Letters Page
The author of the best letter will receive a pair of free tickets to see the film of their choice at the Phoenix.
On a recent trip to Slovakia, where I was to be Best Man at a friend's wedding, I encountered something I have never experienced before. I was left dumb stuck - by a student from Oxford University. That's almost all I know.
Why I let her walk away I will never know. Our paths were to cross half a dozen times over the weekend and I spent most of my time in Slovakia and she in Vienna. We were on the same flight to Vienna from Heathrow. And we were on the same flight on the way back.
My friend and I chatted to her from time to time. As the weekend unfolded I was caught unawares by a special feeling I was developing. I thought she was just another friendly person we were to meet, as we met quite a few that trip. But if you have ever experienced that moment in time when you said goodbye and thought better of swapping e-mails for reasons too dumb to mention (like guys' pride of being turned down) you will know how I feel. I am sure she would not mind if I were to get back in contact with her. I hope in fact she feels the same as I do. I have that feeling she does. Help me please.
Description: Female, early to mid 20s, medium length blondish hair, average height. She's doing a Doctorate at Oxford University, but she is originally from America, Idaho or Illinois or something similar. She has a big interest in opera and the theatre.
Now this is not much to go by, not even a course name, and yes she did give her name. But I was so overcome with complete confusion of what to do after she came over, gave her name and walked away to catch a bus home; it went in one ear and out the other. But I can say that the instant she left the room I knew I'd stuffed it. This young lady will know who she is. I'm sure her friends will know her by the description, and as she has such an interest in theatre that a student would fly alone to Vienna to see a show. Maybe she mentioned the two mad Kiwis she met on her trip.
This may or may not have meant to happen, and it's not so much about what we talked about or what we did. Its just a feeling I have (and hopefully she had). Please help me try and contact her, or her me.
Regards Chris Dawson, 29, New Zealander, resident in Carlisle
PLEASE Please help me find an old friend at Oxford! He is 23, studying Masters in Applied Maths, nickname 'Taher', who likes tennis and football. he's originally from Chester.
Mehjabeen
The international centre of style known as Orpington is back to normal after the festivities. The pound shops are back to looking frugal, apart from a few bits of half price tinsel. The market is much as usual. I did a trawl and came back with a pair of wire cutters, a measuring tape (metric only) and a pair of long nosed pliers all for £1. Oh, and a dark grey trouser suit from the 'Wallis' stall, but he says I can take it back on Friday if it doesn't look good in a full length mirror. Looks promising standing on a chair in the office loo.
Take care of yourself, and remember to take your vitamin pills.
Love
Mummy xxx
I'm so glad I got you yesterday; I thought you had disappeared off the face of the Earth, as we hadn't been able to contact you since that morning.
Your sister has been as articulate as ever - I think I got three words out of her today in between answering her phone calls.
Your dad is getting better too; I think it's the caster oil I have been feeding him. I noticed you had left yours out on the worktop just before you left, so I thought I'd put it back into your rucksack for you. Hope that cough isn't keeping you awake at night.
Well, should go and make the tea. Speak soon, we all miss you.
Mum xx
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10th Jan 2002