How things used to be vs today

Here stands a typewriter and a rather lovely one at that.

Years ago they were the latest, greatest thing.

Years ago newspapers were a thriving business. Today they're dying. Fewer and fewer people buy them, have time to read them and recession budgets mean less people are advertising in them.

Today a third of my newspaper team got made redundant.

Today I found out one of my best friend's mother had died after a terrible accident two weeks ago.

Today I was in pain for a whole day with a bad back despite a mountain of painkillers and anti-inflamatories.

Today I felt the disappointment of a lost love who's just got a gorgeous ball of fluff 8-week-old puppy with his new wife and is supremely happy.

Today I got to grips with the fact a man I'm (annoyingly and frustratingly) really attracted to has just proposed to his girlfriend.

In moments today I thought I'd like to go back to how things used to be. A time when things were good and when you smiled it was for real, not just a veneer and a nod that it's all okay.

But today I also sat and had dinner with new friends and laughed and chatted and realised without change (good and bad) and new situations brilliant new people wouldn't suddenly arrive and say hi and bring so much fun and joy into your life.

Today I realised that although life can be a challenge and it can be hard to face the difficulties there are some really special people who make each new day better just by being in it with you. (And that's you Nicola and Josie in case you ever read this and wonder who I'm talking about!!)

What a day!