My Family, October Origins

Another October Origins Challenge post today (see my blackblipped post for yesterday here).

This little triptych of photos are all of me as a baby with my grandparents and my mother, and taken by my father - what better way to explore where I came from! On the top left are Nana Pam and Pete, my father's parents. From them I get my love for French art and culture and education (they live in France 6 months of the year and have both just completed Open University degrees despite being in their eighties!). I also share their love of food and restaurants.

Underneath them are Nana Joy and Dennis, my mother's parents. Sadly Dennis died when I was very little so I never really got to know him. I know a lot about him though and I know that I get my strong belief in social justice and socialist politics from him. He was also a Welshman and I'm sure he'd be glad to learn that I live in Cardiff now!

Out of everyone in my family I perhaps most strongly resemble Nana Joy. We share a similar temperament and constitution and are both rather opinionated! She is also a great writer, editor and organiser and I have followed her footsteps in all three. She's had a very difficult year but she has remained upbeat and stoical throughout. I find her really inspiring.

As for my parents, they have influenced and shaped me in so many ways. I share my temperament, traits and tastes equally from them, from my love of books and drama (Mum) to photography and music (Dad), from my determination to stand up for my rights (Mum) to my drive and perfectionism (Dad). We are different in many ways but we have a shared sense of values, sense of humour and belief in the importance of family that brings us together.

Writing this blog today has made me reflect upon just how much biology and upbringing can influence the person you turn out to be. Looking forward to seeing other people's Origins blogs and discovering more about their roots.