Absolute Shambles

'America... goes not abroad, in search of monsters to destroy. She is the well-wisher to the freedom and independence of all'- John Quincy Adams, in a speech to the U.S. House of Representatives, 4 July 1821 Culture is a strange beast. Every nation, and even the respective peoples and regions that make up that particular nation, have their own customs that define who they are. After years of chopping and changing, distinctive cultures have been created that dictate aspects such as language, fashion and cuisine. We Brits can take pride in our culture that has been shaped thanks to the efforts of foreign entities seeking land and glory on the shores of this island floating on the edge of Europe. It is one that alters year after year, with only the strongest traits surviving. Losing our passion for queuing and tea would be a disaster, especially if a new found love for American sports becomes a prime characteristic of British culture. If you saw this play, then you would unde...

'Every age has its storytelling form, and video gaming is a huge part of our culture. You can ignore or embrace video games and imbue them with the best artistic quality. People are enthralled with video games in the same way as other people love the cinema or theatre'- Andy Serkis The crushing realisation that the future of the United Kingdom hangs in the balance with this crucial Brexit vote (the result of which will be known once this is published on 20 January) means that we have to find a way to escape these vital but frustrating political shenanigans. There are many ways to do this, such as curling up in a ball and convincing yourself that everything is fine and dandy. Shutting off all news feeds and shunning the people on social media dedicated to announcing their political agenda are all viable options as well. But, in the opinion of this humble blogger, picking up a damn good video game is the most sensible option. Art Since October, the daily schedule has had ...

'A government that cannot get its business through the House of Commons is no government at all'- Jeremy Corbyn, speaking in Wakefield, 10 January 2019 The whirlwind start to 2019 continues. Everyone had just caught their breath after  the steep rise in train fares , but suddenly the Houses of Parliament stirs into life. The general public would have every right to direct some anger towards the government by deciding to engage in some political shenanigans just as everyone is getting back to work, but this should cause relief rather than anguish. Apparently, believe it or not, there's going to be a vote- a big vote. The biggest vote of the year if a sudden general election can be avoided. Next week shall see MPs vote on Theresa May's Brexit deal. It's happening. Let's wrap up this Brexit debate, shall we? Tuesday 15 January will be the day that British MPs come together and determine whether or not the Prime Minister's Brexit deal is actually worth it...

'Railway termini are our gates to the glorious and the unknown. Through them we pass out into adventure and sunshine, to them, alas! we return'- E.M. Forster, Howard's End , 1910 Every time a new year rolls about, there's always something that immediately happens to ruin the mood. The ungodly hangover on the morning of 1 January is painful enough to deal with; having any more problems just makes the headache and dehydration that much worse. In regards to this particular issue, it may not seem like the end of the world as there is always something far more important occurring but it's still one that needs to be mentioned. This time around, the eyes of this humble blogger turns to the rising rail fares in the UK. Behold, the mighty locomotive You may now feel inclined to dismiss this post as irrelevant, boring or any other word to describe a feeling of disinterest, but hold on a second! Yes, a new year should mean that the first post of 2019 should be as specta...