The Magical World of Harry Potter

On Christmas morning, I was told to open a certain present last. It was envelope shaped, and inside was possibly the best Christmas present any Harry Potter fan could ask for - two tickets for the Harry Potter Studio Tour. I immediately texted Flatty B, knowing she was a massive HP fan too and that she hadn't been before. She said yes, and I promptly booked it.

That day, was yesterday! I was practically crying with excitement all the way down from Manchester to the studios. It was a dream come true. The shuttle bus was possibly the finest decorated bus I'd ever seen, and I believe I actually squealed with excitement when it approached the bus station in Watford Junction.

One of the first things you see when you get in is three of the original giant chess pieces from the first film. I squealed again (there was a lot of squealing going on today, well done to Flatty B for coping), and I went over to have a photo. So many photos were taken, I'm sure my facebook friends thoroughly appreciated the 196 photos I uploaded this morning. 

We arrived a little early, so we went into the shop and had a look around. Memorabilia galore! So many trinkets, hoodies, glasses, mugs, scarves, books and wands! So many wands!

Voldemort's wand!

Anyways, we began to queue, and while you passed the cupboard under the stairs complete with glasses and the little horse toys that Harry plays with at the beginning of the first film. Again, much more squealing. We were taken into a waiting room, then into a cinema. They showed a brief introduction to the tour by Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson. This gave way to the main doors to the Great Hall. The magical words were said "Welcome to Hogwarts". We were both so excited and bounced into the Great Hall. The amount of detail was absolutely astonishing, and they even had the actual costumes that the actual actors wore! 

We were in here for about 15-20 minutes, before being herded into the back room to make way for the next tour. This room was so very magnificent. It had everything from information on all the directors, to make up, to the gates of Hogwarts, to Dumbledore's office, to troll's armour! 

Educational Decrees!

The Chamber of Secrets has been opened

Flatty B having a cheeky pose

In a little room off of this massive room was the opportunity to have a ride of a broomstick, which of course we jumped to the end of the line. Well, I flew a broomstick, Flatty B didn't want to. She played Mam for the day and held all my stuff. Thank you! But in order to have a go on a broomstick, you got to put on some robes. I was Gryffindor (of course....).

After this, we looked around the rest of the room. We saw the great big statue that was placed in the Ministry of Magic in the later films. You know, the one with the oppression of muggles! Oh, we saw some Death Eater's masks and costumes as well as the original Marauder's Map!! 

After about an hour in this room, it was time to go outside for a lovely refreshing drink of.....Butterbeer! It was very nice, very sweet though. Not what I expected it to taste like. It was like cream soda, caramel and something else that I couldn't put finger on. It was here that you could see the Knight Bus, Privet drive, Godric's Hollow and some more chess pieces. 

The next room we went into was one which was all about the CGI effects and make up. For example, the making of Robbie Coltrane into Hagrid, and we saw dead Dobby in a class case (always a sad moment....), and a werewolf, and the basilisk's head, and Aragog. He was hanging from the ceiling and I hadn't noticed him until Flatty B turned and said "oooh that's not very nice", I jumped and screamed. I don't like spiders at the best of times, let a giant one hanging from the ceiling. Needless to say, I scurried on quickly after that. Into Diagon Alley. The most magical street in the UK. The home of Gringotts Bank, Flourish and Blotts, Olivanders, Madam Malkin's Dress Shop, and of course, the Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes. This, up to this point, was my favourite place and I really did not want to leave at all. The window displays were so detailed which all these strange gadgets that I really wish were real so I could go in and have a play with them. Amazing. 

The penultimate room we went into was my favourite room of the whole day, it found it quite emotional for some reason. I was so happy and excited that I couldn't contain it. Emotional music was being played, and the tears welled up in my eyes. It was real, standing in front of me, a giant model of Hogwarts. It was so much bigger than I expected, as people had said that it was quite small. As if, they must have seen a different model or something....? 

Apologies for bad quality and lighting, I had to use my ipad as my phone was running out of battery and the lights switched between night and day.

We then went into a room full of wand boxes, and I suddenly remembered something I had read ages ago, that each of the names on the wand boxes were the names of each member of the cast and crew. I told this to Flatty B and one of the workers overheard me, and seemed quite impressed that I knew. (Spot the nerd...).

This lead out into the shop, where I got excited and sad, because I didn't want to have to leave! I bought a big book on how they made the books into the films, and have been flicking through that this morning. There's so much information to take in, I can only read it in little chunks! I also bought a chocolate frog that I munched on the train home. I got the Helga Hufflepuff card! My most exciting purchase was the hardback edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. I've never seen it in hardback, and as it's my favourite book, I couldn't resist. It now has pride of place on my bookshelf with all my other copies of the books. I cannot wait to read it.

This day was amazing. As a Harry Potter fan from a really young age, stepping into the world really made it come to life for me. I would happily go down again next week and the week after and the week after that. In the summer I am hopefully going to drag my parents to come with me and see it again. Such an amazing day, and I went to bed with a great big smile on my face. A massive thank you to Flatty B for coming with me, and for coping with my excitement all day, and a super-massive thank you to Mother and Father for giving me this wonderful experience for Christmas.

Lazing on a Sunny Afternoon

Yesterday, I woke up with a feeling of dread - it was the morning of a couple of Exams. (Dictation and group improvisation, in case you wondered.) These are a few of my weakest areas in the study of Music, so naturally, I felt apprehensive. I picked up my iPad, to check any emails I may have received during the night, and found an email from my lecturer saying that he was unwell. No exam! Hooray! I lolled about in bed for a while, deliberating this new freedom I had for the day.

At around 9am I decided to get up and begin the day. It was beautiful outside, the sun was shining and the birds were chirruping. A gorgeous, crisp, spring morning. I wandered into the kitchen where Flatty H was making her breakfast and I announced that there was no exam. She handed me a cup of tea in excitement, and ran up to Flatty B's room to share this fantastic news.

It was here we all wondered what to do with our day. Both Flatties didn't have to be in College until around 4pm, which was when I left for work. It was suggested that we go to the tea and cake shop up the road which we had been meaning to go to since we moved in. It was decided - we must go. It would be a shame to waste such a beautiful day.

I went for a run in the park, did a couple of laps and went home. It was not only sunny, but it was warm. I got home, and for the first time in ages, all three of us had lunch together. Flatty H and I made some sweet potato fries to go with our chicken/fish/veggie pie, and some beans. Yum.

After about an hour of enjoying each other's company, we ambled out into the sun for our Cake Date. Such excitement was bestowed upon us.We wandered into the empty shop and were greeted warmly with the pleasant site of cake, cake and more cake. So many decisions to be made. Cupcake or slice? Brownie or rocky road? Plain or exciting? I settled for a cup of lemon tea and a Malteser cupcake, Flatty B had a blueberry cake and a cookies and cream milkshake, and Flatty H had a giant slice of Red Velvet cake and a hot chocolate.

It was joked that I kept scrounging their cakes/drinks from them, but I couldn't help it - I wanted to try as much as I could! We were there for about an hour, and it most definitely won't be the last time we visit. 

It was a wonderful day spent with Flatties, and days like this are very special and close to my heart as I am blessed with two wonderful friends. It's nice every now and then to take a day off from the day job/College/life and spend it bantering, catching up and enjoying the company of your dear chums. 

Flatties and cakes. (The best things in life)

Much filter, very book, such bricks. (Ironic hipstery)

Rumours

Forgive me, dear friends, for I have not written in over a week. I apologise. Let us move on.

This has been bothering me for a while, something that I fail to understand: why do people go out of their way to make other people miserable?

My friends have often used the word "schadenfreude" when describing me, but I would never plan to make other people sad for my happiness. I just enjoy a bad party so much more if I know that everyone else is having a bad time, and it's not just me. That's not so bad is it? 

I just do not understand. What makes them feel the need to deliberately say something that may or may not be true, and none of their business, about somebody else? What did that other person do to them? Is it to gain popularity? Maybe they dislike someone and would like to make their lives miserable? Who knows.

I can only speak for myself, I enjoy a lovely bit of juicy gossip as much as the next guy, but I would never, ever, slightly exaggerate or even make something up about someone else. It really bothers me that people feel the need to do this. Surely if you dislike someone, wouldn't it be best if you do not get involved with their life and be civil? Do not accuse them of things that are untrue. If you have an issue with one of your friends, speak to them about it. They will appreciate and respect the fact that you had the courage to go and discuss your problems, and hopefully your relationship will be stronger than ever. 

Now back to the reasons why. To gain popularity? Do you really believe that the best way to make friends is to make things up about other people in your life? One day, the things that you have said will come back and (for want of a better phrase) bite you on the arse. Your friends will discover what you have said was untrue, and you will end up being humiliated and your friends will leave you. Do you want that? No, didn't think so. Make friends by finding things in common and being nice. It can get you a long way.

If you dislike someone and want to make their life miserable, put on their shoes for a moment. Think about the words you are saying and how it is having an effect on their life. How would you like it if someone you're not really friends with was saying mean things about you? I can't imagine you'd like it very much. Now imagine if someone you're not really friends with start saying mean things about you to your friends and they believed them? Now there's an issue. This is what happens, and congratulations, you have made their life miserable. What have you gained? Nothing. You will gain more from being civil and will therefore move on and grow as a person.

I would just like everyone to be friends and to be happy, I know that this is unrealistic and is just me living in my happy little world, but I can compromise with people living in harmony. And, finally, in my opinion, people who feel then need to do this kind of thing, they are not fooling anyone. If you are in the situation where people are spreading rumours about you, remember this: they are the ones who have the issues, not you. They are far too cowardly to come and speak to you like a mature person, and until they decide to grow up and face up to what the have done, they are not worth your time. 

Phobias

Phobias. We all claim to have one. But what exactly is a phobia?

The Oxford dictionary definition is: 

However, how do you tell the difference between a normal little fear to a Phobia? I personally, don't like spiders. I hate them, loathe them, despise of them, and hope that one day they all die out. It's not unheard of for me to go sleep in the room next door because I saw a spider crawl under my bed and therefore cannot sleep. Is that a phobia? Do I suffer from arachnophobia? Or is it just a little inconvenience? 

I also rather dislike small enclosed spaces. I feel uncomfortable if I am in a small space, for example, a cave. Hate caves. Can't go in them, one of the reasons being that I have an irrational fear of them collapsing. The likelihood of this actually happening is very slim, I have never experienced it, and I know perfectly well that they've been standing for thousands of years. So why am I afraid of them? When I was younger I was uncomfortable when standing under a bridge. For the same reason: incase it falls down. Do I have a phobia of things collapsing? Or is it a fear? Or is it just the over-active imagination of a child, and I have just associated these objects with these thoughts? 

If you often read my blogs, you will know that I went to Norway last week. This involved flying on a plane. I really don't like taking off. I hate it when the plane suddenly speeds up and you're glued to your seat and then the jolt as it leaves the ground and then when they turn corners and the you're looking down at the world beneath you. Yeurgh. I did discover, that I am mostly alright for the flight, only when I forget that I'm on a plane. "How can you forget you're on a plane?" I can hear you sneering from here. Like, when you get really into a book or you have a nap or you watch a film. When I am aware I'm on a plane, I think these thoughts: if anything were to happen there is no way of getting out. You can't run away, and you have to face these enevitable death which comes in the form of falling to the ground in a plane. I begin to panic slightly.

I see phobias like this. If you can live with them and you they don't have that much of an impact on your life? Then it's not a phobia. If you can't, if you, like me, feel the need to leave your bed because you'd rather sleep somewhere else because of a possibility of a spider being under it? That's not healthy. I know I have a deep irrational fear of a cave collapsing, and not being able to be free. What is I am afraid of? Is it the actual cave? Is it the collapsing? Or is it the possibility of it collapsing and then not being able to get out? If it is the third one, then that can be linked to my fear of flying. I wouldn't say that I'm afraid of flying. I am willing to go through it in order to travel to new places. If I couldn't fly at all, that's when I have a phobia. 

Do you see? A phobia isn't a set thing. It is a mixture of different things that can sort of be analysed. This can then help you conquer your fears/phobias if you feel the need to.

To put it simply: do you have aluchophobia (a fear of darkness), or are you afraid of what is in the dark?

Please feel free to comment and tell me what your phobias are, and what you think of my opinions. 

Dydd Gwyl Dewi Hapus!

Happy Saint David's Day everybody! I feel so patriotic towards my home country of Wales on this day. I even have a pack of welsh cakes open beside me. At home there's always a sense of celebration and pride to be Welsh. In Manchester, there's nothing. No daffodils, no Cawl being sold everywhere (not that I like Cawl. Bleurgh), and no leeks.

When I was in primary school, there used to be a little Eisteddfod and the four houses would compete against each other to gain points, and at the end of the competition, there was a ceremony for the Bardd, who would win the Cadair. Usually, whoever's house got the Chair won because it was worth like a gazillion points. I was in the house that always lost. Every year we lost. Every. Single. Year.

When I try to explain to my English friends what an Eisteddfod is...I can't. There isn't an English version. It's a welsh tradition through and through to celebrate the music, poetry and arts of Wales.

This tradition took over the whole school day, which meant NO LESSONS! It was also one of the few days of the year that the whole school would sit down together and eat a hearty meal of Cawl. However, this meant that there was no room for those of us who had sandwiches for lunch so we always used to get shoved into a classroom. Boosucks to the school-dinner-eaters - we had Jenga. Mother always used to make me feel special on St David's Day, as it was one of the few days a year I was allowed to have chocolate spread in my sandwiches. The only other few days were my birthday and the Christmas dinner day (which more often than not, landed on the same day).

Oh I'm forgetting the most important thing. We dressed up in the traditional welsh costume which consists of a white blouse, a red shawl, a red skirt with a black line at the bottom, and my favourite part - the bonnet. A black bonnet with white lace. Oh, how I grew to hate that outfit. As we got older, many of the girls wore Welsh rugby shirts instead, but I was never allowed to do this. I hated that outfit with such passion, but now at the ripe old age of 20, I just remember nothing but fond memories for this day.

Because the whole school sat down in one sitting together, we were allowed a longer play time. Most years St David's Day was a crisp, sunny, spring day, and there was nothing we liked to do more than play the game 'Olden Days' in the playground. As a result of being in the outfit, we travelled back in time and imagined what life used to be like when people wore these clothes for everyday purposes.

I'm currently sat on my bed, with my Welsh flag draped around my shoulders, smiling fondly at the memories of my primary school days (and procrastinating from writing my essay.....)