Catch up in Lagos

Along this trip, not only have we met lots of fantastic new people, we have met friends and families from our present lives, and now have met friends from our 'past lives'. 

Today for us has been a real pleasure. A Facebook post by Clare a few weeks ago led my old headteacher from Coventry to respond and say he was in Portugal. We followed this up and today we met back up again. His wife Anne very kindly came to pick us up from our site. The novelty of being in a car was fun too, especially as the steering wheel was on the other side! We went back to their apartment in Lagos where we met Ray. It was a real pleasure to see them both, and they both went out of their way to host us. We are very grateful, as we are fully aware that this is their holiday!  We went for a long stroll down the beach at Lagos aiming eastwards towards Portimao. Good catch up chats were had, visions of the future were discussed and general slipping back into a relationship that last took place 10 years ago. 

Upon returning to the apartment, Ray had organised for some other of my former Coventry work colleagues who have recently retired to meet up with us too for supper. Unbeknown to them though, they didn't know that we were going to be there. So the door bell buzzed, I went to answer. I pulled the door back. Lesley Heggie, my work colleague and friend from 10 years ago, stood there and looked. Her face looked right through me for 5 seconds before the full hand to mouth moment of shock took place. From then on, life seemed to slip effortlessly back into a world that we lived in 10 years ago. The relationships continued in the way that I remember them being. A beautiful supper was consumed (thanks Ray and Anne for some lovely food), good company was had and then a casual walk around the marina observing the Lagos Saturday night nightlife was a lovely way to end the day. 

And as for the children in all of this. Well, they completely took on board the fact that we were comfortable with our old friends, and they just got on with it. Jasper was completely happy walking along the beach collecting sticks, and then in the apartment was equally happy with Ray's iPad. A big thank you to Anne, as Maya latched on to her as they walked along the beach hand in hand, and she talked and talked and talked and talked and talked... 

As for tomorrow, another meet up is the course of action. We are looking forward to meeting Ray, Anne, Lesley and John tomorrow for a walk up to the day mark in Praia de Luz and then walk along the coast to Lagos and back. The children are fast asleep cracking out the zeds in preparation (zzzzzzzz)!!! I think they'll enjoy it.

Ed