I HAD a lovely letter from a lady in Scotland about one of my books that features a grief club – and it made me think.

She is 79 and has just moved to Kilmarnock and is finding it difficult to go and meet people her own age.

She joined one group after finding pics advertising it of people getting together and having a great time, only to find that in reality this was an online event.

That was fine for the Covid years, but lonely people need to connect in person. Her situation is that her husband is in a nursing home, ‘slowly disappearing before my eyes’ and she has no one to talk to, because she doesn’t want to burden relatives.

As she says, there is counselling available if your loved one is dying, but no real place to collect for those who are just watching their loved ones fade.

She just puts on a brave face even though her heart is breaking. It made me so very sad to read it.

I’m in the process of trying to find something up there for her but it made me hope and pray we have places around here for people to hook up with each other if they are in the same situation because just finding your tribe and sharing a cuppa is worth more than any fancy expensive counselling can often do.

Fergie – the ex-Duchess of York – looks set to lose her speaking engagements which net her £160,000-a-pop.

Blimey. But it did remind me of when I was starting out and a woman’s group wanted to book me for a talk.

I said that my fee would be £20. The response was that they’d pass as it was a bit high for their budget.

I was gutted – and also insulted. I mean, it was hardly a kidney-selling amount.

Anyway, time passed and they came back to me to ask again, by which time my fees were considerably higher.

I stuck a nought on the end of the quote and said that I was booked out for a year (the last bit was actually true).

Anyway, they passed (no sh*t, Sherlock) and being the stubborn git I am wouldn’t have done their gig anyway after that initial snub.

But I hear Sarah’s diary is pretty empty and I’m sure she’d drop her prices a bit. If the woman’s group ever get in contact again, I’ll put them both in touch with each other.

Well done to bouncer and podcaster Jordan Gray for the video he put up on social media countering the recent portrait of Barnsley by YouTuber Charlie who did his best to make it look awful.

I don’t think he quite managed it though because the town centre doesn’t look at all rundown, even if he did avoid the most impressive parts.

Shame on you, Charlie. My hackles rose watching it. Barnsley centre is looking pretty good. Yes we have a way to go but it’s better than most towns I go and visit.

But also shame on the two students he stopped who felt duty-bound to say it was a s***hole.

We should be standing up for our own and not taking the side of the knockers. There’s enough of those without you attacking it from the inside!

To the person who sent me the anonymous letter, I have read it and discussed it and though I’m afraid I do not have the time, energy or will to take this on myself, things have come to light that maybe suggest the right people do a little more digging, so that’s what’s happening.