Helen - from Northampton

Helen is a bubble of fun and a fount of knowledge. When she’s not busy educating young people in the pleasures of literature and the English language, she can be found on the winning team in many a pub quiz, experiencing the pleasures of tepee or yurt living or dressing as your favourite juggling bumblebee!

No social setting is complete without a little touch of Helen. She adds sparkle and laughter to all situations. Easily put at ease in her company you may unwittingly become a student at her feet.

  

Although Helen is in her second decade of teaching in the leafy green hamlets of Northamptonshire when she is not in the classroom she does venture far and wide around the country and world visiting new locations, familiar family comforts of Ireland,  national theatres and book shows, seeking adventure in random fields and reading a book or two ... hundred.

Helen has passion about learning English and her input has also been included in curriculum guidelines by the Greek government. Her position within her current establishment as the Learning Leader for English is a good start to knowing more about this soft spoken and truly amazing woman.

Jim – Met in Weston Favell, Northampton

This is a story.

It’s a story about a man and a dog. And it’s a story about me.

My bit first: the more people I talk to, the more I find out about myself. This is a multi-faceted adventure of meeting and recording the images of people of Northamptonshire. I recommend it to everyone. Try it, you’ll like it ... maybe even love it.

Now Jim’s bit: if you saw Jim on the street you’d stop to talk with him as well, I know you would.

Jim dared me to guess his age. I was wrong (on purpose, but farther away from his real age that I’d have thought.) What do you think his age is? (*It’s at the bottom of this entry.) Maybe his story will give you a clue.

Jim has been in England for over 40 years. Before he moved here from his home in Kilkenny, in the south of Ireland, he had worked on a farm for 14 years. Jim put his long life down to a life of contentment with what he has. He said he’s happy to read, listen to the wireless and sing along to songs. Jim asserted, in a super soft tone, that he’s as healthy as he can be. He walks two miles every day with his dog, Missy, he does his own cooking, washing and other household tasks and he doesn’t take any form of medication.

He spoke with a quiet sense of contentment, enhanced – to my ears – by the sweet, soft Irish lilt to his voice. It was like knowing that uncut diamonds were dropping onto a purple velvet cloth. I was sorry to leave him but I said, “I hope to see you again sometime.” At this Jim smiled and said, “With the help of God and 900 policemen.” We both laughed.

As we parted, Jim looked back at me and raised his voice to an average speaking level, “If not,” he said, “I’ll see you in heaven. You’ll be there, won’t you? With the Big Man ...” His eyes shone with joy and he continued on his way at peace with himself and the world.

As I stood there reflecting I could just hear his quiet calls of “Morning,” as they were echoed by the duplicated word from all passersby as he walked down the nearby jitty.

(*Jim is 85 years young with twinkling eyes and a superb sense of style – I ‘guessed’ early 60s.)