For the start I am a baby boomer. Nothing to rave about when I was a child in England after the end of the war and we had to live with my grandmother at first. Everything was rationed. I was 2 when we moved into our home. Aged 4 my brother digging up the gas pipe when I had taken the dessert spoon form the house and done the digging, letting him take over when I got tired! Aged 6 tried to build an igloo out of the snow, not enough snow, circle about 4 metres and only got to 30cm high. Such a lovely grateful child I was! Learning to read I don’t know when, but I was reading before I was 4 because I went to school just after my 4th birthday and got put up a class due to mastery of the book then another school.
Aged 8, a. night train to Glasgow, ship and long sea trip to New Zealand. Ah, the trips to the engine room, the bridge, navigating by the stars, Brownies, school taught by the despairing parents. Lots to and see and experience. Curacao, Panama Canal, men with guns in Panama City, a rescue at sea when our ship had to go to the rescue of a sailor on another ship with appendicitis. He became our mascot all children were permitted to visit him! Finding that we couldn’t land at Pitcairn Island, but they rowed out to us and sold us souvenirs and fresh fruit. We arrived in Wellington to find that our ship was smaller than the Ferry to the South Island. It took us 6 weeks and 4 days to arrive.
More school changes and now with a ‘funny accent’ we finally settled in Palmerston North. At least my parents stayed in that area. After I left school I moved to Wellington and had new friends and carried on with my life. Marriage and children followed and in later life travel started again. A slow spreading of sights and places. Firstly, to Australia to visit family before our kids turned 12. Then later places to visit further afield. I’ve e still got places to see but with now my daughter in Singapore that’s my main place to visit along with visiting family in Australia. My dog is very luck too, he gets to visit his favourite lady who has lots of dogs staying with her.
Yes, I am lucky. I am lucky to be able to do and see the things I do, try new experiences out and meet new people. Rotary has helped with the luck too, lucky to be involved with such a global organization and be able to experience the Rotary connection.
Merry Christmas and lots of luck in the New Year to you all.