In a past post I exposed my nephew and godson as a talented writer. He wrote a guest post on this blog about the family get together. As a family we encouraged him to seek further exposure as a writer, and he did! Cameron is 14 and has now published his own book... Darkness. Even in this day and age, that is no mean feat and we are very proud of him. In fact the local paper is going to run a feature on him shortly.
One more than happy outcome for me is that it has led to a change in his perception about the value of family and has made him realise at this tender age that with love, support and encouragement, you can do whatever you want to in this life. Invaluable at his age and I cannot begin to explain how very proud we are of his talent, tenacity, ambition and most importantly trust in us that he IS in fact talented enough to make it as a writer.
So why am I telling you this?
In order for him to have the book more widely published he needs to sell THIRTY ONE more copies.
This is where you come in. Please take the time to go and order it so that together we can make one young mans dream come true.
It will only cost £4.99 (electronically) and £6.99 (paperback) to make a BIG difference to a young lads life, this is a good example of PEOPLE power. Of course, when he becomes a famous author, you can say that you contributed to his success. I will of course make sure that he thanks every one of you personally.
I promised Cameron I would help him and this is my contribution to doing so, please help me to move up in the ranks in the favourite auntie division and download this book today.
Type Cameron Spence Darkness into google and find the book....
THIRTY ONE is not a big number, make a difference today.
Thursday, 5 August 2010
Wednesday, 16 June 2010
Gone too soon...
It doesn't matter how old you are, where you live, what you do for a living or who you know, death does not discriminate.
The Impartial Friend: Death, the only immortal who treats us all alike, whose pity and whose peace and whose refuge are for all--the soiled and the pure, the rich and the poor, the loved and the unloved.
- Mark Twain, last written statement; Moments with Mark Twain, Paine
At one time or another we are all affected by the death of someone we have known or been close to. Obviously it is sad to lose anyone that you love, but it is a whole different ball game when that person leaves this earth sooner than we think they should have. It reminds me of the song 'Gone Too Soon' and I find it ironic that the artist who brought this song to the masses also suffered this fate.
In fact when PEOPLE die prematurely, we don't even have to have known them that well for their passing to touch us and make us feel sadness and grief to some extent. We feel sad for the PEOPLE who knew and loved them, we offer comfort and support, but know that nothing we say is going to make them feel better, not really.
Of course if we have experienced premature death of someone close, we have a good idea of how they could be feeling; shock, disbelief, anger, pain, heartache, guilt, regret and sorrow. Old wounds are opened, we are reminded of the PEOPLE that we loved who left too soon, suddenly or otherwise. Our hearts ache at the memory of them, we miss them, some PEOPLE feel guilty because life has moved on without them, we might shed a tear, we might smile, we are reminded of the injustice of it all and say things like; Only the good die young, God takes the best first and Life is too short.
Whether its a disease, an accident, a war, a freak of nature, a genetic hitch, suicide or murder, whenever someone dies it stirs up a whole lot of emotion.
I know this is not always the case, but it seems to me that almost always, the PEOPLE that die young are PEOPLE that have made a great impression on others during their time here, their existence was considered a gift to all who knew them. It's not necessarily about what they acheived but in the way they gave themselves wholeheartedly to others. The PEOPLE I have known (some better than others) that have gone too soon have been loved by everyone who came into contact with them, they had huge personalities, were vibrant, popular, optimistic and loved life and everyone who shared their space, particularly friends and family.
So much so that we often feel their presence long after they are gone, a song, a place or a word can trigger a memory that warms the heart. We imagine them looking down on us and wonder what they would say about situations that we find ourselves in. Photographs serve as a constant reminder that they were here and the memories we made. They have been the kind of PEOPLE that would want those they leave behind to remember them with a smile and celebrate their life at every opportunity, and of course we usually oblige.
Their untimely passing reminds us to cherish those who are dear to us, tell PEOPLE how much we love them, live life to the full and to never take anyone for granted.
I started writing this post in March and it was to be dedicated to someone who was close to me and whose departure I still struggle to come to terms with, but in the last week two young PEOPLE that are friends of PEOPLE that I care about have Gone too soon... that made me want to post this now.
In loving memory of the legendary Sean Green 10th May 1966 - 22nd September 2007.
To live in the hearts of those who loved you is never to die.
Rest In Peace
The Impartial Friend: Death, the only immortal who treats us all alike, whose pity and whose peace and whose refuge are for all--the soiled and the pure, the rich and the poor, the loved and the unloved.
- Mark Twain, last written statement; Moments with Mark Twain, Paine
At one time or another we are all affected by the death of someone we have known or been close to. Obviously it is sad to lose anyone that you love, but it is a whole different ball game when that person leaves this earth sooner than we think they should have. It reminds me of the song 'Gone Too Soon' and I find it ironic that the artist who brought this song to the masses also suffered this fate.
In fact when PEOPLE die prematurely, we don't even have to have known them that well for their passing to touch us and make us feel sadness and grief to some extent. We feel sad for the PEOPLE who knew and loved them, we offer comfort and support, but know that nothing we say is going to make them feel better, not really.
Of course if we have experienced premature death of someone close, we have a good idea of how they could be feeling; shock, disbelief, anger, pain, heartache, guilt, regret and sorrow. Old wounds are opened, we are reminded of the PEOPLE that we loved who left too soon, suddenly or otherwise. Our hearts ache at the memory of them, we miss them, some PEOPLE feel guilty because life has moved on without them, we might shed a tear, we might smile, we are reminded of the injustice of it all and say things like; Only the good die young, God takes the best first and Life is too short.
Whether its a disease, an accident, a war, a freak of nature, a genetic hitch, suicide or murder, whenever someone dies it stirs up a whole lot of emotion.
I know this is not always the case, but it seems to me that almost always, the PEOPLE that die young are PEOPLE that have made a great impression on others during their time here, their existence was considered a gift to all who knew them. It's not necessarily about what they acheived but in the way they gave themselves wholeheartedly to others. The PEOPLE I have known (some better than others) that have gone too soon have been loved by everyone who came into contact with them, they had huge personalities, were vibrant, popular, optimistic and loved life and everyone who shared their space, particularly friends and family.
So much so that we often feel their presence long after they are gone, a song, a place or a word can trigger a memory that warms the heart. We imagine them looking down on us and wonder what they would say about situations that we find ourselves in. Photographs serve as a constant reminder that they were here and the memories we made. They have been the kind of PEOPLE that would want those they leave behind to remember them with a smile and celebrate their life at every opportunity, and of course we usually oblige.
Their untimely passing reminds us to cherish those who are dear to us, tell PEOPLE how much we love them, live life to the full and to never take anyone for granted.
I started writing this post in March and it was to be dedicated to someone who was close to me and whose departure I still struggle to come to terms with, but in the last week two young PEOPLE that are friends of PEOPLE that I care about have Gone too soon... that made me want to post this now.
In loving memory of the legendary Sean Green 10th May 1966 - 22nd September 2007.
To live in the hearts of those who loved you is never to die.
Rest In Peace
Saturday, 24 April 2010
The way the world turns Part 1
I have some special memories of growing up, mostly I remember the PEOPLE that joined me on that journey and I always smile fondly when I remember the crazy times we had. Although the years steal from us the specifics like times, dates and sometimes places, the memories of good and happy times remain.
When I was a teenager, I had a great group of friends, girls and boys. We did stupid things, stayed out later than we should, did things that our parents had no clue about, went to parties that we shouldn't have gone to, roamed the streets into the small hours, and laughed alot! We were open to almost any new experience. When I look back we had conversations that would shape us and although we had no chance of ever remembering the details of them we were growing up in front of each other and they were fun times. We got to know each other in a way that only PEOPLE who grow up together do. We made special bonds that we knew would last a lifetime and shared moments that will remain in my memory forever. This is a small town which means I sometimes come across the PEOPLE that I grew up alongside. I love bumping into them, reminiscing and laughing at our shared memories.
One of the PEOPLE that shared my formative years was Lee. He was bigger than average and so was his laugh, he seemed to understand 'the girls' and didn't care what PEOPLE said about the fact that he spent most of his time with my little clique of 3. He had a sweet nature and was a natural mediator, he gave great hugs and knew how to stop the flow of teenage tears. Lee was the kind of friend that you wanted around when there was trouble. He was a peace maker and a care taker and I could not count the number of times he got me home safely. He respected my parents and was very scared of my dad (everyone was!). I forget now how we ever lost touch, but we did until recently.
Lee now works with young PEOPLE, some of them troubled, something that doesn't surprise me in the slightest, neither does his passion for boxing. Combine the two and you have a recipe for making a difference. My family is involved in the boxing scene and so this is how our paths crossed again. He is a coach and corner man in the amateur game.
My son has just been introduced to the sport and had his first bout last night, which he won in spectacular style. I didn't go to the show and so it wasn't until afterwards that I found out that at this crucial point in my sons life, his first time in the ring, that his corner man was Lee.
That is how the world turns and that made last night all the more special for me.
When I was a teenager, I had a great group of friends, girls and boys. We did stupid things, stayed out later than we should, did things that our parents had no clue about, went to parties that we shouldn't have gone to, roamed the streets into the small hours, and laughed alot! We were open to almost any new experience. When I look back we had conversations that would shape us and although we had no chance of ever remembering the details of them we were growing up in front of each other and they were fun times. We got to know each other in a way that only PEOPLE who grow up together do. We made special bonds that we knew would last a lifetime and shared moments that will remain in my memory forever. This is a small town which means I sometimes come across the PEOPLE that I grew up alongside. I love bumping into them, reminiscing and laughing at our shared memories.
One of the PEOPLE that shared my formative years was Lee. He was bigger than average and so was his laugh, he seemed to understand 'the girls' and didn't care what PEOPLE said about the fact that he spent most of his time with my little clique of 3. He had a sweet nature and was a natural mediator, he gave great hugs and knew how to stop the flow of teenage tears. Lee was the kind of friend that you wanted around when there was trouble. He was a peace maker and a care taker and I could not count the number of times he got me home safely. He respected my parents and was very scared of my dad (everyone was!). I forget now how we ever lost touch, but we did until recently.
Lee now works with young PEOPLE, some of them troubled, something that doesn't surprise me in the slightest, neither does his passion for boxing. Combine the two and you have a recipe for making a difference. My family is involved in the boxing scene and so this is how our paths crossed again. He is a coach and corner man in the amateur game.
My son has just been introduced to the sport and had his first bout last night, which he won in spectacular style. I didn't go to the show and so it wasn't until afterwards that I found out that at this crucial point in my sons life, his first time in the ring, that his corner man was Lee.
That is how the world turns and that made last night all the more special for me.
Friday, 16 April 2010
MISSING
A young man, who I do not know, but by coincidence happens to share the same birth name as me, has gone missing in Hull. Nearly 50,000 PEOPLE (including me) have joined a facebook group that is appealing for information and pleading for PEOPLE to look out for him in the hope that he will be reunited with his family.
Alex Spence went on a night out last Saturday with his sister and some friends. He left the pub at 10.30pm to make the short journey home to his wife and young family. He never arrived. That was almost a week ago. The truth is NO ONE at this moment in time knows what happened to Alex. I cannot imagine what his family and friends are going through and my thoughts are very much with them as I write this. This story really made me think about what would happen if one of my friends or family simply vanished like that. My feeling is that many PEOPLE will be thinking the same thing, which is why the facebook group set up to find him has attracted so many members, many of whom do not even know him.
Can you stop for a minute to imagine if your son, brother, nephew, cousin, dad, husband or friend simply didn't come home from a night out? I thought about it as a result of this story.
What would be going through your mind?
How would you ever get your head round it?
How would you function?
What would you actually do with your day?
Would you sleep?
Who would you talk to?
What would the PEOPLE around you say or do?
How would you explain it to the children?
What questions would you be asking yourself?
What would you be hoping had happened?
What would you be wishing hadn't happened?
What would you have wanted to have said to him the very last time you spoke?
What would you say to him when he is found safely?
Would you be wondering if he will ever come home?
What would be your greatest hope?
What would be your greatest fear?
These are hard questions to answer without experiencing what Alex's family and friends are experiencing right now. I truly hope and pray that Alex will be reunited with his family and soon and that I only ever have to imagine the torture they are going through.
This is a blog about PEOPLE, and thanks to facebook, this appeal has illustrated that even when PEOPLE do not know the person that they are trying to help, when a story like this touches us, it does so in the most profound way. I am positive that those who know Alex will appreciate the support, help and exposure that facebook has enabled them to have in their plight to find Alex, but in reality, they just want him home.
So do nearly 50,000 other PEOPLE.
Alex Spence went on a night out last Saturday with his sister and some friends. He left the pub at 10.30pm to make the short journey home to his wife and young family. He never arrived. That was almost a week ago. The truth is NO ONE at this moment in time knows what happened to Alex. I cannot imagine what his family and friends are going through and my thoughts are very much with them as I write this. This story really made me think about what would happen if one of my friends or family simply vanished like that. My feeling is that many PEOPLE will be thinking the same thing, which is why the facebook group set up to find him has attracted so many members, many of whom do not even know him.
Can you stop for a minute to imagine if your son, brother, nephew, cousin, dad, husband or friend simply didn't come home from a night out? I thought about it as a result of this story.
What would be going through your mind?
How would you ever get your head round it?
How would you function?
What would you actually do with your day?
Would you sleep?
Who would you talk to?
What would the PEOPLE around you say or do?
How would you explain it to the children?
What questions would you be asking yourself?
What would you be hoping had happened?
What would you be wishing hadn't happened?
What would you have wanted to have said to him the very last time you spoke?
What would you say to him when he is found safely?
Would you be wondering if he will ever come home?
What would be your greatest hope?
What would be your greatest fear?
These are hard questions to answer without experiencing what Alex's family and friends are experiencing right now. I truly hope and pray that Alex will be reunited with his family and soon and that I only ever have to imagine the torture they are going through.
This is a blog about PEOPLE, and thanks to facebook, this appeal has illustrated that even when PEOPLE do not know the person that they are trying to help, when a story like this touches us, it does so in the most profound way. I am positive that those who know Alex will appreciate the support, help and exposure that facebook has enabled them to have in their plight to find Alex, but in reality, they just want him home.
So do nearly 50,000 other PEOPLE.
Thursday, 15 April 2010
That child has been here before
Have you ever come across a child whose antics make you think they must have been here before?
My niece Maisie Mae (aka Maisie Mayhem) is such a creature. She is the youngest of 14 grandchildren and we knew from the time that she was conceived that this would likely be the case and so her arrival was eagerly anticipated by the whole family, but especially by those of us who socialise with her parents regularly, and as a result have become an integral part of her happy little existence.
Maisie was born into a world of adoration, surrounded by people who treated her as though she was special, much to the dismay of her mum who often says, what chance do I have? None of us can say no to her..... This is something that she has never taken advantage of although she knows just how to play every single one of us.
At 4 years old (nearly 5), she is a political animal, she knows how to get what she wants, but unlike other 4 year olds she doesn't want material things necessarily although she is partial to the odd pair of sparkly shoes, she doesn't scream for attention, she doesn't need to. She doesn't want to annoy, she does not want to antagonise and she never exploits the soft hearts around her. What Maisie wants is to make PEOPLE smile and she knows how to do that, she wants to remind everyone around in the most subtle of ways of what a joy life is. When you are around her you feel like you are in good company.
I just had the pleasure of spending 3 whole days with Maisie, without her parents, just me, her 2 cousins (or puppets) my sister and her nan. It happened by accident and was a last minute trip. I always knew she was hard labour but we were in for the most pleasant of surprises. That child knows how to be happy, knows how to laugh and make other PEOPLE laugh in a way that a child of her age should just not know about. Oh and she is hard labour!
So what are the things that make me think she has been here before...
She knows what family is and the fact that she was away with us was the same in her mind as though she was with her immediate family. Not once did she whine or complain of missing home, she knew instinctively she was in safe hands and was happy to be there, you can't buy that.
She is adaptable and can turn her hand to any social situation that she finds herself in, among adults and children alike.
She understands hierarchy.
She is sensitive but only when she needs to be and harsh when its called for.
She knows who is who and takes time to understand what makes those around her tick.
She knows that Green is not her favourite colour, but is partial to red, white and blue.
She knows when to be quiete and can be when she totally understands WHY?.
She knows about respect and places it well.
She knows when laughter is in order and manages to trigger it with almost every word.
She knows when a situation needs to be diffused.
She knows whose hand to hold at any given time.
She loves life whole heartedly and every quip and comment illustrates it in a way that makes her adult companions go... WHAT DID SHE JUST SAY????
She remembers every comment and situation that she has ever been in and uses adult humour in a way that 4 year olds shouldn't be able to.
She remembers things that she shouldn't and forgets things she should.
She is insightful and articulate beyond her years.
She remembers those that have passed and reminds us of them, just at the moment that a special song is playing or on a date that already has them on our mind.
There are endless examples of when Maisie has made us think 'That child has been here before'.
Maisie is a gift to us, but I am positive that many reading this can think of a child that is a gift to them. They are not necessarily bright, funny or full of personality like Maisie, but it does make you wonder sometimes, are these children sent to us as a reminder of the joy that life can bring and to remind us to embrace life as though we were 4. Are they a gift from the PEOPLE that we cared about that want us to know their spirit lives on? Whatever the reason, Maisie is here and don't we know it! I am so grateful that I am a part of her colourful life.
I know I am not alone in wishing we could press the PAUSE button and keep her as she is now forever, I say that to her all the time and she says, I can't be 4 forever, you need to get over it!
My niece Maisie Mae (aka Maisie Mayhem) is such a creature. She is the youngest of 14 grandchildren and we knew from the time that she was conceived that this would likely be the case and so her arrival was eagerly anticipated by the whole family, but especially by those of us who socialise with her parents regularly, and as a result have become an integral part of her happy little existence.
Maisie was born into a world of adoration, surrounded by people who treated her as though she was special, much to the dismay of her mum who often says, what chance do I have? None of us can say no to her..... This is something that she has never taken advantage of although she knows just how to play every single one of us.
At 4 years old (nearly 5), she is a political animal, she knows how to get what she wants, but unlike other 4 year olds she doesn't want material things necessarily although she is partial to the odd pair of sparkly shoes, she doesn't scream for attention, she doesn't need to. She doesn't want to annoy, she does not want to antagonise and she never exploits the soft hearts around her. What Maisie wants is to make PEOPLE smile and she knows how to do that, she wants to remind everyone around in the most subtle of ways of what a joy life is. When you are around her you feel like you are in good company.
I just had the pleasure of spending 3 whole days with Maisie, without her parents, just me, her 2 cousins (or puppets) my sister and her nan. It happened by accident and was a last minute trip. I always knew she was hard labour but we were in for the most pleasant of surprises. That child knows how to be happy, knows how to laugh and make other PEOPLE laugh in a way that a child of her age should just not know about. Oh and she is hard labour!
So what are the things that make me think she has been here before...
She knows what family is and the fact that she was away with us was the same in her mind as though she was with her immediate family. Not once did she whine or complain of missing home, she knew instinctively she was in safe hands and was happy to be there, you can't buy that.
She is adaptable and can turn her hand to any social situation that she finds herself in, among adults and children alike.
She understands hierarchy.
She is sensitive but only when she needs to be and harsh when its called for.
She knows who is who and takes time to understand what makes those around her tick.
She knows that Green is not her favourite colour, but is partial to red, white and blue.
She knows when to be quiete and can be when she totally understands WHY?.
She knows about respect and places it well.
She knows when laughter is in order and manages to trigger it with almost every word.
She knows when a situation needs to be diffused.
She knows whose hand to hold at any given time.
She loves life whole heartedly and every quip and comment illustrates it in a way that makes her adult companions go... WHAT DID SHE JUST SAY????
She remembers every comment and situation that she has ever been in and uses adult humour in a way that 4 year olds shouldn't be able to.
She remembers things that she shouldn't and forgets things she should.
She is insightful and articulate beyond her years.
She remembers those that have passed and reminds us of them, just at the moment that a special song is playing or on a date that already has them on our mind.
There are endless examples of when Maisie has made us think 'That child has been here before'.
Maisie is a gift to us, but I am positive that many reading this can think of a child that is a gift to them. They are not necessarily bright, funny or full of personality like Maisie, but it does make you wonder sometimes, are these children sent to us as a reminder of the joy that life can bring and to remind us to embrace life as though we were 4. Are they a gift from the PEOPLE that we cared about that want us to know their spirit lives on? Whatever the reason, Maisie is here and don't we know it! I am so grateful that I am a part of her colourful life.
I know I am not alone in wishing we could press the PAUSE button and keep her as she is now forever, I say that to her all the time and she says, I can't be 4 forever, you need to get over it!
Wednesday, 7 April 2010
Let me hate you
Let me hate you because you fooled me
Let me hate you because you patronised me
Let me hate you for helping me to see a side of myself that I don't like
Let me hate you for thinking you know whats best
Let me hate you because you broke me
Let me hate you because you ruined me
Let me hate you because you left me
Let me hate you because you laughed at me
Let me hate you for thinking that you were doing the right thing by me, when you weren't
Let me hate you because you thought you knew where I was going or where I wanted to be
But let me hate you most of all for not asking me
For guessing or trying to without understanding me
Let me hate you for all these reasons, but don't let me hate you for saying you did it for me, I think you did, but it just didn't feel like it.
Don't let me hate you for trying to hang on to me once you did all of this.
That would be too much.
Let me hate you because you patronised me
Let me hate you for helping me to see a side of myself that I don't like
Let me hate you for thinking you know whats best
Let me hate you because you broke me
Let me hate you because you ruined me
Let me hate you because you left me
Let me hate you because you laughed at me
Let me hate you for thinking that you were doing the right thing by me, when you weren't
Let me hate you because you thought you knew where I was going or where I wanted to be
But let me hate you most of all for not asking me
For guessing or trying to without understanding me
Let me hate you for all these reasons, but don't let me hate you for saying you did it for me, I think you did, but it just didn't feel like it.
Don't let me hate you for trying to hang on to me once you did all of this.
That would be too much.
Talent
I truly believe that everyone has a talent for something. It is usually something they are passionate about and that they are good at. Sometimes it goes without being noticed, here is an example of when it is noticed.
I discovered at the weekend that my nephew (and godson) has a talent for writing. He showed me a story that he has written that will be assessed as part of his GCSE (he is 14) it blew me away. He does not write as though he is 14 and when PEOPLE showed a genuine interest in his writing I seen a side to him that I have never seen. He is passionate about it and although he has always come across as a creative being, the skill with which he writes came as a bit of surprise. Through this piece of work I got to understand more about him (he is a sit in the background kind of kid), the flair with which he writes highlighted to me that this is indeed his talent.
I believe that talent should be nurtured and encouraged and put on display for other PEOPLE to enjoy. So I have asked Cameron to write a guest post for my blog about PEOPLE (this may be a risky strategy). I promised that I will not edit it in the slightest. I have just set eyes on what he wrote and it made me smile ALOT!
I hope it makes you smile too.
The family get together
The family get together can bring a huge mix of emotions and slurred words that trickle from the drunken men and women alike. The sound of UB40 blasts through the floorboards whilst neighbours and infants sleep. Even the people that aren’t actually related to us still feel apart of something bigger. The family get together is, more often than not, a last minute impulse, some look forward to it and others dread it. The get together can take many forms whether that be a ‘sophisticated’ dinner party or a 24 hour binge and the hosts will usually only invite those who they regularly converse and socialize with, but that’s not to say those who don’t get invited are any less part of the family or less loved by us all. The children will stay up later than normal and the adults will drink a whole lot more than usual. The kitchen will be stacked high with so much alcohol that you could probably start your own off licence. The smell of cigarette smoke and the sound of thoughtful conversations drift through the air and the younger ones will happily sit and watch the commotion go on. Some people will arrive drunk and others it’s a slow trip from the vodka bottle to stumbling in to the back of a taxi. People feel compelled to do things that they usually wouldn’t do, they feel the need to spend the day before making sure the house is spotless and usually it’s the more untidy of the pair that hosts. The ones who have no one to talk to will happily dance by them selves until someone will join them, the ones who over do it slightly and end up throwing up on the laminate flooring, the ones who turn the music up full volume with no care for anyone else but the family who wish to have a good time, the ones who even drunk will continue to try to keep a tidy living space, the ones who will leave because their kids have fallen asleep on the sofa, the ones who won’t leave just because their kids have fallen asleep on the sofa, the ones that will leave after a few hours and the ones that are too young to understand half of what’s going on but will continue to smile and hopelessly beg to go home, will all come together as one family. Even though it has it’s ups and downs and some people will leave upset and others bursting with excitement, tomorrow is another day and family will always be there to forgive and forget.
Please leave a comment to let him know that it's not just his crazy aunties bias that led to me sharing this with you.
I discovered at the weekend that my nephew (and godson) has a talent for writing. He showed me a story that he has written that will be assessed as part of his GCSE (he is 14) it blew me away. He does not write as though he is 14 and when PEOPLE showed a genuine interest in his writing I seen a side to him that I have never seen. He is passionate about it and although he has always come across as a creative being, the skill with which he writes came as a bit of surprise. Through this piece of work I got to understand more about him (he is a sit in the background kind of kid), the flair with which he writes highlighted to me that this is indeed his talent.
I believe that talent should be nurtured and encouraged and put on display for other PEOPLE to enjoy. So I have asked Cameron to write a guest post for my blog about PEOPLE (this may be a risky strategy). I promised that I will not edit it in the slightest. I have just set eyes on what he wrote and it made me smile ALOT!
I hope it makes you smile too.
The family get together
The family get together can bring a huge mix of emotions and slurred words that trickle from the drunken men and women alike. The sound of UB40 blasts through the floorboards whilst neighbours and infants sleep. Even the people that aren’t actually related to us still feel apart of something bigger. The family get together is, more often than not, a last minute impulse, some look forward to it and others dread it. The get together can take many forms whether that be a ‘sophisticated’ dinner party or a 24 hour binge and the hosts will usually only invite those who they regularly converse and socialize with, but that’s not to say those who don’t get invited are any less part of the family or less loved by us all. The children will stay up later than normal and the adults will drink a whole lot more than usual. The kitchen will be stacked high with so much alcohol that you could probably start your own off licence. The smell of cigarette smoke and the sound of thoughtful conversations drift through the air and the younger ones will happily sit and watch the commotion go on. Some people will arrive drunk and others it’s a slow trip from the vodka bottle to stumbling in to the back of a taxi. People feel compelled to do things that they usually wouldn’t do, they feel the need to spend the day before making sure the house is spotless and usually it’s the more untidy of the pair that hosts. The ones who have no one to talk to will happily dance by them selves until someone will join them, the ones who over do it slightly and end up throwing up on the laminate flooring, the ones who turn the music up full volume with no care for anyone else but the family who wish to have a good time, the ones who even drunk will continue to try to keep a tidy living space, the ones who will leave because their kids have fallen asleep on the sofa, the ones who won’t leave just because their kids have fallen asleep on the sofa, the ones that will leave after a few hours and the ones that are too young to understand half of what’s going on but will continue to smile and hopelessly beg to go home, will all come together as one family. Even though it has it’s ups and downs and some people will leave upset and others bursting with excitement, tomorrow is another day and family will always be there to forgive and forget.
Please leave a comment to let him know that it's not just his crazy aunties bias that led to me sharing this with you.
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