Judith Gait

With these few words of biography, I can tell you a bit of the back story how "Troubadours Sailing Hibiscus Seas" came to be written. As I mentioned on the back cover, I am a mother of five children and have been pro-life since I became a Christian many years ago. I feel this has been a great grace. Over the years I produced a number of paintings and drawings which I felt reflected the terrible choice people have to make when faced with a crisis pregnancy.

Each year in the Somerset hamlet where I live there is a Village Day and as part of this I have my studio open to the public. I usually receive about 200 visitors over the weekend this is on. A year ago Fr. X was one of those visitors. He was very interested when I had the chance to speak to him about the artwork and what ideas I had behind the images. We had a bit of a chat and when he left the studio I felt that was that... Well a few days passed and out of the blue I received the email which is reproduced in full at the beginning of the book telling me much more about himself and the terrible years he has spent after his then partner decided to abort his child. He suggested an exhibition of my paintings and drawings to which he would write meditations. This exhibition took place last year and was well received. I realized over the time working together how he had kept many of his feelings tightly under lock and key not even telling close family what the loss of his child had meant to him. This book is a cautionary tale, his true story; it is especially directed to young persons in the hope they may reflect deeply.