Friends in Adversity

I find, when you have been through challenging times with someone, a kind of bond forms. For example one summer, as a student, I lived and worked in a restaurant in France along with a girlfriend. I can't remember many good things about it, except singing the most vulgar rugby songs we could at the tops of our voices and occasionally escaping with a bottle of wine to some remote area where we couldn't be found. Tsk, Tsk. I was lucky, the owners didn't know the extent of my knowledge of French, so when ordered to do unappealing tasks I often used to just shrug and walk away. (Do not tell my children) Anyhow, the friendship forged through adversity has lasted for decades.

There are similar feelings about working with other mums at the Youth Club in town. After a night of selling sweets (mental maths, aarrgh!) mediation with peace loving neighbours and trying to encourage fun, but not-too-frenetic fun, you really felt an affinity with anyone who had been there too.

And so, when I saw one of these mums walking down the street, I felt it would be right to Tell her about Homeopathy for Health in Africa. She was enthusiastic, but warned of the dangers - this from a woman who has dealt with teenagers; perhaps I should be more worried?

I also called in on our vicar, however she was out so I collared her husband who politely listened to me in his socks, poor fellow.