The phrase “Home” has many meanings for me beyond the classic dictionary noun and adjective description found in paper or internet sources.

The noun description of home being a place where one lives permanently, especially as a member of a family or household: is liable to change over time as you leave home to study or work or travel. or family members move on through new social and work relationships.

I have had the same permanent residence: for over three decades, with my wife, children and grandchild playing an important part of my homelife.

My physical home building is more than just bricks and mortar it is a family home, where our family live, breathe, eat, drink, share important moments, emotions, happiness and upset and create memories. One of our daughters was born at home here.
Its a physical place where I feel safe, comfortable and familiar.

I consider Wanstead the geographical area as my home area, but free to visit and enjoy other places everywhere else.
It is important not to be restricted or confined to a home area.

Covid has not changed any of the above in a spiritual sense but lead to me spending more physical time inside my building, but exploring my local home area by foot, finding out new walking routes to and from home.

Covid has produced the growth of Zoom and Microsoft teams which has allowed me to share my home settings with others , in dance classes and other social activities. I now have a range of “virtual” friends who I not physically met but seen inside their home settings.

Home means belonging and feeling part of something, home dance classes although online are still taking part in my home environment and at home in my head.

The phrase “being at home” is a state of mind being in familiar surroundings, noises, smells, activities, relationships.

I consider being at ease and at home with our dance group of artists, dancers, contributors, participants, a home made community of participants.

Whilst I share the condition of PD with many in the group, during the classes I often forget the restrictive nature of the condition and just move with such energised freedom, fuelled by the energy, compassion, empathy, understanding of the group.

Colin at home

(C) Danielle Jones (Teale) Dance, Collective IDentity, written by Colin Wells