Monthly Archives: October 2011

Pumpkin Carving

Posted on October 31, 2011 by Kim Ayres

For many years, creating a vegetable-based lantern at Halloween meant hours of hard graft with a knife and a turnip. Designs were pretty basic because carving a turnip is only moderately less difficult than carving a lump of granite with … Continue reading →

Posted in Anniversaries and Celebrations, Fatherhood | 24 Comments

All the leaves are brown… not!

Posted on October 29, 2011 by Kim Ayres

I caught “California Dreaming” by The Mamas & The Papas on the radio the other day, the opening lines of which are: All the leaves are brownAnd the skies are grey and I was immediately struck by the fact none … Continue reading →

Posted in Miscellaneous | 12 Comments

45 Today

Posted on October 25, 2011 by Kim Ayres

Today I finally reach 45 years old – middle aged if I live to 90… It’s been suggested I’ve always been 45. Even when I was 6 I would sit in with the adults and voice my opinions about the … Continue reading →

Posted in Anniversaries and Celebrations, Who am I? | 29 Comments

Rites of Manhood

Posted on October 20, 2011 by Kim Ayres

Unlike our tribal ancestors, there are very few rites of passage to adulthood for boys in the modern age. Getting drunk with a few pals is hardly up there with killing a wild boar with your bare hands, or being … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Man, Fatherhood | 15 Comments

Land of the Chip Shops and Plastic Pointy Teeth

Posted on October 17, 2011 by Kim Ayres

For the past few years, during the October Break, we’ve rented a cottage for a week in Yorkshire. Not only is the countryside beautiful, but it’s a few hours drive closer to my father, so it’s an opportunity for him … Continue reading →

Posted in Miscellaneous | 16 Comments

Photography Fun

Posted on October 7, 2011 by Kim Ayres

During my stint as Artist in Residence for the Wigtown Book Festival, I found myself reflecting on the fact it often feels I’m part photographer, part psychotherapist. When upward of 90% of people use the opening line, “I hate having … Continue reading →

Posted in Photography, Wigtown Book Festival | 8 Comments

It’s over… or maybe it’s just begun…

Posted on October 5, 2011 by Kim Ayres

As I stapled the last of the photos to the walls of The Hut at 1 o’clock in the morning, a few hours after the Wigtown Book Festival had officially closed, I realised no one was going to see all … Continue reading →

Posted in Photography, Reflections, Wigtown Book Festival | 7 Comments