area rugs
between two worlds a narrative
in the late 1950s i left a world of simple pleasures where the pace of life was slow and time almost stood still and i arrived in a place where my every movement was to be governed by the ticking of the clock . in this new world i had no time to stand and stare nor to sit amongst the flowers or to count the bees rather than the hours and i ve lived between these two worlds ever since.nothing seems ever to stand still . for when i began my journey from my place of birth and native land there was a rural village with rocks and stones at the seashore . we used these same rocks and stones to build our homes.i remember the palm trees and grape trees . the trees had formed an alliance that protected the land from the onslaught of the huge atlantic waves . the atlantic eventually overcame the alliance and swept away the rocks the stones and the palm trees.and as i look back i ask myself two questions what has become of my island s peopletheir slow pace of life and the simple pleasures that they once enjoyed have been replaced by twenty four hour television and gadgets imported from abroad . the old fashioned friendly buses that carried the people with their produce to the market have been replaced by vans that drive at great speed along narrow winding roads . to pay for these new pleasures the islanders have exported their brightest youngest and most talented people.and what has happened to the place that i now call home ; how has it changedgone are the british council s representatives reassuring smiles of welcome to young students at the ports . gone are the smoking chimneys the back to back urban houses and their friendly neighbourhoods.acres of land and fields have been given over to long hypnotic stretches of motorways . elegant georgian and victorian homes have been replaced by large estates and the skyline is interrupted by high rise blocks of metal and concrete.but there are many remaining joys that i cherish . these include the stoicism of the people and their humour the easy access to places of culture and the deep and lasting friendships that i have made .