Postscript

My story concluded with "who knows what lies ahead?" Well, three years lay ahead, details of which can now be added as a postscript. The response has been remarkable, comments from family, friends, and others who know nothing of my history have been surprising and gratifying. What is astonishing is, that so many identified with incidents described, from the electric wiring by a German P.O.W. to sharing the same honeymoon hotel (not at the same time!)

The rekindling of memories by family and friends persuaded me to add to the original text, plugging some of the gaps. By no means least, it inspired a visit from my childhood companion, cousin Nancy. Meeting her at Middlesbrough bus station, I was apprehensive. How would we get on? I need not have worried, the years - nearly fifty just melted away. We had a most enjoyable and rewarding week. Later, I was invited by her son and daughter to a surprise party in Cheshire to celebrate her 80th birthday.

Once again a chance meeting was fortunate. Visiting one of my Hospice passengers, I met a kind lady who was helping Jim with his housekeeping, making meals, washing up etc. I was surprised to discover that Angela was niece of Marjorie Malone, a friend of our Hoylake days. I was more surprised when, after a few meetings she suggested that I might accompany her on a planned holiday in Canada, and even more surprised when I found myself accepting.

It was all completely new to me, my first ever venture abroad, and my first flight in a jet. On the plane I sat next to a lady for whom it was also a 'first' and we were both like excited schoolchildren. In Vancouver, our first destination, we were visited by John and Rosemary who had driven up from their home in Port Angeles. Leaving Vancouver, we spent seven days in touring the Rockies, the high spots of which were a visit to the Athabascar Glacier and a gondola ride to the summit of Sulphur Mountain. My companion "chickened out" of the latter.

Later, Angela decided she did not wish to continue out friendship and we have met, only occasionally, since, but I shall always be grateful to her for "Canada." Thank you Angela. Canada was a great experience, but it has not inspired me to become a globe trotter, and my holidays since have been mainly short breaks in England. (And Wales.)

On the home front, I cope reasonably well, my main failure, the garden. I have neither the skill, nor, since Doreen died, the inclination to do much with it. One of my pleasures is to see a line of washing blowing in the wind. With my own patchwork repairs to the tub and the help of Mr Kneeshaw in Redcar, my twenty-five year old Hoover Automatic still does yeoman service.

Mary still gives me lunch every Tuesday, and Louise, dinner once or twice a week, which with the plethora of ready meals now available for the microwave ensures a varied and adequate diet.

My friend and neighbour, Rosalind provides the bit of "bossing" that I have always needed. She is a young grandmother whose quite hard life has given her an understanding beyond her years, and we are able to share our problems like contemporaries. A phone call - with the words "Put kettle on lad" never fails to raise my spirits. She has lived in Ayton all her life and when we go shopping together, everyone in Ayton and Stokesley seems to know 'Our Ros.'

My cat 'Harry' seems to have escaped mention so far. Needless to say he is a very important part of the household, although he drives me to distraction with his clawing of carpets and upholstery. One morning, hearing the sound of clawing on the landing, I shouted myself hoarse, only to discover a (for once) innocent cat. The sound was the crows annual football match on the flat dormer roof. His, and other cats' unpredicatble taste in food provides a talking point with other 'cat people' in the supermarket.

The Forster family was extended by the birth of Philip Nicholas on 21st March 1995.

Following a spell of breathlessness I was admitted to South Cleveland Hospital where, after investigation, I was given a heart pacemaker, resulting in a lot more 'go.' My body decided it did not like the pacemaker, and after a couple of adjustments failed to solve the problems a new one was inserted on the right hand side. I thought I would be unique, but now find that this is not uncommon.

I have repeated my visits to Berriew and Rhostryfan, and frequently to John and Dilys in Liverpool. John's health continued to deteriorate, year by year and he died in February 1996. Later in the year Dilys was planning a holiday in Jersey, and I suggested that we should go together. We were both in need of a break, Dilys in particular. She had such a hard time for such a long time. We spent a very pleasant week there in September.

I was surprised an pleased to find Gorey little changed. The east side of the island is very much as it was all those years ago. I visited Victoria College and had the pleasure of seeing my name in the register, still intact in a ledger despite the german occupation and the coming of the computer age. I had a cup of tea in the Hospice day centre, just like ours, but I imagine more affluent.

The Hospice still plays a significant part of my life. 1996 has seen my fifth Scarborough, second Sunflower walk, and sadly the loss of two quite special friends.

Many, reading my story, refer to my 'interesting' life. I have to say that it has been quite ordinary, but I have always been interested in everything and everyone. That I think is the secret of happiness and the contentment it brings.

December 1996