In common with many others around the world, we discovered Zoom during the 2020 lockdowns. It gave us the opportunity to reconnect with old friends on a regular basis, whereas before only a few of us could attend the annual get-together in London, and that number is dwindling as the years pass. It’s also been great to make contact when it’s been upwards of 40 years since some of us were in each other’s company.
You’d expect we’d have a lot to catch up on. Why is it that even after all these years, we slip so easily into ribbing each other as if we were still schoolmates, or reminding ourselves of occasions we’d probably rather forget? Our regular fortnightly Zoom meetings usually consist of what we’ve been up to, football talk and general chit chat. Mundane stuff. There’s a bit of excitement around following Dundee FC’s promotion to the Scottish Premiership and the renewed prospect of derby matches against United. Dark Blues are the majority in the group, but there are enough Arabs to make for some interesting discussions. (Meanwhile those of us – me – who support the new European Champions wonder what all the fuss is about).
Anyway, Bobby is about to up sticks and move from Winnipeg to Kelowna, Gordon is getting back to Canada for a break from his extended lockdown purgatory in Singapore, and the rest of us are discussing when we’ll be able to travel abroad again. The Rugby World Cup in France in 2023 is on the agenda for a few, and we’d like to get do something sooner than that, but it’s looking like another summer at home.
While we’re on the subject of holidays at home, there was talk a while ago about a reunion back in Scotland now that most (all) of us are retired. Derek and Lindsay usually make it back to Broughty Ferry before Christmas most years, following the traditional London curry night (sadly cancelled last year due to you-know-what), but it’s been a long time away for the rest of us ex-pats. A few days in the Ferry with a hike up the glens (ooh missus!) has been mooted. It’d be good to see everybody again. Anyway, we’ll see if anything comes of it.