Real Friends Are A Gift Which Many Never Experience

[Charlie The Tramp Returns]

September 1947 my Mum escorts me to school for the first time, I am 4 years 7 months of age, as she approaches the school gates from the opposite direction comes another Mum also with her little boy.

They meet at the school gates, have a chat and tell us to go into school holding hands.

It turns out we have the same names as do both the Parents.

Today we are still very close friends although he lives in North Wales and I live in the South East we still communicate by phone, text, and email. At least once a year we meet, he visits us, or spends a week with his wife and myself and good lady cruising the Norfolk Broads on our boat.

So to date we have been close friends for 63 years.

I know this is totally boring to you lot but a true friend is worth their weight in Gold.

[Wario]

So to date we have been close friends for 63 years.

I know this is totally boring to you lot but a true friend is worth their weight in Gold.

Not boring, Charlie, just unattainable to most of us, so a bit incomprehensible I suppose.

A lot of people are shuttled around the country like "bed-and-breakfasted" cattle now, they hardly know their own parents or children anymore.

Yrs. truly was bounced about from arsehole to breakfast until about twenty years ago, as was every single person I know. Starting from age four-and-a-half, like you.

Just means you get to enjoy a new set of bullies every couple of years Then the minute that's sorted, off we go again. Mass unemployment and "get on your bike" didn't help much either.

And all the friends we made when we finally settled down in this town were winkled out by the BTLers' stormtroopers, the antisocial tenantry. Leading to more BTL "opportunities". Ad infinitum.

'Course we still write and such, Peach even keeps up with girls from her hellish St Trinians boarding school, but it's not really a relationship.

(I do get to meet them now and again as they kip on the guest bed during the traditional "my marriage has crashed and burned so I'll look up all the folk I knew when life was fun" circuit. Or at funerals after they've drunk themselves to death.)

So I think you're right to have a small celebration about this. It's a rare and wonderful thing.

[Charlie The Tramp Returns]

Not boring, Charlie, just unattainable to most of us, so a bit incomprehensible I suppose.

A lot of people are shuttled around the country like "bed-and-breakfasted" cattle now, they hardly know their own parents or children anymore.

Yrs. truly was bounced about from arsehole to breakfast until about twenty years ago, as was every single person I know. Starting from age four-and-a-half, like you.

Just means you get to enjoy a new set of bullies every couple of years Then the minute that's sorted, off we go again. Mass unemployment and "get on your bike" didn't help much either.

And all the friends we made when we finally settled down in this town were winkled out by the BTLers' stormtroopers, the antisocial tenantry. Leading to more BTL "opportunities". Ad infinitum.

'Course we still write and such, Peach even keeps up with girls from her hellish St Trinians boarding school, but it's not really a relationship.

(I do get to meet them now and again as they kip on the guest bed during the traditional "my marriage has crashed and burned so I'll look up all the folk I knew when life was fun" circuit. Or at funerals after they've drunk themselves to death.)

So I think you're right to have a small celebration about this. It's a rare and wonderful thing.

As usual a great post from Wario as I make a point of reading his interesting and amusing posts. He has added much input to this Forum and I hope many more posts will follow.

He is on my list for the Pub Meet of the year of posters I would dearly love to meet over a pint.

[Woot]

September 1947 my Mum escorts me to school for the first time, I am 4 years 7 months of age, as she approaches the school gates from the opposite direction comes another Mum also with her little boy.

...

So to date we have been close friends for 63 years.

I know this is totally boring to you lot but a true friend is worth their weight in Gold.

This is a useful way of trying to explain the difference between 'friends' and 'facebook friends' to my kids: one doesn't have 450 friends like the one you describe. I suspect you don't need to know\post\tweet what he had on his breakfast toast, or whether his new phone is suitably cool either, to sustain your friendship.

Good for you - long life and happiness to you and your friendship .

[tinker]

Lovely post Charlie.

And what the world is all about.

Do they not say you can count your real friends on one hand.

It's a precious thing and I find the transitory nature of friendships 'interesting'; what does seem to change is the dynamic added to the lives of old friends by new relationships, and the need for approval to be be the person they were.

Like the love of a parent, a true, durable friend is a friend unconditionally.

[Wario]

Not into your short speak, please expand, my friend is an ex member of the SAS. So I can translate to him the meaning of your reply.

Everything that appeared that year had swing.

I think that's Taft Jordan doing the honours.

That vocal. So slack it's just ... dirty

And that's a fine airline your chum was in.

[ccc]

September 1947 my Mum escorts me to school for the first time, I am 4 years 7 months of age, as she approaches the school gates from the opposite direction comes another Mum also with her little boy.

They meet at the school gates, have a chat and tell us to go into school holding hands.

It turns out we have the same names as do both the Parents.

Today we are still very close friends although he lives in North Wales and I live in the South East we still communicate by phone, text, and email. At least once a year we meet, he visits us, or spends a week with his wife and myself and good lady cruising the Norfolk Broads on our boat.

So to date we have been close friends for 63 years.

I know this is totally boring to you lot but a true friend is worth their weight in Gold.

Thats a nice story.

As others have said - who is this good lady..

Sound hot.

[D.C.]

Sadly at our age genuine Viagra is expensive and not available on free prescription.

Have you tried the internets?

Every other email I get seems to be from someone claiming to peddle cheap viagra, if that is the only thing stopping you shagging an ex sas guy's missus it is easily resolved.

PS Does he hate Lofty with a passion? Every sas guy I've ever met seems to have an inbuilt hatred for him.

[Charlie The Tramp Returns]

Thats a nice story.

As others have said - who is this good lady..

Sound hot.

My Wife of 41 years, maybe when I have time after returning from a great holiday this month on my boat I will bore you all on my courtship.

[Once in a lifetime]

It takes a long time to grow an old friend. ~ John Leonard

[BufferBear Bitcoin Bull]

So to date we have been close friends for 63 years.

I know this is totally boring to you lot but a true friend is worth their weight in Gold.

Not boring at all I have about another 30 years to go.....

[Guest Noodle]

September 1947 my Mum escorts me to school for the first time, I am 4 years 7 months of age, as she approaches the school gates from the opposite direction comes another Mum also with her little boy.

They meet at the school gates, have a chat and tell us to go into school holding hands.

It turns out we have the same names as do both the Parents.

Today we are still very close friends although he lives in North Wales and I live in the South East we still communicate by phone, text, and email. At least once a year we meet, he visits us, or spends a week with his wife and myself and good lady cruising the Norfolk Broads on our boat.

So to date we have been close friends for 63 years.

I know this is totally boring to you lot but a true friend is worth their weight in Gold.

Nice one Charlie and a nice topic too.

You've got me thinking and . . . I'm still thinking . . . and no. Helped a lot of people over the years but have to say these days I wouldn't even wipe my feet on them.

90% of people are shit.

[Britney's Piers]

90% of people are shit.

Sturgeon's Law

[Bloo Loo]

Loyalty is rare these days.

you find it in the forces, and the police force..at least at the lower ranks.

its hard for people to become loyal as for years employers have none back. And make a friend who gets promoted...well, having a friend is "Unfair"..unless you are way up top where ass licking is considered de riguer.

As Wario says, moving from pillar to post, chasing the £, keeping up with the Joneses do not make a good place to make, and keep, friends.

I have met with friends often, whom we have lost touched with...going out leaves a warm feeling in the heart, but, after a short time, it always seems we now have little in common...Ive changed, theyve changed, we are in different worlds now...

One thing that used to bind people was the telly...2, maybe 3 channels....and over the fence you had something to say to the neighbour...did you watch "man from Uncle last night". now, they could have watched any one of 300 useless channels, a vid, a DVD, a Bluray, a website, played a game or any one of 50 things to do with a gadget.

we might be all joined up, but I think many are lonlier than ever...and gould help you if you arent a "success"

[daniel stallion]

Not into your short speak, please expand, my friend is an ex member of the SAS. So I can translate to him the meaning of your reply.

If everyone I know who claims to know an ex-member of the SAS genuinely does know an ex-member of the SAS, then by my rough calculations, the SAS must have had about 400 million members, none of whom can keep their mouths shut about it.

I'm not casting any aspersions in your direction, but I don't think I know anybody who doesn't know at least three ex-SAS members. Unless there are some VERY popular ex-SAS dudes out there who put themselves about a lot and tell everyone they meet.

I know someone that was in the SBS

[Guest Absolutely Fabulous]

Nice one Charlie and a nice topic too.

You've got me thinking and . . . I'm still thinking . . . and no. Helped a lot of people over the years but have to say these days I wouldn't even wipe my feet on them.

90% of people are shit.

I am sad to say that this has been my experience too, but I have found a few 'nuggets' of gold along the way. The most loyal friend and genuine person I ever knew died when she was in her early forties - of breast cancer. Whoever said 'the good die young' musta had her in mind.

Other people I have befriended over the years - usually going in giving it 100% - have on the whole taken advantage. A few notable exceptions have returned my concern and loyalty, and I treasure them above everything else.

The others I just walked away from.

One so-called friend of several years standing turned out to be a liar and a cheat and to be telling lies about me - amongst others - to make herself look good. I waved bye-bye to her in 1980, and despite her frequent attempts to contact me, I have nor seen or spoken to her since.

They say "the best way to get a friend is to be one". I have found that this ain't necessarily so.

A few will take what you offer and be a friend in return, others see you as some sort of 'mark' to exploit.

[daniel stallion]

[/b]

I am sad to say that this has been my experience too, but I have found a few 'nuggets' of gold along the way. The most loyal friend and genuine person I ever knew died when she was in her early forties - of breast cancer. Whoever said 'the good die young' musta had her in mind.

Other people I have befriended over the years - usually going in giving it 100% - have on the whole taken advantage. A few notable exceptions have returned my concern and loyalty, and I treasure them above everything else.

The others I just walked away from.

One so-called friend of several years standing turned out to be a liar and a cheat and to be telling lies about me - amongst others - to make herself look good. I waved bye-bye to her in 1980, and despite her frequent attempts to contact me, I have nor seen or spoken to her since.

They say "the best way to get a friend is to be one". I have found that this ain't necessarily so.

A few will take what you offer and be a friend in return, others see you as some sort of 'mark' to exploit.

I'm sorry so many people have experiences like this!

My close group of mates have been mates since the first year of secondary school and a couple from primary school. Every single one of them has completely failed to do anything but be a fantastic friend. I have also collected some brilliant friends along the way at work. Awesome people.

Other people I have met that are diicks, I have never really counted as friends anyway.

[Bloo Loo]

use the "auto find a friend" feature on facebook.

[ccc]

If everyone I know who claims to know an ex-member of the SAS genuinely does know an ex-member of the SAS, then by my rough calculations, the SAS must have had about 400 million members, none of whom can keep their mouths shut about it.

I'm not casting any aspersions in your direction, but I don't think I know anybody who doesn't know at least three ex-SAS members. Unless there are some VERY popular ex-SAS dudes out there who put themselves about a lot and tell everyone they meet.

I know someone that was in the SBS

I was in the SAS. Twice !! I got kicked out for being too tough.

As for mates I am similar to yourself. My best mates I have known since about 6 years old.

[Bloo Loo]

I was in the SAS. Twice !! I got kicked out for being too tough.

As for mates I am similar to yourself. My best mates I have known since about 6 years old.

you wait till you pass the 11+...half yuor mates will go to the crap school and you'll go to the "tech".

[ccc]

you wait till you pass the 11+...half yuor mates will go to the crap school and you'll go to the "tech".

Is that in England ? Different in Jockland. People going to private Schools is the only thing that happens here. Most of my mates are scum though so didn't have to worry about that.

[Bloo Loo]

Is that in England ? Different in Jockland. People going to private Schools is the only thing that happens here. Most of my mates are scum though so didn't have to worry about that.

It was the shock of changing from shorts to long trousers that mucked my brain up.

[ccc]

It was the shock of changing from shorts to long trousers that mucked my brain up.

The brutes.

[Tuberider]

oh my, what a depressing thread !

is the lack of good friends exclusive to hpc posters, or generally a wider cultural trait within the uk ?

maybe both ?

could be that too much time spent posting utter w@nk on sites like these is affecting many poster's social skills ?

if you are an a-hole, you will attract same. if you are a genuinily good person, then other good people will recognize that and gravitate towards you. you will get the odd one who just wants to take advantage but generally i find this rule holds true.

saying that though, i am from a different culture altogether. we value friends and family above all else (dogs, for example, which have replaced children for many in the uk, and internet forums, which have replaced social gatherings for many)

[Guest X-QUORK]

saying that though, i am from a different culture altogether. we value friends and family above all else (dogs, for example, which have replaced children for many in the uk, and internet forums, which have replaced social gatherings for many)

Which culture is that?