Hope everyone has had a great week. This week I bring you a bumper edition of My Favourite Things with no less than 7 entries covering interesting stuff like the Hogwarts Express, introducing Letterboxd and gorgeous Tatty Devine jewellery. Don’t say I never treat you to anything!
1. Wedding album
I was ill at the start of this week and feeling a bit sorry for myself so I was thrilled when there was a knock on the door which turned out to be a delivery of our beautiful wedding album. it was probably less exciting for the delivery man who had to see me in my PJs with my hair all over the place.
The folio album designed by our wonderful wedding photographer Lucy Stendall came in a pretty cardboard box and a lovely cotton bag. The album is mint green and leather with our names on the front and Lucy’s logo on the back. So gorgeous. I was already way too excited before I’d even opened the album to look at the pictures!
Wow! I wasn’t prepared for how I would feel seeing our lovely wedding photos in such a gorgeous album. The images, which I already loved, seemed to look even better presented this way. The colours were bright and I could spot details I hadn’t noticed before – like everyone’s smiling faces on the picture of our first dance. Looking through the album was magical and made me so happy. I’m so glad we had Lucy as our photographer and that we have this album.
2. Harry Potter Studio Tour Hogwarts Express expansion!
Hogwarts Express at Warner Bros Studio Tour
ARGH! This is the best news ever.
First off, I have to admit that I am very biased towards the Warner Bros Harry Potter Studio Tour in Watford. I’ve been 5 times now I think and have loved it every single time. Butterbeer! Gryffindor common room! White card models! Design displays! All good.
But now they’ve announced that they are opening a new area on 19th March which will be a recreation of Platform 9 and 3/4 with the 0riginal Hogwarts Express. Amazing.
Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!
PS. Did you know you can pose with the disappearing Platform 9 3/4 luggage trolley and a Hogwarts scarf at King’s Cross station for free? Well worth a visit. Although prepare for queues at busy times.
3. Watching films again…
Michael Fassbender and Mia Wasikowska in Jane Eyre
I go through phases with my viewing habits. Sometimes all I want to do is go to the cinema, other times all I want to do is binge-watch TV show episodes but right now all I want to do is watch films on Netflix I haven’t seen before from my sofa in the comfort of my own home.
In the last week I’ve watched: Jane Eyre (excellent), What Maisie Knew (excellent), Begin Again (really good), Priceless (entertaining and love the central actors) , Miss Austen Regrets (g0od Beeb drama) and Cuban Fury (fine but not really sure why).
Any recommendations?
4. Letterboxd
Letterboxd
Following on from discussing my film-watching obsession recently, it only seems right to talk about the wonder that is Letterboxd.
Letterboxd is Goodreads for films. You log what films you’ve seen and when, what you want to watch and you can read other people’s reviews and lists.
It’s a great way of discovering news films as well as keeping track of what you watch (often I used to forget if I’d seen something – no more!) and also as an Unlimited card holder I find it useful to keep track of how often I’ve used the card to see if I’m still getting good value for money. The card costs me £16.40 a month and in January I saw 5 films – £3.28 a film which isn’t bad!
5. Would you watch a TV show about books?
I didn’t know I even wanted an interesting and accessible TV show about books until I read this article in The Guardian today. Come on Beeb, get to it!
6. Tatty Devine
I’ve loved Tatty Devine jewellery since I was in my early twenties and first started having a bit of money to spend. Recently I’ve definitely rekindled my love for their jewellery in a big way.
When Tatty Devine announced their collaboration with my favourite of all faves, Rob Ryan, I immediately knew I had to have something from the collection for my wedding jewellery. A lovely treat for me on our special day. I originally wanted a ring for my wedding ring but once I realised my fingers are too chubby I decided on the ‘A small piece of your love’ necklace which I… well, love.
Then on our trip to London the other week for the Charles Dickens Museum’s photography workshop and walk (more on this soon), Nial and I passed by the Tatty Devine shop in Covent Garden and couldn’t resist the temptation to have a little look as we passed by. There in a case was the remainders of the Rob Ryan collection and it was on sale too! Nial then surprised me by saying that he’d been planning to get me the ‘A Knot to Help Remember’ earrings at some point and would I like them as here they were handily on sale. The answer was obviously yes and a very happy girl I was.
I also spotted their amazing new Tudor collection which I have mentally added to my wish list for birthdays and other special occasions.
Also for Christmas I was lucky to be given this wonderful cuckoo clock brooch from their 15th Birthday collection which I love, although I’m really clumsy and terrified of breaking it!
So many amazing bits of jewellery. I’ve been very lucky!
7. Interesting infographic of the week
This fascinating look at which studios own which Marvel comic book characters from The Geek Twins.
A Visual Guide to Marvel Character Movie Rights – Infographic by The Geek Twins
