Issue 48: New Voices

NOVEMBER

20 23

ISSUE 48

Contents.

Contributors, Editor’s Message and The Demon 3-4 Team

Entertainment

Book to Screen Adaptations I Enjoyed 26 Fresher’s Favourite TV and Film 6-7 New Rising Filmmakers to Look Out For 12-13 Songs of The Summer 5

Health & Lifestyle

Healthy Meals on a Budget 18-19

Fashion & Beauty How Social Media Has Contriuted to Micro Fashion Trends 20-21 Strawberry Makeup Trend 15

Student News & Discussion How My Degree Has Aided My Writing Journey 8 Transition from Second to Third Year 22-23

Sports Leicester City: The Kings are Back in Form and On Their Way to The Top 10-11

Creative Writing

Changes 24-25 False Images 14 This Cold Darkness 9 The Pain of Longing 14 123 Annwn Road 16-17

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Contributors.

Writers

Daniel Bellamy Douglas Doba Elise Watts Evan Alexiou Jess Bourne Leah Corbett Maja Kaldonek Molly Lee Peregrine O’Reilly Raha. M Robbie Childerhouse Sophie Ockert

Designers Adrianna Jekot Millie Ball Liam Stearn Sophie Ockert

Photographers Koel Clubb

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Editor’s Message

Hello!

The Demon Team

Deputy Editor Noé Ponte

Entertainment Editor Elena D’Onofrio

Health & Lifestyle Editor Robbie Childerhouse

News & Discussion Editor Maria Regina Semedo

Sports Editor Iga Lapinska

Creative Writing Editor Jonathan Castro

Welcome to the first issue of The Demon for this academic year. I’m very excited to share it with you all.

‘New Voices’ felt like the perfect theme to start off the year. As Editor-in-Chief, I have made it one of my goals to get as many people involved with The Demon this year as possible so we can create more issues like this one! Already, the contributors for this month’s issue have done an amazing job, and I’m incredibly proud of this first issue as Editor-in-Chief.

We hope you enjoy this month’s issue as much as we enjoyed creating it!

­Sophie Ockert Editor-in-Chief

Head of Editorial Design Liam Stearn

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Songs of The Summer Is it just me or is a summer’s day not quite complete without the right song to go with it?

Everyone has their own summer playlist to get them in the mood for some sunshine, so I thought I’d compile some of my favourites from this summer. I know that the timing is less than convenient but if you’re feeling a bit blue with it getting darker and colder there’s noth-ing like a summer anthem to brighten the mood!

Starting off with a new one, the internet’s sweetheart Olivia Rodrigo’s “bad idea right”? was an instant classic amongst old and new fans alike. The chaos of the chorus blends beautifully with the somewhat calmer verses. Would it be too far to say Olivia Rodrigo is causing some kind of a cultural reset? Yes, probably, but she is certainly leading the charge to re-popular-ise guitar music as a whole.

A song that has always felt timeless to me is “Don’t Look Back into the Sun” by indie royalty The Libertines. Nothing reminds me more of a cold beer and friends in a field with the sun beating down on us than that iconic guitar riff. Throw in the chaotic relationship between frontmen Pete Doherty and Carl Barat and you have the perfect concoction for a summer anthem.

One for the more alternative folk out there would be “Punk’s Dead” by recently returned Softplay. This long-anticipated return of the band formerly known as Slaves embodies everything great about them, with a punchy guitar ripping through the mix paired with passionate raw vocals. It’s definitely not for everyone, although they certainly did not disappoint with their return to the scene.

You can’t have summer without a bit of country, right? Might just be me. An unmissable one from this genre has to be “Fishing in The Dark” by the Nitty Gritty Dirt band. Nothing beats the way this tune builds from a quaint palm-muted guitar riff to the explosion of noise in the chorus. You’d have trouble finding a song as catchy as this.

Potentially the ultimate summer tune would Another somewhat alternative banger would be have to be “In the Summertime” by Mungo Jerry. It’s in the name of the song and all! Al“Play The Greatest Hits” by Wolf Alice, another chaotic one (are you sensing a theme?) though filled with outdated lyrics, that simple layer back melody gives you the perfect which really gets my blood pumping. It’s always a nice surprise when we get a heavier feeling for a summer afternoon in the garden.

Wolf Alice release and it comes as a jarring but Written by welcome change to their usual slower, more Robbie Childerhouse melodic style. The queen herself Elle Roswell really shows her superb vocal range with this an unmatched front person in my opinion.

Taking it back to the classics, it’s difficult to beat Don Mclean’s “American Pie.” This mammoth of a song will take you a whole 8 minutes and 36 seconds to get through. Although every second is worth it, there’s nothing like driving through country roads with the windows down and this song on full volume singing the chorus with all your friends.

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FRESHERS FAVOURITE TV AND FILM Although you should focus on your studies at university, it is also important that you find time to relax. Here are a few TV and film suggestions and favourites for you to watch either by yourself or with your new friends: Best films to make the most of student cinema prices!

Best films to have a movie marathon with your flatmates

Five Nights at Freddy’s This film will unite those who are horror lovers and those hardcore fans of the video game series with the same name. If you fancy watching a horror movie about murderous animatronics then this film is for you!

Release Date: 27th October 2023

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes I think all Hunger Games fans are intrigued to see how this film turns out. Based on the book published in 2020, this film will delve into young Coriolanus Snow before he became the tyrant who ruled Panem.

The film has some noticeable names such as West Side Story’s Rachel Zegler, LGBTQ+ activist and Euphoria’s Hunter Schafer and Game of Thrones’ Peter Dinklage.

Release Date: 17th November 2023

Harry Potter Films In your student flat, one of you is bound to be a Potterhead! Although these films are not new, you will still find yourself entertained by the magical plots of the movies. It may start debates in your flat about which Hogwarts house is the best or about which death was the most heartbreaking to watch, but you will certainly be hit with a wave of childhood nostalgia whilst watching these.

Even better, all eight of the films have recently been added to Netflix for you to enjoy! So why not get your PJs on, get together and start a Harry Potter marathon?

Where to watch: Netflix

Marvel Films Thanks to Disney Plus, having a full Marvel movie marathon with your flatmates is easy!

And with the wide variety of superheroes and characters, there is plenty for you all to enjoy.

Even better, you can watch them in chronological order to fully experience how many of the films are interconnected.

And once you have finished the films, you can start watching the Marvel TV shows too!

Where to watch: Disney+

Written by Molly Lee

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Binge-worthy TV shows for those lazy days Grey’s Anatomy If you fancy watching something that has some real tear-jerking scenes, drama and something that will last you for months, then Grey’s Anatomy is a great choice! With 19 seasons, and multiple spin-off series, this show will fill your free time (around your studies of course).

It is pretty hard not to fall in love with the characters, especially due to the amazing cast including Ellen Pompeo, Patrick Dempsey, and Sandra Oh. Also, if you watch the whole series, you are bound to think you have the full ability to become a surgeon just like those at Seattle Grace Hospital. Just make sure you have a box of tissues ready!

Where to watch: Disney+ Friends I’m pretty sure everyone has heard of Friends, but it is a great binge-worthy TV show for freshers to take their mind off things. With 10 seasons and 236 episodes, the series follows the lives of Joey, Ross, Rachel, Monica, Chandler, and Phoebe in Manhattan.

Despite being released in the 1990s, the show has an enduring popularity across generations. Many have argued that the show appeals to younger generations as it goes back to simpler times, which explains why it is a comfort show for many.

So whether you have watched Friends before or are new to the series, definitely give it a watch if you need a moment to chill and laugh!

Where to watch: Netflix Peaky Blinders By order of the Peaky Blinders, you must bingewatch this TV series if you haven’t already!

The show follows the Shelby family and the Peaky Blinders gang based in Birmingham. It is filled with a strong cast and unpredictable plot twists throughout the six seasons to keep you hooked and immersed in the 1919 setting.

Another highlight of the show is the main character, Thomas Shelby, played by Cillian Murphy, who perfectly fits the part of the somewhat anti-hero that audiences cannot get enough of.

Where to watch: Netflix or BBC iPlayer Best TV shows on streaming services Heartstopper This show has captured the hearts of many.

Based on Alice Oseman’s web comic and graphic novel of the same name, the series follows the story of Nick and Charlie as their friendship turns into something more.

The coming-of-age romantic comedy-drama series currently has two seasons for you to fall in love with. It has been praised for its representation of the LGBTQ+ community, especially young same-sex relationships, whilst also tackling prominent teen issues such as bullying, friendships, and more.

Additionally, the show has become somewhat of a comfort watch for those who identify as members of the LGBTQ+ community, giving many people the confidence to embrace their sexuality and identity.

And who knows? If you love the TV series, you can read the books and webcomics whilst you wait for season 3!

Where to watch: Netflix The Boys This TV series has gained significant popularity, especially within the age range of university students. If you were a superhero fanatic growing up and maybe feel like you’re too old for superheroes? Well, The Boys is for you!

The show focuses on what happens when superheroes go rogue and start abusing their powers instead of using them for good.

The show currently has 3 seasons, with more coming soon and a new spin-off series, Gen V, so there are plenty of episodes to fill your spare time.

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When talking about my writing journey and how much I have improved my craft over the past few years, it comes down to a few things: my passion, how often I practice, and my degree. My Creative Writing degree has helped me in my journey in a lot of ways.

It has provided me with a community, helped me improve technique, and even helped me discover a love for aspects of writing I’d previously disliked.

The most noticeable thing when it comes to a Creative Writing degree is the improvement of my craft. Even just through workshopping, my work improved greatly. Having that feedback and critique is crucial to becoming a better writer – I began noticing errors within my work that I hadn’t previously, and I managed to work on them, bettering my writing quality. Workshopping really made me a better writer, as well as exploring different aspects of writing, whether that’s different genres, different forms, or exploring things like place within my writing.

One thing I never expected to come from my degree was a love for poetry. Especially writing it myself. I had always been neutral about it; I liked a couple Emily Dickinson or John Keats poems that I had studied in the past, but that was as far as it went. Then during my first year at university, I explored both free form and strict form poetry, which somehow opened me up to it more, and I discovered that I really loved free form poetry.

Through this discovery, I managed to get a poem of mine – entitled Lethe – published in a small online publication, which felt like a great achievement to have, and still does.

Another thing I must thank my degree for, as I briefly mentioned, is delving into different genres. Throughout my course so far, I have studied children’s fiction, ghost stories, and speculative fiction, just to name a few. During my first year, I wrote a few Historical Fiction pieces, which is helping me with what I am writing now – a Young Adult Historical Fiction novel. Even though the time periods are completely different, I discovered through writing that even the small details mentioned can really make a difference and help the fiction feel real and palpable, really immersing the writer into the period, which for my novel is 1970s Liverpool. I also find that using details like these from my research really made the drafting process a lot easier; research is the backbone of Historical Fiction, so the prose became more effective when harnessing this. I am now currently on my second draft of the novel and using everything I learned during my first year of study is really going to help me on the journey of creating a complete manuscript.

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This Cold Darkness Winter shines upon those with less fear, Less fear listening to what might One overhear, Overhear the whispers in the marshes In the lake, Ferries whistle by; people never cry; Put your slippers on and march on water, Skid; swerve and delve Into the murderous silence of the ice.

Cold is the hour, hope the illusion; Mighty swords, Knightly hoards, All but “a dream within a dream”.

Flakes touch thy soul and sole, Yet never dare to catch the Heart Frozen by a million lies; Cursed by a million sighs; Floated among lost selves, Hades lost for words among the cold.

What is desire never fulfilled, But a distraction, to be thrilled; Close those drapes upon thy lamps, Hale in all never seen, World can wait; Time can slow; Names get lost in the hallow Vale, this cold darkness.

Written By Raha M Design by Liam Stearn

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L

et’s talk Leicester City Football City!

After 11 games, Leicester sits on top of the Championship with 30 points! The midlands squad is boasting some incredible numbers too. 10 wins, one loss, 23 goals scored and only six goals conceded. The Foxes look unstoppable. If they continue this streak, they could end up winning the Championship and strutting their way back in the Premier League. Hence, it is important to discuss how they got here this far and how their fans feel about the team’s recent run of form.

Leicester City is a historic club. Founded in 1884 almost 140 years ago. The team had faced relative success in the years that followed. These include 3-time League Cup winners and one time Community Shield winners. However, history was about to be written. 2016 was the year everyone in the world took notice of the Foxes. In the 2015-2016 Leicester City won the Premier League with 88 points and after a stunning 23 wins, 12 draws, three loses. With local hero Jamie Vardy leading the attack and scoring 24 goals. The Foxes were in football heaven. That team made a statement: Never underestimate the underdogs. The triumphs continued in the years that followed. Under Brendan Rodgers the football club managed to win the FA cup, Community Shield and finish fifth in the Premier League for back-to-back seasons. They even made an incredible run in European Competitions.

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And then the 2022/23 season happened.

Last season was disastrous for Leicester City. They managed 34 points with 22 loses, seven draws and only nine wins. The Brendan Rodgers era was running out of steam and it was fairly obvious. The team had lost its motivation and passion. The goals dried up for an ageing Vardy. Their goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, who was an in-pitch leader and a massive part of winning the League back in 2016, left the club with no replacement in sight. This relegation battle was a true war. Everton and Leicester were separated by two points.

Leeds was below them with three points.

This was a neck and neck contest. In the end, unfortunately, Leicester City was relegated and the fairy-tale seemed over.

In order to rebuild, redesign and reclaim, LCFC had to make moves in the transfer market. Many people wrote off the transfer window the Foxes had because they let more people out than they let in. They sold many players and brought on just a few, yet it worked. Why? Quality over quantity. James Maddison was the only inevitable transfer.

He has been a world class player, deserved a bigger stage and so he left for Spurs, a top six club. The list of players sold included Barnes, Castagne, Hirst, Kristiansen, Pérez, Söyüncü, Tielemans, Evans and more. They bought solid players as well, like Harry Winks from Spurs, an exciting winger Stephy Mavididi who has

been on the books of Arsenal and Juventus, and arguably one of their best transfers, Connor Coady. A proven international defender who participated in the last World Cup with England. Jamie Vardy chose to stay as well. Although age has been catching up to him, he is a hero to the Leicester faithful. Losing lots of players can damage any team but it is more important to have players who are ready to give their all for the team.

Transfers alone wouldn’t be enough though.

Here comes Enzo Maresca. He is a former Italian professional footballer and a football coach. Maresca’s professional playing career spanned over a decade and included stints at several top European clubs.

He represented the likes of Juventus and Sevilla. His coaching career included many assistant roles and even a short period with Parma. Some people would call his coaching career unremarkable.

However, everything changed in 2022.

He joined Manchester City and became assistant to the one and only Pep Guardiola.

Learning coaching under Guardiola is like learning philosophy from Plato.

Pep’s students run the game nowadays, Xavi in Barcelona, Arteta in Arsenal. Going with one of Guardiola’s understudies can be considered a right career choice. Maresca’s play prioritises a strong emphasis on initiating attacks from the back by utilising short passes, particularly when facing a high-pressing opponent. In this strategy, the goalkeeper actively participates in the build-up, often integrating with the defensive line. This approach serves to create a numerical advantage, especially in situations where the opposition employs a player-specific pressing tactic. Moreover, Maresca brought a new vision, new tactics and most importantly hope back to the Foxes.

Maresca–that marvellous magician–has got us playing. Bitter because I foolishly gave up my season ticket last year, fearing the Vardy-party was over. ‘Our doubts are traitors’, as big Billy Shakespeare once wrote. Thus far it’s been surreally relaxing to watch us play, as we’ve ascended the table with seeming ease.,” says Patrick McLintock, Leicester City superfan and self-proclaimed Marc Albrighton lookalike.

“Aside from the annoying blip of Hull City at home, which we won’t talk about. As well as the men’s team atop the Championship, it’s also wonderful to see Leicester City Women out in front in the Women’s Super League. Fantastic Foxy times all round.”

This season has been kicking in highgear for the Foxes! The team looks unstoppable at the top of the Championship. The passion, the ambition, the drive is back. These Foxes are serious about bringing the club back to its former glory with Maresca in the lead and Vardy scoring regularly again. The fans have hope and more importantly, they can finally dare to dream. Will the success last?

However, how do fans feel about this season? “It’s been a bitter-sweet start to the season for me. Sweet because of the way

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To Look Out For C

inemas may still be healing from the wounds left by covid, but now empty seats are beginning to be filled – the big screen experience lives on. There are seemingly constant film screenings that shouldn’t be missed! These are some of the new rising filmmakers that are breathing life into film once again, crafting these unmissable big screen experiences:

Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman, Saltburn) Recently you may have seen multifaceted actress,writer, and director Emerald Fennell star as Midge in Greta Gerwig’s Barbie. Her acting credits are numerous, with starring roles across shows such as Call the Midwife and The Crown. Though she has recently made her stunning cinematic debut, as both writer and director, with Promising Young Woman – a tale of danger, thrills and revenge.

It’s as much a strong social commentary as it is a genre flick, leaning heavily into the stylings of the revenge film. Though historically what has often been a subgenre wrought by male writers in an exploitative fashion, Promising Young Woman puts the emphasis exactly where it needs to be. With an electrifying performance by lead Carey Mulligan (The Great Gatsby, Drive) the film will leave audiences stunned by both the confident and streamlined direction, but also by what Fennell has to say with this powerful script.

Fennell’s next film, Saltburn, is set for a November release. Once again Fennell has written a tense psychological thriller set to star Barry Keoghan (The Green Knight, The Banshees of Inisherin) as an Oxford

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student staying the summer at his friend’s stately home. One needs only watch the captivating trailer to get a glimpse of the unease created within this cold estate.

Utilising a towering four-three aspect ratio, Fennell is confidently restating her directorial skill with this sophomore feature, and the elegance is clear from what little has already been released.

Brandon Cronenberg (Antiviral, Possessor, Infinity Pool) This particular apple hasn’t fallen too far from the tree as Brandon Cronenberg, son of esteemed horror director David Cronenberg, followed in his father’s footsteps and entered the world of psychological body horrors. Young Cronenberg’s feature debut was with Antiviral in 2012, though this year he has released his third feature: Infinity Pool. Antiviral was well received but the director’s growth as an independent filmmaker, standing firmly out of his father’s shadow, is certainly clear with Infinity Pool. The film stars Alexander Skarsgard and current favoured scream queen Mia Goth as holiday makers at an isolated island resort; quickly things begin to go awry and the expected Cronenberg depravities rear their twisted heads, in the best possible sense. His directorial

style has developed deeply since his last release, building upon the ideas of his father but never letting that overwhelm his own personality. He may be carrying on his father’s legacy, but his work is by no means lesser versions of his father’s earlier catalogue.

Infinity Pool fully utilises an uninhibited Goth as she gives a performance as wild and insane as the twists the film has in store. Where the plot could have veered off into inane obscurity Goth manages to ground herself, by giving a totally ungrounded performance, in the twisted reality Cronenberg constructs. Infinity Pool is full of unhinged ideas presented in a psychotropic fashion. The film floats between abstract dream-like sequences to harsh visceral gore, a true variety of horrors to keep any audience on the edge of their seats. B. Cronenberg is one to watch for both the fans of the genre and those looking for a broader artistic approach to film alike.

sources, the Danish legend of Amleth, as Shakespear’s Hamlet, The Lighthouse as a culmination of Egger’s adoration for the stories of Edgar Allen Poe. Unlike some films with the scripts magnitudes more captivating than their cinematography, Robert Egger’s has managed to make some of the most visually stunning (and diverse) films of the past few years. The Northman: steeped in grandeur with more action than his other features, a spiralling direction that leaves one feeling as though they were standing the same grounds as the warriors within the film. The Witch is more subtle, bringing you in close and intimately with the family drama at play – close enough to hear the same sinful whisperings that tempt the main character into the arms of the devil.

The next Robert Eggers film is set to capture the legend of Nosferatu. Originally a loose adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, the 1922 silent feature Nosferatu Robert Eggers (The Witch, The Lighthouse, is credited for being one of the earliest The Northman) horror films. Having been remade, Robert Eggers is no hidden secret. adapted and spoofed countless times by Exploding onto the ‘art-house horror’ all manner of filmmakers, this tale has scene with his feature debut, The Witch found itself exactly where it needs to be. (styled THE VVITCH), Eggers immediately If anyone is to bring fear back into the proved himself as one to watch. He has claws of Nosferatu, it’s Robert Eggers. subsequently released The Northman and With an incredible cast dazzling with stars, The Lighthouse – both pictures achieving featuring Anya Taylor-Joy, Emma Corrin, major critical successes with the latter Nicholas Holt, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, nominated for best cinematography at the Willem Dafoe and Bill Skarsgard as the Academy Awards while also winning him infamous Count Orlok, this is certainly not the FIPRESCI prize at the 2019 Cannes Film one to miss. Set for a 2024 release.

Festival. Both films are Shakespearian in nature, epic dramas written with a masterful hand and distinguished prose.

One would be forgiven for thinking his features are adaptations of classic stage writings, but they are all written under his own pen. Though it’s worth noting that they are heavily inspired by the art of which his films evoke: The Northman drawing from the same inspirational

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False Images She took the chair under the fan…climbed on…remembered to shut it off…descended…switched it off…mounted the chair…stood silently under the receding click click…tied the rope…observed the knot…her passion used to be untangling the yarn…nice change…took the loop by the neck… looked at the clock…at the strike of twelve…no sooner…no later…one minute left…took a deep breath…held it…let it go…inhaled…jumped…pain was the first thought…then came numbness… so fast pain mellowed into frenzied marshmallow…jumped back in the chair…released the loop… the arms were longer now…just the right length for the sleeves…job well done…untied the knot… hit the fan…the rope slithered down…it was getting hot again.

Written by Raha.M

The Pain of Longing Your smile is a dagger; the hole cuts deeper with each grin you give him and not me.

It’s a pain you’ll never know the yearning for someone in love, your eyes drifting with their every move, knowing that smile is not for you.

But your eyes hold the power of Asclepius; each glance stitching me back together, fooling me into thinking that it was for me. And I may be deceiving myself at the thought, but that’s okay. The pain of longing isn’t so present anymore, replaced with the hopeful desire that one day that smile won’t be for him but me.

Written by Sophie Ockert

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STRAWBERRY MAKEUP TREND Summer fruits inspired makeup has taken TikTok by storm.

Whether it be cherry makeup, blueberry milk nails, later being transitioned to their autumnal counterparts ‘latte makeup’ and ‘cappuccino makeup’, the strawberry makeup trend has become a staple in the TikTok beauty community.

Where Did It Begin?

The trend took off after Hailey Bieber posted a makeup tutorial of the look on her TikTok. The look plays on other similar makeup styles that the star has popularised before, such as the ‘clean girl aesthetic’. The ‘clean girl aesthetic’ gained popularity in early 2022; it consists of slicked back hair, a set skincare routine, and a focus on fitness and wellbeing. ‘Clean girl makeup’ is a skincare heavy look with an emphasis on minimalism with natural looking glowy skin and soap brows.

The strawberry makeup trend takes many of these elements and puts a playful spin on a seemingly basic look. Reaching into the dopamine dressing of the post-pandemic world, strawberry makeup includes red blushed cheeks, a healthy shine, faux freckles topped off with rose tinted glossy lips.

Essentials for Strawberry Makeup: 1. A good skincare routine, which has an emphasis on creating glowy, glass-like skin 2. Cream products such as: concealer, blusher, and highlighter 3. Soap brows that look bushy and clean 4. Red lip and cheek tint 5. Clear lip gloss

More extreme interpretations of this look also include pink under eyes, a trend that also took off on TikTok by makeup artist Caria Dryan.

Written by Leah Corbett Designed by Adrianna Jekot

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123 Annwn Road was a quiet house. Almost silent. If there hadn’t been a sign reading “Student Accommodation” in the front garden, you would be forgiven for believing it was entirely abandoned.

Monica Jones arrived in front of the house in early September. The front of the house was overgrown with white wisteria and grass that poked out of the gaps in the old wood fence. It stood small against the imposing treeline behind it, like a child trying to hide an enormous creature behind its back. And yet, it had an ancient feel to it. Maybe it was the cracks in the mortar, maybe it was the way the windows seemed to sink in on themselves like old eyes. Whatever it was, it gave the distinct impression that it had seen much more than just students pass through its doors.

It was cute. From a certain angle. In a certain light. Quaint and rustic, Monica thought. She wasn’t holding her breath for any decent Wi-Fi, but the Wi-Fi never was any good in student accommodation anyway. It would be a miracle if there was even any working electricity but as her mum would say ‘you never know until you try’.

In the end, it took three hours for her to move in fully. The inside was just as ancient as the outside of the house, but somehow it was much cleaner than she had expected. It looked less like an abandoned squat and more like a refurbished historical site, which shouldn’t have come as such a shock, but she’d heard some horror stories about the state of some student houses. So, in all, she counted this as a total win.

She was the only one there, which allowed for ample time to prepare her room – though it came remarkably well furnished already – and put her things away in the kitchen and bathroom. She even managed to put up a few little decorations she had brought along: a string of fairy lights up along the bookcase, a few Ikea ornaments on the mantle, cork coasters on the side tables, and an old brown rug from her nan’s laid out along the landing. It already looks more homely, she thought proudly, before turning on the stove to make herself tea. That was one of the downsides, there was no electric kettle, but there was an old steam kettle. She’d just have to be a bit old fashioned for a few days before her loan came in and she could buy a proper one.

It was already dark by the time her tea was ready. Monica took a moment to mourn the long summer days, as she slumped into one of the soft golden armchairs that faced the wide fireplace in the centre of the living room. She spilled a little tea on herself, as she sank much further into the chair than she anticipated, nothing like the firm leather sofa at home. She wiped down the arm of the chair where her tea had splashed, and wiggled with more effort than she likely needed to right herself into more of a presentable sitting position, or at least one she might be able to climb out of.

A rather loud thump came from the roof and Monica froze. She put her tea down on a coaster and leaned over to the frilly curtains to peak out, but before she could do so, three sharp raps sounded at the door. She shot out of her armchair with the grace of a toppled flamingo and strode towards the door. On the doorstep stood, quite possibly, the most eccentric-looking young adult she had ever

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seen. The type of eccentric that you only ever really saw in people above the age of 80. Dressed in layers upon layers of handmade-felt, with a wide-brimmed hat and a pipe (A pipe!) in their mouth, was a short and skinny person, with wide eyes magnified through coke-bottle glasses, hunched slightly over some crates. Yes, crates, like something from in a cartoon, that hides dynamite or a snake or something equally ridiculous. Ok, housemate number one.

From behind them, up the little path, walked another person. They were almost the first person’s exact opposite. Wide and tall and covered in thin layers of silk that shone in gold and bronze in ways that complimented their dark skin beautifully. They had an ethereal look to them, both too sharp around some edges but overall, so very soft. With eyes that must have been contacts because there’s no way hazel eyes could be so vivid. In the same way that they were undoubtedly beautiful, they were equally intimidating. All they had with them was a small bag, also made of silk, that seemed to be empty. Housemate number two?

They both smiled as she greeted them at the door. The first with a small nearly invisible smile, and the second with a smile too big, with all teeth bared. Monica ushered them in, she was already getting cold and she was just on the porch, the person in silk must be freezing! They followed, each taking one of the crates and lifting them over the threshold.

‘Sorry, I didn’t expect the entrance to be so small,’ the person in felt said, their voice barely a whisp, with the thrum of a northern accent in there. She was about to offer tea or coffee, or even just introduce herself, but both wasted no time in taking off their shoes before getting to work carrying the crates upstairs to the room at the end of the landing, furthest from the stairs. For a moment, as they passed, she could swear she could hear a buzzing coming from inside the crates.

Two housemates. Two odd housemates.

She decided not to think too hard about it and went back to her little armchair to drink her tea, ignoring the knocks and bumps from upstairs, and the low humming buzzes.

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Going to university can be a daunting experience for so many people, for so many different reasons. One of the biggest is having the responsibility of cooking for yourself. Now, we all know that Dominoes and McDonalds are the easy alternatives but if you’re a student on a tight budget, having some staple meals can make all the difference. Below are 8 meals that are easy, simple, and most importantly, cheap: Simple Pasta Dish All you need is a bag of pasta, a pasta sauce (unless you want to impress everyone and make your own) and some toppings of your choice. Firstly, you need to cook your pasta until it is soft and then once it’s cooked, drain the water, and add the pasta sauce. Give it a mix and add your favourite toppings. This meal should cost you under one pound for a portion – what a bargain.

Crunchy Salad This easy dish can be manipulated in whichever way you prefer. First up, wash all your salad, the lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, onion, and carrots.

Once that’s done, cut up the vegetables and create your perfect salad, include any seasonings you like to give it another level of taste. You can change this recipe up in any way you want to make it your own, you can add some chicken breast, or some walnuts to give it an extra crunch – students can really change it up and make an incredible salad.

Stuffed Jacket Potatoes This dish is really easy and doesn’t require too much. First, you need to grab yourself some potatoes and pop them in the oven until they are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. Doing this in the oven, at 190°C, would usually take around an hour, but if you’re using an air fryer, it would take around 40 minutes, at 200°C. Once they are cooked, you could just have them with your favourite toppings but if you’re out to make stuffed potatoes, you need to scoop out all of the cooked potato whilst trying not to break the skin. Then add sweetcorn, chopped peppers, cheese and herbs to the mashed potato and give it a good mix. Put the mixture back into the jacket skins and add extra cheese on top, then cook for 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Dish up and enjoy.

For one serving, this meal would cost 91p.

Beans on Toast This meal should take about 5 minutes and costs 75p for one portion. First, cook your beans either in the microwave or the stove, depending on how much washing up you want, then put your bread in the toaster. Once your toast is ready, butter it up to your liking and pour the beans on top. Then add a sprinkling, or a pile, of cheese and enjoy.

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Chicken Fried Rice The first thing to do is cook your rice and season as you prefer. Then put your attention to cooking your chicken, ensuring that it is thoroughly cooked. Once the chicken is ready and has been seasoned, place that to the side whilst you focus on the rice. Place the cooked rice in a pan and cook the eggs alongside it. Once they are almost ready, mix it into the rice and add in peas and carrots – or your preferred vegetables. Then add some sesame oil and any other seasonings and now include the cooked chicken breast. Once everything is combined, you can serve up and enjoy a delicious healthy meal. This serves three people and one portion would cost £1.93.

Baked Oats For a quick and easy delicious breakfast, you can make baked oats and all you will need is porridge oats, baking powder, maple syrup or honey, 2 eggs, a banana and chocolate chips or blueberries (or your fruit of choice). First, blend the oats. In the meantime, chop the banana. When the oats start to resemble flour, add everything else apart from the chocolate chips and your fruit. Once it is all mixed thoroughly, stir in the chocolate and the fruit. Transfer to your tin of choice and bake for 25 minutes, at 180°C or until they spring back when pressed. This recipe serves four.

Desserts!

If you’re looking for a dessert on a budget, these are perfect, and will satisfy your sweet tooth but are also healthy.

Chocolate-Coated Fruit You could use bananas, strawberries, grapes, or any other fruit which you enjoy. For this, you will need to melt the chocolate using the stove or your microwave. If you’re going to use the stove, place a saucepan of water and put a safe bowl over the top of it and as the water gets hot, the chocolate will melt – be sure not to burn yourself when taking the chocolate off the heat. However, if you’re using the microwave, place the chocolate in for 15-second intervals as you don’t want it to burn. Once the chocolate has fully melted, you can dip or pour it over the fruit and then get creative and decorate it in whichever way you want. Then, put them in the fridge to set for up to an hour and once set, take them out and enjoy your healthy budget-friendly dessert.

Yoghurt Clusters All you will need is yoghurt of your choice, your preferred fruit, honey and chocolate. Firstly, cut up your fruit in half or quarters and combine them in a bowl with the yoghurt and a drizzle of honey.

Once that’s done, put the clusters on a baking sheet and allow them to harden in the fridge. Once done, melt the chocolate and cover the clusters. Place them back in the fridge again and when the chocolate has hardened up, serve up and enjoy. This serves four, but you can make the clusters as big or as small as you want.

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I

t appears that society’s drive for being fashionable has been around for decades, however it’s only in recent years that the omnipresent power of social media platforms has made this desire even more attainable. Trends are almost constantly being adjusted by prominent designers, who have influenced our enthusiasm for experimenting with fashion trends and allowed us to discover our own personal style. But has it ever occurred to you where this desire for being fashionable comes from? Is it the idea of ‘fitting in’ that sounds particularly familiar? Or could clothing be a manner of redefining your identity? Whatever it is, if you are a regular user of social media – like many of us – you probably frequently come across various fashion ads, while scrolling on TikTok or Instagram. Aesthetically-pleasing commercials from brands such as Cider, Shein or Vinted are all over the internet, attracting millions of consumers every day. The question is, does the attractiveness of these fashion trends endure? And most significantly, what is social media’s real impact on micro fashion trends?

The thing many social media users must comprehend is how social media algorithms work. The overall rule is very simple: using different algorithms, social media sites determine which posts to promote, and which are most likely to be left out.

According to this mechanism, algorithms usually influence at what pace posts you are scrolling through will be seen as well as what is the size of the public they will be promoted to, as pointed out by Hannah Trivette from Forbes. Therefore, the more time you spend

scrolling through social media sites, the more they’re aware of your tastes and interests. It is no surprise that platforms such as Instagram or TikTok mainly use hashtags, which help navigate users searching through a different content.

It may, of course, be helpful if you’re looking for a specific piece of information, but when a certain platform picks up on your interests, they use the #foryou hashtag, which I’m sure rings a bell. In 2020, TikTok explained in a blog post what is the secret behind the ‘for you’ algorithm. Allegedly, using a system of recommendation, this feed provides content that is relevant to each user’s interests.

They continue to say, ‘from shopping to streaming to search engines, recommendation systems are designed to help people have a more personalised experience’. But is it actually personalised, if you think about it?

You may not be surprised to learn that thousands of people are scrolling through TikTok at the same time as you are. Following that line of thinking, it might be true that nothing that we encounter on social media is truly unique, fashion trends included.

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Whilst traditional fashion trends last a couple of years, and are coming back every now and then, a large number of micro fashion trends prevail through much shorter periods of time. It’s never seemed easier to a) get hooked by a certain advert and b) immediately add a single product to your shopping card. In response to that, retail companies create fast fashion by mass-producing trendy items quickly and inexpensively and now here’s where the problem arises. Although these items of clothing are typically affordable, and they look pretty on social media, conditions in which they’re being made are not so colourful. According to Josephine Moulds writing for The Guardian, in fast fashion factories, child labour is at its peak; a lot of the supply chain depends on low-skilled labour, and so children are more suitable for these kinds of jobs. Moreover, most working conditions in such manufactories are unsafe and poor – Lei Nguen from Earth.Org signifies that for the sake of producing things quickly and inexpensively, children and women are forced to work long hours for meagre pay that is not sufficient to cover basic expenses.

The environment is also cruelly affected by consumers’ continuous need for new clothing. Lei Nguen declares that, allegedly, ‘textiles are being disposed by British citizens alone at a rate of one million tonnes per year.’ Fashion is also being considered as the second most environmentally harmful industry in the world after oil.

So, despite being powerless to control what happens in fast fashion factories, next time when you see a cute piece of clothing on Instagram, it might be useful to look into the company who is advertising it. Social media have contributed impeccably to micro fashion trends; however this contribution is not particularly noteworthy.

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The Transition from Second to Third Year: What to Expect Advancing from your second year of studies to your third and, potentially, final year can seem daunting and intimidating. But it doesn’t have to be. The third year is essentially the most vital, but don’t let this present as an obstacle. Take this as a chance to make the most of it! Graduation is around the corner for most, and it is that final stretch of the academic marathon before facing your career goals. Therefore, it is extremely beneficial to grasp at every available opportunity before they slip away. Not only will your university journey feel more fulfilled, but with extra opportunities and challenges faced, you will be more equipped to cross the finish line. Additionally, you can enter the world of work in your chosen field with more experience and confidence. Here is an insight on what to expect following the transition from second year to third year and how to stay organised.

Inductions and Pre-Preparation Inductions are a prime method of reimmersing yourself back into the flow of your studies after a long summer break. Attending inductions may seem optional as you progress through university year to year but skipping them leaves you to be thrown into the deep end back into classes. You will also be faced with the risk of possessing a lack of information for what is to be covered and expected for your modules this academic year. Understandably, not everyone can make these inductions. However, it is hugely beneficial to catch up on the content missed using the university’s resource – LearningZone. Here you can access your modules for the current year and utilise course materials and sources accessible to you. Reading lists and outstanding tasks are also present on the resource so it is crucial you check regularly before your classes.

Social Life Despite the final year presenting as the most academically important, making time for your social life is even more significant for your wellbeing. In your final year, De Montfort’s external resources flourish and come in useful for providing you with extra skills to graduate with. Healthy DMU is an appreciable resource that keeps you up to check with your mental and physical health. Regular events such as badminton and workshops, to name a few, are hosted by the team, which allows students to participate, boosting social, mental, and physical wellbeing. Attending four or more events with the hub can also be credited on your degree which is an additional bonus.

Societies are another considerable resource through the student union. Not only are they great for your CV when searching for a job, but they are also great tool for merging with others you potentially haven’t interacted with before. In your free time, participating in society events is an excellent way to stay occupied when you need a break for your course work. Meeting with friends regularly is a further key source of social life which will provide you with a shift of focus from your studies, reducing stress and boosting serotonin. Mixing with people in your classes can also be a great option to generate new friends ahead of graduating. Everyone is in the same boat and will face the same emotions in your course, so take the chance and make any friends while you can. It is never too late to make friends! If you feel too anxious to do this, there are always bonding activities held at the breathing space on campus and across the student union. Linking to this, DMU global is an outstanding method of providing you a break from your studies and giving you something to look forward to. Not only this but you can make new friends on the trip of your choice, since the team hold annual trips across the world suited to your course. This is really recommended if you want to add to your DMU journey for an enjoyable, memorable once in a lifetime experience.

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Deadlines and Organisation The dreaded deadlines will be announced within your first week of classes. Don’t stress it. The sooner you know them, the quicker you can tackle them. Organisation really is key. Creating schedules and planning ahead is crucial for staying on top of a somewhat daunting workload. Complete tasks within reason, don’t do all the work in one sitting as it will drain your energy. Having and employing a healthy study schedule supports you to still have free time and social time, whilst spacing out completing work ahead of ordered deadlines. In the third year, expect to be faced with a more intense environment in terms of workload.

Coursework is manageable using calendar schedules and preplanning what hours of the upcoming week you will take out to focus on these tasks. Heading down to the library is a good way to really nail down on outstanding work or alternatively study for exams, using their resources and sitting in a quiet environment with no distractions. Semester three acts as the timeframe when the majority of examinations will occur, and assignments will be due. Therefore, classes will not clash with any summer deadlines which provides you with ample time to dedicate to your studies. You can also conquer work at the comfort of your home using academic sources such as DMU library’s online portal to assist your assignments. Completing work gradually week by week, adding more to your writing and research not only allows you to have sufficient free time in the week, but it also means it will be completed to a higher standard and not crammed in stressfully last minute.

Summary There is no right way to do your third year. You are not in competition with anyone but yourself. So, handle tasks as they come without overthinking too much. With that being said, there is only so much you can juggle. Only take the opportunities you can manage to not add too much work on your existing workload.

Most importantly, make it memorable! Go to that café you have wanted to go to since year one, wear that questionable outfit to class, or even apply to that trip you want to go on. The third year is your final chance to adjust how you remember university, so take the chances to experience new things while you still can.

And lastly, in terms of workload, you have made it to third year. That proves you know what you are doing in your course so don’t doubt yourself. You have all the weapons you need. Now fight.

Written by Daniel Bellamy

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Changes: A Helping Hand Change. A necessary evil. Inevitable in its approach yet unpredictable in its appearance. Sometimes the changes that happen are so small, so subtle, that the chaos of everyday life overshadows its mere presence. Other times, the changes can be big and brutally blunt, mocking you as it comes crashing into your life like a wrecking ball.

Some people can adapt to change, the big and the small, others cannot. But even this is not absolute. At times, some people may be able to adapt to one change in their lives better than others, yet completely lose themselves in the face of different changes that others can adapt to. Our ability to deal with the change can vary drastically, usually due to how prepared we are for the change, our mental well-being at the time, or even the support systems we have in place for ourselves.

However, we also must consider the nature of the changes we are facing. Change and the consequences of it can be as diverse as the people who experience it. People of different genders, races, religions, and backgrounds are all bound together by the common experience of having to adapt to a change in their lives. It is inevitable. Yet when change does come calling, its presence is deafening.

It can be overwhelming, so much so that we forget that we are not alone. That we do not need to struggle alone, in a constant battle to survive the changes foisted upon our normal lives.

This is a fact and lesson that took me a long time to understand, and an even longer time to act upon, when the changes in my life became too much. This is my story… *** The Freshers Fair. A traditional part of the induction week for new students. They say this week should be the beginning of an exciting new chapter to start your journey through university. Me? I think it’s more accurate to say this week lingers more on the side of mind-numbing, body-paralysing fear than excitement. A traitorous part of my mind whispers harshly in my head, that I am being too unreasonable, too judgemental. That I need to get over myself and face the fair. But as I trek the unfamiliar pathways of the campus, I cannot help but feel my stomach tighten in knots at the thought of being surrounded by so many new people. The sense of discomfort is heightened by the imposing buildings that tower all around me. Another painful reminder of how new and strange the campus and city are compared to my small hometown.

Logically, I knew the fair would be crowded but even so, as I turn the corner and see all of the students attending today, I have to repress the sudden instinct to run away, back to my accommodation. It gets worse as I realise that this is just the queue to enter the fair. Still, despite my reservations, I join the queue, hoping things would not get any worse.

I was wrong. There are people everywhere, swarming around like bees, as they shove past each other to get to the next stall. Loud, boisterous conversations are being had as people yell in an attempt to be heard over all the commotion. I look at some of the stalls for different societies, but I am too nervous to approach them. Again, the traitorous part of my mind whispering that I was not skilled enough to be part of that society.

I tense as I get shoved into one of the walls. I stay up against the wall, head pounding as I try and fail to stay calm. It is too much. It is too loud, too hot, too crowded, too new. I feel my body shake as my eyes sting with unshed tears. My breathing becoming short and irregular. The panic is truly settling in.

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Suddenly there is someone directly in front of me, I can feel their hands coming up to hold my shoulders. Distantly, I realise this person is telling me to breathe. I try. And it is hard. My vision becomes clearer, I see that the person in front of me is one of the female student workers here at the fair. Her eyes showing concern and sympathy.

“Feeling better?” she asks. I nod shakily, not trusting my voice. I can feel my cheeks heat up in embarrassment despite the tears I still feel present on them. The other girl easily guesses that I was overwhelmed by the business of the fair. She offers to keep me company around the fair, even making a joke about how highly she thinks her company to be. I offer her a watery smile and she beams at me.

As she leads me back into the fair, I feel calmer knowing there is at least one person I can speak to.

Her voice is helping me tune out the crowd. As our conversation grows, the stubborn tightness in my chest loosens. It is then I realise I do not have to be alone on this journey. *** Change is inevitable. A necessary evil. It can be good or bad, both or neither. Forever fickle and dynamic as it threatens our comfort and security. However, this is not a battle that must be fought alone. There is always someone to lend a helping hand; friends, family or even perfect strangers willing to assist you if they can. That day I learnt that I was not alone in my fight. Yes, I was in a new place with strangers without my friends and family but even then, I was not alone. Not truly and not anymore.

Written by Elise Watts

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B

ooks are always being sold to be produced into films — just look at the success of series likeThe Maze Runner or Shadow and Bone. Whether being adapted into film or television, it’s no wonder that they become so popular. Books like these already have such a high readership that it transfers easily over to the screen, and I always find it so interesting to see how they get adapted from the page.

Some do it well, some don’t. This list here are a few of my favourites adaptations that I thought took the source material and made it into something just as great.

The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins This is one of the only book series that I think stuck to the books almost perfectly. For me, judging adaptations comes a lot with how I felt, and I felt the exact same way watching the films as I did reading the books. All four films were done almost perfectly, Catching Fire being my favourite. The Hunger Games follows Katniss Everdeen, who volunteers to replace her sister in a deadly tournament that ends with only one victor, and against others who have trained for the tournament their entire lives. It was really the height of the dystopian genre, and something I think most people would enjoy.

Everything I Know About Love, Dolly Alderton The original novel follows the author as she navigates her life through her twenties.

It’s a book that quickly became one of my favourites, so I had high expectations. The BBC series does the book justice, exploring the same themes that made the novel so special to me. This might be one of my favourite adaptations.

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It might be the least known in the list I’ve made here, but it’s a show that is really worth watching.

Daisy Jones & The Six, Taylor Jenkins Reid Produced by Reese Witherspoon, the Amazon Video series Daisy Jones & The Six was also a very well-done adaptation. It follows a band through the height of their fame in the seventies, and has been commended by Stevie Nicks herself, who recognised it as a reflection of her time in Fleetwood Mac, one of my favourite bands. So it’s no wonder this series is loved so much (and that’s not even including the incredible music within it).

Red, White & Royal Blue, Casey McQuiston When it comes to romance novels, this has got to be in one of my top spots, along with this author’s other books. Casey McQuiston’s writing style is just something I love so much.

I did wonder how this was going to translate over to the screen when it was announced that the book was going to be made into a film, but I think they did a good job. Of course there were a few differences, such as the removal of the character of June, but I think the movie was a great romance adaptation.

The popularity it gained was something so special too since gay romances, or any queer romances, don’t usually get the same response as heterosexual media, but this film quickly became popular on Amazon Prime, and it was incredibly deserved.

Written by Sophie Ockert Design by Liam Stearn

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