bluemoon | january 2015

Welcome back to BlueMoon for this fabulous festive issue! The Holidays are right around the corner and we’ve got everything you need, whether it’s music to get you in the mood, movies to watch when it’s cold and snowy

outside, or truly tasty treats. I’ll be trying out some recipes and watching The Nightmare Before Christmas before heading off to California for my holidays! If you’re feeling a bit bah humbug and don’t fancy the festivities just yet, then why not check out one of our Spotlight interviews, with Olympic snowboarding stars or the band Cries Wolf? We’ve also got fi lms, fashion, music and more for you to enjoy. As this semester comes to a close I’d like to say a massive thankyou to the Trident Media team for all their hard work and exciting

content. I hope you all have a great Christmas break and enjoy your celebrations. Don’t forget that you can stay in touch with us on Facebook and Twitter @TridentMediaUK!

After releasing our second BlueMoon and fi ve UniVerses, it’s truly been a busy semester for Trident Media. As the holidays approach, it is a welcome break for the whole writing and editorial team at print, but don’t worry,

we will be uploading loads of articles over the Christmas break for you all to enjoy at TridentMedia.org. At Christmas, I move 120 miles away back to my home town in Lincolnshire and enjoy a few weeks with my family and friends. Christmas is a fantastic time and I always enjoying watching my favourites fi lms Elf and The Grinch. Christmas is not Christmas without a huge turkey dinner with the joys of TV and family fun. I wish all the readers and writers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Hello, and welcome to this festive edition of BlueMoon. Tis the season to be jolly, and BlueMoon has got you covered, whether you feel like cooking up a storm or settling down in front of the TV for a Xmas movie marathon

- personally I am stuck between Elf (“The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear!”) and The Nightmare Before Christmas (Because Tim Burton is AMAZING and I have the album on repeat!) for my favourite movie for this time of the year. If Christmas isn’t your thing, check out our top tips for getting a job when you graduate - handy for any uni student. We have also got your winter fashion and beauty covered - so you can look amazing even when you are freezing your baubles off! Well, that’s it for this BlueMoon, all

that’s left to say is: have yourself a merry little Christmas!

Hi everyone, and thank you for picking up the second issue of BlueMoon! We are ending the print year with a festive boost. It is after all that time of year and I ruddy love Christmas so I’m very excited. This issue brings good

spirits, warming up whether that’s hot chocolate or mulled wine and a well-deserved break over the Christmas period, whether you celebrate it or not. I always think it’s hard to believe where the year has gone and its crazy how much can happen so quickly, especially working at the Students’ Union! Time fl ies and things are always changing. So please enjoy reading and I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas break and a Happy New Year too! As always if you would like to get in touch with me at any time during the year please

do as that is exactly what the elected offi cers are here for!

PRINT EDITORKealie Mardell

DEPUTY PRINT EDITORSBrad JohnsonLaura Noakes

SUB EDITORSEmma Langschied (Design)Rebecca Harding (Photos)

Shelby Loasby (News)Mercedes Brazier (Sports)Taveena Atsu (Features)Krystyna King (Events)

CONTRIBUTORS Jasmine Panayides (cover model)

Lashara van HeerdenChloe BurrowsJennie CoulingShelby LoasbyBethany James

Oliver PriceBetty Fekade

May TanAiden Perrins

Barbara Holguin

EDITOR IN CHIEFShannen Rock

COPY EDITORSean Howlett

[email protected]

VP Comms & MediaHertfordshire Students’ Union

College LaneHatfi eld

Herts, AL10 9AB

BLUEMOON Your free student magazine

Kealie Mardell | Print Editor

Brad Johnson | Deputy Print Editor

Laura Noakes | Deputy Print Editor

Shannen Rock | VP Comms & Media

BLUEYour free student magazine

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SPOTLIGHT

PHOTO BY LASHARA VAN HEERDEN

W I N T E R O L Y M P I C SS N O W B O A R D I N G

Winter Olympics stars Jamie Nicholls and Aimee Fuller were at the impressive Snow Centre in Hemel Hempstead on Thursday 20th November, and BlueMoon was lucky enough to meet with them and see them ride. Not only did they represent Team Great Britain in the Winter Olympics for Freestyle Snowboarding, they are also ambassadors for the GO SKI GO BOARD national campaign by Snowsport England. We found out more about their careers, and the people behind the boards.

Aimee Fuller on tricks, training, and women in sport

Fuller is determined and ambitious; she has a striking energy about her that catches your attention. Although her home base is in Northern Ireland with her partner, she is often snowboarding in Europe, as she was recently, or in America. Besides making it into the semi-fi nals of the Ladies’ Slopestyle event at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games and placing 9th overall, she is the fi rst woman to perform a double back fl ip and the cab double 900. Fuller is working hard so that by the next Olympics she will be “ready to go and have the tricks in the bag” to “hopefully pull out all the stops.” Her ambition at the moment is to win the X Games, an action-sports competition, after she competed last year when she said she didn’t quite get her run down. With hopes to return with a

solid run down, it all looks promising. The next couple of years are going to be about “focusing on my riding and pushing myself and progressing as much as possible”, she says. Her plan is to work on her ‘trick bag’ and make the harder tricks become the ‘mellower tricks’ and then “I can have some bigger tricks after that,” she says. Ideally Fuller wants a “clean basic run with some big technical tricks, but for now I am focusing a little more on the rails, to put it all together to get good results.” “The best snowboarding time is in the morning” says Fuller, who starts her day with a good hearty bowl of porridge. “I smash a breakfast up on the mountain. I normally ride from around nine to twelvish, have a quick pit stop and head over to do some jumps and rails in the afternoon.” She is a dedicated athlete and as a general rule, trains for three days on and one day off when up in the mountains. A lot of the training is based on the contest and the weather, so on good days, “I work as hard as I can” she says. Fuller talks about gender in the sport with great energy: “The level of boy snowboarding is ridiculous, it’s going through the roof,” she says. However, she still believes it is a great time for girls in snowboarding. “Girls in Sochi are on the same course as the boys,” she says. “There aren’t many sports where it’s equal and obviously they [men] are

doing bigger tricks and that is just a testament to strength and time as they have been doing bigger tricks for longer, we are constantly playing catch-up, but we are getting there and the sport is defi nitely evolving. The next few years are going to be crazy.” If she weren’t snowboarding all over the world she would like to be a weather woman, which isn’t surprising seeing as her days are dictated by the weather. Fuller has done a lot of commentating at different events, and after the next Olympic cycle she would like “go into some sort of sports commentary,” she says. “But right now it’s about focusing on the boarding.”

Jamie Nicholls on life off the slopes

Jamie Nicholls has a clear sight on what he wants and cuts no corners. He’s one single-minded man about snowboarding. He started his career as young as nine years old and was considered to be one of the best in the UK at age 13. After coming in 5th place at the Sochi Winter Olympic Games he too has his eyes on winning the X Games and being on the podium at the next Olympics “wouldn’t be too bad” either. A normal day not training involves skateboarding or playing golf, something where he can be chilled and “not thinking of snowboarding at all.” Nicholls does acknowledge that “it can get too much” and he values his down time. Nicholls has been on a long snowboarding

journey, over 14 years. But when asked what he would do if he wasn’t snowboarding Jamie ‘hmmmm-ed’ and admitted that it is hard to imagine. “My family and I got into it together,” aged seven at the Halifax Ski and Snowboard Centre, he said. “It was a place I passed every day on the way to the supermarket anyway - it was so local, so I had to have a go.” After going everyday for two hours, except for designated family days on Sunday, Nicholls has kept this tradition. He now lives in London with his partner, and keeps Sundays as a rest day, when he can enjoy his favourite treat - warm apple pie and custard or chocolate fudge cake. While a lot of snowboarders and renowned for their drinking and partying, Nicholls is teetotal. He says that he can “still go out and have a good time” but that not drinking is “better for me and my health.” He tried drinking when he was younger and found it wasn’t for him. He said: “I go to parties, show my face and then peace out and go home, and watch a fi lm and the next morning I feel good.” He has a chuckle that everyone ‘feels shit’ while he gets to enjoy the early morning rides.

Becoming snowboarding sports heroes

Successes aside, it is great to see that they appreciate the roles that they fi ll as idols for

younger kids trying to aspire to the same level. Fuller believes that it’s easier being herself and knows that “no one will be let down” that way. She seems amazed, but humbled, by the role of becoming a sports hero: “It is a pretty crazy concept that I can’t quite grasp. It’s an honour,” she says. Nicholls can identify with looking up to sport heroes when he was younger and is modestly proud that he can be one too. He said: “When I was younger I had people to look up to and Wayne Taylor was one of the guys who infl uenced me the most.”

In the early stages of his career Nicholls was introduced to snowboarder Wayne Taylor, who helped him through the growing up stages and continues to help him today.

Nicholls practices at the Snow Centre every Thursday and Friday and believes this helps motivate kids, “I think it’s good for the kids and for me,” he said. “To help them and progress with them, they know me and can talk to me, ask for tips and see me ride.”

On fi rst impression, both athletes look like young adults with a lot of energy, while speaking to them it is clear they have their eyes on the target and the drive to get there, but they are defi nitely enjoying the ride. I believe we can expect to see great things from these two in the near future!

BY LASHARA VAN HEERDEN

5

SPOTLIGHT

CRIES WOLF

PHOTO BY DANIEL BUSH

Five piece electronic folk band Cries Wolf are tearing up the music scene with a coveted play on Kerrang! Radio and a brand new EP called Space and Time out this Christmas. Lloyd Henley, the lead singer, Alex Sansom and Dave Brown. the guitarists, Lewis Crawley, drummer and Joe Callingham, the bass player (who unfortunately couldn’t attend) spoke to me about their new ventures, their weirdest moments and how the music industry has changed in recent years…

BlueMoon: Firstly, how did the band start?

Alex Sansom: I met Lloyd at college and introduced him to all my friends… then he took them all away! We then formed a band with the three of us and we’ve recently got two new members, Joe and Lewis, we knew them through other bands and friends and they played the instruments we needed.

BM: How would you describe your sound?

Lloyd Henley: I’d say its electronic folk. AS: It’s diffi cult to describe our sound.Dave Brown: Its acoustic, electric.

BM: Who would you say your infl uences are?

DB: David Beckham.LH: The 1975, Bon Iver, oh and Melanie C’s solo album… (sings I Turn To You)AS: Is that Sporty Spice?DB: I didn’t know she did that one, it’s a banger.

BM: What inspires your songs?

LH: Me, my life. Just experiences, I’ve turned into a bit of a Taylor Swift with my

song writing, every song is about an ex…AS: Mountains is about our holiday!LH: It’s just about having fun.

BM: What’s the weirdest thing that’s happened in the band?

LH: We had that thing with the 12 year olds that were following us and hugged us?!AS: They asked for my autograph and I didn’t even have a signature. LH: I wrote ‘To my biggest fans’ and then she messaged us saying, ‘Can you play at my birthday party? I haven’t asked my mum but she’ll say yes!’ Then they used to comment on all our pictures saying ‘fi t alex xoxo’ Oh, and that woman who came all the way from Glasgow to see us. DB: That was weird…for a half an hour set. LH: Her friend bailed so she came by herself - that was awkward!

BM: What are you career goals for the next one to three years?

AS: Play a full house in Hemel Hempstead? Lewis Crawley: Play Brixton Academy?AS: Headline Reading Festival!LC: That would be sick! DB: No, we want to play at Reading festival, do a tour…LH: BBC Introducing.AS: We want the band to take us abroad hopefully like to America. LC: Imagine that!

BM: Do you think you’re better as live musicians or recording artists?

AS: Live musicians defi nitely!LC: I think we sound how we record.AS: Technically wise, we’re just as good; we’re a little bit

unorganised. Do you play any other instruments other than the ones in the band?LH: I can play piano and guitar a little bit, I used to play harmonica but I lost it. AS: I play the ukulele a little bit.

BM: Do you feel like your old sound differs from your new sound?

DB: I feel like we were quite limited before as we only had three of us, we had two guitars and a bass drum that I used to play with my foot. Therefore we couldn’t put these ideas in as we couldn’t perform them when we played live, now we can be more diverse. LC: I think our sound is more mature.

BM: Do you think the new production with Ben Sansom (guitarist in Lower than Alantis) has helped change your sound?DB: Defi nitely.LH: He’s very blunt, if he doesn’t like something, he’ll tell you. When recording our new song Mountains, I sang the original chorus, he stopped and said you can do better than that.

BM: What about music videos and any teasers?

AS: We’ve got two coming up. DB: I’ll just say its smokey. AS: Lots of colours!DB: We know how to tease our fans!

BM: Who do you think is the most organised?

DB: Me. AS: Joe or Lloyd. DB: Lewis actually!AS: Yes, Lewis always books practice and he’s always on time.

LH: Oh wait; I’ll just remove the knife from my chest. LC: Sorry!AS: You surely mean your back?LH: You lot are so unorganised, you’d do it wrong.

BM: Who takes the longest to get ready?

DB: Me. AS: Dave. LH: He has to get in the shower before me and that’s saying something. AS: If you pick him up, you’re literally sat outside for like fi fteen minutes. DB: They pull up, and I think oh I better get ready…

BM: Who do you think is the most annoying?

AS: None of us annoy each other really. DB: I do hate Joe though because he couldn’t make it.

BM: Best dressed?

DB: I think we’re all pretty well dressed. LH: How dare you ask that? It’s obviously me.

BM: Would you listen to your own music?

LC: Yeah. LH: I listen to it and pick out fl aws, and a lot of housemates listen to it. LC: I like our music but you do always think I could do that better next time.

BM: What would happen if one of you wrote a song and the others didn’t like it?

DB: We would just say it’s not working.LH: I send the lyrics to our WhatsApp and we all give ideas.

BY CHLOE BURROWES

SPOTLIGHT

7

BM: What do you think about the illegal downloading culture in music?

LH: Spotify stopped me from illegally downloading music, I have been illegally downloading free for three years!DB: I also pay for Spotify.LC: I think Spotify’s really good, especially for upcoming bands.LH: And you have the related artists so you can surf without the guilt of downloading. BM: What do you think of YouTube stars like The Vamps?

AS & DB: Who?DB: I just feel like they’re forced through this disgusting music machine. LH: I love The Vamps, they ate at the table next to me in Nandos!AS: Basically best mates. LC: I think they’re just money making machines!

BM: You must all love the X Factor?

LC: Worst thing ever. DB: If I was Prime Minister, I would get rid of X Factor for good. LH: Apart from Jay James, I don’t like anyone!LC: Again, they’re money makers, especially now they’re creating bands on the show.

BM: Tell me a bit about what we can expect in the future?

AS: Our EP ‘Space and Time’ should be out by Christmas and then we’ll be gigging in the New Year. You can download Mountains for free at our bandcamp!

Cries Wolf are the type of band we will defi nitely be hearing more of, their songs are catchy and impossible not to sing along to. Despite it being incredibly hard to get a sensible word out of them, the band are fun to be around as well as extremely talented! I’ve already downloaded their new song, and urge everyone else to do the same; Cries Wolf is not a name to be forgotten.

Photos by Daniel Bush

ENTERTAINMENT

Toy Story

Pixar has announced that they are making another Toy Story fi lm due to come out Summer 2017. Details about the plot are very vague - Pixar have said that it “opens a new chapter in the lives of Woody, Buzz Lightyear and the ‘Toy Story’ gang” but beyond that little is known other than a few rumours that there will be a more romantic story line than the others.

10 things we learnt from Toy Story

Toy Story turns 19 this year, so why are we all still so excited? Probably because it’s amazing and basically teaches us all we need to know about life, so here’s the Top 10 things we’ve learnt from Toy Story:

Evil people will always get their comeuppance. Yes Lots-O was only an evil overlord because he was hurt, but when they ignore the chance to change, that’s when they’re truly bad.

Toddlers are violent torturers.

We’re all the same, but what makes us special is who loves us. Yes, there may be thousands of other Potato Heads or Buzz Lightyears, but to Andy there’s only one.

Never never send your toys to the tip. It is literally a fi ery pit of hell. But…

Toys are meant to be played with. Not collected or left in an attic, but loved. So donate toys you’ve grown out of to kids who will love them for years to come. And be constantly vigilant against merchandise collectors.

Don’t put things you want to keep in a bin bag. Come on Andy, it’s not exactly rocket science.

Flying is essentially falling with style.

Just as we suspected, toys get up to all sorts while you’re out.

You can survive pretty much anything as long as you’ve got your friends around you.

Kids have the best imaginations

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7.8.9.

10.

BY JENNIE COULING

For all you Foo Fighters fans and Dave Grohl lovers out there, Sonic Highways is probably all you can talk about these days (see what I did there). Not only will their new album be already worn and scratched among your collection, you will almost certainly have seen the HBO series Sonic Highways. Since writing and recording their last album in Dave Grohl’s garage, the band have been looking for another ambitious and challenging project to make their new record even more exciting. As it’s also the Foo Fighters’ 20th anniversary, they have gone all out to show the world just how talented they are, and to highlight their childlike enthusiasm for music. The series and album go hand in hand in documenting the band’s journey across

America to find the identity of music, or as Dave Grohl explains “It is a love letter to the history of American music.” The Foos go to eight different cities; Chicago, Washington D.C, Nashville, Austin, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Seattle and New York, and record one song in each city. Grohl interviews various artists and big names who have distinctive links and sounds with each different place such as; Dolly Parton, Pharrell Williams, LL Cool J, Chuck D and Gibby Haynes. Grohl then sits down with a bottle of wine and uses the words and phrases from these interviews to write the lyrics for the album. Each section of each song is designed to tell a story of where the song is from. Taking Foo Fighters’ first song, ‘Something from

Nothing’, for example, the beginning lyrics are “here lies a city on fire” referring to the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. It shows the history of the place it was recorded in, and also sets the underlining theme of the song about building something from scratch, which the punk rock movement in Chicago had to do in order to survive. The bridge lyrics

“But you can’t make me change my name”, also tell a story and refers to an interview with Buddy Guy, who was told at the beginning of his career to change his name as it was not a strong enough stage-name. The series itself

sees the Foos going behind the scenes inside world famous recording studios such as; Inner Ear and Electrical Audio. They explore the different sounds that originated there and relate it back to their album. Whilst the highly caffeinated yet humble Grohl is directing and leading the documentary, he is joined by band mates; Pat Smear, Taylor Hawkins, Nate Mendel and Chris Shiflett. Whilst generally taking a back seat, each member gets animated and excited about the different places they visit and people they meet. Whilst some of their songs adopt different musical styles from each city, the band cleverly maintain the rock ‘n’ roll Grohl feel that the Foo Fighters are famous for. The only criticism to make is that the album

and series are simply not long enough. An eight song album just leaves us hanging and begging for more. What the Foos need to do is travel to every single state and have 50 ambitious songs - knowing Dave Grohl, that could definitely be a possibility! Whilst the anticipation for the new album and series has been fulfilled, fans now have the Foo Fighters’ tour to look forward to next Summer (luckily I have my tickets!). Make sure you get your tickets and look out for when the rock legends are playing!

“A love letter to the history of American music”

BY JENNIE COULING BY SHELBY LOASBY

SONIC HIGHWAYS

11

ENTERTAINMENT

Since the very start in 1997, the magical world of Harry Potter has taken our muggle world by storm and has continued to do so right up to now, despite the final film being released three years ago. J.K. Rowling has kept fans involved by creating Pottermore and allowing the public to view concept art, props, and sets of the films at the Warner Brothers Studios. More recently, she announced a spin-off trilogy about Newt Scamander, a ‘magizoologist’ and author of ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’ – a textbook used by the students at Hogwarts – which will be set 70 years before ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.’ In short, Harry Potter has become so much more than the book series it

started as. The books have been criticised by some who claim that J.K. Rowling got some of her material from other works of fiction such as the Lord of the Rings trilogy, but there can be no debating that this franchise has enchanted our generation. By the release of the fourth book (before any of the films had been released), there were events being held at bookshops everywhere to entertain the floods of fans who would be queuing outside waiting for midnight, and the final book became the fastest selling book in history! The series made J.K. Rowling the first billionaire author and the brand itself has an estimated worth of somewhere around $15 billion. Why do we love the wizarding world?

Ashley Hogg, president of the Students’ Unions’ very own Harry Potter society, believes that Harry Potter is so popular because “many children have grown up [with it] and it’s a big part of some people’s childhood.” While this is definitely the case for many fans, lots of adults enjoy the stories too! Another member of the society, Aiden Perrins, thinks this is because it has some “serious plot points and can illicit an emotional response in people of all ages.” One great thing about Harry Potter is the community it has given rise to. Ashley and Aiden both cited meeting fun, interesting, and like-minded people as a reason they are part of the Harry Potter society. The other Potter related group on

campus is our Quidditch team. The sport obviously originated in the Harry Potter stories but over the last few years has grown to be a sport in its own right. Eric, coach of the Hertfordshire Horntails, says that the Quidditch community is “one of the most accepting, welcoming, loving and caring” communities that he’s ever been involved with. The thing I personally love the most about the wizarding world of Harry Potter is how much thought and dedication J.K. Rowling put into it. Pottermore is a website where users can explore the stories on a new, interactive level, collecting fun items and ingredients for potion-making along the way. They can also learn spells, compete in duels and even take a quiz to be officially sorted into a house.

There are ‘extras’ to be unlocked which are new pieces of writing from J.K. Rowling about different aspects of the world from owls to Azkaban. She goes into depth about a lot of the characters, most recently Dolores Umbridge and Sybill Trelawney, and also talks about seemingly mundane features of the world such as wizarding money and clothing. Although I assume many authors imagine their fictional worlds in more detail than they include in their works, I love how J.K. Rowling has let fans in on this background knowledge where most haven’t, repeatedly opening up and offering new scenes of an already rich, vibrant and fascinating world to an entire generation that just can’t get enough of Harry Potter.

PHOTO BY ALEX JUNGELING

The magical world of Harry Potter

BY BETHANY JAMES

X-Factor

Who could have thought that from the moment that Hear’Say won the first series of Popstars, it could have ever spawned into the reality pop star search that has taken over the globe. X Factor, for those who have lived under a rock of the last ten years, is the ‘music’ competition to find a new pop star. The brainchild of music mogul Simon Cowell, The X Factor in the UK is now in its 11th series with over 30 versions around the world. The X Factor has truly become Simon Cowell’s cash cow in the television industry. So as we reach the final of the 11th series of the British X Factor, what has happened to the previous ten winners and is winning really the

best thing to do with the X Factor? Let’s start with Series One, well that got awkward. After winning, Steve Brookstein publically fell out with Mr Cowell and his management and was soon dropped from the label that signed him after the X Factor. Runners up, G4 are apparently still going however currently are unsigned. Winner, Brookstein, released the album Forgotten Man in March of 2014, from its chart position, it seems he could have been writing about himself. From Series Two and Three, the only good things that can be said are that we sent one of them to Eurovision (Andy Abraham) and once

again didn’t win. Leona Lewis created one of the most catchy and most irritating songs of 2007, and Ray Quinn has become a really good ice skater following his appearance on the ITV show Dancing on Ice. Series Five was a little bit of a saving grace for the show after spitting out Alexandra Burke and JLS, however, since JLS split allowing Marvin Humes and his Saturday’s wife Rochelle to ruin ‘This Morning’ for everyone, its all down to Alexandra. Since Alexandra’s 2012 album, she has been pretty under the radar. Where is she? Probably lost in the pop wilderness. Just as we thought it was back on track, Series Six and

Seven produced Joe McElderry and Matt Cardle, another two pop failures. Although McElderry is the only winner to achieve four consecutive top 10 albums. Olly Murs and Rebecca Ferguson who both came second are now producing credible music and still going strong. Series Seven spawned one of the biggest pop franchises of the 21st century, One Direction. After coming a meager third place, they have gone on to take over the world with hit after hit showing that winning the series is not always the best thing. Series Eight through 10 saw Cowell leave the panel, what a bad move that was. The

only act that can really be granted a success was Little Mix who are still going however each of the other winners from the last three series have just been a bit meh. Who knows what will happen to the next winner of the X Factor and if the show will survive in its current format. Cowell’s return was evidence of the shows demise during his campaign to launch the American X Factor, and since it was reported that the US version had been cancelled because Cowell has left, is It possible that Cowell is the key ingredient to the shows winning recipe.

X-FACTOR WINNERS:Where are they now?

BY BRAD JOHNSON

13

ENTERTAINMENT

The Hunger Games fans worldwide can breathe a sigh of relief, as the much anticipated third film was just as good as expected. Fast paced, feisty and full of eye candy, The Hunger Games is one of the most thrilling film series of all time. The story is set in Panem, a nation formed of the wealthy Capitol region and the 12 poorer districts that mostly live in poverty. The Hunger Games themselves is an annual televised event where one boy and one girl from each district is reaped and sent into the arena, where they must fight to the death and leave one survivor to claim victory.

The much anticipated third film, Mockingjay: Part 1 comes after the explosive end of the Quarter Quell in the previous film; where the tributes were chosen from the past victors of the Hunger Games. The star of the films, Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) wakes up in District 13 joined by President Coin (Julianne Moore) and Plutarch Heavensbee (the late Phillip Seymour Hoffman) and is asked to be the Mockingjay of the rebellion against the Capitol. Lawrence is the main attraction of the film; her effortless acting honestly makes you believe that she was

born to play Katniss. Loved by both male and female fans, she makes the film believable and you feel complete empathy towards her as she pines for Peeta Mallark (Josh Hutcherson) still in the Capitol’s hands. Despite the film lacking an actual Hunger Games within the film, this one is completely different... but still as exciting as ever. With just enough edge-of-your-seat moments and emotion, this is the type of film you could watch over and over again. The other thing the film lacked was the presence of Peeta, only seen briefly as a video link and in the explosive

end scene (which I won’t spoil for those who haven’t watched it!) The midnight screening of Mockingjay: Part 1 was an exciting event, an eclectic mix of fans from groups of students, to groups of adults– all with a common love for The Hunger Games. The excitement was added to with a free Katniss poster which now hangs proudly on my wall! Mockingjay is the type of film not to miss, don’t wait for it to come out on DVD, go see it as soon as possible and you will not be disappointed. Suzanne Collins’ books are something which can also be read

in addition to the film. These are some of the only films where I felt that they lived up to the book and actually just make you enjoy the film more! After reading the books, you may feel a slight annoyance that some parts are left out or adapted; but honestly, what film adaptations have you seen that don’t do this? Through the original books you gain an improved understanding of not only the characters but the whole idea of the Capitol and rebellion. True Hunger Games lovers should DEFINITELY pick up the books.

The Hunger Games review: May the odds be ever in your favour!

BY CHLOE BURROWES

INNOVATION

PHOTO FROM BAYFORDBURY OBSERVATORY

Comet landingOUT OF THIS WORLD

Over 10 years after its launch, the Rosetta spacecraft’s lander probe, Philae, has touched down on the comet, 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko (try saying that five times fast). This decade-long mission was set up by the European Space Agency and cost the European taxpayer around €1.6 billion. I interviewed the University of Hertfordshire’s own Mark Gallaway, the Principal Technical Officer at Bayfordbury Observatory, about the landing.

BM: If you could compare the comet landing to another breakthrough in science, what would it be? Mark Gallaway: Scientifically, it probably compares with the first proper Mars by probes like Viking, or even the Moon landings; certainly the Moon landings after the original Apollo 11 mission when they were all focused on science; and that’s basically how we learned about the Moon and learned about the surface of Mars. Although, well we always do these things, we end up asking more questions than we actually get answered. So, we’ve already gone to comets, so there was the Giotto mission which flew into the tail of Halley‘s Comet, and there were also several other probes that joined it at that time. We’ve also had Stardust which has actually sampled the tail of the comet, and we’ve also had Deep Impact which has blown a hole into the comet and had a look. But, as I’ve said

before, these are all things that generate just as many questions as they answer, so this is why we’ve had to have Philae and Rosetta because we need to answer more questions. And actually since the time since those missions have happened we’ve learned a lot more about the Earth and organic molecules in importance to life, and one of the reasons is to see if the organic compounds they carry are the building blocks of life. In fact there’s some idea about Panspermia, that life has come from space rather than life evolved from Earth, so these are the sort of things we’re looking for from comets. So, it’s important for general science; it’s just biology, not astronomy.

BM: What does the comet landing mean for the future of astrophysics? MG: Oh, that’s a tricky question isn’t it? It’s difficult to tell at the moment, because we don’t know how much science we’ve got out of it. A lot of it will depend on how Philae responds as the comet gets closer to the Sun; so we’re hoping it will eventually get enough sunlight to charge its batteries and we’ll be able to start her up again, because we’re 100% sure that she’s been able to make a core sample.

Certainly Rosetta is going to do lots of research. I don’t think, actually, the impact isn’t so big for astrophysics as it is for astrobiology; if we find the organic molecules we think we’re going to find, it could

have a big impact on our understanding of how life formed on Earth, and also what the chances of life on other planets is. So if organic molecules are being delivered by comets, then:“There’s a good chance that organic molecules are being delivered by comets all over the universe, which will have big impact on the chances of there being life...”...which is more an astrobiology question rather than an astrophysics question.

BM: What was your reaction when Philae landed? MG: Oh that was quite exciting! So, I’m old enough to remember the Moon landings, which is really exciting; in fact I remember when I was seven when I saw the… I’m deviating, but I remember them really really vividly, the Apollo landings, particularly the 1972 Apollo Landing.

So, it’s sort of that level of excitement, really, with Philae. Although there’s quite a lot of

concern, things haven’t gone quite as planned, as you probably know, and things didn’t work, but you learn from those lessons. But it was really really exciting, particularly for the scientists that worked on it, when you’ve got something like a spacecraft which is going out deep into the solar system, for example like Rosetta. When you’ve got these space missions that basically take you a whole career, to see it work, you can imagine the tension that those people have as they’ve spent their lives working on this thing. And it’s either going to work… or it isn’t! It’s nice to see people celebrating when it does work, it’s empowering for them, it’s really great. We get a lot of stick, as scientists and engineers about wasting money and things, but we can achieve really incredibly things, I don’t think people appreciate how hard it is. Science fiction has spoiled people, they think it’s like Star Trek where we can cure a virus or reprogram a robot to do something else. It’s incredibly hard, I don’t think the public realise how really incredibly hard

it is. If you’re on a space mission you can’t go down to Tesco or Maplin and buy a spacecraft, these are one off devices that are insanely difficult to build, and they have to operate in some of the world’s, well, the Universe’s most hostile environments. Space is incredibly hostile to things like electronics, solar panels, everything, and it’s amazing they work. I mean, I can’t get my phone to last more than 24 hours, how on Earth do you get batteries on a spacecraft thats been in deep cold to last 10 years?

It’s clear that the Philae landing on 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko means a lot for the future of science. Today’s astrophysics and biology students (and more) will draw on the research done at ESA when they become scientists themselves. Maybe a University of Hertfordshire student, one of you, might be involved in the first manned mission to Mars, or even an area of science we have never dreamed of. Hopefully, we can continue the never ending story of scientific discovery.

BY OLIVER PRICE

DEBUNKING THE SCIENCE MYTHS: When the world awoke to the news of a deadly new epidemic ravaging the west coast of Africa, very quickly, the word "Ebola" seemed synonymous with death and the destruction of social order. Panic and lack of public understanding has led to the emergence of misunderstandings about the disease. In this article, I am going to attempt to address some of these misconceptions. Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever, simply known as Ebola, was named after a river in the Democratic Republic of Congo located 60 miles away from one of the first incidents of the disease back in 1976. The Ebola virus is not a new phenomenon; since its discovery in the 70s there has been more than 30 different outbreaks, including 425 people infected in 2000, and 57 people in 2012. However, there is a lot of general misinformation about the nature of the virus

itself. The Ebola virus is not a single virus but a family or "genus" of five different strains - four of which are known to cause disease in humans. The first incident of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo was caused by one of these strains: the Zaire ebolavirus. This was followed shortly by the Sudan ebolavirus which occurred in the same year in Sudan, as the name suggests. Over the years, there have been cases of Bundibugyo ebolavirus, Tai Forest ebolavirus, and even cases of the harmless (to humans, anyway) Reston virus. These cases have been seen across the globe, though with the majority of cases limited to West Africa. The Ebola virus is not airborne or waterborne, nor can it be transmitted through casual contact. This means an ebola virus can only be passed on by direct contact between an Ebola-infected bodily fluid, e.g. blood, saliva,

semen, mucus, urine or faeces, to the eyes, nose, mouth, open cut, wound or abrasion of a healthy individual - therefore the people who are often infected with the virus are healthcare workers and family members who are trying to care for their already sick relatives. Furthermore, people who are suffering from Ebola can only pass on the disease while they are symptomatic, so it is easily avoidable if the necessary precautions are taken. The current Ebola outbreak in West Africa is caused by the Zaire ebolavirus and is by far the largest outbreak that has ever occurred; however its spread has little to do with the lethality of the virus but rather more to do with the lack of resources faced by those treating it. While it is undoubtedly a dangerous adversary, the spread of Ebola can be stopped by providing adequate hospital services which

are generally lacking in these areas. Some of these hospitals are lacking even the basic running water which makes infection control very difficult. While this disease has the capability to cause a large pandemic, it should be used to highlight the lack of basic medical infrastructure that is present in these areas of Africa. Providing basic healthcare is not only vital to the safety of the West African population but to the general human race as a whole. This outbreak is also a prompt to many medical research units and pharmaceutical companies to invest in better medication towards fighting viral infections. Viruses cannot be treated with antibiotics, which only work against bacteria, and there are no real cures for Ebola. However, many scientists have been working on experimental drugs which have been used to treat some patients already.

While these drugs were available for some patients there are not enough resources available to treat all infected patients and many have died without them. Cases like this remind us that there is an advantage to remaining vigilant towards possible pandemics and the need for the expansion of scientific research. If you are living in the UK and are worried about the possibility of catching Ebola: don't. While there are isolated cases in North America and Europe, these are highly unlikely to spread past these individuals. Comparatively, the UK is also known for its excellent quality healthcare professionals and medical resources, so if you happen to face the unlikely scenario of catching the virus, they will have you back on your feet quite quickly. This cannot be said for everyone so please be sure to visit.msf.org.uk/ebola and donate to this charity to help save a life from Ebola.

BY BETTY FEKADE

Ebola

17

INNOVATION

The 13th of November was a big moment for phone nerds like me. After what seemed like a delay that spanned a new Ice Age (it was about 2 weeks), Google finally rolled out Android 5.0 Lollipop to their Nexus 5 phone. Android Lollipop is the latest pudding themed release of Android from Google; these delicious names started in April 2009 with Android 1.5 Cupcake (beforehand only numbers were used). Android Cupcake introduced support to third party virtual keyboards, homescreen widgets, and a copy and paste feature. Copy and paste seems so basic, that it seems like it should have existed on smartphones since forever, but the fact that this all happened just five years ago, and the amount of progress that has happened since then is, in my humble opinion, a testament to the greatness and speed in the advancement of technology. Other version names of Android, in order, are: 1.5 Donut, 2.0 Eclair, 2.2 Froyo, 2.3 Gingerbread, 3.0 Honeycomb (which was released solely for tablets), 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, 4.1 Jellybean, 4.4 KitKat, and now 5.0 Lollipop. Since Cupcake, Android has rocketed from 3.9% of the mobile operating system market share to a massive 84.7% in Q2 2014. Android Lollipop introduces a radical new design language called Material Design; this is a change from the flat futurism of Holo, which has existed since Ice Cream Sandwich, to a blend of flatness and layered skeuomorphism. Material Design takes its inspiration from paper; Google wants everything on your phone to come from somewhere, and have a sense of purpose and belonging with the rest of the system. An example of this is in the new stock calculator app; you know where the advanced panel is coming from, you can see that it slides out like a new sheet of paper above the background, creating a shadow beneath it. What it looks like in a picture is only half the story though. Lollipop is chock-full of animation. It shows something coming from somewhere, expanding from somewhere else. Nothing ever just appears, everything has a purpose. Unfortunately, there has been a problem with consistency in Google’s updates to its own apps. For example,

Google’s Hangouts messaging service has yet to be updated to Material Design but still sports a very Holo-esque look. It may not seem like a lot, but it sends a message that Google doesn’t have coherency in its design and in its organisation. There's also the strange removal of the silent setting, leaving only vibrate and priority, which silences everything except important messages. Everyone loves biometrics, from Apple’s TouchID to futuristic retina scanners; Lollipop refines the facial unlock features that were introduced in Ice Cream Sandwich. In older versions of Android you could set your phone to recognise your face, but the implementation was incredibly clunky (left, Jellybean). Upon the lockscreen appeared a big square box to fill your face, which will immediately unlock the phone if it recognises you, whereas with the revamped smart unlock (right, Lollipop) feature there is no big unwieldy box and your phone will not instantly unlock, but give you permission to unlock your phone without a password input. Obviously, face unlock is not the most secure feature in the world, as it can be broken by downloading your profile picture off Facebook (sorry, Google+), but it will stop your friends from texting your mum, “I’m pregnant.” For Digital Assistant fans, Google Now remains as integral part to the Android experience, with a a few improvements here and there. The main modification is that you can now say “Okay Google,” on any screen, including the lock screen, to activate voice commands, such as “Remind me to write an article on Android Lollipop when I get home,” or, “How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?”. This allows for a much more hands free and versatile interaction with your phones features. Android Lollipop shipped with Project Volta, Google’s attempt to squeeze as much longevity out of your phone as possible; and as someone with a Nexus 5 which only has a 2,300 mAh battery in it, this is a godsend. I’ve only had Lollipop for a couple of days, but I reckon that I’ve been able to cram an extra 10-15 minutes or so of screen-on time from my phone. Not life changing, but incredibly useful for getting more time to browse cat

pictures on the internet. Another battery change is the introduction of a battery saving mode into stock android, this slows down your processor speed and disables anything not necessary to keep the phone running, such as fancy animations; I’ve set power saving mode to automatically enable when the battery reaches 15%, and I’ve managed to stretch that 15% for around another 30-odd minutes of screen-on time. I imagine this will help people on long walks who get lost… or those who want to order pizza at 3 in the morning. Perhaps my favourite feature of Lollipop is the included Easter Egg, a ridiculously hard Flappy Bird clone (when I say ridiculously hard, I mean it, with a top score of four) featuring the little green android flying between lollipop sticks. If you want to access it, go to settings, click on about phone, and repeatedly click on Android Version- 5.0. If you are wondering when your phone or tablet will get Android 5.0 Lollipop: if you have a Nexus device the rollout has already started so you should get the update within a couple of weeks; if you have a Moto X or Moto G, then you should be waiting a similar amount of time. HTC have promised to update their HTC One devices within 90 days of getting the code from Google; Sony have promised to deliver Lollipop to their entire line of Xperia devices, but have yet to give a date; if you have a Samsung Galaxy S5 or Note 4 then you should pencil in December 2014 / January 2015 for the update, but if you have an older Samsung device, then don’t hold your breath. Android Lollipop has got off to a promising start, despite a few bugs and inconsistencies, the design is absolutely beautiful and a radical and positive move forwards from the previous versions of android. Several new features have been added with varying degrees of success, but undoubtedly, those with less success will be abandoned or improved, and those that have captured the imagination of android users will get a lot of focus. It’s now down to networks and phone companies to update their phones and tablets with their interpretations of Lollipop.

BY OLIVER PRICE

ONE TASTY TREAT Old

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LIFESTYLE

PHOTO BY BARBRO ANDERSON

GET THE LOOK

BODYWARMERJACK WILLS£89

HOODIERALPH LAUREN£70

David Aragón, Film and TV (MA) Bodywarmer – Jack Wills (£89)Hoodie – Ralph Lauren (£70)Polo Shirt – Hollister (£20)Trousers – Dockers (£65)Socks – Primark (£2)

Lauren Faires, History (BA)Coat – Topshop (£80)Shirt – Boohoo (£18)Jeans – River Island (£40)Air Max Shoes – Offi ce (£94.99)Socks – Miss Selfridge (£3.50)

It’s that time of year again where you dust off the duffl e coats and pull out the old thick jumpers. However, some students around campus haven’t let the arctic conditions phase them and have spruced themselves up with a brand new winter wardrobe. BlueMoon approached three stylish students this month and even managed to fi nd one of the most fashionable and designer-labelled guys on campus! Whilst a few students we spoke to about their winter look told us their new wardrobe broke the bank a little, they also shared that spending that amount of money has guaranteed them good quality and long lasting clothes for many winters to come.

FashionO N C A M P U S

Tia Marsom, History with Mandarin (BA)Coat – Topshop (£78)Top – Topshop (£15)Jeans – Topshop (£40)Socks – Primark (£2)Shoes – Timberland (£65)

PARKATOPSHOP£80

JEANSRIVER ISLAND£40

PARKATOPSHOP£78BOOTSTIMBERLAND£78

PUG SOCKSPRIMARK£2

BY SHELBY LOASBY

PHOTOS BY SHELBY LOASBY

It’s almost that time of the year again – the season of warm cocoas and fuzzy Christmas jumpers! It’s undeniable that winter is the most romantic season of the four. However, it’s not the kindest season for your skin and you definitely want to look your best, especially for your loved ones. BlueMoon has a few key tips on gearing your skin up for the winter.

Switch up your skincare regimeIn order to prevent your skin from drying out during the winter, it is crucial you switch up your skincare. Switch to a heavier (if possible oil-based) moisturizer and use it religiously especially at night as skin repairs itself optimally overnight. Try using an oil based cleanser or cream cleansers instead of a foaming wash as it will not dry your skin out that much. Skip toner if possible, but if you really have to retain this step, opt for an alcohol-free toner instead.

HumidifiersThe extremely cold air outdoors and that artificial heat indoors is a really bad concoction as it

sucks moisture out from your skin especially if you are sleeping with the heater on all night. Humidifiers are a great way to put moisture back into the air and it also helps soothe dryness and any irritations that you might have. Budget beauty: Most of us readers are students, we don’t have the priority to invest in a humidifier. A cheaper alternative is to place a dish or a bowl of water near the heater. Once the water heats up, the water evaporates into the air, thus releasing moisture – the same way a humidifier works!

Take short showersThe one thing we love to do during the winter to warm ourselves up is taking long hot showers/baths. However, the extreme high temperature in the water will strip all of our skin’s moisture. But of course we still need to take our showers, so try cutting down on your long baths and lower the temperature of your bath a little, trust me – it will help.

Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate!I cannot stress enough

how important this step is, especially in the winter. Exfoliating is a simple process where you scrub off and eliminate any dead skin cells accumulated on your skin and it can be done swiftly in the shower. You can get body scrubs from the drugstore or you can just pair your body wash with a loofah or a muslin cloth. Remember not to scrub too hard or you might agitate the skin. Budget beauty: Make your own scrub! Pair sugar and honey together and start scrubbing away! The sugar in the mix causes friction against your skin which removes the dead skin and honey is a simple healing property that conditions your skin. Cheap and au naturel!

Maximum moisturizationThis step really goes without saying. A body lotion or a body butter should be everyone’s staple item during the winter and should be sitting everywhere around your room, and including your bag! Moisturize at least twice a day, morning and night. Incorporating oil to your regime is important as well especially for people

who have extremely dry flaky skin like me! You can look for pumpkin seed oil, grapeseed oil or even argan oil – which works wonderfully for your hair as well. (Biggest tip: Apply your creams and lotions as soon after you shower. The warmth and moisture from the air and your skin opens up the pores, allowing your products to penetrate fully into the skin)

Chapstick for chapped lipsWe all want to kiss and be kissed under the mistletoe and on the start of the New Year. The last thing we want is to kiss someone with really chapped, dry, peeling, and flaky looking lips. It doesn’t hurt to keep a chapstick or a lip balm with us wherever we go, it’s so tiny you really don’t feel a thing. Reapply each time necessary and your lips will thank you. Beeswax or hemp-flavored products heals your lips the best.Budget beauty: Make out! There is no faster and better way to keep your lips hydrated. Don’t go kissing and telling!

Sun protection factorEven though the sun only shows up for a couple of hours during winter, it is still as important to use SPF. The harmful UVA and UVB rays are still out working hard to give people wrinkles and fine lines. Many people neglect using SPF during the winter, but to save time and money, use products that already have SPF incorporated. For example, your lip balm or your foundation.(Biggest tip: Don’t wear SPF if you’re going for a party at night if you don’t want a white cast or sheen on your face when taking flash photography)

Hydrate-2-OHydration and moisturization are two totally separate things. Hydration retains water internally and externally whilst moisturization keeps moisture on the outer layer of the skin. It is important not to be dehydrated especially during the winter.Budget beauty: Drink plenty of water. You can never go wrong with water.

WINTERPROOFBEAUTY

BY MAY TAN

PHOTOS BY MAY TAN & BARBRO ANDERSON

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LIFESTYLE

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

FESTIVE SPECIAL

Christmas time, a time where a special two week edition of the Radio Times comes out to show all the tv and fi lms on over the Christmas period. Some Christmas fi lms will make you laugh, some will make you cry, some will do both; but there’s no doubt about it that some fi lms just have to be seen during the holidays. This list runs down the top fi ve Christmas fi lms to watch this festive season.

Home Alone - (Chris Columbus -1990)The fi lm that very much started and ended Macaulay Culkin’s career

as an actor. Based around a negligent family that forget their son as they go away for Christmas doesn’t sound like the best plot for a family fi lm but bear with me. The young Kevin McAllister must protect his home from a pair of idiotic, but persistent, burglars. This one is sure to make the whole family laugh this holiday.

Elf - (Jon Favreau - 2003) This year Sky Movies have bought the rights to show the Will Ferrell classic, taking the offi cial start of Christmas away from Channel 4 But nevertheless it has to be on the list

because I know many of you will watch Elf during the season to be jolly, with it’s comical moments of Will Ferrell adjusting to life in the big apple and heart warming moments from Zooey Deschanel and James Caan.

The Muppet Christmas Carol - (Brian Henson - 1992)A Christmas Carol is a classic story by Charles Dickens that you thought couldn’t be improved, until you add a green frog, a sassy karate chopping pig, and their group of kooky friends. They can change what was a great book

into a piece of Christmas magic. As a fi lm that can make you laugh and cry I urge you to watch this fi lm, it has a special place in my heart and I hope it does in yours too.

It’s a Wonderful Life - (Frank Capra - 1946) This 1946 fi lm is a wonderful example of a timeless piece of cinema. Ranking at number 26 on IMDB’s list of the greatest fi lms of all time just shows how much people love the fi lm, with it’s lovely sentiment and the perfect tone for a yuletide family viewing.

The Nightmare Before Christmas - (Henry Selick - 1993) No fi lm list is complete without mentioning eccentric but original writer Tim Burton. His look at Christmas from the view of fi ctional Halloweentown, also what I expect the inner workings of his imagination is like, is creative and refreshing to see. It can make us rejoice at Christmas time following the humdrum of fi lms revolving around Mr Claus.

TOP 5X-MASF I L M S

BY AIDEN PERRINS

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BY BARBARA HOLGUIN

With festive times around the corner what better way than to celebrate with a nice cocktail that you can share with your fl atmates. We have narrowed it down to our top three alcoholic cocktails and a mocktail for all those that prefer non-alcoholic drinks.

Daiquiri With A Twist

Ingredients:1-½ ounces of light rum ¾ ounces of lime juice ¼ ounces simple syrup

Directions: Begin by pouring 1-½ ounces of light rum into a cocktail shaker, ¾ ounces of lime juice and ¼ ounces of simple syrup. Shake it until it is completely mixed and add salt onto the edge the cup. You can do this by using a wet cup and placng it upside down onto the plate until the edges are covered in salt. This cocktail is perfect for Christmas house parties, enjoy!

Mojito-A-La-Red

Ingredients: 2-tablespoons of sugar 6-8 mint leaves Club soda1 lime halved 2 ounces of light rum 2-4 raspberries

Directions: Begin by adding 2 tablespoons of sugar to a cocktail shakers, add 6-8 mint leafs, half a cup of club soda, a half of a lime, 2 ounces of light rum and 2-4 raspberries. Shake until everything is well mixed. Add some ice to give it a cooler taste. This drink is perfect to make before a night out or even with your family. Hope you enjoy!

Virgin Piña Colada

Ingredients: 1 cup of ice 1 ¼ cup of pineapple juice ½ cup of milk½ cup of heavy cream 2-tablespoons of sugar

Direction: Put a whole cup of ice into a cocktail shaker, add 1 ¼ cup of pineapple juice, then ½ cup of milk, ½ cup heavy cream then fi nish off by adding two tablespoons of sugar. Finish off by shaking until all the ingredients are well mixed together. This last drink is absolutely perfect for those who prefer to not have any alcohol. Plus, the white colour of the drink is perfect for the upcoming festive season.

All these drinks are also perfect for every season of the year. Making these drinks are super affordable and I brought all of the ingredients for under £20! Hope you enjoy making these! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all Hertfordshire students!

Woo Woo

Ingredients:1 shot of Vodka1 shot of peach schnapps 4 shots raspberry juice

Directions: Begin by pouring a shot of each ingredient into a cocktail shaker. 1 shot of Vodka, 1 shot of peach schnapps, 4 shots of cranberry juice. This will be enough for one person to enjoy. Finish off by adding a lime onto the edge of the cup. The colour of the drink is perfect for the festive season!

FESTIVE

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Everyone knows it’s Christmas time when the songs are playing everywhere; the shops, the radio, the TV. The other thing we all know is that the best way to spread Christmas cheer, is singing loud for all to hear. So get ready as we list the best Christmas songs to belt out with your friends and family.

All I Want For Christmas Is You - Mariah Carey - Who doesn’t love to do their best impression of Mariah Carey during the holidays? This song is one that everyone loves not only for it’s Christmassy feel and uplifting melody but also the sweetness of the lyrics and the emotion you can hear in her voice. Just remember to be careful of nearby glass when trying to hit those high notes guys.

Fairytale of New York (The Pogues feat. Kirsty MacColl) - This is the perfect couple duet for yuletide karaoke. It is also best known for those primary school Christmas discos waiting to hear the swearing in it, which at the time was some of the worst language we knew of. But even without that it’s still simply a great song to listen to and have a good old sing song this holiday.

Do They Know It’s Christmas? (Band Aid) - Re-recorded this year, the charity single above all other charity singles is emotionally moving and although keeping with Christmas spirit is a gentle

reminder of what is happening around the world. Whatever your opinion of Bob Geldof may be, his charity work with Band Aid is helping people all around the world throughout the year.

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (Various Artists) - There have been so many covers of this classic song throughout the years it’s hard to know who to name. The first version to chart was in 1963 by the Four Seasons and the covers have not stopped since. Everyone knows the words to this song and can enjoy some impromptu carolling at anytime we hear it.

Merry Xmas Everybody (Slade) - As soon as Christmas day arrives we all have that inner Noddy Holder screaming “It’s Christmasssss”. This is such a classic Christmas song to get people in the mood for turkey, family, laughter, drinking, and, of course, presents.

White Christmas (Bing Crosby) - Aren’t we all dreaming of a white Christmas really? The crisp snow on the ground to make Christmas look how it should, just like on the Christmas cards. This slow song can really take the edge off what can be quite a stressful time of year, depending on how far ahead you plan your festivities.

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! (Woody Herman) - Another

song with many covers, however the original came out in 1946 recorded by Woody Herman. Much like White Christmas, this song reflects how we want Christmas to go, with a delightful fire inside whilst unique snowflakes float gently to the ground outside.

I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday (Wizzard) - No Christmas party is complete without a little bit of magic from Wizzard. Wishing it could be Christmas everyday is probably not something that happens often in real life, but it’s a lovely thought nonetheless and brings merriment to all occasions.

Santa Baby (Eartha Kitt) - With popular covers from the likes of Madonna, Kylie Minogue and Ariana Grande, this song adds a little cheekiness to the festive season. All about a woman wanting extravagant gifts such as yachts and convertibles, there is something about this song which definitely sets off the nerves of men all around the world.

Merry Christmas Everyone (Shakin’ Stevens) - This just brings a sense of joy to everyone at Christmas time. When Mr Stevens comes on the radio whilst you’re driving around looking for a last minute present for that uncle you forgot existed you know everything is going to be just fine.

BY AIDEN PERRINS

The best Christmas sing-alongs

BY LAURA NOAKES

WINTER WONDERLAND

Winter Wonderland is now a festive staple! It’s basically a Christmas explosion in Hyde Park - there are fairground rides, Christmas Markets and a chance to visit Santa! Winter Wonderland is free to enter but because it’s so popular, make sure you get tickets for any of the main attractions early as tickets frequently sells out on the weekend and evenings. Visit hydeparkwinterwonderland.com/ for more information.

HARRY POTTER TOUR

If you are a closet witch or wizard, this is going to be the one for you. Until February 2014, the Harry Potter Studio Tour will be doing ‘Hogwarts in the Snow’. Not only will you see Hogwarts covered in a white blanket, but there will be festive props from the movies on show and there is a chance to see Mrs Weasley’s famous knitted jumpers! With a shuttle bus service from Watford Junction train station it isn’t difficult to get to either.

ICE SKATING

There are loads of places to go ice skating at this time of the year, but my favourite would have to be Eyeskate at the London Eye, where you can skate beneath the London Eye. As well as been a new way to see one of London’s most famous landmarks, with prices starting from £9.45 per adult it’s not going to break the bank.

PANTOMINE

Nothing screams Christmas more than the classic British pantomime. Panto’s are fun, camp and a perfect way to get in the festive spirit. Aladdin is being performed at The Gordon Craig Theatre in Stevenage (15 minutes on the train from Hatfield) and stars Eastenders actor Shaun Williamson and Paul Laidlaw as Widow Twankey. To book tickets go to gordon-craig.co.uk/whats-on/aladdin/

Where are you going for some festive fun? Let us know @TridentMediaUK!

Best places to visit for that festive feeling!

PHOTO BY REBECCA HARDING

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FEST IVERECIPES

STRAWBERRY SANTAS

This one is for those of you who maybe don’t have the knack for cooking - it is SO easy, and there is no baking involved whatsoever. It is also pretty healthy, and looks very cute at Xmas parties.

IngredientsStrawberriesWhipped CreamWriting Icing

MethodRemove the leaves, then wash and cut your strawberries in halfSquirt whipped cream in the middle of your two strawberry half’s (that’s Santa’s beard) and on top of the pointy end of the strawberry (that’s the bobble on Santa’s hat).Using your writing icing, draw Santa a face.ENJOY!

BY LAURA NOAKES

FESTIVE WHITE HOT CHOCOLATE

This recipe is a little more tricky, but it is worth it! This hot chocolate is so warming and yummy!

Ingredients200 grams of white chocolate2 cups of semi-skimmed milk2 cups of double cream1 tablespoon vanilla extractA pinch of cardamomA pinch of nutmeg1 cinnamon stickWhipped cream (to top your hot chocolate off)

MethodMelt the white chocolate in a saucepan.Add all the other ingredients (minus the whipped cream) and cook on low heat for an hour.Pour yourself a mug, and top with whipped cream.

BY LAURA NOAKES

FESTIVE

CLASSIC CHRISTMAS CUPCAKES

What’s Christmas without Christmas Cake? Nothing, in my opinion. This mini version of the classic festive favourite is perfect for one person.

Ingredients70 grams of butter, put some extra for greasing70 grams of dark muscovado sugar1 egg, beaten1 teaspoon black treacle70 grams of self-raising flour1 teaspoon mixed spice1/2 teaspoon baking powder100 grams mixed fruit50 grams fondant icing50 grams royal icing

MethodSet your oven at 180c. Mix everything, except the fruit together until your mixture is pale in colour.Stir the fruit in.Bake in the oven for 25 minutes. Let your cupcakes cool, then cover with fondant icing.Then mix some royal icing with some water until it makes peaks. Cover your cupcake with the royal icing.Decorate and enjoy.

PHOTOS BY LAURA NOAKES

29

FESTIVE

4Sort out a Secret Santa with friends. 5Crack open the

mulled wine. 6Go ice skating! Somerset House, National History Museum and Winter Wonderland are all beautiful places to go.

10 11 1216 17 1822 23 24

Students’ Unions’ Christmas Market 11am -3pm Forum Foyer

Christmas fi lm marathon: Home Alone, Elf, The Grinch, Muppets Christmas Carol, The Polar Express.

Party! Flirt Xmas Ball ft Marvin Humes & Alex Zane. Students’ Union’s Christmas Extravaganza 10am deHav Atrium.

Try not to cry about deadlines.

Have a Christmas dinner with housemates.

Snuggle up at watch an oldie. It’s A Wonderful Life, White Christmas, the original Santa Claus: The Movie!

Accidently get a little too merry at a family get together.

Get the Bublé on.

Realise you’re still a child because you can’t sleep.

Being a student at Christmas can be tough. You're skint, you're up to your eyeballs in deadlines and it feels like you've got ten thousand things to organise before the end of term. With all that it can be a little hard to get in the Christmas spirit, so follow us on Twitter and Instagram @TridentMediaUK for a daily advent to help beat the end of year stress and keep you feeling festive! You can even send us your own pictures with #TridentAdvent!

BY JENNIE COULING

Being a student at Christmas can be tough. You're skint, you're up to your eyeballs in deadlines and it feels like you've got ten thousand things to organise before the end of term. With all that it can be a little hard to get in the Christmas spirit, so follow us on Twitter and Instagram @TridentMediaUK for a daily advent to help beat the end of year stress and keep you feeling festive! You can even send us your own pictures with #TridentAdvent!

BY JENNIE COULING

TRIDENT MEDIA

1 Open fi rst window of Advent Calendar. Bonus points if you don’t scoff them all in the fi rst week.

Go out and get decorations with your housemates and decorate the house. It’s never too early.2 3Set yourself a Christmas

budget. It’s easy to go overboard but remember, a small thoughtful gift can be appreciated more!

Start the Christmas shopping now or you’ll regret it.7 8 9

13 14 1519 20 21

25

Make a Gingerbread house. Extra points if it actually stays up.

Whack out the Christmas jumper

Go and see some Christmas lights! Regent St, Bond St and Convent Garden all have beautiful displays.

Eat, drink and be merry at EleHouse Quiz Night 8-11pm.

Get cooking! Try out some of our Christmas recipes (pg28).

Start wrapping presents.

Get excited about going home. Family, old friends, home cooking, alcohol … bliss.

Eat your body weight in mince pies.

Explode with excitement! If you still don’t feel Christmassy after all that you’re worse than Scrooge.

ADVENT CALENDAR

31

FESTIVE

bluemoon | january 2015

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