Harry got hunted.

Although last week was fairly quiet school wise, the usual scun knees at lunch time, playground stories with my favourite five year olds (shhhhhh I don't really have favourites.....), school functions serving wine to parents that seem unable to pour their own glasses and my regular hover nanny duties  I was spoilt on Thursday with one of the best days of my life. 

HARRY POTTER WORLD

Now, I had pretty high expectations. Given that they had filmed at those very studios for ten years.... I had a feeling that a lot of props, costumes and sets may be lurking around the building somewhere..... I was not imagining every single one of the best moments of the films to come to life before my eyes.

There were goblins, there was dobby, Hagrid (not a living version), giant spiders, basaliscs, cardboard miniatures of every single building that appeared, I walked through diagon alley, peered into the griffindoor common room, the weaselys house, hagrids home, dumbledores office, the ministry of magic portal, the moving staircases, the nimbus 2000 and the thunderbolt, I walked through the great hall with the benches set with cutlery and goblets on each side. BUT. The highlight was walking around a darkened corner to find an exact replica of hogwarts castle towering over me. Just taking in all of these bits and pieces that made these movies so incredible was overwhelming enough, but to understand the level of effort that went into creating these magical memories gave me a newfound appreciation. Every scene was painted prior to being filmed, every goblins head was made by hand to perfection, each costume created specifically for each character with over 2,000 cast and crew members making their contribution every one of them crucial to Harry Potters success. 

Not only was it an unforgettable day for me, the girls got just as much out of it and it was really lovely to see their excitement and share it with them every step of the way. 

Friday was very quiet in comparison. Until a new light was shed on Thursdays drama as a sewerage tank leaked above the school office. Mmmmmm poo juice dripping through the ceiling was not ideal, thankfully we had the right people in to fix the smelly situation and the office was returned to its former glory by late Friday afternoon.

Saturday was hightea time at the tenth hole, and boy were we treated to the ultimate afternoon feast. There were cheese and chilli jam sandwiches, fruit scones with jam, cream and fresh strawberries, sponge cake, caramel slice, raspberry macaroons, rhubarb tarts and shortbreads. Oh and I can't forget the enormous pot of tea. I now feel englishly-complete. All that was left to do was sit on the beach until we felt able to walk home, then sunbake in our backyard for the rest of the afternoon. Someone had to do it. 

Today was another day of working on the tan, music in the background, a few sneaky bubbles and preparing for another week of work. 

28 days until my European adventures begin, but who's counting right? :)