It’s funny how things can work out just when you need them to…I was feeling a bit down in the dumps that I’d not seen some of my closest London mates for what feels like forever when I received a text from my male best friend Will that he’d be in town for an anesthetist conference pretty much round the corner from where I live in Yorkshire-yay!
After an emotional rollercoaster of a week as Oliver started school, dinner with one of my oldest, closest friends made me feel like my old self again.
Amazing how great friends can do that to you isn’t it?!
All the shared history means that it doesn’t matter a dot if you’ve not seen each other for a while…and most importantly we had some amazing news to celebrate as Will and his gorgeous wife Sarah had welcomed a beautiful baby boy Henry two months earlier!
We’ve had a family Google hangout so I’ve e-met Henry but I really need to squeeze his cheeks soon in real time… in the meanwhile it was wonderful to spend quality time with Will (who granted, I mothered through med school and is now a father himself)! to catch up and discuss life with a little one!
I cooked my Dad’s famous roast chicken for us-stuffed with lots of fresh lemon and garlic, roasted sweet potatoes and made avocado salad followed by an exotic fruit salad with Yorkshire tea to boot!
Peter put Oliver to bed but Alexander was too far too excited to see Will and wanted pre bedtime cuddles and some of our chicken (what a cheek)!
As you can see he’s too cute to refuse! And Alexander’s not bad either!
Then it was catch up time…
…I loved Will’s musings on new fatherhood, overcoming the evil colic (“we tried EVERYTHING”) to those “but is it normal…?” type questions I answered with, “basically I’m blagging parenthood Will so do what you can to survive”, the frank chats about how life changes once babies arrive (the good, the life-affirming, the dog pooh that needed cleaning off the buggy wheels in marigolds)…
…How friendship can change, those without kids don’t always get it (how can they?) and the special ones who do whatever… and for hours on end through late night yawns and too much food, we laughed and laughed, buddies who used to go clubbing in Soho most nights at uni to parents of little people who don’t like sleep… And it made me think more than ever, that I’m so flipping lucky to have real friends like Will in my life to share all this utter craziness with…
Then Alexander woke up!
Have you got a Will in your life?
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It’s so good to have good, real friends like that – 20 years ago this month I started at uni and the friends I met then are still my very good friends now, despite us living all over the country and despite me living in France for 12 years. I’m also very lucky that my best friend is my husband who I get to see every day 🙂 xx
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Oh that is so sweet, Peter is my best friend too! Love this comment x
I have a Will. A real one called Will who is my youngest son aged 14, and a best friend called Neil who is my “Will” who I met when I was a baby, went to play school with, went to primary school and went to high school with. He is Will’s God father too xxx
PS I am not on twitter any more for one reason and another , but I am still here reading your blogs xxx (life’s luxuries)
Oh thanks Kate, and both your Wills sound amazing, thanks so much for reading my blogs, miss our tweets x
So wonderful to have friends like this! I don’t know where I’d be without my best friend. She lives down the road, her babies are the same age as mine, and we’ve known each other since we were 11! xxx
That’s so wonderful to have her so close, a lot of my besties are in London too but I have some of my oldest, closest friends in Leeds, lovely you have all that shared history x
Aww you do look chuffed to bits to see each other. I do enjoy your Will posts (he’s rather easy on the eye. Ahem.) Love how you’re sneaking in more pix of your photo-shy baby daddy too, hehe. I have or should I say had a Will, we haven’t fallen out or anything and when we get together it’s exactly like old times but he’s up sticks and moved countries and I haven’t seen him in years now. I’ve always had a lot of male buddies as well as girlfriends, think it’s good as they give you a much different (and often simpler) perspective on life. And I’m all over that roast chicken! x
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Ha thanks honey, I agree, male friends are so important, Will is the last man standing-after marriage and babies, my male friendships seemed to dwindle away but ours is stronger than ever! So glad you like the roast chicken, only managed a blurry shot on my phone! Peter hates having his picture taken but slowly but surely I’m making sure he gets some ‘air time’ whether he likes it or not! Ha x
Luckily I do have a Will in my life, and always see him when we are in the Czech Republic, but would love to see him more. Male friends are so important in our ives, aren’t they?
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That’s so lovely, they really are xx
I loved reading this post…I am lucky to have a best friend called Dave. Met in college and he’s my daughter’s godfather. We don’t see each other often but talk most days now that we are in the same time zone. 🙂
That’s so lovely to read, male friends rock and a lot dwindled away but Will stayed x
Ah so lovely, keeping in touch with old friends is so important. xx
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Thanks Katie, really is x
Precious times! Those rare meals with friends or family, catching up on news and chewing the fat as they say! There’s nothing like spending real quality time with great mates or those that you love. Nothing. Lovely post. Sounds like it did you the world of good and i’m with Zaz, your hair looks fabulous like that! x
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So true darling, you are so right, felt like a new girl afterwards! Aw thanks about my hair, got a top knot vlog happening soon! x
Isn’t it great when you get together with friends that you haven’t seen for a while and it’s just like you’ve never been apart? Lovely post and that roast chicken looks delicious. So cute that Alexander wanted to join in too. And by the way your hubbie and bestie really look alike!
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Thanks so much, Alexander wanted to join the party! Do you think P and Will look similar? x
Oh these moments are SO precious! Yes, I do have a Will in my life, my buddy Steve who I grew up with in the West Indies, and am now Godmother to his beautiful daughter – we all eventually left sunny climes to settle in London. Despite the fact that we live in the same city, as is typical with London and grown up life, we don’t see each other very often, but when we do , or have one of our marathon phone calls it is so supportive, full of laughter, putting the world to rights, affirming what we are each doing in parenthood and life in general. You are quite right, these moments are amazing. Happy you had such a fun time – and you know I love your hair like that, right? xxx
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Your Will, Steve sounds amazing and aren’t we lucky to have such great, old friends in our lives still. Such previous times and all the more valued as they are so infrequent now we all have kids and live far away. So glad you like my hair up too, mwah x
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