{"id":2373,"date":"2010-10-10T17:51:26","date_gmt":"2010-10-10T17:51:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/slightlydoolally.com\/wp\/?page_id=2373"},"modified":"2010-10-11T17:33:09","modified_gmt":"2010-10-11T17:33:09","slug":"david-quiney-mee","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/slightlydoolally.com\/wp\/?page_id=2373","title":{"rendered":"David Quiney-Mee"},"content":{"rendered":"

Images of Isobel<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Photos for a special birthday \u2013 on paper or digital\u2026?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Not much, sorry! But there are plenty stored elsewhere, taking up less room and always with us, ready to be looked for and unpacked. Stored in the human hard drive \u2013 until it \u2018crashes\u2019\u2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

There\u2019s one of us all walking along Downhill with an energetic , bountiful Scottie dog\u2026 the light changes, the cold makes us wrap up, the conversation travels further than we do and then we take it home. To a warm fire, a welcome hearth, a bowl of soup with wheaten bread\u2026<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

They\u2019re not in any order, these virtual pictures, not stored in any recognisable system (just the same as all the others in their packets and boxes\u2026). Sometimes we hunt for them, other times they open themselves and invite attention. We stumble across something, unopened for years, that leads to another, and another\u2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

They\u2019re in there somewhere, each one vivid, like \u2018icons\u2019, ready to click on and open a treasure of memories \u2013 or, like icons of an older, more treasured nature, made at a slower speed, each brush stroke laid down with care, with prayer, windows onto relationships, opening perspectives, not only telling story but becoming sacrament, means of grace\u2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

A bountiful Christmas dinner\u2026and Isobel at the dining table, then receiving the \u2018washing up\u2019 through the hatch\u2026<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

A room in Selly Oak, a NACCN Conference, and a picture snapped across the room of a dear friend paying gracious attention as a young idealist tangles bits of Nicaragua in Gospel images.<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Another snap, a couple of hours later, outside Digbeth bus station, of a gift of support pressed into a young hand, with a humbling assurance that it would be \u201c\u2026from Donald as well.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

A student, sitting on the floor by the hearth in Bannvale, at Christmas, wondering how to say thanks for such welcoming space, when the lens widens to include Donald who says, \u201cit\u2019s good to have you here \u2013 thank you for coming over.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The cloud of witnesses \u2013 a wall of names in Corrymeela\u2019s Croi. Isobel sitting quietly, Donald\u2019s name on the wall.<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Sitting at a small fold-out table by the kitchen window. A simple meal, starting as breakfast, talking its way into lunch…<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

From a pre-digital age, these images are not \u2018snaps\u2019, they are developed with a dose of time. Even when the images focus steadily on a central character, a few characters, the scene is visited by others who drift, flit through, like ghosts. Were they there, or was that another time? I can\u2019t remember\u2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Washing up at the sink to the hubbub of schoolchildren in the playground\u2026<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Returning after our wedding reception in Bromley by Bow to Andrew and Susan\u2019s home to find Isobel sitting in the corner, at the table. We share a post midnight bacon sandwich\u2026<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Bannvale, the Birch trees, the field, the bungalow, garage, garden, open door, and Isobel at the window\u2026<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Isobel finds a photograph album and \u2018opens\u2019 each picture with warmth and humour\u2026<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The piano, photos, a relaxing space, a dying fire, a sidelight, a candle, and Isobel perched provisionally on the edge of a chair. A book, a quote, a piece of music to share that leads to another, and another, in that space between going to bed and actually getting there\u2026<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

A familiar and well-loved face spotted in the sea of others \u2018not known yet\u2019 at the start of a new adventure in Corrymeela\u2026<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Isobel patiently \u2018setting up\u2019 Alice with paints, a watercolour page and trust to get on with it, in the \u2018studio\u2019, Greenmount\u2026<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

A classy meal in low lighting in \u2018The Salmon Leap\u2019\u2026a contrast to El Salvador \u2013 and time for another conversation\u2026<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Sitting in the tiny \u2018studio\u2019 room in Greenmount, with card, pens and a new skill\u2026<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Picture from Lucia \u2013 Isobel in Knocklayd sitting by the table with her stick, selling books\u2026<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Isobel vanishing under the arch in the \u2018library\u2019, for yet another book just remembered\u2026<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Isobel the driver, touring the North Antrim coast, with stories and lovely places to stop awhile\u2026<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In all the pictures a smile. Even in the dark ones\u2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Sitting at the dining table hearing the news of Donald\u2019s cancer.<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

A welcome at the door on the day of the funeral. <\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

A slower rise from a comfortable chair\u2026<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

So many meals, or snacks turned into feasts, and always conversation, with space to think, to ramble, to explore.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Sitting in a soft red chair in the dining room with Alice watching Sean the duck survive the first snow of winter\u2026<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Connecting and including an English Baptist and an Indian Sikh Methodist\u2026<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Welcome news of a well-deserved Honour from \u2018the Palace\u2019\u2026 a story of travelling about London\u2019s transport system\u2026and what does MBE stand for???<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

A Christmas visit to Strand Cottages with Janet and Mike; Isobel, Rachel and Mary enjoying the fire\u2019s warmth while others \u2018did the beach walk\u2019\u2026<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Isobel. Always there. Rarely \u2018centre-stage\u2019, but making room, making welcome, making \u2026appreciated, respected and honoured. As Isobel herself.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Images of Isobel Photos for a special birthday \u2013 on paper or digital\u2026? Not much, sorry! But there are plenty stored elsewhere, taking up less room and always with us, ready to be looked for and unpacked. Stored in the … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2373","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/slightlydoolally.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2373","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/slightlydoolally.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/slightlydoolally.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/slightlydoolally.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/slightlydoolally.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2373"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/slightlydoolally.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2373\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2379,"href":"https:\/\/slightlydoolally.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2373\/revisions\/2379"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/slightlydoolally.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2373"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}