All's Well That Ends Well

I suppose you could say my life was like a fairytale back in 1983. In a place far away in the past, I'd just had my baby, but found myself in a loveless marriage that ended with me in fear of the future and my baby's. What was ahead! I had no idea of at the time. But it had to be better than where I was, in the land of unkind promises.

Of course I spent time wandering the streets like the Little Match girl, trying to be independent, but with little hope of finding comfort, with only some small change hidden under the baby's mattress in the pram instead of matches. My biggest fear was of being robbed and having to sleep on the streets, begging for money, but no I didn't die of the cold.

No! The streets were definitely not an option. In the end I went to the Health Centre, a place of solace, where a kindly health nurse took me to a place of refuge, she was like my fairy godmother throwing magic dust over me and making things right.

There I spent many weeks with other mothers in the same predicament as myself. We helped each other out...but there were some evil minded other women in there with bad intentions like the ugly sisters in Cinderella, which I had to be weary of, they would steal given half the chance, or even try and threaten you, but I learned to cope with them getting through the experience.

With time running out and a real need to find a more permanent roof over my head. I rang many places trying to find a bedsit, anything so I wasn't sleeping rough. In the end when I'd just about given up hope, my friend insisted I make one more phone call to a place called: “Homes For You,” which I did.

A voice on the other end of the line informed me they didn't have anything, but would let me know if a room came in. I was devastated and went to put the phone down, when I heard a voice saying: “Hello, hello!”

Quickly I voiced: “Yes! I'm here.”

“Something's just come in if you're interested.”

Well of course I was and quickly announced: “Please tell me.” I was as excited as a puppy finding out they've got a new home, grinning from ear to ear.

“It's only one room in a house. I can give you the details.” She announced politely.

Well yes of course I took the room, even though it was in a rough area and on the top floor of the house up two flights of stairs, feeling like I lived in a tower like Rapunzel, but without any long golden hair. At least we'd have a roof over our heads and there was a front door to escape out of whenever I wanted.

With the help of my new found friends from the refuge, I managed to moved in the following day. It was a tough night with just one chair to sleep in that was threadbare and uncomfortable, but at least my son had his pram.

Of course I'd had no idea of what I was walking into. Everything seemed okay at first, till the landlady's husband started his criminal ways, asking me to lie to the police about him having nothing to do with stolen cars, when in actual fact he had, he was a big man and reminded me of the giant in Jack and The Beanstalk, with his eternal heavy breathing. Of course the landlady was the complete opposite, a very tiny lady who reminded me of the evil Queen in Snow White that turned into a witch with her false teeth which she left lying around.

It was scandalous and I had no idea what to do, my concerns were masked by the fact the landlady was threatening to turn me out if I didn't agree to lie. Then on top of that my baby got flea bites from their dogs and cats which were many that ran riot around the house, which was traumatic in itself. I was caught between the devil and the deep blue sea.

Taking my son to the doctors, it was like trying to get water out of a stone, I asked the doctor if he could give me a referal, to find some new accomodation, but was out of luck. I needed someone more spongy that I could squeeze accomodation out of.

I managed to get hold of some housing associations telephone numbers, and so began ringing around. One of the links was willing to send out one of their associates to come and check out where I was living, and if I was suitable to be rehoused. Well Yippee ki yay! At last someone's hearing my plea.

I waited for the day to arrive with anticipation. A smart dressed man arrived and I took him up to my room, showing him the bites on my baby. He was very sorry for my situation, but told me that there was a long list of people anticipating getting new accomodation, some had been on the list for many months and sometimes years.

I felt as deflated as Cinderella hearing she wouldn't be going to the ball, and went to see this good looking man out the front door.. At that moment he did say he'd keep in touch and would let me know if a place came in. I didn't hold out much hope with the housing situation being what it was.

It was about a week later I think, that the phone rang, it was the man from the housing association. He had good news and came to see me. On that day I shall never forget, it was as if my Prince Charming had strolled into my life. He told me that a ground floor flat would be available soon. Well! I was so excited I could have hugged him...but that wasn't all, he asked me out of the blue on a date and I went. We sat through a Star Wars film, but my mind was on other things, like my Prince Charming who sat beside me, who had saved me from my bad situation, giving me a happy ending.

The Photo's mine of the new land I moved too in the end in Wiltshire.