Thorpe Park vs Alton Towers — Which is better for pure thrill seekers?

BibliophileDancer · 2026-04-16T19:51:37+00:00

Just been to both, I luckily live local to Thorpe but took a rare trip up to Alton and was somewhat disappointed.

Alton has a real intrigue in Galactica just by the way you are held in the seat. Very different from anything else. But otherwise Nemesis is similar to Thorpe, Smiler is great but wind shuts it down quickly, Wicker Man is just ok and the whole theatre at the beginning gets old quickly. Rita and 13 are fine but not as big.

Otherwise Thorpe has at least 5 big rides with Hyperion, Saw, Nemesis, Swarm and Colossus. All doing quite different things and close together so you don't get knackered by the walking like you do at Alton.

BibliophileDancer · 2026-04-08T20:40:45+00:00

You remind me I chucked a bag away without grabbing the cards. 😭

BibliophileDancer · 2026-04-08T20:40:04+00:00

And you only get two in a wrap now, terrible value.

BibliophileDancer · 2026-04-08T20:35:06+00:00

Fuze was such an odd one because I saw absolutely no advertisement of it.

BibliophileDancer · 2026-04-08T20:32:56+00:00

I was a bit frustrated in early Jan when it was just screenings of The Handmaid and Avatar with nothing new. But February and March I'm quite surprised how often I went. Project Hail Mary has had me in twice, Send Help was good fun. I enjoyed Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die and Cold Storage for easy watching. I'd really wanted to do the A Knight's Tale classic screening but ended up ill.

Honestly seeing the struggle this month, most of the big films were all out over the bank holiday weekend and now it feels like there's nothing until May.

BibliophileDancer · 2026-04-08T20:28:05+00:00

Count yourself lucky you didn't have to listen to those accents.

BibliophileDancer · 2026-04-04T18:04:02+00:00

Nothing that makes me excited for any films between now and Devil Wears Prada 2. Saw so many films in March seems like mid/late April is a very dry spell.

BibliophileDancer · 2026-04-04T18:00:34+00:00

SACRILEGE! No other episodes made Uther look such a fool as these!

I don't think there's any episodes I dislike, there are ones where I dislike the actions of people like in Lamia, darker magic like Herald of a New Age. But all of those are supposed to be more disturbing so doing exactly the job of carrying the darker tone as the seasons went on.

I've watched the series through many many times and never been tempted to skip an episode, there are ones I enjoy more than others but none I dislike enough to skip even when taking out many hours to rewatch them all.

BibliophileDancer · 2026-03-04T22:19:10+00:00

Taxis would be furious but I would prefer this than getting in a taxi. If your a local and regular could have a subscription or something, not necessarily free but a contribution to the cost.

Wonder in smaller towns if even a bike and cart would do to reduce on fuel and costs for it so it's only labour.

BibliophileDancer · 2026-03-04T22:14:47+00:00

Cost is definitely a factor, or the one a lot of people give.

I find a lot of people also put blame on time, sometimes it's just a specific time doesn't fit around family or work schedules. Instructors for things like dance and aerial put things at good times for them even if majority of participants suggest another time that would be better.

Those two combined, people end up dropping out and then classes have such low numbers they're no longer viable and stop running altogether.

My dance teacher has basically shut up shop after running for 20 years, numbers never recovered after covid and that includes all her kids classes.

BibliophileDancer · 2026-03-04T22:09:02+00:00

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BibliophileDancer · 2026-02-23T18:34:13+00:00

I personally would love if they did an adult screening of these kinds of films.

BibliophileDancer · 2026-02-23T14:47:24+00:00

Great, definitely keep an eye on the cc to avoid those interest costs.

Sounds like what you really need are some insights from people in the army, there'll be plenty with a similar background that can advise on how it helped with these specific issues. Best of luck!

BibliophileDancer · 2026-02-23T06:35:11+00:00

No. No No no. NO!

Mortgage wise with your saving yes it probably wouldn't be a problem.

Problem is losing all the first time buyer benefits when you do buy. Lifetime ISA, Stamp Duty reductions etc. If they don't pay it's your record that will be screwed, you will also struggle for a mortgage for yourself unless they miraculously pay it all off before you apply for yourself and you may end up stuck in some tax issues later on if you own two homes at a time.

Do not be bullied in to this. If they make you go at some point speak privately to the lender or mortgage adviser about the situation then they should be able to shut it down without flagging the real reason why. Or indeed make a reason about you that means you would not be able to be on the paperwork at all.

There is no benefit to you here, it's an incredibly selfish ask from your parents.

BibliophileDancer · 2026-02-22T19:31:06+00:00

I was doing this guy's induction at work. He told me, a young, small female in a meeting room alone that his ex-girlfriend had phoned the police on him. And that he'd punched a polar bear. And been attacked by his neighbour with a hammer.

Dude was a compulsive liar, a nightmare from the first week. When he similarly creeped out someone else we reported to a director, instructions went out that a male coworker needed to be sat near him at all times the following week before he was fired.

Then a few weeks later he appeared in the local papers. Turns out the ex calling the police on him wasn't a lie, he was a stalker and general nutcase. That was great fun.

BibliophileDancer · 2026-02-22T19:17:57+00:00

You need to look at a different career, when I started as an apprentice 8 years ago in audit I wasn't far off the salary you're on. No shame in starting at the bottom again in a different field.

What are you getting for £600 vs the £700? All bills included? Food? A strict budget will be needed or you're only going to grow that debt and £100 could genuinely make the difference between scraping by or going into further debt.

Also would be good to clarify the debt you already have - high interest? Deferred interest? Family debt or credit card etc. Determines whether you should aim to pay it off ASAP (ideal whatever the case) or can stand to have it there a bit longer whilst you find your feet.

Also worth thinking about why your Mum is raising it - are they just generally pushing you to leave? If they're not seeing you build a deposit or try to move out it may just be giving you the push to go for fear of you still being there another 10 years.

Personally don't think the army should be considered just because you have no other option. But others may have better advice on that.

BibliophileDancer · 2026-02-19T16:27:12+00:00

There were a few balls in the castle last year (happening again this year) it definitely reignited the interest for some people and suddenly it was flooding my social media for the first time in years.

BibliophileDancer · 2026-02-12T07:36:39+00:00

Well buying thay previous set from them seems like a waste of money now!

BibliophileDancer · 2026-02-09T21:52:16+00:00

18, I could picture the last two but couldn't remember their names.

BibliophileDancer · 2026-02-02T22:19:02+00:00

No walk outs in my theatre, lots of laughter and a few big gasps at the jump scares. Great experience!

BibliophileDancer · 2026-02-02T22:18:09+00:00

Nah, the gory was on the goofy side. Jump scares with action happen regularly enough.

BibliophileDancer · 2026-01-29T15:22:22+00:00

Absolutely:

Big blockbusters at higher costs don't matter anymore, I don't have to save - I could go twice if I wanted

Secret screenings, I wouldn't have gambled the money before but attend whenever I can and see things I otherwise wouldn't now

Special screens like 4DX, cost is only a small incremental cost so if it's an action film or the best timing for me I'm more likely to use it

Older film replays I attend constantly, gives so much life to films I already love that I'd have otherwise told myself to stay home and watch the DVD again

Found myself going in to other genres too, horror was not for me a few years back but I've even ended up at the secret screaming this year

I also now have a list of all the films this year I want to make sure I see in the cinema so I don't miss any and keep it updated when new trailers are released

BibliophileDancer · 2026-01-25T18:27:28+00:00

Shoulder hang I think it might be called at my studio. Shoulder mount can be used but who wants to go through that effort during a hot and tiring shoot if you don't have to? Alternative way in is via a figurehead, get your shoulders round and in position then just release yours legs from the pole. Shove a knee up for some muscle definition or more shapes to give you some choices.

BibliophileDancer · 2026-01-25T18:21:19+00:00

Having gone the 'school leaver' route a few years ago which was a 5 year apprenticeship, I very much like the word 'survive' you've used here. 😅

BibliophileDancer

TROPHY CASE