Tuesday, June 9Royal Holloway's offical student publication, est. 1986

Lifestyle

A Cross-Cultural Christmas Build Up
24Dec By No Comments
Lifestyle

A Cross-Cultural Christmas Build Up

Ah Christmas. It seems that the beloved festivity comes around quicker and quicker with each passing year. A sentiment that is, perhaps, egged on slightly by that fact that once ‘Back to School’ hype has blown over, the magic C word always seems to somehow worm its way back into our lives. By the time October has begun and the leaves have started to change we are gradually bombarded with all things festive, and before you know it you find yourself wondering what this year’s John Lewis advert will be (maybe that’s just me!). This year however, my Christmas build up started slightly differently. I am on my year abroad in Dijon, France and I have noticed a number of differences between how the French and the British prepare for the arrival of Old St Nick. After coming back to the UK for a we...
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The Hollowegian and The City: Christmas Culture Guide
30Nov By No Comments
Lifestyle

The Hollowegian and The City: Christmas Culture Guide

We are now approaching the end of term and for many of you Christmas cannot come fast enough. You are close to completing your first term at Royal Holloway, or perhaps your last ever, autumn term. This is also the longest term of the year and in the midst of it you have been sucked into essay writing, sleepless nights in either Bedford or Founders, endless cups of coffee whilst also trying to participate in as much extra curricular and social events that you can. So the thought of mum’s home made ginger bread and Christmas cake washed down with Baileys hot chocolate or cinnamon mulled wine is one that you long for.   But do not underestimate or not participate in the festivities at Royal Holloway. Christmas is a time for friendship, not to mention chocolate, gifts and a fat guy ...
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Mademoiselle Privé
28Nov By Anastasia PantryNo Comments
Lifestyle

Mademoiselle Privé

“You don’t need to be No. 1 when you wear Chanel No.5” For those interested in Arts, Fashion or for those who simply enjoy a relaxing afternoon in a peaceful gallery, the Saatchi Gallery is the perfect place and just a train ride away. Opened in 1985 by Charles Saatchi to house and exhibit, to the public, his contemporary art collection. Occasionally the gallery displays different exhibits and I was lucky enough to visit one which beheld true inspiration. Some of you may have heard that every day from the 13th October to the 1st November the Saatchi Gallery housed Mademoiselle Privé: an exhibit dedicated to Chanel. It showed a journey through the origins of Chanel’s creations capturing the “charismatic personality” and “irreverent spirit of Mademoiselle Chanel and Karl Lagerfeld.” ...
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Rohoroscopes
27Nov By No Comments
Lifestyle

Rohoroscopes

Aries 21st March – 19th April Love: This is the time to let your hair down - with the holidays fast approaching don’t be afraid to take some risks. If it all goes to pot, you’ll have a month off to hide and recover anyway Travel: A trip to somewhere new will leave you thoroughly underwhelmed and disappointed Study: You will write four lines of an essay and spend the next five days basking in the glory of this achievement Taurus 20th April – 20th May Love: There’ll be someone special waiting for you under the mistletoe Travel: A brisk walk around Englefield Green will clear your head Study: You will enjoy your work this month - a particularly funny lecture will leave you feeling very positive about your degree Gemini 21st May – 20th June Love: You will finally get the one you’v...
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The Decriminalisation of Sex Workers
20Nov By No Comments
Lifestyle

The Decriminalisation of Sex Workers

Catherine Stephens, an activist with the International Union of Sex Workers is also a member of the GMB trades union’s branch for people who work in the sex industry. She loves her job and came to tell Royal Holloway students why the stigma around what she does should be diminished, as part of the SU’s SHAG week. However, I question if Stephens has really grasped the enormities of what she does and advocates. One in twenty students go into sex work in the UK to pay for fees, and being close to London we are in proximity of the diversity and mass policing that such an industry involves. Since 1999 it has been estimated that there are 80,000 people in the UK working in the sex industry. Stephens argues that the government’s definition of what constitutes sex work is too broad and contends...
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Read The Label. What is Consent?
16Nov By No Comments
Lifestyle

Read The Label. What is Consent?

Life is easier when you read the label, like ‘do not put in dryer’ or ‘expiration date.’ From everything we wear, everything we eat, it all has labels. Otherwise you would shrink your favourite jumper and eat questionable cheddar. The same is true for everyone we know; stoner, flirt, lazy but incredibly intelligent skater and importantly ‘boy/girl of my dreams.’ But, how do we read these labels? (more…)
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You’ll be tongue “Thai-d”
15Nov By Anastasia PantryNo Comments
Lifestyle

You’ll be tongue “Thai-d”

Thailand is one of the many places that people regard as a massive tourist attraction but it isn’t. You have to dive deep into the culture to truly experience its beauty and not just settle for seeing the hustle and bustle of Bangkok. Yes, you can swim in the warm Gulf of Thailand and eat insane cuisine at a 5 star spa resort and lay blissfully in 40 degree heat all day topping up your tan; but wouldn’t you rather party until sunrise during the full moon on KoPhangan, travel through the mountains of Koh Smaui, walk bare foot across scorching stone to see Buddha, dance with elephants, see a ping pong show or even eat the best stir fry of your life from a small family stall in a street market at midnight? I wanted to do all this and much more so I did. Not only this but I visited night ma...
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Addict or Anomaly
1Nov By No Comments
Lifestyle

Addict or Anomaly

Whether it is caffeine, cigarettes or chocolate are we all addicts? It would seem that we all crave something; that thing that triggers a pathway to the brain where we cannot control the urge but to indulge in that vice. For example, somebody that spends four to five nights out of the week drowning his or her liver in beer at the local pub then finds it difficult to sleep at night the other three to four nights of the week we would call an alcoholic. However, there are other less noticed forms of addiction such as sarcasm, exaggeration, anger and technology. These commonly fall under the category of OCD (obsessive, compulsive disorder). According to the DSM: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, addictions fall underneath two categories, substance related disorders ...
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