The Census meme

[lolabobs]

1971: At Census time I wasn't around, but my parents must have been getting frisky, 'cos I was born at the tail end of '71. The only girl, with two older brothers.

1981: So, I was 9. Would have been in St.Margaret's Junior School. In Miss Walker's class - on whom I had my first crush (in a worshipped the ground she walked on type way, no naughty thoughts!) I had just lost my Nanny (Mum's Mum) and my Grandad George (no-one's father, but my Grandad in all the ways it counted.) I was struggling to deal with these losses a little. I read voraciously, Enid Blyton books and just beginning the Sherlock Holmes stories. I think I had Fred the Hamster around this time. Both my brothers still lived at home, although they were both dating their future wives at this point.

1991 Right, so, not so good really. I'd had a mini breakdown and managed to fail my A-levels (2 'N' grades and a miraculous B in economics); I'd then joined CSV and gone to work in a care home in a village near Corby. I spent 6 miserable, miserable months there, crying daily, eating ridiculous things (such as a whole Sarah Lee gateau alone, in a single sitting) living a practically nocturnal life and hating every waking moment. Whilst I was there I lost my Nanny Vera (again, no-one's Mum but my Nanny nonetheless) and my Grandpops (My Mum's Dad - he was a wonderful, irrascible man who did things like send me a single smartie in a satin lined box, or men made out of pipecleaners.) At Census time I had literally just returned from CSVing and was revelling in being home again but not really knowing what to do. In the end I got a job in Argos and decided to do an A-Level in psychology in evening classes. Brothers were both married and middle brother had his first child at this point.

2001 Hmm. 2001 was quite positive. I'd been in my house for a year and was living with my two cats Albert and Phoebe. I was working full time at the water company and was feeling okay. The interim period however had been inordinately crappy. Middle brother fell out with my parents and 'disowned' them, leaving my Mum, in particular, devastated and grieving. (Eldest brother also had my nephew Ethan who Mum now worships!) Mum had a major op and got the flesh eating bug thing that was going around after. After that I went to Uni and loathed it, I was isolated, yet crowded, constantly out of my depth and lonely. I was there three years and made no friends - except one girl I couldn't stand. I used to walk the streets for hours after classes so I could ensure I would be out if she came round to see me after hers! I discovered self harm in a big way at this time, which was fun, and had a lovely nervous breakdown at the end of it. (Well, not quite the end, I didn't get to finish and never got the Honours part of my psychology degree as a result).It took me two years of cowering indoors, never being alone, and all sorts of crap anxiety breakdowny shit to get over that. But I did, with the support and help and love of my family and my best friend, Cheryl. In '98 I lost Cheryl to breast cancer - but we had some really beautiful times together during her illness and I try and focus on that now. (Won't stop me kicking the shit out of bastardy fucking Cancer if I ever meet him in a dark ally though.) But back to 2001 and to reiterate, it was a good year. I like living alone when I'm well and I had my own space and was just just just beginning to discover fandom - very baby steps at this time, but I was just realising about this thing called fanfic...

2011 And now here I am. Still living alone; well with a trillion cats - although only Albert, Phoebe and Rufus actually officially belong. Still in the same house (although I have central heating now!) I've changed jobs though and am now a Probation Officer - having achieved my second degree in Criminal Justice and my professional qualifications - and I changed jobs within Probation intself last year and have split role as Offender Manager and Programme Facilitator - both of which I really enjoy in very different ways. Eldest brother got divorced after his wife left him, but they're amicable enough and shared Ethan without conflict. Mum is in her 3rd year of treatment for Breast cancer and my brother's partner is in her first few months of same (I mentioned my intentions to hunt that fucker down and shoot him didn't I?), but both are doing okay right now. I have a moderate social life and a much more active fandom life (Although I read a lot more than I create). 2011 is okay so far...