extended even more and she only had one day off. The Holy Virgin Mary must have heard her because before long they had cleared security and were able to make their way to the first shop.
Gabrielle viewed security as an irritating inconvenience which was to become a stark contrast to her attitude of a few years later.
The searching was repeated in the next shop and the next, until she grew accustomed to it. By shop number four Gabrielle automatically opened her bag on entrance. In future she would plan her shopping trips not by hours or even by her favourite shops, but by which shops had the least security. Her time off was precious and she could see this constant searching becoming an annoyance. She began to wonder if it was worth all this hassle simply to buy a few dresses. But when she looked down Royal Avenue and wondered through Corn Market, she saw shop upon shop lining the streets. Gabrielle determined there and then that a few little searches wouldnât come between her and all this.
In those days it became habit for Gabrielle and no doubt the bulk of women in Northern Ireland to ensure their handbags were tidy and pockets empty before going shopping, an untidy handbag or full pockets only served to cause delays.
Gabrielle never did tour the city as she had planned, she preferred to spend any free time whiling away her days in the relative safety of the Lisburn Road or in the Fort Knox that was the city centre. The minute amount of news she listened to or read reiterated the same pattern day after day bomb, riots or shootings. Remarkably some of the news which she routinely disregarded must have subliminally entered her head, for as time went on and the violence worsened she gained a healthy apprehension and rarely ventured into the unknown. This combined with her dire sense of direction always kept her within close proximity to the hospital.
Staying close to the hospital was never a chore her instincts were right; a change of environment was exactly what she needed. Within walking distance from the hospital was an array of shops, restaurants and bars. These were thronged with students from Queensâ University who despite their surroundings, were keen to experience the 1970s. Their colourful clothing, long hair and flares brightened the entire area and lightened the atmosphere in the otherwise guarded and forlorn city. Their proximity to the nurseâs home kept the girls surrounded by a charged, vibrant ambience that pulsed with youthful energy, making the city a fun place to be.
Chapter Twelve
The move to Belfast gave Gabrielle a fresh perspective on life. She now looked forward to each day. Her colleagues were a sociable bunch of girls and it wasnât long before she felt right at home in the big city. Her days passed in a whirl of laughter, learning and contentment and she wished she had made the move earlier.
It would be fair to say that Gabrielle could not attribute all of her fervour to her wonderful new job and friends, a much stronger compulsion fuelled her exhilaration. Max.
Gabrielle was totally consumed with love for Max. Since he had bought her that lifesaving lunch two months earlier, she had really gotten to know him. No longer did she reject his advances on the contrary she positively sought them. Much to the confusion of the girls in Derry, she had suddenly become available to take his calls and reply to his letters. Luckily for her, he never questioned how busy she had once claimed to be. If he had asked the only truthful answer Gabrielle could have furnished him with would have been that she was busy, very busy in fact. Busy avoiding him.
Since that lunch everything had changed, they even met up in Derry once or twice. Yet one hundred miles separated them and this was a distance that seemed futile. Max lived in Belfast and Gabrielle would have moved heaven and earth to have been near him. The fact that she chose to move to Belfast rather than Dublin was no coincidence. During
Gabrielle viewed security as an irritating inconvenience which was to become a stark contrast to her attitude of a few years later.
The searching was repeated in the next shop and the next, until she grew accustomed to it. By shop number four Gabrielle automatically opened her bag on entrance. In future she would plan her shopping trips not by hours or even by her favourite shops, but by which shops had the least security. Her time off was precious and she could see this constant searching becoming an annoyance. She began to wonder if it was worth all this hassle simply to buy a few dresses. But when she looked down Royal Avenue and wondered through Corn Market, she saw shop upon shop lining the streets. Gabrielle determined there and then that a few little searches wouldnât come between her and all this.
In those days it became habit for Gabrielle and no doubt the bulk of women in Northern Ireland to ensure their handbags were tidy and pockets empty before going shopping, an untidy handbag or full pockets only served to cause delays.
Gabrielle never did tour the city as she had planned, she preferred to spend any free time whiling away her days in the relative safety of the Lisburn Road or in the Fort Knox that was the city centre. The minute amount of news she listened to or read reiterated the same pattern day after day bomb, riots or shootings. Remarkably some of the news which she routinely disregarded must have subliminally entered her head, for as time went on and the violence worsened she gained a healthy apprehension and rarely ventured into the unknown. This combined with her dire sense of direction always kept her within close proximity to the hospital.
Staying close to the hospital was never a chore her instincts were right; a change of environment was exactly what she needed. Within walking distance from the hospital was an array of shops, restaurants and bars. These were thronged with students from Queensâ University who despite their surroundings, were keen to experience the 1970s. Their colourful clothing, long hair and flares brightened the entire area and lightened the atmosphere in the otherwise guarded and forlorn city. Their proximity to the nurseâs home kept the girls surrounded by a charged, vibrant ambience that pulsed with youthful energy, making the city a fun place to be.
Chapter Twelve
The move to Belfast gave Gabrielle a fresh perspective on life. She now looked forward to each day. Her colleagues were a sociable bunch of girls and it wasnât long before she felt right at home in the big city. Her days passed in a whirl of laughter, learning and contentment and she wished she had made the move earlier.
It would be fair to say that Gabrielle could not attribute all of her fervour to her wonderful new job and friends, a much stronger compulsion fuelled her exhilaration. Max.
Gabrielle was totally consumed with love for Max. Since he had bought her that lifesaving lunch two months earlier, she had really gotten to know him. No longer did she reject his advances on the contrary she positively sought them. Much to the confusion of the girls in Derry, she had suddenly become available to take his calls and reply to his letters. Luckily for her, he never questioned how busy she had once claimed to be. If he had asked the only truthful answer Gabrielle could have furnished him with would have been that she was busy, very busy in fact. Busy avoiding him.
Since that lunch everything had changed, they even met up in Derry once or twice. Yet one hundred miles separated them and this was a distance that seemed futile. Max lived in Belfast and Gabrielle would have moved heaven and earth to have been near him. The fact that she chose to move to Belfast rather than Dublin was no coincidence. During
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