Reunion

Today was the grand reunion! A gang of us who went to Uni together back in the early 90s gathered together in Aber, 20 years since we started Uni. Well, not precisely 20 years, as we started at the end of September 91, but still, this is the year when it will be 20 years … if you see what I mean. It wasn’t the best weather to be visiting Aber, but to be fair it seemed kind of appropriate – when you look back at Uni memories here, some of the most memorable moments are either the gorgeous days of Summer or the sometimes astonishingly stormy days like today. We met in the Arts Centre, a venue chosen for the space, as much as anything, as between us all there were 8 children milling about! After food, drink and conversation we headed down to the seafront. As a local I can visit the sea in Aber whenever I like but everyone else had moved away after finishing Uni, so it had to be done, despite the weather. Down by Alex Hall it was blowing a gale (probably literally) but we didn’t let it put us off – spent some time clambering about on the rocks on the beach and then headed off up Consti.

On the beach

Due to the weather we didn’t tackle the walk up the hill and instead went on the Cliff Railway which all the kids enjoyed. At the top, we walked to the highest point where the wind was seriously strong and you could barely stand still with the wind constantly making you stagger.

Heading up Consti from the top of the Cliff Railway

Abi had a great time running around with newly made friends before we retired to the Cafe to recover. We had lots of fun and I really enjoyed catching up with everyone and meeting all the children. I’d never met most of them and it’s probably at least 10 years since I’d seen any of the adults – hopefully we won’t leave it so long next time.

View from Consti

More photos on Facebook for those of you reading this who are FB friends

Erasure Binge

After hearing Erasure on the radio yesterday morning I embarked on a major Erasure binge via the wonderful Spotify. What started this was the pure emotional response to hearing Sometimes being played – it took me back in a moment to sitting in the sunshine at Sandown on the Isle of Wight at a Radio 1 Roadshow. It was just about the coolest thing I EVER did as a child/teen. I was not the most hip and happening girl, as I may have mentioned before – I was quiet, a bit of a swot and not at all fashionable. So going to a Radio 1 Roadshow (first and only one for me) while on holiday in the Isle of Wight was the most amazing thing. Me & my sister had a great time as I remember … I believe it was Gary Davies … remember the jingle? “Oooh Gary Davies, oooh Gary Davies, oooh Gary Davies, on my ra-a-di-o!” … and Bits & Pieces! Anyone remember that? They’d play a load of snippets of songs and you had to try and identify them.

So I started listening to Erasure tracks … started with their 1989 album “Wild!” which was the one I had on tape back then when I was sweet 16. Funny feeling listening to it – really quite emotional! Took me back. Feeling like I was 16 again. I listened to this album over and over and over on my tape walkman. Loved it so much. But I’d forgotten. Now listening to it again – it rushes back. The power of music!

10 Years

Thinking about 20 years ago made me wonder what I was doing 10 years ago. It was 2001 and the most significant thing I did that year was making a baby! That was the beginnings of Abi! She’ll turn 9 this year. Back then life was rather different – I had a two year old son, and I worked at IGER, which no longer exists. We decided that the time was right to try for another baby towards the end of the year and I was lucky enough to get pregnant straight away. So the rest of 2001 was dominated by my developing bump and baby preparations. I suppose 2002 was more significant that 2001 as that was when she was actually born, but I’m thinking about 10 years ago not 9! One of the other events in 2001 was Ben cutting his head open (again). He managed to whack his head and got a big gaping bleeding cut. I got the scary phone call to come from work as he was hurt. It was all rather alarming at the time – I’d not long been on a first aid course so that was good – I came and put a bandage on him and drove to the hospital. He had it glued and steristripped together and apart from a headache and a big bruise he was fine. He still has that scar now, along with the one he already had from when he was trying to run when he’d only just started walking, at 9 months, and ran into the corner of a wall. He was a little keen to be on the move!

Ben in 2001 (before bashing his head!)

I’ve looked back at 20 years ago and 10 years ago … I could carry this on and fill in the years in between … or go back to 30 years ago, but I can’t remember much from that far back. I could of course go the other way and imagine what my life will be like 10 years in the future or something … hard to imagine having children of 22 and 18! Weird.

20 Years

The other day I came across some photos from when a school friend got married and posted them on Facebook. It set me off reminiscing and I realised that 20 years ago was a very significant year for me. This time 20 years ago, in 1991, I was at school doing my A-level mocks … and then as the year progressed it was all Uni applications, then the real A-levels, results, and finally starting at Uni. So it was a pretty huge year – hard to believe it’s 20 years ago! Does make me feel rather old.

Me in 6th Form at school

I did Biology, Chemistry and Maths A-levels – I was quite a hard-working school girl – and I did Russian GCSE at the same time for fun. Looking back I wonder at my definition of fun, but the Russian did seem light relief after complicated Chemistry and difficult Maths. I always loved the Biology though I remember the horribly worrying time between doing the A-level exams and getting the results – I managed to convince myself that I wouldn’t get the grades I needed to get into Aber Uni. I needed BCD and I became petrified I wouldn’t make it. In the end I got BCC, so it all turned out ok But that fear was awful. I’d fallen in love with Aber and was desperate to go there. I had gone through a period of wanting to go to Oxford like my sister, and then for a while I really wanted to go to Imperial College London … but then I discovered Aber and that was that – that was where I had to go! Starting Uni was terrifying though – I was a shy girl, not good at making friends and I was leaving all my lovely school friends far far away in Bristol. My first few days and weeks were not good – I remember tearful phone calls home, feeling so homesick and lonely – but I settled in and made friends eventually. It was hard, but once I got going I had a fab time at Uni.

Seeing as we’ve hit the 20 year mark it seems to be time for reunions – there’s already a meet up planned with some Uni friends and hopefully our little gang of school friends can meet up too. A lot has changed in 20 years – we’ve grown up, some are married, some have kids, we are all a little older, a little wiser … but in many ways it seems like only yesterday and looking at the photos (then scanning and posting on Facebook!), the memories come flooding back bringing smiles and laughter