Blasts from the past

I SPENT much of last week in a timewarp, with three chance events - and the recession - casting me back to the late 1970s.

It began with an email from an old friend of my sister's, who found one of my stories online that included my contact details. They are now back in touch.

Next, on a visit to London, I bumped into a former colleague I hadn't seen for more than 25 years. I first knew her when she was a schoolgirl messenger on my first paper in Shropshire. She then turned up as a junior reporter where I was working in Lancashire. Her career path led her to become a highly successful national reporter - while I came to Bristol. Oh well ...

The third incident was the most bizarre of all. I texted a contact, who was on the train to London, about a story. She told her companion, mentioning me by name, and a fellow traveller interrupted and asked to be remembered to me. It was only a former boyfriend from north Wales, whom I last saw in 1979! A subsequent phone chat was a valiant attempt to catch up on three decades in 15 minutes.

My early working life was set in a climate of economic woes and rising unemployment - sounds familiar! Now my daughters are at a similar stage, while my generation is facing a double panic. Will we keep our jobs? And just how long will we need to work at whatever work we can find before retirement?

I'm not really sure why I'm telling these tales. I guess what I'm wondering is whether this blog should focus on personal or public issues, light or serious?

As I said yesterday, there's no shortage of topics. Michael Gove's idea about primary academies is the latest issue in the headlines, for example.

I have a fascinating job, every day meeting wonderful young people and inspiring adults who are helping them to thrive. I suppose the aspects of education in Bristol that I share on here will vary from week to week.

But do let me know what you'd like to discuss - and whether I should be looking forward or back!