During our few days in London, the kids and I past by the first house I rented with some friends when I started work post uni. Susan, Jane and I were resident in 176, Eardley Road, within trembling distance of the rail track and in sight of Streatham Common Station for a couple of years. Were my kids in the least bit interested? - not even a flicker. When we drove on the top, front of a red London double decker bus past the Odeon on Streatham High Road where I first saw my all time favorite movie, Top Gun and came out "feeling the need....the need for speed".......still not a flicker, not even a roll of the eye. In Trafalgar Square, under the eye of Nelson as I regale them with tales of New Year Eve drinkies, jumping in fountains and kissing policemen, maybe a raised eyebrow of disapproval from Ads as he texts his buddy from India, currently in Singapore. When Sheila and I remember my visits to her at uni, which involved large quantites of water and someone's whole bedroom being displaced with them still sleeping into the quad and conclude that 'what happened in Brighton stays in Brighton', still no interest from the younger generation.
I do think that the great negative of Facebook and social networking is that nothing really 'stays in Brighton'. In the pre-FB days we could be delicious and delightfully naughty in the safety that nothing could come back to haunt you. I'm not talking about doing anything evil or sinister, just nicely naughty!!
Maybe as they get older the brats may have an interest in their roots but definitely not yet a while, tho they are both very comfortable in the country of their ancestors.
I however, got to delve into my roots, seeing friends from days long gone. I have been blessed to have met many, many special people on life's transcontinental path but there is always something very special reuniting with those you have a long history with. It's not as if we sit and wax nostalgia for hours on end but there is that life-long connection. Theres a comfort that no-one really changes we just evolve. As people move geographically and enter and leave the different phases of life at different times, keeping in contact is not easy, or was not pre-facebook. One of my dear, long term buddies said that she counted her long term friendships among her greatest achievements. I think I second that.
Its amazing how we are all essentially the same, maybe just a little frayed around the edges!! Amanda, Anne and I, friends during our brown uniformed days at Sutton Coldfield Girls Grammar met for lunch after a decade plus. Somehow we were just grown up versions of our former selves - we even took the same roles in the non-stop conversations. During these hours of frantic chatter and laughter - conscious time was limited the brats got to hang with my Dad. So "when will we three meet again, in thunder lightening or in rain?", not that I'm likening Amanda, Anne and I to witches but hopefully it won't be another decade or "when the hurly burly's done or when the battle's lost or won" but in the not too distant!
Ads did luck out as he saw 2 Godmothers and one of his Godfathers. In Bath the kids had only my Dad and me to entertain them but once in London they had 2 other youngers to hang with. Boys so easy -walk into the house and immediately seem to connect and that's them happy for a couple of days! They are communicating just via Minecraft or some other such computer activity. Ads and Sam are only a few months apart - Ads a few months older. We did visit with Sheila and Charlie in this very house, 14 years or so ago......me being at the fully fat stage while S was still at the fatigued but same shaped stage!
Ads got some quality Godfather time at the science museum. New since my London days but very impressive.
Wills' aim in London was to see Big Ben, mine to catch up with couple more friends. We got into London the best way - the 159 bus. Who needs an expensive tour when you can sped through the colors of Brixton, skirt the Oval, drive over Westminster bridge, get a great view of Big Ben, the houses of P and then pull up in Trafalgar square on a public bus.
We met my fellow intrepid traveller from Bangers, Connie, and chatted by Buck House. Great to catch up - Connie is a not so long term friend, but feels like one in the nicest possibly way.
Caught up with another uni friend watching the street entertainers in Covent Garden. Yes -Yoda is in mid air!
This was probably my best trip back to the UK in many ways. We are now one up (reunited with Simon) but also one down (Ads back in Cali exploring his not so long roots and reuniting with his not so long term friends!!) It will have been five weeks before the Towers Team is back to full force!!
I do think that the great negative of Facebook and social networking is that nothing really 'stays in Brighton'. In the pre-FB days we could be delicious and delightfully naughty in the safety that nothing could come back to haunt you. I'm not talking about doing anything evil or sinister, just nicely naughty!!
Maybe as they get older the brats may have an interest in their roots but definitely not yet a while, tho they are both very comfortable in the country of their ancestors.
I however, got to delve into my roots, seeing friends from days long gone. I have been blessed to have met many, many special people on life's transcontinental path but there is always something very special reuniting with those you have a long history with. It's not as if we sit and wax nostalgia for hours on end but there is that life-long connection. Theres a comfort that no-one really changes we just evolve. As people move geographically and enter and leave the different phases of life at different times, keeping in contact is not easy, or was not pre-facebook. One of my dear, long term buddies said that she counted her long term friendships among her greatest achievements. I think I second that.
Its amazing how we are all essentially the same, maybe just a little frayed around the edges!! Amanda, Anne and I, friends during our brown uniformed days at Sutton Coldfield Girls Grammar met for lunch after a decade plus. Somehow we were just grown up versions of our former selves - we even took the same roles in the non-stop conversations. During these hours of frantic chatter and laughter - conscious time was limited the brats got to hang with my Dad. So "when will we three meet again, in thunder lightening or in rain?", not that I'm likening Amanda, Anne and I to witches but hopefully it won't be another decade or "when the hurly burly's done or when the battle's lost or won" but in the not too distant!
Ads did luck out as he saw 2 Godmothers and one of his Godfathers. In Bath the kids had only my Dad and me to entertain them but once in London they had 2 other youngers to hang with. Boys so easy -walk into the house and immediately seem to connect and that's them happy for a couple of days! They are communicating just via Minecraft or some other such computer activity. Ads and Sam are only a few months apart - Ads a few months older. We did visit with Sheila and Charlie in this very house, 14 years or so ago......me being at the fully fat stage while S was still at the fatigued but same shaped stage!
Ads got some quality Godfather time at the science museum. New since my London days but very impressive.
(Had to include this one of Aunty S and Uncle C in infrared -thanks to the science museum! - not sure why the infrared has given them Rudolphs - they are both way more attractive in real life!!)
We met my fellow intrepid traveller from Bangers, Connie, and chatted by Buck House. Great to catch up - Connie is a not so long term friend, but feels like one in the nicest possibly way.
Caught up with another uni friend watching the street entertainers in Covent Garden. Yes -Yoda is in mid air!
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