This account describes the scientific events that have led from malonamides which coextract minor actinide and lanthanide fission products, to the 1,2,4-triazines such as BTBP and BTPhen reagents that are capable of separating Am(III) from Eu(III). The journey started with Mike Hudson having a walk in hot and dusty Rome with Claude Musikas of the CEA in 1980 and continues to Mike enjoying a celebratory beer (or two) in Reading (2012) with Laurence Harwood and Frank Lewis. Throughout the journey, organic synthesis, coupled with coordination chemistry, has been the engine by which successful science has developed.