Fifteen.

At fifteen I knew what I liked and didn’t like. I knew what foods I liked and what foods I didn’t like. I knew what pop stars I like and didn’t like. I knew what clothes and shoes I liked and what I didn’t like.

I had an opportunity when I was younger than fifteen, to try my first cigarette or not, I chose not to, it was one of the best decisions, I’ve ever made.

At fifteen I knew what job I wanted to do when I was older, I wanted to either be a ballerina or a hair stylist.

At fifteen I knew what countries I would like to visit and which ones I wouldn’t visit, if they were offered to me free, I’d run a mile!

At fifteen I didn’t like school, nor at any age, I hated school, but none of my friends I saw outside of school, so I went to see them and because I loved school dinners. Those were the only two reasons why I went.

I knew what instruments I liked to play and what I didn’t like. I loved music, I liked a bit of everything, in different genre like Handel’s Messiah, I loved that, and I loved Elton John’s early stuff, Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word, loved Seasons in the Sun by Terry Jacks, loved, Streets of London, the Bee Gees, The Osmonds, they were my favourite of all time!!! Loved Crystral Gail, Kate Bush, Queen, Elvis, Whitney, The Three Degrees, Sam Cooke, love the song, Abide with Me. In the Bleak Mid-Winter. I love the song Barcelona sung by Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballe.

At fifteen, I knew right from wrong.

I wasn’t into to politics, I went to church, twice on a Sunday, 11am and 630pm, on Monday I went to Prayer Meeting 730pm, Thursday was Bible Study 730pm, Friday was Youth Night also 730pm. If there was an event, where other churches came over, that would be on a Saturday. We had a Tramps Ball, one year, and us youth came dressed as tramps, it was hilarious, especially how I went on the bus with my best friend, to get there! Then on another memorable occasion it was a fancy dress, I went as a prostitute, that was the only time I was able to wear my black leather mini skirt! My little size 8-10 figure was amazing back then! On both occasions we had a laugh.

At fifteen, life was good, but I didn’t realize it then, I was always a worrier, and things like, will I have a boyfriend in the future, will I get married, will I have children? It was all innocent stuff. I have always, always had strong views, I do believe in an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, etc. I have always believed in the death penalty, but only if they are one hundred percent sure that the person killed the other person. If there was one shred of doubt then, life instead. I might have a laugh, and I am always good, for a laugh, but I am not weak or wishy washy when it comes to my deep-rooted views. At work I keep my views to myself, it is a Very politically Correct, place to work. So, although I spend 7.5 hours each shift, most people will enjoy being with me for that time.

But back to been fifteen, outside of the home, I was very, very shy, but not at church where I knew everyone, as it was a tiny congregation forty of us when I was fifteen then my Mum took us to a bigger and mixed church. In school, where there were thirty of us. Thirty is a huge number, so I never ever called out the answer, but would tell it to the friend next to me the answer and she would tell it to the teacher. Hence, I had few friends, but the five or so that I had we were good quality, tight bonded, close friends. My friends at school when I was fifteen were, Prudence, Sue, Kay, Rosemary, and Julie. None of my friends went to church, so I only saw them at school. The last four mentioned went to night clubs and some concerts. We all liked innocent things like, The Osmonds, David Cassidy, The Bay City Rollers reading Jackie magazines, and Top of The Pops.

In the news again recently has been talk of a young woman, who at fifteen, ran away with her two girl-friends to another country, to fight against the land of her birth, England. She was NOT kidnapped, she was NOT trafficked, she was NOT forced, she left of her own FREE will.

She turned her back on England and burnt her bridges!

It’s a big wide world out there, as she and they soon found out. Things soon went south very quickly! Within days of arrival of her destination, she was married off, then pregnant, two of her children died, for lack of good, free health care.

There were reports that two of her friends who had gone with her had died.

She was stripped of her British Citizenship.

It is horrible where she is, and she wants to come back to England, she has said a lot of things against US, and now she wants her British Citizenship back! Her lawyers, are trying to use clever words, and tactics, to try and get her back into England.

She should be made an example of, for any others thinking of doing the same.