So, has this year got it in for everybody or what?  I’ve had my share of emotional battering this year – no secret there, but so many other people have been hit hard by losses and near losses and downright tragedies, I’ve never known a period of time to rival this last eight months – lets hope the next four months slip by with no more shocks and I’m sure I won’t be the only one kicking 2010 in to touch on 31st December in a very big way!

It was a good turn out on Thursday to see our Alan off, lots of faces from the past and present, family and friends – he would have been chuffed to have seen and caught up with them all.  For me, I was proud and honoured to be a pall bearer and to help carry him on the start of his last journey – rest in peace big brother!

My family have all been big role models for me – Mum, Dad, Ronnie, Alan and Anne – I’m not sure they know it but I like to think I’ve learned things from all of them and have elements of each of them in my own character.  Dad died in 1989, now Alan and my Mum is suffering, no one should have to bury their own child, regardless of age – and that is one of those tragedies I mentioned earlier that has happened to too many people this year.  The character has had a severe testing this year and, although battered and bruised, is still holding up – Just, thankfully!

Still, it’s not all doom and gloom, there has to be a silver lining.  Last Sunday, after getting back from the Memorial Cricket Match for Tony Edmundson a few of us met for a few beers in the local.  A friend was there with his partner and her kids, a lad and a girl, and later in the evening the girl (to my shame I’ve forgotten her name) apparently said to her Mum of me “he’s a nice guy but he looks like he needs a hug” to which Mum asked me if it was ok for her to give me a hug, I said yes and she gave me a great big hug!  It brought a tear to my eye because it was the nicest thing that has happened to me this year and it lifted my heart so much and it’s impossible to say what it meant to me!  It’s still making me smile a week on and I’m sure it will for a very long time!  It was the first time we’d met so I reckon she has a gift and a calling in life – she’s an absolutely wonderful young lady!

Similarly, a lovely lady at work had a slip of the tongue when asking for my stats, easily done but the grin and incredible shade of red she went as she blushed with embarrassment (you could feel the heat!) was priceless – it made me smile from ear to ear and on the inside too (if that makes sense?) and again, lifted my heart  – cheers Nic!  Not a lot has made me feel that way this year but it shows that there is a silver lining for me and that the character is recovering from the battering it has had. Also it shows me that I’m surrounded by wonderful people wherever I happen to be.  Priceless!

So, onwards and upwards, as I keep saying to myself, take one step at a time and we’ll get there!  Never underestimate the power of a hug or a smile to lift the heart, so simple but not practised nearly enough!

Good luck and best wishes to one and all for the rest of this year – I hope it goes well and without complications – I’m fed up of talking about sadness and grief!

Bring on that silver lining………………………………..