Some friendships do last forever.

Here are Irene and me aged 13.We were mad about Abba and had copied a pose they had on their current Album for this photo at my thirteenth birthday party.

Since I had moved from North to South London when I was six, Irene had been in my life.

At first just as a fellow class mate, it was in fact her friend Nicky I was closer too.

Then when I was around nine we became friends, then best friends.

We stayed this way, minus the endless arguments, fights, friends who tired to break us up ....until we parted to go to university.

After University I got married, and Irene was there by my side.

At separate ends of the country we kept in contact by phone and letters and tried to meet up at least once a year.

Us 39 years later at my eldest, Abigail's wedding last July.

Then we started to have children, our first three are very similar ages. Meeting up became more complicated, especially when we then moved overseas. There was quite a gap in us meeting, although we now kept in contact by mobile phone, emails and more recently facebook.

When I was marking in London a group of 'old school friends' all met up and Irene and I spent a whole night talking! Literally!!!

When my mother died, Irene and her mum made the long journey up from the south for her funeral, as they both had known her for many years.

When my eldest got married, Irene and her husband, Peter came across from the North West to join us for the day.

Last weekend, it was our chance to repay the recent visits. It was Irene and Peter's 25th Wedding Anniversary and we drove to Harrogate for a wonderful evening and meal. I met Nicky who I had not seen in 25 years and all Irene's cousins I remembered from my childhood.

It does not seem to matter how long we do not see each other for, not what life circumstances are so very different for us both, we still have the ability to just 'pick up' where we left off.

I will always be grateful I met Irene and have her in my life!

Some friendships really do last forever.

P.S. Irene is now 'Dr' in literature so I am sure she could write this far more eloquently than me! 

Huge congratulations Irene!