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Debbie Leigh: Friendships reignited
I'M feeling all warm and fuzzy inside after a wonderful week of getting reacquainted with some fabulous friends.
And I don't just mean the mates I've missed during my customary January hibernation resulting from my annual booze ban.
I'm talking about a strange spell of long-lost buddies suddenly getting back in touch, as well as the usual reunions with pals you wish you got chance to see more often.
I finally got to catch up with my two BFs from Manchester who I hadn't seen since NYE – or more accurately, since departing from their flat on NYD, looking slightly worse for wear.
This time, still fresh from our new year detoxes, it's safe to say we were all looking a million times better than the last time we were together – eye make-up still affixed to eyelids, rather than halfway down our cheeks, for starters.
Squeals of excitement rang out around north Leeds from the thrill of being reunited again but on top of that, they once again proved themselves the very best girlfriends anyone could ever wish for.
I mean, if you had to award points for BF brilliance, turning up with a bag crammed full of stunning vintage shoes for your buddy would have to be a 10 out of 10, surely?
Yep, you read that right.
This lucky little fashion-follower is now the proud owner of six pairs of divine retro footwear, courtesy of their stylish mum clearing out her attic and the fact that my beautiful mates' flippers are too big to squeeze into them.
Then, in keeping with the evening's theme of appreciating stylish, entertaining, loyal friends who never let you down, we dug out the Sex and the City box set and embarked on a Carrie-athon together.
Ladies, if you haven't indulged in this style and sass extravaganza for a while, let me assure you those four faithful friends are still as wonderful as they were back in 2004, when the TV series ended – ripping a Manolo-shaped hole in our hearts forever.
Thankfully it's now less than three months until we get our next fix of the fabulous four in the movie sequel.
I could barely be more excited if you told me Jimmy Choo himself had moved in next door.
Unexpected
But as well as the welcome reunion with Carrie, Charlotte et al, I've also had a few unexpected emails and texts from pals who can only be described by that corny expression "blast from the past".
My Aussie ex texted me to point out it was now 10 years since our four-wheel driving and camping expedition around Oz.
The girl I was best friends with at uni sent me a lengthy email, reminiscing about the good old days and what a great friendship we'd had and what a shame it was that we'd lost touch.
And another mate, with whom I shared the dubious honour of working in a dog biscuit factory, has also made contact.
So what's the story?
It feels like there is a trend surfacing for reconnecting with old friends.
And not like the Friends Reunited craze, or the superficial mate-collecting greed of Facebook but a genuine desire to get back in touch with people who have actually meant something in your life.
One possible reason is all this economic uncertainty, sending us harking back to happier, more secure days, when everything seemed so simple.
Or maybe it's sheer sentimentality sparked by the knowledge that we now only have a year and a half left of watching the ultimate celebration of fabulous relationships – Friends, on Channel 4.
Whatever the reason, I'm delighted it's happening.
Being sought out by a long-lost chum feels a bit like being awarded a certificate – proving beyond all reasonable doubt you are indeed a fabulous friend.
Give this chat site the bullet
SPEAKING of "making new friends" I discovered a whole new world when I discovered the Chat Roulette website.
And it's not a world I want to be part of.
I know the internet is crammed full of weird sites and weirder people but it's fairly easy to avoid all that and just use it for the really important stuff like searching for photos of Ryan Kwanten from True Blood and stills from the next Twilight movie.
The idea of this site is that people around the world can chat online. At the click of the mouse a new person appears on your screen – like in the site name's Russian version but with webcams instead of bullets. Unfortunately the Forrest Gump comment springs to mind: "You never know what you're gonna get".
And if a quick 10-minute skim through its users is anything to go by, you're guaranteed some unpleasant surprises.
Let's just say nudity is hard to avoid.
Given the choice of Chat Roulette and Russian Roulette, I think I'd rather risk the traditional version.
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Weather for Leeds
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 9 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
