About me.
Since I began this blog in 2011 my ‘About me’ has become out of date. I have now retired from the library at the University of Reading where I worked as a library assistant in cataloging and special collections. While I enjoyed my work and reluctant to leave earlier I am now ready to begin a new career as an artist.
I have changed the name of my blog and it will take a lot of living up too!
My retirement didn’t happen without a lot of planning and every thing is in place; the studio, my home and garden. The preparation has been long and like most journeys not without its ups and downs. However, as the time got closer I could see that the becoming as artist is not the answer; it is just a label; like wife, mother, library assistant, aunt, sister or cousin. Whether or not I have done these tasks well or not is not up for discussion; so too, being an artist may not always be a label I will wear with pride.
So while I might spend time working in my studio, garden or on my bike I will be mostly pottering and trying to remain beautiful … and true to me.
Coat Hanger Doll's House 
You’ve come such a long way!
Hi there! We have a lot in common – working beyond retirement grandchildren and ageing parents. Mum is in a nursing home around the corner from me and dad lives abroad. I was divorced nearly 20 years ago but never remarried ex husband sadly died just before Christmas it was like losing him all over again. I am looking forward to following your blog.
Oh it so good to have you ‘nearby’
I forgot to say that both my daughters were born in the Royal Berks 1977 and 1979 when we lived in Caversham.
What a great introduction. I read Latin, New Testament Greek and Hebrew (as I did a theology degree at one point!!). Languages are great aren’t they? I even enjoy their forms and calligraphy. Life continues to twist and turn and I’m glad you’re out there on the internet, moving and growing and seeing where this takes you. 🙂
Thank you for your kind and positive response. xxx
Smiles 🙂 http://ofglassandpaper.com/2012/10/09/i-love-ceciles-writers/
Thank you for the likes and smiles, I am new to this and not sure how to respond to I Love Ceciles Writers So I followed them XX
nominated you for an award- http://itsjennythewren.wordpress.com/2013/04/04/the-very-inspiring-blog-award/ x
You sound like you have had (and are still having) an interesting and culturally rich life. You mentioned you live in Reading – that’s in the UK? you don’t sound like you live in Reading, Pennsylvania.
Thanks for dropping by to Reading UK and your kind comments _/\_ xx
What a good out look to have on life. Learning Sanskrit sounds very difficult but also very interesting! How are you doing with it?
Oh I enjoy it very much and able to read simple texts …
I found your blog through the WPC tag. Learning Hebrew and Greek are on my bucket list, I guess its not an accident I wandered into your part of the blogosphere. I’ve also often wondered if working in a library would have been the work I was cut out to do in this life, given my love for books (reading and sorting them out). I am happy being inside a library. When my children are grown, I would probably find work in a library or connected with a library.
I admire your story and look forward to reading more of your blog.
Regards, Mary
I dreamed about working in a library when I was a child … I didn’t fulfill it until I was 45 and my children were all grown up!! I love it! and recommend you perhaps volunteer at a local Special Collections … or Rare Books Library you will be welcomed with open arms! and you will get a feel for it … thanks for dropping by it cheered me while sitting her in the Reading Room
Glad to spread the cheer 🙂
I was planning to volunteer at our local children’s library during the school break but it didn’t happen. I hope I can do it this year, our public libraries need a lot of people-help and love. I’ll probably just end up helping by visiting the library more often. I think I can do more when the children are older. I wish I can do more but time’s the constraint, for now 🙂
You’re learning Tibetan?! I assume that means there’s a Tibetan community in Southern Spain. Just came back from Tibet, where they show the palace the dali lama hasn’t lived in since 1959 when the Chinese invaded and took over the country, which is still under military occupation.
I was learning in Spain but now I muddle through at home in UK my preference is Sanskrit … I would like to go to Tibet one day ….
Dear friend, Thank you very much, I was really happy to have been following your blog. I’m still a lot to figure out, and here I can only say that you are an awesome blogger, full Inspiring and hope you can inspire more readers. Thanks and greetings compassion from Gede Prama 🙂
Thankyou for your kind words _/\_ xx
congrats for not becoming lethargic in retirement!
Thank You!!
Simply… Bravo! 😉
Thank you !!!
You’re welcome 🙂
Hey, just a quick note to say I enjoy your blog and have nominated you for the Liebster Award: https://englishmaninberlin.wordpress.com/2014/11/30/liebster-award/
Still really enjoying your blog even though I don’t comment often. Unlike the previous commenter, I haven’t nominated you for an award.
Dear Bookaddictuk, Thank you for your kind comments; My blog is a hobby and my joy i love to share the knowledge that i find. I am not deserved of an award. Also the award system is complex and involves self congratulation is not unattractive. I do not seek awards, so I will not taking the nomination further. Thanks again and keep watching xxx
Merhaba…
Here’s a little New Years message from Türkiye to say “thank you”. I appreciate your recent ‘follow’, knowing how many interesting and entertaining blogs there are out there.
Blogging since June 2013, my little corner of the world tries to offer an eclectic smattering of posts, from basic amateur photography, to sharing my travel adventures over the decades, as well as day-to-day happenings here on our fruit farm in southern Turkey. I also throw in a few of my observations on life and lighter-hearted stuff for good measure.
You are more than welcome to have a look around, stay a while and have a trawl through my collection. There are plenty of categories within the drop-down menus to help in said digging process. Of course, if you have any comments, suggestions or concerns, feel free to let me know – I’m not easily offended 🙂
Hope you have a great day and even better 2015…
UNCLE SPIKE
uncle.spikes.adventures1@gmail.com
Dear Uncle Spike
Thanks for your kind good wishes I return many to you. I will return to your blog for a browse in a while.. With love hx
Dear nelabligh,
I came upon you by googling Robert Gibbings and was delighted to learn of a collection around him “here at the library”. What library?
Regards,
Chris Starr
ckstarr@gmail.com
‘We’ are at the University of Reading (UK) Special Collections http://www.reading.ac.uk/special-collections/collections/sc-gibbings.aspx thank you for visit and kind interest
Hi Helen,
I follow your blog yet have not seen a post from you before, until today! I love your introduction and appreciate your respect for languages. I have recently done an Indigenous Protocols in Contemporary Practice subject for my BFA at university in Australia and have been surprised at the the number of dialects that were here before colonisation. Now only 20 remain and many are endangered (only 5 or less speakers.) My daughter is a linguist who teaches 3 languages hence my interest. Your blog is wonderful thank you, we have much in common.
My daughter to is a modern language ‘expert’ living in Brazil! Thank you so much for your visit and kind comments. I too only recently drawn to your blog; and will follow closely with good wishes to you and your daughter …. Helenxx
Hello Helen! I’ve decided to read and follow 10 interesting and new blogs a day every day of May 2015, and yours is today’s #10! Feel free to come visit me when you can at http://www.thatssojacob.wordpress.com, and follow if you like what you read. Happy new year and happy blogging!
I love your Blog !! I know what you mean about ‘our’ so called home towns that don’t quite reach the desired norm of ‘other’ people. We become very protective of our ugly (dangerous) ducklings. I share your views with love! My home town in a very undesirable blot on the landscape but I love it!
Thanks, Helen!
Thanks for following The Immortal Jukebox. I hope you are finding lots to entertain you and maybe making some discoveries. If you haven’t visited for a while check it out again. Please feel free to add comments. Good luck with your blog. Regards Thom.
What an interesting blog you have. I am relatively new to relief printing and have just started exploring reduction prints.
Thank you for visiting xx
Hallo Helen, sorry to learn your mother passed. I remember her nearly always with a camera, Did anyone keep all those pic’s?
John? Who? remind me? Yes I have some of the photos …
Bless you, you’ve been following me now for 2 years, I thought I best give you the heads up that I am changing my url to kindabexy.wordpress.com shortly. See you there perhaps? 🙂
You know that saying about change being the only constant? Well I recently created yet another blog verbvegan . wordpress after actually being bexybexybexy . wordpress for a while. This evolving thing seems to have got me here so far. 🙂
must look at it xxx much love to you
Like flint struck, nice sparkles of love received here in West Wales. Thanks.
hello, I have been looking into a career as a librarian specifically of dead languages such as Yiddish, Old English, Old Norse, Cromarty Dialect of Scots, and Germanic Languages (not all of these but they seem worth looking into) And I just wanted to know what a career in this field was like from your experience, what did you do as a job, traveling etc.
I work as librarian … in Special Collections in a University Library … I don’t travel but it is interesting and fulfilling …
Dear Helen I live in the home town of Ellenor Fenn, Dereham, Norfolk there is going to be a community garden named after and we are designing a panel about her would you give us permission to use some of your scans of her book please? Sue Walker
yes please do xx
Helen, I am trying to reach you with regard to your report in Text, the Textile Society’s journal. Emails are not getting through – could they be in your spam inbox? Deadline imminent!
I have sent an email I hope it reaches you x