Sunday 20 September 2015

Friendship and Home



For B xxx


We have had a busy few weeks with family visiting and staying and last week a very dear friend came to stay for the week.  We haven't seen each other since she came to stay last year, but we soon slipped back into our old routine, sitting and chatting as if she had never moved away.  That's what friendship is about for me.  It doesn't matter how far away they live, or how long ago you saw them, you slip back into that friendship like a pair of comfortable slippers.

We had some lovely trips out including seeing Cornwalls' own Kneehigh Theatres performance of Rebecca, with all their usual fun, drama and quirkiness.  They are touring the play so if you get a chance go and see them, if only to see the incredibly imaginative way they transform the set.



We also went to see 45 years with the wonderful Charlotte Rampling and Tom Courtenay.  It is a beautifully observed study of a long relationship which changes over the years as the couple age.  Their whole life together and their relationship that Charlottes character was so sure of is suddenly brought into question when a ghost from the past intrudes into their comfortable life.  It will not be to everyones taste but I found it very thought provoking and left me mulling it over for days after.  The added bonus for my friend was that it is set in Norwich, her home city and even included a friend of hers as an extra.



After living in Cornwall for several years, which is how we met, my friend made the decision to move back home to Norwich for various reasons.  Although she loved Cornwall, Norwich is where she grew up and will always be her home, just as Cornwall will always be my home.  We are both lucky to be able to choose to live in our 'home' counties.  Many thousands are forced to leave their homes and set out for an unknown future in other countries.  I have found it heartbreaking to watch the news in the last few months, seeing desperate people risking their lives to find somewhere they can be safe and start a new life free from fear.  I know it is a very contentious issue which has brought out the best and the worst in people.  The comments on social media have truly shocked me and made me feel like withdrawing from any form of online contact.  It saddens me that people I know are reposting such hateful things without even checking the source, just accepting things as fact when a couple of minutes research would show that they are complete lies.  I feel battered and bruised by the whole thing and needed to just withdraw and lick my wounds for a while.  However what I feel is nothing compared to those desperate people.  To me they are my fellow humans who need our help.  You may not agree with me and that is your right.  I will continue to do what I can to help, I have put together some toiletry bags that will be taken out to the refugees.  If you feel you want to do something,  various organisations have lists of what is needed, look up your local collection points.

Our plans for moving house have been put on hold to spend time with family and friends.  Next week will see me picking up the paint brush again in readiness to put the house on the market.  The excitement of it all has dulled in the face of images of families sleeping on the side of roads.  I know how lucky I am to have a roof over my head.



Chickpea xx





12 comments:

  1. How wonderful for you to be able to spend precious time with your friend. Those kind of friendships are the best. It can be like no time has passed since you last saw them. Yes, the current situation has left many of us grateful for everything we used to take for granted. I for one am counting my blessings even more. Much love. X

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  2. Its hard but I am certainly counting my blessings and hope that if ever my own children/grandchildren were in real need someone would help them. I pray for world peace in my life time...I do wonder!

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  3. Yes, the migration of so many refugees in Europe is truly sad as well as tragic. It is so difficult to be displaced, but also difficult to find a new place for them. Really makes one feel fortunate to have a home and sense of security in living there, doesn't it?

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  4. It is a tragedy that so many people feel that their home country is no longer a safe place to be and that they are prepared to take the risk of an uncertain future even if they manage to complete the journey. Many of the poor people are professional people, OK some might be economic migrants but I suspect their numbers are few.
    Our hope our government can get it's act together (a first time for everything) and find suitable accommodation for these families, not camps, there are so many empty houses in our part of Ireland, but I suspect these people will end up in unsuitable camps as most of the asylum seekers do here.

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  5. It is indeed hard to watch or read the news at times. A local place here is collecting & naturally we are donating. It does make you thankful for what you have. I'm glad you had a lovely time with your friend x

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  6. That sounds like a wonderful time spent with your friend. I'm totally with you on the refugee issue. It is heartbreaking and I cannot comprehend the attitude of some people.

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  7. I'm so glad you had a nice time together. I agree with you about the refugees. I feel it particularly acutely as a person of Syrian descent. I don't know what the right answer is, but what is happening now is truly awful and something needs to change.

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  8. Sounds like a wonderful time with your friend. The situation with the refugees is so hard isn't it. xx

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  9. Good to read humane and sensitive comments re refugee/migrant crisis. We also have a collection point locally. I hope some sort of message gets across that many people are appalled by their plight and our government.
    Thank you for the clip re Rebecca. I am going to see it in Norwich on Saturday. It looks excellent. Nice to have you back on the blog. Jan B.

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  10. Glad that you had a lovely time with your friend. A church where we do Foodbank had a collection for the refugee/migrant crisis. I was overwhelmed to see how generous people were. Joan at www.aviewtothefells.com

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  11. the news is heartbreaking sometimes. I have to limit how much I watch, and have avoided all social media sources, I can't bear to read that people say in haste.

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I love reading your comments and will try to reply to all you lovely people xx Spam will be deleted so don't even bother!