A year later I moved to Ireland. I've been living there ever since; but I once returned to Bristol for a few months to run a bookshop. After I had been back for about a week I was opening the shop one morning when John appeared. He had heard that somebody was coming from Ireland to run the shop and had guessed it was me. Have you been teaching all this time? I asked. He told me that he had given up teaching as it had got too difficult. I've been doing lots of exciting things. Like what? I asked. Have you seen that furniture shop up the road? he said. Oh so you run a shop too? No my wife runs it. I make all the furniture!
John hand not changed! Since I last saw him he had become a furniture maker and he had taken up skiing. I was stunned. Since then every time l 've felt sorry for myself I 've thought about John and his incredible life....