russell higgs | photoblog » sunday 15072007

15 Jul 2007 • 406 views

sunday 15072007

The scent of these Roses is heavenly. I was sniffing them the whole journey home.

I picked them from the front garden of a house I used to live in as a child, back in the 1960s.

The garden is very wild and rambling and the house is currently empty and boarded up.
Well I say "boarded", but "anti-squatter-metal-plated" would be the more accurate contemporary description.

It was the house I was living in when my Dad died in 1970.

I'm reasonably certain that today was his birthday. (or if not then its near abouts, as this week is my dead family birthday week, the 16th was my elder brother's birthday and the 19th was my Mum's).

When I think about today, I'm reminded that back in 2000 I ended up marking it by participating in my very first Naked Protest. I stripped off in front of New Scotland Yard police HQ. What a great year that subsequently became. But thats several stories to tell with another portrait.

Happy Birthday Dad.
How I wish that you could have stuck around to meet the man that I've become today.

camera	PDC5070
exposure mode	shutter priority
shutterspeed	1/10s
aperture	f/2.8
sensitivity	ISO100
focal length	9.2mm
resolution	855x639 pixels

sunday 15072007

comments (5)

Ray

Thailand

16 Jul 2007, 01:05

Very poignant post today, Russell. So much so that I seem to be imagining a tear [?] in your eye.

russell higgs: in my reality there was no tear at the time of this portrait.

there is just lots of sweat and a splash of cold water. its really hot here right now.

jamoula

16 Jul 2007, 08:37

Russell- what a sad month for you. But celebrating is a way forward- it celebrates their life- and yours! And you are worth celebrating.

russell higgs: For me its not so much about sadness, and especially as I had a really lovely day all in all, but yes its a time to reflect and focus on my bloodkin and who these people were etc etc

And because all the birth-days of these 3 dead people are so close together, it becomes literally a week about the basic fundamentals of eXistence: Family, Birth, Life and Death..... and iDentity.

mal

16 Jul 2007, 19:12

no matter who we are we all need reflective moments Russell, glad you shared this one with us. mal

nev

Australia

17 Jul 2007, 13:07

I wish for you that he was there as well Russell. I am sure he would be proud of your achievements and the person that you are. maybe his spirit is in the roses that you are smelling.

london

27 Jul 2007, 15:13

Hi Russ,

What a week to remember - all your nearest and dearest - it is a "week of the dead" rather than "day of the dead" and I like the fact that you picked roses in rememberance - roses symbolize love and are a perfect vehicle for expressing your feelings to your dad, mum and brother in this week. Sending love, Fi

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