Friends Reunited

Me and my lovely Italian friend Susanna at Camden Lock market.

Calum with Susanna's children, Stefano and Sofia.

Me, Susanna and her husband Stratos.

Sometimes in life you lose touch with a dear friend with no way of finding them again.

My lovely Italian friend Susanna and I shared a house in Cambridge in the 1980s and became close. We parted on the best of the terms but lost touch after she returned to Italy. Over the years I tried to find her again and again but to no avail. In the end, I gave up hope of ever seeing her again.

So imagine my delight and surprise when one day a received a simple message on Facebook saying 'Amanda, sei tu?' (Amanda. Is it you?). Since that day two years ago Susanna and I have slowly rebuilt our relationship culminating with a visit to the UK by Susanna and her family where we finally met face to face after 26 years.

It's a sign of the strength of our friendship that we picked up exactly where we left off. We got on so well that, not content with one meeting, we went back to London for a second visit and spent a day with her and her family. Susanna and I talked non-stop. There was so much to catch up on.

Meeting up with Susanna has definitely been one of the highlights of the year, so much so that we're spending the new year together at her home in Luxembourg. It will be our frist visit and we're very excited.

Two friends have been reunited.

And we plan to stay that way.