Edna was a wise lady. In my line of work and from personal experience, I have seen that family fueds are really common these days and can be pretty brutal. Started for the most ridiculous and petty reasons, it’s unfortunate that when it’s family, it’s hard to distance yourself and we often get sucked into situations we would really rather be left out of.and that is why I have always kept these words with me.

It’s true. Without my friends, I would be completely lost in life. They are my support group, my sanity and my conscience on a daily basis. They are the people I laugh and cry with during the ups and downs. They make fun of my quirks and encourage me to be myself and much more.

Don’t get me wrong, we irritate each other plenty and inevitably fall out from time to time. I myself.am extremely vexing if I haven’t had an adequate amount of caffeine meaning basic human reasoning temporarilly evades me! My best friend and I quite often have very different opinions on things but isn’t that what makes a friendship? Being able to completely disagree with each other but still support each other anyway? Being able to tell each other that you think they’re wrong or out of order? That is what creates the conscience I spoke of. We depend on those close to us to pull us up and keep us grounded.

I don’t mean to diminish the role family plays though. I am so, so grateful for my family. For my mum and dad, brothers and my partners family. They have all done so much for us over the years and they are definitely the foundations we are all built from. It’s important though to have something outside of the biologocal circle and as with my blood family, my friend family (I refuse to use the word ‘real’ as both are just as important) is small and close and fiercely protective of each other but with a slightly different perspective and outlook – and they are great for a good giggle over a coffee or a glass of wine!

Whoever your ‘real’ family may be, cherish them and imagine who you would be without them. Pick your friends wisely and even if you don’t see each other regularly, they will be there for you always, even if you haven’t had enough coffee!

And to those friends who mean the world to me, I say thank you and “cheers!’