tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84075687104951241282024-03-05T22:36:22.831+00:00A Little Life of PlayTaking time out to have fun since 1984 :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1249125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8407568710495124128.post-53249961680428590512021-12-31T11:11:00.006+00:002022-01-03T09:51:14.633+00:00My 2021<p>My nephew is currently sitting next to me drawing a picture. </p><p>In many ways this is the sweetest and most poignant metaphor for my year. While I may be sitting alone at my desk dealing with life, grief and all the other feelings, there is always someone sitting beside me. They aren't doing the same thing as me, aren't on the same journey as me, but they are with me. And that's very comforting. You should probably also know that my nephew has just started drawing a monster with 4 eyes that squirt blood. That's probably where the metaphor ends. But maybe not.</p><p>It's been another weird one, but somehow we have reached the end of 2021. I got my PhD, <a href="http://zanplay.blogspot.com/2021/10/one-year.html">I miss my mum</a>, and we're still in a pandemic. Those are the three main things really.</p><p>Thankfully, I have been able to spend a lot more time with my family this year. I may have missed a few months of play time with my little people, but I think that I am catching up now. They won't be little forever so I am making the most of it!</p><p>So I'm going to stop typing now and draw a picture alongside my nephew. It won't be exactly the same as his picture, but we'll be doing it together, sitting side by side. </p><p>Happy new year to you all. May God shower you with blessings in 2022.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgX91xSeqZhclgtRr8SlQfZTmhTKMMcflEwUvSjVb7E942E1COMPfJp_bl4JK_bHHv2p-As0WoWEErh0pbry79Sr7QxJtvtLBqZ5zxBXSIyHm3THHhdYjB4O4BpLJI0l6L-eemuw9lb-__MaC8BKBbZeIo_Q0KGj46uZ5QSTVID_HVgWUYpML8wSysi=s3740" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3740" data-original-width="2104" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgX91xSeqZhclgtRr8SlQfZTmhTKMMcflEwUvSjVb7E942E1COMPfJp_bl4JK_bHHv2p-As0WoWEErh0pbry79Sr7QxJtvtLBqZ5zxBXSIyHm3THHhdYjB4O4BpLJI0l6L-eemuw9lb-__MaC8BKBbZeIo_Q0KGj46uZ5QSTVID_HVgWUYpML8wSysi=w360-h640" width="360" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8407568710495124128.post-80898689723103011902021-10-12T20:09:00.002+01:002021-10-12T20:17:04.588+01:00One Year<p>Dear Mum,</p><p><a href="http://zanplay.blogspot.com/2020/10/see-you-later-mum.html">It's been one year since you left this world</a>. We all miss you so so much, but I have no doubt that you are having the best time in heaven: pain-free and cancer-free.</p><p>Mum, for a long while I couldn't work out where the stuff in the house was. I kept wanting to ask you, but you didn't leave me any clues. I think I've found all the things now, but there are still loads of surprises - it's sometimes like you haven't left at all and those moments make me happy-sad. </p><p>For about 3 months, I also couldn't work out how to cook for dad. You know how he likes what he likes - a man of simple needs! But I didn't know how to do it! Your cooking reputation left me a little sad (and rather intimidated) because I can't do what you do and I don't think I can ever live up to your standards! I want to let you know that I am now learning how to cook some of the things that dad loves, and that you used to cook for him. I can do a really good chow mein now, and yesterday I learned how to make Cantonese Beef Ho Fan. It's not the same as what you do, (and I am certain that you would disapprove of my methods), but I am learning so much! I will continue to honour you and your cooking by trying my best to cook the yummiest food for dad, I promise.</p><p>I know that when you were sick, you were really worried that you were getting in the way of my work and my life. Mum, I've worked so hard this year and have finally finished my PhD! I'm a doctor now and I wouldn't have been able to do it without you. And I still did it <i>despite</i> your illness, <i>despite</i> the grief. You have never held me back, mum. I move forward every day because you taught me to be strong and to believe in myself and in God. It wasn't always with your words, but you showed me how to be strong by your actions: by your life. Thank you, mum.</p><p>Oh, and I also hosted an online conference for 177 people from 20 countries in 6 languages. Dad still doesn't understand how it all worked (he was trying to work it out and he pulled that confused face we know and love so well) but I did it, with a little help from a few friends. So my work with <a href="http://popupadventureplay.org/">Pop-Up Adventure Play</a> is going well and Morgan is just about to get her PhD too!</p><p>I also have <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/thejoyofpost">a little online shop that sells stuff I make</a>! Every time I make a thing, I remember how much you used to love working with your hands, and I think about the joy you had in creating. It's not a massive business, but it's something I really love doing and I know that if you were here, you would be encouraging me to make more, and raise my prices. Haha! Thank you for instilling a sense of creativity and determination in me.</p><p>Mum, your grandchildren are excellent. The oldest is super tall now, and she's oh so mature. Your grandson is so friendly and warm, and is just like dad. The littlest one is a smart cookie, and is going to grow up to be an independent lady just like you. I am pretty sure of it, mum! They are such a blessing to my life, as the are a great testimony to yours. I just want to smush their little faces all the time.</p><p>I'm looking after Dad the best that I can, mum. He and I have spent a lot of time together in the past year and even though it's been sad and weird at times, we are making things work. Dad has had a lot of time to look after the garden now, and your fruit trees are thriving! Here's a photo of one of your pears from your pear tree!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsK0O-2MNuuqWEfI1oWkQMuyZq3d9AMXUtpS8hnQellHII_SsQuPN55j4oUDy-LwQJ_3__N-GckteDS3CesbPcHdpGATUbvp05Qg5R2iDjtGi6HRYzx7isDCs4CG-qFhl3M7UCiWaLFiY/s2048/20211011_163101.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsK0O-2MNuuqWEfI1oWkQMuyZq3d9AMXUtpS8hnQellHII_SsQuPN55j4oUDy-LwQJ_3__N-GckteDS3CesbPcHdpGATUbvp05Qg5R2iDjtGi6HRYzx7isDCs4CG-qFhl3M7UCiWaLFiY/s320/20211011_163101.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The house is much quieter without you around, and I sometimes really miss the noisy. Don't worry though, dad still starts his noisy projects at 11pm, just like you did, and I still complain at him just like I used to complain at you.</p><p>It's been a really difficult year mum, but I am still here. You probably already know about all this stuff because you're watching over us with <a href="http://zanplay.blogspot.com/2012/07/see-you-later-uncle.html?q=uncle">Uncle</a> (I always imagine it to be a little bit like the reality TV show Big Brother but you look into a cloud instead of a TV. I know it's not really what happens, but it's fun to imagine) but I just wanted to type all this stuff out and tell you not to worry. You were always worried that we would forget you - I don't think it's possible mum. My entire life is only possible because of you, and in tiny moments of my every day I remember the things you say, or the stuff you did, the things you showed me and the stories you told. My life may move forward, but you're always going to be right there moving forward with me - I hope you know that.</p><p>Hope you're having an excellent time with God!</p><p>Much love,<br />Zan</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8407568710495124128.post-22618536637392768242021-02-02T15:49:00.005+00:002021-02-02T16:10:47.327+00:00Spotlight on New Friends: Home Bird Craft<p>As you all know, I am one of the co-founders of <a href="http://www.popupadventureplay.org">Pop-Up Adventure Play</a>. Of the many joys of this partnership, (which includes talking non-stop about play which I really do love so much), I am pleased to have made a lot of new friends. I'd like to tell you about one of them in this blogpost!</p><p>I first met Zoe and her little one a few years ago when they attended <a href="https://www.popupadventureplay.org/popping-up-in-the-community-2018-part-5-7-stories-from-7-pop-ups/">one of my local pop-up adventure playgrounds</a>. Little S was very engaged with the whole thing and very soon became a regular at my pop-up adventure playgrounds, sometimes bringing her friends! </p><p>And of course, over time, I made friends with Zoe and found out that she had a little business called <a href="https://linktr.ee/homebirdcrafts?fbclid=IwAR2bc8p_VLb7WT0pIqE9swI6Vh7nTLNiH0EcfBds18K6nuUUGKxMZjSsNeM">Home Bird Crafts</a> that specialises in <a href="https://folksy.com/shops/HomeBirdCrafts">upcycled tie dye clothes</a> for everyone. Little S is clearly a huge fan of these, popping up every so often on Home Bird Craft's <a href="https://www.facebook.com/homebirdcraft">facebook</a> and <a href="http://www.instagram.com/homebirdcrafts">instagram</a> pages sporting tie dye from head to toe. Much of Home Bird Crafts is super colourful with a special emphasis on rainbows - there's even a range of rainbow products on <a href="https://homebirdcrafts.teemill.com/">teemill</a>.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtgmbVyAno7Ww6AjlxqiSQBxr-WxpeiurCSSSFBj9jMtxDmlfP0pj6B8LQdFR6prGVB0Si1geTBemzASAr3a9l0bbm_OrP-OIpZgNzu2D9KWdQBBlJgon-unO-1Mgw6zvgmpmNE2oaIT0/s2048/70382496_2471907676466684_6529316477172973568_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtgmbVyAno7Ww6AjlxqiSQBxr-WxpeiurCSSSFBj9jMtxDmlfP0pj6B8LQdFR6prGVB0Si1geTBemzASAr3a9l0bbm_OrP-OIpZgNzu2D9KWdQBBlJgon-unO-1Mgw6zvgmpmNE2oaIT0/s320/70382496_2471907676466684_6529316477172973568_n.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here is a tie dyed photo of little S shared with permission from Zoe.</div><p>Little S and Zoe have a special place in my heart as one of the first local families to follow my work with Pop-Up Adventure Play. Zoe has contributed to our fundraising efforts in the past and helped us to get the word out for our events. Little S has left me many little love notes at play sessions, fondly calling me "The Box Lady". During lockdown in 2020, I dropped off a box of play things for Little S and even before I had arrived at the door she was dragging out her latest creation to show me: a house! It has been a special honour getting know Little S.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQRHnWB4SzcxPPZrX2jBR7CgkOJS5ENgnj7hvuAnQznvGXjU15PBNbfFOLIjRSm6fKnBHbXvlJUxv3aXJzJxypbxbiq6mhF9kPzjyj1IwhQmgj1tvtD13jx9jGfXIPP_Hn2IRAuc9uSC0/s2048/20200515_151325+%25281%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQRHnWB4SzcxPPZrX2jBR7CgkOJS5ENgnj7hvuAnQznvGXjU15PBNbfFOLIjRSm6fKnBHbXvlJUxv3aXJzJxypbxbiq6mhF9kPzjyj1IwhQmgj1tvtD13jx9jGfXIPP_Hn2IRAuc9uSC0/s320/20200515_151325+%25281%2529.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here's Little S, proudly showing off her house. Photo shared with permission from Zoe.</div><p>I'm so happy to have this connection and make these new friends. It's been so lovely getting to know Zoe and her love of rainbows so I wanted to give her a special shout out. Having just launched my own <a href="https://zanplay.blogspot.com/2021/01/new-year-new-project.html">artsy side project</a> a few weeks ago, I know how tricky it is to have a little business like this, so <a href="https://linktr.ee/homebirdcrafts?fbclid=IwAR2bc8p_VLb7WT0pIqE9swI6Vh7nTLNiH0EcfBds18K6nuUUGKxMZjSsNeM">please support Zoe</a> and her work however you can. :)</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8407568710495124128.post-1245886188383391722021-01-25T14:12:00.005+00:002021-01-25T14:12:56.159+00:00New Year, New Project<p>Well, it's 2021. Having been through <a href="https://zanplay.blogspot.com/2020/12/my-2020.html">the madness of 2020</a>, I feel a little more able. I little stronger, a little more determined, and genuinely surprised to still be in one piece.</p><p>We are, however, still in a pandemic, and though I determinedly push forward, there's actually no physical space to go. So I've decided to push forward in the virtual world. </p><p>Some of you know that I have been doodling for years. In fact there's <a href="https://zanplay.blogspot.com/p/doodles.html">a whole page on my blog</a> dedicated to it. There are a few folks amongst you who have been recipients of my doodles in the post, and have told me over the years how my postcards have been adorning your fridges. Well, I've decided in 2021 to do this properly, and have now fully restocked <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/thejoyofpost" target="_blank">my Etsy shop</a> and have <a href="https://www.instagram.com/the.joy.of.post">a secret instagram page</a> too! It's a bit scary, and super exciting, and I hope that you will support me on this adventure. Come and grab a little doodle and let's fill the world with lots more joyful things!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd3iAjbEwRA7ZX2VBoVi3yh36btlpzSFs_tGWk9Qjt-K4wNu2EHEo-qxRGAFG6NF4xd8jGquznCP5Co8_-qKh0eW9r2FdPYr8H87QzaVXDrTFGj5nN3-9ep9L6A7bzEJBYg-7C4HCO6Cw/s3024/20210113_114319.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd3iAjbEwRA7ZX2VBoVi3yh36btlpzSFs_tGWk9Qjt-K4wNu2EHEo-qxRGAFG6NF4xd8jGquznCP5Co8_-qKh0eW9r2FdPYr8H87QzaVXDrTFGj5nN3-9ep9L6A7bzEJBYg-7C4HCO6Cw/s320/20210113_114319.jpg" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8407568710495124128.post-44038091439154039672020-12-30T15:22:00.022+00:002021-01-25T14:07:29.180+00:00My 2020<p>I'm trying to consolidate my thoughts about this year. Annoyingly all the words are coming out of my brain in a spaghetti of unnamable feelings that I can't seem to string together properly. (That sentence took many tries to get right.) This traffic jam of words makes <a href="http://zanplay.blogspot.com/2019/12/my-2019.html">my annual blogpost</a> almost impossible. </p><p>So maybe I should just wordlessly offer up some images of 2020... I think that's all I have to share for now.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSiumYec0Y39zT7pAdaPj9MqrsUxD4rFBkdb99Pn2gtDsje-alVzenuoUtsmncIeNbZYrVv4XS2xJedvdCtmGbT2KYoYDFibGjbwyv4ESs5hdiXO96AxnbfkzO9ttTBApCNCrH9rkQsVg/s3024/20200419_160642.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSiumYec0Y39zT7pAdaPj9MqrsUxD4rFBkdb99Pn2gtDsje-alVzenuoUtsmncIeNbZYrVv4XS2xJedvdCtmGbT2KYoYDFibGjbwyv4ESs5hdiXO96AxnbfkzO9ttTBApCNCrH9rkQsVg/s320/20200419_160642.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsDfoWeJWtHnm5_8nts1eC4woNFB0rYIKaDFJoyoNH0Xp-k0v1vCnnFPDtt94Cqk8wjmkNenpgstr0bY1nvzV3NHqaQIvf57IwZKC23jpfdROD9dM8w0EFDLfthKXSSw636XVYdy8EJcY/s3216/20200129_075124.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3216" data-original-width="1808" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsDfoWeJWtHnm5_8nts1eC4woNFB0rYIKaDFJoyoNH0Xp-k0v1vCnnFPDtt94Cqk8wjmkNenpgstr0bY1nvzV3NHqaQIvf57IwZKC23jpfdROD9dM8w0EFDLfthKXSSw636XVYdy8EJcY/s320/20200129_075124.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibvvm12HEemr8LQ2dZFaaUqQc1Qp43Onl2faa7qcTo-mberp-6nJjIPgTQEqQeziKVF-gQmG8taJodH6YN6Cgbvzlqtar7_ShhSMTMVXwqElcbpIx21lDDLl5UEOeiqff9avp1PmwPObU/s3216/20200301_162720.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3216" data-original-width="1808" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibvvm12HEemr8LQ2dZFaaUqQc1Qp43Onl2faa7qcTo-mberp-6nJjIPgTQEqQeziKVF-gQmG8taJodH6YN6Cgbvzlqtar7_ShhSMTMVXwqElcbpIx21lDDLl5UEOeiqff9avp1PmwPObU/s320/20200301_162720.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ta3vlzItw2-ecnaTBXJM9Gi3P-Bl7KDh1U3cb0BMquzOHHK4rNR-llDVJNu047uTgNk-6IQg6SxS-QzYci9OdIE2kwHyxPbcRwWRqhfJER1aBZaiDn8hyHIynbQ-Ag8fM3HWxxalnOM/s3024/20200323_134410.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ta3vlzItw2-ecnaTBXJM9Gi3P-Bl7KDh1U3cb0BMquzOHHK4rNR-llDVJNu047uTgNk-6IQg6SxS-QzYci9OdIE2kwHyxPbcRwWRqhfJER1aBZaiDn8hyHIynbQ-Ag8fM3HWxxalnOM/s320/20200323_134410.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsdzSsxVdWjGi4x6msEwKZjI71uHrQIYz9-yZ8zqbdYlJzVuaBDN99ebJxc3Tlb8xO0Vvv-dflzaoiIRQCbfe7Co90fIEn79JQ9dfMqfJ86KYKsnKIbXH9hljtcUBvgpT3Iq2jP_acjig/s4032/20200528_105150.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsdzSsxVdWjGi4x6msEwKZjI71uHrQIYz9-yZ8zqbdYlJzVuaBDN99ebJxc3Tlb8xO0Vvv-dflzaoiIRQCbfe7Co90fIEn79JQ9dfMqfJ86KYKsnKIbXH9hljtcUBvgpT3Iq2jP_acjig/s320/20200528_105150.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQEm5WO6gMw7K5ew7hI8tF0RV9Otj2jrD7JjBvcuA8RDhV0cdn53aVqwKcGTppKk61-xAgCV7ZnIzuc9EB3oaqHCYRjvR0QfejCPFCMXtCdYA2oqneI4xwKBZ1P3u4HNEyWDu-NLEptuQ/s3024/20200710_110830.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQEm5WO6gMw7K5ew7hI8tF0RV9Otj2jrD7JjBvcuA8RDhV0cdn53aVqwKcGTppKk61-xAgCV7ZnIzuc9EB3oaqHCYRjvR0QfejCPFCMXtCdYA2oqneI4xwKBZ1P3u4HNEyWDu-NLEptuQ/s320/20200710_110830.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsxhyv9gcHUtCzc2ZgEIWT29CVYo5tZ94a0Hj0kM0y0Iu8zntXXUcagpCv26QFdEiyIp_a7wJNPj9FTrCg_E7YsFrF_kEfjmBX1ua87UmPUglOEVchfDhriry0GDjaGVvMdsrs25PvxkE/s2208/20200726_183434.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2208" data-original-width="2208" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsxhyv9gcHUtCzc2ZgEIWT29CVYo5tZ94a0Hj0kM0y0Iu8zntXXUcagpCv26QFdEiyIp_a7wJNPj9FTrCg_E7YsFrF_kEfjmBX1ua87UmPUglOEVchfDhriry0GDjaGVvMdsrs25PvxkE/s320/20200726_183434.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjndKj2NigRJxooHb15oBRy4U3KWRot9aySQWe4NkkhO8-hcG2uVCKBzbZVEjzN0jYRBOZ7AH2_3eSgf27RutCCzDwnCGwNvtEOem8sYXWnmvcFhyMb-9CkylJfn9gIhLyGUSqm0Eo1vKc/s4032/20200823_110907.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjndKj2NigRJxooHb15oBRy4U3KWRot9aySQWe4NkkhO8-hcG2uVCKBzbZVEjzN0jYRBOZ7AH2_3eSgf27RutCCzDwnCGwNvtEOem8sYXWnmvcFhyMb-9CkylJfn9gIhLyGUSqm0Eo1vKc/s320/20200823_110907.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEEaOIoC8wExZsphc2xhasGuQOITTJ1hvQHtL5gL6gyUQ-TshZY5QZOv-3I5PG_lD6rGBpDxQV5V9sTXsDjXBptGpbSVcX3AJJ51RDvTtotEWUfYm13F2_ZD303I4F9CUFbY8W8lckYPA/s4032/20200912_180944.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEEaOIoC8wExZsphc2xhasGuQOITTJ1hvQHtL5gL6gyUQ-TshZY5QZOv-3I5PG_lD6rGBpDxQV5V9sTXsDjXBptGpbSVcX3AJJ51RDvTtotEWUfYm13F2_ZD303I4F9CUFbY8W8lckYPA/s320/20200912_180944.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCQZtVVWlwfHyswT5MTGZQaQEqkDVuu9EIezozMh6hcerL8QBgV4czATjI5Y_5gx1r1nRrhduo5WeyzXbExrBg68vkT2XQDDkI_G6B-kPTDT-HhMJ8ImmnOgqm3dLaGWcLZ99WI1RXj_k/s4032/20201022_185451.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCQZtVVWlwfHyswT5MTGZQaQEqkDVuu9EIezozMh6hcerL8QBgV4czATjI5Y_5gx1r1nRrhduo5WeyzXbExrBg68vkT2XQDDkI_G6B-kPTDT-HhMJ8ImmnOgqm3dLaGWcLZ99WI1RXj_k/s320/20201022_185451.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzEJaOjs1HLgJyjyn3KUZ7MZgjhCw1rmUZjB6xtPxcMIrhxdZumFqnfw0VWrt4z6Nh45sL1UkVA_U3_d77ESCHNaCcToj7tJebUA2dYYYtwfN3hi9-R0-QIAEMVxtoSpkFv3H6NtSF-ao/s3968/20201104_142912.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2232" data-original-width="3968" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzEJaOjs1HLgJyjyn3KUZ7MZgjhCw1rmUZjB6xtPxcMIrhxdZumFqnfw0VWrt4z6Nh45sL1UkVA_U3_d77ESCHNaCcToj7tJebUA2dYYYtwfN3hi9-R0-QIAEMVxtoSpkFv3H6NtSF-ao/s320/20201104_142912.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizbrTewKo3O04WxFBtuAnn1SuxVAGhIpJ7CwV5EJBAGecB6Hw9niolazLDVulKdESzd5t0-9rbq7QpRVElKEoogB3SCleD42p-oCjONptWM_dLbzLSneB-8hiKPKEGjm7dtN4iJHyb88M/s4032/20201230_134109.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizbrTewKo3O04WxFBtuAnn1SuxVAGhIpJ7CwV5EJBAGecB6Hw9niolazLDVulKdESzd5t0-9rbq7QpRVElKEoogB3SCleD42p-oCjONptWM_dLbzLSneB-8hiKPKEGjm7dtN4iJHyb88M/s320/20201230_134109.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This year has been really tough for myself and my family. Covid, <a href="http://zanplay.blogspot.com/2020/10/see-you-later-mum.html">cancer</a> and constant crying as been the overriding themes of this year. The year was filled with sadness, sometimes fear and my heart still feels battered and bruised, but I am still here. Thankfully, the year was also punctuated with moments like the ones in the photos, of hope and joy. I can only thank God for my family, my friends, the home that I live in, the food that I eat, and a body that won't quite fail me yet. I am determined to focus on these positives, and spread joy to others just as my mum would have done if she were alive and healthy. It will be a memorable year for many I am certain, for both good things and bad things. It just shows that there can still be hope and joy in pain and suffering, and those little moments will see us through. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Goodbye, 2020. </div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8407568710495124128.post-90939809550673501872020-10-12T15:36:00.000+01:002020-10-12T15:36:55.066+01:00See You Later Mum :)<p><i>My Mum is happy and smiley and is an awesome cook. She's a little taller than me, wears glasses when she can be bothered, and sometimes she knits. Mum's a passionate person who can get riled up about all sorts of things rather unexpectedly. Her passion is worth admiring, especially in the way that she's passionate about God, but she can get a bit scary when she has a bee in her bonnet. Those are the occasions I tend to use my room as a bunker!</i></p><p><i>She came over to the UK from Hong Kong when she was twelve. I distinctly remember her telling me that since the move from HK, she had moved 11 times until we got to the current house, which is quite spectacular really. At the tender age of 14, she was already in full time work, helping her Dad with whichever take-away he had chosen to move to. She was one of five children in her family; she has two older brothers and an older sister. She went to live in London when she was 17 and a family took her in as their own. She learnt independent life whilst she was there, and it was the first time she was truly able to be herself.</i></p><p><i>For as long as I can remember, my Mum has tried to enhance her skills to become better at things. She hasn't always been an awesome cook – when she married my Dad, she could only boil rice! My Dad taught her the basics and then she ran with it. In an effort to encourage me to learn, my Mum also learnt to play the piano to a decent level. I remember her taking her grade 5 piano exam and realising that it would be the first qualification that she had ever achieved. She later started taking English lessons at a local Adult Education Centre and got awarded a prize for being the most inspirational adult learner in the region. I was so proud. During that time, she also took on a Floristry class where she found a natural ability to arrange flowers, and now she is a freelance Florist. And somehow somewhere, she raised a family. She's amazing.</i></p><p><i>~ Altered extract from Zan's Word Adventure, Nanowrimo 2008</i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjvF1p-WLxH0NJKhqrUDQ8W_5PO3me8Ercx13VbYxZo6OWBCeTUuG1YHLPEB3raTIxQMnXPOPkxxt7M9v418QGGTACLElDlk9fgGDifF_SVlXS_5Cb1x6OkOo7DXvyiRNwpgzhKrbD-1Y/s2048/IMG_20171201_200238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjvF1p-WLxH0NJKhqrUDQ8W_5PO3me8Ercx13VbYxZo6OWBCeTUuG1YHLPEB3raTIxQMnXPOPkxxt7M9v418QGGTACLElDlk9fgGDifF_SVlXS_5Cb1x6OkOo7DXvyiRNwpgzhKrbD-1Y/s320/IMG_20171201_200238.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>Mum, you have fought a long and hard battle. I am so very proud of you, and I already miss you so much! You were a wonderful mum and have taught me to be strong, to face every challenge head on, and to push further than I ever thought possible. Thank you for all that you have done for us - I'll see you someday soon. :)</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8407568710495124128.post-69639793979738050562020-07-04T11:43:00.000+01:002020-07-04T11:43:17.817+01:00KindnessI was expecting by now to be writing about how life has changed for the better, and how we as society have grown to be stronger, more resilient folk having learned something massive from the global pandemic of CoViD-19.<br />
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I'm not able to write about that yet. My life is basically the same as <a href="https://zanplay.blogspot.com/2020/03/thankfulness-in-time-of-sadness.html">the last time I blogged</a> (except that I have a few thousand extra words typed for my PhD, have done a whole bunch of things with <a href="www.popupadventureplay.org" target="_blank">Pop-Up Adventure Play</a> and there are some tearful things that I don't wanna talk about it). But as I have always maintained, this isn't a blog for sad things. I am going to focus uncompromisingly on the positive, on joy and gratitude.<br /><div><br /></div><div>I want to spend some time admiring the thoughtfulness and creativity of people in this tricky time, but my wordsmithing seems to currently exist entirely in academic form which... isn't fun to read, really. So I'm going to put some pictures up and just rejoice and reflect on the kindness of others.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji4qQWWe165ToPvzOb4xU8hizxUyOhcZF43R-lPs_zx9SjfpKvBsIbaN2rNwENLIzwqO1CLD8O44lrPK9CIK0RIjfGEuBp306g7LNEcKRvLZrRP-_uTQubIlckaxMmChJmatyrF3u2dnE/s4032/20200627_171021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji4qQWWe165ToPvzOb4xU8hizxUyOhcZF43R-lPs_zx9SjfpKvBsIbaN2rNwENLIzwqO1CLD8O44lrPK9CIK0RIjfGEuBp306g7LNEcKRvLZrRP-_uTQubIlckaxMmChJmatyrF3u2dnE/w300-h400/20200627_171021.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Life in lockdown means that any "ding dong" of the doorbell is super exciting. It's extra exciting when it's something you're not expecting, like a parcel full of ordinary items (that I can't acquire at the supermarket) and interesting magazine cuttings from your work wife. It may seem unremarkable, but boy it was much needed, and contributed to this little collage - one of the ways that I love to play! Thanks Morgan. :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCXCueymndEnyermrThj6dJyGmLQLjEumHd0tV07DDMQbOVDldHXhyphenhyphenTuyTSUdQiyJTDoGJku89t4aJPUgBs5Z7DHx0n2bEIzhigpBnwamPArXeIlx2KOEQAPoIeHFyw8eD9TY51VhabZQ/s3024/20200626_105727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCXCueymndEnyermrThj6dJyGmLQLjEumHd0tV07DDMQbOVDldHXhyphenhyphenTuyTSUdQiyJTDoGJku89t4aJPUgBs5Z7DHx0n2bEIzhigpBnwamPArXeIlx2KOEQAPoIeHFyw8eD9TY51VhabZQ/s320/20200626_105727.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another "ding dong" from the front door and the friendly face of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bakedwithloveMCR/">Baked with Love MCR</a> appears with a selection box of brownies. "Your friend Kelsey thought you might like these" she says. And she was absolutely right. These brownies have gone down a treat! So so good! I have always admired the power of the internet, and it still amazes me that lovely people in the USA can arrange for a home delivery of baked goods directly to my house in the UK. There's so much magic and kindness in there. Thank you so much Kelsey. :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH1Px7xZ0mKJUtIJOrxA7tbZ0yi4YAuIZNur82yJCxa6bvIXTf-sS1xW0PQfwOw11g7bAIK6Z0DkI9v2DbcXSvxTV6tbF8QWwa1m20gxvdImeQgDoLW40HxdY_48RZR1-QKgDU87CYXgs/s2208/20200627_100140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2208" data-original-width="2208" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH1Px7xZ0mKJUtIJOrxA7tbZ0yi4YAuIZNur82yJCxa6bvIXTf-sS1xW0PQfwOw11g7bAIK6Z0DkI9v2DbcXSvxTV6tbF8QWwa1m20gxvdImeQgDoLW40HxdY_48RZR1-QKgDU87CYXgs/s320/20200627_100140.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yes, you are seeing this right - this is a Bettie Botts Every Flavour Beans face mask. This little beauty came through the letter box along with some mange tout seeds (which are growing already!) and is the contender for the Most Interesting Thing to Receive in a Card 2020 prize. Okay, it's not a real competition, but this was really very exciting and unexpected, and continues to bring joy to my parents (who are carefully nurturing the beans) and to me every time I mask up and go out. Thank you Ali and Phil. :)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPyigsa6D2wshysPPT2ZiqTnvLP1i8DQPl4SsunUZL5YlMy1PvE1bXLFcF_hNDN9fTARpRHAD8bFwPcvLEqHHz-vfpRcOf5Gk_iVUGYi_ZKUuBYCaIFkFCkwswocqLE-H1pzGrOygMiNE/s3024/20200611_112040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPyigsa6D2wshysPPT2ZiqTnvLP1i8DQPl4SsunUZL5YlMy1PvE1bXLFcF_hNDN9fTARpRHAD8bFwPcvLEqHHz-vfpRcOf5Gk_iVUGYi_ZKUuBYCaIFkFCkwswocqLE-H1pzGrOygMiNE/s320/20200611_112040.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Once upon a time, at a local food fair, I met a Lego Sausage Dog that was trying to sell me some jam. Three jars later, I wanted more so I got in contact with <a href="https://www.thelongdogcompany.co.uk/">The Long Dog company </a>to see how I could acquire some deliciousness within lockdown. This is a longish story so I'm going to to get to the best bit - the owner of the company made my name (MY NAME!) a one-off discount code for free delivery and made me feel like an absolute winner. AND THEN the next day, Mr Long Dog himself personally brought my jam selection to my doorstep. It was such a kind thing to do, and the sort of small business loveliness that reminds me of the beautiful human side of retail. Thank you, Mr Long Dog! :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhFjwxn9Vx3FE2aDu9oi0hu7LxtkwuhMHrbPfgCFc7zD_56eXpTSCOo19g2GWXRso114TI8c1CIKOZiwE7yFNOeEe-Xst4nrT1PoIxRUZadF-uUH8ZrNf4lg5JJpCtYM28njv3U4WWtkE/s3024/20200618_140903.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhFjwxn9Vx3FE2aDu9oi0hu7LxtkwuhMHrbPfgCFc7zD_56eXpTSCOo19g2GWXRso114TI8c1CIKOZiwE7yFNOeEe-Xst4nrT1PoIxRUZadF-uUH8ZrNf4lg5JJpCtYM28njv3U4WWtkE/s320/20200618_140903.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is a photo of some walnut cookies that a friend of the family baked especially for me. This photo represents the lovely food that people have unexpectedly left on our doorstep over the last few months, a means for them to say "we're thinking of you" and also to share the joy of eating. I have felt so blessed to have these edible moments! These delicious moments break up the monotony of the sameness we have here and my parents and I have started referencing time not by hours or days, but by meals and snacks. Thank you to all the aunties, to Angel and to Lee (and Dave) for bringing homemade goodies round and bringing delight to our family. :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I am grateful to every single person who checks in on myself and my parents as we continue to hunker down and weather this crazy time. You are blessings in our lives and while I can't speak for my parents, I hope that you can feel my gratitude from the heart of my home. :)</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8407568710495124128.post-86715084609957653442020-03-25T11:41:00.000+00:002020-03-25T11:41:48.438+00:00Thankfulness in a Time of SadnessI've been a bit of a mess. The constantly changing landscape of the world has made me anxious, and my heart breaks every time I hear more sad news. As a result I have been a tearful mess for the last 10 days, sitting quietly in my room working out how to continue caring for my parents without coming to contact with them.<br />
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But as always, this blog is not to be filled with complaints or woes. I am determined to be a silver lining whenever I can, even if it's just for me. In my isolation, I have been thankful for the simple blessings in my life - for having a roof over my head, somewhere to sleep safely and food to eat. I have never taken these things for granted, but right now more than ever I am grateful that I don't have to worry about those things, and overcome with joy that they have been provided for me without question. <b>Thanks, Mum and Dad</b>.<br />
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Haha, you thought perhaps that this was the end of this blogpost, but no! Hold on to your decorative headgear, folks!<br />
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I wrote a few days back that I'd just flown home from <a href="http://zanplay.blogspot.com/2020/03/twelve-flights-later.html">a long adventure in the USA</a>. Since then I have been isolating from my mum who is immuno-compromised, so I have been eating alone in my room since. I am usually happy to do lots of things alone, but over the years I have noticed that one thing that I really enjoy - that I thrive on - is eating with others. By day 10 of eating alone I was starting to feel it, a deep seated sadness and need for company. Since then I have had the blessing of US friends Chenine, Jill and her family, Morgan and Kelsey, and UK friend Angel join me for my evening meals over video chat. On Sunday, my family in HK had their evening meal with me while I had my lunch! I can't tell them enough how much this means to me - their presence, even over the internet, has saved my sanity and I am more grateful than I can find the words for. <b>Thank you so, so much, meal time buddies! </b><br />
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I want to mention to people who have been checking in with me, just to talk, to send the odd joke, and - in the case of my friend Ric - who's been inventing games to play with me over instant messaging. My sister and her family have been calling just to say hello and wave small people in front the camera - oh I miss them so! It's during this time where my college friends and I (folks I have known for over 17 years!!) managed to do our first ever virtual meet up! It was so nice to see you PMs! <b>I'm so grateful that you all exist in my life - thank you! :) </b><br />
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But I am not done! With myself and my parents basically on lockdown at home, we haven't been able to top up our groceries like usual. We have enough to get by, but I caught both of my parents looking sadly at the fridge as the food depleted and they were having to compromise on their strict diets in order to fill their bellies. Every time I opened the fridge to check the situation, and fretted over how to get some groceries in, somebody has called me.<br />
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"I've just bought some chicken wings and some Chinese lettuce. I'm going to bring them round in a minute."<br />
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"I managed to get you some veg your mum likes - the pastor will bring them round on his way home."<br />
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"Is there anything you need right now?"<br />
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It's not like we don't have food in our house - I would be able to survive on just cake if I was allowed in the kitchen - but because both my parents have specific needs, it's been hard on them to improvise with our limited pantry, and this has created worry knots in my stomach. But every time the phone rang, I knew that God had sent an angel to help us out. We have received vegetables, chicken wings, fruits, rice... yesterday, my church pastor rocked up with some cream crackers! I'm not even kidding - these people were sent to us at just the right time, every time. So <b>a big thank you to Auntie Kit, Pastor Chui, Angel and Pastor Jez. Thanks to God for sending angels, and for His great timing.</b><br />
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There's more. I also want to mention some miscellaneous folk who have been essential in making my household function in the last 10 days. I want to thank Auntie Kit, for rocking up to pick up one of mum's important prescriptions and dropping it off for us at the doctors when I couldn't get through to the pharmacy. Thanks to Kit EE (it means Auntie Kit in Chinese), there hasn't been a gap in her medication at all which is <i>literally </i>life or death for her. <b>Thank you, Kit EE!</b><br />
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I want to thank our local pharmacy for helping us with our medication deliveries. We've been with this pharmacy since I can remember, and they heard the rising panic in my voice when I called to see if they could deliver my parent's drugs, they knew my name immediately after I gave them the details of my parents and they sorted us out for the next day. Absolutely wonderful folks. Literally couldn't have done this without them. <b>Thank you, Cohens Chemist on Croft Lane!</b><br />
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I also want to thank <a href="https://www.boscownurseries.co.uk/">RH Gill Boscow Nurseries</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bakedwithloveMCR/">Baking With Love MCR</a> for being able to deliver to us. The giant bags of compost are keeping my parents busy and happy, and the blondies are a blissful moment in my every day. <b>Thank you, garden folk and blondie providers!</b><br />
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I'm going to thank all other delivery folk that we will be meeting in the next few weeks. Everyone has kept their distance, everyone has dropped things off with a smile, everyone has just been lovely, even though they don't have to be. Just, thank you.<br />
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I've felt massively blessed in the last few days, even though the world feels like it's collapsing around us. A huge thank you to the people who are checking in on me, eating with me, and just... being there for me. And a massive thank you to the people who are taking care of my parents. The world might never be the same again, but I feel like there is still good in the world, and you folks have shown me that. Thank you all, and thank you to God, for always being relentlessly there and looking after us, no matter what.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrTlHNdkXJAJh41FW1czkZR3ypOY0t3B-mM-B811cvDF8o0hwCiDKleldhuOdraaoD_tpHsCz2lNQlBSMb3bMepadyg6LkQZKC5v8_MJwrLHewVNqJaQdBP5WbH80nmg_hOlmeOzVz0vI/s1600/20200319_143445.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrTlHNdkXJAJh41FW1czkZR3ypOY0t3B-mM-B811cvDF8o0hwCiDKleldhuOdraaoD_tpHsCz2lNQlBSMb3bMepadyg6LkQZKC5v8_MJwrLHewVNqJaQdBP5WbH80nmg_hOlmeOzVz0vI/s320/20200319_143445.jpg" width="179" /></a></div>
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Here's a pic of me rotating in the sunshine in the garden. It was much needed, and I've been so grateful for the warm on my face.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8407568710495124128.post-67185525292155289022020-03-14T20:43:00.000+00:002020-03-14T20:52:06.356+00:00Reflections from a PuddleShe stepped up to the puddle, took a tentative step into it, and grinned. I silently thanked all of my instincts for insisting that we wear rain boots.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmlfNrreP1gFFxN3vRXxztCr-1CeTsN3ybuqIv89jhKGWYjgxeNd5dglb1rbftOyoiaGOu2ddOjeWeSA9Cw-vTa7_PXPfHKbbqrAndITkKParoLktCWjMHHqXk8Gq_xdEzQcyfFo90Ujk/s1600/20200314_111315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmlfNrreP1gFFxN3vRXxztCr-1CeTsN3ybuqIv89jhKGWYjgxeNd5dglb1rbftOyoiaGOu2ddOjeWeSA9Cw-vTa7_PXPfHKbbqrAndITkKParoLktCWjMHHqXk8Gq_xdEzQcyfFo90Ujk/s400/20200314_111315.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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This is a park that we used to go to a lot, but a combination of her starting school and me being out of the country, we hadn't been there for a while. The park was under construction and now the only pathway into the playground was under a few inches of water. We walked slowly through it.<br />
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There's something very therapeutic about disrupting a still body of water. We watched our boots create ripples and waves. In some areas of the puddle mud swirled around and we watched them make "moving flowers" - I loved the name she gave them. When we got to the other end of this big puddle, it was important to run back to the other end on the grass, and then start the process again - as always, following her lead. Soon we started comparing how deep various sections of the puddle were compared to our rain boots. It was pretty deep in some areas, but her shiny rain boots could be seen from any depth, she surmised.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyAIweStssKupsUy3mRt0wU0WBDbzGGBTB022tJbsZMJJ5kaX0u_bXXVuKCa9G_K1gQbrdLqVU7KnxoKMsRpUIhVGBGHOLdCBWrCoQKS3KN9GvWtnNJxLI8_PKEdAJG-E82GyFq36qLFs/s1600/20200314_111546.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyAIweStssKupsUy3mRt0wU0WBDbzGGBTB022tJbsZMJJ5kaX0u_bXXVuKCa9G_K1gQbrdLqVU7KnxoKMsRpUIhVGBGHOLdCBWrCoQKS3KN9GvWtnNJxLI8_PKEdAJG-E82GyFq36qLFs/s400/20200314_111546.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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After a brief pause to say hello to some purple flowers, we ran to the playground. Nothing was particularly noteworthy here: just some good quality fixed equipment playground playing, while working out how not to get mud everywhere. There was no other being at the park, except for 3 diggers and a chorus of birds. It was eerily quiet, even with the machines humming in the background. Social-distancing had started on this cloudy day, and in combination with the mud underfoot, the occasional rain showers and piles of earth that the diggers were creating around us, the playground today had a grey, mournful quality despite it's colourful decorations.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiuhRCUAcn02FEBJQV4oY-3c98qBgOjwOczNt-v0-KpAWjx7If0RokAzegcFg8xLUFTYctfed4hNuO9LLJcpcuYODZ9bFY5JsuPGf6jCIYLFJ5LSpxSWi1ekJeIxVfkkFx1QFqeOAQnMg/s1600/20200314_112234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiuhRCUAcn02FEBJQV4oY-3c98qBgOjwOczNt-v0-KpAWjx7If0RokAzegcFg8xLUFTYctfed4hNuO9LLJcpcuYODZ9bFY5JsuPGf6jCIYLFJ5LSpxSWi1ekJeIxVfkkFx1QFqeOAQnMg/s400/20200314_112234.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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"I want to go home now."<br />
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We wandered back, past the purple flowers. There was an attempt at Pooh Sticks, and when it didn't work, we just started throwing sticks into another body of water. When we got near the puddle, she couldn't see it, so she ran on ahead to make sure it was there. It was just as big as before and she slowed right on down as we paced through it, one step at a time as she instructed. I noticed - I think at the same time as she did - that this puddle had the perfect mud to water ratio: it acted like water but was a little slower because of the mud inside of it. It was slick and smooth and beckoned you to touch it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3eK5BF56R5qXHQwoeykzVQeOLUlaKyuKabhbxlC_ss7t7vphXOdquS04I2aypFciHJ9rbn0-Js-5pV7jDTqXPmLp8p2TGz25faV-VI7ek4lAleNI43Awdv6ytAzAmffH2Dje1YzKMA4/s1600/20200314_115304.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3eK5BF56R5qXHQwoeykzVQeOLUlaKyuKabhbxlC_ss7t7vphXOdquS04I2aypFciHJ9rbn0-Js-5pV7jDTqXPmLp8p2TGz25faV-VI7ek4lAleNI43Awdv6ytAzAmffH2Dje1YzKMA4/s400/20200314_115304.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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We threw some sticks in here and watched them float. Then we walked through one more time before we carried on with our day.<br />
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In between conversations about hand-washing, disappointments about adventures being cancelled as a precautionary measure, and how exactly you say the word "coronavirus", this puddle - this park - was a welcome break. We didn't really talk: we just played. And it was so very much needed, for her and for me. #PlayNoMatterWhatUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8407568710495124128.post-68114734352976766912020-03-09T20:17:00.000+00:002020-03-09T20:27:39.142+00:00Twelve Flights Later...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It is Monday, 9th March and I am sitting down at my desk knowing that I will be able to do so every day for at least the next 2 weeks. Normally, this wouldn't be very interesting, but so far in 2020, I have been out of the country for more days than I have been at home - it's been a bit mad really. Here's what I have been up to:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOEhiYilkNf43_cEXIw5LvvDI8VPv4RSozrOEpOsVPS-ti2KUOLWU-2GscaYTZHFU1HOmfJ4XtSjW3ubCoub3xugpCSfbhgNzfr-q-L8wjklt2RmVBZISNGGHhUXABtMU96w0hTg_JOE/s1600/20200113_134601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOEhiYilkNf43_cEXIw5LvvDI8VPv4RSozrOEpOsVPS-ti2KUOLWU-2GscaYTZHFU1HOmfJ4XtSjW3ubCoub3xugpCSfbhgNzfr-q-L8wjklt2RmVBZISNGGHhUXABtMU96w0hTg_JOE/s400/20200113_134601.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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Zan in the sky.</div>
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Zan in Istanbul, Turkey.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGXbLJ2cNKVGGPEHZF5Er67FwvMMi_vCTVCRtjZOlyWrJ40IVD0XXTgarnRq8rtDrpK97YFJzhA9t_4GeOSdRgXWjW5AzpqW6J0-qHTAp84qDrHGAl4JeGUh3ASsXKmuXCj0qSU7nOrGs/s1600/20200117_114951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGXbLJ2cNKVGGPEHZF5Er67FwvMMi_vCTVCRtjZOlyWrJ40IVD0XXTgarnRq8rtDrpK97YFJzhA9t_4GeOSdRgXWjW5AzpqW6J0-qHTAp84qDrHGAl4JeGUh3ASsXKmuXCj0qSU7nOrGs/s400/20200117_114951.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Zan watching Morgan's fortune being told by new friend Ozlem.</div>
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Zan makes friends with a local baker and gets excellent simit sandwich.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQKCWbZcUBjVdJ2yqV3j1RAe9Gj-4UQxc2ZDeOTx73KDJe9zNR4KQ_3EToTAaL6Fgjgzf7mEJOzq_2zegXJa1J9fhuH21ZQIr5VPSsD3wYxapmpQghwTAxdZXbfn52OmdApIPcGvtQqbg/s1600/20200119_163636.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQKCWbZcUBjVdJ2yqV3j1RAe9Gj-4UQxc2ZDeOTx73KDJe9zNR4KQ_3EToTAaL6Fgjgzf7mEJOzq_2zegXJa1J9fhuH21ZQIr5VPSsD3wYxapmpQghwTAxdZXbfn52OmdApIPcGvtQqbg/s400/20200119_163636.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Zan in Bodrum, Turkey.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4mNsg1Wf86zWlCNscb52NeJ6o9HsQehJasA8QCw3esvJVLxYvHmIhFZpf9yR_pGvFGtS1HXRQekChF9pjxmtKwvBePapIDUdVL206U-XmVBSwkmVhrM4RkL0NPpgHnWvc05NNnNUkcU0/s1600/20200129_075124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4mNsg1Wf86zWlCNscb52NeJ6o9HsQehJasA8QCw3esvJVLxYvHmIhFZpf9yR_pGvFGtS1HXRQekChF9pjxmtKwvBePapIDUdVL206U-XmVBSwkmVhrM4RkL0NPpgHnWvc05NNnNUkcU0/s400/20200129_075124.jpg" width="223" /></a></div>
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Zan in London, UK.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6qoW28kIV758z2pT08hWNYaW7f6amQ1Keh_-o7bnHAQtOhDic7ZSAXvBgXtHUgTdxRFGAvjbddjdn9yMKA5wWD_1KtOoQ6uXTIHBwNONxswVvv1NvjRo45s5n6lkdl9eU0P-wguHsTsw/s1600/20200202_110928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6qoW28kIV758z2pT08hWNYaW7f6amQ1Keh_-o7bnHAQtOhDic7ZSAXvBgXtHUgTdxRFGAvjbddjdn9yMKA5wWD_1KtOoQ6uXTIHBwNONxswVvv1NvjRo45s5n6lkdl9eU0P-wguHsTsw/s400/20200202_110928.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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Zan in San Diego, CA.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTL94LB4XVSVH3UEITJ2CKdBAIBMJ2FwAElLvpfUatfFDLjRodXGeX8tYOCzZlPBeVdeEFui2-OK8Mn_YB3cwl3KKWKkDhKTDD_fjau1_MbvAG_nY-SgrBiiViAaFQ2O7O2GkLHlsdXFo/s1600/20200202_113635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTL94LB4XVSVH3UEITJ2CKdBAIBMJ2FwAElLvpfUatfFDLjRodXGeX8tYOCzZlPBeVdeEFui2-OK8Mn_YB3cwl3KKWKkDhKTDD_fjau1_MbvAG_nY-SgrBiiViAaFQ2O7O2GkLHlsdXFo/s400/20200202_113635.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Zan hangs out with her favourite twins.</div>
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Zan at the Pacific Ocean.</div>
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Zan at the top of a hill with a cross.</div>
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Zan in Los Angeles, CA.</div>
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Zan in Rochester, NY.</div>
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Joyous and free those photos may seem, most of this travel has been for work - something that is harder on the body and mind than I would have imagined before starting up Pop-Up Adventure Play. Still, it's been so very rewarding, and filling little gaps in between work with playful moments has kept me focused and sane: I cannot emphasise enough the value of play in my own life.<br />
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Things don't calm down for me this year. I'm going to be completing my PhD (if I say it enough to myself, I might even start to believe it!) and the travelling for work doesn't stop. Getting through <a href="https://zanplay.blogspot.com/2019/12/my-2019.html">last year</a> may have been hard work, but it proves to myself that I <i>am</i> able, and I <i>can</i> do it. So I will. My 2020 has already been a roller coaster - but I seem to be enjoying it! More updates soon.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8407568710495124128.post-71853567904587662722019-12-31T20:28:00.000+00:002019-12-31T20:37:24.074+00:00My 2019Alright, alright, I didn't end up blogging again this year <a href="https://zanplay.blogspot.com/2019/10/still-playing.html">like I promised</a>, but I have a good reason! I have been super busy, looking after the family (and myself, whenever possible) so I haven't had the time to consolidate my thoughts on paper. But here I am, with the final blogpost of the year. I shall lead with a photo of the family on Christmas day. Look at all those lovely faces!<br />
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It has been a challenging year, but here we all are, smiling away on Christmas day. And can you see? We have a new tiny person in the family! She's absolutely wonderful, made of about 90% cheeks and has made me an auntie for the 3rd time. Welcome to the blog, brand new little niece! :)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS7axFzOgNsAo9PzPkDdVswBBr3_Dsk37Zf0Z6jdryp4QzhMTNolb331eJSwPZlYCPTjP5BLaaeoCNQcvsBWoBiVMZZ47GHY_Hoy059Hotm5kNL9BOaCtD2N-LOgEArfKyefcRBnpY27M/s1600/20191229_102601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS7axFzOgNsAo9PzPkDdVswBBr3_Dsk37Zf0Z6jdryp4QzhMTNolb331eJSwPZlYCPTjP5BLaaeoCNQcvsBWoBiVMZZ47GHY_Hoy059Hotm5kNL9BOaCtD2N-LOgEArfKyefcRBnpY27M/s320/20191229_102601.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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I have a lot to be thankful for in 2019. Besides the above bundle of cute, I have to be thankful for my family, friends and some people who have come out of nowhere but have shown me kindness this year. This beautiful muddle of people have helped me to get through this very strange year and I can only thank God for making them appear in my life just when I needed them.<br />
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Of course we can't forget the lovely Morgan, my wonderful work wife. If I didn't taken a leap of faith and gone to meet her in London on one gloomy Friday evening in 2009, I wouldn't have co-founded <a href="http://www.popupadventureplay.org/">Pop-Up Adventure Play</a> with her in 2010. With 2020 being the start of a new decade, I want to spend a paragraph writing about how thankful I am to have Morgan in my life. This may be a friendship that has only weathered a decade, but it feels like I have known her all my life and certainly cannot envision a life without her. Here's to many more decades of radical play advocacy, together!<br />
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And to my Mr EP too. Can't wait to start another decade with you.<br />
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I think I will leave you with some final thoughts. It may have been a tough year, but there have been many silver linings and unexpected blessings. Those are the moments I choose to see when all else is falling apart. I can't control the sadnesses or troubles that inflict myself and the ones I love, nor can I truly take them away, but I can change the way I view things. And when all else fails, be the silver lining! Be a rainbow in someone's else's cloudy day, even if it is just a listening ear or a shoulder to cry on. Above all, I must remember to have a heart of gratitude for all that I have been given, every single day. Goodbye 2019 - let's see what 2020 has to bring.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8407568710495124128.post-35599439089966544252019-10-05T21:06:00.000+01:002019-10-05T21:27:06.222+01:00Still Playing...!Hello! It's been a while.<br />
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I was tempted to apologise for this blog hiatus, but realised maybe that I don't have much to apologise for. There has been a lot going on, and I have been anything but lazy, so there's no need for apologies, I think. But maybe an update.<br />
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So life pulls me in my directions at the moment. A lot of you know that I'm in the final throws of my PhD in Playwork which I am grappling with (to the death, it seems) for another year before I hand it all in and await my viva. Most of you also know that I'm working hard with <a href="http://popupadventureplay.org/">Pop-Up Adventure Play</a>, the charity I co-founded with my wonderful friend Morgan about 10 years ago. It continues to thrive as we connect with people around the world who want to find ways to support children's play in their own communities, and we couldn't be more surprised and proud of the folks we have supported over the years. What most of you won't know is that I'm also taking care of a lot of things at home. Long term illness has befallen our family, and has put a strain on everyone, especially the afflicted, and though we are staying strong as a family, it really has been a difficult time.<br />
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The reason why I won't apologise for not updating my blog sooner than today is that every spare moment I have that's not studying, managing an international charity, or taking people to the hospital, I will go and play. I need to look after myself in the madness that is my life, so whenever I am free, I'm not going to be updating my blog, I'm going to go play! Here's a photo of me doing just that!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdScgwiwYpTskW3pGzekuuS3zEq3X5HSQynAJD0THT8Zm_XXDDWCbydoimgkOcEL7yRQOrHycwMN4C6W9p02nFa5u_QmOmeJGrkrYL6fZ66GdX2bAtcb5gtMQjRj3lKFhsQRHETnrnOfM/s1600/20190920_145957.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdScgwiwYpTskW3pGzekuuS3zEq3X5HSQynAJD0THT8Zm_XXDDWCbydoimgkOcEL7yRQOrHycwMN4C6W9p02nFa5u_QmOmeJGrkrYL6fZ66GdX2bAtcb5gtMQjRj3lKFhsQRHETnrnOfM/s320/20190920_145957.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here's me at Entwistle Reservoir on a beautiful early Autumn afternoon.</div>
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So why have I chosen to update today? Well, there are exciting things afoot that will be happening soon and I wanted to make sure that I still know how to use this ol' thing. Despite my lack of use, I have kinda missed blogging, so here is my attempt!<br />
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Anyway, I am kinda back? Let me see if life affords me a few minutes to be a little more regular with the blog updates! More soon!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8407568710495124128.post-80807246771479397322018-12-31T20:23:00.003+00:002018-12-31T20:26:19.138+00:00My 2018 :)Haha, so I didn't end up writing so much this year, despite promising to in <a href="http://zanplay.blogspot.com/2018/01/hello-2018.html">the only other piece</a> I posted this year. It's been quite mad, and if I'm being honest, it hasn't really been the best. When I wrote <a href="http://zanplay.blogspot.com/2017/12/my-2017.html">last year</a> that it had been a rough year, I hadn't really thought on ahead to what 2018 might bring. There have been joyous moments this year that have made me feel like I'm flying: giddy-giggling like a toddler on a sugar-high... the family trip to Portugal, when Mr EP met the family, the Mancheste Bees.... But there have been moments too where I just wanted to crawl into a hole and stay there forever.<br />
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I am determined however that this isn't the type of blog that dwells on sadnesses. This is a blog filled with hope, and determination, and possibility. Yes, the year felt unfairly hard, but I am at the end of it and I have survived! I have learned things and I have grown - hopefully - into a stronger, better version of myself.<br />
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And maybe 2019 will be a much better year. Or maybe it won't. But the lesson here is that <i>I will make it</i> <i>through the year and everything will be okay.</i> I can do it.<br />
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So while I usually write a nice summary of my year which includes mentions from all the lovely people who feature in my life - my family, Mr EP, my friends - this year I'm just going to leave this short note here, accompanied with what I think is possibly one of the best photos of the year. I think this image represents me somehow - please enjoy it while I wander off and happily do very little for the rest of 2018. See you in the New Year! :)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQQFyLaTEWG6Nn2UTCjc5cza-lUb0H66kE5WmN6q3UD5hZC9WRD9t_cbNMvcGme4y8qdoWlwC3uR2mueb253VTd4MXqk9t8m6pGyXRDKRNam-QqTHdCgl65IYMU2RRpBBEziYOfn8Hxi0/s1600/IMG_5970.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQQFyLaTEWG6Nn2UTCjc5cza-lUb0H66kE5WmN6q3UD5hZC9WRD9t_cbNMvcGme4y8qdoWlwC3uR2mueb253VTd4MXqk9t8m6pGyXRDKRNam-QqTHdCgl65IYMU2RRpBBEziYOfn8Hxi0/s320/IMG_5970.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8407568710495124128.post-48245444928590319602018-01-07T22:36:00.001+00:002018-01-07T22:36:39.081+00:00Hello 2018 :)I am working hard on being balanced. There's a lot to be doing and not really much time: a lot of tension and an already heavy heart.<br />
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So I have started something new! For the last 7 days in an interesting new rhythm has developed. I work for a couple of hours, then walk for an hour, before going back to work. That one hour's walk - come rain some shine - has been a blessing. It was hard on New Year's Day (both cold AND side-ways rain) but I think I have it all worked out now. I have some brand new wellies and I am ready to walk. Here are some photos of some of my lovely walk moments:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXeKp6DwCIb1BbcWGJHqOBFFn1Tc1PHE2kZeFe4MxCQIhxpSzgDuzMDlPp3GRqmpTDGWWRBmPUbuuvmtyYXCwedssM7b1UVm1PizbSJt3Epo233kllZv_1eI472M4P550PLuXhCHJ4Scg/s1600/IMG_20180107_112836.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXeKp6DwCIb1BbcWGJHqOBFFn1Tc1PHE2kZeFe4MxCQIhxpSzgDuzMDlPp3GRqmpTDGWWRBmPUbuuvmtyYXCwedssM7b1UVm1PizbSJt3Epo233kllZv_1eI472M4P550PLuXhCHJ4Scg/s320/IMG_20180107_112836.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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When the light, a building and a frozen lake lines up for a shot.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl4oamMmfo2ZqIgOE_PuNFAk6Z4qvx_3oL2TcUwPrWLlGZu91Sg0Mj62kSjJ0mZDffz_pF4DyFQX1Ccgh0_0bpcuI04KCuPQKqn6aCJ3KF35l0_-oNyqvjlSvnl2oB_-eD9MnFyBL6UEg/s1600/IMG_20180107_110820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl4oamMmfo2ZqIgOE_PuNFAk6Z4qvx_3oL2TcUwPrWLlGZu91Sg0Mj62kSjJ0mZDffz_pF4DyFQX1Ccgh0_0bpcuI04KCuPQKqn6aCJ3KF35l0_-oNyqvjlSvnl2oB_-eD9MnFyBL6UEg/s320/IMG_20180107_110820.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I loved the frozen lines on this fallen tree trunk.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLqe2gCRLf66XwXezVQEPiLyj3EPNtISh5xvcxsxNwzDPOXPe_GRK9jD67_WcABimtL1Yf7fBBjpVBbjo_LrDfXNj5Gp7uaTNxKSl8gLOPcHjXEb9XncXO9sE7EHTgNBk8ir9w3X8kZBc/s1600/IMG_20180107_111936_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLqe2gCRLf66XwXezVQEPiLyj3EPNtISh5xvcxsxNwzDPOXPe_GRK9jD67_WcABimtL1Yf7fBBjpVBbjo_LrDfXNj5Gp7uaTNxKSl8gLOPcHjXEb9XncXO9sE7EHTgNBk8ir9w3X8kZBc/s320/IMG_20180107_111936_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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It has been so cold recently that all the puddles were frozen.</div>
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I met this lovely dude. He came to say hello while munching away.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR2SPrxBfeIW9CeBGof7BKudncdB8pXTYd1yZP6LQ44OEbd0WEGaZFNtZ4EeX15-1fp1b7gfROFu8QXraLwwPjiPOcXxWqKtvl_zQcfGsbXnmZj3jSgYwIqMj16iE1h43e7LDwNQz5IyQ/s1600/IMG_20180105_132022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR2SPrxBfeIW9CeBGof7BKudncdB8pXTYd1yZP6LQ44OEbd0WEGaZFNtZ4EeX15-1fp1b7gfROFu8QXraLwwPjiPOcXxWqKtvl_zQcfGsbXnmZj3jSgYwIqMj16iE1h43e7LDwNQz5IyQ/s320/IMG_20180105_132022.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I met this little guy too. I might have to go back and give him an apple.</div>
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Walks like these give me time to breathe. Even if the driving rain and wind throw my sideways, I know that they can be overcome. Or at least, there is an end to it, and somewhere safe and warm to return to. I like the forward motion: the constant onwardness of walking. It gives my mind peace and a bit of space to think clearly.<br />
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There will be many more walks in my future, a moment of glorious play to right my work hours. It's not a resolution - I know that this can not be an every day thing so I don't want to be sad when I skip a day, but it is going to be something I'm determined to preserve whenever I can. This is my play this year - hope you will find a way to play too.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8407568710495124128.post-15353896757665563592017-12-31T00:15:00.000+00:002017-12-31T00:22:29.231+00:00My 2017:)It's been a tough year, I'm not going to lie. There have been moments that have tested me to my absolute limit in the last 12 months and have made me want to crawl under the table and sleep for an eternity.<br />
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BUT<br />
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I am determined to see the good in everything that I experience and do. Whatever this year has thrown at me, and however bad it has been, there has also been the polar opposite - awesomeness. There has been fun, and celebration, and moments of pure awesome, and in keeping with the upbeat nature of my little ol' blog, I am going to write about the positive moments of 2017, accompanied by the best of my photos. Ready? Here we go!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiSWAXNady1YuMR4MQUzlEIBNDRuBbUTfPfQ1WU3xuSCBQ71yisqCokhKLfRloRPYVUL6i6HRAsRtxNFz9ww1SO9-C0UpDmowFh28aqUZUdrBW0tqcYetMmv-yefs-t4wBbca0Mm7deok/s1600/IMG_5352blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiSWAXNady1YuMR4MQUzlEIBNDRuBbUTfPfQ1WU3xuSCBQ71yisqCokhKLfRloRPYVUL6i6HRAsRtxNFz9ww1SO9-C0UpDmowFh28aqUZUdrBW0tqcYetMmv-yefs-t4wBbca0Mm7deok/s320/IMG_5352blog.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here I am with my family. It goes without saying this year that they are the most amazing folk ever. We have a lot to be thankful for this year, but mostly that we are all together and we are as happy and healthy as we can be. This photo was us on Christmas day having explored a number of different poses. It turns out we all know how to pull this particular face.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbuJ3snqO1upyMTTRYhDW9O7rzyd-NMgxsyjzuDGIUikAd0cWSRSeInddg0UBH7zXVeEwTGtw_qT1BXXYUsPLhiVeJ0VkYk5n6y8dW2IsL7zScH0Amu393H2oe_fVNo4Bgbs1yoR3SDCA/s1600/IMG_20171028_214423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbuJ3snqO1upyMTTRYhDW9O7rzyd-NMgxsyjzuDGIUikAd0cWSRSeInddg0UBH7zXVeEwTGtw_qT1BXXYUsPLhiVeJ0VkYk5n6y8dW2IsL7zScH0Amu393H2oe_fVNo4Bgbs1yoR3SDCA/s320/IMG_20171028_214423.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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This photo represents Mr E.P. I've been able to spend a lot of time with this favourite person of mine this year and it was lovely. He helps me feel like everything's going to be okay, and that's been so very important this year. This is the pumpkin he carved while we were in the US together. Isn't it cute?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPGy_vHvhzAf8ZpbNU5n3N13FiCk6dyTGyiqfkaYeAzRYuTKO4pOf1Nti-EC5dW9K0Pl1LPN3mLEXG8u6nC6A7_IkVhbZDJ1g0WkZUWCUhxCvcxTUaBZrENY7bra_UitHwuX2JuAwlEE4/s1600/IMG_20170822_163558.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPGy_vHvhzAf8ZpbNU5n3N13FiCk6dyTGyiqfkaYeAzRYuTKO4pOf1Nti-EC5dW9K0Pl1LPN3mLEXG8u6nC6A7_IkVhbZDJ1g0WkZUWCUhxCvcxTUaBZrENY7bra_UitHwuX2JuAwlEE4/s320/IMG_20170822_163558.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is the lovely Morgan. Without her this year, I wouldn't have been able to do half the things I have done. She is not only my work wife and friend, she is my right-hand woman and a literary genius. Here she is in Canada in one of 2 of the best photos I have taken of her. I have given her exclusive rights to the other one so you'll have to see it for yourself <a href="https://www.facebook.com/aplayeverythinglife/">here</a>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82XkI8wQ8JCOPk2_QYsSKBc9WXL6AwyPfqRStijO6vqpngnZfaP7g-hQB5BhV9bnyIBD5H4kU90YV9j80jUDQ0kddHoAIhqy22WqxYPBy54flxCQ-igTMjOy93GkpD2eAACBwuX0qsM4/s1600/IMG_20170806_161851.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82XkI8wQ8JCOPk2_QYsSKBc9WXL6AwyPfqRStijO6vqpngnZfaP7g-hQB5BhV9bnyIBD5H4kU90YV9j80jUDQ0kddHoAIhqy22WqxYPBy54flxCQ-igTMjOy93GkpD2eAACBwuX0qsM4/s320/IMG_20170806_161851.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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This is Andy, and I think this is one of the most wonderful photos I took of him this year, making friends with a butterfly in Toronto. He and I have been through a lot this year, including a day trip to <a href="http://zanplay.blogspot.co.uk/2017/05/almost-12-hours-in-brussels.html">Belgium</a>, and an epic trip to Canada. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbnBBn2TnVbvmMR4yckq_axw7Y5O1J9DwjpFMAWoXu8sJqzpJul6SOxv3wx6bknMfUSeVt9boJgyZrCkvJa7A5fDpPnYrVWD0_uMSzw1z0qRuAt6crE308siJy2rldL3R0b_fNIcXuz_w/s1600/IMG_20170608_131249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbnBBn2TnVbvmMR4yckq_axw7Y5O1J9DwjpFMAWoXu8sJqzpJul6SOxv3wx6bknMfUSeVt9boJgyZrCkvJa7A5fDpPnYrVWD0_uMSzw1z0qRuAt6crE308siJy2rldL3R0b_fNIcXuz_w/s320/IMG_20170608_131249.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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This is Hannah and Nina. They have been a source of peace for me this year, and have drawn me back into play <a href="http://zanplay.blogspot.co.uk/2017/06/this-was-journey-of-puddles-puddle.html">several</a> <a href="http://zanplay.blogspot.co.uk/2017/05/will-you-be-voting-for-people-who-will.html">times</a> when I have over-worked myself. This includes the shortest ever Christmas party that I had a couple of weeks ago, and also includes this fabulous puddle jumping moment, one of the best pics I have taken this year.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHwdwUpnyv4wd27p7Hhie6YTlUPyFA3jc_cdDTKLwOT4Cybf3C_mlB3ZMZm9mE05tSUieVnR_h48p4z_BNoUiynAHcPSa8PL7gKMvhrKxIOR3U3ZYUSUUSf4wio_reUwQW_nkOVYKKelY/s1600/IMG_1352blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHwdwUpnyv4wd27p7Hhie6YTlUPyFA3jc_cdDTKLwOT4Cybf3C_mlB3ZMZm9mE05tSUieVnR_h48p4z_BNoUiynAHcPSa8PL7gKMvhrKxIOR3U3ZYUSUUSf4wio_reUwQW_nkOVYKKelY/s320/IMG_1352blog.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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Here is the best snow dinosaur I have made so far, done with the help of Mr E.P in the US. This made me really <i>really</i> happy. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg83EetAOXnLHNgLBsFWfPkMEzcQToFuyT4TjkP6r1LUD7ewWRNp5g72PU1i8mr88a0mLHGZ-JVnTR8MHbLh_TLpO0meRrKTReFPiAWnZj_ksgkbZoHpxMUvfmnUXzRsmD2gn5Bz6eX9qs/s1600/IMG_1452blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg83EetAOXnLHNgLBsFWfPkMEzcQToFuyT4TjkP6r1LUD7ewWRNp5g72PU1i8mr88a0mLHGZ-JVnTR8MHbLh_TLpO0meRrKTReFPiAWnZj_ksgkbZoHpxMUvfmnUXzRsmD2gn5Bz6eX9qs/s320/IMG_1452blog.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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This photo represents the <a href="http://popupadventureplay.blogspot.co.uk/2017/03/reflections-from-playwork-campference.html">Playwork Campference</a>, and is probably the best photo I was able to take all year. I spent 6 months of my life organising 4 days of amazing play days for 90 people in California. I had realised that might be one of the biggest achievements of my entire life even before the apocalyptic rainstorm. I can't quite believe that we were able to pull this off, and that we are in the process or organising the next. I love this photo - the movement of that smoke and the captivated expression on this young lady's face reminds me of why I do what I do.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-yqBNB8nuPp3-hdSfe-ueBuJLx8CUWdSDnbSi0V3Hf1VDsIbuh3hMFGa2WhZJkom-TMLEGuFRVohqIdRUQtK0bj_SZix41BmcKMGuMvcz2_uIflJ6Cl8UPxNXqqk6QfSPkSzd7qheYeE/s1600/IMG_4897blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-yqBNB8nuPp3-hdSfe-ueBuJLx8CUWdSDnbSi0V3Hf1VDsIbuh3hMFGa2WhZJkom-TMLEGuFRVohqIdRUQtK0bj_SZix41BmcKMGuMvcz2_uIflJ6Cl8UPxNXqqk6QfSPkSzd7qheYeE/s320/IMG_4897blog.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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This photo is the most beautiful one I took while in Canada. This represents that moment when I thought my heart would explode: when my cup was at its fullest after being completely emptied. I had an amazing time during my <a href="http://zanplay.blogspot.co.uk/2017/10/zan-on-tour-2017-canada.html">2 month trip</a> there, and met some amazing people. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN3xiTRIH2vngTd8KDNFP5fzHUZQnhOLyNxtsRlO0rXmHzER7IaRi5_qQJPUltFAlGj5eLCrBvJRdvkBCXQ6LAjkoua11b6mTDDL6NUaoEOPxi239SVBZFM0Z-RMEF34g3flAo-Be3Id8/s1600/IMG_20171221_151633.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN3xiTRIH2vngTd8KDNFP5fzHUZQnhOLyNxtsRlO0rXmHzER7IaRi5_qQJPUltFAlGj5eLCrBvJRdvkBCXQ6LAjkoua11b6mTDDL6NUaoEOPxi239SVBZFM0Z-RMEF34g3flAo-Be3Id8/s320/IMG_20171221_151633.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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This photo sums up an amazing year with my lovely PMs, specifically Lee, Shazia, Ric and Dave. Thank you for sticking with me this year and physically helping me through some rough patches. And many congratulations again to Shazia on her marriage - thank you for letting me be part of it! :) This trophy needs blogging about another day, but yes it is a pile a golden animals on a plinth. And yes, Shazia won. :)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHtBybElHFna6DV541TyFzVuWt8P740QLpFguhuheAsmQPZWT0H9Wi9zCwYyhgkTIdFWC4MR3UA5LCFL4ukEmIOAKzgMNGCygn_oyXU2xx6LCBWR4k1FtJasUOrmdo6InO-raViuIU9Kg/s1600/IMG_20171128_104805.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHtBybElHFna6DV541TyFzVuWt8P740QLpFguhuheAsmQPZWT0H9Wi9zCwYyhgkTIdFWC4MR3UA5LCFL4ukEmIOAKzgMNGCygn_oyXU2xx6LCBWR4k1FtJasUOrmdo6InO-raViuIU9Kg/s320/IMG_20171128_104805.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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My lovely nephew gets his own mention in this blog. He is awesome, shows me how to slow down and be still every time I see him, and reminds me of what it means to adore and love the folks around me.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij7_LLxZcpQhtsaIUGlboRUWUdUg5QU3B2bWyFit4ILamnTLIqvSOb_gLHBjVn-i4V1rNNTrRsYcjUF-grQvoCMW-mUS2vG7sFDacqm82c25Z71fJUCMMDakU3lZ_6qSNRHAmWx9ZpyHA/s1600/IMG_20171224_162101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij7_LLxZcpQhtsaIUGlboRUWUdUg5QU3B2bWyFit4ILamnTLIqvSOb_gLHBjVn-i4V1rNNTrRsYcjUF-grQvoCMW-mUS2vG7sFDacqm82c25Z71fJUCMMDakU3lZ_6qSNRHAmWx9ZpyHA/s320/IMG_20171224_162101.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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And here is my amazing niece. She teaches me that there's newness in every day to be amazed at and to be inspired by. She asks the most questiony questions I have ever heard, and tells the best crazy stories.</div>
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My 2017 has been mad, but thanks to the above people (plus many other amazing un-photographed folks) and a few heart warming moments, my year had enough balance. I wish that there could be less sadness and more joy, but I thank God nonetheless that I was able to survive and I am grateful for every uplifting moment I was able to part of, to see me through.<br />
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See you later, 2017. Let's see what 2018 has to bring.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8407568710495124128.post-28426099038678780322017-12-10T14:21:00.000+00:002017-12-21T10:12:47.011+00:00Nibling Stories*****<br />
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You saw that your cousin was upset. He was sad and all the big people were either trying to find out what was upsetting him, or where pretending that nothing was happening. You were playing quietly in the other room, and suddenly you realised that someone was opening a pomelo. This is a fruit that you love and makes you very happy, so you wander over and grab a piece. You decided that you weren't going to eat this first piece, instead, you silently stepped around the dining table and quietly deposited it into your crying cousin's hands, with the words "It's okay". This is as much comfort as a 2.5 year old can offer, and your Auntie Zan was very proud of you right there in the moment, and glad that you didn't throw your comfort at him like you did <a href="http://zanplay.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/five-days-with-my-niece.html">last time</a>.<br />
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*****<br />
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You were given a paper plane and it was exquisite. Pointy in all the right places, with wings! Your cousin had one too and she was doing something complicated with her fingers and throwing it. That seemed all too much for this simple object. All you wanted to do was make it fly, so you did! You raced around the room with the paper plane in your hand, making all the right noises and pointing your whole self into the shape of an aeroplane, zooming along and having a great time. Who cares if the plane was sometimes facing the wrong way, or if it didn't fly independently. As far as you were concerned, you were gifted with a plane and now you <i>were</i> the plane whooshing back and forth across the house. Look at you go!<br />
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*****<br />
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I managed to slip into the room as you closed the door. In the dark, 4 little feet stomped on the floor, laughing hysterically: you were having the best time. One idea followed another as the play evolved, from stomping with the lights off to stomping with the lights on, to jumping, to sliding, to laying and then you both pretended to sleep. And then one of you found an imaginary spider and then one of the daddies came in and a new play frame was created. Both little people would cuddle me at the top of the stairs while we summoned Daddy Spider. We would wait until the moment he rounded the corner and lurched up the stairs. Instantly everyone would scream - a sound that was a mixture of excited fear and joyous alarm - and then run into the room and shut the door. This lasted a good half an hour and Daddy Spider dutifully lurched up the stairs every time the tiny little voices asked for him. I was so pleased that Daddy Spider played along for so very long and was genuinely impressed at how long these two little people sustained this play frame. Everything stopped quite suddenly when one little person became overwhelmed with emotions, but both niblings talked about Daddy Spider for a while after they had parted company. No, they probably weren't going to remember Daddy Spider when they were bigger, but yes, this was a big thing for them right there in that moment. I'm so glad that we were part of it.<br />
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*****<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiziEzrRm9dnDDk2XdwzQVuoF_us3fDLbxbNWp4f7aDfjFSXtXWWoI3qUzDDkywoQOGSjrgIBa_iklW_h2CTeGcpLpbYecv3L3vcQQ9WQRNK2xE-1_pgA6HLuiJxuaFDrsGDZrRdh2681c/s1600/IMG_20171201_185305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiziEzrRm9dnDDk2XdwzQVuoF_us3fDLbxbNWp4f7aDfjFSXtXWWoI3qUzDDkywoQOGSjrgIBa_iklW_h2CTeGcpLpbYecv3L3vcQQ9WQRNK2xE-1_pgA6HLuiJxuaFDrsGDZrRdh2681c/s320/IMG_20171201_185305.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8407568710495124128.post-73550872999612621952017-10-20T16:39:00.000+01:002017-10-20T16:39:39.803+01:00Zan On Tour 2017: Canada<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It has been a month since I left Canada and I am only just about grasping the magnitude of the adventure I've just had. I don't think I really explained what I was doing out there - <a href="http://zanplay.blogspot.com/2017/06/chuffed-my-next-big-adventure.html">the last time I blogged</a> I was still putting the whole journey together. </div>
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So let me explain: my <a href="http://www.popupadventureplay.org/">Pop-Up Adventure Play</a> colleagues Morgan, Andy and I together drove across Canada in a tiny yellow car (see photo below) to meet <a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=1o5vM-TZsqdOhrN20xjgQrZdUogY&usp=sharing">18 different hosts</a> across the country. At each of these stops, on an official capacity, we led a workshop and/or pop-up adventure playgrounds which brought together long-term play advocates and those who were new to play.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijnLsXTiFQDnvSarJNKlXn7cQaLLJUPag1jvHjIjCILzcqCfQ5yXAsL-n5WEq-cZfd3D73k-uNfVoRpXoJIX8kWceI1IGptYpCXkyDDsa8Ffg73dmIkt5x6F5YPZQgsRa72L6_2maSp6Y/s1600/IMG_20170919_134005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijnLsXTiFQDnvSarJNKlXn7cQaLLJUPag1jvHjIjCILzcqCfQ5yXAsL-n5WEq-cZfd3D73k-uNfVoRpXoJIX8kWceI1IGptYpCXkyDDsa8Ffg73dmIkt5x6F5YPZQgsRa72L6_2maSp6Y/s320/IMG_20170919_134005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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On another more unofficial capacity, we met with play advocates to learn about their communities, about people's views on play, and to listen to genuine folks talk about their own work. It was big. Before I left home, my heart wasn't nearly as prepared to give as much as it did, but when I look back now, it was totally worth it. Maybe that's why I feel so tired at the moment.<br />
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It's all good though - I am back now with a regular routine and space for my own thoughts. I ran the numbers too - we drove over 10,000km (about 6000miles), which feels like madness when my longest British commute is 200 miles to London. Crazy.<br />
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Learning from the <a href="http://zanplay.blogspot.com/2014/04/zan-on-tour-reflections-from-end-of.html">2014 USA tour</a>, I made sure we had time to rest. We all have to play in order that we can be the best version of ourselves, especially when we are on tour. Almost every day, we sleep in a different bed, and meet different people, and drive, drive, drive. It gets both monotonous and disorientating at the same time so whenever we can, we try and fit some fun. It wasn't much, but a day here and there made a difference. Kept us balanced. Solidified our friendships.<br />
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So for this blogpost I thought that I might show you photos from our trip, especially the ones which were taken when we were off duty. Here we go:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1s9nbnX30HE0PfPHkZ_4IWLS0GCHqvKK7Fsox5O2RtLvjCGzQz5L_zBf3K3KhQeXOupCI7pkKevqC51tlVZ2yHdb-aIec3GQaVTlIc64gNnhhnxLFFac8FNKGITTsJcYS4AwBYh10BeM/s1600/IMG_3608blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1s9nbnX30HE0PfPHkZ_4IWLS0GCHqvKK7Fsox5O2RtLvjCGzQz5L_zBf3K3KhQeXOupCI7pkKevqC51tlVZ2yHdb-aIec3GQaVTlIc64gNnhhnxLFFac8FNKGITTsJcYS4AwBYh10BeM/s320/IMG_3608blog.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Just a road side stop in New Brunswick somewhere. So understated, so beautiful.</div>
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This is the <a href="https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/world-s-largest-axe">World's Largest Axe</a>. Andy and Morgan and there to help with the scale.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw4M40v0TsmrXP2hgbOEJs5EFJEoG31m9AWiOnNX6sgNqJua8yV0sSr9Y__mrEE8QUONbOgksKKsTDyGkpsXxWtZpV8VCVckIHLcq0tpqFdIzZSytK00iJAjFG9erHJlKNzu_ktQKjdm4/s1600/IMG_20170805_161143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw4M40v0TsmrXP2hgbOEJs5EFJEoG31m9AWiOnNX6sgNqJua8yV0sSr9Y__mrEE8QUONbOgksKKsTDyGkpsXxWtZpV8VCVckIHLcq0tpqFdIzZSytK00iJAjFG9erHJlKNzu_ktQKjdm4/s320/IMG_20170805_161143.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is Toronto's <a href="http://www.cntower.ca/intro.html">CN tower</a> after Andy and I went up for a short visit. Beautiful day!</div>
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One of the amazing moments on the tour - when Andy made friends with a butterfly!</div>
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Beautiful lake just... by the road in Ontario.</div>
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Love this photo and it's seussical quality.</div>
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Here's Morgan, hanging out in the prairies.</div>
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This is me with an Indian head. In Indian Head, SK.</div>
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The Rocky Mountains as seen from the <a href="http://www.overlandermountainlodge.com/">Overlander Mountain Lodge</a>. Beautiful.</div>
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This is the glorious moment when we saw our first moose, and we finally understood that moose were not creatures of myth. <a href="https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/ab/jasper">Jasper National Park</a>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdMXSh6XQXQBZHxgg9jUtXo-gcKcYqiER_ORcUPfh2Y5f3PhyphenhyphenDfRJlfm59eRxrfLtrYIjWXFSBVCb4mPaAapaT28rJi3aOvbbTo5HZIJ9RAARrwOHrDwX1WQMew-vOS7VnAPyC5wy6iA8/s1600/IMG_4740blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdMXSh6XQXQBZHxgg9jUtXo-gcKcYqiER_ORcUPfh2Y5f3PhyphenhyphenDfRJlfm59eRxrfLtrYIjWXFSBVCb4mPaAapaT28rJi3aOvbbTo5HZIJ9RAARrwOHrDwX1WQMew-vOS7VnAPyC5wy6iA8/s320/IMG_4740blog.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The moment when we arrived at the West Coast of Canada. Oh my, what a journey.</div>
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This is one of the most beautiful images I have ever taken, and where my heart was at it's fullest. So much joy in Porteau Cove, BC.</div>
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Here's the last photo for now - me, Morgan and Andy. I love these peeps so much - they're not just my colleagues, they're my family.</div>
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I have really been quite taken by Canada. It offered beautiful and changing landscape and a feeling of possibility. I'd really love to go back and visit one day, just for me - my own play time! I can also feel a change in the air for play in this lovely country. People really get it, and are passionate to make a difference. Being physically able to travel the width of Canada really highlighted that. I feel incredibly blessed to have had this opportunity.</div>
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Thank you, Canada. My heart is full again, thanks to you. I will see you again soon.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8407568710495124128.post-70427805646773422232017-06-11T23:42:00.002+01:002017-06-11T23:45:29.896+01:00Chuffed: My Next Big AdventureI have spent the last few months in a frenzied state of organising.<br />
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As you all know, I work with <a href="http://www.popupadventureplay.org/">Pop-Up Adventure Play</a>, a small UK-based charity that works worldwide to promote the child's right to play. We do this by visiting communities and talking to folks about the benefits of play, giving hints and tips on how to improve sites for play and encouraging the use of the playwork approach when working with children. We also run public play events with recycled materials called loose parts and provide children with time, space and permission to direct their own play within that setting - an ideal platform for play conversation. In essence, we speak about playwork theory and then model the practice in person to folks wherever we go.<br />
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The next big adventure is big. I think that I must say this every time I go on a massive trip with Pop-Up. Let me look.... this was the blog about the <a href="http://zanplay.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/a-round-world-adventure.html">World Tour</a>, and this was the post reflecting on <a href="http://zanplay.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/zan-on-tour-reflections-from-end-of.html">the USA tour</a>. Okay, maybe I didn't say those exact words, but they <i>were </i><b>big adventures</b>. Each of these trips took two months to complete and over 4 month to organise. The USA trip took us on a 11,000 mile round road trip of the country, and the world trip saw us clock 37,000 miles literally around the planet. I'm thinking back and realising how ridiculous these plans really are... and I still can't believe that I was part of it!</div>
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I'm going to add another crazy adventure to our list: Canada! </div>
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Ladies and gentlemen, Team Pop-Up Adventure Play - which now includes Andy as well as Morgan - will be touring Canada as part of <a href="https://popupadventureplaygrounds.wordpress.com/pop-ups-canada-tour-2017/">Pop-Ups Tour 2017</a>! Hoorah! It will be a glorious 2-month journey where we will travel from East to West in the little yellow car delivering workshops and play events as we go! Yes - it's awesome, yes - it's mad, and yes - I know how far that drive is. But it's going to be great! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrG-bf3PZJIqFepBrG9_I5-tu9NUfDyL2k3bWXE2okdtj953moOQV54fItZYc3B8YFO3BtSMxN08al9dnUYKXCcXXN3FCUU-FjtrzyzcfaDV64Yj0KtLzBKUCVmUMISpihPci9QebXj3A/s1600/Tour+Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="897" data-original-width="900" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrG-bf3PZJIqFepBrG9_I5-tu9NUfDyL2k3bWXE2okdtj953moOQV54fItZYc3B8YFO3BtSMxN08al9dnUYKXCcXXN3FCUU-FjtrzyzcfaDV64Yj0KtLzBKUCVmUMISpihPci9QebXj3A/s320/Tour+Logo.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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As it always is with these things, we want to reach the folks in the world which are hard to reach, either literally or financially, or both. If you have followed my adventures enough, you'll know that they are meaningful as well as fun, otherwise we just wouldn't do it. It's hard work driving endless hours every day for days on end just to reach someone's town for a few hours, but if it means that the message of child-led play can get to those folks, then so be it. To ensure that we are able to hang out with all folks, regardless of financial background or location, we are doing some fundraising! </div>
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<b>If you are willing and able, <a href="http://bit.ly/2rJPgvi">please donate to our Chuffed campaign here</a> and support our work. </b>If you can't donate, please share my link and my story with everyone everywhere! I will be so very very chuffed if you are able to support us in any way you can!</div>
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We're not doing this to make money and we are not in it for the glory. Ladies and gentlemen, we are doing this for children and their play - please help us help children across Canada to have more play opportunities.</div>
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<a href="http://bit.ly/2rJPgvi"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="700" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRrYkPlVxiNVHqQaFiZ4dr9B15bkRJf7gIesUOuqkhy7Gez4eIoTyTEfsPHrkitLNzQyEL8rzRTnwgNPs4muA7Ga5UG11hXU6qe4_eVZe7Px6McLjF9H_O1uh1ppgEXRo4a-_zLeRuUUg/s320/Crowdfund+banner.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">More details about the adventure soon! :) Please enjoy this photo that I took at the <a href="http://zanplay.blogspot.co.uk/2017/03/planes-storms-and-automobiles.html">Campference</a> while I do carry on doing more crazy organising in preparation for the tour.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8407568710495124128.post-67558882426798134922017-06-08T23:57:00.000+01:002017-06-08T23:57:24.249+01:00"This was a journey of puddles - a Puddle Journey!" - Reflections from a day with Hannah and NinaMy little friends Hannah and Nina came round today to have a play. It was raining hard when they got here so they had brought a board game with them along with their wet weather gear.<br />
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"Do you really want to play monopoly, or would you like me to get some stuff out for you to do whatever you want with?"<br />
"Stuff!"<br />
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So for the bulk of the morning, Nina and Hannah were occupied with their own projects, consumed with their own intrinsic desire to create, design or investigate. My mum was quite amused by my laid back approach to this child care (by mid morning I'd managed to do most of my emailing without them noticing) but she could see that they were absolutely fine by themselves.<br />
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For lunch, I went with pancakes, thinking that food with interactivity always goes down a storm. I wasn't to know that they'd never made pancakes at home before so this was a real treat! After building their confidence with the stove and frying pan, both girls tried out the making of the pancakes and - to Nina's pure delight - mastered the art of flipping pancakes too. By the time lunch was over, she was way better than me!<br />
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When lunch was done and after some thoughtful discussion mainly due to the looming black clouds in the sky, we decided to go for a walk by the river. We all agreed we'd put on waterproofs and wellies just in case the sky did suddenly pour so we kitted up and headed out. The weather held and the sun actually made an appearance as we investigated the swollen river. Going into the river wasn't an option today, so the girls spent some time throwing rocks into the water instead. That was the case until they discovered some excellent puddles and realised they were puddle-ready! And thus began the puddling! Here's a snap I took on my phone:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEW860iQmWI5WN3iest_vQq7gbFnOpoyIGH7fWSU-nXwCfpnSSk8kaWOTy2-njseva6C-peW2BqjdkgRDUYUt0xqkeJwU73Npi6c3KVkTC2WCIRy7z0mfjfpXkbaWPdrCEsx0zN3IOYPw/s1600/IMG_20170608_131249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEW860iQmWI5WN3iest_vQq7gbFnOpoyIGH7fWSU-nXwCfpnSSk8kaWOTy2-njseva6C-peW2BqjdkgRDUYUt0xqkeJwU73Npi6c3KVkTC2WCIRy7z0mfjfpXkbaWPdrCEsx0zN3IOYPw/s320/IMG_20170608_131249.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I kinda love this photo - there is such movement and joy!</div>
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They loved the puddling. They beamed during every splash. They needed to step into every puddle and kick the water, and let's face it, who wouldn't. It was a great day for it!</div>
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There may have been quick trip to the polling station after this (the conversation from <a href="http://zanplay.blogspot.co.uk/2017/05/will-you-be-voting-for-people-who-will.html">last visit</a> was very helpful) and as we walked, the girls marveled at the puddles we had just splashed in.</div>
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"This was a journey of puddles - a Puddle Journey!" said Nina</div>
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"Let's do it again on the way back. Please can we do it again on the way back?" asked Hannah, with big eyes.</div>
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We splished and splashed our way back to my house, and covered a genuinely massive range of topical conversations (from "Why do people take drugs?" to "What do you think your mum will vote?" and also "Where's your favourite puddle?") while jumping into these little pools of slightly buddy water. As fat droplets fell from the sky, we got back home and continued playing with all the loose parts I had at home.</div>
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Other joyful things happened after too, which I can't completely recall, and soon after the girls completed their marvelous creations, they went home. These two girls bring a lot of light into my world and spending a day with them is always enlightening. They are chatty and spirited and always full of enthusiasm. They remind me of why my job as a playworker is important, and why I love play so much. </div>
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They are full of surprises too, and even if they think that the moments they create are mundane, I think they are truly wonderful. Like when Hannah picked some flowers for my mum and then asked me for something to put them in - I asked her if a glass tumbler was okay and she said yes, stuffed it in and disappeared. The moment was just hilarious to me and made me smile, and for some reason, this glass of flowers is so very beautiful to me. It's like no matter how orderly you want your life, sometimes a bit of chaos in a glass is perfect. It reminds me that no matter how organised you are, sometimes a little play is needed to make things just a little bit better.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ArSydop6ArqHqTlj7rb2nexcx7PRGGa2RZsB8Un1X-0Mx2VdRzVjAcZixlkrAdzyNIBd0-C7RXYMJhyphenhyphenLV9RNKHfQ72AF0s4_p_XBCZ61XBUq0Qc5NvjZUzKxzM-itYRozbmBxlSdf3w/s1600/IMG_20170608_171039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ArSydop6ArqHqTlj7rb2nexcx7PRGGa2RZsB8Un1X-0Mx2VdRzVjAcZixlkrAdzyNIBd0-C7RXYMJhyphenhyphenLV9RNKHfQ72AF0s4_p_XBCZ61XBUq0Qc5NvjZUzKxzM-itYRozbmBxlSdf3w/s320/IMG_20170608_171039.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Thanks for coming round, Hannah and Nina. It was a really lovely day - thank you for making and flipping pancakes with me, and jumping in puddles with me. I had loads of fun. See you very soon! :)</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8407568710495124128.post-32897828478357032362017-05-19T23:20:00.000+01:002017-05-19T23:21:01.722+01:00(Almost) 12 hours in Brussels"What are you doing on 18th May?"<br />
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Now, there are only a few people in my life that I would happily entrust an entire one of my days to, especially because I am insanely busy most of the time. But my friend Andy is a person that I know I can trust a day to, and it just so happened that I was in fact free that day.<br />
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"Nothing" I typed, as I walked from my car to meet some friends. "You want to fill my day?"<br />
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About 20 minutes later we had booked flights to Brussels for one glorious day trip. It was a super cheap flight, at reasonable times of the day, and we are both experienced travelers so... it seemed silly not to really.<br />
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So yesterday, at 6am Andy and I yawned a greeting to eachother and set off to the airport. Here's what we got up to, mobile phone photo edition:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_f-Yj7thjyNJOs7Lm10zNR2CDfI5BDP_1vRA7C-X2-qZkyVIoGf977Cyp6qqP23auk2cQsHVzGt8vXW3AYqyB3sX3xvczhG0R-aQZM_Pv1kaZDATdHaGpAGwNmaJYaFYeFCanNux92ek/s1600/IMG_20170518_072748.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_f-Yj7thjyNJOs7Lm10zNR2CDfI5BDP_1vRA7C-X2-qZkyVIoGf977Cyp6qqP23auk2cQsHVzGt8vXW3AYqyB3sX3xvczhG0R-aQZM_Pv1kaZDATdHaGpAGwNmaJYaFYeFCanNux92ek/s320/IMG_20170518_072748.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Here I am excited on the flight to Brussels. Eventually I moved from this seat and occupied a completely different row with Andy and All Of The Legroom. Hardly anyone was on this flight.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoik1czH29nhuTmNvjL2zEqHiPxhqs3Whd76cxyGzmuNhKwfbeXopMKCB3Wm_7kBoHyl59Ti7-JbUPcpyLq4S0VDO0VHq96rgWKWR_lgvCi3DybaJMIxsRjtd-lL93veQooftiUsw7OJQ/s1600/IMG_20170518_114914.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoik1czH29nhuTmNvjL2zEqHiPxhqs3Whd76cxyGzmuNhKwfbeXopMKCB3Wm_7kBoHyl59Ti7-JbUPcpyLq4S0VDO0VHq96rgWKWR_lgvCi3DybaJMIxsRjtd-lL93veQooftiUsw7OJQ/s320/IMG_20170518_114914.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I was so excited to be in Brusssels, this was the first photo I took - the beautifully tidy streets of Brussels</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDMmjU8-Q8-6MXIVeQjYqLQ87Z2x8YAbI7hcIK5O0gFHLJyIZt5bzePM7tjW-449hUHPu_9BSmmV2H3HVCQQR4S-GW5Dj-A9vyfVN5USTm1VmnAxJkn4BuN1kv3EFOQ80D7oWEpPRWl0E/s1600/IMG_20170518_120708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDMmjU8-Q8-6MXIVeQjYqLQ87Z2x8YAbI7hcIK5O0gFHLJyIZt5bzePM7tjW-449hUHPu_9BSmmV2H3HVCQQR4S-GW5Dj-A9vyfVN5USTm1VmnAxJkn4BuN1kv3EFOQ80D7oWEpPRWl0E/s320/IMG_20170518_120708.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Grand Place! The square that all the roads seem to lead to! It is embellished with gold, impressively tall and features some intricately designed buildings. We didn't go in to any of them apart from the World Heritage site one. And I'm still not entirely sure what it was about. Haha.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkg9zsSVmhRhU_gIxKqNsoXux1qkJukKDwqjyy3VHqT9OLde0BE2tr5BQaK0fnUA7R0K-dowcrI66LeS6LuvfsX8AtsMJsxhaq96YbiZbpFSwyZtOj6hAhHkk9VBCPV8KZ3S3-33Fwodo/s1600/IMG_20170518_122630.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkg9zsSVmhRhU_gIxKqNsoXux1qkJukKDwqjyy3VHqT9OLde0BE2tr5BQaK0fnUA7R0K-dowcrI66LeS6LuvfsX8AtsMJsxhaq96YbiZbpFSwyZtOj6hAhHkk9VBCPV8KZ3S3-33Fwodo/s320/IMG_20170518_122630.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Frites! With a lightly spicy sauce. I've no idea what the sauce's name was but the combination was absolutely delicious. Could just sit and eat them all day long. No idea how they make them so delicious but Andy thinks that chip shop chips and french fries might have had a baby together, bringing the fluffiness of chippy chips and the crispy deliciousness of french fries in one delightful sauce covered package! :)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbYyffGoVPMTlTHgeGMBRuVW1DuuaIMDyZpBXmEDE7XkoTsegkX6Ndw0r6r9v8xFPBPTDe4VoNsB-wl5e66kr4OEzFzcGzTjjwaZ7K8TJkuqVMgUd_sHetdfkmYyLc6fvoDZtHhwOVox4/s1600/IMG_20170518_130018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbYyffGoVPMTlTHgeGMBRuVW1DuuaIMDyZpBXmEDE7XkoTsegkX6Ndw0r6r9v8xFPBPTDe4VoNsB-wl5e66kr4OEzFzcGzTjjwaZ7K8TJkuqVMgUd_sHetdfkmYyLc6fvoDZtHhwOVox4/s320/IMG_20170518_130018.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Tin Tin art! Lots of Tin Tin art everywhere. I'd forgotten that I used to really like Tin Tin as a kid.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwjGJyFgrof1PkahOYrxb4QL3tw89XXkx30X7DdfHUJkWN6fA3Rip6II2n66e3s7_oIn6Erniflqc_T1EYlnYF56zCwWg-eUGvO9Z6b_d3V52X_yKwX-P1w1oDq63dqFql1gZqHjjMq2A/s1600/IMG_20170518_130313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwjGJyFgrof1PkahOYrxb4QL3tw89XXkx30X7DdfHUJkWN6fA3Rip6II2n66e3s7_oIn6Erniflqc_T1EYlnYF56zCwWg-eUGvO9Z6b_d3V52X_yKwX-P1w1oDq63dqFql1gZqHjjMq2A/s320/IMG_20170518_130313.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Waffles Brussels. Covered in completely optional but quite important strawberries and white chocolate. Very sticky. Totally worth it.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl8JclQE1DTfNY4uKGmV_vhJG9N4oJoxJ-wTUearNqa_YV7XaPw_ydKLLrmpt8Djm7Ex34nVnERtdSKTYkearRBYQGo-Cf4ug0JQC2PQz5yHBfka1DIVoW-3NZUsrB5-5FvPdRw7MLEdk/s1600/IMG_20170518_130454.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl8JclQE1DTfNY4uKGmV_vhJG9N4oJoxJ-wTUearNqa_YV7XaPw_ydKLLrmpt8Djm7Ex34nVnERtdSKTYkearRBYQGo-Cf4ug0JQC2PQz5yHBfka1DIVoW-3NZUsrB5-5FvPdRw7MLEdk/s320/IMG_20170518_130454.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Waffles not Brussels. Covered in icing sugar. Glorious. Icing sugar snow on clothes totally worth it.</div>
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Here is the peeing boy! Super small and crowded by loads of people! I still have no idea why it's so famous / popular!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1m3YvAdFs7pRQTcRVqmZDzR2R1zlmfm0zr_qyLwUsPuK7AWL005Gmn8zuyGgCnfyBNB9crJ0JExW0u950A2ZGc-ivEEORF7M8G-iRrouaEFaoO_hWrO9SWUPMSaM89QHmEu6b87Asbvs/s1600/IMG_20170518_132614.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1m3YvAdFs7pRQTcRVqmZDzR2R1zlmfm0zr_qyLwUsPuK7AWL005Gmn8zuyGgCnfyBNB9crJ0JExW0u950A2ZGc-ivEEORF7M8G-iRrouaEFaoO_hWrO9SWUPMSaM89QHmEu6b87Asbvs/s320/IMG_20170518_132614.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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We found some square trees near a statue of Elizabeth and Albert staring at eachother. There must be a story there somewhere.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUZU6BMs8-f2-74xPox9NqmbZy-E50vZ9-Sc5fkkx5Y2F-m9TageQF0IvLtKXcu6i33IfHmcwI8v4g_CNYm-sNkmm2JEeXfCEoGEbd7wjZjISwuvTE_CIkmI_ldePFQbZoZvGmB8wshDo/s1600/IMG_20170518_134107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUZU6BMs8-f2-74xPox9NqmbZy-E50vZ9-Sc5fkkx5Y2F-m9TageQF0IvLtKXcu6i33IfHmcwI8v4g_CNYm-sNkmm2JEeXfCEoGEbd7wjZjISwuvTE_CIkmI_ldePFQbZoZvGmB8wshDo/s320/IMG_20170518_134107.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The Royal Palace. Only lightly guarded. I clearly managed to book in some dramatic sky for this photo.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyOkRcLrfjeMJ9s2SWkFf-uzaOhVIrYDVmiUirYCzfUJI9NWRadyt9jRpIddlSN-4xtzeHwcSfIFJlztWMW4epfm8o49BPS1prvvQ0WflwJcAXSc1GUAfjmuDnFji_ODczz8thA9eLpcU/s1600/IMG_20170518_141424.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyOkRcLrfjeMJ9s2SWkFf-uzaOhVIrYDVmiUirYCzfUJI9NWRadyt9jRpIddlSN-4xtzeHwcSfIFJlztWMW4epfm8o49BPS1prvvQ0WflwJcAXSc1GUAfjmuDnFji_ODczz8thA9eLpcU/s320/IMG_20170518_141424.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Weirdly enough, here is a peeing girl statue. Why? Who knows. Not nearly as popular as the peeing boy statue.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhroBsv5DdHeLd-otUN46SChmy45g8t_vTlh6hOzPGMuOUfjCxq5Vibbi2AekSO18erCvee2uEnPrTc4BkKjvbkM2AbvKg_2hLV7sr2h5ItgJ3ssUs8vzaTBPk9dqfEIg9QSl-pmJfX9Lk/s1600/IMG_20170518_161532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhroBsv5DdHeLd-otUN46SChmy45g8t_vTlh6hOzPGMuOUfjCxq5Vibbi2AekSO18erCvee2uEnPrTc4BkKjvbkM2AbvKg_2hLV7sr2h5ItgJ3ssUs8vzaTBPk9dqfEIg9QSl-pmJfX9Lk/s320/IMG_20170518_161532.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here I am with Andy as the sun shone brightly on our trip. I think that's the theatre behind us. Super happy.</div>
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We found a secret viewing spot that looked far and wide over Brussels. So pretty, and so quiet - it felt like we were on top of the world! We even saw the famous Atomium statue from there.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOqJjQotDHCUABiOW54Zh-rimvFSMu6DQEwsnCHBQ6dcsUZIcErUBS97VXaBBYlWfibnH0bM0l6RgiCjP5GgcpnW2gRP6bnRkxXcDTaAPjzA77UNRl5q7aT8fYLanc_kMbuO5J-F1qTU4/s1600/IMG_20170518_175556.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOqJjQotDHCUABiOW54Zh-rimvFSMu6DQEwsnCHBQ6dcsUZIcErUBS97VXaBBYlWfibnH0bM0l6RgiCjP5GgcpnW2gRP6bnRkxXcDTaAPjzA77UNRl5q7aT8fYLanc_kMbuO5J-F1qTU4/s320/IMG_20170518_175556.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Finally, some mussels. They were yummy. I may have eaten them at such a speed that Andy was mildly alarmed.</div>
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It was a long day but it was totally worth it. I had loads of fun saw so many beautiful things and wish I had a bigger belly to eat more food! It was pretty tiring, yes, but I feel like I had such a great adventure! It was really <i>exciting</i> to do something as mad as flying to Europe for the day and much needed too. I haven't been playing nearly as much as I should do recently, so this was a welcome break indeed! Delicious food in a beautiful city with wonderful company made this an amazing adventure - I'm already looking forward to the next spontaneous trip we have! </div>
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And yes, I totally think it was worth just going to a city for a day - it was tiring but it was definitely a day I will never forget. Thanks Andy, for suggesting this amazing whirlwind adventure! :)</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8407568710495124128.post-32134602787752558672017-05-04T21:07:00.000+01:002017-05-08T16:10:59.140+01:00"Will you be voting for the people who will make more parks?" - Reflections from an afternoon with Hannah and Nina "Our school has closed today because it's a polling station. Have you been to vote?"<br />
Hannah and Nina had come to visit. I could see two pairs of sparkling eyes looking back at me through the reflection of my rear view mirror as I drove us to a nearby country park. The last thing I had expected was to talk about today was politics.<br />
"I haven't been to vote yet, but might do after you two go home."<br />
"Why do people have to vote?"<br />
"It's very important. It's an opportunity for us to tell people what we want. When you two are old enough you have to go and vote, okay?"<br />
"Why's it so important?"<br />
I paused here. Do I go down that women's rights wormhole? Do I touch on how some people in this world still don't have a say? Do I know how to explain democracy or communism to an 8 and 12 year old?<br />
"It's important because a lot of people had to fight for our right to make choices. A lot of people had to do a lot of things in order that every person in this country has a chance to say how they want things to happen."<br />
This seemed to stem the flow of questions for a little bit. We arrived at the country park and the sun shone brightly. I let these two young ladies take the lead as we explored the space. We followed the river around to an area where we could wander right onto the riverbed and do some gentle river-bed combing. <a href="http://zanplay.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/i-can-do-it-reflections-from-day-with.html">We like looking for treasures.</a><br />
We ended our park exploration at the fixed playground where there was the usual fare. Having done the swings and the slide, I asked the girls if they wanted to come and vote with me. They were interested to find out what happened at the polling station since their school had been turned into one, so this was an awesome opportunity. On the drive out of the park, we noticed an area that had been recently flattened.<br />
"Oh look, it looks like they're preparing to build something here"<br />
"It's probably houses," said Hannah with an air of nonchalance, "it's always houses".<br />
"Well, what else would you want to see built?" I said, with a smirk.<br />
"A park or something. But it's never that."<br />
"Well why do you think they don't build parks?"<br />
"Maybe they think people don't need them. Maybe they don't have fun."<br />
The subject changed, and other things were pointed at, and soon we reached my designated polling station. I parked up, and the girls quizzed me some more as we got out of the car.<br />
"What do you vote for when you vote?"<br />
"We can vote for people who make promises to us, like less homework, or more school dinners..."<br />
"Will you be voting for the people who will make more parks?" said Hannah, with genuine concern.<br />
"I really hope so." I was touched that this was the priority for her, and also quite sad that this was unlikely to be a priority for any of the candidates.<br />
"What other promises would you want to vote for?" asked Nina.<br />
I paused for a moment to think. I hadn't really looked at any of these promises that the candidates for the brand new Manchester Mayor had put across, and actually not being a very politically minded person myself, I actually wasn't really ready for this question. What did I want?<br />
"I would really like if someone could just promise to be nice, if I'm honest."<br />
"Well, that's a very important promise," Nina said to be quite earnestly, "it's important to be nice."<br />
We walked on and I explained that the voting inside the polling station is a bit of a secret so people don't talk very loudly inside. I also explained that I'd be happy to show them what I voted, but not for them to loudly broadcast it to the rest of the room. They nodded solemnly and then we went in.<br />
I whispered explanations for everything to Hannah and Nina as they looked on, wide-eyed at the volunteers helping at the polling station. After I carefully made my marks on my ballot paper, Hannah put my vote into the box and we went back out into the sunshine.<br />
There were more questions which required me to explain the merits and drawbacks of each of the parties. I tried to make these explanations balanced (and goodness, I had to dig deep sometimes) and eventually they seemed satisfied with my answers.<br />
There wasn't much more talk about the voting after this. We went home and admired our treasures while sat outside in the sun. I reflected on how funny our conversations were today, and how of all people, I was explaining the voting system to two interested children. I really don't know the first thing about politics so answering some of these questions took a lot of deep High-School-Lesson excavation, so I hope that it made sense.<br />
Today's conversations really meant a lot to me. Having talked to these young people about so many things today including health, education and even suitable phone usage (they brought it up, not me!) they chose to prioritise parks because they knew that there really weren't enough of them, and it was an important issue to them. They wanted me to vote for the people who will help build more spaces for them to play but I didn't know how to tell them that political parties of the UK don't really prioritise play, don't really think about the leisure time of children and are not in the business of play. How do I tell two members of our society that their needs are basically being ignored, but in the same breath encourage them to exercise their right to vote?<br />
Ultimately, these two young ladies know where their priorities are. And I have made an important decision and promise: whenever possible, if it is in my power, I will give these two the right to make their own choices, and to play. I may not be able to change way the world treats children, but I can make a difference to these two little ladies.<br />
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Thank you to Nina and Hannah for a lovely day of treasure hunting and political discussion!</div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8407568710495124128.post-57992433273019322572017-04-15T21:54:00.000+01:002017-04-16T09:50:58.469+01:00Little VisitorsWe stood at the door and waved goodbye to my nephew, my sister and brother-in-law, signifying the end of two very busy weeks in my house. I'm typing this as I get ready to go to bed, exhausted!<br />
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<b>Week 1</b><br />
My little niece came to visit me with her mum and for a few days, her dad too! We ate a lot, ran around a lot, did all the stairs multiple times, went for a lot of walks and argued over clothes a lot. She's using so many words now and it's so very wonderful to hear her shout "DAN!" knowing that she's asking for me!<br />
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Here she is, wearing a shirt I bought for her!</div>
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Here she is, looking at Auntie Dan and wearing the shirt that took us an hour to get on her.</div>
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<b>Week 2</b></div>
The second week brought my little nephew with his mum, and also for a few days, his dad too! We played a lot, talked a lot, did the stairs a lot, talked some more and found a new favourite TV show together. There are so many words now for this little boy, in both Chinese and English! His version of my name is "THAN!" and it makes my heart sing so!<br />
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Here is a very thoughtful photo of my little nephew. Always very focused.</div>
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Here we are, having a whale of a time as usual!</div>
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Having them around has been a great blessing to me. It's been a tough couple of weeks for us as a family so having these two little people around, giving me random objects, little hugs and the occasional snotty kiss has been fabulous. Their little voices great relief in a time of big feelings, keeping us all grounded and seeing the positives in life. Hope to see you little people again very soon, your Auntie Dan/Than loves you so!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8407568710495124128.post-10880356611370772872017-03-29T23:49:00.001+01:002017-03-29T23:50:07.293+01:00Planes, Storms and AutomobilesI've been back from the USA for 2 weeks now and the scale of my trip has only just settled in. Okay, so it wasn't an <a href="http://zanplay.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/video-highlights-of-amazing-adventure.html">around the world adventure</a>, nor was it <a href="http://zanplay.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/zan-on-tour-reflections-from-end-of.html">2 months in a car</a>, but it was definitely epic. Here are some photos in chronological order to help you go through this journey with me:<br />
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This is Times Square in NYC. I spent a week there with my awesome Mr E.P.</div>
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Mr E.P. and I made this rather awesome snow dinosaur during the first snow storm of this trip. Everyone, please say hello to Tiny the Dinosaur. </div>
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Next I flew to Los Angeles. We were super busy there and it wasn't until the 5th day I was there that I realised I hadn't taken many photos. Here is a walk on the Venice beach before the Campference.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxIQynT7lcMm2PNWG853ZayKGzXUujRM2eVG37bcXFDWeGzlVIT6d0TV-WY_3IbYeAjyH0UpVGwuNnotadeNfbvG9jG9C5KMnwAENBTp3NR2pRpZHvJ_H4eyGn9gpJsweX6rsfbKuWfOI/s1600/IMG_20170216_142627.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxIQynT7lcMm2PNWG853ZayKGzXUujRM2eVG37bcXFDWeGzlVIT6d0TV-WY_3IbYeAjyH0UpVGwuNnotadeNfbvG9jG9C5KMnwAENBTp3NR2pRpZHvJ_H4eyGn9gpJsweX6rsfbKuWfOI/s320/IMG_20170216_142627.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here is the Playwork Campference on the first day. It was awesome - you can read more my thoughts <a href="http://popupadventureplay.blogspot.co.uk/2017/03/reflections-from-playwork-campference.html">here</a>.</div>
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Here is the Campference on the second day - a rainstorm! There was so much water the streets turned into rivers and all the children could do was dance in it. I could have cried that day, but didn't - it all turned out okay!</div>
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Here is the Campference on the third day and this is one of my favourite photos of this trip. So much awesome: so much play.</div>
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Here is a walk on the beach after the Campference. Not so warm here - but we are happy! So pleased to spend time with Morgan and Andy!</div>
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After LA, we drove to San Francisco for a workshop and Pop-Up.</div>
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We were only there for a short time but we managed to sneak in a little bit of tourism.</div>
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I had a break from work after that and hung out with Mr E.P. We didn't do much and this is probably my most interesting photo - an old bit of hive!</div>
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Refreshed, I flew to Chicago to meet Morgan where we looked out onto Lake Michagan and found out that we won an award! It was a very surreal moment which we will never forget.</div>
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We ran a workshop in Evanston, IL where the adults really got into their play.</div>
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We hung out with some lovely people and this young man and I did a lot of adventuring by the lake.</div>
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Morgan and I then drove to Springfield, IL where we did a keynote to 300 librarians, and then borrowed a lot of their spoons to play with. It was amazing.</div>
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And of course, I had to finish off the trip with one more snow storm. Two feet of snow happened overnight and I think that by the time I had gotten to this feat of weather, I had just stopped worrying and just started enjoying it. Here's me - happy! :)</div>
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During this trip I have been on 8 flights, driven 6 different cars, completed 4 presentations, experienced 2 snow storms and survived 1 epic rain storm. At one point, I looked around and started laughing at the sheer madness of it all. We did <i>so much</i> as Pop-Up Adventure Play, and I feel like I overcame a lot as Zan. And it was so great to be able to share the adventure with some awesome people too. It was an incredible journey, and I am excited for the next one: Canada! More soon!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8407568710495124128.post-12542386589410887222017-03-26T23:40:00.002+01:002017-03-26T23:40:24.293+01:00Mother's WeekendI am back from my travels (which I will talk more about later) and right in time to celebrate Mother's Day. My mum's been through <a href="http://zanplay.blogspot.co.uk/2016/12/my-2016.html">a lot</a> recently - and there's more to come too - so we decided to make a whole weekend of my mum.<br />
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On Saturday, we went for a walk around a local reservoir. It was a beautiful day and when we got there, we found ourselves transported to somewhere that didn't look anything like Manchester - it was a little breathtaking:<br />
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Here's mum and dad, delighted with the location for our wanderings.</div>
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And look at this! The stillness of the reservoir and the reflection of the blue sky. It's so beautiful, my heart could burst.</div>
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And here we all our. I'm clearly super happy! :)</div>
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Later in the evening we went to see Beauty and the Beast as well! A great film and an awesome end to a fun day!</div>
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On Sunday, we decided to make our evening meal interactive, so we did an electric barbecue outside! We have a little electric raclette (like a grill thingy) which we plugged in and enjoyed the first beautiful evening of Spring.</div>
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Here's mum, looking mightily pleased.</div>
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Dad was feeling a little silly - this was an awesome idea!</div>
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Isn't this a hilarious two-person meal photo? Haha. I was there too, I promise!</div>
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It was a beautiful evening and we had simple food, simply. With bellies full and moods happy, we finished off the weekend - happy mother's day mum! You are awesome - may there be many happy mother's days to come! </div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8407568710495124128.post-37223326706126323962017-01-23T21:48:00.000+00:002017-01-24T10:38:38.441+00:00Taking Time to BreatheThings have been quiet on the blog front because of all the busyness I have been involved in. Top of the list of things to do is the <a href="https://popupadventureplaygrounds.wordpress.com/playwork-campference-2017/">Playwork Campference,</a> the first ever conference I've helped to organise. It's happening in February and is based in California and you might think "Wow, such a beautiful location" but actually it's been oddly stressful to be so far away from the project you're working on. I literally have no control over what happens! But everything will be fine - I have a great team around me.<br />
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Weirdly enough, the busier I am, the more I seek out ways to not work, to get outside, or to unwind my brain. I have noticed that I watch TV less, but go for walks more. I have less fast food, and spend more time making stuff from scratch. It seems counter-intuitive that with an ever increasing list of things to do that I might be playing more, but I am. I can more effectively tackle the list when my play needs are met first. It doesn't make any sense, but it really works.<br />
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I've been walking everywhere. To the shops, to the park, to the post office, to the post box. I've also been wandering in the woods, through all the puddles, in the river and across vast fields. It's been lovely just to walk. One foot in front of another in a predictable, methodical way, discovering unknown views, never-seen-before mushrooms or previously unnoticed architectural features. I've walked for hours and hours since Christmas. It's been awesome.</div>
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What I haven't done much is bake, but that hiatus was halted with these scones! I did 4 plain, 4 raisin and 4 cheesey ones, all be request of various members of the family :) They were wonderful.</div>
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And here is a sample of the biscuits I made the day after the scones. They are lovely vanilla biscuits and there ended up being 50 of them! So many yummy business :) Yay! :)</div>
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I'll be off to the USA very soon and will be hitting the ground running. Having these moments to myself - to breathe - really makes a difference! It makes me more efficient, less scatterbrained and far more focused on what needs to be done. To me, this makes perfect sense. Just as a runner's arms needs to pump the legs along, our work is pushed along because of our play. </div>
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Without play, my work gets really difficult. I find it hard to sit still, to stay focused and to come up with new ideas when I haven't first had some time to play. If this is the case for me, an adult who's supposed to be responsible and mature, a person who's supposed to be above the childishness of frivolous activity, then what of the children? I feel sad that children who are programmed to play are being asked, almost forced, to sit down and focus on things they're not interested in. I have enough trouble doing that as an adult. </div>
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Another ironic twist in this busyness is that when I spend too long typing too fast, my wrists begin to hurt. I reckon it's mild repetitive strain injury - nothing serious - but a massive part of me is attributing pain to my hands doing the wrong types of activities. Sure, my fingers have always been pressing keys - I grew up playing a piano for hours at a time - but I guess nowadays I spend days at a time typing, and humans hands just weren't designed for that. Time for them to do a little kneading, mixing, doodling, chopping, photographing and making.</div>
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So I'm going to go off and do a little doodling before bed. Hope you find a little time to play today too. More soon!</div>
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