I know I may be wrong or speaking out of turn but I'd say this "sort of friend" of mine (someone who has done me good turns anyway) is probably a bit prone to both repeating gossip and taking in gossip/information from what I'd think are unreliable sources, and it des create trouble sometimes. There is perhaps a bit of a drama queen about this guy, so he once told me an inspector had declared something was the case (it doesn't matter what the subject was okay) and then when I went along to my solicitor he turned around and said, no they hadn't said what he'd first declared to be the case, only that it "might be"!
I know that is confusing but what I'm leading up to is a point my great uncle used to repeat very often about the "danger of do-gooders" - I think this friend of mine pictures himself as a bit of a do-gooder sometimes and this leads him to behave as he does (winding you up, repeating gossip when he probably knows its untrue, and very often deliberately lying to cover his own tracks etc.). An odd friend therefore and I'm not sure whether we'll remain friends after he moves away from the area in a few weeks time.
A bit worrying Graham. Why spread gossip and consider yourself a do gooder. It takes all sorts I suppose. Get yourself a new friend
