The Good Old Days

We are made up of our memories.

And last night a few came flooding back, as Phil Gibbins and I took a stroll down memory lane….

Stepping back in time, we met at our old Oliver Wyman office at 55 Baker Street in London, followed by a meandering walk in the area and then to a favourite restaurant on Marylebone High Street.

We exchanged a warm hug; joyful smiles were ever present, and our conversation flowed easily as we engaged with one another to reminisce about “𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒅𝒂𝒚𝒔”.

As we shared our fun memories, there were stories galore and the air was filled with frequent laughter as we spoke about our crazy antics.

Together we’d weathered some notable experiences during our time frame of shared history, working side by side from 2008 – 2012.

Nostalgic moments, as we felt the power of the past that shaped our present.

Days never to be forgotten!

Over the years, although we’d connected once or twice in bite size chunks on LinkedIn and Zoom, those feelings were simply not the same as seeing each other after such a long time, in real life, to share a drink and meal together.

It was a heart warming reunion, a shared rekindling of a connection that time will never erode.

Life has happened and we are no longer who we once were, the signs of the passage of time had taken their toll!

Our night wasn’t just about the past, as we got caught up on each other’s current lives our aspirations and how much we had changed.

It was an occasion to reflect and appreciate just how far we had come.

A little older and perhaps a little wiser, but still as cantankerous as ever!

“It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them.”- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Maintaining ties with the past is so important.

Meeting up with Phil last night reminded me of the old Joseph Parry quote, “Make new friends but keep the old. One is silver, and the other is gold.” – it’s just so true.

As the night came to a close, we recalled our taxi driver “Malcolm” who’d regularly pick us up at Manchester Airport, and the priceless discovery that after all those years he was still on the speed dial of my phone!

Departing, we promised each other that we wouldn’t leave it so many years until we met again, perhaps next time too, with a few other former colleagues alongside for good measure!

What is the most interesting or funniest memory you’ve taken away from a reunion?