I am from

I am from blue and yellow roller-skates and Cinderella's Coach Christmas tree lights, from a blue and black bottle of Rive Gauche and a red Citroen BX, from playing Tetris on the Gameboy and swimming in the icy cold Abbey Fields outdoor pool, from watching Rentaghost and playing house in the porch. From Mummy-made-yous and being on the beach in wellies and anoraks, from playing French cricket and eating dippy teas.


I am from the first house without stairs I'd ever seen and the real fire in Nana's cottage, from the summer BBQs in the garden and sometimes in the garage and the trips to the library every Saturday, and the yellow phone with the 'this line is not secure' sticker, and feeding the bullocks with grass over the back fence in the garden.


I am from the gorse bush in the Batch Valley and the poppies we always look for from the car windows, from the sticks of rock we never managed to finish and the trips to National Trust houses for tea on the lawn and the little house with the child-sized chairs and red velvet settee.


I am from the 20p for the first one to see the sea, the leaning forward when the car goes uphill and the leaning back when it goes downhill. From the first present opened on Christmas Eve and the last present under our pillows on Christmas Day.

I am from Rileys and Jacksons, and  Goughs and  Russells, kind, loving and talkative people with a tendency to exaggerative  and who love to tease and laugh, with a history of working in banks and owning pubs

I am from Nana and Grandad, Grammy and Grandpa, GG, Timmy, Honey and Kojack.

From the because I said so, and the you'll go deaf if you leave the house with wet hair, and breakfast is the most important meal of the day and the always go to the loo before you leave the house and you say that now, there's no proof and love you lots.


I am from the waxed wooden pews of St Nicholas church and from the hidden choir stalls, from the red choir robes and Friday night rehearsals with old smelling hymn books. I am from horse riding every Saturday, ballet with Miss Sharon, karate with Chris and maypole dancing at Kenilworth Castle.


I'm from Thorns First School and St Joseph's Convent School. I am from Warwickshire, from Shakespeare's birthplace, from Queen Elizabeth I's gold chalice and from holidays in the hills of Shropshire. I am from the cassette tapes of musicals played on car journeys and being first to check the post after going away on holiday.


I'm from homemade pizzas and stuffed marrows, from trips to Mcdonalds and pints of Guinness, from Tetley tea and chocolate cake, from coffee cakes and marble cakes, from cake with white icing and cherries and scones with raspberry jam.

I am from the time Paddington got lost on the beach and was returned on the last day of our holiday and from Chris throwing himself into the brook with the stone in his hand. From being chased across the paddock by the bulls and opening up the doughnuts to put extra jam inside. I am from the snake in the greenhouse and the 6 foot drop, from the wrapped up labrador statue on Christmas day and from my mother's university degree graduation ceremony.


I am from being in hospital for Christmas and birthdays and the summer holidays and having to be careful with hugs because you might knock the tubes and long corridors with squeaky floors leading to  Whittaker Ward. I am from 'Cup of tea?' and Mercedes our favourite nurse and being picked up by Nana and Grammy and not being able to eat my sausage and mash and tomatoes for tears one lunchtime.


I am from the Fred Bassett photo albums and the yellowing pages cut out of the Kenilworth Weekly News. I am from the cine-films in the garage and the framed school pictures on the walls. I am from videos of school concerts and plays, from all of this and much much more.

This post was inspired by the great Ali Martell's 'I am From'  and if you want to make your own, there is a great template here. I absolutely love this idea and had so much fun remembering all those little things from my childhood that made me who I am today.