Proud of my home-town

BritMumInNZ

I was so fortunate to grow up in a lovely area of Hampshire, England, with rural villages aplenty. From an early age we felt safe to take off on our bicycles with friends along the country lanes and along the Basingstoke Canal. My father would take my sister and I on 16 mile bike rides with a prerequisite stop at a village pub for lunch. I will always have a strong connection with the town I grew up and where many of my former school and college friends still reside. It says a lot about a place when many people choose to stay on there after having made the journey into adulthood. On visits home to the UK we are always made so welcome and feel incredibly fortunate to still be in touch with old friends and pick up on conversations from eons ago.

This evening, I was catching up on the ‘Fleet Pond’ blog. Fleet Pond is the largest freshwater lake in Hampshire and was recorded in Saxon times as supplying fish to the monks of St. Swithins (now the Cathedral) at Winchester (another place in my heart as I worked there for a year back in 1998/99). The recent post in the blog displays a wonderful photograph which really captures a moment in time and reflects on the history of this peaceful spot. The photograph is credited to an article in The Independent, by Andy McSmith, which starts off, ‘If your home is where Hart is – well, lucky you. It is a tranquil corner of Hampshire where the statistics suggest that the quality of life is higher than anywhere else in the country.’ Naturally, on reading this article I felt extremely fortunate to have grown up in such a peaceful spot where my childhood was akin to something out of an Enid Blyton ‘Secret Seven’ story!


Credit: The Independent UK

Mixed with this wonderful childhood, I was also fortunate to have wonderful Grandparents in Penarth, South Wales, where my mother (aka ‘Chicken Grandma’ – because she makes great animal sounds on the telephone – love you Mum!) grew up, which made for wonderful seaside memories. We’d visit once every six week’s or so throughout my childhood. And in Liverpool my dear father’s large family were always welcoming with big open arms and a lot of fun guaranteed! He grew up in a wonderful family of seven children. Alas, his father passed away when he was very young and his amazing big sis helped his mother bring up the children. I am in total awe of them and the wonderful people they are today.

Though I am now living on the other side of the world bringing up two little Kiwi-born children I will forever be proud of my roots and never lose the strong connection I have. Dan too feels strongly passionate about his home and still supports his beloved Burnley! He grew up in the hills of Lancashire and as a little girl I used to jokingly say, ‘One day I’ll marry a man from the hills,’ as I loved the accents and the hills! Here we are, a Hampshire born lass and a Lancashire lad, living in the hills of Wellington a long way from home, but forging forward in bringing up our two beloved daughters in their home.

If ‘Home is Where the Heart Is’ then my heart will forever be in two pieces tightly interwoven in a bond of love. My physical home is here right now, but in my mind it is wherever it wants to be. My heart, most definitely, will always have two homes.

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5 thoughts on “Proud of my home-town”

  1. Hampshire is a beautiful county, how lucky you were to have the counrtyside to roam in. Since a youngster I’ve been going to Headley Park, a country estate(now a country club)near Bordon, ( the other side of Alton), that was bought after the war by the lithuanian immigrants who all bought £1 shares so that they could have some where to go to escape their usually quite poor conditions in the cities. Ever since Vytas was 4 years old I took them to the yearly scout camp there where they learnt to do all the scouty things, cut down trees (I don’t think the Lith. Scouts bother with health and safety or risk assessments), go on 20 mile hikes,make things out of trees & meet other youngsters(& girls)with a Lithuanian background. When I used to go along with them I used to like going for long walks round Frensham Ponds and exploring all the little bridle paths around the place. I think that property is extreemly expensive around there now. Vytas and Romas still go to camp as leaders.

    Ah, wonderful memories indeed. I used to walk round Frensham Ponds often and also enjoyed Girl Guides and lots of ‘real’ camping trips. But, as you say, it is extremely expensive there now. I just can’t wait for the next time we go ‘home’ to visit – but have a lot of saving to do… it’s gone crazy with air-flights, exchange rates – blur! Great to hear Vytas and Romas are still going to camps as Leaders – good on them! Sarah x

  2. Beautiful post.
    We have been talking about returning *home* recently, to the town where I grew up. One day I’d love to visit the UK, it’s first on my travel list….such history and beauty. You are indeed fortunate to have grown up there 🙂

    Aye, the question of ‘home is where the heart is’ is often in my mind – mixed with ‘the grass is always greener on the other side’. I wouldn’t mind living at least half way round the world rather than on the opposite side altogether – the flights with the children are just crazy! Good luck with your thoughts and plans – I know it’s never easy. Sarah x

  3. Funny how you can conjure up all those memories and connections. I was watching Franchesco’s tour last night on the TV recorded from the weekend and it made me realise how new world NZ is. I somethings really pine for that aspect of home. It’s making me more and more excited about our trip back “home” next year.

    Oooo, lucky you! Don’t suppose there’s room in your suitcase?! Tee hee! I’m really itching for a trip home next year – maybe I’ll keep driving around in our trusty rust bucket for a couple more year’s and just go for it! It’s coming up to my folks 40th Wedding Anniversary and Dan and I celebrate our 10th next year… all good reasons… now I just have to wait for my sister to announce an engagement and we’ll be sorted! 🙂 Sarah x

  4. Ah what a sweet post.
    love
    Alison x

    Thanks Alison – I always love dropping in on your blog for a fix of all the things I love about the UK, Sarah x

  5. Hello,
    I went to the scouts camp in ’85 and ’86. I am trying to get some info on the place and perhaps some old photos. Do you know where I might find that info?

    Thanks,
    David

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