This photo came up in my Facebook memories today and it brought up many emotions and thoughts. I was a teacher for many years and from the turn of the millennium to 2014 I worked in a school for children with moderate learning difficulties. When I started there – I’ve written previously how that came […]Read Post ›
Today we said our final goodbye to an extraordinary person. The red acer above is a constant reminder of our friendship. When I met Marysia and her sister Anna they both had hair the colour of this tree. Like Anne of Green Gables they both became my heroines, for their vibrancy, unconventionality and fierce intelligence […]Read Post ›
In 1981 I left my first “proper” job in order to become the perfect mother. No short term maternity leave for me, thank you very much. I was going to embrace the whole housewifely motherhood vibe wholeheartedly. Come to think of it, Surrey county council did actually offer to pay me two months salary if […]Read Post ›
A few weeks ago my best friend’s brother died. He was also my husband’s cousin, and I’ve written about Tom before, I think. It was sudden, and shocking, and extremely sad. Tributes and memories poured in and many people came to the funeral. Including Tom’s childhood friends and members of his group, Just an Odd […]Read Post ›
It is exactly six years since Sharon went to meet her maker. Not an expression I would normally use, but her faith was her driving force. Everything she did was for the gleaner glory of God – very unusual in this day and age – but she sowed love everywhere. Fiercely intelligent, ferociously clever, her […]Read Post ›
For all my family and friends. To write, or not to write. A Christmas reflection or newsletter, that is. This year has been so busy that I have sadly neglected many people – I’m sorry. I think of you all when I wake up in the small hours, and am consumed with guilt. So, I […]Read Post ›
I have always loved poetry and the sound of my own voice, so when I was asked to read a poem as part of a national poetry reading event I didn’t hesitate to agree. It was supposed to happen on my birthday in September, and I was tempted by the thought that there would be […]Read Post ›
When I was eighteen I went to Poland for six weeks. It was a great turning point in my life, as up till then I had been very shy, very nervous, lacking in confidence and with very few independent skills. I was clever and well read, but that was about it. I left school after […]Read Post ›
I have had this scarf for sixty years. It is one of my oldest and most treasured possessions. But it was not until today that I thought to investigate the writing on it. Thank goodness for the Internet. I discovered that in 1962 there were international skiing championships in Poland. This is what Wikipedia has […]Read Post ›
Maja is my one of my oldest and best friends. I have known her since September 1965 when she started going to my school. I knew her father before then, as he worked with my mum, and her brother, Tom, and I knew of her- but had never met her until she started at my […]Read Post ›
Life Through Basia's Eyes 