Found this lovely #blastfromthepast photo of my grandmother Hannah, my sister Kerrie and my niece Mia which I love. It was probably taken in the seventies up in Rowlands Gill, Tyne and Wear where they lived. Sadly Hannah and Kerrie have passed away now but MIA still lives in Rowlands Gill and we Remain very close X
(2016 With MIA in Newcastle)
Really nice to meet up with my old friend and reader Brian Pears in Saltwell Park, Gateshead, while I was in the North East. As always we put the world to rights, in particular the education system and social care while we had a cup of tea. Newcastle truly does have talent! And what Brian doesn’t carry in that shoulder bag of his really isn’t worth carrying!
Naturally while in the North East we also caught up with my family Tracey, Bubbles, Mia, Elisha and Eden; great to see everyone x x CU all again real soon x x
With retirement looming it’s been really nice to have quite a lot of interest in my artwork (from around the world); having been a freelance artist for about 35 years I’ve always known I would never starve as long as I can use a pencil. Although I’m hoping (at some point) to upload all of my artwork here on my website much of my new art (for now) goes directly onto my Twitter account because of the ‘Arty’ connections on there. If you’re one of my Arty-type readers and want to see new art as it happens please feel free to join me on Twitter @AlanDDixon (or just type in Spailpinfanac into the Twitter browser). Meanwhile here’s a few pix to brighten your day x
Like most folks sometimes I have a need to touch base and as they say in India visit my ‘native’ place. I’m so mentally tired that I’m looking forward to doing nothing but chilling out and catching up with my family and friends.
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.
I spent years searching for him and wasn't disappointed when I finally did.It was like finding a piece of my own life's jigsaw that made sense of the whole messy picture. Charismatic and funny he took away a lot of the heartache I had carried around through not knowing what I desperately needed to know; strangely his need to tell me was as strong as my need to listen to his every word. Before I met him he was my father's brother - the father who for fifty years I had mentally castigated and crucified for the disgraceful way he had treated his family. When I left - my father became Dad, a man who I could look up to and be proud to be called his son: and my Dad's brother became my uncle. My only uncle. Uncle Trevor. Someone who to me was almost like an older twin brother. I was blessed to have spent time with my Uncle Trevor and loved our similarities - the cheekiness of his facial expressions, his sense of humour, his broad accent. When I walked into his home he almost collapsed thinking I was my Dad screaming 'Bloody hell it's Charlie!'. When he realised I wasn't we both fell about. I will be at his service on Friday in Geordieland, tucked quietly away somewhere among the gathered. It will be a flying visit for me, such is life, not just to pay my respects. But also to say thank you (with love x).
A few new readers asked if I would republish my memoirs of life in a children’s home and through foster care. I had taken them off to do a sort of final edit but have put them back on line because of the recent interest. There are four chapters which detail the breakdown of my family, life in a children’s home and my subsequent move into foster care. They were difficult memoirs to write and there have been times when I’ve questioned why I wrote them. I think initially, as a displaced child, I had a great need to make some sort of sense of my life and put things in their proper place. Having worked in the social care profession for 25 years I now know how important life story work is and how healing it can be. I think I somehow had the idea too that my writings might be helpful to others brought up in similar situations and be a catalyst giving them courage to face their own demons, although I afterwards felt that to be patronising and arrogant.
These days it isn’t unusual to see dozens of books on sale written by people who have had dreadfully abusive childhoods and it’s very easy to become cynical or fed up with hearing people bleating on – and I can equate with that. Readers of this post (or those who read my memoirs) are very welcome to express whatever they feel about my writings; I’m a big boy now, far removed from the vulnerable little man in the photograph. I’m also incredibly strong mentally; probably due in part to having the balls to stare pain straight in the eye because if I’ve learned anything I know that’s what takes it’s power away.
ManBoy Geordie chapters 1 to 4 are here on my website and readers are very welcome to read and comment as they wish
Today has been an amazing day for me in that I met and spent time with one of my followers, Brian Pears. Brian has followed my blog for some time and helped me put together some of my childhood history through his own research which has been so priceless for me.
We met in Saltwell Park, Newcastle on Tyne, had a cup of tea, a walk around the lake and chattered about life in the north east, my life and his life. In the short time we spent together our virtual friendship became a real one which I hope will be an enduring one. Such things to me are what the Internet is really about. Take care Brian, and Jai Ho!
At Saltwell Park, Newcastle on Tyne with my main man Mowgli. Beautiful weather and a gorgeous wide open space….so restful
Its good to be home…
