News from United Kingdom 2

Standing: Clare Christi, Becc Hyland
Seated: Sr Virginia Wilkinson RSC, Ros Hiser, Megan Gaffney

Our time in London is beginning to move very quickly and we feel as though it will all come to an end with a rush.

There is not a lot of change in our routine, though every day we meet different people who either come for treatment or are visiting family. We also meet new patients every week - such is the nature of St. Joseph’s Hospice.

The education sessions continue to be very interesting and informative and we learn a lot from the input and discussion among Staff. We are included in many things that are happening in this busy place and were even invited to a Farewell party for one of the staff.

Several more outings (plus wheelchairs and walkers) have been organised while we are here, as five extra “carers” make a big difference to managing the “clients”. Also, once September comes, they tell me that the weather will be too cold etc.  We laugh about the weather as we haven’t seen too much sun for weeks and have to take brollies and raincoats every time we have an outing. I had a wonderful experience a few days ago whilst travelling on the bus with Clare. A woman in a wheelchair was attempting to come in (there is great provision for wheelchairs and prams on the buses). Almost instinctively Clare had hold of the wheelchair and had the woman settled, very quickly and very expertly.  These skills will never be wasted.

For 22nd. July, the Feast of Mary Aikenhead, we prepared a liturgy which included Sr. Mark Lehmann’s composition, a hymn to Mary Aikenhead, with Mark’s permission. The sisters here enjoyed an Aussie touch and loved it. Mark, you are an international success.

As this is summer holiday time we are meeting a number of Zambian, Irish, Scottish, English sisters who stay here for a few nights en route. Hackney is a very central, hospitable place. Tonight, I looked around the dining room and, as well as we five Australians, there were sisters from all of these areas. It is wonderful to experience being part of an international community.

We have managed some very interesting weekend outings in London, travelling by boat to Greenwich, which we explored and enjoyed very much. Incidentally, the Olympic Equestrian events are to be held at Greenwich. Hackney is actually the Olympic Borough, as most of the venues are being built not far from here on what have been old industrial sites. I think that wonderful East End Hackney will never be quite the same again. We walked from Greenwich, through a tunnel that goes under the Thames and comes up into the Isle of Dogs and Canary Wharf, all places steeped in history.  The girls braved the crowds in Piccadilly Circus to meet the Australian cricketers and score some autographs. Our wonderful Fr. Brian just happens to know a man who works in the Tower of London and was able to get free tickets. This was wonderful, as entry fees to the tourist attractions are quite expensive.

As the primary children, who came to the Day Hospice for six weeks, are now on summer holidays, we had a final Art Show on their last day. Some parents came and the children sang songs and read beautiful poems and stories about the friends they had made at St. Joseph’s. It was very touching to witness the “Goodbyes” between the children and patients, to whom they had become very attached. Without Megan, Clare, Becc and Ros this day would not have been possible and their assistance is so much appreciated by staff members.

The sisters are very interested in our project and we are receiving invitations to many other communities. We can’t accept them all but appreciate their kindness and thoughtfulness. We have just farewelled two of the Zambian sisters as they return home, with Ros and Megan accompanying them to the airport to assist with luggage. One will be coming to Australia later in the year. If all the people we have invited to Australia actually arrive, I will be spending my next “life” in hospitality and as a tour director!!!

It has been wonderful to see my four companions blossom in confidence, see needs that they can meet, contribute creatively and sensitively to activities, show great empathy to people, suggest areas in which they feel they can assist, all with great humour and smiling faces.  They are going to be very much missed when we leave here.

We have been planning our last few weeks and are preparing a little entertainment to finish our time here.  With such beautiful voices and a wonderful Irish dancer the “four” give great joy to the community, so it seems to be one way in which we can say “Thank you”. I’m afraid that I am just their manager and will prepare the afternoon tea.

Occasionally we find we are in different time warps and it causes some hilarity.  We were crossing Waterloo Bridge and I became very nostalgic, talking about the classic film, “Waterloo Bridge” starring Laurence Olivier and Vivienne Leigh. By the way my four friends looked at me I knew that I was talking a foreign language. On the other hand, they were much more interested in seeing the new Harry Potter film than I was.

I do hope that this is of some interest and gives some idea of our routine. This is really a bare outline, as there are so many times of sheer hilarity, pathos, deep sharing and wonderful companionship here in Hackney that I can’t put into words. This experience has been deep and lasting for each of us.

Virginia