I have been in Corfu for the last 8 days and, you may have noticed from my insta posts, had a FAB time. I'm not normally the type to do adventurous things; previous family holidays have mostly been either very cultural or very remote. However, this year we went to a cute little tourist trap in North Corfu, one of the Greek islands.

It was also my first holiday with just a friend and myself and we booked through Thomson (also known as Tui). The holiday was very cheap, as we booked back in March or April, and our accommodation, while comfortable, was cheap and cheerful too.

My summer books consisted of 1984 and The Diary of a Provincial Lady, both very good, and picked up from the airport. I also borrowed Cloud Atlas, but didn't get onto reading it while I was on holiday, as the others kept me occupied.

In terms of adventurous things that I did, I jumped off a freaking cliff!!!! I'm scared of heights (or maybe that should be past tense) but I decided it was a now or never moment, and just leapt - having safely assessed the situation and after watching a much larger man not die while doing the same. This was in the beautiful Canal d'Amour, which had a stunning bay as well.





















I also got to drive a speedboat, and sea kayak, as well as being a little posey! The actual area we were staying in had some beautiful coastlines and caves to explore, and the hotel was situated only a short, but pretty, walk from the beach.

In an effort to save money, we had lunch at the hotel (usually a v nice toastie) and then would do activities or lounge by the pool and get dinner out every night. I loved the Greek food we got to try, and my favourite dish was probably the Corfiot favourite 'pastitsada' (pictured), which was so good!

As usual, Klara writes in this font, and Amber writes in this!

Rating:

K: ☆☆☆☆
A:☆☆☆

I've been super sick recently, and that has been made worse by how cold it is outside. When I'm sick, I always crave hot and comforting foods, so tonight my mum made me her famous cheese and potato pie. Here's the recipe:

You will need:

• 750 g potatoes, pre-mashed
• 1 onion, or for a more delicate taste, use red onion
• 1 block mature cheddar cheese
• Chilli flakes or chilli powder (optional)
• Salt and pepper to taste

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees
2. Chop the onion and grate the block of cheese. If you want it a bit more cheesy, you might want to add a bit more
3. Mix together the mashed potato, two thirds of the cheese, the onion and the chilli if you're using it. If you're using a dish that is shallower but wider, use less of the cheese so you have more for the top.
4. Put the contents of your bowl into a dish. We usually use a glass Pyrex casserole dish.
5. Sprinkle the remainder of the cheese onto the top of the dish
6. Cook for 40 mins

So. Much. Representation.

Homosexuality
Androgyny
Ethnic minorities
Gender norms
Unplanned pregnancy
Open relationships
A whole episode in Spanish
Veganism
Art

Love


Audience Rating: 15, but I would rate it as an 18
Episodes: 8 x 30 mins
Genre: Apparently a comedy....nah I don't think so. Definitely a drama.
Lowlights: I found the first and third episodes to be quite shallow - push through the first, as I think it's not the highlight of the series, and it does pick up. Sometimes it does border on cliche: one couple exploring gender normative roles after the man is a stay at home dad, and the mum is the 'breadwinner' of the family.
Highlights: I find it captivating, some of the stories, as they are so refreshingly normal. Acting is first class, and the highlights of the series are 'Vegan Cinderella' and 'Controlada'.
Rating: 8/10

This series of mostly improvised shorts on the surface can seem shallow. In the first episode, I wondered if it would be a series made up entirely of sex, but what shines through the rawness of  is that this is not tokenism. The representation we see can feel overwhelming, but it's important to consider that this is in part due to the fact that film and tv are so unrepresentative of the world. So maybe this show is just a little more telling of actual real life.

Each episode is presented as a stand alone, with casual links, such as the second episode featuring the babysitter of the couple in the first. However, as the series continues, characters weave into others' storylines, and Dave Franco starts lingering like an annoying bad smell, with almost two episodes dedicated to him. Most of it is improvised too, with just ideas presented to the cast, which is so star-studded that it's almost phenomenal. PS Orlando Bloom is v hot :)

So I'm one of those people that gets super down in the winter. I hate getting out of bed when it's cold and everything is dark. Something about me is just weighted down, especially if it's raining and I have to walk somewhere, and I've just forgotten my umbrella...

However, unless I move to the Equator, I'm just going to have to live with the seasonality of Britain, so I have devised some tips, tricks, and other miscellaneous motivation to keep me going.

• Pop the heating on an hour before you wake up

Infamous sleeping bag experience

So anyone who knows me well knows that I hate the cold, so Autumn and winter are always pretty depressing for me but I am trying to be more positive this year so I am looking on the bright side and recognising the good things about this season: