Week 32/52: Orla’s Mummy Picture
Sadly, I missed week 31 as I was so busy, busy, busy. But, I decided to add this as my ‘Week 32′. This was drawn by my lovely Orla. We taped a roll of wallpaper to the floor, Orla drew around me and coloured it in. She was very particular about my clothes and insisted my top be flowery and colourful as that is how she sees me. Love my girl.
Week 22/52 Weeks: Butterfly Trinket Box
Things that make me happiest? Doing ‘Lick and Stick’ with my girl. When Orla had her sixth birthday, I asked people to buy her art and craft things, which they did. This was one of the craft projects, which we did together. A ‘Butterfly Trinket Box’, and unlike most of the kits, it didn’t take hours to dry between each stage. I did all the cutting and Orla did most of the sticking and we chose what would go where together. It was a lot of fun and looks very pretty. It now has pride of place on her ‘fairy’ shelf in her bedroom.
Week 20 of 52: Happy’s Circus
This weeks Happy’s Circus came to Orla’s school on Wednesday the 18th of May. I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy it or not as ‘Circus’ as had a bit of a bad press in recent years, very unfairly most of the time I will admit, but Orla and her best friend Ella were looking forward to it immensly.
The day rolled around. I rushed Orla home straight from school for an early tea, got her changed and back to school for 5.15 pm. Nicky and Ella showed up shortly, and the girls had a good run around. The Big Top then opened on time, and there was a general bun fight for seats. We got them both good seats near the front, but unfortunately a gaggle of rather aggressive boys managed to get themselves onto the front row and obliterated the girls view entirely, so we put them in front of us, and let them stand.
Then it began, introduced by ‘Happy’ the Clown and joined by his son (also a clown) called Pip. They were….FABULOUS! In fact, the whole event was ACE! I am not a lover of clowns as a rule (the film ‘It’ has a lot to answer for as far as my generation goes), but this father and son duo were a class act…very funny indeed.
The other acts were fabulous too. A ‘Hula Hoop’ act by Miss Jenny (a firm favourite of the Dads) and a Hungarian couple called Jose and Judit with a ‘Fire and Swords’ act. Lots of balancing of big swords, and fire stuff. Pretty good. Their son Zsolt did some nifty stuff with a Diablo, and they were on again later as family act with lots of fabulous juggling. Miss Stephanie (also Happy’s daughter) did an exciting act on the Trapeze and later on with the silk ribbons, a very talented gal. A Swiss woman names Rahal Meyer did an amazing acrobatic act on the tight rope as a ‘rag doll’, very talented and graceful.
I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience as did Nicky, and watching our girls laughing their little heads off with such patent enjoyment made it a precious experience and a happy memory. We will definitely go to see ‘Happy’s Circus’ again. Check out their website.
I took also my lomo cameras and am hoping I got some better pictures with them than I did with my Fuji.
Week 16 of 52: Easter Bunny
The Easter Bunny came to our house, oh yes he did. Anyway, the half term school holiday culminated in Easter. We had a FABULOUS half term and Easter, the best in years in fact. Me and my girl did loads of stuff, days out, friends over, picnics in the garden, swimming, and then a fabulous Easter weekend which saw us utterly over run with Easter Eggs. Luke bought one for me and Orla, and the lovely Lindt bunny featured here bought for me by my lovely friend, Nicola Humphries. So, I decided that it would be my #17/52 weeks piccy.
Orla loved every minute, though we had to ration the Easter eggs a bit, as she was in danger of chocolate overload. Given that she doesn’t have sweets as a regular thing, we have to be careful…as she can go a bit mental after sweet feast.
Week 14 of 52 Weeks: Orla Ballerina
I didn’t have time to do a post last week unfortunately. This week also I was not able to take a picture of the subject I wished to feature. But, this Saturday we did get to go to Orla’s last ballet class as it was the end of term. This is an event that her Daddy and me look forward to immensely as parents are not allowed to attend class and watch as it distracts the children. But, parents are allowed to attend the last class of term. I can’t express the joy it gives me watching her skip, dance and prance, and seeing how much she enjoys it. So, here she is.
Lorrie Whittington
Visual Artist and Designer
Chichester, UK
