What a lovely weekend

The College Crew arrived, one by one, and we enjoyed love and laughter – and a drink or two – the whole weekend. What a lovely weekend we had!

After a glass of Prosecco and a slice of cake in the garden in the afternoon, and a great fish ‘n chip supper on Friday night, we retired early. We were all surprised that, by about ten o’clock, we were all considering making our way up the wooden hill. “We can’t take it anymore,” laughed Sue P. We all agreed – no, we can’t!!

Everyone slept well, and we gathered together after breakfast to make our way to the station. I had a last minute look at the website to check all trains were running….. shock and horror! No, they weren’t!! Not to worry, we went in the car instead. Nice easy drive and nice easy parking when we got there, so no sweat.

As we got out of the car though, I wished I had had my camera and wits about me. It was raining slightly, so Sue P thought she’d shrug on her zipped-up cagoule. Well, this wasn’t as easy as she thought, and she wriggled and wriggled in what looked like a straight jacket, while the rest of us giggled and giggled at the very funny sight in front of us. We were still giggling at the memory of it well into the evening later on! Fortunately, she took it all in good part, but it certainly made a memory for us all as we arrived in college.

The college was looking good, and we reminisced over the buildings, “Oh, that used to be the library!” we exclaimed, “And there’s the old Principal’s house….” and then, “Where is the Chapel? Round here?” we weren’t sure. Some of the girls roamed the current corridors, declaring ‘it ain’t wot it used to be’. Indeed, the college, purpose-built it 1850, is now accommodation for a Housing Association, so the very narrow corridors we had in the ‘Old Block’ are now wide and airy. All very different. But some features remained the same: the Porters Lodge entrance, the Crest; and the Main Block. Nice.

The old college Refectory had been set up with tables for us all to sit at for our reunion lunch, and our 1974-leavers cohort were pretty much centre stage. Once more, we delved in to Reminiscence Country. “Is it as big as you recall?” “Ah… we used to come for breakfast, do you remember?” “We used to queue just there, didn’t we?” Crikey, it’s 50 years since we left and we couldn’t believe it.

It was good to meet up with our fellow former students. Embarrassing when you didn’t remember someone but they remembered you….. ah, well, a lot of water has gone under the bridge since then hasn’t it? Equally embarrassing was the chat with one chap that the girls teased me over. “You spent ages talking to him!” Oh.

Once we were home, I had planned food for our evening. But guess what? Everyone was still full after the lovely lunch we’d had. Instead, we just nattered and started on a jigsaw – this was one that dear Lizzie had given me for my 70th birthday, but I hadn’t started. Not sure how I’m going to get on with it – it looks hard.

On Sunday, we breakfasted like Kings on a full English before the girls packed up their belongings and headed off to the various parts of the country from whence they had come: to Somerset, Lancashire, Hampshire and the West Midlands. It was a fond farewell to them all with great hugs on the door step.

Fearing I’d be lonely without ‘me mates’, Paul invited me for a late Sunday Roast. Andrew was home too, so we both enjoyed a delicious meal at Paul’s – it was a great way to round off a fabulous weekend. Lucky, lucky old me.