My Australian Friend Phil

Phil at King's College

Me and Phil

Lola, Phil and Calum
Phil in Gros Franck

Old Friends
I've known my Australian friend Phil for 31 years, which seems like a lifetime.

We met as teenagers when we both had a Saturday job in a chip shop. I can still remember the smell of the cooking fat that clung to my hideous nylon overall. When I got home, the first thing I did was jump in the bath to get rid of the awful stink.

However, working with Phil made it fun. I called him 'Larry' and he called me 'Sheila' and he tolerated me speaking in a fake Australian accent. I thought it was funny at the time. We enjoyed seeing who could the serve the biggest portion of chips before being told off by the manager.

It wasn't glamorous, but it paid for my Saturday nights out and that was all that mattered.

A Proper Penfriend

When I met Phil, he was on one of his round the world trips - he's now done four or five. I've always admired that about Australians. They know how to travel.

Inbetween visits to the UK Phil and I have kept in touch by letter. He's a proper penfriend as he doesn't even have email, or a mobile phone. I like that about him.

I'm Coming to Visit

So when a familiar blue airmail letter arrived with the news that Phil was coming to visit, I was very excited.

We hadn't seen each other for ten years.

Just the Same

When Phil arrived, he looked just the same, only slightly more lined and, as always, extremely tanned. I'd forgotten quite how tall he is - at 6ft 4 he seemed to to dwarf the rest of us.

I'd done lots of baking and the warm, sweet smell of fruitcake, flapjack and chocolate brownie filled the kitchen. Phil said he noticed it as soon as he walked in and it made him feel instantly at home, reminding him of his mother's baking.

The children took to him straight away, but then again Phil is so relaxed and friendly, it's impossible not to like him. He was like another member of the family.

We toasted his arrival with champagne - our neightbours Ken and Shirley joined us - and spent a very happy afternoon chatting about everything under the sun.

A Trip to Cambridge

The following day Phil and I spent a day together in Cambridge. He hadn't been there for 20 years and loved it, although it was absolutely freezing.

However, we warmed ourselves with hot croissants in Gros Franck and hot soup in Trockel Ullman inbetween seeing the sights of Cambridge. Phil especially liked King's College.

Time Flies

Phil was only with us for a couple of days because he had a incredibly packed schedule but I'm so pleased he came to see us. We had the most fantastic time and I know we'll always be friends.

Who knows, one day I might even make it to Australia!