Merry Christmas & A Healthy New Year (From Hereford Times)

Merry Christmas & A Healthy New Year

9:55pm Monday 24th December 2007

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Hello Everyone

Sorry its been a while since ive written, but as l work in Retail - many of you will realise it is our busiest time of year, and yes its been manic.

Anyway, l would like to wish all of you a very merry christmas, and a happy and healthy new year.

l would like to ask you all to think on one thing though.
This holiday season there are many people who are alone, either because of divorce, or bereavement. It is particularly hard for them at this time of year as its always drummed into us that this is the time for families. Well yes it is, but what of those with no family, or whose loved ones live too far away.

Please if you have someone living nearby, whatever their race, colour, sex, age, etc please spare a moment of your time for them, whether its just sharing a smile and a hello, or sharing the gift of kindness, with an invite into your home, a christmas card so they know they have not been forgotten - or a helping hand with their shopping.
Whatever you choose to do, l am sure it will be very much appreciated.

One thing l feel very strongly about in the shop l work in is that no person, especially the elderly or disabled are rushed through and made to feel they are an inconvenience.
Having been brought up with a mother who has to use a wheelchair, l know just how it feels to have assistants talk over your head and pretend your not there. These people Can Hear YOU! please talk to them too!

The elderly - you maybe the only person they get to talk to all day - l can remember being a young mum, stuck at home with a toddler, and sometimes shop assistants would be the only people l would see all day until my husband came home from work.
A smile and an exchange of a few words from a kind shop assistant could make all the difference to my day - especially if my son particularly fractious.

This year - as most l will be spending it with my family, my husband who bless him is doing the cooking, my youngest son, my parents and my mother-in-law.
We will be making several toasts -
one to my eldest son, who chose to stay at his fathers this year,

A very special toast in rememberance of my father-in-law Ron who we lost at this time of year - many a year both sets of parents have come to us for christmas dinner. It will be the 1st year of us all being here without him.

And a quiet moment to remember the friends we have lost, many to Cancer, unfortunately one more this year.

This holiday, give thanks for all you have and a prayer for those who havent.

Merry Christmas
xxSarahxx