I just got back from lunch with 10 friends at the local Toby Carvery. Not the most upmarket restaurant in this little town, but great value for money and we all rolled out of there like Jabba The Hut.

I'm blessed to have such a good crowd of friends around me. They've helped me through some hard times over the past five years, when I split up with my (now)ex-husband. I've had some big life stuff happen since then - an episode of depression, major surgery, falling in love, George's death and some recent hospital tests. These people have been there for me through the good and the bad times.

I know when I was drinking, I had no real friends except for Denise, who moved back up north 15 months ago. She was never a drinking buddy, which is probably why she stayed friends with me. I was evil when I was drunk. I really miss her, and wish she could have been there today. We had a lot of laughs, too much food and I was glad for the walk home so a few calories could evaporate.