Time for red...

Subject: Time for red... Fri 3 Oct 2008 - 23:24

Hi all.
Friday night and kicking back with a bottle of red. I hope all are feeling mellow in their worlds. Don in the States and Gillian in Spain. Then we also have Maxine and Cas in Lancashre, Jean in Wales, me in Cheshire, Chellin in Austrailia and all the other dots on the map.
In 20 years overseas I have made many good friends. You hope they will always be there when needed and in some hairy cases you trust each other with your lives. Then after a couple of years you move onto new adventures and all promise to stay in touch. This doesn't happen as with the time taken to stay in touch with family you find little time to stay in touch with mates and with every new country, more friends and more promises.
Those that work overseas know they are empty promises at that last farewell but they also know the world is a small place today and God willing you will bump into each other again.
I have met friends in airports all of us waiting to board different flights with no time except for a quick hug and see you again even though it may have been a few years since are last meeting.
I met a friend I worked with in the Falklands 4 years before in Jeddah. That was in 1990 and I haven't seen him since. I do know we had a good drink and told tales and reminisced as all good expat's do. And though the years have passed us by, if we met again we would do the same.
One thing I have found is that if you are true friends a phone call for help will always be answered. If a friend phoned me for help, it wouldn't matter where they where I would get there. Family are always first but so are friends.
Friends think that because of the years my friendships would be tenuous but that's not true. Mike Collins who I worked with on my first job overseas in 1976 in Tanzania will always be a great friend, we next met up in 1984 when I returned from Canada and Mike returned from Nigeria.
I built the power station in Nigeria and Mike went to work for the customer afterwards in Nigeria and ran it.
When we met up and both looking for contracts I gave Mike a name in Canada, Mike got the job and has been there ever since. I meanwhile have taken the roundabout route and continued to travel until I stopped in 1996. I am sure if I met Mike tomorrow it would be just like we hadn't been apart. We travelled Tanzania, built a power station in Tanzania and stayed through a war against Idi Amin in Tanzania when everyone else who was sane was evacuated. The war was going on 20 miles away and as we were bombed 2 times we thought it prudent to turn the power off to the town each night at 10pm. These bombs didn't stop at traffic lights and so we had to use blackout curtains at the Yacht Club. The hardships we went through I will describe next time. The fact there was a beer shortage each month and we had to then deceide which was next, Tanzanian whiskey, gin, brandy or water. Actually Tanzanian Gin ( Konyagi) and orange became my favourite.
Well that's all. Red wine has finished and I'm sure you don't need reminding that, Family's we love without question but friends have earned that love.
And as friends
Love to all
Daz
xxx
_________________
My family are like stars in the night sky of my life.
Always there at the end of the day.
The light of their love forever constant as the Northern star.
Safely guiding me home.
Dreams are the realities of tomorrow.
Everyone is in tune with the spirits of their ancestors. Unfortunately some are tone deaf.
Copyright. Daz.2008.

Subject: Re: Time for red... Sat 4 Oct 2008 - 15:15

Hiya Daz and everyone,

Thank you Daz, that was good to read. Yes and all very true too about friendships. I always love to read your stories about your travelling adventures too David.

As you all know, I've been absent from the site for a few weeks because of other personal and family committments that have needed all my attention. So grateful to our Moderators and loyal members for keeping the forums alive during my absence. But anyway - I'm here now and have just been working on some admin catch up, and will get back to the topics on the boards soon too. Loads to catch up with, including I see, more new members - a Big Welcome to them all. Please all be patient with me whilst I get back on track with Smith List and Smith Chat yet again.

Getting ready to go hospital visiting now, but will call back here tomorrow for a bit more catching up. Need to change the Summer Banner too to Autumn!!! brrrr - yes and the cold weather is beginning to kick in too!!

Luv to all

Cas xxxxx wave

_________________
Carole, Smith Project/Smith Chat Admin
Nothing is too small to know, and nothing too big to attempt (William Van Horne)