GingeFringe

Saturday 22 June 2013

Thursday 20 June 2013

I realise I missed the 'Still Into You' bandwagon. I'm pleased. It feels better to hum my current favourite piece of pop, at my desk, with nobody recognising it from Radio 1. Katie Ferg told me I'd love it, f I took the time to listen, and she was dead right.

Paramore - "Still Into You"

Posted with Blogsy

Sunday 16 June 2013

Happy Father's Day

Today is Father’s Day. My Dad is the best. You may have heard that a few times today, but I’m certain. My Dad is the best because he’s somebody I would choose to be friends with if he wasn’t my Dad, and I value my own opinion especially highly. We talk about government and travel and TV shows and scandal. I call him to discuss famous deaths and inappropriate comments made by MPs.

I know I get my love for news and knowledge and adventure from him. When I was a kid I didn’t understand why the news was the default TV channel, the same stories on repeat. But as an adult I start most days with a news channel, with a browse of BBC News or the Guardian on my iPad. I put Sky News on in the background when I’m pottering about my house at the weekend.. To my Dad, it’s just comfortable and I get that now.

I’m certain my upbringing is to thank for my love of maps, trains, airports, and adventure. I’m a nerd for journeys I’ve never undertaken before. I love to walk alone so I can find my way with or without a map. Discovering a Manchester street, previously unknown, is a joy to me. My Dad is an explorer and adventurer at heart. He spends his coveted 2 or so weeks abroad each year finding new beaches and native foods, learning foreign words and phrases and trying his luck with waiters, reading road maps and exploring undiscovered routes. Then he returns and reviews his destination online, forever cementing the experiences he’s had, reliving and recounting the details for future anecdotes.

I suffer from the same ailments as my parents. I turned 25 last summer and everything turned to shit. My knees starting hurting, my neck aches in the morning, my ears can’t stand the cold, I eat copious amounts of Dairy Milk. You see, I’m my Father’s daughter. Even these negatives link me to my Dad and it’s reassuring to know I’m similar to him. My Mother always scorns ‘you’re just like your Dad’ when I’ve said something especially unhelpful or sarcastic.

I’ll tell anyone who’ll listen that he’s hilarious, dry, witty and clever. I recount tales of my parents arguing, swearing and insults and all, because it’s always done with love and hilarity. Their arguments usually end with laughter, from spectators too. I want anyone that meets them to think they’re as hilarious as I do. It’s lovely to have such a high standard of family life to live up to. I feel lucky to know what family should be; loving and accepting.

My Dad is opinionated and sharp. He’s experienced life and draws from what he knows to be right in order to judge a situation. He needs a course in ‘political correctness 101’ but he’s liberal and fair and holds no grudge for those who differ from him in their lifestyle choices. I’m glad he’s my Dad.

Happy Father’s Day Dad.

My Dad posing for an imaginary European smoking campaign.

Mum and Dad at Manchester's Museum of Science & Industry.

Saturday 15 June 2013

Mother's Birthday

I've been a while posting some pictures of my Mum's birthday because I got all pissed off with the last post I did. My 48 blogging apps and blogspot through a web browser via an iPad couldn't make sense of the size of my pictures. I ended up with page breaks and unwanted captions all over the place and I rather childishly thought 'oh fuck it' and tossed my iPad aside. Today I collected myself and fixed it with a good old laptop.

So here are some of the pictures I took over my Mum's birthday weekend. The first one is so special. I think it'll be a picture I come back to again and again. Yes, my Dad's back is turned, but Joseph and my Mum are grinning at each other, clearly excited about that strawberry tart (birthday candle included). This picture says a lot about my Mum. She adores Joe. And she's the happiest woman I know.

See, who wouldn't be excited about that tart?

These were the only clouds I saw all weekend.

Oliver made pulled pork, which went down a treat.

This just about sums up my Dad's free time when I come home to visit.

My Mother and I have found a shared love of Prosecco.

Birthday Beautiful!

Monday 10 June 2013

A Trip Home

Last weekend Oliver and I went to Corby for the weekend, for Christenings and Birthdays. I stayed a little longer to hang out with my Ma and Pa. The weather was beautiful, I ate and drank lots and managed to see a big chunk of my family, which is always lovely for me since I live a while away.

Here are a few highlights from Georgia's Christening...