Friends.

They're so important to all of us, right? So why do many of mine seem to live so far away?

The Husband and I moved to our current town just after we got married; he was offered a promotion at work and the thought of living in a seaside town with a lower cost of housing (and therefore more chance of affording a house big enough to put kids in, as well as being able to stay home to look after them!) was just too tempting. We haven't regretted the move for a minute. Even my parents and 1 set of friends have moved to within 30 miles of us since, which is fab.

But there have been casualties along the way. About the same time a good friend of the Husband moved about 150 miles in the opposite direction, and since we now have a family and they don't, the differences in our lifestyles have proved to be disastrous for their friendship. Blokes don't just get on the phone or Facebook to catch up, and the distance is not do-able in a weekend. We did see them last year at a wedding and I think they will always consider themselves as friends, they just don't communicate any more.

And I have spent many months at a time travelling around the world, mainly in the company of a random bunch of strangers, all joined together temporarily in a large truck. Trust me, you make some very very close friends when you live, eat, sleep and pee together every day! Sods law then that most of the ones I remain close to live in Australia, New Zealand, Canada...

But the saddest one is my great friend Michelle. We worked together, drank together, shared our hopes and aspirations together. She was always there when I needed her and I would trust her with my kid's lives. Don't get me wrong, I'm delighted beyond words that she is living the life of her dreams with the man of her dreams, but she didn't have to go and bloody emigrate to New Zealand. I've just been "chatting" with her on Facebook, but it's not the same as being in the pub with her face-to-face. This is exactly why I stash some money away every month, so we can pay for holidays - and when the kids get old enough to either a) appreciate the trip, or b) stay at home alone or with with grandparents, we will be jumping straight on a flight to Christchurch:)))