The Monday Blues Blog: A very Big Dilemma

Syria has certainly hit the headlines this week and I have become obsessed with the twists and turns, comments and foibles of our commentators. So what we have heard so far is a rollercoaster of reactions to recent events. Firstly, shock! Aleppo fell very easily to Islamist extremists linked to Al Qaeda and the Taliban that are blacklisted by our government! Very negative news.

Naser

However, as the story has unfolded Al Jolani isn’t such a bad chap after all. He has been turned into almost an international hero for toppling the Assad dynasty and their ruthless reign over Syria. Syrians worldwide are dancing in celebration. They are talking freely without fear for the first time in their lives. They are sharing their thoughts on FB! America says it helped topple Assad. How? It was only in Syria to protect its oil interests. It certainly wasn’t worried about people dying.

Then the conversation on the news turned to when all the refugees will return home. Apparently, those in neighbouring countries; those in temporary camps are already flooding back – understandable. They have faith there will be a better life in their homeland. Then…It wasn’t such a big step to link Syria having a new leader to when will ALL those refugees in Europe go back – and as an extension – why haven’t any of them left yet?

This is where I started getting vocal and telling the newsreaders how stupid they are. As you know, Naser and his family are in this category. They live in MK and have established their lives here after 13 years of hell. Just think how difficult it is to move country. It took me a good 6 months to sort myself out to leave Singapore. That was just me. It wasn’t a whole family who needed to move, resign jobs, leave school… Masah, Naser’s daughter is at university here in the UK. She has been to 12 schools in 4 countries to get to where she is. Not easy.

Besides logistics, Naser is on cloud nine. He never thought this day would come. He had a death sentence on his head so there was no way he could return. He was one of those in a hole in a stinking prison and now the whole world can see what Assad did to his people – thousands of them, not just Naser.

He is talking to fellow Syrians about the future. He wants to rebuild a better country. He and his fellow Syrians do not need Israel to interfere and make a land grab – currently they have destroyed the navy, driven tanks to Damascus and been typically Israeli… Don’t get me started about That country! Syria has suffered enough. Naser needs to get back all that was confiscated. Syria is his homeland. Here’s the dilemma – Should he stay, or should he go?

If he goes, I will lose almost the best tennis partner ever; but I might have cheap future holidays in sunny Syria! Meanwhile he is so happy he can’t stop crying. He is contact with an international network of movers and shakers about rebuilding his homeland. This is BIG decision that only he can make.

While he is here, we have another big Christmas to look forward to. First things first.