My realistic 5 year plan!

5 years seems like a while away yet, but we both know it's going to fly by! The last 5 years did, anyway. I've sat down and had a think about my realist goals for the next 5 years and I think I've come up with some pretty achievable ones for myself. 

They seem pretty simple, but for me that's a good start!

Have a career, not just a job - I want to be settled in an actual career and not just a simple job I'm super bored of. I want to be able to enjoy going to work, and not like it's just a chore. I would love to have a career in writing because I obviously love it, and I don't think I'm awful at it. 

Move out of Cornwall - I can not wait until I move away from Cornwall! As beautiful as it is, it's just so incredibly boring. I wouldn't be able to have a proper career down here even if I tried. I'm aiming for a little but more than this. I would miss the beauty of the countryside, but I just prefer the city a lot more! I would love to eventually end up in London, but I would be willing to compromise for the right job I think.

London by Me

Be well on the way to buying my own house - In 5 years time I'll be 25 years old, so I think that is a good enough time as any to start looking in to owning my own house. Although I said I would love to end up in London, I don't think I would ever buy a house in London (as if I'd ever be able to afford one anyway!). I'd probably end up somewhere I can get to London easily from. Maybe Bristol!

Have a good grip on my mental health - If you've read my mental health journey post then you're aware I suffer from depression and anxiety. Although I've suffered from it for a very long time, I still feel like I can't quite control myself. In 5 years time I would like to be able to say that I suffered from depression and anxiety, not suffer. This is probably this biggest goal I would like to achieve from this list. If I don't control this then it'll make everything else here 100x harder to achieve. Not impossible, just harder. So this is a very important one for me to do.

Start writing my novel - As I stated in my Introduction post I would like to write my own novel at some point. I've been jotting down ideas for years but I've never actually done anything with them, so I would at least like to have started putting them in some sort of order or plot. I'd love to at least have a first draft of a novel by the time I'm 25. I think this is pretty achievable. I just have to give myself a kick up the bum and get on with it! 

Start a new hobby - A pretty simple one, but also really difficult for me at the same time. I'm not very sporty, so sports is out the window. I have never been very arty. It's hard to decide on a hobby I'd really like to try. Currently nothing really speaks out to me, so I'm hoping that in the next 5 years something really catches my attention and makes me want to have a go. We'll have to see though. 

I have loads of goals I'd love to achieve, but they're not entirely realistic for the next 5 years, so maybe you'll see them in my Lifetime Goals blog post I'm going to be sharing soon. So keep your eyes peeled for that one. 

Thanks for reading,

Bx 

   

Best Horror films - My personal favourites!

I love horror films. They're for sure my favourite genre of film. I've watched so many. Although I am yet to find one that truly scares me, there are a lot out there I can watch over and over again and still be sat on the edge of my seat!

If you're anything like me (able to watch them alone at 3am in the dark) then you've definitely seen at least 90% of these films.

This list is a personal favourites list so we will most likely have different opinions on these movies. It was really hard to narrow it down to just 10 (6 drafts) so there will most probably be another list of another top 10 horror films! I've arranged them in some sort of order, but my opinions on them are likely to change quite often.

10. I know what you did last summer (1997).

I know what you did last summer is a suspenseful film about four teenagers who one night  accidentally kill a man and cover up the murder. The next summer they all return home from college and work to discover they may not have been the only ones who know about what they did. Someone is tormenting them and they need to find out who else knows before things get too out of hand.

I love this film. It stars Ryan Phillippe, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr. Based loosely on the Lois Duncan novel of the same name and the urban legend of the killer mental hospital runaway with a hook as a hand - it has suspense around every corner. Scary Movie also did a spoof of the film (although you may have caught that already).

If you love slasher films I highly recommend seeking this one out, it's got all the cliche moments throughout with a twist at the end of the film even I didn't pick up (I like to think of myself as film savvy). 

9. Carrie (1976)

  Based on the very famous Stephen King novel, Carrie follows the story of a bullied, out-caste girl who discovers she has telekinetic powers. After being humiliated at her school prom all Hell breaks loose! 

The chances are you've seen the 2013 version featuring Chloe Grace Moretz as Carrie, so you know the jist of what happens. But, I promise you the Sissy Spacek version is a hundred times better. I don't know if it's because I love older films or because it has so much more of a dramatic effect, but I definitely prefer the original. The first time I watched it I couldn't look away, it was amazing!

8. 28 Days later (2002)

Gorgeous Cillian Murphy plays Jim, who wakes up from a coma to discover an incurable rage virus has taken over the world. The film follows Jim, and a few other survivors, as they try to find sanctuary. 

It's basically a really intense zombie film. One of the first ones I ever watched, and as soon as I did it was all over for me. I became a huge zombie film lover, I don't think there's any out there I don't like. 

Although the sequel 28 weeks later is a fantastic film too, this one is just a little superior in my opinion. Helps it was also directed by the brilliant Danny Boyle (trainspotting)!

7. Saw (franchise) 

I know it's not technically a singular film, but the saw franchise is too big and explosive for me to just narrow it down to just one film. There are too many traps and games for me to just pick one. There are currently 8 films in the Saw franchise, with the latest one, Jigsaw, coming out last year (2017). I thought it was really good, I know a lot of people would disagree with me though.

Saw has some of the most iconic movie deaths of all time. I can guarantee that everyone can name at least one trap or game from any of the saw films, even if they've never seen it.

6. A nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

The one about the creepy guy with blades for fingers who haunts the dreams of teenagers. Sure, everyone has heard of this. But have you seen it? I hope so! The original 1984 version of this horror classic is so good. 

Although I thought the 2010 remake was pretty good too, it doesn't even compare to the original. The story lines are a little different too and I just think the original is constructed in a better way. Also the fashion in the 80's version is killer (excuse the pun)!

5. Child's play (1988)

Oh boy! I love the Chucky films. They're hilarious and twisted and kinda crappy too, but that's what I love about them so much. Out of all the franchise, this one is my favourite. It's the origin story, and who does't love an origin story? 

Classed as an American 'supernatural slasher' film. A little boy is gifted a Doll named 'Chucky'. But the doll actually contains the soul of a murderer who used witch-craft to move in to the doll just before he died. The foul-mouthed doll then goes on a murderous rampage.

It's a cult classic that has to be seen at least once in your lifetime!

4. Paranormal Activity (2007)

The first Paranormal Activity was so good. The other ones, not so much. But I really loved the first one, it really stuck out to me. They way it was filmed and the subtle hints of horror you get in it. 

It's a psychological thriller that really makes you think whether or not it could happen. Filmed on a camcorder by the actors makes it one hundred times creepier. Also not actually seeing the 'Demon' is a great touch too that really messes with your head.

Although I think the sequels are a bit been-there-done-that this one was a first in many ways. I love watching it.

3. Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)

A classic. The Leather Face killer is a well known character. It's such an iconic film that has truly stood the test of time. 

A bunch of teenagers head to Texas to visit a grave, but stumble across a psychotic, cannibalistic family who have no problem brutally mutilating them. With Leather Face, the huge, muted bloke with the chainsaw, as the main face for this iconic family. We never see any gore or brutal murders happen in the film which, to me, makes it even scarier. It's so fantastically filmed and directed. 

Based on the real-life serial killer, Ed Gein, who famously murdered people and made furniture, clothes and bowls out of human skin and bones. Pretty grim, right? As well as Leather Face he was also the inspiration of Norman Bates from the Alfred Hitchcock film Psycho due to his obsessive devotion to his mother, and also Jame Gumb from Silence of the Lambs.  

If you're going to watch Texas Chainsaw Massacre, make sure it's the original and not the 2010 remake. That was shockingly bad.

2. Scream (1996)

Scream and the Scream franchise are one of my favourite films/film series ever. I love them so much. I watch them all the time and could never get bored of them. That being said, the first one is definitely the best. 

The most self-aware slasher film of all time. The year after the death of Sydney's mother a killer is loose and after Sydney. 

The script for this film is so spot-on. The 90's fashion is something of a dream. The twist at the end. Everything about this film is just so so good. It's my go-to film at Halloween and was famously 'spoofed' by Scary Movie.

The 'Ghost-face' killer is probably (along with Leather Face) one of the most iconic killers in film. I can see why! Totally check out this absolute classic if you ever get the chance! You wont be disappointed.

Finally we've reached my number 1. 

1. The Exorcist (1973)

Of course this classic is in the number 1 position! It's for sure my favourite horror film of all time. With classic one liners and fantastic acting. 

It does exactly what it says on the tin; it's about the exorcism of a little girl named Regan who gets possessed by the Devil. I don't want to give too much away, just in case you're one of the few people who haven't seen this film (if you haven't, what are you doing?!). 

I think it's probably a top favourite for most horror fans, because it's just such a classic.

Fun Facts: When released in theatres, paramedics where called out often because people were so affected by the film they passed out!

It's based on a true exorcism!

Many people believe the filmed is cursed because the set of the film caught fire during filming.

Thank you for reading!

Bx

Photos courtesy of:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119345/

http://www.thediligentadvisor.com/i-know-what-you-did-with-your-money-last-summer/

http://stephenking.wikia.com/wiki/Carrie_(1976)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tBYHLkXDIc

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0289043/

https://www.timeout.com/london/things-to-do/secret-cinema-28-days-later

https://www.cinepremiere.com.mx/57618-la-saga-de-peliculas-de-terror-saw-regresa-con-nueva-cinta.html

http://www.squareeyed.tv/2016/02/22/game-over-the-definitive-ranking-of-every-film-in-the-saw-franchise/

http://shatthemovies.com/a-nightmare-on-elm-street-1984/

https://wheresthejump.com/jump-scares-in-a-nightmare-on-elm-street-1984/

https://www.tes.com/lessons/gpfSkB44g5zhGw/unit-op-1-12-the-value-of-stimulating-play

http://bloody-disgusting.com/tv/3482429/don-mancini-developing-childs-play-television-series-exclusive/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paranormal_Activity

http://bloody-disgusting.com/movie/3468995/paranormal-activity-director-oren-peli-doesnt-make-movies-anymore/

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072271/

http://www.hwdyk.com/trivia/m/2084/the-texas-chainsaw-massacre-1974

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scream_(1996_film)

http://altcitizen.com/throwback-review-scream/

https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/the-exorcist/id572533870

https://www.amazon.com/Exorcist-Ellen-Burstyn/dp/B00124PXW8

Why adopt not shop! - Shelter animals deserve love too.

This post features images people may find upsetting.

You always get people saying that adopting pets is better than buying babies. It's true. In 2016 the RSPCA alone rescued 129,602 animals. In one year, that is a shocking amount of animals being neglected, abused and abandoned. And we can make a difference to this.

In the U.S according to the Humane Society of The United States around 2.7 million healthy, adoptable cats and dogs are put to sleep in U.S shelters every year. If that number doesn't make you feel angry or sad then you can't be human. 2.7 million. That's not okay. 

Over the Christmas period in 2016 the amount of dogs that ended up in shelters was 25,000. That is such a crazy amount of animals. In Amersham, Buckinghamshire last November 4 puppies thought to have been  bred on a puppy farm for the Christmas period were found dead in a bag, presumably because they couldn't be sold. Disgusting.

How you can help.

There are always ways you can help reduce the amount of animals that end up in shelters:

Don't buy puppies/kittens, or any baby animals for Christmas or birthdays for people - Owning a pet is a huge responsibility that takes a lot of energy and time. If you intend on owning a pet then you need to sit down and decide whether or not you have the patience, time, energy or financial means. If the answer if no, then now is not a time for you to get a pet. When people are bought animals for special occasions they don't necessarily have the time to process whether they're ready to have a pet. This goes for buying rabbits for Children at Easter. I know that Pets at Home ban rabbit sales for children at Easter.

Spay and neuter your pets - Spaying and neutering your pets prevents any unwanted pregnancies. Peoples excuses for not spaying or neutering their animals are that they only own same sex animals, but this is irrelevant. If you're walking your dog and they meet another 'intact' dog and they mate then that can create a problem. Cats get out often and who knows where they go and what they do, you could end up with a pregnant cat. Having a pet that is pregnant can be a costly thing with constant vet checks, then the inevitable birth of the babies. You also put your beloved pet at risk of illness or even death. There's a saying that you shouldn't breed animals unless you're willing to possibly lose the Mum. 

Don't support irresponsible breeders and puppy farms - If you intend to buy a puppy make sure you do your research. If the breeder has lots of different puppies for sale do not buy from that person.  The likely-hood of them being a puppy farmer is very high. By not supporting/buying from puppy farmers causes the sale of their animals to go down meaning there isn't a demand for their animals. This causes them to eventually stop breeding animals all together. Buying from pet shops, specifically chain pet shops, is also not a good way of buying animals. Animals sent to pet shops aren't always ethically bred as they're mostly bred for the money. Animals from pet shops often come with health issues that can be costly and some people can't deal with looking after a pet with health problems. If buying a pet is your only option then you should always buy from breeders that have good reputations and where you can always see the parents. If you can't see the parents then leave. You want to be able to see whether the parents are in good health.

A beagle bitch from a puppy farm

Puppy farm in Ireland

Why adopt?

 Adopting an animal is rewarding - By adopting an animal in need you are giving that animal a second chance at a good life and the love it deserves. I believe that there is a pet out there for everyone, especially in shelters. These pets may not have had the best starts in life which means that some of them can have some issues, but even pets with issues deserve love. If you decide to adopt then you need to take your time and visit lots of breeds to find one that is the perfect fit for your family. 

Shelters become over-crowded - With so many animals being rescued by animal charities and shelters they often get over-crowded and that's when problems occur. If a shelter has too many animals then the pets either have to be euthanised or moved to another shelter. This can be stressful for animals and health and behavioural problems.

Can't adopt? How can you help?

I'm very aware that not everyone can adopt, and that's totally okay! There are ways you can help gives the animals in shelters lots of love and care!

Volunteer at your local shelter- Why not volunteer at your local shelter by walking the dogs there, or helping to clean up their cages. This is a particularly good thing to do if you personally can't have a pet due to health, financial or living issues because it gives you the chance to help and love animals without spending any money. Walking dogs also gives you some exercise and gets you outside for some fresh air, it's all bonuses!

Raise some money for your local shelter or animal charity - Most animal charities tend to be non-profit organisations which means they rely solely on volunteers and donations. By donating to a charity like this it gives them more chance to take on more animals that need care. Money donations also help pay for vet bills for poorly or elderly animals; vet bills can often me quite expensive so animal charities and charity shelters are always looking for money donations. Food and toy donations are also appreciated to any shelter or charity, so don't think that just because you can't afford to give any money doesn't mean you can't help! There's plenty of ways to support and help.

I have a beautiful rescue dog named Tilly who had a pretty rough start in life. She was roughly 3 years old when we got her and she's the most perfect dog. She is the best example of a dog that wasn't treated fairly but still just wants unconditional love. She has slight separation anxiety, which is understandable as she was found abandoned in a flat, but that doesn't mean we love her any less. She is the perfect companion for our other older dog, Herb. They get on like a house on fire and love each other very much.

Top photo: Herb (black and white) and Tilly (black) hogging our sofa

Bottom photo: Tilly at the beach for the first time! 

Don't be put off by dogs in shelters that aren't puppies! They can make the best pets and are just as worthy of a happy ever after as any other dog. Just do your research on any breed you decide to adopt/foster and definitely make sure your new pet is the perfect fit for your new family. Always speak to the shelter and learn as much as possible about your new family member. Visit them lots of times so they can get used to you and you to them and I promise you you'll never regret adopting a new pet. Their lives are precious and worthy of your love.

Here are a list of animal shelters/charities:

• Dogs trust
• RSPCA
• Scottish SPCA
• Last Chance Hotel (South West England)
• Bluecross
• Redwings
• Horse trust
• Furry friends
• Cats protection
• Cat chat
• Animals in distress 

There are plenty I haven't mentioned here so do some research and find one close to where you live and easily accessible. It's a really great thing you can do.

I hope you consider adopting in the future instead of buying and giving one of these animals the life and love they all deserve!

Thank you for reading,

Bx

Photos courtesy of:

https://www.rspca.org.uk/home

http://jbfsociety.org

http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/pets/g4531/cutest-dog-breeds/

https://www.dogslife.com.au/dog-news/life-with-dogs/puppy-farms

https://blog.dogbuddy.com/advice/welfare/breeding-bitches/

My reading list! - Stories I can't help but love

Narrowing my favourite novels down to just three was hard. But, I finally did it after lots of jigging my list around. I read quite often so I had lots of books to choose from, so I had to narrow it down to the stories I can re-read over and over again. No matter how many times I've read them they just never seem to get boring, and I believe that is the real test of what makes a good book. I know reading is a personal thing and you may think that some of the stories I mention aren't your favourite, that's okay! But if you haven't read them I really suggest giving them a go.

Wuthering Heights

 So, book number one, my all time favourite and I've read it probably about six times, is Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë. It's a classic and everyone has heard of it. It's a fierce story about love and revenge between the two main characters Heathcliff and Cathy. The story is set in 1801 in the Yorkshire moors, where Mr. Earnshaw returns home from Liverpool with a young orphan boy who he names Heathcliff. Cathy and Heathcliff fall desperately in love from a young age and grow up in Wuthering Heights together. After Mr. Earnshaw passes away Cathy's' older brother, Hindley inherits Wuthering Heights and forces Heathcliff to work as a servant at the house. Fed up with 'not being good enough' for Cathy, Heathcliff runs away to better himself. Upon returning, with riches, he discovers that Cathy has married Edgar Lipton. The love and revenge and even death that follows is a whirlwind of romance, evil and sorrow. It's one of those books you can barely put down.

There is a beautiful film adaptation made in 1939 starring Laurence Olivier and the beautiful Merle Oberon. The movie is filmed in black and white and I definitely think it's my favourite version of the film. 

Emily Brontë was born in 1818 in Yorkshire. She was the second youngest of six children, 
four sisters and one brother, although the two eldest daughters, Maria and Elizabeth died before they turned twelve years old due to tuberculosis in 1825. Her two sisters Anne and Charlotte were both poets and writers; famously writing Jane Eyre and Agnes Grey. 

Wuthering Heights was Brontë's first and only novel. It was published in 1847 under the pen name Ellis Bell. Brontë sadly died a year later in 1848 due to tuberculosis. Since her death Wuthering Heights has become a literary classic and is often used in schools and colleges.

Buy it here.

The Great Gatsby

Set in the summer of 1922 The Great Gatsby is a roller-coaster of emotions from joy to sadness; with flamboyant parties and a secret love. Regrettably I watched the film before I read the book, but that didn't take away from the beauty of the novel. The story follows Nick Caraway's journey of finding out exactly who his mysterious neighbour is. The one who throws all of the huge parties the whole city attends in hope that his one true love, Daisy Buchanan, would walk through the door. It's a tragic love story I can read over and over again. I don't think I could ever get sick of it.

Everyone has seen the beautiful, colourful film adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1925 novel. Baz Luhrmann did a phenomenal job of bringing this wonderful story to the big screen. The 2013 film stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan and Tobey Maguire. The film is a fun ride filled to the brim with brilliant music and gorgeous costumes. It's fantastic right down to the last detail. It also doesn't stray too far from the novel, which to me is a big fat plus. Definitely check it out if you haven't yet.

F. Scott Fitzgerald was born in 1896 and has four finished published novels: The Great Gatsby, The Beautiful and Damned, Tender is the Night and This Side of Paradise. He also has an unfinished novel that was published after his death in 1941 called The Last Tycoon. The Beautiful and Damned is also a brilliant work of art, I highly recommend that story too! As well as novels Fitzgerald also wrote over 160 short stories for magazines and four collections of short stories. Since his death in 1940 he has been named one of the greatest American writers of the 20th century.

Buy it here.

Romeo & Juliet

Arguably William Shakespeare's most famous play Romeo & Juliet is a wonderful tale of forbidden love between two young members of rival gangs in Verona. I don't need to say much about this story as I'm sure most, if not all, of you have studied this story in school or college. Everyone knows the plot to this twisted tragedy. Although not technically a novel I couldn't leave it off my list. It's a special story featuring love, death and a very fast marriage. I feel like I was the only one in my English class who actually enjoyed studying this story. Although I love all of Shakespeare's works, this one really stuck out for me. I really hope to one day see it performed in the Globe Theatre in London. 

William Shakespeare was born in 1564 in Stratford-Upon-Avon. He was a poet, playwright and actor. He wrote roughly 39 plays in his lifetime and over 150 sonnets. When he was 18 he married Anne Hathaway who he had three children with. He started his career as an actor but soon discovered his love for writing. There is lots we don't actually know about Shakespeare as he kept his private life very low-key and there's barely any records of him. Therefore, we have hardly any knowledge of his beliefs, sexuality or even his physical appearance, except the very famous portrait of him. There is speculation that Shakespeare was bisexual as the famous 'Sonnet 18' presumably written by William Shakespeare was dedicated to a Mr. W.H. Although it has never been confirmed that it was written my Shakespeare himself lots of people believe he liked the company of men as well as women. I like to think he was an open minded human being, based on his work. 

Another Leonardo DiCaprio and Baz Luhrmann collaboration coming your way. Now, I don't believe anyone when they say they've never seen the 1996 adaptation of Romeo & Juliet featuring Leo and Claire Danes. It's an iconic movie with beautiful imagery. Again, the costumes are beautiful and classic with the magical touch of modern music perfectly placed. 

Shakespeare sadly died in 1616 at the age of 52. A reason for his death has never been determined, although he died a week after signing his will in which he described himself as being in 'perfect health'. Since his death he has been hailed literary genius and I believe he will always be loved for his work. He will stand the test of time with classics like Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummers Night Dream, Much Ado About Nothing and Hamlet. I truly urge you to read at least one play by Shakespeare.

Buy it here.

Thank you for reading my list of favourite novels/stories (although if you ask me what they are they're likely to change as I have so many). I highly recommend reading these stories to open your literary mind, and where better to start than absolute classics. 

Bx

Pictures courtesy of :

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wuthering-Heights-Wordsworth-Classics-Bront%C3%AB/dp/1853260010

http://www.loyalbooks.com/book/romeo-and-juliet-by-william-shakespeare

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Gatsby

http://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-wuthering-heights-1939-movie-poster-87843752.html

http://collider.com/the-great-gatsby-review/

http://mentalfloss.com/article/84077/12-star-crossed-facts-about-romeo-juliet