A. Looking back: sharing memories

• A: It’s great to see you again. Gosh, it’s ten years since we were at school together! Any idea what the school is like these days?
• B: No, I’ve been a bit out of touch¹ with things ever since I moved away from London.
• A: I wonder what became of² that maths teacher. I think his name, if I recall³, was Mr Sanderson. When I think back⁴, I realise now how difficult things must have been for him … And do you ever hear anything of⁵ James?
• B: No, I haven’t heard a thing.
• A: And I often wonder what Sanjay ended up doing. I’ve lost touch with him too. Thinking back, we had some great times, didn’t we?
• B: Yeah. Seeing your phone there reminds me of how we used to text under our desks, right under the teacher’s nose.
• A: Yeah, that takes me back to⁶ the day my phone rang when a school inspector was observing our class and I got into big trouble.
• B: Yes, I have a vague memory⁷ of that. Actually, it’s all coming back to me now⁸. They confiscated your phone and you stormed out of the classroom!
• A: Yeah. But I must say that what stands out in my mind⁹ is the amazing freedom we used to have.
• B: Me too. When I look back, I realise how much things have changed.
• A: Yes, I often find myself reminiscing about¹⁰ my teenage years and wonder if our children will have the same happy memories when they grow up.
• B: Yes, we’ll need to look at the past through rose-tinted spectacles¹¹, don’t we? But I guess a bit of nostalgia¹² does nobody any harm!

• ¹ not knowing what has happened recently
• ² where he is and what happened to him
• ³ if I remember correctly
• ⁴ think about the past
• ⁵ receive any news about
• ⁶ makes me remember
• ⁷ not a very clear memory
• ⁸ I’m beginning to remember it more clearly
• ⁹ what I remember more than other things (you can also say sticks out in my mind)
• ¹⁰ thinking about pleasant things that happened in the past
• ¹¹ see only the pleasant things about a situation and not notice the things that are unpleasant (you can also say rose-coloured spectacles)
• ¹² a feeling of pleasure and sometimes slight sadness at the same time as you think about things that happened in the past

B. Expressing regret

• I regret not spending more time with my aunt when she was ill.
• He showed no sign of remorse for what he had done.
• She said she felt great shame for what had happened and apologised to us all. [embarrassment and guilt]
• I felt great pangs of guilt and remorse thinking of all the bad things that had happened and my part in them.
• Some formal, rather literary ways of expressing regret:
  – I rue the day we ever met.
  – I lament the passing of time.
  – I mourn my lost opportunities.