This is a tremendous inspiration, Xanthe. It's a reminder to us all that capturing our own lived experiences will be useful, interesting, and even compelling reading to future generations. While I've never been to Germany, I did have occasion as a teenager to visit Soviet Russa in over New Years in 1974 (I think...I have to go back and look). Now I'm intrigued to review the history.
I look at each of your 1980s images and think about where I was as a young adult... thank you, I'm thrilled by this series.
Thank you Barbara, that's praise indeed. I hope that others explore their younger days as well. Taneya was the one who inspired me to start thinking about how to record my story. Berlin is the obvious place to start.
Wow, the description of the wall! I had no idea what it looked like. I just knew it from news footage when it was being knocked down. While in Israel I saw (from a highway) part of *that* wall… from a distance it just looked like…a wall. I wonder whether up close it would not be similar.
Also, I didn’t know you were at Greenham! I hope you write about that more someday.
Xanthe I loved reading this. It's so interesting to read about that time period from the perspective of one who lived it. We were watching from afar. I can see I am going to quickly fall in love with your new publication. Good luck with it. Looking forward to your next post.
Thank you so much Jennifer. I’m just scanning the photos for the next piece. Lovely trip down memory lane. And very interesting to look back on with hindsight.
This is a tremendous inspiration, Xanthe. It's a reminder to us all that capturing our own lived experiences will be useful, interesting, and even compelling reading to future generations. While I've never been to Germany, I did have occasion as a teenager to visit Soviet Russa in over New Years in 1974 (I think...I have to go back and look). Now I'm intrigued to review the history.
I look at each of your 1980s images and think about where I was as a young adult... thank you, I'm thrilled by this series.
Thank you Barbara, that's praise indeed. I hope that others explore their younger days as well. Taneya was the one who inspired me to start thinking about how to record my story. Berlin is the obvious place to start.
Oh, absolutely!
Wow, the description of the wall! I had no idea what it looked like. I just knew it from news footage when it was being knocked down. While in Israel I saw (from a highway) part of *that* wall… from a distance it just looked like…a wall. I wonder whether up close it would not be similar.
Also, I didn’t know you were at Greenham! I hope you write about that more someday.
Thank you, Lisa! As to the stuff about my nuclear disarmament work, both in the UK and here in Germany, I think that needs its own space. Maybe later…
Thè Wall in Palestine is much higher and also partially painted, including by Banksy.
And it still stands. A great injustice.
Xanthe I loved reading this. It's so interesting to read about that time period from the perspective of one who lived it. We were watching from afar. I can see I am going to quickly fall in love with your new publication. Good luck with it. Looking forward to your next post.
Thank you so much Jennifer. I’m just scanning the photos for the next piece. Lovely trip down memory lane. And very interesting to look back on with hindsight.
Very interesting, Xanthe. Looking forward to more!
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this--all of it, including the footnotes!
Thanks, Jane. I enjoyed writing it too. It was such an exciting time.