Steve's Blog

I've just walked through the local A&E department of my local hospital, and it struck me, with almost brutal simplicity. If our continued celebration of Christmas causes council bosses to lose sleep, hair and reputation. If we can't live and except each others beliefs, then yes, let's re-name the Christmas Festival.

Let's call it Fistiful, you go out, start telling everyone how much you love them and the spirit of Christmas, and then six hours later try and beat the sh!t out of them -Fistival

On a more serious note, to the people who have sent us Christmas wishes and cards etc, thank you. I apologise if some of you were wondering where your cards and email replies are.

Some of you already know that my newborn son Alfie was rushed into hospital on Friday with breathing difficulties. He is still on the CUI, but we're hoping to have him home before new year. The doctors and nurses have been fantastic, and we have been allowed to stay with him every night on a bed in his room.

Something in you changes when you sit with your three week old son on Christmas Eve. He lay in his cot while I sat watching over him, when a group of carol singers came into the room and sang Away In A Manger, I defy anyone at this point, who would say they would not have been moved to tears, because I wept like a baby myself.

The generosity of people coming on to the ward just to drop presents off, for the children was ridiculously humbling. Total strangers buying presents  for kids who they will never see open them .

Alfie was visited by Father Christmas the next day, and received a stocking full of presents. Again, just a simple act of someone giving up their time on Christmas morning and putting a smile on the faces of these poorly children, was almost too much.

We have had a tough week, but I know it will get better, because Alfie is already showing signs of getting better. It's the simple things that change people the most, the carol singers, the present buyers, the nurse that brought me a solitary Christmas diner today complete with cracker (how do you pull a cracker on your own!) Father Christmas, all the parents........................

All I know is, that while I was being touched by simple human magic, the madmen in A&E were relishing their Christmas Fistivals. Talk about another planet.

Merry Christmas

Steve x