Page 4 - Town & Around - September 2022
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4 Town & Around September 2022                                                  Tel: 01485 540620 email: editor@townandaround.net
       The reality of being a refugee

       Chris Bishop
         'm fighting back the tears as Nick and Nataliya tell their story in a
         noisy cafe filled with shoppers and holidaymakers on the High
       IStreet.
       On a summer's day in Sunny Hunny, they've shared the horrors that
       drove them from their war-torn homeland to our shores.
        It started off with a missile hitting the block of flats next to the one
       they lived in at 4.30am on the day the Russian invasion began.
        Neighbours were killed and maimed in their beds, as the couple saw
       the skies over Kyiv turn fiery red and knew they had to get out for the
       sake of their children.
        After more than 30 years in journalism, I'm rarely lost for words.
       But I've run out of questions even quicker than they've run out of
       answers as the horror of what they've been through sinks in.
        A kind sponsor has given them somewhere to stay on the edge of
       Hunstanton. Nataliya shrugs when I ask if they think they'll ever be
       able to return home.
        "You don't know if this life you've worked for all this time will still
       exist, or whether it's been blown to pieces," she says as the tears well   Photo: Chris Bishop
       up.                                                 for the first time. It's cod all-round for the rest of us.
        Nick adds: "We had a lot of plans, we had perspective. Then all of   The mood lightens as we tuck into some proper seaside food. Plaice
       a sudden everything was finished, everything was broken and we have   are what we call a flatfish, because they're flat and live at the bottom
       to start out life from the beginning again."        of the sea, I explain.
        A hiss of steam breaks the silence and the barista shouts: "Two lattes,   Nick starts trying to describe a fish they eat at home. It's like a big
       cappuccino coming up."                              Ukrainian trout by the sound of things, before the conversation stalls
        I can see it's time to go. I've put them through enough for one   again.
       afternoon.                                            They ate those back at home. The home they had to flee, like
        People are queuing as we head outside. I wonder if any of them have   countless thousands, as their country was torn apart by a war in which
       any idea what the couple walking past them have been through before   God only knows how many have died.
       they ended up in our town.                            I wonder if the people spilling in from the beach and those sitting
        A few days later, we meet up to get a picture or two on the beach   around us have any idea about the reality of what's happened in
       with the couple and their two children Roman, 14 and three-year-old   Ukraine, the human cost I've seen through the eyes of one family
       sister Miriam, to go with a story I'm filing.       who've seen their hopes and dreams shattered before they wound up
        They don't know whether to smile or not. I wouldn't if I'd lost   here with little more than the clothes on their back.
       everything.                                           If you think you're going to struggle over the next few months, spare
        "Shall we go and find some fish and chips," I ask.     a thought for Nick and Nataliya, who've found themselves facing an
        The seafront eatery we plump for does us proud. Nick tries plaice   uncertain future here.
       Why it’s important a garage is ‘female-friendly’


       Abigail Brown
             ou are not alone if you're a woman   reception is the right staff. A warm smile,   You may have heard horror stories about
             who has dreaded taking your car to a   friendly demeanour, and understanding   garages taking advantage of women, perhaps
       Ygarage.  A whopping nine in ten   approach go a long way to building trust and   overcharging them, or doing more work on
       women believe they are treated differently at   calming nerves.      their car than was discussed and still being
       auto-repair shops than men. And with 31%   Confused.com states that over a third of   charged for it. In fact, according to a study
       confused by jargon and 28% nervous about   women motorists worry a mechanic will rip   performed by The Times, women are much
       asking technical questions, it's no wonder   them off.  This is a scary statistic, but it's   more likely to be quoted higher prices for car
       women view a trip to the dentist more   understandable given that some technicians   repairs than men for the same services. It's
       favourably than getting a car serviced,   use jargon and fail to explain what the car   important to note that this isn't always the
       according to  AutoMD.  Yet, shockingly,   needs and any work completed. Then there's   case, however.
       despite the statistics above, many auto-repair   the fear that you'll be laughed at if you   A handful of garages make providing a
       garages are not making an effort to be 'female   misunderstand anything. On the other hand,   safe, welcoming environment and services to
       appropriate.'                      an honest garage would go through everything   people of all genders a priority. With our all-
        First impressions count, and if women,   in detail and layman's terms without   female receptions and knowledgeable, helpful
       men, or people of any gender walk into a   patronising. The reception/admin team and   technicians, we at K Brown Auto Repairs are
       dirty, uninviting reception area, they are likely   mechanics should treat each customer with   dedicated to treating all our customers with
       to feel uneasy from the off. Even things that   respect and compassion.   the same courtesy and care, no matter their
       may seem insignificant, like old, faded   No garage should conduct work before   gender.
       calendars on the wall and insufficient lighting,   getting prior approval from the customer,   Visit www.kbrownautoskingslynn.co.uk for
       can impact how comfortable someone feels.   regardless of gender. This may seem like a   more information. Or call our friendly
       On the contrary, a light, airy space with plenty   given, but you'd be surprised how many   reception teams on 01485 533786 for
       of seating and tasteful decor will have the   garages aren't so forthcoming when it comes   Hunstanton or 01553763763 for King's Lynn.
       opposite effect. Another essential aspect of a   to communicating effectively with customers.
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