So I finally went to see the most talked about movie of the moment yesterday, Me Before You. A friend invited me to see the film and I was so excited because the trailer looked amazing and the interviews with the cast really made it seem like it was the film of the year.

I haven't yet read the book, so I didn't know what all the controversy was about at first, but now that I've seen the film I completely understand. It's a sensitive topic which I'm not going to get into at the moment, but I can say that everyone is entitled to their own opinion and I respect that completely, even if I don't agree with them myself.

Anyway, back to the review. For those of you who have neither read the book or seen the film, it's the story of Louisa Clark (played by Emilia Clarke, aka the mother of dragons in Game of Thrones) a clumsy yet colourful character who lands the job of Will Traynor's carer (played by Sam Claflin), a once successful banker who now lives with his parents in a castle after a motorcycle accident left him paralysed for life. The meeting of these two characters is awkward and tense at first, Will coming off as a snob and Lou as a happy-go-lucky soul who doesn't know how to cheer him up. The relationship and chemistry between the two characters is so tangible that it is well perceived on screen and we are immediately attached to the characters and believe their journey.

There are various funny and witty moments throughout the film, which are enjoyable to watch along with the quirky facial expressions Lou makes throughout the film. Lou's character is truly my favourite, she is the sweetest and kindest person in the story and it makes me wish there were more people like her in the world. Her cuteness makes you 'aw' along with her flamboyant sense of style which reminds me of Ugly Betty's wardrobe once upon a time. Lou's boyfriend Patrick (played by Mathew Lewis, aka Neville Longbottom) is a fitness fanatic who wants nothing more than to run all day. He is not the focus in the story, but he does add a slight bit of tension to the love triangle developing which is entertaining to watch.

I will definitely not try to spoil anything from the story, as I really want you guys to experience it for yourselves. But one thing I will say is that it has now become one of my favourite movies and that you will need at least 5 packs of tissues when you go and see the film, because you will cry a river. At least, my friend and I did... as well as the entire cinema.

The turning point in the story hits you like big yellow school bus as it's so shocking and of course controversial that you really hope things will change by the end of the movie. You get so attached to the characters, that I am still thinking about them now, as they are so unique and wonderfully complex that I wish they were real people. You leave the cinema feeling sad, but really valuing life and wanting to do the most of it as you never know what circumstances you can run into which could turn your whole life upside down. It's inspired me to write more things on my bucket list and to actually try and tick some of them off.

But be warned, this isn't a feel-good movie and it will feel as though your heart's been ripped from your chest, but it is so worth watching.

Now, I'm off to read the book.

I'd love to know if any of you have already gone to see the film and what your thoughts were on it?

Until next time! xo

[100happydays, Day 9]

Yesterday was amazing, let's start with that.

From the 500 applications Channel 4 received for the event, I was lucky enough to be selected to attend! And so when the day arrived, I couldn't wait to get cracking. The Channel 4 Pop Up event took place in East London at the Stratford Arts Centre and it began with a talk from Miles Otway a freelance Continuity Announcer; and for those wondering what that is, he's the voice over between TV programs telling us what is coming up next. This guy was so inspiring! He talked to us about his job and how he got there. He made us realise that you don't have to depend on your brilliant grades to do what you love and get a good job.

After the talk about Miles' industry experience, we got split into three groups. There were three workshops taking place that day: TV Production, Journalism and Digital Marketing. I was put into the Journalism workshop even though I had initially wanted to be part of the TV Production, but that didn't matter. Since I'll be going to Journalism School this summer, it was a great way to get an insight into the field. We worked alongside Jules McCarthy, a BBC broadcast journalist. Her workshop was overwhelming at the start, as she made us film a 45 second video talking about ourselves. Everyone groaned when she set the task, but this then turned into laughter and enjoyment as we started doing it. 45 seconds felt eternal, the pressure of trying to find things to say about yourself was slightly daunting, as you didn't want to sound too cocky. But we all gave it a shot and it was a great experience, as Jules then told us, you never know when you'll be asked to broadcast a story. So one of her top tips is to always stay tuned to the News and carry a smartphone with you at all times. Another bit of advice she gave us is to: "Check yourself before you wreck yourself". This was to keeping a close eye to what we post online as it can wreck our career.

Our main task that day was to create a News bulletin which consisted of three sentences of 15 words each. Since Channel 4 will be the official broadcaster of the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, our stories had to revolve around that subject. Narrowing the story down was super hard to do, as it always felt like we were cutting out a lot of information that needed to be told. But after several drafts, I managed to get it done! And Luckily, I got selected to showcase my bulletin along with other members of my group in the final, in front of the other two groups (Digital Marketing and TV Production), and get a chance to compete for the winning prize of going to the C4 HQ. Unfortunately our team didn't win, but I still feel immensely proud I got that far. It built up my confidence and it really changed my perception of broadcast journalism.

I met some amazing people, got to network and get expert advice on how to get our foot in the industry. I really want to thank MyKindaFuture and 4Talent for hosting the event, as it was a brilliant experience and one which I truly benefitted from. Maybe I'll be back next year!

If you would like to find out more about the event, check out their website!

So recently I have been to the theatre here in Paris and have completely loved my experience. Mum had come to visit me, so I really wanted to do something different this time round, so I bought us a pair of tickets to see the smash hit show 'How To Become Parisian In One Hour' which I wanted to go to for quite a while.

The show is currently at Théâtre des Nouveautés which is at the 9th arrondissement (24 boulevard Poissonnière: metro - Grands Boulevards) and will stay there until the end of August so you guys have time, if interested, to book your tickets to this hilarious show while on holiday in Paris.

This One Man show is sure to leave you in fits of laughter while training to act Parisian in every possible occasion you could encounter in your life. Oliver Giraud makes the funniest impersonations of Parisians, and the fact that he too is 100% French adds that authenticity to his spectacle which made the audience connect to him straight away, as we were getting real information from a native who was also accustomed to the stereotypes of French people and who surprisingly agreed with them. Hence making this show a real hit, attracting people from all around the world, and even the French themselves! It was quite astonishing how most of the audience were Parisians and French people from different parts of France!

How To Become Parisian In One Hour will leave you fit and ready to tackle any situation while in Paris; whether it be while out shopping, at a restaurant, in a taxi, at a nightclub, on the metro and even during intimacy with your partner. Giraud's facial expressions and comments will have you peeing with laughter, that no matter how badly you will want to go and relieve yourself you will not leave your seat as you will not want to miss a second of it.

I truly do recommend this show to everyone! Old and young -okay, maybe not too young as there is quite a lot of swearing and adult themes, but everyone nonetheless! The prices range from 24-37 euros depending on your seats. I went for the cheapest option, and was still very happy with my choice. Voilà my view; and even when it filled up, mum and I still got a good view of the stage.


HTBPIOH is on every Monday at 8pm, Friday and Saturday at 7pm and Sunday at 6pm. It lasts an hour, and at the end of the show, Giraud makes the effort to stay a bit longer to meet his audience and even get a picture with him (which I did!).

It really is a lovely night out, and highly recommend it. So do go for it, if you have the chance! You can buy your tickets here.

He is even going to London on May 13th and will host a show at Leicester Square Theatre so if you're in London during that time, do get your hands on some tickets. I sure will try and go again! And just so it appeals to you even further, you can use the promotional code: PARIS to get a reduction on your tickets! How nice of me, right?

Do tell me if you guys have gone to see the show and if you enjoyed it! I'd love to hear your experience!

Till next time xo

Remember the cousin I went to visit in Lyon? Well, she made a trip to Paris for the weekend and really wanted to go to Disneyland with some friends. At first, I wasn't supposed to be going, because I had to meet a classmate and do the coursework that was due in the next day. However, I couldn't possible pass up the chance, especially since it was going to be decorated in all its Christmas decorations! So, I was stuck in a dilemma of course! The trip was taking place on Sunday 14th December 2014 and on Saturday, I literally texted my friend telling her that my cousin was in Paris and that she really wanted me to spend time with her as she wasn't going to see me until God knows when, and if we could meet at 18:00 instead (I obviously exaggerated the whole situation, but made sure to leave Disneyland out of it), after what seemed ages, she finally replied completely understanding the situation and agreeing to the time change. I honestly felt like a little child again when I realised I was actually going to be able to go to Disneyland!

It was unbelievable, I seriously couldn't sleep that night. Anyway, after meeting at 7:30am at Châtelet les Halles we were finally on the RER A and on our way to DISNEYLAND!

We got there by 8:30am and the day was so gloomy and foggy, that we couldn't see anything, but we made sure to not let that dampen our spirits! We bought our tickets and were all ready to explore the two parks, when we were told that the gates didn't open until 09:30! We waited an hour until they opened, but at least we were first in the queue!

And when we got in, it felt so magical that I almost felt like crying because I was actually there!



Seeing all the Christmas decorations was making me so excited for Christmas, I really wanted the day to last forever.



But boy, was it free-zing!! I couldn't move my fingers, and do you know that guy in one of the Pirates of the Caribbean movie whose toe falls of because of the cold? Well, I seriously felt like that was going to happen to me with all my toes and fingers. So we went into this really cute café to grab something hot to drink, and after purchasing a Disney mug with my other because I couldn't pass up the chance of holding the cute thing, I was ready to embark on the wonderful adventure. And just as we were paying for our things, it started to snow! Yes, it snowed! In Disneyland! It may have only lasted 10 seconds, but IT SNOWED! And it was so magical, I couldn't believe it was happening.

We hoped it would snow again, but it never did.



However, the fog did add to that mystical feeling in the Pirates of the Caribbean section of the park. It made it all that bit more eerie and as if a pirate was going to pop out any second, but I loved it!

The POTC ride was adorable, we got into this boat and got to go inside this cave where all of Barbosa's treasure was hidden. Since we only had till 4pm to enjoy ourselves, because then we had to leave, we therefore had to quickly move on to the second park. We did manage to squeeze in the Indiana Jones ride just before we left though! The only disappointing thing about the rides, was that they didn't even last a minute :(



The Tower of Terror was my favourite ride! Once we were buckled in our seats and the elevator fell from the top of the tower, I felt as though my heart was ready to fall out of my chest. But it was brilliant, I really wanted to go again, but we obviously didn't have time and the queues took ages, so it was off to enjoy another ride.


This last and final ride was at Toy Story. After waiting in the queue for an hour, we got inside the famous green car and were driven to and from each point of the semi-circle until the car lost its speed and we were back in the middle again. These kind of rides are not my favourite, because you honestly feel as though you're heart is going to leave your body, but I still try them even though I know what they're like.

Sadly, before I knew it, it was already 4pm and it was time for us to leave. The day was fabulous and I spent it with the best people and the memories we created will live in my heart forever. But, I promised myself that I would have to go at least one more time before I leave Paris because there were other rides that I wanted to go on and we didn't have the time, and also because you can never get enough of Disneyland!



[100happydays, Day 6]

A flatmate was travelling to Lyon for the Fête des Lumières and she literally told me about it three a week before she left Paris. So in that moment I knew I had to really take advantage of the opportunity to see a different region of France, and I therefore immediately decided to go along with her. Conveniently, my cousin is studying in Lyon, so when I told her of the trip she invited me over and told me I could stay at hers. It was fantastic, because it saved me the trouble of looking for a hotel (and also helped me in saving some money!).

After buying the tickets, (I honestly recommend OUIGO, as they have fairly affordable prices and are much cheaper than SNCF) and packing some essentials into my small suitcase, the day finally arrived and my flatmate and I were making our way to Marne-la-Vallee station to catch our train.

The trip was supposedly two hours and a half long (almost the same as London to Paris by Eurostar!), but it seriously only felt like 30 minutes long maybe because I was excited or something. Anyway, when we reached Saint Exupéry, we had to take the Rhone Express because unfortunately OUIGO didn't make any stops in the city of Lyon itself and because the station is right next to the airport, we had no choice but to take this form of transport (which was a painful 23 euros worth) and sit back as it was what took us to central Lyon where my cousin was waiting for us in the freeing cold.


Anyway, once we got there and hugged my cousin (whom I hadn't seen in three years) we quickly made our way to her campus, which was also the campus of my flatmate's friend with whom she was staying at. So it was like awesome, because we stayed so close to one another and when my cousin went to work I just walked over to her friend's dorm and chilled with them.

We travelled to Lyon for four days to have time to fully explore the city itself and attend the festival of lights which was frankly a-mazing! It truly was an outstanding and breathtaking event, which attracted visitors from all around the world. Some of the shows portrayed on the buildings of l'Opera, Place des Terraux and the Saint-Jean cathedral were honestly mind-blowing. They were seriously, so interesting and captivating that the people behind them honestly deserve the biggest round of a applause for such creativity.

I'm going to share with you some of my favourite snaps!

 How cute is this? Tea being poured into a cute little mug. (Well, the mug was actually half my size, and not so little after all).
These upside down flowers were so cute and initiative, that almost made me want to have something similar to decorate my own room back at home.

 Above is the Place des Terraux and its show was inspired by art. It showcased some of Monet's paintings which morphed into a telling of a story that was so beautifully designed as it projected across the two buildings of the square.
The show on the cathedral was so sick! It basically played with the lights to the beat of the music playing in the background. It gave me goosebumps, and was my favourite by far!

On the trip as well, we visited the museum of miniature and cinema which was so good it is honestly a must see! It had original costumes and props used during the filming of some major Hollywood films. I got to see the original wand of Harry Potter used in the Chamber of Secrets and one of the Hogwarts letters sent to him in the Philosopher's Stone. There were also the costumes of Hulk, and Superman as well as other superheroes and characters alike. The second half of the museum was where we spent most of out time, as it was where the miniature sets were being displayed. Each and every single set was so detailed that you could spend hours looking at them and wondering how on earth they made it all look life-like! We also went to Furvière as well and its basilica is so breathtaking I couldn't take my off its beautiful ceiling.

For dinner, my cousin invited me to this delicious Italian restaurant called Al Dente. Believe me when I say this, but that restaurant has the most mouthwatering and heavenly pizzas in all of Lyon (and even France itself)! They were really generously portioned pizzas, too well portioned that we couldn't finish ours as they were huge. But my goodness, did they taste good. If you're in Lyon, DO NOT miss this restaurant! It is located just next to the Fourvière téléphérique and you may miss it if you weren't looking for it, because it is down this small alley and away from any tourist attractions. But do look for it, because it is honestly amazing okay? okay. I might just make another trip to Lyon, just to go to that restaurant. I'm kidding.

This trip to Lyon has put a smile on my face, and I was so glad I got the chance to see it. It is definitely a place worth visiting. To end things, since the festival of lights was during the 5th-8th of December, it was also during the Christmas season and so we visited the Christmas market where I bought most of the Christmas presents I was taking back home! This market was was definitely a much better market than the one at Champs-Elysées because there was definitely more to see and the layout of it felt more homey and cosy. Also, the people of Lyon are so warm and welcoming, that I honestly felt right at home there I didn't want to leave!

[100happydays, Day 5]

If you ask any child what place they dream of visiting, they would most likely say Disneyland; however, in my case, it was actually Versailles (although Disneyland was also on the list of course, because who wouldn't want to go to Disneyland?). Anyway, my dream came true on the 9th October 2014, when I decided to take my mum along with me on the trip when she came to visit me in Paris.

The journey there took us about an hour, but it was lovely because we got to see the outskirts of Paris and the difference in architecture as well as getting a glimpse of the banlieues. Once we reached the station, we followed the tourists that were also making their way to the palace, until we finally reached the beautiful golden gates. The grandeur of the place made my heart swell; I couldn't believe I was actually there, about to enter the former home of Marie-Antoinette! I absolutely adore the history of the place and of all the famous royals that once upon a time lived here. I completely immerse myself in the history of the French Monarchy and of the life of Louis XVI and his wife, whose reign brought it to an end.

Stepping inside the palace, I automatically felt myself go back in time as I pictured glamorous ball gowns swaying around me and dancing in front of the King and Queen. If the walls could only talk! To think that I was standing in what was once the centre of France's political power, was unbelievable.

The central gallery of the Château is its Hall of Mirrors (La Grande Galerie or La Galerie des Glaces in French) built during King Louis XIV's third building campaign in 1677-1684.


The chandeliers that decorate the hall are so beautiful, I literally took like 100 pictures of them. The paintings on the ceiling are dedicated to the political policies and military victories of Louis XIV. You could really see that Louis XIV is obviously the key figure in them, as they all highlight his power and success.


Going to the Petit Trianon and seeing the place where Marie Antoinette liked to take time away from the busy lifestyle of the French court, was surreal; seeing her bed was slightly strange, because 1) I couldn't believe she had actually slept there, and 2) because it was far too small! I was telling my mum that I didn't think that was her real bed, but after one of the room guards heard me, he actually confirmed to me that Marie-Antoinette actually did sleep there, but she merely slept sitting down! I was like "Oh, well that makes sense!" But it still seems strange to me.

And just when I thought I had seen it all, we stepped outside and onto the gardens. My goodness, were the gardens beautiful. Below is a picture of them, but it's one of those situations where you have to be there to truly feel the amplitude of the place.


Just seeing the lake itself and the stretch of it, was enough to take my breath away. And just so we could make our mark in the place, mum and I decided to row in the lake. It was bloody amazing! A duck was following my mum and I along our 30-minute trip which was adorable and I felt sorry for him because he was obviously hungry and we didn't have anything to give him. We had a sandwich inside the palace in the Angelina restaurant, but we didn't really leave anything of it because it was delicious! But anyway, enough of that. After we got out of the rowing boat, and having learnt how to row by my mum, we started making our way towards the Queens Hamlet.

To say that my mum and I walked a lot, is an understatement. We were knackered by the end of the day; our feet were killing, I had blisters and my legs ached so bad I honestly thought they were going to fall off.

However, the highlight of the trip had to have been Marie Antoinette's Estate (once we reached it, because it was buried deep in the gardens) - The Queen's Hamlet. The place seriously set butterflies to flying in my stomach because it was just too beautiful! It looked like I was inside a fairytale; I never wanted to leave!




I mean isn't it just mind-blowing? Lucky Marie-Antoinette, seriously. (I kind of take that back, considering how she died.)

Mum and I spent the whole day there and we honestly didn't want to leave because the whole scenery was beautiful it made us want to just live there forever. However, once we knew we had to leave, we thought our wish was going to come true, as we couldn't find the way out! We tried looking on the map, but then I am useless at reading maps so that was a bust. There was nobody on the roads, and the gardens were almost forest-like that we felt trapped inside it. Eventually, we reached the palace, but we were the only ones around!

We looked everywhere, but there was not a soul in sight. It was after several minutes of wandering about, that we finally saw a security guard across the grounds of the Grand Trianon.We ended up heading towards him and asking him if he could let us out, which he did. sadly.


And there I am walking to our exit!

[100happydays, Day 4]

It will almost be a week since I arrived in Paris. A week! My goodness, time does fly. My first ever experience of living abroad -by myself- has been all right so far. After arriving to a room which I have to share in the month of September, and carrying two heavy luggages along with a backpack and a handbag all by myself, I thought I would want to book the first trip back to London. However, I am still here, and there is a smile on my face.

My 'foyer' as they like to call it here (student residency) is located just next to the Luxembourg gardens along the Boulevard Saint Michel. From the terrace I have the most wonderful view of Paris, where both the Tour Eiffel and Montparnasse appear on the horizon. With the Notre Dame just minutes away from me, I couldn't ask for a better location. Walking the streets of Paris, and discovering the most cutest petits rues along the way, has been a highlight of my experience. Streets full of cafes and restaurants that grab your attention with their shabby and parisian decorations, the cobbled pavement and narrow streets that look like they have come out from a pop-up children's book, and the cute markets with the smell of fresh bread and fromageries just aligned across the street, has been so enjoyable to discover. My camera is always packed in my bag, because I never know what I will stumble upon or what will capture my eye.





I spend most of the evenings in the Luxembourg gardens, sitting on one of their famous green chairs with an open book on my lap, headphones in my ears and the sun shining on my face. The weather has been wonderful! It doesn't feel like the end of summer at all! I just wish it could stay like this forever!


On one of my little trips around Paris, I decided to go visit the famous bookstore: Shakespeare and Company.

This bookstore has the most welcoming and cosiest interiors I have ever come across in my life. I honestly wanted to stay there all day. Unfortunately they didn't let us take pictures inside, but the place even had beds for you to rest on while your mind wandered into another realm. They have books that are quite ancient and tend to be second hand, however, they do sell new books (which takes most of the downstairs floor) that vary from children's books like Rold Dahl to John Green for young adults to all kinds of genres and English authors one can think of.

The original shop, which doubled as a library, publisher and boarding house for aspiring writers, was opened by American Sylvia Beach and was featured in Ernest Hemingway's memoir, A Moveable Feast. The store closed during World War II, and was reopened in its current incarnation in 1951 by George Whitman, whose daughter, Sylvia, runs things today. And they even have a small message stating this on the side of the store.

Also, the place has its own cat! It's white and so cute, I have actually petted it.


The nearby restaurant Le Procope, is said to have had guests of luminaries like Voltaire, Rousseau and Verlaine, and that its walls are adorned with author-signed title pages. However, I have yet to visit that restaurant, but it is definitely in my to-do list!

That is just one of the many places I have and have yet to visit here in Paris.

[100happydays, Day 3]

So, yesterday was Pancake Day and that meant it was finally the time to stuff my face with these delicious things and actually have an excuse to do so.

Mum made the pancakes and I took the pleasure of covering them with all things sweet; Nutella, honey, condensed milk and strawberries on the side. I wonder, what you guys put in yours?

[100happydays, Day 2]

So, today was lovely. I met up with a friend whom I haven't seen in months, and went to a cute cafe in Syon park. We caught up with so much, and remembered so many embarrassing moments we shared in school.
After that, we walked to Pets at Home where we saw the cute bunnies and guinea pigs and I tried hard to restrain myself from buying all the cute fluffy fur balls.
Then, it had been so long that we hadn't seen each other that we walked to a different park not so far away.
On the way, I took my friend to a lovely cute shabby bookshop, that is literally the cutest thing. Inside, it smelled of old books and cinnamon and I just wanted to sit on the floor and get lost in all the books. But sadly that couldn't be the case. We needed to move on.


So we went to Osterly park and just strolled around for ages. My legs were aching when I got home, and mum made me the nicest cappuccino that literally made me feel so much better.


So, yeah. That was my day. Pretty long and tiring, but I loved it!

[100happydays, Day 1]