01.16.05
Friends, Romans, Countrymen…
Take a look at the short video entitled “What Barry Says” over at knife-party.net. Sure, some of you will poo-poo the political message, but I think the animation is very well done.
One of my friends from uni, Simon, recently got a job, though he still hasn’t told anyone (I only found out through his lady, Claire) so if you know Simon then don’t tell him I told you ;-). He’ll be doing what he does best, which is yelling at people in foreign languages for no apparent reason. I’m sure he’ll go far (”Quelle Fromage!”). He and Claire will be moving down to Bournemouth, on the south coast, in the near future, which means beach parties this summer! Rah!! eh… well that’s if they invite us. Claire seemed a bit daunted by the prospect of moving to Bournemouth, as it has a bit of a reputation for being a bit like the UK-equivalent to those infamous Florida retirement communities. So their new best friends could well be O.A.P.s who spend their days playing gin-rummy and sipping Pimms from a glass.
Speaking of making new friends, this reminds me of a conversation I had with John Wyman a few months ago. We were sitting in one of the many public parks in Bath, eating our lunch and chatting about life. Somehow the topic of friendships arose, and he was telling me how once you leave university making friends isn’t really the same. You won’t ever share the same experiences of growing up ever again coz everyone has already been through all that, and without that common bonding you’re slightly alienated from those around you, in a way. I suppose you can still build similar bonds with people by having nights out and making history between yourselves, but it’s not really the same. I guess this is part of the reason (as identified in one of my new years determinations [good word, Jacques ;-)]) why I feel it’s so important to stay in touch with my friends from university, high school, and even a few from middle school. Not to make us out as something special, but I would say that it’s even slightly harder for Hanne and I to fit in here since we come from different countries (yeah, I’m British, but i’ve only lived here a few years, and most of that was in Bath!), whereas (in my case) the people at work have lived in Birmingham for years, they all went to university in this area, and they all already have friends here. Of course, since I’ve only been out of university a few months then maybe i’m talking bollocks… time will tell.
Ok, i’m done ranting.
Laura said,
January 16, 2005 at 6:18 pm
Hello - ive been thinking about friendships a lot too, and i’m getting a little scared of losing touch with everyone
it’s really hard to make friends at work and i don’t feel up to going aroudn talking to randoms yet! Please stay in touch everyone, FIGHTO!
Amit said,
January 16, 2005 at 9:40 pm
Hello Big G
Friends will be here - just a bit further away, and talking every now and again makes things better. I think missing the banter of old friends is mutual since they miss it too. Sometimes - if you don’t meet friends for a long time it makes you think about your memories more, and friendship gets even better - not worse. As an example, I met Dave Russell some weekends ago, and in the rare times we meet, we talk about the glory days, and it’s great.
Hope this comes home. Sure there’s much GaZMaTTaZ waiting to unfold
Ferdinand said,
January 17, 2005 at 12:05 am
I too share the same fears and I’m still attending uni! Of course having your best friends live half way across the world doesn’t help(yeah G, you’re relatively close, but still far away). Even making new good friends here took something radical, essentially a year of closely working with them. Hm, I have little more to add, especially since I don’t work yet. I’m quite curious about how/if friendships will form on the workplace.
May the Schwartz be with you!
Ariana said,
January 18, 2005 at 5:14 pm
Oooh ooh I’m a friend from middle school - glad I still feed into the friends definition! Very cool! This time don’t forget my birthday and I might consider you my friend still! Hope you’re having a great year!