Thriller London

Over the weekend my lovely grandparents took my cousins and brother to London to a) see me and b) spend one of the most memorable weekends together.
Not only is London a magical place with hidden (and conspicuous) gems, but it also proves to be perfect for a family reunion.

Last moments together by Tower Bridge

Staying in the incredible Café Royale on Regents Street proved to be very handy when showing everyone around a little bit- even if we were in a constant state of "HURRY THE FUCK UP", we managed to see quite a bit. It was a hotel like none other and basically one of those places where you lie in bed and can manage a whole room just from one remote control.
In the evening, after a lovely meal we saw the honorary tribute musical "Thriller" and I don't think I have ever been so entertained in my life. Fact? You don't even need to love Micheal Jackson to adore the show. It is inclusive, it is full of life, colour and energy and above all... the talent is absolutely incredible. We all found it very hard to sit still.
Some may say that to go to large public events would be foolish now considering recent events, and I must admit we considered all of the risks... but throughout the whole weekend we lived and laughed and let London consume us (clichéeeeeee).

Our gregarious grandfather rented a minibus so we could all take the piss and look like tourists on a whole new scale

 Embarrassingly, even after having lived in London for 3 months... I never found the time to actually visit the landmarks and famous sites. So, we saw everything there was to see "movie-wise"- aka; Abbey Road, Big Ben, Tower of London, Waterloo Bridge, Portobello Road etc... and even though we arrived like a Dutch party bus every time, I adored every second of it.

When the picture makes you look very pensive, but you were really just looking at a bird taking a sh*t

Another thing to recommend was the Rolling Stones' Bill Wyman's "Sticky Fingers" in Kensington. Basically think of Hard Rock Cafe's food... but more original (sort of). There wasn't a second to spare and my grandfather at the age of 80 planned everything until the very last hour. I was so impressed by such spirited and active grandparents, definitely exemplary. PS- If you're a BBQ Sauce lover like myself... you will never leave this restaurant.

In "Sticky Fingers"

Overall... I think London has been bringing out the best in every body. We are all very close... my cousins' boyfriends aren't blood related (duh) yet they feel like family. I realised now that the older we get, the more our values balance to the same level which is: family is everything. No matter how we look, no matter how we dress, no matter what we say or what we do... they will always be there. I'd like whoever is reading this to remember that.

NOW, TO FINALISE THIS VERY LONG POST... I filmed the two days we were together and turned it into a little video (not so little: 5minutes long) to show you rather than tell you what we did. Also really enjoyed filming/editing it... so here it is:

Until next time ;)

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwNxUIwV3ok

xx,oo

Kiek 

The real fear of Friday the 13th: Paris

What I am about to write may not be of direct relevance to London, but PM Cameron and Hollande fear it soon might be. 

By no means am I aiming to make this post about some heavy political/religious debate, I just need to share a few things regarding the atrocities that occurred last night in Paris. For the second time this year, Paris has faced unprecedented terrorist attacks from the Islamic State as a response to Hollande's involvement in Syria. Although the number of dead is wavering between 120-150, the terror evoked by this attack yet again has seen social media upside down for the past 12 hours. Due to this, I feel like --perhaps more than ever-- the whole world has become involved, and this time not out of political bargaining, or coercion, but out of acknowledgment. I fear to admit it, but we are at war. Every country at least within the UN has shown movements in solidarity with Paris; notably NYC and London with their landmarks coloured in blue, white and red. 

The National History Museum last night 

 Now I was never superstitious: black cats, ladders, the number 13... especially since my best friend's lucky number is 13. However, it is coincidental that on Friday the 13th -- being a huge Horror movie fan I know it's Jason Vorhees' preferred day for man slaughter-- a real life slaughter occurred, generating an unprecedented universal fear. I don't know whether it's a mere coincidence, but it is something that will go down in the history books along side the 2004 terrorist attack on Madrid, and of course 9/11. 

To me... the fact that so many innocent and oblivious lives had to end for a war waged between hateful ideology,extremism and essentially the spurious claim of protecting one's "religion" is something I will never grasp. 

Be it Palestine and Israel, or indeed the most predominant terrorising entity: ISIS... it all  boils down to one thing I believe: man's unwavering greed and lack of compassion. It is thus, despite the horrors of last night, somewhat reassuring that the whole world is united against cowering in the face of terrorism. We may have lost (too) many, but we are united. We are compassionate. But is it too late?

NOTE: religion is not the cause. It preaches peace and stability; all religions do. This is humanity....fundamentalists....contorted versions of what they choose to believe, instead of what they really should believe.

On that note, London too has been 'warned' and been advised to take extra precautions and safety measures. Having both friends in Paris and in London -- which seem to be the prioritised targets-- it is a horrifying idea that some of them could have (or could be) affected by these attacks. Vigilance and attentiveness when in touristic locations (so landmarks etc...) and near large crowds is the only potential defence we as civilians can have. Unless you feel like locking yourself up with your own Kalashnikov for the rest of the year... that's all the advice I have.

Pray for Paris -- spiritually or physically-- and be safe. 

(I feel really bad for saying this but.... "May the odds be ever in your favour"-- just to lighten the mood a little bit haha).

xx,oo 

Kiek 

Must-see Monday

(Sorry for the crappy picture but unfortunately my camera is still at home)


If there's one thing I think that quintessentially makes Christmas so magical, it is the possibility to go iceskating in basically every city in the world accompanied by indispensable fairy lights -- along with the plausibility of breaking your wrists, your legs or every bone in your body.
I don't think I've ever seen such pure smiles when you see people gliding away with their loved ones (or alone...no judgement) or wetting themselves of laughter after yet another disastrously memorable fall.

THANKFULLY, some friends and I weren't one of those people last night (for once I managed to stay on my feet) but we did go to such a beautiful iceskating rink, the one next to the famous National History Museum. Location-wise... It was perfect. Honestly a must-see for first-time visitors, returning tourists or even locals, not only because the rink was beautifully lit in a way that made you feel like it was Christmas eve ( I've never sounded so cheesy in my life), but also because afterwards you go up to the café and order a phenomenal hot chocolate or mulled wine whilst you look at the skaters face-planting outside.
All in all... definitely a Christmas holiday 'check-list' essential.


Student discounts are Mondays-Tuesdays only :(

Here is the link to the website:  http://www.nhm.ac.uk/visit/exhibitions/ice-rink.html 


xx,oo
Kiek

(Not) Knowing What You Want

DISCLAIMER: NOT EVERY POST WILL BE THIS ANNOYINGLY LONG. (I promise)

I was always one of those people who thought I had my entire life figured out from the age of about 13 or 14. I mean sure... I wavered in future career choices such as the standard parent-pleasers: Lawyer, journalist etc. I even worshipped palaeontologists after having seen the first Jurassic Park. But I seemed to always follow a certain path.
Eventually, puberty kicked in (or I hope it did), the syndrome of what I like to call "all-over-the-fucking-place" became an actual thing in my teenage demeanour, and "life-changing" decisions had to be made: What GCSE's/A-Levels to take and which uni to go to. Three years later, I find myself in one of the most fast-paced, industrialised yet also magically mesmerising cities in the whole world: London.

This was one of the very first pictures I took on my way into London: doesn't it look so promising!? The sun was shining and I too was ready to shine at King's College (cliché I know).

Moving in to halls has been one of the greatest experiences of my life, and I highly recommend it to everyone thinking of going to university in London because living in such an all-consuming and huge city... it can be hard to find the same kind of "clique" or friend group you had back home haha. I met some amazing people both at uni, at halls and people that I had no idea I already indirectly knew! Like I said...I thought I knew what the next three years had in store for me, but I was really "put in my place" to say the least haha.
I applied for a BA in English Literature with Film Studies thinking it would combine the safety of a job because of the English analytical prospect of the study, and my love for Film. Two-and-something months in, I decided to do something I never would have pictured myself doing: I took a risk. I experienced a lot of stupidity in the past years because I have friends who are complete nutters, but this was actually something that was so unanticipated, so unplanned and SO NOT ME, that it gave me heart palpitations (no joke) in the days in which I decided to transfer to just Film Studies and take half a gap year. 
I hear what you're thinking: "What's the big deal?". I did most things by the book: went to school, got good grades, avoided (most of the time) coming to class or rehearsals hungover and went straight into university thinking that was the right thing to do. What I didn't expect to happen is waking up every day (after Fresher's Week's madness) when the regularity of a school-like rhythm became part of life again, thinking I was missing something. Being confused. Being unhappy with the thought of going to uni- even if I've met people on my course that I absolutely adore. It was purely that rhythm of life that I couldn't handle anymore... at least not when my heart wasn't 100% with it. The only 2 hours a week I would enjoy would be the Tuesday afternoon Film Studies lectures.
And so, I knew what I had to do. I had to change something, because in the end... we are the ones who control what happens to our lives. I knew I couldn't be writing essays about Freud or Sherlock Holmes when I wanted to be learning something entirely knew, and experience all that London has to offer without being so worried about what 2000 word deadlines I had. If we can't make mistakes now, then when will we? I want to do what I love, even if it means uncertainty. I guess the happiness you find in your career should be like a religion... something you believe wholly in, or not at all.

I could go on forever but since then, I've had about 100 phone calls with my parents, I've written letters trying to explain how I felt that DUTY CALLED haha, but I've also not felt so sure about something then right now.
I guess happiness is abstract. Or personal. Or relative. Either way, I'm fairly sure I am on my way to finding mine.

In this blog you will find lifestyle tips, surviving London tips (as if I know what I'm on about) and some of my creative developments that I have yet to reveal.

If you read all of this: thank you.
If you didn't: I don't blame you. It was long.

xx,oo 
Kiek