We met on Monday, November 14th, 1994.
Tara and I. New administrators at Moores Marr Bradley, a pretty progressive firm of Independent Financial Advisers based in Milton Keynes.
Correinne, the glamourous Admin Manager, was our boss. She’d interviewed me for the role two weeks before. Apparently I told her I didn’t really want to be an administrator but thought it might be a stepping stone to an adviser’s job. She employed me regardless and, unknowingly, set in motion my financial planning career
I distinctly recall Day One. I sat across the desk from Tara who spent most of the day looking quizzically at me. Eleven years younger, which must have meant she was nineteen at the time, Tara could immediately tell administration was not my sweet spot. In contrast, she had the place, processes and people sussed by the end of the day. It took me somewhat longer…
I didn’t know at the time how formative that job would be. It was there I met one of my future business partners, Gareth, our Managing Director. The boss. Recently bereaved, he was rebuilding his life, as well as building his business. The consummate salesman. Suave, charismatic. And just a little bit scary…in a boss kinda way.
Three weeks later it was the works Christmas party. Partners were invited. Jonnie, my husband, and I went along, both a little nervous. Gareth came over to talk to me. I was chuffed, in that keen to impress, new girl/boss kinda way. As we talked one of my fave songs of those times came on – Loveshack by the B52s. Jonnie, who had been off stage left, sauntered over, and asked, in his inimitable Geordie way –
“Loveshack’s on, why isn’t Ruth Sturkey dancing?”
I felt the words hang there. I mean, I LOVE dancing, but I was trying to impress my new boss. Within a nano second, Gareth replied “Let’s all dance”… and the evening, and mine and Gareth’s future friendship was sealed.
Good times indeed. As was last Friday when Tara, Correinne and I met up. We may have only worked together for three years but here we were, thirty two years later, still friends. Tara is now Operations Director for a great financial planning business, Correinne the same for a firm of surveyors. Successful women both.
The evening started, and ended, in the 12th Knot cocktail bar at the top of the Sea Containers hotel. Cocktails, wine and food were consumed, gossip, work and family stories exchanged, a potential multi day walk along the Thames to Oxford mooted, all laced with laughter and fun. I admit to feeling a tiny bit jaded on Saturday as I dashed to get a train to the South West.
Fun time with friends. I know I talk about it a lot but for me, a childfree woman of a certain age, friends are the scaffolding to my life.
You
As ever I’m interested in you. And this time, in particular, my male readers. My observation, which may be wrong, is we women are better at keeping in touch with friends and, frankly, making shit happen. How does that play out in your life? Am I right, am I wrong? Drop me a line, I’d love to hear from you.
And, remember, you’re never going to be any younger than you are today, the friend you’ve been meaning to have a wine/beer/coffee with, get it in the diary, you won’t regret it.
Until next week my friends,
Ruth x
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