The wonderment of Swanage.

Well, I spent three days of this week in the little town of Swanage in Dorset. I have not felt that relaxed in a very long time. How can people not have hot tubs in their lives? Whatever is going on in life; from running out of milk to work deadlines; you're always gonna be chilled in the tub. Always.

We spent most of the time doing what us young ones do best: drinking, smoking, eating and sleeping. Possibly the occasional unprotected sexual activity (nothing to do with me, mind you).

There was barbeques and fields of long grass, hot showers, a warm fire and Freeview television. Oh yeah, and a roof deck. Best week ever.

I so want to organise a week away to the log cabin this summer, but with it being about a grand in the peak time, I'm pretty sure it's not gonna be easy. With the whole traveling around USA for a month and returning without a cent... thing.

Polly & The Billets Doux - Follow My Feet (live at the Firefly - 3rd Jun...

I have yet to see these guys live, and trust me, it will be a magical experience. Polly and the Billets Doux, a Winchester-based band, combine rockabilly with the beautifully feminine voice of Polly Perry and, my Lord, a cello too! They've played a handful of sets at Glastonbury Festival and have even had a set on Radio 6 music. Surely that's enough for you to be impressed, right? Take a listen!

Lady Gaga shows off her brand new amputation.

Hmm yeah, somehow I think not. New reports have claimed that the new Queen of Pop, Lady Gaga has bravely ventured into surgery - under the beckons of her record company - to have her left leg amputated at the knee purely for cosmetic purposes.

According to Pakistan News: Stefani Germanotta, more universally known as Lady Gaga, "stunned fans and television viewers" when she announced the news of her lack of leg. What the article failed to mention was when and where exactly she announced this.

We all know that Lady Gaga's passion to shock has put her in the limelight in the past, but I'm pretty sure that even Gaga isn't that much of a nutter.

Wonder if I can get the leg cheap on eBay?

A confession of love for Hayley Williams

I've been intrigued by the whole Riot Grrrl movement. I have for a while now, beginning with my fad for Nirvana (grunge guitar riffs, weird lyrics), moving swiftly over to the other half of Kurt Cobain: Courtney Love and her band Hole, leading onto the likes of L7 and even a small spark for feminists Bikini Kill. I idolise their female empowerment. What female doesn't

want to feel strong, sexy and comfortable in her own skin?

But now my eyes have locked onto Hayley Williams, lead singer of male-dominated rock band Paramore, after discovering through their breakthrough single, Misery Business. At last, a 21st century Riot Grrrl with one rule only: be yourself.

Firstly, I found myself being drawn into her somewhat 'vulnerable' image. She isn't your typical "sexy" woman. If anything, she's cute; you want to take her in one arm and shield off any harm with the other.

But then, she opens her mouth. I was blown away when she tore through the chorus of Misery Business, that was when I knew that this new-found obsession was probably a permanent one. Courtney was always very outspoken, loud and dominant, but not so much Hayley. Sure, she is the front-woman of an increasingly popular band - but unlike Courtney, she doesn't dominate every Paramore interview; she isn't hounded by the tabloids for crazy behaviour; she isn't in constant legal battles over drug abuse. Instead, Paramore have worked closely with their fans to prove how accessible they are, and this is what has made them so easy to love. Hayley is modest, charming, funny... overall, she's just a normal 21 year-old girl, really - but with the world at her feet. Just take a look at her Tumblr blog: she shares random thoughts just like the rest of us.

“It’s hard when kids think you’re perfect, because I never will be and I never want to be,” Hayley says, in a recent interview with The Sunday Times. “So I make sure to explain to people that life is shitty sometimes. I want people to know I’m not perfect."

As well as this, she's a fashionista in her own right. Whether it's her everyday girl-next-door look to her red carpet appearances, she always manages to look kooky and cool. It's so refreshing that through the hoards of fake-tan, tight dresses and poppy synths, there's a small-town flaming redhead with fiery stage presence whose not afraid to be herself. She's not California, she's Tennessee.

And this is why I love you, Hayley Williams. You seem like the kinda girl you'd want to chill out, play Playstation and drink beers with - and I really couldn't think of anything better.

The Abhorsen Club

Sabriel and Touchstone, an artist's impression

Image © http://abhorsenclub.deviantart.com

The Garth Nix Abhorsen trilogy: Sabriel, Lirael and Abhorsen have been favourites of mine for a long time now. My boyfriend and I swapped books on a rainy day and he happened to hand me Sabriel, which I fell in love with almost instantly. The story is about a young girl living in the non-magical kingdom of Ancelstierre, opposite the mysterious Old Kingdom in which she was born. The book is a winding, fascinating and magical story about victory and coming-of-age as Sabriel sets out to find her father, the Abhorsen, who has recently been trapped in death by a Greater Dead being.

I'm now onto the third book, Abhorsen, and I'm putting off reading it in one go for as long as possible. After discussion, me and the boy have decided that these could be an incredible base for a film. It's got mystery, magic, passion, love and loads of action. What more could you want?

I have yet to think about who would be cast as who, who would screen-write and who would direct. Would each book be an individual film, or blended into one? What would be the final result?

I wish we were all underwater sometimes. Everything seems so much more tranquil.

B.o.B - Airplanes Feat. Hayley Williams of Paramore [OFFICIAL AUDIO]

What I like most about this is the blending of two music genres. I love that some genres aren’t always closed-off and generalized. This brings two different music fans together, allowing us to share and create and come up with something brand new and innovative. It brings in new fans and expands our creativity.

I just found this when searching on NME’s news section. I never really pictures vocal-powerhouse Hayley Williams hustling her way into rap music, but this really, really works. Her contribution is humble but strong and really brings the song together. Without it, all I’d think is, “Yay, another generic rap song”, but then again I guess this is biased, as I’m much more into Paramore than I am with any R&B acts. B.o.B chose his vocalist wisely, and I’d love to see them collaborate again.