Last night I was lucky enough to spend the evening in the company or two gorgeous, creative and talented friends. We were talking about Christmas, our plans, the traditions and rituals we keep up year after year. I shared the photo of the gingerbread house the teen and I made years ago when she was just a toddler. It was a beautiful house, but the heat and steam from a kitchen full of baking reduced it to a soggy heap. Even though it tasted delicious, the lasting memory we have is that I am not perfect!

Back home I started thinking about friendships, I’m lucky to have lots of friends. There are the mates from my university days who still have the ability to reduce me to tears of laughter with “Remember when…” stories, the newer friends I’ve met through being a Mum and the friends I’ve made through writing, knitting or baking. They are a diverse group, but there are a few common ingredients.

All my friends show respect for each other and consideration for other people’s feelings. They are generous with their time and their ideas. Above all they are patient when I get it wrong. Maintaining friendships is hard work,  but the rewards are many. Now it’s getting closer to Christmas, I’ve been reminded that the greatest gifts you can give are friendship, loyalty and love. And, like the cliche says “It’s better to give than to receive”. So, money may be tight this year but I can still show my friends I care. There will be letters written (proper letters, in envelopes with stamps, not emails), home made gifts delivered to friends who deserve a treat and cards sent with “I haven’t seen you in a while, but I still think of you” messages.

The gift of friendship is more precious than diamonds, so this post is a tribute to the many ladies who have given me that gift this year.

So, to A (for the Costa mornings I love), to Z (for unfailing sense of humour), R and A (who keep my going), to another A (for keeping in touch – thank you), to J (for the bolt hole) and most especially to N who is my daughter and my friend – what more could I ask for?

T x