A Journey Playing an instrument is not like doing Maths. When you see them on tv, musicians look cool and relaxed; calm and composed. And when they begin to play, the most amazing sound fills the room; a mix of soulful notes cascading over each other like a waterfall. You don’t realise how much skill, dedication and patience actually goes into being a musician until you try and play something yourself. After the first hurdle of learning how to read music, you’ll have to be taught how to find the notes on your instrument. Then there’s the initial stages of playing one-note rhythms (such as “faster than a caterpillar”) and of going over endless exercises to strengthen your fingers. You know how to play most of the notes by the end of your first year, and you muddle along happily until about Grade 4, adding in crescendos and dimuendos and staccato and legato phrases when needed. And then at Grade 5 it hits you. These examiners don’t just want to hear the right notes played at the correct time; they’re not content listening to you hesitantly squeezing notes out of your violin. They want a deep, rich sound full of emotion; a real performance. Your teacher says that you need to practise more, but you honestly can’t see it making any difference. If you haven’t mastered a simple scale by the end of a practice session, surely it’s all pointless? However, you persevere, painstakingly going over the troublesome bars, the awkward high notes and the tricky leaps from crotchet to semi-quaver. You have bad days - ones where you break down and cry in front of the music stand because a particular piece has chosen to elude you that day, ones where you hate your instrument and wonder whatever it was that made you want to take it up in the first place. But one day, there’ll be that “Eureka!” moment. The time when you discover a piece of music so beautiful that you throw your heart into it, gently swaying with the emotion and getting so lost in the song that everything around you becomes irrelevant. And then you’ll remove the violin from your shoulder, the flute from your lips, your fingers from the piano keys, and you’ll listen to the last notes softly dying away. You’ll recall those first few years - the halting renditions of “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”, the grimaces on people’s faces as you cranked out yet another flat scale - and you’ll marvel at how far you’ve come. You’ll smile a grin so wide it almost splits your face in two, and you’ll realise that this is what it’s all about.

Gareth Russell - Popular The bitchy, backstabbing - and totally beau - debutantes of Belfast. Meredith Harper, Kerry Davidson, Cameron Matthews and Imogen Dawson are the monarchs of Mount Olivet Grammar School. The trend-setters, the queen bees and the heart-achingly beautiful, everyone wants to be them - and don’t they know it. But what the outsiders don’t see is the web of scandal, silences and intrigue that lies behind the glamorous front. It’s the tale of their lives, in and out of school. It’s the book which reveals the struggles between friends, the decisions faced by the possibly-gay Cameron, the troubled relationships between the characters. It’s an insight into the lives of the A-List, filled with dinners, parties and lots and lots of sparkle. The characters are all different, yet each of them need each other indefinitely. . Where would Meredith be without her bezzie Imogen? And can you imagine ditzy Kerry with anyone other than Cameron to soothe her down at the time of a Fabulously Induced Breakdown? Coming from Northern Ireland myself, I thought it was a great idea to have a book set in good old Belfast. An attempt to change the misconceived idea that Ireland is just a green country filled with leprechauns, terrorists and and endless amount of pubs, it’s part of a new generation of books set in an alternative area to the typical England or America. When I first looked at the book, I thought to myself, “This is just an Irish version of Gossip Girl.” How very wrong I was! I really love the fact that both the characters and the storyline are extremely believable (and I confess that, as I was reading the book, I found myself placing people I know into the shoes of many of the characters!) All the little local details (such as the Ulster Tatler) add a richness to the storyline that nothing else could fill. Throw in the artfully constructed sentences and the emotional journey taken by most of the characters during the book, and you’ve got yourself a deliciously indulgent read that’ll leave you begging for more.

"I give them eternal #life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand." ' - John 10:28

Question Does anyone else get a heart attack when they hear the cat giving them a notification?

#life - as we knew it It was nearly one hundred years ago - almost ancient history to some. So what is it about the twentieth century that makes it hold so much allure? Perhaps it's the music. From the sweet voice of Vera Lynn to the deep thuddings of a double bass; from easy-going swing rhythms to lively rock 'n' roll beats; from gentle classical waltzes to the drums and guitars of pop music, there's something to suit everyone. Yes, certain styles were popular during different eras, but the overall feel of music was different - freer, less commercialised; more soulful, even. Music back then was what music ought to be; singers were judged not for their looks but for the quality of their voices. Bands were praised for their meaningful lyrics, not for how many costume changes they managed to fit in in one concert. Or maybe it's the fashion. The 20th century was filled with fashion icons - elegant Audrey Hepburn and chic Grace Kelly, bombshell Marilyn Monroe and revolutionary Twiggy. Red lips, porcelain skin, silk headscarves, the traditional cat's eye flick... Not to mention the LBD, mini skirts and polo neck jumpers. Fashion was at its peak during these years and its influences can still be seen today, in the rise in popularity of vintage shops, 80s flares and Granny's cameo brooches, newly polished and worn with pride. For some, though - myself included - the real attraction is the culture and plain good manners of society back then. These were times when a woman would not step out of her house without gloves; potential suitors were carefully observed and had to gain the approval of all members of the family before being allowed to take a girl out; people generally had more respect for eachother (or, if they didn't, they would keep their quibbles until they were in the privacy of their own home). These were past times, never to come again; society has moved too far on for that. But by looking back we can see how things were and how they have shaped the world today - how they continue to shape and influence us. Here's to the twentieth century!