The British people, especially those around Broxbourne because more appalling by the minute. I find myself not wanting to go out. The haters online continue to try and argue it is okay to protest outside the 'home' of the children, some people deny their presence, indicating they are not local or in the know.
The good news is the counter protest has emerged. I am getting almost as many messages of support and a large counter protest happened on Friday, with a big police presence and a Green in the lead, so that was something. Though I still felt those in the hotel might not be able to tell the difference between the noise coming from the haters or the others.
I have been obsessed with challenging people on Facebook, not because I am better than the people online, but working with refugees I am better informed, but how to speak to out and out racists and those who also seem to be slightly informed but even more anti despite being former refugees themselves. It was ever thus. Racism breeds racism. I just think kindness is safer and more a form of self interest.
I had something though the last week with which to totally distract myself. Sondheim, or a mini production of Sondheim, with an organisation called Ross, where professional directors and conductors work with amateurs to put on a theatre production in one week. A nod to Judy Garland put on a summer show. At first I was upset that I was the only person to not have a part and then I was relieved when I realised how hard the music was, but I styled it out the best I could, albeit it in a borrowed dress and hat and jacket. It was also lovely to see the whole process from start to finish and my brain has not work that hard for ages, but we did it, I did forget some of the song lines, but I entered and exited in more or less the right places. I did have the least of anyone on the stage to do, but just being there and getting through the week was my challenge. On the whole people were very kind, and I mostly really enjoyed it. Would I go again. I do not know. I should have done it of course when I was younger, and I am just wondering where have all those years gone. But if not next year then at least one more time. Some people go every year. It depends on how well these limbs stand up and they will face an even bigger challenge elsewhere. The haters have made me very sad, depressed, concerned. I really do not want to live here any more. If I could just pick myself up and put myself elsewhere I would, but where? They are everywhere and even more and more.
One of the other participants, the only other person to have Googled, putting on a summer show, was a lovely young woman all the way from Ukraine, for a week, she departed the war and now she is back under the bombs in Kiev. She inspired us all. And so did the other young partipants, who seemed to embody their parts in the adapation of Spelling Bee. I enjoyed just watching everyone's performances.
I also added another garden to my repetoire, visiting RHS Bridgewater, I would like to go back and see the canal route, but the actual gardens are really lovely. It was a stunning day and everyone was having fun.
