I'm still hey much in the middle of coping/ getting my head around stuff (as would be expected) and so not going to get back to my usual posts anytime soon. But wanted to share a few photos. I still have a bag of old photos to look through, but for now these are just a few favourites that I had on my phone.
Most of these were taken and developed by my dad
And in one case, further detail was added
As you may be aware (there is Hint above) I had a favourite cartoon as a child (well, at this age...Darkwing Duck had not yet appeared).
So my dad took a paper plate from a set of party decorations and MADE ME A TABLE
He copied it exactly - unfortunately the plate manufacturer hadn't taken the great care to check which initials/colours/weapons went together. So of course young me complained about that. Sorry dad.
I will also leave you with a couple of ferret pictures, my dad being to blame for me liking ferrets in the first place
I wanted to write a little bit about things I've been reading, both in general and in particular. I've been tinkering with this here and there for a few weeks now, and couldn't quite get myself up to either posting it as-is or adding to it/fine tuning it. Then, as many of you probably know, my dad died on Sunday. That is still far too fresh, and too personal, to write about yet. Writing is a distraction, but posting anything else just now feels disrespectful, so this is just me clearing this one off the 'to do' pile, with the disclaimer that I haven't put much thought into it.
I'm putting it out pretty much as it already is, and if it seems unfinished, that's just how it's got to be. I'm going to continue to read (probably a lot) and I'm going to want to write about some of those other books too. Again, distractions are important.
Some Gielgud highlights, presented in whatever order my phone decided because I cannot be bothered
One of the particular books was 'Gielgud - A Theatrical Life' by Jonathan Croall.
Now I hadn't previously been aware of John Gielgud, but I like to pick up histories and biographies, and I do quite like the theatrical.
The book mentions that John Gielgud was, for the most part, not politically aware and I can relate. I used to 'not do politics'.
It's not that I didn't care, in fact I care a great deal now that I know that everything is politics. It's just that I can't get my head around the more bureaucratic aspects. I can deal with questions of ethics and philosophy, but I can't understand border disputes and trade agreements, I don't know different voting systems or how laws are made or what all the different people in parliament actually DO.
So I'm probably never going to sit down and read a book about The War or any political biographies. But I like to think I pick up a bit more awareness, a little at a time, from my reading.
And so recently I've read a biography of John Gielgud, who was not political but lived through two worlds wars. I read Despised and Rejected by Rose Allatini, a novel written and set during the first World War. And I'm currently reading '18 Tiny Deaths' which also spans the period of both wars but is concerned with other matters (and from an American perspective).
These may not overlap in subject matter, but I think with each life I read about, I get a fuller picture of the times they lived through.
One further comment on my reading and recent events. I'm just coming to the end of '18 Tiny Deaths' and some may find it grim reading at this time (or at any time) but I'm finding that knowing some of this more clinical stuff is sort of reassuring. Having just read about the importance of the medical examiner system (which, in America at least, is a lot more efficient than the coroner system - I never even knew the difference before!) It's sort of good to know that one is involved somewhere. (Previous death reading has included a lot of Caitlin Doughty, and while I appreciate her advocacy on openness/acceptance towards death, right now I only feel my conflicting feelings regarding the funeral industry growing. But that's possibly more of a rant against capitalism, and certainly a discussion for another time).
Wow ok. First of all, I ended my last entry saying I would leave you with more ferret pictures, and I did not in fact leave you with ferret pictures.
They have been added on to the end NOW but for good measure, here's a few of them -
So. I'm currently absolutely knackered and wondering if I should make this a short one and do more tomorrow, or just push through. We'll see how my brain goes. Or how much I have to cover other than the reason for tiredness.
Here's a dinner I did. I got Dan to eat asparagus! He willingly ate more than one piece! Amazing. Shame I utterly failed at gravy, but look at those roasties.
And no, that's not Easter dinner. That was Thursday.
As you can see Fergus has had a busy weekend
Very comfy on the sofa
If you look on YouTube you can see him twitching in his sleep
In other news, I finished one book on my kobo (When The Angels Left The Old Country by Sacha Lamb - may share my thoughts on this later) and had to pick something new when out at burger king.
So, yeah. Normal stuff.
Such friends
SO that's everything up until Sunday so I may as well catch you all up on Sunday too. Lots of pictures but I don't think I have too much to say about them. But anyway, here is what drained me of energy.
Started off adding a bit of colour
A bit of make up (and, you know, clothes)
And finally, Hat.
And glove things because I do not trust the blazing sunshine
Then I went into SUNDERLAND to meet my mam
And we went for Indian street food
I had the Delhitini so I'm afraid I don't know what quiet nostalgia tastes like
Streetcorn, rice, butter paneer
Butter paneer and cauliflower manchurian
Cauliflower manchurian and garlic naan
Onion bhajis
All absolutely delicious.
Then we were off to The Fire Station to see Alabama 3!
I'm not sure what the criteria are for making it into the hall of fame, and I have no idea who's there already.
Waiting
Support act - Michael Gallagher (he's from Hartlepool)
His friend is from Hull apparently
Waiting intensifies
Here's where I'd like to say stuff, but I'm no music critic. It was a good show, I had a great time. Perfect energy for an Easter Sunday. My mam spilled my drink with her bag. There was a VERY enthusiastic guy on the other side of me who chatted with us a bit and cheered a lot. All good fun.
Hung around after and got a few selfies too. And Zoe Devlin said she liked my hat!
I knew the hat was a good call!
So, seated gig, not drinking, and home just after 11pm (I missed the last train but wonderful boyfriend picked me up). And STILL I probably felt as knackered as most of the partying bank holiday people (no headache though :p )
I did still have an hour of ferrets when I got in, but it's not like i usually get to sleep before midnight anyway.
But there we are. Weekend wrapped up, had a lazy day today, off to bed now.
Here's one they didn't play last night (it was an acoustic set so a bit less of the acid house)
