It has recently been brought home to me how lonely this time of year can be.Just last night a dear friend told me he could not face coming to our Christmas dinner,the one with my work mates.He nearly broke down crying as he told me.he lost his wife of 55 years of wedded bliss ,three years ago,enjoyment of Christmas has gone.i have not seen him this bad in the three years i have been sitting with him.Today i took a phone call from another cycling buddy,who lost his wife seven years ago,i quickly jumped on a bus and we had a little lunch in a Wetherspoons pub.He told me,that meeting me four years ago while out cycling had in his words saved him.I don't want likes for this.But let us remember for some people this is a horrible time of the year.