Hi Mike!

What a delightful email!  How nice of you to say so, quite made my day! Good job emails can't see - you'd have seen me smiling and blushing!  I had a really nice email from Craig Clements last Friday but as I was just leaving UK for Paris, I only went back to him earlier today.

I have not yet looked at your website, will try later. Using laptop here, and I have quite a problem accessing and keeping it on line.

I was one of four.  Best friend Mary Loomes, (you were probably thinking of her) (she in fact emailed me in May & said about Friends United).  Shirley Turvey and Jean Davies.  I have kept in touch more with Mary & many years ago she said she saw Paul Rann on TV speaking for British Rail???  I dated Paul for quite a while and also briefly, Brent Yeo.  I've just sent Jean a birthday card so maybe I'll get a response. I would think Raymond & Garth might know of Geraldine Rooke's whereabouts' Not sure if I'm able to look at names for your year so you have an advantage over me.  I've not actually got in touch with anyone myself yet.  I was only back in DC for a couple of weeks before coming back again.  I'm not really a jetsetter - 'just tired - I don't usually travel as much. Past year has been quite eventful for us with a Christening and a Wedding.

We live in a tiny 1 bed apt (hope to move soon to 2 bed in same bldg) right downtown in Washington, DC.  Halfway between White House and Capitol, about 2 blocks up from Mall.  We also took our cat out with us so space is at a premium. 

A variety of things to do and see, wonderful museums all very close, National theatre down near White House, Shakespeare Theatre in our block, MCI stadium and China Town (its so tiny we call it China Block) just 3 blocks away.  Restaurants abound. Two different metro stations a couple of mins walk away so travel is good.  I've never got to grips with driving in US - too much like London and I don't drive there either!  Great Falls National Park is nearby and in 30-40 mins we can be in the countryside.

Brian works for Martin-Baker Aircraft, who make ejection and crashworthy seats. The company opened two plants in Pennsylvania 2 years ago and Brian now works primarily in the political scene in Congress and the Pentagon. Having spent all his working life with MBA in various positions, (the last being head of marketing) he has a great in depth knowledge.

Whilst I am a long way from our immediate family, I do enjoy living in Washington.  We have never lived in a city before so it has been an interesting change.  And we have no idea how long we will remain!  It does make forward planning difficult, but we're enjoying it whilst we can.

with very best wishes

Chris

Christine,

Ha-ha... its so easy to make you smile/blush!! But the truth has to be told - and you were the prettiest!

Mary Loomes - that name rings a bell - have a clear picture of her in my mind... and yes... now you mention it..... Paul Rann - that was him!! And then you provide another name (I'd forgotten - Brent Yeo) - but as soon as I read it - a picture popped into my head - ginger-ish hair and the prefect's cap - with green peak?? Shirley Turvey and Jean Davies I don't recall.... nor Geraldine Rook.

Garth Randall sent a fairly detailed email, he progressed to Bank Manager and retired years ago to Spain then Chesham. Both he and his brother Ray (living in Brentford) have had their problems (Ray with Cancer a few years ago, and Garth with heart surgery a year or so ago).

Yes - you can look at other years in FriendsReunited - at the top and bottom of the list of people in your year are boxes where you can select a different year.

Never been to Washington DC myself - but your comment about living in a city I recognise... when I first moved to Hong Kong - right in the centre of the red-light district for 2 years (wonderful!!) - but everything was soooooo easy and efficient and close. Didn't need a car (in fact - one would have been a positive liability) and doing everything was so different from living "in the country" - where your car had to be working/available to do anything. And as you say (not driving in the US) - why should you learn to drive on the "incorrect (not the RIGHT) side of the road"??

Now..... you say Brian works for Martin Baker and that you lived in Bucks..... well... I lived in Bucks too... straight after Ealing Tech we moved to Denham - Tilehouse Way, then I went to South Africa for 4 years, returned to Penn, Hazlemere (near High Wycombe) - and then until 1993 I was back in Denham...... where Martin Baker have... something...??? actually I know they're nearby... but have never seen or been to their ?offices? - ?factory? but they are a big employer in the area.

Yes, yes - understand your comment about "planning for the future" - posted to the US for 6 months - still there 4 years later - how can you plan?? I'm a litle bit similar.. separated from my wife in 1989 (2 daughters now 28 & 30) and went to Hong Kong in 1993 - immediately met Janet a Filipina and we've been living together since then. She works for DHL - is always travelling - and was unexpectedly posted from our "lovely and exciting Hong Kong" - to "stable, boring, family minded Singapore" 18 months ago. We expect to be here maybe 3 or 4 years (actually I'm enjoying the warm weather and I really shouldn't complain - its a very easy place to live in/enjoy) and then will move to the Philippines... maybe... cannot plan just yet - its all too far distant.

Here's a name for you.... Margaret Leggatt...?? Cannot remember which year she was in... quite a round person, glasses - but tremendous sense of humour and great fun... last I knew (about 2 or 3 years after Ealing Tech) she moved to Canada (Toronto or Montreal) - ring any bells?? I'd love to know what she aspired to...

Congratulations on your  family - daughter and 2 boys - and the grandkids - I've told my 2 that I don't want to be a grandad (because it sounds so 'old') - and so far they are adhering to my request (don't know for how much longer though!!).

Another thought - OK to post your email address on my web-site?? Its weird - I've had lots of people find my site - and then - colleagues etc... when they've been searching for their own name.. they get a hit on my site, go there - then find all the other people listed - a mini FreindsReunited.

Hope this finds you less stressed (traveling and laptop connection problems) - have fun,

Mike C

Chris!!

Ha-ha.... we may have "mingled"!!

But "white haired roly-poly lady" doesn't match the mental picture I have of you... 15 years old etc... I've received pictures of mates from Ealing Tech (not having seen them since those days) - and isn't it a shame what time does to us?? If I passed them on the street - I wouldn't recognise them!!

You were in TG long before us - although we arrived back from South Africa in 1973 and spent the first 2 years (73-75) in Brickwell Walk, Hazlemere - cannot remember too much more - but it was on a big Lovell development - first right after leaving the Hazlemere cross-roads/roundabout, heading towards Penn/Beaconsfield.

Do I remember a brown Stag?? For some reason I think I do.... but its so airy-fairy maybe I'm inventing it. I think they were great cars - never owned or rode in one - but Soft-top, V8 - sounded wonderful, looked great - BUT I have this belief that "English" are totally incapable of building a reliable car..... was it as good as it looked/sounded??

I have a vision of it between The Horse & Jockey and the Rose & Crown - near the Tylers Green Pond, on the green - did you live that side?? Yes - went to the fete a few times, used to go into the old bookshop near the Rose & Crown, and of course collected the kids from school (I used to work from home quite a bit).

What's a MIQPS?? Sounds very difficult to attain - congratulations!! Yes, yes.... "older" student arriving at College in a Stag - would have caused a stir.

MC