The books I grew up with
Once I had overcome my problems with reading at school, I read whatever I could get my hands on. As a young girl, I was drawn more to action and adventure and a sense of ‘derring-do.’ So, the stories and books that caught my imagination include:
Biggles — a series of books written about the flying ace James Bigglesworth and his adventures flying in the second and first world wars. Mostly I remember his Sopwith Camel in the second, and it never struck me as odd that his flying career curiously stretched across two world wars and beyond into civilian life.
Jennings and his adventures at boarding school with his best friend, Derbyshire. A series of books stuffed with high jinks and school pranks at Linbury Preparatory school, situated in the English countryside. Like all good adventures, they barely saw their parents because they boarded at the school. And I attempted to emulate Jennings b starting a detective agency with my sister — but we couldn’t at the time find too many mysteries to solve 😊.
Swallows and Amazons — the story of siblings from two families with their water-based adventures on the Norfolk Broads. It might have caught my imagination as I learnt to row at the boating lake in Battersea Park.
We also spent a week on the Norfolk broads, though apart from mum running us aground and a fair amount of shouting and swearing, I don’t remember much else from that holiday.
Just William was another favourite — William and his gang always made me laugh. Things never quite worked out as planned. And I always enjoyed their attempts to enjoy bottles of ginger pop.’
The Chronicles of Narnia series was another favourite; I was drawn to other worlds without taking on the spiritual themes and undertones. Because where else would you expect to walk into a wardrobe and emerge somewhere wholly different.
So, these are the books I remember reading as a child — which might well account for my slightly gung-ho approach to life. Let’s get this done and try something different, a sense of adventure which led to:
Three months travelling around Australia — I was so privileged to be able to do this in the 90s.
Role-playing the part of a slug on an improvisation comedy course — I’d like to say I had to dig deep, but it turned out my inner slug, Brian, wasn’t too far away 😉.
Signing up for a stand-up comedy course — I have managed two so far and still haven’t quite worked it out of my system, so who knows?
Completing a two-year life writing course in 2019, but I almost ducked out after the first week.
Agreeing to perform as Reverend Janice, in the wedding ceremony, between Prince Aloysius Charming and Cinderella — I was thrilled to participate in the closing scene of the panto.
Horse riding in Jamaica — and having to cross a four-lane highway on horseback to get to our trail.
Eco -camping — three nights at a secret location; thank God my husband stopped me from booking longer.
Four years on an engineering course –possibly made me the woman I am today, the first in my family to get into higher education and my first opportunity to travel and live abroad.
Snorkelling at Runaway Bay in Jamaica — I really wasn’t at my best on that occasion.
I am hoping future adventures will include:
Launching a podcast that will complement my blogs — this is already beginning to take shape.
One more house move to simplify our lives — I am ready to try somewhere new.
A trip to see the Northern lights — we haven’t quite managed this one yet.
Interrailing around Europe — this appeals to me along with a trip on the Orient Express.
There has always been a restless side to my nature, so I think I may also be ready for one more career change in the future.
And yes, I must acknowledge that my list of books does not include adventures with young brown girls. But somehow, this did not stop me from believing I, too, could do the same. How much more might I have achieved if there had been greater representation in the books I could get my hands on.
It probably isn’t an accident that I completed Physics, Chemistry and Maths, A ‘Levels — not my first choices, but when I had to switch for various timetabling reasons, I simply thought, ‘why not?’ Luckily my head was able to pull the strings needed to help me get into my local FE/HE college. I would not have passed all three if I had stayed at my school.
So, what adventures will you embark on in 2022 and beyond?
Until next time
Janice Taylor
www.blueskycareerconsulting.co.uk
Originally published under Pittabread as the books that made me: https://pittabread.wordpress.com/2022/05/14/the-books-that-made-me/
