A Great End to the Decade
They say life begins at the end of your comfort zone, and 2019 has proven that more true than any year this decade. But it doesn't say that you should be mentally and/or physically ready to stray from your comfort zone.
This year has been the most challenging year and rewarding year yet, from graduation, to theatre trips, to travelling around the world. Even with how difficult some of it was, I wouldn't change any of these experiences or the lessons I learnt from them.
There have been so many more highlights from the year, so I'll try to keep each big one brief. The smaller highlights I'll keep to myself - this post will already be long enough without every highlight being mentioned.
January:
The year kicked off with seeing 'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Part 1 and Part 2' in London with a couple of friends. I wanted to see the play on the West End so I could give it a fair review - the script doesn't do it any justice. Whilst I still don't see the play as canon, seeing it on stage with the score and acting is much better than just reading the script. Next time I go see the show I'll book different seats, as our £15 ones were restricted view.
Sitting outside The Palace Theatre. Photo Credit: Imogen Burns
Towards the end of the month, Imogen and I went to Disneyland Paris, and it was just magical! We got a lot done in the two days we were there, and yet it felt like we had done nothing at all. From being forced to wait 6 hours and bonding with the other girls in the lobby, to meeting our favourite characters, riding all the rides we wanted and watching the parades and illuminations - nothing can compare. It was a holiday that meant a lot more than just Disney magic, and I learnt to just go with the flow a little bit more.
Meeting Peter Pan.
Think of the happiest thing, it's the same as having wings.
February
I don't have many pictures from this month. A lot that happened were little things, such as walking around London, or having a friend visit for a couple of days.
I did turn 21, but there was no big spectacle about it. We just had takeaway and watched some films. Which suits me just fine, we don't need to do big events all the time. Besides, March had two big events, so I could build up to those this month.
March:
In 2017, I had a concert in the middle of the month, then 'Disney on Ice' at the end of the month. This time it was the other way around.
'Disney on Ice' is a show that changes with every season and this second time was better than the first. I've joked with the friend that I went with that we'll go every two years to see it, so we'll see if we go again in 2021. Despite the troubles with the trains, we had a wonderful day and enjoyed it immensely.
Disney on Ice
I can hear Princess Party from DLP playing.
Panic! At The Disco was such a wonderful way to end the month. Imogen and I have been wanting to see them for a long time, and we were so lucky to be able to go. It's up there as one of my favourite concerts of all time; I just loved the music, the atmosphere and the people who I was with.
So many photos, so little space on this review.
April
April was the month of birthdays, and finishing coursework. Though I've got pictures from the birthdays I celebrated, I'm not going to share them this time. It was so lovely to just spend time with friends and really enjoy it. I even forgot about coursework for a couple of days, which is always a relief close to deadlines.
May
Another month of small highlights. I submitted my final pieces of coursework for my uni career, we had the end of term party and end of third year party and another friend visit us. Once again, I won't share those photos, they're better kept for personal use. It was a fun month and really nice to just relax after a stressful year.
June
I only had one big event in June, and it was seeing 'Everybody's Talking About Jamie' on the West End. The tickets were Imogen's 21st birthday present and it was well worth it. Seeing Bianca Del Rio as Loco Chanel was a work of art. It was the first musical I'd been to since the 'Lion King' when I was in secondary school and the atmosphere was fantastic. I fell in love with musical theatre all over again.
Outside the Apollo Theatre after the show. Photo Credit: Imogen Burns.
July
I graduated! After three years, a lot of stress and anxieties, I actually graduated uni with a 2:1. It doesn't matter what the destination is, it's how you get there and this is one journey I worked incredibly hard on.
'High School Musical' lied to me though - graduation is nothing like they make it out to be. In reality it's a lot of clapping, and realisations that the day is actually here. It was such a special day though and one I'll never forget.
One of my graduation photos. Photo Credit: My Grandad.
August
Honestly, August was my quietest month of this year. I was preparing for Fiji and spending my time volunteering in the library again. I saw some friends this month, but there was nothing too exciting going on in terms of big events.
September
The month where I travelled the world in three days... via plane travel. I wasn't mentally ready to go to the other side of the world, and it showed because my coping mechanisms didn't work. I had a breakdown in Singapore and I knew I was in way over my head when I arrived in Fiji. Despite this, I completely exceeded all expectations I had for myself when I set out on this adventure. Next time I go, I'll be better mentally prepared. It's an experience I won't ever forget, and I've learnt a lot from it.
The view from [inside] the hostel I was staying at.
October
This month was essentially returning to normality from Fiji, and preparing to search for work/London in November. I celebrated a birthday, and had a lot of fun celebrating it. But I still did something "big" this month. I got to see one of my favourite bands 3ree at their London gig. It was a last minute decision, but one I was so glad to make because it meant I got to meet them too. It was a wonderful night.
A seflie from the 3ree gig. I got lucky with the lighting.
November
Back to the theatre with Imogen! This time to see 'Dear Evan Hansen' on the West End. This was my 21st birthday present and well worth the wait. I did an entire post on it recently, which you can find here, so I won't go into too much detail. But I adored the show, and hope to go back in 2020.
On the steps of the Noel Coward Theatre.
December
Ending the year, I had two big events. Aside from finding a temporary job, which was wonderful to me, I returned to Leavesden Studios for the 'Harry Potter Studio Tour', and went to see 'Six' on the West End.
Hogwarts in the Snow is my favourite season at the studio tour, and this time was no exception. There were more additions this time from the last time I was there, and the magic was just as real as the first time I went. Gringotts was gorgeous - I could spend all day in there. As always, I definitely recommend any Harry Potter fan going.
The Burrow in Winter.
'Six' was such a feel good musical that I couldn't help but laugh and cry at it. I was excited to see it - the idea behind it was so unique. It's about Henry VIII's six wives, but the stuff you don't remember beyond who was divorced, beheaded, dead or survived. I'll do a review soon of it, but I recommend you go see it.
Sitting in the theatre cafe before Six.
This post took a lot longer to write and format than I thought it would, but it's been wonderful to go through 2019. My decade review will be slightly different in format, in that I won't break it down month by month.
Thank you for reading through this! I know everyone will be doing them, so I couldn't help but join in on it.
See you soon!
-Emmaberry-
