The next few weeks are going to be a bit odd for me. Bad odd. My parents are moving permanently to Australia on the 7th, which is very exciting, but I don’t have any visits planned to see them and I haven’t given much thought about what life is going be like without them living just a short drive away. I’ve known for a long time that they’d be moving, but September always seemed so far away, far enough not to worry about. Well here I am, worrying.

Also, my girlfriend has just started a new job and of course I’m very happy for her, but to impress her new boss she’s been spending most evenings studying which has left me on my own.

To be honest, I’m a bit lonely.  Lonely enough that I’ve booked myself onto a free Time Management Course just to give me something to do.  The first thing I thought when I signed up to the course was ‘If I arrive late to this I can make a brilliant joke’ which probably shows that I’m not really mature enough to attend a Time Management Course.  Recently I’ve found myself daydreaming about the course – perhaps if I arrive late and crack a good enough joke then one of the other attendees will become my friend.  A friend, yes.  I’d like to have a friend.  Someone to chat to, to laugh with, to confide in – what I really need is a friend, a best friend.

So I thought I’d run a competition to find myself a best friend and I’m inviting you to enter. Obviously we’re not going to be BFFs (Best Friends Forever), I’m not trying to trap you. Our best-friendship will last one week, from Monday 12th September to Sunday 18th September. Hopefully this will be a rewarding experience for both of us, though I can’t make any promises. As your best friend I will call you every day and send you two proper letters during our week.  If you live near enough, we can even try to meet. Don’t worry if you’re far away though, that’s okay. So, wow! There are only four rules for the Best Friend Competition.

• You must live in the UK.  Are you crazy? I cannot phone abroad every day.
• You must be 20 or over.  I am a 23 year old man, I cannot be ‘besties’ with a teenager.
• You must not have met me.  That would be cheating.
• You must not try to kill me.  Please.

So if you’re interested in becoming my best friend for a week, just apply below telling me why.  I’ll pick the winner half-randomly, half-based on how friendly you come across. Entries must be submitted by noon on Saturday 10th September.

Good luck!

[The competition has now closed.]