Helena from Czechia : Small twist of fate and a life changed forever

Helena and her husband were living an idyllic lifestyle breeding horses in rural Czechoslovakia and looking forward to buying a rustic old property to set up their own horse-breeding farm, when a fatal accident triggered a series of events that would change the course of their lives and lead them to Tasmania.  After their manager was killed in a car accident, his replacement, an ardent Communist party member, did not approve of their activities and their chances of getting their property disappeared.  Later, as they had some success breeding horses, they attracted the attention of local Communist members who tried to coerce them into joining the party, this soon lead to regular harrassment and ultimately the decision to get out.. a decision which could mean never seeing their homeland again.  It was no easy job to get out of the country even for a holiday, but Helena had an aunt and uncle in Tasmania and they decided they would try and migrate there in the mid-1980s.After some dramatic moments escaping Czechoslovakia and Europe, Helena, her husband and two boys , ended up in Tasmania. But with little English and few job prospects, it was tough to adjust at first.  However, like many migrants, Helena persisted through adversity and has had several interesting careers in the meantime.It's a story full of both light and shade with a healthy bit of humour too...and some interesting experiences of cultural differences, including on her return to Czechia.