Yesterday we helped celebrate a birthday. Nothing unusual in that but it was a 100th birthday party and really special for a number of reasons.
As background, we moved to the United Kingdom from South Africa almost 28 years ago. None of us had mobile phones or email. Communication was a landline and an exchange of letters. My husband’s family were a huge help but lived in Yorkshire and we were in Cheshire. I had three cousins and an aunt on my father’s side of the family but none were local.
We had lived in Johannesburg, fast becoming the murder capital of the world. My husband is British and I was able to get a British passport. The children had South African passports but we resolved that issue later. Relocating to England was our escape!
I have never missed the security gates and double burglar bars on the windows. I was constantly looking over my shoulder, paranoid about our safety. We had a beautiful home with a swimming pool and a large garden. We had servants and both my husband and I had good jobs. My parents lived close by so were happy to babysit. We had it all?
Not until our children were helping a friend with administration work in the centre of Johannesburg and the ANC exploded a bomb in the next building. Fortunately the children were unharmed but it was very traumatic. Our neighbours and their friends were having dinner and forgot to lock the security gate. They were attacked and stabbed before being robbed of all their jewellery. We lived in a very good suburb but this violence was on our doorstep!
I digress! Leaving all our friends and family behind and having to start afresh was very difficult. Our neighbours were sociable but we had no history with them and I found this a hindrance. South Africans, probably because of the weather, were friendlier and more spontaneous. This was until we met the parents of our son’s first girlfriend. Both sets of parents taxied the children from one home to the other. We soon discovered that we had a lot in common and began to meet socially. The young relationship ended many years ago. No adult took sides and our friendship has grown over the years. It was the grandmother of my son’s first girlfriend who turned 100.
After 10 years we moved away from the Wirral but continued to meet up, often at a pub half way between the two homes. We have shared weddings and special occasions together. We have laughed and cried together. Not all occasions shared have been joyous, but that is when true friendship means so much. This birthday celebration yesterday was another milestone, a happy reunion and catching up with friends we haven’t seen for a number of years.
We paid tribute to a beautiful lady, still mentally astute but slightly frail. Her daughter, son-in-law, grandchildren and great grandchildren all celebrated with her. It was a glorious occasion and my husband and I felt honoured to be part of this close family gathering. 👠
Jenny Burrell 