Universal Studios Florida Bucket List: Updated

Universal Studios Orlando, is another one of my fave places on this planet (second to Disney!). The thought of being there makes me immensely happy, but being there is a whole different thing. The screams of being on The Mummy, watching the James Bourne Stunt Show, watching Marilyn Munroe perform in the streets - it's just amazing. 

In 2017 before I went to Florida for the first time in a while, I made this bucket list of what I wanted to do. Since then, I've been three times, so here is what I have and haven't yet done off the list!

1. Meet the Marvel characters ❌✔️
• This is a yes and no - we met Spider Man in a store, but haven't yet seen mat any other characters from Marvel!
2. Ride the Hulk Coaster ✔️
3. Go on the King Kong: Skull Island ride ✔️
4. Watch the 8th Voyage of Sinbad show ✔️
5. Visit Hogsmeade ✔️
6. Visit Diagon Alley ✔️
7. Try Butterbeer again ❌
• Ended up remembering I didn't like it during a brief visit in 2013, so don't want to try it again!
8. Have a picture in front of the big 'globe' ✔️
9. Go to Volcano Bay ❌
• We're not huge on waterparks, so this is currently off the list!
10. Meet the Minions ❌
• I saw them in the parade if that counts!?!?
11. Go on Jurassic Park River Adventure ✔️
12. Brave going on Rip Ride Rock It! ✔️
13. Try Duffbeer ❌
• Soooo I no longer drink at all, so this is off the list!
14. Buy a wand in Ollivander's ❌
• The queues for this are ridiculously long, and also my love for Harry Potter has dwindled a little over the last decade, so this isn't something I feel a need to do anymore. 
15. See the Blue Man group ❌
• We thought about going. Hurricane Irma hit. We forgot about it. By 2019 the show had pretty much stopped. 
16. Watch one of the daily parades ✔️
17. Watch the Blue's Brothers ✔️
18. Meet a Raptor ❌
• Honestly, forgot all about this one, so maybe next time!!
19. Go on Dr Doom's Fearfall ✔️
20. Race through New York with Jimmy Fallon! ✔️

Is there anything I've missed from the list that you think I might want to do? Please let me know! Hope you have a great day and keep safe :)

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Learning to Drive: My Journey

Do you remember your first driving lesson and your driving test(s)?

I do. Cue story time music...

September 6th, 2011, was my first lesson! I remember feeling so nervous when Ray, my instructor, pulled up outside my house. My sister reassured me, telling me I’d be fine and not to worry. Once I got in the car (passenger seat to start!), Ray drove us to a quiet area nearby. It wasn’t too busy and had all the basics I’d need: a hill for hill starts, a few turnings to get used to steering, and a crossroad to help me get accustomed to traffic. He went through the car basics, explaining what each pedal and gear did and reminding me to use my mirrors ‘all the time’. I think that was the bit I forgot the most during my lessons!

I managed to get the hang of speed control quite quickly, but the pedals and gears were a real struggle for weeks! During that first lesson, I was able to pull away, stop, and turn left and right all within two hours. I was nervous the entire time, but I was so happy I was finally doing it. I stalled about 20 times that first lesson, but I was honestly expecting way more!

After that, I had a lesson every Friday for an hour with Ray. At £20 per lesson, I was determined to do well and learn fast. After about four lessons in that quiet area, Ray let me loose on the main roads near my house. I was terrified! Red lights were a nightmare to get used to, and I always felt like I was driving so slowly.

By December, when the snow hit, I was doing alright. I was only stalling a few times each lesson but now had the added panic of driving on ice and snow. Eventually, my lessons had to be put on hold until mid-January because it was too unsafe to continue. But I was happy with the progress I’d made.

I was also working on my theory test at the time and, thankfully, managed to pass it on my first try on April 25th, 2012 - by the exact number of points needed to pass. Talk about lucky! With that out of the way, I was finally able to apply for my practical test.

My first test was at the start of June 2012. I tried to squeeze it in before a holiday, but the route was in an unfamiliar area of town, down a narrow country lane. Ray sat in the backseat while the female examiner was in the passenger seat. I ended up failing for “going too fast” in a 30mph zone - even though I was only doing 20mph because I was absolutely terrified of how narrow the road was. I was so frustrated and cried as soon as I got home.

My second test was in August, and I knew I’d failed within the first 10 minutes. I was having a bad day, and my nerves were all over the place. I hit a curb and accidentally cut up a car on a confusing one-way system. I actually saw the examiner mark me as failed while I was still driving. Since I knew I’d already failed, I pretty much ignored his directions and drove back to the test centre however I liked. Not my finest moment!

Finally, on September 4th, 2012, I passed my test on my third attempt! Coincidentally, it was the same route as my first test. The male examiner I had at that time was so kind and really helped calm my nerves. Even when he had to assist me on the country lane because a lorry was stuck, he still passed me with only one minor. It felt like a miracle!

I got my car, which I lovingly named Betty, on February 18th, 2013. My dad was incredibly generous and bought the car for me because he was tired of having to cart me to and from where I worked at midnight! 

In total, I spent about £1,200 on lessons, theory tests, and practical tests. My parents chipped in around £200 when I was short on cash one week, but the rest came out of my own pocket. It took me just under a year to learn and pass my test.

If you’re looking to start lessons or want advice on the tests, check out BookLearnPass. They’ve got loads of helpful tips and a brilliant mock theory test that’s super useful!

Have you passed your test or are you currently taking lessons? I’d love to hear your stories and how you’re getting on, so let me know! Hope you have a great day and keep safe :) 

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The A-Z Of Me!

I've seen this idea (or something similar) floating about on the internet for a year or two  now, so I'm not sure who started it, but I thought it was a really good idea! I've been wanting to do it for ages, and I've really struggled to think of something for each letter! But here is what I managed to do:


Asthmatic - My lung capacity sucks...
Blogger - I've been doing this since October 2013
Cornwall - A family holiday destination
Deli counter - The department I've use to work on
England - My country where I live!
Ford KA - My car
Goonies - My fave 80's film
Hair - I'm quite good at braids and I'm currently learning more styles
Internet - The place I can be found 99% of the time!
Jeggings - I've literally worn a version of these everyday for 10+ years!
Kent - My county in England!
Lists - I'm a bit of a 'make a list' addict
Morrisons - Where I used to work!
Nuts - I have a seriously bad allergy to these!
Orlando - The place I'd like to visit next year for a holiday!
Piercings - I've only had my ears done and that's all I'm brave enough to do!
Queen - A band I love to listen to when I'm driving
Right-handed - I can do almost nothing with my left hand!
Shoes - I have over 30 pairs after my last count...
Tills - I was a checkout operator for 5 years!
Umbridge - The character I hate so much in the Potter Franchise!!!!
Virtual Assistant - What I now work as
We The Kings - A band I LOVE, and I own all their albums!
X - The only letter that really stumped me!
Yellow - A colour I don't ever wear
Zips - The one thing on my coats that break CONSTANTLY!

This was so tricky! What would all of your letters be, and have you done a post like this before? Let me know! Hope you have a great day and keep safe :)



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May 2025 Wishlist

I like to make these now and then so I can visualise what I'm after at the moment, and then I can hopefully go and buy them once my clients all pay me! 

Here is what has caught my eye for May!

Zoom ZDM-1 Podcast Mic Pack | Dowinx Gaming Chair Cute | Pilot Pen Frixion Erasable Rollerball Pens | Spontuneous Clipology Game | The Little Book of World Mythology | Black 'Let It Snow' Slogan T-Shirt | Black Platform Faux Fur Collared Boot | Colours Of Nature Necklace - Aqua

What's on your wishlist for May? Let me know! Hope you have a great day and keep safe :)

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