Exeter, MAFI

(writing this post listening to Mana - Mana Rocks!)

I met up with two friends from my Exeter years last night. I hadn't seen them for 5 years or so. I always getting mixed feelings about meeting up will old friends. Part of the conversation always revolves around "what have you been doing" (translated as - have you done better than me!). I usually enjoy the second part more, which is when you managed to bridge the gap with the past and start talking about the present / future.

Both of my friends have just arrived in London, having spent the past 5 years working in Exeter and studying for a PhD. My PhD friend is now working for an investment bank. He looked tired having only been in the job for 10 months or so. London is a tough place, people live by the "work hard, play hard" ethos but few actually munster the strength to "play hard". But as he said, it was a choice. It was nice to talk to him as he is going through a similar experience to the one I have had to think about (although my "pb" is much smaller and more complicated - well i think so !). The key question is when you chose work (over the rest) how do you go about living a balanced life? In the end, we concluded that it was all a matter of timing and ultimately choices. Helpful but problem still unsolved :)

On a personal note, I wish I could concentrate on the good as opposed to the complicated. I am a ball of emotions at the moment. I have to deal with leaving the people that have made my final year in London rich in discovery, laughter and happiness. It's a lot tougher than I thought it would be.