In an attempt to finalise our outfits for Dan and Claire's 'wedding reception' next weekend, I visited Mother is good old Essex yesterday. Having failed to sort anything out in Chigwell, we headed off to Romford. It has been many years since I shopped in Romford...when I think about it, it must be somewhere around ten years. Once again making me feel very old!

Anyway. It was very strange. Obviously it is not going to be the same as when I left it, waiting and staying the same just in case I need the security blanket of returning to my old life. However, what has happened is very odd. It would appear that someone has put a lid on it. Buildings that were outside are now joined to other buildings that were outside by an expanse of glass and metal. It is hard to explain but the buildings are still there just joined to some others now. The whole of the old Romford in a big glass bubble.

I wonder what life would have been like had I returned to Essex after University. Would I have been able to tick the right boxes? Would things have gone the same way, just somewhere else? Would I still be carrying watermelons like I did last night? That old question of whether there is a hidden force that decides what we do and what happens to us - or if we are in control of our own life after all. It would be nice to be able to see what life would have been like had you made a different decision though, don't you think?