Another weekend away with glorious weather and good friends. Running, the spa, kayaking, good food and Prosecco. What is not to like.

We worked out that this was probably our 15th annual get together. For a number of years we worked together in the same team. The tradition was started then. It has continued despite the majority having moved on or retired. Even the three that remain in the sameworkplace, me included, are in different teams.

Other things do change. Fifteen years ago the amount of alcohol we consumed was embarrassing. There was a walk of shame as we marched our empties to the recycling bin. This year I insisted that no bottles would find their way into the bin until I had taken a photo at the end to document the evidence. But I didn’t as the number of bottles was embarrassing. Our consumption of alcohol has plummeted. A good thing for our health but our street cred will never recovery. If it was ever there to start with.

The best part of the weekend was catching up with friends and enjoying the outdoors. We stayed in Centre Parcs in Longleat. It was beautiful. The sun shone and the Azalea smelt beautiful. The best start of the day (and I know some of you will think I am a bit bonkers) is to be up and out early to enjoy the quietness of nature. Before the crowds and their bikes start descending.

On the second morning Helen came running with me. I have never been dependent on other people to do things. I go to the theatre on my own, I go with friends. I go on adventures on my own, I go with friends. I train on my own, I train with friends. I usually train with my daughter. Sometimes I even do things with my husband and son. I think this is a good balance to have. I would never want to feel that I can’t do something as I don’t have someone to do it with.

But where training is concerned having someone to do with it that has the same motivation as you can help push you to the next level.

The last time I ran with Helen I had recently completed a half marathon. Helen was not race fit. This time she is a few weeks out from doing the Swansea Half whilst I have only just dusted down my running shoes after a long, cold winter. The tables had been reversed. But what we did do was encourage each other. Whilst I may not have run up the 1:8 hill on my own I challenged us both to do it. We did it. And the next one.

So we are now planning our next annual meet-up. Long may it continue.

As I write this blog my husband is getting ready to attend the funeral of a friend. Someone he has known since a teenager. They drunk together, they partied in Ibiza, they attended each others weddings. Over the years they have not seen so much of each other even though they don’t live that far apart. Fortunately he did see him when he became ill. And now he has gone.

We can so easily let life pass us by thinking that it is still stretched out in front us.