Living in a lighthouse

"Don't put your toys in the fuel tank, the fog horn won't work... but I did, and it didn't.
Don't swim in the rip tide, you'll drown... but I did, and I very nearly did.
Don't paint the lighthouse green, it's meant to be black... but I did.
Don't set fire to the marsh with the matches you've found... but I did.
Don't pretend your playing games on the computer, you'll turn the lights off... but I did and I did.
Stay away from the cliffs, you'll die... I didn't, but I almost did.
Don't feed the seagulls bread and bicarb because they'll die... but I did, and they did.
Don't set fire to the cliffs with your magnifying glass, you'll ruin the tourist season... but I did, and of course it did.

Don't sleep with my hairdresser, she should know better... but I did, and she didn't.
Don't stay out on the beach all night... you'll suffer in the morning... but I did, and I definitely did.
Don't hang yourself in your windsurf harness in the trees at night, you'll scare the tourists and they'll call the police... but I did and, of course, they did.
Don't argue with your teacher about windstrenghs even though you know your right, they'll send you home... but I did, and they did.
Don't throw up in the helicopter, you wanted to go... but I did, because I did.
Don't windsurf in a gale, you'll have to be rescued... but I did and I was.
Don't ever change, I asked my folks, but of course they did and of course they didn't."

What's your digital story about?
I lived on a lighthouse in west Wales from the age of 8 until I was 16, and I wanted to share those experiences. I'm not quite sure why I chose to tell this story to be honest with you. I felt that, with the images and the vast experiences I had of growing up there, it was a good story to tell. I like the idea of giving people an insight into what it was like growing up there.

What did you enjoy most about the workshop?
A lot of people have commented on the production workshop itself. But, for me, I really enjoyed the story circle. The scripting was really interesting and we bonded so closely during that session that it was easy for us all to open ourselves out. The best stories came from the story circle experience. It evoked stories out of us. I am now using the skills from the story circle in my community work and it has definitely proved to be very valuable. The production workshop itself was really good and I really enjoyed viewing everybody's film at the end.

Your comments

"Thought it was going to be different and it was." Clive, Neath, Wales.