There were many children of our age we used to play and attend school with, not least of which were the twins, John and Peter Hunt. Two lads known for their, shall we say, exuberance.

Many years passed and as often happens lives move on. Until the evolution of the internet, connections were often severed forever. Peter and I reconnected through the website 'Friends Reunited' and began exchanging emails and catching up, which was great fun to do.

However, I was not prepared for the email three weeks ago, something to the effect: "Hello Jackie . . . my wife Maureen and I are coming to Newport News to see you, oh yes, and to play some golf."

What! Panic set in, it's been 40 years since I last saw Peter, and I had never met Maureen, what will we talk about? Will we even get along after all these years? Will he expect me to make bread etc?

Anyway, not wishing to miss an opportunity to spend time with a childhood friend, I responded positively, and we set about making plans to meet. Thankfully they were planning to stay in a hotel, and as Kathryn was home for a few days, and the Taylor B&B was full, I found them suitable accommodation close by, and made plans to meet them for dinner. Needless to say I was somewhat apprehensive.

We arranged to meet at a local steak house. As we were running late (as always) Mike dropped me off at the door. He went to find a parking place.

I had decided to wear heels which I rarely do anymore, in an effort to look taller and thinner. I hadn't thought about walking straight on them and I staggered to the door of the restaurant like a drunk on stilts. After checking in the glass panel of the door to see if I still looked 20 and deciding not a hope, I bravely ventured inside.

I approached the young lady who was the 'hostess' for the evening and gave my name - why do I have to have a name like Taylor?, shared it seems, by one third of the population.

I told her we were meeting friends, she glanced at her chart thingy and pointed me in the direction of 'our assigned table', letting me know the rest of our party was already seated. As I approached the table, I noticed the couple sitting there were already eating. How rude! They could have waited, we're not that late I thought, but undeterred I approached the seated couple with a big welcome to Virginia smile on my face. They didn't look at all familiar.

However, I didn't expect them to look so young though. Thoughts of, gosh, I look worse that even I could have imagined crossed my mind. Deep breath, bigger smile. Hello, I ventured, hello the couple replied.

It was when they looked away and continued eating that the penny finally dropped. Feeling like a total idiot, I staggered my way back to the front door in time to see Mike heading across the parking lot. Thank goodness he didn't witness that little episode. He already thinks I'm one sandwich short of a picnic.