Making friends

Part of my moving away from London which I've not enjoyed is leaving behind my fantastic friends. Thankfully with the likes of texting, emails, Facebook etc the wrench is not feeling as bad as I'd feared. In fact it may even be increasing the amount of times I'm in touch with them. As so often happens in London, even though you live 'down the road' from friends the trials and tribulations of commuting in London, especially when juggling parenthood with work, can often mean we are too busy and too tired to catch up. 

But you can't beat face to face contact with like minded friends and I worried I'd not meet people that could fit into this vacant mould. But being a mum is a great enabler. Quickly I'm meeting other mums with similar aged children and who seem to have a similar sense of humour and 'likes' as me. 

This week I've progressed from the smile and 'hello' of arriving at playgroup/school/church to being invited back to people's houses and in turn me inviting them back to Fulwood for a coffee. This might seem a minor step but I'm still buzzing from the talks of future get togethers, trick or treating invites and now the thought of writing out invites to DD's upcoming birthday extending this out to more than just 'us'. Such trivial things in the grand scheme of life but so important to my new 'stay at hone mum' status. I'm missing the daily banter with work colleagues about TV programmes, news events, latest fashion trends and toilet training advice (for DD of course, not me!). So am looking forward to the increasing circle of new friends and new topics and I'm sure DB is looking forward to me having other people to discuss 'Strictly' outfits with each week! 

I'm also buzzing from having my 'story' which will be appearing in Good Housekeeping mag in their January issue read back to me. It's succinct but reminds me how this life change has had an easy organic development over the course of the last year. I hope it reads well to everyone else (and I hope my picture looks good - please let them have erased my grey roots?!!) but its hard to believe that for once I'll not be reading something in a mag wishing "if only I had the guts to do that"! I did and so far its working out ok.