VCB 04: ... go together like a horse and carriage

VidConBlog: In 26 days I will be attending VidCon in Los Angeles. I will be writing a blog every day until July 9th 2010. Don't forget to answer my question of the day at the bottom.

Yesterday was the wedding of one of my best friends, Michelle Smith, to her boyfriend of 8 and a half years, Paul Bateman. Having only been to three weddings (including this one, and two only this year) I feel I should be able to ramble a bit about love and marriage, which (as the title says) go together like a horse and carriage.



So the wedding: it was a very surreal day - in the positive way - all round. There was only close family at the ceremony meaning that when I first saw the bride and groom they were already married. How bizarre to think after knowing them for their whole relationship. I remember straightening my hair and looking at my watch realising "they are probably saying 'I do' right now".

The reception was much as you'd expect with speeches, cake cutting, the first dance and a bucking bronco. Okay so the last one maybe a bit more unusual! The bucking bronco was perfect for their wedding. Michelle and Paul are probably the most outrageously funny and wild two sensible people I know. Perhaps I should have expected a twist on proceedings after all.














The boys were straight on the bronco with the girls all realising they were going to flash their knickers. Luckily Michelle had a spare pair of leggings in the wedding car and so the girls proceeded to don them in turn and have a go themselves (with the exception of my pregnant sister - probably not such a good idea with a bump).

I was pretty convinced I would master the bronco having previously won one. Unfortunately I forgot two things: I was 9 at the time so it is really too long ago to be a fair comparison and also I am probably weaker now what with the joints of an 80 year old. Let me just say that I am feeling it today and leave it at that. Suffice it to say I did not win.

The whole reception was so much fun with a lot of dancing and loud singing (my favourite was singing Don't Stop Believin' with the groom's brother who fyi was in his official RAF uniform earlier). However there was something missing from the night, and that was James. Having been at weddings both single and taken I can definitely say that it is worse knowing you have someone but that person being 5000 miles away. When all the couples joined the newlyweds during the first dance I may have burst into tears...

Despite the tears it got me thinking about how lucky I have. I have someone who thinks the world of me, who shares my passions and sense of humour, who loves me unconditionally and all from 5000 miles away. Some people say being apart makes you stronger and while I disapprove with this being used as a segway to 'lets sleep with other people' I do agree it is true in many ways.

Imagine for a moment that James and I lived next door to each other. I am not sure we would be as strong and close as we are now. Living 5000 miles apart when starting a relationship does mean you build up an unbreakable sense of trust and honesty and belief that you are meant to be together. You have to work much harder to be together and when you finally are you can truly appreciate it.

Michelle and Paul had a similar start to their relationship with him living 3 hours away doing an engineering degree. They were my proof that when you can make long distance work you know you have something special. James and I are also now testament to that and are ready to be together full time.

If I have learnt one thing from my friends' relationships and my own it is this: Relationships don't just happen, you have to work at it - but if you are prepared to work for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for the rest of your life then your love is indestructible.

QUESTION OF THE DAY: IF TIME AND MONEY WERE NO OBJECT WHAT QUIRKY THING WOULD YOU HAVE OR DO AT YOUR IDEAL WEDDING (EITHER FOR YOU OR SOMEONE ELSE)?
My answer: I think having a bouncy castle would be fun. Or getting everyone to make a naked body cast would be quite interesting.

VCB 03: Harry who?

VidConBlog: In 27 days I will be attending VidCon (a Youtube conference) in Los Angeles where I will meet my amazing friends and maybe make some more. I will be writing a blog every day until July 9th 2010. Please leave feedback and suggestions for blogs in the comments. I have a question of the day at the bottom.



Hello my name is Helen and I am addicted to Harry Potter. It started when I was 11 and I had a book voucher. I went into my local independent bookstore and was browsing when something caught my eye. Facing outward on the shelf was a boy with a lightening scar on his head. He was standing in front of a bit red train that said Hogwarts on it. There were stars and smoke surrounding the scene. By the way that thing about never judging a book by it's cover? Guess what? Not always true. I fell in love with the cover and I fell in love with the book.

The reason I am telling you this is because my friend Chris is doing a Master's degree in adaptation and is using Harry Potter for his final paper. As one of his Harry Potter friends I had some conversations with him to get some ideas flowing and giving him some insight into the fan world. Doing this reminded me how much I love the book series. Thus the blog of love today.

By the way before you read on please take 5-10 minutes to fill in his survey. It will be a big help and, if you are anywhere near as nerdy as me, you should never pass up a survey. They're fun! Click here for the survey. If for some reason the link doesn't work please tweet @chrisgreen87.

So thinking about the adaptations - I am in the lucky position to be able to separate the films from the book in my mind. By this I mean I can watch the films and enjoy them without it having any effect on my feelings toward the book series. I understand that the films are just one person's interpretation (or a group of people) and as long as the themes stay true, such as love, friendship and above all choice, then I am ok with Warner Brothers letting loose. Of course this isn't to say I come out and completely rip apart the film stating every single bit they missed out that I think they shouldn't have *cough*flippingexplainthemaraudersmap*cough* but then that is part of the fun.

For most of the fans I know the films are welcomed. With the book series over the films continue and extend the Harry Potter phenomenon so as it doesn't fade from pop culture. Even after the films are over there will still be the theme park to visit, the encyclopedia to read, merchandise to buy etc. In the words of the Parselmouths "this is never gonna end".



Harry Potter isn't just a book series. It is a culture, a community, an ideology. Starting the series when I was 11 means that I grew up with Harry Potter. It sounds cheesy but the lessons Harry learns, the hardships that are faced and overcome by the trio; these things had an impact on how I view the world. That people have a choice to be who they want to be and that the people that you share your life with are more important than you ever know.

I could rant more about Harry Potter but 1) I don't want to make you all sick and 2) I have a wedding to get ready for (tell you more tomorrow). Don't forget to answer the question below and to fill in Chris' survey.

Helen

QUESTION OF THE DAY: WHAT HARRY POTTER FILM CHARACTER DO YOU THINK IS CLOSEST TO THE BOOK? OR IF YOU HAVEN'T READ HARRY POTTER WHAT IS THE BEST BOOK CHARACTER YOU'VE SEEN PORTRAYED ON FILM?

My answer: I think Hagrid is closest to the character in the book. This is unsurprising since Robbie Coltrane was Jo's inspiration. I also think Evanna Lynch as Luna Lovegood is spot on.