Journalling with memory flashes ...

Memory flash 1 ...
Oooh, I thought this morning - there's a neat idea for journalling. No anxiety about finding the right word, devising beautifully-crafted phrases, or creating balanced paragraphs. No grammar or punctuation problems like: "Is it OK to have a sentence without a verb?" or "Where does the comma need to come here?" or "Should this be a colon or semi-colon?" It's called a memory flash. Just a series of words, feelings, thoughts, sensations all spilling out in a stream-of-consciousness fashion and, according to Relly Annett-Baker (writing for Shimelle's class True Stories), the closest we can get to letting people inside our heads. Braving the fear that if people could get inside mine, they might say things like "Wow! You can see for miles in here!", I toyed with the idea of having a go - should the occasion present itself. Which it probably wouldn't.

Returning from work, I ran straight into the next phase of construction destruction to our home which will enable my not-so-well parents to come and live with us. This is what happened next ...

 I'm fine now. Just a wobble. (But even wobbles deserve to be journalled?)

And memory flash 2 ...
No, I hadn't forgotton I promised these. I did remember. Here are the zip files containing the .psd templates (for Photoshop and Photoshop Elements) - the lower four shown on the page map for my Book of December Days. I think I caught the typos this time round.

A4
Download AlexaDecDays05-08(A4)
Letter (8.5x11)
Download AlexaDecDays05-08(LT)

Throat dry push door to kitchen yielding fumble for switch feel teabag soft between fingers ... Oh, this could be addictive! For goodness sake, get a grip, girl! Just go and put the kettle on ...

Comments

[Amy]

Uh-huh .... hmmmm, yes, I came home after a weekend away and felt like I was stepping into a cave - it was almost chest crushingly depressing. What an excellent way to document your wobble. Yes, it is worth it, they are worth it and when it is all over you will revel in the knowledge that you have survived! :-)

[Sian]

That worked perfectly!

You can definitely see progress..

[jo sowerby]

oh i wish i could come and do something to make it better alexa, must be tough living in a building site. i remember living on a building site cos we lived on a new housing estate way before health and safety. it was our playground, but the house was actually built so not so much bad there. hope the builders get their groove on soon, you need kirsty allsopp and sarah beenie to come and chivey them up
Jo xxxx

[Mel]

Documenting wobbles is important, especially as part of an ongoing story like this - and it is ongoing, the end will come, and it will be worth it xx

PS I CAN see for miles - miles and miles of interesting stories, beautiful layouts, fun ideas....

[Paul B]

Not sure I'd be able to cope as well as you Alexa. i'd be booking myself into a hotel if our house was being re-constructed. My home is my sanctuary & I'd hate it being disrupted. I'm in awe of you going through it. Just keep telling yourself that it will end sometime. And soon it will even be in sight. Glad to see you're scrapping it. Pxx

[Melissa]

Great job with the memory flashes journaling. I love the honesty of your many feelings! Thanks for sharing.

[Miriam]

Oh Alexa, my heart goes out to you. your house will become your home again and your strength to care will be waiting to welcome them. I would love to share a cup of tea with you x :)

[Lara]

I am a firm believer in journalling the wobbles too! You have to remember what you lived through, it will make you so strong.

[giselle]

Thanks for sharing - your thoughts and the pdfs. Always good to have a store of 'go to' sketches for when the mojo has wandered off!

Don't envy you the building chaos btw but I'm sure it'll all be worth it once it's finished.

(Thanks so much for your lovely comment on my blog earlier today :) Much appreciated.)

[Maria Ontiveros]

Just finished a page with this prompt and really loved it - found it really meaningful. It will go up on my blog on Tuesday, I think. Loved your take on it.
Rinda

[Sarah C]

(((hugs))) and I'm sure everything will be ok. Just remember to look after yourself too xoxo

[Lois Houston]

I love the page - and I love the way you captured your "in the moment" feelings.