They
say, writers are great observers, brilliant people watchers, noticing
everything, collecting stories and creating magic on the page from the things
they see. If this is correct, in Harry Potter terms, I would have to be a
complete muggle. There will be no magic on my page. I have used the Harry
Potter reference deliberately here. Not because I write children’s stories and
J K Rowling’s books are such a big part of recent children’s
literature, but because of my recent brush with a Harry Potter celebrity.
Last week while holidaying at the Tangalooma Wild Dolphin Resort on Moreton Island in Queensland, I spent a relaxing afternoon enjoying a swim in the resort pool with actor Tom Felton. For those non Harry Potter movie fans, Tom played the part of Harry’s nemesis, Draco Malfoy in all of the movies. Tom is in Australia as a guest at the Brisbane Supernova Convention. As a big Harry Potter fan of both the books and the movies, you would think this would have been an exciting experience for me.
Last week while holidaying at the Tangalooma Wild Dolphin Resort on Moreton Island in Queensland, I spent a relaxing afternoon enjoying a swim in the resort pool with actor Tom Felton. For those non Harry Potter movie fans, Tom played the part of Harry’s nemesis, Draco Malfoy in all of the movies. Tom is in Australia as a guest at the Brisbane Supernova Convention. As a big Harry Potter fan of both the books and the movies, you would think this would have been an exciting experience for me.
The truth of the matter is... It wasn’t.
Here comes the part about my not so awesome observational skills. You would think with over 21 years as a police officer and now working as a writer, my observational skills would be honed to an amazingly keen edge. I should be able to shave with the sharpness of those skills. Wrong again.
I’m now going to relay a conversation I had with Rebecca, one of the entertainment staff on the island, late in the afternoon as the launch made its way back to the mainland.
Rebecca “The guy who played Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter movies is on the launch, heading back on the launch. He was here on a day trip.”
Me “Really, I love Harry Potter. It would have been brilliant (Ron Weasley quote) to have met him.”
Rebecca “He did a segway tour along the beach earlier but spent most of the afternoon swimming in the top pool.”
Me “Oh, hang on. I spent most of the afternoon swimming in the top pool!”
Here comes the part about my not so awesome observational skills. You would think with over 21 years as a police officer and now working as a writer, my observational skills would be honed to an amazingly keen edge. I should be able to shave with the sharpness of those skills. Wrong again.
I’m now going to relay a conversation I had with Rebecca, one of the entertainment staff on the island, late in the afternoon as the launch made its way back to the mainland.
Rebecca “The guy who played Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter movies is on the launch, heading back on the launch. He was here on a day trip.”
Me “Really, I love Harry Potter. It would have been brilliant (Ron Weasley quote) to have met him.”
Rebecca “He did a segway tour along the beach earlier but spent most of the afternoon swimming in the top pool.”
Me “Oh, hang on. I spent most of the afternoon swimming in the top pool!”
So there you have it. I spent a lazy afternoon
swimming in a resort pool with Tom Felton aka Draco Malfoy and didn’t even
realise it. Am I embarrassed or what?
In my defense last night I Googled
images of Tom for something a little more recent. He has actually changed quite
a bit from the smug, pale skinned blond kid who played the part of Draco. That
is my excuse and I’m sticking to it.
But I am determined to work on honing my muggle-worthy observational skills or I may never find the magic again.
But I am determined to work on honing my muggle-worthy observational skills or I may never find the magic again.
