To ask to go back

[PepsiMaxandPringleStacks]

So last year I left a job I was good at to pursue a career in something completely different. This unfortunately didn't work out with my family etc so I left that career path and started working somewhere for handiness.

One of my past colleagues is a close friend and had mentioned that the boss had mentioned me in passing a few times saying they wished I was still there. She is convinced they're hinting they want me to make contact with them to come back.

Would it look bad to get in contact with them and ask them to keep me in mind for any future opportunities that arise within the business?

I'm torn because I feel embarrassed I decided not to pursue the career break in the end but also I don't really want to be stuck with crap jobs cause I gave up a good one?

Would it be unreasonable to contact them and put the feelers out?

No need for any embarrassment, it sounds as though they’d welcome you back.

We've had a couple of colleagues go and come back again. Always happy to see them as they can hit the ground running and they're a known quantity.

I went off and pursued a new career hated it contacted my boss who'd already been hassling me to come back since Id left and walked straight back into my old job and got a promotion 4 months later. I was honest Id made a huge mistake and realised the job I thougth I hated wasn't that bad after all.

I did exactly that a few weeks ago and now I have my old job back

Thanks guys this makes me feel a lot better! I feel so stupid leaving I the first place