Thursday 17th October 2024

Dungannon. Portadown. Craigavon. Armagh. Newry. Lurgan.

Some of the places I drove past on my way from Enniskillen to meet up with an old friend in Lurgan.

Rory was in the RAF with me, he came from Northern Ireland, and we have been planning a meet up for a decade when my employer had a yard in Belfast, but things didn't work out.

I mention the above, because a member of the Armed Forces between 1990 and 1998, we were viable targets for the Irish Republican Army, and we had to take precautions. Rory doubly so, when he went home.

We have not seen each other since June 2004 when we left after his service ended, and as I had to get from Enniskillen to Dublin airport for my flight, I arranged to stay Thursday night near his house, so we could meet up once he got back from the office in Belfast.

I woke that morning in my luxurious room, still dark outside. But we had some work to do before I could drive towards Belfast, so arranged to meet Jimmy at half seven when the breakfast service started, so had to make sure I was all ready, so packed and did what I could before going to eat.

And after breakfast, I loaded the last of my stuff in the case, and went to settle the bill, and Jimmy was already waiting outside in his pick up truck, so I was to follow him. Which went well until we went to leave the car par; traffic was dreadful, and once he was let out and I got out, several cars and vans were between us.

He called to say to turn at the next traffic lights, and he would wait there for me to catch up.

Which I did.

We then drove the half mile to the service hub, where we parked, put on PPE and went in to work.

Work again, was mostly drinking tea and eating biscuits.

Which was nice.

I finished my tasks, and then had time to write my report before leaving at two.

Again it was through verdant Irish countryside, the road going where it wanted, leading me now eastwards towards the motorway to Belfast.

Large dramatic louds caught the afternoon light, promising heavy downpours, but delivered none.

I couldn't check in until half five, so had a lot of time to kill, cruising at 50, letting a truck in front set my pace and other traffic overtaking me.

With having seen so little traffic since arriving, it was a shock to arrive in Lurgan to be stuck in a jam that stretched through the town centre, it must have been the school run.

I inched my way through until I saw the hotel, no parking spaces outside, but there was a car park nearby, so went in that and switched the engine off, while all around me, parents were dropping their children off for football practice, or just to run through the recently fallen first red leaves of autumn.

It looked more autumnal here in the north, even with late afternoon sunshine falling through the golden clothed trees in their autumnal finest.

Squirrels scampered about, collecting food and burying it, then two chased each other up a sapling, while behind, two brothers kicked a plastic football around for an hour.

And everyone who passed me sitting on the bench spoke a warm few words of greeting. So unlike England.

I drive round to the hotel, find a place to park opposite on the side of the road. There's an hour's free parking, but restrictions end at half six, I'm gambling there are few wardens on a Thursday night checking twenty minutes excess time.

I was right.

I checked in, and went up tot he small room on the first floor. More like a box room with a single bed, and enough room to walk down one side. It had a TV, lamp and was also en suite, so was fine just for a night.

I would just be sleeping here, anyway.

I went to the pub opposite for a pint of black stuff and to read. There is a mixed bag of folk in the bar, couples, old soaks and all between. I sit in the corner, read and watch.

Rory arrived at ten to seven, traffic out of Belfast was dreadful. Anyway, we go to the bar-cum-restaurant next to the hotel, and we both have a pint of Guinness, and begin to catch up.

Married, three children (one grown up and graduated, one about to start university and the third doing A levels), divorce, unemployment, new career, remarried, a new child, happy enough.

Twenty years in a single paragraph.

I say what I did, who meet from the RAF days, we eat, drink and chat.

All is good. Only, I have to be up at half five to drive to Dublin, so come nine, I have to bail. We hug, and I go back to the hotel and crash out, still partly dressed.