Moving right on along...

I was planning on blogging about the new year and resolutions and such, but my thoughts and plans have been happily pre-empted by the response I've had to the article on the choking game in the Independent, one of Britain's most respected newspapers.
It all began when I returned from Paris with huge resolve to get cracking on the campaign and do all I could to make people sit up and take notice. I needed to be heard; for that matter, Mike's voice did too. After all, the plaque on the coroner's wall in Toronto reads: 'We speak for the dead to protect the living.'
Anyway... with Nige's help I did a mail-out to 9 media resources, two of which were UK's main tv stations. Two days after dropping the large brown envelopes into the post box (thinking that if I got any response it wouldn't be until well into the new year), a reporter from the Independent took up the cause. She carefully researched the choking game and wrote an informative and compelling article... which set off the tv trail.
It's been a long hard slog -- getting people to listen to Mike's story with a view to heightening awareness of the deadly game. Over the years I've felt like giving up. 'Move on,' I told myself. 'Move on,' others advised. But each time I dropped the campaign something would happen to cause me to take it up again, and with even more resolve than in the past. And the reason? More kids are dying because of the game!
I'm glad I didn't give up. I'm glad I'm doing this for Mike. I know he would issue the same warning that I do. DON'T PLAY THE GAME.
And so... my year is off to a really good start because my second piece of news is that I've found a super flat in Weston-super-Mare -- two-bedroom (not that I need that much room unless any of my family come to visit), a new kitchen, within easy walking distance of Nige's place and the sea and town. Once I receive word that it's mine (about which I have little doubt), I will move in around the beginning of February. I'll leave enough furniture and 'stuff' at the farm so that I can visit and stay over often, especially to tend my flower and veggie garden once spring arrives and, of course, to make Bill's custard!
As for new year's resolutions... well, I'll get to them when I have the time and space time to think about them.
Ohhh... I got carried away and almost forgot to tell you about the two tv stations that contacted me this morning, each requesting an interview!!! The London-based station (with national coverage) is sending out a reporter and a cameraman on Monday -- to Nige's, cuz the caravan's a bit too cramped. The other is a local station, with coverage in the south-west of England, want to tape tomorrow. I'm waiting to hear from Monday's interviewer so as not to step on anyone's toes. Watch this space...