Hogwarts Adventure

I wouldn't exactly call myself a die-hard Harry Potter fan however that did not stop me from visiting the Warner Brothers Studio Tour for a second time and still be amazed as I was the first time. Even if you have never read the books or watched any of the films, you will definitely be impressed by what the studio tour has to offer!

I recommend booking your tickets online (here you will be asked to choose a time slot for the tour) and in advance as it is such a popular attraction - this just means you have a better chance at securing a place at a time that is convenient for you.

The tour lasts for approximately three to four hours which gives you enough time to explore, eat and shop!

WHAT TO EXPECT: 

• "Behind-the-scenes" access to see how the Harry Potter films were made.
• Detailed props and sets.
• Interactive opportunities in the green screen rooms.

INSIDE THE GREAT HALL - THE START OF THE TOUR

THE BACKLOT - THE MIDDLE OF THE TOUR:

After visiting Platform 9 and ¾'s, you will be lead to what's known as the "backlot". This area allows you to purchase refreshments (personally, I would bring a packed lunch as there are limited food choices on offer and is fairly expensive), enjoy Butterbeer (again overpriced, tastes just like Cream Soda - if you're into that, but also part of the experience) and gently guides you to Privet Drive.

THE MODEL OF HOGWARTS - THE FINAL PART OF THE TOUR:

The model of Hogwarts is 100% the showstopper of the entire tour - no more needs to be said about this! 

WHAT ELSE IS ON OFFER?

THE STUDIO SHOP: has a range of merchandise, it's every Potter heads dream - from notebooks to chocolate wands, you will want everything! HOWEVER, you may want to take out a small loan if you do wish to buy something because it is not cheap!!! 

Apart from this, if you're looking for a fun day out then I would wholeheartedly encourage you to visit!

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Going insane?

As the title of this post suggests, I literally felt like I was going insane at the start of the year. I found life pretty overwhelming, I didn't know what I was doing and (now I know) that is okay, it is totally normal to feel this way!

Without going into too much detail, I was diagnosed with a mental health condition; an anxiety disorder to be exact which provided me with a logical explanation as to why I was I finding daily activities so exhausting - more on this can be found here.

Having an anxiety disorder affects everything, your social life, your circle of friends and for me, finding the motivation to do the littlest of things like going to uni everyday was an absolute challenge. I can happily say now that I have managed to complete the second year of my degree after many hours of crying and stressing myself out - I did it, I survived!

It has taken a couple of months to feel like me again but slow progress is better than none. I can now concentrate and focus my time on things I have neglected; like my blog 😬.  This is my first post since January but I am excited to get back into writing 😌.

I have learnt that life is all about balance - it is important to take breaks for your own sanity.

One of my favourite quotes is "comparison is the thief of joy" and this could not be more true! I would spend hours on my phone scrolling through social media constantly wondering why my life was not like everyone else's but now I have realised social media is just an illusion - people obviously only post the best parts of their life and what they want people to see, it's not their real day-to-day life. Every so often, I have a "digital detox" and it is one of the best things I have ever done - it really helps to clear the mind - the less time I spend on my phone, the better I feel!

I don't really know where I am going with this but I am so proud of how far I have come despite everything.

The present situation is not the final destination.

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