'It's real for us,'

I am so, so sorry that I haven't posted about the Harry Potter Studio Tour until now! I know it was last weekend but I wanted to wait to the end of this week so I could amalgamate it all together. 

I think it may be best if I firstly mention what happened later this week (two days ago to be exact) so then we can all rejoice and fill our heads purely with Potter from this point on... I got in to Plymouth University! I checked my emails before I went up to school just so I knew where I stood... I had no idea what results I possibly could have got which was why I was so shocked when I found out that I had got A*BB (which contained five individual A's, I'll have you know). This is a huge achievement for me because it's the first ever A* to be found in my results envelope. Not only that but my geography teacher wants to send back one of my papers for remarking so I can push that total grade up to an A. I also went up by 33 marks in my psychology retake and Mr Fellenor said that if we didn't have a slightly odd paper for one of the units, I could have got an overall A for psychology as well. SO CHUFFED. Everyone was expecting me to get C's, B's at a push. So that's just fab! Now you know why I chose to name this post 'It's real for us,' - one of the best quotes, just resonating, for me, the fact that all my hard work is reality (as cheesy as that sounds)! 

Besides Thursday, the highlight of my week definitely was going to the studio tour! Auntie Puddy (Sara) had bought Caoimhe & I tickets for our birthdays and it was worth it. It wasn't, for the most part, like they were showing you things that you didn't already know from the films... but instead you got to see how everything worked and just experiencing it up close made it even more REAL. We went during 'Summer Spells' which meant that we got to see extra bits of set, we were demonstrated how the wands worked, we got to have wand lessons and we got to try out bits of the set! I also, like every other person who will go there, drank plenty of butter beer (which tastes amazingly like cream soda, my favourite) and rode a broomstick! If you do go though, check out the gift shop for as long as possible. There's so many things in there! 

Unfortunately I don't have all of the photos because most of them were taken on my uncle's camera, so there's no family photos in front of props or stood outside Privet Drive but if he eventually emails them across then I'll post them on my instagram. You'll have to forgive the fact that some of these photos are quite dark, iPhones may be incredible but their automatic sensors/ flashes aren't that effective. 

So those photos are primarily of costumes, wigs & props. I took a photo of my favourite horcrux, not all of them... and personally my favourite costumes are Hermione's ball gown, Fleur's school uniform & Narcissa Malfoy's outfit. I just love her hair. 

We turned the corner and they had paper versions of the sets with loads of detail, even down to the taps and the stained glass window in the prefect's bathroom! 

These aren't all the paper sets 'cause I don't want to spoil any of your visits or drown you in photos! I'm also not going to show you their amazing model of Hogwarts because it'll spoil the reaction you have when you see it. It's so incredible, you actually hear the people gasp when they turn the corner! 

I'll leave you with one final little thing I found out - all the wand boxes in Olivander's were painted by hand and every single cast and crew member has their own box. We found quite a few of the cast... but it's difficult to spot when you're in a room with so many names!

So one final thing, all I can say is go. It's wonderful and you'll never get an opportunity quite like it. 

The McKellar-Kellys

So, I woke up ridiculously early this morning and have been tossing and turning since then so I finally thought that enough is enough and I'd do something. The only problem is I'm still in major zombie-mode so I can't really get my brain in gear to do anything that requires actually getting out of bed and walking downstairs.

HOWEVER...

When I was up in Scotland, my Granny had a sort of an epiphany moment in the midst of all her illness and got out all the old photo albums and started telling us old stories which we never thought in a million years she'd be able to remember or even be in the mood/ right frame of mind to tell us. In fact, she did beautifully well on her leave from the hospital, so now that she's out for good (well, she's being taken home in about an hour) she should do absolutely fine!

Anyway, I thought my modest little number of followers would enjoy a bit of a hot-tub time machine moment all the way back to the 60's.

So this photo was taken in 1969. You can see my Granny who was 43 at the time, my darling little mother in yellow (aged 3) and Aunty Kathlyn who is 10. I have no clue when this was taken but they all look so cute. 

I unfortunately have absolutely no idea what date this was taken but you can see my Granny, mumma & Aunty K all outside the front of their house at Girvan. Personally, I think they look beautiful & all prim and proper. 

These two are my parents when they were up visiting my Granny, Uncle Petey flew down from Germany as well, but unfortunately the photo of him isn't as clear, so I might not show it. 

This is one of my favourite photos of my parents, not just because my mum knitted them matching Arran jumpers or because my mumma's glasses are the best thing on the planet but because they look so goofy and happy (as well as those other two things). 

1993-94. This was our first house in Kidlington. I have to go up to Oxford every year to go to the John Radcliffe, so we always park on our old road and walk outside the house to see it. We've never quite built up the courage to knock on the door and say 'excuse me, we used to live here and we were wondering if we could just see the house one more time.' 

13-06-1995. This is a photo of baby me taken on the 15th, two days after I was born. I can't remember exactly what time I was born, but I weighed 3 pounds 3 1/4. I don't look as tiny as I was here, there's a photo of me with my arms and legs stretched out and someone's arm against me, I'm smaller than them length-wise. 

I think I'm no older than one in this photos, but I'm pretty impressed with my outfit here. I'd wear that now. 

My third birthday party. Here you can see Jacob, Sophie & her mum, my mum & I, Beth and unknown baby number 1 who i think is called Alex. I don't really know the girls any more but growing up Jacob has been one of my favourite people. 

The actual photo of me at the hospital was a bit blurry so it wasn't really much good, but here is Caoimhe, born 09-06-1998. 

On the swings at Girvan park, 1998. 

I was a flowergirl for my dad's best friend's wedding, 1999. I have a similar photo to this on my windowsill in an Ariel photoframe which I think is one of the sweetest frames ever. 

Baby Caoimhe playing the piano at Granny's house, 1999. 

One last final photo for you, my sister and I in our current living room (although by this time, it's actually decorated). I'm guessing this was taken in 2002-03. 

I'm so sorry that there isn't any photos beyond 2002, it seems my family got more lazy with developing photos after that point. If I had a recent photo of both me and my sister then I'd show you but they're all just ones of us taking selfies on each other's phones, which doesn't really help!

If you want to see more photos of my faaaaaabulous life, then check out my Instagram. If you want to hear more ramblings about random things I do during the day, have a gander at my Twitter (I apologise now if you're annoyed by my over-use of exclamation marks). 

Bonnie Scotland

So not this Friday but the Friday before, we set off at way-too-early-o'clock to drive up to my Aunty's flat in Leith. Wearing my comfiest clothes, although unusual for me wearing leggings as trousers - it just looks chavvy in my opinion, strictly for the gym only. Hey ho, it doesn't really matter when you're in the car for 11 hours! That night we had a simple evening just watching The Kite Runner (which by the way is the most amazing novel ever - you need, NEED to read it).

Saturday we had a lazy morning then headed into Edinburgh on the bus for shopping on Princes Street. I have hardly any money to my name, it's so frustrating but my family up north gave Caoimhe & I belated birthday money so yay us! In the absolutely pouring rain I bought these lovely things:

Firstly, this Tee & Cake NASA top from Topshop which I absolutely adore! The first one of these shirts I bought had a T-rex on it, then I've got one with old-fashioned displayed butterflies on it as well...

This bunny rabbit jumper is also from Topshop and it's the comfiest thing I've bought in a while. I know it's still summer but I'm a massive fan of Autumn when I can layer up, wear scarves (like this red one from Accessorize in Ayr) and snuggle up with hot chocolate & blankets.... not to mention the heavenly crunch of walking through leaves! 

Urban Outfitters. Hallelujah for the Urban Renewal sale!

Aunty Kathlyn made sure to take a photo of Caoimhe & I... she was particularly fond of this shirt that Granny Jean (my English granny) got me in Bath - Urban Outfitters did me well. 

The best part of Saturday was that we had booked a meal at Pomegranate, a Turkish restaurant just off the Royal Mile which was absolutely sublime. We met up with my Aunt's boyfriend then as well which was laaavely. 

Our annual trip to Ocean Terminal on Sunday was pretty damn good... I didn't buy anything but they have Mövenpick ice cream which is to DIE for. Anyone who hasn't guessed, Ocean Terminal is a shopping centre btw, it has a lovely little Waterstones but they didn't have the books I wanted. Then the evening was spent eating Uncle Jim's famous cottage pie - delicious!

Monday was the best day! We went to the museum to look round the Mary, Queen of Scots exhibit which was incredible! The exhibits they have there are always so grand and beautiful. Although, it still can't beat my favourite exhibit at the museum - I was about 11 and we went round this amazing set up about Anastasia Romanov. I've been obsessed with the whole mystery surrounding her for years, had the video, got it on DVD, had the dress etc... never had the dolls, I'm very jealous of any of you who did! Also, little secret for you... I had a massive crush on Dmitri in the animated film, still do. 

Loch Fyne for dinner on the final day, which is right by the water! Cullen Skink for starter then butternut squash & salmon salad followed by passionfruit cheesecake, mmmmm. 

Tuesday we travelled up to Girvan to visit Granny Margaret. She's been in hospital (very complicated) but was granted leave for us visiting! On the way to the hospital I read an old magazine which was in the flat which mentioned two things I've been dying to mention (so it was a really happy coincidence): Wild Geese's Albatross & Kafka On The Shore by Haruki Murakami. 

Every time we go up to Girvan, we walk round Culzean Castle which may just possibly be the most beautiful, magical place ever. Our cousin Gordon works there (restoring artefacts, also hiding lego men in every room) so we visited him on Wednesday!

There's a new Robert Burns museum opened near his cottage which we hadn't visited yet, so Thursday was spent there. I don't know if any of you have seen the set of the broadway production of Matilda but the museum was similar with paper hanging from the ceiling, chairs bolted at angles, flashing lights, massive frames & his poems printed on the walls in his own handwriting. I found out that the cheeky devil had 15 children with five women - several of the daughters called Elizabeth! 

To A Mouse is one of my favourites. 

Wee, sleekit, cowran, tim'rous beastie,
O, what a panic's in thy breastie!
Thou need na start awa sae hasty,
Wi' bickering brattle!
I wad be laith to rin an' chase thee,
Wi' murd'ring pattle!

I'm truly sorry Man's dominion
Has broken Nature's social union,
An' justifies that ill opinion,
Which makes thee startle,
At me, thy poor, earth-born companion,
An' fellow-mortal!

I doubt na, whyles, but thou may thieve;
What then? poor beastie, thou maun live!
A daimen-icker in a thrave 'S a sma' request:
I'll get a blessin wi' the lave,
An' never miss't!

Thy wee-bit housie, too, in ruin!
It's silly wa's the win's are strewin!
An' naething, now, to big a new ane,
O' foggage green!
An' bleak December's winds ensuin,
Baith snell an' keen!

Thou saw the fields laid bare an' wast,
An' weary Winter comin fast,
An' cozie here, beneath the blast,
Thou thought to dwell,
Till crash! the cruel coulter past
Out thro' thy cell.

That wee-bit heap o' leaves an' stibble,
Has cost thee monie a weary nibble!
Now thou's turn'd out, for a' thy trouble,
But house or hald.
To thole the Winter's sleety dribble,
An' cranreuch cauld!

But Mousie, thou are no thy-lane,
In proving foresight may be vain:
The best laid schemes o' Mice an' Men,
Gang aft agley,
An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain,
For promis'd joy!

Still, thou art blest, compar'd wi' me!
The present only toucheth thee:
But Och! I backward cast my e'e,
On prospects drear!
An' forward, tho' I canna see,
I guess an' fear!

All the descriptions of the statues, photos and books were written in Scots, so if you cannae understand it, you're screwed if you go there but it's not too difficult to eventually get the grip of!

I don't think we stayed at Granny's house for a full day until Saturday 'cause on Friday we were off to Great Uncle Richard's in Dalmellington, Aunt Annabel fattened us up with plenty of digestive biscuits and our cousin Elaine came down with one of her children, Maria, who thrashed us at monopoly! Fun fact about the McTaggarts: Elaine lived in Spain for over 20 years, so she, Maria, Aaron & Annabel (her other two children) can speak fluent Spanish - better than English - so much so that it's their first language and they'll sometimes switch between languages in the middle of sentences!

Yesterday we stayed in Girvan whilst my mum took Granny Margaret back to the hospital. Our friends have just had another baby girl, Ailsa Grace Grant, so seeing as we were in the town of Ailsa Craig (a massive volcanic plug), we decided to go down to the Green Jam framers and we bought her a little painting of Ailsa Craig for her nursery (and contemplated buying a Scots translation of The Gruffalo for her sister Nancy, aged 2).

'Aunty' Carol was visiting her parents in Girvan this weekend so we invited her back to the house for dinner. It was a very exciting evening as she's finally getting married next June at Culzean Castle! I'm so jealous. I swear, if one poor lad ever has the ill-judgement to marry a freak like me, he'll have no choice about the venue. What's even sweeter than all that is the fact that Carol's little brother Jamie also got married not too long ago in New York!

My final little sentence: we couldn't sleep this morning so we were on the road just after 5am & got home 10 or so hours later. I'm exhausted and ready for bed now... but I had to stay up long enough to find out who the new Doctor Who is and to write this lovely little post for you (even if it isn't as short as I thought, sorry).

Oh, a P.S. I forgot to mention when I originally wrote this post that I now also have three new Penguin clothbound classics - Emma, Dracula & Tess (and I'm absolutely in love with them, they're beaaaautiful).