Merry Xmas 2014

Happy Xmas to you all out there and thank you for keeping on reading my blog.

Another Christmas day upon us and I can't help but wonder how many more I have ahead of me. Let's hope lots but also be prepared for a different outcome. Today I'm feeling positive and looking forward to a bit of travelling in 2015, even if only in the UK.

Last night I had dinner with Neil and his family and got to spend some time with Keith who is home from Kentucky with Trish, who had a slight accident just before they were due to fly out. However no harm done and all well. It was great to see you Keith and I was pleased that you still remember my friend Iain McDonald and his songs, especially Santiago, which is a favourite of mine too. I'm not sure if Iain still sings it as he has so many new songs to sing, but I'm hoping to hear him next year and will ask him to do it one more time.

That you remember Blair Peach gives me much satisfaction and I'm pleased to know that he will continue to remembered by someone in my family. I don't think I still have that "Who killed Blair Peach poster?" It was seen by many people in my flat and became a bit torn in the end, but I will have a good look for it before I see you on Sunday. Anybody who doesn't know who Blair was I recommend that you read about him as he was an inspiration to many, and continues to be for some at least.

Thank you to all those who have sent me cards and messages and all those of you who have been to see me or are planning to do so. Don't worry I plan to be around for a long time to come so will be seeing lots more of you if we haven't managed to meet up to now.

I don't like to single out any cards or messages but there is one card |I received which was both a surprise and a pleasure. It was from someone called Rosemary and I hope you don't mind me mentioning you on here. Rosemary says on her card that we only met once at a class in Riddles Court, (a beautiful building incidentally), in the autumn of 2013, where we spoke and I passed on my blog details. I was unable to continue with the class because of the chemo and radiotherapy. Rosemary says she has been reading and following my blog ever since and decided to send me a Xmas card and to wish we all the best with things. So thank you Rosemary and everyone else who's sent me a card or a message.

I'm off now for Xmas dinner with my niece Anna and all her family, i.e. my brother Coinneach and the rest.

Emer Harkin

BI've not written anything on here for a while, as you may have noticed, as I've been struggling to adjust to my new situation with the cancer having taken off up to my lungs. I think I'm getting to some kind of settlement with myself and can see a kind of future however long or brief that may be. 

But I don't want to talk about that today but instead tell you about my friend Emer Harkin. I won't tell you how long Emer and I have been friends, but it's been quite a while and she has always been there for me, even when I've been a very stupid boy indeed. Emer is also one of my cinema going friends, when her work shifts permit. We have seen many movies together and not a few concerts. I particularly remember a Waterboys concert and a Sinead one, not to forget many times to see my friend Iain McDonald singing and playing his guitar. And Christy Moore of course and Jools when he was still in the band whose name escapes me, but you will know who I mean. 

Needless to say Emer has been a constant support over the past eighteen months. A few weeks ago she told me she was planning to do a Marcathon, which involves running three miles or 25 minutes every day for a month and asked me to choose which charity she should be supporting. It was not difficult for me to choose Maggie's Centre, Edinburgh which has provided me with much care and support since my cancer diagnoses last year and continues to do so. In fact I'm just back from our Christmas party. Sober. 

There are of course many other cancer charities which are worthy of support but Maggie's is the one that has meant so much to me, where I have made many new friends and worked with some superb support workers and volunteers. I have done writing classes, relaxation classes, meditation classes and go to a weekly support group there. And much else besides. I did bookbinding there last week and have produced a little booklet which I plan to give to a very special person in my life. I could go on about all the brilliant things that Maggie's Centres do all over the country but all I want to say is that it's helped me maintain my sanity in the most difficult of times. 

So to get back to Emer and her efforts on behalf of Maggie's, she  is now half way through her fundraiser and has raised over £700 and I'm hoping she will be well over the thousand mark by the time she finishes. I can't praise you highly enough Emer, you are one of the best if not the blessed. 

I'm asking everyone who reads my blog to support Emer and Maggie's by making a donation however small, as I know this is an expensive time of year, but I'm sure a little bit can go towards this good cause. Remember that Emer has to go out every day, whatever the weather, including Xmas and Boxing days and do her bit. She will of course be super fit after all this running so we can get her to do more sponsored runs next year. Don't you think Emer? 

Here is the link to her Virgin Money Giving page and if you do decide to support her maybe you could mention that you found out from my blog so that Emer knows where her support is coming from. Thank you all in advance. If link doesn't work go direct to Virgin Money Giving and enter her name.

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserPage.action?userUrl=EmerHarkin&faId=521928&isTeam=false