I said it was a roller coaster ride with Nicky. What follows is something I wrote at the time for a little ‘light relief’ about events that took place on the evening of Nicky’s 46th birthday on 22 February 1996. I ought to point out that at this time were ‘just good friends’ and did not have an intimate relationship.
Out of the frying pan, into the fire.
I arrived back from Ireland on 31st August 1995, having had a very ‘difficult’ holiday with Penny. On checking in at my office, early evening, Paula - my holiday relief manager - briefed me on occurences during the last 2 weeks.
Nicky had been admitted to Flat 2 with her daughter Amy a week ago. Paula then introduced Nicky to me. She was an attractive woman in her mid forties. Blonde hair, engaging smile , about 5′ 4" tall and slim with it.
I was manager of the homeless hostel and the committee thought I ought to go in for councelling training. I was one day a week so it was a break from the mainly drug crazed hostel residents. They also had Catherine counsel me on a weekly basis.
I supposed it helped me to let off steam, so to speak, mainly about the ever so middle class committee members. Catherine invited me to a party where those involved in counselling, teaching or training, would be in attendance.
It was on this occasion in 1994 when I met Penny who was also training to be a counseller. Penny who was in her mid forties was attractive and slim and shorter than me - all the attributes that may be attractive to me.
I always say that everything in life goes in a circle. There’s a beginning and an end and it’s not a straight line, it’s a circle.
When my father died in May 1996 at the age of 81 it came as a shock. He didn’t look as if he was that age more like mid seventies. It was also almost a shock that he was actually that age. I can still see him in my mind when he came back from WW2 as a youthful 30 year old.