thanks Liz glad you understand ...we are all in charge of our own selves ..as said no regrets, and cant live by everything others say although did understand people left or did not leave for many different reasons ..i was one of the lucky ones as had an opportunity and was encouraged by my forward thinking parents who told me that if things didn't work out I always had a home to come back to. that gave me courage and confidence. at age 19.... My lovely dad said ...what did I fight in a world war for if it wasn't for' Freedom'.. I thank goodness that I was brought up with an open mind, tolerance ,self worth and to be a strong 'female' my mum was a bit of a woman's libber (in her own quiet way) LOL and I like to think I am similar ... don't ever need to shout ,scream but get it done ... quite often it is only at a later date in our lives that we appreciate everything that we were taught. I worried all the time about my loved ones but at the same time so glad that I wasn't there ...i still remember my friends who were murdered and wished that i could have got them away sooner but I was young and struggling quite a bit myself to stay afloat financially.. until quite a few years later when i did better at making a good Living ..life was so much more expensive in London----- still is but I couldn't put them up as sharing a flat with friends and couldn't do it... we had many happy times and lotsa fun although broke by the end of the month most times but things did get better and better and better - thank goodness ... I was never 'homesick' once phoned my mum from a phone box once a week briefly to let her know I was 'still alive' ..we couldn't afford a phone in our flat as the connection fee was astronomical.. i thought with the money i was earning' 7 times what I was earning in Belfast ' that I would be rich what a shock ...rent ,bills, travel card, food, never mind clothing we all had part time jobs in wine bars, hotels ,bars, but had fun and got fed too, made great pals learned a lot and grew up.....as said no regrets