Friends

I have been thinking for some time about friends in our life - the impact and influence they have and the joy they bring.

At 57 I have obviously met a lot of people during the years.  Some of these became and still are wonderful friends.  The friends I have around me at present are a varied lot with differing backgrounds, experiences and personalities but they all bring to me something very special into my life.

Some friends from the past have moved on leaving mostly good memories but lives and circumstances change.  I have moved from one country to another so many of my friends from early years are no longer around me now.  In fact as I was growing up some of my closest friends were my cousins and although I don't see them often it is alway wonderful to catch up with them at any time.

Two of my wonderful friends live overseas and although they both come to Australia annually it is as if they just live in another town or state.  Email is a wonderful thing and although I am a little slack in keeping in touch very regularly I hope they know I do think about them often.  They are both inspiring women.  My American pal is in her early 60s and travels the world doing triathlons and treks.  She tackled the Kokoda Trail last year and is planning a trek in Nepal later this year.  We met when she came to Australia for a year on a study visa.  Her son is married to an Australian girl so she visits them every year and we catch up for Friday girlie lunchs with other friends and dinners at home.  I always look forward to her being here and as she is a 'crafty' person too we can swap stories of our masterpieces.  My other 'foreign' friend is not really foreign.  I worked with her on a project in QLD Health and then she and her husband followed their dream and moved to the UK - Inverness in Scotland.  I am so envious but so happy for them that they have grasped this opportunity and, as she adds to the bottom of her emails, they are 'living their dream'.  I just love all the pics she posts on Facebook and we have visited them and been shown the delights of their highland home. This friend is not 'crafty' but if she finds any internet sites in relation to my craft she sends them to me and another of her 'crafty' friends.  Both of these wonderful women are warm, intelligent, generous and both have large friendship bases so I feel quite privileged to call them my friends too.

I have a couple of friends that I don't see as often as I would like but I know they both would be there for me if needed and whenever we do catch up it is a non-stop talk fest.  One of these women was also my sister-in-law so we have a family history as well as knowledge of the town we both grew up in.  She and her husband (my ex brother-in-law) live a couple of hours from us and it always gives me a wonderful warm fuzzy feeling when we are with them.  This couple have experienced tragedies beyond most people's comprehension but their love for each other, and the love they attract from others have kept them going.  They have been encompassed by friendships they have made and this sustains them.  My love for them is always there. 

My other friend is a school teacher and we only see her and her husband every few months but we have been lucky to have travelled a couple of times overseas with them and had fabulous times.  Plans are on the drawing board for another trip next year.  This couple celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary yesterday and I felt so honoured that they chose us to spend the day with.   She is funny and outrageous, warm and witty, intelligent and articulate and best of all, in my corner.

Two of my 'bestest' friends are women I have known a long time.  One is like my second mother and although we are somewhat different in outlook I love spending every Friday with her shopping and lunching.  We also share a love of everything British and a common thread of both being ex-Kiwis too.  She is a fabulous cook, wonderful housekeeper and drops everything to go to someone's aid at any time.  My other friend also shares Friday lunches when possible and I have known her when I first began work with QLD Health and was given her job - she was moved to another department.  We became wonderful friends and she has been with me through the ups and downs of marriage breakup, new relationships and family problems.   We have been able to tell each other everything and know just about everything about each other.  She too has known family tragedy but is the 'rock' for her family providing love and sustenance always.

Just lately I have met two other lovely ladies through our volunteer work.  Again both so different in background and outlook but both so delightful and whom I am happy to call a friend.  One has also been bowed down with emotional and health events but keeps on going and giving her time.  Like me she is an 'Anglophile' and a Royalist and I love working with her.  The other is bigger than life in many ways and her heart overflows with generosity in her volunteer work. 

I seemed to have gone on a bit about my fabulous friends but they and the other friends I have had  have all played a part in influencing me in life's path and the decisions I have made.  They all bring something special and I am so happy and grateful that I know or have known my friends. 

Frosty the Snowman

I think we had our first frost in our locality this morning although Ipswich has experienced a couple.  I must admit I do love the winters here in southeast Queensland.  Yes it is cold at night and early morning, compared to the temperatures during the day but the days have been spectacular.  Clear, deep blue skies and if you can find a patch to sit in the sun just heaven. 

It is normally a bit later when I head out to the studio at present.  Don't like to leave the warmth of the house especially when WH has been up early in the morning to light the wood fire for me.  I am thoroughly spoilt and do so appreciate it.

The photos above show two cushions I have just finished for our lounge.  If you look closely at the pictures you may realise that they are of mushrooms.  When we were in UK and Europe in 2009, my theme for my photo shoots throughout the holiday seemed to be mushrooms.  I found a couple of quirky looking ones in Scotland initially and proceeded to do some close-ups.  Then throughout our stay, both friends and WH kept saying "Oh look, Ruth, there is a mushroom".  Friends at home will understand - especially those who have seen our pics from this trip - mushrooms were a recurring theme and everyone thought I was (am) crazy.  So the pics in the cushions have been modified in Photoshop and printed on fabric.  The pretty blue and gold fabrics in the cushions were purchased in Fiji so we now have unique momentos of two of our lovely holidays.

It is a while since I have 'blogged'.  No excuse really just always found something else to do but will try to be more regular about posts.

We should be in NZ at this moment, looking forward to celebrating one of my younger brother's 50th, but unfortunately this couldn't be at this particular time.  However, we are looking forward to spending Christmas over there and catching up with family.  It is some years since I have spent Christmas with family over there.

Does everyone have a 'bucket list'?  Or maybe you don't call it that but just a list of things you would like to do, see or achieve.  I have a huge bucket list some of which I have already achieved, seen and done.    Dreams are free and the world is so full of beauty and interest waiting to be experienced.

What am I happy and grateful for today?  I am healthy, I have a wonderful family and beautiful friends, a lovely home to live in and especially a super husband.  I am so lucky.

For those I love who are not in a good place at the moment - physically, emotionally and mentally - my thoughts are with you and hopes that tomorrow will be a better day in every way.