Quite often people on here cull their 'friends'. People that haven't stopped by for a while are dropped like the proverbial stone. It doesn't always matter why they have been absent, indeed, some people don't even seem to bother to try and find out. Would these people leave milk piling up at their elderly neighbours door? Would a PM take too long?
Anyway, it got me thinking about the friends I have in real life. Some of them don't stop by anymore, some I only hear from at Christmas or if they want something. Some, just don't seem to bother as much anymore, and there are some that I never really bother with either. So I am going to cull in the real world. Anyone, not fulfilling the friendship criteria will be off my Christmas card list for good. No more missy nice.
So, what is the criteria for good friends?
Friendship should be mutual at the very least, with no one person putting themselves out more than the other, and none at all thinking of it as putting themselves out.
We have different friends for different reasons, i know that. Some we play sport with or a common interest, others we bond with over our kids and theirs, some are their to share good times and bad, some we only share the vodka jellies with.
ALL will share some part of our lives, there will be a place that we intersect with another. Most will fit into their little slot in our lives and will come out to play when needed. A very select few will cross over - these are special indeed, they are part of the inner sanctum of friends and no matter what happens they should be valued and cherished. Although at regular intervals they all need to be 'weeded', the wheat must be separated from the chav so to speak.

I shall start by looking at my friends the same way i would my clothes ( well if i was a stylist anyway). Any that haven't been worn for a year will immediately go into the trash. I shall hunt all corners of my phonebook, mobile memory, facebook and all other networking sites and delete with abandon.
Then I shall further cull the people in my life by looking at the reasons we are friends at all, if the reason no longer exists and the person has lost touch then it's sayonara baby - so it'll be bye, bye fatty to all those at wobble watchers who are still in my book even though i haven't been for years!
Finally, the inner circle will be scrutinised. In this case we all know who has to go, if there is anyone we no longer trust, or who causes us pain then they must be dealt with. If the issue cannot be resolved then they must be cut away. I won't 'forget' to call or email though, their texts will not simply go unanswered, I will stand up to them and tell them to their face that we no longer will be friends.

Your circle of friends should be manageable, or you will not be able to give them the time they need to feel wanted.

A friend, a true friend is someone who makes you feel good about yourself, but not in a sycophantic manner, they won't be afraid to call you on it when you get it wrong, anyone that does not make you feel great should not be a part of your life, remember there will always be someone out there willing to put you down -these people are NEVER your friends!

So I am off to make a list and like Santa I will check it twice, then the culling will begin - it may take some time.