During lockdown I've done many pieces of writing, for competitions and myself, and one of the pieces I wrote was for a challenge organised by Autocrit - a community of authors. The title of the challenge was 'Destination Unknown' and the reason why it was called this was because we had two weeks to write a maximum of 1500 words, but the piece had to begin with, 'We reached the third day of our journey and, to be honest, things were not going well'. A week later, two twists were introduced; the piece had to end with the line, 'I'd rather be a bird than a fish', and we had to have as little repetition as we could. It was a fun challenge. One that made you reach outside of the box. And so, here is what I wrote: We reached the third day of our journey and, to be honest, things were not going well. The weather terrorised us, dragging us down with each step we took, and the internal battle grew stronger every passing minute. It was the middle of Autumn, and we were desperate to get away, to escape the horror we were leaving behind but little did we know what lay ahead. Skeletons of the past; monsters of the present; demons of the future. All things that could destroy us stood in our way, blocking our route to complete freedom. And they were all accompanied by mother nature -- the relentless, barbarous and implacable force of life. The increasingly tempestuous rain came pelting down from above, merciless, ricocheting off our skin; dark ash-grey clouds encased the sun in a pit of darkness, making the terrain more dangerous than ever. There was an absence of light, of hope, as we continued our trek into the depths of the forest. Gusts of wind raced through, knocking leaves from their homes, as branches shivered in the cold, yearning for some warmth. The abandoned parts of the tree flew to us, sticking to our wet bodies, eventually leaving after deciding we were not a good fit for a new home. Even mother nature thought we were bad, troubled kids who weren't good enough. That's all we heard in our lives, that the six of us weren't worth the effort, or the time; we were isolated in our little town, and so we decided to leave. Escape. Run and take our chance at freedom. All we wanted was to be accepted and included but our neighbours saw us as outcasts, as fugitives destined to be locked away in a cell to conceal the truth. The sheriff had arrested us before, claiming we had threatened to kill a classmate; the mayor had persuaded the judge and jury to determine that we were guilty; our parents didn't care (grateful for the opportunity -- good riddance they said); and so, it was down to us to take matters into our own hands. And that's when we escaped from Barhall Prison, and started our journey to exemption. The first couple of days were okay -- we managed -- but the third was when mother nature turned angry, and our internal battles clawed their way out into the open. "I don't care what you think Rowan! I'm more concerned about leaving this damn forest and getting somewhere safe, away from" -- Ada threw her hands around -- "all this." "Well I'm sorry that I worry about my family!" "Why would you? They've never even-" "That is enough! Both of you," I shouted in a rage. They turned to look at me, fear haunting their eyes, as the other three -- Jace, Cameron and Brooklyn -- were huddled under a tree, leaning against the bark. "I know that we're all a bit stressed, and our destination isn't exactly determined, but we need to stick together. If we can't even be civil with each other then," I took a deep breath in, "this isn't going to work at all." "You're right. I'm, uh, I'm sorry," Ada said with her eyes downcast. Rowan apologised quickly after, muttering the words quietly. The rain was finally easing on the evening of our third day, allowing us to dry our clothes, at least for a little while. The sky above was still shielded from our sight by the clouds that formed a protective layer, almost as if they were afraid that we would see something up there, a weapon we could utilise. Lost in my thoughts, fighting with the demons who lived in my mind, Cameron pulled me from the trance asking for my aid with setting up camp for the night. Brooklyn and Jace had started a fire from wood strewn across the ground; Ada was attempting to put up the tents, but failing miserably so Rowan tucked away his pride and went to help. "Come with me to hunt for food." I turned my head to Cameron, who was staring at me expectantly with his hand held out, ready for my grasp. "Fine." Glancing around at our surroundings, I continued, "Do you have something to kill with?" "Something, as in?" "Well, we need some way to capture it otherwise we're going to starve and I for one don't fancy being hungry the entire time we're in this forest!" Looking at me, he pulled a knife from the back of his cargo pants. "A blade. Good. That's – that’s good." We walked through foliage and dodged different things falling from the trees, as we made our way to the little pond situated in the middle of the woods. It was full of iridescent fish swimming in a home of freedom, oblivious to the predators roaming. Water splashed upwards, covering my black boots, making them glisten slightly. Cameron crouched down low; the blade tightly gripped in his left hand. He spotted the one he wanted to catch and when it was near, he lunged at it, missing a few times before grasping it in his right hand. The two of us held the animal down as it flapped about, trying to get free, but it had no luck as Cameron brought the tip down, plunging it into the fish's neck. I heard a crack, and winced turning away. "We should get this back to others," Cameron said, and then we both got up, him carrying the knife with the dead fish attached. Heading back towards our camp for the night, I noticed just how deafeningly silent it was. There was no pelting of the rain, no echoes of wind, no crackle of a nearby fire -- there was nothing; just the sounds of Cameron's and my breaths. As we drew nearer, we couldn't hear the voices of our friends. I spun around, facing Cameron; a look of worry written all over my face. "Can you hear that?" I asked, wanting him to answer yes. "Hear what?" My heart dropped. At that moment, fear became a living, tangible thing that consumed me. My heartbeat started racing to the point of no return, sweat gathered on my palms and one word was ripped from my throat, Run! Sprinting back to camp, Cameron followed closely behind. He was shouting behind me, "Esme! What are you doing? What's wrong?" There wasn't enough time to stop and explain, I just needed to get us back, get our stuff and our friends and leave as fast as we could. That was my plan. But unfortunately, fate had other ideas. When we arrived, the only things that were there were the fire, still flaming strong, and our bags. As we moved around to have a look, to search for the others, acorns began falling and hitting Cameron and I -- or rather it seemed like they were being thrown. Looking up, straining my eyes to see in the dark, I caught sight of it...them. Rowan, Ada, Jace and Brooklyn were all perched up in the branches. Their mouths were moving but I couldn't see what they were saying; and by the look on Cameron's face I could tell he was just as confused as I was. Ada began whispering in a harsh tone, "Climb up. Get up here." Cameron had already started climbing before I registered what Ida had said. The corpse of the fish lay on the damp floor whilst the blade was secured back in his belt. I moved towards the tree I deemed the easiest route and as I was about to lift myself from the ground, twigs snapped and footsteps could be heard surrounding the camp. Flashes of light flickered everywhere, but they ultimately landed on me. "Well, well. Look what we have here, Miss Esme Stewart. Oh, how we've been looking for you!" I twisted my body, pressing my back against the tree to face them. There were about six men, all dressed in soldier's uniforms with a gun holstered to their thighs. I knew who they were, why they were here. "You need to come with us Miss Stewart. You're under arrest for treason of the darkest kind and you can either come willingly or we'll use force." I remained silent, a blank expression on my face. The guard to the right of me snarled, "What, cat got your tongue? Nothing to say?" I looked at him, a wicked smile forming, as I said the words that I hoped the others would understand, "I'd rather be a bird than a fish." ***** Until next time...

Sorry for the late post – life’s been a bit hectic during the lockdown. We’re into our second week of lockdown – I think, I keep losing track of time! – and the weather is brightening up enticing many to enter their gardens, me included! One problem, however, is that many movies have become unavailable due to the delayed release date. BUT there is a saviour in our midst… …Disney+ Disney+ was released in the UK around a week ago, and its arrival was long-awaited. The streaming service not only includes Disney classics such as The Lion King and Dumbo, as well as the reimagined versions, but also Marvel movies, Star Wars films and various original TV shows – including High School Musical the Musical the Series (a mouthful, I know!). It has brought a little magic to our lockdown, filling our time with programmes and movies that conjure laughs, smiles and sometimes tears. This time is hard for many because of the separation from loved ones, the scariness of the virus, and the unknown. Many of us are stuck inside and whilst there’s very little that will help with the situation, Disney+ has given us some magic and light in the dark world we currently live in. And so, if you want a little magic, Disney+ is the answer! Enjoy! Until next time…

As many know, education has been put on hold for some whilst others have been working and learning from home. Like me, Year 13s and 11s have had their education abruptly stopped and for some it is proving to be quite a struggle. I know that I need to keep my brain engaged and working; however, without actually being taught this is quite hard. So, in order to keep my brain alive I’ve enrolled on an online course. And you can do the same! There’s such a wide variety of courses online, many are even free, and they are a great way to keep your brain active and working whilst gaining new skills. If you’re finding yourself to be a bit bored and a bit lost during these hard times, then take a leap and join an online course now. Some are available at: Open Learn Open University FutureLearn OnlineAcademies Reed Until next time...

As you probably know, the UK’s lockdown has been extended for three more weeks. Whilst this is obviously necessary and essential in the fight against Covid-19, it can affect people’s mental health causing extreme anxiety and other problems. The impact of one’s mental health can be detrimental and sometimes one needs to escape reality. One way to escape reality is reading. I love reading and have done for most of my life; I like loads of different genres ranging from romance to crime thrillers. Books are packages of creativity that allow you to be transported to a different universe and use your imagination. Escaping reality through books is a good way of looking after your mental health. So, here are some book recommendations: Harry Potter Series – J.K Rowling The Comfort Food Café Series – Debbie Johnson The Mortal Instruments Series – Cassandra Clare Roy Grace Series – Peter James From Manhattan with Love Series – Sarah Morgan Alex Cross Series – James Patterson If you fancy an escape, try some of these. Until next time…

Over the past three days, the NFL 2020 Draft took place. It was supposed to be held in Las Vegas, Nevada, but due to recent circumstances it was held virtually. We saw potential players, head coaches, team owners and the commissioner, Roger Goodell, carry out the draft from their homes – and some of the houses were very nice! Now, Thursday night saw round 1; Friday night was round 2 and 3; Saturday night was rounds 4-7. Each night, teams drafted new players to join their roster in hope of strengthening their team well enough to win the Superbowl at the end of the season. And I must say some teams are looking strong. I could go on and list all picks for all 32 teams but I am a Cowboys Fan and so I thought I’d list the drafted players for America’s team, and then give the top 10 draft prospect rankings. So here goes… Dallas Cowboys Draft Picks 2020: Round 1: Ceedee Lamb, WR Round 2: Trevon Diggs, CB Round 3: Neville Gallimore, DT Round 4: Reggie Robinson, CB and (from Philadelphia) Tyler Biadascz, OL Round 5: Bradley Anae, DE Round 6: No one Round 7: Ben DiNucci, QB Round 6 saw no picks for the Dallas Cowboys due to their trade with the Dolphins for Robert Quinn, DE. The extra 4th round pick is from their trade (the first in 10 years) with the Philadelphia Eagles; the trade saw Dallas surrendering No. 164 and a 5th round pick in the 2021 draft for Philadelphia’s No. 146 pick. And now for the top 10 draft prospect ranking: Name; Position; School; Drafted Team 1. Chase Young – DE - Ohio St. – Washington Redskins 2. Joe Burrow - QB – LSU – Cincinnati Bengals 3. Isaiah Simmons – LB – Clemson – Arizona Cardinals 4. Jeff Okudah - CB - Ohio St. – Detroit Lions 5. Tua Tagovailoa - QB – Alabama – Miami Dolphins 6. Derrick Brown – DT – Auburn – Carolina Panthers 7. Tristan Wirfs - OL – Iowa – Tampa Bay Buccaneers 8. Jedrick Wills – OL – Alabama – Cleveland Browns 9. Javon Kinlaw - DL - South Carolina – San Francisco 49ers 10. Ceedee Lamb – WR – Oklahoma – Dallas Cowboys I realise that some of you may not know what the positions are by the initials given and so here is a quick breakdown: QB QUARTERBACK WR WIDE RECEIVER CB CORNERBACK DE DEFENSIVE END DT DEFENSIVE TACKLE DL DEFENSIVE LINEMAN OL OFFENSIVE LINEMAN LB LINEBACKER By the way, these are just a few of the positions – there are a lot more! Until next time...

What would you choose to take with you if you were stuck on a desert island? BBC Radio 4 has a radio programme broadcast called Desert Island Discs, in which they interview several celebrities from the likes of Tom Hanks to Ed Sheeran to Sandi Toksvig, and they ask them what they would take to a desert island – I want to know what you’d take. During lockdown, I’m sure we’ve all had extra time where we’ve sat and thought what should we do now? And this blog is perhaps a piece of inspiration for you all to fill your time and have a think. So, I want you to think about what you would take if you were stuck on a desert island. If you could only take five things with you, what would they be? If you could be stuck with one person, who would it be? If you could only have one meal on the island, what would you choose? If you could only listen to one song on the island, what would it be? If you could take one book with you, what would you choose? If you could take one personal item with you, what would it be? What would you choose? Lockdown is a hard time for all of us and so as a way to distract yourself, think of some answers! Think, ponder and enjoy! Until next time…

It was announced on Sunday 10th May that whilst our lockdown will not be lifted there are steps in place easing the restrictions from today. Whilst lockdown is becoming a bit boring and repetitive and some can’t wait to have more freedom, the lockdown is still necessary and essential. The lockdown helps slow the spread of the virus meaning those who are vulnerable, and others, are at less of a risk of contracting Covid-19; one group of people who are more vulnerable are those who suffer with the chronic illness of Lupus. May 2020 is the Lupus Awareness month and so this post is all about Lupus, an illness very close to my heart. So, what is Lupus? Lupus is a chronic illness that causes the immune system to attack any part of the body. It is mainly suffered by females and is incurable. What are symptoms of Lupus? The two main symptoms: joint and muscle pain and extreme fatigue (that won’t go away no matter how much you rest) Rashes, depression, anaemia, feverishness, headaches, mouth ulcers and possible hair loss are all symptoms as well. Whilst the two main symptoms are invariably present, symptoms do vary greatly from person to person. What are the four types of Lupus? There are four types of the illness, and these are: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus, Drug-Induced Lupus Erythematosus and Neonatal Lupus. SLE: this is the most common form and it can be mild or severe. Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus: this form is limited to affecting the skin, and causes rashes and lesions; the two most common types of rashes are the discoid rash (raised, red and scaly) and the butterfly rash (over the cheeks and bridge of nose). Drug-Induced Lupus: this is a lupus-like illness that is caused by certain prescription drugs, and it rarely affects major organs. Neonatal Lupus: this technically isn’t a true form of Lupus; it’s very rare and it is when the antibodies of the mother act upon the infant in the womb. How is Lupus diagnosed? There isn’t a specific test that determines whether or not you have Lupus and the disease is very difficult to diagnose because it shares symptoms with other diseases such as arthritis and diabetes. However, complete blood tests (CBC), urine tests, antibody tests, complement tests and blood clotting tests as well as family history can all help to making a diagnosis. What is the treatment? As Lupus is incurable, there is no permanent treatment, however, there are medications that can help ease symptoms and dampen the effects of the disease. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, anti-malarials, steroids and immunosuppressants are some of the key medications that are used to help treat Lupus. One of the main drugs taken is the anti-malarial hydroxychloroquine – due to the current circumstances and the speculation around hydroxychloroquine being used to treat the Coronavirus, there is a shortage of the drug; this is worrying for Lupus sufferers as they rely on this to manage the illness. The reason for this blog is because May is Lupus Awareness month and with the worrying and scary situation of the world, I felt it a necessity to inform others of the disease. Some of you may already know a bit about Lupus, others you might not, but at the end of the day this provides you with some knowledge about Lupus and the effect Covid-19 is having on the sufferers. Until next time…

As of today, the lockdown restrictions in the UK have been eased. Schools are reopening for children in reception and Year’s 1 and 6, people are going back to work and shops are reopening. Life is getting back to normal but despite the ease there are still people who are working from home, people who are scared to venture out and there’s students who have finished the academic year (university students and Year 11’s and 13’s). I’m a Year 13 student - or rather I was - and I’ve been trying to fill my time with productive activities like online courses to help me in the future. Some students have probably been a bit bored during lockdown or perhaps lost but one great thing that everyone can enjoy is movies. Unfortunately, cinemas aren’t open yet, but nowadays there is a variety of ways to watch new blockbusters, or binge a franchise - Amazon Prime, Netflix, Disney Plus, Sky, Apple TV and more! I have some of these but I also LOVE DVDs so much so that my family and I have over 100 - all of different genres. And one thing I got my family to do during lockdown was fill out a ‘Favourites’ list. So, things like: favourite actors, actresses, movies, series, holiday, animals, etc. We found that trying to decide our favourite movies and actors and actresses was the most difficult. We’ve watched so many different films in our lives that it was hard to choose even just our top five. But I managed to choose my top 5 movies/movie franchises! The Harry Potter franchise is a must have - it’s an all-time classic series. The Fast and Furious franchise is also an absolute favourite for me - I love the cars, the action and the story-lines! Then it started getting difficult. I decided that Tom Cruise is one of my favourite actors and so The Mission Impossible franchise is number 3 on my list. Number 4 has been given to The Pirates of the Caribbean franchise and ... ...Number 5 is the Gerard Butler’s trilogy of Olympus, London and Angel has Fallen. So, as we decided our favourites, we chose to start having marathons of each series and so we began with Mission Impossible - we were going to watch Harry Potter but my sister wanted to watch them for back to back for the whole 19 hours and however many minutes! Despite lockdown easing, movies are a fabulous way to pass the time. So, what are your top 5 movies/franchises? Until next time...

Today is June 15th. June 15th means that retail and non-essential shops have reopened as well as some zoos and safari parks, places of worship and secondary schools. Today marks the end of the three-month lockdown as measures are being eased and people’s freedom is growing; whilst there are businesses reopening, in a hope to boost the economy, social distancing is still a MUST. Social distancing might seem like a palaver but it makes people feel safer, and helps reduce the spread of the infamous virus. Normally, if we were currently in a world without Covid-19, 17 & 18-year-olds would be finishing their A-level exams – many would’ve finished today including me! – and high school kids in Year 11 would also be finishing their GCSEs. Unfortunately, for some, exams didn’t go ahead and summer started early, despite restrictions. Today, I would’ve sat my last exam (Biology) and by the end of this week I would’ve been sat by a pool in Torremolinos and whilst I’m obviously a bit disappointed at this, I’m also relieved because hay fever is rife at the moment and I couldn’t sit in exams with a runny nose, streaming eyes and this heat! A holiday would’ve been nice, but instead I get to spend time with my family, cooking dad a luscious meal on Father’s Day and making memories. Lockdown has been a downer for some but I know for me, it has been a blessing in disguise really; I’ve got to spend time with my family that I wouldn’t have done if I were studying, my sister came home from her year abroad early but still completed it. Being stuck in a house, with the same people everyday, for three months has made me appreciate my family more and the little things in life. We spend so much time everyday worrying about materialistic things like fashionable clothing, luxurious holidays abroad and plenty of money but in times like this people realise that the thing that matters most is family. And hopefully during lockdown you’ve experienced great times with the ones you love. Now, shops are reopening, the weather is nice so enjoy your summer…but remember to social distance! Until next time…

Last week with the ever-growing situation of the Coronavirus, the government announced that all schools were closing for the foreseeable future. Along with this, all exams, including A-levels and GCSEs, are not taking place in May and June like they were scheduled. This news evoked mixed feelings in many, emotions of happiness, relief and joy but also sadness, frustration and annoyance. I know I was relieved at the thought of not sitting exams this summer, but I was also disappointed because I had worked hard these past two years. The government have now announced that final grades for A-level and GCSE students will be determined by predicted grades and teacher assessments. For some this is good, others this could be bad! With school closures happening across the country, several children and teenagers had their education abruptly ended, for this academic year, leaving them without a proper goodbye to their friends and teacher, without a final assembly and without a proper ending. Some children are still going to school as their parents are doing essential work during this crisis; others are probably like me – a bit bored and a bit lost. When I had loads of revision and school work to do, I had loads of ideas about what I could do when I had my long summer. But now, I don’t know where to start or what to do even with the extra long summer. This pandemic has caused disruption for all with holidays cancelled, no education, less food available and quarantines. Many are not taking this pandemic seriously. Many are dismissing the idea that it can affect young people – it can, and not just mildly! Everyone needs to do their bit and follow government guidelines, stay two metres from others and isolate indoors. Whilst it is a very difficult time, everyone needs to be with their families, if possible, and stay healthy. Until next time…

With the state of world currently, fear is ever growing with the spread of the Coronavirus and self-isolation is becoming a frequently used term. It sounds scary and potentially boring but I’ve listed some things you can do if you ever have to self-isolate. These activities can preoccupy the mind and also be therapeutic and so here are… …Five Things to Do When Bored in Self-Isolation: 1. Binge watch a TV show 2. Read a new book 3. Colouring 4. Cooking – if it’s for yourself 5. Drawing Until next time...

Hey guys, It’s been a little while since I posted and there’s a reason for that. I recently had my Year 13 mock exams, and have had deadlines for my EPQ, all of which were quite stressful! But I’m back now, and have a small post about motivation. Motivation is such a key aspect in our lives. It drives us forward each day, to achieve our hopes and dreams, but it also keeps us on the straight and narrow. Without it, there would be a lot of chaos in the world. It’s happened to every single one of us where we’ve felt a little bit lost, a little bit confused and maybe a little lazy, and so we don’t achieve any of our goals for the day. This is normal, and it happens but to get back on track we need to continue feeling motivated. I know there’s some days where I feel like giving up with education and studying all the time, but I know that if I want to obtain my dream career I need to work hard. And working hard is rewarding. In order to feel motivated, I always write down a list of things I want to achieve each day, including lunch and dinner 😊, and I tick them off as I complete them. If I do a task that isn’t on the list, I add it and add a tick next to it! It makes you feel better, I promise. Plus, it keeps you organised! Now, that’s my number one tip of feeling motivated and accomplished but there are so many more out there like different quotes, movies and songs! Here are some motivational quotes and songs: Stronger – Kelly Clarkson It’s My Life – Bon Jovi Fight Song – Rachel Platten We Are the Champions – Queen “Don’t stop until you’re proud” “Everyday is a new opportunity to change your life" “Have some fire. Be unstoppable. Be a force of nature” – Grey’s Anatomy “You have one chance, one life. And what you do with that is up to you” – One Tree Hill Until next time...