Doreen’s story

 “Two or three stalks of flowers brings back all that memory”

What does it feel like when you’re here?

Oh, I love just everything about the atmosphere. I mean what more could you wish for? Pleasure within, for a start. To find that the warm sun’s here. And then to be surrounded by nature, just on its own, of its own accord, it just is able to inspire us to do things like this. Gifts out of the blue! And what blue!

Can you describe what you’re doing?

I’m just putting whichever colours of flower particularly appeal to me amongst these, do you see? And so whenever I get two or three which I like, I’m putting a knot on there.

Is making posies your favourite part of being at DIG?

Well probably it’s a big part of it, yes.

What are the colours that appeal to you today?

Well I think this deep pink and the way it’s contrasted so nicely with this yellow centre because of its middle, it blends, and then that just follows the colouring inside.

It’s quite fiddly work

It is, isn’t it. Glad I’ve got a pair of knees here! 

You can lean them on your knees!

Of course! I think that would be nice there. I love it. That brown. That really is autumn, isn’t it? To a tee.

Are those the colours you most associate with autumn?

I do particularly I think, yes. Seeing these today, I mean I wouldn’t have thought yellow so much.

You’ve got a good eye for colour and shape.

I hope so. Well I love all those things, I really do. I like to make clothes.

Have you always made things?

Yes. Always have done. From being small really, I did. For my dollies, you know. Always starts off with dollies, I think, doesn’t it? For mummy to look at!

What do you like about being here?

Everything! The sun, the beauty of the earth, what it’s producing. Whatever we glimpse at, if we’re at all susceptible to colour – and I certainly am!

Are you in love with colour?

Yes, things that grow especially. I mean, they’re really the last word, aren’t they? Who would think that you could have done that this morning – in such variety!

Have you always enjoyed being outdoors?

Always, from being very small.

Did you grow up in the countryside?

No, no. I was born and grew up in Ashton-On-Ribble where my father was a headmaster of the local school. And then it was only five miles away from Lytham where we used to ride on our bikes at the most unlikely times of the year. But if it was alright, we could at least have a paddle and just see the sea. We didn’t get buses and things like that.

A whole lifetime ago.

Yes, but it’s so easy to go there still and remember.

Is that what you like to do? Do you like to go back in to those memories?

I do indeed. They’re rich and happy. Two or three stalks of flowers brings back all that memory.

Does it help coming here?

Oh rather! Course it does. How else could I have gathered such a lovely group of people? All with one thought in mind – to make the absolute most of the day that they’ve been given.

as told to Vaska Trajkovska at DIG October 2019