Strong Women - My Peas and Carrots

If you've ever watched Forrest Gump, you'll remember the scene when Forrest says, "Jenny and me was like peas and carrots".

I was lucky enough to find my peas and carrots at a young age. They are Keryn (Ker Bear), Taryn (Tally) and Heloise (Helu Belu). We all grew up in a tiny suburb within walking distance of one another (okay Helu was a very short train ride/car ride away). Ker and I became friends at age 10 and Helu and Tally became my friends at age 14 (that's 20 and 16 years of friendship respectively). Sometimes it feels like a lifetime ago, and at the same time I remember it like it was yesterday. No matter where in the world I/they go they will always be my best friends.

Keryn, Taryn, Me and Heloise

Our friendship has been cemented over many years and many firsts: first boyfriends, first breakups, braces, career choices, weddings, apartments, travels, books and one baby. That saying, "we'll always be friends because you know too much about me" rings so true for us. We've seen each other at our best and worst. We know each other's fears and secret desires. We are all so different from one another but somehow when we are together it just works. The best part of this foursome, is that when we are together we are capable of laughing so hard that our sides hurt and we're gasping for breath.

We're don't all live in the same city anymore but we will always be close to each other's hearts. Time has marched on, and we don't chat as often, what with careers and families of our own, but I know that if I ever need them, they will be there.

I proudly introduce you to them all:
TALLY:
Right now Tally is a hedge fund manager (am I right Tal?) living in Cape Town. She is creative (paints, writes songs, plays guitar and sings), funny and a social butterfly. Tally loves her family and good wine (equally I think ;) and is so great at getting groups of people together and getting along.

Some of my favourite Tally memories are sleepovers at her house, followed by watching Fifth Element and Armageddon (they were on the same VHS cassette) whilst consuming copious amounts of butter popcorn.

When I first met Tally she told me the following joke, and I just knew we were going to be great friends, "what did the fish say when it swam into the wall - dam".

HELU:
Helu is a doctor, and she works with newborn babies (am I right Helu?). Heloise is part mom (in the supportive catch you when you fall sense), part person who tells you things you aren't necessarily ready to hear, but may need to.

Heloise doesn't crack under pressure, and I think her mom described her best when she said that, "heloise makes her own wind". Where there is a will there is a way, and Helu has alot of will.  She is incredibly successful and has become so through her own doing.

Helu and I can talk about everything and nothing for hours on end (she and I are the only Durbanites left) and we both love to spend hours trawling Exclusive Books.

One of my favourite Helu memories is her inviting me to her house for a visit, and me going over there in tracksuit pants and a sweatshirt, only to find her in her pj's. That's true comfortable friendship right there.

KER BEAR:
Ker Bear is my oldest friend. Ker and I love to read and talk, and sometimes we read and talk about travel (our other love). Making Ker laugh is the best.

Ker is that friend who always wakes up early, bakes and cooks, can tile a floor, has a measuring tape in her bag when you suddenly need one, as well as that girl you message when you're in Durban and she's in London who can find that florist from that one time years ago, when your wedding is coming up and you've hit full panic mode. She can do things like that you know (even from the UK where she now lives). Ker is a geologist (not a meteorologist) with two honours degrees (because sometimes one isn't enough).

My favourite memory of Ker is living with her, pouring a glass of wine, putting on a girlie movie, pressing pause after 5 mins to quickly chat about something and realising 2.5 hours later that we never watched the movie.

I am beyond blessed to know and love each one of these strong women. I miss you guys so much and love you all (you can thank me later for not putting up any pics from when we were teenagers).