The Insider - The Love Issue

editors’ notes

Hi again! Welcome back to another issue of The Insider - Valentine’s edition! I’m probably the least qualified to be waxing poetic about love and romance this time of year, so I’ll keep this one short. Despite the main idea of Valentine’s Day being about celebrating your ‘one true love’, both I and the articles in this issue will agree - Valentine’s is for every type of love. This issue reflects that with articles spanning self-care, looking after the planet, and even the science of how people fall in love for the more sceptical out there. In the true spirit of Valentine’s Day, I’d love (hah!) to give a huge thank you to everyone who has worked on this issue - it’s been a true labour of love (double hah!) and we both thank you, dear reader, for sticking around to see it.

Heidi Thompson

Hello! Once again we’re oh so very excited to bring you to another issue of The Insider - just in time for Valentine’s! Love it or hate it, this time of year is extremely special for so many of us, and I for one am no exception to this rule. And so in this issue, you’ll find wonderfully written pieces from all our team, covering a variety of unique takes on this holiday, from celebratory reviews of famous romantic comedies, to some more cynical, scathing reviews on the subject of romance as a whole. Whatever your view, there’s something for everyone this issue, and we’re so, so proud of everyone who has taken the time to contribute to our magazine - you’re all the best!

Luc Forsyth

RIDA’S OST

The perfect tunes to show someone you love them

EVERYBODY WANTS YOU - JEFF BUCKLEY

LADY MACBETH IN CHAINS - SUFJAN STEVENS

PINK MOON - NICK DRAKE

LOVESTORY - BLADEE IN HEAVEN - BUCK-TICK

BLUEBEARD - COCTEAU TWINS

CARNIVAL OF BLOOD - SEILEEN

OVULE - BJORK

ACROSS THE UNIVERSE - FIONA APPLE

FLASH CASANOVA - YABUJIN more on our spotify!

RECIPES

Whether it’s a picnic in the park or a candle-lit dinner, The Insider has you covered.

Hannah Glover

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Makes 12 - 20 mins prep, 12 mins cooking

Ingredients:

- 110g salted butter, melted

- 150g light brown sugar

- 50g caster sugar

- 1 egg - 200g plain flour

- ½ teaspoon baking powder

- ½ teaspoon bicarb

- 200g dark or milk chocolate chopped

Instructions:

- Preheat the oven to 180 degrees/160 fan/gas mark 4 and line 2 baking trays.

- Melt the butter in a pan or in the microwave.

- Measure out the dry ingredients - plain flour, baking powder and bicarb into a bowl.

- Measure out the sugar into a large bowl and add the melted butter to it, mix with a wooden spoon until combined.

- Add the egg to the mix.

- Next, sieve in the dry ingredients in and stir.

- Add in the chocolate and mix again.

- Put the dough in the fridge for 15 mins

- Using a spoon, make the balls of dough and put them on the baking trays, making sure they are not too close to each other.

- Bake for 12 minutes, then take them out leaving them for a bit to firm up, then you can place them on a wire rack to fully cool.

Vegetable Curry

Serves 8 - 25 mins prep, 40 mins cooking

Ingredients:

- 2 tbsp vegetable oil

- 1 onion diced

- 2 cloves of garlic crushed

- 1 apple diced

- 2 tsp curry powder

- ½ tsp ground ginger

- 1 large potato in small cubes

- 1 carrot in small cubes

- 225g chickpeas (1 tin)

- 100g cauliflower or broccoli

- 50g mushrooms chopped

- 2 veg stock cubes

- 400ml boiling water

- ½ tbsp tomato purée

- 2 tsp garam masala

Method:

- Heat the oil in a large pan then add the chopped onions and garlic and fry for around 5 minutes.

- Add the apple and cook for 4-5 mins.

- Add the curry power and ginger and cook for a further 1 minute.

- Make up the stock by adding the cube into the boiling water.

- Then add in all of the other ingredients but the garam masala – potato, carrot, chickpeas, cauliflower or broccoli, mushrooms, stock and the tomato puree.

- Boil then reduce the heat and simmer for 40 minutes stirring now and again so it doesn’t stick to the pan.

- Finally, stir in the garam masala and serve with rice and naan bread.- Bake for 12 minutes, then take them out leaving them for a bit to firm up, then you can place them on a wire rack to fully cool.

Amelia McIntegart

Biscuit Sandwiches

Makes 7 - 30 mins prep, 15 mins cooking

For the biscuits you will need:

· 100g unsalted butter

· 100g caster sugar

· 1tsp vanilla extract

· 1 small egg – 2tbsp large egg

· 200g plain flour – with extra for rolling the dough

For the buttercream:

· 125g unsalted butter

· 250g icing sugar, sifted

· 1tsp vanilla extract

· Food colouring (optional)

Extras:

· Heart shaped cookie cutter

· Piping bags and nozzle (optional)

Instructions:

- Beat together the butter, sugar and vanilla extract in a bowl until creamy. - Then add the egg and mix again until all is incorporated.

- Sift in the flour and stir until your mixture forms a doughy texture.

- Roll this into a ball and wrap it in clingfilm, then chill it in the fridge for approximately 1 hour.

- Line a baking tray (or two!) with baking paper. Roll out your chilled dough on a floured surface using a floured rolling pin toa thickness of ½ cm, cut out the heart shapes and move onto the prepared trays. Then chill again for about 15 minutes.

- Preheat your oven to 180 degrees, then bake your beautiful biscuits for 10 minutes until they have a perfectly golden colour, allow them to cool slightly before transferring them onto a cooling rack. Make sure they are completely cool before icing or all of your work may melt!

- Mix together the icing sugar and butter until the consistency is fluffy, then add vanilla extract and a food colouring of your choice.

- Put this buttercream in a piping bag and squeeze a generous amount onto the top of one biscuit, then add another on top! Repeat this until you have complete biscuit sandwiches.

- Finally, decorate the top with more buttercream, sprinkles or anything else that you please - get creative!

ARTICLES

Need advice on the best rom-coms? Or how about a Tudor exposé? Our Insider team will get you in the Valentines mood...

“Love is in the air, everywhere I look around, Love is in the air, every sight and every sound…”

Doesn’t this 1977 release from one hit wonder John Paul Young just sum up this time of year perfectly? Yes, dear reader, that day is coming around once more, you know, the one where we all go a little bit crazy and foolhardy over our one true love.

And I, like you, (Yes, dear reader the comma means there’s more to this sentence, If it weren’t there, this article would be the start of the worst chat-up line in history) am no different, part of the magic is in the anticipation. Yes, The anticipation. Which helps somewhat build tension, yes tension. For no reason. Because it’s not needed. Still think it’s cool. No very cool. But this anticipation and associated tension; always makes me wonder how to make the perfect recipe for a wonderful day, to be able to ‘show off a bit’, although obviously on the day, things can end up being a bit flat, but that’s ok, it’s all in the preparation and it’s between you and your one true love.

It’s crazy Isn’t it, the way this one day can make us feel? It should be like this all year around, we shouldn’t need a special one off day to express our love, but I still get those weird skittish bursts of surprisingly nervous feelings in my aching stomach, at the thought of my one true love and our first sweet embrace

Where is the best place for your romantic rendezvous? – so many places for that special moment, the park? On the pier? Or just simply at home in the kitchen, with the last strains of winter sun draining from the sky, perfect!

That Special Day in February

But, what if things get too hot, too soon? Well it’s only natural, ladies and gentlemen, to get carried away, but there is no rush, take things slowly and turn down the heat.

It can also be a day of experimentation, who hasn’t thought about adding Nutella and sliced bananas into the mix to make things even more exciting? Make sure that this kind of thing is to your tastes though first, be aware of nut allergies for example, wear gloves if needed.

Rod Stewart, again more 70s sounds references sings about, “first love is the sweetest but the first cut is the deepest”, and I hope dear reader you are not saddened on this romantic day by heartbreak – just remember you can’t make an omlette without breaking eggs… anyway I often find the first one isn’t the best – and if things don’t go well on the day, I always try and get onto a second and a third – life is short!

Anyway, however it goes there is no need to be a tosser.

Otto Goodson

The Calculating Courtier

At the Tudor court, only love and danger are certain…

Rebecca Link

The Tudor Court is a spider’s web; power hungry men all climbing to the centre, where the spider lies, in control of everything. However, one thing he couldn’t control was his obsession with a certain lady in waiting: Anne Boleyn.

Anne circled the palace behind Katherine, her ‘B’ necklace glistened in the sunlight, highlighting her presence, and drawing the attention from many passing courtiers. This shell of splendour was intertwined with a heart of ambition and ruthlessness, something that would surely haunt her in the coming years. But, for now, this exotic nature caught the interest of Henry.

They exchanged many heartfelt letters, even notes written in Bibles, between each other to express their feelings. Yet, I kept warning her how dangerous becoming the King’s mistress would be. She was like a drug to him; the more he wanted her, the greater the obsession grew. I would always

ask myself, “Does he want her? Or just the idea of her?” Unfortunately, I believed the latter, like he did with many before her. She refused him, she learnt from me… at first that is. Was this a way for her to keep leading him on? To grow this already significant obsession?

Secret letters carried feelings of love. Every feeling of ambition surrounded these exchanges. We were one step away from this influential alliance. Only one thing stood in Anne’s way: Katherine.

She could no longer produce heirs, so Anne became his next source for a son. Anne becoming Queen became a silver noose around the family’s neck. If Anne could not produce what the King wanted, she would no longer be wanted, and neither would we.

The Pope could not allow a divorce, as it opposed the teachings of the Bible. Henry’s desperation searched and searched for a solution. He found a line in the Bible which argued that one cannot marry his own sister. Since Katherine had been married to his brother before him, Henry was Katherine’s sister. England broke away from the Pope like a lone raft at sea.

Henry and Anne married in the confidence that the annulment with Katherine was finalised. Soon after, Anne became pregnant. It seems insignificant to an outsider like yourself, but we were relying on her to bare a son.

She was the centre of attention as she had always wanted, the spider at the centre of its web. Her coronation day was one to remember. She was Queen. Although it wasn’t acknowledged anywhere in Europe, it was in England and that’s all that mattered, for now.

In September 1533, Anne went into labour to provide the long-awaited heir to the throne. But the baby was a girl, my niece, Elizabeth.

Soon later, I fell pregnant, and Anne dismissed me from court. My own sister. This marriage corrupted her. All she cared about was her reputation. All she cared about was pleasing the King with an heir. This relationship was no longer one of love but of alliances and networks. It was a business agreement.

‘Katherine is dead!’ rang out in every street in England. Finally, Anne was viewed as the only Queen of England. She also fell pregnant with a son. Fate was now on Anne’s side.

She miscarried.

This failure led Henry to question the marriage. Why would God deny them the son they so desperately wanted and needed?

Henry’s attention was stolen by Jane Seymore. Jane circled the palace behind Anne, her blonde hair glistened in the sunlight, drawing attention to her presence.

Jealousy encapsulated Anne and she became more flirtatious towards the men in her household. She was no longer secure in Henry’s love and affection. This snapped the final strand of the string that was connecting the monarchs.

It was a horrendous moment on 2nd May 1536; Uncle Thomas arrested Anne. She was imprisoned in the Tower of London, and we all know no good can come of that. ‘She despised her marriage and entertained malice against the King in that time. In following her lust, she did procure various of the King’s servants to be her adulterers.’ This included our own brother, George. For this, Anne and George were executed. The Boleyns had been cut out of royal life like a poison.

We all became pawns in Henry’s game of chess, and we all got played.

- Mary Boleyn

A CandleLit Dinner for One

Kiera Munslow

Valentine’s Day is all well and good for those of us with romantic partners, but it can feel lonely and possibly nauseating to those of us who don’t. ‘Candle-lit dinner for one’ doesn’t exactly have the same ring to it. Nevertheless, Valentine’s has no restrictions, so go for it! I imagine it’s much more fun not having to deal with small talk for an hour!

Why not take yourself on a date to the zoo or the cinema or even laser-tag if that’s what you like; who said dates are for two people only? If you don’t want to do that, bring a friend and make it Galentine’s or Palentine’s. There are endless ways to celebrate without a significant other. So, here is a list of some ways to enjoy February 14th:

1. Enjoy a self-care day or take a trip to the spa with a friend

2. Stay up all night reading or watching your favourite series

3. Make music playlists with your friend and exchange them

4. Bake Valentine’s cupcakes or biscuits / have a bake-off with your friends

5. Make a list of all the things you hate about Valentine’s (for cathartic reasons…)

6. Write letters to long-distance friends and family

7. Go outdoors and enjoy the crisp winter air

8. Take up a new hobby which, yeah, you’ll probably never do again, but what’s the harm in trying?

9. Declutter your wardrobe

10. Add clutter to your wardrobe!

Now, of course you don’t have to do any of this. However, I hope this inspires anyone who dreads Valentine’s to take it as a day of meraki (doing something with soul, creativity and love.) And, if you ever feel alone on this day, remember that Valentine’s Day is a day of love, and loving yourself comes first. Always.

Pride and Prejudice: A Review

Millie Cast

Pride and Prejudice. A romance classic as well as arguably one of the all-time greats of literature. But what is it that made Austen’s simple love story sell over 20 million copies worldwide? To uncover why this relationship is so universally supported we must examine the iconic enemies to lovers structure the couple experience throughout the book. This article only covers the barebones of the twists and turns in the book, so I encourage all readers to either read or watch a version of Pride and Prejudice.

Right at the start of the book, Austen describes the meeting of our two characters at a ball, as Mr. Darcy (a very rich and handsome gentleman), first sees our

protagonist Elizabeth Bennet, the second eldest of a family of 5 girls. Initially, Darcy denounces Elizabeth as merely “tolerable,” of course greatly insulting the independent young lady who Austen explains has “no very cordial feelings” to the gentleman, perhaps better illustrated in the 2005 film adaption when she states to her companions that she “wouldn’t dance with him for all of Derbyshire.” The immediate set up of the two characters as enemies of course makes the eventual resolution of the two much more satisfying, but at the time the thought of a woman being so disrespectful towards such an admired member of the gentry would have been incredibly scandalous.

The book continues as Elizabeth’s animosity towards Mr. Darcy grows, following her discovery of several crimes accused of him, most notably ruining her sister’s courtship and depriving an acquaintance (Mr. Wickham) of a deserved inheritance. To escape, she soon decides to visit a friend in her new marriage, and is shocked when she has a surprise visitor, who would have guessed it?? - it’s Mr. Darcy, with an even more shocking confession. He has been in love with her all along. You may be thinking, how lovely, but you would be very wrong, as Darcy’s outpouring of ‘love’ only serves to escalate Elizabeth’s “deeply rooted dislike,” with Darcy actively admitting that he loves her “in spite of all his endeavors,” insulting her family and then asking her to marry him. Romantic right? Elizabeth of course responds with a swift rebuttal, denouncing him as arrogant, conceited and selfish whilst using her collected evidence to enhance her insults.

Austen then throws another twist into the mix as Darcy’s point of view is revealed through a forthright letter, as we discover along with Elizabeth that the gentleman is entirely innocent of her accusations, leaving her shocked and confused as she discovers that Mr. Wickham, the very friend she was trying to protect, has a dangerous habit of preying on young women. This revelation is followed right on the heels by the knowledge from home that her youngest sister Lydia, has fallen prey to the man and eloped with him. Mr. Darcy, who Elizabeth now absolves from all blame, rides away into the sunset to save the day and, unbeknownst to the Bennets, uses his sizeable fortune to bribe Wickham into legally marrying the girl, saving Elizabeth’s family from ruin – a fact she finds out by accident. This

point in the book is undoubtedly where Austen starts to show just how significant the shift in ELizabeth’s feelings towards Darcy are, as her gratefulness begins to shift into affection, enhanced by her visit to Mr. Darcy’s home at Pemberly, where the surrounding beauty combined with a meeting with his sister allow her to see the gentleman in an entirely different light.

Finally, Pride and Prejudice reaches its iconic conclusion as the two meet again for the first time since Elizabeth fell in love. After Darcy rekindles her sister’s courtship and the two become engaged, Elizabeth takes the opportunity to thank the gentleman for all his help, before confessing her new feelings to his romantic statement “I thought only of you.” Although in the book the confession scene is unequivocally lovely, the most beautiful rendition I believe appears in the film, through the beautiful line “You have bewitch’d me mind, body, and soul, and I love. I love. I love you.” The book finishes with Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy asking for permission to marry, and the pure delight emnating from the pages truly explains the popularity of the book. Although Austen’s classic romance is undoubtedly simple, its beautiful portrayal of changing feelings and unwavering love is certainly unparalleled in English literature.

Rom-Com Recommendations

Elanor Morrison

Love them or hate them, you can’t ignore how the rom com has had a defining role in cinema as we know it, with countless re-used tropes, meet-cutes and cliches gracing our screens. While there are hundreds of romantic comedies out there presently, only a small amount really find their way to shine amongst the rest, often through narrative or an engaging cast. So, to call attention to Valentine’s Day, I have picked out three of my personal favourite rom coms spanning what could be considered as two of cinema’s greatest decades: the 80s and 90s.

The Princess Bride - 1987

Released in 1987, The Princess Bride covers a range of genres alongside its evident romance and comedy such as adventure and most notably, fantasy. The heart-warming, humorous story follows Westley, a farmhand turned buccaneer who attempts to rescue Buttercup, his one true love, from the villainous Prince Humperdinck. Three outlaws also accompany Westley, all with their own motives for joining him on his mission, including Inigo Montoya who wishes to avenge his father’s death. From the witty remarks and the lengths that Westley goes to to reach her, to the overall fun performances from Cary Elwes and Robin Wright, The Princess Bride undoubtedly has you rooting for Westley and Buttercup’s relationship. Whether it’s due to the fairy-tale romance, unique premise or feel-good atmosphere of the story, The Princess Bride still proves to be one of my favourite romantic comedies and quite possibly one of the most enjoyable movies of all time.

Before Sunrise - 1995

Possibly the lesser-known romcom on this list, Before Sunrise proves how an engaging performance and simple storyline can triumph over a long, over-complicated plot any day. Taking place over one day, Before Sunrise follows Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy), two strangers who meet on a train passing through Europe and quickly develop affection for one another. Jesse convinces her to depart the train with him and to spend the rest of the day together before his flight leaves for America the next morning. The feel-good, calming atmosphere within this film really allows it to be such a comforting watch, with Ethan and Julie providing such realistic and immersive performances that ultimately highlight their undeniable on-screen chemistry. This heartfelt masterpiece will capture your attention, play with your emotions, and leave you stunned at how incredible such a simple story can be, as well as cementing Jesse and Celine’s short-lived romance into your mind for weeks after viewing. Before Sunrise is a movie everyone should experience at some point in their life and therefore inevitably places it in my top 3.

10 Things I Hate About You - 1999

Now unlike The Princess Bride and Before Sunrise, 10 Things I Hate About You entered a familiar area found in rom-coms: a high school teen romance. After hitting cinemas in 1999, 10 Things I Hate About You gained popularity for its amazing ensemble cast, memorable moments and entertaining plot adapted from William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew. The film follows sisters Kat (Julia Stiles) and Bianca Stratford (Larisa Oleynik), who are wildly different and live under rules created by their dad. Due to an attempt at bargaining with her dad, Bianca is told she can finally date when her rebellious sister does, leading to elaborate plans being created by not only Bianca herself but newkid Cameron (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) who falls in love with her at first sight. After hearing of her father’s rule, in an attempt to date Bianca, Cameron devises a plan to pay mysterious, “bad boy” Patrick (Heath Ledger) to date Kat, generating a rivalry between the two as he attempts to woo her. What makes this film stand out is how all the actors accompany each other so well and the energetic performances from Julia and Heath really create such a powerful dynamic between their characters, which makes for a captivating watch. Oh and of course who could forget the famous “Can’t take my eyes off of you” scene? Every aspect of this movie from its characters to its humorous dialogue lands it in my top 3 favourite rom coms of all time, and certainly one you can rewatch time and time again.

10 Ways to Show Love to Your Planet This Valentine’s Day

Amelia McIntegart

Each year on Valentine’s Day we show our appreciation, care and attention to those we love, whether it’s through fragrant flowers, cheesy cards or jewellery, most of us feel valued and respected on this romantic and important day in our calendars. However, sadly we do not show the same love and consideration for our planet. It is up to us all to make changes –however small - in our daily lives so our planet can recover and one day maybe thrive again. So, lets take a look at ways to show the earth we love it and, what better day to start than Valentine’s Day:

1. Get your hands dirty and volunteer at a clean-up -It could be at the beach, a local park, or a street, wherever it is, the earth and local community will thank you for getting rid of rubbish.

2. Swap fast fashion for second hand –ditch misguided for marketplace, and cheap brands for charity shops.

3. Say goodbye to single-use plastic – think of all those poor sea creatures caught up in your rubbish.

4. Plant flowers and trees and help the bees – because after all, where would we bee without them!

5. Meatless Mondays – put your chef’s hat on and cook up a Quorn storm!

6. Save energy – you’ll be saving a fortune too!

7. Campaign against climate change – it could be an Instagram post or a powerful protest, small actions lead to big changes.

8. Ditch the car for a bike – let’s stop polluting our planet, one ride or walk at a time!

9. Adopt an endangered animal – take back our tigers, rescue our rhinos and save the sea turtles.

10. Stop wasting water – turn off those taps and save more for our future.

The Science of Falling in Love

Fateema Patel

Falling in love is a unique and individual experience. It is often described as an ‘explosion of fireworks’ or ‘coming home’. It is an indescribable feeling. Whatever love maybe it is made of the same mix of chemicals travelling around your body. To describe the science of love is, undoubtedly, to lose its very essence, so, allow me to introduce to you the most unromantic definition of love: biochemistry.

There are multiple different chemicals that contribute to love. Dopamine, oxytocin and serotonin are the most well-known ‘happy hormones’ and when you are in love they skyrocket in production. In addition to these, there are two other hormones: norepinephrine and phenylethylaminehuge intensifiers to how you feel.

Serotonin has been commonly referred to as the feel-good hormone, so it should come as no surprise that it plays a part in encouraging love. However, though serotonin aids in feelings of happiness short-term, in the long run it is also imperative to maintaining a stable and healthy relationship, leading to a phase where a person experiences more intense happiness over stretched periods of time.

Phenylethylamine is called the ‘love drug’ and is a substance that emphasizes and intensifies all emotions, making you feel dizzy with love. It is a hormone that forms the real chemistry of love, making you feel content and satisfied. Ever wondered why chocolate is the perfect solace after a breakup? (I would imagine not- you would be too busy being heartbroken). But if you were, it would be because chocolate temporarily provides serotonin to replace the dropping levels post-breakup, releasing phenylethylamine- which creates a lovelike feeling.

Have you ever started stuttering, stammering, feel your heart begin to pound around that certain attractive someone? Norepinephrine, when triggered, makes you feel jittery, energetic, and euphoric. This is because it stimulates adrenaline production, increasing heart rate, allowing you to sleep less and think less clearly. Who knew love could be so blind?

I desperately hope I have not beaten all the romance out of you and- although I do not expect you to be falling head over heels at the idea of chemicals, hormones and neurotransmitters sending signals- I do hope you will have been increasingly interested

in the idea of love and biochemistry uniting although I have been unable to cover every scientific aspect of love. Irrespective of the many, many ideas of love it should always be celebrated (no matter how unimaginative and unfeeling some ideas are!)

Romance: A Fairytale Truth or a Too Good to Be True?

Gaia Kinder-Hine

Have you ever seen a real display of the mythical idea of two souls meeting in a almost god-like display of passion?

Well neither have I.

Often relegated to the sidelines of romance and love, I’ve watched on in horror as I felt almost unworthy of this passion others feel directed towards others. The pain of watching on as I have to live vicariously through the highs and lows of others relationships whilst never finding my own.

I cannot fathom how these relationships function as a person because of the true realisation behind it. Some people are built for it. To fall in love and to have the capacity to find beauty in the pain it brings and to commit wholly to another soul with the risk of shattering your own.

It begs the question is it ever truly worth it to put yourself out there and hope the right one will come along to smooth the cracks in your your heart and to be devoted with the torture it may bring to be without that person.

Can it ever be worth it?

I can’t honestly answer that question as for me love is a question I have not yet found a real answer to I have only found the faded remmnats of others answers. So go find out and if you ever have an answer let the rest of us heartbroken souls know. We still have to suffer the search.

CREDITS

A big thank you to everyone who helped this issue!

EDITORS IN CHIEF

Luc Forsyth

Heidi Thompson WRITERS

Millie Cast

Hannah Glover

Otto Goodson

Gaia Kinder-Hine

Rebecca Link

Amelia McIntegart

Elanor Morrison

Kiera Munslow

Fateema Patel

Rida Shah