Unto This Last

 

I last stood at this spot in John Ruskin's house in 1981.

I was 15 and on a camping trip with my school's Writers' Club.

We had visited many literary sites that didn't really connect with a 15-year-old schoolgirl from Manchester.

But John Ruskin's house was a place where I felt inspired.

I stood at that spot and decided I would become a writer.

The following year I won a short story competition run by Salford City Council and went on to study Ruskin at university during my English Literature (Literature of Ideas) degree.

10 years later I was employed as a journalist at The Liverpool Echo where I met a very good friend, Peter Grant who had studied at Ruskin College in Oxford.

Ruskin was born and lived in London and later, Oxford but moved to Brantwood by Coniston Water in 1871.

During his life he had been an artist, painter, writer, poet, political theorist and social reformer.

He took on Brantwood when it was a wreck and rebuilt the home and gardens.

He lived there until his death in 1900.

Unto This Last is a series of political essays which warns of the dangers of industrialization on nature.

Ruskin often enjoyed boating trips on the lake from here.

The gardens are amazing with a variety of areas which have been developed since Ruskin's death using his ideas.

I loved the ferns in The Professor's Garden.

If you ever get the chance to visit it is such an inspiring place and I am sure the spirit of the man lives on in the fabric of the building.

I wore:

Sandals: Birkenstock

Skort: Trespass

Top: Next

Glasses: Prada

Blue Swan

TGI Friday.

Just one week to go before the students leave for the summer.

And then just half a week and I am OFF WORK for Five Weeks.

I can't believe I have survived my first academic year as a Progress Coach.

Well almost.

I have loved seeing my first year students grow and helped my second year students onto the next stage of their journey.

I will miss the ones who have left but I am looking forward to the new students starting in September.

I have also been given the extra responsibility of looking after the high fliers next year.

I will have the Inspire students - the ones who are expected to go on to Oxford and Cambridge, those who plan to study medicine, Veterinary Science and Dentistry.

I will be guidng them through the UCAS process, writing their references and taking responsibility for their pastoral care.

It will be challenging but I am looking forward to it.

Today I met my first Inspire groups and I wanted to give a good impression which is why I wore my old favourite Gap dress which slots easily into the smart/casual part of my wardrobe.

I love the way clothes can make you feel safe, in control and calm. This dress is the sartorial equivalent of a swan. On the surface it makes me look calm while underneath I am kicking away furiously to get where I want to go.

Do you have old faithfuls too?

I wore:

Shoes - Clarks

Dress - Gap

Belt - Tesco

Necklace - Principles