Midweek Meltdown – Alt-J, Tessellate

Artist: Alt-J

Track: Tessellate

Album: An Awesome Wave

This has to be the perfect song, because it just is. I’ll admit, I was a bit late with the Alt-J bandwagon but now I’m on it, i’m not about to get off any time soon!

If you’ve got any music recommendations, please send them my way! You can also check out my previous weeks’ tracks by going to the Midweek Meltdown tab above, follow the playlist on YouTube or follow me on Spotify

Enjoy!

The safest way to travel

As I’m sure most people across the world are aware, a Malaysian Airlines flight was shot down last weekend, killing everyone on board. It’s horrifically sad that those people travelling from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur never got there. What’s more sad, is that there’s now a family in Australia who’ve lost two members of their family on that plane, having already lost a further two family members on the missing Malaysian Airlines plane back in March.

It’s bloody scary and my heart goes out to everyone affected by it.

But these things should never become a barrier to travel. I hate flying. Ok, maybe hate is too strong a word. I dislike it, very much. I can’t deal with turbulence, I hate travelling with other people, I rarely sleep and it drags on and on – but I still do it. It *is* technically the safest way to travel and the reason we hear about plane crashes etc in the news is because it’s so uncommon.

Even if you hate flying, even if you need too take a prozac tablet to get you through it, do. And even though planes can go missing from the sky and get shot down, still take one. Things like this should never detract anyone from seeing the world. Forget national service, travel should be compulsory for everyone. Think how much nicer the world would be if there was less ignorance, more understanding and more compassion? If more people saw what real poverty is and yet still seeing how simple things can enrich lives more than a beautiful house or car.

The simple fact is, everything is dangerous. Trekking through the jungle is dangerous, as is going for a wander on your own in the woods and having your heart stop when you’re followed by a group of Indian teenaged boys (more to come on that another time). But then again, so is stepping out of your front door every day. And we all do that.

It’s immensely tragic that so many lives have been lost in such a brutal way, but for anyone who’s put off travelling because they’re scared for any reason – do it. These kinds of things are news for a reason – they’re not all that common.

One more time (and definitely not wanting to sound like Nike at all) – just do it.

Midweek Meltdown – Jeff Buckley, Lover You Should’ve Come Over

Artist: Jeff Buckley

Track: Lover, You Should’ve Come Over

Album: Grace

“It’s never over, all my blood for the sweetness of her laughter

It’s never over, she’s the tear that hangs inside my soul forever”

That is all. ❤

If you’ve got any music recommendations, please send them my way! You can also check out my previous weeks’ tracks by going to the Midweek Meltdown tab above, follow the playlist on YouTube or follow me on Spotify

Enjoy!

#forfeit by Caroline Batten – Guest Post

I am BEYOND excited. Finally, Ms Caroline Batten is publishing her ace book, #Forfeit on 31st July 2014. I’ve been reading drafts of this for some time and she’s super talented, so I’m chuffed to have her on the blog for a quick Q & A. Without any further ado, I give you:

Forfeit Advert_Beige

Give us a quick introduction to your lead characters?

Daisy’s 25 years-old and into dance music, up-cycling old leather jackets handbags into couture handbags and increasing her high heel collection. She’s teaching overconfident posh kids at a private school in the Lakes. It’s hardly her dream job, but she’s got bugger all option after Finn, her actor husband, threw her out.

Xander is our eye candy. He’s a trained chef, but is currently working as a glorified holiday rep.

Visual representation of the characters?

Daisy’s 5’2” with white blonde curly hair and isn’t what she would call, conventionally pretty. Oh, she has a tiny diamond nose-piercing. In the movie, I’d love Juno Temple to play her.

Forfeit Advert_Daisy_nodate

Xander’s 22, 6’1”, dark blond hair with brown eyes. He’s a total piece of ass and a veritable Knight-In-Shining-Cricket-Pads. 🙂 6-pack abs, fabulous smile… the stereotypical hero. Max Irons could so play him.

Forfeit Advert_Xander_nodate

What gets them out of bed in the mornings?

Daisy has to get up to walk her dog, Birkin (named after her dream handbag) and if it’s not a school day, then she’ll be sanding skirting boards in the house she’s renovating.

Xander gets out of bed because Daisy’s not in it.

What do we need to know about them?

At a party, they and three friends, play Forfeit, the ultimate game of dares. Daisy’s dare is to kiss Xander and the simple kiss ignites their relationship. But £25,000 is up for grabs and the game’s called Forfeit for good reason.

What do the both of they keep in their pockets/purses?

Her: Phone, lip balm, ball for Birkin, purse with £20 in it on a good day, cigarettes, I ♥ Ibiza lighter. And her Forfeit dare card.

Him: Phone, wallet (which has a dried daisy stashed inside – a memento from the day they met). And his Forfeit dare card.

What’s your favourite line from the book?

‘I want my own restaurant and I want… you.’ He glanced back at her, shaking his head. ‘Seriously, I don’t know what you’ve done, but it’s killing me. The other week I actually stood in Boots smelling shampoos, trying to find the one you use. It’s coconut and lime, right?’

What can we expect from the sequel/your next book?    

When Patrick’s photographed in flagrante with a local beauty queen, his father delivers an ultimatum: one more newspaper scandal and Patrick will be disowned – no house and no job at the family veterinary practice. Desperate not to lose his easy life in the country, Patrick needs to avoid trouble – and girls like ex-ballerina, Libby. She’s cast a Wicca spell to summon a new love: good-looking, honest, non-brown eyes, English, likes animals… in a nutshell, Patrick. But fighting Libby’s love spell will be the least of Patrick’s problems when an old lady dies from a ketamine overdose. The drug was stolen from his surgery and she’s the third woman to die in as many months. Tongues will wag.

Distraction is set in the same village as #Forfeit, so fans can expect familiar faces to pop up. It’s due for publication in February 2015.

Eek. I’m a huge fan of this #Forfeit (and Distraction – I’m a lucky girl having read it already 🙂 ) You can download #forfeit from 31st July, and you can also get in touch with Caroline on the following links. Go spread the world!

www.carolinebatten.co.uk

Twitter: @daisy_fitz

http://www.wattpad.com/user/DaisyFitz