dh is away for a week ski-ing. I'm really jealous. and I've just realised that it's not the ski-ing, nor is it the fact of the holiday (we're pretty fair on this and get equal time away etc) but it's the company he's gone with. he's gone with, to use a term, the lads. all of whom are my friends too. They're the male half of the pre-kid ski-ing holidays we used to have - many of whom I've known since before they had wives/partners and all of whom I've known as long as dh has, and all of whom I really really like. I could organise a girls ski-trip. in fact last year I did. but it's not what I want. I actually (I've realised tonight) want to go with the lads or at least a mixture. Since they've all partnered up I miss them . I was never particularly girly and spent a lot of my twenties with this lot. sigh. I can't turn back the clock, but it makes me wonder - if you have a big group of friends, all of whom get together for time away from spouses and family - why does the group always seem to do this along gender lines? why not just a random half of the group iyswim.