ladies who lunch: are you a go back girl?

It was Jennifer, The Style Crusader's birthday a few weeks ago, and seemed only fitting that, since she's been the driving force behind the Covent Garden Cupcake Convention blogger meet ups, that we'd go to a place more posh for this special occasion. After all, this was a major milestone birthday: 25.

Hedvig (above) had been telling us about her favourite place, Yauachta, in Soho. And it was every bit as wonderful as she described, even more so. I have a lot of time for Hedvig: she's smart, she's beautiful, she's kind, and she's the most generous spirit. When we meet up, we can talk for hours. She's a girl's girl.



I'd highly recommend Yauachta, especially for a special occasion, which this definitely was.

We were a little worried tho, beforehand, about the price. It's not cheap, but it's not insane, either, and it's so worth it. But still, when you get a large group of females for lunch.. you know that whole cliche about 'Who got the lobster? or 'Who ordered the extra drink?' when the bill comes in. What we should have said up front is 'we're not dividing it equally, just pay for what you order' - which is how we did it - but instead, there was a kind of cloud of fear hanging over this perfect event. We could see that some were hesitating to order the £9 drinks, and there was some confusion about how much to order (I just got three scallops, but they were DIVINE. And I lucked out: everyone was offering to taste each others' food - I kept offering my other scallops - and somehow, I was well fed).



Food for thought: I've been meeting more and more amazing bloggers - mostly women - and while I've already got an incredible circle of 'real' friends, still, the women I've been meeting are just nourishing my life in ways I hadn't expected when I started this blog. And that goes beyond the ones I've met so far: some friendships with other bloggers in other countries are so real, I know when we meet we'll be great friends.



And it started me thinking about what it means to be a friend, a 'girl's girl'. The qualities I want in a friend, and the standards I expect for myself. A generous spirit? Definitely. But also, a sense of loyalty. And a spirit of adventure. (BTW: this is Jackie, the Platform Princess: case in point, within minutes of meeting her, I got her to jump up and down for my photos, IN HEELS, even tho she claimed she 'couldn't jump.' See for yourself, in Jumpin' Jackie Flash.)



But there is also loyalty. And kindness.

In college, I switched my room from a suite of what I'm realising in hindsight were, altho dull and not very stylish, a very loyal and KIND group of girls, for a roomate who looked like a Swedish model, had incredible taste (she had done her dorm room up to rival anything in Architectural Digest) - we'd even chosen the same sheets, I figured that bonded us - and she was a talented artist.

What I didn't realise was she wasn't remotely a girl's girl: in the six months we lived together I don't think we had one giggly girl talk, and besides, her (very nice) boyfriend slept in our room every night. We never spoke: when I finally moved out,, I doubt she noticed I'd gone.

Years later, I went on a date with a man who turned out to be her ex-husband, and it turns out she wasn't a guy's girl, either.



This is Kaz, of Style My Wardrobe. And while I didn't get to shoot the delightful Adorn Girl indoors, you'll see her shots in another post. This is her lovely bag.




And this is another favourite blogger, and, I like to think, new friend: Carrie, of wishwishwish. Another girl's girl who is warm, fun, stylish, and also clever. Cleverness counts for me, too.



But ultimately, it's also about trust. Are you someone your friend could leave in a room with their husband or boyfriend?

I read somewhere about George Clooney, someone had worked with him on a film and said he's a 'go back guy'. That is, when the guys are on horseback and someone gets shot by Indians, he's the one who goes back to get his buddy.



That's what I want to be: a Go Back girl. Lucy, of Snippets of Shiny Thoughts, definitely strikes me as one.

You might note that I didn't include one shot of the Birthday Girl, my newish but much cherished friend and definitely Go Back Girl, Jen. She's featured enough on my blog, and will again in the near future, so she's getting the day off. Besides, Jen, if you're reading this, YOU'RE NOT WRITING YOUR ESSAY!!

What are your requirements in a friend? Are you a Go Back Girl?