Believe it or not, I was in the middle of writing what follows when I logged in tonight....so, if you'll pardon the multiude of wordage, here's my take on 2006....

2006 – A Personal Take

It’s been very much an up-and-down year for me; one year to the day since I had my last cigarette, and I don’t know how I’ve managed to stay off them with some of the stuff that’s happened!! Still, I guess it’s much the same as the year some of you guys have had……………

………2006 started off quite depressing – one of my long-term clients (for those who don’t know, I work as a Community Psychiatric Nurse in Glasgow, Scotland) had been diagnosed with lung cancer in October 2005, and I visited him nearly every day until he died in March. A very sad time for me, and all my colleagues, who had known him for many years. We did our best to support his family, too, but you know there’s only so much you can do as a relative “outsider”.

April, we decided (for SOME reason!!) to get a puppy. Now, H has this “thing” about not having just one of anything; so, we got two! - Bodie, a collie/huntaway cross and Riley, a Springer/cocker spaniel cross. Yeah, go figure!! Anyway, here we are nearly at Bodies 1st birthday (Hogmanay, or the 31st to you lot over the water!!) and they’ve grown into the two most loving and giving dogs I’ve ever had! Strangely, they go nuts when I take them to my mums – they must really like the cigarette-smoke atmosphere or something!

Ah yes – my mum. Well, as a lot of you will remember, my dad was also diagnosed with lung cancer at the end of April, beginning of May. The prognosis at the time was not good, but in the end he lived for only a matter of weeks. The support and good wishes I received from many Pixies folk at that time was amazing – and one couple in particular, who I’ll talk more of later! But, to TinTennessee, Lixy, Txgrneyes, Steph and many more……. the expressions of love and support from all of you was tremendously helpful to me. I can only apologise if I missed anyone out.

The rest of my year has been pretty much uneventful. Like I said near the beginning, it’s one year today since my last puff of the dreaded weed and, God willing, it will continue thus for many years to come!

Oh……… the other person I wanted to tell you about. Well, he and his wife sent my dad the most amazing Get Well cards when he was in hospital, most made by small children the lady of the combination looks after, and receiving these from so far away really did brighten his life. They have also sent cards and gifts to me personally, and have been a tower of strength and support to me throughout the year. There’s other stuff too, but that’ll do for now.

I speak, of course, of Mr and Mrs Dicksbro….. two of the most amazing people I’ve ever not met!!

Dicksbro….. God Bless You, and all your family, and my love and heartfelt thanks to all of you.

DM

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The selfish, they're all standing in line
Faithing and hoping to buy themselves time
Me, I figure as each breath goes by
I only own my mind