HEY GIRLFRIEND

I’ve been asked to speak at a “Girlfriends-themed” High Tea in a couple of weeks, which has really got me thinking about what it means to be a good girlfriend.

Focussing on that question this week, I realised how blessed I am to have so many amazing girlfriends in my life.  In the space of just one week, I’ve had a few outings with both old friends and new ones.  Most of these outings involved food, cuppas, and even a bit of culture thrown in for good measure, with a visit to the Art Gallery of NSW!

The first outing was with my gorgeous cousin, who is also a treasured girlfriend – lunch at Luxe Bakery, Newtown (where they bake their own yummy bread on the premises!!!)…

 

Deliciously decadent choc-dipped strawberries and Hot Chocolate at Max Brenner, Newtown after lunch…

 

 

And on the same day, a visit to T2, Newtown (aka “tea heaven”)…

 

I bought some “Sydney Breakfast” for home – a lovely tea flavoured with bergamot…

Then on the weekend, it was Chocolate Suze’s birthday party at Bartino’s, Pyrmont.  I drove in with an old girlfriend (Bianca from Eat Drink and Write), but met some new girlfriends at the party (which is why I love the blogosphere so much – everyone is so friendly)…

L to R: Me, Suze & Bianca

There’s a great write up about the night by the birthday girl herself here, and in another one of my favourite food blogs, Simon Food Favourites.  I can even be spotted in some of Simon’s photos, so feel free to check it out!

Then there were some treasured communications with another new blogger girlfriend – beautiful Felicity from Gifts of Serendipity.  A good chat with a friend, whether in person or in cyberspace, can be as sweet as sprinkles on a cupcake…and I’ve loved chatting with Felicity via email over the last couple of weeks.  Although she sees my radio review of her blog as a gift, I see friendships with such lovely blogger girlfriends as Felicity as a gift!

Topping off an excellent week, was a visit to the Art Gallery of New South Wales with my old BFF (Best Friends Forever) from school!  We went to see the Archibald Prize 2011 (I love Matt Moran), and we soon discovered that the artist, Vincent Fantauzzo, considers Matt one of his very best friends.  What a coincidence that I went with one of my best friends, to see a painting of a subject the artist considers one of his best friends!

 

Anyhow, although I very much enjoy eating, drinking, and diverse cultural experiences, it’s really the quality time spent together with girlfriends on these sorts of outings that I cherish!

Here we are on our way to the Art Gallery…

We’ve changed a little over the years – this is us in our school days…

Admittedly, our lives went different ways for a while, as sometimes happens with friends.  But when I really needed her, she was there.  This is a photo of us back when I was having chemotherapy for breast cancer…

All the years just fell away, and it was like we’d never been apart.  That’s how I know she’ll always be my BFF!  Because to me, a BFF is someone who:

  • you can always be yourself with
  • will love you unconditionally
  • will tell you when you’ve stuffed up, but forgive you anyway
  • with whom you can pick up exactly where you left off, no matter how much time has passed between get-togethers.






“The best kind of friend is the kind you can sit on a porch and swing with, never say a word, and then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation you’ve ever had.” ~Author Unknown~

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