To my friends: Thank you for everything

I have floated downstairs in a Black Russian haze to make a cup of tea while trying to piece together details of last night while waiting for the kettle to boil.

As it happens, I don’t need to ring Sherlock as there are a variety of clues at hand - a broken tambourine, various items of wedding memorabilia still in the box (I clearly had forgotten about the ceremonial burning) and a variety of sheet music scattered by the piano complete with broken piano stool.

I turn to look at the kitchen expecting the worst but find that every glass, every plate and every crumb has been cleaned and cleared, there are flowers everywhere and someone has left coffee, breakfast and the Observer on the kitchen table.

What is hitting me this morning is the extraordinary kindness of my friends – ALL of them have been SO patient with me over the last few months.

They have been patient when I have turned into a demanding toddler, listened when I have ranted and picked me up when I have fallen.

One or two of them have even endured being force fed Stewart Lee clips over and over and over again in the middle of night. Sorry.

There is a card for me on the table from one of my friends, in which it reads: “Bate. This is the first day of the rest of your life.”

I feel blessed. I have a hardcore group who have walked with me through the good times and the bad.

As some of us sit at the table eating copious amounts of scrambled eggs and leftover pizza, it has struck me that platonic love is amazing.

Friendship is a healing balm.

SO to all my friends, sorry I have been such a pain recently and thank you for everything.

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