Surprise meeting with Diane in Segou, Mali

First of all thank you to all the friends and family who emailed me to ask about my monkey attack. I am back to normal and not bald anymore (so Michael tells me and I will believe him this time).

On our way from Bamako to Timbuktu, we were in the last car, an hour behind the rest due to my having to see a surgeon. So the driver, Amadou, was trying to make time and was going to drive past Segou to catch up with the rest. Segou is a beautiful riverside town well known for the River Niger festival that takes place in February every year.

I wanted to go to the toilet so asked him to stop for a few minutes at Segou. So he took us to a hotel in town. As I was going through the doorway into the toilet I saw Diane waiting on the other side letteing me pass through! I just could not believe my eyes and for a few moments both of us just stared at each other! We were surprised into silence.

Then "Oh my God it's you" and hugs and more hugs. Unfortunately, Diane was on her way to Bamako to catch a plane back home, so we could not spend long sharing our stories. She had been traveling overland from Morocco and had had the time of her life plus a life changing experience. Diane was not aware that I was now living in Ghana and volunteering with VSO. I am sure she must remember me talking about doing it for years.

We were both so overcome by this surprise meeting that we did not think of taking any photos!

What are the chances of meeting someone you know in Segou and being at the same place at the same time? I have known Diane for nearly 20 years and we met while working in Islington. We went our separate ways and the last few years we always caught up with each other at WOMAD. We would exchange telephone numbers and agree to keep in touch but somehow we never managed it until the next WOMAD.

Something tells me Diane that all these chance meetings must mean we are meant to keep in touch. So let us start again via our emails.