NORTHERN PLANNER

So I'm back from Korea. A lot happened and, unfortunately for the three people who read this rubbish, I'm going to tell you.

For now though, I will just mention Fred. Mr Fredrik Sarnblad ,from Sweden. 

We've known each other for a while, but when I say 'known each other' I mean exchanged comments and stuff over the planning/blogging/twittersphere.

We met once in Singapore, two years ago, and didn't have enough time in one afternoon to discover much more than one afternoon wasn't enough. 

This time we had a whole week.

Being shy, I was pleased to have someone there I knew. In fact, I would call him my friend by the end. 

We seemed to talk and talk and not just about work. About all sorts of stuff, proper stuff.

He's generous, modest, funny., kind, thoughtful and great fun to be around.

More importantly, he likes tennis.

We were determined to play, after planning it for weeks, but on the day we had it planned, the heavens opened.

But then like some sort of divine intervention, the deluge relented and we took our chance, leaping into a taxi to the local courts.

To find puddle after puddle ,with brushes and sponges with no handles. Which meant half an hour of pushing like this in 90% heat…

Look at Fred go, he's a bloody viking.

He proved so on court, chasing down every ball like a demon.

We managed to split the score a set each after over 2 hours.

Then shared electrolyte rich drinks before heading back to the hotel.

After recovering, we ended up staying up all night drinking before going on our seperate flights home.

The 22 hour journey coupled with not playing tennis for nearly ten years has left my body in pieces.

But that's temporary.

I have a feeling friendship with Fred will last a long time. Hopefully it won't be anoother two years before we meet again (the Koreans might even be daft enough to invite us back)