My Dear Friend.
I was very lucky to have the opportunity to catch up with a dear old friend this week. And what was special about this visit was I got her all to myself. She is a friend that is responsible for a lot of what I have achieved and cherish in my life. A friend that saw me through bad times and good times. She has been a terrible influence on occasion and a wonderful influence. She has shown me my weaknesses and my strengths and she reminds me of the bravery I had all those years ago that I took for granted. It was an emotional visit as she has changed a lot but I managed to find little glimmers of the old her that always bring a smile to my face and warms my heart with such wonderful memories. Her name is London. London Town…. the big-smoke. The friend that gave me my career, my friends, my husband and Nell. My independence…..she gave me me.
I went to one of my favourite restaurants in Covent Garden. It’s my favourite just because of the memories it conjures up. I was by myself and they sat me in the window. Which made me giggle as you are literally having dinner with yourself! Your reflection stares back at you from the window. It got me thinking, I wonder what Laura Gray of 1997 (when I moved to London at the age of seventeen) would think of Laura Colenso 2017? In that moment, staring at my reflection I realised it was twenty years ago to the month that I moved to London. Twenty years?! A tear ran down my face, I ordered another glass of red wine – twenty years?!
Luckily, life has been more than kind to me. I look at my reflection and realise Laura Gray would be pretty chuffed with where she has ended up to date. Okay, I never became the pop star I thought I might be…..I never took the West end by storm as a leading lady but I did have a great career including the West end and the dreams you have at the age of seventeen are very different from your dreams as a thirty seven year old.
My friend and I have both changed. I’m getting older, she’s getting younger…. with all the face lifts and surgery she is having, she is barely recognisable. But after an awkward hello and hug it only takes a few minutes to get back into the swing of things. Reminiscing about the old times and celebrating the new ones. Under all the change we are still the same two friends. We may not see each other as much or have as many adventures together but we will always be friends. Because that’s what friends do. They let you leave and wander but they always welcome you back with open arms.
So I am raising my glass of red wine to you my dear friend. Thank you for all the lessons and kindness you have shown me. Happy anniversary London. I love you, Laura.
Namaste.
Lots of love,
Laura
