Goodbye Luton; hello Lebanon

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Many of Bettina and Edward's friends are surprised they are going

Moving house is stressful enough, but how about moving countries, in your 80s, to a country that can quickly become a war zone as happened 12 months ago?

That's what British couple Edward Griffiths, 84, and his wife Bettina, 81, are doing next week.

After 40 years in Bedfordshire, the Griffiths are swapping their bungalow in Luton for the mountains overlooking Beirut.

They are moving to be closer to family. Granddaughter Naomi and her Lebanese husband have invited them into the home they share with their three - soon to be four - children.

"At our age, I am almost certain we will need help at some stage," explains Bettina. "And Naomi's husband's family are some of the kindest people we've ever come across".

The Griffiths do have other family - but no one in the UK. Their daughter lives in Australia and another granddaughter lives in the United States.

Security risks

The couple are aware of the dangers their new life may entail. They were in Lebanon celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary last summer when war broke out.

"They were one of the first to be evacuated because of their age. They were lifted out in an open-backed Chinook," remembers Naomi.

Despite the drama of the evacuation by helicopter, Naomi says her grandmother was more shaken when her handbag was stolen from her supermarket trolley in Luton the following week.

The view of Beirut the Griffiths will enjoy from their new home

"She went through all that to get robbed back home. She feels personal safety is more of an issue in the UK".

That's not how the UK Foreign Office sees it; current advice cautions against "all but essential travel" to Lebanon.

Bettina remains sanguine.

"We're going knowing that something could happen. I don't know if we would come back again if it did".

The couple plan to learn Arabic so they can communicate with all their Lebanese in-laws.

Failing that, Bettina says she can rely on her core skill: babysitting.

"If I can't do anything else I can do that! The new baby is due in November. We are looking forward to our first Christmas in Lebanon".