Connecting with my roots. part 2

The Lilies and I have been staying close to my old neighbourhood, I have found that my roots are deep here, much deeper than I thought after nearly twenty-eight years of living in Canada. But most surprising of all is that turning fifty has made me become more nostaligic and in need of the connection between the past and the present.

There are few changes, and many of my old friends have moved on, I try to seek some of them out so that we can share old times and our stories. I sit and think of the past and share them with my Lilies as we walk through the park or the city streets. I do not know if they are listening or if they even care. But I feel that I need to share my story with them, and share all I can before somehow I forget.

There are times when I feel that I am walking on dark paths and do not know where there are leading me, but the Shepherd knows and he is guiding me there.

From Caribbean carnivals, and historical homes, we have been enjoying all that the borough of Hackney has to offer. Last weekend we found ourselves watching the Hackney version of carnival as the music pounded its way down the streets toward the Downs Park, the place where as a teenager I gave my heart to the Lord. We run along side to take pictures ans see the magnificent costumes and colourful dancers. The Reggae beat filling its onlookers with the desire to dance to its beat.

Then in contrast the Lilies, their cousin and I head toward what we later learn is one of the areas oldest buildings, Sutton House. They offered the children face painting, crafts and dress up, just down my Lilies alley. And I am amazed at the history that we are to discover.

Sutton House was built in 1535 for a Tudor coutier, Ralph Sadleir, but has been in the hands of several different owners, though the house was named after Sir Thomas Sutton who founded Charter House School in 1611 and had been called many things over the years. Names such as 'The Bryk Place', Milford, Ivy and Picton Houses, and also 'the Old House at the Corner'. In the 1980's the house was restored. One of the volunteers said that over the years several of Sadleirs decendents returned and many of them look a great deal like his portrait. There was a story teller sharing a story about a captain who had stories of strange animals from all over the world.

A wonderful time was had by all. It is a great place to visit.

We also visited the Hackney Museum, it is not a big museum but it had the history of Hackney ( and this is the place that I was born and raised), it was history that intriged me and makes me want to learn more about, but also gives me a sense of pride. This is my history. October is Black History month in the UK and there were exhibits that reflected the history of the black community in the area. The featured artist was a local photographer who began taking pictures at an early age. I was especially touched as I saw photo's of men and women just like my parents, and read of the conditions they were living in during the early years after the big influx of Caribbean immigrants in the fifties. Some of those photo's could have been taken in my own home, I marveled at how close it all came to touching my heart, my life.

I was so thankful that I was able to share this with my girls and can only hope that they will one day be as interested in where I have come from as I have been.

God has been good to us, and has been faithful and bring us through and has given us the strength to endure. We have a legacy, that I hope and pray that I can instill in my children as we glorify the Lord as He takes us through this life.

Peace!