Happy 43rd Birthday Jason!

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26 November 2015

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Happy Birthday to my partner Jason.  Here's hoping that 2016 will be better than the last.  Remember one thing, you have always had right on your side!

All my love Darren x
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Reflections - 15 December 2017
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I remember my partners Birthday in 2015; it wasn't the usual happy affair, it had been in the past. Even at a time when we both should have been relaxing and enjoying the day, just a little bit more than normal, we couldn't. The stress of what was going on around us, was still very much at the forefront of our minds. 

Both of us were still questioning, whether or not we had done the right thing, in bringing Veronica Raymond's bulling activities to the the attention  of Oxfam. I was personally in no doubt, this woman had to be stopped; my partner less so, believing we were being used to do the work of others, a scapegoat if you like. He was probably right; no one else, above our grade were willing to stand up and be counted; they were too scared to confront this poor excuse for a human being, allowing her to continue down her destructive path. It was no wonder we both questioned our situation and at times had to reassure each other, that we were doing the right thing. Looking at ourselves and analysing our circumstances was commonplace, we did it nearly everyday. Although Oxfam encouraged us to complain against Veronica, there was no back up or support, to get us through this difficult process; they had left us to deal with everything alone.

At the time I wrote this entry, we had both made our decision to move to Spain, where we are both settled and happy today. As I look through my lounge door, towards the garden room; the sun streaming through the windows on this warm December day, I am amazed that I never moved to Spain earlier. At the end of 2015 I was hoping for a much better year ahead; my final year in the UK had been truly dreadful. All I could do was look forward optimistically. If anything 2016 was more difficult than the previous year. We were both away from the sociopaths that stalked Oxfam, but we were restarting our life in a new Country; lack of employment, a return to Australia, illness and difficulties in acclimatising to the Spanish sun were all factors that prevented us moving forwards faster than we would have liked. We may well be closer to where we want to be now, but there is still work we need to do, in order to enjoy the security and lifestyle, we both desire for the future. A positive outlook and attitude, will most certainly see us through, we have come a long way since November 2015!

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