Reunion

Up and out fairly early to get the train down to London and meet up with the TMP gang (well, only 6 of us. The other 3 or 4 who usually come were unable to make the date but hopefully will join us next time). We first met in 2009 on a course and have been meeting at least twice a year since it finished in 2010. As always a lovely mixture of chat about work (from those still doing that), volunteering roles, families, travel and etc. We always follow the same pattern about giving each other a space to talk uninterrupted about what’s happening in our lives, then some discussion and suggestions from the rest of us about issues raised. Sometimes just talking out loud about an issue crystallises it in your mind, or a comment from someone can prompt a useful insight. In one moment C was saying he’d started a list of things in the Notes app on his phone of things that really irritated him. We all laughed (and agreed!) with him about some of the things on his list, before T suggested he also made a column in the list where he wrote down things that delight him. There was a pause and he jumped at the idea, and there followed a really interesting conversation about different mindsets and types of observations and reflections, and remembering a similar conversation from the course many years ago.
There’s something very special about this group and the time and attention we all give each other at these meet ups….even when we rarely see each other outside these sessions.
After our conversations we went for a very late lunch in the top floor of a restaurant overlooking Smithfield market and the rest of the city. We had an amazing view of St Paul’s, the Old Bailey, the Shard and the Barbican whilst we ate our (pricey but tiny) lunch. Just as well the chips were good! More chat about broken bones, ‘having a fall’, cultures of cities and lifestyle choices and student protests.
It was fairly bright most of the day but poured with rain as I was on the train home and so I was pleased to be back at K’s and relaxing chatting to her and O and her brother W. We had supper then chatted some more before I ended up on the sofa with a blanket….very tired! .