A Monday Musing

Girls; how many of you wanted to become ballerina's when you were little...? 

        I considered it; only I couldn't skip til I was six.  

Can you remember what you wanted to be?

Life On Demand

To anyone who is of an age where they have left school, completed a college course, or finished a university degree, I can guarantee that you will have been asked what is perhaps the most common question amongst 16-21 year olds; the dreaded question, the repetitive question and the question that you just don’t have the answer to; “So… what’s the plan now you’re entering the big wide world?”

I finished university over a year ago. I studied English Literature as I have always loved to read and write for as long as I can remember. After completing my degree I was entirely aware that I would soon, like many others, be entering what has been commonly called the ‘real’ world. Have I, unbeknownst to myself, been living in some university bubble that exists in a parallel universe? Perhaps.

Anyway, like I said, I was completely aware that this was my last summer holiday and my remaining moments of freedom. So, I went to New York and had the most incredible time any 21 year old could ask for. I cried at the airport when I left and I’m not even ashamed to admit that sometimes when I hear Alicia Keys’ “New York”, my eyes well up.

When I arrived home I felt satisfied with my time off and couldn’t decide whether to save up some money to go travelling, go in to further education or to begin the search for a job. However, in the time I spent trying to figure out how to make my next move, I kept hearing the same gripes from those around me; the fear and worry of the unknown. I too had these concerns.

Now I can’t speak for everyone here but I know that for a lot of people we have had our educational map planned out for us, whether you leave school early or you stay right through until your 20’s. I am a huge believer in obtaining as much education as you possibly can. However, as we spend such a large proportion of our lives learning, by the time we get our hands around that yearbook or put on our graduation cap, we are finally free to choose our own paths. Since leaving university I have frequently heard a mix of fear, worry and excitement from those around me who too shared my position.

How many of you have heard somebody say that they are going travelling after seeing pictures uploaded of an old school friend splashing around on a beach in Australia? Or what about the jobs your friends keep getting and you fear you’ll get left behind? And how about the studious family friend who has decided to do an MA? After not only hearing these stories, but also seeing them play out in front of you via social networking sites, it is no wonder that people have become so fearful.

I believe that we live in a world where we expect life to be on demand. Our generation has grown up in a world full of technological advances where everything happens at an instant; be it at the click of a mouse, the tap of a keyboard or the press of button. It is in my view that because of our physical and emotional dependence on technology that we apply the same mindset to our own lives. If the remote control is a bit slow we get frustrated, when the computer crashes we grunt and when we have no signal we feel deserted. In the same way, when we say goodbye to education we expect the next step to be instantly there, but that’s just not the case. Life doesn’t happen at the press of a button, it’s just that we are part of a ‘we want it now’ culture.

Everyone reading this will be in a different position to the other. Some will have a job, some will be looking and others don’t know what they’re looking for. However, what most of you will have in common is that feeling of uncertainty which lurks in the pit of your stomach when confronted with that unanswerable question.

I will admit that when I want something I want it right away. Is this impatience or determination? Perhaps it is a mixture of the two. However, what I have come to realise and am still in the process of learning, is the importance of having balance. Just because you don’t go travelling this year doesn’t mean you won’t go the next, and even though you have lost your job it doesn’t mean that you won’t find another. If we remember to take a step back from time to time and just let things happen, we might find the unknown a little less scary. The facts are, we don’t know what will happen next, life could change tomorrow or it might stay the same for ten years. So, when a chapter closes and you turn the page to the next installment, you might be confronted with blank pages. But perhaps, sometimes it’s ok to let the pages write themselves. 

Felicity and Hannah's Race for Life

Hey guys :)

One of my best friends, Felicity, and her lovely sister, Hannah, are running 10k in the Race for Life on 22nd July 2012 in Chelmsford, Essex.

They are hoping to raise £500 and are almost half way there but they would really appreciate a little extra help. It's for a great cause and all the money will go to Cancer Research, a charity that is very close to my heart and Felicity and Hannah's and I'm sure many other people's across the world.

If you would like to make a donation, however big or small, please visit their Just Giving page on https://www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/felicitysutton833.

 Any donations are welcome and every little helps.

Thanks
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Miss Hertfordshire's SOS Party!!

Miss Hertfordshire Beauty Queen and Miss England finalist, Kirsty Heslewood, is hosting an event at Host, Bishop's Stortford, on FRIDAY 8TH JUNE, in order to raise money for the charity, "Beauty with a Purpose". The charity raises money to help promote and protect the health, education and well being of children worldwide.

Kirsty's planned an exciting night for everyone! There will be live bands, DJ's Kolo and Dyze, live drumming and lot's of other entertainment. All for an amazing £3 on the door!!

Plus, if you really want to make a night of it then you can book a table for you and your friends. For £100 you are provided with your own table, a giant bottle of vodka and a personal waitress so you can avoid bar queues! Between 4 friends that's only £25 a person and works out to 10 drinks each, but tables are getting booked up fast so make sure you get in contact if you want one!

Kirsty previously organised a sponsored run which involved other contestants from the Miss Hertfordshire final and raised an amazing £3000. So please come and support Kirsty and Beauty with a Purpose next Friday, it really is a great cause to get involved with!

The event will start at 5pm and finishes at 2am. You're welcome to pop in for a drink after work and sit in the sun with a Pimms and a burger or come along later in the evening for a drink and dance. The dress code is 'Dress to Impress' and all family and friends are welcome, so spread the word!

To join the event or book a table go to: http://www.facebook.com/events/412207205466376/

If you wish to donate now then please visit: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=KirstyHeslewood

Vote Kirsty Heslewood for Miss England: http://www.missengland.info/finalists?task=profile&id=9200

Endangered Soup

Jessica Flexton dives into the world of shark finning to explore why the shark population is diminishing to meet the demand for shark fin soup

Sharks have a long-standing reputation as one of the most frightening and feared animals in the world. Media coverage is full of horror stories and often depicts sharks as dangerous and monstrous creatures. Yet in reality, you are more likely to get struck by lightening than be attacked by a shark. And sadly, due to inhumane practices such as shark finning, the shark population is in serious decline and fast becoming an endangered species.

Shark finning is the process of catching the shark and cutting off the fin whilst the fish is still alive. The remains are often thrown back into the ocean where the shark suffers a slow death, is eaten by other fish, or drowns. This practice is completely legal, widespread and largely unmonitored. Due to the increasing demand for the soup the acquisition of a shark fin has become extremely desirable and has made finning a multi-million pound industry. The price of a shark fin starts from £150, making the product the most valuable dried seafood on the market.

As sharks don’t embody the same loveable characteristics as dolphins and whales, they are frequently overlooked. I believe that if the same practice was applied to dolphins, whales, or any other fish, there would be worldwide uproar. Interestingly there are over 375 different species of sharks but only 12 are known to attack humans. While there are between 50-70 shark attacks a year globally, only five-15 are fatal. Yet an estimated 100 million sharks are killed each year for cultural and recreational purposes.

Shark fin soup is particularly popular in China, its surrounding territories and Chinese communities internationally. Hundreds of years ago shark fin soup was an Asian delicacy eaten only by the rich and elite on social occasions, such as weddings and banquets. The soup is comprised of shark fins which are flavoured with chicken stock and herbs and then the fin is bleached to appear more appealing. It is desired for its rarity and prestigious preparation and is said to have mythical qualities. Today the dish is still considered to be a luxury cuisine but is now consumed in vast quantities and is available extensively in restaurants across the world. However, the selling of shark fin soup is now banned in Toronto, California, Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, Palau, Honduras and the Maldives.

For many Asian people shark fin soup is a dish of great traditional importance. “It is our culture and is really important to the Chinese. The Chinese communities in countries where it has been banned are very angry,” said Kat, who is Chinese and an avid-lover of shark fin soup. “It is delicious and it’s really tasty. If you did not have shark fin soup at your wedding people would criticise your family. Each table has a bowl of shark fin soup and if the whole fin is not in the bowl then it’s considered cheap. Everyone has it,” she added. However, Joe, a Canadian who ate the soup in Hong Kong said, “it has the texture of motor oil and has no taste.”

Many people claim that the delicacy has powerful health benefits: it can improve energy, provide aphrodisiacal qualities, prevent heart disease, and lower cholesterol. However, others have outlined the dangers of consuming shark fin soup due to the high concentrations of mercury in the fins which can be potentially harmful for children, pregnant woman and can cause sterility in men. Also, it has been claimed that shark fin soup can put you at a greater risk of developing degenerative brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

Since the increase of shark fishing, the number of endangered species has risen to 39, including the Hammerhead, Tiger, and Great White. It is claimed that less than 3,500 Great Whites are left in the world’s oceans. “We’re overfishing them for their fins - some 73 million sharks are killed every year, just for shark fin soup. This is having a catastrophic impact on global shark populations. Its estimated that 1/3 of open ocean sharks are threatened with extinction,” says a spokesperson from WildAid. Although sharks are the top predators in the underworld’s food chain, their extinction would have an extreme knock-on effect across the whole ocean. The eco-system is a strongly structured web and needs sharks to regulate the ocean’s food chain. The law for shark fishing allows any shark to be killed at any age, species, or size. Sharks take seven-20 years to fully mature and only produce one or two pups at a time. If one shark is killed then an entire generation could effectively be killed off.

“The message to fishers and management agencies is - don’t supply the market with shark fins until sustainable management practices and comprehensive traceability systems are in place for shark fins,” says a spokesperson for the World Wildlife Fund. As sharks take such a long time to develop it is simply unsustainable for sharks to reproduce at the same rate that they are being killed. “We suggest that consumers don’t buy or eat shark fins or any other shark product unless that product is certified through an independent, credible certification process. Currently, no shark fin or other shark products meet these requirements,” adds the World Wildlife Fund.

Sharks have been swimming the ocean for 400 million years, long before the arrival of the dinosaurs. If something is not done to change, regulate, or ban shark finning entirely, then the sustainability of sharks will undoubtedly suffer, and these ancient creatures may become extinct. Although shark fin soup is significant within Chinese culture, it is no longer viable for the conservation of the ocean and the impact of overfishing could have disastrous consequences. It must be decided what is of greater importance; culture or sustainability? 

Profile Interview with Mieke Dockley

Jessica Flexton chats to Mieke Dockley about becoming a successful actress and dreams of becoming a Bond girl


“Taking my robe off and having to get naked in front of 50 camera men was the scariest thing,” Mieke Dockley says of her role in the BBC fantasy-drama television series Camelot.


We’re sitting in Mieke’s open-plan, spacious bedroom at her family home in the countryside village of Wimbish, Essex. It’s a beautiful, brisk afternoon and streams of sunlight are penetrating through the wide windows where the family’s horses can be seen roaming free in the lush green garden. Mieke’s thick, blonde locks hang above her waist and her wide, porcelain smile exudes confidence, but despite her glamourous appearance, she openly reveals that she’s had her moments of uncertainty as an actress, including the part she landed in Camelot. “I had an audition and then I didn’t hear from them. The next day I was really upset because I really thought I’d got it,” she says sipping on her mug of hot tea. “ Then they rang me the day after and said I’d be flying to Ireland. I got picked up by a chauffeur-driven car and was so nervous, but I said to myself if I don’t enjoy this and I don’t love it then I’m in the wrong business.”


I notice a large, black and white photograph of Mieke hanging on the wall showcasing her beauty and think how natural she looks sitting in front of me. “I met the cast, including Jamie Campbell Bower (of Harry Potter and Sweeny Todd), and watched them film for a bit. I was up at 5am the next morning and filmed all day. It was the best day of my life,” she says with bright blues eyes sparkling, “I loved every minute of it. When I left I cried. I thought to myself, what if I never experience that again.”


Mieke began her acting career three years ago at the age of 18 when she was accepted by the International School of Screen Acting in London. She had previously been a dancer at Bodyworks in Cambridge. “When I was younger I wanted to do anything associated with acting, dancing, or modelling. I went to dance school and didn’t like all the jazz hands and thought I would try acting. I thought it would be best to focus on one thing and get really good at it and acting was my favourite.” However, Mieke had to make a tough decision when she went for an audition to play the lead in a short film. “I got it. But I couldn’t take three weeks out of school so I left. You get the best experience when you’re working. I’d rather be out there doing it,” she says with conviction.


Her minimalistic, monochrome bedroom is sparse from clutter but is brought alive with flashes of hot pink and is inundated with photographs of friends and family. Despite her beautiful, blonde bombshell exterior and dreams of becoming a Bond girl, Mieke defies any stereotype by her down to earth and homely attitude. “A lot of actors move out into tiny, one bed flats and they’d sell their Gran to get a part, but I wouldn’t do that. My family is more important,” she says warmly.


A little ball of fluff scampers into the room; a Chaupoo (Chihuahua and Poodle cross-breed) named Beau. Mieke lifts Beau up onto her satin sheets and gives the little dog a belly-rub. The conversation shifts to her boyfriend, Adam Smith, who plays professional football and is currently situated at Tottenham Hotspur. “Wherever he goes I go. He’s been moved to Leeds, Torquay, Milton Keynes, and Bournemouth,” she says, pointing to a striking picture of the young couple behind her on a dressing table. “At first I was worried about my career, but it doesn’t hold me back. I don’t live with him all the time, there’s a balance. We’re flexible.”


I find her candidness refreshing; it’s reassuring to meet a stunning, young actress who has her feet firmly on the ground and priorities in order. I ask her who her biggest supporter is and she instantly exclaims, “my Mum,” as her face softens. “I don’t know what I’d do without my Mum. She’s just so supportive. She came all the way to Chesterfield to stay with me while I was in a play. She watched it five times. Also my Dad sent me a text saying that he’d never been so proud of me. They’ve made me the confident person I am today and they make me feel good about myself.”


Mieke’s most recent achievement is scoring a lead part in the British drama film Turnout set in East London. “It was full of paparazzi,” she gushes, “they were taking loads of pictures of me and then I was whisked upstairs to be interviewed. It was really surreal.” The talk of London and flashing lights of paparazzi is stark in contrast to her the family home she is sitting in the country. Mieke’s fortunate to have her hands firmly on both worlds and after declaring that she is a very optimistic person it seems that she will go far in the acting world. “I’m a really positive person. If something bad happens I always say that everything happens for a reason,” she says.

As we near the end of our chat and the afternoon begins to turn into evening, I ask her what advice she would give to other young, aspiring actresses. “Don’t give up, be patient, and remember that it doesn’t happen over night,” she says. For now, Mieke divides her time between auditions and castings, hoping to land a “nice part in a BBC drama or a character part in a film to show what I can do and take the next step up.”


With her stunning good looks, grounded nature, and determination to hit the big screen, it’s clear that nothing will stop this girl from fulfilling her dreams.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY EVERYONE

Me and my Mum in Florida <3