Hey Blog! Today’s post is about a slightly crazy event that I went to a few weekends back. It’s the Wirksworth Wizarding Day.
Harry Potter – one of the best-selling series of all time, about – spoiler alert – Harry Potter. He has many names, the Boy Who Lived, the Chosen One, the young wizard who vanquishes the Dark Lord, Lord Voldemort. Incidentally, just because it’s language and fun and I’ve been waiting to tell you, vol de mort means “flight of death” in French – which is a pretty good description of the power-hungry, death-obsessed evil wizard. Harry Potter, his nemesis, is the only one able to defeat him, which happens in the seventh book of the series, the one I haven’t read yet. But, having read all six others, I know enough to understand and enjoy the festival that was inspired by the books and, in part, the local magic of Wirksworth, which is just across the valley. Surprisingly, we’d never attended the festival, so as my cousins were coming to stay for the weekend, we thought we’d go and see what there was on show.
You may have realised that I will take almost any excuse to wear a cloak. Or bright purple trousers (thank you again for that charity shop find, Mum!). However, even in green, purple, and black, and with a wand up my sleeve, alone among my family to go remotely close to the dress sense of wizards, I was remarkably underdressed for some people there. I guess I don’t have the time or money to spend on elaborate embroidered outfits… maybe one day. I was relieved, however, that I blended in without too much difficulty, as I doubt Dad would ever normally go round with me in such a get-up. The trousers did look good though.
As usual for a local market/festival/excuse for a day out, there were the full assortment of stalls selling everything from cakes to crystals, 3D printed nicknacks to witchy looking bric-a-bracs. And a lot of Harry Potter themed stuff, all over; they had a (for the time being, terrestrial and stationary) Ford Anglia, the type of car that flies and chases away giant spiders. If you’ve let Ron’s dad tinker with it. Does he do Ford Focuses? We could do with skipping some queues if so! There were Dementors wandering around town every now and then, the tall, black, spectral, hooded things that feed on happy thoughts and souls if they get too close. Every window had a display, be it piles of spellbooks and broomsticks or robes and pumpkins – even one which was full of Lego recreations of parts of Hogwarts. I didn’t buy anything – it was tempting, there were piles of interesting little silver and gold ornaments, exquisite stones and a selection of potion bottles which were very fun indeed, but strictly speaking, I didn’t need them, and I was there to spend time with my cousins really. However, the atmosphere was very good and it might be nice to go next year when I’ve learnt a few more spells… I’ll have to see!