#photographicmemory is a feature in which someone sends in a nostalgic photo of themselves and writes about it. It was created because sometimes you can find out more about a person by asking them to describe a photo than by asking them a ton of questions. It was also created because it’s nice to look at pretty photos.
This looks like one of those All-American high school prom photos. The dressed up girls, the cheesy smiles, the champagne, the garden…you know the drill. Indeed, these are my gals, my girlins. We were going to our Upper Sixth Leavers’ Ball in July 2012. It was the end of our lives together and after the summer we were all heading off to different corners of not only Somerset, but the big wide world (scary stuff).
You see, we are from a very tiny school in a very tiny place, which we frequently refer to as The Bubble. Some of us have known each other since we were seven years old, so we were not well versed in making new friends – we didn’t need anyone else but each other. Due to this almost forced proximity, we know each other inside out. At times we behave like farmyard animals, when required we act like “Laydiiez” (David Walliams, Little Britain voice) but when together we are completely mad.
The weird thing is, that we are SO different, it’s a wonder that we actually like each other…one of our favourite reflective lines is: “If we all went into a clothes shop, we would all pick out something completely different from each other”. This sounds superficial, but I think it encapsulates each of our varied personalities.
It was impossible to choose a picture that represents all of us. Although we are in controlled, poised poses, which is very unlike us, we are standing in my garden at home, which sort of became an orphanage for us all. We would always (and still do, when at home) crash there. Mummy was forced to adopt five other children to add to her brood. From rogue toilet encounters with a certain Junior School teacher, to the world’s worst snoring, to awful DickieD jokes, you can hear our merry band laughing from a mile away – long may it continue.
Isabella Manning
Isabella Manning is a second year History of Art student at the University of Edinburgh. She is a pseudo-vegetarian and she never stops talking about her love/hate relationship with cumin and coriander and her passion for the only two films she has ever seen: Intouchables and La Grande Bellezza – watch them or regret it.
If you’re interested in getting involved with PTL – drop us an email on prancingthroughlife@live.com.