Wolves 2019-20 Rollercoaster - Not Bad, but what could STILL be!
Kashmire Hawker • 1 August 2020
Reflections of A CRAZY season, which despite the Ifs, Buts and Maybes - COULD still have a fairytale ending!
The above selfie at Molineux, ahead of Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0 UEFA Europa League win against Slovan Bratislava on November 7th 2019, was one which all could have only dreamed about just 4 years ago. Such a result that evening, definately illistrates the progress which has again been made by The Old Gold and with the domestic campaign of 2019-2020 now fully complete, I wish to give a few reflections of it all.
Despite the major intruption, as a result of such a scary and invesible killer: it in my view, has been more steps in the right direction - across all embers of the club; both on and off the surface.
For starters, securing another top 7 finish - making it our best consecutive League finishes since 1960, pulling off our highest points total since 1980 in 59 points and having the least number of defeats - since our last title win in 1958-59 of just 9 blanks points wise, automatically puts Nuno Espirito Santo and his side into the good books.
Knowing that 116 points have been won, within our 1st two seasons back in the top flight - with both campaigns equalling 7th place finishes, with 101 goals having been registered and the 1st of those, resulting in a Europa League run which has raised many a brow across the globe, can and should only been seen in good light.
Having also this season, beared witness of claiming the double over the Champions in Manchester City, for the 1st time in who knows how long, alongside the most memorable wins against Torino to help secure the UEL Group Stage spot, Beskitas twice (the 2nd one, which gave me a small cheer on General Election night!) in the Group Stage and Espanyol at home in the Last 32 - on top of League triumphs against Villa at Molineux, Bournemouth at the Vitality, Southampton at St Mary's and Tottenham Hotspur at Spurs £1 Billion stadium: will forever live in the memory box due to the sheer quality and fight on display.
Draws must also be referred to, with there 14 in the top flight this term! Standouts have to be Manchester United at Molineux, thanks to Ruben Neves strike of art, Arsenal at the Emirates, the crazy 1st half against Brighton and Hove Albion at the AMEX and Burnley at Turf Moor, as a result of Raul Jiminez's sheer magic on prime-time. The 3-3 against Braga in the Europa League, which saw more than 6000 members of the Wolfpack make the trip to Portugal, most certainly also gets a mention, due to a 1st half which blew many away!
Seeing too that our Mexican superstar, bagged 26 in our 57 fixtures demonstrates how we are able to pull in, the kind of quality and magic we have been long for. Adama's breakthrough season, can't go without a miss neither knowing his valuable contribution he has made right from the off and the consistency of folk donning The Old Gold and Black; particuarly Mr's Moutinho, Coady, Neves, Boly, Denonker and Patricio, is a big part of the success. Also our signatures of Daniel Podence and Pedro Neto, have been very well justifed - thanks to the excellent way there play, has blended into Nuno's style and brand of football.
Such memories to live through, do feel a little tainted through moments which demonstrate the sheer inability of those at the top - to effectively undertake such duties as required. Video Assistant Referee's implementation was always going to be controversial, but the lonny level it has resulted in negativity towards us, has without doubt shattered confidence and affected on play and results.
The outrageous number of points lost, due to the total incompetance of using a much needed system, has ultimately cost the club, the city and the West Midlands; in the region of an additional £200 Million. The two decisions against Leicester City in both games, Liverpool at Anfield, and Burnley at Turf Moor - in the most inexcusable of decisions; quite probably ever made in Premier League history, has strengthened the view of the system being used, all for the benefit for "The Big Six."
The HQ of The Premier League at The Brunel Building, will have surely feared the economic impact being major, if the likes of Wolves, Leicester City and Sheffield United had succeeded in reaching the Champions League and one genuinely presumes, that Richard Masters and co instructed officals, to protect those who gather the most money. The sickening nature, of such measures seriously being taken, clearly shows the legitimate need: for the wholesale reform of The Football Association, The Premier League and Professional Games Match Officals Limited, with the way in which affairs have been occurred and the knocking of the door - of a new batch of clubs wanting to reshape the order of English Football.
Of course, one would be foolish not to acknowlege the fair number where the boys simply didn't show up, went to deep late on or simply played for a draw - all of which bit us up the backside. 6 Points were lost from points winning positions, against Brighton away, Liverpool at home, Sheffield United away and Burnley away (the last one in extraordinary circumstances); along with us not proving ourselves in the opening 6 games with no wins, by playing much too deep within a fair few fixtures (see the draws and losses list for understanding) and Nuno's nature of being conservative - in changing the team to reflect players form, adjusting the formation for lineups and even using subs during games.
These are things which have very much been the case, within these two seasons and probably will continue to occur next season, as the gaffer's style is his choice. But for progression and smashing the elite, a more radical thought of a boss would be welcome, within the areas referred to, along with stronger squad depth and that IMO means another 3/4 signings (at Centre-Back, Right Wing-Back, Attacking Midfield and Striker) in the window between now and October 5th.
Some understandably consider missing out on 3rd place, by just 7 points as Wolves "bottling it", whilst others see the bad luck and stupidness of officials as the key. I see both elements being creeping in, through expectation getting to the boys sometimes, which thus has meant negative play, coupled with qualifed referees simply not doing there job.
It does feel a little deflating, that such a combination of those dropped 6 points in the mentioned 4 games, plus 7 points being lost through VAR decisions in another 4 fixtures, meant being 13 points away from where we ought to have been. 72 Points would have meant 3rd place - a position no doubt deemed out of reach come kick-off against Everton on August 11th 2018!
But, it again reflects the huge strides made by this giant - now back awake following many years of hibernating - further relfected by what COULD still certainly be. The Europa League run has been marvellous and with the 2nd Leg of the Last 16 on Thursday, a free hit if you like appears, for the lads to attempt something out of the ordinary.
The Final Eight competition in Germany, I think has the possibility of suiting us much better - knowing of the unpredictability of winner takes it all games, our massive fight against the more bigger sides before us and naturally, the opportunity of lifting the biggest (both in weight and club terms) trophy in Wolves history. A European title - in just our 2nd season back in the top flight, would define of what can be done - when good, attractive and fun football is played and write heroes into immortality.
Knowing too, that there has been an average attendance of a whopping 31,360 at Molineux; again the highest since the 1980's, the Club's incredible involvement, in ensuring we as humans stay safe during COVID-19 with Fosun providing millions of equipment across the globe - much of which has come for benefit of the heroes at New Cross Hospital and Wolverhampton NHS Trust and being named just this week, in Brand Finance Football's Top 50 powerful club brands, at Number 19, proves the only way Wanderers are heading and that towards the top of the mountain.
In roundng up: the pundits, press and opposition thought we would simply fall to pieces, due to the unbelieveable schedule that the lads had. On the whole, those assumptions were put to bed by Christmas, with the way we recovered from a slow start and when we are good on the day: WE ARE GOOD!
57 competitive games, up to now has provided a heck of a rollercoaster and knowing that the chance of Silverware still exists and an ever growing fan base right across the globe: Wolverhampton Wanderers, under Nuno Espirito Santo and Fosun International are well on there way.
And to know, that we've done it despite the full blown corruption, incompetence and hatred by referees and Video Assistant Referee: it ain't been that bad! No matter, how long it takes to reach the summit, the signs are immensely promising and many millions, apart of a ride - will sooner rather than later, see something special.
In my time of giving voluntary service of the years, I have no doubt what being at Silverstone for the 2025 Formula 1 Qatar Airways British Grand Prix will be extraordinarily hard to beat. Ticking off my 6th British GP aged 27, having been a ticket steward in 2018 and 2019 whilst a Uni student and as a Volunteer Race Maker for GP weekend since 2022 felt an even bigger privilege this year, knowing it celebrated one man and electrified one small part of the birthplace of the sport. Stowe Corner has been my base for the BGP in 2023 and 2024 and am pleased to say it remained the case for 2025. Being Autistic means I much approve familiarity and Silverstone understood that message in the best possible way, which instantly made me satisfied before arrival. After arriving on a warm Wednesday evening and ensuring my tent’s top had an undercover post last year’s Saturday morning 3:30am thunderstorm for the ages, Thursday saw what has also become a familiar part of the GP weekend routine in supporting the Pit Walks. In my case this year, I was on the edge of the track between the 100M and 150M boards, shouting at folks to get across nicely and to stay off the grass. Safe to say my F1 puns including “You’ll get a 10 second penalty” got a mixed response… The track was semi-live when it shouldn’t, meaning delays between the groups heading across but the perks of seeing some stars around, including impressive rookie Isack Hadjar and fellow Frenchman Pierre Gasly on there bikes doing plenty of miles. Once I got into the pits to walk through with Group 3 of the 4, I also Sir Lewis Hamilton from about 15 yards away, prior to him heading on to his named straight for Sky Sports F1’s The F1 Show. That alone made me extremely chuffed to be that close to the all-time legend he is. For Race Weekend, my specific position was towards the end of Stowe (or Landostand) B, forming part of one of motorsport’s most awesome highspeed and daring corners – a place which nailing it makes you a hero and place you get it wrong, can make you find out to a big cost as Michael Schumacher did with his broken leg in 1999. All three days on the stand brought the usual questions and signposting of where things were by fans, as well as Sunday’s several spectacular storms including one during the race, many photo taking requests and more, all decked out in the most beautiful sea of Neon Green and Black which forms part of Lando’s and Quadrant’s striking brand. This was via flags at the top of each stand, tarpaulin at the bottom of each of them and at the back which made for a stunning visual approach when walking, as well as on all of the catering outlets behind the corner and many thousands of gorgeous, if not slightly pricey t-shirts being worn by the mass ranks. What made the weekend however was the wonderful sincerity, decency and utter kindness of the fans who we had the pleasure of sharing the experience with. Lando’s fanbase have kind-heartedness woven into their passion of Formula 1 and this was evident from the moment the first supporters came on Friday, of which as a volunteer who was there to do a role as required by the circuit certainly helped to make it be done much easier a result. Next to the track fence was a DJ who at first on the Friday was not playing the correct tracks at all for very much a female majority and family heavy range of spectators, but that was put right and enabled us to show our enjoyment, particularly in the build-up to Qualifying and the Race. Dance moves and inspiring the audience were plenty, not least by one of our Zone Leaders in Gary Thrope, who is now TikTok, and social media adored a thousand times over and helped to contribute to the most impressive and terrific atmosphere I’ve perhaps ever experienced at a major sports event. This was backed up by his Mr Norris claiming a well driven victory come the main event, of which made the majority of eyes around me (including my own) somewhat damp for the last lap, in-lap and for the podium. Seeing what Lando means to so many right-throughout the weekend so potentially symbolises the exceptional power which individuals in sport can have on others and seeing this on full display made his win even more special to comprehend. One other highlight to feel gleeful about, was being able to post the Saturday shift to meet many from the F1 community on Meta’s Threads. Brought together by two brilliant humans in Helz and Casper, saying hello to folks from across the globe, who’d you got to know a little about via social media was a true joy and has for many given them a safe space to Threads, which has by far the best set of Formula 1 fans online. My heart felt full and almost bursting to see such an awesome set of folks and I already look forward to 2026’s meet! Huge credit goes to all my fellow Race Makers for the immense job that was done at another record breaking, history making gathering which saw over 500,000 attend between Thursday and Sunday. It’s no wonder the race gets 95%+ satisfaction rating year on year thanks to all of hard work and graft, during what can sometimes be a tiring few days and all-around Stowe were simply top class. It helps to make Silverstone and this international institution of an event one unbelievable annual occasion and being one of many giving a helping hand every year, is a very proud personal achievement. Cheers to the Landostand and its wonderful fans, hopefully forever, as well as him winning the 2025 Drivers World Championship! P.S: Find more about opportunities of volunteering at Silverstone by seeing https://www.silverstone.co.uk/about/volunteering
23:00,Tuesday July 29th 2025, Wolverhampton It’s with huge pleasure and personal delight that I announce my Re-Selection as The Labour Party’s Candidate for the 2026 Local Elections in Penn ward, Wolverhampton. As I came to discover in my campaigns for 2023 and 2024, Penn is a quite superb place, peppered with tremendous pubs including The Hollybush, brilliant independent local businesses including A Cup of Joy, home of exceptional voluntary sector organisations including Friends of Di’s Kitchen and outstanding recreational spaces such as Penn Bowling Club. All of these places and Penn’s incredible residents, who I am truly honoured to have received 3,206 votes from in the last two elections, deserve a Councillor who can get the best for them, working hand in hand with a Labour ran City of Wolverhampton Council, a Labour MP in Wolverhampton West’s Warinder Juss, a Labour West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner in Simon Foster, a Labour and Co-operative Party Mayor in Richard Parker and a UK Labour Government and ultimately someone able to tackle the issues affecting residents the most. From the need to Keep Penn Green and Clean, tackling the state of the roads (not least potholes and speeding), making its housing more energy efficient, getting better public health services and working local businesses to keep the economy thriving, I will be an open and visible candidate and if elected on May 7th 2026, be an open, visible, honest and transparent Councillor who works hard every day in championing the interests of all who live, work and study in a part of the city rooted by its phenomenal communities. I hugely look forward to getting back on the campaign trail in the coming nine months, in sharing such a message, meeting residents and getting more engrossed and engaged throughout activity in Penn. Together, Let’s Deliver For PENN and For YOU! The campaign can be followed via Kashmire Hawker for Penn on Facebook and @hawkerforpenn on Instagram.
In saying Hola from the beautiful and spectacular Pineda De Mar in the Costa Brava, where today one had done a gorgeous 8K run and had been in the pool by 1pm, I cannot help feeling for the first time both simultaneously very excited and incredibly relaxed, being on my first visit to Mainland Europe since February 2019. This week’s visit came from a call by fellow Volunteer Race Makers at Silverstone, who in March 2024 asked about interest for a group trip to a Grand Prix. Knowing that I’d always want to experience one overseas and that I haven’t had a continental visit since pre-pandemic, this was something I simply could not refuse. It has also naturally given me a lot of time to reflect and be pretty pleased with how 2025 has turned out thus far, not least this month alone. Alongside this week's holiday, running my first Half Marathon at the Great Birmingham Run which I organised a team for at work and thus contributed to over £2,000 being raised for St Basils, alongside seeing a gorgeous wedding of an amazing work colleague (congrats again Lucy!), plus judge at Solutions for the Planet’s Big Ideas Central England Regional Final for a sixth year running, joining the Board of Coventry Biennial and marching at Birmingham Pride with fellow Wolverhampton Wanderers fans last Saturday for a fourth year in succession, has made this personally a Magnificent May and really shows the power of communities and it’s people at its brilliant best. Back to here; and with lots of lounging beside the pool and my first dips into a swimming pool done since a family visit to Haven Marton Mere in July 2013 (true story!) and some utterly exquisite food being consumed, attention turns to the main event, in witnessing the Formula 1 armaco Gran Premio de Espana 2025, in what is set to be the Circuit de Catalunya’s final bow on the calendar. Even if they have a deal until 2026, Madrid taking away the race for a somewhat annoying looking circuit around a convention centre near an airport, it seems will make Sunday a curtain call after 35 years of noble service. With the track having fairly limited overtaking opportunities (thankfully a lot more than Monaco, which should be made an exhibition event in my view) but a knack for causing drama, it is anyone’s guess who will claim the glory on Race Day itself. Even despite Max Verstappen or Lewis Hamilton winning every race here since the former’s extraordinary maiden victory in 2016, between 2007-2016 saw 10 different winners on the bounce, illustrating the need for a fast car, being in position to strike when the iron is hot and simply having some belief that it could be anyone’s day. No doubt two key factors for Round 9 of this season, will be the stifling heat that is expected of 29/30 Celsius all weekend and thus the impact this will have on the tires, alongside runaway contenders in McLaren suggesting a performance drop-off is expected with the long-awaited rule changes to the Flexi-Wing (excellently sum-upped by The Race ), which Zak Brown and his boys have utilised to perfection until this moment. A 172-point Constructors World Championship lead after 8 rounds symbolises that to a T. This really goes open up the possibility of a fascinating contest, one of which I cannot and thus I will not specifically predict one name. I do however have a thought that this could turn out to be 2025’s big surprise and that a wildly unexpected victor has their moment, just like Gasly at Monza in 2020 and Ocon at Hungry 2021. Of course, Alonso or Sainz winning on home soil would be majestic beyond measure! With a blisteringly quick Start/Finish Straight, gradient changes and undulation which makes the place almost like a Rollercoaster (as once impeccably illustrated in song by Ronan Keating) and all types of corners around the track, this is sure to be another dramatic and unpredictable 190 Miles come Sunday afternoon. On top of the F1, there will be some extremely entertaining racing in Formula 2, Formula 3 and the Porsche Supercup; all of whom have some exceptional and generational talents within (as Oscar Piastri, Lando Norris and George Russell have sublimely illustrated), of which make some early alarm calls when watching at home and the annual pilgrimage of volunteering at Silverstone more than worth it. F2 and the Porsches I suspect however will try to be on their best behaviour, after there Wacky Races style pileups at Turn 1 at Monte Carlo last weekend, which at least again show the immense safety which competitive racing of the kind really has at its core. There will be huge talking points and a lot for me to saviour and see over the coming three days and all of which, makes me very lucky to experience it in real life and I feel massively grateful. No doubt, Little Old Me (cheers Taylor for the inspo in using those three words) would not have believed it just 10 years ago. With that, here’s to a fine few days of motorsport and as I did on Tuesday night sinking another 0% Pina Colada or two, or three!
I'm honoured to have joined the Board and become a Trustee of a force in Contemporary Arts in the West Midlands!
I am utterly appalled and deeply disgusted to hear that Wolverhampton Wanderers did not even apply for promotion to the Women’s Championship for Wolverhampton Wanderers Women , in the event they won the Women’s National League North: which came within 3 points of happening, after they finished 2nd just behind Nottingham Forest in a closely fought battle. On the back of another excellent campaign by the side, which alongside that second place in the 3rd tier of English football included a big Black County Derby win in front of over 3,000 at Molineux on March 23rd and a record club attendance of 5,008 for a second consecutive FA Cup 5th Round appearance in February, hearing such news yesterday has put back such progress considerably and it sadly would not surprise me if Macca and a large majority of the side departed for pastures new this Summer. The clear lack of respect, lack of parity and it seems lack of simple decency towards Macca and his side, who have been in the mix not just this season but for the last several - despite a massive lack of budget compared to other sides, is an even greater and damming stain on the leadership of Jeff Shi and Fosun at the very top of the organisation and shows an unacceptable and inexcusable disrespect towards Women’s Football, which continues to grow in all its forms. This is the clearest and even more shocking evidence that change is urgently required within Wolves hierarchy, and I call on Fosun International, once again, to immediately intervene and dismiss Shi as Executive Chairman of the business after nearly 9 years, which has seen transparency, fan engagement and in this case, honesty, plummet to record lows and terrible depths. I also call for a formal public apology by the club, outlining what occurred in this circumstance, stating truthfully what the intention was and is around next season and the club finally outlining what the long-term plan is for Wolves Women, whose time for that extra investment to push us to the next level is long and most certainly overdue. The motto of “One Pack” means absolutely nothing when hearing about such action and as a member of the club’s Equality Advisory Group, I and others are seeking speedy and comprehensive answers, a group of players, whose efforts, decency and immense commitment to Wolverhampton Wanderers and the City of Wolverhampton, deserve so much better.
I am thrilled to being part of an exciting step, in Solutions' next stage of development!
With 2025’s World Autism Awareness Day being today, I can’t help but reflect on how much there is to do in giving the next generation the opportunities they deserve, but that many are relishing the opportunity to input and fighting for better. Last Thursday night, I as an associate of Changing Our Lives along with others did a half hour presentation to 30 young and aspiring footballers at Sporting Khalsa in Willenhall, as part of a project that seeks to break down perceptions of Autism and Learning Disability in the South Asian Community. I came away from that feeling really encouraged and pleased, at the understanding and real sense of compassion which those youngsters had for one another and illustrates the immense power of education when in action. It also made me reflect on just how much I have personally done and achieved. A University Graduate, someone who has sat on both set of benches in special Parliamentary sittings, visited Number 10, being a guest at a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace, having my first full-time job at the biggest major event that my part of the world has ever seen, then moving on to being a part of regional government, as well as volunteering at the Home of Motorsport regularly, being an advocate for various organisations in the disability, sustainability and cultural spaces and running to serve my home City for four years, are all things which for someone like me usually shouldn’t happen! But all that and much more has occurred, which just shows that when the right support is there and by working as hard as you can, people in their own ways can reach the stars. All as above mentioned feel beyond my wildest dreams, but with employment for Autistic and Neurodiverse people still incredibly low and opportunities being limited all thanks to perceptions and diagnoses, as well as broken systems holding millions back: there is still A LOT more to do. Knowing all that I have questioned myself intently: what more can I do as part of such an important mission? Well, with me having scooped 5,102 votes from four Local Government Elections since 2021, even if the last two polls have been incredibly narrow failures which have naturally drained some confidence, I am firmly of the belief that having skin the game, utilising and highlighting personal experiences and willing to go above and beyond in the service of others, is far better than sitting on the sidelines as some, particularly of other generations have somewhat suggested. As a 27 year old whose generation has had potential squashed and opportunities reduced; particularly fellow Autistic and Neurodivergent people and those who reside in communities which has been chronic underinvestment, sitting back for me will never been option. And seeing too, contrary to many narratives and views of some, that many are able to juggle personal lives, alongside their careers, representational responsibilities and other things; I cannot see why that should hinder my aspiration and mission of giving back to the place which I am grateful for opening up all I have done, since becoming a Wulfrunian in 2009. So after very lengthy and hard fought consideration in the last several months and with processes now underway, I do today confirm it’s my intention to apply to be part of The Labour Party’s approved Panel of Candidates and therefore seek selection for the City of Wolverhampton Council Elections on Thursday May 7th 2026 . There have been many points which I have come very close to walking away and putting out a statement declining to apply to be on the Panel of Candidates, not least through things which have been stated and which I believe deliberately and by calculation seek to discourage people like me. I however, as I feel I have shown at many stages in my life, am not one for quitting and with my experiences, growing knowledge and unlimited passion for seeking to be a real change maker and a contributor for the common good, feel that my time to step up that service through Local Government, has duly arrived. I thus look forward to again seeking to submit myself for even greater service in the coming months and if selected by a Branch, will embrace campaigning in seeking what is right. And knowing that I have sought to serve others in the past 13 years, I state that why can’t others who have wonky glasses like me, who take a little longer to think stuff through like me and who perhaps need a few more folks to give them a hand, be able to be a change maker too! I will look forward to updating you all on this and other things down the line, with humility rooted in my heart.
My remarks to WM Labour Regional Conference on March 1st 2025.
A Very Happy New Year! A few more Reflections on 2024 and a 2025 Preview
As 2024 comes toward an end, I can say that this year for me has been one of change, one of further development and one of opening my eyes in many ways. In typing this reflection, I feel immensely satisfied and proud to have made this year my first in a full-time job without a fixed end date, in an organisation of the West Midlands Combined Authority, which has plenty of opportunities for me to consider in the coming months and years and working within in an outstanding team. I also feel hugely delighted at continuing to give my time in voluntary service, not least through Parkrun, Silverstone and in the perhaps once in a generation Champions League Final at Wembley in the Summer, as well as raise £405, in two events of the Great Birmingham Run of £130 for Cure Leukemia and £275 at the Molineux Sleepout for Wolverhampton Wanderers Foundation and The Good Shepherd. On top, to have again sought office to serve my home city for a fourth year running and garnered 1,656 votes (even if not a winning total!), as well as contributed to successful wider political campaigning for my party’s and substantially expanded on my engagement in them gave me a privilege and deeper fire in the belly than ever before, in giving back to Wulfrunians. Finally, many more runs, seeing Taylor Swift, Kaiser Chiefs and The Darkness in concert, plus a sublime Musical about the pop heroes in Steps, marching at two Pride events, continuing engagement with Wolverhampton Wanderers, Solutions for the Planet and Changing Our Lives and completing a fantastic personal development programme on getting younger folk as Trustees in Arts and Cultural organisations, have all formed part of another busy 12 months. Naturally however, losing an Election and your best furry friend in my house’s dog Harley, alongside needing to help move my Mum to a safer place, all in the space of 7 weeks stung greatly in May and June. The death of a beloved dog and family member and Mum’s house move were not easy financially to deal with, but I managed it as has been the case with previous years. This year has also meant some greatly more honest and blunt conversations, which have burnt a few bridges with once seen trustworthy allies and pals. Being straight and upfront however is sometimes the best course and I don’t regret that for one moment, not least when the mind is burdened enough with day-to-day activity. Those things have definitely made me really realised that the world is a big and lonely place, and that sense of loneliness continues to affect my thoughts. This no doubt feels true and always will do at Christmas, with December 25th being the anniversary of Kieran’s passing in 2021 aged just 25 and I frankly will never know how to truly feel on the day itself. Knowing he is not here to share Christmas lunch will always put a size 9 boot dent in my heart. Having said that, I have good people around me and I give my wholehearted thanks to all for your continued support and good wishes, at what will forever be a sensitive and mournful point of the year, in my family’s life. In whatever way which you and your family mark this festive and new year period, I hope it is as enjoyable and peaceful as it possibly can be and that it gives a chance to rest and be with those closest to you, as well as embrace it being the season of giving, whether gifts or love. A further blog post, or two, on reflecting 2024 and looking ahead to 2025 shall come before the clock hits midnight next Wednesday.
