KF - Thursday 15th July

Written by a 53 year old female living in a hostel in Brighton.

Diary Entry: 15th July 2010

It is 6.30am. I must get out of the habit of waking up early in the morning unless I have to. I suppose that is what sleeping rough does to you. At least this morning I know where I am. When I awoke yesterday I wondered what had happened to my park bench it did not fell right, it took me a few seconds to work out where I was. This morning I am luxuriating in just lying here and stretching with no hard wooden boards under me. Second luxury of the day, I will now go and make myself a cup of tea. I realise that peoples ideas of luxury depend on their circumstances, I never thought mine would be getting up and making a cuppa. This combined with spending four weeks on the street has certainly changed my outlook on people and life, very much for the better I hope.

Now to First Base, walking into the hall for what will probably be the last time. It is a wonderful moment to ask for someone to open my locker, how did I ever fit so much in such a small space. It is while saying goodbye and thanks to the staff, Heather especially that Marek asked me to keep this diary of the day. Walking along Western Rd to St Annes Day centre I suddenly feel light as a feather, the reason – no heavy holdall containing my sleeping bag and other necessities of rough sleeping. It is windy and overcast but the way I fell it is the warmest sunniest day I have felt in years. Oh it feels good to be alive. I have just left the job centre after informing them of a change of address, again a simple pleasure but what a great one. Damn! Took a photograph of the outside of the building but when I tried to wind the film on it had jammed and there is nothing I can do – sorry Marek only 3 photos.

Walking around town or on the seafront, even just sitting down outside, what a difference the feeling between being homeless where it is just a matter of passing the time and now, when I have a definite place to go. Forty hours is all it has been but already it feels like a totally different life. Back to the hostel and there is now a television in my room. I realise that I have not even thought about one until now. I very rarely missed one sleeping rough. I realise I have not seen one world cup game, one very good reason for not having a set, I hate football! But I did miss wimbledon. This is the end of my day – now for my wonderful bed and no worries about people and things in the night. Good night.