The best laid plans

The best laid schemes o' Mice an' Men,
Gang aft agley,
An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain,
For promis'd joy!
(The best laid schemes of Mice and Men
oft go awry,
And leave us nothing but grief and pain,
For promised joy!)

Robert Burns, To a Mouse (Poem, November, 1785)

This Christmas I was going to be so organised and I did quite well. I made nearly all of the presents myself and quite a long time in advance, improved my wrapping skills and got most of them to the right people on time. However due to being far too casual with my planning, there is one truly special friend whose present is still under our tree. I have made truffles for her on three occasions and they have all been eaten without making it to her, not because I am mean but because they have to be eaten within a week of making them. There is nothing else for it, I shall have to make a truffle making kit for the lady in question. She is after all the kind soul who gave me the sour cherries in the first place and it is almost unspeakable that she is yet to taste them.

Some people are very special and it is not always easy to show how much they are appreciated.

I once asked Josie how she decided who to make friends with as she always wanted to make a friend where ever we went,

"Find someone who looks pretty and try to talk to them", she replied and I always thought it was incredibly good advice. All of my friends have some qualities that I admire and I can talk to all of them. For this particular friend, there is a great deal to admire, the list would be endless. She has effortless style of which anyone would be envious and the most beautiful home, the type I imagine mine would look like if I did not have children and all my mummyish things had not been Charlied. My house would of course not be anywhere near as beautiful or perfect but I do love having something to aspire to. 

The thing I like most about this friend is the loves in life that we share. We could probably go anywhere together and have the most fabulous time, particularly if it involved anything to do with gardening, art or beautiful things. We have shared good times and bad. She held my hand during one of the lowest points in my life and wiped my tears. A true friend is one to treasure and I look forward to being old ladies together one day.

For the lady who brings a little bit pink into every one's life