Good evening.
Howz your Easter Sunday been for you? Here, the wind has blown a lot, then it's gone, then it rained, then the sun came out, then it was windy again, then we had a hail storm, and on top of all that, it's been chuffing freezing cold. There was a couple of places I could have gone to, but after all the changing of minds, shall I risk it, no perhaps better not, I didn't go out at all.
I have been sewing, making a book cover. I haven't got the measurements quite right so I don't think it will fit the book I have in mind. I looked for another one, I haven't got many. I came across this one. It says published in 1990, though I cannot remember which year I bought it.
I have grown up hating my face, a bold statement but true. As I said, it started with bullying, my teenage years were hell at times as I struggled to fit in. The swinging sixties were indeed exciting, I dreamt of kissing Paul McCartney, I imagined myself singing on stage like Cilla, walking down the catwalk after Twiggy, I idolised these people. Then I caught sight of myself in the mirror and it caused me great sadness. No matter how I tried to copy their styles, their fashions, and their looks, it always ended in tears. It was hopeless, I would never be pretty.
Another quote to save me typing it out again.
I was listening to a programme on Radio 4 about a charity called Changing Faces. I heard the story of James Partridge, a young man who was horrifically burnt in an accident when his landrover turned over and caught fire. He went through many operations and skin grafts to restore his face to some form of normality.
I took the phone number down and rang him. I explained how I hated my face, and asked if I could attend his courses for confidence building. I felt a bit of a fraud really because to the outside world I do not have any facial disfigurements. I explained that my scars are on the inside. He was so understanding and said I would be welcome to meet him. I booked the two day course.
I met some lovely people at Changing Faces, and James himself was wonderful, it did my confidence a power of good. I strolled around the streets with him during the lunch break, and I noticed people looking the other way and couldn't think why. When I talked to him I looked through the outer covering to the person inside, and I saw a beautiful man. He put everyone he met at ease, he was so confident, and I wanted to learn how to do that.
Finding this book has prompted me to goooogle him. Sadly he passed away in August 2020, aged 67. I will never forget his kindness. His charity, Changing Faces is still active and continues to help people come to terms with their disfigurements. Here is his Wiki page.
The Changing Faces web site is here.
Today there are people who are born with disfigurements, or have been disfigured through accidents, as James was. Now people are looking for physical enhancement through surgery, and it is plastered all over the media. It's a shame that some of these have gone too far and don't know when to stop in their search for perfection. It's also a shame that people do not look for counselling before going under the knife.
This comment came in, I decided to publish it.
Anonymous4 April 2026 at 18:18
A mask of shit for your ugly face !
It is a classic troll comment, from someone who is not happy in their world. I suggest they take a look in the mirror. Just for you I have replaced my header with a picture of my ugly face.
Thanks for popping in. Another Bank Holiday tomorrow, so make the most of it.
Toodle pip. ilona
