Leaving Hogwarts and the Sorcerer's Stone

HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S/ PHILOSOPHER'S STONE
book 1997 movie 2001 first read in 2003? first seen in 2003? 

Sometimes, the most unlikely things turn out to take the most important places in your life, don't they? 
Today, Harry Potter is a synonym for childhood to me - but for a long part of same childhood, it was just 'That boring-looking boys' movie'. It took someone's unsuspecting goodwill to get the book anywhere near me and an intense feeling of boredom for me to wipe the dust off its cover one or two years later. The rest is history. 

When other people turn up James Brown's "I Feel Good", I'll be listening to "Hedwig's Theme". Instead of the Tower Bridge, the highlight of my sightseeing tour in London was Platform 9 3/4. My visit of the Harry Potter Studio Tour in the UK will make out a whole chapter in my self-biography. Basically, I think this is all some kind of mistake and my invitation letter for Hogwarts got lost in the mail. This is why an afresh revisitation of the series seemed like the perfect way to both celebrate and grieve for my leaving/ finishing high school. So the next 8 months, right until my graduation prom in July, I'm going to take a look back at the 7 books and 8 films that make out such a huge part of my girlhood. The title of the series, obviously borrowed from my favourite theme from the soundtrack(s), is not supposed to symbolize any sort of abandon or moving-on from the Harry Potter universe. On the contrary, it signifies the parallels between the world of Harry, Ron and Hermione and my own life. As I'm on my way to end a very important chapter of my life, I once more look to them for inspiration.

Saving the Day

On November 23rd 1963, when I was minus 32 years old, history was written. A science-fiction tv show with a plot that is hard to explain without sounding like a lunatic*, premiered on BBC1, laying the foundation for a universe that would go on to enthrall audiences 50 years later. I only started watching the show - the newest part of it, that is - this year, yet I must've been traveling with the Doctor in his TARDIS in another life, because I feel like I've been a part of this for as long as I can think. For people who know next to nothing about the show and its universe; I strongly advise you to have a look at this rather introductory post I wrote a while back and maybe dip your toes in some of the episodes. For Whovians; you have certainly come to the right place (working them quotes right there), for the 50th anniversary party goes on. Today and forever. Because we don't want to go either.

My feeling about the event of the year is 904% of satisfaction: I really have nothing whatsoever to complain about. I feel like each and every existing and non-existing desire of my Whovian heart has been fulfilled to the most ridiculous extent. In fact, you could show me any random bit of The Day of the Doctor and I'd be able to explain to you how much and why I'm in love with it. But of course, none of that will happen. No, no: my list of 50 things I love about the 50th is not at all random. It was calculated by a very complicated formula which would take hundreds of years to explain - it goes something like "$∨fa∞ + ⌘n⏎⇒Λgi x2 = rlΩΦgen♫ius℠ - ✗− ⅗¥≥ + 2: en⅕€¥ergy℠™⏎ + bra⌃⌥ins se⅙⌘ = ⏏xin✪ess✚∨÷°¶℗ + tumblr". Let's see how it worked...

* Thank you for that lovely quote, Mr. Tennant.