In 1964 our mother was sent from darkest Co. Galway to London to have her soon-to-be-born son adopted as it wasn't the done thing to be an unmarried mother in those days - shame on the family and all that. He was duly adopted and our mother met and married. My full brother (hereinafter called FB) and I followed after. Shortly after she died in 1984, she told us about her first born (hereinafter called HB) and in those days there was no easy way to try and find him.
Last year, a cousin did one of these DNA kit thingies and a two weeks ago she received a Facearse message from someone stating she was the wife of our half brother. Obvious checks were made and fully satisfied of his identity we arranged to meet up. HB lives in Cobham which really isn't far from me in Redhill or Sutton where FB lives. Extended lunch at the Plough Inn in Cobham followed - and it was wonderful, so many coincidences. HB is also very good friends with a chap I worked with for 18 years in my UCB/Nationwide days. Had a early beer the Saturday before with a friend in Redhill...and he's known him for 25 years
Vast quantities of Guinness, Malbec and Jameson's was consumed. My hangover on Monday was the worst for decades. We are arranging to meet up again for a curry in Weybridge over the Christmas period.
