Happy Birthday to me!

Hello Dears! Yesterday I turned the grand old age of nineteen! I am very lucky to have a big family that all came over for a barbeque to celebrate. Even the sun was out for the big day! Not only did I have my family with me but some of mine and my sister's best friends too. AND my birthday cake even had a picture of me on it! A highly drunken picture, but still, I was very lucky indeed.

After a few drinks and some food a la Davis, us kids got dressed up and went out for cocktails and dancing. However, the evening quickly declined when I was bought a birthday shot of sambuca, resulting in me hugging a toilet with my false eye lashes sliding down my face. Oh dear.

Ah well, you're only young once!

Luckily today I was felling much better and me and the girls went out for a massive roast and a nice walk, getting a proper Devonshire ice cream on the way. Now thats my idea of a birthday celebration!

Me and the girls drinking cocktails

Too much of anything can make you sick..

Currently, I am working full time in a make-up factory, as if this was not dreadful enough I am also forced to listen to Heart radio station for eight hours a day. Although I enjoy being kept up to date on current affairs, listening to the same five news stories on the hour, every hour does get a tad sickening.

One thing I hate more than JLS's attempt at 'music' are the regular updates on Cheryl Cole's health. For those of you who are blissfully unaware, she is recovering from malaria and, personally, I could not care less.

Up to 500 million people contract malaria every year and every thirty seconds a child dies as a result of the disease. These vulnerable people are not lucky enough to have the brilliant medical care awaiting Cheryl's request, often they have no health care to speak of at all.

I would hope that Cheryl's unfortunate circumstance raises awareness of how serious malaria is. To be fair to the girl, she was very ill. One can hope she will recover and go on to spend her millions helping others survive and prevent the disease.

The truth of the matter is, she'll make a ton in interviews selling her "How I beat malaria" story, 'do her bit' by claiming a bewildered child from Ghana as her own and raise them in a burning spotlight and probably even release a new diet plan "Get malaria, drop a dress size".

This may sound a bit blunt to all you Cheryl fans, but if the worst thing to come out of this situation is seeing a day less of Cheryl's face on television, I count myself lucky. Sorry Sweeny, you'll have to find another shoulder to cry on.

Forever Young

This weekend I enjoyed the anual Green Man Festival in Pilton. With brilliant ska bands to skank to, as well as a number of stalls and even a parade, there was only one thing there I wanted.

I happily queued for an hour and a half with my 20-year-old sister for nothing less than a hair braid. Yes, we were up against a long queue of small children, but as long as the sun was shining our spirits were not dampened.

I am pleased to say it was all worth it and we both love our multicoloured strands. So much so in fact, we have made the decision to learn to do them ourselves.

So, if anyone's interested you'd better get in line!

Getting a braid done by uber cool French lady

Ban the burka?

All week on the news there has been discussion of the imposing issue of women in the UK covering their faces with a burka. Clearly this threatening behaviour has to be stopped because everyone that chooses to wear a burka is obviously a terrorist whose aim is to destroy all Engligh people while they're picking up a few bits in Tesco.

Umm..Hello? Does anyone else think this view is extremely ignorant and offensive?

The argument is that while in England people should respect and conform to an English culture, since wearing a burka ia not a requirement of religion. If that is the case shouldn't we force them to become obese, binge-drinkers and introduce them to the corrupt benifit system?

How about instead, we show repect for another culture, rather that pointing our fat fingers in their face shouting, "Terrorist!"

Warning: Contains obscenities

It's taken a few days but I have just about recovered from Beta Fest 2010, and what a brilliant weekend it was! The first festival, held in North Devon was a huge success and I'm sure one of many to come.

The event was organised by local synth-punk band the Dead Betas, whose headlining act resulted in much nudity and sweating on behalf of the musicians and members of the crowd alike. The last song was even performed virtually naked by the Dead Beta's frontman Tobias.

The line up for the festival was a diverse mix of dedicated and talented performers. Local bands included Reggae inspired Lion Star, Alternative/Rock band Acoustic Dispute, and young Punk/Metal pushers Jackdaws. Further-a-feild we had Psycho Indie Brummies Black Heart Generator, and Indie boys Arts and Crafts from the Midlands and Cry Raphael bringing their sound all the way from North Wales. All were welcomed into our world as the Beta Fest began.

Not only did the line up have a genre to suit every taste but every age too, festival goers ranged from 16 to 56-years-old and all had a bloody good time! The event ran on donations, that everyone were happy to provide, and after witnessing each of the thirteen talented acts, I can assure you they were not short changed!

The venue of choice is known locally as Shan's Barn, a strange experience in itself. The ground floor and stage area homes a variety of photographs, old furniture and carpeted walls and the top floor is an erotic art gallery. This Aladdin's cave of discovery and delirium was the perfect setting for such an eclectic festival.

If you missed out on Beta Fest 2010 FEAR NOT as plans for Beta Fest 2011 are already underway, so keep your eyes and ears on the Dead Betas. They'll creep up on you when you least expect it. No really, they're perverts.

Find more info on the Beta Fest 2011 on facebook.

Here are some links to the band's pages.. Enjoy!

www.myspace.com/messagerecieved

www.myspace.com/blackheartgenerator

www.myspace.com/lionstarmusic1

www.myspace.com/jackdawsuk

www.myspace.com/fleemtfuji

www.myspace.com/cryraphael

www.myspace.com/acousticdipute

www.myspace.com/artsandcraftsuk0

www.myspace.com/gangoftheivesband

Pictured right from top:

The Dead Betas

Black Heart Generator

Tobias with Lion Star