The events that shape our lives

Today it was announced that Scotland has voted in a historic referendum in favour of remaining a part of our United Kingdom. History is made today, and every day.

When I was a little girl, like you, growing up, I enjoyed nothing more than a rummage around in our loft. Family possessions, cold, boxed and rarely seen. I loved that packaged history, up there in the roof of our house. I remember the smell, the cold, the boarded space and the solitary light bulb. 

One of my treasures in the loft was the wooden tea chests filled with historic newspapers collected by my mummy and daddy, your nana and grandad. Jubilees, wars won and lost, new Prime Ministers, old Prime Ministers, deaths, celebrations....the world, captured in print and kept for posterity. 

Me & my daddy c1978

On September 11th, 2001 something happened which changed the world, our world, forever. You are too young to begin to understand the motives behind the events of that day but you will learn about it one day and it's important that you do. 

And here begun my newspaper collection capturing the events that have shaped my life and kept for posterity, for you.

One day, I hope that you will rummage through my newspaper collection as I did my mummy and daddy's. Ask me what happened and I'll try to explain, as best I can. It's a complicated world but it's ours and you will get so much more from it if you take an interest and care. I know you will.

Me & you yesterday, whilst Scotland voted for its future

I love you baby. Sleep tight.

"The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see." ~ Winston Churchill

Homeward bound

We got stuck in traffic on the way home today. Despite my best efforts on the car game front you fell asleep in your little chair with Right Bunny pushed up against your cheek.

Sitting on that road, with you in the back, I felt nostalgic. Heading back. Is home this way, or that? 

The A11 is the road in and out of Norfolk. It's been my route on holiday as a very little girl. And the route we came home again on. The road I took when we left Norfolk. The road I travel back down to see our friends and family. And the road that brings them to me. It is just a road but it's more than a road, to me. It takes me 'home' to my house. And it takes me back 'home' to my memories. 

This view has been the backdrop to so many of my journeys.

When I first made my journeys down this road, I didn't have you. Now you come too. I watched you in my mirror today, gazing out at the same views I have gazed at since I was your age. Norfolk is already staking it's claim over part of your being, as it has to mine. Your cousins are there, nanas, grandads, aunties, uncles and some of our very closest friends. "Your park from when you were little Mummy" is somewhere you ask to go to often. I carry this place in my words and actions and hopes and fears. It's engrained in me. Somewhere that means so much to me won't fail to be important to you. It just can't. 

We listened to this on the way home tonight. Sleep tight sweetie. 

"Sometimes I wonder if I'm ever gonna make it home again. It's so far and out of sight" ~ Carole King, Home Again (1971)