Tutorial: Monochrome Aztec Nails

Aztec prints and patterns have been very popular recently, particularly in clothes. However a different way to wear the trend could be in the form of your nails. Aztec nails can add something to a simple outfit on a night out or can be used alongside other aztec prints to enhance your outfit. You can even reproduce the same aztec pattern from your clothing onto your nails to create a matching outfit.

Although aztec patterns look intricate and difficult to transfer onto your nails, they are mostly made up of a variety of simple shapes and lines and I've found that you can easily create an aztec nail look in your own home. This tutorial will focus on a monochrome aztec nail effect, but you can change the colours and the patterns used to suit your own style or taste. 

Aztec inspired nails

Before you start, you will need to ensure that you have used a nail polish remover to remove any nail polish that you are currently wearing. I also recommend that you take this time to cut and shape your nails so that they look even and straight. 

Polishes Used: L-R Avon Base Coat, Barry M in Matt White and Models Own Nail Art Pen in Black

To create this look you will also need a base coat, a base colour and a nail art pen. The base colour and nail art pen can be any colour of your choice, but for this tutorial I am using a white base colour and a black nail art pen. I think a dark/light colour contrast works best for this look, because it makes the pattern really stand out. 

Step 1

Step 1: Apply a base coat to your nails. This will prevent the coloured nail polish from staining your nails and can prolong the wear of your nail polish. Once the base coat is dry, apply two coats (depending on the consistency of your nail polish) of the base colour to your nails and allow plenty of time to dry.  Here I am using Barry M nail polish in the shade 'Matt White.'

Thin nib part of the nail art pen used for intricate designs

It is essential that the base colour is completely dry before the next stage, as the nail pen will work better and will not stick to the polish already on your nails. 

 Next, you should get a nail art pen ready to use. The best type of pen to use is one which had two applications. A thin nib at the top for intricate detailing and then a long, thin brush which is used for lines and strokes. The models own nail art pens are brilliant for this job as they feature both and I am using their nail art pen in the colour black. 

Step 2

Step 2: Once the base colour is dry, take the nail art pen and using the nibbed end, paint three small dots at the bottom of the nail, near the cuticles. As you are doing this whole look free hand it may take a while to get the hang of being precise, but practise makes perfect. Don't worry if you find that your line of dots are not straight, it does not necessarily need to be accurate. 

Step 3

 Step 3: Then using the same technique, use the nail art pen to draw three more dots at the top of the nail. If possible, try to align these dots with the bottom dots which you have already drawn to make the nail look symmetrical. 

Thin brush for strokes and lines

Step 4

 Step 4: For the next stage of the nail, you will need to use the thin brush as this will be used to draw the lines. Using the brush, drag the brush along the nail, from one side to the other, starting at the bottom of the nail. Then leave a small gap and then using the same technique draw a line across the middle of the nail as pictured above. 

Step 5

 Step 5: Once the lines have been drawn across the nails, it is time to draw the zig zags which are found just below the top dots. For this stage I usually change back to the nibbed applicator as I can join the lines up easier than the brush. You then need to draw the zig zag in the space between the top line and the top dots.

Step 6 & finished nails

 Step 6: To finish the nails, using the nibbed tool, go back to the space between the two lines drawn with the brush and then draw some more zig zag patterns to fill in the gaps. Finally, using the nibbed tool carefully paint dots in between the zig zags in between the two lines and then wait for the paint to dry. 

At this point you could add a top coat to preserve the nail polish, however I do not usually use a top coat for this look because of the texture created by the nail pen. 

You can always try experimenting with different patterns and colours. If you have more than one nail art pen you could always paint different parts of the pattern with different colours and make your nails look really unique. 

Ralph Lauren: The Big Pony Collection for Women No. 2 Review

During a recent trip to Majorca, I found that I had some time to spend in the duty free whilst waiting for my flight back to London. Instead of heading towards the makeup, chocolate or alcohol, I knew that I wanted to try out a new perfume and I was spoilt for choice.

A few minutes later I had picked up hundreds of perfume tester cards and was trying out a range of the perfumes out on display. By the time I had got to the Marc Jacobs stand, my nose was completely overpowered and the choice was insane. 

  However, when I went over to the Ralph Lauren stand I felt drawn in by the 'Big Pony Collection.' I have previously brought one of these fragrances for men for my dad and was intrigued to find out that they had brought out a women's collection. 

  Like the men's collection, 'The Big Pony Collection for Women' have four scents available, named 1-4 and all of them smell completely different. 

   I decided to try out all of the scents available and immediately fell in love with the number two, which is in a bright pink bottle. 

Ralph Lauren The Big Pony Collection for Women No.2

The bottle was a big factor which influenced my purchase of this perfume because I loved the bright colours. There is a good contrast between the lime green logo and pink bottle and although the bottle itself is quite simple it makes it look rather sophisticated.  On the back (or front?) of the bottle in blue is the number 2, telling you which scent in the collection it is and the bottle is completed with a silver lid. 

The perfume itself is very sweet and is described on the box as a 'fruity sensual fragrance' which makes it very girly and perfect for summer. I can particularly smell cranberry notes in the perfume and it is very fruity, which I love. It reminds me of the fragrance 'Fantasy' by Britney Spears but there is a clear difference between the two brands. 
 The only real disadvantage to this perfume is that the smell itself doesn't last very long. After a few hours I cannot smell it and feel the need to reapply the product. Nonetheless it is still a lovely perfume for the summer and I'm sure that I will wear it throughout winter as well.
  As it was the first time that I purchased this perfume I decided to get the 50ml version, however it is also available in 100ml.  

Although I purchased this from the duty free at the airport, you can purchase this fragrance at most retailers such as Debenhams in the UK. The perfume is also available online at websites such as www.theperfumeshop.com, which costs £36.99 for 50ml. 


  

Majorca 2013: Part 2

The view from our hotel, looking down over the pool and sea

Once we had arrived in Palma, we quickly made our way to the baggage reclaim section of the airport and waited whilst our bags were put on the conveyor belt. Typically our bags were one of the last to come out, but we managed to find all of them. We then had to find our coach to transfer us to the hotel. 

  After a lengthy journey I think we finally got to the hotel at 4pm local time. We then checked in and collected our wrist bands from reception, which were a good indication to how tanned we were by the end of the holiday. By this time I had been awake for nearly 30 hours and so we were pretty tired! Luckily we were on the fifth floor instead of the ninth!

The view from the fifth floor lobby

 The location in which we stayed was beautiful. The views were amazing and really relaxing. We walked along the cliffs to the beach a few times and this was when I took the majority of these images. They are mostly taken during the evening too, which shows just how beautiful the place was. 

The main swimming pool in our hotel

 We spent most days just chilling out near the pool or the beach and it was just lovely to not have to think about all the stress and worries at home or during normal life. It was a chance to just relax and enjoy our time away for a week. 
  The main swimming pool was always busy and we often watched people wait around the pool at 8am waiting for the man to unlock the sunbeds. After about 10 minutes the pool would be packed full of occupied sunbeds and towels.

View from the hotel grounds of the cliffs and walkway 

 We also spent some time walking to the little shopping centre about 10 minutes away from the resort and brought souvenirs and trinkets which you wouldn't buy at home. I think most of us came away with sunglasses and t-shirts, a total novelty shopping trip!

Flowers found in the hotel grounds

 As well as the amazing views and scenery within the resort, there was also a wide variety of beautiful flowers and plants. There was a tree with lots of roots growing from it's trunk and hanging from the branches as well as some gorgeous flowers such as the ones above. 

Views from the hotel grounds

On our last evening at the hotel, a few of us went out to get some last photos of the island and we realised how much we were going to miss our holiday and how we did not want to leave. The scenery here was a complete contrast to the views that we are used to at home. 

Views from the cliff-tops near the beach

 I love this image taken near the beach. Although it looks like a panoramic shot, it is indeed just a single shot and the way the land is shaped makes it look like a panorama. The beach itself was beautifully sandy and the sea was so clear and blue, a complete change from the sea and beach in our home town. One day we enjoyed pizza on the beach, played bat and ball in the sea and some of us even explored some of the coves.

The swimming pool which we regularly went to

 Although the main pool in the resort was always packed, the hotel had many other pools which guests could enjoy. On our first night we discovered the pool pictured above, which was located near the second of our two rooms. This was also our usual sunbathing spot and we found that you could always get a sun bed at this pool whenever you went down to it. One day the entertainment team brought down a water carpet and allowed the adults to attempt to run across it which was extremely funny to watch!

The entertainment team performing their rendition of 'Grease'

 In the evenings we typically went down to watch the entertainment. Whilst we were there we watched a circus act, played bingo, watched the entertainment teams interpretations of 'Mamma Mia' and 'Grease' and some of us were even forced to participate in the children's disco! The entertainment team there works extremely hard and are thoroughly entertaining, making sure that everybody gets involved and they happily chat to you whenever you see them.

The main pool at night

Sunrise on the last morning

 We awoke on the morning that we left at about 6am because we were being picked up at 8.40. We had time to finalise our packing and take a few more photos and it was amazing to see the sun come up over the horizon. The photos do not do justice to how red the sky and sun was when they first appeared. We knew that it was likely to be hot that day, and knew we wouldn't be experiencing any of it.

The sun rising on our last morning

We left our hotel, boarded the plane and soon arrived back in England. It's been nearly a month since we went now and it was one of the best holidays I have been on. Not only did I get to experience a beautiful resort and island, but I also got to spend it with my closest friends that I will not necessarily see all the time next year. Going on holiday was one of the best decisions that we made and I would do anything to go again because it was truly a brilliant week. 

Oh and if you're wondering what happened to that group of lads that went to Magaluf... On the flight home one of them was sick, and they said that they 'were never going to Magaluf again' because 'it was a total sausage fest' according to them. Sounds like they had a brilliant time!

Part 1: http://tammypenton.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/majorca-2013-part-1.html

Jake Humphrey: The Inside Track Review

When Jake Humphrey announced that he would be writing his own book on his experiences of presenting Formula One coverage on the BBC, I knew immediately that this would be a book that I would purchase.
  Fortunately, I received the book called 'The Inside Track' as a Christmas present in 2012 and I was really excited to read it. However, because of commitments with Sixth Form I wanted to wait until it was over so that I could guiltlessly enjoy the book. So in July I finally had the time to sit down and read it, and I was not disappointed. 

 

Whilst I was reading the book, it was almost as though you could imagine Jake himself telling the many stories and experiences shared. You could really hear his voice whilst you were reading and so much of his personality that viewers of the BBC coverage grew to love was evident throughout.
   On page 16 Humphrey writes "It's the sport that never takes it foot off the pedal, and whether you're driving the car, making decisions from the pit wall, cheering in the stands or glued to the TV, F1 has something for everyone." I found that like the statement made, this book also has something for every fan of F1. Even if you are relatively new to the sport, Jake retells and describes events and aspects of Formula One in a way that is easy to understand, even if you do not know everything there is to know about testing and developing a new part for a Formula One car or how the safety of the sport has evolved over time. Jake also shows his deep understanding of many aspects of the sport, such as the detailing in how a team works and how the car works and this illustrates his genuine love of the sport.
  For those who have followed Formula One for a long time, this book gives you the opportunity to relive some of the greatest moments in the sports recent and past history, such as the way that the 2012 season started with a record breaking 7 different winners in as many races and the moment that both Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton won the World Driver's Championship in 2009 and 2008.  So even if you are a 'F1 fanatic' and don't necessarily learn anything new from this book, you are reminded of some of Formula One's greatest moments!
  Jake Humphrey also gives us access to a world of Formula One that us fans never usually experience. He describes what it was like moments before going live on his first ever live broadcast as presenter for the BBC and even how he got to the job in the first place. From reading this book, I've learnt about many things that I wouldn't have learnt about otherwise and you can really tell that he has passion and love for what he is writing about, much like the people reading. 

If you're looking for an interesting read on how one sport has influenced someones life, then look no further than this book. Humphrey even explains his decisions for leaving the BBC and his plans for the future as well as casting his opinions on the safety of F1, the expansion of the sport and Lewis Hamilton's departure from McLaren. I have really enjoyed reading this book and could have easily read a hundred more pages. 

'The Inside Track' is available from many retailers and is also available to purchase on line. 

Majorca 2013: Part 1

I love travelling and visiting new countries so when it was suggested that i should go on my first ever girl's holiday with my closest friends I was so excited!
   All seven (yes, 7!) of us piled into our local Thomas Cook and spend hours deciding on the perfect holiday. For us it would be our first holiday abroad without our parents and at the time it felt very surreal because all I had ever known was packing my suitcase and going. For the first time we were responsible for everything to do with the holiday, from booking it and packing to arranging transport to the airport and the best thing was we could go anywhere in the world that we wanted.
  Immediately we all agreed that we wanted to go somewhere hot and sunny, to have a break from the typical British summer. It was a cold January's day when we crammed into the travel agents and the thought of sun opposed to the snow outside was amazing. Although we decided sun and preferably sea were essential, we knew that we did not want to or had the money to spend fortunes, so we were looking for a reasonable deal. 
  After considering a number of countries and islands we set ourselves on going to a hotel on the East coast of Majorca, a mere two hour flight time away. 
  From the start of our planning, we all decided that more than anything we wanted a relaxing holiday and although we wanted the opportunity to go out if we wanted to, we didn't want it to be the focus of our holiday. For this reason we avoided the notorious Magaluf and went to a resort called Callas De Mallorca. 
  The best thing was that none of us had been to the resort before or even Majorca which meant that it would be new and exciting for everybody. There was even people in our group that had never been on a plane or abroad before! 
  We also knew straight from the start that we did not want to be buying or cooking food every single night that we were away, although we wanted the option to eat out for a couple of nights at restaurants if we wanted to. Therefore we found an all inclusive option at a resort which consisted of three hotels and although we were warned of a potentially long transfer time, we booked our holiday.
  Then the countdown began. At first I found that the weeks and months were going by so slowly and our holiday seemed ages away. However, once the holiday got closer and I realised that we only had 100 days until we flew the days started to go by quicker. By the time that it was one week until our holiday I had barely brought new holiday clothes and sorted out my travel insurance.
  It was a strange sensation knowing that you would be leaving the country, yet all of your family members would be left behind. I think the whole experience has made me realise that I am growing up quickly and that I am going to be doing more and more things without my family around all the time. But more than anything I was excited, and I was ready to see a new island. 

As our flight was scheduled to leave Gatwick airport at 8.20am, we knew that we needed to be at the airport for 6am at the latest. It took us about 2-2.5 hours to get the airport from our home so we were leaving our small town at 3am, whilst everybody else was still sleeping. Luckily for us, there were no accidents or delays on any of the motorways or roads that we travelled on so this made our journey much more enjoyable. None of us had been to sleep either, and in fact I was still putting last minute items into my suitcase at 10pm! High on excitement, we arrived at the drop off point and said goodbye to both my dad and my friend's dad and we went up the lift to the main terminal. At this point the fact that we were leaving still didn't feel real, although now we were alone in one of the country's biggest airport. 
   Overall our journey to Majorca was fairly straightforward, we checked in with no problems and all our suitcases were underweight, we boarded the plane without problems and there was no delay in our flight. So far so good. The only problem we had with the plane was that 4 of us were sitting in row 32 and the other three were sitting in row 7 so we couldn't really speak to them much, if at all.

  The flight itself to Palma was rather interesting. Behind us we had several rows of boys going on a lads holiday to Magaluf and so the whole journey there they were singing 'Maga Maga Magaluf Magaluf' which after about 3 minutes got rather annoying. Directly behind me was a family obviously not travelling to Magaluf with a young girl who decided to throw the Monarch seat cover type thing onto my head, which admittedly was rather funny.
  Not to be left out, the other three in our group also travelled near groups of lads going on a holiday to Magaluf. However instead of the singing, they decided to congratulate our pilot Alistair when he successfully landed our plane and then proceeded to give him a round of applause. Brilliant. 

At around 11.30 local time we landed at Palma airport. As we were coming into the airport it almost feels as though you are going to be landing in the sea because of how close you are to the ground when you come across the island and you are slightly shocked when you realise that you are actually going to be landing on the ground. 

  We walked off the plane, with the sudden heat hitting us, knowing this is the place we would call home for the next week...  

Current Top 5 Barry M Nail Paints

By far my favourite nail polish brand is Barry M. I love the wide range of colours and the consistency of the nail paints that they produce, which means that I am constantly purchasing more of them. Another bonus is that they are reasonably priced and totally worth the money you pay and they are always bringing out new and innovative paints and nail effects. 

This summer I have been purchasing more bright and vibrant colours to expand my nail polish collection and I've found that there are a few colours that I reach for when my nails are ready to be repainted. I have complied these into a Top 5 and I've found that these cover a range of colours so I always have some choice!

L-R Mint Green, Pink Flamingo, Lychee, Papaya, Prickly Pear

This first nail polish is one from the normal nail paint range by Barry M. This particular shade is called Mint Green and is fairly self explanatory as it comes out a gorgeous light green pastel shade. I always apply two coats of this nail polish to provide ultimate coverage, and it lasts about a week before I feel it's time to remove it because by that time it is fairly chipped, especially on my index fingers and thumbs.
  You can pick this up along with the other Barry M products at places such as Superdrug and Boots in the UK as well as ordering them from www.barrym.com. This product costs £2.99.

The next shade that I currently love is called Pink Flamingo. After recently going on holiday I think this shade looks particularly good when you have a tan, and because it is so bright it is perfect for summer. It is a really girly shade and although I do not wear a lot of pink I find this colour can brighten up a monochrome outfit! Again, I usually apply two coats and I picked this up from Superdrug for £2.99. 

Barry M are always bringing out new nail effects and one that I've really brought into is the 'Gelly Hi-Shine' nail polishes. Recently they've brought out even more shades to this collection and many of them are brilliant for summer because they are a mixture of bright and pastel shades.
  However, I've been looking for a neutral shade for a while and when I saw this on the shelf at Superdrug I had to buy it. This is currently the shade I am wearing and I think it looks sophisticated and it's a nice change from the other shades which I have been recently wearing. It is called Lychee, and is a beige/brown which looks amazing on the nails. The consistency of these hi-shine polishes are slightly thicker than the original paints, but I still like to apply two coats to make sure that I have covered my nails.
  Although each nail polish in this collection is £3.99, they are definitely worth the extra £1! 

Another polish from the Gelly Hi-Shine collection that I have loved is the shade Papaya. I think it is a lovely mixture between an orange, pink and coral nail polish because it is not super bright like a neon orange, but it isn't a really vibrant coral either. It definitely went on my nails lighter than I expected, but I love it because it is different from the other shades I already own. The thing I loved most about this shade is that it didn't stain my nails when I took it off, unlike other nail polishes which are similar to this colour.
 Once again, I brought this from Superdrug but you can purchase these from the Barry M website as well at £3.99.

The final nail polish is also from the Gelly collection and is called Prickly Pear. Within my collection I have quite a lot of purple shades, but these are mostly either metallic or deeper colours such as plums so I thought it was about time I brought a lilac shade. Obviously I went straight to Barry M and found this shade and fell in love with it. It is a little lighter than the picture shows but it is still a lovely subtle purple and I usually apply two coats. I also find that the Gelly paints last a bit longer than the normal nail paints as it was about a week and a half to two weeks before I removed it because of the chips. This shade was brought from Superdrug and retails at £3.99.

The F1 Rumour Mill: Mark Webber's Replacement

When Mark Webber announced that he would be leaving the world of Formula One and his racing seat at the triple world champions Red Bull Racing, it sent the media into overdrive. Since then, everybody has wondered who will replace the Aussie and at the time this blog was published, it had still not been confirmed.

   At first Red Bull confirmed that the two drivers in the running for the vacant seat were former world champion Kimi Raikkonen and Daniel Ricciardo: a driver in Red Bull's sister team Toro Rosso, which is designed to allow young talent showcase their skills in order to determine whether or not they have the potential to graduate into the Red Bull team. This is commonly known as the Red Bull Young Driver's Program and it is one which Ricciardo has been part of for both the 2012 and currently the 2013 season. 

   The idea is once the drivers have proved themselves they are promoted into the Red Bull racing team, which then allows them to race arguably one of the best, if not the best racing car on the grid. However, this scheme has not been the most successful, with Sebastian Vettel being the only graduate that has progressed to the main team and so Red Bull are keen to show that their program works.
   We saw at the end of the 2011 season that Torro Rosso are relentless in their driver selections. They firmly believe that if a driver has not graduated within two seasons of racing with them that it is then time to bring in new drivers, which then aim for the same target as the previous drivers. This is exactly what happened to Sebastian Buemi and Jaime Alguersuari and so the pressure is on the two current drivers Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne to perform. With this being their second season within the team, you get the feeling that this is their chance to perform and show that they have the ability.
   Mark Webber's announcement has now added even more pressure to the two drivers, especially Ricciardo, as not only the media, but fans and those involved at Red Bull are watching the drivers much more closely. The pressure is certainly huge, but Ricciardo has proved that he can perform,  regularly qualifying in the top 10 in recent GP's, such as in Britain and Hungary. 

  Unfortunately because of the current pace of the Torro Rosso he and his team mate tend to go backwards during the race, but he regularly finishes races and is hardly ever involved in on track incidents and accidents. It is clear to see that the young man behind the wheel has the potential and you can see why Red Bull are considering him for the vacant seat.
   In comparison, Kimi Raikkonen, with 20 GP wins under his belt and with experience of 187 races, is the other candidate for the Red Bull seat.
  Since his return to the sport in 2012 he has impressed many pundits and Formula One enthusiasts as he has not appeared to have lost any of his race craft during his time away spent rallying. He is notoriously known for his speed on track and his lack of words off track, and the fact that he just gets on with the job in hand is perhaps one reason why Red Bull are considering him for the seat.
  A win in Melbourne at the beginning of the current season and consistently impressive race results means that he is currently in the title hunt, and Sebastian Vettel's closest contender.
  Raikkonen has also provided the first win for his team Lotus in many years and so clearly they will not want him to leave and the possibility of finding a replacement must daunt them. Would a move to Red Bull really be good for Raikkonen?

  Red Bull will also need to acknowledge that Vettel needs to be considered. Vettel himself has said that he will get a say in who partners him from next year and therefore he will have a big influence on the situation. During the time that Vettel and Webber have been team mates it is clear to see that they are not the best of friends, which is not expected. The infamous event at the Malaysian GP this season involving 'Multi 21' illustrated how strained their working relationship is. Obviously both drivers have mutual respect for each other, but the team will not want to have these situations arise again with the new team mate. 

  This poses the question of can two world champions operate within the same team realistically? If so, Red Bull will need to successfully manage the two drivers in order for it to work and possibly will need to let the two drivers race each other. 

   Both drivers in question can bring different things to the team, Raikkonen with experience and Riccairdo with young talent and the willingness to learn, amongst other factors. If Red Bull are looking for a long term solution and a chance to prove that their Young Driver's scheme works, it is the perfect opportunity to give Daniel Ricciardo his chance in the spotlight. 

 One thing is for certain though, it is bound to be another summer full of speculation and rumours, and not only regarding Red Bull but the other teams around them as well.
  

   

Finishing Sixth Form, Re-designing my blog and Pets!

 For the past two years I've been so busy studying hard for my A Levels at Sixth Form that I have not had time to necessarily do all the things that I love doing. 
   Last Friday, I completed my final exam which meant that I had officially finished Sixth Form. 
   All of a sudden, I found that I no longer had to revise for upcoming exams, I had no coursework deadlines to complete and I felt as though all of the pressure and stress had been removed from my life. I then realised that I could spend my time doing things that I love and enjoyed, and so the first thing that I decided to do for myself was to re-design the layout of my own blog. I spent two nights designing and creating a new header and layout, realising that I now have the time to enjoy writing new posts.
   Throughout Sixth Form I knew that I loved having a blog profile and wished that I had the time to put in the effort to keep an updated blog. One of the main reasons why I haven't blogged in such a long time is because I wanted to concentrate on my studies, but I also wanted to have the time to write posts which aren't rushed, and so now I feel it is the right time to start writing again.  

I feel that this post is a combination of the two things which I love doing. Ever since I created my blog I have loved writing posts on various topics and situations but I feel as though they could have been improved with a few of my own photographs. Cue my second love. Photography. Although I took photography as an A Level subject, I sometimes felt as though I could not always take photos of things that interest me and found that I constantly had to have a critical eye for both my own photos and other photographer's. So when I picked up my camera yesterday the first thing that I wanted to capture was parts of my own life and character. 

For as long as I can remember, we have always had pets within our household. These have ranged from cats to parrots, and from fish to hamsters. However, we have always had at least one cat in the household and this probably explains my love for the animals. The four animals which I have included in this post are a combination of old and new additions to our household.        

  Whilst they are all currently living in our household, they have all been introduced at a different time in my life, but all apparently love having their pictures taken!

   

In the first photograph is my cat Lily. In July she will be two years old and she has been with me throughout my time at Sixth Form. Just after I started Sixth Form I brought her home when she was only 8 weeks old and I cannot believe how quickly the time has gone. In the time that she has grown from a tiny kitten to a full grown cat I have completed my A Levels.
  

Next is my other cat Stripey. In January she turned 10 years old but she is still as playful as ever.  When we brought her home at 8 weeks old I was only 7 years old. At this point I was only then starting my education and a decade later she is still with us. Considering this, it's amazing to think how much has happened in this time. I feel as though Stripey can represent my past and all of the things that I have achieved, whereas Lily represents my present.

The next two images are of the two new additions in our household. Delilah and Barnaby are our two Chinchillas and are a change to the previous animals which we have had. This is the first time we've had these types of animal and so I have learnt a lot about them since they have arrived. These two critters represent the change in my life and also represent the future for me, especially as they were introduced at the end of my time at Sixth Form. 

I've just realised that I've used my pets as representations for my own life. Wow. 

Vacancy At Ferrari?

As the 2012 Formula One season comes to an end, the attention of the media, fans and teams shift to the changes that each team makes in terms of drivers. For those that are out of contract, we see a time in which decisions are made, from deciding to extend a current contract, or like Lewis Hamilton,  to decide to move on to another team to experience a new challenge. During this time drivers may retire as we saw with 7 time world champion Michael Schumacher and we are also introduced to many of the young and talented drivers, waiting for their chance to grab any opportunity to drive a F1 car with both hands. 
   My last post was regarding the controversial move Lewis Hamilton has decided to make next season but there are still many teams which have not announced both of their 2013 drivers. One of these teams are Ferrari, the oldest team in F1. 
  The only certainty within the team is that Fernando Alonso will continue to drive for the Italian team, but since the start of the season questions have arisen, speculating who will partner Alonso in the future.
  Ferrari kept both the fans and the media out of the loop, neither confirming or denying reports that Felipe Massa would retain his drive. Many drivers on the grid have been linked with the seat from Hulkenburg to Di Resta and Perez and even the possibility of Schumacher returning to the team in which he found his most success. 
  These possibilities have teased our minds and after weeks and months of guessing and predictions, Ferrari announced they had whittled it down to just three drivers, Hulkenburg, Di Resta and Massa. At the time this blog is published, the second driver is still not confirmed.
  Choice. That is one thing that Ferrari have and they will be carefully looking at each driver for the rest of the season, whilst also looking back at the driver's past experience and they will no doubt, being the most experienced team in the paddock, choose the right driver for the job. 
   So should Ferrari maintain Massa for 2013? It is clear to see that at the start of the season Massa needed to seriously improve his performances, after being constantly out qualified and out raced by his team-mate at every event. In some cases he was almost one second off the pace of Alonso and everyone in the paddock noticed this, sparking speculation that Massa would be indefinitely replaced. More recently he has been increasingly impressive, helping Ferrari to restore third in the Constructor's Championship and scoring a podium. I think if Ferrari were to retain Massa, they would do so for 2013 before welcoming Vettel in 2014. Can two World Champions operate within the same team?  Massa also seems content with playing second fiddle to Alonso, and Ferrari would have to consider the fact that a new driver may not be a willing as Massa to do this.
  Di Resta and Hulkenburg. Currently they are team-mates at Sahara Force India, and are likely to maintain this dynamic if neither of them go to Ferrari next year. There was rumours that Hulkenburg would move to Sauber, but what is the point in a sideways move? I can see Force India maintaining their line-up for 2013, especially if Massa stays at Ferrari and as Red Bull, McLaren and Mercedes all have confirmed driver line-ups. 
  Di Resta, in only his second year of competitive Formula One racing, has impressed those amongst the paddock, and was considered rookie of the season in 2011. His maturity portrays a man much older than 26 years old, and I predict he has a successful career ahead of him. At some point in his career I believe he will drive for McLaren, but a move to Ferrari would give Paul the chance he deserves to drive for a successful team and to show just how quick he really is.
  Hulkenburg is similar in that he is an impressive talent at 25 years old and I predict he would be an asset to the Ferrari team, but I worry that if Ferrari decide to hire either of these drivers, once the chance to obtain Vettel arises, these drivers may have to back pedal. 
  After considering all the choices Ferrari have in regards to their second 2013 driver, I predict that they will announce very soon that they have decided to retain Massa on a one year deal. However, this prediction is not carved in stone, as experienced this year, the world of Formula One is not predictable and maybe Ferrari have a shock in store for all of us. Imagine if they have decided they do not want any of these three drivers and announce a driver that many would not consider? Exciting times are ahead, and if one thing is for sure, it will be that you will want to know their driver line-up as soon as it is announced!


Tammy
    

The Hamilton Move

The world was brought to light this morning, when we learnt that Eddie Jordan, owner of former Formula One team Jordan GP, had been correct in his predictions. Speaking at the Singapore GP last weekend, he explained how the speculation over Hamilton's future would be over on Wednesday. Although it was not formally announced on Wednesday, Jordan was correct in his predictions, that the 2008 world champion Lewis Hamilton would make the move to Mercedes on a three year deal.
   Immediately, the question arose regarding the driver that would be replacing Hamilton. With Red Bull already having announced their 2013 driver line-up earlier in the season and with Fernando Alonso securely positioned at Ferarri, eyes turned to the young drivers of the sport.

  It was later confirmed that Sergio Perez, the young 22 year old Mexican, would fill the spare seat at McLaren, on a multi-year deal. Perez has impressed those amongst the paddock, including the McLaren team, managing to receive multiple podiums and points in only his second season driving in the sport. Although on the surface this does not seem as great as an achievement as the likes of Lewis Hamilton in his rookie and second year of competitive racing at Formula One level, you have to consider the fact that Perez is currently driving a car, that with no disrespect intended, is not considered as one of the 'front runners.' Moving to the Woking based team will surely reap the advantages, as McLaren are sure to develop and produce a competitive car for next season.
   Many people seem disappointed that the Scottish driver Paul Di Resta, also only in his second season of Formula One racing has not occupied the vacant seat at McLaren. Di Resta announced that he had changed to the same management as Jenson Button, the other McLaren driver and this could have indicated that he would be making the move to McLaren. One has to explore the reasons for Di Resta not making this move as Formula One has proved in the 2012 season, that the sport is  unpredictable and exciting. Perhaps one reason for Di Resta not filling the McLaren seat is that he already has something planned for the 2013 season, whether it be driving for his current team, Sahara Force India, or not. Another point to consider is that whilst Perez has made spectators and those involved in F1 sit up and take notcie, Di Resta has had more of a subdued season although he has been consistent and currently stands 11th in the World Driver Championship standings, above his team mate Nico Hulkenberg and in the latter part of the season he has really shown the world the incredible potential he holds. 

   Another question that has been circulating the world of Formula One is the position that the 7 time world champion, Michael Schumacher is to undergo in the 2013 season. With Hamilton moving to Mercedes, it has left Michael with seemingly no seat for 2013. There is no doubt however that Schumacher is the most successful driver ever to grace Formula One in terms of achievement  whether or not you 'like' the driver. Perhaps with an empty seat at Ferarri for next season Schumacher will sign to them for a year, going black to the place of which most of his success came before bowing out of the sport. Time will obviously tell.

   Focusing on Lewis Hamilton, many pundits and former world champions were sure that he would sign with McLaren. I myself thought that it be a crazy idea to leave McLaren. Looking at it from a spectator's point of view, I fail to understand why you would leave a team that have every possibility of winning both championships, and join a team, which quite frankly have disappointed, only picking up one win in the 2012 season and suffering numerous amounts of problems and reliability issues. Miracles do not happen in the world of Formula One and with the regulations between 2012 and 2013 not significantly changing, I cannot comprehend how Mercedes will have a better season than McLaren. As it stands, Mercedes are fifth in the Constructor's Championship, and are in serious danger of being leap frogged by Sauber, which does not give them the best foundation for next season.
  Of course, my predictions may be wrong, and this situation could all change by the time 2014 shows it's head as with new engines being introduced, and this could impact positively on the Mercedes team. But McLaren will always be a strong team, they have the experience and will not just suddenly disappear but once again time will tell.  

  It would seem that Hamilton has moved to Mercedes through the temptation of having the role of  'number one driver in the team' and the massive salary that Mercedes has offered him. Consider this however, would you rather be in a team in which you know you can win and succeed, but be paid less (it is important to remember that £15 million is no small salary) or would you rather be paid more, but not have that knowledge and assurance that you will be given a car that is competitive at every race. I know that if it was my decision, and of course I am aware there other factors that play a part in the decision, but every single time I would pick security and assurance over unpredictability. 
  I can't help but feel Hamilton owes a sense of loyalty to McLaren. How many other teams out there would sign and support a driver through his journey into Formula One? McLaren has undoubtedly made Hamilton the driver he is today and Hamilton has helped make McLaren the constructors that they are today. Will we ever see the driver race for the team again? Time will tell. 

 A dilemma has presented itself within both Hamilton and McLaren supporters. Before now, those who have supported Lewis have generally supported McLaren and vice versa, but now a new question presents itself. With McLaren no longer having a British line-up will fans decide to support Lewis and his decisions, or will they continue to support the constructors. Is it even possible to support both? 

Seven different winners in as many races to start the season, the controversial move for Hamilton and two championships which are still to be decided really do sum up how unpredictable and exciting action both on and off the track have been this year. With still some racing seats still available, there is an atmosphere looming to suggest that we may be in store for some more shock and delight. One thing that seems certain is that when we look back at the  vintage years of Formula One in 10, 15, 20 years time, 2012 is sure to have it's place in our minds and hearts.

-Tammy

        

Time for a break?

One thing I've realised lately is that no matter how much you think you have done, you could always do more. This is true in every aspect of life you look at, whether it be work, friends, family or school. After finishing my AS studies in late June, the 25th to be precise, I thought that I would be able to relax and enjoy the following 3 months before starting all over again in September, for my final year of Sixth Form. It seemed that all the energy that I previously had vanished, along with the self motivation that I had improved over the past year. There was however, no time to rest and unwind because as soon as half term had been and gone, I was expected to start work in prepartion for Year 13. At the time it seemed like a brilliant idea, getting a head start on the year ahead, meaning there would be less work to do over the summer and perhaps even a less stressful September. So I was then given the work I was expected to complete. This consisted of a variety of tasks throughout my subjects, such as reading, writing letters, sketching, writing analysis and taking photographs. There was also the added pressure of beginning to write my personal statement for University. There was nothing I desired more at this point than a rest. The opportunity to sit back and not have to worry about the work mounting higher and higher and trust me, it did. The more I sat at home pretending that I was relaxing, wasting the days away, the more work that was put on the pile to do. It was only last week that I realised I had got myself into a horrible situation. A situation I told myself I wouldn't let myself fall into. Overwhelmed with work, one day I had to face the fact that this work wasn't going to go away and decided it was time to actually do something about it. As weird as it sounds, I think I actually like feeling stressed and the satisfaction of finishing a task. Naturally I am very ambitious and determined, yet I feel that after working so hard for this past year my mind is trying to tell me it needs a break. Having a break isn't as simple as just putting the work to one side and forgetting about it though, because no matter how hard you try you always have that niggling voice at the back of your head reminding you about reality, and that you have lots of work to do. Even if you actually do all the work that has been set, I always find that there is something more you can do. For example, if I finish reading a book and making notes on it, I can always read another book. It is never ending. Of course, you may ask, if you do not like this level of work then why study at Sixth Form. I am not trying to explain that I dislike Sixth Form, it is one of the best experiences of my life so far, I am purely explaining my current thoughts and feelings after completing the first year. As I conclude this post, I feel that I have cleared my mind. I always like making plans and so now I propose this one. I think in order to enjoy the summer break as much as possible, I will need to complete as much work as possible within the next 2-3 weeks so then I have less to worry about for the rest of the summer. Obviously this is much easier said than done, but I will keep you posted on my progress!

Life at Sixth Form

Isn't is funny how all of a sudden your life can change so drastically? Before starting sixth form last September, I thought life was easy. Although GCSE's were a challenge, I found that even though I didn't revise as much as I should have done, I still managed to achieve A*-B grades in all 11 of the GCSE's that I took.
   My life literally changed on the first day of Sixth Form. I no longer had three lessons every day and instead found myself with five one hundred minute lessons called 'study periods.' I found that I as receiving more and more work from subject teachers, realised that most people I was surrounded by actually wanted to be there and that everyone was given a lot more independance.
   I made a number of mistakes during my first year at Sixth Form, and arguably my biggest one by far was to think that these 'study periods' could be used to socialise, with both friends and on sites such as twitter, and then not complete any of the work that had been set in my lessons. However, I soon realised the purpose of these lessons was not the above and then started to use them to be as productive as possible. Well, most of the time.
   Recently, I was asked to participate in the Sixth Form taster day, a day in which students from Year 11 spend the day finding out what Sixth Form is really like. I hadn't reflected much on the year until this point and found that as well as helping the Year 11's to make the correct decisions, this gave me the opportunity to consider my attitude, work ethic and success over the past year. I realised on this day that no matter how many Sixth Form students explain to you how much work there actually is, students will never realise the reality until they are experiencing it. It was exactly the same for both myself and everybody in our year and will most likely be the case for the Year 12's next year and in years to come.
  The most important thing I have learnt from the first year of sixth form is that I was wrong to think that life at Sixth Form would be easy. Is it difficult? Yes. Is it really a step up from GCSE'S? Yes, a massive one. However it is also important to stress that throughout the stressful and saddening moments, it has probably been one of the most rewarding and successful years of my life so far and I wouldn't change any of it. - Tammy

Sunday, F1 & Obsession

 Sunday. The day before the dreaded Monday. the day after the exciting Saturday where usually parties, late nights and drinking come into the equation. Sunday is the day of the hangovers and the dread. Dread that tomorrow morning, bright and early, you will see the appearance of the alarm clock reminding you that you really do need to get up after pressing the snooze button so many times you lost count.
   I find that on Sunday, particularly in the evening, i spend a lot of time thinking. Thinking about general thoughts such as friends and family and usually end up over thinking these situations.
  Therefore, i wonder that if Sundays did not exist, would i still over process things in my mind like i only seem to do on that day? or would this day just happen a day earlier or later? 
  I have no idea who reads this blog, and in some ways i am glad because i feel i can write about anything going through my mind, but at the same time, have the uncertainty about who knows about these personal situations.
   So apart from the obvious thinking that was done today, i also watched my favourite sport, obsession and interest today which was of course Formula One; The German Grand Prix.
  I spent numerous minutes laughing at the pronounciation of the 'Nurburgring' and numerous minutes annoyed that the commentator still, after being in the business for so long, cannot pronounce Sebastian Vettel's last name. It's Vet-al not Ve-tell!
   Although Button did not finish because of a hydraulic issue, McLaren seem to be fighting back finally after Hamilton drove the MP4-26 to victory for a 2nd time this season. Congratulations!
  I could continue for hours and hours, but i'm afraid of reducing you all to tears with my self-confessed obsession. But i'm proud of it!

Leaving High School, Prom & Disappointment

Good Evening!

 So much has happened since i last blogged. Not surprising since the last time i blogged was April.
 However, this is my return to blogging and although i may be a bit rusty from not typing since leaving school, i'll give it my best shot.
 
   Firstly, GCSE's are over! Finally after two years of stressing, revising and deadlines i have a lovely summer to look forward to (or so i thought.)
  I must admit, during my GCSE's i didn't really do much of the 'revising' when maybe i should have, but only results in August will tell and until then i'll just enjoy my time relaxing!
   I was getting into the habit of doing nothing during the day with long lay-ins, late nights and no commitment until the school decided to give me a repulsive book called 'A Level Summer holiday work.' Thanks a lot!
   Now, even though i haven't made a start to this work there is always a nagging voice in the back of my mind reminding me that i have work to do and should really start doing some of it.
   
  Moving away from GCSE's, i recently had my school prom aswell. Probably the most amazing night/morning of my life so far. Everybody looked amazing, and although the food was a bit naff, everyone seemed to have a good night dancing and singing and attending after parties, which to say the least, were rather eventful!

  The only dissapointment so far this summer is the weather. Everybody expects high temperatures and trips to the beach almost every day with ice cream and swimming but so far apart from a few days of fluke sunny weather the rest has been rain, cloud,thunderstorm, rain, rain, rain (you get the idea.)
    Instead of sun and heat being thought of when July is mentioned, i now imagine rain and humidity which to be honest, isn't the best weather to take a trip to the beach in.
   Oh, and i'm rather gutted i didn't win the euromillions either.