Another girl commenting on the superficial nature of this world and wondering why we must suffer through it!

So if the title wasn't obvious enough, I'm going to complain about society and it's need to be 'thin'. But who is it that gets to define what thin is and why is it so coveted? I'm going to be straight-forward about this, I'm not a skinny girl, I am the UK average: size 16. Do I wish I was thinner? Yes. But my favourite celebrities are the curvier ones, that's the kind of body I want.

In a technological world, you will see a lot of imagery; photo's in magazines, on TV and on the internet and you will see the craze which has been around since the days of Twiggy (she has that name for a reason ya know!). The media pressure people to be thin or to want be thin or to want someone who is thin! But why is 'thin' or 'skinny' something that is wanted? I see a thin girl and I think it looks unhealthy, my initial thoughts are 'someone get that girl a loaf of bread or a slice of cheese!' Most people think this too but won't say it, thin is not what should be in, healthiness is! 

I was at work the other day reading a magazine, it was promoting all these New Years diet trends and telling you how to lose weight fast! I was so pleased when I saw Dawn French's face smiling back at me from the pages, she looks so much healthier and happier now after losing 4 stone! This is something worth promoting. I thought the same when I saw Ruth Jones in the mag having dropped 7 dress sizes by calorie counting, something which I have now opted to do myself. So imagine my dismay when I hear that this now stunning size 12 comedienne is planning to lose a further 3 stone! But why? I honestly think that she looks great as she now is, it's dangerous to go any further! She can do what she wants of course, a teenage blogger is not about to stop her but I hope she doesn't lose too much weight, she looks great as a size 12. After all size 12 is my aim, I plan to drop two dress sizes and go down to being healthy and normal. In my opinion size 12 is sexy! I have always admired TV Presenter Holly Willoughby for her curves, she looks great, but in this magazine they promoted her trick of losing weight which made her lose those curves and go down to a size 10! Yes because size 12 is just so fat you couldn't possibly be happy as you are if you were THAT big! I want to assure you that the last statement was sarcastic because a beautiful woman like her should not have to lose weight! I will never understand this madness.

My ideal body would have to be that of Mad Men actress Christina Hendricks, her curves are out of this world, something I am jealous of! She is apparently a UK size 14, which I can believe when looking at her! She has a body that men would love and that curvier women should strive for, not these anorexic celebrities on our TV screens. Hendricks' body must be gorgeous after all she was in FHM's Top 100 Sexiest Women in the World last year, although she only ranked #82 and I will bet my life that the women in front of her were skinnier than her!

I hope my ranting has gotten through to those reading this, it's ok to be a size 12 or 14 or 16, it doesn't matter if you're not thin because curves are sexy and men have confessed their love for them for generations. Although it's not just men we want to be sexy for, it's ourselves, I know I love those days when I get out of the shower, look in the mirror at my body and think 'actually you're not that bad looking!' Unfortunately those days are so very rare and I'm sure they are for you too because one thing I've noticed: fat, thin, tall, short, we all have grievances with how we look! Even men do I'm sure, though they don't care to admit it as much. Just remember, you're all beautiful and you don't need men or media telling you otherwise, just as long as you're healthy, that's all that matters! 

Holiday Blog!

Here are some more pictures from my holiday, just to round off!

 One of the bays we went to!

 Me drinking our delicious Vonitsa Sunrise, we even bought a special glass for it!

The view from the restaurant at Spartahori (I think that's how it's spelt)!

Holiday Blog!

So here's the deal, I am obviously rubbish at keeping this blog and I feel like this Holiday blog is never going to end, so I plan to sum up the rest of my holiday in this blog post and then I will move on because I have so much to write about!

I think the reason why I have enjoyed this holiday so much is because it's so different to your traditional 'sit by the pool and read a book' holiday, your pool is the open sea and you can relax and read your book whilst sailing (if that doesn't make you too sea-sick), it feels so free to be on these tiny little islands, enjoying rural Greece and exploring the ocean, so wide and open and blue. I feel at peace, there is no connection to the internet, so no disruptions, it's hard to find an English newspaper, so you don't have to read about the troubles and woes in the world, you're secluded.

My biggest problem was the fact that I developed intense heat rash (my arms, my legs, my back and my neck), to the point I couldn't be in the sun for longer than a minute because the pain got too intense, there are not a lot of places to hide from the sun on a yacht in Greece. Luckily it went away after a few days and I still managed to get my tan.

During the holiday, our flotilla had a barbecue on the beach one night, there was alcoholic punch, some yummy food, ten thousand wasps and a cocktail competition. We called ours the Vonitsa Sunrise, it was made out of Cointreau, Orange Rum, Vodka, tropical juice and sprite and I'm not just saying this because I'm biased but it was sooo good. That was my first drink of the night but certainly not my last! I wasn't a big fan of the punch but after a few cups it got rather more delicious. And this lead to my first ever drunken experience, yep that's correct, I have never been drunk before this holiday and it was actually quite funny. Our boats were rafted out the bay, so we had to get the dinghy to the beach, getting in a dinghy is quite difficult when sober, so try doing it drunk, its hilarious! I kinda fell face first onto the floor of the dinghy. We couldn't see where we were going so I got the torch out on my phone, my mum was terrified that I was so drunk that I would drop it in the sea. Definitely a fun night!

 All in all a holiday to remember, there is so much to do when flotilla yachting, you meet so many great people and you just have fun like they've been your friends for decades. I thoroughly recommend it to anyone who wants to get away for a week or two and doesn't know what to do!

Thus ends my Holiday Blog, I can now write about some other topics!

Holiday Blog!

Day 4 in the Vonitsa Boat

Having such a lovely time! I was wrong about Ay Nicholaos, it's really nice here, the taverna is so nice and the sea is amazing!

Had a lazy day today, no sailing, large lie in. Went for breakfast and had the best orange juice ever (considering thats my favourite drink, that is quite amazing for me). We then set up the dinghy, pumping it up and putting it together. Then went out in it with my dad and brother (who was driving), its was so funny because we went really far out to the rocks and almost crashed into them, my dad and I were just shouting at Andrew saying 'turn way, NOW, we're gonna hit the ROCKS!' It's ok, we survived.

Got a bit bored momentarily but it's ok because I ate biscuits (I eat when I'm bored, don't judge me!) Greece's answer to Oreos are actually better than the real thing.

The shower on the boat was freezing today due to the engine not having been on all day, so my mother and I boiled water in the kettle, put it in the sink bowl with a lot of cold water, and used it to wash our hair, it was a bit of a fail to be honest!

Tried Oozo for the first time tonight, tasted so horrible it felt like my throat was dying so I decided not to finish it.

Holiday Blog!

Day 3 in the Vonitsa Boat

Why is it I seem to make a fool of myself everywhere I go? First in Scotland I trip over a bollard (earning the nickname: Vicki Bollard) and now in Greece, I miss two steps out of a restaurant and plant my face straight into the gravel! Hurt like hell, I only have a few grazes but I'll tell you, my ego's pretty bruised!

An early start today, set sail about 10:30am because we had to go a looooong way! Took us about 6 hours to get there, I was afraid I'd be bored. No chance! First saw some dolphins, then fell asleep on deck for about an hour only to wake up by being splashed with water. Why? Because giant waves were splashing against our boat due to high winds, you couldn't stand up because if you did, you'd be on your bum again within seconds, it was so rocky. At one point I though it had calmed down a bit so I got my book out, opened it up and suddenly a huge wave hit and soaked it! Somehow my dad still managed to fall asleep at the wheel (how, just how?), it was only for a second though.

The harbour looked a bit empty and desolate, and apperently we're here for the next 2 days, typical! But for now, swimming will keep me occupied :)

After our swim, we all went to the public showers to get the sea water off, only to find out they had no heating! I could not deal with a cold shower so I went back to the boat and walking out of the taverna is when the INCIDENT happened. (See above)

Had an amazing dinner, the Greeks do good chips! And yet more tzatziki, I love that stuff!

So what an adventure today has been, there's been laughs and good times had, I can't write it hear otherwise it would be bigger than all the coursework I've done this summer (which is about 10,000 words)!

Holiday Blog

Day 2 in the Vanitsa Boat

Woke up this morning feeling so at peace, I'm in Greece, on a yacht and I have no cares in the world! Ahhhh, it's such a nice feeling, I like to relish on it when it ever comes about!

Started sailing about 11ish this morning and am loving it! you can't understand until you're doing it, how wonderful it is. Soaking in the sun to the gentle rock of the waves on the boat. The view is spectacular, I sat on the back and put my legs in the water as we were motoring on (no sailing due to lack of wind and experience), it was so refreshing. We even had the music blaring at one point, no one could hear us , we were in the middle of the sea, so far away from land and people. I was actually allowed to steer the boat at one point, taking charge of the wheel, and we didn't die - BONUS!

 At one point we did manage to get the sail out and were actually going along without any engine power at all, of course this beautiful moment was ruined by my father who decided to do a full 360 with the wheel. My mother was thrown around the cabin downstairs and my brother almost went over the side!

We soon arrived in Ay Euphemia and parked up (interesting experience) and met up with the other for a few V&T's and a dip in the sea, swimming around our boat and trying to avoid being hit by other boats parking up!

Had a lovely group dinner with the whole flotilla, and then it was karaoke night. I had to skip on it though as I am exhausted now and need to get some beauty sleep.

So again another joyous day, and favourite foods so far: oregano crisps and tzatziki, YUM!

Holiday Blog!

Day 1 on the Vonitsa boat

Just arrived and the place is beautiful, very picturesque, there's gorgeous blue sea and the sun is beaming down on us. Met up with my Uncle Robin and Kirsty who bought us some beers to welcome us (they were the ones who persuaded us to do this holiday). Now I have eaten nothing but some plane food and a bacon roll in about 11 hours so am pouring this beer into an empty stomach, not to mention I don't ever actually drink beer, so after about 3 large bottles, you can guess I'm a bit tipsy right now, haha, that's a little pathetic but what can I say, I'm not usually a drinker!

Now sitting in Syvota bay and it is just the complete opposite of home, for one thing its enjoyable and I could stay here forever! The boat itself is quite amazing, very small, kinda like a caravan that floats, but I like things like that, its cozy and personal and comfortable, well for me anyway. My room is literally made up of a bed, a cupboard next to the bed and about 2 feet of space to stand between the bed and the door, but like I said, I don't mind! Cannot wait to set sail tomorrow but for right now all I need is sleep, I'm exhausted, been up since 4am BST and got 2 hours sleep last night!

I'm moving side to side and feel very dizzy, not sure if its the boat or my tipsiness?

Dinner was beautiful, the food is so fresh and flavourful here, I had souvlaki, kinda like a kebab stick, and it was so nice, and apparently the food only gets better from here on out so I'll be letting you know of some of my favourite foods a long the way!

Till tomorrow dear friends!