uni – The Orbital

‘Secure’ the bag- tips for safe sex and healthy relationships

31Jan

By Jessica WattsNo Comments

Lifestyle

‘Secure’ the bag- tips for safe sex and healthy relationships

Safety during sex is paramount for physical and mental health; in the words of Lil Wayne, “Safe sex is great sex, better wear a latex, cause you don’t want that late text, that ‘I think I’m late’ text”. When it comes to sex, university is a battlefield of chlamydia and misinformation, and it can be scary. So, here are some starter tips that might come in handy when approaching sex as a student: Test the waters This is meant literally; test yourself. STI tests are free from the NHS and can be the quickest and most stress-free way of determining your sexual health. For ‘same-day’ accessibility, Superdrug sells a variety of test kits from £20. Not only can testing be crucial in catching an STI before it progresses further, but regular check-ups are also essential in keeping sexually he...

16Sep

By Joanne ArcherNo Comments

Lifestyle

Pack it in… or don’t

A not-so definitive list of University essentials Freshers might just forget and items that should definitely be left at home. The most stressful part of first year, aside from the lab reports and endless essays, is the packing phase. Somehow you must fit all of your worldly belongings into your mum’s Ford Fiesta, packaged in a precarious mix of suitcases, Ikea shopping bags and cardboard boxes. Without going into elaborate details of pots, pans and shampoo, allow us to debunk the myths of what students should and shouldn’t be bringing to halls. 1. Bring a doorstop. You have probably heard this top tip about a billion times in the past few months but it could not be more true. A lot of doors in halls are fire doors and will slam shut unless met with the resistance of a door stop. You...

Disastrous Dating: Single Girls Struggle Through Uni

5Feb

By No Comments

Lifestyle

Disastrous Dating: Single Girls Struggle Through Uni

“Your dating history is as smooth as Egyptian Whisky!” A friend commented last year and although my first reaction was to throw a tumbler full of Jack Daniels in his face I chose to laugh it off, as he was completely correct. I have thought about this comment at various moments over the past year and have come to conclusion that being a single girl at university is nauseating and like a sour whisky the mouth goes numb and you want to spit it out and run! I have had a ‘date, I did not know was a date.’ He came round to my flat to cook for me, then spent two hours eating his food whilst dropping it into conversation that he was a virgin. The word awkward doesn’t even come close to describing the atmosphere, turning as red as the wine I wanted my empty bowl to swallo...

10 things to know about being a RHUL Fresher

23Sep

By No Comments

Features

10 things to know about being a RHUL Fresher

Welcome Fresher's! Fresher's Week can be a bit of a minefield, so I've asked some second years for any sage advice they have on it. With this inspiring wisdom, I have compiled a handy checklist of tips about RoHo to help you navigate these tricky waters: 1. 'Ruby Wines' in Englefield Green is your new favourite shop - make sure to stock up on cheap drink BEFORE realising at 9pm on the first night that you have none. 2. Don't be too shy to go to society socials straight away, take the plunge! 3. Buy the SU Fresher's Week wristband! It may be insanely expensive, but nobody wants to watch their friends queue jump while at the back of an unending line. FOMO aside, you won't have to worry about booking tickets for events online. Plus, there's literally nowhere else to go in Egham on...

28Jan

By No Comments

Lifestyle

Stress Busting: A Winters Walk Around Virginia Waters Lake

As 2015 hits and the number of deadlines and workload increases, it’s vital to get away from it all. Leaving yourself stranded on a seemingly lonesome, and stressful, island is the last thing you want to be doing at this time of year. It is scientifically proven that fresh air helps to revitalise your mind, helping it to achieve maximum efficiency for working and studying. So I decided to try this out with a little walk around Virginia Waters Lake, which is just one stop away from Egham strain station. The occasional patter from a jogger or a dog walker is all that can be heard at first; the silence of the place somewhat deafening. The sun sets over a horizon of trees, and the odd photography enthusiast or regular Instagram addict can be seen trying to get artsy reflections in the lake....