Latest news with #HarryPotter-style
The Advertiser
a day ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Battered Tommo needs Harry Potter magic at Wimbledon
Injury-smashed Jordan Thompson is pondering whether to quit tennis for the season after Wimbledon - and admits he could do with a bit of Harry Potter-style magic to carry his battered body through his favourite event. Australia's No.3 men's player was keeping up a brave face on Friday as he admitted he would make a late decision on whether to compete in his opening-round match against Czech Vit Kopriva on Monday because he's suffering a back injury. But as he revealed how he'd recently been keeping his spirits up by reading through the complete series of Harry Potter books while sitting injured in hotel rooms around the world, the 31-year-old battler smiled wryly: "If he could weave a little bit of magic, and just take away the back pain, that would be great ..." The season after his career-best 2024 has been no laughing matter for the 31-year-old, as Thompson reflected: "Ruptured plantar fascia right foot - thought someone shot me - came back two months later, then a little groin tear, oblique tear, herniated disc, and now problems with the sacroiliac joint in the back. Good times..." It's become so bad, with his recent retirement during Queen's suggesting the problem was only worsening, that he admitted on Friday: "I'll make a late decision over competing here. I'm going to practice today, see how it goes, hopefully it warms up, and then give my all and play on some pain meds on Monday. "But If it wasn't Wimbledon, there's no way I'd play - I'd have been on QF1 back home." What happens after Wimbledon is clearly preoccupying him, as he even ponders taking the rest of the year off from the brutal treadmill of the ATP Tour that left him slamming the crowded schedule as "shit" after his French Open exit in May. Asked if he would consider taking six months out and get a protected ranking, the world No.45 said: "It's definitely not ruled out at this at this point, but hopefully that's not the case. "But after Wimbledon, I'll have to have at least a month or two off. It could be on the cards, but hopefully not. "If it's not improving - six months through the year and I've barely played any tennis - so maybe it's my body telling me that it might be the right way to go. "Let's just see what the back does, and if it's okay to get going, otherwise I'll have to seriously consider coming back next season. I don't want to be playing in pain any more - it's getting too frustrating." Still, Thompson will also be battling it out in the men's doubles, hoping to go one better than his agonising final loss when he and Max Purcell lost after holding three championship points in the final. This year, he'll be playing alongside Pierre-Hugues Herbert, the French five-time grand slam winner who US Open doubles winner Thompson describes as "a better doubles player than me". As for his new passion for going through the Harry Potter canon, Thompson explained: "I'm not a reader at all, but I've seen all the films and I thought it was about time I read the books. "For sure, he's kept me going - from hotel to hotel room, and not hitting many tennis balls, I thought I'd have to turn the telly off at some point." Asked who his favaourite character was, the famously hirsute 'Tommo' mused: "Jeez, early days ... Neville Longbottom? I'm a big fan of Dumbledore, so maybe a young Dumbledore, actually. He's very wise... "Unfortunately, I'm not as smart as him, though..." Injury-smashed Jordan Thompson is pondering whether to quit tennis for the season after Wimbledon - and admits he could do with a bit of Harry Potter-style magic to carry his battered body through his favourite event. Australia's No.3 men's player was keeping up a brave face on Friday as he admitted he would make a late decision on whether to compete in his opening-round match against Czech Vit Kopriva on Monday because he's suffering a back injury. But as he revealed how he'd recently been keeping his spirits up by reading through the complete series of Harry Potter books while sitting injured in hotel rooms around the world, the 31-year-old battler smiled wryly: "If he could weave a little bit of magic, and just take away the back pain, that would be great ..." The season after his career-best 2024 has been no laughing matter for the 31-year-old, as Thompson reflected: "Ruptured plantar fascia right foot - thought someone shot me - came back two months later, then a little groin tear, oblique tear, herniated disc, and now problems with the sacroiliac joint in the back. Good times..." It's become so bad, with his recent retirement during Queen's suggesting the problem was only worsening, that he admitted on Friday: "I'll make a late decision over competing here. I'm going to practice today, see how it goes, hopefully it warms up, and then give my all and play on some pain meds on Monday. "But If it wasn't Wimbledon, there's no way I'd play - I'd have been on QF1 back home." What happens after Wimbledon is clearly preoccupying him, as he even ponders taking the rest of the year off from the brutal treadmill of the ATP Tour that left him slamming the crowded schedule as "shit" after his French Open exit in May. Asked if he would consider taking six months out and get a protected ranking, the world No.45 said: "It's definitely not ruled out at this at this point, but hopefully that's not the case. "But after Wimbledon, I'll have to have at least a month or two off. It could be on the cards, but hopefully not. "If it's not improving - six months through the year and I've barely played any tennis - so maybe it's my body telling me that it might be the right way to go. "Let's just see what the back does, and if it's okay to get going, otherwise I'll have to seriously consider coming back next season. I don't want to be playing in pain any more - it's getting too frustrating." Still, Thompson will also be battling it out in the men's doubles, hoping to go one better than his agonising final loss when he and Max Purcell lost after holding three championship points in the final. This year, he'll be playing alongside Pierre-Hugues Herbert, the French five-time grand slam winner who US Open doubles winner Thompson describes as "a better doubles player than me". As for his new passion for going through the Harry Potter canon, Thompson explained: "I'm not a reader at all, but I've seen all the films and I thought it was about time I read the books. "For sure, he's kept me going - from hotel to hotel room, and not hitting many tennis balls, I thought I'd have to turn the telly off at some point." Asked who his favaourite character was, the famously hirsute 'Tommo' mused: "Jeez, early days ... Neville Longbottom? I'm a big fan of Dumbledore, so maybe a young Dumbledore, actually. He's very wise... "Unfortunately, I'm not as smart as him, though..." Injury-smashed Jordan Thompson is pondering whether to quit tennis for the season after Wimbledon - and admits he could do with a bit of Harry Potter-style magic to carry his battered body through his favourite event. Australia's No.3 men's player was keeping up a brave face on Friday as he admitted he would make a late decision on whether to compete in his opening-round match against Czech Vit Kopriva on Monday because he's suffering a back injury. But as he revealed how he'd recently been keeping his spirits up by reading through the complete series of Harry Potter books while sitting injured in hotel rooms around the world, the 31-year-old battler smiled wryly: "If he could weave a little bit of magic, and just take away the back pain, that would be great ..." The season after his career-best 2024 has been no laughing matter for the 31-year-old, as Thompson reflected: "Ruptured plantar fascia right foot - thought someone shot me - came back two months later, then a little groin tear, oblique tear, herniated disc, and now problems with the sacroiliac joint in the back. Good times..." It's become so bad, with his recent retirement during Queen's suggesting the problem was only worsening, that he admitted on Friday: "I'll make a late decision over competing here. I'm going to practice today, see how it goes, hopefully it warms up, and then give my all and play on some pain meds on Monday. "But If it wasn't Wimbledon, there's no way I'd play - I'd have been on QF1 back home." What happens after Wimbledon is clearly preoccupying him, as he even ponders taking the rest of the year off from the brutal treadmill of the ATP Tour that left him slamming the crowded schedule as "shit" after his French Open exit in May. Asked if he would consider taking six months out and get a protected ranking, the world No.45 said: "It's definitely not ruled out at this at this point, but hopefully that's not the case. "But after Wimbledon, I'll have to have at least a month or two off. It could be on the cards, but hopefully not. "If it's not improving - six months through the year and I've barely played any tennis - so maybe it's my body telling me that it might be the right way to go. "Let's just see what the back does, and if it's okay to get going, otherwise I'll have to seriously consider coming back next season. I don't want to be playing in pain any more - it's getting too frustrating." Still, Thompson will also be battling it out in the men's doubles, hoping to go one better than his agonising final loss when he and Max Purcell lost after holding three championship points in the final. This year, he'll be playing alongside Pierre-Hugues Herbert, the French five-time grand slam winner who US Open doubles winner Thompson describes as "a better doubles player than me". As for his new passion for going through the Harry Potter canon, Thompson explained: "I'm not a reader at all, but I've seen all the films and I thought it was about time I read the books. "For sure, he's kept me going - from hotel to hotel room, and not hitting many tennis balls, I thought I'd have to turn the telly off at some point." Asked who his favaourite character was, the famously hirsute 'Tommo' mused: "Jeez, early days ... Neville Longbottom? I'm a big fan of Dumbledore, so maybe a young Dumbledore, actually. He's very wise... "Unfortunately, I'm not as smart as him, though..." Injury-smashed Jordan Thompson is pondering whether to quit tennis for the season after Wimbledon - and admits he could do with a bit of Harry Potter-style magic to carry his battered body through his favourite event. Australia's No.3 men's player was keeping up a brave face on Friday as he admitted he would make a late decision on whether to compete in his opening-round match against Czech Vit Kopriva on Monday because he's suffering a back injury. But as he revealed how he'd recently been keeping his spirits up by reading through the complete series of Harry Potter books while sitting injured in hotel rooms around the world, the 31-year-old battler smiled wryly: "If he could weave a little bit of magic, and just take away the back pain, that would be great ..." The season after his career-best 2024 has been no laughing matter for the 31-year-old, as Thompson reflected: "Ruptured plantar fascia right foot - thought someone shot me - came back two months later, then a little groin tear, oblique tear, herniated disc, and now problems with the sacroiliac joint in the back. Good times..." It's become so bad, with his recent retirement during Queen's suggesting the problem was only worsening, that he admitted on Friday: "I'll make a late decision over competing here. I'm going to practice today, see how it goes, hopefully it warms up, and then give my all and play on some pain meds on Monday. "But If it wasn't Wimbledon, there's no way I'd play - I'd have been on QF1 back home." What happens after Wimbledon is clearly preoccupying him, as he even ponders taking the rest of the year off from the brutal treadmill of the ATP Tour that left him slamming the crowded schedule as "shit" after his French Open exit in May. Asked if he would consider taking six months out and get a protected ranking, the world No.45 said: "It's definitely not ruled out at this at this point, but hopefully that's not the case. "But after Wimbledon, I'll have to have at least a month or two off. It could be on the cards, but hopefully not. "If it's not improving - six months through the year and I've barely played any tennis - so maybe it's my body telling me that it might be the right way to go. "Let's just see what the back does, and if it's okay to get going, otherwise I'll have to seriously consider coming back next season. I don't want to be playing in pain any more - it's getting too frustrating." Still, Thompson will also be battling it out in the men's doubles, hoping to go one better than his agonising final loss when he and Max Purcell lost after holding three championship points in the final. This year, he'll be playing alongside Pierre-Hugues Herbert, the French five-time grand slam winner who US Open doubles winner Thompson describes as "a better doubles player than me". As for his new passion for going through the Harry Potter canon, Thompson explained: "I'm not a reader at all, but I've seen all the films and I thought it was about time I read the books. "For sure, he's kept me going - from hotel to hotel room, and not hitting many tennis balls, I thought I'd have to turn the telly off at some point." Asked who his favaourite character was, the famously hirsute 'Tommo' mused: "Jeez, early days ... Neville Longbottom? I'm a big fan of Dumbledore, so maybe a young Dumbledore, actually. He's very wise... "Unfortunately, I'm not as smart as him, though..."
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Battered Tommo needs Harry Potter magic at Wimbledon
Injury-smashed Jordan Thompson is pondering whether to quit tennis for the season after Wimbledon - and admits he could do with a bit of Harry Potter-style magic to carry his battered body through his favourite event. Australia's No.3 men's player was keeping up a brave face on Friday as he admitted he would make a late decision on whether to compete in his opening-round match against Czech Vit Kopriva on Monday because he's suffering a back injury. But as he revealed how he'd recently been keeping his spirits up by reading through the complete series of Harry Potter books while sitting injured in hotel rooms around the world, the 31-year-old battler smiled wryly: "If he could weave a little bit of magic, and just take away the back pain, that would be great ..." The season after his career-best 2024 has been no laughing matter for the 31-year-old, as Thompson reflected: "Ruptured plantar fascia right foot - thought someone shot me - came back two months later, then a little groin tear, oblique tear, herniated disc, and now problems with the sacroiliac joint in the back. Good times..." It's become so bad, with his recent retirement during Queen's suggesting the problem was only worsening, that he admitted on Friday: "I'll make a late decision over competing here. I'm going to practice today, see how it goes, hopefully it warms up, and then give my all and play on some pain meds on Monday. "But If it wasn't Wimbledon, there's no way I'd play - I'd have been on QF1 back home." What happens after Wimbledon is clearly preoccupying him, as he even ponders taking the rest of the year off from the brutal treadmill of the ATP Tour that left him slamming the crowded schedule as "shit" after his French Open exit in May. Asked if he would consider taking six months out and get a protected ranking, the world No.45 said: "It's definitely not ruled out at this at this point, but hopefully that's not the case. "But after Wimbledon, I'll have to have at least a month or two off. It could be on the cards, but hopefully not. "If it's not improving - six months through the year and I've barely played any tennis - so maybe it's my body telling me that it might be the right way to go. "Let's just see what the back does, and if it's okay to get going, otherwise I'll have to seriously consider coming back next season. I don't want to be playing in pain any more - it's getting too frustrating." Still, Thompson will also be battling it out in the men's doubles, hoping to go one better than his agonising final loss when he and Max Purcell lost after holding three championship points in the final. This year, he'll be playing alongside Pierre-Hugues Herbert, the French five-time grand slam winner who US Open doubles winner Thompson describes as "a better doubles player than me". As for his new passion for going through the Harry Potter canon, Thompson explained: "I'm not a reader at all, but I've seen all the films and I thought it was about time I read the books. "For sure, he's kept me going - from hotel to hotel room, and not hitting many tennis balls, I thought I'd have to turn the telly off at some point." Asked who his favaourite character was, the famously hirsute 'Tommo' mused: "Jeez, early days ... Neville Longbottom? I'm a big fan of Dumbledore, so maybe a young Dumbledore, actually. He's very wise... "Unfortunately, I'm not as smart as him, though..."
Daily Record
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Brand new Scottish attraction offers magical experience Harry Potter fans will love
A magical new attraction opens next Friday, June 6, bringing Harry Potter-style enchantment. A magical new attraction is set to enchant Scottish Harry Potter fans this summer. The Bubbling Toad is nestled within the lush surroundings of Vogrie Country Park in Midlothian, just a short drive from Edinburgh. The event will open its doors next Friday, June 6, transforming the once-forgotten first floor of Vogrie House into a world where 'stories shimmer, potions bubble, and magic lingers in the air.' The Bubbling Toad has been created by Gayanne Potter - a voiceover artist who claims ScotRail's new 'Iona' AI announcer is using her voice data - and her family, and is a lovingly handcrafted space born from months of creativity and community spirit. What was once a neglected wing of the stunning estate has been reborn as an immersive escape, sparkling with twinkling fairy lights, enchanted classrooms, and hidden treasures at every turn, Glasgow Live reports. Offering a spellbinding experience for all ages, the attraction features potion classes, fairy trails, and handmade crafts beneath a glowing tree, alongside magical stories told in a starlit library. Families with kids and adults alike will find something to delight in, with a Victorian-themed escape room launching alongside the opening, set to change themes every few months. The festive season promises a special transformation too, turning The Fairy Hollow into an Elf's workshop and the escape room into Santa's Grotto. The Bubbling Toad is designed to be welcoming and adaptable, offering quiet sessions across all experiences to ensure accessibility. Visitors can look forward to a wide range of activities, including: Potion classes where spells swirl and cauldrons bubble Fairy, woodland, and dragon-themed parties plus seasonal celebrations Creative workshops for all ages, from crafting to stargazing Relaxing spaces like the enchanted Fairy Hollow and the dreamy Lunar Library Adult craft and design evenings Exclusive hires of the Lunar Library for fortune-telling nights and private events The story behind The Bubbling Toad is one of transformation. When the council offered Gayanne and her family the first floor of Vogrie House, they saw not decay but opportunity. The family revealed that on that first cold January morning, they arrived armed with paintbrushes, old furniture, storm-felled branches, and a head full of ideas. The result is a unique, handcrafted space where artistry, storytelling, and 'a little bit of mischief' come together in perfect harmony. Gayanne Potter, founder and creative director of The Bubbling Toad, said ahead of the grand opening: 'I wanted to create a space that felt magical and enchanting, somewhere families could enjoy a slower pace for a while and reconnect through different imaginative activities. "Take time away from screens, just be swept up in the wonder we've created in the different rooms. Magic has no age limit and The Bubbling Toad doesn't either, it's for everyone.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. In other magical news, the highly anticipated Harry Potter television series has announced its leading cast. Warner Bros and HBO confirmed that young Scottish actor Dominic McLaughlin will take on the iconic role of Harry Potter, joined by Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley. The series is expected to debut on HBO and HBO Max in 2026, promising to bring fresh life to the beloved wizarding world.
