My
February was pretty rubbish. It felt as though with every email or
phone call, more and more awful things happened and it was just
getting worse by the day. It really knocked my resolution to be
happy this year. One of my friends made the comment, that February
was only 28 days, because most of us could not handle much more than
that.
But one
of the saddest moments in this godawful month was my closest London
friends leaving to move back to New Zealand. Its fair to say that
everyone expected me to be a blithering wreck from the time that Cate
and Aaron returned to the UK from Europe to stay with me for a week
and surprisingly I proved them wrong. Part of it was denial. I
could not fathom my London without these people who were to a degree
the linchpins of my urban family. I still can't.
I have
known Cate and Aaron for 4 years. A detour from my normal pub with
my three boy flatmates, led to the pub which they ran. From the
second that I saw the Harere Mai sign on the door, I knew that I was
at home. From that moment on I was slowly but surely absorbed into
the family. This family has grown and changed over the 4 years that
I have been in it. People have moved home or changed jobs from
working at the pub where it all began and others have joined our fun
group.
Cate and
I would catch up a couple of times a week and always on a Friday. I
became a pub regular who grew to know the cast of characters in the
pub like they were my own family. Which in the absence of my own
family, was nice to have. We spent long weekends together, holidays
such as Easter and Christmas and many a family dinner. We were there
for each other through thick and thin and had loads of in jokes. Do
you know your postcode? We met members of each others families and
laughed when Cate's sister described me as her bosom buddy.
Hehehehe. We have survived earthquakes, family weddings and
tragedies. Its fair to say that I adore Cate and Aaron.
We have
spent a long time fighting for their pub, which was sold by the
brewery to a developer who have plans to turn it into a block of
flats. Its kinda like someone ripped the heart out of our community.
It was an emotional time and we gave it our all, but in the end we
lost. Which meant that this Christmas was our last Christmas in the
Castle. And that after 12 years in London my bestie was heading home
to see her family and to start a new adventure.
I don't
know that I can do ever write to do justice to the depth of
friendship that we have. We share a very warped sense of humour.
One that makes us laugh at the most ridiculous things. I loved the
postcard that she sent me from Berlin – Hi Nic, Here is the
postcard that you wanted, it is cold, we are good. Love Cate and
Aaron. I laughed over it for days. When she got back, she told me
that she had laughed over it for days as well.
I was
touched when Aaron mentioned me in his leaving speech, we danced the
night away, drank way to much and together we found out that
McDonalds is open at 4am and that a taxi driver will take you through
the drive through, but that even if he won't, the dining room is
open. Who knew?
I held it
together well, we all thought that I would have been crying since
Christmas day, I managed to hold it together until the final day, I
cried a bit at the last lunch and then at the airport, where I had
only the smallest amount of time to say goodbye. It was hard, but I
am so excited for them. Its an interesting feeling also to be the
person who is being left behind when others are going on an
adventure, its normally me having to get on the plane, whilst crying.
So what I
want to say is, I miss my friends, I am still very grateful for the
people who have been making sure that I am not lonely, even if its
just a phone call to chat. I am very lucky to be a part of such an
amazing life changing community. Love you all and thanks for being
so amazing!
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