Courage, planes and stability.

You know what- I really love England. I love the rain, I love the inordinate amount of snow; I love conkers and daffodils, robins and badgers. Rabid foxes are just part o' the life on our little green isle, and Arsenal FC, well, they're not really English are they? I can't say I really accept anything to do with Gordon Brown, or our oh-so-very capable government- but then 'What are men compared to rocks and mountains?' or in the case of the UK, really big hills.
Of course- I'm sure part of this is homesickness, having already been away from my mother land for two whole days. Hong Kong's pretty nice, warm,lovely- even if we are living a cupboard, but I can't help but pine for good old Britain. It's not got anything to do with a melodramatic attempt to escape from my revision. That would be ridiculous.
In my last two weeks in England I had a heck of a lot of fun. Not sure when exactly I managed to rest, but that's the 'hill for you- the city that never sleeps. Or rather, hamlet. Still, rock climbing, shakespeare, sponsored silence (I did it for the whole 8 hours- didn't think I would? O ye of little faith) doing an aerobatic display for a roundabout, performing Faure's requiem in a massed choir in London for the Jesuits (and getting a standing ovation!) etc, well it's just one of the things I love about our little country- even the boff can do anything with the right determination, address and bus driver.
During my flight, I got to thinking about how all planes are essentially the same.Of course, there's a big difference between a Grob tutor, a Hawk and a 747. I've never flown in a Hawk, but I've imagined it often enough ( the red arrows have got nothing on me- In my head) It's something I've noticed though-not their differences, got those pretty quickly. But their similarities- the same freedom, new limits, new frontier. The way you feel as you go into the air, everything you can see... It's incredible, thrilling, out of this world. So peaceful, and at the same time, very nearly out of control.
It's not so different from our life- my family's anyway. For example, three weeks ago, after a rehearsal, violin lesson and charity committee meeting I got a call from my parents, who handed me over to my headmaster so I could give him a message for his wife, and then explained to me they'd just moved into a new house which I'd never seen before and would get my new bed tomorrow.
I relayed this to a fellow actor whilst we were rehearsing, who asked me if the word 'stability' meant anything to my family.
The answer is no, no it doesn't.
My proof? I recounted the story to my Mum this afternoon, who exclaimed, 'Yes we do! We always have the pets at home!' Yup. Except cornflake. The fish. He died.
Anyway the point is, traveling is...well, incredible, thrilling and out of this world. it can be so peaceful, and liberating- and at the same time half the time you're spinning out of control in a whirl of unfamiliar faces and sights,and the other half you're trying figure out what time zone you're in and how that relates to the rest of the world. I wouldn't swap my life for the whole, beautiful planet- but that doesn't mean it doesn't have a price, nor does it mean that every time I step out the door I don't take a deep breath, and just let a slight, cold flicker of doubt flash through my mind. A wish for safety. But it's not bravery if you don't feel fear, and I wouldn't be me if I didn't just throw it all aside and have a go anyway. So far, I haven't looked back.
And that's one of the things I love most about England. The unicorn and the lion. The British have never been afraid to confront the unknown- looking for it in everything we see, and no matter what the stereotype or unfortunate political situation- we're brave. Because you just have to think about it- maybe China's the new world power, and the USA leaves us all in the dust, whatever. England's still at the top, and has been for hundreds of years. We 'carry on', but we do it magnificently. Even in Sheffield.