Bumping into old mates, but not saying "Hello"...
Discussion
So, there I was in the "Go Outdoors" shop in Oxford earlier today, buying a tent and stuff. Two tills at the checkout, I'm at one, some bloke is at the other.
I overhear the other bloke being asked if he has a discount card, which he hasn't. He is then offered one, to get a few bob off of his purchase.
To get the card, he has to give his name and postcode (so they can send you catalogues and s
t).
"My name? It's L S*******, postcode RG* ***"
It's a pretty unusual name, but one that some dusty part of my brain, right at the back, recognises. I look up and his face is vaguely familiar. So, I'm running his surname through my dial-up speed brain, trying to remember where I know him from.
By this time, he's paid for his bits and has left. I finish my transaction and head for the door.
Then, I remember who he is. He's Lee S********, who I served with in the RAF Police at Honington in 1986.
The RG* postcode makes sense too, as I was going out with a girl studying at Reading Uni at the time and he gave me a lift to Reading once on the back of his "Ninja" (GPZ900R?)
I must say "Hello". I must say "Hello".
I bottled it and by the time I thought "do it", he was driving out of the car park.
Searched on Facebook, but no luck. But he always was the anti-social type.
Bugger. I just happen to cross paths with a bloke I hadn't seen for over twenty years but didn't have the balls to say something.
Just me?
I overhear the other bloke being asked if he has a discount card, which he hasn't. He is then offered one, to get a few bob off of his purchase.
To get the card, he has to give his name and postcode (so they can send you catalogues and s
t)."My name? It's L S*******, postcode RG* ***"
It's a pretty unusual name, but one that some dusty part of my brain, right at the back, recognises. I look up and his face is vaguely familiar. So, I'm running his surname through my dial-up speed brain, trying to remember where I know him from.
By this time, he's paid for his bits and has left. I finish my transaction and head for the door.
Then, I remember who he is. He's Lee S********, who I served with in the RAF Police at Honington in 1986.
The RG* postcode makes sense too, as I was going out with a girl studying at Reading Uni at the time and he gave me a lift to Reading once on the back of his "Ninja" (GPZ900R?)
I must say "Hello". I must say "Hello".
I bottled it and by the time I thought "do it", he was driving out of the car park.
Searched on Facebook, but no luck. But he always was the anti-social type.
Bugger. I just happen to cross paths with a bloke I hadn't seen for over twenty years but didn't have the balls to say something.
Just me?
illmonkey said:
Does your Seven have a 5 digit plate?
No, why?illmonkey said:
Good story, thanks.
You're welcome.Rollcage said:
Almost certainly not you, but why bother?
It would have been nice to catch up with a chap I used to work, rest and play with all those years ago.But I'm too shy to have approached him and am now kicking myself.
J500ANT said:
Isn't this what Failbook is for?
Did you miss the bit where I said I'd looked for him on FB?J500ANT said:
Isn't this what Failbook is for?
Didn't you read? He tried but couldn't find.Not just you, but as said above, why bother? I met someone 2 years ago I hadn't seen for 8 years. Spoke to him, turns out he is a complete dick now, was a canny lad at school but has got in with the wrong set of lads after leaving.
Cock Womble 7 said:
illmonkey said:
Does your Seven have a 5 digit plate?
No, why?illmonkey said:
Good story, thanks.
You're welcome.I now feel sorry for the guy who owns it, its going to take forever to get that kippers smell out.
Edited by illmonkey on Monday 21st June 15:57
to the opticians. WorAl said:
Not just you, but as said above, why bother? I met someone 2 years ago I hadn't seen for 8 years. Spoke to him, turns out he is a complete dick now, was a canny lad at school but has got in with the wrong set of lads after leaving.
There is that risk of course, but he looked quite presentable - shirt, tie, company car (I assumed, as who would buy a Focus estate by choice?)It was the whole coincidental nature of the situation. I'd chosen to pop over to Oxford (40 miles or so) on a whim to buy some camping bits and a bloke I worked with over 20 years ago chose to go there at the same time.
Spooky.
I have found the problem. Lets be honest. You recognised him. He recognised you. But you both avoided one another's gaze and moved on. And the reason is this:
Cock Womble 7 said:
I served with in the RAF Police
It was doubtless a shameful and difficult time for both of you. Its great that you've both reformed yourselves and moved on, but its best left in the dim, murky and miserable past where it belongs. Like when a former rentboy, who now has a new respectable life, bumps into someone else who used to be a skag infested bummee. You don't want to talk about it in public. Snoop Bagg said:
because it's always in the back of your mind they either aren't the people you think they are
No, he definitely was. His surname is very distinctive. Never heard of anyone else with that surname since. And his face did fit.Snoop Bagg said:
and won't remember or want to know you!
Hadn't thought of that!BruceV8 said:
I have found the problem. Lets be honest. You recognised him. He recognised you. But you both avoided one another's gaze and moved on. And the reason is this:
Confused, why would it possibly be a shameful time in your life to serve in Her Majestys Armed Forces?Cock Womble 7 said:
I served with in the RAF Police
It was doubtless a shameful and difficult time for both of you. Its great that you've both reformed yourselves and moved on, but its best left in the dim, murky and miserable past where it belongs. Like when a former rentboy, who now has a new respectable life, bumps into someone else who used to be a skag infested bummee. You don't want to talk about it in public. I don't talk to people in that scenario.
Those conversations are so fking st, tedious and predictable. THere is a good reason you don't become mates someone, or stay mates.
Anyway-to save you being upset at missing out- here is the conversation you would have had with him:
CW7: Hello- it's Lee Schneerste isn't it?
LS: Yes. Hello. YOu are CW7 aren't you?
CW7 Yes. What are you doing now?
LS: I sell small electrical switches to retailers.
CW7: Oh. Well I do something similarly boring sounding but I haven't read my profile so can't remember what it is.
LS: Oh.
CW7: We should pop for a pint sometime
LS: Yes. That would be nice. Bye.
CW7 Bye.
Those conversations are so f
king st, tedious and predictable. THere is a good reason you don't become mates someone, or stay mates.Anyway-to save you being upset at missing out- here is the conversation you would have had with him:
CW7: Hello- it's Lee Schneers
te isn't it?LS: Yes. Hello. YOu are CW7 aren't you?
CW7 Yes. What are you doing now?
LS: I sell small electrical switches to retailers.
CW7: Oh. Well I do something similarly boring sounding but I haven't read my profile so can't remember what it is.
LS: Oh.
CW7: We should pop for a pint sometime
LS: Yes. That would be nice. Bye.
CW7 Bye.
Shinobi said:
Confused, why would it possibly be a shameful time in your life to serve in Her Majestys Armed Forces?
Brucey-babes is being "funny" and suggesting that the RAF Police are the lowest of the low, when in fact everyone know's they are right up there with the SAS in terms of hardness, good looks and general fighting ability.Cock Womble 7 said:
Shinobi said:
Confused, why would it possibly be a shameful time in your life to serve in Her Majestys Armed Forces?
Brucey-babes is being "funny" and suggesting that the RAF Police are the lowest of the low, when in fact everyone know's they are right up there with the SAS in terms of hardness, good looks and general fighting ability.
Actually the whole thing was motivated by jealousy. 
Happened to me in the pub last Friday. Locked eyes with a girl and knew I knew her from somewhere. We both walked towards each other, and said hi, in a very awkward "I know you but not sure where from" kind of way.
Then it clicked. She was on my course in the first year of Uni. We had a bit of a thing, it got weird, I transferred courses (not because of her, I hasten to add) and we managed never to bump into each other again for 8 years.
Since then we've both got fat (although, I carry it better, obviously). She works in a milkshake shop, and I have a high-flying career in the new fangled world of automated computing machines. She didn't even offer me a free milkshake.
Then it clicked. She was on my course in the first year of Uni. We had a bit of a thing, it got weird, I transferred courses (not because of her, I hasten to add) and we managed never to bump into each other again for 8 years.
Since then we've both got fat (although, I carry it better, obviously). She works in a milkshake shop, and I have a high-flying career in the new fangled world of automated computing machines. She didn't even offer me a free milkshake.
BruceV8 said:
Cock Womble 7 said:
Shinobi said:
Confused, why would it possibly be a shameful time in your life to serve in Her Majestys Armed Forces?
Brucey-babes is being "funny" and suggesting that the RAF Police are the lowest of the low, when in fact everyone know's they are right up there with the SAS in terms of hardness, good looks and general fighting ability. Actually the whole thing was motivated by jealousy. Cock Womble 7 said:
Shinobi said:
Confused, why would it possibly be a shameful time in your life to serve in Her Majestys Armed Forces?
Brucey-babes is being "funny" and suggesting that the RAF Police are the lowest of the low, when in fact everyone know's they are right up there with the SAS in terms of hardness, good looks and general fighting ability.
Yeah, you're a stunner CW
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