I decided to design my walking tour of ‘life after prison’ on ‘places of safety’. After some reflection, I realise that much of my life has revolved around trying to find a place where I could feel safe. Contrary to what one might expect, I experienced much of my time in different prisons as ‘care’ and I often found the lack of structure and systematic support when leaving prison as less safe and more challenging. When I was in prison I had a sense of safety and this was because there was a routine every day and when I was in the outside world, I was always in chaos from my trauma, my addiction and from running from my issues….In prison I was able to hold down a job and felt like I had a purpose.  

On my walking tour, I also included a visit to Spike Island, where I recall very detailed memories, both good and bad. Despite being sentenced to prison, I have fond memories of Spike Island and I enjoy revisiting my time there. However, this also includes experiences of personal loss and grief, like losing my marriage and my leg.  

My walking tour also includes some places that one might not think of as interesting, like for example a park bench, where I would sit for hours between AA meetings on my road to recovery. I would sit there seven days a week, for several hours every day and this is because I was so confused about the new journey I was on and I had so much fear and anxiety that used to be pushed away by drink and drugs. In some ways I felt like I was going mad going back to the place where I had some bad memories but I still felt safe there and to this day I feel safe at that bench.