The time came to say good bye to Norfolk. It was sad as it was such a big part of my life, I had my first teaching job there, lived with friends from college and had adventures. I met my husband of thrity years there and had my first two children while living in Norfolk. So many memories come flooding back and staying with a treasured friend makes it hard to say good bye. I am grateful for my time here and hope to come back for an extended visit in a few years, when I am fully retired.
Andy drove me to the station in Kings Lynn and we said good bye. What an amazing man, such a great Dad and always so positive.
We passed by the beautiful flat fenlands. These fields are so fertile and farming is huge here. I fell in love with th fens when I lived here, in Kingls Lynn and Downham Market and later in a tiny village called Upwell. The scenery is so beautiful, with so much sky.
I set off on another complicated journey to Bristol, lol. Travelling by train is a great way to see the country and very relaxing, most of the time.
The first stretch was to Cambridge and then the train to London Liverpool Street.
All these London stations are so massive.
Next, I had to catch the tube to Paddinton station. The staff were so helpful in directing me to the correct platform and it was easy to find my way.
Once again another awe inspiring railway station.
At Paddington station I had time for a hot Cornish pasty and a coffee before catching my connection to Bristol Temple Meads.
My wonderful friends San and Denny met me there and ushered me out into the evening.
I had a fabulous visit with San, who I went to college with in Scarborough so many years ago. We shared rooms for three years and then went on to move to Norfolk together for our first teaching jobs. We sharied a house in Kings Lynn with two college friends who also got teaching jobs in Norfolk.
Natuarlly we are very close. Even when I was six thousand miles away in Canada we seemed to travel down parallel paths. I had four kids and she had five, I opened Magic Puddle Playschool, a Waldorf style preschool and her kids went to a Waldorf School in Bristol. It was uncanny. :-)
We went out one evening and shared a meal, and then danced to a busker outside the restaurant. Then we spotted a tall ship docked on the River Avon and it was one of the ships her sons had sailed on in Cornwall. The captain came ashore to speak with them and it was great, as they got invited to go aboard on the following Thursday. Unfortunately I had to leave on Wednesday, so I missed out on this opportunity.
After settling into San's beautiful Georgian home and feeling as if I lived there, it was very hard to say good bye. It was at this point that I really realized how much these people mean to me and how connected emotionally I am to them. It was the reality brought home as to how living so far away from loved ones is really a difficult thing. It has been my life story and usually you can somehow distance yourself and make everything alright. But when it comes right down to it, it is very hard. Here I am experiencing these wonderful reunions and knowing my family that I hold so close to my heart are all in Canada, which is my chosen home, so far away. Canada is the country that nurtures me and whereI
Ii belong. Separations from loved ones will always be a part of my life story and I just feel blessed I have the freedom to travel and see people whenever I need to. I treasure the times I have had in England as it has contributed to who I am today.
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