Of silence and changes

Categories: uncategorized

Date: 07 May 2005 12:34:45

Firstly, a huge well done to ERG (if you'll forgive the abbreviation!) for keeping quiet for a whole 24 hours in support of Christian Aid. An awful lot harder than it seems, showing that we rely on our voices for so many things, down to saying thank you to people on buses!!! I've been asked to confirm her silence, so there you go, she did it. Well done!

Secondly, this weekend brings change as a good friend of mine leaves Swansea (albeit temporarily) for a placement in Aberystwyth. Best of luck Becky! Though this is only a short term thing, and no doubt she'll be back before we know it, it brought home to me how much life here is going to change in the next month or so. All too soon, a number of close friends will finish their courses and move on, whether back home to parents houses for a while, or to other courses and placements. I have always known that this would happen at some point, but the reality is now beginning to hit home. These are people who, for the last four years have been round the corner, where I could pop round for a cup of tea or a chat whenever I wanted, and will now be far away, and visits must be planned. I suppose what scares me is that this is the time which will determine whether we will keep in touch or not. It is possible to be just as good friends even when living apart, but I hate the thought of us all gradually losing touch, always meaning to ring/email/write etc, but never quite getting round to it.

So, let me say now, to all of you who are leaving (and those staying too!), who've been around for the last few years, you mean the world to me. I will do everything I can not to lose you as the years go by. I've made some of my closest friends in Swansea, who I feel I can be totally myself with, and that means so much. Thank you. As I was struggling with these and other things which are changing this week, and how things will never be the same again, a wise friend pointed out that though they are not the same as they were, they are as they are now, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Here's to change, and to dealing with it. To moving on, and the next stage of the journey. But most of all, to friends, who make the journey easier just by being part of it.