7759/20700
I hardly ever see my friends any more. I don't think that's unusual for men of a certain age, especially if they have a family and have moved out of London. I like it when I see them but I don't get much time off and usually just want to veg out if I get some. But I am extremely comfortable with my own company now. I used to go up the wall if I even spent one night on my own or if I had nothing to do after a gig. Now I seek out the nothing.
But this morning I went out for breakfast with Simon who I met at University in the 80s and who had some great parties in London in the 90s and noughties and who I played a lot of Risk with when we both lived in Balham. It was in his garden almost exactly 20 years ago that his friend Nancy convinced me that my idea to date 50 women in 50 days was a good one and agreed to be my first date.
It's strange to think that all those 2004 adventures were two decades ago. I did a lot of amazing things that year and pulled myself out of a hole. it was probably the making of me, sending me on the road to proper stand up as well as giving me confidence in all kinds of areas where I had had little before (not least in dating). You can go back to 2004 and read about it if you're interested. Though there was much I left out of course!
But Simon and I both have families now and he moved to Cardiff and I somehow I haven't seen him for over 7 years. He still looks the same though. Most of my Uni friends have withered and got fat and bald, but Simon hasn't changed and I (if anything) just keep looking more handsome. We reminisced over coffee for 45 minutes, but then I had to come home. it's strange to grow old and it's sad we grow apart from our friends, but equally it's lovely that we can come back together and feel like no time has passed. Yet still we hurtle towards the grave.
Maybe I should make more effort to see the fucked up old men who are not as youthful as Simon and I. They're not going to be around forever.
On the other hand I like sitting around in my pants playing UNO.
An absolutely great RHLSTP out today with the unbeatable Ross Noble.
Listen here.
