I’m going to skip back a couple of weeks, to talk a bit more about our time in Coventry and also to mention something special that was given to me by Clive’s Aunty Marlene.

Coventry is an important place in Clive’s history because it’s where both his parents grew up and where they first met each other.  This trip was an opportunity for his parents to revisit places from their youth; their family homes, their workplaces, the fish and chip shop where Clive’s Dad proposed to Clive’s Mum (it’s a cute story!), the church where they were married and where Clive’s granddad’s funeral was held, their schools, holiday haunts and the graveyard where two of Clive’s grandparents are buried.

It was a visit of mixed emotions, as both happy and hard times were remembered.  There was sadness at how much things had changed but also a real preciousness in seeing places from their past.  The original plan had been for only Clive to go with his parents on their UK trip.  But I’m so glad I tagged along.  It was a privilege to be there with them.

The childhood homes of Clive’s parents’.

Stoke St Michael’s Church

The ruins of the original Coventry Cathedral

The New Coventry Cathedral

Stoneleigh Abbey

The Ruins of Kenilworth Castle

Giving Grandad a Spruce Up

I’ve mentioned Clive’s Aunty Marlene very briefly in a previous post, but I want to say a bit more about her and the gift that she gave me.

Aunty Marlene is a remarkable lady.  She is pretty, petite and reminds me of a fairy! 

Aunty Marlene began her teaching degree after having her three sons.  Somehow she managed to juggle family life with her studies and, though now retired, I can imagine she would have been the most wonderful teacher.  In fact I’m sure of it, because I had several opportunities to watch her with her four year old grandson.  She very naturally combines the role of both Nana and teacher as she interacts with this sweet wee boy.  It was gorgeous to witness.

Not only are Aunty Marlene’s husband and three sons very skilled in the creative areas of music, sound production and photography – she herself is a very talented artist.  I had never known this, so it was a lovely surprise to visit her home and see some of her beautiful paintings on display.

But now about her gift to me.  It was a gift of a story.  A story about herself and her fear of swimming.  As a child, Aunty Marlene couldn’t swim.  A few years ago, she decided to face her fear and so she signed up for swimming lessons.  For the first couple of lessons, she was simply too scared to lift her feet off the ground.  But someone gave her a story.  It was a story about a lady who was afraid of a spider.  In the story, there was the phrase, 

“The lady is no longer afraid of the spider.  She takes strength from her courage in its presence.”

Aunty Marlene repeated that phrase to herself as she held tightly onto her float board and tentatively began to lift her feet from the bottom of the pool.  Slowly but surely she learnt how to swim.

Aunty Marlene knew how anxious I was about my upcoming solo-travel.  In her pretty English kitchen, quietly away from the other family members, she told me about facing her fear and about the Lady and the Spider.  Before we left Coventry she handed me a card in which she had written the special phrase that had been such a help to her.  It was a lovely gift of encouragement to me as I set out on the next part of my adventure.

I am extremely blessed with family and friends who encourage me each day.  But I particularly want to say a big thank you to all of them who have been cheering me on as I face this Spider of mine.  So thanks guys.  I love you all big time.  Bisous bisous.