Friends Reunited

When I was younger I heard someone say, "You can never go home again". I have never really believed this.

Coming back to Newcastle means seeing my family and of course, my friends.

These are friends that I grew up with, went to school with, first got drunk with and celebrated A-Level results with before we all went our separate ways.

I've always tried to keep in touch with a lot of these people - they are all brilliant in their own unique ways.

I don't always get to see most of them as much as I would like though. Some have moved away, some have varying work commitments and others have started families of their own - something completely remote to the world in which I revolve.

Recently a friend of mine, Daniel Bolger, got a lot of us together, including people I haven't seen for years. It was so strange to see everyone again.

Louise - my best and weirdest friend from High School.

Jenny - the girl I sat next to in GCSE Maths.

Liam - a musical genius and my drumming idol.

Gemma - my favourite playmate in Primary School.

Ryan - my High School crush for a long time.

Ruth - the RE teacher's daughter.

Of course, there were many more - such an eclectic bunch of people. People I'm proud to say I know.

Daniel too. A maths graduate from Cambridge University, an incredibly talented musician and a great person.

On November 26, Daniel was reported missing from his home in Cambridge.

On Thursday December 7, Daniel's body was found in the River Cam.

It is a tragedy that it was only an event as devastating and as crushing as this which brought my old school and college friends together.

I often regret not keeping in touch with many of the people I was such good friends with all those years ago.

I will always regret not keeping in touch with Dan as much as I could have.

My friends are so important to me. They make up a second family - people I turn to when my parents, brother or sister can't help.

I know that these friendships will be eternal. The amount of time between seeing each other might inevitably increase with age but one thing I am sure of is that they will always have time for me.

Trains, (No) Planes and Automobiles.

This past week I've done the King's Cross-Newcastle route three times.

Something I can always expect is an uncomfortable journey - usually caused by crap seats.

There is no feasible way to ensure comfort. I always get neck pains and find it easier to slouch but this in turn causes back pain...

I started thinking of this blog at 10:15pm on December 14. I expect to arrive in Newcastle at 1am and I'm Having a truly joyous journey.

Sense the sarcasm.

Having set off with 'enough' time to catch the train, I was met with horror just outside Baker Street, where the tube stopped for 20 minutes.

I have never prayed so hard to be on time in my life and almost cried as hope seemed to fade.

Thankfully, I made it into King's Cross with 30 minutes to spare. Phew!

Little did I know, but a further disaster awaited...

The usually very helpful people at GNER had managed to mess up my tickets which the 'Fast' Ticket machine refused to spit out. Nightmare.

I join the queue and I wait.

I continue to wait.

I approach the counter and explain my problem.

"Call Telesales using the red phone at the end of the desk," I'm told.

The phone looks like some sort of political hot line from the Cold War. And that's exactly what it was. Cold.

I rejoin the queue.

I approach the counter.

I explain the problem. Again.

After waiting and crying like a complete neurotic, the lady eventually prints me a new ticket.

Five minutes to departure. Shit.

I run. People get in my way and my blood boils. But still I run and by some miracle (it is Christmas after all), I get on the train and slump into my seat.

Time to relax. Or so I thought...

I really hate it when all you want to do is sit back, chill out and have a peaceful journey home, but two hyperactive five-year-olds ruin it for you.

Surely at 10.30 at night the little cretins would be too worn out to create untold amounts of noise?! Not so.

They giggle and they scream, causing me to frown like a disapproving old lady.

Normally kids don't bother me, but right now I'm tired, irritable and in a right foul fettle. So much so that if I had magic powers, my eyes would definitely be shooting daggers at all and sundry!

I have over two hours left of this agony.

All I can do is pray that the brats actually manage to wear themselves out and fall asleep, providing me with the much longed for peaceful atmosphere in carriage E of the 21:00 GNER service to Newcastle.

Well, it is nearly Christmas and sometimes miracles do actually happen...