Green Man festival: a review

August 25, 2016October 20, 2016 ~ Boss Liverpool ~ Leave a comment

Last weekend me and my pal Jonny went to Green Man festival in the Brecon Beacons, the ticket for which I’d bought purely to see Warpaint (again).

We didn’t leave Liverpool until around 8pm on Thursday, when I was already drunk as a skunk. I puked twice on the way down and it tasted exactly like the BBQ Pringles I’d just eaten. And we almost killed fox.

Anyway.

Despite kipping in the car and pitching on the Friday morning, we still ended up 20 seconds from the festival site. We were woken from our power naps by the unfortunately named Deep Throat Choir.

The first thing we noticed was the kids. Kids, everywhere. Oh God, we thought. The clientele appeared to be made up of old hippies, young hippies, and hippies with kids.

A medium sized festival, it is known for being one of the cleanest and most peaceful in the UK. The festival places a large emphasis on recycling, so every attendee paid £1 for a plastic cup with their first drink purchase and carried it around for the weekend.

Wandering about the grounds, I found the Fairylove stall I’ve raved about in a previous post. By day two I’d caved and bought this amazing rainbow bra. You’ll never wear it again, you say? Already have around Liverpool 🙂

Because they cost £30 – £5 less than I’d originally thought – I figured I could afford to finish the look off with some £60 wings. Here’s Jonny modelling them, along with his new wizard hat and pants which I glimpsed a silhouette of his bollocks through:

There were lots of lamas. I’m not sure why.

The festival grounds provided plenty of nooks and crannies to get up to no good, and we found this LED cube whilst exploring.

Toilets are always a festival talking point, but these were the best I’ve ever experienced. Not sure if that’s down to cleaners or half the festival being made up of mums. We salute you!

It also rained a lot, but what would a Welsh festival be without rain? Pointless, that’s what.

The biggest crowd of the weekend seemed to be for Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros. I wasn’t familiar with them, apart from that song off the advert, but I had so much fun. Such a great live band!

Charlotte Church’s Late Night Pop Dungeon were on in the Walled Garden, comprising of unusual covers and mash ups. Charlotte Church! Sequins!! Operatic Happy Together!!! So much fun and not even in an ironic way.

The act I was most looking for was Meilyr Jones, member of Welsh band Race Horses (formerly Radio Luxembourg).

My Maths teacher gave our whole class Radio Lux singles when I was 13 because his son was a member, and it’s still under my bed many years later. I caught both of Meilyr’s sets, one of which was the worst kept secret and Green Man and went on until 3am.

Not only is Meilyr a pleasure to listen to, he’s a wonderful entertainer. He’s bashful and smiley and makes polo necks work. He first addresses the audience in Welsh instead of pandering the the non-19%. Here’s a clip of him on the Mountain Stage. Wela’i chi yn Lerpwl mis Hydref!

Considering I literally came to Green Man to see Warpaint, I was disappointed. Although they were phenomenal live, as always, their performances are wearing thin. If I just wanted phenomenal music I would listen to it on Spotify. But the point of live music, for me, is the performance. I never thought I was bothered about audience interaction, but Warpaint bummed me out to the point that I became quite bored. Not one smile, too much pouting. Bah!

Green Man hosts the Chai Wallahs, the largest independent music venue touring the UK festival circuit. Giving insight into the UK’s alternative and underground music scene, we spent a good deal of time here. It’s a place you can dance like a lunatic or perch on the floor and rest your muddy feet.

On the last night we observed a group of teens, all of whom looked no older than 16 but more likely 14. One girl had scribbled ‘look into my eyes’ on her t-shirt, cutting out eye holes where to expose boobage. We were disturbed.

Anyway. Highlights included Will Varley, who had a lot to say for himself. My favourite lyric was ‘If you know where you are when you wake up, something’s wrong,’

Rews, meanwhile, were are an alternative all-girl rock band from Dublin. Great to see girls rocking AND smiling!

The last act of the weekend were Belle & Sebastian. I was reluctant to watch because they’ve never done it for me, but Jonny was adamant that they’re an amazing live band. And what a show it was. Great visuals, great performers, great stage presence. I didn’t stop dancing.

Fans were invited onstage, to the point a stage manager appeared and scolded the band. Cue mutters of “Hillsborough” from the audience.

The end of the night was marked by the ritual burning of the Green Man, which everybody had tagged with wishes during weekend (Jonny wished it could be Christmas every day. I wished for ‘peace, love and lemons,’ obv). I was bursting with a wee and nobody joined us for the national anthem – mainly because we only knew the first couple of lines – but it was a magical moment. Top fireworks, too.

How a Flirty Photoshoot Improved my Confidence

August 15, 2016October 20, 2016 ~ Boss Liverpool ~ Leave a comment

A couple of years ago, never would I have considered getting my kit off onstage or in front of a camera. I would literally rather make love to a cactus.

I’ve become somewhat desensitised to topless women over the past couple of years thanks to having them shoved in my face whether I like it or not.

I felt pretty having had my hair and makeup done professionally – that was, until my friend Rachael emerged after her makeover looking a right bird.

As an actress, Rachael knows how to rock the camera. I wasn’t nervous about getting my kit off, but I was bricking it about the actual posing. I HATE photos. I don’t do seductive or sensual, it’s either smiling or no photo. I was literally shaking with nerves despite the glass of fizz and the photographer had to help me fasten my suspender belt.

The shoot was less terrifying than I’d expected. The photographer told me exactly where to place each limb, so I slowly relaxed.

Going back to view the 40 or so photos a week later was nerve racking. What if I was the exception to the rule and they really couldn’t make me look attractive/thinner/etc etc?

Some were terrible. Of the 11 I chose, I still wasn’t keen on them all. But I blown away by these two in particular:

Lowri Astley_0255a Lowri Astley_0256

A few others were nice too, although they have a vague brothel vibe.

Lowri Astley_0246 Lowri Astley_0261 Lowri Astley_0266

I was so, so excited to get home and post the photos onto Facebook. I never thought I could look so nice.

For the most part, comments were positive. It was a huge confidence boost hearing how lovely I looked.

But by the next morning, I was contemplating taking them all down because of messages like ‘I just wanna take those god damn tassels off your nipples and lick them crazy!!’

Maybe I was asking for it by posting them. Becoming interested in burlesque has made me very liberal towards bare skin, but despite that I’m actually a right prude and too polite to tell anyone they’ve offended me in case I hurt their feelings.

People can appreciate my photos, but that doesn’t mean they’re entitled to me.

Lowri Astley_0247

People also commented that they were unprofessional and I would never be able to write for children’s television. My answer to that is: right now, I do not write for children’s television. Maybe I’ll get there someday, but I’m not going to avoid doing things I want to do now on the off-chance I’ll do something else great in the future.

An old (male) friend unintentionally upset me by asking what I got out of posting the photos online. Wouldn’t keeping them for myself have “fulfilled” my hobby?

I am personally not that interested in seeing them, therefore I’m not that arsed. You’re free to do as you please with your own Facebook. I appreciate that it’s part of what make you a more “free” spirit than most women… you seem to give the impression that you want other people to validate what you do, and am curious as to why.

Wasn’t it enough for me to know in my heart of hearts that I looked good? He was like a dog with a bone and I felt terrible about myself. Was everybody secretly calling me a slut? Or snickering about the airbrushing and how disappointing I looked in person?

After a pep talk from a friend, I decided: screw them. They weren’t there to see the 30 photos where I looked like a beached whale and wanted to die of shame.

Lowri Astley_0270a

I am proud of my photos. I did something that scared me and felt empowered. I am 24 years old and probably not going to look this good again, so why should I hide my body? Why are women – who make up 50% of the global population – made to feel like their bodies are something to be ashamed of?

Showing off my figure doesn’t mean that I’m promiscuous and welcome creepy comments. It means that I can celebrate myself despite my flaws, and the only thing I would go back and change is to put a smile on my face – because regardless of spots, stretchmarks or cellulite – everybody is beautiful with a smile.

Lowri Astley_0267

Another Wednesday, another explore

August 12, 2016November 3, 2016 ~ Boss Liverpool ~ 2 Comments

Plan A was a convent in Lancashire, which had been knocked down by the time we got there and replaced with fancy houses that stood empty because nobody could afford them.

Plan B was St Joseph’s seminary down the road. Opened in 1883, its grounds boast a large greenhouse, cemetery and gorgeous lake.

green green2 green3 green4 green5

The building itself is riddled with cameras and alarms, and we staked it out for a long time.

seminary4

seminary

There appeared to only be one security guard…

seminary3

We crept up on him. Notice how he’s no longer in his chair. He’d somehow managed to creep up on us – literally about 25 ft away – without even spotting us. Amazing.

Eventually we just risked it and walking right past the cameras. Still nothing. All previous entries had been boarded up. It’s such a stunning building and we were desperate to get inside, but my climbing skills weren’t up to scratch. Here’s a report from someone who did make it in.

From then on, we were on the lookout for some TOADS (Temporary, Obsolete, Abandoned and Derelict Spaces).

We found an abandoned cottage near the car and went to investigate. The view was phenomenal and I got the obligatory corn field shot.

corn

I even saw my first swede field! A swede, growing out of the ground! Day = made.

We scrambled across the overgrown garden to have a gander through the windows. What we saw was mostly furnished, which is my favourite kind of discovery. At first we wondered whether it was actually abandoned. Maybe someone just really hated gardening? No photos exist of the back garden, but the brambles were taller than us.

bwthyn

window

An adorable old lady came to greet us, excited at the porspect of someone finally moving in. She explained how many people had stopped to ask about the cottage over the years, which had once been owned by an old man with a “strange son” who died approximately 20 years ago.

Onwards!

On our way to an abandoned garden centre or Camelot we passed an abandoned mansion. Searching for a parking place, we were distracted by a high-walled bridge, and on peeking over the edge on our tippy-toas because we’re both short stuff, spotted an abandoned mill.

Upon further inspection it appeared impossible to reach, so we embarked on a mission to find an alternative route.

After half an hour’s clambering through plants taller than us and plenty of brambles (just for a change), as well as completing other obstacles, we were there. The mill looked beautiful alongside the river.

river

Although the door was wide open, our guards were up in case we encountered squatters. A poster suggested the place had been out of action for around a decade.

There was roll upon roll of herbal supplement stickers unravelling all over the floor, leading us to gather that the place had most recently been used as a factory.

stick

We’re pretty sure we were the first people to rediscover this place. Although some buildings had suffered the general deterioration that occurs with lack of central heating and whatnot, there was no vandalism or graffiti and even the copper pipes remained intact. Exploring always gives me the heebie jeebies, so it was easier to relax knowing there was no security or anyone else here.

mill

We found a pair of overalls and a cute woolly jumper on our travels…

We sat up here, listening to the river and watching the rain for a long time.

Then we found a dead pigeon.

We figured that this path was to keep visitors out of harm’s way.

llinell4

llinell5 — This was labelled the printing room and had yet more stickers.

llinell6 llinell7 llinell8 llinell9 llinell10

*Someone* couldn’t resist giving the fire extinguishers a go.

Although it was a brilliant find, despite the brambles, trying to find a way in is often the best part. Not so much out though. What I learned: it’s really scary climbing over a spiky fence that is alarmingly close to your vagina.

Back at the car it was getting dark, but we decided to quickly check out the abandoned mansion which we’d all but forgotten about. Unfortunately the phone had died we didn’t get photos.

On a huge plot of land, there was a winding driveway with an overgrown garden which was probably gorgeous way back when. The home’s architecture gave the place an Addams Family vibe.

Inside was little disappointing, having suffered extensive fire damage and vandalism. Most of the floors had collapsed.

However, some period features remained including arched windows, stone pillars and a carved staircase. What made the visit worthwhile, though, was a huge antique fireplace adorned with a carving depicting a ship at sea. Such a tragedy that only a cartoon enjoying a biffter was there to appreciate it full time.

Images by Phill Gaffney.

Fairylove

August 12, 2016October 20, 2016 ~ Boss Liverpool ~ 1 Comment

If there’s one thing I love (except lemons and glitter, of course) it’s fairies. I’ve loved fairies for as long as I remember. I remember taking a sample of my new fairy wallpaper to show my year one class. My favourite childhood film was Fairy Tale. Until she died, my grandma bought me fairy ornaments which I’ll someday display in my own home. For my high school animal themed night out, I was a butterfly which is basically a fairy in disguise (my wings were so wide I had to walk through doors sideways).

At Glastonbury festival I discovered Fairylove, who have been spreading the love and magic since 1992 as makers of bespoke wings and accessories.

Their “fairy army” typically wear wings, nipple pasties and glitter, which I’m convinced is the best. look. ever.

Wings and not wearing clothes, my other favourite things! What could better represent festival freedom?

We’re midway through summer season and I still can’t decide what to order in preparation for events like Festival N0.6. I’ve definitely got my eye on these high waisted hot pants though, which are made of ‘sequins, beads and love’:

Certain products are at the pricier end of the scale, ranging from £12.50 to £120. I’m torn between pastel options and these, which are £65:

And the fantasy wear doesn’t stop at fairies. How cool are these mythical ram horns?

And how cute are these bumper stickers?

Here’s a roundup of my favourite fairy looks. Don’t forget to tell me about your unusual costume ideas for festival season in the comments!

To create your own magic visit Fairylove’s Etsy page, or find inspiration on Facebook. PS, Fairylove: can I be part of the love army 2017, pretty please with glitter on top?

How I lost a stone!

August 12, 2016October 20, 2016 ~ Boss Liverpool ~ 2 Comments

Yay, it’s happened! After approximately 8 weeks of dedication, I have lost a stone. Before you reassure me I looked fine before, here’s me (far left) looking my worst at the Secret Circus on Valentine’s week:

farright1 farright2

I know I’ve previously said we’re like apples and oranges and you can’t compare us, but see what I had to stand next to?

For context, here’s me at 18. I stayed a similar size until I was 21+, but the medication I took made me put on weight so I kept eating to console myself:

I wish I could say those photos shocked me into changing my ways, but I consoled myself even more with more food.

After 12 days on a psychiatric unit in March, I finally decided to take control. I needed to stop relying on other people to make me feel good about myself.

This TED talk by Jamie Oliver had a powerful impact on the way I viewed processed junk, whilst That Sugar Film opened my eyes to the “healthy” foods which are still full of sugar.

A myth exists from high school that I attempted cheese on toast in the toaster (I didn’t). So at 24, I taught myself to cook. I bought The Body Bible by Clean Eating Alice, which is full of extremely simple but delicious recipes.

clean

My chef pal came over and taught me to make soup. I discovered spices and cupboard staples like canned tomatoes and beans. I learned to boil an egg, and made sure I always had a stash in the fridge for when I was ravenous and at risk of falling off the wagon.

I became dedicated to clean eating, which means being mindful of the food’s pathway between its origin and your plate. For example: instead of buying hummus, I made it myself by blending chickpeas, garlic and lemon juice, so I would know exactly what was in my food.

I was never big on fruit, but I forced myself to eat several portions a day. I didn’t like it at first, but I told myself to suck it up, buttercup.

The movie Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead had a huge impact on me. I bought a juicer from £18 on eBay and experimented with drinks primarily made of veggies for an extra hit of vitamins.

I ate my first avocado. I ate my first banana, and a second, and a third, until I learned to like them.

For those who claim that eating well is more expensive: you’re wrong. I paid 8p for a banana yesterday; a chocolate bar would have cost 60+ pence. Amazing!

I alternated my laptop wallpaper weekly between images of women I admired – not just celebrities but people I’ve encountered who are beautiful inside and out, like former burlesque dancer Mimi Amore.

I stuck motivational quotes on my wardrobe and made weight loss and recipe boards on Pinterest.

It wasn’t all smooth sailing. I watched so many diet and nutrition documentaries my head spun and I was afraid to eat anything.

I’ve written about bulimia before, and I’ll admit that I slipped up once or twice because I felt guilty about what I ate. But for the most part, I haven’t needed to do that because I feel good about what I’m eating.

I’ve also had a couple of hissy fits because loved ones have wanted to eat lunch at places like Almost Famous. Although I have a willpower of steel, being in a situation where there’s no healthy option makes me anxious.

You don’t realise how bad you felt before until you feel amazing. Before, I was constantly hungry despite constantly eating. By reprogramming my body to stop craving processed junk, it’s receiving all the nutrients it needs and I’m being rewarded through weight loss. The effect on my mental health has also been dramatic.

Now, I will happily snack on slices of cucumber and barely even notice the cookies and crisps in Tesco because the fresh produce aisle is so fun!

This is a change of life, not a diet. I’m not brutal with myself: if I really want pizza, I’ll make my own with wholegrain pitta bread, tomato purée and mozzarella.

pitta

I still drink alcohol, but I avoid fizzy pop and stick to spirits. If I’m hungry after a night out, I’ll make a chickpea and hummus wrap.

Before, if I fell off the wagon I would think everything was ruined and keep eating to punish myself for my weakness. But now I just forgive myself and pick up where I left off. At my parents’ house last week I didn’t eat so well – I had apple pie for dessert, and then Millionaire’s shortcake for breakfast! – but I ate fruit whenever I could the rest of the day.

I also keep a food diary, which is my single most important tool. Over the years I’ve found that if I forget to fill it, I fall off the wagon. Seeing exactly what I’ve put in my body holds me accountable.

The best advice I can give is to stop making excuses. If you’re going to give up and eat takeaway when you’re drunk, you’ll end up in the same position time and time again.

I’m mindful of what I put in my body and have accepted there is no quick fix. It may have taken a while, but the weight has gradually dropped off whilst my confidence has soared. I still need some hand-holding, but I’m confident I will continue to succeed.

Good luck!

National Book Lovers Day

August 9, 2016November 1, 2016 ~ Boss Liverpool ~ Leave a comment

It’s National Book Lovers Day – here’s a roundup of my all-time favourite reads!

Girl, Interrupted

Girl, Interrupted is the memoir of a young woman relating her experiences in a psychiatric hospital during the 1960s, having been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder.

This book had a huge impact on me when I first read it, way back before I myself was even diagnosed with BPD. I recently re-read it and realised how much better than the film it is. Although the film itself is largely great, Susanna’s character (Winona Ryder) doesn’t appear to show any borderline symptoms. However, I could relate to Angelina Jolie’s character – a sociopath – far more. I prefer to think that this was a case of bad scripting/acting/casting than my being a sociopath.

A sociopathic female schoolteacher has an insatiable desire for pubescent boys and grooms 14 year old Jack before embarking on an affair, whilst continuing to endure sex with her husband.

The novel was inspired by Debra Lafave, a 24-year-old American teacher who was arrested for an affair with her 14-year-old student, but escaped a custodial sentence when her defence attorney successfully argued that she was ‘too pretty for prison’.

This book was controversial on its release due its taboo theme of child sexual abuse by women and unapologetically explicit language – and it’s just as uncomfortable to read the second time around.

Tampa highlights the double standards we have for males and females in positions of responsibility. Rather than women being considered romantics, the book encourages readers to see the predatory nature they are equally as capable of.

In March 2016, ABC optioned the novel with a view to shooting a three part series in October 2016 with an all star cast including Sofia Vergara in the leading role, who is the perfect sexpot.

The father of four children dies and soon after, so does their mother. In order to avoid being taken into foster care, the children hide their mother’s death by encasing her corpse in cement in the cellar.

Jack (15) and Julie (17) take over the roles of “mother” and “father” of the house, which is gradually deteriorating into squalor, and enter into a sexual relationship.

Young Slovenian Veronika appears to have everything going for her. After seeing an article in a magazine which wittily asks ‘Where is Slovenia?’, she decides to write a letter to the press justifying her suicide in the hopes they’ll believe she has killed herself because people don’t even know where Slovenia is. She wakes up in Vilette, a mental institution where she is told she has days to live.

One of my favourite bands, Billy Talent, released a song based on this book.

If you’re going to read the story, DO NOT research it any further – the final twist had me reeling.

I’m With the Band is a memoir by former groupie Pamela Des Barres, a staple of the late 60s and early 70s Los Angeles social scene. Despite bedding her way from rock star to rock star, this story has so much heart. From being Frank Zappa’s nanny to fears about her marriage to British glam rocker Michael Des Barres, Pamela is like a dizzy, lovable fairy who flies from bar to bar and continent to continent collecting memories. I can’t wait to get my hands on the sequel Take Another Little Piece of my Heart: A Groupie Grows Up.

Nine year old Bruno and his family have been sent to Auschwitz. One day he meets an SS guard’s son of the same age. The boys look so alike they swap clothes, keen to experience a day on opposite sides of the fence which ends in tragedy.

This is such an important book which I think should be compulsory reading to school children. The language is accessible enough for all ages to enjoy, and yet the story is so moving it had me as a grown adult – and my therapist! – in floods of tears.

Sex addict Victor Mancini drops out of medical school to find work and afford the care that his mother is receiving in her nursing home. He resorts to being a con man, visiting restaurants to purposely make himself choke mid-meal and luring a “good Samaritan” into saving his life. He keeps a detailed list of everyone who saves him and sends them frequent letters about fictional bills he is unable to pay.

Palahniuk is the dark comic I could only dream of being. If you’re short on time and convinced nothing can shock you, his short story Guts – originally published in Playboy magazine in 2004 – is responsible for 73 instances of fainting at his book readings.

What’s your favourite book? Let me know in the comment section!

	ninachildish on International Women’s Da…
	Douglas law on Girl, Interrupted
	John on Another Wednesday, another…
	Goodbye for now \| Pe… on Festival No.6: a review
	I finally did it: my… on My trip to France, Switzerland…

Peace, Love and Lemons

Month: August 2016