the small tales of one small life

My sister and I turned 24 this weekend!

On Saturday, we went to the Warner Bro’s Studio Tour and it was amazing!!! for those that don’t know what it is, it’s a huge behind the scenes tour of the Harry Potter sets. Photos you say? yea I took a few… I’ll make a gallery so I don’t overload this post with pictures, because most of them are pretty poor quality.

There was so much to see, and it was really busy! we went for a 4 o’clock tour and had to wait around for ages cause we arrived early, but that was ok because there is a huuugeee gift shop! (and a Starbucks!) I have to admit, I spent quite a bit of money… but I did get some really neat stuff! 3 t-shirts, a Ministry Badge and a Souvenir guide. It was a really sunny day so we sat outside with our drinks and waited around in the sun.

It was pretty manic in there as it’s the middle of the Easter holidays here, and it was a Saturday, we queued at 4 and didn’t get in until 4:30 but when we did it was amazing. We were led into a cinema and shown clips of the movies and a build up to entering, and then all of a sudden the cinema screen lifted and the doors to the great hall were right in front of us!  We got to go up to the doors and push them open because it was our birthday, so our view of the great hall was amazing

My sister and I going into the great hall

From there on you walked through the hall and then you were free to roam around the two studios, and boy, there was so much to see. I’m glad we had three sets of eyes looking at all different things because it’s really easy to miss things!  they also had a tribute to Richard Griffiths cause he died recently :(

Richard Griffiths costume

they had the common room, Professor Dumbledores office, the Burrow, Umbridges Office, the Ministry statue really was just so many things and so many props! I think they said that they had enough props to fill to warehouses. I bought the Guide which was really expensive but it is pretty informative. So we walked out of the first warehouse into the backlot were they had all the outside staging, and Butterbeer!! it was ok, really sweet it tasted sorta like a coke float. We stood at Privet Drive too! :) and on the bridge! But I think our best photo was in the Ford Anglia, Butterbeer in hand ;)

My sister and I in the Ford Anglia

The next warehouse was full of the special effects make up and puppets and such, even a big Aragog hanging from the ceiling, was pretty creepy :) I really liked all the artwork and model sets they had on display. So much hard work has gone into it that never even gets seen. The end of the tour was really special too we got to walk down Diagon Alley and then we ended up in a huge room, that had the miniature hogwarts exterior, It was amazing! a guide was talking to us, and asked us if it was our first time there and when we answered yes, he asked us to take his arm and close our eyes, and then he did like a big reveal for us :) was really special.

I was sad to leave but it was getting pretty late! we had such a brilliant day, though if I went again I’d definitely book a day off work and go in the week when hopefully it might be a little quieter! The best part was it wasn’t the end of our birthday cause that was on Sunday!

Sunday morning came and my sister woke me up and we opened presents in my mum and dads room :) I got so much stuff I felt guilty! but really happy at the same time ;) because my main present from my mum and dad is a trip to Turkey!!! which is on a week Friday ( I’m so excited :D )

Birthday Loot

I placed my Harry Potter buys in the picture too! minus the one I was wearing :) also my mum finished the jumper she was knitting me but it was a little too small so now she is re-knitting the whole thing and I feel terrible cause she put so much effort into it :( sorry mum!!

I’ve never received so many birthday cards before, my shelf is so full! after we opened presents we went down for breakfast, I treated myself and had some nice yoghurt with a sprinkle of my cheating cereal banana and some raisins it was so good :). I’ve totally forgotten to say that I’m a twin, so yea I share my birthday with my sister, which I really really love :) After breakfast we popped up to Starbucks for some iced coffee and then came home for a nice long walk in the forest behind our house. We got really lucky over the weekend the weather was positively tropical considering the way its been recently, and it was great for our walk.  We came home to a nice big lunch of ginger spiced pork and lasagne, I chose the pork  ’cause I haven’t had that dish in years. But the main event was totally our cake, which was awesome.

Why yes those are little piggies chillin’ in mud, we saw it on the internet and decided to make one ourselves! it was fun to do :) and it tasted AMAZING so much so that as I write this my slice tally is at 3. hehe.

Time for dinner now and some serious damage control at the gym after my rather indulgent weekend.

My new Potter Quidditch shirt!