The Cameron Highlands sounded so exotic
To be born in the tropics – a colonial miss
She could have been a proper lady!
The foundation of happiness,
Upon which she built a life,
Proved all too short
And sailing home – alone
She built an imaginary world
Protecting herself by
Always seeing the best
Learning how to sacrifice
Drawing people to her light
Her innocence balanced by her knowing.
She waited for her time
Remembered running on a platform
Holding him in her arms
Feeling his emaciated body
Reunited - a family once more.
Koreen, Alford, Donside
Nursing, dances, army
And somewhere in here a man
A special man
A man who made her whole
Lives and hearts entwined in perfect balance
A wonderful blur
26 Duddingston Crescent, Windyridge
Housewife, receptionist, nurse, mother, lover
Multitasking on a grand scale
A Neverland of wondrous memories.
She nurtured her tribe of boys and girl
They grew happy and protected
Yet time takes its toll
The crocodile’s ticking clock
Catches us all
Yet laughter, love and happiness
Drowns out the ticks
From a woman who only sees the light
For my mother Barrie Ledingham (nee Gibson) - who was born in Malaya, 1930 where her father was rubber planter. He was captured by the Japanese and spent the war in Changi Jail. She was named after J. M Barrie who wrote Peter Pan.
