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Crafty Hands and Sticky Fingers

I've not had time to update this blog anymore since I left Korea. So much is going on. I've decided to do a blog about making costumes and arranging parties on a budget as I have a few coming up in the future. I hope you all enjoy.

http://craftyhandsstickyfingers.blogspot.co.uk/

I'll try to update this blog now and again is I go on any travels.

The Warner Brothers Harry Potter Studios.

Harry Potter Bus

In January I finally went to the Harry Potter studios in Watford Junction. I have wanted to go since it opened but I was living in Korea at the time. I had waited until now to go as I wanted to go during Christmas.

Harry Potter Studios

You book your tickets before online for the time you want. They told us it would take about 2 hours to look around. They said the shortest anyone had taken was 45 minutes and the longest was something like 8 hours.

We got the train from Euston to Watford Junction and then took the special studio bus to the studios. There we collected our tickets from the booth. The lady behind the counter. In fact all the staff seemed quite friendly and welcoming. It was a great atmosphere.

Chess pieces 

Inside I went to the shop as I wanted a Hufflepuff scarf and wand for the photos (I'm so cool...).  I could have gone crazy with the stuff they have there but I set myself a budget.We then joined the queue, passing the cupboard under the stairs into the start of the tour. You are led into a small room full of international posters from the Harry Potter movies. Here your tour guide asked your Hogwarts House and everyone gets excited!

The cupboard under the stairs

Korean Movie Poster for Harry Potter

Going into the Great Hall

We then went into a room with a big brown door. This was the door that led to the great hall. You wouldn't believe how excited I was at this point. If it's your birthday you were asked to go to the front for photos and to go into the hall first. We hung back to have photos, but they rush you in as the next tour starts soon after, so be quick if you want photos.

We went in January so the Christmas at Hogwarts decorations were still up. It was wonderful walking into the Great Hall with all the Christmas trees around and the fire places roaring. You get about five- ten minutes to look around until the next part of the tour. The guides all really know their stuff and seem to enjoy their work. In the Great Hall you can see costumes worn by the actors and actresses in the Harry Potter movies. It is quite freaky seeing these dummies with no faces.

The Great Hall

The Great Hall

The professors 

The Great Hall

You then see the props used for the Yule Ball and more wigs and costumes. After this you can go around on your own free time.

Entrance to Dumbledore's office

The Fat Lady

Here you can see Dumbledore's office, the Gryffindor common room, the gate for Hogwarts, the Entrance for Dumbledore's office, the potions classroom, the Weasley's house and Hagrid's homt to name a few.

Dumbledore's office

Leaky Cauldron

Gryffindor Tower

You can then go into a green room section where you can have a video of you riding a broomstick made or there are photos of the Weasley car or riding a broomstick. I did both of course!

After this you have the Ministry of Magic and more of the darker scenes from the later Harry Potter movies.

Ministry of Magic

Umbridge's office

This then leads to a cafe where you can have a proper cup of butter beer! We then went outside which is my favourite area with the Hogwarts bridge and the Knight bus. There is also the Weasley car and Hagrid's bike for photo ops.

Knight Bus

Godric's Hollow

This then leads to the behind the scene making of Harry Potter with the magical creatures including Dobby. You are then lead to the amazing Diagon Alley!!!! It's surreal walking down Diagon Alley and seeing all the different shops.

Diagon Alley

Ollivanders

There is then a corridor which shows the making of the smaller items used in the Harry Potter films such as newspapers. This leads to Hogwarts. As it was Christmas it was covered in snow and looked amazing!!!

Hogwarts

This was two years ago so there is now the Hogwarts express and in March the forbidden forest will be added. I really want to go back and see the changes and see where they have added these extra features. I might go at Halloween next time.....

Winter wonderland

Winter wonderland

Last Christmas, I went with my boyfriend to winter wonderland in Hyde park, Oh my gosh! It was freezing! I couldn't wait to get on the central line at the end of the night and warm my toes up.

We went on Sunday night as it was busy but not as busy as normal them. All around are food stalls and rides. We played on a few games and had some food. I had booked tickets for circus first thankfully as it was nice and warm inside the tent. My partner hadn't been to a circus since he was a kid so he had such a great time. It was mainly balancing and tightrope walking, but it was so scary!

Ice Kingdom

After we walked around for an hour until it was time to go in to the ice kingdom. In there it was -8'c but it felt much colder. One lady was told to take the dummy out of her babies mouth as it might freeze and get stuck.

I really enjoyed winter wonderland but by gosh was I happy to get into the warmth!

Ice Kingdom

The circus

Ice Kingdom

Ice Kingdom

Winter wonderland, Hyde park

Very.co.uk competition party

Last year, I won a competition for a V.I.P party from Very.co.uk. It came with prizes, overnight at a hotel, dinner and access to the party. I won it from a competition on Pinterest.

Very.co.uk party

On the day of the party I arrived at the hotel in the afternoon to meet the PR lady Emily. She came across as a big stuck up and unfriendly. She didn't make any attempt to make me feel welcome. I was alone as my guest was coming later after work. I went upstairs to my room which was lovely and Very.co.uk had left some prizes for me. There were some lovely nail vanishes and dresses.

I got ready and went downstairs. We were all driven to the venue of the party and we all went in. It was really disappointing how the other winners didn't try and talk to each other. There was one other winner called Charlotte and her guest who felt the same as me. They were surprised that the PR lady and the other winners were not more friendly. I was alone and only Charlotte and her mum were friendly. We ended up talking and drinking until my friend arrived.

The party was great. There was yummy food and the staff were friendly. The whole apartment had been decorated in the style of our pinterest board. There were some celebrities. I only recognised two. Rochelle from the Saturdays and her husband. She was so beautiful. The PR lady introduced some of the winners to her and they had an interview for the website, but she didn't involve me and the other winner Charlotte which was disappointing. I did email Very after, but got no response as I was annoyed by the attitude of someone who is suppose to be in PR and doesn't even work for Very.

Decorations

Apart from her and some of the other winners not being overly friendly (which each other as well. They all kept themselves to themselves) it was a great night! After we went for a meal. All the tables were separate, but we put our table with Charlotte and her guest and had a great time. Dido (my guest) was so tipsy by the time we got back to the hotel. She was so funny!

It was a fab night and I feel so lucky to have won! I am just surprised that I have won two once in a lifetime experiences (this and the Hunger game premier) and the employees of these places have been rude to winners and ruined the experience. It's just a shame.

The hotel

My decorations

Picture from the party

Posing!

Korean food in London - Mudo Korea

Yum!

I took my friend to a Korean restaurant in London last week. I haven't eaten Korean food for ages and had heard bad stuff about Korean food outside Korea, therefore my hopes weren't high. How wrong I was! It was so delicious! The lady serving us was really friend too. We ordered too much food, but we wanted to eat everything. The price was much higher than in a Korean fast food restaurant, but the quality was much higher. There was more meat and kimchi in the dishes. If you fancy Korean food then go to Mudo Korea! Its near Tottenham court road. Yummy!

Mudo Korea

Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 premier

Back in May I won tickets for the Hunger Games Mockingjay Part 1 world premier in London. I was so excited and invited my younger brother as a way of thanks for taking me to Buckingham palace.

Tickets!

We collected out tickets from a different cinema and went to eat for a few hours until it started. When we came back we had to queue to get let in. We handed in our phones and cameras and walked the red carpet. This bit was the best bit. No-one even noticed us,, but it was a awesome experience. Now this is where is went down hill quite quickly. I expected to go in a big room, perhaps at the back separately from the stars etc. But the same room none the less. Oh no! We were push down the back hall ways past the staff room in to a Costa cafe.

We then went up stairs and it turns out we were in one of three small cinemas for competition winners. There were no seats together at the first cinema. Some people asked to go in the second or third cinema. The guard was really grumpy and said she wanted to fill the first cinema up. Some people complained we arrived first so we should get to seat together rather than the people who arrive late. But no! PMS guard was just in a grumpy mood that day.

Before being disappointed

We had to sit watching the red carpet on the screen for an hour, knowing we would never even be in the same room as the stars. In fact the people waiting outside had more of a premier experience than we did! I mean for goodness sake, they even let Jordan (or Katie Price, whatever she calls herself now days) in!!

The movie itself was really good! Jennifer Lawrence is a brilliant actress. I want to read the books now.

I really think in future they should call it an advanced preview rather than a premier. And truth be told, If I had known this was the case I wouldn't have wasted a day off work.... I felt really bad for the people who wore full length gowns and really made an effort. Oh well. I will have to meet my future best friend Jennifer Lawrence another time ;)

London and new starts.

Natural history museum London

The reason I haven't updated for ages is because I've move to London! I got a job as a receptionist/ administrator two months ago. In fact loads of things have been happening.

First I moved to Canary Wharf (I have since moved). I have been exploring London! I meet my best friend (Dido). I also met my boyfriend. So first things first. I started my new job the day before going to Buckingham palace. I've now been there 6 months, though it feels like longer. I work on reception within a college.

When I first moved to London it was quite London as I didn't know anyone. I just explored the museum and went for walks. Though I will never go into a museum on a Saturday again! Crazy!

I have become best friends with the other receptionist during my time here. We support each other when we are getting abuse off students....

At first I went home every other weekend, but now it's once a month. Though, I think my parents are happy because I tend to steal all their food (it's hard living on my wages in London!)

That's all for now! I'll keep you updated!

London Eye

Natural history museum London

The Thames

View from my first room In London.

Halloween 2014

Halloween 2014

This Halloween was mine and my boyfriends first Halloween together. We dressed up as a silent movie. We got white face paint and black clothes. It was fun getting ready together. The only problem was the white paint kept getting everywhere. The clothes, the carpet, my mums car seats.. everywhere! My parents dressed up as Dracula and a zombie bar maid. My mum looked terrifying.

Silent movie costume

My parents dropped us off at our party before going to their own. We went to my friends charity party event. There was a costume competition so everyone had put a huge effort in to their costumes. We ended up winning best couple costume and a prize in the raffle! It was a great night!

Having tea with the queen.

Standards Parade

Last May, I had the opportunity to watch my brother in the standards parade for the queen and then have tea in the Buckingham palace gardens. I was so excited and felt lucky to have this chance.

On the day, we woke up early to get dressed and be there early. We had to wear formal clothes. The dresses had to be over the knee. Unfortunately for us, the weather took a turn for the worse and my white shoes went from white to brown quite quickly.

Standards Parade

We caught a taxi to Whitehall to watch my brother in the standards parade. We had to buy waterproof water jackets by this point, because there were no umbrellas were aloud and it was raining by this point.

We arrived early so we could take photos. We had quite a good view from out seats. The only annoying thing was late comers. Why can't people be on time!! >.< First, the tanks came out and then the horses. My brother was on the opposite side from us, therefore we couldn't see him.  The queen then came in a black car to inspect the horse guards and tanks.

Standards 

After the standards parade we had a few hours so we went for food. We got a few looks from people as we were wearing hats and carrying our heels (we changed into flat shoes to walk about). They must of thought we were going to a wedding.

Ready to meet the Queen

The the afternoon we went for tea at the palace. It was such a wonderful, once in a life time experience. It felt almost surreal walking through the palace to the gardens.

Royal cakes

In the gardens we waited for the Royal family to come out. I saw the Queen, Prince Philip, Prince Harry and Princess Anne. They were all so friendly and lovely. I swear Prince Philip smiled at me!

After the royal family went in their area, we could all go for tea and cakes. The food was so delicious! Cakes, sandwiches, tea, coffee etc. As delicious as you would expect from the Queen.

It was such a wonderful day and I was so lucky to be able to go. I won't be forgetting it soon!

Buckingham Palace Gardens