Thank you.

Well.... I've not written for a few weeks, and can blame nothing other than my lax behaviour!

There's been a lot going on, and lots of exciting developments, but I'm not going to talk to about them this week, they're to be saved for the next instalment.

This week I want to pay tribute to my friends and family.

I started this as a way of talking about me and my journey through coming to grips with what I have, Ushers Syndrome. The cheapest form of therapy if you will......

Don't get me wrong, it's still all about me! But thinking about what to write, getting feedback from complete strangers and from those closest to me has made me realise that this doesn't effect just me.

Forcing myself to think about how things effect me, in turn forces me to think about how it effects those close to me.

I have an amazing group of very close, very dear friends to me. Your ability to talk absolute crap or to listen to me rant, or whinge or just listen to me be a bit down in the dumps is invaluable. I love that you keep me grounded and still moan at me about whatever's going on in your lives. Or share the exciting things that are going on. To not let what I have define me, to accept that it's a part of who I am, that I am still who I was before I found out about Ushers.

In no particular order, Jayne, Jo, Luke, Claire, Whitney, Mike, Stephan, Nisha, Agi, Elly, thank you for being the best a gal could ask for from friends!

My oldest friend..... Who probably knows me better than I know myself... Sam, thank you for letting me cry on your shoulder, for making me laugh, for getting me inexcusably drunk when I need it most, for letting me bare my deepest darkest thoughts and never judging me and for never letting me feel too sorry for myself!

My family.....My Nana, who will probably never read this, for her undying belief that at some point there will be a cure and for constantly worrying about me walking or being out in the dark!

My Aunt, for all those lunches or general meets for no reason what so ever and who has an unshakable belief that I'm going to fine come what may.

My Uncle, Pete, my fellow drinker in the family :-D who has listened in an amazing way for someone who talks so much! My strongest older male role model. Pete, I don't, and haven't for many years thought of you as my Aunts husband. You're MY Uncle!

And then the two most important people.... My Mum, Trish, and my brother David. I don't think I can ever put into words how much your love and support over the past few years has meant to me. I've kicked out at you two emotionally. I've cried at you two. I've laughed with you two. I've sat in silence with you two. I've leant on you two. You two have listened to me. You two have just been there. I've taken so much more from you two than I've ever given. And you two have never complained, never got narky, never told me to feck off and most importantly have silently been there for me.

David, you're a gentleman, a gentle soul and someone I try to be like most of the time..... Annoying at times, but I guess that's a little brothers duty eh???

Mum, you're the best Mum in the world.... I honestly don't think there is any other way of putting it. You're selfless, kind and beautiful inside and out!

I guess the whole point of this is.... I find it hard to say in person, and I know I do not say thank you.

So, to all of you.......

Thank you.