Free Splintered Lives by Carol Holden Page A

overlooking a reservoir and they both fall in love with it.   It is not cheap but after reviewing their financial position, they agree that they can afford it with the money from Charlie’s bungalow and the sale of David’s terrace house.   They may have to take out a small mortgage but with David’s new job it will not be a hardship.   Charlie will have his pension and they will have a comfortable life style.  
     
    “This is great,” shouts Charlie as he circles the grounds of the house by the water.    He is making plans for the garden and the idea of growing fruit and vegetables is exciting Charlie.   There are a few fruit trees and gooseberry bushes as well as raspberry canes and blackcurrant bushes.   Charlie has always loved to garden but has not had the amount of land that they have now.  
     
    “I’m going to love it here.”   He says quietly to himself.   He has worked as a volunteer in Ruthin for the Samaritans and with their contacts they have found him a place in the Bolton branch.   He has found many friends within the organisation and he knows that there will similar types of people in his new branch.
     
    David settles into his new position and he finds his colleagues are friendly and they include him in their out of work activities.   He soon makes friends and they show him the ropes of working in the city, the best restaurants, the theatres and the various clubs.   David has been used to city life before when he worked as a civil engineer, but they were only short stays and most of his life was lived in the small town of Ruthin.   Charlie has started work on the garden and he finds there are friendly people who are walking the paths around the reservoir, who stop to have a word with him.   He finds the locals very friendly and his work for his local Samaritans, very rewarding.   He is really glad that they have made this change.   He finds David is a lot happier, as he is getting much more satisfaction out of his more challenging job.
     
    “How about a look around the area.” Asks Charlie one weekend in late October.
     
    “We have been here two months now, and because of the work we have been doing on the house and garden, we haven’t had time to look around and about.”
     
    “Sure.” Replies David who is feeling a bit stir crazy, what with all the preparations for his lectures, as well as, helping his father with a bit of decoration some weekends.
     
    “Let’s have a look around Rosefield Park , my friend James at work, tells me that you get a good Sunday lunch at the Black Horse.”
     
    “Great,” replies his dad.   I’ll just get my boots on and we can have a walk around our lake first.”   “It’s a bit muddy by the looks of it, and the few walkers I’ve seen walking along the path from here, all wear walking boots.”
     
    “I’ll get my boots if I can find them, I think they are in one of the boxes I have not yet unpacked.” Says David halfway up the stairs in his half of the house.
     
    They set off at a good pace along the edges of the reservoir and find the terrain quite challenging.   Some of the way is very muddy, but as they walk across fields in order to get them back on to the hard paths around the water’s edge, they find the views enchanting, as the trees are slowly turning from green to the various shades of autumn, red, gold and yellow.
     
    “I’m really glad we made this move, son,” says Charlie who is glowing from the brisk walk and the fresh air.
     
    “Me too,” replies David, who is pleased that his father is so fit for a man of his sixty years.
     
    “How far are we off this restaurant you promised me,” asks Charlie, “I’m famished with all this exercise.”
     
    “About half-hour up this road and along that smaller reservoir and we should be there.”   David replies.
     
    They trudge along in companionable silence until they see the building they have been looking for.
     
    They have their own friends. David