Dream with friends at a picnic, being told of hurtful posts, and then with childhood friends at a soccer game, told for World Sleep Day at Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre, 13th March 2026

It is a hot, sunny day and I am at a picnic. I am lying down with a friend, we are piled on each other.  Other friends are on a blanket, and I wonder why they are a bit away. In the distance I see three mountains, which have snow on the top third of them. Because they can be seen from the city they remind me of mountains in southern California. My friend tells me that she has seen some abusive posts about me from an ex of mine. My friend is anonymous when reading these posts as everyone is anonymous on that platform. In the posts my ex says I am a ‘fiend for love’, and asks ‘did I ever really love him?’ I am confused and shocked about this. We had been with him the day before, playing golf, and he had obviously made the posts right after that. Next, I am on my way to a soccer game in an uber. On the journey I let a childhood friend of mine know about the incident through Snapchat, which I would use back then with friends. I then get out a short distance from the sports ground, which is orange. I get to my team, which is in a huddle. They are with my dad, who is the coach, and I realize that I am back in my childhood. They have a green uniform and he has a black uniform with a cap and clipboard. We are then having a snack, maybe at half time. It is toast with lots of thick mayonnaise and sardines. I think that maybe this is the type of snack my grandmother used to have. 

The event was hosted by the Neuroscience and Psychology of Sleep Lab. In the discussion the dreamer spoke about living in the UK away from her family and friends in southern California. 

During the painting process Julia incorporated the following words into the painting:
Top left, in the grass: 
intense sensations
feels hot
slightly warm

Further along the grass, and referring to the grown up and childhood scenes:
the two opposing 
ages in respect of the evaluation 
distinguished between 

Next, on the grass, and referring to the ex who had sent abusive posts:
dreams which
foretell future events,
whose object was to misguide him or lead him

On the pink picnic blanket:
explanation
of a romantic nature

In the head of the small figure of the dreamer coming away from the car:
kinship

Next to the huddle of school friends:
A reminiscence