Category Archives: Kirsty rambles on about life, the universe, tv, and everything!
I’m a geek and I’ll fly if I want to
I’m a geek and I’ll fly if I want to
Hi all, this is my second of a series of posts on my visit to ‘The Making of Harry Potter – Warner Brothers Studio Tour’ on 9th April 2012.
The geeky highlight of the tour for me was getting to ride a broomstick against a greenscreen. I had taken my Hermione replica wand to use for this very photo opportunity. When we spotted this (on the first Soundstage, J [the other is K!] so if you want to do this don’t leave because you can’t get back in again) the queue markers reported it was an hour wait. I think in the end it was about 45 minutes but because you can see everyone else’s turn on TV screens and everyone is so happy to be there it really didn’t feel that long.
There are two ‘stops’ in this queue – flying in the Ford Anglia (well sitting on green boxes which seems to seat 4 comfortably). One of you gets to drive if you can coordinate your hands with the steering wheel on the screen in front of you and everyone gets to scream and sway as the Hogwart’s Express comes up behind you. Then they take a snapshot (with warning so you can pose). You get given a ticket with your photo number on it for if you want to purchase it. Then you are back in the queue for a short while.
If you don’t arrive in robes (I will next time ;o)) you are loaned a set for the broomstick ride. They only seemed to be available in Gryffindor colours for adults, and as a Pottermore sorted Hufflepuff I felt a little disloyal to my house. I spotted Hufflepuff robes for kids though (but no Slytherin or Ravenclaw here) – one kid got asked if she minded being a Hufflepuff – minded. Harumf.
There are 3 broomsticks and if you are with someone it’s much more fun to watch each other. My sister went first. Then came my turn. Wand in hand I climbed into the upturned plate type seat and put my feet in the ‘stirrups’, grasped the broomstick firmly between my hands and acted to the scene on the screen in front of me. Putting my embarrassment aside I (to the laughs of some young girls) proceeded to sway side to side and shoot my wand over my shoulder, complete with shoop noises. Yes, I know, but as I said to the girls, you kind of have to don’t you. Don’t you?
At the end of your ride (and it isn’t that long but I still think it’s worth it) they take two pictures, one face on which they superimpose on a variety of backgrounds, and one aerial shot. For both my sister and I the aerial shot was the most flattering and the staff member complemented my casual swishing wand motion.
Photo prices were 1 for £12, 2 for £15, 3 for £18 and 4 for £20 and any after that were £5. Sadly there is no video footage of your ride but the photographs all come in a presentation frame. Come back for future posts where I’ll share more hints and tips about how to get the most from your experience. Including my Top Photo Opportunities post.
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I will wear my robes
I will wear my robes
Hi all, this is my first of a series of posts on my visit to ‘The Making of Harry Potter – Warner Brothers Studio Tour’ on 9th April 2012 (and that’s another item off The Bucket List).
I’m going to start by being a tease and not telling you anything about the tour itself (don’t worry that is to come but it will take longer to write up).
After the tour was over you spill out into the gift shop – and what a gift shop it is. Now, I was hoping to buy an ‘I solemnly swear I am up to no good’ mug but they had been so popular they have sold out. I was informed by one of the lovely staff (more on them in later posts) that they are hoping to have an online shop open by Christmas so I hope to get one then (if not in a repeat visit in August *I am grinning as I type this).
So, I just had to buy something else. My first item chosen was an authentic 35mm film minicell of Emma Watson from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I chose it also for the accompanying pictures of the three main cast members.
My megageek purchase though was my Hufflepuff robes (Pottermore sorted me into the house of the badger). At £74.95 this was not a throwaway purchase and my sister very calmly asked me when I might wear it. When put on the spot my response was quite feeble with not many options. But now I have had time to think so here, Sissy Poo, is my plan (looks like an evil plan based on the shot below) for robe wearing.
1. When I got home and was chilling and looking at my souvenirs.
2. It was quite comfy so generally around the house (though I have to be careful climbing the stairs).
3. When I return to the studio tour in August (a few days early birthday treat with a fellow Hufflepuff) so I can re-enact my broomstick flying but in house colours.
4. When I eventually go to ‘The Wizarding World of Harry Potter’ in Florida.
5. At a Harry Potter themed party (I may have to throw one myself).
6. At most ‘open themed’ fancy dress parties.
7. At Halloween.
8. At a Harry Potter convention??
9. At the Quidditch World Cup (it would be so cool to go one year – or play).
10. Potentially for a teaching session?? (Hmmm, I may have to work up to this one).
11. At graduation?? If they forget to order my OT degree robes again and there are no OU robes on standby (now I admit this is unlikely). I could wear under my PhD robes (assuming I complete and pass) and then have a few ‘alternate robes’ pics or I could work towards another OU degree and do as suggested with PhD robes. There is even an OU Children’s Literature course where you can actually study Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone!
12. When watching the Harry Potter films (I could make this 8 events ;o))
13. When reading the Harry Potter books (I could make this 7 events ;o))
14. When reading the extra Harry Potter books, e.g. Tales of Beedle the Bard, the Comic Relief specials etc.
15. When investigating Pottermore (thanks to Stacey for this suggestion of making it a more immersive experience).
16. When playing Harry Potter boardgames (I currently have none but hope to rectify this at some point).
17. When playing Harry Potter games on the Wii.
18. When playing Harry Potter games on the iPhone/iPad.
19. Maybe on my future Harry Potter themed wedding day ;o) (If I can find a potential groom who agrees with this).
20. When being interviewed about ‘my influences’ when I finally get my WIP finished/published.
21. When watching TV and using the magic wand remote control you bought me for Christmas.
I think I will stop there but can anyone else think of other situations when this outfit would be required/recommended/appropriate?
And the coolest thing about the robe in my humble opinion. The fact that it has an internal wand pocket!!!!!
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The Versatile Blogger Award
I was awarded this a little while back by Suzie Tullett – sorry that I’m only just getting around to it.
The ‘rules’ for this one seem to be:
- Tell you all seven random things about myself that I’ve never mentioned before (now with my memory who knows if I will have them noted on the blog anywhere else)
- Nominate 15 bloggers for the award (and on it goes).
Here are my 7 random ‘facts’ – looks like I’m going musical with lots of them because I don’t think I’ve spoken too much about that topic.
- The first record (yes record, not cassette, or CD or MP3 – this makes me feel old!) I think I remember owning was a single by Curiosity Killed the Cat – I think it was Hang on in There Baby (1992 when I was 14)
- I’m pretty sure my first album(s) may have been Michael Bolton’s – I had to buy a greatest hits CD not too long ago because I remember loving listening along to songs like Time, Love and Tenderness. I’d quite like to see him in concert at some point.
- Still on the record theme – my sister and I always use to dance round the lounge to Mum’s – Hey Mickey single. I loved that they use it in the end credits of the film Bring It On.
- I have mentioned that I would love to learn to play the guitar before but I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned that I can’t actually read music. Do you think that might cause another barrier to the success of this task?
- I worked in the library at school and seem to recall having fun stamping books out.
- Also at school I refused to take part in using a Ouija board. I am fairly superstitious and get scared by that sort of thing even though it fascinates me.
- On a similar note I opted out of a school trip because of stories people had told me about the place we planned to go being haunted. Instead I remember taking part in poetry classes back at school and one or two of my poems were published in the school anthology (which I have a copy of somewhere). The poem I remember was a 10 happy schoolgirls one and the one line was ‘Eight happy schoolgirls had a fight with Bevan, one got beaten up and then there were seven’. Oddly they actually published this despite the Bevan in question being a boy in our class. Censorship obviously wasn’t so hot an issue back then.
That’s me – hope you had fun reading about my randomness ;o)
And here are my 15 Nominations (I’ve got to include my Besties because I feel I’ve learnt so much extra about them through their blogs). Please only post in response like this if you want to. Plus it may be that you’ve already received the award in which case just point me in the direction of your completed post rather than feeling like you need to write another (unless, of course, you’d like to).
- Stacey at It Takes a Woman (Bestie)
- Michelle at Old Fashioned Mummy (Bestie)
- Cath at Craftylittleblogger (Bestie)
- Jay at Jay’s Insight (Bestie)
- Veronica at Veronica Roth (Now I know Veronica is a properly published author but I really enjoy the variety in her blog posts)
- Laura at Laura Jane Cassidy (Another properly published author who writes not just about writing)
- Nicola at Help! I Need a Publisher! (I feel I’ve learnt so much by reading Nicola’s blog)
- Suzie at Suzie Tullett (right back at ya – Is there a versatile tweeter award too ;o) )
- Patsy at Patsy Collins (Patsy has just had a novel published – congrats)
- Catherine at Catherine, Caffeinated (I’m receiving Catherine’s pearls of wisdom in my inbox now)
- Claire at Claireot’s Blog (Claire is a fellow OT and writes about all manner of interesting things relating to Occupation, Healthcare and Social Media)
- Sally at Quiller’s Place (She has a writing shed so deserves much respect)
- Becca at My Little Notepad (She calls her posts Ramblings but I call them long gems – check out her writing podcast at In the Wishing Chair too)
- Vicky at vickywithawhy (I find myself nodding away at her posts on a regular basis)
- Emma at EmmaMaree.com (My most recent find via Nicola’s blog – a YA author who writes about anything and everything)
There are many more blogs that I read and enjoy and I hope no-one feels left out but after breaking the rules on my Lucky 7 Meme I thought I’d follow them here.
kirstyes 