Les Misérables

Last night my evening was spent at the cinema watching +Les Miserables. I am a great lover of musicals and Les Mis is always one that I have wanted to see but have never had to chance to. Along with a lot of other people, when I heard it was coming in to cinemas as a film version I was quite surprised but definitely excited to see what director Tom Hooper could do to present the well known musical on screen. 

Sitting down in the cinema, I waited for the film to start, wondering what would happen and if I would enjoy it as much as other people had said they did. However, as soon as the film began I was hooked! The singing was unbelievable and captured my attention straight away. Well known songs such as "I Dreamed a Dream," "On My Own" and "Do You Hear the People Sing?" were included within the film, and even though a lot of the songs were shortened, they still had a huge effect on the audience and made the film amazing. 

Two of my favourite actresses, Anne Hathaway and Amanda Seyfried, were part of the cast which also made me enjoy it a lot more! I love most of the films that they are in, although I was initially pleasantly surprised to hear that Anne Hathaway was in Les Misérables as she isn't best known for singing. Her acting in the film was extraordinary and really bought emotion to the story. Her character, Fantine, portrayed a worker who was dismissed for having a daughter, and in desperate need to support her, Fantine becomes a prostitute. The heart wrenching scene in which she earns her money and then realises what she has done ends with "I Dreamed a Dream" which reduced me (and I think everyone in the cinema) to tears. Hathaway's version of the song is also currently at number 31 in the UK charts. 

The whole film was directed and produced so well as it kept the audience captured throughout. I'd just about recovered from crying when I'd be struck again with another moving scene, or induced to laughter by the scenes involving Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter; two more well known actors who starred in the film.

I was left speechless as it came to an end with Hugh Jackman singing along with the rest of the incredible cast. I really liked how the songs were intertwined throughout the film, some being repeated but sung with different lyrics or different verses being presented, as it really made you feel more emotion and connect with the characters.

I would 100% go and see Les Misérables again and I'd probably cry at the same parts over and over. It was truly one of the best films I've seen in a while and has really set the bar for future films of 2013.

If you haven't already seen the film, watch the trailer below and see if that will tempt you...

Gemma x

The NTAs

Last night saw the red carpet being rolled out and walked on by our most loved television stars. The O2 was packed with hundreds of fans eager to see who would win awards including Entertainment Presenter, Daytime and Drama Performance. 

Phillip Schofield

Keith Lemon

Walking towards the O2 , we could see banners and screens promoting the National Television Awards high above groups of people excited to go in and see what was in store. Myself and Sian wandered around inside, and as doors didn't open until 5:30, we had an hour to kill. We stumbled across a long queue of people waiting to go out to watch the red carpet. Much to our shock, surprise and humour, most of those people had been waiting in the cold for hours - some people began queuing at 11am. Luckily enough for us, the bouncer wasn't doing his job too well and handed us some wristbands while pointing which way to go. We joined the queue. Twenty minutes later we were being ushered outside and led to the red carpet! Obviously not being as super keen as most of the other people there, we didn't get a prime spot, however we managed to wriggle our way to the front of the barriers which were where the celebrities were all getting dropped off before they stepped on to the red carpet. 

Two hours later we couldn't feel our feet, hands or faces, but we both had cameras full of pictures of the celebs! The highlights for me were definitely seeing Mcfly, Phillip Schofield, Christine Bleakley, Keith Lemon, the cast of +The Only Way Is Essex  and all the stars of Dancing on Ice. 

We made our way in to the O2 arena and took our seats in Block B1 which was situated on the floor. Our seats were great, as we were sat close to all the celebrities are were right in front of the stage. The whole event was amazing, as shows such as Downton Abbey, Strictly Come Dancing and This Morning took to the stage to accept their awards. Colin Morgan, who played the main character in the fantasy-drama series Merlin, won Drama Performance: Male; which I was extremely happy about! Ant and Dec also won the award for Entertainment Presenter, ahead of Dermot O'Leary, Keith Lemon and Alan Carr, making this their twelfth win in a row!

Throughout the night there were also a number of performances, including X Factor's Ella Henderson, Kimberly Walsh who was a member of Girls Aloud, and Ashley and Pudsey. Ella sounded incredible as she sung her own version of Cher's 'Believe,' and Ashley and Pudsey wowed the audience as they danced to the popular routine in +Gangnam Style. The night truly showcased and rewarded the best television talent in Britain. 

Let me know if you were at the NTAs or what your views were of last night's winners...

Gemma x

eBay

Life just hit a new level of exciting as I was welcomed to the world of eBay selling.

I've been on eBay countless times... looking at things to buy; phone cases, jewellery etc. and I've always wondered how much money people get from selling their unwanted items on the site. It always amazes me with the kinds of things you find on there, for example, food. Why would you turn to eBay when in need of food? You have no idea where it's been or who it previously belonged too... it's just a bit gross really. My boyfriend was also telling me this morning that someone from his work bought a pair of trainers from eBay. His friend bought them for £15 (a price you would find in cheap high street stores) and the fact that they were trainers that had been worn by someone else's  smelly, sweaty, dirty feet....? Yuk.

I decided to see if I would be able to sell something online, as a new idea of making money. The item I chose to use as my guinea pig item was a necklace. I never wear the necklace anymore and I've only worn it a few times, meaning that it is still in a good condition.

I took a picture of my product, obviously trying to make it look as appealing as possible, and wrote my description - "a lovely, purple, flowery necklace that looks great with a plain top." ...Safe to say I had no idea what to write. 

After finishing off presenting the item, I confirmed and it was added to eBay! I then tried to search for my item as if I was looking for a purple, flowery necklace and I couldn't find it anywhere... not on page one, or page 7 or even page 23. My hopes were not very high.

However... this morning I woke up to an email that made my day - "You've sold your eBay item: Flower Necklace".... I screamed. My first eBay sell! I was over the moon.

I have already packaged up the necklace, ready to be sent to my buyer as soon as the £2.50 she payed for it goes in to my account...

£2.50 isn't exactly going to make me rich (not even close...) BUT it has inspired me to sell more of my unwanted items on eBay and hopefully I can make a bit of money from it! 

Gemma x

January

2013 has already started to fly by as the middle of January has approached so soon! 

My family only took our Christmas tree down last weekend. It is the second year we've had a real tree and they just don't die do they? It was still as green as when we got it, but as it took up half the living room with it's six foot base, we decided to take it down.

Christmas was amazing in 2012, but so far January has bought me many good surprises and ideas of what 2013 will bring. 

This morning the country woke up to snow outside; something which never fails to cause hundreds of Facebook status', telling all your friends that you too have snow, and thousands of pictures on Instagram of snowy scenes. I love waking up and seeing the snow outside, and I especially love the fact that it means I get to wear my wellies.

Wellie boots

My snowy scene picture

I have decided to share with you a few things that I am looking forward to this year...

• Going to the National Television Awards
• Skiing holiday in France with my university
• Bunjee jumping with my boyfriend
• Work experience with the Birmingham Mail and with Taylor Herring PR

I am also hoping on a few things this year as well...

• A trip to Paris
• A holiday abroad with my boyfriend or friends to a random place

Keep an eye on my blog and I'll let you know how progress goes with all of those!

Speak soon...

Gemma x

An amazing end to two thousand and twelve

My 2012 ended with a complete high as I had one of the best weeks I have ever had. My auntie, uncle and little cousins, who live in America, came over to England on the 23rd of December until the 31st December. I haven't seen them for three years, so seeing them and spending time with them meant that I had the best Christmas ever!

Christmas Day
Waking up on Christmas Day with two ten year olds bouncing around on my bed with their stockings put the biggest smile on my face. After opening our presents with the rest of my family, we got ourselves ready, and then all helped out with the Christmas dinner, as well as trying out the new toys and gadgets we received. As usual, my mum made an incredible Christmas dinner, topped off with terrible cracker jokes, hats that were too big and a Christmas pudding that had way too much alcohol on it! (We liked watching it alight...) Traditionally, we always play games after dinner which mainly consist of wrapping people in toilet roll, sticking your face in a bowl of flour and having to play Christmas songs with flutes (dont ask).

Boxing Day
After an exhausting Christmas Day, the day after consisted of a long lie-in and a day in onesies! After successfully reaching 4 o'clock in the afternoon, and having spent the day lazing around eating chocolate and watching films, we were off to the pantomime! I haven't been to a panto since I was little, and I'm a sucker for anything remotely funny... so I was very excited! The performance was a take of Aladdin, and after watching people slip over (not scripted) on custard pies, and being deafened by little children shouting "it's behind you," overall it was absolutely hilarious.


The 27th
My cousins live in Colorado up in the mountains, therefore they are able to go skiing and snowboarding a lot. We live near a snow centre, so we decided to take them there to show of their (and my) "skills." I've been skiing a few times... and I wouldn't say I was good... I can't really control my body when I'm attached to skis, resulting in me heading very quickly down the hill with no elegance whatsoever! However, skiing was very fun and I loved watching my cousins fly down the hill with a lot more style than I had! 

The 28th
As every day was soggy and rainy, most of our activities were indoors. This day consisted of go-karting. This was the activity I was most excited for, and as my two cousins, my brother, dad, auntie, uncle and I all put on our racing suits and got in to our go karts, I knew I HAD to win. Road rage took over me and I was racing round the track cutting everyone up, skidding round corners, and "accidentally" crashing in to people causing them to fly off the track (safely of course). As I raced round, I could see my mum watching at the side of the track telling me to go faster as my brother was catching up... safe to say no one wanted me to drive them home afterwards!

The 29th
Our second last day of activities included indoor skydiving! I've been skydiving before, but I've never been to an indoor centre, so I was looking forward to this. Once again, we got given smelly, sweaty body suits to wear, as well as very cool hat and goggles. We were shown the body position that we were meant to take up once in the skydiving tube, as well as the signs and signals the instructor would give us throughout our time there. After watching both my auntie and my cousins have a go, it was my turn, and I stood at the edge of the tube ready to leap. I managed to get in to the correct position, while being deafened by the noise of the fan roaring below me, and also being very aware of my face wobbling from the strength of the wind...! The experience of flying was really good and it was great fun!

The 30th
This was the last day that we all had together before my family flew back to America, so we decided to take them up to London for the day. Typically, we had to go and see Big Ben and all the sights of London, as well as going for a lovely family meal to end the week. 

Overal it was such a good week and definitely one I'll never ever forget!

Gemma x