My best friend

I think it is strange when people say that they have married their best friend! I love Mr N when he`s bad ...I love Mr N when he`s good(not v.often) and even give him time off for good behaviour and let him play ping pong and cycle his bike allover Cumbria without me. He is my life in lots of ways, he protects me whatever and I feed him lovely dinners and dance with him in the kitchen after work much to our children`s disgust! We are the best of friends(but I can`t tell him all my secrets!)   I have a relationship that has endured even longer than Matty and that is my best friend Emma.

Friendships born in childhood are special. She is like a treasure that I jealously guard like Gollum and his precious ring! We met in the 80s and have the dodgey perm photos to prove it. We had matching boyfriends who were in a band called "Shrink to fit" they unceremoniously dispatched us but I have to thank those lovely boys for giving me the best gift ever... my best friend.When my parents divorced her home was like a sanctuary to me. I remember the most delicious Sunday roast pork and lemon meringue pie at her house which was like balm to my hurt teenage mind. We went to University together and dodged the Manchester puddles hand in hand on our way home to our Moss side abode.Her Italian Nonna knitted us socks and she encouraged me to give Matty a second date! We have held onto our friendship for 23 years, repaired broken hearts and been unstinting in our loyalty to one another(better than most marriages!). She was my beautiful bridesmaid , God mother to my twins and though we are often far apart  I know we are always close by in our thoughts. Singing the same song, wearing our red lippy, hugging our children tight, teaching other peoples children how to believe in themselves and dishing out love to whoever needs a bowlful.

Love is like manure , it only does any good if you spread it around.I have blossomed and grown  as a result of her evergreen friendship and love. Every day I give thanks for Emma, she will be my bezzy til the very end when we`re going on a "grab a Grandad" fortnight to Filey(she won`t tell Mr N!) I know I may sound soppy but my best friend gives me hope , that life should be and can be beautiful just like her.

Pizza

She`s a quarter Italian , my best friend Em, so she might not like this Yorkshire scone version, but she`s so polite she`d eat it up any way I know!

8oz plain flour

4oz butter

salt

mixed herbs

loads of grated red leicester cheese

cup of milk

2 onions

2 garlic cloves

1 tin chopped tomatoes

tomato puree

sugar

fresh basil

2 mozzarella balls

3 tomatoes sliced

anchovies

I spoke to Em today and as always she cheers me on to be the best I can be.So I made this for the kiddiwinkles and Matty for lunch.

Make a scone dough base by rubbing the butter into the flour and adding a pinch of salt and a handful of cheese and enough milk to make a pliable dough. I added a few mixed herbs and a squirt of tomato puree too. Line a large baking tray thinly with the dough.Meanwhile make the tomato sauce by frying onions, garlic in butter and adding canned tomatoes , a pinch of sugar and some fresh basil, reduce to a thick sauce and put on top of the base.Top with sliced fresh tomatoes, then the mozzarella and then the red cheese and anchovies. Bake at the top of a medium oven for 30 mins. Serve with homemade coleslaw(red,whitecabbage, red onions,grated carrots ,lemon juice and nice mayo) and let your family wash up whilst you go and ring your best friend.