HARRY POTTER STUDIO TOUR.

As promised my photos from last Friday...

I am sorry for the poor quality in some of these photos, not sure what happened!

 ENTERING THE GREAT HALL.

 DUMBLEDORE'S OFFICE.

 GRYFFINDOR BOYS DORMITORY. 

WANDS!!

 YULE BALL COSTUMES.

 POTIONS CLASS.

 GOBLIN HEADS & MINISTRY OF MAGIC STATUE.

 DEATH EATER COSTUMES.

 DAILY PROPHET AND SCHOOL BOOKS.

  GRINGOTTS BANK & THE POTTER COTTAGE AT GODRIC'S HOLLOW. 

 ARTIST SKETCHES.

PART OF THE SCALE MODEL OF HOGWARTS. 

UPDATE.

Hey there,

Apologies in advanced for the silence recently and the hurriedness of this post, I am currently enjoying my long anticipated break and visiting friends in London. 

Quick update, yesterday I finally made it to Watford to the Harry Potter Studio Tour. Disclaimer: I am a huge fan. Let me just say it was so much fun! I went along with one of my dearest friends Jeni and we loved it. I was very very excited for the whole of the tour and within the first 10 minutes I embarrassed myself enough to make Jeni cry with laughter. 

We saw so many incredible sets, costumes and props, got to fly broomsticks, try butterbeer (which we did not love unfortunately) and basically appreciate how much went into making the films. If you get the chance I highly recommend taking the trip.

Anyway, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and took a lot of photos which I will share soon.

India

TODAY.

...I am 23

IRELAND.

Yesterday we came home from Ireland. Just over a week spent in a new country with family. This involved beaches, reading, numerous board games,walks along the coast, wine and cheese. A wonderful summer holiday although slightly colder than normal! 

 MC SWYNE'S GUN LOOP, DUNFANAGHY.

 GIANT'S CAUSEWAY.

 VIEW FROM THE COTTAGE, SKELLIG ROCKS.

 WE FOUND A STARFISH.

 EXPLORING.

 BENTEE LOOP WALK.

 BENTEE MOUNTAIN.

CAHERSIVEEN.

SUMMER?

I've been reading a lot of blogs lately talking about the end of summer but I don't quite feel like that. Despite the fact that these past few months we have had more sun than England has seen in a long time, for me it feels like summer has not quite hit yet. "Summer" still feels inextricably tied to the six-week break at the end of the school year. This means that although I started to enjoy summer since as long ago as May by experiencing it alongside other people who had actually finished for the "summer", grabbing days or evenings to take time out as the days got longer, I haven't been able to fully embrace it. A part of me has been waiting for my break to properly welcome summer.

In two days time I will be finished. The end of three years . The first "summer" in a long time when there will be no essay, exam or placement lurking in the distance. This next month will be filled with exploring, food, family, friends, sun (hopefully) and lots of not-doing-too-much.
Bring. It. On. 

I will be so happy when autumn arrives. It's my favourite season. It always signifies change and a whole will be changing come autumn which is exciting....but I am more than happy to squeeze some adventures in before it does. Especially in the spirit of living life today.

One thing I am extra excited about is travelling around Italy for two weeks. 
Here is a playlist to accompany my "summer". Quite a random selection, some old favourites, some new, low-key-chilled-out mixed with anticipation and excitement. This pretty much sums it up.

THE FINAL PIE.

I did it. Twelve pies. Twelve months. A whole lot of pastry.Yes it has sometimes been difficult to squeeze in time to bake especially when chilling pastry, blind baking and other essential "pie-stages" take their time BUT I have really enjoyed giving myself a little project and trying something different. It has been fun. Cooking from scratch is something that seems normal to me. My mum always has and I have such happy memories from throughout my childhood of helping her out in the kitchen. I still enjoying helping her out whenever I'm home. I love that baking reminds me of her and it's really fun even if it doesn't always go perfectly. Which is never really has. Getting to eat pie at the end has always made it worth it.

I snapped a few photos of the process this time.

YUM. 

Project pie is officially complete.

Find the recipe here.
Check out the other pies I have made over the past year.

THOUGHTS

I am coming to the conclusion that I'm a grown up. Not in the sense that I know everything and have it all together but that I've lived away from home for awhile now, decide what I do everyday and basically look after myself. Being in my twenties, I'm not necessarily where I thought I would be in my life but I have learnt, changed and achieved a lot over the past three years. One thing this has especially helped me to realise is that making plans and dreaming ahead means I might miss the good stuff that comes from focusing on now. I used think "wouldn't it be fun to do that more" or "one day I will go there" but something often got in the way or I would find that it was tomorrow and it hadn't happened.

God has been teaching me this lesson too. I don't need to wait to be a certain age or to have reached particular milestones to be acceptable or useful to him. In fact I never will be able to make myself that. I just need to seek him each day and be open to him. The place that am in in my life right now is where I need to be and it should be embraced whole-heartedly.

I have learnt (and am still learning) to be intentional and make actual plans to just do things that I love, try new experiences, visit different places and be brave enough to just go for it. Today. 

Back in January I set myself 25 goals to achieve before I hit 25 years old. I have included things to learn and try and experience. This seemed achievable but if I don't manage them all then at least I have tried. I'm hoping through this I will grow and learn new things, if only about myself and have fun along the way. I am working my way through and will share them with you as I go. Starting this blog actually ticks one off the list!

Coincidentally two of my best friends have an incredible blog based around some amazing resolutions...