50 shades of.... Bookporn.

As women all across the country are falling in love with one Christian Grey, my first thoughts were to question why?! To me, his so called “charm" is degrading, and his crazy fetishes are even more so. Now, I claim to be no feminist, but a female author writing about the submissiveness of another woman to some ‘god-like’ man, irritated me a bit. Nevertheless, I stuck it out and continued to read, desperate to know what all the fuss is about.

It wasn’t until I reached somewhere after the half way mark, that I really started to get the allure of Christian Grey, and the story as a whole. It may not be the seemingly perfect relationship of Edward Cullen and Bella Swan, but it’s just as unrealistic yet slightly more exciting (even without the vamps and wolves). A broken, lost Mr Grey is unveiled, and James teases us with snippets of information that may explain his dangerous sexual nature. This added storyline of a wealthy, mistreated, and supposedly beautiful man, makes the book harder to put down, and understandable as to why it’s a crowd pleaser.

It’s no PG 13 novel, and I assume the reason for its popularity is down to the detailed descriptions of a Dominant’s fetish-filled sex life. Middle aged women are going crazy this summer, leaving copies of the books open on a ‘raunchy bit’ for their partners to see come bedtime.

Maybe it’s the fact that our generation is more sexualised and open, but I didn’t find it all that shocking. Uncomfortable at parts, sure. But when that much detail is used about another couples sex life, it’s enough to make anyone cringe. I vowed not to read the remaining two books, completing the trilogy, but I think I’m going to have to eat my words and continue to delve into the mainstream erotic-yet-with-a-storyline novels. As men have said: “it’s just more acceptable for women to read about porn than it is to watch it."

The last show for Moylesy.

"@CHRISDJMOYLES has announced we’re leaving the @BBCR1 breakfast show. Thank you to all our listeners for supporting us."

I read a few articles/blogs by people who were happy to see the back of Chris Moyles, but I am of a different opinion. After providing eight years of sarcastic hilarity for the nation able enough to be awake at six in the morning, I can’t help but feel a little gutted about his departure from the radio station.

I’ve listened to the show every morning before school since a mere twelve years old, and occasionally at Uni when I’m forced to be up for a 9am. It was my alarm, my parents wake up call, and a way to make the dreaded school run that little bit more exciting and humorous.

Nevertheless, in true Radio 1 fashion, I’m sure we’ll hear Moyles’ sarcastic, booming voice in no time at all.. Over at Radio 2. It seems their style to ship off DJs when the first grey hair appears, the same being done to Jo Whiley in recent years (another great asset to the station), and I don’t know about you, but not even my 40 something mother is switching to Radio 2 anytime soon. Radio 1, you’ve got it all wrong. Apart from maybe the replacement, Nick Grimshaw, who is pretty hot.. BUT, however hot he may be, in my eyes he has some big shoes to fill (literally).

"Some of the kids are posh, but you just laugh at it"

Having just had a 45 minute phonecall with my French ‘responsable’, I can’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of excitement mixed with anxiety for my year abroad. She was more than helpful, and completely reassured me on the boring, long-winded (and sorta necessary) tasks like banking.. housing.. lesson planning.. it’s not like I’m gonna be a teaching assistant or anything. I asked a few questions about the school, already knowing that it is elitist, prestigious and beautiful. My ‘responsable’ (mentor) also added to the description, in her best English, that; “the kids.. or teenagers.. are not naughty or bad, but there are some posh ones. It is fine though, you laugh at it." I couldn’t help but laugh, firstly at the frankness of the sentence, and secondly at the thought of my Kentish self fitting in there. Still, something to work on..

However, I’m more excited at the prospect of being able to ski every Wednesday! I was informed that she could “sort out an arrangement with the P.E. teachers" (sounds very MI5), whereby I can join the students on their weekly trip to the snowy Alps. Couldn’t think of a better way to spend my Wednesday afternoons for seven months. Bring. It. On.

On a separate, more teacher-related note, I’ve been asked to think of an English musical/play that the eager Frenchies can perform as a ‘project’ next year. Due to my lacking knowledge of drama or the like, I have absolutely no ideas so will be relieved to hear any suggestions!