A Tribute to Friends

           It’s the friends you can call up at 4 a.m. 

                 that matter. – Marlene Dietrich

The Girls and I on The Rhine 2012

How many friends do you have?  I mean REAL friends, the type that will 'stab you in the front' not 'stab you in the back'.  The type of friend you connect with on a level that has a depth of understanding that makes the relationship between you easy, with honesty, openness and total acceptance??  One who will be there for you when the going gets tough? The type of friend who can annoy you and vice versa, but even so you are still friends?

I have a beautiful group of friends.  All of them so different; the varied personalities and natures of my pals is an absolute delight to my soul and I love the different facets of friendship each one brings. 

The Birthday Girls 

In writing this little blog I am paying tribute to some of those lovely ladies who have brightened up my existence by adding a deeper dimension of love; bringing that feeling of 'sisterhood' which is so vitally important to the female of our species! I have listed a few of their most endearing attributes (of course they all have loads of endearing attributes, but I would need to write a chapter on each one if I was to list them all - and you'd get bored!!) 

Me and My Best Friend Catherine

Catherine - Accepting, Supportive, Honest, Loving

Joanna P- Spiritual, Honesty, Loving, Loyal, Caring

Donna G - Loads of laughs, Acceptance, Support, Caring 

Georgie H - Loads of laughs, Honesty, LOYAL, Loving, Accepting, Caring, Kindness

Elaine J - Kindness, Humour, Loyal, Loving, Supportive, Caring, Honesty

Angela C - Kindness, Humour, Loyal, Supportive, Caring, Honesty

Gaby F - Kindness, Supportive, Understanding, Loving

Margaret W - Spiritual, Kindness, Supportive

Amanda M - Kindness, Supportive, Caring, Spiritual

Rachel - Spiritual, Caring, Supportive, Loyal, Honest, Humour

Carey B - Kindness, Caring, Supportive, Loyal, Honest

Lisa G - Honest, Caring, Supportive, Fun, Kindness, Theatrical

Fiona T - Honest, Humour, Caring, Kindness, Fun, Family 

I know they say that if you have too many friends you are a friend to no-one, but I can honestly say that all these ladies listed above and more who I have not mentioned, are very important to me.  I absolutely value their friendship.  My life would have been so much less without these people in it. I am very grateful for the fun times, the tears, the support, the honesty and the opinions;  all shared with massive doses of laughter - not to mention copious glasses of wine!!

Robert, Karen, Carey and Colleen in Bali

A friend is one that knows you as you are, understands where you have been, accepts what you have become, and still, gently allows you to grow. – William Shakespeare

Kazza, Narelle Belle, Lisa G and Jess B

“If you have good friends, no matter how much life is sucking , they can make you laugh.” 

― P.C. Cast