Happy Monday and welcome back to the town square! This is our chance to mingle and talk about all things, from what’s on our to-be-read lists, all the way to our reasons for staying alive. As a reintroduction, this one will be open to everyone. In the future, they will be for patrons only.
, who asks this for his guest interviews (side note: he’s looking for guest authors in the upcoming months, so check out his publication for details). It was also inspired by
Answer the question: What's something people would find surprising about you?
Respond to someone else’s comment.
Meet you in the comments. 🩵
With Love,
QUICK NOTE: If you’re participating in the Lord of the Rings Challenge, the first post is coming to your inbox on Sunday, September 22 (a.k.a. HOBBIT DAY)! I’ll be covering chapters 1-5 of The Fellowship of the Ring.
Reminder that I have a pay-what-you-can promotion until September 20. If this community is one you’d like to be part of, or to read my more personal essays, including those for Lord of the Rings challenge, take advantage soon.
For anyone who’s listened to my audios or watched my videos, you might be surprised to learn I’m not actually English…!
I have a quintessentially English accent, very BBC, and yet I’m actually half New Zealander and half Welsh, and grew up in the Middle East and South East Asia. I moved to England as a teenager, hence the accent, but it’s a bit of a red herring 🥰
I enjoy this thread. As for my own surprising experiences…hmmm. I made up a secret pig call that brings the pigs running over to the fence in a jiffy. But I prefer not to share this pig call with curious humans. I once helped hijack a private car in another country by mistake. I got up early to take New Testament Greek before high school my senior year and loved it. I used to milk my friend’s herd of goats when they needed a farm tender while they were away. I
I'm a big Lord of the Rings fan, so people would probably be surprised to learn that I didn't read the books until I was an adult, after I'd seen the movies. I only finished reading The Silmarillion a few months ago.
The Hobbit was the first novel I remember finishing as a kid, so that and the wonderfully creepy cartoon were all I had of Middle Earth until the live action films.
Oh my goodness, I love hearing people’s LOTR origin stories! I didn’t know the books existed until after I watched the movies either, although that was middle school.
Some people are surprised that I like to go to Las Vegas by myself and eat and play the slots. They don’t think about Vegas from this perspective—Vegas is very wheelchair accessible!
I always play slots! I was thinking about going a few months ago, but the last time I went, I came home with Covid and gave it to my husband, so I am holding off for now. Hopefully, Covid will become less potentially serious over time.
I have only had it once so far, but Chris, my husband, has had it twice—once when I brought it back from Vegas and once random. And we’re fully vaccinated. We took Paxlovid, but it may help, but it is pretty nasty, too.
Congrats on not getting it so far—I didn't get it until August 2023.
In Vegas, it is even relatively easy to get a wheelchair accessible cab at the airport and to go back to the airport, which is not the case in other cities I have been to.
I have heard of long waits, but have not experienced them.
Oh wow, I love that. Actually, that reminds me of how often my family went to Vegas when I was younger. It makes a lot of sense now that I'm seeing it this way!
People generally find it surprising that I am a classically trained opera singer. I guess I don’t give off “my voice is amazing pay attention to me” energy. Also doesn’t help that I’m also pretty shy about singing 😂
Hmmmmmm difficult question haha but probably der erlkönig by Franz Schubert. It’s a German art song with tons of different characters. Difficult to sing, fun to sing, insane piano accompaniment haha
I have performed with choirs in a lot of places, but nothing quite solo that would be noteworthy haha. That said, if this writing thing takes off, I would love to get back to performing on stage.
Actually, I guess performing at the White House with one of the choirs is something worth mentioning haha.
I’m not necessarily shy to talk about it, I just don’t sing as much randomly as one might expect for someone like me. There are many more reasons for that, too many to unpack in a comment section lol
Amazing, Preston. You performed at the White House!! I hope you do start performing again. I was a choir nerd growing up, so I also love singing. Only took private voice lessons for a year, though, before my teacher moved away.
Aw that’s awesome! What was your voice part? I’m bass/baritone. I didn’t even know I could sing until my senior year of high school.
I still do caroling during the holidays, and it pays exceptionally well haha. But I would love to do it more frequently and will hopefully have the opportunity to do so sooner than later!
I was a first soprano. Sometimes second, if needed.
Oh my goodness, that's so cool that you still do caroling. It reminds me of how we used to carol in front of grocery stores to fundraise for our high school choir. You brought back such fond memories for me. Thanks, Preston!
This is such a fascinating thread! One thing people might find surprising about me is that I competed in judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu while growing up and once, when I was the only girl in the competition and so was put in the boys’ category, “broke” a kid’s arm. I use quotes because I doubt it was actually broken, but the story is now a cornerstone of my dad’s life narrative. 😂
I always like hearing others' answers to this question but have a hard time answering it myself. These days, I wonder if that's because of autistic and trauma-related masking....I've spent so long crafting myself into what I think others expect that some folks would be *very* surprised by the aspects of myself I've kept hidden from them. (I'm growing into being my authentic self more consistently, but it's a process.)
Here's my stab at an answer: a number of people are surprised to learn that Tai Chi is an important part of my life.
I'll tell you but I'll get cancelled forever and blocked. And yes I am bitter and twisted. I've only ever had sex once and that didn't end well. And thanks to that dangerous liason I was tricked into,to this day in my neighbourhood I'm seen as "The Town Tramp" and reacted to with hostility and if not open abuse,barely concealed contempt. We DO NOT LIVE in a non-judgmental and accepting of others sexual mores society,not that I have any sexual mores,my one experience told me I wasn't cut out for all that. But this is the cruel truth I've learned,it's not something that is acknowledged or written about,if you lack sexual validity you are kept out and excluded. I dont mean sexual activity. Children can be sexually valid ie it's clear they are going to be desirable and attractive,I'm on thin ice here. Old ladies,the cheeky grannies who flirt with the bus driver,twinkly eyed old gents,they are sexually valid. People just know. So I should have topped myself but I haven't so I've got to accept it. It happens. Oh well,it was nice being here while it lasted!
Jane, I am so sorry you went through such a horrendous thing, and that you feel it's something you'd get blocked for. I know those feelings of bitterness and rejection must have come from being labeled so shamefully for something that was not at all your fault. You're welcome here, and I'm grateful you felt safe enough to share your story.
I think it was a bit my fault but thank you for being so kind. It was 1972 and on tv,radio,etc well it was lies just like today. All that don't do it,it's the patriarchy,if you don't or won't you're horrible and mean. I think young girls,women still fall for all that stuff like they always have and always will. I put it on here because it this day I encounter people who let me know they "know all about me" or maybe some sort of alter ego whose had a much more exciting time than me. So it's no secret. I knew and felt after 15years that God has forgiven me but the trouble is it's not God who lives next door,or down the road etc. Why haven't I moved. I like where I live ironically,and id take myself with me if I did go somewhere else.
I had very good parents who did teach me right but..I saw from my own observation that to have the things you wanted you had to have a partner. For all the bold talk it's the same now. I didnt seek this guy. With the instinct of the predator he pursued me and hunted me down. I was as I thought with him for nearly a year before...it's not like it was the next day or something . Proves you never can tell. And ironically my parents though they hated and knew he was rubbish and tried to warn me,they did not find my being in a relationship abnormal or wrong . It was the bloody neighbours who reacted like I'd just started World War 3. My locality was so boring and uneventful my- very nearly- s..g was the most exciting thing to happen in years. I feared being alone in life unable to travel,do things, experience life. My parents view of life was go to work,come home + watch tv,go to bed ,same next day,the idea of that for the next 50 years as my life appalled me. And I tried to escape it. Did not succeed and it was my life until aged 30 I did escape it. But it wasn't easy. But then it never is. For anyone. Thanks for being so nice.
I wish the world was kinder, but it seems every time we defeat one form of evil, another rears its ugly head. I hope you find solace in your faith you mentioned and at least a few safe people around you, Jane. I still don't think what happened was your fault, and the expectations placed on you were unfair.
For some reason, people find it really surprising that I have multiple tattoos. Probably less so now that I dye my hair funky colors but it’s been a shock to people 🤣
I have a dragon (I love dragons), mountains (reminder to keep moving), flower cluster (state flowers of everywhere I lived), and a smiley face (matching with my brother)
I shared a fair bit in a reply to the second comment, but here I will share that I was part of a delightful bellydance troupe for a good few years, such a happy celebration of feminine energy! We were a Baladi troupe, all colours and glitter and fun.
1. I’m much shorter than people seem to expect. I haven’t measured myself in ages but I reckon I’m around 152-154cm which is like 5’ or 5’1.
2. People who know me personally are surprised I’m a writer. People who know me virtually might not know my day job is a doctor (currently on mat leave). But my full-time and most important job is a mum of three - aged 6, almost 4 and 9 months.
I love living in England for two years, traveled quite a bit, come to think of it I lived in three countries I forgot one: Germany, England and South Korea.
People often find it surprising that I choreograph fight scenes as part of my living. It's one of those jobs that most don't think about, and that sounds really cool when they do.
People would probably find surprising about me that I’m bilingual (my mom is Peruvian and taught me Spanish) so I am able to read and speak both languages, though I struggle writing in Spanish, so I wouldn’t translate my own books haha.
Not surprising is I have an owl’s sleep schedule and I cannot do things in the morning. Not ever! 😅
Ooh what a lovely gift to have! I entered college as a Spanish/Russian Double Major and promptly got out of that lol. But I looooove the Spanish language.
I too am a night owl and am forever explaining to people why I don't do mornings. lol
That makes me think of my husband, Mariella. He's bilingual in English and Mandarin but also can't write in Chinese haha. He does read Chinese faster than English, so that's pretty interesting to me.
I love this question! I'm a fairly open book across my Substack, socials, and communities, but that makes me work harder to find something that is surprising. But here are two that I think fit the bill:
1. I have a whole room in my house that is Harry Potter themed, from memorabilia to sheets, comforter, even the electrical outlets have a HP cover overtop of it.
I'm a GryffinClaw ;) It's funny, I always either get Gryffindor or Ravenclaw when I do the tests or whatever. So I decided to just combine them lol. How about you?
I've just been to a place where they filmed lots of Harry Potter scenes. I wouldn't have known but my friend who has grandkids told me. And I'm not into Harry Potter! Places were York,city of and Bishop Auckland North of England but they filmed a lot at Gloucester Cathedral and even in the university tower at Bristol. AND I saw the queue at Kings Cross for the Potter platform!
Oh I'm so green with envy right now. I would LOVE to see all of those places! The closest I've come is Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Disney. And it was pretty incredible, but nothing would beat being in the same places as where the "magic" took place!
Oh my goodness do I ever have stories! lol. I have to admit that dating during college was a bust because not only did I miss out on the bar nights, but no one wanted to date the person associated with the campus police!
Thanks for the question, Tiffany - I'm trying to think of something I haven't shared.
Some people are surprised that I'm a business owner in addition to looking after my Mum and the Carer Mentor mission. It's a privilege and fun to be part of other people's career-life journeys!
If readers are familiar with Carer Mentor, they may see that I love various music genres and languages. e.g. French Italian...I'm still trying to decide about K Pop!
Aw hon thanks. I AM a little mad-weird though, and right now tired! So no awe needed...my to-list and calendar look like a cross between a Kandinsky and one of those spirograph design things, dots and lines!
Love this!
For anyone who’s listened to my audios or watched my videos, you might be surprised to learn I’m not actually English…!
I have a quintessentially English accent, very BBC, and yet I’m actually half New Zealander and half Welsh, and grew up in the Middle East and South East Asia. I moved to England as a teenager, hence the accent, but it’s a bit of a red herring 🥰
I enjoy this thread. As for my own surprising experiences…hmmm. I made up a secret pig call that brings the pigs running over to the fence in a jiffy. But I prefer not to share this pig call with curious humans. I once helped hijack a private car in another country by mistake. I got up early to take New Testament Greek before high school my senior year and loved it. I used to milk my friend’s herd of goats when they needed a farm tender while they were away. I
I'm a big Lord of the Rings fan, so people would probably be surprised to learn that I didn't read the books until I was an adult, after I'd seen the movies. I only finished reading The Silmarillion a few months ago.
The Hobbit was the first novel I remember finishing as a kid, so that and the wonderfully creepy cartoon were all I had of Middle Earth until the live action films.
Oh my goodness, I love hearing people’s LOTR origin stories! I didn’t know the books existed until after I watched the movies either, although that was middle school.
Nice! Regardless of the path you take to Middle Earth, it's just good to be there.
I tried to start reading LOTR in college, but I was too tired and busy to get past the first couple chapters.
Some people are surprised that I like to go to Las Vegas by myself and eat and play the slots. They don’t think about Vegas from this perspective—Vegas is very wheelchair accessible!
Teri, I think it would be a total blast to meet you in Vegas. I have an urge to play the slots. 🎰
I always play slots! I was thinking about going a few months ago, but the last time I went, I came home with Covid and gave it to my husband, so I am holding off for now. Hopefully, Covid will become less potentially serious over time.
Yikes, Covid. I haven’t had it so far (knock on wood) but it is, sadly, a concern. And always a worry that I’ll give it to someone else.
I have only had it once so far, but Chris, my husband, has had it twice—once when I brought it back from Vegas and once random. And we’re fully vaccinated. We took Paxlovid, but it may help, but it is pretty nasty, too.
Congrats on not getting it so far—I didn't get it until August 2023.
Does the house win?
That's really encouraging. My mom uses a wheelchair and sometimes it gets super frustrating how many places AREN'T accessible for her.
In Vegas, it is even relatively easy to get a wheelchair accessible cab at the airport and to go back to the airport, which is not the case in other cities I have been to.
I have heard of long waits, but have not experienced them.
The whole thing is a very liberating experience.
Oh wow, I love that. Actually, that reminds me of how often my family went to Vegas when I was younger. It makes a lot of sense now that I'm seeing it this way!
People generally find it surprising that I am a classically trained opera singer. I guess I don’t give off “my voice is amazing pay attention to me” energy. Also doesn’t help that I’m also pretty shy about singing 😂
Whoa! Favourite piece to sing?
Hmmmmmm difficult question haha but probably der erlkönig by Franz Schubert. It’s a German art song with tons of different characters. Difficult to sing, fun to sing, insane piano accompaniment haha
Yes, I’m familiar with the piece. Having played (and quit) violin, I love Hillary Hahn’s rendition of it. Difficult piece!
Hilary Hahn is my favourite violinist. She’s magical.
I’m in tears every time…
So good. My favourite is her rendition of Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto E Minor opus 64, the first movement. Gives me goosebumps.
Incredibly, but so much fun to perform. It was my audition piece for colleges. I had been singing for 6 months 😂
What! That's awesome, Preston! Have you performed anywhere? You should not be shy about something this cool.
I have performed with choirs in a lot of places, but nothing quite solo that would be noteworthy haha. That said, if this writing thing takes off, I would love to get back to performing on stage.
Actually, I guess performing at the White House with one of the choirs is something worth mentioning haha.
I’m not necessarily shy to talk about it, I just don’t sing as much randomly as one might expect for someone like me. There are many more reasons for that, too many to unpack in a comment section lol
Amazing, Preston. You performed at the White House!! I hope you do start performing again. I was a choir nerd growing up, so I also love singing. Only took private voice lessons for a year, though, before my teacher moved away.
Aw that’s awesome! What was your voice part? I’m bass/baritone. I didn’t even know I could sing until my senior year of high school.
I still do caroling during the holidays, and it pays exceptionally well haha. But I would love to do it more frequently and will hopefully have the opportunity to do so sooner than later!
I was a first soprano. Sometimes second, if needed.
Oh my goodness, that's so cool that you still do caroling. It reminds me of how we used to carol in front of grocery stores to fundraise for our high school choir. You brought back such fond memories for me. Thanks, Preston!
Happy to help! Get back into singing, even if it’s just in the shower or while cleaning the house. It’s so great for mental health :)
This is such a fascinating thread! One thing people might find surprising about me is that I competed in judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu while growing up and once, when I was the only girl in the competition and so was put in the boys’ category, “broke” a kid’s arm. I use quotes because I doubt it was actually broken, but the story is now a cornerstone of my dad’s life narrative. 😂
Oh my goodness, Bridget! Such a good story haha. I bet your dad loves telling it. I can't imagine you doing martial arts for some reason.
I wasn’t great at it, but I could hold my own. 😅
I always like hearing others' answers to this question but have a hard time answering it myself. These days, I wonder if that's because of autistic and trauma-related masking....I've spent so long crafting myself into what I think others expect that some folks would be *very* surprised by the aspects of myself I've kept hidden from them. (I'm growing into being my authentic self more consistently, but it's a process.)
Here's my stab at an answer: a number of people are surprised to learn that Tai Chi is an important part of my life.
I love Tai Chi.
How did that come to be?
I'll tell you but I'll get cancelled forever and blocked. And yes I am bitter and twisted. I've only ever had sex once and that didn't end well. And thanks to that dangerous liason I was tricked into,to this day in my neighbourhood I'm seen as "The Town Tramp" and reacted to with hostility and if not open abuse,barely concealed contempt. We DO NOT LIVE in a non-judgmental and accepting of others sexual mores society,not that I have any sexual mores,my one experience told me I wasn't cut out for all that. But this is the cruel truth I've learned,it's not something that is acknowledged or written about,if you lack sexual validity you are kept out and excluded. I dont mean sexual activity. Children can be sexually valid ie it's clear they are going to be desirable and attractive,I'm on thin ice here. Old ladies,the cheeky grannies who flirt with the bus driver,twinkly eyed old gents,they are sexually valid. People just know. So I should have topped myself but I haven't so I've got to accept it. It happens. Oh well,it was nice being here while it lasted!
Jane, I am so sorry you went through such a horrendous thing, and that you feel it's something you'd get blocked for. I know those feelings of bitterness and rejection must have come from being labeled so shamefully for something that was not at all your fault. You're welcome here, and I'm grateful you felt safe enough to share your story.
I think it was a bit my fault but thank you for being so kind. It was 1972 and on tv,radio,etc well it was lies just like today. All that don't do it,it's the patriarchy,if you don't or won't you're horrible and mean. I think young girls,women still fall for all that stuff like they always have and always will. I put it on here because it this day I encounter people who let me know they "know all about me" or maybe some sort of alter ego whose had a much more exciting time than me. So it's no secret. I knew and felt after 15years that God has forgiven me but the trouble is it's not God who lives next door,or down the road etc. Why haven't I moved. I like where I live ironically,and id take myself with me if I did go somewhere else.
I had very good parents who did teach me right but..I saw from my own observation that to have the things you wanted you had to have a partner. For all the bold talk it's the same now. I didnt seek this guy. With the instinct of the predator he pursued me and hunted me down. I was as I thought with him for nearly a year before...it's not like it was the next day or something . Proves you never can tell. And ironically my parents though they hated and knew he was rubbish and tried to warn me,they did not find my being in a relationship abnormal or wrong . It was the bloody neighbours who reacted like I'd just started World War 3. My locality was so boring and uneventful my- very nearly- s..g was the most exciting thing to happen in years. I feared being alone in life unable to travel,do things, experience life. My parents view of life was go to work,come home + watch tv,go to bed ,same next day,the idea of that for the next 50 years as my life appalled me. And I tried to escape it. Did not succeed and it was my life until aged 30 I did escape it. But it wasn't easy. But then it never is. For anyone. Thanks for being so nice.
I wish the world was kinder, but it seems every time we defeat one form of evil, another rears its ugly head. I hope you find solace in your faith you mentioned and at least a few safe people around you, Jane. I still don't think what happened was your fault, and the expectations placed on you were unfair.
For some reason, people find it really surprising that I have multiple tattoos. Probably less so now that I dye my hair funky colors but it’s been a shock to people 🤣
I want tattoos too.
I support this!
This is what I almost put as one of mine, too! I have 11 of them but really the only two you'd notice are my arm sleeves.
Ahh that’s so cool! I def want to get more!
What are the ratios? What do they represent?
I have a dragon (I love dragons), mountains (reminder to keep moving), flower cluster (state flowers of everywhere I lived), and a smiley face (matching with my brother)
(Obviously meant to type “tattoos” and not “ratios.” I suppose the typos are consistent with my Substack though 😂)
Ahaha I knew what you meant. I make my fair share of typos on mine as well 🤣
I shared a fair bit in a reply to the second comment, but here I will share that I was part of a delightful bellydance troupe for a good few years, such a happy celebration of feminine energy! We were a Baladi troupe, all colours and glitter and fun.
That is SO cool.
Such a fun and thought-provoking question!
Two things come to mind:
1. I’m much shorter than people seem to expect. I haven’t measured myself in ages but I reckon I’m around 152-154cm which is like 5’ or 5’1.
2. People who know me personally are surprised I’m a writer. People who know me virtually might not know my day job is a doctor (currently on mat leave). But my full-time and most important job is a mum of three - aged 6, almost 4 and 9 months.
We're around the same height, Ruhie!
Another thing we have in common!
I am an American born in what was then West Germany
I have been to over 35 states and half dozen countries, lived in 2 of those countries and five of the states.
Stephen, that sounds like such an adventurous life. Is there a place you've loved living in most?
I love living in England for two years, traveled quite a bit, come to think of it I lived in three countries I forgot one: Germany, England and South Korea.
I bet you have a lot of stories to tell of your experiences. Was it your choice to move around so often?
Not really, I lived in Germany as a kid and was in the military in England and South Korea.
Oh man, this could get wild.
- I lived in a Benedictine monastery for a bit before joining the Navy.
- I have spent more than six years of my life at sea on ships and submarines.
- I knew how to ride a horse before I knew how to ride a bike.
I could keep going but I have a reputation to maintain.
Wild
Whoa, a Benedictine monastery?? I want to hear about this!
One thing that often surprises people when they meet me in person is how short I am (5' 2"). I guess I project taller in photographs and personality 🤣
Seems like a lot of us are tiny! I've found my people.
🥰🥰🥰
Small people HAVE Big personalities.
I’m 5’4 and a half…tall for a short person!
Haha me too! I just posted something similar 🙌🏼🙌🏼
I’m short too!! 4’11 but I always round up and say I’m 5’.
I feel so tall! At 5’2”…😅
I used to be 5’ 3 ¾” and I rounded up to 5’ 4”, but I’m of an age where I’m shrinking, so now I’m 5’ 2”.
Oh god, I'm doomed..
Not necessarily - make sure you get enough calcium, and do strength training exercises for stronger bones 🥰
People often find it surprising that I choreograph fight scenes as part of my living. It's one of those jobs that most don't think about, and that sounds really cool when they do.
Neat. Choreographed as purely fight scenes or with dance elements?
Either one, though I’m normally called in to do just the fights. I do intimacy coordination as well.
The last play I was hired for I did fights, intimacy, and yoga sequences for them.
Interesting work
Wow that’s so cool!
Jenn is super cool.
Aw. Yer cool.
That does sound really cool! For movies, tv, theater?
For theatre! It is super cool—I wish it were more consistent work but I do love it.
That sounds so fun! Are you in London?
Nope! In Colorado.
Wish I was in Colorado. So many cool people there.
People would probably find surprising about me that I’m bilingual (my mom is Peruvian and taught me Spanish) so I am able to read and speak both languages, though I struggle writing in Spanish, so I wouldn’t translate my own books haha.
Not surprising is I have an owl’s sleep schedule and I cannot do things in the morning. Not ever! 😅
Ooh what a lovely gift to have! I entered college as a Spanish/Russian Double Major and promptly got out of that lol. But I looooove the Spanish language.
I too am a night owl and am forever explaining to people why I don't do mornings. lol
#nightowlsunite
I’m so with you on the night owl thing! If only the rest of the world operated on our schedule!
That makes me think of my husband, Mariella. He's bilingual in English and Mandarin but also can't write in Chinese haha. He does read Chinese faster than English, so that's pretty interesting to me.
It’s really fascinating how the brain works. Either way, being bilingual opens so many doors!
I love this question! I'm a fairly open book across my Substack, socials, and communities, but that makes me work harder to find something that is surprising. But here are two that I think fit the bill:
1. I have a whole room in my house that is Harry Potter themed, from memorabilia to sheets, comforter, even the electrical outlets have a HP cover overtop of it.
2. I was a 911 dispatcher in college
Hi Jade! What's your Hogwarts house?
I'm a GryffinClaw ;) It's funny, I always either get Gryffindor or Ravenclaw when I do the tests or whatever. So I decided to just combine them lol. How about you?
That's awesome! I love it.
I'm a Gryffindor. Or at least I try.
Yay for Harry Potter! ⚡️ I would love to hear some 911 dispatcher stories!
Oh there are a lot of them! I'll have to think about the best ones and do a little post about it!
I've just been to a place where they filmed lots of Harry Potter scenes. I wouldn't have known but my friend who has grandkids told me. And I'm not into Harry Potter! Places were York,city of and Bishop Auckland North of England but they filmed a lot at Gloucester Cathedral and even in the university tower at Bristol. AND I saw the queue at Kings Cross for the Potter platform!
Oh I'm so green with envy right now. I would LOVE to see all of those places! The closest I've come is Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Disney. And it was pretty incredible, but nothing would beat being in the same places as where the "magic" took place!
I hope you get to do it one day. Log ALL the locations and you'll get a tour of most of Britain it seems to me. I hope you get the chance one day.
I love that you unashamedly have a HP themed room in your house. Very cool!!
Aww thank you! It is one of my greatest treasures to just sit amongst the world in my own little space!
What’s it like to be a 911 dispatcher? Any stories?
Oh my goodness do I ever have stories! lol. I have to admit that dating during college was a bust because not only did I miss out on the bar nights, but no one wanted to date the person associated with the campus police!
Thanks for the question, Tiffany - I'm trying to think of something I haven't shared.
Some people are surprised that I'm a business owner in addition to looking after my Mum and the Carer Mentor mission. It's a privilege and fun to be part of other people's career-life journeys!
If readers are familiar with Carer Mentor, they may see that I love various music genres and languages. e.g. French Italian...I'm still trying to decide about K Pop!
It's amazing how much you get done, Victoria. I'm always in awe of you.
Aw hon thanks. I AM a little mad-weird though, and right now tired! So no awe needed...my to-list and calendar look like a cross between a Kandinsky and one of those spirograph design things, dots and lines!
Pfft ok, well my capacity is so low, you should ask me about how many dishes are in the sink. You're like an energizer bunny to me haha.