My mother is 83; she has very very few friends as she spent the majority of her life bringing up us 8 children. My dad died at 49, my mum was only 47 and had 7 of us still at home. I have helped look after her now for a few years with the help of one sister, the others decided she needed to be put in a home, the majority vote carried it out. I didn't, nor did one other brother, we fought almost a year to get her out and we won. Now my brother who is retired and single cares for her, I help with rest bite every 3 weeks, and take her out as much as possible. I live 80 miles away but distance is no problem. I always say you choose your friends, you can't choose your family, mum always said 'blood is thicker than water' not in this case, the majority of her children don't really want to know.

True friends are the ones that you may not see for a long time but who you can pick up with as if it was yesterday, who are always there when needed, even if just a telephone call. I know I have some very good friends and also some 'true friends'

rc