Paul's Infrequently Updated Blog

I got back from Ireland a few days ago and I must say that I am happy to be home. I never thought I would say that about traveling, but, in this case, it is true.

While I was happy to visit Ireland, I am not sure that I want to go again. I was actually rather unimpressed with the country. If you want to see lots of pretty scenery, then Ireland is definitely very beautiful. However, for me, I always want to go visit the historical sites and there was not really very much there that was of interest to me. I did get to visit the Guinness Storehouse and the Dublin Post Office (scene of the 1916 Easter uprising), but, other than that, I was a little bored and, in the end, glad to come home.

The real reason for visiting Ireland was to visit people who I have not seen in a while and happen to be in Ireland. I got to spend an evening with my friend, Anthony, who I went to university with at Salford and had the pleasure of meeting his family. I also got to hang out with Leylah, her boyfriend, Monte, and Annau. We had not seen them since we visited Tanzania in 2005. It was great to see them and see that they were doing so well.

The first week or so that we were there we spent with the parents of my friend, Matthew. I really wanted so see them and see how they were doing. I also wanted to ask them questions about Matthew. I am happy to say that Irene and I got along really well with Matthew’s parents (Polly & Pete) and hope to see them again in the not too distant future.

Now that we are home, I am going to enjoy the rest of my summer, spend some time working on the swimming pool and get ready for the new school year in August.

Today would have been my friend Matthew’s 37th birthday. Sadly, he died in April and, although he died over six months ago, he has not been forgotten. I still do not know what really happened but I am sure, in time, his parents will be able to tell me what happened.

I have not heard from his parents since June, but I did recently send them a card to let them know I will be thinking of him and them on this day.

It has been awhile since I posted here and I should be telling you all the great news about how I have got a job and that we are moving to Nebraska. Instead I am feeling so sad because I just found out my friend Matthew died on April 10th.

Matthew was a person whom I met back when we were both at the University of Salford in early 1993. We met through another friend and become quite close. After university, we went our separate ways. He went to Nottingham to study for a Master’s degree in computer science and I went to America. We did lose contact for a short while but by 1997 we were in regular contact again. Thats when I found out that Matt had been diagnosed with Cronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS or ME). From then on, Matt struggled with his health and, in 2004, even had treatment for a tumor in his eye.

Despite all this, I always thought he would get better and that his life was never at any risk. In the last year or so, my contact had become less and less because he was too tired to even write a letter or talk on the phone. I sent him a Christmas card and a note in December. Then, when his mother wrote to me telling me he was in a care center, I wrote to him again letting him know how things were going with me. I was recently thinking about him and planning on another letter when I found out he had died

I think of all the fun times we had when we were in college. He was one of the people that made my life at Salford bearable. I also think of the kind of life that he could have had if he had not become ill. I know that Matt wanted all the things out of life that most people want, to settle down with a nice woman, have a family and a home….and he never got to have any of that.

Today, when I was at school I could not help but feel how superfical and unimportant life is here. The people here know nothing of my past life and the people and events I have experienced. All day I thought about Mathhew and my time at Salford. It seems like a world away now and certainly far away from here. I deciced not to tell anyone at school about what had happened. They never seem sincere and any sympathy they would give would not be welcome. Instead, I thought about Matthew and how I will miss him. He was a good friend, one of my best friends and that makes the work at school seem trivial when I think of him.