So Christmas has come and gone for another year and many of you are probably chilling out at the lakes, beach or braving the shops in the post-Christmas sales _ but spare a thought for those who work on statutory holidays and between Christmas and the New Year.
Now, I'm not having a gripe here as I'm grateful to have a job.
For those of you who do have some time off why not spare a thought for those who have to work on the statutory holidays _ police, ambulance, firefighters, hospital staff, retailers and those in the tourism and hospitality trade _ to name but a few.
It may sound a bit over the top but why not _ if you see a police officer, ambulance officer or firefighter out and about helping keep the city safe during the New Year celebrations _ thank him or her for the work they do. They are, after all, trying to protect us.
If you see a retailer or someone in the hospitality or the tourism industries having a busy day, it doesn't take much to say thanks and give them a smile.