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 11 May 2013

changeable moods, history thesis fair, late spuds, conted trinity newsletter, horseshoes, cannock chase, b, amok, lie in




















Enjoyed cycling this morning. The countryside's moods were changeable as the threat of showers came and went, as the above pics show. Cloudy skies, occasional bursts of sunlight--and lots of beautiful spring blossom.

A busy week, including working bank holiday Monday-see last post--some challenging (though stimulating) meetings and the History Thesis Fair.

A bit of gardening on Tuesday night meant I got some onions in on the allotment. A week or so late but they might come to something. But then the showers started and so planting spuds has been badly delayed. Ah well, all gardening fun.

Meanwhile, was really pleased that StreetBooks and A Conscious Englishman by Margaret Keeping were featured in the University of Oxford, Department for Continuing Education Trinity newsletter (page 4).

A friend visited today--great lunch at the Hollybush Witney's sister pub, The Three Horseshoes.  Lovely lunch.

Earlier, when I got up, I enjoyed listening to Open Country on Radio 4, which was all about Cannock Chase. Took me back to days with B during the late 70s, early 80s.

On the bus back from Witney this afternoon, listened to Amok by Atoms for Peace--suitably low-key surreal for the long vistas of the Thames Valley and the scudding skies.

Looking forward to lie in tomorrow.

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