Harry Potter

My Yearly Review – 2014

Reading Time: 4 minutes

This year I did very little in the Spring, a lot in the Summer, bits in the Autumn and Winter. Here’s what I’ve been up to this year, click on any photo for full size image:

dame-edna-march-2014
Sye & Me at Barry Humphries Show

March

Sye and I went to see Barry Humphries: The Eat, Pray and Laugh Farewell Tour. We had a great time. Here are some photos:

Penrhos Cottage near Corris Adam and Andy's cottage
Simon popping his head out of The Lovely Cottage

May

Simon and I went to Mid-Wales to The Lovely Penrhos Cottage for the weekend. While there we took the time to relax. The Saturday it was gloriously sunny and hot, so we went to Aberdovey Beach. On the Sunday we went to King Arthur’s Labyrinth.

I published my short story The Good Teen. The Good Teen is a modern-day telling of The Good Samaritan parable, with a hint of magic. I wrote it after I saw a call for submissions from the BBC Radio 4 ‘Opening Lines’ programme. Unfortunately it wasn’t accepted, but it’s still a good story – even if I do say so myself.

Rivington-June14
Rivington: A Gorgeous View

June

I spent several days walking around Rivington. I feel fortunate to have such a beautiful and gorgeous natural place close by.

My at-the-time boyfriend and I went to Blackpool to the Sealife Centre and Madame Tussauds. We saw various fish and waxworks respectively.

Steve and I went watching The Lady Boys of Bangkok in Manchester. We were both slightly disappointed with the Lady Boys to be honest, but it was still good to get out and we even managed a few alcofrolic drinks afterwards.

Manchester Museum Gorgosaurus Skeleton
Gorgosaurus Skeleton

July

I watched After The Dark (The Philosophers), which became my favourite film of 2014.

My at-the-time boyfriend and I went to Lancashire Science Festival 2014 which was both educational and intriguing. Plus it had free parking!

My at-the-time boyfriend, his housemates and I visited Manchester Museum. I loved the dinosaur exhibit.

August

I had my blog Theme Redesigned by TRH Development. I started Being Creative Everyday and sharing some of the results on the blog.

I felt saddened at the unexpected death of Robin Williams and began thinking about the importance of good mental & emotional health.

I read and reviewed Light by Michael Grant, which was the last book in The Gone Series. I thoroughly enjoyed The Gone Series which was about kids being trapped in a Dome without adults and developing powers.

Wales animalarium lemur
Animalarium: Lemur

September

I got some Amazing Illustrations from the Talented Sye Watts for my blog. I am so lucky to have such a talented friend.

A friend and I went to stay for a weekend at Penrhos Cottage and visited the Animalarium, which is Borth’s Zoo on the way home. There where some lovely animals there that looked well cared for.

October

Chrys, Simon, others and I celebrated Samhain!

harry-potter-studio-tour
Various Magical Creatures.

November

My at-the-time boyfriend and I broke up.

I made small Charitable Donations to JDRF, The Human Rights Campaign (US), The Brain Tumour Charity (UK) and to make a film about the sell-off of the NHS.

Mum and I went on a Trip to London where we shopped and visited The Making of Harry Potter Studio Tour.

wrapped-christmas-presents-2014
Some Presents I’ve Wrapped for Christmas

December

Christmas has been relaxed, enjoyable and fun. I have celebrated it with family and friends. People have kindly bought presents for me:

christmas-presents-2014
Presents Kindly Bought For Me.

But the best thing was the opportunity to spend time with people that I love.

Next year I’ll be spreading out activities, experiences and goals throughout the year. So keep an eye out for my Goals & New Experiences for 2015 blog post.

Blog soon,

Antony

Share on Social Media:
Friends & Family, Happiness & Joy, Life, Nature, Paganism, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Book Review: The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The Tales of Beedle the Bard has been written and illustrated by J.K. Rowling. It contains five classic children’s stories, aimed at young wizards and witches: The Wizard and The Hopping Pot, The Fountain of Fair Fortune, The Warlock’s Hairy Heart, Babbitty Rabbitty and Her Cackling Stump and The Tale of The Three Brothers.

After each story are notes from Albus Dumbledore from the Hogwarts Archives. The introduction explains that Dumbledore wrote these notes about eighteen months before the events that took place at the top of Hogwarts’ Astronomy Tower.

Each of the tales in The Tales of Beedle the Bard are superb, magical and thought-provoking. They carry moral messages about: kindness, perseverance, vulnerability, tolerance and wisdom. Dumbledore in his notes discusses the stories messages, reveals more about his history and life at Hogwarts.

My only criticism of The Tales of Beedle the Bard is that it was too short (at 109 pages). I absolutely loved reading the stories and Albus Dumbledore’s thoughts about them. So J.K. Rowling, just so you know, if you do a More Tales of Beedle the Bard, you’ve got a guaranteed sale from a fan here.

Each copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard that’s sold leads to a donation of £1.61 to Lumos, a charity working to change the lives of disadvantaged children. Lumos was founded by J.K. Rowling after she read about the terrible poverty some children live in.

The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling is available to buy on Amazon.

Review soon,

Antony

The Z-VIRUS Series

Z-VIRUS Powers

The Z-VIRUS mutates people’s DNA. The majority of infected people become zombies, but a minority seem immune but the virus causes them to develop powers.

At first these powers like invisibility, telepathy and telekinesis aided survival. But as the Z-VIRUS continues to mutate, the powers become more and more destructive.

Forced with no other choice, one group goes in search of a cure. But will they survive the roaming zombie hordes long enough to make an epic journey across the country to find the cure?

Join Alexis, Vis, Chan, Luke, Natalie, Grace, Chloe, Kyle, David and Goliath on this journey in Z-VIRUS Powers, the first instalment of this three part story.

Z-VIRUS Monsters

The Z-VIRUS is mutating, now affecting plants and animals.

A group of people, most with supernatural powers, are in desperate hunt for a cure.

Their powers which once helped their survival, are now becoming destructive.

Can they survive for long enough to find the cure? And if so, what will happen when they take it?

Join Alexis, Goliath, Luke, Lucy, Kyle, Natalie, Erin, Sophie, Kevin, George, Zoha, Harry and Ryan on this epic, entertaining and thrilling adventure.

Share on Social Media:
Amazon, Books & Authors, Reviews, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

London Trip, Part 2: The Making of Harry Potter Studio Tour

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Last Sunday mum and I went to The Making of Harry Potter Studio Tour. We were lucky as it was all Hogwarts in the Snow ready for Christmas. It’s a place that’s better shown than described, so here’s ample photos:

harry-potter-studio-tour
Left to Right: Entrance outside; Entrance Inside with Christmas Tree; Gift shop; Collection of Wands in Gift shop; J.K. Rowling Quote; Cupboard Under The Stairs.
harry-potter-studio-tour
Left to Right: The Great Hall Entrance; Inside The Great Hall; Gryffindor uniforms; costumes for Hagrid and Flich; costumes for Mcgonagall, Dumbledoor and Snape; Sedway, Moody and Trelawny.
harry-potter-studio-tour
Left to Right: Cloke of Invisibility; Yule Ball costumes; Ron’s Yule Ball costume; More costumes; Harry Potter’s costumes; a flaming Christmas pudding.
harry-potter-studio-tour
Left to Right: Gryffindor door common room (top two); Gryffindor dormitories (bottom two).
harry-potter-studio-tour
Left to Right: clock; Wizard’s Chest piece; Wall of Decrees and long ladder; Various magical props; stairwell; Mirror of Erised.
harry-potter-studio-tour
Snape’s (and Later Slughorn’s) Potion class set.
harry-potter-studio-tour
Left: Portraits. Right: Animal Actors.
harry-potter-studio-tour
Dumbledoor’s Office.
harry-potter-studio-tour
Various Doors.
harry-potter-studio-tour
Left to Right: Quidditch display; Horcrux display; Room of Requirement Deatheater prop; Moody’s chest; Remus Suitcase.
harry-potter-studio-tour
Showing how the special effects were made.
harry-potter-studio-tour
Top: The Burrow (two photos). Bottom: Malfoy Manor and Umbridge’s Office.
harry-potter-studio-tour
Top: Might is Magic Statue and Ministry Entrance. Bottom: Ministry interior and Prophecy ball props.
harry-potter-studio-tour
Left to Right (Outside): Me in a Waterproof poncho; Potters’ Cottage; Hogwarts Bridge; The Night Bus.
harry-potter-studio-tour
Left to Right: Various Goblin heads; Fawkes the Phoenix (two photos); Greyback’s face; Werewolve; various props (including Dobby’s head).
harry-potter-studio-tour
Various Magical Creatures.
harry-potter-studio-tour
To scale Actor/Actress Models.
harry-potter-studio-tour
Diagon Alley 1.
harry-potter-studio-tour
Diagon Alley 2: The Weasley’s.
harry-potter-studio-tour
The level of detail for the films was incredible. Design sketches, paper models, product design – everything designed from scratch based on the books.
harry-potter-studio-tour
The Finale – Hogwarts Castle with Snow and a Quote from J.K. Rowling.

We had a great time with The Making of Harry Potter Studio Tour exceeding expectations. If you’re a fan of the films, I recommended you go. It shows you how the films were made, but somehow doesn’t mean that they loose their magic.

Blog soon,

Antony

Share on Social Media:
Adventures, Books & Authors, Happiness & Joy, , , , , , , , , , ,

We’re off to the Harry Potter Studio Tour!

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Mum and I are off to Harry Potter Studio Tour this weekend! So expect a Harry Potter Studio Tour-related blog post sometime next week with plenty of photos. Without realising when we booked the trip, we also get to see Hogwarts in the snow.

The coach trip includes: Harry Potter Studio Tour tomorrow, a stay in a hotel overnight and some time to shop in London on Sunday.

Have a great weekend, I know we will.

Antony

Click the Image to be taken to Square to purchase the book.
Share on Social Media:
Adventures, Friends & Family, Happiness & Joy, Shopping, , , , , , , , , , , ,
Scroll to Top
×