Just as true today

I posted this a year ago, and yesterday we had a revisit to the friend in question, husband and sister. The sentiment I express at the end of this piece which I wrote after that visit is just as true today – I am pleased to say!

We went to Devon today, what gadabouts we are – Bridgwater yesterday, Ashill near Tiverton today, goodness knows where tomorrow! Well, tomorrow actually it’s one of Weston’s rather lovely parks, for coffee and conversation, and maybe some sneaky writing. We went to Ashill to visit my friend, who I’ve known since she was sixteen and I was two years older, her husband and her sister, and as ever when we are together we had a very pleasant and relaxing time. Usually we meet somewhere, a stately home, a place of interest, an exhibition or display, however, due to an injured foot we just relaxed in their lovely home and enjoyed a traditional Sunday roast, and later a cream tea.

When I left home at eighteen to head north to study at Manchester Polytechnic, I knew no-one in the city or at the Poly, however it didn’t take long before I met and made friends. Two of those friends came from Leeds and, a couple of years older than me and having lived in a big vibrant city, had much greater knowledge of fashion, music, and clubbing. I was a little in awe of them – I have to say, that soon wore off as we got to know each other better. They used to tell us about the exciting times they had, and other friends they had and often mentioned two girls. They weren’t girlfriends, but family friends, and were very trendy and with-it as we used to say (I want to insert a laughing emoji but will resist) They were two years younger than me, the same age as my sister, who was also extremely fashionable, trendy and with-it.

At some point, the two girls crossed the Pennines to visit, and I confess I was a little anxious. I shouldn’t have been – even all these years later I am still in vague touch with one, and today we visited the other who lives in Devon in Ashill. We have been close friends over all that time, and keep in touch and meet up regularly – as we did today! Thinking back to those early days, I would have been astonished to think of myself as old, but I’m sure I would have been delighted to think we were still friends!