The meandering of life.

 

I live in and love Sinfin (Derby - UK). It’s the only place in the world where I’m surrounded by family, friends, acquaintances and community. People I have related to for most of my life. From the day I arrived, I knew I belonged here and it’ll be my home until I demise.

 

My life started before me. Until 1956, my parent’s lives were Hungarian and they lived farming/peasant lives. My Dad was 19 and my Mum 18 when a revolution happened and they were forced to flee their homes, families and country or face bullets. Thankfully, Great Britain welcomed them and after a three year journey via various countries, cities and towns, little Miklós and little Eva arrived and met in Derby. I was the little result of their introduction.

 

My first breath was breathed at the City Hospital on the summer solstice of 1960. As far as my research is aware, I am possibly/probably the first Fülep born on English soil. In my mind I am an English man, but I’m powered by a Hungarian heart and as proud of where I am as where I’m from.

 

By 1963 our family had expanded to five as we were joined by my sister and brother. For my first ten years we flitted around the centre of Derby, moonlighting or evicted from flats to houses and back. Our world was second hand, full of problems, issues and other stuff that I didn’t understand as a kid, so I just enjoyed the adventure and cruised through a fantastic childhood.

 

At the end of 1970 we found ourselves homeless. The council put us up in a prefabricated office on a building site near Ascot Drive and we spent Christmas in a pretty much empty room with nothing to celebrate, but the day itself. Hell for my parents, no doubt, but just more experience and somewhere else to explore for me.