I love my mates. I’m blessed with some lovely friends for whom distance has not been an issue. I did initially worry that maybe we’d lose touch but no, their funny, touching, irreverent and slightly bonkers emailing and texting has remained a rather comforting constant in my life and for that I’m very grateful. It’s nice to know that someone somewhere gives a toss about you enough to take time to see how you are.

As you know, I’ve also become very close to J, my lovely, clever, greyhound-mad buddy and I’m dead happy for her because she’s off to start a wonderful new life with her gorgeous man, the equally-clever, equally-kind and equally wonderful C, and their charming wee man as well. I’m sad as hell for me, but dead happy for her! Many an evening we’ve talked the hind legs off a donkey whilst concurrently balancing our phones and cooking dinner (multitaskers, us) or conducted entire text conversations (’Shit! The dog ate my fecking handbag!’) whilst packing a bunch of greyhounds off to some foreign clime (her) and defuzzing various body parts in the bath (me).

Still, she’s shortly to be back on four wheels (look out Laois!) so we’ll be meeting up for more mad adventures I’m sure, but she won’t be my metaphorical comfort blankie up the road in Dundalk any more and I’d be lying if I’m not suffering from the odd twinge.

Still, Jen, I’ll be applying your tried and trusted life lesson # 10: ‘Hang on with grim determination to the only two things in life that truly matter: your family and your friends.’ Good luck with your new job (woohoo!), God speed, bon voyage, may you be over-endowed (ooer) with domestic bliss, and may all your troubles be little ones. Mwah xxx

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