Girl Friends

I've been thinking lately about how lucky I am to have made some absolutely fabulous friends over the last few years, and to have kept some amazing women in my life since childhood. I was brought up not to treasure friends and often remember the 'church' subtly trying to discourage friendships outside of the fellowship. But despite their negative inflluences I always treasured every friend I have ever made. I think I am a good friend, and I value my friends with all my heart. When leaving the 'church' we left behind 90% of the people we had grown up with, had social lives with and were literally cast out as some sort of leper.

So, although it's not a long blog post, I just wanted to say a huge thankyou to the women in my life, who have been a tower or strength to me over the last 3 years (and beyond for some). I treasure each of you girls with my whole heart. Each one of you offers different qualities, opinions, ideas and laughs. Some of you do coffee with me and let me moan about school issues and sleepless nights. Some of you have listened to me for literally hours whilst I've poured my heart out to you. Some of you offer me fun, distraction and wonderfully happy times. Whatever you offer to me, I hope I give back something of value to you.

So to each woman pictured below, I want to say that I love each of you and am forever grateful to have known you. May we all be lifelong friends and never lose touch.

Bleurgh... I've got a cold. It's been coming on for a few days but was not too bad, however this afternoon it's just turned into one of those hideous, purple, puffy eye watering, hose-pipe nose stinkers. I am not happy!

Luckily, before the onset of the snot-fest, a friend who I haven't seen for 16 years came to visit! She was in the area as a relative lives nearby, so she popped in for a cuppa. It was so great to see her after so long. She hasn't changed a bit from how I remember her. Barney had made a picture for her, all in red as he asked me what her favourite colour is, and I just happened to remember how much she likes red! He was so full of chat. He gave her a tour around the house, hand cuffed her (be warned that if you are visiting our home you will more than likely be handcuffed at some point!), shared his precious Texan rats with her, and showed her his travel photo album. As usual, Barney steals the affections of my friends from me and they become 'his friends' and not mine! Lol.

Uncle T was also handcuffed later in the afternoon when he came to pick up his puppy. We had been dog sitting her for the weekend. She's so cute!

England, Part 2...

I've been sitting here for 15 minutes looking over the England photos and trying to work out what to write about. I just don't know quite where to start. Rosie and I spent 10 days visiting friends and family from around Kent. I have to say that Rosie was an absolute angel the entire time. I think in 10 days she only cried once, which was when I gave her a bath on the last day when all she really wanted was a bottle. Apart from that she was a dream to travel with. I made it there and back through the airports with Rosie in a sling, and she never complained once. What a little star.

We did a lot of visiting. It was great to see so many old faces. One afternoon we had lunch with V from school and her daughter R. R was besotted with Rosie, and was happy to help me feed her, cuddle her and kiss her. Rosie was delighted with the attention and plied little R with plenty of smiles. It was great to see V after 16 years, and I must say she hasn't aged a day! She still looks exactly the same!

Another afternoon we met L (also an old friend from school) and her daughter. Her two year old little girl was delightful and full of adventure. We had a chat about our kids and her son sounds very similar to my Barney in a lot of ways.

It was also great to meet Miss S again. Her and Mrs T were two of my bridesmaids, 15 long years ago. We met at T's house, ate pizza, and drank wine. I think I went a bit over the top with some of the old school days anecdotes, but it was all good fun. When we all get together it's like we are 15 years old again. I don't feel a day older anyway, with or without wrinkles and grey hair.

I was sad to hear that my friend K's father is very ill with lung cancer, but was pleased to be able to spend an evening with her. She's moved to Maidstone now so it's easier to meet up when I'm over.

My Aunty Claire organised a family afternoon at her house on the Saturday. It was the first time I've seen that side of the family for years. My cousin Ben was there, as well as my Dad and my Grandparents. We shared lots of stories about various ancestors and talked about where our family came from. I was pleased to see Grandma again and glad that she seemed well.

That evening Mrs T, Miss C and CR (plus little Rosie) all went out for a meal to the White Rabbit in Maidstone. It was just like old times again. The food and company were both lovely. T came back to C's house with us and we spent an hour taking hilarious photos. Poor T hadn't enjoyed the wine that C and I had indulged in, but she was a great sport and put up with our silly antics. I had such a great laugh that night and it really cheered me up no end.

I could be writing all evening if I mentioned every story from our trip, like the time I lost my mobile phone and C drove me all over Kent looking for it at 2am, or the time we came 4th at the Langley Village Hall quiz night, or how the airport security metal detector went off every time they scanned my stomach! But all in all great fun was had by all and I am ever more grateful for my gorgeous, thoughtful and precious friends.

Here are a selection of photos from the trip...

England, Part 1...

I arrived in England on Thursday evening, very last minute. It's now Tuesday afternoon and Rosie and I have been kept very busy reminiscing with old friends. C has been lovely in giving us somewhere to stay, and driving us about, bless her. It's been great to catch up with her and my special friend T too. T's girls are adorable and growing up so fast. They all doted on little Rosie as she seemed so tiny to them.

I met my Dad for lunch yesterday, followed by a coffee with someone I haven't seen for 17 years! It was great to see her after so long and to catch up on each others lives. I'm meeting another girl I haven't seen since school on Friday as well. C and I visited our old (not in years) friend CR on Sunday. I think she quite liked little Rosie! We tried our best to get some photos of the four of us together but most of them turned out with one of us looking a bit dodgy. Hehe. She gave me a HIM watch, which really touched me. How kind. And thoughtful.

T took me out for a drink one evening and we sat for hours chatting about life, parenting issues, old school memories. We tried to take one photo where both of us looked ok, and it was easier said than done! In the end the only good photo of both myself and T had Rosie balling her eyes out in it!

I have lots more people to meet up with before Sunday and am looking forward to each and every one of them. Unfortunately I just can't fit everyone into one trip. Guess I will just have to come back more regularly! Rosie has been an absolute angel the entire trip and has spent the entire time smiling and giggling. What a little star.

Here are ome of the photos so far...

Happy Valentine's Day

Oh la la, I got a Valentine's Day card in the post this morning! And it wasn't from my husband!
Haha, I was a bit shocked when I opened it, but soon realised that it came from my penpal who is serving a death sentence in America. It made my day (although did make me feel old!) and here is message he wrote inside..

My dear best friend, I know you're getting older, hell I am too,
Just two people older, trying to get through,
You have always been there and your heart is always true,
So I hope you have a nice special Valentines Day, that's my wish for you.

Isn't that sweet? I must admit to negelcting my letters to him whilst I was suffering with high blood pressure during pregnancy. But I'm back on the ball now writing to him regularly. Heres a photo of the two of us when I visited back in February 08, on my way across America.