BEING A FAMILY AT CLUNY

I first visited the community in 1979 and a year or two later returned with my two children for a family workshop at Newbold House. I decided to come for longer, and took a year off from my job. That’s when some difficulties began. There was only space for us at Cluny, and a single mother and two children aged nine and eleven were not considered suitable residents. Kay and Floyd Tift, then focalisers of Cluny, vouched for us. But still we were refused. Trusting, I booked our flights and rented out my house in Berkeley, California before we received a reluctant yes.

We were the only family at Cluny and tried to keep a low profile, living in one room. My children went to school in Forres while I worked in Homecare. It was a bitter winter (1983-4) and I was glad to have my hands in hot water every day.

After six happy months as part of the Cluny community, we moved to a caravan in The Park. It was good to have our own cosy home and for the children to have lots of playmates. I made many friends and worked in the original vegetable garden. It was a blissful time. The lesson I learnt was that if you are strongly drawn to something, don’t take no for an answer. Keep assuming that it will all work out – and it will.

Clare Cooper Marcus