Christmas is coming.........

.....Yes! It's less than two months away, and if you're already struggling for present ideas, then let me suggest the following............

This is "Little Cooks", a cook book inspired by and to raise money for Little Havens Children's Hospice, where Melissa works. Rather than let me waffle on about it, this is what the official press release says........

" Little Cooks features recipes from children, their families and staff at the hospice, plus contributions from celebrity chefs such as Jamie Oliver, Nigella Lawson, Delia Smith and Ainsley Harriot. Priced at £5.99 each, the books will be available from October at outlets including some Essex branches of Asda, Waterstones, Havens Hospices charity shops and via the charity's website, www.littlehavens.org.uk "

So there you go, a bargain! Anyway, just so you know how much you'd be helping out, the Hospice has annual running costs in excess of £1.6million, and the government provide just £25,000 each year towards this. They have to rely on public donations to provide the rest.

So there you, put one in everyone's stocking, tell your family, tell your friends, tell your work colleagues, tell that bloke in Oxford St who stands there all day with the sign that says "Golf Sale", tell everyone - Please...............

.....BUY THIS BOOK!!

Happy Birthday Amelia

Today would have been Amelia's 4th Birthday. Amelia was the daughter of Melissa's cousin, Sarah. Her and Eloise were best friends, just 5 weeks apart in age. Tragically, Amelia died as the result of a road accident in February of this year, along with her Grandad.

Today Eloise has been to Amelia's special Garden, and released a Balloon for her. In her words she wanted the "Angels to catch it and give it to Amelia".

Happy Birthday Amelia, you are missed by us all, and especially by Eloise.

Everything Changes

So, prompted by Mr Mitchinson, I thought I'd better post again.





Life, for the last few weeks, has been hectic - work has kept me busy and last week I was travelling around the country doing some presentations. Over the course of 5 days I found myself in Hitchin, Letchworth, Dartford, Cobham, Cardiff and Huddersfield (and believe me travelling from Cardiff to Huddersfield, and then from Huddersfield to Chelmsford in the same day certainly takes it out of you!). I clocked up over 1,000 miles, passed through around 18 different counties, and was apparently on the highest motorway point in the UK whilst on the M62 (Well, I think I was, didn't quite get time to read all of what the sign said - I wasn't driving by the way, so was allowed to try and read it!). And in the middle of all that I had my birthday - so, another year older, another year wiser??? Hmm, will reserve judgement on that one!





Last night I was quite excited, because last night it was time for.........

Yep, a new series of Spooks - one of my favourite programmes on tv. Really enjoyed it, but something struck me this morning. In a strange kind of way the fact that I was able to enjoy it really demonstrated to me the way that everything has changed for me (stick with me here!). In previous years, the BBC scheduling a new series of this (or any other favourite, Like "Life on Mars" for example) for a Tuesday night would have resulted in an outburst from me - Why, when they could pick any evening of the week, would they pick the one night I'm out - It was so infuriating! It invariably led to late nights, as I would arrive home late from Songster Practice, but couldn't avoid the temptation to watch it there and then on "catch up". This year, no such problem. It's not that Songster Practice has changed nights, it's just that I'm not there - Everything changes.

A year ago, there were things, people and relationships that were a big part of my life, some had always been a big part of my life, and even defined a lot of who I am. I couldn't imagine that there would ever be a time when those things, people and relationships wouldn't be a big part of my life. Now, as a result of the course of events that have unfolded over the past year, some of those things seem far away. Now I know that some of those changes have been instigated by me, and that's just part of where I am at the moment, but some of them haven't, and some things have changed and I'm not sure why.

I've never been one for living in the past, and always coped with change quite well - but I don't like these changes. I'd just like things to be as they were, I miss that.