HAPPY NEW YEAR'S EVE, PEACE AND LOVE

Shirt: The Kooples, Jeans: All Saints, Boots: The Kooples, Scarf: Zara (women)
Belt: The Kooples, Hat: Akubra.

What I want to achieve this year on my blog... well I could say I want tens of thousands of Instagram followers and clothing brands tripping over one another to work with me, but let's be serious for a second.

I'm going to go over this in more detail, once my blog turns one year old in February, but for now I'll keep it short. There have been many positives and negatives with blogging, as you would get with anything over the last 10 months. I've done some things well and other things not so well, things I know I must improve and I've learnt some valuable lessons along the way. 

I'm going to make my blog my top focus of 2018. I've achieved a lot this year and I'm so happy with the direction my blog is heading. I've established my blog and carved out my own niche online.

I've decided that my YouTube channel is the one platform I'm really going to step up next year. Looking back through my old videos filmed on my Go Pro, as a super nervous me stumbled through a description of a shirt, to where I am now, shows how far I've come and how much more confidence I've gained.

Going from three subscribers when I first set my channel up, finding out later that two of them were infact the same person, to where I am today, at 134 subscribers and growing. I see this as quite an achievement of 2017. I know I've not got the biggest following, YET, but I'm trying every day to improve that. I feel that everything is moving in the right direction. I know something big is going to come from this and that's what I'm going to work towards and make happen.

I have to say a huge thank you to all who've checked in with my blog, YouTube or Instagram over the last ten months, as without you guys it would all be pointless. I hope I've inspired you all with my posts and that's what I hope to do even more so in 2018.

What posts have you liked? What posts do you want to see more of? I'd love to know so please comment below.

Happy New Year, Peace and Love,

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MY FAVOURITE ALBUMS OF 2017

2017 has been an awesome year for music. I've loved some of the albums that have been released over the past twelve months, a few impartiular so much, I've decided to put this post together, sharing all my top picks. I've chosen a handful of albums that have stood out from the rest, along with some of my new favourite artists I've discovered over this past year too.

I'll kick things off with the latest vinyl I was kindly given for Christmas, the brand new album by god-like genius Mr Noel Gallagher.

'Who Built The Moon' sees Noel back where he belongs entering the chart at number 1. As Noel himself said "The top of the charts  . . . this is where I fucking live." Noel also broke a record with 'Who Build The Moon' scoring his tenth chart-topping studio album. I've also heard Noel say on many a chat show or interview, he feels this is the best album he's ever produced.

The album starts with a huge opener then it's straight into business with another fast-paced second tune 'Holy Mountain' which hits you with a bang. The album's title track 'The Man Who Built The Moon' is another personal favourite of mine, which sounds very Oasis like, with the music dropping out in parts just leaving Noel's vocals, love it!

'Dead In The Water' has to be my number one song on the album. Which I heard Noel say in an interview with Russell Brand, that he didn't even know he was being recorded whilst he sang. He was just messing around in between songs on a radio station when he started to sing. It wasn't even meant to be on the album and it was a song he wrote in fifteen minutes flat. Pretty good if you ask me, especially for a bonus track!

Since I've been listening to Noel a lot recently, his second album 'Chasing Yesterday' came back into my everyday playlist, that's why it was also ended up on my Christmas list too. I don't even know why I didn't get this tremendous album back when it was released in 2015, however now with that big mistake corrected, everything is forgotten. This album has got me through many blue Monday morning and I know will see me through many more. What an album it is!

Francis and The Lights.

A guy who before this year, I'd not heard of at all, but going into the New Year has quickly become one of my favourite artists of all time! Watching him at Coachella back in April, he was one of my stand out performers from the weekend. His stage presence, incredible dance moves and songs are mind-blowing!

He was Radio 1's record of the week back in October, this generated a lot of hype around him over here in the U.K but I still feel his following needs to be so much bigger than it already is, this guy is purely brilliant! A lot of people said his sound reminded them of Peter Gabriel. If you've not heard this guy, I couldn't recommend him more, if there's only one thing you do today, check this guy out!

Sadly Francis doesn't do physical copies of his work, meaning, unfortunately, no vinyl or even Cd's! I know, bummer! All his music can only be bought exclusively on digital download. He's far too cool to be an easily accessible recording artist! Highlights of the album Farewell Starlite include 'See Her Out (That's Just Life)', 'May I Have This Dance' and 'Friends' Featuring Bon Iver.

His gig for me probably ties in the first place as the best show I saw live in 2017. (I'll tell you who ties with Francis next.)

Haim.

Of course, I had to mention these rock 'n roll sisters. This was the band who after a five-year wait, I eventually got to see at Leeds festival. Seeing the band perform live from the front barrier was one of the best gig experiences I've ever had! After releasing their second album in the summer the girls were officially back. It had been a while since their first album 'Days are gone' back in 2013 but after that long break, they came back with one killer album.

I'd say the best music video of the year has to go to Haim for 'Right now', It's so simple yet so emotional, it has it all, you can see exactly how the band works in the studio like a well-oiled machine. You get to hear everything, from the heavy guitar strum's and riffs, single drum beats to the static bristling through and crackling the speakers.

It's filmed all in one single shot, you get to see the girls walk around the room playing and picking up every instrument featured. If you've not seen it, it's well worth four minutes of your life! Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson it's one of my favourite videos of the year, so clean, so uncomplicated and sounds so clear. It just works!

Click here to view 'Right Now' music video.

Halsey.

Another artist I was lucky enough to catch at Leeds festival, and what a performance it was! Watching Halsey perform right in front of the stage was amazing. I've seen her once before when she was performing her 'Badlands' album but never when performing her new 'Hopeless Fountain Kingdom' album and what a treat that was!

She mixed her old songs with new and put on one of the best shows Leeds festival saw that weekend. Halsey even came down to the pit during the gig to stand on the barrier right in front of the crowd exactly where I was standing to sing 'Bad At Love' another huge song from her new album.

Halsey's songs are always massive, feeling at times even cinematic telling stories from her past, or heartfelt moments from her life. Her songs are made for huge venues like festivals as the bass you get from her songs are like nothing I've ever felt before. 

Her songs are always very dramatic, paired with her stage presence she's one bloody awesome performer, considering she's only 23 Halsey will go along way in the future. As soon as you hear that voice, her vocals will cut through you and are truly haunting. She's one bloody cool girl well worth a listen. To hear one of my top tracks from the album being performed live click here.

I hope you check out some of my recommendations and I'd love to know what you think. Likewise, if you have any artists or bands you think I'd like, hit me up and comment below, with your highlights of 2017.

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'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

'Twas the night before Christmas, when the boys gave a shout,

To meet in the local, for a cheeky night out.

The parents had chosen the pub table with care,

as the past few hours, they’d been sat there.

My family and I, had spent afternoon out, 

but now darkness had fallen, the boys began to turnout.

A tradition to meet, every year in the local,

to sink a few pints, have a laugh and be vocal.

Turning up to the pub, all dressed in our best

getting the round in, was our first quest.

Away to the bar, I flew like a flash,

ordered the pints and paid the cash.

The heads of our pints, were as thick as the snow

My mate said 'what’s this?' I said, 'just give it a blow'.

With every mate that appeared, we let out a cheer

the only thing missing was a Super Bock beer.

With our table now growing, as people pulled up,

when they sat down, we give them thumbs-up.

The rounds were now coming, thick and fast

all my best pals together, we were having a blast!

Now Stella, now Carling, now Peroni and Becks

On Amstel, on Coors on Strongbow, the drink orders complex!

Carrying the tray back to the table with care

it would be a shame not to steal, this piece of glassware.

The conversation and laughter, now flowing and steady

The time flies by, how is it 9 already?

Several pints now, calls for a trip to the loo,

Ohhh bloody hell, will you look at that queue!

The local now buzzing, with people of past,

faces you’ve not seen in years, but caught up with at last.

The same faces you see, year in and year out,

a good catch up, before all those sprouts.

Walking back through the pub, I pass the bar,

Watching my mates getting merrier from afar.

Getting back to the table and feeling a sway

I know by now, I have to be on my way.

Saying goodbye to all I class as my friend, 

I’m pretty much sure, I’ll catch you all next weekend.

I fall from the pub, all merry and pissed,

I’ve now accomplished everything, on my pre-Christmas checklist.

So there you go, that's my night in the pub

I then stagger home, for all that Christmas Eve grub.

This is my poem, I hope its alright,

Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night.

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THE BIKER JACKET TO END ALL BIKER JACKETS

I can't quite believe it, I've eventually found the holy grail of jackets I've been searching high and low for, for the past three years! That's correct, this leather and I have met before, but sadly the last time I laid eyes on it, it wasn't meant to be. Looking back, it really did feel as if it was one of the worst decisions I'd ever made, leaving this guy on the shelf and believe me, I regretted it!

This jacket hit The Kooples back in SS14 and was originally an eye-watering £735, it did, however, go into the sale, but I use the word bargain very loosely, as it still cost £350 if I remember correctly. This is where I missed the jacket the first and second time, finally realising my mistake and wishing for a lucky third chance to finally get my hands on it.

I asked stores, outlet stores and even emailed the brand, that's how much I craved owning this jacket, but sadly nothing, no one could track one down. That's until finally, my luck changed, only last week! I'd found it! I'd actually come by a brand new leather, it wasn't just a jacket that had been knocking around for a few years, this one was a perfect, brand new and unworn, its the jacket of my actual dreams and I've been lucky enough to spot it for the third time!

I found this killer jacket across on eBay and safe to say it's my eBay buy of the year, actually forget that, I'm going to say it's my best eBay buy of all time! I haggled a little with the seller and got it down to £175. A 76% saving from the original price. How could I not buy it this time? I couldn't believe I'd found it. When the jacket arrived it still had the wrapping paper around the buckles on the two sides, literally, it hadn't been worn once!

It's me in jacket form, it has the whole rock 'n roll package, the zips the silver metal studs and the darted collar all make for a phenomenal looking jacket! Even down to the badges emblazoned upon it. It's like no other biker jacket I've seen before. I'm even thinking about adding a few of my own badges to this jacket to really personalise it to me.

But why aren't I wearing it, I hear you ask? Well, simply . . . I'm not allowed. As it's so close to Christmas my parents have kindly offered to buy it for me, but that means one thing, its put away until Christmas day. Fair is fair, but I can't wait to put this baby on my shoulders next week. What a present!

I'll hopefully get to show you more of the jacket soon!

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