FRIENDS LIKE NO OTHER

Louisa Gregson, 52, has found that unlikely friendships can be the best

- LOUISA GREGSON

Sipping on a glass of wine, I tilted my head back and let out a hearty laugh as my friend told a funny joke. And as the afternoon went on, we spent the time gossiping and talking about Love Island. Just two close friends having a good time. But our friendship may surprise some people because my pal is male, and far from being my age at 52, he is only 26. Yet the two of us couldn't get along any better. But that is the thing about friendship that I've learnt as I've got older - the best ones are often the most unexpected.

As we age, a lot of people find it more difficult to make friends - our lives become more insular, we are tied into partners and family and have less time for socialising and forming new bonds. But for me, I've never shied away from making new acquaintances. When I was at school I had lots of friends, but I tended to only mix with those in my class who were the same age. It was the same at college and university - we were separated into age groups and it was from that pond that I fished for companions.