I was fourteen when I left the village in Cyprus. It was 1974 and my parents remained in the village. I didn't see them for 9 years and came to live in England. I lost my childhood, it was taken from me. I still dream about the village. When I came to England I was very ill and developed lumps on my body. The stress of the being cut away from my parents made me ill. i didn't want to leave them and would have rather stayed in the village even occupied. My parents felt there would be resolution so they stayed and hoped for it. But it didn't come and when they finally came out I was 24, married and had my first child.I lived with my parents from 24-29 years old, with my husband and children. I loved it. I felt I was able in someway to get back what was lost.

Since then I haven't been able to stay still. I move every 4-6 years.I have lived in England, Israel, Palestine, Cyprus, Pakistan, Guatemalla. Next year we move to New York. If the border came down and I could return and my mother wanted to go I would go back and stop moving.

When my parents finally left the village and came to the south of Cyprus they brought the clock and gave it me. The basket was made by my grandmother.