I had always been skeptical of aura photography, after hearing very mixed things about it’s authenticity. However on my recent visit to my local crystal shop, the owner stated he had bought a polaroid aura photography camera and encouraged me to try it. So I did and here was the result:
Meaning of the Colours
Red – Ambition, Motivation, Vitality, Challenge, Strong Emotion, Will Power, Obsession, Intensity, Rage, Obstinate, Depletion, Uprooted.
Purple – Altruistic, Sacrafice, Sensitivity, Visionary, Artistic, Nobility, Working with the sense, Spiritual Haughtiness, Self Obsessed, Under grounded, Victim, Martyr, Thought without action.
I’ve bolded the words that apply to how I was feeling at the time, after a rather traumatising experience. To me proof that it was a genuine aura photo. Plus I also noted a big gaping hole in the top right side of my aura. Needless to say after the photo, I undertook some healing.
Recently the kittens – Dylan and Russell have come home. I took two weeks off work to help them settle. You know when they’ve settled when they eat:
They’ve also found they’re favourite napping place and often cuddle each other:
Overall they’ve settled well. Dylan is the mischievous one, whereas Rus is very laid back. A welcome addition to the family my babies…ahem…kittens.
My two weeks off was also a much needed opportunity to relax and catch up with family and friends. Sye introduced me to Manchester Library:
I only took a few photos. But this one, I love, it shows literatures history:
I am addicted to the written word and it was great to see the old books. We also visited Manchester Museum Of Science and Industry, but didn’t get much time there. We’ll have to go back.
Written in the form of a dairy we are introduced to the Battle family: Mo about to turn 50 years old, a child psychologist who doesn’t understand her own children; Dora about to turn 18 years old, who is very strong willed – yet lacks confidence in herself; Peter the baby of the family who has a strange obsession with Oscar Wilde; Dad…who’s just dad and Poo their dog.
In the first few chapters we learn more about the family. Mo, it seems is noticing her age. She feels that she has a dull, grey, boring life and has a poor relationship with her children. The trouble is that she doesn’t understand them. Speaking to Dora seems to always lead to an argument and Peter is simply obsessed with Oscar Wilde. To make matters worse she barely speaks to her husband these days, let alone have any quality time together. She begins to wonder if in need she still loves him.
Dora on the other hand uses the term “like” an awful lot, so much so that she does seem fictional. Dora hates Mo with a passion, as she doesn’t get her. Dora has big dreams but is not sure how to achieve them.
Peter aka Oscar Wilde actually thinks he is Oscar at times and this makes for hilarious reading. He is the stereo typical geek, having his own private club with his friends at school. The password for entry to the club meetings is usually sometime academic. Despite his eccentricity you do come to love Peter and find that he is young, exploring his sexuality – being attracted to men rather than women.
Then Noel comes into Mo’s life. A mature student studying to become a child psychologist Mo is shocked to discovered that he is attracted to her. Mo, attracted to the excitement and attention of a younger man begins to explore this potential relationship. However at the same time, Peter also likes him. Peter persuades Mo to allow him to have therapy with Neol around his Oscar Wilde fixation. However when Peter attempts to kiss Noel, therapy is abruptly ended by a jealous Mo.
Meanwhile Dora has met someone online who “gets her.” The book continues to reveal the story and from this point your hooked. As the book comes towards the end it is revealed that Noel never liked Mo at all. He used her to try and get close to Dora. Dad steps in and plays hero, fights Noel and banishes him back from where he came.
The story is well written and the twist at the end is unpredictable. The characters write their diaries in their own voice and feel real. However for me there was too much emphasis on Mo and Dora’s relationship, poor Dad the hero of the story isn’t even given a name. This is not surprising as Dawn often talks in interviews about her relationship with her daughter and you know what they say – write what you know.
On a personal level though, it was nice to see Peter aka Oscar get together with one of his friends who’d always liked him towards the end.
Over all it has some laughs in it and is a good first novel. Dawn engages you well and you become fascinated by the different characters perception of events.
Room by Emma Donoghue is an absolutely fascinating read. Split in to three distinct parts, in the first we are introduced to five year old Jack and his Ma. Jack and his Ma live in a twelve foot square room, hidden away from the world. Indeed Jack thinks that what he sees on the TV is made up and that only him, Ma and Old Nick (the bringer of things) are the only people that really exist. We learn how they spend their days, Ma devoting much of her time to Jack’s up bringing during the day. At nights sometimes Old Nick visits, getting in to Ma’s bed. Jack knows to sleep in the wardrobe on these nights. Written in the voice of Jack, the first few chapters are a difficult read as he speaks of inanimate objects as if they are people and as a five year old child at times is grammatically incorrect.
In part two Jack and Ma discovers that Old Nick lost his job some months ago and that there is a risk that the bank may repossess his house. This means that they’d discover Old Nicks secret – that he is keeping Jack and Ma against their will in a purpose built Room in the garden. Ma knows that Old Nick won’t allow them to find him, so that means that Jack and Ma need to escape. Ma comes up with a cunning plan and what follows are several chapters of heart-racing action as Jack plays dead and we discover if Jack will escape to be able to save Ma.
Part three follows Jack and Ma, after they’ve been saved. Both Ma and Jack struggle to cope and adjust to the wide world around them. Particularly Jack, as a mere few months ago he didn’t know that this world existed. The ending is a feel good one, which shows the power of the human spirit and a mothers love for a child. It is a best seller for good reason, it is well worth a read.
Antony Simpson is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk.
