Description

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Tags: History, Lang:en

Summary

March 1996 Haydarpasa, Istanbul, Turkey

I started to write this in 1996 after the events of my Bosnian experience. I was hoping that I would have earned enough money to get back to the UK and publish this work through teaching English. But only after I have inspected all the antiquities of this most fascinating city several times over until I drop.
It was my dream in history lessons at a junior and then comprehensive school in Glyncorrwg and Cymmer Afan, which are/were mining villages in South Wales, to one day visit Bysantine/Constantinople/Istanbul. And now 40 years later here I stand in my humanitarian aid clothes feeling like royalty, absolutely fabulous, unbelievable, wonderful a dream come true.
Who am I?

My name is on the cover I am sitting at a table in a photo. I am middle aged, a divorcee, a bankrupt now a have been lorry driver with an M.B.A! Currently drifting through Istanbul formally Byzantine and Constantinople, Turkey and so happy to be here after Bosnia. In fact I am probably the happiest person I know as the last years has seen major changes in my life which I couldn’t have possible foretold! Thank you God, as I recovered from a serious mountain accident and a deep vein thrombosis in Italy, December 1991 which I, family and friends thought was the end of me, but not to be. Re-learning to walk to become mobile again is truly the most wonderful of miracles and challenges, along with the grant for International Women’s Year that enabled me to study an M.B.A! Crazy but true.
To be honest I’m not middle aged not unless I’m going to live to see 100. I celebrated my 50th birthday driving humanitarian aid convoys thus aiding the population of Sarajevo the capital of Bosnia which was cut off from the outside world by a most dreadful and destructive war.
Hateful terminology

The terminology, ethnic cleansing is the most despicable phrase ever formed by corrupt mankind. To experience the following in reality is still incomprehensible to me and it still intrudes significantly upon my day time and night time thoughts. The following is a simple account of my life and emotions in Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia, briefly Macedonia, Bulgaria and now Turkey!
Why write this?
I am writing these words not out of a sense of wanting to relive those times. In fact I know that I don’t want to write this. Something or someone is compelling me to do so. What or who is driving me to put pen to paper I had no idea until now! 9 months after Tony along with Neil was wiped off Mt. Igman the life line for the survival of Sarajevo and Bosnia in Samantha, my ex Bedford army lorry. I have been spiritually grabbed by the scruff of the neck. I only pray I can go the course as reliving this journal is hugely upsetting and emotionally draining for me. Am I writing for someone else who is not here? What an uncomfortable, compelling feeling.
Phoenix Aid International
Still in Istanbul
Just 3 days ago, for the very first time I reread my dairies. The day to day account of my life as a volunteer with Phoenix Aid International a Surrey based non-government (NGO) charity. Their objectives were to provide aid to the poor people caught up in that bloody place of former Yugoslavia. Phoenix Aid was set up by the vision of several people. The vision being to serve needy civilians who ever they may be and not on any account let our aid fall into any non civilian hands. Muslims or Christian were the same to us. I really thank God for the people who along our road helped us without asking for reward knowing we were not of the same faith as them. It did not matter one bit only what we were sharing. What a marvellous humbling experience you never ever read about in the newspapers.
As I read and write on I laugh as well as cry at what was the past is now my mental present life once more! Too much to bear a second around time surely, let’s see!
Deep breath, pen in hand........

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