Home is where the heart is

It’s now 1975 and Daniel has already been living in London for over 5 years now. He has finally obtained his Master degree in anthropology. Although he is naturally good in his studies, good grades did not come easily for him. He worked hard and never missed his lectures. His distinguishing strength lies in his non-procrastination to solving problems, especially difficult ones . All too often his professors would try to dodge him, just to avoid having to answer difficult questions from him. But, they also realize that he is a discerning fellow and among themselves, often praise him for his genuine quest for knowledge. What next? Daniel wonders. Going home to look for a job? To pursue a PhD qualification? The thought of being called Dr. Daniel Kang gives him a nice feel, a feeling of authority, someone who has reached the pinnacle of one’s academic pursuit. Propose to Janet? They have known each other since secondary school days. She is the love of his life. He cannot think of any other girl to share his life with other than Janet. But he is perturbed from news back home. He begins to hear rumours from friends back home that there is a handsome and successful young surgeon who has just returned from a well-known hospital in Scotland, is wooing Janet. Although he is sure of her love for him as his for her, he also realizes that she is only human and is venerable in her present situation. He has nothing to offer her in terms of security which is what every girl wants in a man. He does not have a career, have no money, and a qualification which is not in great demand back home. Moreover, he is far away from her. But, she could come and join him in England, Daniel tries to find a solution for himself. She would qualify as a doctor this year. They would get married and settle down in England. The British government has already given him a permanent resident status, so for Janet to live in England as his wife would not be a problem. But, would she be able to get used to the life here? Can she be happy here? He has many questions running through his mind and these are not easy questions to answer. Daniel is troubled. The more he thinks, the more doubts he has. He feels depressed about his future. He lies on the bed, could not sleep. He begins to recall the people and events over the years that have made an impact on his life in England.
Ringano, Shashi, Patel, Matthew, Teck Suan, Professor Adam and Freddy and Kathy Browns, whom he has shared many happy moments, adventurous excursions and learning experiences. There have been some phenomenal events too. Inflation, strikes by British working class, especially the coal miners, Britain joining the European Economic Community and immigration policies to name a few. Prices of everything has spiraled, essential items such as electricity, gas, transport and food items are not spared. Every household feels the pinch of inflation in the 70s. Everyone is concerned about the cost of living. The UK inflation continues to spiral out of control reaching over 24% in 1975 and the price of petrol increased by nearly 70% this year alone. The British government used interest rate as a way of trying to control inflation. The Bank of England increased its prime lending rate to 11.25%. Daniel often finds himself avoiding eating out, curtailing his holiday trips and cutting down on luxuries. There have been widespread strikes against government agencies. Unionists have succeeded in making wage demands in the 50s and 60s against the background of rising prosperity and near full employment which led to people feeling that their jobs were safe and they could ask for more. The 70s felt the full force of what the unions could do. A series of strikes lead to power cuts and the Three Day Week. This so-called Three Day Week was a measure taken by the Conservative Government to conserve electricity, the production of which was severely reduced due to industrial actions by coal miners. The effect of this measure was that from 1 January until 7 March 1974 commercial users of electricity would be limited to three specified consecutive days' consumption each week and prohibited from working longer hours on those days. However, services deemed essential were exempt. The 70s was not the best time for British economy. Another phenomenon is large scale immigration from third world countries into the UK. The British government had relaxed her immigration policies when World War II ended in 1945. Britain needed immigrant labour to help reconstruct their sunken economy. At first white Europeans dominated immigration to Britain. However, postwar immigration also attracted for the first time, large numbers of workers and their families from outside Europe. They came mainly from the Caribbean, India and Pakistan. They were given free entry because they were citizens of the Commonwealth. Almost all of them have taken roots in Britain and they numbers quickly grew, changing the racial landscape of Britain forever. Britain finally joined Europe in 1973. This was meant to improve things, but the British home market is vulnerable to imports. Foreign cars became more the norm than the exception and British industry struggled to compete. The British Labour Party had launched a long and bruising campaign to ask the British people to back UK's continued membership of the European Economic Community, or Common Market. And the result of the country’s first nationwide referendum showed that just over 67% of voters supported the Labour government's campaign to stay in the EEC, despite several cabinet ministers having come out in favour of British withdrawal from the Common Market. The most vocal opposition against Britain joining the Common Market came from the trade union led by the Trade Union Congress or TUC in short. Prime Minister Harold Wilson has hailed the result as a historic decision by the British people. He had the Conservatives to thank for. For they were also campaigning to stay in the Common Market. Margret Thatcher was elected as Tory leader in February 1975. She had decided to challenge Edward Heath for the Tory’s top leadership after her party lost the second election in October 1974. Margaret Hilda Roberts is the daughter of a Lincolnshire grocer who owned two grocery shops in the town of Grantham. This grocer’s daughter would one day become the first woman Prime Minister of Britain and her rule was one of the most defined moments in British politics. It was also at this time that Bill Gates and Paul Allen created the company Microsoft. 1975 also sees the Vietnam war finally ends.
He is still wide awake, still could not fall to sleep, although feeling tired and sleepy. The thought of Janet is back in his mind. I will go back home to attend her graduation and then I shall propose to her, Daniel tries to reassure himself. Suddenly, he thinks of the Browns. He has not met this lovely couple for awhile. I must call on them, it’s been awhile, Daniels says to himself. The serene surroundings of the country side would be a nice place to retreat to for some serious thinking. “Hello, Dan! It’s good to see you again. How have you been Son? Please come in”, Freddy Brown opens the door to greet Daniel and leads him to the family lounge without waiting for his reply. Kathy Brown is sitting on her favourite rocking chair and watching her favourite programme “The Waltons” on her colour TV. It is a popular American television series at the time. The series is centered on the titular family growing up in a rural Virginia community during the Great Depression and World War II. The family struggled to make a decent life during the Great Depression and World War II. Each episode gives a message of hope and family traditions and values. On seeing Daniel, she quickly lifts her frail torso to come forward and give Daniel a warm hug. “How are you Mum?”, Daniel asks with a tinge of sadness in his eyes as he realised she has lost much weight and grown a lot older since the last time he saw her. The Browns are so happy to see Daniel again. They treat him like their own son and he feels the same way about them. Kathy Brown cooked his favourite stew steak and sheppard pie for dinner. Daniel said very little at the dinner table. After dinner, they adjourned to the family lounge and sit beside the fireplace. “What are your plans, Son”, Freddy asks. “I don’t really know Dad. I have some options but I need to think carefully before I make a decision”, Daniel replies. ‘Well, the main thing now is whether you want to go home or stay in this country?”, Freddy is pressing him for an answer. “Yes, I know. And it’s not an easy decision”, Daniel answers. “I have grown to like many things here. People here are liberal, more open and everyone seems to be minding one’s own business. Back in my country, people tend to equate success by one’s material wealth or status in society.”, Daniel continues. “You have to follow your heart Son. Home is where the heart is”, Kathy Brown advises. .
“Yes. Follow my heart”, Daniels agrees. “That means where Janet is”, he thinks to himself.