The Gift of Friendship (and a Long Overdue Catch-Up)

This weekend I hopped on a train to London to see an old friend. Not just any friend, one of those friends who has been there through life’s twists and turns, even when you don’t see each other often. We realised it had been more than five years. The last time we were together was my 40th birthday in 2020 – and somehow, in the blink of an eye, here we are in 2025.

Isn’t it strange how life does that?

Careers, kids, distance, routines they all get in the way. But what I love about the kind of friendship we have is that none of that really matters. The conversation flows, the laughter comes easily, and within minutes it feels like no time has passed at all. We picked up right where we left off, as if the world hadn’t changed in the years between.

We spent some time wandering around the beautiful streets of Chelsea and Belgravia – admiring the quiet charm of the townhouses, catching up as we walked, pausing to take it all in. It felt slow in the best kind of way. No rushing. No plans other than to simply be there, together.

There was food and wine, of course – because isn’t that always part of the magic? A long lunch that turned into early evening. Sharing stories, catching up on the bits we’ve missed, the big things and the small. A glass of rosé in hand, sat by the window with the buzz of the city outside, but in our little bubble of familiarity.

I left feeling lighter, grateful, and maybe a little nostalgic. It reminded me that friendships need nurturing, even when time is short. That making the effort to show up, even for a couple of days, can mean the world.

So here’s to the friends we don’t see often enough. The ones who’ve seen us through life’s highs and lows. The ones who make the effort feel easy. And the moments rare as they might be, when everything else can wait.

Because those moments? They matter more than we think.