This is Mick and he has an interesting story. “I was one of those people who thought that these organisations like Care 4 Calais were part of the problem” he told me. “But one drunken night at the pub, a neighbour of mine who used to work here told me – just go and see the situation for yourself. You don’t have to change your mind, but at least go and see it for yourself before we have this conversation again”. So he did. And now he keeps coming back . “The first time I came I had planned to stay for a few days, but I ended up staying for 5 weeks” he told me. He’s spent many months volunteering at Care 4 Calais now.
A couple of weeks ago, 5 young Syrian refugees who were here in Calais, devastatingly died. Our team at Care 4 Calais attended a vigil in their memory. Mick didn’t come. He said “I don’t do funerals. Instead, every time something like this happens, I just decide to volunteer here longer and do more”.
The thought of Mick leaving Care 4 Calais gives me a mild sense of anxiety now 😅 . It feels like he is part of the furniture here. He’s always sharing the best ‘tekkers’ for practical jobs in the warehouse and he’s got a wicked sense of humour.
The Beirut Bulbul. 
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