Harry Potter

So we are still in lock down in self quarantine, isolation. I got told by work that I will be off for at least 3 weeks then we will see what happens so I took that as the perfect opportunity to start reading my Harry Potter books. It's been on my bucket list for years and I bought the complete collection set just before Christmas from Aldi for £27.99 which is a bargain. The first 3 books are priced £7.99 then the rest are priced £8.99. It comes in a nice little collection case but the books were so hard to put back in once they've been read and expanded!

I thought I was going to get through 3 books in the space of 3 weeks which was the plan but's today is day 20 days since I've been off so under 3 weeks and last night I managed to finish all 7 books!!

It took me 19 days to finish 7 books which is personally amazing for me as I don't read - I'm not a reader and such a slow reader. This is the most of have ever read in my whole life even more than 3 years of uni. Don't think I can read any more though it was pretty intense to read that many books in such a short space of time then watching each film after the books. I've pretty much spent the last couple of weeks just sat reading.

The first 2 books were definitely a lot easier to read out of them all as they are the smallest and the text is a lot bigger. It gets serious on the 3rd as the book is thicker (definitely the thickest book I've ever read) and the text is a lot smaller with a lot more words on the page! The struggle started with book 4. I felt like I couldn't read no more but just kept going since I started I needed to finish.

I was averaging about 3-4 days per book but actually finished the last book all 620 pages in 2 days. This accounts for the fact I have actually been doing other things like a daily walk or run, baking, blogging, watching the films and other things but I would admit I spent at least 70% of my day reading. 

 Everyone who has read the books has always told me they are different which is so true as there is so much more in the books that you don't see in the films. A lot of good stuff has also been missed out in them as obviously they can't put everything in otherwise each film would be at least 6 hours long. I did really enjoy reading the books and would recommend them if you love the films but I wouldn't recommend trying to read them all in such a short space of time as it is a bit intense.

I fee like now I know all the secrets as the books explain things so much more and I've been to The Making of Harry Potter I now know everything. It's been an enjoyable 19 days but now I am glad I've finished them as I can do other things without feeling like I need to read...

So I'd so far this whole lock down hasn't been so bad after all and has been pretty productive for me!

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The Making of Harry Potter

Sunday 28th August 2016

Ever since it was announced you could go visit the studios where Harry Potter was filmed back in early 2012, I knew it was going to be high on my bucket list. It has been a very long 4 year wait to finally go. 

I almost didn't have tickets for this trip to London. Once I booked my train tickets for London I went straight onto The Making of Harry Potter website to get tickets but it was sold out being bank holiday weekend! I was devastated, it was the main thing I wanted to go to London for, so I was just hoping that they would release more tickets or someone cancelled anything for me to get tickets. I checked back a couple of days later & 2 tickets for Sunday at 1:30pm came available & I was straight onto it! I was so lucky to get tickets, birthday present to myself from myself!

Kelly took me for breakfast (I was meant to go the day before on my actual birthday as it was part of my present) at Beany Green Broadgate Circle which is a 10/15 minute walk from where Kelly lives.

Yogi Berry
Mixed Berries, Fat Free Frozen Yogurt, Low Fat Milk & agave, served w Edible Roses & Freeze Dried Berries

Avocado on charcoal
Organic Cold Fermented Activated Charcoal Sourdough w Avocado, Labne, Lime & Lemon Dukkah

Smoked Salmon Royale
Smoked Salmon on Dark Rye w Avocado, Spinach, Poached Free Range Eggs & Lemon Hollandaise

You don't always get the choice of having smoked salmon, poached eggs & avocado when you go out for brunch! I always have to choose between smoked salmon or avocado.

We got the longest train from Euston to Watford Junction. Kelly didn't think we could use the normal train as we were using contact less (like using an Oyster card but using your debit card) so had to get the London Overground. It took a good 40 minutes when it really only takes about 10. When you walk out the train station you'll see double decker buses with Harry Potter plastered all over them, these are the shuttle buses that take you to the studios. It's £2.50 for a return ticket.

You get searched & you bag before you enter. The guy asked me how old I was as I guess they can't touch you unless your either 16 or 18? I told him I turned 23 yesterday & he gave me a badge that said "It's my birthday!". I was hoping this would get my some freebies or special treatment all I got was people saying Happy Birthday to me all day.

Looking forward to seeing this!

Once you're in you have to queue to go into a room for a guy to play some cheesy games & watch a video of how the films started. Then you go into the cinema where Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint & Emma Watson talk about their time filming. It was like being in Florida before you go on to the 4D rides. Once all that is done with you get to enter the great hall!

I think I was lot more excited than most of the kids there. Most of them weren't even born with the books & films came out. It's like Pokemon go all over, this is my childhood! The parents who have kids that are dressed up probably did that cos it would look weird if they were all dressed in the robes. 

This moves!

Dumbledore's Office

I didn't realise that most of the stuff is real & with stirring pots or things chopping that it's done with rope & not CGI!

It's all very real! You may not be able to touch them but seeing if believing!

  

King's Cross Station - Hogwarts Express

I really liked the photo the guy took of us both but for £14?? 

Super excited to go to Hogwarts!

The most expensive ice cream I've ever bought £4.95! It was nice but still well over priced! I was hoping maybe I would've got it free with my birthday badge? Nope nothing. Most people don't like butter beer but I like, I think it tastes like an ice cold frappuccino. 

Knight bus

You can go into Privet Drive now.

Moving chess pieces 

Potter's Cotage, Godric's Hollow

Amazing how things are made & there's actually a real thing there for them to see & not just having to pretend!

Diagon Alley

Gringotts Wizarding Bank

Kind of makes up for not seeing it in Florida..

Hogwarts

This was probably my favourite part of the tour & when you see it that's where all the magic really is. Poor Kelly has already been on the tour & had to pay another £35 to see it with me. (I did tell her she wasn't allowed to go with anyone else but me!) It was a bit different from when she went as it's currently celebrating the 15th anniversary of The Philosopher's Stone film.

She said it might ruin the magic for your knowing the secrets but I think it's made it better. I don't think it's ruined the magic at all, it'll just make you see the films a little differently. I'm dying to have a marathon with the box set but it's a commitment having to make sure I have 8 evenings where I'll be able to watch them all one after the other!

If you're a Harry Potter fan then you have to go it! Even if you're not I think you'd like it but whether you'd be willing to pay £35... I took just under 300 photos & it took a long time to narrow them down, just as long as it did uploading them all onto this post! 

We got the shuttle bus back & realised we could get the quick train back into London after speaking to a women who worked at the station. We wanted Italian for dinner so went to Little Venice but it was a massive disappointment & we couldn't find any of the restaurants. So ended up back on the tube to Oxford Street & went to Vapiano. An Italian pasta & pizza restaurant where you go up to order your food & they make it in front of you.

I got the ravioli con carne & Kelly rucola ravioli. It was nice but really small & not filling. There was about 20 bits or ravioli. 

We walked down Oxford Street to get waffles from wafflemeister. Kelly & Danielle were going to get me a waffle maker for my birthday but I'm so glad they didn't. As much as I love them it is a treat & there would be no point in me being a personal trainer I'd put on 10 stone eating them everyday!!

As we we were walking down & crossed a street I seen a blue building & was 80% convinced it was the BBC building so we walked towards it & it was!

Didn't realise it was off Oxford Street even though I know whenever Radio 1 needed to go on the streets to ask people things it was off busy streets. Dream in life to be able to call that my office! (Or Salford)

We got the tube back to Kelly's which was really packed as people were going from Nottinghill Carnival. I was expecting the tube to be like that all weekend but it was the only time it was busy. Every other time we got it, we had a seat & space. I had the best weekend in London, managed to tick 2 things off my bucket list as well!

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