Camber Christmas tradition

This year the annual trip to have a Christmas dip at Camber (only the second time) we had cousins going together. And chuck in a godson. A great team indeed!

... and what a day. It was glorious last year but glorious and peaceful today.

Water was surprisingly *not* as cold as I thought.

Saw a few horses. Had a hot chocolate. A hot dog (or two).

See you next year!





























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Location:Newlands Road,Tunbridge Wells,United Kingdom

My brothers

Star Wars was more than a movie. It was something that brought me and my brothers close together.

I always got "Lando" as my character as I was third and not the muscle or look in to choose first. Alwin was "Luke" and Andy "Han".

Still when they weren't looking...

Here we are just after watching Rogue One. An annual Solanky brother treat.




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"See through the eyes of a Refugee"

What struck me about the refugee experience at Humanity House in The Hague was not the empathy. It was the closterphobia and noise. The narrow corridors with doors at the end. It was something out of a Resident Evil video game. That creaking.



Then there were the voices from the radios. Behind the mountain of ring folders. It was the distinct lack of humans that struck me. I was in an experience of inhumanity.



I saw pictures of people. Faces. but I found i wasn't caring. I was just wanting to stick my head down and get through the ordeal. It wasn't bad. It was just a complete carnal feeling of survival through not engaging. Through switching off and become as close to the environment as possible.



I recall the haunting room of a small in between room where there was an ornate mantle piece with Candles and a stunning mirror. I loved looking into it and was thinking this must have been like the room Viktor Frankl describes when speaking with his father about leaving the country before he headed into the concentration camps specially designed for the Jewish people. It has a lovely carpet and a well lit ambiance.



The haunting thing was when I stared in the mirror long enough to realise that it was not staring back at me. I was not reflected. My humanity was not even in the room.



It's hard not to feel a fraud in such a moment. Especially on a day where I have been hearing non stop of "a genocide" within Aleppo.

War Crimes

The war crimes of the world are decidied in The Hague. They've prosecuted villains for heinous crimes.

A very international city that boasts a rich mix of countries.

Ironic that I'm here whilst witnessing a genocide in Aleppo. Reports flying in. All over social media.

Hard to make sense of it. All I find myself doing is remembering sitting by a memorial plaque in Mostar by the destroyed old bridge saying two haunting words: "Never Forget".

They eventually tried the Serbian leaders here.

Reuben's Christmas play

It's the season... for the Christmas plays!

Here's Reuben:











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Location:Newlands Road,Tunbridge Wells,United Kingdom

Our friend Emma

We lost a friend. A supporter. A sister.

Emma died a few weeks ago. It was a secondary cancer. Took just months. And the world feels that much more lonelier now she has gone. I've written on death before but she is leaving a hole that seems to take me back through the years.

I have fond memories of her.

Being at the Higgs' household, where we both used to frequent as kids. She was Sarah's friend and James mine.

We also grew up in the same church. Her father used to drive me, my two brothers, mum & dad to church in the days before we had a car. I recall it was the days where you could all lil in the back even sit in the boot. He was one of the jolliest people that I ever knew. Smiley. Kind and Loving. The family always appeared to have something special about them.

In more recent years Emma & her husband Eric have been supporters of ours. They believed in our family mission. They enabled us to continue to do our service for the poor. We really could not do anything without them.

I taught Samuel briefly at St Johns church back whilst he was in year 2. A few months ago Columbus came to one of the slum simulations that we ran in Sevenoaks school.

I remember speaking with you whilst undergoing treatment for your cancer (the first time round) at a prayer evening where you were beaming of hope and healing as it had recently gone.

Then I heard that it had come back a few months ago. It was a deep time of prayer for us as we followed you to your final moments.

When I heard the fatal news I really wished that it wasn't true. I knew it was coming. I didn't want it to. I held out for hope of healing. Yet I knew it was coming.

Truth be told you made me realise that this could easily have been me or us. Not only were you like us, a parent of four children, you were also part of my generation and friend since childhood. And one day it really will be me, or Angie, that will be on death's doorstep. The thing that you have taught me however is not of death but life. I just hope between now and the day we eventually die we, too, will live bravely and courageously as you have done.

It's hard to say much more beyond an expression of really deep gratitude that sinks to the depths of my very being. You have inspired me and so many of us (and it seems like the list is endless) with your belief and strength.

Thanks Emma.

http://www.forevermissed.com/emma-sandor/#about