The ponderings of a 20-year-old cynic.

So it's been a while hasn't it? Just over two months in fact. I'd like to be able to say I've been off doing all of these exciting things over the summer but in fact I've been having a minor emotional breakdown over uni stress and have only just resurfaced from what can only be called a quarter-life crisis. 

That's right, teenage years are now a distant memory as today marks a whole month of being twenty. I wasn't looking forward to hitting the big '2 - 0'; I felt I'd missed out on some defining teenage moments and everywhere I looked friends were having babies or getting engaged or something crazily mature. So unlike other birthdays in recent years, I spent my birthday having a sophisticated dinner with friends, drinking red wine and contemplating the wonders of the universe. A month on however, I'm discovering that twenty entails the same traumas, the same mishaps and is all in all, fairly uneventful. I mean Adele wrote albums detailing 19 and 21, Taylor Swift wrote a song about 22 (not that that really says a lot to be fair ...) but 20 doesn't even get a trashy pop song. That's how uneventful it is, I don't know what I was worried about really ...

I guess it's a fairly round number to stop and evaluate life. So in the first month of my twenties, I've been thinking; contemplating; pondering ... and here are some of the most important conclusions I've come to in my twenty years of existence:

1. There's a lot to be said for having a beautiful figure. Hopefully in the next twenty years at some point, I'll find the willpower to get one of those 'waist' things.

2. Equally however, the general consensus is that if you have the waist the size of a Twiglet, you're likely to have the personality of one also. Frankly I'd rather be a a bit chunkier and be a Wotsit or a Monster Munch.

3. Henry James rightly states that 'there are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.'

4. When tea doesn't hit the spot after a tough day though, those 'few hours' generally involve wine, lots of wine ...

or vodka and Chaka Khan ...

5. During my life time, being nerdy has actually become quite cool (fairly annoying now that I've left school but there you go) I get the feeling it might be because people have realised that that kid they bullied is quite likely to eventually earn more money than them or become their employer. So I've found a good knowledge of planet Krypton, Klingon or Middle Earth are now great conversation starters with the male sex. 

6. There's a 19 calorie difference in whether you have a four-finger Kit Kat (233 cal) or two two-finger Kit Kats (214 cal) ... every little helps.

7. Winnie the Pooh is an inspiring fellow (or A. A. Milne is for those who still don't believe that stuffed animals don't talk, even after three Toy Story films): 'You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.'

8. Cats are evil. They will take over the world. Fact.

9. If you find yourself asking for a 'skinny latte' with a 'low-fat, dairy, gluten and nut-free cookie' in Costa, you're probably going to get something that resembles ditch water and compost, so if you're one of those people, don't say you haven't been warned.

10. Pleasing everybody is impossible.

11. 'Wrinkles' is such a negative term. I prefer the term 'smile lines'. I think I'll be able to accommodate them one day, so long as they tell a positive story.

12. Of course one slice of carrot cake will not count towards your five a day, but when there are six carrots in one cake, it would be stupid to assume that the whole cake won't contribute to something positive.

13. Never will you reach an age where you don't need your Mum. 

14. Exercise is the work of the devil. 

15. Don't spend too long looking back with resentment or regret, you'll miss what's right in front of you.

16. When I was a child, I used to love children. Now I find them irritating and dirty. I hope one day I can learn to love them again and have some of my own.

17. Smiling is contagious. You may be able to afford the best designer clothes but Annie was right, you're never fully dressed without a smile. 

18. An apple, a handful of nuts and a Ryvita or a long morning walk may be good for you, but they won't make you drag your sorry, hungover backside out of bed after an amazing night.

19. The only cure for that is bacon, lots of bacon ...

20. In twenty years, a lot of people have walked in and out of my life. It's ok though; I always knew the ones that mattered most would still be here.

Feeling like a lemon.

Lately, I frequently get sent shopping by the chefs at work on account I live near a supermarket and the chefs are just lazy quite honestly. It's generally very odd lists and ridiculous quanitities; the cashiers must think I really love mushy peas and aubergines. Anyway, the weekend took it to a whole different level with 20 lemons. I mean come on, for what reason could any normal person want that many lemons? 

Well when life gives you lemons ... 

So I'll paint the picture for you ... I'm in Tesco, absolutely destroying the lemon stand and me, simply being me, thought I could shove them in one bag. I'm sure you can guess what happened in the centre of Tesco as I walked away ... 

So there I am, torn bag in hand, cursing and chasing, actually chasing, 20 rolling lemons around the aisle. Fairly embarassed and flustered, I just kept dropping them. What annoyed me however was that no one thought to help me. Now I know it was my fault but it's common decency if someone drops something to offer a hand, right? Well clearly not. Several people walked past me and not even a member of staff helped; I felt like the beaten Jew in the Good Samaritan story.

Okay, slight exaggeration, but one person did help, someone who I least expected. In my fluster I didn't even look up from my crawling; all I saw was muscular, manly hands grabbing my lemons, and I thought at last, a gentleman. 

In fact, you know in films when the girl's kind of ditsy and she meets the man of her dreams at the most awkward, embarassing moment? He helps her in her moment of need. Their hands maybe clumsily touch. She's bashfully apologising. They finally come up. Their eyes meet and linger longer than necessary. Then it's happily ever after. She's found someone who finds her clumsiness endearing ... 

... Well that didn't happen. 

After I'd lost all my dignity but regained most of my lemons, I looked up to thank my knight in shining armour. 

My knight, happened to be, a man in a dress ... 

Oh no, that's not all. He had a brunette wig resembling a bad Billy Rae Cyrus mullet, and a cheap Barbie pink lipstick that clashed with his blue eyeliner. 

I'm not going to lie I was pretty taken aback. Firstly because I was slightly disappointed this wasn't my true love moment. Secondly because that was the last face I'd expected to see when I looked up. 

Then I was annoyed. Why wouldn't he (... she?) help me? He's still human, with human values. In fact he was kinder than all the stuck up women that walked past me. He was more helpful than the staff that get paid to help idiots like me. He was more gentlemanly than all of the men that walked past. He took the time to help me. One simple unexpected act of human kindness, that is sadly all too rare.

So although he may want and be able to change his gender physically (sort of) he clearly can't shake his gentlemanly values and for that, I'm very grateful. 

So when life gives you lemons, put them in a gin and tonic and sit back and appreciate the small acts of kindness that make the world a nicer place.

Superhero Top Trumps ... The Revised Edition

So as many of you know, I'm a bit of a superhero fan. Now don't jump to conclusions, I'm not some reclusive comic book nerd or anything, but living with two brothers the majority of my life, was bound to affect me somehow, and I guess I got off lightly in that a love of action films is really all we share. So when Man of Steel was released a couple of weeks ago, I figured I wouldn't have a problem finding someone to go with, but apparently not; what is honestly the point of brothers if not to go and see cool films your girl friends don't enjoy? Anyway I only managed to get to see it at the end of last week but believe me it was worth wait. If you haven't seen it, sort your life out. 

I have to admit, Superman has never been one of my favourites. He was always a bit too squeaky clean and cheesy for me. However, Zack Snyder's interpretation has completely transformed my opinion. It is possible that this does have something to do with the God that is Henry Cavill playing the man himself, but with Russell Crowe and Kevin Costner starring alongside him and a soundtrack by Hans Zimmer, this film was always destined for great things. Superman's soft, strawberry red cape has been replaced with a strong, sweeping ruby velvet wave. His sky blue leotard has morphed into a dark scaly cast of Cavill's temple abs and there is not a pair of Y-fronts in sight. The 21st century Man of Steel has really upped his game.

The film opens with Superman's birth as Kal-el on planet Krypton and his plummet to Earth to escape the destruction of his planet. Snyder presents snippets of a difficult, confused childhood through flashbacks, as he is raised as Clark Kent by adoptive humans, but focuses on his discovery of his true identity and his vow to use his powers for the good of humanity. However, don't be fooled into thinking this is a mere life story. The story quickly accelerates with an amalgamation of the original Superman film and Superman 2 in the arrival of General Zod early on, quickly challenging Kent's loyalty to Earth and leading to some thrillingly dramatic battle scenes. 

I'll say no more for fear of spoiling it for those who may not have seen it, but what I will say is that I'm already on edge for the next instalment.

Coming out of the cinema I found myself, and indeed heard others, comparing the new Man of Steel to The Dark Knight and other famous superheroes. IGN have already released the top 100 comic book heroes but when it comes to films, it really is a tough competition, and thus the only way we will come to a sufficient conclusion is to closely judge these heroes on factors that really matter ... 

Anyone for a good ol' game of Top Trumps? I'll start with the new boy in question ... 

Superman 

Played by Henry Cavill 

IGN Rating: #1

Superman, also known as Man of Steel, is an extraterrestrial being sent to Earth in order to survive the destruction of his home planet Krypton. He embodies the best of both his worlds, the superhuman qualities of Krypton: flight, super strength, super speed, super intelligence and super vision, but epitomises the strong moral compass instilled in him by his adoptive Earth parents. He is brave and kind hearted with a strong sense of justice, and strives to protect the planet that has adopted him. 

Abs Rating: 10
Unintentional Destruction: 10
Topless Rating: 10
Cool Costume:  9
Angry Stare: 9
Tragic Past: 6
Strength: 10
Speed: 10
Intelligence: 10
Good Intent: 10
Annoying Female Love Interest: 10
Overall Sex Appeal: 10

Batman

Played by Christian Bale
IGN Rating: #2

After watching the murder of his parents as a child, billionaire and playboy Bruce Wayne vows to seek revenge on their killers. Having no natural superhuman powers, he trains himself physically and mentally to adopt the persona of the Batman, a figure of fear for the criminals of Gotham city. He uses his intellect, wealth and the latest technology to seek out crime and make him the best detective in the city, but his intentions and methods are controversial in his breaking of the law supposedly for the greater good.

Abs Rating: 7
Unintentional Destruction: 9
Topless Rating: 6
Cool Costume:  10
Angry Stare:10
Tragic Past: 10
Strength: 7
Speed: 7
Intelligence: 8
Good Intent: 6
Annoying Female Love Interest: 3
Overall Sex Appeal: 7

Spiderman

Played by Tobey Maguire
IGN Rating: #3

Geeky orphan Peter Parker doesn't have a lot going for him; that is until he is bitten by a radioactive spider on a field trip which gives him spider senses, super strength and the ability to shoot webs and cling to walls. Initially a tool to help him climb the social ladder, Parker's life is changed when his beloved Uncle Ben is killed in a hit and run that he could have prevented, and vowing to take revenge and fight crime in New York, he realises that 'with great powers comes great responsibility'. He's not the stereotypical superhero, he's accident prone, weedy and has a damaging inferiority complex, but he always tries to do the right thing. 

Abs Rating: 4
Unintentional Destruction: 5
Topless Rating: 4
Cool Costume:  6
Angry Stare: 5
Tragic Past: 9 
Strength: 7
Speed: 8
Intelligence: 9
Good Intent: 8
Annoying Female Love Interest: 9
Overall Sex Appeal: 2

The Incredible Hulk 

Played by Edward Norton

IGN Rating: #9

Who would have thought that the alter ego of puny, weakling Bruce Banner was a giant green humanoid? In an experiment to create a super soldier, Banner consumed a large amount of gamma radiation consequently turning into the Hulk when angry or stressed. For years, socially withdrawn and depressed Banner desperately searches for a cure for his condition but after learning to control the mindless savage inside him, he becomes the perfect warrior saving the world from abomination. He has possibly the best six pack the world has ever seen, but green is unfortunately not his best colour.

Abs Rating: 10
Unintentional Destruction:10
Topless Rating: 5
Cool Costume: 4
Angry Stare: 10
Tragic Past: 6
Strength: 10
Speed: 7
Intelligence: 7
Good Intent: 6
Annoying Female Love Interest: 4
Overall Sex Appeal: 1

Wolverine

Played by Hugh Jackman

IGN Rating: #4

Wolverine, widely known as Logan, part of the X-men and Avengers, epitomises the instincts of his animal name: fang teeth, claws, and animal senses of smell, sight and hearing. His powers were born naturally, together with immortality. The government try to use this to their advantage in creating the perfect soldier and thus inject adamantium into his body, making Logan indestructible. As a result of his exploitation at the hands of the government he resents authority and may appear brutish and unfeeling, but if you've managed to accidentally kill everyone you love, I guess you'd be pretty weary of any intimate interaction as well. His intelligence, reliability and loyalty make him capable mentor and leader for others.

Abs Rating: 10
Unintentional Destruction: 5
Topless Rating: 10
Cool Costume: 5
Angry Stare: 10
Tragic Past: 9
Strength: 9
Speed: 9
Intelligence: 9
Good Intent: 9
Annoying Female Love Interest: 5
Overall Sex Appeal: 9

Ironman

Played by Robert Downey, Jr

IGN Rating: #12

Tony Starke is a master of mathematics, physics, and chemistry as well as both electrical and mechanical engineering, making him the most intelligent of all of the superheroes. However, such intelligence is in demand, and the playboy billionaire is soon kidnapped and held captive to build a weapon of mass destruction. Instead of complying with the captors, Starke builds an iron suit combining military weapons, and allowing him super strength and flight, allowing him to escape, but when a piece of shrapnel becomes lodged in his chest he is forced to keep the suit on if he is to remain alive, and vows to fight criminals like his captors. 

Abs Rating: 4
Unintentional Destruction: 5
Topless Rating: 4
Cool Costume: 9
Angry Stare: 8
Tragic Past: 7
Strength: 9
Speed: 6
Intelligence: 10
Good Intent: 8
Annoying Female Love Interest: 7
Overall Sex Appeal: 7

So there we have it. The Man of Steel fairs pretty well against his predecessors. Close behind him however is Wolverine, and with a new film later this year, I'm sure the competition will be tightened once again. 

10 Reasons to Appreciate Britain's Summer Going M.I.A Again.

Well it's been a while hasn't it; not a single blog post in a whole month. I would apologise but I have only just surfaced from what felt like an ever spiralling pit of deadlines and exams, so cut me some slack okay ... I have to say I'm pretty disappointed that I appear to have missed a wealth of blog opportunities in the media recently, and I did start some drafts amidst the madness, but as they say, 'yesterday's newspapers are today's chip papers' (or something along those lines); immediacy is what makes news and entertainment interesting. 

So now I have a month off from uni and am keen to start writing again, but what do I find? Nothing that inspires me. I've spent months inhibiting inspiration in a bid to channel it towards my exams and now it's run dry. Like a true Brit however, whenever in doubt of what to talk about, talk about the weather. 

So it's currently summer (apparently) and there is no sunshine in sight, not to mention that this week forecasts torrential rain and thunderstorms. Like the rest of the population, this does depress me slightly, particularly when I was too busy to enjoy what sunshine we did have a couple of weeks ago, but ever the optimist, I am remembering all of the negative things about summer in a bid to appreciate the weather we do have. So here are 10 things that we are thankfully spared whilst the sun is away. 

1. Hayfever

Whatever the weather, hayfever generally ruins my summer. When I was little, summer consisted of bike rides, football, building dens and frolicking in the fields like lambs. Moving from a town, my first summer  in the village was planned to be filled with just this. However, when a game of hide and seek left me looking like Yoda one afternoon, I soon realised rolling around in fields was a bad move. At least without sun, you're not missing out on anything from the safety of your pollen free home. 

2. Shorts 

In my opinion if you're wearing shorts over the age of 12 as fashion pieces, you need to stop and re-evaluate your life, but if you're a supporter of shorts and reading this blog, here's a couple of tips: 

• If the pockets poke out from underneath your shorts ... your shorts are too short.
• If you can see the crotch support of your tights ... your shorts are too short.
• If you get a draught in uncomfortable places ... your shorts are too short. 
• If you can't bend over without giving everyone a showing of the total eclipse ... your shorts are too short. 

At least without sun, innocent members of the public are spared this inevitable display of cellulite.

3. Sunburn.

The lobster is never a good look. I have to say, I don't get burnt often, thus generally I don't bother with sun cream. However, if I do get burnt, it's generally in the most painful, and obvious places such as my nose, my ears, my cheeks ... you know ... things that stick out and catch the sun. At least without the sun, you can avoid looking like somebody set you alight.

4. Tan lines. 

I don't want to rub anyone's nose in it, but I'm quite naturally tanned all year round ... wink wink ... but as I tan easily, I am prone to tan lines. I kind of like the bikini tan line; it shows you've been on holiday. However, permanent T-shirts and permanent flip flops are never good; they ruin other outfits. Nothing is as bad as the panda eyes though ... you know ... that cheeky doze in the sun with your sunglasses on ... we've all been there. 

5. Inappropriate Flesh Flashing 

Brits are notorious for getting their kit off at the first glimpse of sun and thus it is not unusual to see a topless man with a beer belly and tattoos crossing the road on a sunny day in April, nor is it unusual to see a wrinkly old woman in bright colours with sweat patches in Tesco. Like short shorts, nobody wants to see this. Alternatively though, you get all the young people stripping off as well. Girls with Dorito shade tans in their mini skirts and string vests waltz around looking glamorous, making the rest of us feel inadequate. Lads don't seem to ever remove their sunglasses and show off bursting biceps in tight vests. At least without the sun we are spared such idiots.

6. Beauty Regime 

During the winter months hairy legs are slightly acceptable ... well ... if you're single anyway. You can quite happily harvest the National Forest under those jeans and nobody can know about it. However, when summer comes you have to wack out the sheers and keep your legs silky smooth: effort or what? What's more, if you want to wear sandals, painting your toe nails is expected: I repeat ... effort or what? At least without the sun you can happily continue to look more and more like Chewbacca without being judged.

7. Summer Wardrobe

When the sun's out, everyone wants the new summer wardrobe, filled with this season's fashion: those statement sunglasses, those glitzy sandals, but this costs money, particularly when you're only going to wear them for a few months. Equally, if like myself, your 'summer bod' New Year's Resolution didn't exactly work out (yet again) there's a lot of pressure to bare the flesh which can make you feel uncomfortable. At least without the sun, you can save some cash and huddle up in your favourite oversized jumper comfort eating until next summer. 

8. BBQ Stains

Although the fashion changes every year, one thing remains constant: the presence of white and pale coloured clothing. It looks lovely, almost glistens in the sun and it's practical, it doesn't absorb heat, but then you go to a BBQ ... you bite into a burger and the ketchup drips out the other side; you attack a BBQ rib and drop it in your haste; the grease from the chicken simply soaks through the paper plate onto your lap, and then you have one too many and red wine gets thrown over you or somebody else. It's inevitable. I don't think I've ever been to a BBQ and not spilt something down me. I generally resolve this by not wearing white, but at least without the sun, you don't even have to worry about the possibility as BBQs are impossible.

9. Insects

Fly repellent isn't the most attractive of perfumes but the alternative is getting eaten alive and having great red blotches ruining your summer legs. You constantly find dead daddy long legs and flies on your window sills and you stubbornly ignore your mother when she tells you to put some shoes on if you're going outside, as you'll tread on a wasp. At least without the sun, none of these annoying insects can survive the cold conditions. 

10. What am I saying? There are not that many reasons to be positive without sunshine.

Who am I kidding? I'd pop a Piriton in order to enjoy the sunshine. People who wear shorts that are too short or flash too much flesh reassure me that I don't look that bad in a dress. I'd stock up on After Sun cooling lotion to compensate for my sunburnt face. Even my all year round tan is fading and in need of a top up. I'd go to the effort of shaving my legs and painting my toe nails given a worthwhile reason. My student loan is simply asking to be spent on some new clothes. The inevitable BBQ stain on that white lace top is what is keeping Vanish Oxy Action in business and different fly sprays can actually smell quite nice ...

Here's to hoping the British summer is on its way ... 

Perfection is over rated ...

Many Mothers and daughters bond over doing each other's hair or having a facial, but with me and my Mum it tends to be a bottle of wine, a curry and rubbish TV. However, last week,  she trusted me with her nails in preparation for her year 11 class's prom. Not just painting or filing them, no ... these were acrylic nails with instructions, an applicator and a tiny tube of glue: easy, right? After actually managing to physically glue her fingers together, it's safe to say we're abandoning that whole girly pampering thing. 

This isn't our first mishap when it comes to beauty however... 

The night before we flew to Florida three years ago, I got my Mum to do my eyebrows with an epilator. She did do a great job; not a single hair remained ... but neither did my skin. Equally, there is photographic evidence of various hair mishaps over the years. There were never any cute French plaits or bows, just a lot of pony tails (practicality was key). I most vividly remember my Grandad attempting to do my hair for school one morning when my parents were working early, and it was so bad that my teachers redid it for me when I got there. I didn't do myself any favours either. I have absolutely no nails and the ones that I do have are pretty mutilated as I've bitten them since I could chew, I once got a hairbrush stuck in my hair which consequently had to be cut out, and I spent a significant amount of my childhood looking like Ronald McDonald, with incredibly sensitive lips. 

I'd like to say I've progressed since then but that would be a complete lie; I'm still a disaster. However, a low key image hasn't been easy to uphold when you go to school with girls plastered with makeup, hair extensions, and a tan that resembles Doritos and the 'perfect' image portrayed in the media. You only need to look at the front cover of a glossy magazine to feel inadequate; perfectly curled hair, blemish free skin tone, and a skinny size 8 waist.

We hear about the 'miracle' diets and the torturous 5 hour work outs every single day and look on with awe, but what I'm coming to realise is that 'beauty' comes from within and these celebrities often have the ugliest personalities. 

My current photo journalism assignment  has seen me finding my way around Photoshop, and I've been quite shocked at the endless ways in which to manipulate a photo. I've always heard about 'air brushing' but never really quite grasped the sheer impact it can have. 

Here's just a few of the most shocking: 

What kind of image is this giving out? These magazines target innocent, naive and insecure teenage girls who dream of looking like these stars, but it's truly damaging women's   confidence everywhere. 

We're lucky that Britain currently has beautiful and inspirational women in the spot light for all the right reasons...

Even Lady Gaga is inspiring girls to embrace their bodies with her Body Revolution Campaign, launched late last year after critics noticed she'd gained 25lbs. Gaga highlights that even the skinniest of women look in the mirror and see flaws, but she is asking women to 'be brave and celebrate with us your 'perceived flaws,' as society tells us. May we make our flaws famous, and thus redefine the heinous.'

Confidence and happiness shine through any amount of makeup, spots or cellulite and I for one hope Gaga's message is contagious. 

We all have our insecurities and things we would like to change. I personally would like to look like Mila Kunis...

But if this futile dream ever depresses me, I take great pleasure in looking at pictures like this...

My hair's never perfect. 

The potential possibility of blinding myself means I avoid eyeliner at all costs.

If deprived of due care and attention, my eyebrows move towards looking like Chewbacca. 

But I'd never exchange my extra hour in bed every day, to rectify any of the above. 

If ever in doubt, look at an ugly picture of a celebrity for reassurance that we are all the same. 

A very special affair ...

If you happened to be in Aylesbury on Friday evening, you may have wondered why the majority of men were strolling around in pork pie hats ... or why every other person was wearing Fred Perry, Harrington jackets or loafers ... or why The White Hart was overrun with a more mature clientele than usual ... weird, no?

Well, if you don't know why, you missed out, because The Specials, came back to town for the third time, since they played as a mere support act for The Clash in 1978. 

That's right, they came to Aylesbury. You know the one; that little, grey town with a prison, where nothing interesting ever really happens ... However, it hasn't always been that way, and Friday night saw what is hopefully the first of many Friars gigs to come. 

In 1969, local men and music fans, Robin Pike and David Stopps, launched a rock club called Friars in Aylesbury. I know ... a rock club ... in Aylesbury ... the best you have nowadays is Friday night karaoke at Stars. However, Aylesbury was once quite the music scene with names such as Black Sabbath, Genesis, David Bowie and The Jam to name just a few, taking to the Friars stage. The club enjoyed success for sixteen years and it was a great loss to the town when it closed in 1985. 

Since then, the club celebrated it's 40th anniversary in 2009 and a year later, Paul Weller and The Buzzcocks took to the stage again, in sell out shows. 

Without the Civic Centre, the later stage of Friars, there seemed little hope for any form of comeback, but the new Waterside theatre has seemingly breathed a sense of culture back into Aylesbury, offering a new chance for Friars, and I for one could not be more in support. 

To many my age, the big names I just mentioned tragically won't mean anything. When I told friends how excited I was to be going to see The Specials with my Mum, it was met with sympathetic laughter and blank faces. To be fair, I do sometimes think I was born in the wrong decade, but then I have to question which decade I would have been born in, for my music collection consists of anything from the past fifty years. 

I was probably one of the youngest members of the audience and friends of my Mum were sceptical as to why I was interested in a band that were active before I was even born. However, I have been privileged to have a diverse musical education from my parents over the years, and although The Specials were the soundtrack to their childhoods, they were indeed a part of mine also. 

The Specials themselves played an amazing set. They were as good live as what I've seen and heard on TV over the years and their hour and a half set included all of the classics and a couple of new tracks as well as their encore. 

One of the reasons I'm drawn to them is that their music is still so relevant to this day. They don't sing about love and breakups like every single song in the pop charts today; they sing about reality. Many of their songs take a political stance such as Do Nothing, or a social stance such as Ghost Town, but many explore youth, lifestyle and culture. 

There is not one youth that doesn't go out on Friday night, and come home on Saturday morning. 

There is not one person who doesn't stop and think they're wasting their time working for the rat race. 

It's not just Rudy who's got a message that he needs to stop messing around and start thinking of his future. 

Everyone can relate to at least one of their songs and that for me, is the ultimate signifier of a great band.

Their 2 Tone Ska sound just makes me want to dance (and that is saying something because I'm a pretty bad dancer) and it's refreshing to hear real instruments as opposed to synths and artificial backing tracks. 

Music has always had a huge influence on fashion but the Specials 'Rude Boy' style is so distinct and so exclusive; you just don't find anything like that today. Everyone wants to be unique, but this style just added to the sense of unity. Forty-year-olds dressing as they did twenty years ago should have looked so wrong, but it never looked so right. 

What struck me most about Friday night however was the sense of community. Community is something that is rare in Aylesbury. Sure there are the odd few areas which are closer than others but disappointingly, on the whole, everyone keeps themselves to themselves. I don't know whether it was the people I was with, but despite the age gap, I couldn't have felt more at home. Age became irrelevant as the venue was full of people who were united purely by a love of music and memories. 

It was amazing just watching people. They bumped into people they hadn't seen for over twenty years and it was like something from that opening scene in Love Actually: embracing, handshaking, squeals of shock. It was truly amazing how people can lose touch, but reconnect so quickly. This made me happy, but also sad; sad that I can't imagine doing the same with people I've met in the last twenty years and sad that I can't imagine one single band of the 21st century that could bring together a community in such a way.

I love the advances in technology that have allowed music to be at our finger tips. The way I can type a few letters and I can see my favourite singers; the way that I can own my favourite songs without actually going into a shop; I love the sheer diversity and accessibility. 

However, at what cost have we achieved all of this? We seem to have sacrificed something that sat at the heart of the music industry: the ability to bring people together. 

If you wanted to go to a Friars gig, you queued up outside with hundreds of other people and you shared the experience. You didn't buy a ticket from the Internet, whilst in bed. 

If you wanted to own the number one single that week, you waited until you'd saved enough pocket money to go to a record store and physically hold the record. You didn't buy it for £0.99 from iTunes or worse still, illegally download it at poor quality and with poor morals. 

Music was a shared experience. 

There's a kind of a warm, fuzzy, feeling, seeing such a big name in your hometown and this is what Aylesbury needs. It needs a music scene. It needs something for the youth. It needs something to unite the community again. 

So thank you to Friars and the Waterside Theatre for putting on such a great show on Friday. I hope this can be the first of many to come.