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Red and yellow and pink and green...

"Once I found a diamond on the Lampeter bus. Before giving it to the driver for safe-keeping, I held it for a moment. That diamond seemed to sum up lots of precious things: friendship and happiness and it was away from home - like me.

I hadn't even found my home. I'd seen rainbows over Machynlleth when I'd worked at Ynyslas - and I wanted to be amongst the rocks and oaks under them - but life and money got in my way!

Then I was called to a Cafe job at the Centre for Alternative Technology. On my first morning in Machynlleth a bumble bee woke me up. In my first cottage, that winter, frost on the bed did the trick!

That house had space, though; and I had a drum kit; and amplifiers; and homemade cider (straight from the bucket) - so, naturally, everyone met up there.

I worked in other cafes and got to know more people. I would get head -hunted for things...... like pet-shop sitting- and pantomimes.

Once, I applied to be an astronaut. Even now I'm often greeted in the street with "Beam me up Scottie"

When my mum helped me move to my warm house, amongst the rocks and oaks where I'd dreamed of being, we had apple crumble and cream with whisky over it to celebrate - nice!

Instead of shivering and singing while I chopped wood for the fire I had time for music and mischief, and at last, love and a garden.

Suddenly I've realised I am home.

Once I found a diamond on a bus. Now I find precious things everyday."

Please tell us a little about yourself.
I moved to Wales in 1981, but had worked at Ynyslas before that. My family are Canadian, Irish, English, Tuscarora Indian (a long time ago) and spread around the place - I felt greatly at home in Wales. I've worked mostly in shops and cafes. My hobbies are cycling, gardening, writing, brewing country wines and singing. I also play sax and get involved in things like local pantomimes.

What's your story about?
My story is about finding a diamond, and other, more precious things in Wales!

Why did you choose to tell this particular story?
I feel at home now and this story is about moving from 'cheerful' to really 'happy'.

What did you find most rewarding about the workshop?
Everything!

Your comments

"I really like the comparisons in this story. The woman talks about how she found a diamond on a bus and ever since then she has been finding precious things. But not merchandise precious, but life precious. She realized that like the diamond on the bus, it was away from home just like her. The things she found after the diamond were realizations about her own life, loved ones, friends etc. I like this story it was short and sweet!" samantha Robert, Ontario, Canada.