Friday Fictioneers: The Barn

 

PHOTO PROMPT © Nick Allen

 

The Barn

 

‘Which one of these could we use to burn the body?’, Anna fretted.

‘They all seem empty.’, Rick replied in a panic.

Police sirens could be heard in the distance. Their mother lay dead in the barn after they had killed her…

 

Respected woman of the community who had stood by as her now deceased husband had molested his children. Now both 25, the twins had finally got rid of them both. Daddy last year, Mammy this year.

‘This one’s full. Light the match.’, Rick said and he and Anna fled to a better future as the blaze went up.

 

My book Black Coat based on a previous Friday Fictioneers prompt is available at:

 

 

For Friday Fictioneers Writing Prompt. Check out the website at:

https://rochellewisoff.com/

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Beauty On A Budget: Casual Gothic Make-Up Tutorial

Hello everyone and welcome along to my very first makeup tutorial on here on Culture Vulture Express. I did do one many years ago on YouTube but I didn’t really keep it up after that. But this section which I’m calling Beauty On A Budget is one I plan to make a regular feature of this blog. The basis premise is that every product used in the tutorials will be cheap and my hope with the tutorials is to show that you don’t need expensive make-up to look great. All the products in this particular tutorial are from Dealz.

Here is me prior to the tutorial:

 

So without further ado, let’s do this:

 

Step 1

Using Manhattan Fresher Skin Foundation – Classic Ivory and Make Up Gallery Make Up Sponges 24 Pack, cover your face and neck and rub the foundation in. The smaller triangle sponges are great for any blending of the foundation under your eyes.

 

Step 2

 

Using Beautiful Bronze Giant Bronzer Dark Sunkissed with a brush from Make Up Gallery Cosmetic Brushes lightly highlight the cheeks and gently around the face. Blend very well.

 

Step 3

Using Max & More Make-Up Concealer Liquid – Medium dot under the eyes, just in the middle of the forehead leading off from the nose area, lightly around the face and on any blemishes. Rub in well with Make Up Gallery Make Up Sponges 24 Pack. Again the little triangle is great for under eyes.

 

 

Step 4

Using Max & More Baked Eyeshadow – Burgundy and a brush from Make Up Gallery Cosmetic Brushes, mix the gold and pink colours together then move further up above the eye and paint on a purple under layer with the purple colour before mixing the gold and pink over the top. With the beige colour, brush under your eyes, not on the waterline, just under your eyes and in the corners of your eyes.

 

Step 5

Mix together the pale pink and the dark beige shades from Simple Pleasures Perfect Pout Lip Gloss Collection for your lips and apply generously.

 

Step 6

Using Make Up Gallery eyebrow brush from Make Up Gallery Cosmetic Brushes, brush your eyebrows with the thin teeth side first and then with the fuzzy side.

 

Step 7

Paint nails with peach cream colour nail varnish from Make Up Gallery Time To Shine collection.

 

Step 8

Set with Max & More Makeup Setting Spray.

 

Well there you go, hope that helps! All products are available from Dealz and the price list is below:

1. Manhattan Fresher Skin Foundation – Classic Ivory: €1.50
2. Make Up Gallery Make Up Sponges 24 Pack: €1.50
3. Beautiful Bronze Giant Bronzer Dark Sunkissed: €1.50
4. Make Up Gallery Cosmetic Brushes: €1.50
5. Max & More Make-Up Concealer Liquid – Medium: €1.50
6. Max & More Baked Eyeshadow – Burgundy: €1.50
7. Simple Pleasures Perfect Pout Lip Gloss Collection: €3.00
8. Make Up Gallery Time To Shine Nail Varnish: €1.50
9. Max & More Makeup Setting Spray: €1.50

 

See you all next time! 🙂

Academic Curveball (Braxton Campus Mysteries #1) By James J. Cudney Review!

 

 

Academic Curveball (Released October 15^th, 2018) is the first book in author James J. Cudney’s Braxton Campus Mysteries series and the third book I have read by the writer following on from his amazing novels Watching Glass Shatter and Father Figure.

 

This book is told from the POV of the protagonist Kellan Ayrwick who is 32 and a single father. He returns home to Pennsylvania following his father’s retirement and finds himself in the middle of a murder mystery (Like you do! J) when he finds not one but two murder victims. What really drives this book along so well is Kellan as a character and telling the novel from his POV gives readers a chance to really get to know him and root for him. Alongside Kellan, I really quite liked his grandmother and their interactions together were great to read. In the book his father’s donations to the athletics program in the college is under fire as a blogger is reporting that these dealings are somewhat biased and shady. This, alongside his father’s weird behavior, causes Kellan to wonder if he indeed has anything to do with the murders. Add into this his entire family has connections that could cast suspicions and you’ve got a hot bed of wondering and guessing about each of them and their possible involvement in murder.

 

This book is filled with intrigue, witty dialogue and an array of characters that are easy to like while others are easy to not like which adds quite a lot of depth and reality to the plot. There was plenty of red herrings to throw readers off the scent and I didn’t see the outcome of who the killer/s was which is obviously one of the key elements of a mystery book. Very solid writing which sweeps readers as much into Kellan’s life as the mystery plot.

 

All I can say is roll on book 2!

 

To purchase Academic Curveball (Braxton Campus Mysteries #1) By James J. Cudney go to:

 

And for more about James J. Cudney and his work go to:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17128817.James_J_Cudney

Friday Fictioneers: Fishing Trip

 

PHOTO PROMPT © Dale Rogerson

 

Fishing Trip

 

‘Dad, this must be our hundredth fishing trip.’, Nate said.

He and his father walked. It was the first time Nate had been home since his Mum’s funeral. His Dad was quiet.

‘Many memories I have of our trips. You patching my knee up Dad when I was 3, me coming out to you as bi at 14, when you told me two years ago at 24 that Mum was ill. Do you want to talk about Mum Dad?’

Nate’s Dad gestured for him to sit with him,

‘Your Mum told me before her death that I’m not your father.’

 

My book Black Coat based on a previous Friday Fictioneers prompt is available at:

 

 

For Friday Fictioneers Writing Prompt. Check out the website at:

https://rochellewisoff.com/

 

Friday Fictioneers: This Place

 

PHOTO PROMPT © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

 

 

This Place

 

Danny looked at his reflection in the water. This place was as it used to be. Except there was new graffiti on the walls covering old graffiti from history. Like a new tattoo covering an old one. He didn’t look at the rocks. Tried to concentrate on the light. He had run from here for too long …

 

Fifteen years ago, high on drugs and alcohol, he had killed a guy here over a girl who ended up marrying another man. At fourteen he thought it was love …

 

The police siren sounded in the distance. It was time to stop running.

 

My book Black Coat based on a previous Friday Fictioneers prompt is available at:

 

For Friday Fictioneers Writing Prompt. Check out the website at:

https://rochellewisoff.com/

Friday Fictioneers: The Tradition

 

PHOTO PROMPT © J.S. Brand

 

 

The Tradition

 

Traditions. Dave liked to uphold them. Things weren’t the same since the hubby died. That old devil called cancer. They used to come here. Dave would cook up his beef sausages and veggie ones for Sam. Sam was the moralist. Though he used to take the piss it was one of the many things he loved about him. There was two chairs, Sam carving his Celtic designs on the tree. Always trying put some culture into Dave. Never worked.

 

Dave came to think of Sam and to try to get over the stages of grief for the first time alone.

 

My book Black Coat based on a previous Friday Fictioneers prompt is available at:

 

For Friday Fictioneers Writing Prompt. Check out the website at:

https://rochellewisoff.com/

Cameron Cole Wins Big Brother UK!

 

On Monday night, Cameron Cole became the final ever winner of BBUK as the long-running reality show came to it’s final curtain call. Cameron (19), a vlogger from Norwich faced competition from Akeem Griffiths who finished in second, Zoe Jones who placed third and Cian Carrigan who took fourth spot. Cole was not only the last winner of the show but also the youngest. Jones and Carrigan left the house together first leaving Cole and Griffiths to fight it out for the win.

 

 

In the end, Cameron who came out as gay, had a coming out party and celebrated his birthday in the house came out on top which I felt was very well-deserved. His friendship with Lewis was my highlight of this year’s show and I just love the both of them.

Following his win Cameron said,

 

‘I am completely and utterly shell-shocked. I thought I was going to be out first week. I didn’t think I’d be liked. I thought I’d be irritating, annoying. I didn’t think I was going to fit in. I can’t believe it. It was a dream to get in. I don’t even know what you’d call this. It’s a miracle.’

 

 

Speaking about his friendship with Lewis he said,

‘I love [Lewis] to bits. I can’t thank him enough. He changed my life. It was a brotherhood. We looked at each other and it was an instant connection. We could both be grumpy together…over think together. I love him to bits. I could never sit here without him. I would never have done it without him. I’d only said it to like five people before that. For him to help me the way he did, I could never…’

 

 

Well done Cameron! And all the other finalists too! 🙂

 

You can watch Cameron’s winning moment below:

 

Why Cameron Cole Is My BBUK Winner …

 

Tonight the curtain falls on BBUK’s last ever final and I am hoping it ends with Cameron winning. Here is five reasons why …

 

His Coming Out Moments

 

In 2018, no one should still be fearful of the reaction they will get on coming out as gay (or anything other than straight for that matter) but in reality there is still far too much prejudice in this world. A quick Google search will show that to you and Cameron coming out that he was gay even today is still a very brave thing to do and it will help a lot of viewers to be true to who they are and I salute him for his openness despite his fears at such a young age.

 

 

His Friendship With Lewis

My highlight of this year’s show has been these twos’ friendship. I think they are going to be friends for life. The bond they have is brilliant.

 

Saving Akeem

 

Tactically getting rid of Akeem was a better option as Akeem was higher in the betting than Isabella but Cameron chose to save him as he was there from the beginning. A brave, kind and correct move.

 

His Nerdiness

 

Being a fellow nerd, I find myself drawn to nerds! Cameron (and of course Lewis too!) have definitely being the nerds of this season with their stimulating chats and their desire to talk about something other than sex. While I’d be very much in the nerdy crew with Lewis and Cameron talking about world issues if I’d being a housemate, I might still have snuck off to chat nookie with Tomasz too!

 

His Plans To Defend Cian

 

Nikki Grahame came in and insinuated that Cian was a dirty old man for his crush on Cameron referring to Cameron as “a young boy”. Utterly pathetic in and of itself as there is only five years in age difference between them. But when Nikki was gone, instead of play the game of making Cian out to be a dirty old man, Cameron and Cian sat down to discuss how they would deal with questions outside with Cameron vowing to defend Cian when he was asked about their friendship and Cian’s feelings towards him in the house. Now that ain’t a young boy to me. That’s a very responsible man not in the mood to destroy someone else’s reputation. Take note Nikki.

 

All the best to Cameron tonight and to all of the other finalists! 🙂

Cameron to win! 🙂

Tonight Is The Last Ever Big Brother UK Final …

 

Tonight Big Brother UK draws to a close with the last ever final where the final winner will be announced. As always it has been a season of ups and downs but we are now down to four contestants vying for glory and £100,000 so without further ado, here is my last ever review of the BB UK finalists …

 

Akeem Griffiths

 

 

I like Akeem. I admire how much he’s kept his calm and positive manner for the most part throughout. Not an easy thing to do I’d imagine. He never seems stressed or fazed too often by the events taking place around him. He just seems an all-round nice guy. Some people may not be as fond of his competitive side but I don’t mind it and he’s always being upfront about that side of his nature. I can’t fault Akeem. He has added a lot of moments to the show and has always tried his best in tasks. Just a cool guy.

 

Cameron Cole

 

 

Cameron is my winner. Have to be honest and say that he probably wouldn’t have been if Lewis hadn’t been removed but Cameron was always my second favourite in the house. I’m a bit of a nerd myself so I like his nerdiness. His friendship with Lewis in my opinion was the highlight of the series. It was so beautiful to watch and seeing how much they were both there for each other was wonderful. Cameron made a very big decision in the house to come out as gay and the way Lewis helped him through that was beautiful. I think Cameron’s honesty will help a lot of young people and people in general out there to be themselves which is always a good thing. Cameron has been prominent in almost every episode and has involved in some way or other with most of the big storylines in the house. And to me, that’s what makes a Big Brother winner. I also loved his fairness in keeping Akeem in the house despite Akeem being a bigger threat to win than Isabella and how he said he’d defend Cian outside after Nikki Grahame’s comments. Also loved his friendship with the wonderful Tomasz too.

 

 

Cian Carrigan  

 

 

 

Because Cian is my fellow Irish person I want to like him more than I do. In the last few days, he has really given a good showing of himself and I’ve liked him more in the last few days. There is small things with Cian that I’m not a huge fan of though like sometimes he comes over a bit false to me and I’m not convinced a lot of his tears sometimes are real. But the thing I really didn’t like was how he indirectly pressured Cameron into coming out that he was gay by revealing to the whole house how much he fancied Cameron when he got drunk. It wouldn’t have been so bad if Cian was clueless about Cameron being gay but he wasn’t clueless about it. It kind of shocked and horrified me that he could be that insensitive in the situation. Up to that point I had thought he was a very good friend to Cameron. Now to be fair, they have crossed over that bridge and since Lewis and Tomasz left I feel like Cian has been Cameron’s rock in the house and it’s been lovely seeing them been there for each other. And despite everything I’m saying I do feel a caring warmth off Cian. I think there is a good person inside with a huge heart. It’s just some of his actions sometimes do put me off a bit at times. But there has been times too where my blood has boiled over things that have been said about him. Firstly he was a really loyal friend to Zoe in the house and she hasn’t very often been to him. Secondly when Nikki Grahame went into the house the other night and made Cian out to be a dirty old man for fancying Cameron, I was sick to my stomach. Let’s be real about this: Cian is 24, Cameron is 19, it’s hardly cradle-snatching. Even if they ended up being together it would not be a big deal in the slightest.

 

 

Zoe Jones 

 

 

I’m not Zoe’s biggest fan. I think she has been terribly two-faced to Cian who has been nothing but a good friend to her. She has been so good at acting it to his face that he’s her best mate in the house that if I wasn’t on the outside and was in Cian’s shoes in there I’d believe her too! I find it terrible. Also when you watch her VT, she seems a completely different person to the person who is in the house. On the plus side, I did agree completely with her last night when she was discussing the stigma surrounding being on benefits. I can relate to the feelings she expressed on the issue and I think it’s fantastic that she highlighted the true feelings of many of us on the dole as opposed to the tired old stigma that does the rounds far too often.

 

 

Honorary Mention

 

Lewis Flanagan

 

For me, and many many others, the honorary winner of this year’s show is Lewis who was removed last week from the house. I could never condone the reasons for his removal on such a public platform as it could be very triggering for a lot of people but I don’t for one moment believe there was malice or bigotry meant by his comments. In fact from what I seen over the course of the show, he seemed to be the complete opposite: a warm-hearted, compassionate man who was loyal to his friends and put himself on the line for those he cared for. His friendship with Cameron was simply beautiful to watch. Lewis was like a big brother to him and they often reminded me of me with my older sister. There was a lovely closeness, understanding and patience between them as well as many great chats and laughs. Lewis made a lot of the show this year. He was involved in practically every big moment that happened and his Diary Room rants were simply epic. He bravely bared his soul and brought much needed attention to mental health issues through his honesty.

 

Was he fiery? Oh my god, yes. But he spoke his mind, wasn’t hiding behind the door with his views and I quite liked that. No, he wasn’t perfect but are any of us? He did have a tendency to not be able to let things drop and that red wine came across as something that made his fiery side actually worse. The problem with being a Lewis fan and being into men is that the first thing people throw at you when you defend him is that you fancy him. I won’t deny that I do find him sexy as hell and yes, night one I looked at him alright but my crush became a bigger crush because of his personality. There has been a lot of handsome men who have went into BB and have had zero personality. Like him or not, he is flowing with personality. I find his strength of character, the no fear factor of saying what he feels very refreshing. I like the compassionate way he feels about people and how he likes to help when he can. There is a bit of fire in him and that’s actually quite attractive too.

 

I felt very sad when I heard he was removed. Me and my sister are huge fans. Strange considering I’ve never the bloke and I wasn’t getting a share in the £100,000 but I was sad. To be honest I’d have felt sad for anyone on their way to winning losing out like that. But I think he has a very strong way about him and I think he’ll bounce back from this and do very well for himself and I wish him all the best. Love you Lewis! 🙂

Friday Fictioneers: Moves

 

PHOTO PROMPT © Jeff Arnold

 

 

Moves

 

Life is full of moves. Should one move forward? Take a step back? Stay in one space? When should one voice their opinions? When should they just shut-up? Should one go for that job? Or wait for a better one? Can one afford to? Be honest? Sit on the fence? Take that holiday or save for a rainy day?

Life is often like a game of chess. One right move and you’re smiling. The next you’re down on your luck. When we are children we look at the world in wonder. But after childhood it gets complicated with each move.

 

My book Black Coat based on a previous Friday Fictioneers prompt is available at:

 

For Friday Fictioneers Writing Prompt. Check out the website at:

https://rochellewisoff.com/