I am sitting on Monica Geller’s sofa, I’ve got my girls beside me and I can’t quite believe I’m here.  My three readers of this blog might think this is a bit silly, but I’m enjoying an apartment tour at FriendsFest.  It’s a sunny Sunday afternoon in Preston Park, Brighton.  I’ve been a ‘Friends’ fan forever.  I’ve watched every episode many times, my favourite character is Joey, Matt LeBlanc, why wouldn’t he be my favourite character? What’s not to like?

There is a whole community of us out there aged 14 – 60, it’s like Marmite; you either love it or you hate it.  Those who hate it have no soul!

“WE WERE ON A BREAK!!!!!”, “How are you doin’?” We know all the quotes, all the kisses, we know ‘Smelly Cat’, I spend my life living around the events and happenings in ‘Friends’ and relating them to my own life.  I would have loved to be Rachel – that hair! The style ‘The Rachel cut’ we all wanted it. We would have loved to be Rachel, but I’m quite sure my control issues make me more of a ‘Monica’.

There is one thing that I think ‘Friends’ has missed out on.  I accept it was made over 20 years ago and disability awareness is not what it is now, however, there was never a sign of a disabled character in any of the many episodes.  I would have a good Rachel in ‘Friends’, a disabled woman with her own independence.

I found myself feeling slightly envious of the lifestyles of the characters; Rachel had that lovely job in Bloomingdales; they were all able to sit around in ‘Central Perk’ drinking delicious cappuccinos and macchiatos.  They lived in beautiful apartments – across the corridor from one another (except for Phoebe and Ross), which meant they were able to drop in on each other whenever a crisis or a drama occurred.  But that’s not real life.  Here I am watching episodes when I’m bringing up two small children and desirous of their lives.  But, let’s look at my life now.  Two beautiful daughters, four amazing grandchildren,  I have my writing, I have my health, I have a great support network with family and I go to concerts and festivals.  I am not wealthy but I have enough to enjoy life and feel fulfilled.  I have plans for the future: a cruise with all of my family, I have an idea to visit Nashville, Tennessee.  AND I WILL HAVE THAT BOOK WRITTEN!  Life is good, I wonder if it would be that good for the characters in ‘Friends’.