Cheeky little number tableau at Oxford station today…
Waiting for the train
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Author Archives: sarasiobhan
The outing
Today was a funny day. I went to Bristol to meet two women I’d ‘met’ through Twitter, Alexa and Kate, to visit a social enterprise scheme called Props. It was hilarious meeting people through Twitter. Eh, who? What? Where?
I chuckled as I walked through the ticket barrier at Bristol Temple Meads, wondering whether I’d actually meet them. Especially as I had in mind we were meeting at Bristol Parkway which is so much smaller. But there they were. Freezing and big smiles. Kind of recognisable through avatars and the odd tweeted photo.
By the time we were sort of (but not really) lost looking for the Props base somewhere in Bristol, I felt I’d known them both for years. We laughed. And connected tweet snippets from past months with shortcuts forged by the experience of having less than straightforward kids. Loveliness.
But the outing was about Props. And Dave and his crew delivered. Big time. Basically it’s a space for disabled young people to learn, work and flourish. As part of the community with a strong commercial focus. We hung out with Matthew and Jethro. Matthew was hugely impressive. He worked his socks off in an understated way. Making drinks, tidying up, keeping an eye on Jethro’s work, and demonstrating a sophisticated engagement with the tasks involved in print room work. Jethro added the comedic dimension to the visit, with hilarious one-liners and an easy engagement with everyone that I would love a dose of. They both shone.
And made us some great t-shirts.
Wowsers, I hear you say. Social services must be chucking money at this organisation.
Of course they ain’t.
The London bus stop
The London bus stop, Headington. A regular gathering space for all sorts of people. Today this man who looked straight out of an old black and white British film.
Style council
Dipped into Jericho today for a meeting, then back to central Oxford. Not so much realist quirky but stylish all the same.
The interview
In celebration of LB’s first ever job interview, at very short notice. A volunteer post at Helen and Douglas House, two hours a week to start with. He handled the interview the way he largely handles life; quietly chattering to himself and occasionally breaking off, when gently encouraged [nagged], to answer. The volunteer co-ordinator who interviewed him was exceptional. As were the receptionist and the estate manager who will be in charge of him. It was one of those very rare times, outside of family, school and some specialist support, that everyday rules are adjusted (or ditched) to enable a different engagement. One in which unusual behaviours aren’t ‘wrong’. Just different.
And LB? He rocked it.
Local streets
Mmm. Returned to snapping closer to home. Our neighbourhood on the edge of Oxford. This is one quirky neighbourhood. Not like trendy quirky. But real quirky. In the best sense of the word. Peculiar and unexpected.
Standing, sitting and shopping…
…in Oxford. On a Sunday afternoon.
George Street
Snuck out of work mid-afternoon for a 20 minute wander in town. Only one interesting photo. Kind of hope he’s called George.
The maybe pile
11.06pm. Wednesday night.
“Mum? Mum?!!! Where’s my Hornby book Mum?!!!”
“Er, which book?”
“The Hornby book Mum. About trains Mum.”
“Mmm. Dunno. Do you need it now? It’s getting late.”
“Yes, Mum. Where is it Mum?”
“I dunno. I’ll come and have a look in your room.”
“Yes Mum.”
… “Mmm. Can’t see it. How about Horrible Histories?”
“No Mum.”
“Victorian London?”
“No Mum.”
“Eddie Stobart: the Story?”
“Maybe Mum.”
“Ok. I’ll start a maybe pile. How about Cars: The Cowley Story?”
“Maybe Mum.”
“Alex Rider graphic novel?”
“Maybe not Mum.”
“Bus magazine?”
“No Mum.”
“The Oxford Bus Museum booklet?”
“Maybe Mum.”
[…..]
“Well there’s quite a few books in the maybe pile now. Which one do you want to read?”
“The Hornby book Mum.”
Snow in Beaumont Street
