Category Archives: interests

What Am I Passionate About?

Posted on by

7

Kerry at Multiple Mummy is encouraging us all to take some time out from being a Mummy and share things we are passionate about. I have only been a Mummy for 9 months but I have to say that my own passions and interests are already a hazy memory. What did I do before Esther and William were born?

Drama – acting and directing
I love the theatre. I love going to London to watch a show but I also love small theatre, amateur theatre and schol plays. I have always enjoyed acting from a very early age and have been lucky enough to play some fantastic roles in amateur theatre. I have also worked with some exceptional children when directing school plays. Theatre is my main passion. I have been involved in all aspects of theatre at one time or another and know that I will be again when the babies are older. This is a passion that I share with David and I hope that we will both tread the boards again one day.

Writing – blogging and poetry
I have written poetry, stories and plays since I was a young child. I love writing! I find it easy and can write a poem very quickly. My poetry is quite childlike in format and style but it works. My writing has taken a new direction in the last year since starting this blog. When I was a teenager I went mad with my Mother for reading my diary now I am publishing it online for all to see. I find blogging therapeutic, a release, an escape and a way of making friends.

Photography – taking photos and sorting photos
My camera goes with me everywhere. I have always loved taking photos and being in other people’s. I took GCSE Design and specialised in photography but spent more time modelling for other people’s photos than taking and developing my own. Photographs are another form of diary for me, I record very milestone I can, especially since the babies have been born. I am currently taking the 365 photo challenge to try and improve my skills and if I a feel at the end of the year that I have been successful then I am going to treat myself to a proper SLR camera and deveop this passion even more.

Reading – to myself and out loud
Any regular reader of this blog will know that I love reading with Esther and William. I want to encourage them to have the same love affair with literature that their father and I share. Our house is full of books of every genre and we all love to read. I love to read aloud. When David and I first met we used to read plays aloud together. Now I read out loud to Esther and William whenever I can. We generally share at leats three picture books a day and you can read about some of our favourites here.

The West Wing
David introduced me to this series when we first met in 2007. Since then we ave watched all 7 series about 5 times. I am sure we are on our fifth go through. This is an Amrican drama set in The White House with a Democtratic president. It is fantasticaly written, superbly cast and very well acted. It is easy to watch yet challenges your thinking. It makes you laugh and cry. It feels real. It sparked an interest for me in American political systems and I have learned so much through watching it. It is great! David and I can quote many lines from it and often share them as personal jokes. It is a shared passion and a strong bond between us. We have watched it every day for years. I love it.

Planning
I am a planner. I love to make lists and tick things off. At the moment I am busy planning our wedding, before that we have Esther and William’s first birthday party to arrange and after it their christening to plan. I love researching ideas and making plans.

So there we go, seems I can remember after all! But none of these things compare to the passion I have for my children and sharing in their learning and development. None of these things compare with my love for David and my desire to make him happy, to make us happy as a family. There is nothing in the world that beats that!

But it has been nice, really nice, to take a few minutes out to write this post and remember who I am for a while, who I am when I am not being Mummy x

Raindrops, Roses, Whiskers!

Posted on by

3

Inspired by http://superamazingmum.blogspot.com/2010/11/raindrops-on-roses-and-whiskers-on.html which I read during an early morning breast feed!! I have dug out my list of favourite things that I shared with David when we met in 2007.  At the end I will add on some new ‘raindrops and roses’ that have grown through knowing him.

‘These are a few of my favourite things!’

ART

Andy Goldsworthy

“Andy Goldsworthy is an environmental sculptor in which his use of the natural surroundings create an art form. He explores and experiments with various natural materiel such as leaves, grasses, stones, wood, sand, clay, ice, and snow. The seasons and weather determine the materials and the subject matter of his projects. With no preconceived ideas about what he will create, Goldsworthy relies on what nature will give him.” 

 This is one of my favourite pieces.

 

Gustav Klimt

Kandinsky – I like abstract art

Mondrian

Lowry – I also like art that tells a story

Jack Vettriano

PLACES

Lost Gardens of Heligan – Cornwall

Have you ever been here?  It is wonderful.  Has a real sense of magic.

http://www.heligan.com/flash_index.html

Gyllyngvase Beach, near Falmouth, Cornwall

Kynance Cove, The Lizard, Cornwall

Hidden away from all the world!

The view from the top of Gummers How, near Windermere

 

On a clear day you can see the sea far far in the distance

Camber Sands, especially when it is empty and when it is winter.

Windermere

Window seats in old houses.  Where you can curl up with a good book and watch the world go by at the same time.  Watch raindrops as they race down the panes.

Warming up by a roaring open fire – toasting marshmallows

 

Holidays by the sea

Campfires on the beach

Sleeping under the stars, beneath the night sky

TO DO

Camping, walking, climbing, cycling and swimming.  Reading and writing, teaching and learning.  Going to the theatre, acting, singing, listening to music. 

READING

I have always been an avid reader.  Starting with Enid Blyton and The Folk of the Faraway Tree, moving on to The Famous Five, The Dark is Rising Sequence by Susan Cooper, The Hobbit.  I love Jane Austen, Thomas Hardy and other classic literature.  I love The Secret Garden.  I love 1984 by George Orwell and The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood.  I studied and compared these two books for an extended study as part of my literature A Level and have loved them ever since.  I love The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter.  I love Lord of the Flies.  Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger.  I love The Silver Sword by Ian Serrailer, I Am David by Anne Holme and Children of the Oregon Trail.  Books I can read over and over again! I will read just about anything to be fair.

WRITING

Though I have not written much outside of school and university for a few years now. I have written and enjoy writing stories, poems and plays.  The first play I ever wrote was called The Happy Scarecrow when I was 8 years old.  I directed and performed in it in a school assembly.  My friends and I used to write shows and perform them in my garden all the time when we were younger.  Poetry I wrote was pretty intense as a teenager.  I went on holiday to Scottish highlands with my parents when I was about 15 and write some pretty moody stuff.  I have not felt much like writing for years, until I met you, and now I feel inspired again.  Thank you.  I have had some educational articles published and some of my work from uni, I have also had some poetry published when I was younger.  I will always try to keep a diary. I want to be able to look back on what we have when I am old and remember how wonderful and magical it was to find you (David).

ACTING AND DIRECTING

I have always been into the theatre.  First started acting when I was 6.  Started with small parts but always speaking roles and then as I got older I always got the lead roles in school productions and at the various drama clubs I belonged to.  Got some really good reviews for my acting and for the productions that I directed.  The last two Christmases I have produced and directed the school Christmas show (with Debbie) but it is not quite the same thing.

Parts I have played

Loads of pantomimes always either the young female lead (Snow White, Cinderella) or the Prince type person. 

A review from when I was in panto – “Colin was of course played by a girl in true panto tradition.  This was the delectable and talented actress Jennie Nairn who was quite outstanding.  She was all that the lead panto ‘male’ should be.  Striking looks, true stage presence, a magnificent smile and a marvellous set of legs which all made her perfect for the role.”

The Governor’s Wife / Rider in Bertolt Brecht’s The Caucasian Chalk Circle

Sara Bond in Wolfsbane

“Pivotal to the whole play was the part of Sara Bond, played by Jennie Nairn.  It is difficult to believe that one so young (20) could have such a mature acting ability.  She had terrific stage presence and built up Sara’s character with subtlety and guile.  Jennie is a handsome girl with a clear and powerful voice and was a joy to watch.  Her powerful scene with Gran was a highlight.  Her domination and mood changes, threats and ridiculing of the old lady had the audience on the edge of their seats.  It was marvellous stuff.  She never hesitated once, such was her command of her part, and at the end I was an ardent fan full of admiration.  There have been some fine perfomances at CATs but Jennie Nairn’s was amongst the best that I have seen.” 

Antigone in Antigone

Mrs Frank in The Diary of Anne Frank

Karin Rust in Albert

Dulcie in The Boyfriend

Audrey in The Little Shop of Horrors

Alice in The Killing of Sister George

Plays I have directed

Doggies by Jean McConnell

Love Stinks by Sue Herscombe and Pete Scott

“Amateur dramatics often gets stuck in a rut.  Give the younger generation a chance to show its talents and this refreshing pair of duologues is the result.  The young CATS were led by the hardworking Jennie Nairn (me) who directed without unnecessary frills,, allowing us to concentrate on the well-written texts … We look forward to more work from this combination of young talent.”

All of the above are my favourite things from 2007, now in 2011 I would add

David, my children and all the wonderful things they do, teaching, directing children’s drama, blogging, taking photographs, Ullswater!!, Devon, Durdle Door, snow days with igloos, animation, The West Wing, Spooks, Twilight, planning our wedding and so much more …

Think I will post more about this soon.

Thank you for the inspiration x

http://superamazingmum.blogspot.com/2010/11/raindrops-on-roses-and-whiskers-on.html