Or my perception of events. But it’s true for me.

Life this year has had highs and deep lows. I’m writing this to try to set some of it in context, mostly for myself.

( TL:DR the background )

I went to three Grammar Schools and a Comprehensive instead. Even the basic terminology is different when you cross the Atlantic. ( Cut for much detail about my teenage years. And that meme. )

It's taken a while, but here's my Friday.

( Under the cut to spare your flist. )

Last week I wasn't feeling too brilliant, and it came to a head on the Thursday, which was unfortunate, as it was Dave's birthday - the government now has to pay him for not doing anything. The girls visited - R was a surprise, and F brought Rhiannon, who effortlessly dominated attention. I just ... didn't feel well.

( More, possibly TMI, below the cut. )

Twelfth, plural, this time, as I missed a couple.

Ironically, I missed the last two twelfths of the month because I had too much on, rather than too little. Sunday did at least balance it out.

( Twelfth of December )

Just now you have to laugh or cry. Mostly grimace through the tears. Boris seems to want to brown-nose Trump, while Farage is already doing so. Meanwhile, Trump's transition team is in a constant state of flux. It's even possible a Republican Congress will refuse to work with him (Though I'm not holding my breath, considering just how many jerks ( Read more... )

We've been watching a documentary about the year 1966 this evening - lots of nostalgia there. It was a year in which a lot of things changed for me - I passed my 11+, went to grammar school, moved house, learned about a lot of things that passed me by before that. The programme also reminded me of a comment kazzy_cee made on my last post, so I thought I'd ( Read more... )

I nearly went to High School. I passed the 11+ and had a place waiting for me at Stafford Girls' High. If I'd gone there I might well have met Carol Anne Duffy, who is my age, so would have been the year below me. We bought the uniform and a length of scratchy turquoise fabric from which we were required to make a gym tunic and (very baggy) ( Read more... )

I am genuinely terrified of the possible result of Thursday's Referendum. I want my country back - not handed over to Farage, Boris, IDS, Gove and their goons. I believe we are part of Europe in every possible way, not just geographically. If we leave, we lose so much - not just economically but culturally and in domestic terms. That "red tape" the ( Read more... )

Last year I acted as a judge in a young writers' competition. They even paid me. This year they asked me again, but with no pay. I agreed anyway, and enjoyed the 70-ish stories I read, especially the two or three best.

( Today was the awards ceremony. )