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.

Thursday 29 March 2012

oxford canal, clematis, maggie the cat


I haven't had time to walk by the Oxford Canal on my way to work for a couple of weeks. It was great to take that route this morning.

The canal has changed. Suddenly the towpath is bright green and there are wild flowers everywhere. Not that I think the clematis above is wild--a garden escape, more like. Still beautiful, though.

Later, walked from the centre of town to a training session at offices beyond Osney Island. Always good to revisit the Island.

Meanwhile, watched DVD of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958) this week. True, there are some dated bits but mostly it's such compelling viewing. There are moments that are spellbinding--and these aren't confined to Paul Newman and Elizabeth Taylor's performances. What is striking is the strength of all the performances, each character having outstanding scenes.
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