Summer in the City & London.

Summer in the City was something I’d been looking forward to for months. I’d never been before and wasn't sure really what to expect. At 7am, Ellis and I started our journey to London. Sadly though I left feeling kinda underwhelmed and disappointed, lots of mixed feelings about the day, let me tell you why.

On entering the hall, the feeling was quite surreal, and a bit overwhelming, there were so many faces there that we are only used to seeing on a screen, and within 10 minutes we’d seen so many, kinda a tingly skin moment! But then we realised how small the event was, and I’m not sure what I was expecting, but I was assuming it would be bigger than it was.
We only met one person, I’d not heard of her before but Ellis loved her and it was a super cute moment seeing them meet! 
Some of the creators there added to my disappointment, I was hearing of no selfie policies, seeing someone running away from their fans, questionable advice being given out that implied you needed top equipment to start up in youtube. I could go on. 
But I want to bring this post around to acknowledging the youtuber’s who tried their absolute hardest to meet as many people as they could, people like Jodie (Just Jodes), Jack Dean (Jaackmaate), I saw Mark Ferris at one point, surrounded by a swarm of teenage girls screaming at him and he was trying his absolute hardest to take selfies with as many as he could, he was clearly on his way somewhere yet he did that for them. The same cant be said for the youtuber I witnessed running away from a similar situation.
I’m not a fan of Dodie, I don't watch her content or anything but I heard on social media afterwards that she was trying so hard to meet everyone she was exhausting herself, her team advising her to rest before her performance that night, and she said no, she wanted to meet as many people as she could. I never saw this with my own eyes, but I’ve heard similar stories about Dodie before and admire her for doing this for her fans. 
As with the entitled youtubers, I could go on. I want to try and remember this event in the eyes of the youtubers who were going above and beyond for their fans. I’m still dealing with some feelings I have about the youtuber who ran from his fans, I’ve watched him for a while, he's one of my favourites and I hate the word fan at my age but I guess thats what I am. But I didn't like what I saw at that event. Everything felt like it was an obligation for him, like a chore. He didn't seem to be enjoying himself meeting people, and its such a shame.
Anyway we spent a few hours here before heading off into London for a frolic around, being a typical tourist in our capital and visiting the Tower of London and Westminster before a spot of retail therapy on Oxford Street. I can count the times I've been to London on one hand, but I am in love with this city. I feel different when I'm there, its hard to explain!
We had a hilarious car ride home back to Leicester filled with singing, sweeties and calamities and you can watch Ellis’s video here for a good old giggle! I also made a little video here of the day.

I’m glad I went to SITC, it really opened my eyes to the fact that who we see through a screen aren't the same people who we may meet in real life. It made me realise some people become spoilt from a large following and turn into ugly people. I felt kind of out of place there, I wanted to leave because the atmosphere was weird to me. I felt the need to leave these stuck up few youtubers behind. But what it has also taught me is that there are some wonderful people, creating diverse content for us and sharing their lives with us, some helping us in ways they would never have thought.

But despite this, I won’t be going again. 

Thanks for reading.

Vikky


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My top 10 hates working in retail.

Working in retail has opened my eyes to how annoying people can be! I used to be an animal carer so rarely had to deal with people. The perfect job haha!
But I've been working in food retail just over a year now and I'm amazed at some of the things people do that really bug the shit out of me!

So heres my top 10 things customers do that make my blood boil!

  1. Using their mobile, talking or texting, while I’m serving them. I don't ignore you, I don't avoid saying hi and being polite. After all if I didn't acknowledge you at the till, or was having a conversation with a college or customer you'd complain right? Yet you think its ok to ignore me when I ask if you need a bag, then after you've paid demand a bag and then get offended when I ask for 5p!! Mate, if you weren't so engrossed in your phone for 2 minutes you'd have heard me ask if you wanted a bag!! I have actually stopped being polite with you guys, I just want your money and I'm done trying to see past the rudeness.
  2. We offer a free flower wrapping service, its very popular and it makes our customers happy when they're buying flowers as a gift, lovely! But when you ask for me to wrap them, then say those 4 blood boiling words “TAKE THE PRICE OFF”!! I literally have to fight off punching you in the face. As if I’m going to leave the price on them, do you think I'm fucking stupid or what!!! 
  3. When you pay with some change, but decide to place it on the checkout, on the bit that slopes downward where your shopping collects, then moan that it wont stay put, what the heck is going through your mind?!?! But to top this off, you will avoid my outstretched hand, which would avoid this chasing change around the till game. Maybe thats why you do it? You enjoy chasing 10p’s around.
  4. Asking me for advice about cigarettes or e liquid. I don't smoke so its like asking me about rocket science! Just because I work in the kiosk and have access to hundreds of cancer sticks doesn't mean I am a cigarette connoisseur does it now. No. Piss off.
  5. When someone else sends you in to buy something that you don't know what it is, didn't write it down, and don't know what it does, yet you ask me as if I’d know. Love, if you haven't got a clue then the chance I'm going to know what you're on about is pretty darn slim innit?
  6. Kids throwing a little temper tantrum when I ask them for ID and they don't have it, this is more hilarious than annoying and I really have to hold in the laughter sometimes! One kid last week went off on one because I asked for ID for a scratch card, he claims he was 22, I dunno, don't care, but he didn't have it so I refused the sale. “Babe I’ve got a fucking 4 grand car in the car park and you're gunna ID me for a fucking scratch card”. What the flying fuck does the price of your car have to do with how old you are!!! Get out my shop you absolute loser, all you've accomplished is pure embarrassment to yourself and now you're getting slated in my blog post, and laughed at by everyone in store too. Without plonkers like you we wouldn't have hilarious stories to share! Thumbs up you little twatbag!
  7. When baskets or trollies of shopping are left, we put them away, we have to otherwise chilled or frozen items become unsellable. Now a lot of you will come to us and say whatever, you've forgotten your money but you'll be back in 10, or you need to nip to the loo, and thats great, we can put your stuff aside, everyones a winner. It’s you weirdos that just leave it somewhere, we find it all alone and put it back, and then 30 mins later you come back pissed off as hell that you're shopping has been put back! I dunno what world you live in that we are gunna leave an abandoned basket of chilled products to go off and then have to waste but you need to come back to earth and tell one of us lovely retail folk to keep it aside for you, we will happily do that for you!
  8. Shoplifters thinking we haven't clocked on to them, I actually find it funny when they're being watched but don't know it, heck maybe they do, I'm not sure, but then when they get caught by security they cause such a scene, whats the point? Give it up, you got made, deal with it. No way you're gunna beat the guys we have on security anyway! They're right muscly beefcakes!!
  9. Groups of kids, now I’m not being one of them moaning adults about kids being in groups and causing trouble because no. Most groups we have are just having a good time and being respectful to other customers, us guys and the store, but theres a few groups of kids and kids who's parents have no control over them that just cause disruption, riding their bikes and scooters around, playing football, stealing sweets, running around, and some of our customers are very old and/or disabled, we also get groups who have mental illnesses who are really disturbed by these out of control kids.  Well kids, you've done a really great job of getting yourself banned, get the fuck out and don't come back! Now these smart arse kids then come in with their parents like little angels, their folks obviously don't know their kids are little shitbags when they aren't home, and I get the satisfaction of letting said child know he shouldn't be in here right in front of his Mummy! If you can’t take the heat of Mums wrath then don't act like a stupid fuckwad in the shop to impress your little chummies. 
  10. So you know when you go into a shop, and the thing you want isn't in stock, its annoying yeah? But I’m not sure how you expect to complain to me about it, like what am I gunna do about it? I’m not gifted in the art of witchcraft, I can’t summon things out of mid air can I? “Well whens the delivery?” I don't actually know, you remember we've established I’m not a witch? Well I can’t predict the future either to see when the delivery arrives, nor can I see if the product you want is on said delivery! Then those killer words, the words that I’ve actually laughed out loud at in the past despite trying my hardest to be professional, “Well I’ll go somewhere else then”!! Great, fine! Go somewhere else!! I couldn't give a flying fuck where you go, what amazes me is when people say this, they actually think it upsets or offends us in some way!! Like surely the obvious thing to do if we don't have it in stock is to go somewhere else anyway! But I guess you need the last word in to make yourself feel better, but I cant lie to you, I don't think there is one person working in retail right now that finds offence or shame in being told that! WE LAUGH AT YOU PEOPLE!!!!

And with that little rant over there is my top 10 things that annoy me in retail! I’m sure many of you retail folk can relate, and have more of your own to add! Please do and we can have a good old chinwag about hilarious and annoying customer habits!

Thanks for reading!

Vikky


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3 YouTubers I'm currently obsessed with.


I have only recently discovered Exploring with Josh, and by recent I mean in the last few weeks. But I swear I've watched over 100 of his videos and vlogs so far! The obvious appeal to Josh’s videos is the stunning places he explores all over the world, some abandoned, some not. But Josh can show us these places and take us with him on his journey with the most beautiful videos, photography and drone footage I've seen so far on youtube.
Aside from this what drew me in to keep watching Josh was how authentic he is. He is so passionate about exploring and seeing everything this planet has to offer and he cares so much about documenting it all. He is just pure and simple, an amazing guy. I dunno what it is but I find him so endearing to watch and he is the sole reason I have decided now is the time I need to get my arse into gear and start saving a bit of dosh to get travelling myself. I need to see what this world has to offer and Josh has sparked a dormant passion inside of me to do it. 


I’ve been watching Joe for a long time. But recently I’ve seen a bit of a change in him and I’m liking what I see. He is growing up a bit, losing that party boy image and just embracing his age a bit I think. I’ve seem him comment a few times that he's getting to old to party every night and its not his thing anymore and I admire that he is doing things for himself and not for others. What made me fall for him a bit more was he did a live stream a couple of months ago and talked about what he wants his future to look like and talked about a partner and I was like totally relating to and I kinda felt for him! I bonded with this guy on my laptop screen about the future and as twattish as that is to admit I’m not ashamed to say I want the same things, and I wouldn't say no if it was with him!
Joe always makes me laugh with his pranks, challenge videos and when he's with his mates, Jack and Conor Maynard in particular I know I'm in for a piss my pants laugh of a video!


Now James is a weird one for me to be in love with, because I don't wear make up! So why am I a little obsessed with a make up artist on youtube! Because James is a flipping beautiful guy, I love how passionate he is about make up and creating art and his personality is killer! He is funny, sassy, confident and vibrant and I love that. He stands up to hate and he learns from mistakes and this is my perfect person online. I’ve never much had the urge to wear make up, ever, mostly because I'm allergic! But partly because I’m kind of comfortable in my own skin and thought make up can take away peoples confidence by hiding flaws they should embrace and be proud of but James shows me that make up isn't just about slapping on a face of stuff, its about talent and art and expression and its beautiful. He’s made me a little jealous I can’t wear make up but as long as James is on YouTube I will have my fix. Thank you James for opening my mind up to my naive views on make up.

Thanks for reading.

Vikky

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