Spud and a trip to Scarborough

There we were overlooking Scarborough at 3.30am. Spud and me. Wondering what to do next. We were 17 and the world was about to be our oyster. It was the day of our 'A' level results.

Last Wednesday I had been invited to speak to a pharmaceutical company and their 'advisory Board'. An expenses paid trip to London to tell them how I manage angina, so that they can work out how to position their new drug. I get asked to these things now and they are a moderate source of income. I don't know what the going rate is, but I thought 500 was OK.

Two weeks earlier I had got a surprise when, who should appear on facebook, but me old mate Spud. He had responded to me posting my frustration and disappointment with the outcome of the election. Not that I can be critical of anyone else. I voted LibDem and got ConDem(ed). Never again. Still with any luck they will crash and burn between them, hopefully without causing too much damage to the rest of us. Mea Culpa. Anyway Spud, through face book, said he agree. No one else commented.

I hadn't seen Spud since the first few weeks of University. We both came to Manchester and, at the time, almost inseparable. Once at uni we went our separate ways, until one day I discovered that he had dropped out. That was the last I heard of him. Until a couple of weeks ago. Oh sure, there were rumours that he was working at Heathrow as a baggage handler, but nothing concrete and no way of confirming it. It turned out, from facebook that he was alive and well and living in London.

Facebook is a wonderful medium I think, despite it's problems with security. So we began to exchange messages, feeling our way about whether to meet up again.

Dave Goodridge 18 May at 19:44 Hi Ivan
Sorry for not replying earlier, I'm communicationally challenged [strange for a so called professional communicator]. I'm OK still seventeen, although appearance now belies that fact. I'm now living in a flat (should I say apartment) in Ruislip, a quiet NW London suburb (well it was!) since my strange wife kicked me out of the family abode five years ago.
Oddly enough after years of bashing me banjo I'm now a civil servant (only middle ranking - not one of yer mandolins you understand). I work on International Trade Policy in Dept of Business and DFID - a vague area for a vague person I hear you chortle, still it's a living, just!
Strange times wot wiv the election, at least we have a Lib dem Secretary of State [call me Vince] and a Lib dem Minister [call me Ed], could have been worse, much worse.

I 'became' a Christian few years back, full immersion etc like your mob but I'm not very good at it! You know me.

A quick plug they're broadcasting our morning service on Radio 4 on 30th May - listen out for how not to play guitar in a worship band.
This is probably a bit long for social networking but you can email me on davejgoodridge@tiscali.co.uk

all the best doc. .

Ivan Benett 18 May at 23:30 What do you mean 'my mob'??? great to hear from you old chum. I'm down in London on Tuesday night if you're about. Probably staying around Victoria station in a hotel. I'm pleased you are still trying to perfect your riffs and entertaining the troops. Glad also you're still 17...me too. Two ex wives and four kids to prove it.
My mum is staying with me for a couple of days, She says Hi .

Dave Goodridge 18 May at 23:45 I recall in my ever misty memory that your family were of the Baptist persuasion. Do you mean next Tuesday? We could meet up as I work in Victoria literally 5 mins from the station. .

Ivan Benett 19 May at 22:56 Ey lad, next Tuesday night. I hope you haven't lost your Yorkshire accent. Remember Masham police cells?? Anyway it would be great to see you on Tuesday evening. I'm staying, hopefully, at the hotel in Victoria but yet to confirm, and attending a meeting on the Wednesday.
My phone number is 07900357867. Send me yours and I can let you know exactly .

Dave Goodridge 19 May at 23:42 Accent still intact even after 18 years in this beer desert and 15 years wandering before that. Never forget Malton, it makes a good tale for the kids, they think they're the dogs - little do they know! If you're stuck for a place you can rough it at my hovel [not that rough I have a bed settee and lots of toys], it's about an hour out of town but you'd have the advantage of being guided by a professional commuter. Be great to meet up on Tuesday whatever, my number is 07751234567

cu anon

And so we met up last Tuesday evening and remembered our trip to Scarborough that fateful night.