My Friend Liz

My lovely friend Liz is getting married soon and I'm heading up to Newcastle for her hen weekend this Friday. We're putting together a book for her and I've been trying to write something to put in there. The only thing that I can think of is lists, and this is what I've got so far. I never realised how difficult it is to write something meaningful without sounding cheesy and trite.

What can I say about the fabulous Liz? So many fun memories… A lot of them involve travel of some kind…

Like the time she booked us all into a crackhouse in Essex for a friend’s wedding. I’ve never stayed in such a ramshackle place in my life, and I’ve been inter-railing round Europe on a budget of £5 a day.

The free champagne at the same wedding, and the crazy dancing that went along with it.

Visiting Eli in Exeter for the weekend where Liz had the entire day off work and still managed to miss the train. It also transpired that she’d brought just winter clothes on what was the hottest weekend of the year. And no pyjamas.

Going to Kenya and Uganda for a business trip in early 2006. Highlights include: Liz wearing her pyjamas on the plane, her raggedy old duck wash bag, sharing a plane with a Kenyan deportee who cried and wailed for the whole flight, kissing rescued giraffes at the giraffe sanctuary, her falling over in the bathroom and soaking herself and holding up the whole bus (it’s not a holiday you know!), listening to inappropriate stories about tampons during a dinner with the British Council, and generally laughing a lot and not doing a great deal of work. Thanks for a really great and memorable trip Liz!

I remember Mark coming to meet her at the station when we got back. He’d brought a little bag of essentials like milk for a cuppa when she got home. That’s how I knew he was a keeper – it’s the little things that mean the most.

I wish you both all the happiness in the world, and am thrilled that I get to share your big day with you. I know the past few years of love and laughter are only an indication of the joys to come as you set out on your life together. Thank you for showing the world that love really does exist!