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"Our Generation"
Leyla and I exchanged goodbyes at least three times this morning.
When I first saw Leyla she was lying on a bench on the opposite side of Glastonbury High Street, enjoying the beautiful winter sun. She opened her eyes, saw me watching and smiled.
I crossed the road and commented on how she was enjoying the sunshine. A few moments later I asked if I might photograph her for my project. Leyla told me that she had been in Glastonbury for a few days. She had come from Australia. When I mentioned that I hadn’t noticed her accent, she told me that she was quick to pick up the local accent.
Leyla is a self-confessed Britophile, enjoying vintage British music, comedy, film and TV. She had spent some time in Bristol, where the group Massive Attack were formed. In London Leyla had visited bookshops, buying books and adding even more to her wish list. She had also spent some time visiting her grandparents in Kent.
Leyla has a keen interest in Politics, History and Spirituality and the connections between these. She is fascinated by Brexit. I suggested that it was a bit of a nightmare. Leyla sees it as an opportunity, that change can lead to better things; expecting new growth to emerge from the chaos. I found this positive outlook encouraging.
Leyla liked the idea of the strangers project. She told me that she likes to talk to people and thought that the camera is a good way of making that initial contact. I let Leyla review the photos and she said “this is me” about a photo in which she was laughing.
I asked Leyla about the tattoos on her fingers. She told me that they related to ‘84 and ‘85. That they identified her with a particular generation. She told me of the importance of unity in young people.
When I had taken photos of Leyla, we said goodbye and wished each other well. Leyla stood as I got up. As she stood I admired her dress. She told me that she had come to the UK with black leggings and tops but that she had enjoyed charity shopping here.
We had been talking about travel and I asked Leyla if she had been to Vietnam. She started to tell me of the people of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. I suggested that we might sit down again. Leyla smiled, we sat down and chatted some more.
We said our goodbyes and I walked a little way down the High Street. Then I realised that I could not remember what Leyla had been laughing about, when I took the photo. I wondered if she might remember, so I walked back and asked her.
Leyla had been very exuberant and animated while we were talking but more serious when I pointed the camera toward her. She reminded me that I had noticed her smiling when she was talking of young people. I had asked her to repeat the phrase “Our generation”. After she repeated the phrase she laughed. It was this that I captured. After this explanation we said our farewells for the last time (until we meet again, I suppose).
Thank you Leyla for being part of my project. It was great to meet you.
You can view more portraits and stories by visiting The Human Family
My backyard. Yeah. That's the tacky I was talking about.. my next door neighbor's kid LOVES ME! The English lady next door...probably not.
Great grandma's oil lamp & reindeer in a maple slate dry sink I got for $2 at a garage sale! (it used to hold my 21" flat screen TV)
My backyard. Yeah. That's the tacky I was talking about.. my next door neighbor's kid LOVES ME! The English lady next door...probably not.
Waterford crystal filled with antiques ornaments I got at a garage sale with lighted ribbon - sorta pretty!
Mantle closeup - this moving Santa is cute NOT creepy... now if it were a clown. Oh yeah...that would be bad.
My backyard. Yeah. That's the tacky I was talking about.. my next door neighbor's kid LOVES ME! The English lady next door...probably not. UPDATE: 10/15 Sadly, she passed away last week. We were buddies and I'm devastated. I found out later (after posting this 5 years ago) she really LOVED my lights! I'm going to miss her badly
Britophiles gather at the Central Library to sip tea and watch the royal wedding of Harry and Meghan. Trivial was played and prizes won.
Britophiles gather at the Central Library to sip tea and watch the royal wedding of Harry and Meghan. Trivial was played and prizes won.
Britophiles gather at the Central Library to sip tea and watch the royal wedding of Harry and Meghan. Trivia was played and prizes won.
Britophiles gather at the Central Library to sip tea and watch the royal wedding of Harry and Meghan. Trivial was played and prizes won.
Britophiles gather at the Central Library to sip tea and watch the royal wedding of Harry and Meghan. Trivial was played and prizes won.
Britophiles gather at the Central Library to sip tea and watch the royal wedding of Harry and Meghan. Trivial was played and prizes won.
Britophiles gather at the Central Library to sip tea and watch the royal wedding of Harry and Meghan. Trivial was played and prizes won.
Britophiles gather at the Central Library to sip tea and watch the royal wedding of Harry and Meghan. Trivial was played and prizes won.
Britophiles gather at the Central Library to sip tea and watch the royal wedding of Harry and Meghan. Trivial was played and prizes won.
Union Jack journal, check.
Liverpool FC scarf, check.
Beatles shirt, check.
Jamie Oliver's Great Britain, check.
I have an odd love for the Fleur de lis - it's at odds with my Anglophile obsession - but not really...if you consider British History & it's love hate relationship with France