A "Mixed" sixth form.

I had started this post writing about the pros and cons of secondary school single sex education. However, I realised there is a whole blog post worth of thought on mixed sixth forms! I went to an all girls secondary school which had a "mixed" sixth form, but it was still overwhelmingly dominated by females. From my observations of the seven years I spent at my school, the boys that joined often fell into three main categories. I thought I'd share them with you!

Category one: the cocky lot.
These species appear to be the overwhelming majority of the males that arrive during the first few weeks of year 12. They are the ones that reckon they are absolutely irresistible to every female in a five mile radius and are often perplexed when their fellow pupils fail to fall down and worship at their feet.

They fail to obey the uniform dress code, because they are clearly super cool. And well,  for the majority of the time they get away with it. They have inflated ego's due to the fact there is always some form of buzz surrounding them. This evermore increases when they hear their name loudly whispered in corridors amongst the year 8's and 9's. (year 7 fakes interest cause really they still just want to play tag). You can often find them virtually attacked by friend requests and the occasional loud "My friend fancies you." comments from all the younger teenage girls blinded by hormones and dreams of one direction lookalike boyfriends.

They ooze arrogance but lack physical appeal, yet earn points for the often familiar,  floppy hair style. They join forces with the 'popular' female tribe of the school. The leader of the pack will be a master of avoiding any actual A Level participation due to the skill of charming the older female teachers who have not taught the species in years, or even decades. Admittedly however, He'll probably cause some major drama in the form of a sixth form romance at some point.

And while the the younger side of the school try to subdue their giddiness when his bag or jacket touches them in a busy corridor, holding it as a clear sign he knows of her existence, the older half simply sigh with distaste at the power of these acne faced, alcohol breath boys that probably couldn't remember your name if they tried.

Category two: The strong personality
Its hard to find anyone that has a bad word to say about 'the strong personality' type of male species that you can find somewhere the sixth form huddle. In basic terms, everyone likes them, but they are not be confused with the other category of 'the others' (see below) who do house likable figures, but are less all round liked. Each year group will only have one, two at the very most. (but If two, think best friends, double act style, Ant and Dec)

They are socially educated enough to appreciate young women as intelligent beings who can hold a strong debate/write a cracking essay and not patronise them for a shoe weakness or a tendency of too much fake tan. The overwhelming majority of the time they are gay, or at least have very obvious camp tendencies.


At first 'the cocky lot' fail to understand how 'The strong personality' can be so well loved and admired (often due to their all boy secondary education which leads them to believe anyone who isn't advertising themselves as Mr. Macho Man deserves torrent of abuse) but most come on side when they realise all the girls love him.

There hard to define as more then just 'a strong personality' due to their uniqueness and rare sightings within the environment however I'd hedge my bets that these are the boys that come to reinvent themselves and find their feet in the predominately caring, female environment.

Category three: The others.
'The others' are the forgotten about ones and not really celebrated as a collective species - however they really should be. They earn major points for joining an all female school/overwhelming female sixth form for what most deem to be the right reasons!

This basically translates to something involving the quality or the benefits of the school in question, and not to get into as many girls heads and knickers as possible. They are also hard to characterise but in one sense can be easily defined and spotted due to their undeniable tendencies to join together. From observation they appear to be good friends that would never see each other outside the educational habitat. Everyone seems to have a different opinion on each member of the species, dependant on lessons shared and rumours heard.
Most seem to fit somewhere in a comfortable anonymity within the crowd however some rise some way up the scale reaching the love shown to the strong personality however they are much less outgoing. Within these circles you find the genuine, really nice kind boys who are just battling through all the a levels with the girls but who aren't loud or self obsessed.

A key point of amusement involving this species is when one goes rogue...E.G joining the cocky lot in an attempt to 'bag the ladiessssss'.

See, 'The others' are rarely the ones that first come into your mind when you think of the male population, but a lot of them are ones to be cherished.


Let me know what you think of this post! Have any of you experienced these type of males if you've ever been in a all girls education? Or do you think I'm totally mean to characterise all teenage boys into 3 types?

OOTD - I'm glad your the one who got away.

                                                                 Dress  -H&M
                                                                  Shirt - New look
                                                          Belt and Sunglasses - Primarni
                                                         The washing line - the back garden

This month with Jess Corcoran - April 2014

I was strolling through the supermarket on a last minute outfit mission when I began to think about what I was going to share with you this month. I was nearly telling you all about the actual hunt of trying to find a dress the day before a wedding, but it was in the changing rooms when I was struck with the need of a second opinion about the coordinating top and shorts I was trying on that I decided clearly what I wanted to write about.

I needed my best friends opinion on the outfit, but instead of waiting outside the changing room refusing to hang up the clothes I'd finished trying on like she has for many years previously, she was instead in a uni lecture somewhere in Nottingham. It was in this sudden and urgent need for my best friend in which I mentally made a note to ask her when she was next coming home... (I ask on average every four days because we've had that partner in crime vibe, 'joined at the hip' type of relationship for the past decade.) So much so that once, at the end of a week long residential holiday some other girls we had made friends with had to ask me “which one I was?” despite the fact we bare no major physical or even personality resemblance to each other.

However we are somewhat similar to each other because over the years she undoubtedly has been the biggest influence in my life, and I, in return have been the biggest in hers. And its rather odd but entirely fantastic. We have that whole thing were I can say something like “Don't you think that advert is inappropriate?”and she's get why I think it and often agrees on every single level possible. I think our friendship is amazing, and I miss her physical presence in my life on a daily basis. Be it dress shopping, or a coffee shop visit, as much as I can text/call/tweet/Facebook her, nothing beats her annoying me senseless on a Saturday night while were eating egg custard and watching casualty. I find it so great, and if you believe in the whole concept, well, were definitely soul mates.

The best thing about it though? She's just one of the superbly awesome, wonderful people I have in my life. Naturally, the majority of my friendship circle currently is people I know from school and sixth form but its wonderful that its expanding all of the time. Without even knowing it, there are potential friends around literally every corner, at every train station, in every gallery and book shop.

There is a woman I know through instagram who I've never met but we share so many interests, her bio talks about red lipstick, the beatles and liverpool. She loves photography and writes a blog too. We chat occasionally through comments on each others photos and its really nice. And the other week I met a girl on the make up course I'm currently doing and we just clicked. We bonded over a happy meal (we both think BBQ sauce is a must!) and we wouldn't couldn't have stopped talking if we'd have tried. Then there was the guy on the bus that was nice to me when I squealed cause a lady bird randomly flew on my arm and I really ain't insect lover. It was a few words and a smile but hey, for a little bit of the bus ride I had a new friend.

I'm not saying that life is all rosy and that making new friends is super easy because its anything but however, it is possible to make new acquaintances and friends because most of us all interact with people on daily basis. I struggled in Manchester because although I had a course linking me to people, it seemed the only thing. These days you don't even need to leave the house to interaction with like minded people though, start up any device connected to the internet and you can join in a conversation about almost anything you like. I'm kind of blown away by this idea, and wanted to share it with you too.

There are so many people all over the world that could potentially one day become your best friend and you don't even know it yet. So this month I'm all about friends and all the different type of friendship you can have. So here's too them all! To the ones that are here for life, to the ones you never see but love just the same, and even the ones in which the friendships is just a fleeting moment of a shared laugh or borrowed deodorant in the woman's toilets!

Now show this page to whoever your sitting next too...you never know...you may make a new friend!?

Style notes: Martha Costello.

Martha Costello is the lead character played by Maxine Peake in BBC law drama 'Silk'. She's the first character/person to come into the spotlight on my 'Style notes' series because right now I'm currently working my way in a obsessive manner through series 2. Oh, the joy of Netflix.

It's hard to find a lot of images to showcase her style but I managed to find some around Tumblr and Pinterest. She's got one of the images I love so much with a snappy kickass personality to match. There is just something about slightly disheveled blonde hair paired with Red lips that I will forever use as a style reference. Then a classic white shirt and black sunglasses. The whole thing just makes me really wish I'd have done better at A Level law.

Of course the personality of the character adds to that desire too, she's northern, fiery and always adds an unusual twist on cases. In one episode of the first series she mentions her first trial was the 15th May 1995, obviously a date you can assume was plucked out of thin air by writers but I kinda love it the characters first case was on the day I was born. Maybe I can be a Martha Costello?

Food Fridays: All Bar One - Euston station

Despite the fact 'All Bar One' is a chain of bars up and down the country I'd never actually been before my trip to London this week. It's somewhat ironic that I've walked past both the Liverpool and Manchester venues countless time but it took me a trip to the capital filled with buzzing independent eateries and drinking establishments to select a chain I could while away a hour in. Though kudos to me for not heading to my old faithful chains of Pizza Express/Nando's\Wagamama.

Hannah just went for a cappuccino which came along side a cute little shot glass of smarties and a bowl of all the sugar she could ever possibly desire. I got a 'Peach Melba' which to me, ended up sounding a lot better then it tasted. It looked super yummy though, I just personally wasn't keen on the flavour.

Being the type of girl that reads the dessert menu before she's selected her main (anyone else?!) I thought it would be rude to resist one for lunch, particularly considering they were sharing platters and I could get Hannah on board! We ordered churros which were super delicious, though a little naughty considering the amount of awful food we'd ate in 24 hours, the Waitrose pasta at 3AM being my ultimate downfall (though why I was eating at that time in the morning is another story entirely)

The main menu sounded lovely and I'm a sucker for presentation so I can assure you ill be heading to the Liverpool one as soon as I get a chance and reporting back!

Friday night.

Mine was full of unexpected loveliness; A gorgeous dinner with family and lots of photographic fun.

It is actually the first Friday night in forever where I've not ate instant noodles with my best friend Gossip Girl and I totally loved it! This is actually the first weekend since October I've not been working so I'm super loving the fact I've a lie in waiting for me in the morning if I want it. I mean, who knew the smell of coffee beans could be absent from Friday evenings?!

 I've always been a lover of Friday nights but I think recently I've forgotten it. Previously they've always seemed to sparkle with possibilities but three months of University that went oh so horribly wrong left my weekends lacking in anything but netflix. Friday and Saturday evenings just felt like painful people absences so I think I forgot how good weekend evenings can be.

Friday nights have always been a release for me. A total, throw caution to the wind type of affair. They may never have been wild, but they've always helped to sooth the stresses of a long hard week or ignite my need for something to do. For as long as I can remember the Friday night of my diary has been otherwise engaged. As a child Friday nights were spent helping my Nan with her weekly shop in Sainsbury's. I have vivid memories of this and my favourite part was the beans on toast in the cafe afterwards, with rainbow Jelly too if I was lucky! Some bonus occasions even offered a magazine and I'd have endless decisions to be made about my choice of child literature...many a moment was spent virtually battling 'Girl Talk's' kitten and silver ballerinas with 'Rugrats's Passport around the world' filled with cool facts and fun jokes. In the years that followed activities came in the form of Cheerleading (Just don't ask) and youth groups. Regardless of whether it appears it you my Friday night was actually once upon a time the highlight of my social calendar but I think this evening reminded me of the importance in hurrying up and reinstating its position.

 My dream evening scenario seems like it would fit into the box of a meal out and cocktails with friends but I had such a fun filled evening tonight that I think my stereotype idea of how I'd love a Friday night should be thrown right out of the ring. Instead, please enter all the unexpected, impromptu lovely evenings I could have if only I'd let myself.

Tonight I ate the worlds nicest home cooked meal and the best shop bought dessert I've ever had with my Auntie and Cousin and it was just wonderful. We sang along to Dido and Shania Twain, took endless photos and shared a lot of laughs. It was just what I needed to shake me out of the Friday Night blues and inspire me to not waste my time.

 So if you've an invitation to go out somewhere - take it. Don't waste your precious free hours, the ones you count down to, slumped in front of a boring TV programme your only watching cause there is nothing else on. Go out, have your type of fun. If your dream Friday night is at the chess society then just go do it! Don't let life hold you back from living. Grab your spare time, your Friday nights and run with them before you look back and realise you've no vivid memories of the times that are supposed to be the best of your life. If you too have the friday night blues - plan yourself something for this time next week and report back, I'd love to hear what you get up to.

The day I met Anna.

I met Anna on the 11:45 from Nottingham to Liverpool. I was running exceptionally late due to the fact I'd basically gotten lost on the way to the station, and had ended up heading through the wrong shopping centre. If it wasn't for the elderly couple I'd asked for directions and the frequent desperate prayers I'd made to God, I'm sure I'd never have made it, and then, I'd have never met Anna.

I arrived at the station at 11:43, slightly out of breath, with my cheeks extra rosy then normal due to the speed I'd just travelled at. I boarded the train in coach A and headed down through, knocking everyone and his wife with my stupidly heavily bag until I reached B, where my seat was reserved. I felt a slight niggle at the fact I arrived to find a woman sitting in my reserved seat, but only because it had happened on the way down to Nottingham two evenings previously.

I let her know it was my seat just in case the ticket inspectors came round, but sat next to her regardless. And from there, the conversation started. Initially I was hesitant; I'm not the type to frequent public transport and chat. I'm more of the reserved type, particular English when it comes to train rides, only saying “Sorry” and “Thank you” when there is the awkward clashing of feet underneath the table, or if a ticket or pen has been dropped on the floor.

She first asked if I was okay due to my redness and if I was hot, then she enquired if I'd been shopping due to the small Primark bag I had in my hand. At this point I was still half attempting to keep conversation to a minimum – I'd an essay to finish and was reluctant to leave the train without it complete. However, the more we talked, the more I let my guard down.

Curiosity caught the better of me after about 10 minutes of casual conversation an since I'd spied her Louis Vuitton handbag, I asked what she worked as. I found it she was originally from Thailand, but lived in Suffolk as a House keeper in a international boarding school. It was her week off, and she was coming to visit her friend. I later discovered she'd had a reserved seat too, but the guard that had carried her large red case on board had told her not to worry, which is why she ended up in my seat. I love this fact now, as I'd have never have met her for various different reasons; her case could have been smaller so she'd have been able to manage to carry her case to her allocated seat, or I could have noted she was in my seat and proceeded to try find myself a empty seat in another carriage. See, millions of seemingly insignificant details could have prevent the occurrence of Anna and I meeting on seats 04 and 05 of coach B of that train that day -but they didn't.

As we kept on talking she let me in on the fact she was actually on her way to meet a man she'd met online. The statement triggered alarm bells in my head – we all know of the horror stories now don't we. All the possibilities ran through my head, but as we kept talking my excitement for her grew and all these faded. I was witness to her progress through all the feelings of meeting someone for the first time; the crippling nerves, coupled with the overwhelming excitement and the 'I think I'm gonna be sick'. The whole “Jess, am I doing the right thing?!” Was added to the mix a few dozen times due the fact she'd never met him before in person. However the more we talked, the more I discovered.

She was 40 something, but I swear she didn't look a day over 30. She had short black hair and was wearing a fedora style hat that suited her so well. Her face was bare apart from the smallest coating of mascara on her lids, and bright crimson lips. Clearly we bonded over our mutual love of red lipstick. However she only noticed I wore it due to the picture on my rail card in which I resembled something different to the greasy haired, practically bare face she'd been greeted with that day. She told me I had the prettiest eyes she'd ever seen which was difficult to react to. I can't deal with compliments from friends, never mind complete strangers. However I felt as if I'd known Anna forever.

She kept questioning if she was doing the right thing, if she was crazy for going to visiting him? But that they'd both had felt such a connection. They talked on the phone for hours every evening, with all sorts of subject matter. I learnt he was 53, with two teenage sons and that she also had a teenage daughter. He'd been married before, but the most heart warming thing was to learn she'd never actually been on a date. I didn't understand why but I didn't ask...

The clock ticked nearer, and the closer we got to Sheffield the more nervous and excited we both became. We talked at this point about 'Live and let live'. We agreed its far better to regret what you have done then regret what you always wished you had of. She showed me his profile online, so I could spot him as we pulled into the station. I think we both had the same ideas when it comes to love; Follow your instinct, be a little crazy, let your heart be broken – its better then never knowing love at all.

We decided she should keep it cool with the meeting at the plaform but she was getting so nervous in the seat next to me, with so many questions..was her hair okay? Would he find her attractive? Should she hug him or kiss him? Or just shake his hand? I tried to keep her as calm as possible as the minutes ticked by.

At this point I was just so nervous for her, but he sounded like such a gentleman. I was pretty sure this was going to be the start of something for the two of them. It was so excitement being let in on this first meeting because I'm an absolute sucker when it comes to love.

Give me all the cliche's in the world and I'll take all the rom coms you've got. I love love. I swear right now I sound like Carrie Bradshaw's assistant in the first SATC movie but its all true. I cry at weddings, at cheesy romantic songs, old couples in the street. I don't think I can get through an Episode of Don't tell the bride without a few tears, and don't even start me on Pinterest. I just love love and It makes me so happy to see other people happy.

The train was nearly pulling into the station so I helped Anna get her large case to the door. We were so excited. We hugged tightly before she got off the train, Its amazing how close and excited for someone you barely knew existed just a hour before. Anna taught me a lot, and we shared our lives for 60 minutes. Writing can't do my experience justice but it was great to meet Anna.

As we arrived in the station I sat back down and watched hopefully out the window, hoping to spy her meeting her man. It was easy to pick him out, not because I'd seen his photo but because there was a man with the biggest, child on Christmas morning grin I’ve ever seen in my life. In his hand where the biggest bunch of yellow flowers and as Anna approached his face lit up even more. He took her case off her, then they embraced and he kissed her shyly on the cheek. Anna turned round and we waved gleefully to one another. Her man probably thought I was a little strange for looking so excited but I couldn't care less. I squealed with happiness as the train pulled away from the station and in my head I wished her all the best. I knew I'd never see her again but that didn't matter. It was enchanting enough to be a part of her journey, even if only for a hour.

And that was the day I met Anna.