Wanderlust

I suffer from an extreme case of Wanderlust. There is no known cure; it is something I have to live with. It is a strong and irresistible impulse or desire to travel the world. I am not crazy, I don't want to go anywhere dangerous - I am not equipped to deal with life threatening circumstances. If someone was to threaten my life I would probably piss my self and run into a wall. However, I want to see what this world has to offer. I have only seen such a small part of it and it makes me sad that I am missing out. I have a list of some of the places I want to go to - badly ... as soon as possible. I feel that in life true wealth comes from experience not monetary gain. Again I am not stupid; I am well aware money makes you happy - but I would happily spend all of mine on travel. So, some of the places ...

New York
I have already been once, it was amazing and any other synonym for amazing. The only let down was the heat, if you know me or even seen me then you will know I don't cope in heat. It's disgusting. We were there for 7 days and I don't think we even experienced 10% of what the city had to offer; and we were out all day everyday.

Tokyo
Just looking at photos and movies of this place make me desperate to see it. It is absolutely stunning, a mix of old and new. I really want to go to the Harajuku district and see all the amazing fashion styles it inhabits. Plus I love sushi so I wouldn't go hungry.

Sydney
Many reasons to want to visit. I love the accent. I want to see the Opera House in real life. I want to see my favourite group perform in their home country. It is such a beautiful place and having watched Neighbours and Home and Away through out all my childhood it almost seems like I have to go.

Barcelona
Allow me to geek out for a second, the architecture! I watched an episode of America's Next Top Model and they did a runway through Park Güell (also they danced through it in 'Cheetah Girls 2') and I knew I had to see it for myself. It is so stunning and designed amazingly by Antoni Gaudí .

Rome
Another movie may have influenced this decision. I could try and sound cultured and say it was 'A Roman Holiday' or even 'Gladiator' but it wasn't; it was 'The Lizzie McGuire Movie'. Ever since I saw that film I knew I had to go and throw a penny into the Trevi Fountain (and maybe magically become an international popstar).

Northern Lights
I have to see this before I die, I don't mean to sound dramatic but I want to see this with my own bespectacled eyes! I think I may have to go to Iceland or Norway to experience it, but God willing I will see it. I am sure there is a scientific explanation, but to me it looks like magic.

Amsterdam
Think all you want that the reason I want to go is for weed and prostitutes, but hold your horses - they aren't the only reasons (gosh I am funny). I read 'The Fault In Our Stars' by John Green and it made me fall in love with a city I never really gave a second thought to. I want to retrace Hazel's footsteps and see it all.

Hollywood
As a lover of the silver screen I feel I need to go. I need to see the locations of my favourite films and TV shows. I need to see where my 'idols' live, eat, drink and walk their dogs. I love everything Hollywood and I always will. It's literally where dreams are realised and put onto a screen, made to inspire the next big dreams.

Also a quick note to one film location I want to go to - (500) Days of Summer location: Tom’s favourite place: the bench at Angel’s Knoll, overlooking downtown Los Angeles. I want to sit there with my own Tom or Summer, I wouldn't even mind sitting there alone (aslong as someone takes my picture).

So these are just a few places I want to see. And I know one day I will, only one question really ... are you coming with me?

The U, S of A

So today is kind of an awkward day for us Brits as American's are celebrating their independence from us. Today across those 50 states there are BBQs, fireworks and lots of partying. It is a day American's set aside and celebrate them. We don't have anything close to this in Britain - we barely even celebrate the day of our Patron Saint (choosing to toast Ireland's St. Patrick's Day more).

I love America. I have often been the butt of jokes and told that I should just be American. I don't mind that thought at all. America has produced and created some of my favourite things in the world. Some of my favourite people are American - I am not shy in confessing my admiration for the likes of Beyonce, Taylor Swift and Sandra Bullock (plus many many more).

America is probably my main problem aswell. They invented my number 1 addiction - Coca Cola. I can tell you my Doctor is not too happy about that. I love it - people start their day with a coffee, I start my day with a can of coke. As a diabetic it probably isn't the best choice to make, but I can't stop it. I need help. My favourite alcoholic beverage is also American - the beautiful Jack Daniels. Put it with coke and you have my dream drink; it will be the drink I will request at my last supper.

As a HUGE fan of television and film I again have a lot to thank the American's for. Us Brits can not make a horror movie that will ever be in the same league as an American - there I said it, I'm not proud that I said it but it needed saying. TV is also bigger in America - everything is brighter and more dramatic. In England we have perfected the gritty, lower class, back streets stories for TV - but these aren't to everyone's taste. Especially not mine, I live in the lower class, gritty back streets, all I have to do is look out the window for that experience, TV should be an escape not a mirror on your own reality.

America also supplied me with the best holiday I have ever had. Around 6 years ago I went to the Big Apple, New York. I loved it and I didn't want to leave. Okay I was happy to leave at the time. The heat was unbearable, so bad they turned the lights off on Times Square. I would love to go back, and I am 100% sure I will go back - just maybe not in August, a cooler month will be a smarter idea.

So to wrap this up, I don't want people to get me wrong - I am 100% proud to be British, I love our quirkiness, our fashion and (unashamedly) I love the Royal Family. England has given me everything I have. As a Diabetic I will always be thankful to the NHS, as a student I will always be thankful to Student Finance and as TV lover I will always be thankful for the BBC (Doctor Who for the win).

Whodunnit?

Everyone loves a cop drama. Whether you're rooting for the good guy or the bad guy; millions of us are watching. NCIS is the biggest and most watched show in the world right now. Something that these shows make me wonder though is who actually solves the crimes? If we listen to CSI then its the forensic scientists, if we listen to Law and Order then its Police and Lawyers, if we listen to Criminal Minds then its the Criminal Profilers and if we listen to Murder She Wrote then its murder mystery novelists. Its very confusing and I wonder if all of these departments actually work together in the real world because there is a lot of them.

Regardless of my reservations I have compiled a list of some of my favourite crime solvers:

1. Horatio Caine (CSI: Miami)
He is cool. There is no other word for him. I love the way he finishes his dramatic statements, he takes a beat before the last word and puts on his sunglasses and then says the final words. Gets me everytime.

2. Olivia Benson (Law and Order: SVU)
One of my twin's favourite character - and I trust her judgment as she is a crime show fanatic. Olivia is loyal to her job and her partners. Proof is when she put her self in prison to find a rapist, almost gets raped herself. One bad ass mofo.

3. Sara Sidle (CSI)
I may anger a few people by picking her over Grissom, but what can you do -  the heart wants what it wants. I always loved her cool and collected character, she doesn't let much shake her. My fave Sara moments are when she does break, shows her human side and I love it.

4. Jessica Fletcher (Murder, She Wrote)
She has no qulaifications to make her a crime fighter, and yet she has solved hundreds of murders - and then she writes a best seller about it. I have to wonder what it has done to her soul, everywhere she goes someone dies - if I wanted to survive in Cabot Cove I would stay away form old Jess.

5. Mac and Stella (CSI: New York)
Quite possibly my favourite show from the franchise, and its because of these two. Mac's seriousness and straight edge way and Stella's sassy, but yet still gets the job done attitude make a perfect duo. Always wish they got it on. Gutted when Stella left - there was no big send off just a fricking letter! I hope she will be back.

Real Housewives, Real Drama

There are lot of these type of shows. Shows where we just follow people who lead a bit of a different life than regular Joe. The Real Housewives franchise is one of my favourites. There are a few different cities that we look at; these are New York, New Jersey, Beverly Hills, The O.C, Atlanta, Miami, Washington D.C and Vancouver (and then random ones around the world like Melbourne and Athens). Real Housewives is a weird title to give to this show: 1 because they are not housewives by any stretch of the imagination, 2 because a lot of them aren't even wives.

I only watch 3 of them (even I don't have the time to watch them all). My favourite ones are New York, Atlanta and New Jersey. My favourite Housewives are as follows:

1. Bethenny Frankel (New York)

Her wit and humour make her a stand out of all the shows. I love her and she is one of the few that I would love to hang out with. She hasn't had the best experience on the show; she lost her best friend and was constantly put down as the 'Underdog'. She now has a billion dollar empire thanks to her SkinnyGirl brand, her own chat show and her own reality show. Who's laughing now?

2. NeNe Leakes (Atlanta)

If there is one star from any Real Housewives show it is her. She impressed everyone with her humour and out spoken personality. Not one to shy away from drama. She even got Hollywood to notice her -  with staring roles in Glee and The New Normal. She doesn't need this show any more but still does it - for a cool $1million fee ( the highest for any housewife ever).

3. Teresa Guidice (New Jersey)

Probably most famous for her table flipping incident, she is the biggest character of her franchise. Although I find her slightly annoying in later seasons, especially the drama with her sister-in-law (just let it go and be a family!) the show would not be the same without her. New Jersey needs her.

4. Jill Zarin (New York)

She is outspoken, likes to be in the middle of drama and she stirs shit up, she is reality TV gold. Its a shame she got dropped from the show because she brought a lot of the drama - I think she broke friendships with every housewife from New York. Most devastatingly her and Bethenny aren't best buds any more. Hopefully with the cameras gone they have re-connected. 

5. Kim Zolciak (Atlanta)

With her amazing wigs, chain smoking and love for money she was an amazing cast choice for the show. She was introduced as NeNe's best friend on the show, and like every friendship on these shows it disintegrated. However Kim now has her own spin off and announced her 4th pregnancy so I don't think she cares - her life is pretty good.

I can't see these shows every ending and I ain't mad about that. We all a love a bit of trashy TV and its nice to know sometimes how the 1% lives. 

Other notable women from the shows are Sonja Morgan, Kandi Burruss, LuAnn de Lesseps, Melissa Gorga and Danielle Staub - without these women their shows wouldn't be on the air.