It’s been a wild week, pals. Wild. Dogs, children, aperos, bad bands. The worst, like bad Status Quo, but worse.

I had some terrible news about something. Forget that. That’s my problem and most certainly not yours. Yet this week has reminded me of something so powerful it can change lives: I have remarkable friends. Some new, some old. My friends.

Friendship is quite hard for me as I am self absorbed. I’m not selfish, but I live in my bubble head and can easily not see the needs of others. Always on a mission. I’m always in a book or a paper or some rubbish. Subtle doesn’t work with me. People need to tell me what they need. Then I will go out in the night to get the job done.

This week, despite everything, I have been surrounded in a bubble of love, real love, by people who are my friends, all around. I’m nearly tripping over them. Real friends. Real love. Across ages, genders, spectrums, the lot. I was looking around last night and thinking how truly fortunate I am. Let’s hope I am strong enough to live up to their gifts of friendship to me. Ultimately, we are all strangers in a strange land, hand in hand.