Category Archives: memories

Looking Back On My Childhood Days

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For Mumra Playlists 8 we have been asked to recall songs from our childhood. I was brought up on 50s and 60s music from Eddie Cochrane to The Everley Brothers, Connie Francis to Brenda Lee, Buddy Holly to Fats Domino. My parents loved their music and we had countless mix tapes played over and over in the car.

But I am looking further back than our long car journeys, I am remembering being a very small child in the bath with my Daddy singing to me, songs that I still sing with Esther and William now.

Songs that for me should feature in every childhood as they are about hopes and dreams and family.

Here they are:

What songs take you back to your childhood days?

Why not share them with Mumra?

Mumra Playlist

Mumra’s School Disco!

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For Mumra’s 7th playlist she is asking us to reveal our school disco tracks.

I have two; a dance track that for me signifies the start of my disco career and the first song that I can remember slow dancing to in the school hall.

Both tunes remind me of my time at Edinburgh School in Munster,Germany and I guess at this time I would have been in Years 7, 8 and 9.

The dance style of the moment was The Running Man!

Madonna was enjoying a revival.

My full school disco playlist would include many many classic early 90s tunes but these two define, for me, discos at school.

Snap – The Power and Madonna – Crazy For You

Oh the memories of those so special days!!

Technotronic anyone? Betty Boo? Pump up the Jam!

They say that your school days are the best days of your life and with tunes such as these making up the soundtrack how can they be wrong?

Mumra Playlist

Musical Memories – New Beginnings

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My whole reason for starting blogging was to welcome Esther and William to the world. My beautiful daughter and her brother, my son, born on the 24th July, 13 weeks too soon. They spent 59 days in NICU and looking at them now, you really would never know.
My musical memory is of the beginning of their tiny lives and the soundtrack to those early days.

This is Wires by Athlete with photos of Esther and William at their beginning.

THE VIDEO ON FACEBOOK (should it not work here!)

For more musical memories hop on over to Mummy Matters and join in with this brand new linky.

”Musical

Music I Want My Children To Listen To

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My musical tastes have evolved through the years but instead of changing completely my love of music has grown stronger and my repertoire wider.  This is something not everyone understands and so depending on who you are you may only know part of my musical taste – the chosen few will know the full extent of my listening pleasures.  From Robbie to Kylie to Buddy – The Killers, The Cure, The Chemical Brothers – Johnny Cash, Brenda Lee, Connie Francis – West Side Story, Wizard of Oz, Les Mis – Goldie, Groove Armada, Massive Attack and Basement Jaxx.  I love them all and want my children to sample each and everyone of them … and more …

The music I loved in my own childhood was heavily influenced by my parents.  In particular one mix tape that we listened to over and over in the car featuring Buddy Holly, The Everly Brothers, Paul Anka, Neil Sedaka and more … It was badly recorded and over recorded and we knew where all the breaks in the songs came and what song came next.  I loved 50s and 60s music as a child and I still do. I definitely want my children to understand the history and significance of rock and roll.

As a child of the 80s there was a time I am afraid to say when I loved all things Stock, Aitken and Waterman, especially Kylie.  I still do have a secret thing for Kylie and have already introduced my daughter to such classics as Never Too Late and Wouldn’t Change A Thing.  Thank you You Tube!

Around this time my cousins also introduced me to INXS, Bon Jovi and Aerosmith, alongside Wham!  Another branch on my tree of music was born.  Many of my dips and dives into different artists and bands have been influenced by Paul and Glen (the cousins) – Wet Wet Wet, AHa!!, George Michael and much much more.

As a young teenage I loved James, EMF, The Farm, Happy Mondays, Stone Roses and The Cure amongst others.  I also love Madonna and began to get into Rave!  At Youth Club I loved Guns n Roses but would equally love dancing to Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch!  Oh the memories!

As an older teenager my heart was firmly attached to dance music particularly house but also drum and bass whilst frequenting Cream at University!  I spent many mispent nights at Cream, Gatecrasher and many other, smaller, better, underground clubs across Europe.  I danced right through to my late 20s, until I was 30.  During this time I saw The Prodigy and Moby live many times and just LOVED them!

Alongside dance though I also loved alternative music particularly Tori Amos, Massive Attack, Primal Scream, Leftfield, Radiohead, The Verve, REM, Ocean Colour Scene, The Levellers, Bjork and there was still an allegiance to rock / grunge – U2, Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, Faith No More, Foo Fighters.  I also liked Def Leppard at some point and Metallica too.

And then came Brit Pop – Oasis or Blur – I unashamedly loved BOTH!  And I still do!  I also love Dodgy.  I love Dodgy!!

More recently I have fallen in love with The Killers and The White Stripes with thanks to David for these.

I could go on and on and on about music and there will always be something or someone that I would have forgotten to mention.

Here are some songs though that I would not want my children to miss – in no particular order and again there will be omissions that I will kick myself for later!

Put Your Head On My Shoulder – Paul Anka

Grace – U2 (contributing factor to Esther’s middle name)

If You’re Thinking Of Me – Dodgy

No Regrets – Robbie Williams

Hotel Yorba – The White Stripes (David was singing this to me when I first realised we would get married, way back in 2007,  just weeks after we had met)

Take Me to the Place Where the White Boys Dance – The Killers (listened to on journeys to and fro NICU)

Wires – Athlete (a tale of a premature baby)

At My Most Beautiful – REM (Thinking this will be the song that I walk down the aisle to!)

I’ll Stop the World – The Cure (Mine and David’s song)

Groove Is In The Heart – DeeLite

At the River – Groove Armada

Cherish – Madonna

Movin’ On Up – Primal Scream

Waterfall – The Stone Roses

Champagne Supernova – Oasis

This is a Low – Blur

Leftism – Leftfield (whole album)

Blue Lines – Massive Attack (whole album)

… there are just so many more …

I can feel a muscial evening coming on very soon.  How I love mornings when you wake up to find your CD collection spread out all over the floor where you have been playing song after song in a haze of memory and music.  I want my children to have that.  I want my children to grab music, embrace it and let it feed their soul, fuel their lives and be the soundtrack to their memories.

Music and life go hand in hand and help everyone tell their story.

I am sure that music will play a huge part in my children knowing mine.

This post was inspired by http://ghostwritermummy.wordpress.com/2011/01/16/music-i-want-my-children-to-listen-to-daniel-johnston/

Raindrops, Roses, Whiskers!

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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

Chronic Lung Disease

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Dr Long saw the twins this morning. William first. Everything is to stay the same with William. He is now classed as having ‘Chronic Lung Disease’ (CLD). This is because he still requires oxygen support at one month old.

http://www.lpch.org/DiseaseHealthInfo/HealthLibrary/respire/cld.html

Dr Long says not to be surprised if he is still needing oxygen at 36 weeks, and could even go home with oxygen support. Continue reading →