hello hello

Am I back again? Facebook has taken over online because it's much easier to share thoughts in a spontaneous way. This blog has to be more considered and haven't really bothered to share with anyone much in case it doesn't look enough considered. It's a shame. I still haven't got a 'proper' website so perhaps I should have another go in here... Off to Lanzarote tomorrow. I'll think about web presence whilst I'm away with no computer!

nearly two months later...

Degree show over, student work marked and verified.

School photo project finished. Wall printed onto vinyl banner material and went up on sports day. Looks great and feedback has been wonderful.

SATs results fantastic. Well done Sam!

Inductions days went well at Weydon but Sam is not is a class with most of his friends. Seems that they didn't ask to be with him!

Leavers stuff seemed to go on for about two weeks. School finished two days ago with copious tears shed by the girls whilst private tears shed by my boy - not because he is leaving - because he has been excluded from various events. My heart is breaking for him. Why has this happened to him so regularly? Is it just because he doesn't play sport? Are the other kids jealous of him? It does seem that there may have been some malicious back stabbing going on. It's hard to believe that kids this young can be so cruel. Only two of the nine or ten people that came to his party in December have invited him back to theirs. Don't the parents tell them that it is polite to return invitations?

Hopefully the big big big school (that seems so scarily big!) will provide a larger pool of potential pals and he'll meet some people with more mature ideas about friendship!

last visit to the family home

My brother and I  have been back to our family home for what is likely to be the last time. We worked really hard in the heat to salvage what we could of mum and dad's belongings before the BHF came and took various furniture and electricals. The buyers have said they will dispose of the rest which is a huge relief. Mum was very overwhelmed and unhappy when I took back various boxes of photos, momentos and other paraphernalia for her to sort through. She said she had wanted us to throw all this stuff away. There is not way I could bring myself to ruthlessly dispose of her memories - the lock of baby hair and so on. Now she has calmed down I think we will probably sort it together. I wonder how that will be?? I wonder if I will learn anything more about our family, her depressions and anxiety and so on.  I wonder if I could make an audio tape of these sessions...

I didn't manage to take any more images - too much work to do! I did find the 'high gable' sign that used to hang over the front door.

high gabble

One of the first in the series of stills I shot at my parents' home last Monday.

sorting out the camping kit

That's what we have been doing this weekend. Airing out smelly sleeping bags, buying a new chairs, table and other bits and pieces. Ordered a fan heater! Off to Mother Ivey's, Cornwall next Saturday. Just checked the long range weather forecast. Looks like a real mixture of possibilities. Please - let's hope we have a good fun, relaxing week!

Last Wednesday I took my mum to buy a bra after her recent mastectomy. On May 21st, my birthday, I am taking her to be fitted with a prosthesis. The date of the appointment is somewhat ironic. The breast that nurtured me at birth is to be replaced by a false one on the same day 48 years on...