Book Review // A Woman of No Importance

A Woman of No Importance^- Oscar Wilde

When I was 16 and studying for my English Literature A Level, this was one of the first texts we studied. At the time, I was hopelessly in love with this lip-pierced, ear-tunneled, emo-fringed, Scottish-accented, rock band member in my class who didn't even know I existed. (Actually, that's a lie. Once after an exam, he sat next to me in the library and asked how I'd found it. I garbled some nonsense then fell silent and kicked myself forever more... or at least for the next few months). Anyway, our teacher would assign us roles to read out and one day he asked me to play the part of Gurneet's (the aforementioned rock god totty) lover and it was the highlight of my course. For this reason, I've always felt a bit of an affinity with this play so when I saw the exact same edition in the local charity shop, I snapped it right up! 

First written in 1893, Wilde's A Woman of No Importance is a play concerned with the lives of English high society and the lengths they go to in order to cover up scandal. Lady Hunstanton holds a get-together at her home for various friends including young Gerald Arbutnot, who has been offered the role of secretary for powerful Lord Illingworth. Gerald and Lord Illingworth have become extremely close in a short amount of time and the younger of the two is excited to have such a great career opportunity, until his reclusive mother arrives and shocks him with a family secret. 

It goes without saying that Wilde's writing is powerful, witty and relevant to this day. Interestingly, many of the lines in this play are taken directly from The Picture of Dorian Gray which is particularly telling when you consider the close relationship between Gerald and Lord Illingworth. There are certainly hints at homosexuality, in much the same way Dorian Gray is ensnared by the older, powerful Lord Wotton. 

Although A Woman of No Importance provides a telling (although no doubt exaggerated) peek into Victorian society, the climax of the play is extremely predictable. I'm not sure if this is because of modern exposure to similarly-structured texts or if it's down to the plot, but I certainly was not surprised by the revelations. However, there was a definite feeling of tension building as the secret was close to being revealed.

Returning quickly to Wilde's renowned wit and humour, here are some of my favourite quotes from the play: 

One can survive anything these days, except death, and live down anything except a good reputation.

The Ideal Man should talk to us as if we were goddesses, and treat us as if we were children. (I like this line because I'm pretty sure Rich would say this is exactly how I expect him to be!)

When one is in love one begins by deceiving oneself. And one ends by deceiving others. That is what the world calls a romance. (This is a line borrowed almost verbatim from The Picture of Dorian Gray)

I do so love Wilde's way with words but I did find the plot of this play to be quite weak. The problem with how easy it was to predict took away much of the impact and it's difficult for me to remember the details in the first, slower-paced act. These affect the rating and take it down to six out of ten.

I much preferred The Picture of Dorian Gray, which has many of the same lines and plot devices but in a stronger context.

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...Oh, by the way, if Gurneet's reading this, I'm sorry for being such a creep!

ETA: I think I saw Gurneet at Reading station the day after I wrote this. Not even joking!

101 in 1001 finale!

I can't quite believe this day is here! Almost three years ago now, as a blogger of just four months old, I set myself 101 goals to complete by 7th April 2015- 1001 days later. The more astute among you may have realised that this date was two days ago and therefore the end of my 1001 days. Back then, this day seemed so far away and, admittedly, some of my goals were a little ambitious. Now that time is up, let's take a look at how I got on...
I'm taking the unusual step of adding a "read more" here as this is going to be a loooong post! 

Winchester with Tori

Something amazing happened last week- I finally met Tori! We've "known" each other, Twitter style, for a good couple of years now but, even though her home town is not far from me, we've always just missed each other when she visits home. After such anticipation, I was pretty nervous- What if she didn't like me? What if it was awkward? What if I didn't like her? Luckily, she was a complete babe and we had a fantastic day!
Because I'm a terrible influence, I managed to convince Tori to stick her head through the bridge. You'll be glad to hear she didn't get stuck!

The streets of Winchester are so beautiful with such gorgeous houses. Even though I studied in the city, I could never get bored of the stunning old architecture. As it turns out, despite living nearby, Tori hadn't really explored all the ancient sites so I acted as tour guide for the day (just without the dodgy umbrella).
The Round Table is obviously a must, but it's even more fun when you photobomb German tour groups!
Together, we discovered Winchester City Mill, which I had no idea even existed. Since it was being refurbished, it was free entry and it had this gorgeous garden out the back. It was very small though, so I'm not sure I'd recommend paying full entry.

It was a wonderful day with lots of laughter. Hopefully I'll get to hang out with Tori again very soon (...if she wants me, that is!)

Nails // Lilac

This month, I had an ambitious plan in mind for my nails. Unfortunately, however, it didn't work out so instead I settled on this gorgeous periwinkle shade from OPI, named You're Such a Budapest. Although it applied a little thinly, it's a really pretty colour.

As you can see, I'm trying to wear more jewellery so I hunted down these midi rings on eBay. It's taking some getting used to but I am determined to accessorise more!

Book Review // Serial Killers

Serial Killers^ - Rodney Castleden

Well, the title of this book is pretty self-explanatory. It's a book about serial killers. A pretty big book about a huge amount of them. I picked it up in a charity shop a long time ago now (you all know I'm partial to a bit of true crime) and it was about time I tackled it.



Rodney Castleden, the author of this collection, is the son of a police detective who helped bring two serial killers to justice (John George Haigh- the Acid Bath Murderer- and Neville Heath) and compiled this chunky, 600-page reference book in memory of his father. Serial Killers details the crimes of over 60 serial killers, presenting the cases in categories such as cannibals, sadists and doctors. 

Of all the books I've read on serial killing, Serial Killers is unrivalled in terms of the sheer detail it covers. Unfortunately, a significant amount of this detail is incorrect or poorly-researched. There is also the issue of weak editing, meaning there are many spelling and typographical errors. Having said that, however, I did appreciate the categorising of the crimes, although some placements were a little confusing. For example, Fred and Rose West were placed with the sadists rather than the other team killers. I appreciate it's more difficult when there are overlaps but I definitely think they'd belong with the likes of the Moors Murders. Another issue I had with the categories was that Castleden included monarchs, executioners and dictators who do not actually fall under the definition of serial killers. It was still interesting to read about their reigns and careers but a bit misleading to pad out a book on serial killing with these cases.Finally, I found the book to be quite poorly structured. There was no conclusive chapter. Instead Castleden had tacked some closing paragraphs onto the end of the final chapter, which was dedicated to the case of The Monster of Florence.

In spite of these negative comments, I did find the book to be a really good starting place to get an overview of the most infamous serial killers throughout the centuries and as a springboard to research certain cases in more detail. Just don't rely on it for accuracy!Unfortunately, the poor structure and accuracy brings down what would otherwise be a very useful book. The sheer number of cases is worthwhile though, so I would rate it five out of ten. 

If you're interested in finding out about serial killers, I recommend David Wilson's History of Serial Killing. Although it doesn't cover international crimes, it's a very well-researched text. 

Buy Serial Killers here

^Affiliate links have been used in this post

Ideal Home Show 2015

As I mentioned last week, I'm a bit of an interiors and architecture freak so I was thrilled to be invited along to the Ideal Home Show. The day I attended was picked very carefully so I could be in the presence of my two favourite home TV presenters (yes, I have a list!), Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen (my childhood hero, FYI) and George Clarke. To say I was excited would be an understatement!


Anyone know where I can buy some lurid green astroturf? I genuinely want to deck my garden out in it!
The Ideal Home Show started way back in 1908 and was originally here, at the Kensington Olympia. This year, it returned to its beautiful home- seriously, look how stunning that ceiling is! Victorian architecture makes my heart sing! (Told you I was an architecture freak!)

We arrived just in time to catch Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen's first presentation at the theatre area. Unfortunately we were stuck at the back so couldn't hear a huge amount but, from what I did catch, he was an engaging and witty speaker, filled with comedic asides. After learning that purple bedrooms are prone to seeing more... ahem... "action" and why black is actually a very flattering colour in room as well as on people, Laurence announced that we could buy copies of his book from the side of the stage... and he was signing them! I'm telling you, my heart leapt! 

Somehow, thankfully I managed to avoid telling him that he inspired me to be an interior designer (imagine the conversation- "Oh wow. How are you finding it?" "Erm... I decided to teach instead") and that I used to play Changing Rooms as a kid and would always take on the role of him, once throwing a cat behind me- complete with shocked meowing sound effects- in the rush to finish off the room (Not a real cat, I hasten to add!) Instead he complimented me on my coat- I only went and forgot to wear my Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen dress!- and, on seeing my My Little Pony phone case, expressed his desire to paint the ponies in the field opposite him different shades of pastel colours to shock the drivers. My sort of person! Apart from me garbling "Ooh, I do love a good sticker" when he offered me one, I got through the whole experience without embarrassing myself. 10 points for Becky!
Straight afterwards, I headed back to where Rich had grabbed a couple of front row seats in time for George Clarke. His presentation was more about his shows Restoration Man and Amazing Spaces which was a little redundant as most of the people there were avid viewers of both, as evidenced by the show of hands at the start. Nevertheless, he was a very engaging and energetic speaker. Trying to get a good photo was next to impossible as he never stopped moving! Of course, through the whole thing, I was just hopeful that he would also do a book signing and, to my delight, he did!

Again, I managed not to humiliate myself. I didn't tell him that I think he has the loveliest voice on TV and instead we just spoke briefly about my hometown which he apparently knows well. By now, I was all giddy at meeting two people I adore, so we tracked down the onsite Pizza Express for a bite to eat.

The Ideal Home Show is split into seven areas- Garden, Technology, Fashion & Beauty, Shopping, Food, Interiors and Home Improvement. We started our exploration in the home improvement area and spoke to Steve at British Gas, who very kindly offered a no-obligation consultation to see how much money we could save by switching to them.
Using a series of questions, Steve was able to quickly work out how much we'd save on our gas and electricity by switching to British Gas. The good news was that we would make a saving with the fixed rate tariff, which was what we were thinking of getting. With this option, our bill prices would be frozen until August 2016 so we'd always know how much our bills are. However, British Gas also offer a Fix and Fall tariff in which there is a maximum fixed rate but if for any reason the rate falls, you pay the cheaper amount. Since we're on a meter, they also offer USB keys so if we suddenly run out of gas or electric, we can instantly pay for more without needing to go to the shop. How convenient is that! We were very impressed and would happily have switched there and then (Rich was all for it) but, as we're renting, Steve was very helpful in making sure we had permission first and didn't pressure us at all. Instead, he's booked us in for a callback so we can speak to the landlord before signing anything. It was so refreshing to speak to somebody who clearly put customers first. 

The British Gas hub was next to the Smeg stand and of course I couldn't resist looking in all the fridges! This one looks perfect for storing my Diet Pepsi! By the way, did you know Smeg also sell washing machines that are cunningly disguised to look like their fridges? I really, really want the pink one! 

Surprisingly, given the state of our garden (which you will never see because it looks like an overgrown scrubland), the garden section was one of my favourite parts of the show. There were some truly innovative products, like rotating garden pods, which Rich has promised we can get one day! I'm holding him to that one... 

Of course I couldn't resist hopping on and trying out all the products. This is a Casada Powerboard Vibration Plate and I left desperately wanting one. Unfortunately it was a little out of my price range at £750 but, since it usually retails for £1200, I can appreciate that it's a pretty big discount. If you want to buy anything expensive for your home and garden, get it from an exhibition as the offers are incredible! 

One of the parts I was most looking forward to was the show homes, and I was overwhelmed by how much detail had gone into them. Even the exterior looked like beautiful homes. As you can probably tell, this one was modelled on Downing Street.

The interior was stunning. Obviously I prefer a little more of a pastel colour palette but I love the mid-century hints. You wait until I share the rose gold dressing table on Instagram!

We both had a fantastic day and I left filled with inspiration... and still a little giddy at my celebrity encounters, to be honest! The Ideal Home Show is open until Monday so you still have time to make a quick visit before it shuts up shop for this year.

Can fat people wear joggers?

Can fat people wear...? is a series that roadtests current trends on a fat body. Of course, the moral of the story is "wear whatever you want", but I'll be sharing how I felt, how I looked and the reactions I received as a chubby girl in the latest trends. Fat is used here as a tongue-in-cheek, yet factual, adjective, rather than a derogatory term and always, always remember "If you like it, wear it". 

If you go through my outfit posts, you'll notice that I never, ever wear trousers. This isn't because I hate trousers, it's purely because they do not fit me. Ever. I have massive thighs and hips, with a proportionately small waist and long legs so it's impossible to find the right fit. Joggers, I figured, would be perfect. Elasticated waist, baggy around the thighs, tight at the ankles. Turns out, I could even find a pair of joggers to fit me on the high street. My thighs were beyond high street sizing. That is until New Look got in touch and gave me the opportunity to try these monochrome joggers* from their summer Inspire range. I sized up and, would you believe it, they fit perfectly!

My black top is from Primark and, I'm not going to lie to you, it was pretty see through. I may or may not have Photoshopped the bosom area so you couldn't see my bra. Is that dishonest? Probably not if I tell you about it.

As I said above, the joggers are from New Look's Inspire range. They're made of a soft, light jersey that feels almost like pyjama bottoms, with elasticated waist and ankles and a drawstring to tighten the waist if necessary. 

On my feet, I have my faithful Crocs and I don't care what you say, they're the most comfortable shoes I've ever worn in my life! 

At first, I wasn't sure if they looked right on me but I think that might just be because I'm not used to seeing myself in trousers. Initially I worried that the thighs were too baggy and looked a little MC Hammer but I soon got over that. Actually, I think they look pretty good. There's no disguising my chunky thighs but the elasticated cuffs definitely make my legs look more tapered and streamlined and the busy pattern disguises any lumps and bumps. My waist is one of my favourite parts of my body so I'm glad these joggers nip it in and show it off. I actually feel like they make me look a bit more dainty than usual too... which is quite some feat because there's nothing dainty about me!

Comfy! Oh, so comfy! It felt liberating to not have my legs constricted by my usual leggings and yet still have them covered (and free of chub rub!) The jersey is so light that it floats around my legs and stops any clinging, rubbing or sweating. Seriously, these are like a socially acceptable way of wearing pyjama bottoms outside the home. I never want to take them off!
I promise I do have two legs!

Apart from the pub playing the first minute of U Can't Touch This just after I'd loudly exclaimed that I feel like MC Hammer (something that surely cannot be a coincidence!), they barely raised an eyebrow. Which, as all plus size girls will know, is a very good thing! 

Wardrobe, wardrobe, wardrobe! I would wear these every day if I could!