Linda Hall: Time for humanity to shine

The Sydney siege was just one of several tragic events that occurred last week.

What an absolutely horrific week last week was. Let's hope this week is a hell of a lot better.

So many innocent lives lost. I can't get my head around how anyone can go into a classroom full of children and slaughter them.

The 132 children killed in Pakistan is unbelievably sad. Innocent children the victims of a war between the country's military and Taliban.

How do these gunmen sleep after something like that? Orders or not, this act of war is outrageous, as are the actions of the two people in Australia who took it upon themselves to kill or put people in a situation where they would be killed.

The siege at the Sydney cafe had us all holding our breath, hoping no one would be hurt. You could tell by the look on the faces of escaped hostages that they were bloody terrified.

Sadly, two innocent people lost their lives.

To end the horrific week, eight children were found stabbed to death in a home in Cairns. They were seven siblings and a cousin. The mother is being questioned and the police aren't looking for anyone else in connection with the murders.

Words just fail me here. Those poor children. My heart goes out to the families and friends of them all.

Whenever there's a tragedy at this time of the year it always seems worse, because Christmas is the time people make a huge effort to go home, to be together, even if it does end in family squabbles.

With just three sleeps left until Christmas, I find myself thinking about all those people who will be facing their first Christmas with someone they love missing from the dining table.

Christmas is the perfect time for family and friends so, if you are grieving for someone, surround yourself with as many people who love you as you can.

You can bet the person missing from your table wouldn't want you to be sad and lonely. I know it's not easy to try and smile when all you want to do is cry.

Right - now for something a bit lighter.

This is my last column for 2014. I'm taking a break for a couple of weeks, getting ready for my daughter's wedding and then time to recover.

It's been a busy year, one with many high points and thankfully not too many low points. I've loved writing more and going out in the community. I've met some fabulous people, had lots of laughs, eaten some great and not so great food, and tried different exercises.

I've come to the conclusion that the health experts have been right all along.

Soup diets, lemon diets, low carb, high protein, they might work for a while, but I think the only way to stay fit and healthy is to eat properly 99 per cent of the time and exercise ... as simple as that.

I'm not fanatic about it, although I must admit I feel guilty if I miss doing some kind of exercise for more than three days in a row, simply because I love to eat.

I do eat healthy most of the time but, over the next few weeks, I'm going to relax the rules a little. I hope you get a chance to relax and make some memories.

Have a very merry Christmas everyone, and a safe and happy New Year.

-Linda Hall is assistant editor at Hawke's Bay Today.