Sparky Marky

We first met almost 20 years ago in Tuzla, a town in northern Bosnia during the war there when we were young, idealistic and could drink large amounts of beer and still get up for work the next day. The boyish curly locks have gone, but the twinkle in his eye is still there. Although we only see each other every few years, it's a friendship that's easy to slip back into, both memories of the 'old days' even though exact details start to get hazy with the mists of time, and sharing new stories of our families, careers and children. Heather, another longstanding friend who I see almost everyday at work, joined us in the pub and we were temporarily transported back in time.

We both were impressed by Brian Keenan's book about his time as a hostage in Lebanon.