#we WERE going to watch one of the lotr movies as a family but luckily 2/4 of us were too tired to stay up

[ahaura]

i managed not to start an argument or yell at my brother. and HE was the one who was told "not to get political at christmas" this time. 4948938493 XP granted

[edsmysterygirl]

92 TRUTHS - tagging @justaboywithaonemanshow @givemeedplzfanks @edandanniina

THE LAST…

1) Drink: Forest fruit squash. 2) Phone call: My mom. 3) Text message: A friend from uni. She asked me to proof-read her thesis. 4) Song you listened to: I’m A Mess. I’m rewatching Glastonbury. 5) Time you cried: Friday, when I had my mental breakdown. Good news though, I get until the end of August to finish my thesis!

HAVE YOU EVER…

6) Dated someone twice: Nope. My current boyfriend is my first boyfriend ever. 7) Been cheated on: No. 8) Kissed someone and regretted it: No. 9) Lost someone special: I mean, a lot of family members and family friends. But is it bad if I say the worst ‘someone’ that I lost was my previous dog…? I never knew two of my grandparents and I lost one when I was 3 and the last one when I was 7. I feel like I never got to form a bond with them. And I wasn’t very close with the other people that I lost. 10) Been depressed: Never had the official diagnosis, but came close to it. People have been wanting to put me on antidepressants probably since I was 16 – but I have always refused. Let’s just say I have a lot of problems and have been in therapy on and off for 13 years now. It’s a long story. 11) Gotten drunk and thrown up: Nope, I don’t drink. 😊

LIST THREE FAVORITE COLORS…

12) Blue. 13) Yellow. 14) Red.

IN THE LAST YEAR HAVE YOU…

15) Made new friends: In RL, not really. On Tumblr? Hell yes! 16) Fallen out of love: No. 17) Laughed until you cried: Yes. My boyfriend will sometimes make me laugh till a point where I basically can’t stop laughing and start crying. Fun times. 18) Found out someone was talking about you: Like, behind my back? Probably. 19) Met someone who changed you: Does discovering Ed count? 20) Found out who your true friends are: Yes. I’ve basically isolated myself socially in the past few years. The people that still check on my even though I don’t check on them (I know, I should��), those are my true friends. 21) Kissed someone on your Facebook list: Well, I’m friends with my boyfriend, so yes.

OTHER…

22) How many of your Facebook friends do you know in real life?: I don’t see everyone regularly, but I met all of them at least once in RL before I added them. 23) Do you have any pets?: A dog and a cat. 😊 24) Do you want to change your name?: My last name, sometimes. No one ever gets it right. I guess marriage may fix that one day though, lol. 25) What did you do for your last birthday?: Make a Tumblr, LOL. 26) What time do you wake up?: Sometimes I wake up at 7:15 AM, sometimes I wake up at 4:00 PM… My sleep schedule has been all over the place lately. It’s messed up. If I had nothing to do I would probably sleep from 2 AM until 12 PM. 27) What were you doing at midnight last night?: Watching a Supernatural episode with my boyfriend (over Skype, because LDR). 28) Name something you cannot wait for: The day that this freaking thesis is finished!! 29) When was the last time you saw your mother?: Monday morning when I left for uni. I’ll see her again tomorrow when I go back home for the weekend. 30) What is one thing you wish you could change about your life?: My mental health? 31) What are you listening to right now?: Nancy Mulligan (still watching Glastonbury). 32) Have you ever talked to a person named Tom?: No actually? I know a Tim. And a billion Thomases. But no Tom. 33) Something that is getting on your nerves: My thesis. 34) Most visited website?: Facebook? Though maybe now Tumblr… 35) Elementary: Not that great. I got bullied a lot. Didn’t have many friends. Other than that alright, I guess? 36) High School: Okay. Bullying turned into ignoring me. Still didn’t have many friends. But these were the years that I discovered my love for languages and strangely enough I really enjoyed high school. 37) University: Still enrolled at the moment. Hoping to finish my Master’s degree in translation this year. 38) Hair color: Brunette. 39) Long or short hair?: Very long. 40) Do you have a crush on someone?: My boyfriend. And Ed, of course. 41) What do you like about yourself?: That’s a difficult question that I can’t really answer at the moment… 42) Piercings?: None, not even earrings. 43) Blood type?: No clue… Probably should find that out at some point. 44) Nickname?: MG on here. 😂 I don’t really have a nickname in RL. My mom calls me Josephine sometimes, which has nothing to do with my name. 45) Relationship status?: I have a boyfriend. 46) Zodiac sign?: Gemini. 47) Pronouns: She/her. 48) Favorite TV show: I used to watch SO MANY TV shows. Back when I was in high school I would watch 12 at the same time (like, as the episodes came out). For the past 2, 3 (?) years I have sort of stopped myself from watching TV shows. Because I get obsessed with things. Like with Ed right now lol. I will still occasionally watch an episode (like last night), but I’m really behind on everything. My enthusiasm for TV shows is probably what led to me studying English in the end. And Supernatural was the common interest that matched my boyfriend and I. 😊  49) Tattoos: None. 50) Right or left hand?: Right hand, though I can write with my left hand if I have to. But I don’t consider myself ambidextrous.

FIRST…

51) Surgery: Does a lumbar puncture (spinal tap) count? Probably not. Felt like one though. I have a medical phobia and about a year ago they suspected meningitis, so I had to have one. One of the most traumatic experiences I have had. They had to sedate me because I was so panicked. The whole hospital must’ve heard me scream and I pushed a doctor away (not on purpose, but if I’m yelling “STAY AWAY FROM ME” in your face and you approach me with a weird object that looked like something they were going to do the puncture with, well…) So they ended up sedating me and luckily I don’t remember a thing from the procedure itself. But they must have hit something, because my legs were numb and I couldn’t feel whether my bladder was full or not for like a week after. I’d just go to the toilet at times where I would usually go because I just didn’t feel anything. Plus I couldn’t stand up for longer than 10 minutes or my legs would collapse. Luckily all that went back to normal, though I still get this weird back pain from time to time that I associate with that. I don’t know how I will ever survive a proper surgery… 😭 I just can’t handle pain. 52) Piercing: Still don’t have one. 53) Sport: I don’t know which one came first, horse-riding or table tennis. Started both when I was 11. I stopped playing table tennis when I was 20, I stopped riding horses when I was 16. I don’t miss any of my hobbies that I’ve given up, except for horse-riding. 54) Vacation: We used to have a caravan/travel trailer when I was little. We’d go to the same camp site every year where we had our own spot with a shed and stuff. We’d go there in the weekends and during the summer. Later we bought a mobile home at a different camp site, but that camp site closed down when I was 20. Now going to see my boyfriend (and him coming over to see me) just counts as vacation for me. But that will change once I finish uni, I guess. 55) Pair of trainers: No clue? WHY IS 56 MISSING 57) Eating: Of the day? Ice lolly… 58) Drinking: Water. 59) I’m about to: Make dinner, mac & cheese. 60) Listening to: YNMIDNY. 61) Waiting for: My motivation to kick in. 62) Want: To sleep. All day, every day. 63) Get married: I’m not married yet. 64) Career: Don’t really have a career yet… I have a student job at a holiday resort with villas. And before that I worked as a cashier in a supermarket. I’d like to become a subtitler eventually.

YOUR TYPE…

65) Hugs or kisses?: I could live without kisses, but not without hugs. Not that I want to live without kisses... But if I had to choose, I mean. 66) Lips or eyes?: Eyes. 67) Shorter or taller?: If you would have asked me this a couple of years ago, I’d say taller. But my boyfriend is shorter than me. That’s what you get when you date an Englishman as a Dutchie. 😊 68) Older or younger?: Older. 69) Nice arms or nice stomach?: Arms. 70) Sensitive or loud?: Sensitive. 71) Hook up or relationship?: Relationship. I don’t think I could ever just hook-up with someone. Maybe Ed, lol. 72) Troublemaker or hesitant?: Out of those two, hesitant I guess?

HAVE YOU EVER…

74) Kissed a stranger?: No. 75) Drank hard liquor?: No. 76) Lost glasses, contact/lenses?: No. I’ve never lost my glasses, but I’ve sat on them before, lol. 77) Turned someone down?: Relationship-wise? No. In general? Probably. 78) Sex on first date?: No. 79) Broken someone’s heart?: No. 80) Had your heart broken?: No. 81) Been arrested?: No. 82) Cried when someone died?: Yes, obviously. 83) Fallen for a friend?: Yes.

DO YOU BELIEVE IN…

84) Yourself?: No…t really. 85) Miracles?: No. 86) Love at first sight?: No. 87) Santa Claus?: No. Funnily enough most Dutch kids don’t believe in Santa Claus. They believe in Sinterklaas instead. He’s a saint (Saint Nicholas) who gives presents to kids (in the weeks leading up to and) on the 5th of December. Some parents decide to have their kids believe in both, but I think most Dutch kids grow up with the idea that Santa Claus (or the Christmas Man, as we call him) is simply fake. Not sure why little me never questioned the existence of Sinterklaas, though… 88) Kiss on the first date?: Since I met my boyfriend online and the first time I met him in RL was after months of Skyping and already sort of being in a relationship, yes? 89) Angels?: No. I don’t believe in a higher power, though sometimes I wish I did.

EVEN MORE…

90) Current best friend’s name: Merel. 91) Eye color: Hazel? 92) Favorite movie: All of the LotR movies?

[tru-oddball]

92 Truths About Me

Rules: Once you've been tagged, you're supposed to write 92 truths about yourself! Then choose 25 people to tag! I was tagged by the lovely @sparkle-doggo ages ago and have been too lazy to fill this out. Last: 1. Drink: Arizona Green Tea 2. Phone call: I think it was my grandma? I don't like talking on the phone so I don't often. 3: Text message: that I sent was "I just saw a magazine cover that said 'Hilary Clinton caught taking bribes' and thought it said 'Hilary Clinton caught taking babies.' That I received was "Hahaha! You crack me up!" 4. Song you listened to: Sophomore Slump or Comeback of the Year by Fall Out Boy 5. Time you cried: February 22nd because we were told there was a possibility my little sister's cancer was coming back. Luckily it's not. 6. Dated someone twice: Never 7. Been cheated on: about a year ago. I was in a long distance relationship and was apparently the only one taking it seriously. 8. Kissed someone and regretted it: I've never kissed someone. 9. Lost someone special: The last time was my friend, David. He passed away from cancer last year. 10. Been depressed: The last time was earlier today. I have severe depression and I'm working on it. 11. Gotten drunk and thrown up: Never been drunk. List 3 Favorite Colors: 12. Mint Green 13. Most shades of blue 14. Pumpkin orange In The Last Year Have You... 15. Made new friends: Yes! 16. Fallen out of love: Unfortunately, yes. 17. Laughed until you cried: Yes! 18. Found out someone was talking about you: People are always going to talk. 19. Met someone who changed you: Yes! Several! I spent most of the year in a children's hospital and got to know the other families there. It changes you. 20. Found out who your true friends are: Yes 21. Kissed someone on your Facebook list: Does my great uncle count? 22. How many of your Facebook friends do you know in real life: Most of them. I do have a couple of friendly strangers. 23. Do you have pets: Yes! 14 in total! 24. Do you want to change your name: My last name, yes. I don't like having my dad's last name. 25. What did you do for your last birthday: Visited my 12 year old sister in the hospital and stayed the night. My mom and I ended up watching YouTube videos while my sister slept. 26. What time did you wake up: Between 12:30 and 1pm. I wasn't feeling well. 27. What were you doing at midnight last night: Watching movies with my mom and sister. 28. Name something you cannot wait for: To get WiFi back! 29. When was the last time you saw your mother: About an hour ago when we said our goodnights. 30. What is one thing you wish you could change about your life: I believe that everything, good and bad, happens for a reason and has made me who I am. That doesn't mean I wouldn't like to change some things but I wonder how it would change me. 31. What are you listening to right now: Brant and Sherri's Oddcast Podcast. 32. Have you ever talked to a person named Tom: I've talked to a couple of Toms. 33. Something that is getting on your nerves. A couple of things but I try to stay calm. 34. Most visited website: YouTube and Tumblr. 35. Elementary: Yes 36: High school: Unfortunately no, but I do want to go back to school. 37: College: hopefully eventually. 38. Hair color: Dark brown with blue. 39. Long or short hair: I have long hair. 40. Do you have a crush on someone: Not at the moment. 41. What do you like about yourself: My creativity and my compassion for others. 42. Piercings: Just my ears. I'd love to get like an eyebrow piercing or something though. 43. Blood type: No clue. 44. Nickname: Pippy and Tru 45. Relationship status: Single as a flamingo. (I don't know, don't ask. I need sleep.) 46. Zodiac sign: Sagittarius 47. Pronouns: She/her 48. Favorite TV show: I love Monsters and Mysteries In America, Codes And Conspiracies, Time After Time, I Love Lucy, and Road To Avonlea. 49. Tattoos: Not yet! 50. Right or left handed: Right First: 51. Surgery: My wisdom teeth being cut out. 52. Piercing: My ears. I actually got them pierced in the living room of a stranger when I was 18. 53. Best friend: A girl named Loagan (I didn't make a typo, that's how it's spelled). 54. Sport: I never played sports but all of the neighborhood kids got together on the weekends in summer and played kickball at the park. We were broke into two teams that stayed the same. 55. Vacation: Not a clue. We traveled a lot when I was little. 56. Pair of trainers: I'm not sure if I've ever owned any. Right Now: 57: Eating: Nothing 58: Drinking: Arizona Green Tea 59. I'm about to: Go to bed. 60. Listening to: Still listening to Brant and Sherri's Oddcast Podcast. 61. Waiting for: Nothing at the moment. 62. Want: Um... I'm pretty content right now. 63. Get married: Not right now! 64. Career: I don't work right now, but my dream job would be YouTuber, Author, and professional photographer. Which Is Better: 65. Hugs or kisses: Hugs! 66: Lips or eyes: Eyes! 67. Shorter or taller: I don't really mind either one. 68. Older or younger: Either is fine. 69. Romantic or spontaneous: As much as I would like to say I prefer spontaneous, I can't. I have to be able to have somewhat of a schedule to keep my anxiety in check. So romantic. 70. Nice arms or nice stomach: Looks don't matter that much when it comes to who I'm attracted to. But I'd rather personally have a nice stomach. 71. Sensitive or loud: I'm going to have to say sensitive because as an introvert, I couldn't live with someone whose loud. I love Jacksepticeye though and he's both! I just couldn't live with him, I don't think, lol. 72. Hook up or relationships: Relationships! I don't do hook ups. 73. Troublemaker or hesitant: Um, I like hesitant guys because I'm more hesitant. Have You Ever: 74. Kissed a stranger: No 75. Drank hard liquor: Strongest thing I've had is Fireball Whiskey. 76. Lost glasses/contact lenses: Nope 77. Turned someone down: Yes 78. Sex on the first date: No! 79. Broken someone's heart: Not that I know of. 80. Had your own heart broken: Yes... 81. Been arrested: Not yet 82. Cried when someone died: Yes 83. Fallen for a friend: Yes... Do You Believe In... 84. Yourself: I try to. 85. Miracles: Yes! I've witnessed them first hand! 86. Love at first sight: Yes 87. Santa Claus: Who else do you think left all of those presents? 88. Kissing on the first date: I actually don't. I want to get to know the person before I give myself to them in any intimate way and I think a kiss between two interested people is very intimate. 89. Angels: Yes! Other: 90: Current best friend's name: Kayla! 91. Favorite movie: Ooh! I love the LOTR trilogy, the Jurassic Park series, Rise of the Guardians, and Brother Bear. 92. Siblings: An older sister and a younger sister. I'm the forgotten middle child, lol. I added the last question because the original didn't actually have 92 questions which annoyed me, lol. I tag: @kawaiiphancake @youtubetrashisreal @aesthseptic @jacksepticeyegifs @martziplier98 @apocalyptotyler @katielovesyoutubers35 @jacksnotsepticeye @danisnotonfires @phil-precious-lester @ready-set-fangirl I tried to think of 25 people but can't! It's 3am! I'm going to bed.

[inher30suk]

Growing up in NZ, it was pretty much possible to avoid the Peter Jackson Lord of the Rings phenomena touching at least some part of your life – you either knew someone who was an extra or you watched on in pride as your home country featured in the glittering Oscars line-up for not one, but 3 years in a row as each Lord of the Rings movie made its debut.

Numerous LOTR tours cropped up all over the country, especially in the South Island where so much of the films are shot, taking advantage of all the fabulous scenery NZ has to offer but in almost every case, there are no remnants of the sets remaining and you have to rely on a hefty dose of your own imagination.

Hobbiton is the exception to this rule and in 1998, Sir Peter Jackson stumbled upon the Alexander family farm and after swearing them to secrecy, the Hobbits had found a home here.  They constructed JRR Tolkien’s vision of the shire and after filming all the films and resurrecting Hobbiton again for the Hobbits’ movies, fans like myself are able to come here and visit.

We chose to do our tour from the ‘Shire’s Rest’, a starting-off point just directly across the road from the entrance to Hobbiton and as soon as you step onto that tour bus, you begin to enter a different world…

  You get a little bit of an intro video on the bus but if you’re like me, you’re too busy looking out of the window, wowing at the scenery, but as soon as you get off the bus and into the real set, you’re immediately blown away by the feeling that you are really stepping into a real life Hobbit village.  There are Hobbit hidey holes, real gardens, vegetable patches and you get the feeling that if you wait long enough, Gandalf will come riding past, just ready to begin a fireworks display.

  We’re lucky that it’s not peak summer and packed with crowds, because I think that this awestruck feeling could disappear quite quickly if it was any fuller than it really was.  We got a few minutes to look at every spot/ hobbit door  and luckily we did all have time to get in a photo and some oohs and aahs but I can’t imagine how it would work with another group breathing down your back.

The tour continues in whirlwind fashion along all the main points, you see Bag End, the party tree and finally end up having a drink at the Green Dragon with a quick 10 minute break to catch your breath before you need to be back on the bus heading back.

  There’s no denying that the set is jaw-droppingly beautiful, however there were quite a few things I felt could have been included to enhance the experience.  While I’m a huge fan of LOTR and all its associated components, the husband and another friend was really only coming along to keep me company and there simply wasn’t enough information for the non die-hard fans to be really engaged!

Perhaps it would have been erring with the authenticity of the place, but I felt little discreet placards explaining what/ where everything was would not have gone astray, perhaps alongside some images of the movies since I’m sure not everyone who visits has watched the movies quite as obsessively as myself!

I had hoped to pick up a small souvenir or two at the shop at the Shire’s Rest, but I found that too be quite disappointing as it only sold some large gifts, designed for the hard-core fan and not the casual explorer.  I was hoping for something small and silly, perhaps a Christmas-tree ornament or a fridge magnet and I wasn’t about to have my home dominated by enormous floor-to-ceiling pictures of the LOTR stars!

I’m glad that we went, it was a beautiful day for the family to go exploring, but it’s not somewhere I would go back to and unless you’re a huge fan, I don’t think it’s somewhere for everyone..

Tours to Hobbiton can be booked at http://www.hobbitontours.com/our-tours/hobbiton-movie-set-tour/ .  You do need to book especially in peak season and I recommend coming with a fully charged camera in hand! Tours cost $79 per person.

Visiting the Hobbits of Middle Earth in Hobbiton, New Zealand Growing up in NZ, it was pretty much possible to avoid the Peter Jackson Lord of the Rings phenomena touching at least some part of your life - you either knew someone who was an extra or you watched on in pride as your home country featured in the glittering Oscars line-up for not one, but 3 years in a row as each Lord of the Rings movie made its debut.