Mandy and distant friends

Just had a call from Mandy, who I haven't seen for some time and who learnt Welsh with me some years ago. She is good fun and we have arranged to go out for an Italian meal - she and her husband and Rosie and me.
It is difficult to know whether to maintain contact with friends we haven't seen for ages. With too many people things have come to a mere exchange of Christmas cards. This doesn't apply to Mandy because she is local, but rather to folk who live some distance from here - in London and south east England mainly. I am not hard hearted enough to be able to just let go of people of whom I am fond.