Thursday 13 June 2019

Surviving. Coming Up To Seventy Two Years.

How strange it was that my deciding to write a book about my unhappy childhood should coincide with the setting up of an association - Shirley Oaks Survivors Association - to expose the wrong doings of those who were tasked with the duty of care towards us kids.

As I wrote my book I was never sure why I was writing it. I certainly did not intend to name names even though those concerned had passed on. Indeed, I used pseudonyms. Not to protect the wrongdoers but I was thinking of the still surviving relatives. I thought I might simply be writing it for my own children. I thought maybe I wanted things on record so things could be more open in the future. I thought if I wrote it down it would be gone. Out of my system. I thought lots of things but eventually I decided I was writing it for myself. I was writing it because I am a writer. A storyteller. I like to write.

Seven years since I wrote the book. Seven Years! Can you believe it? Seven years and it has been almost constantly on my mind all that time. So much for putting it all behind me. It has been the compensation battles that have kept it there of course. The more it went on, the more determined us survivors became. Togetherness helped. I doubt we'd have got anywhere without it. But we are getting there now. Things are getting sorted. Each of us have legal representation.

To be honest I nearly gave up a few times. The situation made me ill. I couldn't be bothered. But I was always only a phone call away from support. I was persuaded to battle on. Not just for me but for everyone. The battle is not just about what went before. It is about the future. About the kids who are to come. It is for them.

I was made an offer. I was ready to accept just so the saga would end. But the survivors association had found low offers were being made in the hope that those in financial need would rush to take it. It was a ploy. I was persuaded not to accept and another offer came.

My fight is almost won. I have taken the money. It hasn't made me a millionaire but I now have something I have never had before in my life, financial security. It feels good and perhaps it is as well it has come at this time of my days, Had it come when I was younger and irresponsible I am sure I would have blown the lot.

I am firmly of the opinion that had my childhood been different I would not have gone off the rails as badly as I did. Certainly no inferiority complex. No fights. No imprisonment. I would have continued with my schooling. My relationships would have survived. I would not have this restlessness within me. I could have done better things with my life.

Now, here I am seventy odd years since it all started and what do I have? Well, I have this feeling that I am lucky. Things could have been massively worse. I am indeed a survivor.






9 comments:

  1. I am so proud of you. And happy that you can live comfortably. I hate what happened to you as a child. I also know that if things had been different we would not have met you. I am happy I got to know you online. I suppose that now you are a man of means you will leave us.

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  2. I am pleased I have got to be your online friend too. I will still be here Emma. I have put the money into a Trust Fund. It is safer from me there. :)

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  3. You are a writer John and I always enjoy reading what you write. I'm glad you had something for what you went through, but most of all that you feel fortunate. Dave

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  4. He who perseveres will always win in the end. Pity the end was so long coming, John. Congratulations, my friend, proud of you.

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  5. I have read your book and I am glad you have some sort of closure. I was lucky and was adopted as a baby with a wonderful family. I cannot imagine your life and am so pleased that you can now relax and enjoy life.

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  7. Thank you for sharing this John. I love your painting of Mia, I'm guessing. Oils? Acrylics? Whichever, very good indeed. I think creativity is a blessed released for those of us who have had difficult times in our lives. I know I have found it so. I keep thinking about writing a book, maybe one day. Lizzi x

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  8. Good deal, John! I'm sure glad I have gotten to know you. Hope you will keep on sharing with us peasants! :D

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  9. So pleased your book is finished and you have some financial security. Have started blogging again. Have you retired your blogging? Have loved following your posts and getting to know you. Catch up soon!

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