COURSE MATES’ FLAT MATES FROM HALLS, SO IT WAS EASY TO GET TO THE PARTIES THAT WERE ALSO HAPPENING ON CAMPUS. LIVING OFF CAMPUS IS ALSO PERFECT FOR WHEN YOU’RE NOT FEELING SOCIABLE. WITH THE BEACH A SHORT WALK AWAY, AND THE ABILITY TO JUST CLOSE YOUR DOOR WITHOUT KNOWING YOUR SURROUNDED BY HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS IS PERFECT FOR THOSE CHILLED OUT NETFLIX DAYS. THE CLOSER YOU ARE TO CAMPUS, THE MORE HECTIC AND LOUD EVERYTHING IS, AND IT’S NICE TO BE ABLE TO SHUT THAT OUT WHEN YOU WANT TO. LIVING OFF CAMPUS MEANT I GOT TO CHOOSE MY HOUSEMATES. AS I WAS IN THE PREDICAMENT OF

NOT ACTUALLY KNOWING ANYONE TO CHOOSE, THE UNIVERSITY ADVISED ME TO JOIN A FACEBOOK GROUP FOR PEOPLE LOOKING FOR HOUSEMATES. THERE, I ENDED UP FINDING FIVE PEOPLE WHO I DECIDED TO MOVE INTO A HOUSE WITH. UNFORTUNATELY, THE SIX OF US COULDN’T HAVE BEEN MORE DIFFERENT, AND WE CLASHED. A LOT OF THE PEOPLE I MOVED IN WITH WERE A LOT OLDER THAN ME AND HAD ALREADY LIVED AWAY FROM HOME. THEY HAD PURPOSELY CHOSEN TO NOT LIVE IN HALLS AND WEREN’T LOOKING FOR A LOUD AND TYPICAL FRESHER LIFESTYLE. I STILL MANAGED TO HAVE A NORMAL FRESHER’S EXPERIENCE, I JUST HAD TO PUT MYSELF OUT THERE AND MAKE SURE I WAS AROUND TO GO TO AS MANY OF THE STANNARY EVENTS AS POSSIBLE. I HAVE A NICE COLLECTION OF FRIENDS, BUT FROM MY EXPERIENCE, LIVING OFF CAMPUS FIRST YEAR IS DEFINITELY FOR THOSE WHO WOULD RATHER KEEP THEMSELVES TO THEMSELVES.

WHAT'S ON ALYSA O'CONNOR FROM GIGS AND DJ’S TO CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS, HERE’S WHERE TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT’S HAPPENING IN SOUTHERN CORNWALL. TO SPARK THE FESTIVE SPIRIT A LITTLE EARLY, FALMOUTH ARE RUNNING A MONTH OF CHRISTMAS RELATED EVENTS BEGINNING 29TH NOVEMBER AND SPANNING RIGHT UNTIL THE END OF DECEMBER. EVENTS INCLUDE THE CHRISTMAS LIGHT’S SWITCH ON AT 5:30PM AT THE MOOR AND THE BEGINNING OF A 3 WEEK CHRISTMAS MARKET IN THE OLD BREWERY YARD; BOTH EVENTS STARTING ON 3RD DECEMBER, FOLLOWING ON THE 10TH AND 17TH FOR THE MARKET. THESE EVENTS ARE PERFECT FOR THOSE WHO LOVE CHRISTMAS, FEEL JOLLY WITH SOME MULLED WINE AND HIGH SPIRITS IN GOOD COMPANY. SPEAKING ON A MUSICAL LEVEL, THE SAME DATE FOLLOWS THE LIKES OF YAK (LONDON BASED ROCK ‘N’ ROLL TRIO) AND SWEDISH DEATH CANDY (LONDON BASED PSYCH/ROCK QUAD) PERFORMING A SET AT MONO IN FALMOUTH. TICKETS ARE £7.50 AND AVAILABLE FROM MONO’S WEBSITE AT WWW. ALLHAILMONO.COM/BUYTICKETS. MONO ARE ALSO HOSTING JEFFREY LEWIS & LOS BOLTS (ANTI-FOLK SOUND) ON DECEMBER 7TH WITH TICKET PRICES AT £10; THOUGH CLOSE TO SELL-OUT, AS WELL AS JAWS (INDIE-ROCK BAND) AND NIA HARVEST (SHEFFIELD SLACKER-POP DUO) ON DECEMBER 11TH WITH TICKETS COSTING £10. JAWS ESPECIALLY, IS NOT ONE TO MISS. AIMED AT ALL FOODIE’S OUT THERE; 5TH DECEMBER SEES A CHRISTMAS STREET FOOD FAYRE AT THE MOOR FROM 10AM TO 6:30PM. THE FREE SAMPLES ALONE MAKE IT WORTH GOING! THIS IS FOLLOWED, THOUGH SLIGHTLY CLASHING, BY THE PENRYN LIGHT SWITCH ON FROM 5-8PM AND THE TRURO VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS MARKET SHOWCASING SIMILAR LINES OF FOOD AND FESTIVITY ON TUESDAY 8TH DECEMBER AT THE LEMON QUAY. FOR ANYONE WHO’S INTERESTED IN COMEDY, FALMOUTH’S PRINCESS PAVILION HOLDS PHILL JUPITUS - DUPLICITY ON 10TH DECEMBER CAUSING LAUGHTER THROUGHOUT THE VENUE AND 3 DAYS LATER, TRURO’S OWN HFC HOSTS AN EVENING WITH JASPER CARROTT AND ALISTAIR MCGOWAN ON DECEMBER 13TH AT 7:30PM. FOR ANYONE WHO ENJOYS A LAUGH IN GOOD COMPANY, THESE NIGHTS ARE FOR YOU.

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RICHARD STAMP

THE 8 BIT MAN CHRISTER DAVANGER AS I ENTER THE 8 BIT BAR EARLY ON A THURSDAY AFTERNOON, I FIND THE MANAGER, RICHARD STAMP, DOING EXACTLY WHAT YOU WOULD EXPECT HIM TO DO; HE’S PLAYING VIDEO GAMES. FALMOUTH’S GAMING BAR, ALMOST A HIDDEN GEM DOWN ON QUAY STREET, IS CALM BEFORE THE STORM THAT IS STUDENT NIGHT, AND IT’S NOT UNTIL NOW THAT I ACTUALLY NOTICE HOW MASSIVE IT IS INSIDE. “I CAN’T REMEMBER A TIME WHEN I WASN’T INTERESTED IN VIDEO GAMES,” SAYS RICHARD, WHOSE FAMILY MOVED TO FALMOUTH WHEN HE WAS 8, AS HE MIXES ME A DRINK. I’VE CHOSEN MY PERSONAL FAVOURITE, THE CAPTIVE PRINCESS, WHICH IS ONLY ONE OF THE SEVENTEEN (!) VIDEO GAME THEMED COCKTAILS RICHARD HAS CREATED FOR THE BAR, IN ADDITION TO THE BAR’S OWN BRAND OF BEER. HE’S PARTICULARLY PROUD OF THE SMASHED BANDICOOT DRINK, WHICH EVEN MANAGED TO GET THE ATTENTION OF ONE OF THE CREATORS OF THE GAME IT’S BASED ON. THE APPEAL OF VIDEO GAMES, RICHARD SAYS, IS IN THE SOCIAL ASPECT. “EVERYONE PLAYS GAMES. IT’S THAT SIMPLE. IT DOESN’T MATTER IF YOU PLAY CANDY CRUSH FOR 15 MINUTES A DAY WHILE YOU’RE HAVING A SHIT – EVERYONE’S A GAMER.” THE BAR, WHICH HAS BEEN OPEN SINCE OCTOBER 2013, WAS AN IDEA HE ORIGINALLY GOT AFTER FALMOUTH’S PREVIOUS GAMING BAR, THE LOADING BAR, CLOSED DOWN. RICHARD THEN QUIT HIS JOB AS A BUTCHER, WHICH HE HAD HAD FOR ALMOST SEVEN YEARS, AND OPENED UP HIS OWN BAR, WITHOUT ANY PREVIOUS BUSINESS EXPERIENCE, RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM WHERE THE OTHER BAR HAD BEEN. “GETTING THE BALLS TOGETHER TO QUIT A WELL-PAID, STEADY, PERMANENT JOB, AND JUST GAMBLE IT ALL AWAY ON SOMETHING THAT I GENUINELY WANTED TO DO WITH MY LIFE, AND SEEING IT THROUGH,” HE SAYS IS WHAT MAKES THIS ONE OF HIS PROUDEST MOMENT. CUSTOMERS AT THE BAR CAN PARTICIPATE IN WEEKLY TOURNAMENTS AND QUIZZES, BUT ALSO EVENTS THAT ARE MORE OUT OF THE ORDINARY, SUCH AS VIDEO GAME THEMED DINNER PARTIES. THEY CAN EVEN HAVE A GO AT THE OFFICIAL 8-BIT VIDEO GAME, 8 NIGHTS AT 8-BIT. RICHARD SAYS THIS IS THE BEST PART OF THE JOB. “MAKING INTERESTING THINGS HAPPEN THAT PEOPLE GET EXCITED ABOUT.” AS CHARITY IS IMPORTANT TO RICHARD, THE BAR HAS ALSO ARRANGED SEVERAL FUNDRAISING EVENTS FOR CHARITY ORGANISATIONS, FOR INSTANCE IN 2014 WHEN THEY DID A ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE EVENT TO RAISE AWARENESS AND MONEY FOR THE SPECIALEFFECT ORGANISATION, WHO WORK ON MAKING GAMING DEVICES FOR DISABLED PEOPLE. NEXT RICHARD WANTS TO GET MORE INVOLVED WITH OUTSIDE EVENTS, SUCH AS GEEKFEST, AN ANNUAL CORNWALL-BASED “GEEK CONVENTION”. ON THE SUBJECT OF MONEY, RICHARD EXPLAINS THAT IT’S NOT AN ISSUE. “IF IT HAD BEEN ABOUT THE MONEY, I WOULD HAVE OPENED A NIGHT CLUB. IF IT’S ABOUT MAKING MONEY, IT SHOWS IN YOUR ATTITUDE. IT’S A LABOUR OF LOVE,” HE SAYS. ANYONE WHO’S EVER MET RICHARD WILL BE ABLE TO CONFIRM THAT HE’S TELLING THE TRUTH; THIS IS A MAN WHO LOVES HIS JOB. ONE ALMOST CAN’T HELP BUT FEEL ENVIOUS.

FASHION

IN FAL EMILY JUGGINS BLAST FROM THE PAST THE VARIETY OF VINTAGE SHOPS IN FALMOUTH MEANS THAT YOU’LL BE SPOILED FOR CHOICE; WHETHER YOU PREFER GROOVY 70S SHIRTS OR GRUNGY DRESSES FROM THE 90S, THERE’S SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE! WILD PONY IS A GREAT CHOICE FOR HIGH QUALITY GARMENTS AND STYLISH CUSTOMISED ITEMS. THEY’RE ESPECIALLY GREAT FOR FINDING THAT PERFECT WORN-LOOK CHECK SHIRT. OR POP INTO ONE OF THE MANY CHARITY SHOPS TO SEARCH FOR THOSE UNEXPECTED VINTAGE FINDS.

HIPPY CHIC SUMMER MAY BE ENDING BUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN YOU CAN’T STILL CHANNEL THOSE FESTIVAL VIBES THROUGH YOUR WARDROBE. TAKE A VISIT TO SHEIKYERBOOTY FOR A WIDE CHOICE OF PATTERNED HAREM TROUSERS - THE PERFECT GARMENTS TO GIVE YOU MAXIMUM COMFORT IN LECTURES WITHOUT YOU HAVING TO WEAR TRACKSUIT BOTTOMS! AND GO NO FURTHER THAN THE LITTLE VINTAGE WAREHOUSE 13 TO FIND SOME BANG ON-TREND CROCHET TOPS - IDEAL FOR STAYING COOL ON A NIGHT OUT.

SURF’S UP FOR THAT LAID BACK SURFER LOOK THAT’S SO SYNONYMOUS WITH FALMOUTH, TAKE A TRIP TO SESSIONS SURF SHOP OR ANN’S COTTAGE. THESE SHOPS ARE GREAT FOR FINDING THOSE RELAXED-FIT TOPS THAT ARE WARDROBE STAPLES AND DIVERSE BOARD SHORTS IN EVERY COLOUR OF THE RAINBOW. AND WHILST YOU’RE AT IT, YOU MIGHT AS WELL LOOK AT THE WIDE RANGE OF BOARDS AND WETSUITS THAT THEY HAVE TOO!

FIVE NEW ALBUMS YOU SHOULD BE

GETTING YOUR TEETH INTO TOM VAUGHAN DISCLOSURE - CARACAL A DUO THAT NEEDS NO INTRODUCTION, DISCLOSURE ARE BACK WITH THE FOLLOW-UP TO THEIR EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL DEBUT ALBUM ‘SETTLE’, HOPING TO AGAIN REACH THE HEIGHTS OF HUGE TRACKS LIKE ‘F FOR YOU’, ‘WHITE NOISE’, AND ‘LATCH’. WHERE ‘CARACAL’ VERY MUCH FOLLOWS THE SAME BLUEPRINT AS ITS PREDECESSOR IN THE FORM OF MASSIVE HOUSE HOOKS AND TRIPPY ELECTRONICA, IT MANAGES TO KEEP ITSELF FRESH WITH SOME BIG GUEST APPEARANCES FROM THE LIKES OF LORDE ON THE SONG ‘MAGNETS’, AS WELL AS SAM SMITH RETURNING ONCE AGAIN FOR LEAD SINGLE ‘OMEN’. DISCLOSURE HAVE MANAGED TO MATURE AND EVOLVE THEIR SOUND TO COPE WITH THE PRESSURE BESTOWED UPON THEIR TALENT.

THE WEEKND - BEAUTY BEHIND THE MADNESS ROCKETING TO SUCCESS AFTER HIS WORK ON THE ‘FIFTY SHADES OF GREY’ SOUNDTRACK, IT’S MENTAL TO THINK HE DIDN’T BECOME A BIG DEAL DURING HIS ‘TRILOGY’ ALBUM PERIOD. BETTER LATE THAN NEVER THOUGH AND THE ONE MAN MAESTRO HAS DROPPED TRACKS THAT HAVE PROPELLED HIM TO FAME IN THE SHAPE OF ‘OFTEN’, ‘THE HILLS’, AND ‘I CAN’T FEEL MY FACE’. ALL OF WHICH HAVE PROVED TO BE HIS BEST WORK TO DATE AND WILL NO DOUBT KEEP HIM AROUND AT THE HEIGHT OF THE CHARTS FOR A LONG TIME YET.

TRIVIUM - SILENCE IN THE SNOW FOR THE METAL HEADS OUT THERE, TRIVIUM’S NEW ALBUM ‘SILENCE IN THE SNOW’ IS A STUNNING RETURN TO FORM. AFTER LAST OUTING VENGEANCE FALLS, FANS WERE LEFT WONDERING WHERE THE CREATIVE EDGE AND PROMISE OF 2011’S ‘IN WAVES’ HAD GONE, BUT THERE’S NO NEED TO PANIC AS IT HAS RETURNED FOUR YEARS LATER IN THE SHAPE OF SOME OF THE BEST WORK IN THEIR CAREER. TRACKS LIKE ‘UNTIL THE WORLD GOES COLD’ AND ‘CEASE ALL YOUR FIRE’ REIGNITE THE FLAME TRIVIUM ONCE POSSESSED. ALTHOUGH FRONTMAN MATT HEAFY HAS DESTROYED HIS VOICE WITH YEARS OF SCREAMING, HIS CLEAN SINGING CAPABILITIES MORE THAN MAKE UP FOR IT.

FOALS - WHAT WENT DOWN OXFORD ROCKERS FOALS BURST ONTO THE SCENE WITH THEIR 2013 ALBUM ‘HOLY FIRE’, FEATURING THE MASSIVE TRACK ‘MY NUMBER’. HAVING GONE A BIT QUIET OVER THE LAST YEAR THEY ARE FINALLY BACK WITH A STATEMENT IN THE FORM OF THIS BRILLIANT FOLLOW-UP ‘WHAT WENT DOWN’. HAVING JUST ANNOUNCED AN ACCOMPANYING UK TOUR FOR NEXT YEAR, THEIR LIVE SETS WILL DEFINITELY BE GIVEN A NEW LEASE OF LIFE THANKS TO SONGS LIKE ‘MOUNTAIN AT MY GATES’ AND THE TITLE-TRACK. THE CONSISTENCY OF FOALS IS SOMETHING TO BE ADMIRED.

RUDIMENTAL - WE THE GENERATION A FIERCE CONTEMPORARY DRUM N’ BASS ACT, RUDIMENTAL CAME OUT OF NOWHERE IN 2012 WITH THEIR SUCCESSFUL DEBUT ALBUM ‘HOME’. REGARDED AS A STUNNING LIVE ACT AFTER CONQUERING THE LIKES OF GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL, THEY ARE OUT TO SILENCE THE HATERS WITH ‘WE THE GENERATION’. WORKING CLOSELY WITH ED SHEERAN ON THIS PROJECT IN TRACKS LIKE ‘BLOODSTREAM’ AND ‘LAY IT ALL ON ME’ HAVE SERIOUSLY WORKED IN RUDIMENTAL’S FAVOUR AND HAS SURELY SEALED THEIR POSITION IN THE CHARTS.

FILM REVIEWS JAKE CHAPMAN STUDENT PROJECT: AWARD WINNING FLEX MET WITH THIRD-YEAR FILM STUDENT JULZ BEMENT TO TALK ABOUT HER UPCOMING SHORT FILM, AWARD WINNING. THE SHORT FOLLOWS A GROUP OF STUDENTS WHO ARE FILMING A MURDER SCENE WHEN THINGS GO DISASTROUSLY WRONG. JULZ SAYS THE FILM WILL BE A “QUESTION OF STUDENT MORALITY”, AS THE CHARACTERS TRY TO GET AHEAD IN A WORLD WHERE ONE MUST “DO ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING TO STAND OUT”. CASTING IS ON-GOING WITH A FEW ROLES STILL UNFILLED, SO IF YOU THINK YOU REPRESENT THE UNIQUE STUDENT POPULATION HERE AT FALMOUTH DON’T HESITATE TO GET INVOLVED. THE PROJECT IS JUST GETTING STARTED, SO SEARCH ‘AWARD WINNING’ ON FACEBOOK TO GET IN CONTACT AND TO STAY UP TO DATE WITH UPCOMING FUNDRAISERS AND ALL OTHER INFO. JULZ’S FAVOURITE HORROR FILM: FACES OF DEATH LEAST FAVOURITE: BIRDEMIC

FILM REVIEW: SICARIO

DENIS VILLANEUVE DIRECTS THIS FIRST SCREENPLAY BY TAYLOR SHERIDAN, WHO IS MORE WELL-KNOWN FOR HIS ACTING ROLES IN SHOWS LIKE SONS OF ANARCHY. VILLANEUVE GAINED RECOGNITION WHEN HIS 2010 FILM INCENDIES WAS OSCAR NOMINATED FOR BEST FOREIGN FILM, AND HIS STYLE IS PROMINENT THROUGHOUT THE VISUALLY STUNNING SICARIO. HOWEVER, I

LEFT THE CINEMA, ON THE WHOLE, FEELING UNMOVED BY IT. EMILY BLUNT PLAYS KATE MACER, AN FBI OFFICER RECRUITED BY GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL MATT GRAVER (JOSH BROLIN) TO ASSIST IN THEIR EFFORTS AGAINST A MEXICAN DRUG CARTEL. KATE SLOWLY LEARNS THAT MATT AND HIS COLLEAGUE ALEJANDRO (BENICIO DEL TORO) ARE NOT ALL THEY SEEM AND UNCOVERS THE TRUE NATURE OF THEIR MISSION IN MEXICO. THE FILM IS MORE LIKE A CASE REPORT THAN A STORY, GIVING US THE FACTS BUT LEAVING OUT THE EMOTION. THE SUSPENSE AND MYSTERY OF THE OPENING SCENE ARE QUICKLY DEFLATED AS KATE TAKES A BACKSEAT FOR MOST OF THE FILM. SOMETHING MORE WAS NEEDED FROM KATE, WHO FAILS TO RESONATE DUE TO THE LACK OF AN EMOTIONAL CONNECTION FELT WITH HER. THE FILM STRUGGLES TO MAINTAIN THE DRAMA IT CREATES AT THE START, AND IT IS ONLY IN THE FINAL MOMENTS THAT IT REGAINS ITS MOMENTUM AND GIVES US CAUSE TO SIT UP IN OUR SEATS ONCE MORE.

UPCOMING RELEASES: BLACK MASS RELEASE DATE: NOVEMBER 27TH BASED ON A TRUE STORY, BLACK MASS STARS JOHNNY DEPP AS JAMES ‘WHITEY’ BULGER, AN INFAMOUS CRIMINAL WHO FOR OVER 20 YEARS USED HIS CONNECTIONS WITH THE FBI TO BECOME THE KINGPIN OF SOUTH BOSTON. DIRECTOR SCOTT COOPER (CRAZY HEART) SAYS HIS FILM WON’T “GLORIFY OR ROMANTICIZE OR MYTHOLOGIZE ‘WHITEY’ BULGER IN ANY WAY.” INSTEAD, HE CALLS IT AN “UNFLINCHING” TELLING OF WHITEY’S STORY. DEPP DOES THE QUIRKY AND THE STRANGE WELL, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE HE WILL SHINE AS HE TACKLES THE SINISTER AND PSYCHOPATHIC IN WHAT HAS BEEN CALLED AN “UNCANNY” REPRESENTATION OF WHITEY.

ON NETFLIX: WINTER ON FIRE: UKRAINE’S FIGHT FOR FREEDOM. WITNESS THE STORY OF THE UKRAINIAN REVOLUTION FROM THE “INSIDE” AS THIS DOCUMENTARY EXPLAINS THE EVENTS THAT CAUSED, AND DETAILS WHAT TRANSPIRED, DURING THE UKRAINIAN REVOLUTION. WITH FOOTAGE COVERING THE ENTIRE 93 DAYS OF PROTESTING, THE FILM REVEALS THE BRUTALITY OF THE UKRAINIAN GOVERNMENT IN WHAT STARTED AS A PEACEFUL PROTEST AND ENDED WITH 75 DEAD AND OVER 600 INJURED.

CHEAP EATING KATIA DAMBORSKY FOR MOST STUDENTS ON A BUDGET, GOING OUT FOR A MEAL IS A TREAT RESERVED FOR THE DAYS WHEN WE CAN’T FACE INSTANT NOODLES AND BEANS ON TOAST ANYMORE. LUCKILY FOR US, FALMOUTH BOASTS A WIDE RANGE OF AFFORDABLE, BUT UNCOMPROMISINGLY DELICIOUS RESTAURANTS, PUBS AND CAFES TO CATER FOR WHATEVER WE’RE IN THE MOOD FOR. GRAB YOUR FLATMATES, DITCH THE WEIRD COMBINATIONS OF WHATEVER FOOD IS PASSING ITS BEST IN YOUR FRIDGE, AND TUCK INTO SOME REAL FOOD.

THE MEAT COUNTER - FALMOUTH ON A MONDAY, THE MEAT COUNTER’S LEGENDARY HANDMADE BURGERS ARE 2 FOR £10 (EXCLUDING THE STACK AND NOTORIOUS B.I.G.). WITH A RELAXED VIBE AND ATTRACTIVE INTERIOR, THE MENU HAS AN EXTENSIVE RANGE OF GOURMET-STYLE AND VEGETARIAN OPTIONS TO SUIT EVERYONE-INCLUDING THE FINANCIALLY STRUGGLING STUDENT. GIVEN THE SIZE OF THE BURGERS, THEIR MATES RATES MONDAY OFFER IS EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD VALUE, AND ALTHOUGH NOT PART OF THE OFFER, THE MEAT COUNTER MAKES DELICIOUSLY CREAMY MILKSHAKES TO ACCOMPANY.

HAPPY PALACE - FALMOUTH ENORMOUS PORTIONS OF CLASSIC CHINESE DISHES AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE BECKON. WITH CLEARLY LAID OUT DELIVERY CHARGES AND A HANDY ONLINE ORDERING SYSTEM IT COULDN’T BE SIMPLER TO ORDER FROM HAPPY PALACE. 10 SWEET AND SOUR PORK BALLS WILL SET YOU BACK JUST £4.80 IF YOU’RE PICKING IT UP RATHER THAN HAVING IT DELIVERED, AND YOU CAN ENJOY THIS MEAL AS A TAKEAWAY WITH YOUR FLATMATES.

BICKLAND CAFE LTD. - FALMOUTH IF YOU’RE HUNGOVER AND CRAVING THE HEALING BENEFITS OF AN ENGLISH BREAKFAST, BICKLAND CAFÉ HAVE A £4.50 BREAKFAST DEAL ON A WEDNESDAY. THE OFFER INCLUDES A FULL ENGLISH WITH ALL THE TRIMMINGS AND A MUG OF TEA, WITH A VEGETARIAN OPTION ALSO AVAILABLE. LOCATED IN TREGONIGGIE INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, THIS HIDDEN GEM IS POSSIBLY THE MOST REASONABLY PRICED BREAKFAST IN FALMOUTH. THEY ALSO SERVE OTHER MEALS AND LIGHT BITES, INCLUDING INDULGENT CAKES AND PASTRIES.

OGGY OGGY PASTY COMPANY - FALMOUTH PASTIES ARE THE PERFECT CHEAP, ON-THE-GO MEAL AND THE PROSPECT OF NO WASHING HAS ME RETURNING TO OGGY OGGY TIME AND TIME AGAIN. MOST OF THEIR MEAT PASTIES ARE PRICED SOMEWHERE AROUND £2.40 AND UPWARD AND THEY HAVE AN ENORMOUS VARIETY OF FILLINGS, SUCH AS CHEESE AND BACON AND SPICY CHICKEN. OGGY OGGY ALSO BOASTS SEVERAL SWEET ALTERNATIVES; THEIR APPLE AND CUSTARD PASTIES ARE THE PERFECT PICK-ME-UPS AND WON’T BREAK THE BANK.

HABONEROS BURRITO BAR - FALMOUTH HABONEROS OFFERS BURRITOS, FAJITAS AND TACOS WITH DIFFERENT MEATY (AND ONE VEGGIE) FILLINGS THAT COST AROUND FIVE POUNDS EACH. THE MENU IS DESIGNED TO BE CUSTOMISED TO YOUR PREFERENCE, WITH EXTRAS SUCH AS GUACAMOLE COSTING 80P AND ADDITIONAL JALAPENOS PRICED AT 30. THE ‘BASES’ (BURRITOS ECT) ARE ALL SERVED WITH SOUR CREAM AND FRESH SALSA, AS WELL AS A FEW OTHER GARNISHES, MAKING HABONEROS THE PERFECT PURSE-FRIENDLY STUDENT MEAL. THEY ALSO OFFER A LOYALTY CARD SCHEME WHICH YOU CAN ENQUIRE ABOUT WITHIN- THE STAFF ARE ALWAYS VERY KIND AND FRIENDLY. THE RESTAURANT IS DESIGNED WITH BAR STOOLS AND A COUNTER TABLE, AND SO WAS BEST ENJOYED AS A DELICIOUS TAKEAWAY.

STAYING HEALTHY ON A STUDENT BUDGET MICHAEL GREEN THE DIET OF A STUDENT IS NOTORIOUS FOR CONSISTING MOSTLY OF HORRIBLE READY-MEALS AND CHEAP NOODLES, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THAT STAYING HEALTHY WHILE AT UNIVERSITY IS BOTH DIFFICULT AND EXPENSIVE. THE THING IS THOUGH, IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE. HERE IS MY ESSENTIAL SHOPPING LIST TO STAY HEALTHY ON A STUDENT BUDGET:

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THE DIET OF A STUDENT IS NOTORIOUS FOR CONSISTING MOSTLY OF HORRIBLE READY-MEALS AND CHEAP NOODLES, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THAT STAYING HEALTHY WHILE AT UNIVERSITY IS BOTH DIFFICULT AND EXPENSIVE. THE THING IS THOUGH, IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE.

FROZEN FRUITS & VEGETABLES: FROZEN FRUITS AND VEGETABLES ARE A MUST FOR STUDENTS, AS THEY ARE PACKED WITH VITAMINS, MINERALS AND MICRO NUTRIENTS, AND ARE PICKED FRESH BEFORE BEING FROZEN. FROZEN VEGETABLES CAN BE ADDED TO ALMOST ANY MEAL, AND FROZEN FRUITS ARE GREAT IN SMOOTHIES AND CEREALS. YOU CAN ALSO FREEZE A PEALED BANANA, WHICH IS ALSO GREAT IN SMOOTHIES AND MASHED WITH PEANUT BUTTER (HIGH IN OMEGA FATS AND PROTEIN) TO MAKE A BANANA ICE CREAM. EGGS: A RICH SOURCE OF VITAMIN B2 AND B12, EGGS ARE THE BEST ALTERNATIVE TO MEAT AND ARE ALSO HIGH IN QUALITY PROTEIN. THEY CAN EATEN FRIED, SCRAMBLED, POACHED, BOILED OR AS AN OMELETTE. MIX SOME COOKED VEGETABLES SUCH AS, TOMATOES, MUSHROOMS, SPINACH AND PEPPERS WITH PEPPER AND SALT INTO AN OMELETTE FOR A GREAT TASTING HEALTHY MEAL. BEANS: WHEN COMBINED WITH WHOLE GRAINS SUCH AS RICE, BEANS PRO-

VIDE A VIRTUALLY FAT-FREE HIGH QUALITY PROTEIN, ESPECIALLY KIDNEY BEANS. KIDNEY BEANS, LIKE OTHER BEANS, ARE RICH IN SOLUBLE AND INSOLUBLE FIBRE, AND ARE GREAT IN CURRIES OR CHILLI’S OR MASHED AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO POTATOES. LENTILS: LENTILS ARE HIGH IN FIBRE, BOTH THE SOLUBLE AND INSOLUBLE TYPE. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING SLOW BURNING COMPLEX CARBOHYDRATES, LENTILS CAN INCREASE YOUR ENERGY BY REPLENISHING YOUR IRON STORES. RED LENTILS GO WELL INTO SOUPS, CURRIES AND CHILLI. BROWN RICE: STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT BROWN RICE IS THE TOP CHOICE IN TERMS OF BOTH NUTRITIONAL AND OTHER HEALTH BENEFITS TO WHITE. BROWN RICE IS HIGH IN FIBRE, AND TOPS THE LIST OF FOODS THAT CAN HELP PREVENT CERTAIN TYPES OF CANCER. WHEN COMBINED WITH PULSES, THEY MAKE A COMPLETE PROTEIN WITH ALL THE AMINO ACIDS. GRAINS: WHEAT IS A SOURCE OF B VITAMINS, MINERALS AND FIBRE. HOWEVER IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT YOU EAT WHOLEGRAIN AS THE PROCESS OF TURNING WHEAT INTO WHITE FLOUR STRIPS AWAY MORE THAN HALF OF ITS B VITAMINS, 90 PERCENT OF THE VITAMIN E, AND VIRTUALLY ALL OF THE FIBRE. CEREALS SUCH AS PORRIDGE AND GRANOLA ARE ANOTHER GREAT WAY TO EAT GRAINS, AND GO WELL WITH SOYA MILK FOR VEGANS, AS IT IS ANOTHER SOURCE OF B VITAMINS. NUTS & SEEDS: NUTS AND SEEDS CAN BE A LITTLE PRICEY, AND FOR THIS REASON THEY ARE PROBABLY NOT THE ‘GO TO’ CHOICE FOR STUDENTS WHEN STOCKING UP THEIR CUPBOARDS. HOWEVER THEY CAN BE A GOOD ALTERNATIVE TO SNACKS HIGH IN SATURATED FAT, AS THEY ARE HIGH IN FIBRE, RICH IN A WIDE RANGE OF VITAMINS AND MINERALS AND A GOOD SOURCE OF PROTEIN. NUTS ARE ALSO HIGH IN FAT, SO IT’S A GOOD IDEA NOT TO EAT TOO MANY OF THEM.

UNIVERSITY PHILLIP (GEORGE) RICHEY “NAH, SORRY MATE, I CAN’T COME OUT TONIGHT,” I SAY, STARING AT THE WORD DOCUMENT IN FRONT OF ME ENTITLED “CREATIVE WRITING PIECE”. THE BLINKING CURSOR ON THE OTHERWISE BLANK PAGE SEEMS TO BE TAPPING ITS FOOT. “I HAVEN’T EVEN THOUGHT OF A TITLE FOR IT YET.” “SURELY LEAVING YOUR FLAT IS THE ANSWER? YOU WON’T FIND ANY INSPIRATION IF YOU STAY INDOORS!” A STUDENT ON MY COURSE WILL REPLY, BEFORE GOING OFF ON ONE ABOUT THE METHODS OF KEROUAC AND BURROUGHS

UNTIL I’M FORCED TO HANG UP, THE FEELING OF SECOND-HAND PRETENTIOUSNESS COOKING MY BRAIN FROM THE INSIDE OUT. IT’S THURSDAY NIGHT AGAIN. THE DESIRE TO GET WRECKED WITH EVERYONE IS AS STRONG AS IT WAS LAST THURSDAY, ALTHOUGH A WEEK AGO I COULD ACTUALLY AFFORD TO BE CALM ABOUT SUBMITTING MY FIRST 2,500WORD PIECE. AT THIS POINT, THOUGH? NOT SO MUCH. I GRIT MY TEETH, PULL OUT A HIGHLIGHTER

AND SIFT THROUGH MY NOTES, BEFORE OPENING UP MY TUTOR’S POWERPOINT ON STYLE. AFTER READING THROUGH IT I BEGIN TO FEEL THE WEIGHT OF MY TASK LESSEN SLIGHTLY, REACHING FOR MY MUG OF CHAMOMILE TEA WITH A SMILE. MY HAND CLOSES AROUND A CAN OF RED STRIPE. I’M SUDDENLY WEARING SHOES, THERE’S A CIGARETTE BETWEEN MY LIPS AND MY LAPTOP ISN’T OPEN ANYMORE. TO MY HORROR, I DISCOVER THAT I’VE SENT A TEXT TO MY FRIEND SAYING I’D MEET HIM AT THE PUB.

ON THE BUS INTO TOWN I CONVINCE MYSELF (ME, THE INNOCENT VICTIM IN ALL OF THIS) THAT IT’S SIMPLY IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND INSPIRATION WHILST STAYING INDOORS, AND CONSIDER THE METHODS OF KEROUAC AND BURROUGHS AS WETHERSPOONS LOOMS PROMISINGLY IN THE DISTANCE. MANY SHARE THE OPINION THAT A SUREFIRE WAY TO KILL ONE’S PASSION FOR SOMETHING IS TO STUDY IT AT DEGREE LEVEL. FORTUNATELY FOR ME THOUGH, THIS HASN’T BEEN THE CASE. I’M MORE IN LOVE WITH BOTH JOURNALISM AND CREATIVE WRITING NOW, AT THE END OF MY FIRST YEAR, THAN I’VE EVER BEEN BEFORE. I’VE BEEN READING EVER SINCE I WAS SMALL, AND IT WAS IN SCHOOL AND

COLLEGE THAT MY APPRECIATION FOR STORYTELLING BEGAN TO DEVELOP. I MEAN, I CAME OUT OF BOTH WITH LESS THAN SATISFACTORY GRADES, BUT LUCKILY ENOUGH I WAS ABLE TO ENROLL ON A HUGELY INTENSIVE JOURNALISM DIPLOMA AFTER MY TWO YEARS OF SIXTH FORM. IT’S JUST AS WELL THAT IT WAS SUCH A DEMANDING COURSE, BECAUSE IT PREPARED ME FOR UNIVERSITY IN A WAY THAT I SIMPLY HADN’T BEEN BEFORE. THE NINE MONTHS I’VE SPENT AT FALMOUTH UNIVERSITY HAVE BEEN THE BEST NINE MONTHS OF MY LIFE. MOVING IN WAS BAFFLINGLY EASY AND NOT NEARLY AS DAUNTING AS I THOUGHT IT’D BE, I’M VERY MUCH IN LOVE WITH THE FRIENDS I’VE MADE AND THE WORK TURNED OUT FINE, IN

THE END. I FOUND THAT THE HARDEST PART WAS TO SIT DOWN AND ACTUALLY DO IT, INSTEAD OF TELLING ANYONE WHO’D LISTEN ABOUT MY PORTFOLIO-INDUCED DESIRE TO EAT GLASS. IT’S STRANGE TO THINK THAT A YEAR OR SO AGO I WAS UNSURE ABOUT DOING A DEGREE. I WAS PUT OFF PRIMARILY BY THE THOUGHT THAT PERHAPS I DIDN’T CARE ENOUGH, AND WOULD THEREFORE DO BADLY AT WHAT I CONSIDERED TO BE MY BEST SUBJECT. NOW THOUGH, AT A STAGE WHERE I’M BETTER AT WHAT I LOVE THAN I’VE EVER BEEN, I’M GLAD I TOOK THE CHANCE. UNIVERSITY HAS MADE ME REALISE HOW MUCH I CARED ALL ALONG, AND FOR THAT I’M SO, SO GRATEFUL.

CHRISTMAS ON AN

- BUDGET ELF-Y KELLY-ANNE SEARYOH

MID-OCTOBER, I FOUND MYSELF SCANNING THE AISLES OF LIDL, AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS ONE AISLE SHINNING AND SHIMMERING ITS WAY TO ATTRACTION. IT DEFINITELY STOOD OUT FROM ALL OTHER USUAL SHELVES. THEN I REALISED, IT WAS DEDICATED TO CHRISTMAS; FROM FOOD TO DECORATIONS TO SWEETS AND TREATS, I MEAN THE WHOLE LOT. YOU MIGHT THINK MID-OCTOBER IS TOO EARLY TO START THINKING ABOUT CHRISTMAS, BUT IN REALITY, CHRISTMAS ALWAYS FINDS A WAY TO SNEAK UP ON YOU AND THE ACTUAL MONTH OF DECEMBER TENDS TO GO BY IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE. IT’S GETTING TO ONE OF THE MOST CELEBRATED HOLIDAYS OF THE YEAR AND WHILE PREPARATION IS YET TO BEGIN FOR SOME, IT CAN REALLY PAY OFF TO GET AN EARLY START ON SOME ASPECTS. THE WORST FEELING DURING HOLIDAY SEASON IS BEING BROKE AND REALISING IT. SO HOW CAN YOU ENJOY ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT HOLIDAYS OF THE YEAR WITHOUT ENDING UP FLAT BROKE? FOR CHRISTMAS NOWADAYS, WHEN THERE’S NO MONEY, THERE’S NO POINT. BELOW ARE SOME WAYS IN WHICH YOU CAN ENJOY THE BIGGEST HOLIDAY OF THE YEAR WITHOUT SPENDING ALL OF YOUR HARD-EARNED SAVINGS:

MAKE AN AGENDA AND STICK TO IT NOT A PLAN, NOT A SCHEDULE EITHER. THINGS ON YOUR AGENDA ARE ‘MUST DO’ ACTIVITIES. A LITTLE DISCIPLINE MAKES YOUR FUTURE BRIGHT WITH A HAPPY BANK ACCOUNT.

ARE YOU BUYING...? IN THE MIDST OF ALL THOSE HIGH STREET AND HIGH END SHOPS, DON’T FORGET THAT CHARITY SHOPS CAN BE JUST AS GOOD AS THOSE AS WELL. WHEN IT COMES TO FOOD, SIMPLY GO BY THIS PRINCIPLE: AFFORDABILITY NOT DESIRABILITY. REMEMBER TO FREEZE THE FOOD. OR BETTER STILL, MAKE AS MUCH OF EVERYTHING THAT YOU CAN YOURSELF, FROM GIFTS TO DECORATIONS. FOR FOOD, SIMPLY ASK YOUR INVITED GUESTS (FAMILY & FRIENDS) TO BRING A DISH OR TWO THEMSELVES TO CONTRIBUTE TO YOUR VERY ORIGINAL CHRISTMAS MEAL.

MEMORIES ARE SAVINGS TOO

MONEY ISN’T ALWAYS THE ANSWER TO A WELL SPENT HOLIDAY. MAKE ROOM FOR SINGING OR PLAYING CLASSIC GAMES WITH YOUR LOVED ONES. THESE MEMORIES WILL PROBABLY BE WITH YOU FOREVER AND THAT’S EVEN BETTER.

REMAIN ORGANISED STORE EVERYTHING DONE AND DUSTED IN AN ALLOCATED AREA OF YOUR FLAT OR HOUSE. MAKE SURE TO WRAP EVERYTHING THAT NEEDS WRAPPING. A LITTLE TIP FOR WRAPPING; GET LOTS OF PLAIN PAPER AND RIBBONS. IT WILL SAVE YOU TIME ON CHOOSING WHICH WRAPPING PAPER TO USE FOR WHICH GIFT.

AFTER ALL THESE INVESTMENTS, WHY NOT CONTINUE THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS BY TREATING YOURSELF TO A HEALTHY REWARD? BUT DO NOT GET CARRIED AWAY. REMEMBER WE DO NOT WANT ANY FUTURE FINANCIAL HEADACHES!