It may have been due to the delirium of my recent illnes but I have been having lots of strange dreams about the past.
This morning I woke up after a vivid dream in which I returned to my childhood home in Manchester only to discover my bolt-hole - the local library had been bulldozed.
When I was a child and needed some space (usually from my brother) I would slam the door of my tiny terraced home and retreat to Walkden Library.
It was a two minute walk away across Memorial Road.
My dad used to say "watch that road because if you get run down and break your legs don't come running to me."
It was his gentle way of telling me to be careful. I think.
There was a lily pond outside and in the summer my friends and I would step across the stones trying to avoid ending up ankle deep in muddy water.
During the summer holidays I would enter all the reading and writing competitions and once made the district library final of Scrabble.
I loved the library - the smell of the books and the way the sun would reflect into the largely glass building illuminating the dust motes.
Last year I met a writer who had worked there recently and she told me the devastating news that it was to be pulled down.
I had forgotten about that meeting until the dream last night and I woke up with such a sad feeling.
Yesterday when I wore this outfit it was for another trip down memory lane.
I took the children from the school were I am working back to my old workplace, The Liverpool Echo, for a guided tour.
My old colleague Chris Walker who is now the managing editor kindly agreed to put himself in the firing line for a barrage of brilliant questions.
I worked there first as a news reporter and later as a features writer between 1992 untill 2003 when I went freelance but there were still a lot of familiar faces to say hello to.
It was also my 21st wedding anniversary and in the evening we went to The Royal Court to see our old pal, Neil Caple (Marty from Brookside) take the lead role in Funny Money.
Neil is a great actor.
He has appeared in film, television, stage and is a former member of The Royal Shakespeare Company.
He is also very kind because now and again he comes to the prison and helps me present some drama workshops!
I wore:
Boots - Dorothy Perkins
T - shirt - French Connection
Skirt - TK Maxx
Cardigan - Tesco
Oh... it's amazing how dreams can be so vivid.
ReplyDeleteI have dreams of the home where I spent my best childhood days.
It was also torn down and I love the fact that the dream can take me back to the smallest details...
Love how you worked the flower print with the striped top :)
I love/hate that feeling of when you wake up and a dream felt so real. It's so surreal.
ReplyDeleteI love that skirt...such a great print!
So harmony!
ReplyDeleteP.S.: ♥Please don't forget to join the Howbeadyful giveaway!♥
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Hope you are feeling better! I love your mix of patterns - that skirt is darling!
ReplyDeleteHappy anniversary! Your dream is very interesting -- I hate that, when dreams make you remember things and you wake up sad. :( But I love that as a child you loved libraries :)
ReplyDeletexx
It's amazing how certain outfits or places can evoke such strong, vivid memories, and how we get attached to them. When I was in college, for a couple years I lived down the street from the university, and a few houses down there was a genuine Victorian-era-inspired house that had been restored into a gorgeous B&B. My parents stayed there a couple times when they visited me. Unfortunately, it's since been sold and is now rented as individual apartments, and I hear it's become pretty dumpy. We were all very sad when we heard that. To hear that a historic, meaningful place would be torn down altogether would be even worse.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry to hear that you've been so ill. I hope that you are feeling back to normal soon.
Wow - what a vivid dream. I love what you're wearing :) x
ReplyDeleteLovely post, full of memories, present and others, perfect!
ReplyDelete