This week has been no different.
Flicking through a program on the TV one night I saw a friend's name! She had a part in it so naturally I watched....when my very old friend arrived on the screen I gasped!
"She's an old woman" I spoke the words out loud...
Well yes of course she is...it should not have been a surprise!
A phone call from an even older friend took me back even more years. I assumed it was a happy birthday day call but in fact she rang to tell me she was moving....to London! Not a good move from Winchester I thought but she was going to live with her sister who still gets parts in plays, often ones with long runs!
On hearing me bemoan being eighty now she informed me crisply that she is now ninety so I have a long way to go yet!
Two contacts from my days of being involved with the theatre brought back many good memories as well as some sad ones.
I worked in various theatres for several years...
"What on earth would David have to say about your living miles from anywhere now? "
She was serious...my move away from Essex has caused a separation between us that she is sure the first David would not have approved of.
After the call I gazed out of my window seeing the ships over in Falmouth and the curl of the coastline as it outlines the Lizard in the far distance.....
My first husband would love it I'm sure! He would not I believe have been happy living close to London, particularly now.
After the dreaded birthday last week it was good to remember other times and other old people. We, the survivors have lived through interesting times...
We can't go back so let's hope that what is to come is full of joy. Even though right now that looks
very unlikely.
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Location:Old friends!
2 comments:
London isn't a bad place to live when one is older, the very best benefit is the Freedom Pass, all the specialist medical facilities are nearby and contrary to some views there are plenty of green spaces.
Maybe we are extra specially lucky, in outer SW London we have Kew Gardens, not crowded even yesterday if one enters by the Lion gate rather than the Victoria gate nearer the station; we have the Royal parks of Richmond and Bushy, not far is Wimbledon Common graced by Wombles plus there's the Thames Side path before one goes into Town.
Also in the suburban villages people are friendly, even if we're not sure in what context we know the person who smiles at us in our local High Street we still acknowledge them and smile back.
It is interesting when you get such a call and catch up. I am living in the Greater London area, and once wanted to return to my roots in Central London, but that lost it's appeal when I worked there for 10 years. I than moved Jobs to Ilford, which was even worse in terms of commuting from this part of North Kent. Than I got promoted and posted to Canterbury, a city in name, but a small town in reality, surrounded by many villages, five of which contained the Benefice that I joined. We decided that we'd move, but circumstances did not permit it, particularly my spouses work locally. I said, once we'd bot retired we would move, but it hasen't happened yet, and now I am embedded in a local Church, we want to move closer to the Church, but that is now unaffordable, How prices are too high, so we are going to stay put, and convert the house we have to suit us as we grow older together. I am 70 in two years and my spouse will be 68. So, it makes sense to do so now, while we have the get up and go, before it gets up and goes.
Friends and family know where we are, we've been here for 28 years, so perhaps not is the time to put down roots deeper and forget the wander lust, which has permeated my life in the Army and more for 43 years or so.
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