"We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails."

Well, it is almost New Year again and very soon I will be heading for refuge in the bedroom, because I can't face almost two hours of Jools Holland (two minutes would be too much for me!). Robbie loves Hootenanny, so I leave him in peace to enjoy it while I enjoy an early night.

At this time of year it is traditional to make New Year Resolutions about things that we intend to change in our lives but usually I don't bother with such things. This year is different, this year I finally reached the point of saying enough is enough and standing up to a bully. For 27 years I have tolerated her insults, lies, criticism, and abuse I have finally given up. I tried my best but it was never good enough, I even made excuses for her behaviour, I thought that if I turned the other cheek and did my best to please her she would change. I was wrong of course I should have stood up to her years ago because she saw my kindness and my willingness to forgive as weakness, I was rewarding her bad behaviour. It is bad enough that she thought it was okay to treat me badly in so many different ways, but a few weeks ago she crossed a line and this time I will not forgive her, I will not let her hurt me and cast a shadow over my family any more. I felt sorry for her because had lost so much already, but, now she has lost everything. 

I hope she will live to regret her behaviour, but somehow I doubt it because she is just a bitter and twisted bully. I don't have room to hate her, I don't feel anything at all for her now except relief that I don't have to waste any more time on her. She has caused untold hurt to so many people but in the end she is the looser, she has alienated everyone and she faces a lonely and bitter future. As far as I am concerned she has been left firmly in the past and I look forward to the New Year thankful that I have the love and support of my family and friends

Looking Ahead

2010 was a funny old year, if I'd known what it held in store I wouldn't have believed that we could get through it, but here we are looking ahead to 2011 stronger, wiser and perhaps a little braver. Sometimes it takes difficult or painful events to make you take a good look at your life and to appreciate the people and things that really matter. Just as importantly, such events teach us not to stress so much about the things that we can not change. I don't make new year resolutions but this coming year I intend to enjoy life, to be a little braver and more adventurous and to appreciate all the special people in my life.

What Will 2008 Hold? 01.01.08

New Year is the traditional time for taking stock of our lives and making resolutions. I have never really enjoyed the New Year celebrations, it always felt sad somehow, perhaps because it brings the Christmas holidays to an end and the dreary routine of work or school stretches ahead as far as the eye can see. Last year was the first time that I can remember consciously making any resolutions and like most people I was not completely successful in achieving my goals. I am no thinner than I was last January, the only crumb of comfort is that I am not substantially fatter either! This year will be different and hopefully by next January I will be able to report greater success. I was a little more successful in my other resolution, we have reduced our global footprint to some extent, but there is still much more we should do.

Along with the media preoccupation with reviews of the past year, we are treated to predictions about what the year ahead will bring. Generally I don't take much notice of either, why would I we interested in the ramblings of the various self absorbed navel gazers of the media world, and our politicians are incapable of basic honesty when dealing with fact, so their promises and predictions will be about as reliable as a promise from Network Rail. I think I could probably do a more accurate job on the prediction front, so here goes.

Arsenal will continue to be the best looking and most amazing football team, and Manchester United will remain the ugliest!

Network Rail will excel themselves and replace the CSA as the most incompetent and ineffective organisation in UK.

Gordon Brown will age visibly as he lurches from one disaster to the next.

The Liberal Democrats will survive a whole year without a leadership election, but it will make little difference because no one remembers the name of their leader anyway.

Alistair Darling will be offered a part in Dr Who and he will terrify viewers - no make up required!

As usual the railways will grind to a halt a number of times and Network Rail will claim to be surprised by snow, rain, wind and falling leaves and they will wheel out the usual brainwashed androids to convince the world that it really was 'the wrong kind of snow' or that leaf fall could not possibly have been predicted. I wouldn't have thought it required a crystal ball!!

Bristol will retain it's tittle as traffic cone storage capital of the UK with extra cones brought in from the length and breadth of the country to ensure total chaos in the holiday season.

my last item is a wish rather than a prediction, I really hope that the private use of fireworks will be banned and their use restricted to properly authorised organised displays. It would make such a difference to so many dogs, cats and other animals. Meg is absolutely terrified of fireworks.

Happy New Year 01.01.08

Happy New Year. If you are making new year resolutions and you want to give something up or to save money try this, it should provide you with the incentive you need to succeed. http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/protect/demotivator/