Does anyone still look at Friend Reunited? I was on it recently and it's very rare anyone new that you know pops up now. Despite ITV's shameless promotion around reunion-themed programmes, I'm sure it's pretty much peaked. But I'm frustated that people I'm really interested in have never surfaced.
I remember when I first discovered it about seven years ago. I was obsessed.
I've always had an odd relationship with old school friends. Sixth form was fine and I still see or at least keep in touch with a few people. But secondary school was a different matter. When I left it didn't occur to me that I might need to gather addresses and phone numbers - I grew up with these people and saw them around. Then I went off to be a boarder, the family moved abroad, and I lost touch with everyone. I wasn't bothered. I'd made new friends,and as time went by I felt I'd become superior to my old pals and moved on. I had no desire to see any of them. Almost overnight I lost touch with everyone from past. It was another country. I erased that part of my past from my life. If I did see someone by chance, I hid. Any phone calls were fielded and the person swiftly dispatched from my life forever. I didn't want these smalltown dullards in my life. I had better friends. In London!
But as the years went by I got to thinking - I wonder what so and so's doing now? I was desperate to know. My attitude mellowed and I became horrified at my snobbery. Then a new girl started at work who was at my old school and it all came flooding back. We talked a lot about it and I exorcised a lot of demons. I realised I'd been daft and wanted to link up with all my old friends. So when I discovered Friends Reunited it was like a dream come true. I was thrilled. And I was ready to go back. I was obsessed. I was never off it. I got in touch with loads of old mates, met up with some too. But of course once you've had an evening of catching up, your curiosity is satisfied. Do you want to see this person again? Well, no. But at least I am sated.
Of course, when you get people emailing you in the third person about how their divorce was their fault and could they come and stay with you, it's time to back off.
So the fever has subsided for us all it seems. But I still look once a month, just in case. Where are the ones who are not on the list? For years now, I've known that the class bad girl runs a successful hotel on the isle of Mull, and that Ally Sheedyish clever girl whom I always secretly fancied lives by the beach in Thailand, while someone I went on a skiing holiday with in 1981 is chief sommelier at that hotel in Dubai that's shaped like a sail. I know that my best friend 1977-79 runs a farm in Australia. There are countless IT consultants and doctors receptionists of course. I like to think I have the most interesting job of all. But I want new information on old friends I've not seen for coming up 30 years. I still don't know where half the class is or what they're doing. Are you still alive? You must have heard of the site, so why aren't you on it? Or perhaps you look but like to keep your distance.
I'll keeping looking until my curiosity is satisfied. But this whole concept is now nothing new. I may find what I'm looking for.
