End Of Year Review 2016...or end of tears?

 

2016 has not been a good year for many of us but It started with such promise.  David Bowie had just realised Blackstar to high acclaim and it was going to be a year that I celebrate a significant birthday.

 

However, with no warning only 10 days into 2016, David Bowie was cruelly taken away and I had no idea how profoundly this would affect me.  I have loved him since I was 12.  He had always been there in the background, sometimes supporting me, sometimes quietly watching my life unfold.  I didn’t really believe he was gone.  On 16th January I set off on my Bowie Pilgrimage and met with friends who felt the same as me.  We visited Brixton and Heddon Street as well as the house he was born in – and later that night, we all sobbed as we sung his songs.

 

Bowie was hugely significant to me and his loss was a huge void.  However, it was not just the loss of Bowie that has called 2016 a bad year.  Terry Wogan was a legend and for years I watched Eurovision purely for his sarcasm.  And it didn’t stop there.  Ronnie Corbett died from Motor Neurone Disease. Ronnie was one half of The Two Ronnies and I grew up with their sense of humour.  I loved their dry wit and play on words and still find their sketches hilarious today.  It was a terrible loss.  Alan Rickman was the same age as Bowie and I am sure would have had much more coverage over his loss, if Bowie had still been with us.  Rickman was an actor with a huge range from the troubled husband in Love Actually to the best baddie ever in Die Hard.

 

Just as we thought the worst was over, it was announced that Prince who was only in his 50’s, had gone too.  Purple Rain had been one of my most played albums in the 80s.  How can this be?  Paul Daniels was another and I had met him many years ago. Although he was not as popular today, in the 80’s he had a prime-time TV show and was fantastic at sleight of hand.

 

In my personal life, my youngest son was taken seriously ill and hospitalised for a week in April and again in May and September.  The experience was made worse by neglect of the surgical consultant and I wrote to PALS on my son’s behalf to complain.  No one should have to go through what he has gone through and I now believe that everyone in hospital should be offered an advocate to speak on their behalf.  My son is recovering now but this experience has left us both wary of medical professionals.

 

However, my End Of Year review is not going to be all doom and gloom.  If you dig hard enough there are a few gems.  Through my grief of Bowie, I have met lots of new friends who loved him as I do. (yes, that is still present tense).  And it was good to see them again in July for the annual netters gathering.  I was once again nominated as a finalist for my blog, ‘It’s a wonderful life’ which inspired me to start my own website.

 

Heaven 17 have always been a great band.  But this year was 35 years since my favourite album, Penthouse and Pavement had been released and there was a national tour to celebrate it.  To make it even more special the second half of the gig was going to be a BEF special. (British Electric Foundation) which meant special guests including the lovey Mari Wilson and original Sex Pistol, Glen Matlock.  And I also saw Heaven 17 at the intimate Jazz Café gig where they wished me a happy birthday in front of the whole audience.  That really was a special moment.

 

Yes, I have truly had to dig deep to find those gems of good moments.  One of my favourites was my significant party.  It was a very glam event.  Set in Birmingham, with friends making the journey to celebrate with me from as far south as Southampton, as far north as Thornaby and as international as Germany.  The theme was Studio 54 meets The Blitz and included a 70s-disco set, a Blitz set, a hi-energy set and other tracks that have been the soundtrack to my life.  I had two Fabulous DJ’s – Only After Dark founder, David Wright and the fabulous Symix.  I also have some wonderful photos from Stagedive photographer, Tony Gaskin.  The dress code was glamorous and stylish so people could come with a 70’s  or 80’s theme or anything glam.  If you know me it’s always dress to impress!  I couldn’t tell others to dress up and not do so myself, so I had my dress made.  Not only did I have my dress made but I had the material made.  I wore a dress with photos of me throughout the years on it.   At least I knew no-one else would be wearing what I was wearing!  It was a fabulous event and made me thankful for all my friends family and all who bring something to my life.

 

So, at this time of year which is supposed to be goodwill to all men, but the media tells us of a horrific terrorist attack in Berlin and politicians being shot dead, here is my Christmas wish…

 

I wish you health.  Without good health, you cannot do all the wonderful things you want to.  It’s more valuable than any money or expensive handbags.  I wish you all good health.

 

I wish you love.  The Beatles were right when they said ‘All you need is Love’.. It really does make the world go around.  We all want to be loved – just watch the film, Love Actually again to remind yourself.

 

And finally, I wish you happiness.  You can all be happy.  It’s not about the biggest present at Christmas or the car you drive or the job you have.  Happiness is a state of mind and you can choose to be happy and try to see the silver lining – even in difficult years like this one.

 

Let’s all look forward with hope and good intentions.  Let’s not make New Year Resolutions but make life goals that are achievable and realistic.  Let’s make this world a better place.

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Love to you all. Xx