The blog of photographer Kim Ayres

Medal won at the swimming gala

Proud Father Alert!

Meg won a bronze medal today at the Swimming Gala!

The event was for children with special needs and involved many of the schools in the county.

As I was pulling the camera from the bag, Maggie noticed all these signs saying that before I could use photographic or video equipment of any kind I had to seek permission from the supervisor. When I found him I had to produce ID and fill in a form with my name, address, telephone number, the name of the person I was photographing and my relationship to her. Only then did I realise that I’d better not take any photos of any of the other children from Meg’s school: as I had not received written consent or requests from any of the other parents, it would breach school policy.

I find it so sad in this day and age that a father has to go through so many procedures just to take a photo of his daughter. In a less paranoid time I would have been able to take photos of everyone in the group and make copies for the school and the parents, many of whom couldn’t be there to see their sons & daughters today. I’m fortunate enough to be able to be flexible with my work patterns, but most are not.

I could get on to a large rant just now about why it is in the interests of the government and the consumer society to keep us in a permanent state of low-level anxiety, by filling our heads with the idea that the world is full of monsters and terrorists waiting to hurt the innocent, as this allows them to bring in more draconian laws and people spend more when they’re worried.

However, I’ll leave that for another day, as my overwhelming feeling at the moment is fatherly pride for my medal-winning daughter!

24 comments

Nikki said...

Hurray Meg!

Well done!

Stella said...

Congratulations Meg, WTG!!!! Kim, she is beautiful and what a brilliant photo - Meg looks so proud of herself, thanks for sharing and enjoy the "proud father" moments.

Cameras, mobile phones with cameras are not allowed in swimming pools here. Any other sporting event no problem but not swimming pools.

I share your parental pride as Sarah has recently won a gold and a bronze in "area heats" in Special Olympics Ireland.

Kim Ayres said...

Nikki - thank you

Tree - proud parents, proud child. It's been one of those feel good days whre everything seemed to go right today. My stepdaughter phoned to say that she'd passed her driving test today, so we're incredibly proud of her too.

Stella - fantastic news about Sarah. You must be glowing with pride for her.

Charlie said...

Meg is absolutely beautiful.

Binty McShae said...

When I was back in the UK I did some arts related work with a bunch of teens and we had to get the all to sign forms allowing us to take photos and video as they worked... it's very sad that it's come to that, but when you see how easy it is in these days of camera phones and digital technology for pervs to film up womens skirts in supermarkets and take photos under toilet cubicle doors it's perhaps unsurprising that those rules have become harsher.

And your daughter is beautiful... your genes are obviously not the dominant ones, then...! ;-)

Rhonda said...

Aww, that's one very proud-looking girl. Yeah Meg!!!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations Meg! I love your beautiful celebration photo...just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keep swimming swimming swimming (oh my, do I watch to many kid movies-this is a song on the movie Nemo-do you know it?)

SheBah said...

Lovely photo, lovely girl! Well done both of you.

Dr Maroon said...

Yes, very well done that girl!

34quinn said...

It's is a beautiful photo campturing a beautiful moment.
But what matters most is that you were there in person to share in it.

That is all that matters to any child is that when they finally are able to achieve a goal ...that mom and dad are there with them and see them do it!!!!!

I have attended many many competitions in the karate world. I am shocked so many times to find out how many kids are there without their parents. Their parents send them off with just the coach. Win or lose those kids would love to have had their parents in their corner to support and celebrate or support and comfort them.

hooooray for Meg!!And Hoooray for you!!! a wonderfull memory for all of you.

celebrate this moment and thank you for sharing it!!!!

happykat said...

Oh, Kim!
She's an angel....really quite gorgeous and lovely.

Congrats to you and her.
I hope you're not like me. I would have been blubbering with pride.

Kim Ayres said...

Admiral, Rhonda, Shebah & Dr Maroon - thank you.

Binty - you're right, she takes more after her mother.

RNP - I think we'll be due to another bout of Finding Nemo soon. It's possible another re-run of Shrek (1 & 2) is on the cards first though.

Quinn - Given your own history, I appreciate you taking the time to write more on this - thank you.

HappyKat - Maggie was blubbering. I was doing the male thing of strutting...

Andraste said...

Congratulations to Meg! Beautiful and talented - Huzzah!

She's a beauty, Kim. No wonder you're so pleased and proud.

Natalia said...

Woohoooo!!!

And, also... I love the trimmed beard.

-N

SafeTinspector said...

Congrats to the girl for her excellent swimmering.

Only then did I realise that I’d better not take any photos of any of the other children from Meg’s school: as I had not received written consent or requests from any of the other parents, it would breach school policy
Are you serious? And I thought we Americans were a bunch of paranoid stupid dummies.

Attila the Mom said...

Woohoo for Meg!

St Jude said...

Congratulations Meg.

She's lovely Kim, you must be so proud.

Kim Ayres said...

Andraste - Beautiful and talented - I couldn't agree more :)

Natalia - thank you

SafeTinspector - well, paranoia is an american speciality, which we're trying to play catch up with you, but we invented stupidity.

Atilla - yay!

St Jude - I am indeed! Glad you've got your blog back again :)

BStrong said...

Way to go Meg. Your blog appears to have taken on a new look, and so have you. I have been away much to long.

I have to really read your blog to catch up with you. It seems that there has been a lot of stuff going on with your life.

Cheers,
Brian

SafeTinspector said...

Kim: Future scenario:
You take your child to a birthday party. As is customary, you and every other parent bring along a pile of release forms; enough to provide one for each other parent attending.

Before the party you and the other parents lay your sheets on a free table, eventually making a pile of forms for each child in attendance. Before the festivities begin there is a signing ceremony in which each parent signs every form in their pile as a sign of respect and acceptance.

Every one of you then collect your signed forms and place them in your own packet which the host then seals.

The party begins, and now you are all allowed to speak to eachother's children and take their photographs.

Welcome to the future!

Kim Ayres said...

BStrong - welcome back - I've missed your input!

SafeTinspector -I fear that you are completely right.

fatmammycat said...

Bravo little one! Bravo.

Kim Ayres said...

Thank you, FMC

Anonymous said...

She looks great! Catering to the form-bearing paranoids was worth it to get this photo op.

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