We didn't exactly play pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey but my old mate Ian Paterson and I had lots of fun meeting up again after more than forty years - see here (well, 'old mate' might be a little presumptuous: Ian’s more of a professional acquaintance but that just sounds so stuffy…).
Memories came back thick and fast of our times on Bougainville Island, of the people we have known, and of the things we have done. We seem to have swapped sides since: when we first met in 1973, Ian was married and I was footloose and fancy-free. Forty years later, I am married and he is footloose and fancy-free (just how fancy-free he demonstrated by always leaving the toilet-seat up, a habit I had beaten out of me during the last fifteen years of domestic bliss ☺)
The three nights he stopped over at "Riverbend" went all too fast. He left this morning after breakfast ...
... after leaving this message in our guestbook: "Thank you, Peter and Padma, for one of the loveliest times in my life. You are both very generous, welcoming and genuinely nice friends. I felt totally relaxed and enjoyed every minute of my stay. The food prepared by Padma was simply delicious. The tranquility, beauty and peace of Riverbend Cottage is just wonderful. Magnificent trees, lovely river, billabong, wildlife - first time I have fed a donkey!! Your invitation to visit, Pete, after 40-plus years working together on Bougainville Island was a golden opportunity to reminisce about that outstanding time in our lives which left us all thankful for that exciting journey and experience of a lifetime. Much love and good wishes. Ian Paterson, Coolangatta, Queensland."
That was almost ten years ago, after which we stayed in contact for a few more years. Then he dropped off the face of the earth. I last read about him on the internet after an incident outside a polling booth where he had volunteered as a Pauline Hanson supporter. If you read this, Ian, and you're at loose ends again, drop in for another reunion!
