Valuables

I hold stereotypical values like respect, compassion, courage, loyalty and truthfulness. But I think it’s the things that I actually value that make me, me.

1. Music - it’s the greatest escape, it also really helps me focus. My favourite type of music is when not only is the voice beautiful, the actual instruments sound beautiful too.

2. Friends - they are always there for you. 

3. Art - my favourite part is finding out why the artist has created the piece, it gives you an insight into their lives and I like finding out about other people.

4. Family - being able to love and care for someone and knowing the love and care for you back is one of the best feelings in the world. No matter what you will always have family to depend on and catch you when you fall.

Roots

The thing about knowing where you’re going, is that you have to know where you come from. Apart from having Scottish ancestors, I don’t really know anything about my family’s past. 

As far as I know my Dad and his siblings called my great grandmother “Big Nana”. I know that he thought the jumper she knitted him came from the post man, and that when he was young he cut his lip on a can of lemonade. 

I know my Nan was very beautiful when she was young, and I know all about how my aunt who is the oldest in her family took care of all the children when she was in high school. But nothing really overly significant happened in their lives. Know one had to go to war, no one died, and I don’t think that the Catholic girl’s boarding school my aunts went to was really that horrible. But that doesn’t mean their story’s aren’t special. 

My story begun in September in 1996, and I’m not even close to finish writing it. There has been a lot of confusion along the way but, as when anyone does, reflecting on times with my brother and his family and my mum’s mum it makes me happy. Because I know at that time I was with people I loved, and people who loved me and I am still with all of them today, and they are helping me on my way.