Just had the most marvellous weekend. I was the surprise guest at a 50th birthday party in honour of an old friend of mine, Gordon Lynch.

I first met Gordon in about 1977 or thereabouts. "Star Wars" was in the cinema, and Meco's disco remix of the theme tune and Gerry Rafferty's Baker Street were favourites on the radio. Gordon used to come into the camera shop I worked in, Global Cameras in the Market Square, Hemel Hempstead. He used to bring in film to be processed and buy various bits of camera equipment for taking pictures in caves.

Yes, Mr Lynch was a former geology student who went caving in the Mendips (and various places around the globe, but mostly there) and used to drink in a pub called the Inn On The Green in Harpenden. We became good friends and we used to drive in Gord's red MGB (known as "The 'B") from Hemel to Harpenden most evenings to go drinking. Full of Harp lager and eastern promise we would return to Hemel in the 'B at high speed, down winding country roads in the dead of night, sometimes in the seat, sometimes sitting sideways on the parcel shelf with the roof down... middle age makes you think better of such behaviour, but I was a late teenager and Gord was in his early 20s, so we couldn't be bothered with road safetynot tomention personal safety.

Then we started coming to the West Country, specifically the Wells, Shepton Mallet, Glastonbury area. Friday night we'd travel down after work, go down the pub. Wake up, go down a cave, come out of the cave, go down the pub. Wake up the next morning, go to lunch in the pub. Then drive home.

Eventually Gord moved down to the West, and many years later, possibly as much as 10, I followed with my wife of the time, fetching up in Frome, where we had kids, got divorced and spent a bit but not much time with Gordon and his wife Hil. They moved up to Rugby after a while, where they now reside. But I miss Gord. He's one of those friends who I see really infrequently, but every time I do it's like no time has passed, like I just went for a slash and came back into the bar rather than walked out of his life for 10 years. He was my mentor, cave buddy, drinking partner, philosophy professor, and older than me (enough) to teach me a about life at a time in mylife when I knew nothing. A lot of the ways that I view the world as an adult grew out of my many conversations with him, in a car, in a pub, in a cave... well anywhere we were together.

So getting the chance to hook up and catch up after all this time? Count me in.

I figured it would take me about three hours so I guessed I'd leave at 3pm and get there at six. It took me three hours but I didn't leave till damn near four so got there more like seven...
Greeted by Gord's sister Karen and son Ross. Hardly recognised either of them. Last time I saw Karen she was a Goth, always seemed to be unsettled and unhappy (totally my opinion, she was probably fine). But now she's happily settled with a reallynice bloke called Adrian, looks beautifully relaxed, curvy and middle aged, not the edgy teen I remember her as. It was lovely to see her that way.

Now Ross was tall and handsome, got a real Ben Affleck thing going on there, and was the nicest guy... all night he was keeping an eye on me, making sure I wasn't left out. Kirsty is similarly tall and womanly, so not the preteen girl I knew before, and black hair... hmm, Karen passed the baton? Kirsty is fianceed to a guy called Ed who it turns out is the biggest Star Wars fan... apart from me. Still, I got two decades head start, so it's not a fair comparison.

So they bundle me into a cab and we go to this cosy working man's club off in Rugby town somewhere. We drink a little and Gordon is eventually steered into the room on some pretext, and is gobsmacked to find all his friends. I hide, despite being near the door. Want to save the moment. After the introductions, a small speech... Hil comes over, beckons me over to come see Gord. She introduces me. For a moment he doesn't realise it's me. Then his face was a picture, shock surprise and joy in equal measure. We hug, which is amazing cos he's not a huggy guy. I was so happy to be there, for Gord, for Kirsty, and for seeing the years fall away on Gordon's face when he saw me.

We ate, we drank, we danced.

I met Wilf, Hil's brother, so was the nicest guy. Had lots of chats with him and his jaw-droppingly beautiful wife. Turns out his wife is Swedish. Ah, thought she looked familiar. Scandiavian wives and girlfriends... it's like buying a new car, suddenly everyone's got one overnight.

After the party, Gord and I sat up most the night, talking bollocks, comparing life traumas, waxing lyrical and drinking Scotch, grappa, and pretty much everything we could fit in a glass. We resolved to not leave itso long next time and me and the whole brood are going to go up there in Summer.

It was so good seeing everyone again. Gord and Hil looked great. Their children were beautiful like movie stars. They have a lovely home, warm, friendly and with good feelings. They have an enviably huge array of really good friends.

I wish I could bottle this weekend and take a sip of it every day to warm my soul.