Life update & vegan travels: Morrissey, Cookies and Scream & Vegfest

The weekend of March 27th I was a busy bee and did a bit of traveling and exploring with Jake. During the weekend we got to see Morrissey in Birmingham, pop to Camden and eat too much at Cookies and Scream, we finished our weekend at Vegfest in Brighton...

On the Friday we travelled up to Birmingham to go see Morrissey at the Barclaycard Arena which was such a good night. I had never seen Moz live unlike Jake and Sam (who also came along with us) so I was really excited. The strange thing about seeing someone like Morrissey is you forget how old they are until they come out and you realise that they don't look the same as they did 30 years ago! As most people know, Morrissey is very vocal about animal rights and has taken part in many Peta campaigns; it was cool to see that the venue was only selling vegetarian food at request of the artist and that Peta had a stand to flyer! There is something quite spectacular about Morrissey's stage back drops and the moment that the animal cruelty videos started playing, the atmosphere completely changed; one bloke even passed out. I think it's great that someone with such a high profile can use it to spread the message about animal cruelty. The performance itself was great too, Moz played a mixture of old & new tunes with a few of The Smiths' tracks thrown in too. His general persona was not half as miserable as you would expect! It is certainly something that I have crossed off my bucket list. 

On Saturday we were just in London for the day so decided to visit Camden and pop to Cookies and Scream as I had heard so many great things about it. Oh my...it was so good! We all had a milkshake and a little treat each; I picked a chocolate brownie milkshake & a peanut butter and chocolate chip cookie. I can honestly say that since turning vegan I have never had such a tasty treat and I definitely plan to go back! The boys had vanilla milkshakes & Jake had a chocolate orange brownie which I had a little taste of and it was incredible. The only thing I would recommend is to maybe save some for later as it's very sweet and it wasn't long before we were all full up! 

Sunday we headed over to Brighton for Vegfest; it was a bit of a long journey and the weather was naff but it was still a good day. First off we stopped off at Kensington Gardens for a coffee and vegan breakfast which set us up for the day. Then we braved the wind and rain and headed to Vegfest which was in the Brighton Centre on the seafront. Unfortunately my camera was playing up so I couldn't get any photos but there are plenty up online and over at the Vegfest Facebook page. Vegfest was home to a food hall and stands where you could pick up some delicious food; I had a crepe with chocolate and coconut and a Jamaican patty, yum. There were a ton of charities holding stalls where you could buy their merch or just have a chat; Sea Shepherd were of course there! Vegfest holds different dates around the country, next stop being Bristol. Hopefully I can go again in the future.

What a busy weekend! I could have slept for a week afterwards. 

Here's some Facebook links so you can check out these places:
https://www.facebook.com/vegfestuk

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cookies-and-Scream

 BB

For The Oceans

P.s Keep updated via Facebook for info on new posts etc. at https://www.facebook.com/boolieblog some recipes coming soon!

Vegan Life: Issue 4 Review

It's time for a review of the latest issue of my favourite magazine; Vegan Life magazine! 

Issue 4 of Vegan Life magazine - March/April 2015 - invites us in with the tastiest looking mushroom burger I have ever laid my eyes on and yes, the recipe is inside (page 24), YUM! 

So this issue contains just as many insightful articles and mouth watering recipes as the last, and more! 

I really love the first few pages of Vegan Life as they contain things like Vegan News and Vegan Diary; I love to keep up to date with what's going on in the vegan society so this is really great. It also lays out some of the key events coming up; I noticed that Vegfest Brighton 2015 has been mentioned a lot in this issue which excites me as I will be there and certainly plan to write about it afterwards, so keep your eyes peeled for that one! 

What's New? is one of my favourite sections; it's so great to discover new products and it's even better when you know that they are highly recommended. 

How Veganism Changed My Life was a really interesting article, obviously we all have our own stories as to how we became Vegan but I love hearing about them especially when they have a bit of a twist!

This issue also contained an article about angora which I thought was so important! The use of angora is something that EVERYONE, not just vegans, should be aware of. Personally, I do not see how using angora is any different to using fur but for some reason, so many high street stores like Topshop still continue to sell it. We really need to get the message out about angora and how horrific it is for the rabbits that have their fur ripped out to make jumpers and socks. I may write a future post about angora but for now if you want to know more, check out Vegan Life's article. 

My favourite article this issue was....drum roll please....Activist Burnout! I have picked this as my favourite article because I feel that the advice given could apply to such a huge variety of situations and not just activists. The article includes tips on how to de-stress and to generally look after your mind; I have found the information useful as someone who is easily stressed out, especially around the time of important exams etc. - Be sure to have a read! 

All in all another excellent issue, bring on issue 5! 

 BB

For The Oceans

World Book Day 2015: My top picks

World Book Day has come around again which means an entire day of people talking about books which is just the best; I wish people spoke about books more frequently!

So, I was trying to decide what books to write about and what angle to choose for my post and I decided on some of my favourite reads from the past couple of years.

My top picks are quite varied so hopefully there is something that could appeal to everyone.
1. The Electric Michelangelo by Sarah Hall

This book instantly came to mind when I was thinking about books for this post. My dad actually recommended this book to me after he read it and really enjoyed it. The Electric Michelangelo is such a unique book and is unlike anything I have ever read. The story is about a young boy, Cy Parks, who lives in a seaside town and becomes a tattoo apprentice. It follows Cy's life and journey, when he meets the mysterious Grace who sets out a challenge for him. There is so much emotion in the story and its truly imaginative and fascinating. I read this book in a couple of weeks and it became one of my favourites; I would definitely read it again.



2. Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice

I have always been a vampire girl so-to-speak (Team Edward! Oh wait wrong book), and like a lot of people, I watched the film of Interview with the Vampire before I read the book. Although watching a film adaptation beforehand can often remove the imagination from a story, I am not 'snobbish' about it as I know that if it was not for films then a lot of books would not have been brought into the spotlight for more people to discover. For those of you that don't know the storyline, Interview with the Vampire is a modern day classic which begins with a reporter sat in a room with a Vampire, which we learn is Louis. Louis tells the story of how he was turned and takes us through the gripping story of his life living alongside the Vampire Lestat. Louis and Lestat have an almost love-hate relationship and this creates so many twists and turns. The book is written in a very dark and gothic way which certainly suits the nature of the story. If you like vampires, horror or just a classic then give it a try and if it's not your cup of tea then just watch the film as it's just as good!


3. Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse

This book is a very short one therefore is easy to read and is 100% worth it. I wont give too much away but this book follows the life of Siddhartha who is the son of a Brahmin. Siddhartha finds the Buddha however, Siddhartha is not satisfied to just serve as a disciple and goes on a journey to work out his own destiny for himself. I already strive to take on a lot of the Buddhist teachings within my own life and I feel that this book reinforced some of those teachings and taught me more. It is such a beautifully written book and has encouraged me to read more wonderful books based around Buddhism.


4. Touching from a Distance - Ian Curtis & Joy Division by Deborah Curtis

I am a huge Joy Division fan and have always been intrigued by Ian Curtis' story & what made him tick, therefore it was only right that I read this book. Touching from a Distance is written by Ian's wife Deborah who was obviously there in the thick of it and her book is probably the closest you will get to the actual story. This book is certainly a dark one and travels to all different corners of Ian's life including details about his illness and his rapid decline. When hearing Ian's story it is easy to feel sympathetic towards him but it isn't until you truly dig deep into this story that you realise how intense the situation was everyone involved. If you are a fan of Joy Division or are just curious about Ian's story then I highly recommend this book.


5. Black Cats & Evil Eyes - A book of old fashioned superstitions by Chloe Rhodes

Okay, so this is a bit of a silly one but I love this book! I saw it online one day and was so intrigued so picked up a copy. This book takes you through superstitions and old wives tales such as; placing shoes on a table means bad luck or why people say 'bless you' after someone sneezes. It's such a fun little book and is a good conversation point.



6. Daivd Bowie Is

This is my favourite 'coffee table book'. This was gifted to me as a Christmas present after I visited the David Bowie exhibition at the V&A (which I loved!). The book is such a high quality book and the colour and layout is so eye catching. The way the book is put together is just perfect for reading little bits here and there. I idolise David Bowie so much and his life amazes me, so to have the important bits laid out in this fantastic book is ideal. The book is almost a paper version of the exhibition and is such a lovely thing to be able to keep.


So those were my top picks for this World Book Day and the next book I plan to read is Stevie Nicks: Visions, Dreams and Rumors by Zoe Howe which I was given at Christmas as I am a huge Stevie Nicks fan!

What are your favourites or what are you currently reading?

 BB

For The Oceans

Vegan Life Magazine

I'm so happy that I finally picked up a copy of Vegan Life magazine! I got my copy from the WHSmiths in town for £3.95 which may seem quite a bit however, the quality and content of this magazine makes it 100% worth it. 

Issue 3 of Vegan Life is so fab, there are so many excellent & well written articles and tons of delicious recipes scattered throughout the issue - roasted cauliflower with sticky BBQ sauce and onion rings, YUM! 

My favourite article from this issue is 'Should Vegans Eat Honey - A sticky issue'. This article was extremely helpful to me as the honey issue is something I have been trying to get my head around for months & thanks to the magazine I have now made my decision. If you are undecided then check it out as the article is completely unbiased and shows points of views from both sides, it allows you to make your own decision. 

There are tips on how to become Vegan and how to stay healthy whilst being Vegan. I think it's the first time that I have enjoyed reading adverts in a magazine too! The advertisements are all for Vegan products or places which is really useful. 

This magazine is really informative and eye-opening. There are sections on animal rights and information on groups, protests and how to get involved. 

I am really pleased that I have discovered this magazine and will certainly be purchasing more copies in the future! 

Vegan Life is available in WHSmiths and http://veganlifemag.co.uk/

You can also give them a like on Facebook for any updates: https://www.facebook.com/veganlifemagazine?fref=ts

Reading 2014: 'Gnarwolves Cru, Fuck you'

The bank holiday hits and everyone needs something to do, right? This year I joined all the school leavers and GCSE passers (or not) and spent my Saturday at Reading Festival. 

With my itinerary already planned I headed backstage at 10 o’clock to greet Gnarwolves who seem rather chilled considering they are about to play a show that could change their career path more than any other show so far. Opening the main stage at Reading and Leeds is something that these Cornish - migrated to Brighton - punks never thought they would achieve let alone being offered this spot only three years after forming. Their self titled album is yet to be released however, pre-orders are flying out the doors.
Midday hits and the nerves have finally kicked in, Gnarwolves take to the stage as I take a spot on the side balcony; what a view! Such an incredible turn out with dedicated fans sporting various Gnarwolves tees and a couple of fans have even taken their time to create banners which do not go unnoticed. 

Thom, Charlie and Max steam through a forty minute set opening with Melody Has Big Plans and ending with Limerence; both tunes off their latest EP; Funemployed. The crowd stay with them the whole time and although stage dives are near impossible, the endless circle pits and crowd surfers soon make up for it. 
The band give it their all knowing that this could be a make or break moment for them; there are certainly some important people watching and Gnarwolves do not fail to make a good impression. 
Vocalist/Guitarist Thom Weeks' comment 'This is madness!'  is more than enough to show how this band are feeling in this monumental moment of their career. 

The band could not be faulted for their sheer effort and enthusiasm. The set list is made up of a real mixture of songs from all three EPs and a couple of songs from their debut album are thrown in, including their latest release,Smoking Kills; it has only taken a month since the music video was released for the dedicated Cru to learn the words. 
Every song played is a fast paced banger, even the songs that seem to begin slow build up to exactly what the fans want; fast beats, heavy bass lines and raw vocals. 

In a moment of excitement, Charlie drops his bass at the end of the set and heads directly for the crowd only to throw himself into the arms of the loyal Cru; who says you can’t stage dive at Reading, well, kind of. 
As the band leaves the stage, the crowd begins to chant 'Fuck You' inspired by Gnarwolves themselves and their 'Gnarwolves Cru, Fuck You' catch phrase.

I caught up with bassist, Charlie, after the set who told me: "That was the most unbelievable experience; I think I'm in shock.

"We are so used to playing in tiny pub venues and even then we are often amazed by the turnout, but this was just something else entirely, main stage; madness!"

After this midday, opening performance the future can only look bright for Gnarwolves and I’m sure we will be hearing a lot more from them in the future. 

Gnarwolves’ debut album is available to pre-order here:
CD/LP: http://smarturl.it/gnarwolves-preorder 
iTunes: http://smarturl.it/gnarwolves