Friends

I had a really special evening planned for me by two people who in different ways have made my 12 year stay in The Borders a wonderful experience. They don't socialise for all kinds of reasons, and tonight they plotted and planned just for me.

12 years ago, the job I had was in a fab wee school in Eastern Berwickshire. We just worked as one for the good of the children. We had some cracking social evenings and still have such a laugh about them now - well we did tonight, for it was all those wonderful people who were there.

I was nervous about tonight as I had no clue as to what had been planned.

Pimms by the jugful, smoked salmon, laughs from the outset in the garden and then inside for a banquet of delicious fayre, wine and hilarity. What a fantastic evening it was with everyone so comfortable with the other. There have been tough times for a few round the table, but all that was swept aside, and we just relaxed and made the most of every moment.

There is no competition between these folk; they just are! It is so refreshing. Most are still in that wee school or in the village and I wonder if they know what they really have.

What I miss in my life now is that sense of belonging - in the school and around in the community, where everyone genuinely pulls together for the common good. It is this quality in life that I seek by moving to Cumbrae. I know I will find it and I am aware of the pitfalls on the way. We talked long and hard tonight about what actually made all of us "work".

A common goal, no-one feeling they did more than another, true empathy and understanding of each other, genuine team work and an abundance of laughs and pranking.

I hardly ever see them altogether now but I do know that this will not be the last reunion that we have.

Tonight restored my faith in the world and in true friendship.