Out with the old and in the with new?? No wait I want to keep the old!

A couple of sunny days ago, my partner and I took a walk along the beach, leaving our lifelines behind (yes our iPhones). As I came back to our home, I checked my mobile to find a missed call from my old flat mate from Belfast. That's a surprise I thought, we text now and again but rarely kept in touch after graduating from university. Although a surprise, it was a good one at that. She then left a text message to say she was phoning to ask about my birthday and looking for a catch up, and only last week she left a lovely birthday message saying how she missed me. It felt good. Especially coming from someone, who being sentimental was not their forte. It made me think, I really should make the effort to keep in touch with friends, as let's face it they don't come along often, good ones anyway!

But then it is hard, isn't it? It's hard balancing your busy career and finding the time to visit or socialise with the various groups of friends you have met along the way. And I have to admit, I am guilty for cutting people off the minute they don't make an effort with me. But perhaps I'm the pot calling the kettle black? Perhaps I'm just as bad??

This got me thinking. Not only do I want to make new friends, I also want to keep my old ones. As exciting as it may seem, it is also really hard to build new friendships. I don't exactly want to walk around my new town with a sign hovering above my head saying 'Friends Wanted, Apply Within', even though I do feel quite desperate sometimes. But it is easier to maintain the established friendships than to create new ones. I love my partner to bits but I also miss my girly chat; talk of what shoes go with which outfit and which Victoria's Secret model we have a girl-crush on (mines being Lily Aldridge).

It is good just to talk about things other than work and the serious stuff in life and just have a giggle. And on that note, I have decided to desert this post and go give my Belfast buddy a call...