Apologies to anyone who missed Reasons to be Cheerful at the end of last week.
Unfortunately I didn’t have my contract renewed and so have had to do some running around keeping me away from the Bloggersphere.

With the Holiday Season now upon us it seems right that the stories resonating with me the most are about hope and forgiveness. Whether it’s Russia releasing 2 members of the Punk Band Pussy Riot, Al-Qaeda apologising for an attack, hope for warming relationships between the US and Cuba, or the hope for a cure for epilepsy.But remember it’s up to all of us to make 2014 even better.

• Russia Frees Pussy Riot Protesters
• Al-Qaeda apologises for Yemeni Hospital Attack
• Couples marry after federal judge strikes down same-sex marriage ban
• Russian Opposition leader vows to help free political prisoners
• Cuba calls for better relations with US
• Study suggest that Neanderthals could speak like modern humans
• Surgery in babies could cure seizures
• Artificial life project hits key milestone
• Housing grant boost for Scottish Homeless
• Tax Changes great news for child trust funds
• Australia send plane to monitor Japanese whaling
• Massive Aquifer found in Greenland Ice
• New effort to unlock the scrolls of Herculaneum
• Gunman tackled by bus passangers
• Small changes can reduce diabetes risk
• Couple rescued from Snowden
• Blumenthal works to help improve hospital food
• ISS Astronauts repair pump in space
• Bloodhound SSC to use Norwegian Nammo Rocket
• Cuba relaxes rules on players signing for foreign teams
• Britons take Equestrian Gold in London
• Sansum takes TKD gold in Paris beating rival Cook
• Hall becomes oldest British fighter to win a world title at first attempt