Welcome to justthoughtsnstuff

I started posting to jtns on 20 February 2010 with just one word, 'Mosaic'. This seemed an appropriate introduction to a blog that would juxtapose fragments of memoir and life-writing. Since 1996, I'd been coming to terms with the consequences of emotional and economic abuse that had begun in childhood, and which, amongst other things, had sought to stifle self-expression. While I'd explored some aspects of my life through fiction and, to a lesser extent, journalism, it was only in 2010 that I felt confident enough to write openly about myself. I believed this was an important part of the healing process. Yet within weeks, the final scenes of my family's fifty-year nightmare started to play themselves out and the purpose of the blog became one of survival through writing. Although some posts are about my family's suffering - most explicitly, Life-Writing Talk, with Reference to Trust: A family story - the majority are about happier subjects (including, Bampton in rural west Oxfordshire, where I live, Oxford, where I work, the seasons and the countryside, walking and cycling) and I hope that these, together with their accompanying photos, are enjoyable and positive. Note: In February 2020, on jtns' tenth birthday, I stopped posting to this blog. It is now a contained work of life-writing about ten years of my life. Frank, 21 February 2020.

New blog: morethoughtsnstuff.com.

Saturday, 21 July 2012

summer...?, cricket at worcester, yaffling, dinner at exeter, developing as a creative writer, new journey

















Great that summer seems to be here at last.

Off to see some cricket at Worcester College later this afternoon. Some friends have been coming back to play the dons' team each year for two decades. For a couple of years when we lived on Osney I ended up playing too (a sort of honorary Worcester alumnus)--though I can't claim to have been an asset at all. I liked the beer and listening to the green woodpecker yaffling in the trees by the canal, though. Worcester is, I believe I'm right in saying, the only Oxford college with a sports ground within its walls. A wonderful place!

Had a busy week--when aren't weeks busy? But it's nice to have some space this weekend.

Tomorrow evening, I'll be dining in hall at Exeter College, as it's the start of the creative writing summer school. I'm teaching a course entitled, Developing as a Creative Writer, which I'm really looking forward to. The dinner will be preceded by drinks in the Fellows' Garden, where I'll meet the students for the first time.

Photo above seems appropriate to the way I feel these days, somehow. Maybe it's the after effects of the family upsets--whatever the cause, I often feel like I'm embarking on a new journey now.
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5 comments:

  1. Gail22 July 2012 at 08:11

    Looking forward to your reading on 6th August at Exeter. Here's to new journeys!
    Gail (OUDCE)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Frank24 July 2012 at 19:46

      Btw, now changed to Friday 10th August, 11.15 am.

      Delete
  2. Gail4 August 2012 at 16:32

    Thanks, looking fwd to Friday now! :) Does this mean Jenny Lewis is now on Monday? I know a student is coming specially to hear her and I'll notify her of the date change, if you can confirm?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Frank4 August 2012 at 17:10

    Yes, I think that's right. I'll double-check with Sandie. I'm definitely on Friday, though.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Frank4 August 2012 at 17:41

    Just heard back: yes, a straight swap. Jenny on Monday.

    ReplyDelete

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