I just wanted to say a word or two about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. I haven't written much about current affairs in recent times, but felt compelled to add my voice to those who continue to support these two young people on their journey through life. As a frequent user of social media, I have been shocked by the comments made about Harry and Meghan. At the moment every man and his dog has an opinion about this royal couple and most views are derogatory, inflammatory and bullying. I have written much about bullying in my time and have seen the same language used over and over again. What on Earth is going on and why are people so angry about people they don't even know.

The Duke and Duchess have decided to remove themselves from the fray and follow a life outside the Royal Family, concentrating on their lives together, rather than being scrutinized by the newspapers and press on a daily basis. It would seem Harry doesn't want his wife suffering in the same way his mother the late Princess Diana did, constantly harassed and hunted like a wild animal by a press pack hungry for a story. Who can blame him, who wouldn't want to see this young Prince happy and content? Well it seems most people in this country have no empathy towards them and their chosen path. The reactions of the 'trolls and bullies' I have witnessed online are upsetting, hurtful and absolutely shocking for someone like me, who tries to see the best in everyone.

What has happened between the Duke, Duchess and Royal Family is a personal matter. Together with Her Majesty The Queen and other members of the family, Harry and Meghan have come to an agreement, that will see them forge their own way in the World, without public funds and will also pay back the £2.4 million pounds spent on renovations at their London home; nothing wrong with that surely? Yes apparently there is and it doesn't satisfy the jeering crowds, baying for blood at their door.

What the hell has happened to this country? Since Brexit, the general public have lost all sense of compassion towards anyone but themselves. Racist and homophobic hate crime is on the rise, and we have lost all sense of what is right and what is wrong. A once empathetic nation has become a nation of haters, doubters and egotists....We are no longer the country we once were and that is a tragedy.

Before you decide to publicly destroy the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, maybe you should all look closer to home and the difficulties you may have faced along the road. Instead of attacking two people you don't even know, maybe, just maybe you should get your own house in order. The majority of you, spouting grotesque, baseless accusations and insults can barely string two words together, yet you are so deluded to believe anyone cares what you think. Harry and Meghan have the blessing of the Queen and the Royal family in their new endeavours and that is all that matters. There is far too much hate in this country now and I find it very difficult to understand just what went wrong. I for one wish them both well, as we all should. Prince Harry served our country during traumatic times and I respect him for that and the choice he now makes. Think about the things you say and look deep within at the person you are...Do you really like what you see?

Last night I spent a lovely evening with friends, talking, gossiping and putting the World to rights. It felt great to relax in good company for a change, especially after the week I have had.  The pain from Diverticulitis and IBS has been getting me down, especially over the last few days. I find it important to do things that take my mind off the way I am feeling, so being around people chatting the night away is just what the Doctor ordered; my mind was at least clear for a few quality hours!

It is true to say, I have suffered greatly with various conditions and ailments over the last year, mainly due to stress and anxiety, but I am learning to live with the pain. Today however, when I woke up, it was just too much to bear and I rang the Doctors surgery for advice. After describing the situation I was made an appointment and told to come in later in the day.

This is the first time Diverticular Disease has caused me significant problems and most certainly won't be the last, so it is necessary to do what I can to stop any future complications; this is one difficulty I don't want getting out of hand.

The Doctor did the usual checks and diagnosed a Diverticulitis flare up and a particularly nasty one at that. I am hoping a course of antibiotics will cure the problem for now, if not I could end up in hospital, which I really don't want. She understood the complications of the disease and was pretty helpful in regard to living with it, stressing the importance of change and eating a simple, non-spicy diet. Plain chicken, salad or vegetables with no carbs is best.

I also discussed the reasons why I may have acquired IBS in the first place, something that has always puzzled me. The first time I noticed any digestive issues was when I was living in Spain, shortly after being given Statins to lower my high cholesterol; before that, I was perfectly healthy, except maybe for stress and the odd bout of depression. Having read up on Statins, I came across story after story of people suffering from joint pain and abdominal spasms, similar to those experienced in IBS. The timing of my symptoms, coinciding with the prescribing of Pravastatin was no accident and I firmly believe the two are related. I mentioned my concerns to the Doctor who understood what I was trying to say but told me to mention it to my own GP when I next see her.

I seem to be looking for answers don't I, well I guess I am; taking a lot of medication every day can't be good for one's constitution. Taking other pills in the past made me feel similarly unwell at times, not as bad as I do now, but nevertheless not one hundred percent. I would dearly love to stop popping statins, which are intensely nasty drugs, but I understand I am supposed to live with them for the rest of my life. I need to take advice about what to do next; even cutting my dose of Statins will help to stem the tide of pain I experience at the moment I'm sure; so a trip to the Doctors once again is in order and hopefully we can come to a long term plan to help reduce the manifestations I experience almost on a daily basis!

I haven't been feeling particularly great recently, as the British weather takes its toll and my sense of well-being takes a bit of a knock. Since returning from Asia last year, I have had a number of health issues that have been getting me down. Suffering with the constant pain of IBS and Diverticulitis together, has been my biggest bugbear. Despite having good periods, where I exhibit no symptoms at all, for the majority of the time, I do have annoying, frequent and painful flare-ups which last weeks and sometimes months at a time.

There isn't much I can do about the symptoms I suffer from, so haven't been to the Doctor in a few months. This is unusual from me, since my health anxiety can be quite challenging and for a while I was in and out of the GP surgery, on an almost weekly basis. Today however, I just can't be bothered to see anyone, and I am learning to live with the various ailments I have. Of course most conditions can be treated with medicine and you will be feeling better in a matter of days, IBS and Diverticulitis however, are chronic long term illnesses that can only be managed. Living with these two digestive disorders isn't easy and as I grow older I am finding them more difficult to deal with.

My problems are nothing compared to other peoples issues, who live with worse complaints than me. As someone who suffers with extreme anxiety, I do tend to over think the way I am feeling and can blow a simple issue out of all proportion. Learning to deal with my thoughts and trying to keep a level head are important when you are feeling the way I am. Trying to get things into perspective and stop thinking the worst, is part of a process of retraining my mind to cope with issues, that others seem well able to deal with.

This week at work, one of our regular customers came in and spent a few hours looking around the shop. The person in question is elderly and always enjoys speaking to my colleagues, doing her best to keep active and play a prominent role in the local community. I spent as much time with her as I could, while she was waiting for a taxi, and she explained a little about her life as a painter and how lonely she felt after the death of her husband. Something about this lady struck a chord with me, she reminded me of my late Grandmother, who I was estranged from for the last ten years of her life. I really enjoyed speaking with her, she brought back many happy memories.

Senior citizens are amazing people, wise and for the most part a joy to be around. This lady had so much to offer the World, even at her age. No matter how she felt, what ailments she had or how alone she was, she was still doing everything she could to make sure she lives a full and accomplished life and it kind of put my small problems into perspective. Apart from anything else, It took my mind off my own troubles for a short while and allowed me to concentrate on someone else's welfare. It really is amazing how much better you can feel, just by talking to a complete stranger.

The next day I bought a bunch of flowers and a card and took them around to this beautiful soul. I wanted to show appreciation for her and make sure she was OK  after her tiring trip to Tesco. This clearly isn't usual practice, but some people touch your heart in such a profound way, you have to do what you feel is right. This lady found the gesture deeply moving and it brought a tear to her eye. Today I can relax a little more and feel a little less pained because of an individual I didn't know, who made me understand the importance of living life to the full, no matter what life throws my way. The World is indeed a wonderful place, filled with amazing characters, I should spend a little less time thinking about myself and more time thinking about them!

Like everyone else, I have been watching in horror at the disaster unfolding in Australia; wild fires causing devastation across the continent. Already an area the size of Belgium has been destroyed and half a billion animals lost in New South Wales alone. This is destruction on an unprecedented scale and I have been dumbfounded at the pictures I have seen on television.

I spoke to Darrell a few days ago in Western Australia, just to find out if he is OK. The fires are concentrated in the Eastern states and Darrell hasn't been directly affected by them, although there are still many wild fires ablaze in the west. The type of incidences we are witnessing usually occur in Darrell's home state, which is normally drier and hotter than the east, but this year the reverse is true and Australians can only watch, like the rest of the World, as the Eastern seaboard burns unabated.

I have lived in Australia twice with Darrell over the twenty four years we have been together and have experienced some particularly harsh weather. I remember it was so hot during the summer of 1998, that you couldn't even move to turn on the air conditioner. Australia is a country of extremes in every respect, one of the reasons I chose not to live there. However it is one of the most beautiful places I have ever lived and have many fond memories of my time living there. It is terribly sad seeing such awful scenes playing out in front of our eyes. The loss to Australia and the World is immeasurable.

The reaction of Scott Morrison and the Liberal Government is typical of politicians who understand nothing about the challenges Australians face everyday. The Prime Minister's decision to go on holiday, while Australia burned was unbelievable and shows his complete contempt for the public who voted him into office. This is a man who denies climate change is happening and continues to promote the mining of fossil fuels to keep the lights burning in Sydney. This vast nations reliance on outdated methods of Electricity production, when it could be investing in solar power, an abundant source Australia has unlimited access to, is shameful. This man's refusal to listen to climate change experts has been complicit in the severity of the fires raging across the Eastern states; it is people like him who continue to destroy this planet for no other reason than personal gain. Like Donald Trump, history will judge him harshly for his actions and lack of foresight. The World we live on is dying and no one is prepared to stand up and do the right thing!

Australia will burn for many more weeks yet, as the intensity of the summer grows stronger. As spectators to this travesty, we must do more to help those suffering in my second home Australia.

Please click on the link above, to give what you can to help those in greatest need and rebuild the shattered Eastern States of Australia.

Australia is burning, animals and lives are being lost - Make a donation, MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

different, and I have been surrounded by family and friends.

On December the 11th, we were given a pre Christmas party at Tesco, where I work several days a week. I suppose this is when Christmas really started for me and I haven't stopped since. It does feel good to be a part of something at this time of year. In Spain I did feel rather alone and somewhat left out. It can be an unforgiving place and although the Expat community is made up of a fantastic bunch of characters, it can also be very closed to new comers, making life rather difficult!

I did manage to spend some time with Dad before Christmas, going out with him for a meal and exchanging gifts. This will be a particularly difficult time of year for him, being his first Christmas without Mum, but he is still coping remarkably well.

We chatted over lunch for a good hour or two and Dad seemed relaxed, talking about subjects that interested both of us, from politics to family. We also talked about issues we hadn't spoken about before, which did seem rather awkward at times, but Dad felt it important to lay a few ghosts to rest and at least we cleared the air. It would be yet another Christmas spent apart as a family, but we are becoming a little closer day by day!

Both my Aunt and I were working on Christmas Eve and with my Aunt also working on Christmas Day, we opened our main presents to one another when we got home from work. I am lucky to be around my extended family for the next few days but my thoughts obviously turn to Darrell in Australia. My World isn't complete without him here and as I open my gifts I can't help remembering the occasions we spent together during better times. This will be the third Christmas we have spent apart and it doesn't get any easier. I am hoping next year will be very different, but for now we both continue doing what we have to!

Christmas Day I went to my Cousin Rachel's. Together with my Aunty Sue, we spent a lovely afternoon eating, drinking and talking, just what all families do on Christmas Day. I had a few too many pints of Stella if I am honest, which didn't sit well with my constitution, but then that's what generally happens at Christmas.

Boxing Day was filled to the rafters with family, lots and lots of family, just like Christmas used to be. Christmas is of course a time for children and they are what makes this day special. The last time I was surrounded by kids, celebrating like today, would have been when I was a child myself. You see, I have never really had any contact with the younger generation, which has always been a disappointment for me, but I am certainly making up for lost time now.

It felt good to be around everyone this Boxing Day. There were tears, crying, laughter and joy, all rolled into one and that made for an interesting day. Family are far more precious now than ever, especially after the loss of Mum. It is the linchpin that holds the generations together, gives us identity and is responsible for influencing what direction we take in life. It is only fitting that we spend time with those closest during the Christmas period, it is certainly what made Boxing Day memorable for me!

On Sunday along with my Aunt I was invited to my Uncle Paul's house, to celebrate Christmas with my late Mother's family. I haven't celebrated with Mum's family for more years than I care to remember. I felt happy and relaxed to be in the company of relatives, that I only usually see at funerals these days and enjoyed spending time with them all.  Of course this Christmas was very different from those of my childhood, but it was a reminder of a past I had almost forgotten about!

Last night I spent a quiet evening relaxing alone on New Years Eve. I wasn't particularly in the mood for socialising at all. I used to enjoy partying and celebrating the new year, but without Darrell, I wasn't in the best of spirits. I used the time to sit and reflect about the past year, another difficult and challenging twelve months. As we move into 2020, I am reminded of the decade we have left behind and can only hope this year will be the beginning of something better;  Darrell and I have survived many battles in the past and will do so again. Every new year offers hope for the future and a belief that this year will be different; I walk into 2020 with my head held high and a determination to survive whatever life throws my way!