I was idly wondering whether writers go back and reread their own novels, or diarists thrill again to their own journal entries. (We all know that famous Oscar Wilde quote: 'I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read in the train.') Maybe I'm odd - or self-obsessed! - but I do occasionally like to look back at my blog, which is, after all, a record of what I've been up to for the past eighteen or so years. So I was looking back ten years, to 2016 and I found, for the 13th January, this delightful memory:
"And she's off....
We are fortunate that the town of Halifax is almost equidistant between my daughter's new home and mine - and even more fortunate that it holds the fabulous National Children's Museum: Eureka. The museum was in its infancy when my daughter was a child but is continually renewed and re-envisioned and has gone from strength to strength. My granddaughters love it - and so do we adults, as it is a wonderful place to take them when the weather precludes outdoor play. With both children still being under school age we can go during the week when it's quieter. It gets packed, as you can imagine, at weekends and holidays.
On our recent visit, E, who is four, was captivated by the workshop devoted to transport. She 'drove' a lorry, took a car through a carwash, filled up with petrol and then donned overalls to change the tyres. A future in Formula One looks assured. One-year-old M was curious at first ... and then decided the smooth floors were perfect for getting in some walking practice. She is so proud of her new-found skills and balance.
Up... steady... and off she goes.....'
I loved looking back at this. Little M, the adventurer, now eleven, is still curious, brave and bright. She's a lot bigger, of course! In the meantime, she grew her hair until it reached below her waist. Last week, she had it chopped off into a very stylish, short, razor-cut bob. I believe her intention was to donate her long plaits to a charity that makes wigs for child cancer patients.
I check back on old blog posts of mine all the time! O.K. and I sometimes wonder when we last went hiking on a particular path, or did we attend this or that wedding in 2023 or 24, and things like that, and I can always rely on my blog for the facts :-)
ReplyDeleteLove it that "Little M", who is not so little anymore, donates her hair to charity.
I regularly read back on my blog too and am often delighted, really is the best kind of journaling.
ReplyDeleteMy main search system is to find when or where I had already mentioned a topic that has cropped up again recently. I actually was surprised to see what I posted in early blogs sometimes! Who knew! Loved seeing your family from way back! A good museum has all kind of activities kids can get involved in.
ReplyDeleteI too frequently search my own blog, either to check on some special memory, or just to compare what I was doing some other year around the same time as now, etc.
ReplyDeleteYou are not odd at all reading your past in your blog ! I do the same and lot of things I had forgotten came back. Since I am living here in "my" castle I read each evening a few posts from the very beginning in 2007 ! What I noticed is, that my English has improved !
ReplyDeleteTime travel of the best sort! Adorable little ones. And, speaking as an author, I have reread all of my novels--after quite a few years.
ReplyDeleteI sometimes go back in the blog when searching for info - it is fun.
ReplyDeleteGood for M for donating her hair.