34: Check

34. Go to the cinema at midnight to see a film as it comes out.

Done. Check. Completed. Crossed off the list.

I did the first thing of my grand old to do list last week.

I went to see Harry Potter at one minute past midnight on its opening night.

I remember when the final book came out my and my Mom went to queue up in Asda at midnight, so that I could start reading straight away.

I even made her buy two copies, because there was no way that I was going to stop reading it so that she could start. 

(I'm a selfish book reader, so what?)

And then on the way home I made her drive with the in car light on, so that I could start reading it out loud straight away.

I finished reading that last Harry Potter within 24 hours or buying it.

I didn't sleep much and then months later I couldn't actually remember the story that well, but whatever, I had read it.

Practically inhaled it actually.

So when the film came out last week, I had the same reckless enthusiasm for seeing it.

I was even geek enough to have a scar drawn on my forehead for the occassion.

I booked my tickets, 

stood in line, 

admired some people's costumes 

(I'm not brave enough for a costume...an eye liner scar drawn on my forehead was about the most daring thing I've ever done), 

bought pick and mix, 

wished that the trailers would hurry up, 

whooped when Ron & Hermione kissed, 

cried when Fred died, 

clapped when the film finished, 

waited for all of the credits to roll in case there was a little secret bit to play at the end (there wasn't) 

and then talked about it all for an hour after as we made our way home.

And I would pretty much say that the entirety of the effort was completely worth it.

Thank yous

Thank you to a pretty sweet first year of marriage. 

Don't worry, I'm not going to get all gushy, but basically its been a year of wishes, extreme joy and even more extreme love.

It's been a very happy year for us both.

Thank you for the lessons that I've learnt over this year.

Ross has learnt that if he restrains me (he can hold both my wrists with one hand and tickle me with the other) I will pretty instantly be full of rage.

I have learnt not to pretend to be moody, because pretty quickly my pretending turns into me being genuinely moody, and that's no fun for either of us.

Thank you to Preston Temple.

You are beautiful and so peaceful.

Thank you to chimichangas.

I tried you for the first time yesterday and you will now be more than welcome in my life.

Thank you to Harry Potter.

I grew up with your books and films and now that the very last film has come out, I feel like a chapter of my life has come to an end and I'm ready to be more grown up now.

(Also, the last film was saweet.)

Thank you to the rain. 

Most people are expecting summer right now and that means blue skies, the sun and warm temperatures.

But we're England, so it's raining.

But I love the summer rain.

Warm and fresh smelling.

Imagine an accent: Take 2

I think there must be something inside of me that draws Chinese people to me.

Like a magnet or something.

That, or I have 'if you are Chinese please come and talk to me and say something funny to me' tattooed on my forehead.

So, I'm paying for all of the stuff that had crept into my basket in Boots and I look over at the Dior counter, where there's a Chinese sales assistant stood staring at me.

I didn't stare back, because that would have been awkward, but as I'm putting my purse back in my bag and getting ready to leave, I look up and happen to make eye contact with said sales assistant.

Next thing I know, the Chinese Dior lady runs over to me (literally runs) and says to me.... 

"I just have to tell you that you have beautiful lips." 

Then she runs back over to her counter before I even have chance to say thank you.

In hindsight, I think that she must have meant that red lipstick suits me (which is what I was wearing today...obviously), because no-one has ever commented on my actual lips before.

And more than the fact that no-one has ever commented on/complimented my lips before, no-one has ever run towards me, offered up the compliment and then run away again.

Not that I'm complaining.

I think I want to make friends with a Chinese person.

Amour/Deteste

Yes, I am wearing my pretentious pants today and using French words in my regular everyday speech. 

C'est bon, non?

Today I'm hatin' on....

Aching feet,

whiney toddlers,

a slight altercation with the car

and strawberry juice on my white top.

It's not all bad though.

Today I'm loving...

coming home to the smell of jacket potatoes in the oven, 

affectionate toddlers, 

smoothies, 

helium balloons

and Harry Potter. Tomorrow. Midnight. BOOM.

L for Love (and Lincoln)

If anyone was to ask me where I would love to visit, and they mean anywhere, I would probably say somewhere like Mexico, or Brazil, or Paris or Venice.

Basically, I'm pretty certain that I would not say anywhere in England.

Probably not even anywhere in the UK.

And I was thinking about that fact the other day, and I realised just how ridiculous that was.

England is awesome.

Sure, it rains a lot, but that's why it's so lusciously green everywhere. 

To say that I've lived on this little island all my life, there's a lot of England that I've never been to.

Big cities, small villages and all the green in between.

So I'm going to show England a little bit more love, because blimey, this little country I call home is spiffing.

(I felt that seeing as I getting all patriotic up in here, I needed to throw in a couple of very English words.)

So, I went to Lincoln a few weekends ago.

I'd never been before, so I jumped on the idea as soon as it was mentioned

And honestly, it's beautiful.

The cathedral. Wow.

I'm pretty sure they filmed some of the Harry Potter films there and you can see it from twenty five miles away. (So I'm told.)

There are also lots of hills, some cobbled streets and one of those places were you put you feet in a tank and the fish nibble your feet. (That was another first for the weekend.)

There were people giving out free hugs, some randomers on stilts and more randomers dressed as snails, fruit stalls that were selling two melons for 60p and an awesome vintage shop...amongst other things.

Really, apart from my brief sulk when Ross put ketchup all over our chips (not a fan by the way) it was a lovely, lovely day.