Ms Roache's been marred by politics and she doesn't realize it. Luckily, there's much more to life and to friendship than one's party affiliation. Arts, sports, food are just some of the nobler interests we may share with people. Often, the only thing we share with someone is experiences, or "history" — those are, in a sense, our deepest friendships. Politics already affects my affairs much more extensively than I'd be willing to allow. I refuse to let it take over my social life as well.