Categories: uncategorized
Date: 20 December 2005 20:40:36
I'm back in Manchester for a few days before heading down south for Christmas. I'm here for a total of 6 days. So, I'm trying to see as many old friends (and a newer one ;)) in a short space of time. I was glad I was able to go to church twice on Sunday, because it meant I saw a lot of family friends. They all greeted me with big hugs and asked me about Swansea, in the usual way. The steward annouced that I had come back from the 'sophisticated south' (there was a touch of irony in his voice!). On Sunday evening I went carol singing with some members of my church in Manchester, and after we'd enjoyed refreshments at the manse, I said goodbye to these people. 'I'll see you at Easter', were my exact words. This produced gentle laughter, considering its not even Christmas yet. But it seemed strange that I hardly ever see these people anymore. I grew up seeing these friends every week, and now I see them several times a year, if that.
I've been meeting up with old school friends as well, and we've had to cover the whole of the past 4 months in a couple of hours (believe me - thats not easy!). As well as, reminiscing previous times that we've spent together (this afternoon we got out all the old photographs!). It seems strange too, the way we've all grown apart. All leading our separate lives. At least, at the moment, we are still in reasonably regular contact. We meet up a couple of times a year, usually.
But it seems like I'm loosing more and more contacts in Manchester and making more and more in Swansea. I say I've come home for a while, but it actually feels like i've gone away from my home. Swansea's home now. How can Manchester be home, when I see my friends there once every 6 months? When we haven't got to Christmas yet, and I won't see people from my 'home' church until after Easter? My friends in Swansea I see on a regular basis - many of them live or practically live in our house. I've made new friends at my church in Swansea - one lady gave me a big hug when she realised a week or so ago, that she wouldn't see me again till the new year. I've said before that Swansea is home, but I've never felt so certain about it, than I do now.