Radiators

Today felt particularly busy. It began with collecting prescriptions from the surgery, then handing over £6 for them. Why they couldn't have been on the one script beats me.

An appointment with Occupational Health followed, where the nice doctor went through the motions, asking all the predictable questions; 'how do you feel?', 'what do you think will happen?' and so on.

Lunch with my wonderful brother in the Black Box was the reward. An excellent butternut squash soup with the softest bread went down very well.

I then met with colleagues from work, who knocked me out with a lovely card wishing me well and an Amazon Voucher. Five fabulous Beatles Remastered cd's are on their way. Thank-you for being radiators guys.

A quick call with my very good friend and finally picking up my daughter from school ought to be enough excitement for one day.

Fingers crossed.

It's A Wonderful Life

It's around this time of year we sit down and watch the film which has so much to say about love, missed opportunities, sacrifice and redemption.

I don't think it was made intentionally to necessarily reflect any religious or spiritual significance. For me it makes a simple statement and one which remains the best piece of advice I have ever received.

Years ago my father made the comment that 'very few people in this life give a damn about you'. I didn't quite understand the gravitas or significance of this at the time, being an inward looking, selfish and self loathing adolescent.

Over the years however, I have distilled his advice into this simple equation.

There are radiators and there are drains; the former give out warmth, comfort and succour, the latter suck the life out of you, leaving you empty and exhausted.

The solution is to recognise and embrace the radiators and avoid the drains.

Give me flawed people who give a damn any day over seemingly 'perfect' but detached ones.

Earth needs more George Baileys...