Let there be Light 2017: No 24

American author Helen Keller wrote: ‘Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light.’

It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them, behaviour which can sometimes shock those not used to your relationship.

Sometimes we can confuse the people we are always with, with the people who are always there. The former tend to be loyal to their need of you; once circumstances change so too do such loyalties. The latter will defend you to the death behind your back.

Journalist Walter Winchel said that ‘a real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.’ On this score, I reckon we can count true friends on the fingers of one hand.

Blood makes you related but loyalty makes you family.