Wizarding Villages

 I'm going to let you in on a dodgy secret of mine. Well, it's not that dodgy, but when you're on a Creative Writing course, despite what they say, you are in danger of being judged on what you read. You run the risk of being plopped into stereotypes; The fantasy obsessive (they obviously worship Game of Thrones), The Feminist Writer (doesn't wear a bra), The Sci-fi Fanatic and The Horror Enthusiast (basically might as well be a goth). Now obviously we all know that's utter rubbish. I've been known to not wear a bra (or pants for that matter), participate in a hardcore Game of Thrones marathon and once I did dye my hair black and pink (oh to be fifteen again). I don't believe in categorising people, nor judging them by what they read. I have an enormously varied taste in literature, but ONE thing I always begrudge admitting (yet I shouldn't) is that yes, boys and girls, I. AM. A. DEVOUT. POTTER. FAN. There. I said it. judge me, go on. Since the age of nine, when I was plunged into the wonderful wizarding world of Harry Potter, Like thousands of other children, I waited eagerly in vain for my letter on my eleventh birthday (that obviously never came) and I religiously followed the books and films, crying and laughing with Harry, Ron and Hermione, hating Snape, then loving Snape, hating him again and then realising that he's basically awesome. That world, as fantastical and absurd as it is, is a massive part of my childhood. The infinite imagination involved. It made you see everything differently, and I would have amazing dreams about playing Quidditch in the highlands, having incredible wizarding duels and battling dragons (you have no idea how much I'm cringing writing all this). People can endlessly critisise the Harry Potter books all they like, and that's fine, because we all have individual tastes and quite frankly, it sucks to find out that we're all Muggles. I wouldn't blame you if you didn't want to be exposed to that world, only to be dropped with a painful thud back into this mundane reality where food doesn't miraculously appear in abundance on plates. Well, this world isn't truly mundane. It's flipping wonderful. And years down the line, I still hold a great attachment to my favourite childhood books; Harry Potter, the Edge Chronicles, The Graveyard book, The Fantastic Five. They still inspire me, and make my world magical. Sometimes I even still get dreams where I'm living in the trees in the Deepwoods listening to yodeling Banderbears.

Yes. I'm a little bit over nostalgic and perhaps silly, but I absolutely love every moment of the world I inhabit. I love searching for the little bits of magic in the everyday; a perfect sunbeam through your morning window, a falling sycamore helicopter, winter robins and tumbledown buildings. Today, Jess and I decided it was time for some explores. Living on the edge of the Cotswold counties and in extremely historic rural England, it means that there's incredible villages hiding right under our noses. We happened across such a village near Bath called Castlecombe and stepping into it's old streets was like stepping into a time warp. If any village was a wizarding village, it was this one. It was reminiscent of Godric's Hollow, or Hogsmeade and it was like strolling about in a fairy tale. Well, after all, fairy tales are based on reality and in some places, those little pockets of history are lovingly preserved.

I adore these bizarre features on the little homes.

Also, I realised I've been lagging on my celebration of homemade clothing. Today, I'm sharing with you one of my favourite Nan-Knit's ever. This duckegg Aran Cardigan that she made herself especially. It's a few years old, but it's kept in amazing condition and is incredibly snuggly and warm. She used a Sirdar pattern I believe, from their range of Aran Knit jumpers and the quality of the wool is beautiful. I could never find something like this in a highstreet shop, plus it comes with added love as it's made by my awesome Nanna. Dammit, I keep trying but I just can't knit. I can barely crochet. I feel like if society fell (let's say, it was overthrown by zombies or something) it would be a pretty handy skill to make clothes. 

T H A N K Y O U    N A N ♥ 

I love noticing the tiny gifts that nature leaves behind to make us smile. These little berries and seeds made such lovely colours on the ground, and the sunlight through the trees was just what I needed to rejuvenate my tired mind.

The cutest outdoor cake shop ever. Basically, you put money through their letter box and take some cake. They even provide paper bags! Honesty stalls are something I haven't really seen since leaving Cornwall and they make me incredibly happy. We took the cake home and had a pot of tea and cake with the housemates whilst sitting around the table talking about how fine it would be to all live in a small village together, bake pie all the time and have lunch together out the front. I felt like an incredibly satisfied old biddy :)

 Jess is one of my old friends from home in Cornwall, and she also lives with me :) Naturally, she appears of many of my adventures.

This isn't always wise if you're extremely clumsy and have bugger all balance.

Then it rained/snowed/sleeted. It couldn't really make up it's mind what type of weather it wanted to be. We had it all today; sun, wind, rain, snow and Hayle. There's still a few hours left to squeeze in some Thunder and Lightening.

 Then the rain got so bad we had to hide under a tree. The houses in this village had wonderful names like 'Unicorn Cottage'. I'm not utterly convinced that wizards don't live here.

For a while, it got so cold and wet that we darted into the pub to defrost our toes and fingers by the fire. I had a tasty mulled cider.

Afterwards, we went for a ramble to Warleigh weir, but the rains at it again and so the valley that it sits in was utterly flooded. When we got there and crossed the train track, the river was so high, the weir had disappeared and the field had become merged with the water. It was incredible. It reflected the blue sky, the clouds and all the trees that lined the valley. I love days like this, when things are just that little bit odd and different. The weather is being silly, you find yourself in a strange and quirky place and for a moment you can live an enchanted life.
For the record, yes, I am a proud member of Pottermore and I'm sorted into Ravenclaw house. My name is MoonstoneHazel1190, feel free to add.

 Wit Beyond Measure, Is Man's Greatest Treasure.