31 Dec 08

Well, 2008 is nearly over and not before time in my opinion. It has been a terrible year. Here are some of the main points

15 January
After a long illness, my grandmother passed away.

17 May
Heather was taken into hospital with septicaemia caused by a kidney stone. She spent two weeks in intensive care, unable to move or speak and when she got removed from sedation, she needed another three weeks recovery before she could leave.

23 May
I had to make the decision to cancel our Baltic cruise due to Heathers condition. Fortunately, I got the money back so I could book a replacement cruise.

24 June
Heather was released from hospital, but spent most of the next six month recovering from her illness.

22 September
I was told that there were going to be massive redundancies at work and that my job was one of the jobs at risk

7 October
Went on a cruise around the UK. However, it was full of problems. Flooded cabins and norovirus is not what you want on holiday

29 October
Got made redundant.

It’s now New Year’s Eve. I'm still out of work, but at least Heather is now back at work, though still taking a little counselling, but this is going to be reduced in the New Year, as she feels she no longer needs quite so much now. So, that’s one thing that’s improving. I’ve recently started to get better at bowling, so maybe our luck is on the change towards the good.

There were some high points of 2008 (few though they were): Lewis Hamilton, Jodie Prenger,
The British Olympic Team and Barack Obama. Also, entertainment such as Mamma Mia and Ashes to Ashes put some light onto this dark of years.

I know 2008 was a better year for some people, but we are glad to see the back of it.

As I did last year, here is a list of people who won’t be coming along with us in the journey of life.

January
Sir John Harvey-Jones, 83, British businessman and media personality
Sir Edmund Hillary, 88, New Zealand mountaineer
Heath Ledger, 28, Australian actor
Jeremy Beadle, 59, British television presenter


February
Barry Morse, 89, British-born Canadian actor (Space: 1999)
Roy Scheider, 75, American actor (Jaws)

March
Gary Gygax, 69, American co-creator of Dungeons & Dragons
Francis Pym, 86, British Conservative politician, Foreign Secretary (1982–1983)
Carol Barnes, 63, British ITN newscaster
Ian Howker, 46, former Energize member
Michael J. Todd, 50, Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police
John Hewer, 86, British actor (Captain Birdseye 1967-1998)
Anthony Minghella, 54, British Oscar-winning film director
Sir Arthur C. Clarke, 90, British science fiction author (2001: A Space Odyssey)
Brian Wilde, 80, British comedic actor (Porridge, Last of the Summer Wine)
David Leslie, 54, British racing driver and commentator, Farnborough plane crash

April
McKelvey, 9, British race horse, euthanised after fall during Grand National
Charlton Heston, 84, American Academy Award–winning film actor
Mark Speight, 42, British TV presenter
Humphrey Lyttelton, 86, British jazz trumpeter and chairman of I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue

May
Alexander Courage, 88, American orchestrator and film composer
Sydney Pollack, 73, American film director
Harvey Korman, 81, American actor and comedian (Blazing Saddles)

June
Yves Saint Laurent, 71, French fashion designer
Bo Diddley, 79, American rock and roll and blues singer
Cyd Charisse, 86, American actress and dancer
George Carlin, 71, American comedian and actor

July
Elizabeth Spriggs, 78, British actress
Estelle Getty, 84, American actress (The Golden Girls)
Clive Hornby, 63, British actor (Emmerdale)

August
Bernie Mac, 50, American comedian and actor
Isaac Hayes, 65, American soul and funk musician
Sir Bill Cotton, 80, British television executive

September
Paul Newman, 83, American actor

October
Bob Friend, 70, British newscaster

November
Reg Varney, 92, British comedy actor

December
Bob Spiers, 63, British television director (Absolutely Fabulous, Fawlty Towers)
Oliver Postgate, 83, British animator (Bagpuss, Clangers)
Kathy Staff, 80, British actress (Last of the Summer Wine)
Jack Douglas, 81, British comedy actor (Carry On films)
Majel Barrett, 76, American actress (Star Trek), widow of Gene Roddenberry
Harold Pinter, 78, British playwright
Eartha Kitt, 81, American singer and actress

Woolworths, MFI, Zavvi, Adams are other names we will say goodbye to.