First things first...happy new year to everyone who reads the blog. May you all enjoy a happy, healthy and prosperous 2009. I hope that for myself and those nearest and dearest to me too.

Regular readers will be glad to learn that I took Mum’s The Word’s advice and got myself into town to buy more presents for Jackie. I was really glad to have done it, and she was well happy on Christmas morning. Nice one, Beckie...you cost me a bloody fortune!

What wasn’t quite so easy was buying – and then writing – Jackie’s card. It brought home to me that I might not send her another one. We both knew it, and the looks we gave each other said it all. Words would never have conveyed what we both felt. It was a bittersweet moment for us both.

That said, Christmas was great. We had Jackie’s mum and our son Lee and his missus Nicky with us, and we had a good laugh – a really happy time of it all day. I know it’ always better to give than it is to receive, but I got some great gifts. Like many others, I received a Nintendo DS...and I love it! I’ve been training up my brain, and I’ve now got my brain age down to 38. That’s 18 years younger than I actually am. I just wish I had the looks of a 38 year old to go with it.

We had a lovely lunch too. We had the full monty...turkey and trimmings, Christmas pudding, bottle of wine – lovely! What was left went into Boxing Day’s cold meat and bubble and squeak meal, which I enjoyed nearly as much as the dinner the day before (I always do).

Jackie and I both have our birthdays between Christmas and new year, and we spent a day down on the south coast, which you’ll already know is my old stamping ground. It was freezing cold, but not windy. We had a really lovely day down there. We also stopped at Castle Point, the massive new shopping centre outside Bournemouth. I know we’re all talking about the credit crunch, but there were plenty of shoppers rummaging for bargains there. We had a look round and grabbed a quick sandwich, and kept our money in our pockets. I think Jackie’s going to want to get back there soon.

New Year’s Eve was a little less happy, though. When midnight approached, I was just waking from a sleep on the sofa, and it was the first time I can ever remember not seeing the year in with a drink in my hand. I just didn’t feel like it...truthfully, I felt a bit flat. I was indifferent to the arrival of 2009, and I think Jackie felt much the same. New Year’s Day itself brought some tears with it.

It’s a year next week since my first operation. Part of me feels I’ve come a long way since then, and health-wise I’m good, although I still tire very easily. The time has flown...but that makes me feel anxious. For the most part I’m enjoying life, and I’m in no hurry to get to the end of it. Jackie and I did a lot of talking over the holiday, and we’re both determined to live life to the full, as much as possible, for as long as we can.

You know me, I always end on a positive note...I’m excited about 2009, and I hope you are too.

Take care, Paul