Monday, March 21, 2011

HeraldLife

TyroneHerald 19

its a

girls life

WITH
GEMMA MCCALLAN

A girls eye view of living (and partying) in Tyrone

Life in the 90s

I
had a very nostalgic conversation with a work colleague the other day about the joys of being a 90s child. The TV shows, the fashion, the trends, the toys and not forgetting the music Macarena anyone?! When it came to TV, I used to race home from school to try and make sure I got the remote control before either of my brothers got their mitts on it (a guaranteed row every evening). Remember the programmes like Care Bears (I loved how they could shoot rainbows out from their belly what a super power to have!), The Raggy Dolls and the fantastic Super Ted. When you got too old for these and started to think they were naff, (remember the word naff?!) you moved onto the likes of Nickelodeon which showed Doug, Sabrina the Teenage Witch and the Rugrats (when Tommy got that screwdriver out you knew something was going down). What ever happened to Saturday Morning TV?! It used to be so good you would channel hop between SMTV: Live and Live and Kicking. Ant and Dec always seemed to win that contest though. I couldnt miss Chums the Friends spoof that Ant, Dec and Cat Deeley played so well. There were some classic toys too I dont know about boys but we girls had some amazing ones. Remember Polly Pocket (how she was ever legal Clockwise from main pic, Sabrina, Boyzone, Tommy and Chuckie and Doug. Ill never know), Furbies and Tamagotchis? I had numerous Tamagotchis that died after lack of care when I got bored with them and had to purchase a new, different animal. As for a Furbie, yes I succumbed to this craze too. But then again so did half the school it seemed. I have to say I dont miss the fashion from the 90s although I thought I was cool at the time. Thankfully gone are the wide leg Sponge jeans, the Levis (God you were the bees knees if you had a real pair from America) and hanker chief tops. The competition was on with your school mates to get the nicest stuff out of Orbit, Impulse or Tammy Girl the Topshop of the 90s! When it came to getting glammed up for the discos, you used to break your neck to get to Superdrug for Hair Mascara (a blue and a red streak down each side), glitter spray (a real life disco ball) and blue eye shadow no matter what you were wearing. Thank god for realising that less is more. When you made it to the discos after numerous hours of getting ready and ripping it up to I get Knocked Down by Chumbawamba (courtesy of the Now... collection), you danced like you would die if you didnt. Manic 2000 was the main one to get you tearing up the dance floor (something which Ive never quite grown out of unfortunately) and just when you were forming a beady brow with sweat, the tuck shop opened for you to buy a can of Fanta orange. Brilliant. The wooing consisted of will you go with my friend. I dont know which is worse, that or the chat up lines were subjected to now like, I lost my phone number can I have yours? The music was classic too what about Atlantic 252?! It was deadly. You used to listen to it almost all day just so you could record your favourite song onto a tape. And who cared if the DJ was talking incessant rubbish. The boybands were always a hit. I was always a Boyzone girl myself as opposed to Take That. I remember my first ever concert, I thought I was actually going to pass out seeing Stephen in the flesh. I was like one of those crazed loonies you see on the TV screaming her lungs out (Im proud to say). And it wasnt just the boybands, girl power soon came into force with the Spice Girls. That started off making the peace sign and the high tower trainers of course. Our introduction to heels, I like to think of them. Thank God fashions moved on thats all I have to say! (although these words will probably be uttered in ten years time too).

bout... dys talking a Everybo

Keeping up with the Kardashians

s much as it pains me to say (and Im also quite sheepish about it), I have a new guilty pleasure. The Kardashians. Ive refused for so long to watch the famous for being famous family but somehow Ive been sucked in. With the new series Keeping up with the Kardashians underway on E4 Ive found a new reality TV show to fill in the gap in my life. Watching Kim struggle to get across a beach in six inch Louboutins makes me both roll my eyes and laugh. Gorgeous as the sisters are (and I am insanely jealous) they genuinely dont seem to care what people think about them and they seem to act like they would do when the cameras arent there (maybe Im just being super nave). Youve got to give them credit where credits due. Yes they have done nothing that makes them famous (apart from their late date being involved in the OJ Simpson case and being extremely rich) but they have drained every bit of fame out as they possibly can. Admit it, you know youd do it too if you had the chance!

BOOTY BEAT OF THE WEEK Im not a fan of Chris Brown as a person but I do love his new song Yeah X3. Definitely one for making holes in the dance floor.

The music was classic too what about Atlantic 252?! It was deadly.

I like you, I like you not I like you, I like you not I like you, I like you not
Gemma likes... JESSIE J
I not only love her music but Ive fallen in love with her whole style and persona. The girl can do no wrong.

Gemma IN JAPAN dislikes... HEARTBREAK

My thoughts are with all those in Japan, it just puts everything in perspective when were moaning about the snow coming back.

SPRING/SUMMER OK so with the snow it doesnt actually feel anything remotely like Spring or Summer but all the fashion coming into the shops has got me in a spin. Cant wait to get the flip flops out! (I may be a little optimistic). RUNNING It seems Ive got the running bug, not sure how long it will last but Im holding onto it for as long as I can.

EUROVISION FEVER I used to LOVE the Eurovision in its day. But sadly I dont feel the same way anymore. Jedward performing for Ireland this year doesnt help. WACKO JACKO RELEASES A NEW SONG I think its a bit creepy to be honest that a new song and video is being released from the late singer. Obviously pre recorded but still.

Chris Brown.

Roll on summer time and flip-flop weather.