Harry’s Wondrous World

Tags

Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling

[Screencap from Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince]

A phrase has been passing around the fandom for months: “I’m proud to be part of the Harry Potter Generation.” So I am, and I am proud.

I remember the day I read the first Harry Potter book. My mum had been trying to get me to read it for weeks. I was seven or eight, so I was still at that age where she read to me before bed. And that first chapter would put me to sleep. Literally. Mr Vernon Dudley really did live a very boring life. There my mum would be, reading out loud, and there I would be re-reading Roald Dahl’s Matilda for the umpteenth time.

Until I was bored one day, and could not think of any book I wanted to read. I am so grateful that the memory has stuck with me for this long. How I sat on my parents’ bed and saw the paperback sitting on the bedside table. There he was on the back of the book- Dumbledore with his Put-Outer and his cheeky expression. So i read it. I skimmed over the first chapter, I’ll admit it. But I read it all. And that is how I fell in love with a magical world. With Diagon Alley and Hogwarts and spellbooks and the Boy Who Lived.

It’s been about twelve years, and countless memories. Queueing up for the books. Chocolate frog cards. The amazing Harry Potter fandom. The Carpet Book which I managed to get a copy of. My mum printed off the entire carpet book at work, and we spent the whole night reading paperclipped printouts of it. I remember when I got the final book in my hands. I flipped it to the last page, and my eyes bugged out. “THE CARPET BOOK WAS REAL!” Oh, I’ve only ever shipped one ship, and that is Albus Severus/Scorpius. Yes, I really went there.

Christopher Columbus is still my favorite Harry Potter director, and the first movie will still be my favorite out of all of them. Harry turned eleven with me that year, and the scene where Harry first set eyes on Diagon Alley is still my favorite scene till today. Chris Columbus brought the first book to life, in all its innocent magical quality. J.K. Rowling wrote a story of hope, of friendship, and of the indisputable power of love. She created a world which I have been so blessed to be a part of, and so lucky to see brought to life on screen and not just in my imagination.

In her speech at the premiere, J.K. Rowling spoke of the seven actors and actresses closest to her heart. Dan, Rupert, Emma, Matt, Evanna, Bonnie, and Tom. She called them out like old friends, and with each name spoken out, I felt like they were old friends too. The scenes and characters that will always stand out to me, because they taught me much more than you’ll know. “It takes a great deal of courage to stand up to our enemies, but a great deal more to stand up to our friends.” Neville taught me that. Ginny Weasley reminding us that love waits patiently and will always find its way. Luna Lovegood reminding me that friendships are important, and we are not much of a threat when we alienate ourselves from the people around us. Dobby, and his unfailing love and loyalty. “So happy to be with friends.” Rowling’s Dementors, and the Patronus charm that repels them. Constantly reminding me that pain is real but hope is also real. You might belong in Gryffindor, where dwell the brave of heart. Their daring, nerve, and chivalry set Gryffindors apart.” The phrase that jumps into mind whenever any Harry Potter fan asks me what House I am in.

Rowling is right. The stories we love best do live in us forever. In the life lessons that we learn. In the characters that have so lovingly been brought to life. In the stories that people write all over the world about the Boy Who Lived. Continuing the story, so that it will never truly end. Stories about Albus Severus, Rose Weasley, and the rest. Returning to Hogwarts time and time again. People all over the world continuing the story- keeping the world alive.

It’s going to be a teary week as we re-watch the final speeches, the final red carpet walk, and await the final film. I cannot be the only person who feels like my childhood is ending. Like I am saying goodbye to old friends who have walked with me for so long. Grown up with me. And as the actors and actresses, and even J.K. Rowling herself speak of moving on, I find myself echoing the words of many- ‘But I’m not ready!’

We are living a glorious adventure, just like any of the ones we have read about throughout our childhood. We have followed the Trio through their adventures. They have faced loss, so have we. They have found love. So have we. So we will. The ten years have bonded Dan, Rupert, and Emma together. They have also bonded us. May we always rememsber to hope, believe in friendships, and never underestimate love. The kind of love that will pull walls down.

We grow up, but the stories- these ten years will remain in our hearts forever. It’s not really goodbye. “Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home.”

Quick Recap. [Switchfoot Live in Singapore 2011]

• The acoustics at Rock Auditorium are terrible. Terrible.
• We skipped literally half the auditorium. From the second last row on the left side, to smack in the middle of the middle row, right behind the light and sound guys. Meaning we got pretty good breathing space, and a clear view. Security was herding everyone back to their seats like sheep after the opening acts, but I convinced Lou that we might as well try to get a better seat. We planted ourselves on a couple of empty seats and I started praying that the occupiers wouldn’t show up and demand for their seats back. Okay, and we lied. “Are these your seats?” Why, yes they are.
• When Jon Foreman waded into the audience? Uhm, you’ve never seen a five foot three girl hurdle over five rows of seats that fast. Security was pretty annoyed, and escorted me back after the song ended.
• But he stayed there for the next song! Security was patrolling the seats now. I waited til their backs were turned, and half jumped, half dived over the seats in the three seconds where their backs were turned. Everyone behind me just stared, and in Lou’s words, “wished they had the balls.” In Iowa’s words, “You’ve gotta watch out for them Australians.” But when Jon Foreman is right there, sometimes… well, you just gotta dare to move. But let me tell you (especially the males) now, those seats do a number on your groin area. Um, ouch. I got caught on the seat climbing back, and nearly yanked the light cable out with my foot. Security had to help me back over (The guy looked pretty amused at this point. I’m glad he had a sense of humour.).

• This is Iowa (and my sweaty, stinky self). Or rather, he’s from there. I struck up a conversation with him during the break after the opening acts. Kidded around and asked for his All Access pass. Didn’t get it, of course. But I did get to play with the fog effects he was testing. It looked just like a set of car keys (the controls, that is).
• Right before Switchfoot came on, there was a slight commotion near us, and we realized that the setlist was on Iowa’s light switchboard. Everyone around us was trying to get a picture of it, and I was sinking into depression because I realized that the setlist for this leg of the tour was different from the setlist for Australia’s shows, and that THEY TOOK ‘YET’ OFF THE SETLIST.
• After recovering slightly, I told Lou that I wasn’t going to stand around and try to sneak pictures of the setlist. (Iowa saw everyone looking and turned the setlist the other way around.) Everyone within three feet of us trying to get a picture of the setlist watched as I went up to Iowa and asked for the setlist. He said he’d give it to me after the show, and I was a happy girl. And everyone just looked astonished because… clearly it never occurred to anyone that they could’ve just asked for it.
• And so right after Dare You To Move, I nudged him and pointed at the setlist. He folded it up, and passed it right over. And then I had people coming up to me and asking if they could get a picture of it. Sure!

And so I guess although I attracted a bucketful of stares for my antics (quite embarrassing, actually having people nudge and point at you post-show), and people literally pointing and gaping at the crazy girl hurdling over seats, I had fun. Maroon 5 did a better show, and I was slightly let down by the omission of Yet, and the acoustics that just made music sound partly like noise. I’ll be doing a detailed recap sometime later, but  in the grand scheme of things, it was a pretty cool night. The things you can get away with when you… well, dare to move.

She will be loved. [Maroon 5 Live in Singapore 2011]

“Music is the great uniter. An incredible force. Something that people who differ on everything and anything else can have in common.” – Just Listen, Sarah Dessen. 

Yes, I am that girl. The one who makes playlist after playlist. The one who has a song for every mood, every situation. The one who flew a couple thousand miles across the ocean to watch Maroon 5 play live in Singapore yesterday night.

It was amazing. Maroon 5 sure knows how to get an audience dancing and singing along, and are one of those rare bands that sound better live than on the record. The preludes leading up to the songs, the guitar solos, and Adam Levine’s voice sounds better live if that’s even possible.

They kicked off with Misery, and played a variety of songs from all three albums. I’m so thankful that they played all my favourites including Secret, which most of the audience didn’t know (and chose that song to sit down for a break!). The band did an amazing mix of Secret and Tina Turner’s What’s Love Got To Do With It, that I am now persuading a friend to cover. But of course, I was primarily there to hear She Will Be Loved.

Music (and God, but that’s another story altogether) is my constant. A few months after I turned sixteen, I moved to Australia on my own. The years following that have been filled with good and bad times, gains and losses. I’ve met amazing people, I’ve lost them. I’ve cried, I’ve laughed, I’ve danced, I’ve been broken on the floor. Through all that, songs stayed the same. I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety nine months ago, after three months of struggling through it in confusion and silence. It is still confusing, even now, but I am no longer silent. Two months ago, I moved again, across the continent to Perth. All through that, I had the same God. The same songs. Some things remain the same wherever you go.

One of them is this song. The song that Adam Levine and James Valentine wrote; that I travelled five hours to see live. I’ve always loved it, but it took on a new meaning for me when life started taking a downturn. The nights where I stayed awake because I couldn’t sleep, the endless days and nights of just feeling broken. Of being incapable of feeling anything. Depression is one of those horrible sicknesses that no one can truly understand, even if they’ve gone through it themselves. It’s so different for everyone, it makes it so hard for anyone to be there. This was one of three songs that brought me through every single night for months. I’d sit on my bed, watching the sun creep in through the cracks in the blinds, finally feeling drowsy as Adam Levine sang from my speakers. Look for the girl with the broken smile, ask her if she wants to stay awhile. and she will be loved.

I’d wanted to hear the song the way it was written; the way it was on the record; the way I’d heard it hundreds of times before. I was prepared for an acoustic version- I’d checked the setlist of the previous Maroon 5 shows this year, and they’d sung an acoustic version for the last couple of shows. I was prepared to be slightly disappointed, and I’d prayed fervently for a simple wish to come true- that they’d play the original version, because it meant so much to me.  I was initially dismayed as James Valentine started the familiar melody sans the rest of the band, but what ensued was eight minutes of something so incredibly surreal. It was so much more. It was the longest song they played. The longest by far. It is by no means their most famous song, and definitely not their most recent. And I found myself thanking God, thanking the band, thanking the stars, and just being so grateful that the song meant something to people other than myself.

The song ended with Adam Levine dividing the audience into two groups, and having each group sing a different line from the song- “I don’t mind spending every day, out on your corner in the pouring rain.” and “She will be loved.” I stood there, half laughing and half crying, singing the words with Adam Levine and thousands of others in the stadium. Everybody united in that one moment and in that one song, singing the same words. For a few precious seconds, I shut my eyes and heard a stadium full of people singing along. Over and over again. And for those precious few minutes, it felt like the world was singing along with me. The words that Adam Levine sang to me every night; that I sang to myself. The words that had come to mean more than just song lyrics, that through everything, had somehow become a promise to myself:

She will be loved.

[Someone who was in the audience last night recorded most of the song. By no means does it capture the emotion and the... je ne sais quoi... of listening to it live, but it is still lovely nonetheless. You can watch it here.

I was diagnosed with General Anxiety Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder in June/July of 2010. It was one of the best things I've ever done, going to see a doctor. If you're reading this, and you're afraid, I encourage you to get help. You are more beautiful than you know, stronger than you know, and more loved than you will ever know. Your life matters.]

Safe to say, I need strength to go (Playjerise Farewell Tour)

Tags

music, playjerise

Playjerise Farewell Tour

25 September 2010 at Globe Theatre.

Feat. Adventureland and Candice Long

The first Playjerise song I heard was Trilly, and I was struck by the simplicity of the song and its message. “Doesn’t matter what you’ve done, or the stupid things that I’ve done… Who’s to say we’ve got to live that way?”  The song didn’t preach- there wasn’t even a hint of God or Christianity or religion, but it made me think of my faith nonetheless. It sounded like a journal entry set to music- guitar, piano, and a hint of drums.

I’ve never really been into the local bands, but I was hooked.

So it was a bittersweet moment for me when I caught Playjerise live at the Globe Theatre in Brisbane. It was my first time seeing them live, but also my last. Brisbane was the last stop on their Farewell Tour.

It was unlike any music event I’d ever attended. I’ve seen Good Charlotte live. Linkin Park. Jack’s Mannequin. Anberlin. Countless others. But I have never been to a music event where everyone spent the night sitting on a carpeted floor, singing along to the music, with a disco ball spinning abovehead. Truth be told, I think everyone just wanted to sit while waiting for the bands to perform, but it stuck- no one wanted to get up. It felt exactly right, though. The atmosphere was relaxed, casual and intimate- kind of like the songs Playjerise produces. I can’t imagine a better way to listen to them. I’ve never really liked mosh pits anyway. Standing up all through sound check, the opening bands and the whole set? Ugh. In fact, when I saw Jack’s Mannequin live, I got so sick of being buffeted around by the crowd; I pushed my way out and climbed a fence instead. Best view ever.

It was a great night. I got to hear them live, got autographed CDs, a Playjerise shirt, and a photo with Jake Nauta. AND the guys from Adventureland recognized that it was To Write Love On Her Arms day, and sported a couple of TWLOHA shirts. That made me extra happy- everyone knows how much I’d love to work or volunteer at TWLOHA sometime in the future.

As far as farewells go, it was a good one.

beach towels, blueberries, skittles and more

Tags

c's photography, life

A couple of girlfriends and I hit up the beach a couple of weeks ago. I guess I should love the fact that living in Brisbane means that we’re a couple hours drive away from a dozen beaches, but truth be told, sun and sand isn’t really my thing. It always sounds like a really good idea, but I get sunburnt way too easily, immensely dehydrated, and I always feel skin cancer coming to get me. That’s not to say that I don’t love the beach, I do. I just like shade, a plethora of cold drinks, and a dozen things to do so I don’t get bored.

But I had lots of fun that day. And seeing as chances are that I’ll be moving to another state in 2011, I might as well take advantage of having the beach right at my doorstep (or an hour’s drive away).

Pictorial evidence, taken with a Fujifilm point-and-shoot:

‘Heating up’ pancakes.

Trying to keep the juice cold.

Blueberries and skittles!

Checking out the guys? Haha. Nahh I just thought it looked cute.

I’m not a big fan of sand… it gets everywhere!

I kind of love this shot. (: Anna.

Yu-Na and me.

Emily and me.

Anna and Necole

I thought I was all beached out for a while, but looking at all these pictures makes me wanna pack my beach bag and… well, I’ll stick with the poolside for a while. (:

Birthday lunch at ARIA Brisbane

Tags

c's photography, Food, foodie reviews, matt moran

I was lucky enough to be treated to lunch at ARIA Brisbane on my birthday. Just a tiny tip- you’d want to go during lunch and not dinner- it’s almost half price, and I believe the menu doesn’t change.

I didn’t actually take photos of the entire meal- just the dishes that were new to me. This was my third visit to ARIA. Honestly, I was running out of things on the menu that I wanted to try! If I had one criticism, it would be that Matt Moran really should vary his menu a LOT more each season.

This was one of the mains. Potato and parmesan ravioli with mushroom and Madeira consommé. I actually liked this a lot. It was really nice and light, and the combination of flavours was lovely. It probably wouldn’t have been enough if we hadn’t ordered entrees, I must admit.

Next main! Roast beef with yorkshire pudding (and roast veggies). I liked this a lot, but I’m not a big fan of tendon, and this dish had a lot of it!

Dessert. I’d ordered the Valrhona Chocolate twice before, so I went with Banoffee this time (we did order the valrhona chocolate too though!). I LOVED this. Dare I say that I loved it more than the chocolate délice? It’s a banana brûlée with caramel, almond praline and toasted almond milk ice cream. I could’ve died and gone to heaven. The valrhona chocolate is very rich, and very sweet. But this was amazingly light and was a perfect way to end off the meal.

Even though halfway back to the city from the restaurant, I had to sit down at a cafe for about fifteen minutes because I felt so full, I was starting to feel sick. But it was worth it.

all photos were taken by me. all were straight-out-of-camera.

West End Live

Tags

c's photography

Here are some photos taken at West End Live as part of Brisbane Festival this year. A friend and I went to see his cousin’s band, Charlie Mayfair, perform. And I managed to buy a pack of Moleskines (and their EP!), so I considered it a pretty productive Sunday morning. Several of the photos are edited, several are not. I need a LOT more practice with photo-editing, it seems. Or maybe just a little more patience.

An obviously edited shot. But it was the only really good one I managed to capture, although VASTLY overexposed.

I obviously got lazy towards the end and stopped editing…

Pro-Casual, by Ryan Heywood

Tags

c's photography, photography, ryan heywood

Ryan Heywood is a Victoria based photographer and filmographer. He showed some of his work at NineLives Gallery in Brisbane recently, and I was lucky enough to be able to find the gallery. No really, we walked around back and forth in front of it for ages without spotting it. It was like the Room of Requirement. We actually decided to abandon our search and go get lunch before returning, and voila.

I was lucky enough that Ryan Heywood was actually there, and I managed to grab a short conversation with him before we left for another exhibition at GoMA. I also bought some of his prints- all were up for sale.

It was a completely inspiring collection. I especially liked how his film cameras were hung on nails at either end of the room. I managed to grab a couple of names of his favourite cameras- too bad they’re going for a couple hundred on eBay, but who knows, I might get lucky one day.

Pictures taken with a Minolta x-300s with a manual focus 50mm lens.

And yes, that is Ryan Heywood in one of the pictures.

book haul!

Tags

reads

There are many things that I love to collect. Camera equipment, MAC makeup, bags, dresses and wayfarers… But I also love books, and here is my most recent haul!

My favourite would have to be Stefan Sagmeister’s book. It has photos, amazing insights, and every single page makes you go NOW WHY DIDN’T  I THINK OF DOING THAT?! An absolute delight to read.

I haven’t actually cracked open all the books, but I’m currently reading Rob Bell’s Drop Like Stars and I love it. It’s such an inspiration, and urges me to pen my own insights and thoughts into my life, my faith, and the world around me.

muchlove.

B & C’s Dinner

Tags

Food, jamie oliver

A couple days ago, the best friend and I decided to cook dinner for my brother and the two of us. Given my very fond love for Jamie Oliver and his cooking we decided to pick two dishes… One from her favourite Jamie cookbook (Jamie’s Kitchen, which is also my second favourite), and one from mine (Jamie at Home). We picked simple recipes, and I baked Gary Mehigan’s chocolate fondant for dessert.

Jamie’s potato and smoked salmon with creme fraiche! (Jamie at Home) This was B’s dish.I attempted to plate the dish the way Jamie plated it… Not TOO bad, I must say!

My dish. Slightly adapted from Jamie’s Kitchen (we swapped mussels for cherry tomatoes as we couldn’t find any good fresh seafood and it was a last minute pick). It’s a white wine-and-saffron ‘sauce’ (I think it looks like a consomme!). We used monkfish. The whole thing was baked in a bag. I tried this recipe again tonight, and finally mastered the art of making sure the white wine didn’t leak out of the bag!

Gary Mehigan’s chocolate fondant recipe. I used 70% Dark Lindt chocolate, which turned out really well. I tried the same recipe with Lindt’s milk chocolate but it was a disaster. I think that maybe something in milk chocolate screws up the recipe a little. I don’t know, anyone have any advice?