“We’ll be Friends Forever, won’t we, Pooh?’ asked Piglet.

It’s a cloudy, grey day in George. I am sitting snugly inside. The light next to me brings out the hues of the beautiful Persian carpet that stretches out in front of me. Rich maroons, crimsons, ash blues, smoky creams and golds. It is a work of art in it’s design. But this carpet is more to me than a wonderful piece of creation.
This is my friendship carpet.
I think back, three years ago, to when I received it as my fiftieth birthday present.
I had looked at the old carpet that lay on my lounge floor. This fabric used to be made up of brightly coloured stripes. It had given my lounge a festive, merry air. Now the colours were faded. It reminded me of a boiled sweet that has been sucked and sucked and the vibrancy of its colour had been radically diminished, practically eradicated. Also the one seam was coming undone. I needed a new carpet. I needed a new carpet badly.
I had a big birthday coming up. I turned fifty in July. Mum, on seeing the state of that “dastardly rug attempting to cover your floor” had suggested that on my fiftieth birthday, members of the family could contribute something and with the money I could go out and buy myself a decent rug. Oh, what a fabulous idea, I thought, and left it at that.
In June I was treated to an overseas trip to England by someone I had never even met, Donny. He was a friend of my best friend ‘B’. Apparently he had a surplus of Voyager miles and so yours truly was given them. Am I lucky or am I just lucky??? I stayed with ‘B’ and her husband, John and had the most wonderful holiday. While there I had three fiftieth birthday parties! I received two cheques of £120 for Amazon. Do you have any idea how many DVDs one can get for £240? All with subtitles!
I got back from England and spent some time in Cape Town with my sister, Liz and family for a few days. Liz and Mum were chatting. I flopped down next to them. “What are you talking about?”
“We were just saying how spoilt you’ve been overseas and were wondering what we could get you for your birthday?”
“But…but you already know what you’re getting me for my birthday,” I said a little unsteadily, “You’re getting me my carpet,” I almost pleaded. “Remember, you said that everyone in the family would contribute.”
“People wanted to get you their own presents. So I’m afraid a carpet is out.”
I was stupefied. No carpet! No-damn-carpet! Stupidly I felt near to tears. I would have to take the gruck carpet that I owned, and have it’s seam sewn up. Damn it, I had wanted a new carpet so badly. Damn, damn, damn!
I spent the night before my birthday at my Mum’s house. Liz had come up from Cape Town and I knew that her children would enjoy the whole birthday morning. On the 30th, my 50th birthday, I lay in bed smiling to myself. I might be 50 but I hadn’t changed one iota since I was little. I still lay in bed, eagerly awaiting the door opening to allow my family in, singing happy birthday, their arms filled with presents, complete with a laden tea tray! I wasn’t disappointed. My nieces, Megan and Emma’s excitement was needlessly contagious. And I was so wonderfully spoiled. Oh, I love birthdays! I think one should have a 50th birthday every year!
I picked up a card with ‘B’s writing on it. “Silly Dweet, she gave me a card in England.” I opened the card. Inside the message took my breath away – “Gaynor, all of the following friends have contributed to your “50th Birthday Carpet. They all wish to say a very Happy 50th Birthday!!!” There was a cheque for a considerable amount. An absurdly considerable amount! So this explained Mum and Liz’s reaction over the carpet. I caught Mum’s eye and she blew me a kiss.
I looked at the card and all of those names. So many wonderful names! Unbeknown to me, ‘B’ had hacked my Facebook account and made a note of all my friends. She had emailed them about my 50th. And this was the result! I sat there reading that awe inspiring card with tears pouring down my face. So many people from all over the world had contributed. You can have no idea what looking at that list of contributors meant to me. My heart simply overflowed.
Friends are such a necessary part of life. I have friends all over the world and I have a Soulmate in ‘B’! I rejoice in technology. I use my cell phone, Skype, e-mail, SMS or BBM. It is so easy  in this day an age to make and maintain contact. (Very rarely do I get a letter from anyone. If I do, it is treasured!)
So forget about buying a mere rug. My Persian carpet smiles serenely at me from my lounge floor. It looks too stunning for words! It is made up of blues, greens, reds and golds all interwoven with incredible precision. It just takes your breath away.
My beautiful Friendship Carpet!

The post Persian Love Affair! appeared first on 'ear 'ear! by Gaynor Young.

I was chatting to some friends at a dinner party when suddenly I was tapped on the back. I turned to this petite, pixie haired woman. In fact, she was a tiny elf with dancing, crinkly eyes that met my stare quite openly. Then she spoke. Hell, I would kill to have a voice like hers –  deep and husky with a strong British accent. Incredibly sexy sounding!

“Hi,” she said, “I believe you’re deaf.” Taken aback, I merely nodded. ” Well,” she said “so am I,” and pointed to hearing aids in both ears.

“You’re deaf?” I said stupidly.

“I have 20% hearing in both ears so, yes, I’m deaf!” she laughed. I liked her instantly. I left the dinner party that night having made another friend in George.

B and her husband, John, went back to their home in England for Christmas and we  SMS’ed each other daily. In one SMS she asked me how old my computer was.

“About 10 years old,” I replied.

“Okay, listen,” said B, “I have about 3 lap-tops lying around. When I return I’ll bring

one over for you.”

I was totally gob-smacked as you can imagine! True to her word, B and John landed back in George and that evening she bought around my laptop. It was, in our modern day slang words “totally awesome!”

Even better than my wonderful lap-top, is my friend with the dancing eyes – B! She is a mass of contradictions. A gregarious person, yet one that likes being by herself. I think being deaf all her life she is quite comfortable being alone. She is this mad keen golfer and I believe is damn good. Her handicap is 8! I feel as if I have known her a long, loooong time. It is very rare to encounter friends like this. This is the first time that I ever have! In fact B is more than a best friend. She is a Soulmate. “Soulmate” Pah! I used to scoff at the word. As far as I was concerned, Soulmate was a very over the top way of saying best friend. Soulmate – Yuck!  Uh uh, definitely not for me. I preferred to be more down to earth using the word: best friend.

Until I met B. There is no other word that adequately sums up what B is to me. And so, at that dinner party, a Soulmate stepped into my life.

Two friends curled up on the sofa, mugs of Spearmint and Camomile tea in hand, talking, laughing and just being. Sitting at my favourite restaurant, Travelbugs,  tucking into their delectable Chefs salad with chicken sprinkled on top. Meeting B at gym which is not the most ideal situation – for me! She makes me work so damned hard. I have even been known to sweat!!! Also, at gym, we have discovered the joys of the steam bath. There I sweat without a problem and I love doing it. Very red faced when I come out but I feel fresh and ready to face the world!

I could weep that B spends six months of the year in England,  BUT today I am flying to England to spend three weeks with my friend – a present from B!

I thank God for bringing this Soulmate into my life. I thank Him for inventing B!

The post Soulmates! appeared first on 'ear 'ear! by Gaynor Young.