He was told that it was impossible to hire crews from both sides of the river, but he went ahead anyway, and soon Croatian and Muslim workmen were struggling together in the cold water of the Neretva, sinking the pilings to support the bridges that rose and reconnected both sides of the town.
Within moments of reconnecting, both were delighted to find themselves once again wrapped up in a conversation they'd seemingly been having for years: How could a lack of basic integrity and a complete disregard for human dignity combine to create personal wealth?
Apologists for the SDP insist that only the shock of their departure forced Labour to confront its own demons and reconnect with both the electorate and market economics.
But his recent engagements in New Haven have been few, and he relishes this one, he said, for the chance it offers him to reconnect with both the city's storied musical history and old friends.
The exploits of the narrator and her girlfriend, Pip, who "saw herself as a charming street urchin, a pet for wealthy mothers," as they cope with a roach-infested apartment, break up and reconnect, are both tender and gripping.
Alan Davey, controller of Radio 3, said: "BBC Radio 3 wants to connect people with remarkable music and culture, and one way we can do that is to encourage people to discover a different pace and to reconnect with both music and the world around them in a distinctive and beautiful way".
Upon reconnecting after both finding fame, they realised there was quite a bit more to their relationship than a penchant for letter-writing.
Eighteen months on the prime minister must tell the party exactly when he intends to stand down within a timescale that enables his successor to take on the task of rebuilding the party and reconnecting with both our traditional supporters, and those who joined us for the first time in 1997".
To try to reconnect with voters, both parties portrayed themselves as agents of change.
