Smack on the middle of the new turf under the shade of the bed sheets on the line, my little man lays claim to his territory, his new Dogdom.
Tag Archives: home
Time with my family…
My lovely daughter Benita and her hubby Dan are with us for the weekend (up from Wales) with the kids as they travel north to go camping for a couple of weeks in the Whitby area. The nicest thing about our impending move to Wales is that we will get to see them all on a more regular basis.
England my England
I love traveling and going away; readers will know I’ve just been down to Wales for a few days. But it’s always really nice to get home again too. I took this shot on the lane just outside of my house and it’s a view I never get tired of. The greens, blues and whites of the English countryside are something I always find homely and relaxing and having cows in the field are a bonus. Whenever I fly into the UK from abroad I love to see the greens of the fields and the country lanes. Just thought I’d share the view 🙂
No place like Om
Hi everyone
Just got home from wales after a six hour sweaty drive. I don’t know who is more tired me or Mowgli who has just drank a bowl of water, eaten a chicken dinner and is now snoring as I type.
To the garage attendant in the little welsh village (in the backside of nowhere) where I stopped for fuel who said “I saw you play in the Old Kings Arms in Newark” THANKYOU for remembering me, it made my day!
I guess I now have to play the waiting game with regard to knowing whether I got the job I went for; it seems decisions will be made after 13 June and so I may hear between 13-21 June. Need to put it out of my mind for now otherwise I’d go crazy.
It’s a blessing that tomorrow is a Bank Holiday and so I can have a day loafing around the garden; I’m looking forward to that. Hope you all have a great Bank Holiday too.
Before I forget thank you all again for visiting my website. WordPress tell me my Stats are ‘booming’ so I must be writing something you all like reading x Looking at those stats Ive had over 18500 hits – wonder if I can get 20000 before I retire? Whether I do or I don’t Bless you all for supporting me x x Alan 🙂
Evening at home…
Having a ‘down’ day? No. I don’t think so.
Life has had it’s ups and downs. When I have down days one of my strategies is to count my blessings and one of my most cherished blessings is my family. This picture shows just a few of my Motley Crew and just looking at a picture like this lifts my mood and gives me the strength to face anything. Although I woke up feeling quite low today I’m feeling better already.
With love to Mam x Katie Dixon x 3 November 1917 – 27 February 1974
Life is like a piano. The white keys represent happiness, the black
keys show sadness; and as I’ve travelled life's journey I'm so
thankful that the black keys make music too.
She was 44 when she took me, a very damaged 7 year old, out of care
and in 1962 that took some balls. Social Services in the North East
in those days were a disgrace, I don't think I ever saw the same
social worker twice in years and their main agenda was to put
foster parents through as many indignities as they could with
weapons ranging from criticising the contents of the pantry to
openly suggesting there may be a better placement for the child
in question.
Not surprising that as an adult when I requested my case notes
from Durham Social Services the hapless authority couldn't find
them and so from where I'm sitting nothing much has changed -
has it Durham?
If readers (or Durham Social Services) detect a note of anger
here they're right. Having worked in Social Services for the past
28 years they're welcome have a master class course from me any
time on the importance of keeping good professional case notes,
writing them knowing that the child is entitled to see them and
respecting the incredible people that become foster parents.
She was 56 when she died of cancer of the larynx by which time
I was an 18 year old in the Royal Navy; they flew me home from
Mombasa and for the next 17 years I made an annual pilgrimage
to the cemetery to see the book of remembrance in its little glass
box. I'm nearly 59 now and have already outlived my incredible
foster Mam who passed away 40 years ago on 27 February 1974 -
that same parent who put up with the criticism, sarcasm and
interrogation of the social services; the same social services who
had the audacity to suggest I would be better placed with other
carers.
As an artist I believe every picture tells a story and the three
photos I've chosen for this post show my own personal journey; I
suppose you could say they show my life. They show (1) me before
I was placed in foster care (2) as a young adult in the RN after
12 years with my foster Mam and then finally (3) as I am today.
To imagine what picture 3 would look like had picture 2 been
different is unthinkable.
On Thursday 27 February 2014 I will again make my pilgrimage to
the cemetery to view the book of remembrance and say thank you
with love to my remarkable Mam.
When I have a really tough day at work……
….I’m so blessed to have my world of Art to spend time in. Ten more strips are uploaded for your amusement (and thank you for the lovely comments/likes x)
A quiet evening at home….
With my daughter Tracey (underneath) my granddaughter Bubbles and my granddaughter Snowdrop
Immortality is all about what you leave behind….
A few of my beautiful little people
