My oldest and closest friend now lives 4,400 miles away, but once we were neighbours, living next-door-but-one to each other in the middle of a row of eight cottages in the middle of nowhere, Scotland.

Then my friend moved about 20 miles away - we met for coffee most weeks; talked on the phone most weeks; and wrote letters most weeks, but also sent postcards.

My friend moved much further north - we met for coffee most months; talked on the phone most weeks; and wrote letters most weeks, but also sent postcards.

She moved to Vancouver Island - we met for coffee most years; talked on the phone most months; and wrote letters most weeks, but also sent postcards.

We both got email - we met for coffee most years; talked on the phone most months; wrote emails and wrote letters most weeks, but also sent postcards.

I moved to the San Juan Islands but worked in Vancouver - we met for coffee most weeks; talked on the phone most weeks; wrote emails and wrote letters most weeks, but also sent postcards.

I moved to Hawaii - we met for coffee most years; talked on the phone most months; wrote emails and wrote letters most weeks, but also sent postcards.

I moved back to the San Juans and worked in Vancouver - we met for coffee most weeks; talked on the phone most weeks; we sent emails most weeks and wrote letters, but also sent postcards.

I moved back to Scotland - we meet for coffee every couple of years, and talk on the phone most months; we send emails most weeks and write letters, but also send postcards.