Reunion?

On Saturday I saw another old friend from my college days in Fareham, my home town. This time Sean popped his head around the door of the Newcome Arms, where I am working in Fratton. He had promised he would come in and say hi when he was in the area and low and behold he did; another familiar face I haven't seen in a long while.

It is difficult trying to have a conversation while working, but we did briefly manage to chat about the 'old times.' Sean reminisced about many things I had forgotten. My memory from those days in the 1980s are somewhat hazy; a lot of water and alcohol has passed under the proverbial bridge since then  and I am pleased Sean helped to jog the old grey matter.

Sean married the girl he fell in love with at college, someone who I also knew very well; they are still together today, thirty years later and I am delighted for them both. Once again, just like my encounter with Garry on Tuesday, I discovered our lives travelled in very different directions; Sean has a very successful career under his belt, I wasn't so lucky, enjoying life rather too much and not thinking about the future, as I should have. It's strange, listening to Sean, Garry and Nathan; each of them are talking about retirement being just around the corner, yet I'll probably be working in some form until they day I drop. Looking back, I really should have done things differently, then maybe my life wouldn't be the mess it is today.

Sean and I spoke about the possibility of a reunion, especially with those who were close to our group at Fareham Tertiary College. Both of us agreed, it would be nice for us all to get together to celebrate the end of our college days in 1989; so if you are reading this entry and went to college with us, I would love to hear from you. Please use the contact form below or navigate to the 'Contact Me Section,' in this blog and lets make this event happen.

Returning to the UK has been very therapeutic for me in many ways, especially reconnecting with friends and family. Despite my life not being anywhere near where it should be in terms of success, I am happy it has brought me home. I have a very strange feeling that I am supposed to be here at this point in my life, I just have no idea why or what the outcome of this visit will be. My whole existence is up in the air at present and the only structure I have is built around family and the people I have made contact with once again. I have always been a sentimental soul and believe in the power of benevolence. I have been lucky enough in life to have acquired some fascinating people along the way, who have always been there through the good and bad times. Sean has been one of those, even if we haven't been close; on Saturday we continued where we last left off; that is the mark of true companionship!

I have delved very deep to find a few old photographs but sadly didn't find many. Back in the 1980s we didn't have digital cameras or walk around with smart phones, consequently I have very little material from that time. Sean if you read this blog, as I know you will, maybe you have some photo's at home I could use; feel free to send them on.

Once again it was great catching up with Sean and I look forward to seeing more of him in the weeks to come. It is important to keep the past alive as we get older, without reminders of our youth we can't possibly feel contentment in life. These experiences I am enjoying with Sean and many others are once again at the forefront of my mind, as I continue a journey along a road of have walked before, only this time making new memories. If my time in Britain has taught me anything, it's about the importance of reaffirming my connection to home and everyone who has played a role in my life. Celebrating association and attachment has become paramount, what better reason is there to come back to the country of my birth!

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