Calling Time

'Calling Time' is a simple story, a romantic story. It is set in 1985 against a backdrop of Mrs. Thatcher doing her best and her worst; Bob Geldof lifting the world in a valiant attempt to unite everyone against the famine in Africa with his Band aid concert; singers and songs still well known to this day; fear created by terrorist threats, IRA bombs and a lingering cold war; football hooliganism; and young people everywhere stepping into a working world of massive unemployment. By moving Meg to a small island, I hoped to remove the influence of particular politics and world events to highlight the ongoing angst and self-absorption of young people as they leave the comforting arms of family and educational establishments with confidence, ambition and dreams of greatness totally unprepared for the realities and often disillusionment of adulthood.This is Meg's story, she is 'everywoman' searching for food, shelter, love and self-esteem in a world that is not always kind. The people she meets on her journey of self-discovery provide her with many life lessons and open her eyes to the realities and responsibilities of adulthood. It is seen through her eyes, her thoughts, emotions and reactions. In life we don't always know what other people are truly thinking and feeling and often we get it wrong.In 1985, long distant correspondence was through letters, cards and expensive landline telephone systems. Despite the massive technological advances in communication, misunderstandings and miscommunication are still a huge part of the rich tapestry of our lives today. The same mistakes are made as each individual strives to make sense of a changing world. Collectively, we slowly evolve emotionally, and history continues to repeat itself.