21 AUGUST 2004, Page 55

Q. I would welcome your advice. I called a friend

on her mobile telephone to ask her for some information and, although she was driving, she answered the call. A vigilant police officer noticed that she was breaking the law and pulled her over to reprimand her and issue a /30 fine. She called me later to complain that 1 was the cause of her humiliation and implied that I should offer to pay her fine. I asked her why she had answered the call while she was driving, but this did not seem to cut any ice with her. How do I make peace?

Name and address withheld A. There are two explanations for your friend's illogical behaviour. The first, she has a low intelligence quotient. The secon4 she is nursing a secret grudge against you over another matter. Money is often used as an excuse to pick a quarrel. Go and see your friend and look her squarely in the eye. Then say, in kindly tones, 'I will pay your fine, but will you promise, in return, to sit down and think and then tell me what all this is really about?'