A question in a car park

“Do you actually want a leaving do” asked Tom.

It was in a car park as we were saying goodbye. Since Tom had left the chaplaincy we had taken to meeting regularly for a bite to eat. Mostly in Tragos (good burgers!). It was now late July and I had announced my resignation so I wasn't really working either. Half of me often wonders about hanging round with people 15 years younger than me, perhaps I should grow up. The other half of me thinks age is not really important anyway. I seem to be able to relate to people younger than me, as long as that's not forced, it doesn't really matter. I was enjoying the chats with Tom. Now neither of us worked there it gave me more of a chance to get to know him. Without work getting in the way. We were just two unemployed blokes soaking up the summer sun in a unhurried way. The fact that I was still getting paid was only adding to my comfort levels.

I considered Tom's question. Whenever a Chaplain at Southampton left post they always had a leaving do in the chaplaincy, at which the great and the good were invited. The longest serving chaplain gives a speech about their nearly departed colleague. This had never really appealed to me. A buffet lunch with the Chief Operating Officer didn't really fit with my ministry quite so well as a student party. Anyway it was now too late for the buffet to happen I had already done my last day at work and I was booking a removal van. It was probably too late to organise anything. Of course whenever you ask Tom to organise something you invariably ask Alex to do the same.

It is not actually possible to organise a student gathering at two weeks notice in August. Which is why Alex was just the person to ask to do it.