Drifting apart

A friend gave me a funny look because I classed us being friends as a relationship....

Right, that said.

Drifting apart:

I had a very fortunate childhood. I had a good family, plenty of money (if it was needed - we weren't loaded) and was lucky enough to go to an excellent school.

I consider the school excellent not because of it's academic prowess but because of the bond it helped develop between me and my friends.

Don't get me wrong, I'm no spring chicken! We all make friends/mates at school but my school was different.

I left my secondary school 10 years ago and my bond with my friends is still the same as it was. We are all very close and all stay in contact with each other. Even people who I wasn't firm friends with have become closer.

I like to think of it like the Audi symbol...interlocking rings.

My Audi ring

My closest friends form one of these circles and individually, are friends with another member of another circle, thus interlocking all the circles and creating a huge network of friendly faces.

This occasionally holds the recipe for an amazing nightout, full of people you haven't seen for a few years but still get along famously with. Jokes and laughs-a-plenty!

Within my closest circle I have 4 solid, full time members extending to another 5 less, full time members and a further 3-4 part timers who live away or are unavailable but still honour the group.

This group of unlikely lads are my nearest and dearest. I consider them as close as any family member and know everything about them.

Within the group we have scuffles, scraps and squabbles but we always end up back with the old gang. Members come and go but the true ones will always be back!

What I find most amazing about my group of friends is the distance we can have from one another without anything changing.

I could travel to Pluto and I would still be considered part of the group. We are all so close, we all talk very regularly on the phone and I usually see a minimum of two members every week.

In the classic 'reunion' type events which are arranged from time to time, a couple will always let the side down and not show but this is what makes our group what it is...we know some of the group won't attend...it's what we do! haha

Some of the nicest times I ever experienced are when all my friends attend one event and the night is full of laughter. I feel excited knowing I will be surrounded by such an amazing group of people who all share the same bond.

We are not the type of group who need some sign to prove our love and devotion...tattoo's and such. There are many people who are a little bit green at the close knit community we seem to belong to but there is always room for new members!

As time passes we have had some people try to infiltrate but they never last long, you either fit in or you don't (We're not local..)

I think the reason we all achieve the interlocking rings thing is because, to people who don't know us too well, we are polite and interested. This always allows for a new relationship to form.

I occasionally feel the shadow of age lurking above me. It's a scary future, with lots to figure out but no matter where I go or what I do, I will rely on my friends. They have seen me cry, laugh, sweat and bleed and I wouldn't change anything about any of them. I have argued with some (most) of them over one thing or another but I wouldn't ever change this. Why? Because they have argued with me too. An eye for an eye...I hate them, they hate me.

This outlines another important part of the criteria:

For some unknown reason, very occasionally, when drunk we all turn into complete arseholes...arseholes with a kindred spirit. We have reeked havoc upon a few parties, raping and pillaging our way through small scale events nationwide.

..Kindred arseholes - what a concept..

I love them all, I will always love their subtleties...their ways. I hope they feel the same, I know they feel the same.

We will never change, just progress. We will get older and everything about us will transform. Our faces will change shape & become wrinkly, Our attitudes will adjust, our finances will waver, our relationships will progress or develop but one thing will always be the same. They will always be my friends and we will all progress and develop together.

For providing me with the opportunity to meet such amazing people I thank and blame my school. I know many groups from the same school and they are just the same. It seems arrogant but with such an incredible support network behind me there is nothing I can't do and I hope to be writing the same thing in 10 years time (whilst sitting on my hoverboard).

I hope you get the opportunity to read this boys and if you haven't reached this bit, I didn't think you would you lazy little bastards!

Young