This week I'm working 48 hours on night shifts.
In between I've got two more valuations on the cottage to supervise and a few hours being banboozled by my financial advisor, a Sams shift and a trip to the theatre to see the acclaimed Home I'm Darling,
The theatre trip was something to keep me sane, even though I'm going on my own.
" keep me sane" was a phrase I heard a few times at the conference I attended on Saturday. One guest speaker was a rough diamond who hailed from the other side of the railway tracks. He had been put into care at Bryn Estyn as a boy in what was to be known as one of the most dysfunctional and abusive children's home in North Wales.
He survived his experiences through searching for a finding love from his partner. It was that gift of giving and receiving love for the very first time that saved him he told us and he qualified just how difficult that was for him
" I had to search out and find for myself all of the things you nice people have taken for granted....
I had to learn to trust, learn to love, learn to obtain warmth and kindness and smiles and sweetness....all for the very first time and all on my own"
I wrote down his words as he spoke them and was thoughtful and humbled when he talked about how Samaritans had supported him ( and in some cases not supported him) as he struggled with the aftermath of his abuse.
He noted sadly that many of his fellow abused friends had committed suicide over the years
" You are all no doubt good people", he addressed the deligates with a wry smile " drinking your half pints in a nice pub at the weekend and living your safe life in your nice houses ...But you don't really understand what it's like to live with no hope...no hope at all"
And I guess he is right.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Wales_child_abuse_scandal
