God I have the worst memory

Let me preface the following picture by saying that I cannot really remember the last time I saw my mother in a swimming pool (let alone in bathers).

As far as I was aware, she wasn’t into it. It wasn’t till only a few years ago that I found out she’d never really learned to swim (she has now, though). My sister and I were sent for swimming lessons every Sunday morning at Hollandse Club (but I don’t think that’s where this photo was taken), before going to church for catechism and Mass, then Sunday school (no wonder I turned out so anti-organised religion). Might I mention that the hot chocolate and bitterballen waiting for us at the end of the lessons were pretty much the reasons I was willing to go at all.

I’m not a strong swimmer, never have been. But I can swim, though I don’t really enjoy it. Beats me why, although part of the reason is definitely because I am careful about being out in the sun.

(I’ve been digging through old photos, and am loving the embarrassing photos of myself that are showing up. I have no memory of the context, though — my mother has been supplying me with some.)

This one is another favourite:

This I remember. We were on holiday, my first big one, to North America. My cousins live in Canada, so we went to visit, and they took us to see snow (the first time ever, for me). It was summer, so the snow on this mountain is kinda crappy. I saw snow again when I was 16 and in Scotland, and finally got to see snowflakes actually fall out of the sky in 2004 (again, in Scotland). I have a fascination with snow. I also hope that the next time I am in a place that snows, I don’t wear ill-sized and inappropriate mittens as seen in this picture. I look like The Penguin.

(Note: the auto white balance in The GIMP seems to restore the correct hues in many of these faded photos. Colour me impressed.)

• 22 Sep 2006