Seriously?!

A while ago, the clothes store known as Peacocks went into adminstration. I was gutted because it was one of my favourite clothes stores. Now, I was given a £10 gift voucher for Peacocks at Christmas and before it shut for good, I decided to use it. 

Unfortunately, they weren't taking gift vouchers anymore which sucked majorly. They told me to fill out a claim form online instead to see if they'd reimburse my voucher to get the £10 on it. So I did.

And I've only just heard back from them now and apparently, due to some legal reason plus the number of claims they got, they're saying that for a £10 voucher they're only paying out 7p!

That's ridiculous!!

Though some Peacocks stores have been saved, does that mean the voucher is not void anymore?

Happy Valentine's Day

It seems to be all the rage these past few days to discuss Valentine's Day so I thought I'd share my thoughts on this controversial holiday too.

My Valentine's Day cupcake

Now I call it controversial as people either love it or hate it. Personally, I love it and despise how people can be so cynical about it. The cynical people are not necessarily all single as you might expect. I know many couples who find the whole holiday embarrassing and stupid. These people argue that partners should show they love each other every day of the year and not just one particular random day in February. 

I agree with this. Partners should love and cherish each other every day of the year and not feel pressurised by social expectation to be the perfect other half on this day. Or to bankrupt themselves buying twelve dozen roses or Belgian chocolates.

However, if you have this view then the likes of Mother's Day and Father's Day shouldn't be celebrated either because surely you should cherish your mother and father every day of the year as well?

I think people read too much into this holiday and thus the hype is generated. Whether you're in a relationship or not, simply spend the day doing something nice that you are going to enjoy. Just don't be cynical about it! It's meant to be a celebration of love after all!

I hate the term Vomit Day and not once, when I was single, did I ever curse those in relationships on Valentine's Day. I simply ignored it. So why can't others do the same? I hate how people say it's a stupid holiday, then those who enjoy the holiday (like myself) are made to feel silly for liking it.

On a final note, to anyone who says they don't like it because it's helping companies become richer - I'm assuming you don't buy into the concept of Halloween, Christmas, New Year, Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Independence Day, Birthdays, Anniversaries or St Patrick's Day then either? 

But anyways, rant over.

SQUOOB!

What is it? I hear you ask. Well it's the latest fashion trend of course! Or in layman's terms - squashed boobs!

Christina Hendricks

Katy Perry

Miranda Kerr

Apparently this look as been around for centuries! In the 1600's, only harlots worked the squoob look and were burned as witches for it. In the 1700's, Marie Antoinette brought it back before high necklines in the 1800's made the squoob look impossible. It then made another comeback in the 1900's and has stuck around into the 2000's.

Back to Basics

Ususally I write about a certain topic but today I'm going to update you on what's been going on in my life as of late. You know, get back to the basics of blogging so to speak. I don't know why, but writing has become very difficult for me lately. I just find everything I write to be meh. So much so that this is my third attempt at writing this post.

As most of you'll know, I have Imflammation of the Colon and underwent treatment in the form of steriods. Well, I've been off those steriods for a few weeks now and I miss them terribly. Simply because my appetite has gone again. Sigh. I also had a hospital appointment to discuss my condition and apparently, the doctor is 95% sure that I have Chrones Disease. Lovely eh? To be 100% sure though I've got to go for an x-ray in a few weeks time.

Now because I don't want to end this post on a downer, I just found out this morning that apart from an exam on Tuesday, I don't have to go back to university until the 30th January! How frigging awesome is that?! 

A Medley of Thoughts

#1 I am really fed up hearing about Cheryl Cole. I honestly don't care why she was sacked from X Factor or if she's talking to Simon Cowell yet. Though I do think she's a fool if she goes back to Ashley Cole, especially when she had Derek Hough. I don't like people who use others. Plus her blonde hair looks ghastly.

#2 The riots in England are a disgrace. I feel so sorry for those who have had their homes and businesses destroyed. The people responsbile are stupid fucks who deserve to rot in prison. What ever happened to the chivalry of the British Empire?

#3 I've heard people talking of there being a Harry Potter tv series or in twenty years, a re-make of all the films being made. I sincerely hope this DOES NOT happen. The movies are perfect the way they are and the actors who played them will always be known as those characters. At least to me anyway. Like seriously, can you imagine someone else playing Hagrid? Or Voldemort? Or even the main trio?! Also, the tv series may go into more detail like the books but again, the actors would have to be completely different and it won't work. I hope JK Rowling puts her foot down and doesn't crack if pressurised by film/tv bigwigs.

#4 Apparently they are re-making the film Dirty Dancing. Although I wasn't a huge fan of the film, I do understand the outrage with touching something that is clearly a beloved movie. Why remake something that is perfect the way it is? If film industries want to remake something, why not start with Eragon or The Golden Compass? Those were bloody butchered! Then again, I think film big wigs are obsessed with remaking things. Look how many times they've remade The Hulk and now they're re-making Spiderman.

#5 For those wondering, I will write a post about the wedding I went to soon. I'm just waiting for the photos to be uploaded etc so I can include them in the post as well.

#6 I've nearly got 50 followers! That's frigging awesome! It's double what I had in my old blog so maybe starting fresh was a good idea after all! Thank you to everyone who follows and continues to follow me and I welcome you all to Pablo's Angel. I really hope I haven't jinxed myself now though!

#7 Kelly Osbourne had a go at Kate Middleton the other day about her wearing the same dresses again and again. Why is this a bad thing?! I think it's quite refreshing to have a woman in the public eye who understands that it's not realistic to wear a new outfit everyday. I'm sure she could afford to do so if she wished but I'm glad she knows how much of a waste that is. Especially in this economic climate. So Kelly can piss off.

#8 As much as I adored the books, I've got a funny feeling that The Hunger Games movie is going to suck. I can't help it! I just have this foreboding feeling about it. Maybe it's because I'm not sure about the actors cast to play the main three characters? Who knows. I just hope it doesn't look like shit. The books deserve that much at least.

#9 I'll leave you with a remix that I find absolutely hilarious! It actually got into our official music chart! Yeah. Us British folk are easily pleased...

Love, Hazel

My Northern Ireland

Dunluce Castle, Antrim

Inspired by Ashley

For nineteen years I've lived in Northern Ireland and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. As well as being born and bred here, so too were both my parents and all four of my grandparents.

One of the common misconceptions that many people have about Northern Ireland is that it is simply the north of Ireland. This is untrue. It's as different to Ireland as Scotland is to England. It's a country in its own right and ruled under the British Monarchy. Unlike the Republic of Ireland which is a republic ruled by an Irish President. Though I'm sure that was obvious...

The Giant's Causeway, Antrim

There are two main faiths in Northern Ireland known as Catholicism and Protestantism. It's not a pretty topic but putting it simply, the conflicting religions resulted in political strife where people of both faiths engaged in pointless violence so terrible it was known globally as "The Troubles".

Thankfully those days are behind us.

Now I might as well take this opportunity to dispel some common stereotypes you may have about us Northern Irish folk. We are pale, mainly because we get very little sun here, but not all of us have red hair. We also drink alcohol and eat potatoes but how much of each consumed depends purely on who you are as a person. Not all of us are drunks basically. Like me, who actually can't stand the taste of alcohol in the slightest but potatoes would be the staple food in my diet.

City Hall, Belfast

Love, Hazel