“Life is partly what we make it, and partly what it is made by the friends we choose.” - Tennessee Williams

Sometimes you meet someone and while you don't realise it at the time, they have changed your life forever.

These people do not have to do anything extraordinary, they do not have to be blatant about it, it just happens, as natural as waking up in the morning. They make you see the world in a different way and open your eyes to all the little things that you have been trying to see for years.

When I moved to London I was lonely, and I retreated into myself. I never went out and I focused solely on work, then one sunny afternoon in walks a young couple, Fiona and her amazing boyfriend Stuart. Fiona is a smiley skinny little thing. A nurse by day, a party girl by night. She has an energy and a laugh that can bounce around any room and a personality far bigger than her tiny frame. I quickly discovered she was possibly the nicest girl I have ever met.

The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances: if there is any reaction, both are transformed.
Carl Jung

We clicked instantly and ended up having a bit of a night out (understatement...) to which I was invited with Fiona and her lovely friends. By the next day, I knew. we were mates for life.

Last Sunday Fiona moved back to Australia and for me it felt like a horrific breakup. I tried to stay strong and not cry, but I didn't really succeed, I literally felt heartbroken. I cried for hours after she left and then braved a walk into town, where I proceeded to cry some more. It was as though I was grieving. I have lost such a lovely friend, one of the best friends I have ever had.



You know when you see these girly friendships on television or in a film and while they look fun and sweet it looks fake and almost pathetic... well that is the kind of friendship I had with Fiona. Sunday afternoons with a bottle of wine, Saturday mornings curled up under a duvet etc etc.

The ornament of a house is the friends who frequent it.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

It was strange because we never had big heart-to-heart conversations, I mean don't get me wrong we had chats but never about hopes or ambitions, or past regrets. If something was needing vented at the time, it always referred to the present. This of course did at times involve sharing tears - over men, over life. But the big in depth discussions friends usually have... there never seemed any need for them.

Fiona is one of those people who truly has a heart of gold and I miss her and will continue to miss her more than I ever thought possible.

Without a doubt one of the best friends I have ever had and our friendship has changed me for the better. I can not thank her enough for that. she taught me how to relax, how to live for the moment and how to embrace life and everything it gives you.

“Truly great friends are hard to find, difficult to leave, and impossible to forget.”

Miss ya loads mate x

Give your stress wings and let it fly away. ~Carin Hartness

Fridays. For me they are the small-town equivalent of the New Year. They give you the opportunity to put your week behind you and start focusing on something new.
This week, I welcome Friday with open arms!

“By Friday my brain is full, it hurts, and it has stopped functioning correctly since sometime last Wednsday. So, at that point, I don't want to think anymore, communicate clearly to anyone, or be nice anymore to anyone related to my job. It's possible that a four day work week would solve this problem.” Owen J. McClain

Tomorrow is my house-mate's birthday but as he is being treated to football match and then a pub crawl in East London, tonight we are celebrating in the house..

Stu has not been the most fortunate healthwise, infact - quite the opposite. For him a birthday is not simply another year older, it is another year that he is thankful for.

I read somewhere that the key to feeling better about yourself is to help others - I also think that this can be achieved by taking inspiration from those who have had a far worse time of it than ourselves. It allows us to get a glimpse of a happier and more fulfilled life where the simple things are what truly count. I love and respect Stu for this.

So, to follow on with the Friday feeling here are my plans for the next four weekends!

Week 1 My mum is coming to visit from Scotland.
I'm really excited about this. I've been very down for a while now and there is nothing like your mum when those moods take over you.

Week 2 Going to visit my Dad in the north of England.
I don't know how to feel about this. I really am looking forward to seeing him but I have only seen him four times in about 14 years... I would be lying if I said I was not nervous.

Week 3 - Going to Scotland.
My Grandpa will be turning 80! The whole family will be there and we're throwing a big party in his nursing home. I'm so looking forward to this.

Week 4 - Irish man is coming to visit.
My thoughts on this whole situation have changed quite dramatically. I'm no longer as excited as I was but I wont go into too much details here.

By this point, my house-mates Fiona and Stu will have moved out and back to Australia.

In the very short time I have known Fiona she has shown me that it is OK to take a break and relax for a while. Nowadays I'm living more of a party lifestyle than I did while at Uni where I worked my ass off, ran myself into the ground and didn't party anywhere near as much as the stereotypical student. And guess what... I'm really enjoying myself! Every weekend Fiona and I seem to head out with the intention of 1 bottle of wine... every weekend Fiona and I consume far more than 1 and end up in a state like this:



Never a pretty sight!

Even so I really appreciate this. I feel as though I'm having fun! Having a really great time and living life. I'm not too sure what I'll do when she leaves, but I know I'll be gutted.

So here is to Friday!