The Purple Popsicles

At the beginning of this year, while the walls were crumbling down around me, I knew that I couldn't allow myself to crumble too. On the way to drop Ella at school I had seen a banner outside of a church that advertised a Divorce Care group - it seemed to be not only calling, but shouting, my name!

Monday nights became my survival nights. It wasn't that I was looking to share my problems, as much as I was desperate to meet people trying to stay afloat in the same sinking boat I was in! After a few months, as the course drew to an end, I found myself panicking over losing the comfort I had found in the group - and the friendships that were forming. I am very happy to say though that out of that group of people, 6 of us have formed a closely-knit circle of friends. I see these people every weekend, I whatsappp or BBM with them everyday. If you think that we sit around and mope - you're sorely mistaken. We have great fun together. I'm truly grateful for these 5 people and our combined brood of 11 children - they HAVE changed my life. They mean so much to me, and I know I can count on any one of them for a laugh, a cry, a glass (or more) of wine, a word of advice, a helping hand to hang a blind, bake a cake, look after a child - and they can count on me for the same thing.

Purple Popsicles - you guys rock!!

The red-haired firestarter (and consultant on various aspects of this post).
....although I believe that the red has been changed in the week since I saw her last! She's vivacious and confident, fun, naughty and feisty. She drives men crazy. Don't get in her way because she'll tell you exactly where to go! She's noisy and chatty - and the kids snap to attention with one click of her perfectly manicured fingers. Beneath all of her bravery is a generous and sensitive soul. She reminds me of a bottle of champagne - ready to explode at any moment, but sweet and bubbly on the inside.

 The 4am worker-outer
...because she's met a bloke who lives on the other side of the world - and so the best time for her to do a skype workout - and interpret that in whichever way you like - with him is at 4am, as his day is ending and hers is just beginning. They have big plans to meet up in the real world next month and so we live vicariously through her, and the excitement of the weeks ahead. She loves to socialise and treat her friends. She's light-hearted, cheerful, determined and knows what she wants from life.

The smile maker
...because he can turn a serious conversation around and make it into something it was never intended to be, causing the rest of us to smile and fondly shake our heads. The clown of the group. Although if there were ever a person to fit the saying 'still waters run deep', it would be him. My first impression of him was so entirely different from the person I've come to know! He's kind of multi-faceted. He's level-headed but crazy too -  he's recently returned from a day-long 1000km mission rescue to retrieve his beloved dogs from a place they should never have been. He's kind and caring, quiet, secretive and cautious. He likes plants but loves the rush of adrenaline he gets from sailing yachts, watching boxing and drag-racing - and can't wait to buy a fast bike! And no, my dear friend, ROTFL does not stand for Ride Over The Fat Lady! I still giggle over that.

The Irishman
...well, because he's from Ireland, I guess! Quiet, sensitive, friendly and easy to speak to. I can honestly say that I don't really know enough about him yet to write too much. It seems to me that he's misunderstood, that he has so much to offer but that right now he just can't see the wood for the trees. His faith in his God in unwavering, and I believe he uses this as the yardstick by which he lives his life.


Chief Popsicle
...because he's kinda the one who keeps us all together. Like the cement between the bricks. That's not to say though that the rest of us will fall apart while he spends two weeks swanning around Sri Lanka at the end of the month! Describing him in a few words is like describing a rainbow as colourful without explaining the detail of its beauty. Dynamic. Energetic. A true gentleman, caring and willing to give the shirt off his back to make sure his friends are cared for and their hearts are in check. Always the life of the party, there with a hug and a smile. His “child at heart” persona is what all the kids in the group like, his playful manner draws them all to him. He has a wicked sense of humour and is quick-witted and compassionate. Yet as light-hearted and playful as he is, he knows when to be earnest and grounded when it is needed, giving words of encouragement and support, speaking from his own experience and journey. Never judging and never opinionated....happy to open his home to a bunch of hooligans every morning for coffee!

Each of us has our role, our place, our little niche in the group - and would be sorely missed if we weren't there to fill that space.

xoxo