The company of good friends

Whilst I agree that it is harder to socialize as a 'one' rather than a pair, my partner and I are friends with two widows and the four of us regularly have dinner together at each others' houses. The person whose house it is, cooks the main course and visitors take turns to take a starter or a dessert. It spreads the load and encourages you to try new recipes, as you only have one course to make.

I always feel my special friends are the family I choose myself. I too am so blessed .....2 friends from Infants school (63 years ago), 3 friends from Senior school, 2 from college and I’ve also acquired 6 friends from jobs over the years, plus 2 new special people who I’ve met on Singles holidays recently. I go power walking with some, ladies who lunch, badminton, theatre trips etc weekends away. They all fill my life with fun and happiness.

Since last April when I found out I had heart failure and 2 fractures of the spine my health has gone down hill i have 2 sets of neighbours who have been wonderful to me I don't know what I would do without them in fact I don't think I would be be in the state of mind I am in today only for them you dont find many neighbours who will bend over backwards to help someone like me

I wish I had been more confident at making friends but never allowed myself to get too close to others. My mother particularly was always very critical of my friends.
I'm trying to make up for it now and enjoy letting myself go more in people's company. Sharing food either at home or somewhere is always a good start. Then maybe move on to trips out.

Oh Lizzies - you beat me to it!!

My best friend is someone I’ve known since we were both 9 years old. She visits me for several days at a time and I her. Previously we lived a few miles apart in Wales all those years ( she is 67 I am 66) We are like sisters rather than friends

I have a group of 10 friends from when the children were small ( they are now 36 and 43) who is see a few time’s a year for a meal , they are all still in Wales.

2 sets of 2 friends that I see several time’s a year for a meal or day out , both from previous work connections.

Since I moved to Surrey I do miss them all especially the best friend. It seemed harder to make new friends at this stage in life in a new area. I have a lot of pleasant acquaintances but do I do now socialise with a lady I met at book club who I’ve found has a lot in common with me and she feels the same and I have an occasional coffee with a neighbour.

All in all friendships for all different reasons, all special in their own way. I certainly wouldn’t like to be without good friends. Sadly 3 close friends have already died, that is hard to deal with. Enjoy your friendships ladies they enhance your life.

Mrs Dale, Jillybird?

I have been thinking about friendships etc recently as I've generally felt I'll live somewhere else at some point.
Now I'm feeling I have too much to leave behind as I feel I have 'roots' here.
I do gave longstanding friendships with women in Ireland - schoolfriends. Only one from work - Ireland again.
It was really after having children it developed slowly. My bfs are mostly from special school. There were parents' coffee mornings and pta etc
At this stage - youngest son 24 - I play bridge. A few of us go on bridge holidays and more decently one invited me to a walking group and also a book group.
It's like a web! Sometimes life can feel a bit busy. I get people out very easily but ar the same time these friendships mean a lot and we still feel we are getting to know each other better and enjoy shared experiences.

Sorry, I'm a waffler! It's just surprising to me as an introvert that I enjoy socialising so much

My husband is still very good friend with a friend he met when he was 11 they are both 63 now and he sees him regularly even with him living the other side of the country

I have a dear friend who lives in UK
We are still intouch & I see her when I’m in England
We met 71 yrs ago Played together schooled together
We’re bridesmaids
She’s pretty sick now But I plan to see her next Summer in UK
She & her husband visited me in Aus a few years back
Old friends are the best friends

I have no friends, but I have a wonderful family, who keep in touch weekly.

Do I miss having friends? Of course.

Maybe it’s because I left home and friends over 40 years ago and was too shy/ introverted to make new friends.

But I am blessed with my children , Grandchildren and my lovely DH.

Friends are heaven sent for me.
I have 6 very good friends and it`s lovely when we get together. Having not always managing to see each other because of commitments etc it`s amazing how we can chat for hours as if we were only together yesterday.
And boy do we have a laugh.
Friends are good for the soul.

Totally agree. My life is enriched beyond belief by the inclusion of family/friends/acquaintances usually around a table but sometimes on short trips or holidays. People are the essence of my life and I am grateful to every single one I associate with. I also hope to keep on meeting new and interesting individuals along life's way. Since I agree that home catering is hard work and can be distracting we have opted for nearly always using a commercial outlet where attention is focussed on each other unreservedly. Great fun and laughter is usually the result. Fingers crossed for more of the same. My cup overfloweth.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

I have a close friend of 35 years (we worked together) we meet up most weeks for a meal, a coffee, or cinema/theatre and inbetween we often natter on the phone sometimes for hours we are both alone in life .I have another close friend of a similar length of time and we meet monthly for a meal together and chat in between... she has a lovely second husband so she does most social things with him but always has time for me and my third close friend goes back to school days so 70 odd years we ‘lost’ each other for many years as we both moved from our home town, we were friends at school but not best friends as in different classes and didn’t live near each other but I am so very glad we found each other it was really like we’d never been apart and now we meet once or twice a month for a meal a glass of wine and a chat she too has a lovely second husband so I don’t socialise so much with her but really value her friendship
I have lots of other friends who I meet less regularly plus a group of 16 school friends who lunch once a month together

It is harder to socialise when you are one and not a pair

I have no family so my friends are my 'chosen family' - I'm so lucky to have them.

I couldn’t get through my life without my good and trusted friends. You can turn up to them, as they can to me, without invitation and never have to apologise if the home isn’t perfect.

Friends are so important to our well being. Just booked a week away to the sun with my 2 good friends, we will eat drink chat and laugh.Food for the soul.

I agree with you, the pleasure of seeing old friends does us so much good.We can talk to them as if we saw them just yesterday.Family is so important, but actually not the same as our friends, who never fail to lift our spirits.

Last week I met up with two old school friends. We were both at the same girls’ grammar school, and two of us at the same junior school. We only meet once or twice a year but it is a lovely thing to do. I wouldn’t want to cook for them though,

A group of us set up a mother and toddler group over 40 years ago and we are still friends even though we are dotted round the country. Those of us who are close get together regularly and set the world to rights. I am just separating from my partner of 20 years and I know all the "girls" will support me in any way they can. More recently I have made a friend through an I internet forum and its also good to chat to someone who does not know my family. Good friends are precious.

I'm still friends with the 'girl' I met during my summer job aged 15. (51 yrs. ago) Luckily I'm very fond of her husband too. The four of us have been away on long weekends together and always have a lot of fun when we are together. She is the sister I never had.
I have another friend I met when we took our daughters to mother and toddler group 30 yrs. ago.
Sadly neither are very close geographically anymore but we meet fairly often.

I love this thread celebrating friends and good food. I too like feeding people and I’ve got one of my oldest friends coming over for a curry on Friday night whilst DH has his hip op.

I find I’m more mindful of the importance of maintaining friendships as I get older - making the effort to keep in touch and arrange meet ups etc. I’m still making new friends in Spain and it seems to add a different vibe to my life over here in Wales although some of my UK friends have met the ones in Spain when they came for their holidays!

Totally agree about friends being important. Over the years some fall by the wayside and others step into their places.
It’s sad that some good, long term friends face health challenges as we get older.
On the positive note, over the last year I’ve made a new friend, kindred spirit, met at a shared hobby. New friends don’t come along that often!

We always eat at the dining table, often remembering all the great gatherings that have been focused around it. Hoping for many more with the GCs.

Yes Experienced I love having friends around. We have three sets of couple friends, one of the couples is my best friend and we’ve known each other all our lives, are only ones and still have our very elderly mums alive, so lots in common. Life is richer with friends, and no matter how tired it makes you it’s so worth it.