Month: Feb 2019

That Guy – Belle Brooks

by melissay1, posted in Book Review

That Guy tells the story of Melinda. She has the worst luck in finding love and even when she isn’t trying to find love she still manages to embarrass himself in the front of attractive men in the supermarket. Then her best friend Chris, convinces her to sign her to a new dating tv show that statistically matches potential romantic partner. Within hours of applying she gets matched and finds herself flying to a secret island to spend weeks with her match. Little does Mindy know that the guy she’s matched with her path has crossed with before.

I was so close to giving up reading this book. I started and found Mindy hilarious and then I just found that it dragged, I really just wanted to give up reading but thankfully I didn’t. Once Mindy started heading to the island it was a game changer. I couldn’t put it down! On reflection I feel like you need the beginning for good backstory on her dating history but for me its the island when things started getting good. If you start reading this book, keep plodding on, I promise that its worth it.

I loved characters Mindy and Arlie which made reading their experiences on the island even more enjoyable. It was also an interesting concept to watch two characters getting to know each other without the pressures of outside life interfering – even if it was going to be filmed for a tv show with millions of people potentially watching. I didn’t however really like Chris, Mindy’s gay best friend. To be honest, I found him a little annoying and for me the book probably would’ve been better without him.

I did enjoy the idea of the storyline too. Two characters meet on a television reality dating show and the story tells the adventures on said dating show – I think that’s a great idea! It was fun reading about the tasks they had to participate in whilst on the island too. I also really liked the twist at the end of the book too!

This book is ok. I enjoyed reading it and I did like the characters and at times it was funny, but overall I thought it was just an ok read.

Synopsis –

A modern way of finding love. One deserted island of luxury. Two people. Three out cards. And a whole lot of possibilities.

Melinda takes the advice of her best friend, Chris. She signs up to a new dating service that pairs you statistically to the one you’re supposed to love. Finding it – love that is – using the more conventional methods, has not been a successful venture for Mindy, and with her biological clock ticking, she uses a more desperate method and takes the plunge into a possible happily ever after.

The thing is, when she boards the boat to a secret location, she doesn’t realise the man waiting for her is someone she’s previously met.

Chance encounters occur more frequently than we realise. Being blind to them is part of a bustling world. But, being faced with them can lead to a hilarious three weeks between two opposites who might just attract.

CoppaFeel Trek 2019

by melissay1, posted in Other, Uncategorised

For those who don’t know, last year I participated in the biggest challenge I’ve ever undertaken – and lets be honest its probably the biggest challenge I’ll ever do in my lifetime. Last year, I was one of sixty lucky participants who was selected to take part in CoppaFeel’s annual trek and honestly it was one of the best experiences of my life. CoppaFeel (with the help of Fabulous magazine) have announced details of this years trek, they’re only going to be going to the Himalayas! Applications to go onto the trek close next week so I thought I would use this weeks post to write abit about my experience of doing the trek in case you were sitting on the fence about applying.

The trek I participated in saw me flying to Romania for a week long trek in Transylvania with sixty complete strangers. Its the strangest thing but if you’re worried about not knowing anyone don’t be! By the time we’d even landed in Romania friendships were already being made and by the flight home we all left with a bunch of new lifelong friends of who we’ll always have completing this crazy adventure in common with. You’re even paired with a complete stranger (I do believe they paired you up by age) who you spend the entirety of the week cooped up in the tiniest of tents with – I’m not even kidding, we couldn’t even stand up in our tent or put our tshirts on without almost hitting your tent mate! My tent buddy was the most lovely person in the world and I left the week feeling like I’d known her my entire life, we laughed through the week together and experienced the highs and lows of trek life.

My year was headed up by two celebrity captains, the very lovely Lisa Snowdon and Tom Fletcher. I liked being split up into two smaller teams as it meant you could speak to everyone on your team but you do see the other team plenty during the week. You knew everyone on your team and it was great to get to know every single person. Both of the team captains we had we fantastic and it was just like speaking to a friend and not a celebrity – which is exactly what you want on a trek like this! This years trek is captained by Giovanna Fletcher, Brooke Vincent and two unannounced team captains and I’m sure they’ll all be just as wonderful and supportive as our captains.

The walk itself…well where do I start! It is tiring and that is an understatement! I went into this walk having already pushed myself to try and get fitter (prior to this I did minimal exercise, the dog walk was about as far as it went…) and boy was that nowhere near enough. Day one came and I wondered what on earth I was doing and how on earth I was supposed to get through the rest of the week – especially as day one had been advertised as the ‘easy’ day. However, your team are the most supportive people and you’re not judged for being slower and struggling going uphill – yes just the uphill’s, I loved even the steepest downhills! They were quick to believe you can do it even when you’re convinced that you can’t and someone was always around to help you get up the hills, one step at a time. You’re never left to struggle on alone and I think that’s the best part of the CoppaFeel trek, everyone wants to cross that line as a team and no one see’s it as a race. Everyone just helped each other where they could. A slightly easier route was even factored into the plans on the big mountain day too which was greatly appreciated, so the week really is achievable by everyone. This years trek isn’t until November so hopefully those extra few months will be crucial to help get your fitness up ready for the trek. If I could complete the trek, anyone can!

The major downside to the CoppaFeel trek which was the main thing that put me off applying is the fundraising. You have to raise a lot of money to go as well as pay a deposit to secure your place. However, last year I managed to somehow raise over £3000 with relatively little effort! I’d planned fundraising concerts, car boots – anything really to try hit the target I needed to raise but I didn’t actually do any of it! You’ll be surprised at how generous people are when they hear you’re raising money for CoppaFeel and people will tell you so many stories about how breast cancer has affected them or a close family member, which when you’re struggling getting up mountains you find yourself thinking of these stories and it really helps you find the energy to carry on as you know what you’re doing is for such a good cause. However, I did have fantastic support, I had workmates asking departments I’d never even step foot in to sponsor me and I even had a friend do a 24 hour bikeathon with all monies going to my fundraising page. Help to fundraise comes in surprising ways and peoples generosity will never fail to astound you.

Really I can’t explain how much I would recommend doing the CoppaFeel trek. I’m not going to lie, it will be the hardest week of your life but it’s so completely worthwhile at the end. I’ve never felt such emotion as I have crossing the finish line on the final day! If you’re looking for a challenge and want to help raise money for a fantastic charity then I couldn’t recommend applying to take part in this trek enough – plus this years celebrates the 10th anniversary of CoppaFeel!

If anyone has any questions about the trek I’m more than happy to answer anything – believe me since I’ve come back I still find it hard to resist talking to people about ‘this one time in Transylvania’ or ‘that time I went on a trek’ so I really am happy to answer anything. Also, whilst your reading my blog post, remember to check your boobs! This is CoppaFeel’s main message and I know my eyes were opened on the trek how important early detection is and how breast cancer can affect any age or gender.

For more information on the trek and how to apply click hereFor more information on the trek and how to apply click here

 

 

Album Review / Half Way There – Busted

by melissay1, posted in Music

For me, Busted aren’t just that band that you get that nostalgic ‘oh I loved this band when I was younger’ kick from. They are the band that I’ve constantly loved since the early 2000s when they first appeared on the UK music scene. Basically anything they released, whether it was when they did individual projects or together, I was always guaranteed to love it because its Busted and I probably would be supporting them whatever but this album is genuinely an instant love at first listen.

Busted’s new album, Half Way There was released this week and it is basically everything you could ever have wanted from a Busted album. If you’ve ever been a fan of any of Busted’s music this album is for you, the guitars and unbelievably catchy songs are back. I absolutely loved the bands previous release Night Driver as it reminded me so much of band member James Bourne’s solo project Future Boy, but Half Way There is just a complete step up from that. I’d heard a very rough demo of Nineties, the first song released from the album back in September 2017 and when I’ve met the band since the last album they’ve excitedly said how much they love this album, so my excitement for this album has been around for a while but nothing could compete the with excitement I’ve had this week upon actually being able to listen to it.

Half Way There consists of ten songs all of which are such great songs. From the very Blink 182 sounding, Shipwrecked In Atlantis, to fan favourite (it was released on the McBusted album) What Happened To Your Band to the acoustic song, All My Friends which documents growing older and It Happens which documents the Busted journey – this album has something for everyone. What I love the most about this album is that Busted have gone back to exactly what made me love them in the first place even though this style of music isn’t something you’d really hear on radio anymore. To be honest, I think that’s the reason it charted so highly (amazingly hitting the number two spot in this weeks album charts) as people love the classic Busted sound. That being said although this album sounds similar to the first two albums, you can completely hear how the band have grown musically since the earlier releases.

I attended three of Busted’s album release week performances this week and I can honestly say this album is going to sound unreal on tour. Every song is just designed for a live performance and I can already imagine how fantastic this album is going to sound when they go on tour around the country in March. Plus this album will sound incredible at the summer festivals  – here’s me keeping my fingers crossed they do a Glastonbury slot, because how amazing would it be to hear It Happens, a song where they mention the festival there! Busted always manage to put on such a fantastic live performance and I feel like they succeed in making sure every single person in the crowd has a fantastic time. I know I for one always leave feeling the happiest person in the world after seeing them live.

My sheer love for this band makes it so insanely difficult to write posts like this as I am well aware I’m at a risk of sounding too much like ‘oh my goodness, I love them so much, I will literally buy anything they do so you should go do the same’. I know that to an extent that is true, I probably (definitely…) would buy anything they released but at the same time I’ve always been critical over things they do and I truly wouldn’t be writing this post if I didn’t really think it was a good album. So, my advice for Half Way There? If you ever were a fan you need to give them another listen as this album ticks all the boxes for a Busted fan. If you like your pop punk type of music, why not also give it a listen? My personal favourites are Shipwrecked In Atlantis and All My Friends if you only want to give a couple of songs a listen!

If you’re interested you can listen to Busted’s album Half Way There on all the usual streaming sites, download from iTunes etc or can buy a physical copy of the album from Busted’s online store by clicking here

January

by melissay1, posted in Other, Uncategorised

Despite the month seeming like it lasted forever, it seems that without even realising it the first month of the year is over. I’ve seen quite a lot of blog posts these last couple of days doing a recap of what they read / watched etc in a month and I think this is a great idea. I’m not sure I’ll do this every month but lets see how this goes…

Books

I found myself reading seven books in January. I started the month off obsessively reading then found it difficult to pick up a book the last couple of weeks but to be honest I’m happy with the amount that I managed to read as previously I’ve definitely found the life/reading balance hard to juggle! As usual, I’ve set my reading goal at twenty books this year so currently I’m well on track with this.

I’ve discovered Amazon’s unlimited kindle books service so currently I’m rapidly working my way through all the books that I like the sound of on that. I’ve been slightly less choosy as I know that if I don’t even half like a book within the first couple of chapters I can just move onto the next one. Any book recommendations are always appreciated especially if I can download on the kindle unlimited service as the amount of time I spend picking a book to read now I have lots of choice is crazy.

This month I read the following –

I write blog posts as I’ve finish reading a book so I have a few posts ready to go for future weeks but I sadly didn’t write a review up of much that I read this month. I think in future months this is something that I’d like to improve on. Writing a review of a book takes a fair amount of time and sometimes I find it restrictive as I can’t move onto a new book if I want to write a review so perhaps its ambitious for me to say I’m going to do everything I read but I’m definitely going to try improve the amount that I write.

Music

January was well and truly the month of musicals. I’m not entirely sure why but I’ve pretty much exclusively listened to musical soundtracks this month.

It comes as no surprise that the Dear Evan Hansen cast recording has been the top of that list, I don’t think I’ve ever been as invested in a show before, I relate so much to Evan and the songs could literally be wrote about my life, and the excitement that the tickets for the West End show could be released any day now is probably helping my constant replaying of the songs. Plus the Broadway version has been exciting this month too, as they have very recently got a new Evan, in the form of sixteen year old Andrew Barth Feldman. I just can’t explain how much he looks how I imagined Evan in my head, I know its unlikely I’ll personally get to New York this year but if anyone reading this does please go and see Dear Evan Hansen and tell me how amazing the new Evan is and warn me how many packets of tissues I’ll need to take with me when I eventually go and see the show…

I’ve also had Zanna Don’t playing quite a lot this month too. I stumbled across a video on YouTube of Heathers star, Jamie Muscato singing Fast from this musical (if you wanted to watch this video click here!) and it reminded me how I was once obsessed with this song! Its such a fun soundtrack and well worth a listen – Fast in particular provides the perfect break I’ve needed from the serious, pulling my heart strings-ness of Dear Evan Hansen!

School Of Rock on Broadway has shut this month and that has been all over my twitter feed so its not a surprise that I’ve revisited this soundtrack this month too. I love School Of Rock and I was lucky enough to see the original Broadway cast when I was in New York a few years back. Alex Brightman is one of the best theatre performers I’ve ever seen and I loved his performance and the show so much that I saw the show one night, walked out and booked a ticket for the night after. Alex Brightman is just the perfect Dewey Finn and his enthusiasm just shines even through the cast recording. I’m seeing a trend of me being desperate for a New York trip but Alex Brightman is in Beetlejuice on Broadway at the minute and its insane how much I would love to see him in a different role to Dewey.

Films

My Netflix subscription has been used in overload this month. Except just to watch Taylor Swift’s reputation tour on loop. I genuinely don’t think a day has passed that I haven’t watched at least part of this tour. You know those crazy statistics that Netflix post every so often saying that twenty users have watched Taylor Swift’s tour everyday this month? Yeah…I’m that person. If you like Taylor and you haven’t watched this yet what are you waiting for?! I did write a post on this tour if anyone wants a listen – click here!

I think that just about sums up my January favourites! I’m not overly sure how often my favourite things change, will I still be obsessively listening to musicals in February? I am so far so if that doesn’t change, I think I’ll probably concentrate on writing up a more in depth book roundup in future months, but we’ll cross that bridge at the end of the month.

If you’ve read this and can recommend me something to read/watch/listen to that you think that I’d love, I’m very happy for recommendations!