If I could bottle the feeling that reverberates through your bones when the music of one of your favourite artists starts at a live show, I would. My memory isn't the best, but I remember every second of the Adele show I went to back in April. I laughed, smiled, cheered, and tried and failed to keep it together during When We Were Young. That song just speaks to my soul and I think it always will.
Similar feelings were stirred inside me when the curtain went up and the opening scene of The Cursed Child unfolded before my eyes. Jamie Parker's Harry is so aligned with the Harry that lives inside my head that, although I cry at just about everything, the play was a much more emotional experience on a personal level than I had expected. And I think that's partially why I adored it so much, because in those few hours Harry, Hermione and Ron, those characters I grew up with and see part of myself in were, quite literally, right there in front of my eyes. And that was special. Really, really special.
Similar feelings were stirred inside me when the curtain went up and the opening scene of The Cursed Child unfolded before my eyes. Jamie Parker's Harry is so aligned with the Harry that lives inside my head that, although I cry at just about everything, the play was a much more emotional experience on a personal level than I had expected. And I think that's partially why I adored it so much, because in those few hours Harry, Hermione and Ron, those characters I grew up with and see part of myself in were, quite literally, right there in front of my eyes. And that was special. Really, really special.
★ Early in January I had to say goodbye to little Ralphie, the light of my life for so many years and I still miss him deeply every single day.
★ A little while later I adopted Beatrix, who is just such a joy when she's not chewing my clothes. She is so different to little R and I'm so happy to be able to share my life with her. I need to book her in to get spayed and I'm already so worried, I'm not looking forward to it at all.
★ Saw Adele live for a second time and she is also just such a joy to listen to. Her ability to captivate a whole arena full of people is so inspiring. I silently connected with the girl sitting next to me who sobbed the whole way through Someone Like You and most of the concert in general.
★ Started doing some freelance writing.
★ Visited London for the first time in far too many years. It was exhausting (London pals, I don't know how you do it!) but the tube wasn't as complicated as I remembered it being when I was younger.
★ Saw Harry Potter And The Cursed Child at the Palace Theatre. I want to protect Scorpius as if he were my own son and I felt a strange and unexpected affinity with the trolley witch.
★ Discovered my patronus, which officially on Pottermore is a Dun Mare and when taking this compilation of all of the questions is a Thestral. Thestral's are my favourite magical creatures, but I'm more than happy with my Dun Mare too.
★ Visited Manchester for the first time.
★ Had a wander around Manchester Art Gallery, which was a delight.
★ Went to my first MA tutorial. Almost fell over in front of a lot of people, but apart from that it went quite smoothly.
★ Paired down my make up collection.
★ Started using Tumblr again, mostly for reblogging Harry Potter things and pictures of space.
★ Started using Tumblr again, mostly for reblogging Harry Potter things and pictures of space.
★ Got some new glasses that are completely different to any I've had before, and learnt that change can be good. I'm now going for that middle aged man meets Harry Potter aesthetic.
★ Signed up for contact lenses and rediscovered what my face looks like without something permanently balancing on it.
★ Went out to eat for the first, and second, and third time in several years, and it was... fine. Food is difficult sometimes, but it's nice to know it can also be okay.
★ My mam's pup continued to be completely ridiculous. How is he even real?!
★ My mam's pup continued to be completely ridiculous. How is he even real?!
★ Started a postcard collection, to remember some of the places I've been.
★ Started a pop vinyl collection for no reason other than they make me happy.
★ Spent a large portion of time wondering what life would be like if everything were as reliable as that one thick hair that now grows just underneath my chin.
★ Spent a large portion of time wondering what life would be like if everything were as reliable as that one thick hair that now grows just underneath my chin.
★ Started using a Fitbit and made a good start on improving my fitness.
★ Supported 404 Ink on Patreon and they published their first lit magazine, which is marvellous and you should absolutely buy a copy if you're interested in new, wonderful writing.
★ Went to the cinema for the first time in many years to see Fantastic Beasts and got a bag of popcorn as big as my body.
★ Fell a little bit in love with both Queenie and Tina. And also Jacob and Newt. And Frank and Dougal and, well, all the magical creatures. J.K knows how to write 'em, that's for sure.
★ Fell a little bit in love with both Queenie and Tina. And also Jacob and Newt. And Frank and Dougal and, well, all the magical creatures. J.K knows how to write 'em, that's for sure.
★ Opened a savings account. It's full of metaphorical dust and cobwebs at the moment, but at least it exists!
★ Visited Hogwarts in the Snow, which was nothing short of an absolute dream.
★ Scored 95 on my first MA paper. Still can't believe it.
★ Received a stunning MinaLima print as a very generous Christmas gift from Mark and I vow to spend as much time staring at it as possible.
★ Scored 95 on my first MA paper. Still can't believe it.
★ Received a stunning MinaLima print as a very generous Christmas gift from Mark and I vow to spend as much time staring at it as possible.
And so, I suppose this year has been both difficult and wonderful; full of glorious highs and devastating lows; unbearable and beautiful. I don't know what the next twelve months hold, but I do know that I'm going to say goodbye to this year tomorrow with a glass of gin in hand. watching The Deathly Hallows with my nearest and dearest.
Sending lots of love to you and your loved ones at the end of this tumultuous year. I hope that you're doing okay and, as always, I'm always just an email away if you ever need anyone to talk to.
xo