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Friends

A river runs through it; a walk in the Thames

Do you remember my friend Charlene? You might remember seeing her at BritMums Live. She’s always in my back pocket – either I’m at hers or she’s at mine. We don’t let little things, like a flood, stop us! She invited me to her house for a cup of coffee. There …

Thames Valley drinks and the digital story of the nativity

Last night we had Christmas drinks at a neighbours. Actually it was with the neighborhood, as the whole town was there, drinking mulled wine and chatting about the symptoms of swine flu and Evernote, a cool app that syncs your notes from all devices. We also took a quick peak at this viral video (on an Android smart …

Is your child’s best friend moving away? 12 tips for coping

My eight-year-old daughters best friend is moving to another country. Though the move is still a few months away, she is devastated. I can tell she is trying to make sense of the impending loss and is working things out in her mind. “When Emilie goes, who will be with me at play …

Paris update: A big thumbs up to daddy!

So, I went to Paris this weekend and had a wonderful time with my friends (see video). When I came back — with a slight headache — I found daddy and the girls cuddled on the carpet playing chess, the kitchen fairly clean and the dryer droning away quietly in the background. I quickly went outside and checked the house …

The ultimate work at home mother!

We are spending the summer holidays in California, I just couldn’t look another English one squarely in the eye. It’s great being here because in addition to sunshine on tap, we have lots of family to help entertain three small girls AND it gives me loads of time to visit old friends. Two of my …

Friends forever

HM, my four-year-old, was sitting on my lap last night; a snuggly warm bundle, still glowing from her bath. Her straw yellow hair had the faint smell of summer.

“Mummy,” she said looking at me intently with her father’s blue eyes, “I used to be best friends with Madison, and now I hardly see her.” She paused waiting patiently for my mummy-knows-everything answer.

It’s true. Madison left at the beginning of term to go to another school. We had a playdate with her yesterday, which is probably what prompted her comment. Some friendships are like butterflies, flitting in and out of your life. But how do you explain this to a four-year-old that just wants the comfort of colouring in with an old friend?

Goodbyes. I hate them.

Some friends stay with you forever. They become so entwined in the fabric of your life that it never needs to be mended. Others flit in and out like a butterfly, stopping only briefly to rest their wings. A butterfly in of my circle of friends left today. A job in Dubai was the …