2007




My sister gave this to me after our granda died, she wanted me to have something of his to carry with me. When he was in the hospital, dying, he turned to me and said ' I have been feeling a bit under the weather but I can't complain, I've always had the best health'
 I remember he had these awful hats for walking and he would disappear for hours 'taking his constitution'.  He came to us once a year with pockets stuffed full of cadbury creme eggs. He would sing songs, dance jigs and tell jokes that seemed older than time. He flirted with younger women, made fanciful promises, told stories and found joy in the simple things. Today would have been his birthday.

the 1980's


I had all these badges, my Deutscher Jugendschwimmpass, by the time I was ten. Once during lessons I got into a fight with my swim instructor, I was about 5, he was an old man with a beard, he was trying to force me into the pool. I punched him, I pummeled him with my tiny fists. I am pretty sure he hit me back. My mum came along and whisked me away, I did not swim that day.